Question Are we OK with Scoobies being cops now?

[EVIL UU]

Although Scoobies have at times cooperated with the government ( in season 4 and 7 ) the group generally had a very strong anti-authoritarian/anarchist nature what with the hacking of computers/breaking into secret government facilities, theft of military weapons, vigilantism, creation of private armies and so on. Now they all seem to work with the government. Are we cool with that?

From a ragtag band of monster hunters facing impossible odds to the entire world embracing and dealing with the occult. Doesn't that diminish the superhero status of the characters? Constrain them? Pull out their teeth? Is it merely a consequence of the occult going public or is there something more to this development, a metaphor perhaps?

 

[GwenRaiden]

I'm not completely up to date with the comics but the theme sounds familiar to Angel Investigations changing tack and working for Wolfram & Hart back in s5 of Angel.

 

[thetopher]

It's basically like they've gone from being the X-Men to the Avengers right? Outcasts from society to the preeminent people in their field that the authorities seek out for help/protection.

I mean I get, that for the purposes of the plot/story, but I'm not sure how much I want to read about it.
On the one hand growing up is about seeking your place in the world, right? It's about finding your strengths and learning how to cope, not screw up, become wiser and happier. So if the Scoobies ARE fitting in then their succeeding- trusted with the Varpyre book, working with the police/in touch with the new occult subculture that's springing up.

That all seems to be good, but on the other hand success isn't that dramatic without set-backs and obscacles, and its not like we've had a lot of those this season.
The occasional giant monster, a bit of mind-control, the twin dunce 'threats' of Andrew and Harmony who weren't really that effective, and so now the Scoobies are doing all right (professsionally, Ithink personally there is pain ahead) - maybe because they haven't really been TESTED in their new position of authority.

Arheaus was a good-ish start I guess...but he's buggereed off to London to be with Dru (apparently) and fight A& F (and their really powerful friends Illyria and K'oh) so where does that leave us with the story threat-wise? What's on the horizon that's going to really test the Scoobies new exhalted place in the world, and just how badly are they going to slip in their attempts to defeat it?

So, uh, I guess its all going to depend on the execution of the season- what happens next- to see if this is an interesting development or a dead end plot.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Isn't that akin to growing up and buying into the system that you raged against as a youngster? Realizing that the corporate suit and tie is a better option than being an idealistic hippy living in a van by the river. Anarchy and anti-establishment only last so long... the wack jobs you hear about on the news are all anarchists too. To me it's just a part of their growing up, taking on more responsibilities and maturing.

 

[GwenRaiden]

My parents are anarchists in their 50s. 😀

 

[Skanky Vamp]

My parents are anarchists in their 50s. 😀

Their Scottish, I think its more socially acceptable. It would be queer if they were not.

 

[gite63]

To me it's just a part of their growing up, taking on more responsibilities and maturing.

This, and the fact that the occult has gone public; there is a police force that just now is learning how to deal with supernatural cases, and the heroes can't look at the other way and not help.

Buffy, as the Slayer, should help, but not become an employee or official consultant, like Spike or Xander; I don't have any problem with that, I like changes (not so huge like in S8). I believe the conflict with the military will/would be bigger than working with the police.

 

[EVIL UU]

Isn't that akin to growing up and buying into the system that you raged against as a youngster? Realizing that the corporate suit and tie is a better option than being an idealistic hippy living in a van by the river.

I don't know. I've met some people who went the opposite route. One runs this sort of a hostel in the mountains, the real deal, a hut without electricity and whatnot, the other is a professional mountain guide. Both started with a suit and tie, said #@$! it, they're happier people now.

To me it's just a part of their growing up, taking on more responsibilities and maturing.

But are they? They had a town to protect, horrors of the hellmouth to contain. And now? Buffy doesn't even have to patrol because police handles that and vampires don't even kill people no more. Giles was a watcher, fate of the world depended on the quality of his research. Now, his skills seem worthless.

I don't see it. How are Scoobies taking more responsibilities now compared to life in Sunnydale?

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I don't know. I've met some people who went the opposite route. One runs this sort of a hostel in the mountains, the real deal, a hut without electricity and whatnot, the other is a professional mountain guide. Both started with a suit and tie, said #@$! it, they're happier people now.

But that's far from being an anarchist, anti-establishment. Unless they are providing the services for free... that might be considered anti-establishment. Most people tend to do a 180 even if only temporary.

I was speaking allegorically. You asked was it a metaphor and I think yes, it was. For the reasons I listed.

 

[vellavu]

No. We are not OK.

If Buffy was always a fugitive and they had Simone/Severin work for the government, S9 would be a much better season.

If the Vampyre book was stolen from the start by the government working for D'Hoffryn, S10 would be a much better season. God, if they want to write lore stuff from now on, well they are apparently doing it anyway, they could make a whole series of Willow struggling with the magic rules constantly tampered by the government. As long as it doesn't affect Buffy's world too much I will happily read it.