Discussion of 8.31 "Turbulence" - Released 1/13/10 (Dark Horse)

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^^ I agree with that too. It's kind of a slap in the face, as well, to anyone and everyone that's ever liked the idea of Spike/Buffy better than Angel/Buffy.

I'm kind of disturbed that this is the case...

Just want to say how NICE this banner is -
 
I'm just catching up on the issues. I wanted to add how glad I was that Xander shot Buffy down. She really didn't have any right to go barging in after she saw that Xander and Dawn were together. It was the most blatant attempt at boyfriend stealing since Him, and almost as childish. I'm glad Xander had the wherewithall to know who he was and who he wanted to be with. It would have broken my heart if Buffy had stolen something else from Dawn.
 
I'm just catching up on the issues. I wanted to add how glad I was that Xander shot Buffy down. She really didn't have any right to go barging in after she saw that Xander and Dawn were together. It was the most blatant attempt at boyfriend stealing since Him, and almost as childish. I'm glad Xander had the wherewithall to know who he was and who he wanted to be with. It would have broken my heart if Buffy had stolen something else from Dawn.

I get what you're saying, but I'm not sure the BF stealing in "Him" counts since it was a spell.
 
I get what you're saying, but I'm not sure the BF stealing in "Him" counts since it was a spell.

No, of course it was a spell in "Him." I was just using it as an example of what I didn't like about Buffy's behavior in this issue. In "Him," her actions were hilarious because she had absolutely no insight into them.
 
S
Spike Angelus
ah, ok. :)
But, do we really want Dawn to be happy? 😛 JK

I just finished this issue last night, and it was probably in my Top Five so far. The Retreat arc was horrible, and I think this issue picked things up again, along with the Willow one-shot. (Oddly, both written by Whedon. 😛)

Just a few questions that hopefully someone can answer:

1). Everyone keeps referring to the Willow/Oz "talk" in this issue. They only had a page together! I saw no 'talk' other than Willow starting to cry and Oz saying, "Will...". Did I miss something?

2). Is this the end of Riley? Does he appear again? I liked how things ended between him and Buffy, but she seems annoyed that he still has feelings for her.

3). This Xander/Dawn/Buffy love triangle was ridiculous, but I'm glad Joss handled it the way he did.

4). Will Oz appear again?
 
Good comments, all. I liked the Xander/Buffy talk so much that I read it on its own, not just in the context of the entire issue 🙂. I'm glad that Xander is aware enough of the semi-awkwardness of his relationship with Dawn to feel like Humbert Humbert, since it shows that he's mature enough to realize that his earliest feelings for Dawn (circa Season 5, perhaps?) were inappropriate. I also laughed at the very different reactions from Kennedy and Xander regarding Buffy's ability to fly -- Kennedy thinking it's kind of hot and Xander not agreeing 😀. I wasn't too keen on Kennedy's "dyke" comment, however. Maybe now that Buffy's back with Angel (temporarily, at least), Kennedy won't be so paranoid in thinking that Buffy will steal Willow from her.
 
Does anyone else feel like Xander got over Renee pretty quick here? I don't mind him with Dawn, but still.

The Buffy stuff with Xander is dumb though. Reads more like fanfic than the series.
 
Does anyone else feel like Xander got over Renee pretty quick here? I don't mind him with Dawn, but still.

Maybe he's just getting use having the girl he's interested in turn out evil or die?

But seriously, I did think him and Dawn fell in love pretty quickly. I guess it comes with they territory *shrugs*

The Buffy stuff with Xander is dumb though. Reads more like fanfic than the series.

ITA and I thought it was so tacky of Buffy to tell Xander about her feelings for him after watching him and Dawn get closer and closer.
 
Black Eye Guy
Black Eye Guy
[No message]
ITA and I thought it was so tacky of Buffy to tell Xander about her feelings for him after watching him and Dawn get closer and closer.

This!

That was crazy, Although it was great to see Xanders response to it, to see how different he is now.
 
brinkster130
brinkster130
True. This was one of my favorite Xander moments.
I almost forgot how funny this issue really is.

Buffy: Doing it with Willow was scary. (Goddamn subtext more visible than actual text😀)

Buffy: No, it's fine. Dawn's a grown woman, and you're a disgusting paedophile.

Dawn: Uh. Cough. Noise of cough.

Buffy: I'm Buffy and I approve this kissage.

Kennedy: You're a dyke.
Xander: It's a nuke.
Dawn: You sacrifice a "key"... (air quote)
Kennedy: That's actually hot.
Xander: I don't agree.
Dawn: Gape.

Willow: Gah! I thought they'd never figure that out.


They are all highly context-related jokes. You can even find comic-timinng considerations when arranging panels.

In comparison, some S10 issues are funny. But they are just pure dialogues irrelevant to the comic media. If you get rid of the drawing they are still jokes. CG just can't be subtle.
 
I'm glad someone is apologizing to Oz! He says they aren't the first to bring war to Tibet, but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter. Buffy and co have to fight the fight, but they always have left a lot of collateral damage in their wake, and I like that that's being acknowledged for once. The poignant moment of the soldier dying was another nod to the cost of war.

Buffy having a thing for Xander does seem a bit "dog in the manger," just interested because he's with someone else. I laughed at all the "cradle robber" or "Humbert Humbert" discussion, because it is a bit true. But I think the real issue is that, while we know Dawn is now in college, I still envision her (and all of them, really) as how they were in BtVS S7. Thus, I still see Dawn as a kid, and especially because she hasn't been that active a character here, but still mostly the little sister along for the ride, as usual.

The goddesses can crush people with their hands, but they can't get out of a hole in the ground? Well, they served their purpose for the story, which has clearly lost interest in them.

One of the things that's bothering me most about the comics is that there's a lot of teasing of future plots, just giving you a taste without telling things. It's a too-obvious lure to get people to buy the next issue, and makes for a dissatisfying story. Fortunately, I don't have to wait a month for the next part! I marvel at the patience of original readers.
 
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