|
Post by Tyler Austin "tiewashere" on Apr 1, 2009 13:18:05 GMT -5
You know the drill.
|
|
barryshaft
Novice Witch
Sometimes I shouldn't say words...[Mo0:0]
Posts: 224
|
Post by barryshaft on Apr 1, 2009 15:07:48 GMT -5
Pretty bad. Not horrible but certainly in no way interesting. Krueger's handling of the characters is pretty off.
|
|
|
Post by Rebecca on Apr 1, 2009 15:44:48 GMT -5
I said okay because it in no way detracted from the overarching storyline, but it didn't contribute anything either.
|
|
|
Post by Tyler Austin "tiewashere" on Apr 1, 2009 16:32:06 GMT -5
It was good. I enjoyed. This issue is going to be VERY split in how much people liked it, me thinks.
|
|
|
Post by hitnrun017 on Apr 1, 2009 17:20:45 GMT -5
First issue of Season 8 that I really didn't like.
|
|
|
Post by Wyndam on Apr 1, 2009 19:12:24 GMT -5
I chose "Okay." Some good, some bad, but mostly just leaving me wanting more Giles and Faith.
|
|
patxshand
Ensouled Vampire
Writer/director/Amy Acker's husband.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 1,918
|
Post by patxshand on Apr 1, 2009 19:27:55 GMT -5
Wow, I'm surprised by the reaction. I gave it "great."
|
|
|
Post by wenxina on Apr 1, 2009 20:30:51 GMT -5
Went with "bad", actually. I feel kinda bad about it, but IMO, it did merit the poor ranking from me. Review is up here and here. Identical reviews, so pick your poison. The former is the #24 discussion thread, and the latter is my blog entry.
|
|
|
Post by AndrewCrossett on Apr 1, 2009 21:35:40 GMT -5
I gave it a "good." I didn't think the story itself was bad, just that it was a filler issue and really shouldn't have been. It was a wasted opportunity to really lock Faith and Giles into the season 8 story flow. Presumably they're going to play a part in the season's climax, so why have them out fighting Cthulhu monsters when there's so little page count left in which to work with them? If I was writing it, this issue would have involved Faith and Giles discovering, experiencing, or realizing something of vital importance that Buffy absolutely MUST know about, whether she wants to talk or not. That would give them the reason to get back to B's side and start the painful process of pulling her head out of her butt, so the good guys can start trying to get back the initiative.
|
|
parabola
Potential Slayer
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 131
|
Post by parabola on Apr 2, 2009 16:49:46 GMT -5
I went with 'good', too. A few enjoyable tidbits, but not a story that seems all that essential to the season.
|
|
|
Post by tms on Apr 2, 2009 17:57:49 GMT -5
Bad. I read Xi's review here and I have to say, I agree with it a majority of it.
|
|
Mathieu
Ensouled Vampire
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 1,069
|
Post by Mathieu on Apr 2, 2009 20:34:26 GMT -5
I went with okay because the issue was enjoyable but nothing related to the main storyline happened. Just a monster of the week kind of issue. In my opinion, if I had to rank this arc so far it would go like this:
1. issue #21 2. issue #23 3. issue #22 4. issue #24
|
|
Just Willow
Wise-cracking Sidekick
Look to the Western Sky
[Mo0:22]
Posts: 2,575
|
Post by Just Willow on Apr 2, 2009 21:22:51 GMT -5
Though i loved to see Faith again, this whole issue.....didn't really have a point. it was a little random. Didn't much like the art, either.
|
|
vampmogs
Novice Witch
[Mo0:16]
Posts: 208
|
Post by vampmogs on Apr 2, 2009 22:47:35 GMT -5
I'm rather surprised people are saying this issue didn't have a point. In order to have an overall well rounded story- you actually have to spend time making it, well... rounded. This issue dealt with the idea of what happens to slayers who choose not to fight in the battle. About humanity and slayers actually having to fight together for a common cause. It expanded on the "vampires become public" storyline and how it's affecting the slayers. In order to make the story work you have to explore all these kind of issues. That was basically the point of the 'Predators and Prey' arc. To see the global reaction of what has happened, everywhere.
