When bbc2 in the UK showed the episode Seeing Red a few months ago, they got complaints afterwards saying that the timeslot of 6.45-7.30 was inappropriate because of the lesbian scenes and attempted rape. I just read this report from buffy.nu and i am totally disgusted. I understand why people complained about the attempted rape, the bbc should have edited the scene or moved it to a later slot, as it was seriously disturbing and frightening, but to complain about two women kissing and being in bed together? It's so stupid that people still complain about those kind of things. Are we in mediaeval times or something???
The report said:
"Seven viewers complained about homosexual content. Two were also concerned about the depiction of an attempted rape and one mentioned violent content inappropriate for a pre-watershed broadcast.
The BBC said that most episodes of Buffy were filled with all kinds of bizarre events, often involving cartoon-like violence and sometimes encounters which were more serious. In this episode, it didn't feel Spike's encounter with the heroine exceeded expectations for most viewers.
The timeslot was aimed at viewers at an age where they could take in their stride the fantasy and portrayals of a limited amount of intimacy in relationships. Tara and Willow's status as an 'item' had established since series 4. Although the scene between the two young women was not a brief one, it did have particular dramatic significance, as it set up the powerful finale to this episode-Tara's shooting by Warren. For those who were not regular viewers their sexual orientation had been made clear in the recapitulation sequence at the start of the episode.
Certainly, no sexual activity was shown, and both participants remained adequately clothed throughout. The protagonist's were young women in their 20s in a long-term relationship. Especially in the light of what happens later in the episode, most of those watching would, the BBC felt, have found the opening sequence disturbing for its poignancy rather than its frankness.
THE COMMISION'S FINDING
A Standards Panel watched this episode of the well-established fantasy series. It noted the opening sequences which contained brief homosexual scenes and references throughout the episode. It also noted violent sequences, predominantly between the two main characters, Buffy and Spike. The Panel took the view that the cumulative effect of homosexual references and violent sequences which including fighting, an attempted rape, and a shooting had meant that the episode strayed from the fantasy element that audiences would have expected and had gone beyond acceptable boundaries for the time of transmission.
The complaints were upheld."
It makes me mad how they equate and compare a loving, gentle and beautiful relationship between two women with murder and rape. Also, they clearly don't understand the show at all. The whole thing is very sad.
The report said:
"Seven viewers complained about homosexual content. Two were also concerned about the depiction of an attempted rape and one mentioned violent content inappropriate for a pre-watershed broadcast.
The BBC said that most episodes of Buffy were filled with all kinds of bizarre events, often involving cartoon-like violence and sometimes encounters which were more serious. In this episode, it didn't feel Spike's encounter with the heroine exceeded expectations for most viewers.
The timeslot was aimed at viewers at an age where they could take in their stride the fantasy and portrayals of a limited amount of intimacy in relationships. Tara and Willow's status as an 'item' had established since series 4. Although the scene between the two young women was not a brief one, it did have particular dramatic significance, as it set up the powerful finale to this episode-Tara's shooting by Warren. For those who were not regular viewers their sexual orientation had been made clear in the recapitulation sequence at the start of the episode.
Certainly, no sexual activity was shown, and both participants remained adequately clothed throughout. The protagonist's were young women in their 20s in a long-term relationship. Especially in the light of what happens later in the episode, most of those watching would, the BBC felt, have found the opening sequence disturbing for its poignancy rather than its frankness.
THE COMMISION'S FINDING
A Standards Panel watched this episode of the well-established fantasy series. It noted the opening sequences which contained brief homosexual scenes and references throughout the episode. It also noted violent sequences, predominantly between the two main characters, Buffy and Spike. The Panel took the view that the cumulative effect of homosexual references and violent sequences which including fighting, an attempted rape, and a shooting had meant that the episode strayed from the fantasy element that audiences would have expected and had gone beyond acceptable boundaries for the time of transmission.
The complaints were upheld."
It makes me mad how they equate and compare a loving, gentle and beautiful relationship between two women with murder and rape. Also, they clearly don't understand the show at all. The whole thing is very sad.