Discussion of "Willow: Goddesses and Monsters" - Released 12/23/09 (Dark Horse)
- Thread starter Tranquillity
- Start date
Willow-Tree
Your Childhood Trauma
cranetimothyj
Townie
I have to wait till Thursday **cries**
Tranquillity
me too - but remember, our thursday IS their Wednesday :)
SPOILER
fun little story... didn't really answer any question but at least we got the return of everybody's other favorite witch.
Also, the lettercol says the next issue will be out jan 6 2010. Darkhorse.com says that it's out jan 13 2010. anybody know the truth?
:lsvader: <--- that's awesome.
fun little story... didn't really answer any question but at least we got the return of everybody's other favorite witch.
Also, the lettercol says the next issue will be out jan 6 2010. Darkhorse.com says that it's out jan 13 2010. anybody know the truth?
:lsvader: <--- that's awesome.
Tranquillity
That'll put marzipan in your pie plate bingo
I feel like it was kind of a waste of time. like we were all excited for a joss issue and got something that was just kind of lame. the big reveal of what willow was up to before season 8 was just kind of stupid. i'm not saying that it was a stupid addition to the plot but, for what it was, we really didn't need a whole issue. This is the kind of thing that could've been handled in a 3 panel flashback or a line or two of dialogue.
AndrewCrossett
Satsu Otaku
Megalita
Because it's wrong.
I had wished there was more. There was no explanation of the sexual relationship between Willow and Saga Vasuki, which is what I wanted to know about as well as Kennedy's feelings towards it.
I did enjoy the art, though.
I did enjoy the art, though.
AndrewCrossett
Satsu Otaku
Considering Aluwyn/SV doesn't seem to have any genitals, or even nipples, I'd think any sexual relationship between them would be frustrating, at least from her perspective.
We've seen that Willow uses sex to get to SV (at least when she's in a hurry)... but Kennedy seems to be the only one providing the sex.
I'm thinking the relationship between Willow and the slithery hottie may be more sexy than sexual.
SV did seem a bit distracted by the effects of ice cold water on naked Willow...
Willow-Tree
Your Childhood Trauma
I have two questions:
1. If I've only read to #25, will this spoil things for me?
2. Where else can you buy this online besides TFAW?
1. If I've only read to #25, will this spoil things for me?
2. Where else can you buy this online besides TFAW?
nerd4hire
Certified Uncloneable
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2002
- Messages
- 9,102
No, Willow-tree, it will not spoil anything for you. It takes place before Season 8 begins.
There will be spoilers to the Willow story, if you continue reading this.
Now on this.
It isn't just the cryptic. It's the stuff that doesn't add up.
Start at the end for example. Willow's always been this girl who favors the quick fix. She always seems to choose the path of least resistance.
In the conclusion of this one she's offered Tara as a spirit guide. No, says Willow that's not what she wants now. Now she wants to be guided on her journey of discovery for the dark secrets of her true self by somebody (Aluwyn) who she knows will lie to her. Something obviously happened during the course of the story which makes her choose to reject the consistency of her nature - to choose the easy path. So what happened that was so dramatic, so challenging, that she had an epiphany? And what does she hope to accomplish by choosing the hard way?
But wait...now that I see the question, I think I know the answer.
As the story begins we learn Willow is going on this spirit quest. She only appears to be taking it half seriously. She has a little spare time. She's going to complete her training with a little journey of self-discovery.
Is that the whole truth though. She does have actual fears concerning her true self. There's that whole going dark thing. In fact she mentions all that before she explains her decision not to choose Tara.
In the course of the journey she discovers it's all a trick. She's being led astray. As a result of this she decides she wants to actually work at discovering the truth of herself.
Still, what was the trigger?
I didn't even get how Willow finally figures out it's all a lie. No wait...again, I saw the question, and I think I know the answer. She recognizes her journey as all just generalized story tropes, not personalized revelations of her true nature.
But wait again...if that's true, why does she later believe Aluwyn has actual knowledge to impart? Is it that Aluwyn has to know the truth to tell the lie, so if Willow unweaves the falsity, the truth is revealed?
Those big Goddish women (they're called the Elementals, right?) are they in charge of this whole process? If so why do they allow Aluwyn to take control? They don't appear to approve of her? There does appear to be a purpose to it, because beast Goddess is impressed by Willow figuring out it's all a lie so quickly. Why does figuring out the lie trigger their involvement?
Oh, and why do the elemental of Science, and the Ice Goddess seem to be the most emotional?
What's that quote, "So many get hung up on the idea that space and time have rules here" about? Is she just saying it's a good lie, or is there some other purpose?
I wasn't completely baffled by the idea of telling lies to tell the truth, because I've seen that concept before in other literature with Shamans and their apprentices (the Carlos Castenada books, White Dawn). Here though, there's no real explanation of how the process works.
