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Post by Emmie on Jan 7, 2009 14:08:07 GMT -5
So after Buffy's messages of 'we're still the same, just like the high school years' and 'we've got a world to save', we're right back to the main themes of Season 8: connection, power, perception and the subjectivity of reality. Harmonic Divergence does a great job of building on After These Messages by showing how out of touch Buffy is with the outside world ("Right? They can tell who's wearing the white hats") which goes to show that our mindtrip last issue with Buffy was one of self-delusion. Things are just the same as they've always been according to our titular slayer. Well, no. They really aren't, Buffy. Harmonic Divergence blows these messages out of the water.
Buffy changed the world and now it's all different. There's no longer one, but thousands. And unfortunately the ones in charge of recruiting aren't getting the job done. A Hispanic slayer comes into her power, the power that enables her to escape her gang ties and "changes stuff". Plus side. Downside? Andrew and Buffy bungle recruiting her. Actually, it's Buffy who bungles it. The new slayer is "in" after Andrew's speech about destiny and protecting the weak. Then comes the phone call to Buffy with the "crappy connection" (*cough*connection*cough*) where Buffy gives her spiel about "togetherness! unity! sisterhood!" and the new slayer doesn't want to drink the kool-aid. She's heard "those words" before when she joined the Las Cuchillas gang. Buffy's spiel, bad connection notwithstanding, probably didn't ring true for the senorita slayer because Buffy's admittedly having trouble feeling that connection herself ("Why can't I feel it?" - A Beautiful Sunset). How can she explain something empowering and enlightening that she's not a part of?
The consequences of the Chosen spell crystallize in this one slayer's origin tale. She comes into her power but slips the leash of Buffy's Slayer army. Goes rogue from the establishment. No mentors, no allies, no understanding of her duty beyond this: slayer + stake = dead vampire. The danger of power without understanding its gravity. Not realizing that the fight is conducted in the shadows, not in front of camera crews - all to keep humanity out of the crossfire and not on Anderson Cooper's show. A PR nightmare waiting to happen when the noob slayer attacks in front of the whole world, outting the slayers and making them "the enemy". The Slayer power is out of control and dividing the protectors (slayers) from those they would protect (humanity). Slayers are "the best villains since Nazis" and the equivalent of an LA gang. The allusions to fascism in The Chain are coming back to haunt us.
Espenson also clarifies one of the ways that potentials post-Chosen who come of age become slayers. Senorita slayer turns sixteen in this issue and feels the fighty, glowy power. One week later, Andrew comes to recruit her and calls Buffy. This is, at minimum, a year and a half after Chosen and who knows how long into Season 8 but Dawn is a centaur when Buffy tries to welcome Senorita to her gang. So we have a potential who wasn't a slayer til she turned sixteen. This means that there's something about age that matters. Buffy became a slayer at 15 so perhaps it's more the case of when the girl is ready, when she's matured to the point of being ready for the power.
We also get our first glimpse of a non-Hell-A in this issue. Harmony's on a roll and the Hollywood system seems untouched in its superficial glory. There's also a none too subtle mocking of reality TV shows - that they're all slaves to their impulses, mindless drones to Harmony's bite only looking to capitalize on the cache of her vampire stardom. No greater philosophical interest in good and evil beyond how they can spin it and make it sell. So clearly, Hollywood is still the same. So what does this mean for the consequences of After the Fall? Has Harmony been in LA the entire time and only Angel's gang were sent to an alternate LA dimension? Is that why the one outside glimpse of LA by the Asylum crew showed it as being normal business as usual?
Coming back to Harmony, she appears to have been continuing her 'don't kill' policy learned at W&H. Limiting herself to drinking human blood straight from the source, but with willing victims. As Giles' categorized it in Into the Woods, it's "ambiguous evil" that doesn't require a slayer's full focus. Bigger fish to fry, less ambiguous evil to slay. But Senorita Slayer doesn't know about the gray morality of the underworld. And she's the one who gets caught in the crossfire. Buffy handed her a weapon she wasn't prepared to use and it ended tragically. Hello consequences.
