Skeptic
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Post by Skeptic on Sept 26, 2009 13:00:57 GMT -5
Re-watching the ep on Hulu right now, because I found the premiere to be a bit underwhelming as far as premieres usually go. What I saw last night seemed more like a mid-season stretch, and seemed kind of slow and overly complex to be a season kickoff. I'm just rewatching because it helps the ratings, and also I'm trying to figure out some plot points I think I missed.
There was still a lot that I liked about it. Amy Acker's portrayal of Whiskey/Claire quietly going off the deep end was one. The fight choreography was excellent. Jamie Bamber's guest spot was exciting, although his character was creepy. Alexis Denisof's short appearance was cool, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of him.
I really don't recall this season opener being pimped at all by Fox, though. In fact, the only ad I remember seeing was just right before the ep aired.
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Post by Skeptic on Sept 10, 2009 11:24:54 GMT -5
Oooh, I wanna see a Jo Chen of Leah! I bet she'd be a hottie, too. That big poofy mane of dayglo red hair would probably be really sultry and fiery with dark highlights in a Jo Chen cover, bet... And the cover for this TPB? LOVE it. If I was told I could take any of the TPB's and blow them up and have them signed and framed and hung in my office under track lighting... this'd be it. I think the likenesses are pretty great. Close enough so that I don't have to ask who someone is, or come read the board to find out who they are. And I don't want the likenesses to be 100%. I want them to look like someone worked very hard to draw them and put heart and soul into the art, as much as they put in time and effort.
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Post by Skeptic on Sept 4, 2009 19:42:27 GMT -5
I just finished reading the issue and really enjoyed having Oz back. Oz with a family, and the babeh is a little bitty werewolf, too. The poor little thing changed when it got scared, but it was soo cute.
Giles being funny again was aces. I've missed this man's very dry humor and situational observations.
Why was Buffy's hair orange in some panels, and blonde in others? Was the sun setting or something? It kind of threw me off.
All the talk of Spike. It's like it was raining anvils... is he supposed to come up in an issue soon, I guess?
And it took me reading this thread to find out that the guy that I've never seen before who was working with Twilight was actually supposed to be Riley. I'll have to go back and re-read the ish now with that in mind, because all I could think was "That looks like Andrew... but Andrew's with the girls. But it looks like Andrew... is he a double-agent? Is this a big reveal?"
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Skeptic
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Post by Skeptic on Aug 7, 2009 9:45:04 GMT -5
Emma posted this just a sec ago:
contropussy is up people. Contropussy.com. A few tweeks still to come to site but log on and enjoy.
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Skeptic
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Post by Skeptic on Aug 6, 2009 10:58:34 GMT -5
Just a interesting side note: I went back to study Giles' body actions in issue 26, and when Twilight's army is attacking the castle, Giles' eyes are pitch black in the panels(Two, until the mistle hits). He is standing next to a few other people, and their eyes look normal. It may be just a mistake in the art, but I found it interesting. Several of their eyes are black in one panel. I think it's just the way Jeanty sketches, then they get colored in, which doesn't leave a lot of room for detail in a wide shot like that. Is it possible at all that this is the First all over again? That it's just not going to stop? They say third time is the charm - and this would be the third time that the First has shown up and wreaked havoc. It was arguably more successful the second time around, but still didn't manage to do what it set out to do. And I'm not even sure I remember enough about what its goal was in S7, but wasn't it basically all about getting the scythe? S8's overarching story is about getting the scythe, too. Is this all connected? Could it be that S8 is the last half of the arc started in S7? But it comes to mind that if The First is in control of Giles, then Giles needs to have died. I'm not sure I like that idea, but I'm sure it's possible.
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Post by Skeptic on Aug 6, 2009 9:24:04 GMT -5
I think Eliza's strong suit is something very focused, in an ensemble. And primarily doing angst and action, and working the sexy angle. I don't think that she has a lack of range, just that she needs to really start working those other muscles and going farther on more than just her looks and the angst/fighting. I think she has it in her to go higher and push harder, with the right director. Joss is definitely one of the right directors.
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Post by Skeptic on Aug 5, 2009 11:57:58 GMT -5
I don't know that body type means a whole lot in comics. I mean, in ATF, Angel with his shirt off looks like he robbed a steroids factory. Physique is over-accentuated in graphic novels, especially for the poses they often like to put superheroes and villains in. Guys have enormous thighs and arms, and wide chests you could bounce a brick off of, and women have cleavage that could disappear small countries.
