Week 1: 8.01-8.04 "The Long Way Home Parts 1-4"

VisionGirl said:
[MENTION=7613]But it was clear in the series that Buffy didn't love him that way because...well, just because.
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I agree. But I do believe that feelings change as we grow older and change. I've known many people who were nothing but friends when they were young and as they grew older they became attracted to each other. Buffy didn't find Xander attractive and didn't consider him a love interest when they were kids, but right now Xander is completely different. He's confident, down to earth, mature, all things he wasn't when he was a kid. Buffy saw him change and became attracted to the man he became.

The downside is that Buffy deep inside is afraid of being with him because so far, she'd hurt and chased away all the men in her life. Her dad left, Giles left, Angel left, Riley left, and Spike died and then stayed away. She's so afraid that Xander would leave like the rest of them or get hurt -as shown in her dream that while she desires him, she's afraid of hurting him. That's why she's staying away from him and every possible chance of being with anyone, all in fear that she might hurt anyone that would come close.

VisionGirl said:
For me, I'm perfectly satisfied with the closeness/friendship & trust they have for one another here, although I respect that others might hope to see more.
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I'm satisfied with Xander and Buffy's friendship as well and prefer them to stay friends over beoming a couple, but I'm against the idea that Buffy can never fall in love with Xander or that Xander is nothing but a school nerd. If anything, he's the only one who's got it all together. He's not the same kid he was before. He's much more rational and wiser now.

For example, you've got #4, Willow was in danger, and yet instead of jumping into the portal with Buffy to rescue her, he asked Buffy to choose the best slayer to tag along. He's not much of a fighter and Willow needs to be rescued. He thinks with his mind now instead of his heart, he's all grown up. S1 Xander would have jumped into that portal and probably got himself and Buffy killed due to his lack of skills and strength.
 
VisionGirl
VisionGirl
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I really, REALLY have a hard time believing that Buffy would want to persue a relationship with Xander - not through fault of either one of them. Yes, it's possible, but I truly believe they have a brother/sister relationship and would pretty much crumble if they tried to be romantically involved. There might be mutual attraction, but that doesn't mean there's potential for a relationship or love. (No strings attached? 🙂 )

I'm actually pretty annoyed that this is even alluded to; I think I mentioned it in a different thread that it bothers me that no male-female relationships here can ever stay platonic. I feel like the original Scoobies have a special bond that should never be broken by complicating things with romance, and I also feel that the Bander relationship was dealt with during S1 and S2 and really doesn't need to be rehashed.

Again, I'm not against Xander or anything, and I am quite proud about how he has grown through the series, but can't they just leave well-enough alone? (I know there's another relationship coming up on AtS that is going to annoy the living daylights outta me. Not looking forward to it.)
 
I agree. I'd rather see Buffy and Xander and Willow dating new characters. I'm personally sick of all the old relationships and wish they remain dead. It's much better with Xander and Willow since they can move on and date new characters. Poor Buffy will always be stuck with either Angel or Spike and will never be allowed to move on and have a real love interest that's not Angel or Spike.
 
First Reading!

Hello, all! I'm making my way through the comics for the first time and had been posting in the official discussion threads. It was suggested I post in here instead, so I'm re-posting my comments.

The Long Way Home Part 1 (Originally posted May 12, 2011)

Alright, I am trying to muddle my way through this first comic. My first thoughts are:

1.How on earth did they get to this point? (I'm guessing it will be explained in later comics.)
2.What's the point of starting a Slayer army? Send all the girls home after they're and let them fight evil in their own areas.
3.Who is General Voll and why does he want to take down Buffy and Co.?
4.Dawn randomly being giant - why?? I know how it happened from reading posts, but seriously. How silly.
5.I do love the scene with Dawn and Buffy in the castle: "I could swat you like a fly." "Your butt looks big in those pants." Haha.
6. I feel like most of the characters aren't true to themselves with the way they're written. Except Xander. I can totally see him saying these things!
7. Why does Amy hate Buffy so much? Maybe I need to rewatch season 6 before I ponder that one too much.

All in all, didn't love it, but didn't hate it as much as I thought I would. Debating whether the motion comics would be better media for me to see.

---------- Post added at 11:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:36 AM ----------

Originally posted May 12, 2011

Onto part two! It's good to see Giles again and him heading up some training. Ok, thoughts on this one:

1. Love Buffy kicking the slayer-minions' bums.
2. Uh, Xander going with Dawn while she bathes? Creepy much?
3. The whole Buffy/Xander thing...I just wish they hadn't gone down that road. I know there was talk of doing it during the TV series, and I was never a fan of the idea. Not that I don't like Xander, I just feel like some relationships should be left platonic.
4. That said, when exactly does Buffy's dream start? Does she actually kiss Xander in real-life or just in the dream? (I'm guessing his head falling off is part of the dream, anyway. 🙂 )
5. Buffy would never wear that for pajamas!
6. Xander and Amy's whole dialogue is odd - why would Amy tell him how to lift the spell? Though I suppose she IS insane...
7. Zombies! Always creeped me out, especially after the Resident Evil movies.
8. Yay for Willow's comeback! Weird wardrobe choice...

And now I'm sucked in...ai ai ai!

---------- Post added at 11:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:38 AM ----------

Long Way Home Part 3 - Originally posted June 16, 2011

Going to read through this for the first time and type my thoughts. Then I'll go back and read this thread!

