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fajrdrakoLiked this one. Liked it a lot. It has one of my favourite themes: the interplay of lies and truth. The concept of "truth" is very important to me; both intellectual truth and personal moral truth. So I love seeing characters use of truth and lies in different contexts, the way truths and lies can be interchanged, and how lies relate to the unknown, to misconceptions, and to deception. Not to mention that "myth" can be taken as either "truth" or "lies", depending on how you look at it.
The premise of a group of humans forming a club that admires, emulates and courts vampires is something I first encountered in Anne Rice. I thought it was really cool - must have been the 1980s, the goth aspect seemed so cool. It seems like more of a cliche now, and in this episode, it's pretty much a parody of itself - with Diego's cape that looks like a kid's halloween costume and the girl being earnest but clueless. Seems to me it would be fun to see a group like this that was formidable rather than risible.
Just musing: that isn't meant as criticism.
1. The first scene in the playground: another classic cliche of film and I love it. Especially the image of swings swinging with no one on them. And then we see the little boy being stalked by Drusilla - ooh. Lucky the kid is a sensible "don't talk to strangers, don't feed the vampires" type. And lucky he has Angel to save him. I wonder if the kid will tell his parents what happened at the playground. Love the line:
2. So we see a meeting between Drusilla and Angel. "My Angel." Woo. How does she mean that? They know each other - very well. Small vampire world. She expects him to know about her mother's lullabies. Love her line to Angel re Buffy: "Your heart stinks of her." That reiterates Angel's love of Buffy (in case we'd forgotten) but also the enhanced vampiric spiritual/demonic senses - they can smell emotions - at least, Drusilla can.
When Angel says, "This can't go on, Drusilla. It's gotta end." - what exactly does he mean by 'this'?
3. So Buffy sees them together and is upset. I get annoyed with Buffy for this kind of reaction, especially for running off without talking to Angel about it. Does she think he has no vampire acquaintances? That he lives in a void except when he's with her? That he has no life?
4. Jenny Calendar. I find I am not happy to see her again. I guess I don't like her. She says to Giles, "You're just going to have to trust me," and I see it as ominous.
5. Giles says to Buffy, "You could spend some time with Angel." Is he encouraging her relationship with Angel? Giving it his seal of approval? Succumbing to the apparently inevitable? Using reverse psychology? Or does he just think it would be the best thing for Buffy? I've yet to see her cheered up after an encounter with Angel - so far she's mostly been depressed after seeing him. Though maybe not so much since "Halloween" which ended with them in Buffy's room talking and kissing and being comfortable together. Maybe she was euphoric afterwards. I take it, nevertheless, that Buffy and Angel still haven't had sex? Or am I making the wrong assumption?
6. Funny Cordelia line about Marie Antoinette: "I just don't see why everyone's always picking on Marie Antoinette. I can so relate to her. She worked really hard to look that good, and people just don't appreciate that kind of effort." I liked Cordelia's one-track-mind grasp of basics. At the same time, I wish she was less of a comic caricature of herself. But I do like the concept of "cranky peasants".
7. Xander: "If Angel's doing something wrong, I wanna know. 'Cause it gives me a happy!" That's Xander at his most insensitive. If I'd been Buffy, I think I'd have slapped his face. Or burst into tears. Or both. I guess Buffy's just feeling to glum to react. But then, she likes Xander more than I do.
8. "Moping at the Bronze." Heh. A specialty.
9. So we meet Billy Ford. He's attractive, he's nice, Buffy likes him, he isn't socially awkward, he likes her - uh-oh. He must be a deranged serial killer at the very least. Or possibly a demon in disguise.
10. Does everyone in the world remember their fifth grade giant crush? Mine was a boy named Henry. Last I heard, he was in jail for drugs, but that didn't happen for another few years. I thought he was wonderful. He was, too.
11. Xander: "Jeez, doesn't she know any fat guys?" There aren't any fat guys on television, Xander, unless you're in a sitcom. ...We seem to alternate between episodes where I like Xander because he's witty and brave, or episodes where I don't like him because he's snarking, insensitive and self-obsessed. This seems to be one of the latter types of episodes. I assume it will all balance out in the end.
12. Why did Angel lie to Buffy about being out the night before? Is he being protective of her, or Drusilla, or both? Seems to me the wise thing would be to tell Buffy he was out on patrol, but not make a big deal of who he saved and who he met. Or - just tell her. As he later does. But that's the whole point of this episode: lies that have consequences. That being said, why does Ford tell Buffy he was registered in the school? Why not say he'd come to town and was looking for her? Which was true.
Yeah, yeah, it's all about the lies. Silly people complicating their own lives.
13. Willow to Xander re Angel: "See, you made him do that thing where he's gone." I loved that. But I don't like the way Xander is perfectly happy while he messes with Buffy's life according to his own jealousies and whims.
14. I liked Buffy's exchange with Ford:
On thing I like about this episode is its focus on the Buffy/Angel relationship. Question - do fans usually call it Buffy/Angel or Angel/Buffy? (and please don't tell me to call it Bangel or some such thing.)
15. Buffy lies to Ford about her purse and the cats, next time round he lies to her about killing the vampire. Fair trade of lies? And does Ford tell her how he found out?
16. Any viewer with a fraction of a brain would know this is a Very Bad Thing, but Buffy and Willow aren't there yet: "It's neat! Is it neat?" "Yeah, I guess it is." Really, I despair of these two. (In an affectionate sort of way.)
17. So we see the vampire lair. Ford seems to outclass the others. Which is maybe why they let him play leader. Is he really new to town? He seems well established here. Diego says to Ford "I'm trusting you." - and that seems an echo of Jenny's statement to Giles, "You're going to have to trust me." It just strikes me now in retrospect that when Giles replies, he doesn't say he trusts her - he says he puts himself into her hands. Hmm. But of course issues of lies and trust and secrecy keep recurring in this episode, replayed with each interaction.
