I am rewatching Buffy

[bespangeled]

My older daughter - the one who swore she would never watch Buffy finally caved after I showed her The Body. We've just started season three, and there are some things I had forgotten.

Given that for the last 3 years my Buffy experience has been very much favorite episodes and scenes, I'm really impressed by the flow of the seasons, and how each character grows so slowly and normally. I see all sorts of foreshadowing from lines and actions to places where certain events take place. If I were a good meta writer I would keep track of those but given my current medicated state - not so much. I find a neat bit that foreshadows, swear I will remember it, and then it goes away and I find another bit.

Faith has just arrived, and killed Kakistos. Buffy has just told Giles and Willow that Willow's spell worked and Angel was souled when she killed him. Part of me still wants Giles to realize the trouble that awaits Willow - he did tell her that this is a dark spell and she may be opening a door she can't close. But I also see how very much he was involved in bringing Buffy back, in finding out what really happened to her and giving her a safe reason to talk. I love the pretend spell as a reason.

After a period of Xander loathing, I find myself really liking young Xander. He's stalwart, and he says what is on his mind. In fact I am kind of adoring the entire cast. I know who they become but right now I'm intrigued by who they are and waiting to see again who they become - or rather how they become who they are as adults. I know, yet I am ready to see it in some new way like I am seeing all of the show.

One thing that I've realized is my head canon. I tend to believe that Buffy and Angel saw each other more times than are shown in the first season and a half. If not they really rushed into sex. I think there were other occasions where they were together, talking and kissing. I suspect that a lot of people would agree.

But I use the same logic to believe that - in season 7 - the First was messing with people's minds more than was shown. That's the only power of the First, and I can't imagine why it wouldn't want to turn the enemy into a tinderbox and then light the flame.

So - maybe - what head canon do you guys use. How do you patch together the gaps that compressing reality into an hour or a season leaves?

BTW - insurance won't pay for the medication that actually worked, and I am trying new ones *jumping through hoops* which has tabled my writing abilities.

 

[Fuffy Baith]

First off, that's great that you are rewatching it with your daughter. Season 3 is awesome! There is a quite a bit of foreshadowing on Buffy, it's pretty cool to see it during a rewatch.

I agree about the Buffy/Angel thing being a little bit rushed, but I love it, so I don't care. There is a bit of head cannon that I do with certain characters and events. I agree about the First. I think I do more head canon on the Angel show though. I can't think of any specific examples right now though.

And sorry to hear about your meds. Hopefully you can get the right ones.

 

[Mr Trick]

Will look forward to seeing more of this thread. S3 is my fav. Good luck with the meds problem.

 

[bespangeled]

I think I will post some of my thoughts.

I really like Faith - Dushku does a lot with that character. Except for a few dance scenes she really dresses more conservatively than Buffy. Pants or shorts instead of tiny skirts - tee shirts instead of spaghetti straps and no bra - but she definitely wears more make-up. Without having much to work with beyond that she really manages to create some extremely delicate nuances. You see that she wants to fit in but not lose herself. She'll never be like Buffy, or any of the other girls - and eventually this is what does her in. I like to see the part of her before her trust was betrayed. And I so much know that this is a common class issue. People from the middle class would look at Faith with distaste, and she knows that. But people in her class and neighborhood would see her for real. I have to say that more than race, religion and ethnicity - class is the big divider.

I also sympathize with Cordelia. Xander lets her know that she ranks at the bottom - Buffy and Willow will always come first. And she tries very hard to live with that for a pretty long time. Yeah, they snark and fight but she was willing to give up her life to fit into his. I don't see that he gave up anything to be with her.

I do have to say that overall I like Xander this early on. And it surprises me that Giles is still in three piece suits! Like always, I love the "Angel tortured me for hours, for fun" - my heart just breaks for him, having someone you love and trust do that.

Buffy is trying so very hard...and I can see her growing up and losing the certainties that HS students have.

 

[Mr Trick]

I think I will post some of my thoughts.

I really like Faith - Dushku does a lot with that character. Except for a few dance scenes she really dresses more conservatively than Buffy. Pants or shorts instead of tiny skirts - tee shirts instead of spaghetti straps and no bra - but she definitely wears more make-up. Without having much to work with beyond that she really manages to create some extremely delicate nuances. You see that she wants to fit in but not lose herself. She'll never be like Buffy, or any of the other girls - and eventually this is what does her in. I like to see the part of her before her trust was betrayed. And I so much know that this is a common class issue. People from the middle class would look at Faith with distaste, and she knows that. But people in her class and neighborhood would see her for real. I have to say that more than race, religion and ethnicity - class is the big divider.

I also sympathize with Cordelia. Xander lets her know that she ranks at the bottom - Buffy and Willow will always come first. And she tries very hard to live with that for a pretty long time. Yeah, they snark and fight but she was willing to give up her life to fit into his. I don't see that he gave up anything to be with her.

I do have to say that overall I like Xander this early on. And it surprises me that Giles is still in three piece suits! Like always, I love the "Angel tortured me for hours, for fun" - my heart just breaks for him, having someone you love and trust do that.

Buffy is trying so very hard...and I can see her growing up and losing the certainties that HS students have.

Good point on Faith and her look. Yeah you can never underestimate the class theme in Buffy becuase of where the central character came from, and because of the location of the show.

Guess I feel a little sorry for Cordy, but then she did make the Scoobies life torture for many years before that. She does indeed grow during this season though.