8.22: Swell - "Do you see the conflict?"

AndrewCrossett

AndrewCrossett

Satsu Otaku
Joined
Nov 19, 2008
Messages
2,342
Location
New York
Sineya
This has been bugging me ever since issue #21 came out.

At the end of the letter column is the preview blurb for issue #22. It says: "Next month Georges teams with another great writer from the TV show, Steve DeKnight, as Kennedy goes to Tokyo to check up on Satsu. Do you see the conflict...?"

And I've been trying to figure out what the "conflict" is I'm supposed to be seeing. If anything, I'd expect them to commisserate over their respective girl troubles.

The only potential source of conflict I see is that Kennedy really doesn't like Buffy that much, and Satsu really kind of likes her a whole lot.

Is there something else I'm missing?
 
Tranquillity
Tranquillity
good question
Possibly the conflict is going to be more in the way of clashing egos, as in, Kennedy thinks that she's the best New Slayer, and Satsu really is. Maybe Kennedy will finally get the a** kicking that she has been begging for ever since "Potentials."
 
S
Silum
that would make for a good issue, one can dream
F
Five
Oooh Kennedy ass-kicking karma. Scratch that : Kennedy ass-kicking LOVE.
Tranquillity
Tranquillity
good theory
WA pretty much summed it up for me. It's definitely a conflict of Egos.

And I must say, BAMM! completely skimmed over the 8.20 for me! and I'm HIGHLY bummed! I was expecting to be buying 8.20 this weekend because BAMM! is always a few weeks behind, and I get Harmonic Divergence. I don't give a flip about Harmony! I want my Buffy Animated!
 
Probably a huge conflict of eggos. Err, egos. 😉

I can easily imagine Kennedy bitching about Buffy, ragging on her tactics and skill and leadership abilities, and Satsu getting really uptight about it. Hell, so would I. Kennedy was a good fighter but man, if she could shut her yap for a second and take some things seriously like Willow's issues with using magic, and quit playing high horse with Buffy when Buffy just wants to get to work... yeah, Kennedy is overdue for an ass kicking.

Btw... Kennedy has made remarks twice now (I think twice? was it three times?) to the effect that Buffy better keep her mitts off of Willow. Wtf? If Kennedy brings this up to Satsu (in her regularly bitchy way), there's gonna be issues.
 
UnKle said:
I can easily imagine Kennedy bitching about Buffy, ragging on her tactics and skill and leadership abilities, and Satsu getting really uptight about it. Hell, so would I. Kennedy was a good fighter but man, if she could shut her yap for a second and take some things seriously like Willow's issues with using magic, and quit playing high horse with Buffy when Buffy just wants to get to work... yeah, Kennedy is overdue for an ass kicking.
Click to expand...

I can see that happening.

My question is... given how not-close Buffy and Kennedy are, and how Kennedy doesn't even work alongside Buffy... why would B delegate her to go check up on Satsu?

UnKle said:
Btw... Kennedy has made remarks twice now (I think twice? was it three times?) to the effect that Buffy better keep her mitts off of Willow. Wtf? If Kennedy brings this up to Satsu (in her regularly bitchy way), there's gonna be issues.
Click to expand...

Ooooh, if she tries to make Satsu think Buffy has been hitting on Willow... I'm going to be right there with you on the ass-kicking bandwagon.
 
Yeah this should be fun, the main story arc of this season, is doing nothing for me, so it'll be nice to let some of the other characters shine. Satsu is cool, and i do like Kennedy. The only problem i ever had with her, was the lack of chemistry with Willow, on screen. In comic form, that shouldn't be an issue. We hope. I've never been to bothered by her arrogance, or her need to be heard, and yeah she can be a full blown bitca, but that brings conflict, i like conflict, conflict is fun.
 
maybe satsu and kennedy will hook up.

i'm getting bored with season 8. it's a shame cause i liked it a lot up til time of your life. now it just reminds me of "lost"
 
wehappyfew said:
maybe satsu and kennedy will hook up.
Click to expand...

*twitches*

The old "Any time two lesbians meet they have to sleep together. Otherwise, why be lesbians?"

I briefly entertained that fear when I first saw the preview for this issue. But then I quickly assured myself, "come on. This is Joss. He would never let a fingernails-on-the-chalkboard, shark-jumping cliche like that into his storyline."