18. The Jack Palance Dracula line on the TV is sort of heavy-handed: "You play your wits against mine. Me, who commanded armies hundreds of years before you were born. Fools!" - but apropos. These kids don't seem like anyone who would interest any self-respecting vampire. But I guess... if you're thirsty enough, anything will do.
19. So Angel comes to Willow's room, and interestingly, she has a door to the street (or back yard?) in her bedroom. I guess that's a California thing? (They seem to have doors, balconies, and the like everywhere there.) Conversation:
Which reminds me of the little boy in the playground in the beginning, not supposed to talk to strangers in the park. The whole scene seems to emphasize Willow's childlike qualities and Angel's maturity and power. Willow even talks younger here: "Help? You mean like on homework? No, 'cause you're old and you already know stuff." Which, considering that Willow's conversation is usually at a rather young level to start with, is remarkable. Yet she manages not so seem a fool, just a nervous young girl - young for her age - with a lack of social savvy and some awe of Angel. (No wonder.)
20. Angel: "I really honed my brooding skills." No kidding! World-class brooder, this guy.
21. But I really liked the phrasing of Willow's next line: "But if there isn't anything weird... Hey, that's weird."
22. So Angel asks Willow not to tell Buffy that Ford isn't kosher - this seems dumb to me, shouldn't she know as soon as possible that something's up? And I love the way Willow isn't comfortable with that, lies and secrets, keeping things from Buffy. Angel should listen to her, but no.
23. When Buffy tells Willow that Ford knows she is the Slayer, Willow doesn't say, "How did he know?" even though Buffy says right off she didn't tell him. This strikes me as odd - I know it isn't a relevant part of the plot, but it's the first question that came to my mind, and I'd want to deal with it even just to establish its insignificance. As it is, it bugs me. Did he spy on her? Did a vampire tell him? Does he have books of arcane lore that mentioned her name in a list of Future Slayers?
24. Good Xander moment:
Yes, he is a sad trial to his friends.
25. The 'sore thumbs' conversation is cute, though it seems to me the answer is intuitively obvious. Has Willow never had a sore thumb? They *always* stick out.
26. Xander to Willow: "You have too many thoughts." Problem is, Xander has too few.
27. Why do they call vampires The Lonely Ones? Vampires in this show don't seem to be solitary creatures. Rather the opposite. They roam in packs and get together with leaders.
28. So Angel for once is honest - seems he can do that with anyone except Buffy - and calls the girl a fool to hear face. Xander says, "You really are a people person." Looks who's talking - he who just called Angel "Dead Guy". Pot and kettle.
29. I love Willow's line, when Angel says the vampire-lovers are making up stories: "Is that so bad? I mean, the dark can get pretty dark. Sometimes you need a story." I sense the voice of Joss there. It should be the motto of every writer. "Sometimes you need a story." And of every reader, too.
30. What is "Monster Trucks"?
31. Buffy sees the photo of Drusilla, and asked Giles about it. Giles says, "She's called Drusilla, a sometime paramour of Spike's. She was killed by an angry mob in Prague." This raises several questions in my mind:
32. Drusilla and her dead bird. Love it. She is deliciously creepy, in a morbid-chic kind of way. Her craziness just makes it better. How does Spike know she met up with Angel? Was another vampire spying on them, while Buffy was? Sheesh, that's Sunnydale for you, everybody knows everybody else's business and talks about it, and being undead is no escape.
I love the way Spike's conversation with her escalates from gentleness to irritation to anger:
There's more harsh truth for you. Trust Spike. And then he is instantly contrite:
33. So Spike and Ford meet:
Spike is so wonderful. I also like it that Ford calls him "William the Bloody". One of the reasons I like that is that the nickname doesn't sound vampiric to me, it sounds regal - sort of a cross between "William the Silent" and "Bloody Mary".
34. And Spikes delightful reply: "You've got a real death wish. It's almost interesting."
35. It isn't death wish that seems to be Ford's main characteristic, but histrionics. As if his every interaction is a bit of dialogue for the stage or a scene in a TV show.
36. Spike: " I don't go much for tradition." No kidding. It's one of the reasons I love him. "I've known you for two minutes, and I can't stand you." And his wonderful line when Ford first walks into Vampire Central: "Are you all asleep? Or did we finally find a restaurant that delivers?" There's possibly no real correspondence here, but I can't help thinking of Torchwood and the poor pizza delivery girl who became cyberfodder in "Cyberwoman". I've noted that since that episode, they pick up their pizza orders.
37. I liked this bit of Angel/Buffy dialogue:
I think Buffy isn't much accustomed to politeness. Which is odd, because Joyce seems polite enough.
38. So Buffy makes the conversation into trust issues: she doesn't like her friends meddling in her affairs behind her back. Making her just about like the rest of humanity, there.
Hmm: that was the theme of last week's Torchwood episode "Adrift". Me, I'm a devotee of truth. The truth, no matter how bad, because ignorance is always a weakness. And lies degrade the ties between people, however well-intentioned they are.
Shows the ambivalence of both of them. Has Drusilla raised some bad memories for Angel? So it would seem. He makes a full confession:
Buffy seems a little stunned by the truth.
So now we know why Drusilla is crazy, but we don't know why/how she is precognitive. Doesn't seem standard vampire issue - perhaps the combination of insanity and vampirism caused it? And if it was Angel who was obsessed with Drusilla, how is it that she ended up with Spike?
(No, don't answer that. Don't you dare!)
