Season 8 Re-Write

[white avenger]

Since there seems to be so much dissatisfaction with the way Season 8 played out, here's your chance to fix Joss' mistakes. How would you have done it if you were telling the story?

 

[sisterofmercy]

No super-superpowers, maybe a bit briefly about the time in between Chosen and where S8 picks up from. Oh and obviously more Spike and Buffy interaction. As far as actually re-writing it, I wouldn't have a clue where to start.

 

[sosa lola]

I'd love to see how Xander and Dawn began to date in their POV and not just Buffy's. I want to see who made the first move, who kissed who, their awkward dance and uncomfortable feelings toward starting a relationship, who had doubts and who convinced the other that they could work.

We know NOTHING about that. Just what Buffy knows. That's not fair to the Xander fans and Dawn fans, it would have probably helped fans accept the relationship better if we saw the process of Xander and Dawn getting together.

 

[Kean]

Cut the Twilight storyline entirely.

More emphasis on Fray arc and Buffy trying to prevent Dark Willow.

Make the big bad actually be all these forces that Angel said were coming after Buffy.

Focus on the Scoobies and status of their relationships. That was the real story of S8, or at least should have been.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Opening lines 3 YEARS AFTER
shot of crater which was once Sunnydale
Interior shot, darkened, glittering and dancing flame, pull back to reveal Buffy and Giles at fancy restaurant.
"So how is civilian life treating you, Buffy?"
"Can't say I miss the occasional vamp slayage but my drama coach is a real monster!"
"So not being the Slayer is..."
"Fantastic!"

 

[Icarium]

I would make just one very small change - an added final scene:

"And then Buffy woke up. She groaned. Man, that had been one weird dream. New sister? Sex with Spike? Giving birth to a new universe? She so needed new subconscious. And hey, what happened to that First Slayer chick? Did she cause this extremely long and unpleasant nightmare?" 😀

Seriously now. I would have cut pretty much everything. The story wouldn't be global, Buffy wouldn't be in command of hundreds of Slayers, Andrew and Faith would be in jail where they belong, Willow would actually have a life outside of magic, etc. Back to the basics.

 

[VisionGirl]

Cut the Twilight storyline entirely.

More emphasis on Fray arc and Buffy trying to prevent Dark Willow.

Make the big bad actually be all these forces that Angel said were coming after Buffy.

Focus on the Scoobies and status of their relationships. That was the real story of S8, or at least should have been.

I agree with all of this! ^

I disagree with Icarium- you can't go backwards! 😀

 

[Hale Caesar]

- No ridiculous super powers
- Take away all those dumb demons and Gods
- Not rip apart Angels character
- More importance on Fray's arc
- Discuss Anya's death
- Make Giles relevant again...
- Not kill Giles
- Kill Dawn

Just a few suggestions Joss lol

 

[Jay Jade]

I mostly agree with Hale Caesar here.

They should have discussed Anya's death, not have killed Giles and killed Dawn instead.
I have other things that should have happened...

*Having Xander not jump to Renee after Anya died like that. I mean he was going to marry Anya and already he's poking it up with Renee? I'm not completely sure on the time between S7 and S8 but really? I would have waited a bit longer.
*Get rid of Twilight.
*For things to be just a tad bit more realistic. So no super powers.
*No Dander (or Dawn.) I don't understand. I just don't.
*I would bring back Tara, because I'm lame and can't live without her or Anya.
*No Bangel space-sex. That was just...odd
*To stretch out the Fray arc more.

God, I feel kind of stupid...

 

[Taaroko]

Heh. I know exactly how I would have done it if I'd been the one telling the story, because I actually wrote my own "Season 8" two and a half years ago. There are a few things I would probably change about it now that I know a bit more about writing, but I still like it much better than the comics, which I feel took complete leave of their senses fairly early on. I wrote it more so that I could have closure after "Chosen" and "Not Fade Away" than because I didn't like the comics (even though I didn't like them). It's mostly set in Cleveland and is concurrent with Angel season five. Willow/Kennedy and Buffy/Spike shippers should probably steer clear, but anyone who wants to read it (as well as the almost finished sequel, which is nearly as much of an Angel season six as a Buffy season nine), can find it via the fanfiction link in my sig.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Willow/Kennedy shippers

Are there any? Really? I never knew there was such an animal.

 

[Hale Caesar]

Are there any? Really? I never knew there was such an animal.

