Scott Allie replies to fan response to issue # 34....

[white avenger]

As Mr. Whedon states over and over, it's all about the journey. This one has been one long and winding yellow-bricked road over the years.

So, if I understand what you're saying, Buffy and her friends have been on a quest all of this time to ultimately have all of their problems solved by a con man and a fraud. (Sorry, I just HAD to say that)

No, actually, that would make a certain amount of sense, considering the fact that, ultimately, everything that Dorothy and the others wanted, the solutions to all of their individual problems, came from within themselves, not from any outside source.

Now, let's see, Buffy is Dorothy, Xander is the scarecrow without a brain, Angel is the cowardly lion, Willow is the Wicked Witch, Giles is the Wizard, Riley would be the Tin Man, and Spike would be...Toto? (There's an image to haunt my dreams)

 

[citiegal17]

So, if I understand what you're saying, Buffy and her friends have been on a quest all of this time to ultimately have all of their problems solved by a con man and a fraud. (Sorry, I just HAD to say that)

No, actually, that would make a certain amount of sense, considering the fact that, ultimately, everything that Dorothy and the others wanted, the solutions to all of their individual problems, came from within themselves, not from any outside source.

Now, let's see, Buffy is Dorothy, Xander is the scarecrow without a brain, Angel is the cowardly lion, Willow is the Wicked Witch, Giles is the Wizard, Riley would be the Tin Man, and Spike would be...Toto? (There's an image to haunt my dreams)

In Goddess and Monsters, in Willow one shot, Alice In Wonderland is referenced by Muffit. Which Alice In Wonderland is about self discovery and wisdom, but there is something else directly out of Alice in Wonderland, a character to be specific, The White Queen. Which the White Queen resembles goodness, and oddly enough Willow's hair was pure white when she turned the potentionals into slayers, and was called a goddess by Kennedey. I'm not really sure if it means anything right now, I guess will see.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

No, actually, that would make a certain amount of sense, considering the fact that, ultimately, everything that Dorothy and the others wanted, the solutions to all of their individual problems, came from within themselves, not from any outside source.

If the upshot of that is that the characters (and humanity) learn to find their power within themselves, rather than relying on fickle "greater powers," then it will agree with what I've suspected for quite some time... that Joss intends to ultimately bring this story around to his own humanist ideals.

If that's the case, then season 8 will be about freeing humanity from the demons and evil powers and magicks, and season 9 may very well be about banishing the "Powers That Be" as well so that we can make our own destiny without any more prophecies and visions and fate.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

If the upshot of that is that the characters (and humanity) learn to find their power within themselves, rather than relying on fickle "greater powers," then it will agree with what I've suspected for quite some time... that Joss intends to ultimately bring this story around to his own humanist ideals.

If that's the case, then season 8 will be about freeing humanity from the demons and evil powers and magicks, and season 9 may very well be about banishing the "Powers That Be" as well so that we can make our own destiny without any more prophecies and visions and fate.

Sounds good to me. By Joss' 'humanist ideals' do you mean that man makes his own destiny, or do you mean also that there will be no 'higher power'? (We know Joss is an atheist).

Speaking of the Wizard of Oz...I just watched it last night. Superstar has got me thinking of the references in the series to the movie, and what the significance of those might be.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

Sounds good to me. By Joss' 'humanist ideals' do you mean that man makes his own destiny, or do you mean also that there will be no 'higher power'? (We know Joss is an atheist).

Well, we know there are "higher powers" in the Buffyverse, although the issue of the existence of "God" is never directly dealt with.

But the Powers That Be are depicted as arrogant, often uncaring if their own interests aren't directly involved, and prone to treating humans as pawns as much as the evil powers are. People like Buffy and Angel are hustled along like puppets according to some script that's been written for them without their participation or consent. What we saw in #34 is (or should be) the last straw.

Time for humans to make their own destiny without it being dictated to them by "the sky bullies," as Joss would call them.

 

[Superstar]

Speaking of the Wizard of Oz...I just watched it last night. Superstar has got me thinking of the references in the series to the movie, and what the significance of those might be.

There are loads and loads of them.
I want to see the Ruby slippers (scythe) go choppity-chop.

As a reminder... this image:

A simple stylized rainbow with a star over it.
[Over the Rainbow... get it?]

However since Georges has mentioned fans will likely be burning their Beatles albums after this is all done, I've been having fun with Beatles tunes and looking at all the neat references in season 8. That one works as Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.