Aaah, I love this vampiric soap opera stuff.
39. Buffy to Ford: "I like surprises." Famous last words. Is she being ironic? Or in denial? Or just blind? Ironic, I think, by this time.
40. Ford is such a drama queen. "This is the end, Buffy. No one gets outta here alive." He's seen too many bad vampire movies. I don't believe his brain tumor story for a minute. And Buffy doesn't believe it for much more than a minute.
41. Wonderful Buffy line: "right after the sun goes down, Spike and all of his friends are going to be pigging out at the all-you-can-eat moron bar." And I love the way that she expects Spike, anticipates Spike, because he's so much the Vampire Leader in Town now that none of the really cool vampire stuff occurs without him.
42. Love Spike's line: "let's remember to share, people." As always, the story picks up its pace and momentum and energy factor just a little whenever Spike shows his face.
43. Buffy gives her assessment of vampires: "I've got a news flash for you, braintrust: that's not how it works. You die, and a demon sets up shop in your old house, and it
walks, and it talks, and it remembers your life, but it's not you." This has interesting implications for her assessment of Angel. I'm not sure I understand where her head is with this. Basically she's saying she is in love with a demon who has some human memories. Which I guess is what it boils down to.
44. Buffy to the crowd: "This is not the mothership, people! This is ugly death come to play!" Nicely dramatic.
45. Spike: "Take them all. Save the Slayer for me." Oh, how overconfident. So Buffy grabs Drusilla as hostage and Spike capitulates and runs. I love Buffy's threat: "let everyone out, or your girlfriend fits in an ashtray." Why does Buffy not kill the vampires? Because she is unprepared? Outnumbered? She settles with just escaping. I love Spike's prosaic line: "Where's the doorknob?"
46. Wonderful Spike moment:
47. Why does Buffy think Ford was 'just scared'? Seems to me we have no clue as to his motivation, but from anything I see in the episode, it wasn't fear, but a love of grandstanding that motivated Ford. But I can guess it's hard to think ill of your first crush and I always made excuses for Henry's crime, too.
48. And I love the final conversation between Buffy and Giles:
That is just wonderful. For many reasons. Not just what they say, but because she is looking to Giles for wisdom and reassurance, not dismissing him as a stupid adult - maybe that's the first sign of maturity for Buffy?
The premise of a group of humans forming a club that admires, emulates and courts vampires is something I first encountered in Anne Rice. I thought it was really cool - must have been the 1980s, the goth aspect seemed so cool. It seems like more of a cliche now, and in this episode, it's pretty much a parody of itself - with Diego's cape that looks like a kid's halloween costume and the girl being earnest but clueless. Seems to me it would be fun to see a group like this that was formidable rather than risible.
Just musing: that isn't meant as criticism.
1. The first scene in the playground: another classic cliche of film and I love it. Especially the image of swings swinging with no one on them. And then we see the little boy being stalked by Drusilla - ooh. Lucky the kid is a sensible "don't talk to strangers, don't feed the vampires" type. And lucky he has Angel to save him. I wonder if the kid will tell his parents what happened at the playground. Love the line:
Boy: I'm not supposed to talk to people.
Drusilla: Oh. Well, I'm not a person.
2. So we see a meeting between Drusilla and Angel. "My Angel." Woo. How does she mean that? They know each other - very well. Small vampire world. She expects him to know about her mother's lullabies. Love her line to Angel re Buffy: "Your heart stinks of her." That reiterates Angel's love of Buffy (in case we'd forgotten) but also the enhanced vampiric spiritual/demonic senses - they can smell emotions - at least, Drusilla can.
When Angel says, "This can't go on, Drusilla. It's gotta end." - what exactly does he mean by 'this'?
3. So Buffy sees them together and is upset. I get annoyed with Buffy for this kind of reaction, especially for running off without talking to Angel about it. Does she think he has no vampire acquaintances? That he lives in a void except when he's with her? That he has no life?
4. Jenny Calendar. I find I am not happy to see her again. I guess I don't like her. She says to Giles, "You're just going to have to trust me," and I see it as ominous.
5. Giles says to Buffy, "You could spend some time with Angel." Is he encouraging her relationship with Angel? Giving it his seal of approval? Succumbing to the apparently inevitable? Using reverse psychology? Or does he just think it would be the best thing for Buffy? I've yet to see her cheered up after an encounter with Angel - so far she's mostly been depressed after seeing him. Though maybe not so much since "Halloween" which ended with them in Buffy's room talking and kissing and being comfortable together. Maybe she was euphoric afterwards. I take it, nevertheless, that Buffy and Angel still haven't had sex? Or am I making the wrong assumption?
6. Funny Cordelia line about Marie Antoinette: "I just don't see why everyone's always picking on Marie Antoinette. I can so relate to her. She worked really hard to look that good, and people just don't appreciate that kind of effort." I liked Cordelia's one-track-mind grasp of basics. At the same time, I wish she was less of a comic caricature of herself. But I do like the concept of "cranky peasants".
7. Xander: "If Angel's doing something wrong, I wanna know. 'Cause it gives me a happy!" That's Xander at his most insensitive. If I'd been Buffy, I think I'd have slapped his face. Or burst into tears. Or both. I guess Buffy's just feeling to glum to react. But then, she likes Xander more than I do.
8. "Moping at the Bronze." Heh. A specialty.
9. So we meet Billy Ford. He's attractive, he's nice, Buffy likes him, he isn't socially awkward, he likes her - uh-oh. He must be a deranged serial killer at the very least. Or possibly a demon in disguise.
10. Does everyone in the world remember their fifth grade giant crush? Mine was a boy named Henry. Last I heard, he was in jail for drugs, but that didn't happen for another few years. I thought he was wonderful. He was, too.