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Post by henzINNIT on Jan 7, 2009 16:19:24 GMT -5
Any Ukers who buy from stores regularly? Any idea when-ish I'm likely to find this at my local store? (my local store isn't local lol, so I'd hope to go with the odds on my side)
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jellymoff
Ensouled Vampire
Claimer of Funn[Mo0:0]
Posts: 1,174
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Post by jellymoff on Jan 7, 2009 16:29:24 GMT -5
Pretty good issue. On thing that struck me, is that it almost seems that people are pretty comfortable with idea of vampires at this point. We really didn't get to see people's initial reactions; I thought there would be more of a "coming out" and we would see how people actually feel about vampires being real. I would think there would be more of a panic. Maybe we will see more of that in upcoming issues.
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Smashed
Junior Vampire Slayer
[Mo0:3]
Posts: 908
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Post by Smashed on Jan 7, 2009 18:35:42 GMT -5
Love Willow's "She's no Tina Fey", remember her Tina Fey ski-dream from AWBH? But here we go with Willow's haircut that changes too much. It looks really short again. Hmm.
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Post by wenxina on Jan 7, 2009 20:05:25 GMT -5
Espenson also clarifies one of the ways that potentials post- Chosen who come of age become slayers. Senorita slayer turns sixteen in this issue and feels the fighty, glowy power. One week later, Andrew comes to recruit her and calls Buffy. This is, at minimum, a year and a half after Chosen and who knows how long into Season 8 but Dawn is a centaur when Buffy tries to welcome Senorita to her gang. So we have a potential who wasn't a slayer til she turned sixteen. This means that there's something about age that matters. Buffy became a slayer at 15 so perhaps it's more the case of when the girl is ready, when she's matured to the point of being ready for the power. It also answers an even more important question about the Slayer lineage. Given that this girl was still a Potential until the point she turned 16, and as you noted, at bare minimum, over a year and a half after the events of "Chosen", I think it's pretty clear that the world has not run out of Potentials (and thus, Slayers-to-be), as some people have theorized.
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Post by Emmie on Jan 7, 2009 20:10:00 GMT -5
Exactly. There's more girls being called every day. How can Buffy and Co. hope to keep up with all of them?
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Post by wenxina on Jan 7, 2009 20:23:25 GMT -5
Exactly. There's more girls being called every day. How can Buffy and Co. hope to keep up with all of them? They probably can't... and therefore are kinda stuck in the position of the Watcher's Council back in the day. The WC tried to identify as many Potentials as they could for training, but many inevitably slipped through the cracks. Buffy, being one such girl. But I'd still say that the Scoobies are pretty good at tracking down new girls. Willow said at the end of "Chosen" that she could feel "them", Slayers all over the world coming to power. It only took Buffy and Co. a week to find this girl in LA, across the Atlantic Ocean and all. But back to Willow's comment about being able to feel the girls... that would ironically make her, the one who felt left out of "Slayer stuff" back in S3, the one who's more connected to the Slayer army than Buffy (the one and only, "accept no substitutes" Slayer). EDIT: Btw, loved the wall of tattoos. Apparently, Jeanty made a special effort to include as many BtVS-related tattoos as he could think of. Faith's arm tat is there, and so is the BtVS logo. And the "5 by 5" quote. And shame on me, but I can't remember if Angel's tat is one of the designs up there. I think it may be... on the page where Clem says something about having a cartoon duck somewhere. Other pop-culture worthy mentions include Batman, the Watchmen, the Fantastic Four, and possibly the Flash (is the lightning supposed to be in red?). And the Artist Formerly Known as Prince's sigil.
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Post by Emmie on Jan 7, 2009 20:28:51 GMT -5
Except it's even more imperative to identify the Slayers than it was to identify the Potentials. The Slayers are dealing with some serious life changes and after #21, they're also going to become targets. Even the ones who haven't joined Buffy's army will get caught in the crossfire, I imagine. Plus the WC had a much larger number of people working for them (or so it seems since the Council had been around for millennia). It just seems like too much for Buffy and Co. to handle right now.
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Post by wenxina on Jan 7, 2009 20:36:20 GMT -5
I don't think they were counting on being so publicly outed. It was an oversight, granted, but who really thinks about all those details when planning to defeat the First anyway? Also, I think that the new Slayer organization may be recruiting more than just Slayers. In the panel with Andrew watching Harm chomping down on the Slayer, to his left, there's a character that looks more like a young boy than a girl. Not saying it can't be a girl, just saying that it may be a boy.
Btw... methinks that Espenson and Jeanty were kinda outing Andrew... a Spice Girls t-shirt and squealing over Anderson Cooper? lol.