Why does Aluwyn want to be connected with a powerful witch? What's in it for her?
Aluwyn's dimension is kind of like a buffer between our reality, and the Elementals, right?
---------- Post added at 12:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 AM ----------
You know what though? Now that I think about it a bit, this was a pretty good story.
There will be spoilers to the Willow story, if you continue reading this.
Now on this.
It isn't just the cryptic. It's the stuff that doesn't add up.
Start at the end for example. Willow's always been this girl who favors the quick fix. She always seems to choose the path of least resistance.
In the conclusion of this one she's offered Tara as a spirit guide. No, says Willow that's not what she wants now. Now she wants to be guided on her journey of discovery for the dark secrets of her true self by somebody (Aluwyn) who she knows will lie to her. Something obviously happened during the course of the story which makes her choose to reject the consistency of her nature - to choose the easy path. So what happened that was so dramatic, so challenging, that she had an epiphany? And what does she hope to accomplish by choosing the hard way?
But wait...now that I see the question, I think I know the answer.
As the story begins we learn Willow is going on this spirit quest. She only appears to be taking it half seriously. She has a little spare time. She's going to complete her training with a little journey of self-discovery.
Is that the whole truth though. She does have actual fears concerning her true self. There's that whole going dark thing. In fact she mentions all that before she explains her decision not to choose Tara.
In the course of the journey she discovers it's all a trick. She's being led astray. As a result of this she decides she wants to actually work at discovering the truth of herself.
Still, what was the trigger?
I didn't even get how Willow finally figures out it's all a lie. No wait...again, I saw the question, and I think I know the answer. She recognizes her journey as all just generalized story tropes, not personalized revelations of her true nature.
But wait again...if that's true, why does she later believe Aluwyn has actual knowledge to impart? Is it that Aluwyn has to know the truth to tell the lie, so if Willow unweaves the falsity, the truth is revealed?
Those big Goddish women (they're called the Elementals, right?) are they in charge of this whole process? If so why do they allow Aluwyn to take control? They don't appear to approve of her? There does appear to be a purpose to it, because beast Goddess is impressed by Willow figuring out it's all a lie so quickly. Why does figuring out the lie trigger their involvement?
Oh, and why do the elemental of Science, and the Ice Goddess seem to be the most emotional?
What's that quote, "So many get hung up on the idea that space and time have rules here" about? Is she just saying it's a good lie, or is there some other purpose?
I wasn't completely baffled by the idea of telling lies to tell the truth, because I've seen that concept before in other literature with Shamans and their apprentices (the Carlos Castenada books, White Dawn). Here though, there's no real explanation of how the process works.
Why does Aluwyn want to be connected with a powerful witch? What's in it for her?
Aluwyn's dimension is kind of like a buffer between our reality, and the Elementals, right?
---------- Post added at 12:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:48 AM ----------
You know what though? Now that I think about it a bit, this was a pretty good story.
Tranquillity
Thankyou!
If you're interested, read these excellent reviews on the issue. They really help with understanding it. 🙂
Adult Content Notice
StephenT - (Review) BtVS S8: Goddesses And Monsters
Adult Content Notice
StephenT - (Review) BtVS S8: Goddesses And Monsters
missbrunettgirl
Slayer in Training
Buffyverse Fan
* The 28th *
To be fair, of the 7-to-Eight Interim Stories we know, Willow's is probably the most interesting.
Xander was Dracula's houseboy. Andrew was screwing with Angel & Spike to keep them away from Buffy.
Tara would be too painful for Willow. Willow wants to believe that Tara's in a better place, and away from the entropy the scoobies are now dealing with.
Willow doesn't trust any of the Elementals, and figures that she's best off with the only one that's upfront about being a liar.
Overall, I was disappointed with this issue. Leaving the audience behind just as the story gets interesting is a classic (and annoying) story telling device. Of course, my heart stopped when I saw Tara, but she was only in 3 panels and didn't speak.
Robb Stark
King in the North
Like everything so far with Willow in S8, this was confusing as hell. Seriously, I had no idea what was going on for 99 percent of this issue.
It was nice to see Willow show some fortitude, but why is she on this dimensional roller-coaster anyways? Who the hell is the snake lady and why is Willow with her?
It was nice to see Willow show some fortitude, but why is she on this dimensional roller-coaster anyways? Who the hell is the snake lady and why is Willow with her?
Evil Angelus 95
Total Dork
I can totally relate to this. I was really hoping that after seeing Tara in the issue that we would finally get some mention of her through the rest of the Season itself, but I was disappointed.
VisionGirl
Newly Human
I know not reading more about Tara in this season was disappointing for some fans, but it really shows how incredibly painful it still is to Willow. She can't talk about her, hardly think about her.