When I look back on season eight once it is finished I think I'm going to be very happy they did that. It makes the whole storyline more fleshed out, more meaty. Just because Twilight didn’t show up and do anything doesn’t mean this didn’t have a point. That's kind of like saying season three's 'The Wish' didn't have a point, just because it didn't involve the Mayor or even Faith. But it did have a point, it built on the idea that Buffy could be Faith. Sure it didn't blatantly state it, but it implied it. That episode, like this issue, expanded on the themes of the season.
I really liked the issue, I’m surprised by how hit and miss the whole thing has been. I got the love/hate relationship the fans had with something like ‘After These Messages’ but I just don’t get it with this issue. It really took me by surprise that it seems to have had such different extreme reactions in the fandom.
|
|
uberchick
Innocent Bystander
Do not cross me, unless being NEUTRALIZED is in your dayplanner! Or palm pilot, if you're old skool.
Posts: 9
|
Post by uberchick on Apr 2, 2009 22:48:00 GMT -5
I fail to understand why such a big deal was made out of a green tentacled beast. I fight green tentacled beasts in my sleep! With my feet! While wearing bunny slippers!
I thought the depiction of Giles was quite striking. I am hardly never attracted to cartoons, but the simple strength of Giles's chin sent shivers up my spine. Ooohh weee!
|
|
●B E N
Rogue Demon Hunter
♥ Goodness Gracious ♥
Crazy Echo[Mo0:4]
Posts: 454
|
Post by ●B E N on Apr 2, 2009 22:48:19 GMT -5
I gave it a good because it was nice to read Faith & Giles... but overall it was sorta...bleh... I liked the ending though. I love me some inspirational Faith.
|
|
|
Post by wenxina on Apr 2, 2009 23:10:36 GMT -5
vampmogs: While the point you make is valid, I thought that the execution of the story quite frankly sucked. I get that there was an inserted plot point about Slayers that chose to ignore their calling, but what I cannot forgive is the utter waste of Faith and Giles in the story. Why use them, unless you're going to do justice to their characters? The story is important, but when you completely miss the boat on Faith's characterization and reduce her to a pouting girl, that's when I say that the story misses the mark. I think the case against this issue is made more clearly on the actual #24 thread.
|
|
Skeptic
Initiative Soldier
[Mo0:24]
Posts: 344
|
Post by Skeptic on Apr 4, 2009 19:57:15 GMT -5
I rated it "okay". I thought it was good, but the reason I rated it okay instead is because it didn't really contribute to the overall arc (that I know of) and Faith seemed... off. Giles and Faith's relationship also seemed off. The whole story about the town feeding children to a demon seemed a little weird and didn't really work for me.
Overall, though, I thought the issue would've made a pretty dark episode, very dramatic, so that was a plus for me (the dark, epic-feel eps are always my faves). I wasn't sure whether to rate it good or okay, but decided on okay because of the reasons above. I just feel like I waited a loooong time to see Faith again, and learn about how she and Giles are faring in their operation, and was left feeling like her appearance was a drive-by.
|
|
theend
Potential Slayer
Dollhouse DollFreakinHouse[Mo0:0]
Posts: 137
|
Post by theend on Apr 6, 2009 11:05:02 GMT -5
I thought it was OK. Boring story really.
|
|
Marcos
Novice Witch
Define "human".[Mo0:30]
Posts: 210
|
Post by Marcos on Apr 6, 2009 13:57:48 GMT -5
I also thought it was the worst issue so far in the season. It was mainly because of the writing, which was baaaaad, and the art felt kinda sloppy at times... About this issue's place in the arc.. well, guess it's not a problem. It seems like a filler, but so does every other issue of Predators and Prey. They're not like a whole story, more like and anthology linked on the theme of slayers as prey. We saw them as Twilight's prey. We saw them as society's prey, and Vampy Cats'... Now we see them as that old crazy Watcher and his green pet's prey. Of course it had nothing to do with all this vampire-loving-society plot, but I guess it goes beyond that. The overall arc is not only about society or Twilight's war against slayers. To me, it's about a bunch of girls that have much power, but are strugling to find their place in the world. So, to me, it fits really well, even though it's not Twilight-related. I guess we can only know for sure about this issue's merits/problems once the arc or the season is over. We don't know yet what the overall season arc is REALLY about (I guess it kinda depends on who Twilight is and what motivations he has). But of course, it's still a baaaaaaaaaaad issue, for millions other reasons PS.: I guess what maybe made it a little bit worse is that the last time we saw Giles/Faith was on Brian K. Vaughan's amazing arc, so, hard t follow...
|
|