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jellymoff
Ensouled Vampire
Claimer of Funn[Mo0:0]
Posts: 1,174
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Post by jellymoff on Jan 7, 2009 22:00:59 GMT -5
Exactly. There's more girls being called every day. How can Buffy and Co. hope to keep up with all of them? EDIT: Btw, loved the wall of tattoos. Apparently, Jeanty made a special effort to include as many BtVS-related tattoos as he could think of. Faith's arm tat is there, and so is the BtVS logo. And the "5 by 5" quote. And shame on me, but I can't remember if Angel's tat is one of the designs up there. I think it may be... on the page where Clem says something about having a cartoon duck somewhere. Other pop-culture worthy mentions include Batman, the Watchmen, the Fantastic Four, and possibly the Flash (is the lightning supposed to be in red?). And the Artist Formerly Known as Prince's sigil. It took me awhile to find it, but Angel's tatoo is in there. Its in the panel where the dude says "Everyone Likes a Flaming Skiull"
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Post by wenxina on Jan 7, 2009 22:18:15 GMT -5
I thought so... and yeah, that was the panel I was referring to. Thanks for confirming! +1 on you!
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Post by buffystar on Jan 7, 2009 23:28:18 GMT -5
I don't know if this was mention before. But can Vampires be known to the world connect to the Fray series.
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pablo
Potential Slayer
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 101
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Post by pablo on Jan 8, 2009 9:18:06 GMT -5
Overall, Harmonic Divergence is one of the best issues of BtVS S.8. The writing's amazing, it feels just like one of Ms Espeson's finest episodes, and i don't mind the art either. However, there are some things that left me a bit iffy: Harmony's reality show just goes on air and nobody questions or protests against a reality show revolving around the spawn of evil. In a time when a gay kiss on prime-time can still be object to controversies, i find it hard to believe it. We seem to understand in this issue that vampires were sort of tolerated, or at least unofficially known of to most of the population. What Harmony did was basically exploit this repressed fascination. Yet still, you can't act like you didn't drop a bomb on your society! People's reaction to have vampires out in the open is definitely mishandled in this issue. vampires have always been there, we get that, but their existence was never obvious like a campy, in-your-face reality show on MTV.
Senorita Slayer: RIP. I'm getting annoyed at Season Eight's trend to kill every single character we sympathise with or take a liking at before they become an established figure in the story. Buffy's Decoy, Gigi, Renée, and now Senorita. These were all great characters that could have brought a lot to the storyline, especially for the way their background and personalities were outlined, however they didn't get the chance to. And i understand Buffy's Decoy's death, it fitted The Chain's storytelling, and same goes for Gigi, altho she could have been easily spared and become a redempted character that the reformed faith had to mentor. Renée? Classic Joss, soon as a couple in the Buffyverse seems happy, he has to finish one of them off. metaphor for human happiness in the mortal world, i get it. But Senorita Slayer? Why? The events might have a logical sequence in the story but her demise still feels kinda off to me. And again, how can a live death on TV not spark a single controversy? I understand the satyre of the reality show culture that was hinted at in this issue, but it still feels dodgy. It seems like S.8 doesn't really want to bring new characters, and just stick to old ones by bringing them back with wackier and wackier storylines (i won't comment FDW but...puh-lease). Seems like somebody must recall Joss that Slayers have not become Redshirts from Classic Star Trek (ie they're supposed to have superhuman strenght and all, they shouldn't be so easy to kill, but since s.8's beginning we've had an incresingly high number of casualties).
Buffy's estrangement to the real world is one of S.8 best outlined themes, and it's shown perfectly through the world's liking at Harmony. The cards have turned, and here goes a brand new world order - and if the Slayers want to protect the rest of the world, they have got to stick to it, which is a paradox per se.
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dane5by5
Wise-cracking Techno Genius
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 734
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Post by dane5by5 on Jan 8, 2009 9:56:27 GMT -5
This was an interesting issue. Very funny. But I think everyone expects that from Jane Espenson. Although, I actually preferred the "Harmony Bites" special more than the actual issue #21. The art for "Harmony Bites" surpassed my expectations, while the art in #21 was adequate. I very much enjoyed the convention of "Harmony Bites" as an actual episode of the reality show.