Sure, they could decide to have Kennedy forget that she's in a committed relationship with Willow and afraid of losing her. They could have Satsu suddenly be the kind of person to sleep with a friend's girlfriend.

But really... why suck that much?
 
AndrewCrossett said:
*twitches*

The old "Any time two lesbians meet they have to sleep together. Otherwise, why be lesbians?"

I briefly entertained that fear when I first saw the preview for this issue. But then I quickly assured myself, "come on. This is Joss. He would never let a fingernails-on-the-chalkboard, shark-jumping cliche like that into his storyline."

Sure, they could decide to have Kennedy forget that she's in a committed relationship with Willow and afraid of losing her. They could have Satsu suddenly be the kind of person to sleep with a friend's girlfriend.

But really... why suck that much?
Click to expand...
Argh. I hate to say this, but because it sets up conflict between Willow and Buffy. Willow's already got super angst about her significant others being in Buffy's vicinity because where Buffy goes, so goes the drama and the bloodshed and the girlfriends dying and stuff. And Kennedy's already pissy at Buffy because of that, and doesn't trust Buffy around Willow. But would Kennedy freaking sleep with Satsu for that? I don't think so. But stupider things happen in relationships all the time.

Joss has been known to dip into the super drama from time to time, but he does it sparingly, and he only does it if it's for good reason, like it's setting up something bigger. There was all that dramarama between Spike and Buffy in S6 but it set up Spike deciding to go get his soul, and then he tried to make amends, so Buffy eventually trusted him to be her champion, and he destroyed the hellmouth. So... yeah.

I could see any of these suggestions above happening. All of 'em set it up to be conflict city.
 
I want Satsu and Kennedy together ! I want Satsu and Kennedy together ! I want Satsu and - Ok you got the thing I guess.

That's how we take this Batsu thing behind us (it's really over anyway, I kinda liked it but it's water under the bridge now... I don't see that coming up any time soon, I thought it was a good ending, Satsu deciding to leave (or stay) to get over Buffy =) ). And that's how we... get rid of Kennedy ! AND of the most unbelievable thing of S8 - imo - : Willow and Kennedy still together after all these years.

I agree with AndrewCrossett (yes, I did just say that =D (just kidding 😉)) though : I'm not for the whole two-lesbians-have-to-sleep-together thing, but who says they have to sleep together ? They can just fall in luuuurv. I mean, Satsu must be in the middle of the moving-on process, when you're kinda looking at other people now. And Kennedy, ah, is she really happy ? Ok I guess from "Time of your Life" that she is, but maybe she'll finally find out that Willow deserves really better than her. So Tara can come back from the grave and I can be very very happy.
 
There are a lot more logical ways to set up conflict. And there aren't many more illogical ways. Besides, why would Satsu+Kennedy turn Willow against Buffy?

As much as I love Buffy and Satsu together, I don't expect Satsu to join a convent and remain celibate while waiting for Buffy to maybe come to her senses someday.

The problem is that Kennedy is with Willow, they've spent quite a lot of time establishing that relationship (in "Anywhere But Here" and "Time of Your Life"). When last seen, Kennedy was nearly frantic with the idea of anyone coming between her and Willow.

Satsu is in love with Buffy. "True" love that even registers in a magical sense. I don't think that would fade so quickly, and I really don't think she'd be ready to jump in bed with someone else already.

And we know Satsu and Willow are friends. I ask again: has Satsu been shown as the kind of person who would poach her friend's girlfriend?

Also, the preview mentioned "conflict," not "love." Unless they're going to go with the Cliche 2-For-1 Plan and also decide that characters who fight like cats and dogs wind up falling in bed together at the end.

It would... disappoint me to see them go down this road.
 
AndrewCrossett said:
Satsu is in love with Buffy. "True" love that even registers in a magical sense.
Click to expand...
I think that's key in discussing this avenue of possible conflict. When you're that head over heels for someone, it's hard to move on, and even hard to look at someone else. Unless Satsu's the kind that needs to start bedding people to get over the sting of ending the relationship, and Satsu's character doesn't strike me that way. Satsu seems very grounded and very considerate of feelings, whether they're hers or Buffy's. Sleeping with Kennedy would also hurt Buffy, not just Willow. Not only because Satsu would have apparently gotten over her so damn fast (you know Buffy would secretly be bummed if Satsu found somebody), but because it hurt Willow.

So, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that's probably not the conflict, even though it's a way to set up a lot of conflict that would be very divisive to the Scoobies.

Btw, my sense from the comics is that Kennedy loves Willow, but she might be second-guessing Willow's love for her (given her uber-jealous reaction toward Buffy lately), and therefore second-guessing her own. I think Kennedy cheating at all would be more believable a story than Kennedy cheating with Satsu, though.
 
D
DrusillaRox
for a second when you said key I thought you were talking aobut dawn
UnKle said:
I think that's key in discussing this avenue of possible conflict. When you're that head over heels for someone, it's hard to move on, and even hard to look at someone else. Unless Satsu's the kind that needs to start bedding people to get over the sting of ending the relationship, and Satsu's character doesn't strike me that way. Satsu seems very grounded and very considerate of feelings, whether they're hers or Buffy's. Sleeping with Kennedy would also hurt Buffy, not just Willow. Not only because Satsu would have apparently gotten over her so damn fast (you know Buffy would secretly be bummed if Satsu found somebody), but because it hurt Willow.

So, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that's probably not the conflict, even though it's a way to set up a lot of conflict that would be very divisive to the Scoobies.

Btw, my sense from the comics is that Kennedy loves Willow, but she might be second-guessing Willow's love for her (given her uber-jealous reaction toward Buffy lately), and therefore second-guessing her own. I think Kennedy cheating at all would be more believable a story than Kennedy cheating with Satsu, though.
Click to expand...

I'm not saying Joss would be above doing something this hurtful to his characters (and to us)... I just don't think he'd indulge in such obvious cliches and sacrifice so much character development and story logic to do it.

It's possible this issue could plant the seeds of something in the future between these characters, though, I suppose.
 
AndrewCrossett said:
I'm not saying Joss would be above doing something this hurtful to his characters (and to us)... I just don't think he'd indulge in such obvious cliches and sacrifice so much character development and story logic to do it.
Click to expand...
No, and as I said above, I don't think he'd do it unless he had a damned good reason. Stirring the pot for the sense of making endless relationship drama is what soaps are for. Joss engages in the pot-stirring to bring in other stories.

I don't think he's above a Kennedy and Satsu "whoops!" moment. Especially if it serves a bigger purpose. But I think it might create too much drama.

Of course... we've still yet to find out what drove Willow to stay alive for 200+ years only to try and kill Buffy. If Kennedy and Satsu did hook up, it would lead to further conflict elsewhere.

Ah, heck, I give up, I guess any of it's possible. :silly: I'm just putting my vote in for this particular conflict-y event to be not in the top 3 on the list of possibilities.
 
As I said, they don't have to sleep together. They could just fall in love with each other - or start liking each other very much - and Kennedy, already second-guessing her love for Willow as UnKle said, could decide that this is the proof she has to break up with "Red" (God I hate that she calls her that), without doing anything wrong with Satsu until the split is final. Then, Kennedy moves to Japan, and Buffy can get her life-changing wish, use it to bring Tara back, and it's Tillow all over again, and then even Kennedy-defenders may even forget about her.
 
D
DrusillaRox
kennedy defenders exist?
It would be completely within Kennedy's character, upon hearing that Satsu has been put in charge of the Japanese Slayer Team, to either take it upon herself, or weedle permission from Willow, to go and check out the new set up, while really trying to undermine Satsu's authority. Then, at some point, she's just gonna HAVE to utter those fatal words, "I guess you have to sleep with Mama Slayer to get ahead in this army." or words to that effect, and then Satsu, like the immortal Clancy, will lower the boom all over her skinny stuck up a**.
 
AndrewCrossett
AndrewCrossett
This is the much more likely scenario...
personally, i don't want to see it happen. i was just making a joke about how nonsensical season 8 is becoming for me.

also, i think putting kennedy in any situation causes conflict.
someone above mentioned all the drama around buffy....but kennedy just gives off bad vibes. i don't understand what willow sees in her.
kennedy has a loud mouth and doesn't like buffy (jealousy, i think)....conflict arisen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom