Georges Jeanty DragonCon Panel (Season 9 Spoilers)

[The Scourge]

Georges Jeanty, Buffy Season 8 artist, led a panel discussion at Dragon*Con 2011 about Buffy Season 9, which is due out September 14 from Dark Horse Comics.
After Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended its seven-season run on television, Jeanty says Joss Whedon wanted to continue the story without the drama of tv execs and actors; thus, Buffy Season 8 comics was born. In Season 8, we follow Buffy as she tries to navigate life in a world filled with new slayers and a mysterious force trying to destroy them.
In Season 9, Buffy is living in San Francisco with two new roommates. She may (or may not) meet a new love interest in Season 9. She will definitely be forming new relationships, Jeanty coyly told the crowd. He did say that Willow gets a new girlfriend in Season 9, after dropping Kennedy in Season 8. Speaking of Kennedy, Jeanty revealed that he drew Kennedy breaking the fourth wall at the end of the breakup scene, saying, “Happy now?” in a nod to the fact that fans generally hated Kennedy.
Willow must adapt to life in a world without the magics in Season 9. Will she turn dark again this season? Jeanty either doesn’t know or isn’t saying. Besides appearing in Season 9, Willow will have her own limited series.
Jeanty stated that Joss Whedon’s decision to kill Giles in Season 8 was the most difficult plot point for him personally. He loves Giles. When he received the script in which Giles dies, he tried to dissuade Joss. However, he says that the big man told him, “Giles is no longer relevant; if we kill him, he becomes relevant again.” In Season 9, Angel, who killed Giles while being possessed by Twilight, will seek redemption. When talking about the scene in which Angel killed Giles, Jeanty said he deliberately made the scene a mirror image of Angelus killing Jenny Calendar. He snaps Giles neck, turning his head to the opposite side as Jenny.
When asked by a fan if he shipped any specific characters, Jeanty laughed that Scott Allie, Dark Horse editor, is tormented by the different shippers. Jeanty believes that Angel and Buffy are soulmates, but she and Spike have a much more workable relationship that he thinks will be able to be sustained. Spike will appear in Season 9. Dander shippers (Dawn and Xander) will be pleased that the two will continue dating in Season 9.
While Season 8 had a long run with forty issues, Season 9 will be much more streamlined. The comic will have 25 issues, with new issues coming out monthly.


Source: http://hellmouthpodcast.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/georges-jeanty-dragoncon-panel


I must say, I disagree that Giles was ever irrelevant. Thanks a lot, Joss. 🙁

And Buffy and Angel soul mates? I'm still annoyed that Angel was getting over her in his own show until Joss got involved and said 'nope, they still love each other.' The two work better apart.

 

[white avenger]

"Spike will appear in Season 9"? I thought that he was supposed to be a regular like Faith is with Angel. Now he's just going to "appear?" I sense a Bangel plot here...

And "She may (or may not) meet a new love interest"? Well, she may (or may not) get hit by a freight train. But why (or why not) even mention it?

 

[The Scourge]

"Spike will appear in Season 9"? I thought that he was supposed to be a regular like Faith is with Angel. Now he's just going to "appear?" I sense a Bangel plot here...
/QUOTE]

Oh God, I hope not. They are never even happy together. Its all just bad angst.

I remember hearing that Angel will be sticking to his own title, not appearing in Buffy's. Hopefully this is still true. Every time he is around Buffy they seem to revert him to how he was on her show, ignoring everything that has happened (and all his development) on his own. Or worse, they write him completely OOC and cause even some of his own fans to turn against him.

This was why I was fine with IDW having the rights to Angel. There was no chance of Buffy ruining him.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

"Spike will appear in Season 9"? I thought that he was supposed to be a regular like Faith is with Angel. Now he's just going to "appear?" I sense a Bangel plot here...
/QUOTE]

Oh God, I hope not. They are never even happy together. Its all just bad angst.

I remember hearing that Angel will be sticking to his own title, not appearing in Buffy's. Hopefully this is still true. Every time he is around Buffy they seem to revert him to how he was on her show, ignoring everything that has happened (and all his development) on his own. Or worse, they write him completely OOC and cause even some of his own fans to turn against him.

This was why I was fine with IDW having the rights to Angel. There was no chance of Buffy ruining him.

I agree. It became ridiculous.

Also, Buffy and Angel can be soulmates as much as they want. There's a 'but' there about Buffy and Spike, and that means a lot to me personally as a Spuffy.
My thought of 'soulmates' is that it doesn't mean they will be together happily ever after, it doesn't even mean they will or should end up together. My belief in that word is, even friends can be soulmates. It doesn't have to be lovers. I think my dog is my soulmate (for real, don't laugh at me 😀), I don't have a romantic relationship with her. That's what I mean. So I don't think the statement that Buffy and Angel are soulmates really means that they will or should be together. Just that their souls connect in some higher level. I'm not to worried right now 😛

 

[Deus Ex Machina]

Why, for the love of God does Willow have a new girlfriend?

Can't the girl just be single for a bit? Collecting rebounds isn't going to help her.

 

[dexeded]

I think it's pretty funny about Scott Allie being 'tormented by the different shippers'. But in the end, I guess the only ships that matter are Joss'.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

I think it's pretty funny about Scott Allie being 'tormented by the different shippers'. But in the end, I guess the only ships that matter are Joss'.

The funny thing to me is, didnt Scott Allie referred to himself as a Spike/Spuffy hater?

 

[Miss Kitty]

Also, Buffy and Angel can be soulmates as much as they want. There's a 'but' there about Buffy and Spike, and that means a lot to me personally as a Spuffy.
My thought of 'soulmates' is that it doesn't mean they will be together happily ever after, it doesn't even mean they will or should end up together. My belief in that word is, even friends can be soulmates. It doesn't have to be lovers. I think my dog is my soulmate (for real, don't laugh at me 😀), I don't have a romantic relationship with her. That's what I mean. So I don't think the statement that Buffy and Angel are soulmates really means that they will or should be together. Just that their souls connect in some higher level. I'm not to worried right now 😛

Yep (even if I don't believe in soulmates), but Buffy and Angel aren't soulmates (in my opinion). The show never said that. That's just Jeanty's opinion and his own preferences/beliefs as a fan. His Bangel bias is not new, and he doesn't write the story.

I'm far more interested by what he's saying about Spuffy, because his speech evolved a lot, he wasn't that much comprehensive by the past concerning their relationship, and I really love how he depicted them here : "she and Spike have a much more workable relationship that he thinks will be able to be sustained". What made him change his mind ? Now, I'm curious.

I'm also curious to see more about Willow and her new relationship !

 

[Chosen Enemy]

Yep, but Buffy and Angel aren't soulmates (in my opinion). And the show never said that. That's just Jeanty's opinion and his own preferences/beliefs as a fan.

I'm far more interested by what he's saying about Spuffy, because his speech evolved a lot, he wasn't that much comprehensive by the past concerning their relationship, and I really love how he depicted them here : "she and Spike have a much more workable relationship that he thinks will be able to be sustained". What made him change his mind ? Now, I'm curious.

I'm also curious to see more about Willow and her new relationship !

I don't think they're soulmates either, because I don't believe in soulmates, not that way. That's why the souldmates part about Buffy and Angel doesn't bother me. If they are or if they aren't, it doesn't matter to me. The workable relationship is much more powerful, reality wise. Even if Buffy and Angel are soulmates, it doesn't matter to me for the reason I mentioned. I still think Buffy and Spike belong together, or actually should be together, because I know that this is the relationship that would work. I ignore the soulmates thing, because it's more of a fantasy thing, as opposed to being a couple that could work.

 

[Kean]

I do believe in soul mates, albeit my understanding isn't exactly the traditional understanding, and I also believe Buffy and Angel have been shown to be "the one" for each other in the verse, and I think that is what Jeantry is saying here. What he also says is that they most likely cannot be together and that Buffy and Spike could have a more attainable relationship. But to my ears, that sounds like he is saying Buffy and Spike would be a consolation of sorts. She can't have the love of her life, but she can have Spike and that will be good enough.

Ugh.

I think it is best all round if we don't ask Georges anymore shipping questions. It is rage inducing. Not that we didn't all know this stuff already...it's just Georges comments come with a weight that ours can't, and then you end up with rambling rants like this on message boards!

Oy vey.

 

[white avenger]

The term "soul mate" doesn't have to mean that two people are perfectly matched romantically, each the one and only true love of the other. There are any number of definitions of the term, of course, but I found this one that I think particularly applies to the relationships depicted on BTVS, not just to Buffy and Angel.


http://www.crystalinks.com/soulmates.html


In particular these passages:


The term soul mate means many different things.

Soul mate is sometimes used to designate someone with whom one has a feeling of deep and natural affinity, friendship, love, intimacy, sexuality, and/or compatibility. Soul mates can have various types of relationships, which do not always include romantic love. They can be close friends, co-workers, a teacher, anyone who influences your life one way or another. They play the emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental, games of third dimension with you. They can affect relationships in a positive or negative way depending on the emotional issues of the people concerned.

Souls often come together to work out issues or play reverse roles than that which they are experiencing elsewhere.

Anyone who is in your biological family, or adopted family, or pseudo-family, is a soul mate to you.

You feel closer to certain souls, because you have attracted them into your life as they are on the same frequency as you or because you want to work out issues with them.


Often souls mates come together to bring another soul into the physical realms. A man and woman mate and produce one or more children, the karma thus completed ends. The couple separates and share whatever karma is linked to the child.

Sometimes the karma in family is between mother and child, so the child remains exclusively with the mother. Sometimes the karma is with the father and the mother leaves or deceases. Sometimes it is with both parents or with a sibling who has entered the game before or after you.


As the soul seeks unity with self, the journey home, (twin flame connection), it tends to think of a soul mate as The One (which is actually the source of creation) who is there for us and to make us feel complete.


Soul mates can bring out the best and worst in each other, depending on their issues, and often no matter how hard someone tries to hold on and help, the lesson is to let go.


*************************

In particular the mention of soul mates being two souls coming together to bring another soul into existence and a soul mate thinking of its opposite as The One have obvious (though some might say purely coincidental) similarities to Spike's development, as would the mention of bringing out "the best and the worst" in each other.

Also, the inclusion of siblings and pseudo family members into the definition of soul mate, I found particularly interesting.

I know that there are any number of articles, blogs, definitions, and examples of what constitutes the term "soul mate," and it might seem that I am being particularly selective in choosing this site and these particular quotes, but my point is, there is more than one definition of the term, and not all of them state or even imply a long happy life together, or even that the people involved will or even should share their lives together.

If we accept the definition above, it's plain to see that soul mates don't necessarily have to be romantically involved, or even on particularly "good" for each other. Of all of the relationships in the entire Buffyverse, quite possibly the closest and certainly farthest from anything resembling romantic or even for the most part friendly would be Buffy and Faith. They share a bond that reaches back literally centuries.

Angel may be Buffy's soul mate, but so are Willow, Giles, Xander, Joyce, Dawn, and Spike. It's not nearly as exclusive club as some might care to imagine.

 

[Kean]

As I said above, I don't actually subscribe to the traditional concept of soul mates. I don't believe they can only be a romantic bond. However, in saying that, I believe when Georges refers to B/A as soul mates he does so in the romantic meaning. Furthermore, saying Buffy and Angel are soul mates does not negate the possibility of both of them having other soul mates e.g. Giles, Xander, Cordy and Wes. Of course, they would not be soul mates in the romantic sense. But I don't think anyone could say that Cordy was not a soul mate of Angel's, that she was not as perfect a friend as he could ever have.

So I agree with you, but I also agree with Georges when he says B/A are romantic soul mates.

 

[white avenger]

So I agree with you, but I also agree with Georges when he says B/A are romantic soul mates.

This is getting downright frightening, the things that we've been agreeing on lately. I get the distinct feeling that I'm being led into a false sense of security, being set up for the kill.

 

[Kean]

This is getting downright frightening, the things that we've been agreeing on lately. I get the distinct feeling that I'm being led into a false sense of security, being set up for the kill.

Moi? Would I do something like that? :hehe:

 

[nmcil12]

I would have to go with the idea that for Georges Jeanty -when he calls Buffy and Angel soulmates it is of a romantic couple -

And as a huge fan of Spike - having Spike be the consolation prize for Buffy - I would rather that he not have her at all post the TV Era. Buffy was such a huge part of his transformation journey, and Spike gave back to her some very important strengths when she needed them. I would rather see both characters working as equals and two people who have learned to have great respect for each other than to have Spike have any kind of romantic relationship as "a consolation prize."