Andrew, all your points are spot-on, and what I was trying to digest in my previous posts. It seems like it could be Giles... so much of it is so close to Giles. And yet, there are some key aspects that are off, that are not Giles - at least the Giles we are familiar with (or think we are). While I feel it's very possible it's Giles, there are just those things that don't match up. But is that just because we can't possibly imagine Giles doing these things? Because Joss doesn't play favorites - he will reach in and rip out someone's spine through their spleen if it's good story. It would make me angry and shocked and broken hearted if it's Giles, but I don't feel Joss wants anything less a reaction.
We'll see, eh?
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Post by Skeptic on Aug 2, 2009 18:53:06 GMT -5
I almost wanna put my foot in my mouth for my last post. Not cuz its not plausible but because I'm watching "the yoko factor" and I just heard giles sing freebird and I really dont wanna think the worst of him... That's kind of how I feel. Giles has been a great guy, a father, a leader, an advisor, and has had his dark times where he's made really bad choices and lost some people who he loved. But he is by no means a villan - at least, as far as I know! The stuff I pointed out earlier, even, just proves that he's got some unresolved issues, and some problems regarding his control issues with Buffy. A lot of that just stems from his own difficulty in knowing whether he's her father or her watcher, and knowing what it is Buffy wants (needs?) him to be most. The stuff with him "protecting Buffy" and "doing what's best for Buffy", by keeping her in the dark, with his motives actually rooted in his own dissatisfaction of Buffy's performance, and his frustration at seeing her get more and more powerful... that, definitely, I could see leading him to doing something drastic in order to stop this progression that Buffy's on. He's my closest guess for Twilight because of that. I'm not sure if that also means, for me, that he's going to put on a mask and fly around and beat Buffy up and kill her slayers, though. The person I would tag the fastest for that might be Caleb - as he's fat-headed enough to say and do all of the things that Twilight's said and done to Buffy thus far. But he doesn't have the modus operandi that Giles seems to have. That make sense? I feel like Giles can fit much of the profile, but not all of it.
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Post by Skeptic on Aug 2, 2009 14:32:30 GMT -5
Curious, why do you think would Giles kill Kennedy (or Xander)? I don't get that impression at all, or that he could actually kill someone. He's had his moments - like Ben, or asking Faith to kill Gigi, or being prepared to kill Willow - all for not uncomplicated reasons. But as far as killing Kennedy? I don't see it, unless it was revealed that Kennedy was a double-agent, and/or harming Willow. Generally doing something dastardly, and damaging the greater mission, and jeopardizing more than just a few people in the process.
Unless you mean - Giles is Twilight, and kills them? I might could go with that. After all, my main theory is that Giles is Twilight. However, I don't paint him, as Twilight, as a murderous villain. Someone who's capable of destruction and death in order to keep his mission viable, yes - in the guise of Twilight. For that matter, so is Buffy. She has begun to sacrifice innocents to see her mission secured. Man, have people changed in the Buffyverse.
But here's my personal opinion... if they kill Willow's girlfriend, again, to make her go dark and insane and kill the world again, they've officially run out of ideas.
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Post by Skeptic on Aug 1, 2009 13:15:47 GMT -5
Mole : Id like it to be Satsu myself. The Satsu/Buffy thing must lead somewhere else since a big hullabaloo was made over it initially. Id love for Satsu love for Buffy to be a big fabrication in order for her to try and get closer to Buffy/make a connection with her. I thought about that, too, only we found out that Satsu really loves Buffy, else her kiss wouldn't have awakened her. I had originally toyed with the idea that Satsu got Buffy to sleep with her so the Tokyo vamps could steal the scythe. But there were so many reasons that just didn't quite fit, so I abandoned the idea. Plus, I think Joss is so painfully aware of the "evil/dead lesbian" cliche from the post-Tara fallout, that he may have doubts about making another gay character turn bad or die. But if Satsu wasn't truly in love with Buffy, as evidenced by the kiss, then she might be on my list as well. I think the betrayer is perhaps Buffy, and the betrayee is Willow. The reason is because of the panels where Buffy asked Willow if she was going to betray her, and Willow said no, at least no more than she had already. I'm wondering still if that was an anvil - to say Buffy automatically assumes it's Willow, and never once considers that she may herself be the betrayer, and do it to Willow. And the theory kinda fits - because if Buffy abandons Willow so she can banish magicks and demons, it would probably kill them both (figuratively speaking, maybe even literally... we'll see).