11. Xander: "Jeez, doesn't she know any fat guys?" There aren't any fat guys on television, Xander, unless you're in a sitcom. ...We seem to alternate between episodes where I like Xander because he's witty and brave, or episodes where I don't like him because he's snarking, insensitive and self-obsessed. This seems to be one of the latter types of episodes. I assume it will all balance out in the end.
12. Why did Angel lie to Buffy about being out the night before? Is he being protective of her, or Drusilla, or both? Seems to me the wise thing would be to tell Buffy he was out on patrol, but not make a big deal of who he saved and who he met. Or - just tell her. As he later does. But that's the whole point of this episode: lies that have consequences. That being said, why does Ford tell Buffy he was registered in the school? Why not say he'd come to town and was looking for her? Which was true.
Yeah, yeah, it's all about the lies. Silly people complicating their own lives.
13. Willow to Xander re Angel: "See, you made him do that thing where he's gone." I loved that. But I don't like the way Xander is perfectly happy while he messes with Buffy's life according to his own jealousies and whims.
14. I liked Buffy's exchange with Ford:
Ford: So, that was your boyfriend?
Buffy: No. Uh, yeah. Maybe. Could we lay off the tough questions for a while?
On thing I like about this episode is its focus on the Buffy/Angel relationship. Question - do fans usually call it Buffy/Angel or Angel/Buffy? (and please don't tell me to call it Bangel or some such thing.)
15. Buffy lies to Ford about her purse and the cats, next time round he lies to her about killing the vampire. Fair trade of lies? And does Ford tell her how he found out?
16. Any viewer with a fraction of a brain would know this is a Very Bad Thing, but Buffy and Willow aren't there yet: "It's neat! Is it neat?" "Yeah, I guess it is." Really, I despair of these two. (In an affectionate sort of way.)
17. So we see the vampire lair. Ford seems to outclass the others. Which is maybe why they let him play leader. Is he really new to town? He seems well established here. Diego says to Ford "I'm trusting you." - and that seems an echo of Jenny's statement to Giles, "You're going to have to trust me." It just strikes me now in retrospect that when Giles replies, he doesn't say he trusts her - he says he puts himself into her hands. Hmm. But of course issues of lies and trust and secrecy keep recurring in this episode, replayed with each interaction.
18. The Jack Palance Dracula line on the TV is sort of heavy-handed: "You play your wits against mine. Me, who commanded armies hundreds of years before you were born. Fools!" - but apropos. These kids don't seem like anyone who would interest any self-respecting vampire. But I guess... if you're thirsty enough, anything will do.
19. So Angel comes to Willow's room, and interestingly, she has a door to the street (or back yard?) in her bedroom. I guess that's a California thing? (They seem to have doors, balconies, and the like everywhere there.) Conversation:
Willow: No! I just... I'm not supposed to have boys in my room.
Angel: I promise to behave myself.
Which reminds me of the little boy in the playground in the beginning, not supposed to talk to strangers in the park. The whole scene seems to emphasize Willow's childlike qualities and Angel's maturity and power. Willow even talks younger here: "Help? You mean like on homework? No, 'cause you're old and you already know stuff." Which, considering that Willow's conversation is usually at a rather young level to start with, is remarkable. Yet she manages not so seem a fool, just a nervous young girl - young for her age - with a lack of social savvy and some awe of Angel. (No wonder.)
20. Angel: "I really honed my brooding skills." No kidding! World-class brooder, this guy.
21. But I really liked the phrasing of Willow's next line: "But if there isn't anything weird... Hey, that's weird."
22. So Angel asks Willow not to tell Buffy that Ford isn't kosher - this seems dumb to me, shouldn't she know as soon as possible that something's up? And I love the way Willow isn't comfortable with that, lies and secrets, keeping things from Buffy. Angel should listen to her, but no.
23. When Buffy tells Willow that Ford knows she is the Slayer, Willow doesn't say, "How did he know?" even though Buffy says right off she didn't tell him. This strikes me as odd - I know it isn't a relevant part of the plot, but it's the first question that came to my mind, and I'd want to deal with it even just to establish its insignificance. As it is, it bugs me. Did he spy on her? Did a vampire tell him? Does he have books of arcane lore that mentioned her name in a list of Future Slayers?
24. Good Xander moment:
Xander: Yeah, I'm gonna have to go with Dead Boy on this one.
Angel: Could you *not* call me that?
Yes, he is a sad trial to his friends.
25. The 'sore thumbs' conversation is cute, though it seems to me the answer is intuitively obvious. Has Willow never had a sore thumb? They *always* stick out.
26. Xander to Willow: "You have too many thoughts." Problem is, Xander has too few.
27. Why do they call vampires The Lonely Ones? Vampires in this show don't seem to be solitary creatures. Rather the opposite. They roam in packs and get together with leaders.
28. So Angel for once is honest - seems he can do that with anyone except Buffy - and calls the girl a fool to hear face. Xander says, "You really are a people person." Looks who's talking - he who just called Angel "Dead Guy". Pot and kettle.
29. I love Willow's line, when Angel says the vampire-lovers are making up stories: "Is that so bad? I mean, the dark can get pretty dark. Sometimes you need a story." I sense the voice of Joss there. It should be the motto of every writer. "Sometimes you need a story." And of every reader, too.
30. What is "Monster Trucks"?
31. Buffy sees the photo of Drusilla, and asked Giles about it. Giles says, "She's called Drusilla, a sometime paramour of Spike's. She was killed by an angry mob in Prague." This raises several questions in my mind:
- Why 'sometime paramour'? We know she's currently with Spike. Does Giles not know that? Or are we supposed to know/think/realize that the Spike/Drusilla relationship comes and goes? I'm not sure whether to interpret this as "the relationship is long-standing and well known" or "the relationship is transient and ephemeral". Perhaps Giles just doesn't know.
- Was she killed in Prague as a human or a vampire? - as a vampire, I guess. And the 'death' didn't take.
- One can take photos of vampires. I guess we knew that - we could see the vampire in the film taken on Spike's camcorder. Seems a bit of a contradiction with regard to the invisible-in-mirrors thing, but who am I to question the physics of vampirehood?
32. Drusilla and her dead bird. Love it. She is deliciously creepy, in a morbid-chic kind of way. Her craziness just makes it better. How does Spike know she met up with Angel? Was another vampire spying on them, while Buffy was? Sheesh, that's Sunnydale for you, everybody knows everybody else's business and talks about it, and being undead is no escape.
I love the way Spike's conversation with her escalates from gentleness to irritation to anger:
Spike: Yeah. So... What might you guys have talked about, then? Old times? Childhood pranks? It's a little off, you two so friendly, him being the enemy and all that.
Drusilla: I'll give you a seed if you sing.
Spike: The bird's dead, Dru. You left it in a cage, and you didn't feed it, and now it's all dead, just like the last one.
There's more harsh truth for you. Trust Spike. And then he is instantly contrite:
Spike: Oh, I'm sorry baby. I'm a bad, rude man. I just don't like you going out, that's all. You are weak. Would you like a new bird? One that's not dead?
33. So Spike and Ford meet:
Ford: I know who you are.
Spike: Yeah, I know who I am, too. So what?
Spike is so wonderful. I also like it that Ford calls him "William the Bloody". One of the reasons I like that is that the nickname doesn't sound vampiric to me, it sounds regal - sort of a cross between "William the Silent" and "Bloody Mary".
34. And Spikes delightful reply: "You've got a real death wish. It's almost interesting."
35. It isn't death wish that seems to be Ford's main characteristic, but histrionics. As if his every interaction is a bit of dialogue for the stage or a scene in a TV show.
36. Spike: " I don't go much for tradition." No kidding. It's one of the reasons I love him. "I've known you for two minutes, and I can't stand you." And his wonderful line when Ford first walks into Vampire Central: "Are you all asleep? Or did we finally find a restaurant that delivers?" There's possibly no real correspondence here, but I can't help thinking of Torchwood and the poor pizza delivery girl who became cyberfodder in "Cyberwoman". I've noted that since that episode, they pick up their pizza orders.
37. I liked this bit of Angel/Buffy dialogue:
Angel: Buffy. May I come in?
Buffy: Sure. I thought once you were invited you could always just walk in.
Angel: I can. I was just being polite.
I think Buffy isn't much accustomed to politeness. Which is odd, because Joyce seems polite enough.
38. So Buffy makes the conversation into trust issues: she doesn't like her friends meddling in her affairs behind her back. Making her just about like the rest of humanity, there.
Angel: Some lies are necessary.
Buffy: For what?
Angel: Sometimes the truth is worse. You live long enough, you find that out.
Hmm: that was the theme of last week's Torchwood episode "Adrift". Me, I'm a devotee of truth. The truth, no matter how bad, because ignorance is always a weakness. And lies degrade the ties between people, however well-intentioned they are.
Buffy: I love you. I don't know if I trust you.
Angel: Maybe you shouldn't do either.
Shows the ambivalence of both of them. Has Drusilla raised some bad memories for Angel? So it would seem. He makes a full confession:
Angel: I did a lot of unconscionable things when I became a vampire. Drusilla was the worst. She was... an obsession of mine. She was pure and sweet and chaste...
Buffy: And you made her a vampire.
Angel: First I made her insane. Killed everybody she loved. Visited every mental torture on her I could devise. She eventually fled to a convent, and on the day she took her holy orders, I turned her into a demon.
Buffy: Well. I asked for the truth.
Buffy seems a little stunned by the truth.
So now we know why Drusilla is crazy, but we don't know why/how she is precognitive. Doesn't seem standard vampire issue - perhaps the combination of insanity and vampirism caused it? And if it was Angel who was obsessed with Drusilla, how is it that she ended up with Spike?
(No, don't answer that. Don't you dare!)
Aaah, I love this vampiric soap opera stuff.
39. Buffy to Ford: "I like surprises." Famous last words. Is she being ironic? Or in denial? Or just blind? Ironic, I think, by this time.
40. Ford is such a drama queen. "This is the end, Buffy. No one gets outta here alive." He's seen too many bad vampire movies. I don't believe his brain tumor story for a minute. And Buffy doesn't believe it for much more than a minute.
41. Wonderful Buffy line: "right after the sun goes down, Spike and all of his friends are going to be pigging out at the all-you-can-eat moron bar." And I love the way that she expects Spike, anticipates Spike, because he's so much the Vampire Leader in Town now that none of the really cool vampire stuff occurs without him.
42. Love Spike's line: "let's remember to share, people." As always, the story picks up its pace and momentum and energy factor just a little whenever Spike shows his face.
43. Buffy gives her assessment of vampires: "I've got a news flash for you, braintrust: that's not how it works. You die, and a demon sets up shop in your old house, and it
walks, and it talks, and it remembers your life, but it's not you." This has interesting implications for her assessment of Angel. I'm not sure I understand where her head is with this. Basically she's saying she is in love with a demon who has some human memories. Which I guess is what it boils down to.