People like Kennedy? That's a shock to me...next thing your going to tell me is that there are fans of Dawn out there

In season 8, I would also focus more on the characters and their issues. Not just giant magic demons.

 

[NY State of Mind]

So much stuff it seems by people's posts....I guess I have to catch up and read S8

 

[Username]

- I would have made it shorter.
- No Twilight, no giant robot Dawn, no gods...
- I don't like how people love vampires.
- I would have brought Tara back.

 

[sosa lola]

*Having Xander not jump to Renee after Anya died like that. I mean he was going to marry Anya and already he's poking it up with Renee? I'm not completely sure on the time between S7 and S8 but really? I would have waited a bit longer...

It's a year and a half between S7 and S8. Long enough for Xander to move on. 😀

 

[VisionGirl]

- I would have made it shorter.
- No Twilight, no giant robot Dawn, no gods...
- I don't like how people love vampires.
- I would have brought Tara back.

The vampires being outed/people loving vampires thing is a total True Blood rip-off. And no Harmony, please. Loved her in BTVS/ATS, but not in the comics. She annoys the hell out of me.

It's a year and a half between S7 and S8. Long enough for Xander to move on. 😀

ITA. I do wish she had been mentioned though. By the way, Xander's development & storylines is one of the things I LOVE about season 8.

 

[Deus Ex Machina]

It's a year and a half between S7 and S8. Long enough for Xander to move on. 😀

Yeah, but hadn't it been about a year since Tara died for Willow to get with Kennedy? A lot of people were up in arms about that, so I'd imagine a lot of people would be up in arms about Xander and Anya.

 

[sosa lola]

Yeah, but hadn't it been about a year since Tara died for Willow to get with Kennedy? A lot of people were up in arms about that, so I'd imagine a lot of people would be up in arms about Xander and Anya.

Less than a year for Willow/Kennedy. I get fans being upset about Xander/Anya. I really wish Joss started S8 three months after S7 like all seasons did.

The only mention for Anya was when Andrew was explaining why Xander ended up in Dracula's castle -reason because he was grieving Anya. Perhaps he had a death wish.

 

[Deus Ex Machina]

Less than a year for Willow/Kennedy. I get fans being upset about Xander/Anya. I really wish Joss started S8 three months after S7 like all seasons did.

The only mention for Anya was when Andrew was explaining why Xander ended up in Dracula's castle -reason because he was grieving Anya. Perhaps he had a death wish.

Ahh, I see. Yeah, the writers really do mis-handle relationships on the show/in the comic.

Characters move on too fast sometimes or never move on and become pathetic.

 

[white avenger]

The only mention for Anya was when Andrew was explaining why Xander ended up in Dracula's castle -reason because he was grieving Anya. Perhaps he had a death wish.

I don't think that Xander had as much of a death wish in those first months after Anya's death as an "oblivian wish," for want of a better term. He wanted some time to distance himself from the world that he and Anya had shared, and that meant getting away from everything that still reminded him of Sunnydale and Buffy's mission. Dracula offered both things, literally: the oblivion of the Renfrew persona, Dracula's manservant, and the world that it offered. Granted, Dracula was a vampire, but he was a very reclusive one for the most part, contenting himself to remain in his Carpathian Mountain stronghold rather than associate with beings of his own kind. The chance that Xander would encounter any "normal" vampires while in Dracula's employ was virtually nil.

Apparently, during their year of association, a certain bond developed between the two ("You are the finest manservant I have ever had," plus Dracula's behavior after Xander left, and later, his offer to help him say goodbye to the "Moor" who he knew meant so much to his manservant. And on the "Moor" subject, I always got the idea that there was more teasing than condescension in it. And also on that point, just how many people could actually threaten Dracula the way that Xander did there in Japan, and live to talk about it?) The Dracula/Xander Bond apparently resulted in, if nothing else, the King of all the Vampires developing an interest in motorcycles. The image of Drac and the Xan Man tooling around on those old mountain roads, terrorizing people and livestock alike still brings a grin to my weather beaten old face.

Quite a few people have commented on how the Season 8 Dracula was so different from the one that Buffy fought in Sunnydale, and I agree. Spending a year with Xander would change anyone. I'm just surprised that he didn't wind up as crazy as Drusilla.

(And just to keep this post in context with the subject of the thread, if I were re-writing Season 8, it would deal with all that went on between the end of Season 7 and what began as Season 8. The current Season 8 would then be Season 9. There was just too much potential for a fantastic season there that Joss almost totally ignored)
.