It will also be interesting to see how the 'vampires in public' idea plays out. As this has gone a very different way to the television series True Blood which has a similar premise, but vastly different execution and theme. True Blood used vampires as a metaphor for minority groups and civil rights, while it appears BtVS will play it out in a 'vampires embraced by public, Slayers are public enemy number one'
In my opinion #21 explored the notion of the public tide turning against the Slayers. This had strong parallels to the way the public turned against Islam/Muslim people after 09/11 due to the media coverage surrounding the attacks. The story is very similar, with the Senonrita Slayer. This theme can be traced back to TLWH, first the Government turns against the Slayers, now the people.
I'm intrigued to see what role Twilight plays in this...
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narflet
Potential Slayer
grr. arg.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 198
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Post by narflet on Jan 8, 2009 10:45:43 GMT -5
Other tattoos that I could identify/think might be: The dark horse horse, the punisher logo, ghost rider's flaming skull (1st view of tats, not the 2nd flaming skull), something that looks like it could be dream's helmet/sigil and possibly the rocky horror lips?
I'm sure there must be others that I'm not getting...
I enjoyed the issue, I felt it did a good job of setting things up in a light hearted kind of way. I enjoyed the little bits in the background of panels, like Willow clearly trying to do something to help Dawn out and ending up with a unicorn?! In general Willow's one liners amused me in this issue. I also liked the poke at how waffle-y Buffy got in season 7 and spotting little plasters on people's necks.
henz - I always order mine from ebay, they often start appearing by Wed eve (some sellers even offer pre-orders well in advance) and there is always plenty to order on Thurs. I decided that I didn't mind paying the postage as it's a. easier for me and b. prices are often cheaper than my nearest FP and c. I like to get variants which are usually much cheaper and easier to locate online/ebay than in FP.
dane - I don't know if you've read the Southern Vampire books (it sounds like you've just seen TB?), but the books touch on the fact that in other countries vampires were not accepted as ethic groups as they were in America. It's very interesting the way Charlaine Harris explores the concept, the books quickly became some of my favourite books. I love them (and Eric).
I've liked the whole vampires go public concept since we first heard about it, I think it's a good twist to throw into the mix, especially as the vamps are vouge and the slayers aren't. Amusing. Although I can't help but feel that some vamps are going to be a bit peeved at Harm outing them, surely?
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Post by magicegidius on Jan 8, 2009 15:08:07 GMT -5
This whole episode is a nice metaphor for telling us how much no-think-just-slay-behaviour can change the world... Buffy is no better than Senorita, and the benefits of Buffy turn potentials into Slayers are losing it from the disadvantages. Now the world loves public specie number one, the vampire, more than slayers...
has everybody mentioned Clem? He has always be a good, assimilated demon. He hasn't ever hurt a fly and is almost always right during te show. And he's choosing Harmony's site...
I think we feel troubles for Buffy, because we all know #1 to #20. But If a oustider reads this... I think he will choose Harmony's side...
Classic theme, if you drop a frog in a boiling bowl, he'll jump out directly. If you put a frog in a bowl and increase the temperature, he'll boil slowly to dead... Buffy os wrong, but we don't see that because we followed every little wrong step.
And this symbolism makes this issue outstanding!
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jellymoff
Ensouled Vampire
Claimer of Funn[Mo0:0]
Posts: 1,174
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Post by jellymoff on Jan 8, 2009 17:45:26 GMT -5
Senorita Slayer: RIP. I'm getting annoyed at Season Eight's trend to kill every single character we sympathise with or take a liking at before they become an established figure in the story. Buffy's Decoy, Gigi, Renée, and now Senorita. These were all great characters that could have brought a lot to the storyline, especially for the way their background and personalities were outlined, however they didn't get the chance to. And i understand Buffy's Decoy's death, it fitted The Chain's storytelling, and same goes for Gigi, altho she could have been easily spared and become a redempted character that the reformed faith had to mentor. Perhaps the death of Soledad (her name per Scott Allie Q&A. I'm hating the nickname "Senorita Slayer" by the way) is a lesson teaching us that without proper training and gudiance theses girls can be picked off easily. Can you image Buffy (Even Season 1 Buffy) EVER being offed by Harmony? I mean, Harmony is not exactly the fiercest most dangerous badass vampire out there. It seems that while the spell empowered all of these girls, it also instantly put them in a huge amount of danger. Buffy and co. just can't handle what they've done, and perhaps we will see it spiral out of control even more.