44. Buffy to the crowd: "This is not the mothership, people! This is ugly death come to play!" Nicely dramatic.
45. Spike: "Take them all. Save the Slayer for me." Oh, how overconfident. So Buffy grabs Drusilla as hostage and Spike capitulates and runs. I love Buffy's threat: "let everyone out, or your girlfriend fits in an ashtray." Why does Buffy not kill the vampires? Because she is unprepared? Outnumbered? She settles with just escaping. I love Spike's prosaic line: "Where's the doorknob?"
46. Wonderful Spike moment:
Spike: We're stuck in a basement.
Ford: Buffy?
Spike: She's *not* stuck in the basement.
47. Why does Buffy think Ford was 'just scared'? Seems to me we have no clue as to his motivation, but from anything I see in the episode, it wasn't fear, but a love of grandstanding that motivated Ford. But I can guess it's hard to think ill of your first crush and I always made excuses for Henry's crime, too.
48. And I love the final conversation between Buffy and Giles:
Buffy: Nothing's ever simple anymore. I'm constantly trying to work it out. Who to love or hate. Who to trust. It's just, like, the more I know, the more confused I get.I think actually it's called 'life'.
Giles: I believe that's called growing up.
Buffy: I'd like to stop then, okay?
Giles: I know the feeling.
Buffy: Does it ever get easy?
Giles: You mean life?
Buffy: Yeah. Does it get easy?
Giles: What do you want me to say?
Buffy: Lie to me.
That is just wonderful. For many reasons. Not just what they say, but because she is looking to Giles for wisdom and reassurance, not dismissing him as a stupid adult - maybe that's the first sign of maturity for Buffy?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2008-03-24 06:17 pm (UTC)"My Angel." Woo. How does she mean that? They know each other - very well. Small vampire world.
Muahahaha. Not saying a word.
"You could spend some time with Angel."
I think Giles thinks it will cheer her up - I don't know that he's ever seen her being depressed after seeing Angel.
Though maybe not so much since "Halloween" which ended with them in Buffy's room talking and kissing and being comfortable together
Huh, you have watched it. I guess I did miss your post, drat.
So we meet Billy Ford. He's attractive, he's nice, Buffy likes him
I like the line about listening to "I Touch Myself" and Buffy not knowing what it meant at the time - and that it takes Willow a few minutes to get what it meant.
Why did Angel lie to Buffy about being out the night before? Is he being protective of her, or Drusilla, or both?
I think he doesn't want to have to tell her about things he's ashamed of.
So Angel comes to Willow's room, and interestingly, she has a door to the street (or back yard?) in her bedroom.
I assumed she was a floor up from the street and that it was a balcony.
I love the way Willow isn't comfortable with that, lies and secrets, keeping things from Buffy.
I love how Buffy thinks she's overcaffeinated and reminds her that they've talked about that.
Why do they call vampires The Lonely Ones? Vampires in this show don't seem to be solitary creatures. Rather the opposite. They roam in packs and get together with leaders.
Because the kids in the club are dumb. They've never encountered the show's vampires, just the overly-romanticised version from angsty books.
What is "Monster Trucks"?
It is a show where extremely large trucks crush other vehicles beneath them and drive over obstacles and spin and race and do other boring things. Jenny is totally nuts for thinking Giles would have a good time (though Dr House canonically likes the shows).
"She's called Drusilla, a sometime paramour of Spike's. She was killed by an angry mob in Prague." This raises several questions in my mind
I think it's just an illustration that Watcher information on vampires can sometimes be very incomplete.
Seems a bit of a contradiction with regard to the invisible-in-mirrors thing, but who am I to question the physics of vampirehood?
I remember they address this in S1 of Angel, but I can't remember the explanation. I doubt it made a huge amount of sense!
(No, don't answer that. Don't you dare!)
You're killing me. *sulks*
I don't believe his brain tumor story for a minute. And Buffy doesn't believe it for much more than a minute.
Interesting. I believe it, and I think Buffy does. She just won't let him use it as an excuse for getting lots of other people (and himself) killed.
You die, and a demon sets up shop in your old house, and it
walks, and it talks, and it remembers your life, but it's not you." This has interesting implications for her assessment of Angel. I'm not sure I understand where her head is with this. Basically she's saying she is in love with a demon who has some human memories.
Ah, no. Because Angel had his human soul restored - remember "the demon takes your body, but it doesn't get your soul. That's gone". There are interesting discussions to be had on the whole soul/no soul issue (later on in your watching probably) but Buffy is in love with a human soul who has memories of what a demon did in his undead body, and who is still obviously in possession of some demon attributes.
The other vampires are all demon, no soul.
Buffy: Yeah. Does it get easy?
Giles: What do you want me to say?
Buffy: Lie to me.
I like how in the middle of their conversation the vampire-that-used-to-be-Ford pops up and she stakes him without a moment's hesitation.
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Date: 2008-03-24 06:50 pm (UTC)I was all set to say to you, "Yes, I posted it on Saturday," but when I looked for it to find the link for you, I coudn't find it. It had disappeared. By a miracle of nature I'd kept a copy of it (whew!) and now I've posted here (http://fajrdrako.livejournal.com/872386.html). So postings on these two eps are out of order now. Oops. Thanks for mentioning this.
(Note to self: keep copies of all of these posts. Just in case it happens again.)
I think there are some people on your flist who really wanted to know what you thought of a certain character from it.
And who might that be? Ethan? He's interesting for sure. One thought I had, which I didn't express, was to wonder if he was actually being canonically slashed with Giles, as it appears, at least as backstory. Joss's writing is usually so unsubtle that when he is being subtle I don't know how to recognize it.
Huh, you have watched it. I guess I did miss your post, drat.
See the link posted above.
I like the line about listening to "I Touch Myself" and Buffy not knowing what it meant at the time - and that it takes Willow a few minutes to get what it meant.
That was funny.
