Do you find Season 8 FUN?

[kaan]

Ok this is a bit hard to define, but hopefully you'll grasp my meaning.

I love the comics and I'm enjoying the storyline. But on the whole I do not find them "fun" anymore. Does that make sense? When I watched the show, every week was like torture waiting for the next episode, but the main reason I tuned in every week wasn't because I liked the particular storyline (by and large I didn't care what the storyline was), but because I had fun watching it. Had a blast in fact!

With the comics it's more of the opposite: I like the storyline and want to see what happens next. I am caught up emotionally with the character's, but right now I feel like all I want is answers, answers, answers and in the past the answers never really mattered to me because of the character interactions that drove the show. But in S8 the plot, by and large, is what is driving the comics. And we seem to be constantly denied plot details.

I think the major problem is that it is one big story, and individual arcs and issues largely don't stand on their own. So I know--or presume--that we still wont get any real answers we've been waiting for for 36 odd issues until at least Joss' arc. Each month I come at the comics like, "man, hope we find out something this issue lol", whereas with the show it was more, "man, I can't wait to see what cool shit goes down tonight!"

All Season 8 has been like one looong episode and until that episode ends I cannot judge if it has been fun.

Anyone following me on this?

[AndrewCrossett]

I expect we'll get a *lot* of answers in the next issue. In fact, I'm taking that day off from work so I don't have to wait to get my issue.

I've considered Season 8 to be a ton of fun up until the current arc. I find the current arc fascinating, but not fun.

The first four arcs were all A+ efforts in my book. P&P and Retreat were lesser efforts, but still enjoyable.

Of course, Buffy doesn't have to be "fun" to be worthwhile. "The Body" was one of the least fun 44 minutes I've ever spent in front of a television, but still one of the best TV episodes I've ever seen.

[henzINNIT]

I find it more stressful than fun in all honesty. I've enjoyed patches of it, but there's been pretty consistant annoyances thoughout and I don't remember ever having that with the show. I liked this current arc up until the last issue, with that it feels like everything is coming together in way that I really don't like. I'll probably keep reading, probably keep paying for it, but I don't think I like it. That's just sad but there it is.

[BlueJay]

I have fun with the IDEA of Season Eight and getting a new addition to the Buffyverse every month. But when I read it, it's just 10 minutes of "meh". I seriously hate the comics medium, but I like Buffy enough to get over it.

[dragonweaver]

I've had fun reading most of Season 8, up until the last couple of issues, which were really heavy in plot points. There were a few issues here and there that weren't as entertaining as others, but I would never call any of the issues boring. I will agree that the plot and story has overpowered the series while character interactions have been limited. However; for me, the need to find out what's happening and the new discoveries during each arc keeps me plenty entertained.

[buffyfan21]

I do find season 8 fun and would say that I have enjoyed it as much as any season of the show. At first I was worried about the switch in medium, concerned that the comic wouldn't effect me the way the show does. And while the difference took some getting used to, I am happy to say that for the most part, that has not been the case. I find that the comic, despite the change in medium, is able to invoke the same reactions in me that the show does. Overall I find the writing and characterization to be consistent with the television series. Of course it helps that several Buffy writers have worked on it, and that Joss oversees the whole thing just as he did with the show.

[sosa lola]

I find it a lot of fun! Especially the comedy issues like Wolves at the Gate. I also remember having a lot of fun reading Retreat, I really, really enjoyed the Buffy/Xander storyline. I'm having fun when I'm reading. True it used to be more fun watching the actors playing these characters, it's not even comparable, but I still enjoy reading S8.

[The Night Lord]

It was fun reading until the last issue, so now it's just 'gotta find out what happens next'. Maybe the next arc will be fun

[Paul]

I find the series fun when I'm actually reading it. Even though the overall story is confusing and I haven't decided whether I like it or not, the dialogue and art is so entertaining that I can't help but have fun reading it. That's why I'm always so optimistic after a new issue. It's when that high wears off, and actually think about the story's content, that I start getting a headache.

However, following the series has been exhausting and I think at this point, it's overstayed it's welcome. At this point, I just want S8 to end already because it's been dragging on for years with more questions than answers, and I'm just tired of it. Plot holes and sloppy writing that wouldn't have been noticed on the TV show are painfully obvious after weeks of close scrutiny and negative debate. The series will be more fun in the future for those who read it all in TPBs.

Here's to a leaner, more satisfying Season Nine.

[Hallow Thorn]

I wouldn't say fun, but I do enjoy it.... the last arc the most. But I just can't wait untill it is all over and season 9 starts.

[Nixennacht]

At the moment I'm paralyzed with the notion that it'S falling flat.

There was this insanely long, partly pointless built up, and now it looks like the pay off is not going to be worth the wait by a long shot. I really hope there's something better than the moronic design theory and the destiny rape comming up.

[buffyfan21]

Apr 25, 2010 16:15:31 GMT -5 sosa lola said:

I find it a lot of fun! Especially the comedy issues like Wolves at the Gate.

This is still my favorite arc to date.

[sosa lola]

Apr 26, 2010 12:25:03 GMT -5 buffyfan21 said:

This is still my favorite arc to date.

I agree! It was so enjoyably fun!

[Darth Rosie]

The first four arcs were fun to me, and I think I re-read all issues 5 or 6 times. Then came P&P ... re-reads not so much fun. Retreat, more so, but something had started to seem lacking, and now the newest arc: I'm not really drawn into it. I'm confused with Angel's storyline - confused more than fascinated. And confusion is no fun. So: less fun recently, and I hope for more fun to come.

[NightlySorrow]

Yeah the comics are fun, and I don't take them as seriously as I used to because it'd drive me crazy if I did. I loved the first eleven issues of the comics.

I think things started getting rough at WATG honestly with a few strange developments and over the top moments.

Predators and Prey was a bore, the Tales issue after that was uninteresting and didn't accomplish much with the vamps in, slayers out storyline.

Retreat was messy but okay. It had moments. I've personally enjoyed every issue after that though, I'm into it lately. And at least there's stuff to talk about again, unlike PAP.

[cutiepatootie]

People here will cry about how Season 8 isn't their ideal story line and all, but I honestly do find it fun.

I really enjoy the scenes in the comics that couldn't be done in the show due to budget problems. And if you think about it on a whole, the storyline has been exciting.

The only part I don't enjoy is the power = bad theme they went through in Tibet. Embrace the inner demon, I say.

[kaan]

The fandom hasn't been too fun lately.

After having read (and posted) countless comments since the Twilight reveal either bashing the book, defending the book, wishing the book never existed, praising the risk taking of the story, hating on the creators (Allie is one of the creators), defending the creators..... I've come to a kind of pseudo-Zen place with the comics and the fandom. Life, as they say, is too short.

I think a lot of people believe what they are arguing about is something new to the Buffy fandom. There is so much self-righteous anger towards a lot of aspects of the story, and I think many believe that because they hear/agree/comment on their discontentment it means that something is wrong and it must change! But these things have been going on since S2 of the show. If we could go back into the internet archives you'd probably find every argument you've heard about S8 directed at some other point of the show.

It's like the shipper wars/articles/discussion's that still go on today, (and a lot of the bile about the current S8 storyline is about shipping, even if they don't wanna admit it). It's all been said/done/fought/cried over/laughed about before. There probably hasn't been any new *insight* about aspects of the various ships in 5 years. But people still enjoy talking about it so who cares if it's all been said.

So back to my original question; do I find Season 8 fun: Yeah.

The comic is what it is. Could they be better? Sure, but so could a lot of things on the show. I'm getting enjoyment from them. Really thats all anyone should worry about. Nothing is ever perfect--if they were there would be nothing to argue about afterwards. By January season 8 will be done. I'll read the last chapter, maybe reflect a little, and wait for season 9.

(oh and OT: Is that Cassie in your avatar cutiepatootie? I love her! )

[cutiepatootie]

Sweet summary there Kaan. And you've got a point, Buffy fans have always argued over plot developments, it's not a new thing. Only now it's been amplified by the internet and the ability to speak/argue with people all over the world.

And yeah, it is She's awesome man.

[sosa lola]

I completely agree with you, kaan. It just shows that S8 is as canon as the show, people wouldn't have been this passionate if it wasn't important.

[Giant Michael]

Apr 20, 2010 13:45:47 GMT -5 BlueJay said:

I seriously hate the comics medium, but I like Buffy enough to get over it.

It'd be a shame if you were basing this on Buffy alone, because - for me, at least - that's been the problem all along: these are brilliant characters, usually well-written, and the plot itself probably would have worked on a television show, where you're getting answers every week... but these are not good comics.

MB x