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Paul
Ensouled Vampire
[Mo0:34]
Posts: 1,173
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Post by Paul on Jan 8, 2009 18:04:05 GMT -5
I was left somewhat disappointed with this issue upon first reading. I'm a HUGE Harmony fan and I felt her character came across a little flat. I wonder if, like Amy, Harmony is a character who was defined by the actress who played her, and she doesn't translate to the page as well as others? Her characterization was fine, she just didn't make me laugh. I also expected Harmony to have a larger role, and was somewhat thrown by the storyline about the Senorita Slayer (Did Scott Allie say her name was Soledad?). Knowing that something big would have to happen to spark the public hatred towards the Slayers, I spent most of the issue terrified that Senorita was going to slay Harmony, and had to seriously resist the urge to flip forward and check she was okay by the end. The issue's conclusion was good, but I was slightly confused by the whole thing.
After reading it a second time, I view the issue in a better light. I think my negative first impression was based on having the wrong expectations; I was looking forward to a light-hearted Harmony story similar to "Harm's Way" and was taken aback by some of darker subject matter. I retrospect, Senorita is actually a very interesting character. Once again, we have a morally ambiguous Slayer and someone to provide an outsider's perspective on the Scooby organisation. I'm liking all the new Slayers they've introduced this season. Most of the Potentials in S7 were bland and annoying, but the Slayers in S8 have been diverse fully-fledged characters. The Buffy decoy, Gigi, Satsu, Simone, Aiko, now Senorita and probably more I'm forgetting. It feels like Tales of the Slayers stories taking place in the main Buffy title. The Slayer/Nazi parrallels are very promising and I'm looking forward to how that plot develops. The L.A. setting was interesting because of After the Fall, but part of me wonders whether that means anything and if Joss/Dark Horse actually care about being in continuity with the Angel series?
Overall, the issue was very good, just not in the way I was expecting. The comedy/Harmony moments fell a little flat for me personally, but the more serious Slayer arc is progressing nicely.
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Post by VampSlayer on Jan 8, 2009 18:24:09 GMT -5
Okay, time for my second review. ^^
I loved issue 20, and could not WAIT for this issue. I so badly wanted to see Harmony again. But now...I don't know... :/
This issue was rather different from what I was looking for, and it seemed rather short. It WAS nice to finally see Harmony, but she seemed very different. And I heard Clem was in this issue, I love Clem. But I think they just kinda threw him in there, just to be there, no real reason.
I would have rather had this issue focused more on Harmony, than that one slayer. She was not very...intersting to me. And people's reaction to vampires were...kinda off, IMO. And I can not tell Harmony apart from Buffy so much. There are some panels when Harmony looks EXACTLY like Buffy.
And LA is normal??? What does this mean? After The Fall is over in S8 time? Or was it just Angel and Co. sent to this relmn?
Also, what is up with Harmony's dogs? Why did she suddenly love little dogs so much? She could make a baseball team with those many dogs. xD
This issue had a good idea, but ruined it, IMO. Maybe the following issues can clear some things up, and make up for such a loss.
I'd rate this issue, out of 1-10... 3.8. :/ Sorry, Joss.
The 'Harmony Bites' short comic on myspace made my day better though. It was very well done, and funny. Loved Clem in the short comic. But Harmony looked even MORE like Buffy in the 'Harmony Bites' comic. I did like the art style though. Id rate the short comic a 9 out of 10.
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El Diablo Robotico
Ensouled Vampire
Robo Pimp-Daddy
"Surely you have heard about our great victory over the Devil's Robot."[Mo0:3]
Posts: 1,199
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Post by El Diablo Robotico on Jan 8, 2009 18:59:55 GMT -5
I was pleasantly surprised by this issue. I love Jane Espenson, and I love Harmony, but "Harm's Way" convinced me that Harmony just can't carry an entire episode on her own. But the inclusion of Soledad's story turned this into much more of a "Disharmony" sort of story, where Harm only got about half the 'screentime'. A lot like #20, this was just sort of a light, fun issue that made a nice way to come out of the dark, serious arc that was ToYL. Two best moments: "This is MTV; no one knows what that stands for, either, but they make reality shows" (anyone remember when MTV actually played music videos? :unsure: ); and Willow braiding Dawn's tail. ;D Only negative part about this issue? Finding out that #22 isn't out until Feb. 4. Is that a recent change in the schedule? Because I thought it was supposed to be Jan. 28. Weren't #'s 20-22 supposed to be 3 weeks apart?
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