Season 8 - Swell: Issue 22

[Nicholas]

I actually think that Satsu and Kennedy would make a really great match. Way better than the people they are currently/formally with.

[Without Passion]

Love the preview! Such good dialogue...I'm really looking forward to reading this. Poor Satsu. Maybe Kennedy will help her a little bit in getting over Buffy before the issue is through? As blunt as Kennedy can be, I think Satsu needs someone like her to help her "snap out of it", so to speak, or else she'll never get over it (or not as soon) and move on, which I think is necessary. I don't think Satsu's being whiny at all! And...it looks like the bag says "santa" on it. Um, what? Have they gone on a mission to recover the head of Santa Claus (like Angel and Spike did in "Girl in Question"...minus the Santa bit)? Haha.

[hitnrun017]

I hope we find out more about Kennedy's death this issue, maybe just a quick explanation. What's a better issue to find out than an issue that focuses on Kennedy? I hope it's not one of those jokes where it is never mentioned again, cause I really want to find out what happened.

[Wyndam]

Jan 20, 2009 23:50:58 GMT -5 hitnrun017 said:

I hope we find out more about Kennedy's death this issue, maybe just a quick explanation. What's a better issue to find out than an issue that focuses on Kennedy? I hope it's not one of those jokes where it is never mentioned again, cause I really want to find out what happened.

Agree. I think if anything we should at least find out the circumstances in which Kennedy died. What was she doing? Willow said it was a mystical death, so what killed her? It takes a lot to kill a Slayer, and Kennedy is one of the stronger Slayers we have seen. She may even be the third strongest Slayer in the Buffyverse currently (after Buffy and Faith), although an argument could be made for Satsu as well, maybe even Vi, this stuff is hard to judge.

I am curious to find out what happened. Perhaps Willow was involved in some way? Saga Vasuki? Who knows. All we know is Kennedy is now alive, she and Willow seem happy, and that Kennedy doesn't seem all that broken up about dying. Maybe it wasn't that big of a deal, but I am pretty curious.

[Paul]

Jan 20, 2009 23:50:58 GMT -5 hitnrun017 said:

I hope we find out more about Kennedy's death this issue, maybe just a quick explanation. What's a better issue to find out than an issue that focuses on Kennedy? I hope it's not one of those jokes where it is never mentioned again, cause I really want to find out what happened.

I think Kennedy's death was just a joke about the fact she's not (or wasn't) very popular with fans. The fact they treat it so casually "Oh yeah... Kennedy died by the way", it was just a funny line to surprise the readers. Maybe I'm wrong though, maybe it'll have some greater significance, but I'm not holding my breath.

[dane5by5]

Jan 21, 2009 8:52:35 GMT -5 Paul said:

Jan 20, 2009 23:50:58 GMT -5 hitnrun017 said:

I hope we find out more about Kennedy's death this issue, maybe just a quick explanation. What's a better issue to find out than an issue that focuses on Kennedy? I hope it's not one of those jokes where it is never mentioned again, cause I really want to find out what happened.

I think Kennedy's death was just a joke about the fact she's not (or wasn't) very popular with fans. The fact they treat it so casually "Oh yeah... Kennedy died by the way", it was just a funny line to surprise the readers. Maybe I'm wrong though, maybe it'll have some greater significance, but I'm not holding my breath.

I vaguely remember Scott Allie saying that her death will be explained in more detail as the series continues and that it will/has played a more significant part in the events of Season Eight. So I think it was written with both interpretations in mind, to tease the fans who hated Kennedy by telling them she died, then straight after reveal that she's okay and alive and also, add a storyline to the Willow/Kennedy saga that will later be expanded, and likely play a more noteworthy role in the story. Joss is planting mysterious story seeds.

[trunkstheslayer]

Everyone DOES remember that the 'death' was mentioned again in ABH right? So it wasn't forgotten or just a one-time-gag.

[Nicholas]

I don't think that Kennedys death was played off as a joke to the fans that dislike her, but to me I view it as just another Joss-ian cliffhanger.

And in regards to the Santa idea, Anya did say there was a Santa. ;]

[alycat7]

Maybe Kennedy will get her own issue detailing what events led up to her death. Hopefully.

[sarahi]

Jan 21, 2009 0:04:31 GMT -5 Wyndam said:

Agree. I think if anything we should at least find out the circumstances in which Kennedy died. What was she doing? Willow said it was a mystical death, so what killed her? It takes a lot to kill a Slayer, and Kennedy is one of the stronger Slayers we have seen. She may even be the third strongest Slayer in the Buffyverse currently (after Buffy and Faith), although an argument could be made for Satsu as well, maybe even Vi, this stuff is hard to judge.

I am curious to find out what happened. Perhaps Willow was involved in some way? Saga Vasuki? Who knows. All we know is Kennedy is now alive, she and Willow seem happy, and that Kennedy doesn't seem all that broken up about dying. Maybe it wasn't that big of a deal, but I am pretty curious.

I always saw Dana as being one of the more powerful Slayers. She was able to really wail on Spike, and I don't think it was just because she was crazy. If she hadn't been driven out of her mind she might have been one of the next Chosen Ones. I don't think Kennedy ever would have been called if not for Willow's spell. She had the potential to be a Potential, but I don't think she had what it took to be called. There's also the fact that she was almost past the age where most Slayers were called.