-"Splainy." I heart Buffy-isms.
-Oh. My. GOSH! Dirty dreams, Buffster! (But I like it.) Though the little cupid-things are creepy.
-That first picture of Willow and Amy doing battle REALLY looks like Willow is real life. Very cool!
-Poor Xander is once again the lone man among the females. Heehee.
-Love the Season 1 flashback dream!! Short skirts and high boots! (Um, is that a sketch of Joss on that page??)
-Amy getting smushed - EEEWWW. But at least Dawn did something worthwhile.
-I love when Willow gets all take charge and threatening. I can just hear her saying that: "And keep 'em shut if they wanna keep 'em"
-Ooo, Giles conversing with a demon monster...interesting. Oh, Andrew, you and your babbling....oh, and there's confirmation with the strip poker! Oh, my!
-Amy's tied to a wall - had she done an anti-smushing spell or what??
-"Girl thing? With girl parts?" SUCH a Xander line! Love it!
-Warren - GROOOOOSSSS!

I'm still having a hard time grasping how different this world is from the Sunnydale/LA scene, but I'm following. Can't say that I'm hating it, but I'm not lurrrving it, either.

---------- Post added at 11:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:51 AM ----------

The Long Way Home Part 4 - Originally posted June 16, 2011

-"Bored now." One of my favorite Willow quotes!
-Ok, so Warren and Amy put a spell on Kennedy to "mystically" kill her? And why was Amy watching Willow?
-"Will is like a mom to me." Ouchies for Buffy.
-Buffy doesn't look like "Buffy" anymore. Oh, artists....
-Warren with Willow's eyes - UGH!!! Though, reminds me of my LASIK surgery...
-What's with the random X-men looking dudes??
-Satsu must not feel ready for battle on this level. I wonder why Buffy picked her to go with.
-Lip gloss. Yup, the girl is still in there!
-CINNAMON! OH!
-Oh, no, Willow!! No lobotomy! Nice that she doesn't have to be present for it, though!
-Ooo, a return to Sunnydale. Nice. Maybe the old Initiative headquarters weren't filled in with cement after all. "Way more of your tax dollars at work." Heehee.
-Is Buffy taking about Willow being a part of her, even when she's gone? Seems like a random statement to make at that time. Oooh, now I see. Good job, Willow!
-Why the hasty exit of Amy and Warren? I would think they would want to stay and fight. Odd. And EW at Amy putting her arms around him - you would think that would hurt him??
-Um, military guy is completely psycho and apparently read too much about Hitler...
-Love the last panel. 🙂

Ok, I don't get why the world all of a sudden hates the slayers? And how did the WORLD find out about them and where their power comes from, anyway? Just because there are so many? I mean, it took Buffy YEARS to understand her power, where it comes from, and how to use it. I am very curious as to what happened between seasons 7 and 8!
 
Yay, a new S8 reader 😀

The world knew about the Slayers and Buffy because thousands of girls became slayers and Buffy and co searched for them using Andrew's commercials - read #5 - the world hates Slayers because they bombed a whole town Sunnydale, Buffy is considered a terrorist.

Reason for Dawn becoming a giant will be in #10.
 
sosa lola said:
Yay, a new S8 reader 😀

The world knew about the Slayers and Buffy because thousands of girls became slayers and Buffy and co searched for them using Andrew's commercials - read #5 - the world hates Slayers because they bombed a whole town Sunnydale, Buffy is considered a terrorist.

Reason for Dawn becoming a giant will be in #10.
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I did see a spoiler in some other thread about how Dawn became giant, so that one I know.

I have read #5 - I thought that was a joke! I guess I don't understand why they went from incognito to a full-blown military-like organization. When Sunnydale went mute, it was on the news, but the world wasn't all too concerned. The town went nutso in S7, and everyone evacuated, but that wasn't anything completely earth-shattering and I believe it was on the news that it happened. Why would blowing up the city that was going crazy be seen as such an antagonizing act? I'm wondering if General Voll put out some sort of propaganda about them being evil and what-not. Boy, that guy bugs me!

Not to mention they probably could have been more stealthy in searching out the slayers. And did the girls have a choice not to fall in? As in, "Great that I have this super strength, but I'm really not interested in using it. Please leave me alone."
 
PassionBecoming said:
Not to mention they probably could have been more stealthy in searching out the slayers. And did the girls have a choice not to fall in? As in, "Great that I have this super strength, but I'm really not interested in using it. Please leave me alone."
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That's a really good question! Keep reading, more will be revealed! We can already see a bit of a troublemaker (Simone asking if she can use a gun), plus we know from our TV viewing that being a Slayer doesn't automatically make a person good (Faith, the mentally ill Slayer in Damage etc).
[MENTION=11103]PassionBecoming[/MENTION], I love your "Ahh-hah!" moment about the cinnamon LOL!


Just found this and thought it was cool, a special feature over at Dark Horse, the making of #3: http://www.darkhorse.com/Features/M...f-a-Comic-Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-Season-8-3

---------- Post added at 01:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:27 PM ----------

Oh, Andrew, you and your babbling....oh, and there's confirmation with the strip poker! Oh, my!
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OK, what confirmation are you talking about LOL? I think it confirms that he's gay, do you think otherwise?
 
PassionBecoming
PassionBecoming
Yeah, I'm thinking maybe they're trying to get them all on the radar, if for no other reason than to make sure the rogue ones don't do any damage.
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