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Post by Skeptic on Jul 30, 2009 17:24:37 GMT -5
The art looks strange.
Also... hairball. *hack, hack*
Why's everyone just hanging out on his porch?
The 2nd-to-last panel is some of the best likenesses of Buffy and Willow I've seen in S8, yet. Love it.
Also, with that hat, Willow looks like innocent, pre-addiction, sunny disposition Willow again. For just a second I thought the panel was a flashback to S4. Btw, please god, let her actually be in a cute hat and a goofy shirt and a pair of pants for once, like Willow actually dresses...
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Post by Skeptic on Jul 30, 2009 17:11:26 GMT -5
Ahhh, but look in "Wolves at the Gate" in the scene where we first see Buffy and Satsu in bed. See who's guarding Buffy's undies on the floor? Whoa, seriously? And here I thought I had scrutinized everything in that panel... #fail!
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Post by Skeptic on Jul 30, 2009 14:56:30 GMT -5
I suppose he would be rather pissed at Buffy for being abandoned in a magic crater.
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Post by Skeptic on Jul 29, 2009 21:11:55 GMT -5
Giles was my original, first choice because of everything that went down between him and Buffy in S7, but also because of everything that went down prior to S7, especially the stuff with Jenny and Angelus. But also because of this deleted/unfilmed scene from "Empty Places". He is literally "seething" when he brings Jenny into the conversation. -- GILESSo how high does the price have to go before you start saying your way isn't right? BUFFYI still think attacking Caleb's power base could end this -- GILESYes. You. Think. But when you act alone -- BUFFYIs that really something you want to get into? 'Cause we can talk about Spike. Or Ben. GILESIf I acted rashly, it was to protect you. Were you trying to protect Annabelle? Or Chloe? BUFFYStop it. GILES(more intense) Or Molly? Or Xander? And it goes even further back than that, doesn't it? BUFFYGiles. GILES(seething) You act alone, and people get hurt, right? People like Jenny. BUFFYGoddamn you, stop!! Buffy SWEEPS a vase (maybe something vaguely African, from Joyce's gallery) off the end table. It SMASHES to the floor. Giles and Buffy stare at each other for a beat. GILES(calmly) Do you see? You are not in the best place you have ever been. You're too raw. You need to take a break. BUFFYI am still responsible for this group. I am still in charge here. -- Here's my post from the "Slayer Squadrons" thread that explains partially why I think Giles is lying and has a secondary agenda that is designed to keep Buffy in the dark about Spike and Angel.
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Post by Skeptic on Jul 29, 2009 20:52:32 GMT -5
It makes me wonder what changed Between "Damage" and "Shells". In "Damage" Angel says that rupert giles is sending his best guy to head up the investigation but Now that you reminded me about "shells" It makes you wonder if Giles really does have his own Agenda. IT would better back the Giles for Twilight theory. Why would Giles help Angel at one time and later in the same year decide Angel's not worth helping...Hmmm... I just think a lot of it stems from S7, with him being rubbed the wrong way about Spike's ensoulment and Buffy's willingness to aid him. I think it aggravated a couple of old wounds, particularly Jenny and Angelus. We found out from a nixed scene from "Empty Places" that he resents Buffy for not stopping Angelus because of her feelings for Angel. And then of not revealing that he was back. Years later, he is still angry and deeply hurt over Jenny's murder. However, the nixed scene not being there meant that we couldn't make the connection between Angel and Buffy's clouded judgment, and Spike and Buffy's clouded judgment. I think it eventually starts to come back around to Giles feelings that perhaps Buffy is wielding too much power. This is again a theme that crops up as a subplot throughout the latter half of S8, and one of the reasons that Giles was my first pick right away for Twilight. But it's not just Jenny. The nixed scene has Giles very angry over Buffy's presumed abuse of power, her "I am the law" attitude, and that she gets what she wants without regard to others, and so on. If ever there was an argument for Giles being Twilight, that scene would be a big indicator. As for what happened in Angel S5 for him to supposedly change his tune about Angel, I'm not sure. I think there's a good argument that his tune never changed, only his lies did. Shutting Angel and Spike off from Buffy accomplished what he wanted to accomplish already, only this time he succeeded and as far as we know, Buffy's still in the dark about all of it - and doesn't know about anything that's happening in L.A. because Giles is making sure that she doesn't. He probably feels that she would drop everything and sacrifice the mission, and countless lives, to send the entire army to hell in order to save Angel and Spike. That's my theory and I'm stickin' to it. ETA: Link to the deleted scene from "Empty Places"