My theory about Kennedy dying is this: Willow used Kennedy sexually to contact Saga Vasuki, had an oops moment, and Kennedy died. Since it was a mystical and not natural death, Willow was able to bring Kennedy back, and Kennedy wasn't dead that long because Willow was with her when it happened. Somebody did say that Kennedy's death was relevant to the season, and Saga Vasuki feeding the "junkie" so to speak is an ongoing plot.

[Without Passion]

Jan 21, 2009 13:32:08 GMT -5 Nicholas said:

I don't think that Kennedys death was played off as a joke to the fans that dislike her, but to me I view it as just another Joss-ian cliffhanger.

And in regards to the Santa idea, Anya did say there was a Santa. ;]

Hahaha, yes! ;D

[richieshag89]

Hey!
how old is kennedy?

[Wyndam]

Jan 23, 2009 16:48:20 GMT -5 richieshag89 said:

Hey!
how old is kennedy?

I'd say early 20's, like Buffy/Xander/Willow.

[wenxina]

In the shooting script, I think she was credited to be 19-years old in S7.
Flashforward at least a year and a half... probably 21 (or thereabouts).

[Witchy]

Wow!! I loved the preview, yes, I know there are a few Kennedy fans out there, come on, she's amazing!!

No, I've playing with the idea of Satsu and Kenn hooking up, but now that I see them together, I don't think that's possible... I know the "the other lesbian slayers" was some sort of joke... I hope, come on at least 2,000 slayers and only two lesbians... right... just saying that if that happens to be true, well...

I think Kenn will try to explain Satsu somethings about love and maybe that will make her... review her relationship with Willow, the things she's been doing for her... cof*weird magical death*cof or something...

So far, I love this preview, I love the slayers and Kenn is so funny and so in love with our Will... she's great and I'm starting to thing Willow doesn't deserve someone like her...

[richieshag89]

oh, because i was watching season 7 again today and her and willow met and started dating when willow was 21? i think. and in one episode rona said" were just a bunch of 15 year old girls" and i was like whoa will robbing the cradle much? but 21-19. much more sense.

[wenxina]

Jan 24, 2009 2:07:02 GMT -5 richieshag89 said:

oh, because i was watching season 7 again today and her and willow met and started dating when willow was 21? i think. and in one episode rona said" were just a bunch of 15 year old girls" and i was like whoa will robbing the cradle much? but 21-19. much more sense.

El Diablo Robotico and I recently had a conversation about Kennedy's age in particular, and he pointed out that it could have been made clearer that Kennedy wasn't 15. I think the only instance that actually sets Kennedy up to be one of the oldest Potentials is when she tells Chloe, First as Eve, and a couple of the other girls that she thinks she may be too old to be called as a Slayer ("Showtime" 7.11). 19 is pretty old for a Potential, but yeah, perfectly legal as far as girlfriends go for Willow.

[El Diablo Robotico]

Jan 24, 2009 2:43:34 GMT -5 wenxina said:

Jan 24, 2009 2:07:02 GMT -5 richieshag89 said:

oh, because i was watching season 7 again today and her and willow met and started dating when willow was 21? i think. and in one episode rona said" were just a bunch of 15 year old girls" and i was like whoa will robbing the cradle much? but 21-19. much more sense.

El Diablo Robotico and I recently had a conversation about Kennedy's age in particular, and he pointed out that it could have been made clearer that Kennedy wasn't 15. I think the only instance that actually sets Kennedy up to be one of the oldest Potentials is when she tells Chloe, First as Eve, and a couple of the other girls that she thinks she may be too old to be called as a Slayer ("Showtime" 7.11). 19 is pretty old for a Potential, but yeah, perfectly legal as far as girlfriends go for Willow.

Yeah, like Xi said, I had the same reaction to the line about the "bunch of 15-year-olds", and that they never really did much (before or after that) to suggest that Kennedy wasn't 15, other than that one line where she was talking about potentials being called, and said, "The younger the better--in fact, I'm thinking it may be too late for me." But what if you missed that episode? Wasn't something that important worth repeating a few times, to make sure everyone realized Willow wasn't going out with a 15- or 16-year old? When you think about how often they used dialogue to reinforce certain plot points again and again, to make sure everyone was following the story, it's just crazy to think that it never occurred to them that the fact that Kennedy was of legal age might also be something worth making more clear.

Remember Scott Allie's reaction when he realized that Soledad's name was never mentioned in #21? He was very surprised by that. All I can figure is that it was a similar case here, where the writers were so close to the material that they never realized that something that was well-known to them hadn't been made as obvious to everyone else--they just took it for granted...

[spurtyknowledge]

Great preview, and I'm definitely liking the Satsu and Kennedy banter. It seems the Satsu loves Buffy plot is getting a bit trite and repetitive, but hopefully its fleshed out this issue. Definitely nice to have Satsu back though, and I have to admit that I'm warming up to Kennedy this season.

[Tyler Austin "tiewashere"]

I didn't know Steve DeKnight also wrote All The Way. I actually hate that episode but I love this issues preview and I think it's the best (dialogue-wise) preview we've had so far!!

My friend came over to watch the musical episode and we had to watch All The Way before hand and I was telling her how I loved the new preview of the latest Buffy issue and how Steven DeKnight's episode of Dollhouse is supposed to be fantastic and I really like his writing...only to see that he also wrote All The Way. EEK!

He did come up with the epic line "No, I'm a special kind of angel called a 'Charlie'," though. So we can forgive.