I think he doesn't want to have to tell her about things he's ashamed of.
That reminds me of Captain Jack Harkness as well. Not that I'm obsessed or anything. [♥] Just that he too does not want to talk to the Torchwood people about his days as a con man and freebooter; he wants them to respect him. His past looks pristine-pure compared to Angel's, in any case. Hmm, there are not many contexts in which I would refer to Captain Jack Harkness as "pristine-pure".
I assumed she was a floor up from the street and that it was a balcony.
Yes. Very Californian, I'd say, though I suppose there are examples of it here. Come to think of it... there was a door like that, to a balcony accessed via a bedroom, in an Ottawa apartment I had once eons ago. I don't remember it well because that wasn't my bedroom, but my roommates.
I love how Buffy thinks she's overcaffeinated and reminds her that they've talked about that.
Yes. Very cute.
They've never encountered the show's vampires, just the overly-romanticised version from angsty books.
Yes. They're read Anne Rice. I'm sure Louis was lonely.
Jenny is totally nuts for thinking Giles would have a good time (though Dr House canonically likes the shows).
LOL - that sounds about right!
I think it's just an illustration that Watcher information on vampires can sometimes be very incomplete.
As such, it works. And then we get the wonderful contrast when Angel explains the real story to Buffy - he knows, he was there, he lived it - the story is so much more complete.
I remember they address this in S1 of Angel, but I can't remember the explanation. I doubt it made a huge amount of sense!
It isn't the kind of detail I really care about, but one gets curious as to what is the show's reality and what isn't, especially when vampire lore is different from one book, movie, or TV show to another.
Interesting. I believe it, and I think Buffy does.
I think Ford is 100% false - everything he says is a lie.
Buffy is in love with a human soul who has memories of what a demon did in his undead body, and who is still obviously in possession of some demon attributes.
Okay. I'll try to keep this straight.
I like how in the middle of their conversation the vampire-that-used-to-be-Ford pops up and she stakes him without a moment's hesitation.
At first I'd thought Buffy had gone to the grave to pay her respects because of her fond memories of Ford. When he popped up, I decided she had gone to stake him, if and as necessary.
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Date: 2008-03-24 06:57 pm (UTC)They have not.
Why does Buffy not kill the vampires?
Because she couldn't kill them all at once and innocent people would die.
I can't remember if the above commenter just spoiled you or not re: Angel's soul. Has that information come up yet in the series?
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Date: 2008-03-24 07:01 pm (UTC)Angel's soul. Has that information come up yet in the series?
It was explained in the series, way back in "Angel", I think, but she explained it more clearly. I think I didn't quite get it the first time round.
Thanks for explaining about Angel and Buffy and sex. I figured they hadn't done anything yet, but I wasn't sure. And I wasn't sure why - uncertainty on both their parts, I suppose?
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Date: 2008-03-24 07:18 pm (UTC)Jane Espenson (someone responsible for writing the Ethan eps) says the apparent subtext was intentional.
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Date: 2008-03-24 07:37 pm (UTC)Drusilla is not a very usual sort of vampire. And yes, she does know Angel. Very well.
You're starting to grasp the pattern.
There's far too much sordid detail in Angel's past for him to want to open up the topic of Drusilla.
On thing I like about this episode is its focus on the Buffy/Angel relationship. Question - do fans usually call it Buffy/Angel or Angel/Buffy? (and please don't tell me to call it Bangel or some such thing.)
Bangel is the shorthand term, like Spuffy. Otherwise either order is fine.
Angel: "I really honed my brooding skills." No kidding! World-class brooder, this guy.
Nope.
Angel: Could you *not* call me that?
Yes, he is a sad trial to his friends.
He's a jealous teenage boy who has found a way of being annoying.
Continued in next comment
no subject
Date: 2008-03-24 07:37 pm (UTC)So only delusional people would call them that...
Truck racing with crashes I believe. As un-Giles as you can get, part of Jenny's crusade to bring him into the current century.
That whole sequence is wonderful, isn't it? It shows Spike as devoted to his beloved even while being a killer.
Ford: I know who you are.
Spike: Yeah, I know who I am, too. So what?
There may be a very few times when Spike is not wonderful, but they don't really come to mind much. Vampires with more than one name often have complex personalities, too.
(No, don't answer that. Don't you dare!)
Aaah, I love this vampiric soap opera stuff.
Wouldn't dream of answering. But you will find out quite a lot more.
It gets way more complex than that - and Watchers' Council orthodoxy isn't always the full story.
JM's marvellous comic timing there.
I think we are supposed to take Ford's tumour as real, which is why he's so desperate to continue to exist he will betray anyone and everyone. Yes, he's a drama queen about it, but note that he still wants Spike to keep his side of the bargain. Note, too, that Spike does keep it.
I love Giles's last litany of lies, too. Beautiful.
Glad you liked this. I'm very fond of it, though I know some folks aren't keen. We will meet one of the minor characters in this again, in surprising circumstances, BTW.
Notice how the backstory is constantly getting richer, deeper. We aren't far from the really epic stuff now.
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Date: 2008-03-24 07:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-24 08:03 pm (UTC)That, and it's statutory rape. ;) Though yes, my opinion is they're just not ready yet, at this point in their relationship.
Again I'm unsure which questions you want answered, so I could say things but I won't. I know most of your posts are musings--what about, I don't know, marking questions somehow? I did see one "Don't answer that!" which was helpful. :D
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Date: 2008-03-24 08:05 pm (UTC)After the first five or six time, I started to catch on.
You're starting to grasp the pattern.
Never mind the brooding, he must be really squirming now. He's just in the process of courting a sweet young thing and along comes his past to ruin everything.
Bangel is the shorthand term, like Spuffy.