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Post by Skeptic on Jul 29, 2009 20:11:15 GMT -5
This is how I feel like the "episodes" naturally break (copied this off a list I've been keeping):
8x01 - The Long Way Home, Part 1 & 2 8x02 - The Long Way Home, Part 3 & 4 8x03 - The Chain 8x04 - No Future for You, Part 1, 2, 3 & 4 8x05 - Anywhere But Here 8x06 - A Beautiful Sunset 8x07 - Wolves at the Gate, Part 1 & 2 8x08 - Wolves at the Gate, Part 3 & 4 8x09 - Time of Your Life, Part 1 & 2 8x10 - Time of Your Life, Part 3 & 4 8x11 - After These Messages… We'll Be Right Back 8x12 - Predators & Prey 1: Harmonic Divergence 8x13 - Predators & Prey 2: Swell 8x14 - Predators & Prey 3: Predators and Prey 8x15 - Predators & Prey 4: Safe 8x16 - Predators & Prey 5: Living Doll 8x17 - Retreat (the whole arc, possibly broken into 8x17 and 8x18) 8x19 - Brad Meltzer arc (possibly broken into 8x19 and 8x20) 8x21 - Joss Whedon arc, season finale (possibly broken into 8x21 and 8x22)
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Post by Skeptic on Jul 29, 2009 18:38:02 GMT -5
Oh, I don't doubt for a moment that Giles knows Spike is alive. It's one of the bombshells I'm waiting for to land. I don't know spoilers or anything - I just feel like Giles has a secondary agenda this season, and it involves keeping Buffy out of the loop on something.
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Post by Skeptic on Jul 29, 2009 18:14:48 GMT -5
I don't see a reason why they specifically would not act autonomously. Apart from needing to supply information to Scotland about major issues that may affect their squad, or any problems that come up that are more than a local or regional threat, there really is no reason to keep constant contact with Buffy. And that's what Xander is for, anyway - he's Tigh to her Adama, he manages the CIC, he knows who's doing what, he gives orders, he watches troop movement. (Sorry, went BSG for a moment. ) And he'd be the one who'd tell her what's happening in other squads, if they even had to report to him in the first place. S'what I'm thinking anyway. But like I said, they may be reporting to, and operating under, Giles for all we know, and Giles may be withholding information from Buffy about what's going on in L.A. because he doesn't want her to know Spike is alive. Remember he thought she jeopardized the entire mission by protecting him in S7, and that rift seemed to extend into S8. Or am I way off base?
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Post by Skeptic on Jul 29, 2009 16:28:20 GMT -5
Um, guys. A wizard did it. I'll take that. In fact, I'll take that and apply it to the whole Warren's-in-Season-8 thing. There. That feels better.
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Post by Skeptic on Jul 29, 2009 16:22:21 GMT -5
I guess I really need to buckle down and read After The Fall. Because I really don't understand what's happening in L.A. What I was given to believe is that the hellification all happened in a rift created by W&H, to kill Angel, but that it was part of a larger prophecy? I have started and stopped with AtF, mainly because the artwork's so... meh... I can hardly recognize anybody. And it's distracting when trying to read. So I put it away.
But, FWIW, I just assumed that the slayers in L.A. are operating with their own agenda, just like the other squads in other cities, but they all pretty much operate autonomously, and only report in to Scotland if there's a special problem or a change in routine.
But the whole Hell-A thing is big, so it doesn't make sense to me that Buffy wouldn't know exactly what was happening with it. And accordingly, how Buffy wouldn't also know that Spike was alive, or that Angel had become human. The demon-fighting community in L.A. isn't that large, so surely some word would have gotten back to Scotland of these big changes, especially because the L.A. squad would probably know that that's Buffy's home turf, and Angel is (was?) her friend...
Unless maybe they were told to report to Giles instead, since Buffy doesn't trust Angel anymore. Or so said Andrew, in... whatever ep that was... "Damages"?
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