I wish that someone would ask Georges Jeanty how this great love soulmate works when the darkest place that Buffy ever went to was becoming an attempted murderess over her love for Angel. If that is one of the consequences of love and being soulmates, I would love to his explanation on how this reflects on Buffy and Angel being soulmates and what that means for the Buffy. In my world, when a love relationship can take a person to that darkness, that is not in anyway, shape or form a good and healthy love.

 

[white avenger]

Moi? Would I do something like that? :hehe:

Yes, and you would laugh maniacally while the guillotine blade was dropping.

 

[Abby27]

As a total Giles fan...I sort of...agree...that Giles was getting irrelevant. As sad as it makes me.

He was the exposition guy, which is hard to continue in a comic when you can have actual narration from characters. And with all the Scoobies taking on all the leadership roles, they were all getting to be equals. They really are grown up and don't need "dad" anymore, and so I can see where Joss is coming from. Now, Giles is going to be a huge part of A&F and I'm excited to see what they do. And as much as I hate that Giles died, his death at the hands of Angelus was poetic justice and I'm interested to see how this all plays out.

That said, my boyfriend knows he can't make jokes about Giles' death with me because it's "too soon."

Also: lolz big time for Kennedy breaking fourth wall saying, "Happy now?" Yes, yes we are Kennedy.

 

[Miss Kitty]

I’m still not a fan of the soulmates concept, but I find your link interesting White Avenger, thanks for sharing 🙂 I tend to think that what makes people special to you are more your history with them than anything related to souls. But those kind of subjects are so abstract, it depends of beliefs...

Concerning Georges Jeanty, he has his own bias, which is okay, it's his right, but in his ways of talking about Spuffy/Bangel, it will always show up in some ways. I'm more intrigued when he tells positives things about Spuffy, because it's probably the story who has some influence on his opinion, and not his preferences.

For reacting to what have been said before, to me, there's no way that Spike is a consolation, because it doesn't fit with the story that Joss is telling (in my interpretation of course). They have partly parodied the idealization thing in the Buffy and Angel relationship in order to deconstruct it, which was an excellent move in my opinion, it was necessary. Only few hours before what she did with Twangel, she was declaring her feelings to Xander ; and only few minutes after coming back to earth -nice metaphor by the way- she was romantically attracted to Spike, and she probably wouldn’t have done that space-thing with Twangel if he had been there. I think one of the reasons Buffy tried to hang on her first love is because he couldn’t disappoint her as long as he wasn’t in her life (unlike, for example, Xander who didn’t return the feelings, and of course Spike, who didn’t even wanted her to know he was alive –from her POV), until the end of season 8 where the image she had of Angel fell hard from her pedestal. From my point of view and my understanding of season 8, they partly parodied the Buffy and Angel relationship by amplifying the idealization under the influence of the glow, but I really liked the contrast in how they portrayed her relationship with Spike in a more realistic way, more 'down-to-earth'. Buffy and Spike may have many issues, their relationship is certainly not perfection or an illusion of perfection, but it felt so much more like the real thing. They’re always at their truest with each other, and I loved when Buffy told to Spike that he used to be the guy she could tell everything, in her fantasy, that was really beautiful. Somewhere, I think it shows that there's a difference between wanting to believe in some things (idealization), and actually acting like if it was a reality. To me, the last part of season 8 is really interesting in this regard.

I think Buffy has romantic feelings for Spike, but they have many things to repair due to the context and what happened since the last time they saw each other in Chosen. Buffy and Spike are characterized by this realism, and I don’t expect to see them grabbing on each other "just like that". They have to earn it again, by respecting what happened during those 2-3 years.

I sort of...agree...that Giles was getting irrelevant. As sad as it makes me.

Same for me... Hopefully, his death will permit to know him even better (A & F #1 seems to be a good start in this regard).

 

[The Scourge]

Am I the only one who couldn't care less about Spuffy or Bangel? I didn't care much for either in the series (I did support Spuffy until I saw seasons 6 & 7 came).

I just want to read some good stories, which is what season 8 was lacking in. I hope Joss realizes we want good writing more than we want two characters to hook up. This isn't Twilight.

 

[Reddygirl]

I like to think of Buffy and Spike as kindred spirits, two people who can be together because they like each other and it's their choice, rather than a couple who have been fated to be together by some higher power for a specific agenda.