Oh dear. How unfortunate.
Otherwise either order is fine.
I like to go for alphabetical order, but I'm not terrible consistent.
Intergalactic-level brooding skills.
I stand corrected.
He's a jealous teenage boy who has found a way of being annoying.
Hasn't he just!
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Date: 2008-03-24 08:10 pm (UTC)Ford's tumor is absolutely real -- that was never in doubt. He is painted as entirely separate from the vampire groupies, and the only time he is dead (pardon the expression) serious and entirely truthful is when he tells Buffy that he's *dying*, and this is why he sought the vampires out.
I vividly remember the fannish reaction to Giles beating the shit out of Ethan -- we'd never ever have suspected that he could be that cold and calculating, or visit such violence on anyone. People flipped out.
Why "old man"?
It's just a British expression, like "old bean" or "old chum". No deeper meaning.
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Date: 2008-03-24 08:11 pm (UTC)I'm with Giles on this one. Quick, go run back to the safety of the dusty old books.
There may be a very few times when Spike is not wonderful, but they don't really come to mind much.
Not to jump ahead of myself, but I remember being totally underwhelmed and even disappointed by Spike when I tried watching Angel a few times, back when it was on. No comment necessary - I'm not there yet - one thing at a time. I suspect that by the time I get there, my perceptions and perspectives will have changed.
Watchers' Council orthodoxy isn't always the full story.
That was true in Highlander, too. Much as they tried to get it right...
Note, too, that Spike does keep it.
Yes. That surprised me. I had expected Spike to just break his neck - not even bother with his blood.
I love Giles's last litany of lies, too. Beautiful.
All so perfectly delivered to give Buffy the right perspective between truth and fanatsy.
Notice how the backstory is constantly getting richer, deeper.
And has started coming together, looping back on itself, making much for of a complete picture with interconnections. Like colour and detail being applied to a rough sketch.
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Date: 2008-03-24 08:17 pm (UTC)No? I doubted it and still do. The story makes more sense to me if it's fake: it goes from being a cliché to being a rather rich portrait of someone who has trouble distinguishing truth from reality - who throws his life away on what is either a grandstand show to generate sympathy, or a bad case of hypochondria.
I vividly remember the fannish reaction to Giles beating the shit out of Ethan -- we'd never ever have suspected that he could be that cold and calculating, or visit such violence on anyone. People flipped out.
I can imagine. It really is shocking - this is Giles, whom we've never seen lift a finger to hurt anyone. I am, in fact, kind of relieved - it makes him so much less of a one-note character. He goes from being the 'mild professor' sterotype to something much more complex.
I am delighted because, much as I adore Giles, his unchanging manner was starting to wear thin.
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Date: 2008-03-24 08:19 pm (UTC)Well, yes, but I'm not sure regular laws apply to vampires. Or that they would care if they did.
Though yes, my opinion is they're just not ready yet, at this point in their relationship.
Agreed. Besides: Angel has all the time in the world to wait for her to be ready.
I did see one "Don't answer that!" which was helpful. :D
I'll try to remember to keep putting that in.
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Date: 2008-03-24 08:26 pm (UTC)For me it's much deeper, and tragic, with the tumor - someone who chooses a purely evil existence over death. No one wants to die, of course, especially someone young, but being someone who makes the choice to live as a monster rather than die is a much stronger plotline than someone who is just a self-centered asshole and nothing more.
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Date: 2008-03-24 08:27 pm (UTC)I know it may just be me; I just don't want you spoiled for the big stuff! Even something like "please answer" vs "PLEASE DON'T ANSWER!".
I see above someone spoiled you for something quite large, which I won't point to. Meh.
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Date: 2008-03-24 08:46 pm (UTC)Seems not improbable.
Spike is good at doing the surprising thing.
And you haven't actually got to most of the truly wonderful stuff yet.
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Date: 2008-03-24 08:48 pm (UTC)Brooding is what he does best, though.
Within the fandom B/A, S/B etc are fine. And simpler.
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Date: 2008-03-24 08:48 pm (UTC)But they're a lot of fun. Thanks for the nudge.
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Date: 2008-03-25 12:28 am (UTC)this goes back to whether or not you believe in the tumor. It's been a long time, but from what I understand, the tumor was 100% real, so Buffy's saying Ford was scared of death.
As for "bangel", etc, I see someone else told you - yes, that's what they call it. And Spuffy. Also, B/A, and S/B. And S/A ;)
no subject
Date: 2008-03-25 02:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-25 02:45 am (UTC)Oh dear, I'm really not into cruelty to animals, I swear!
I started in on season 1 this weekend. 1 and 2 were pretty good - 3 (Witch) dragged a bit.
As my friends keep telling me, season 1 is not the best - some of it's sort of childish and some of it's sort of pointless. But still not bad. Even season 1 has good characterization and some good ideas and sharp wit, and it keeps growing and improving and picking up momentum.
Just in case you needed more encouragement!
Nudges happily provided anytime. I'm wondering if I'm a bad influence or a good one, but it's a sort of moot point, isn't it? All in the eye of the beholder.
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Date: 2008-03-25 02:45 am (UTC)As for the initials - I'll play it by ear.
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Date: 2008-03-25 02:56 am (UTC)see above someone spoiled you for something quite large
I either didn't see it yet, or didn't understand it. It's okay, I know the risks.
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Date: 2008-03-25 03:03 am (UTC)Another reason to love him.
you haven't actually got to most of the truly wonderful stuff yet.
So I hear. But I can tell momentum is building.
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Date: 2008-03-25 10:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-25 10:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-03-25 12:34 pm (UTC)Thank you!
no subject
Date: 2008-03-25 12:35 pm (UTC)