rogue11
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Post by rogue11 on Nov 20, 2009 22:42:56 GMT -5
All of the latest issues of Buffy are so large-scale and the stories are trying to look at so many charatcers generally. But what made the show great was seeing the more in-depth character development that went on.
Now you have Twilight and his huge army, and you have Buffy and her army (and am i the only one who's fed up with seeing images of the military in almsot every story out there today?)
Its just the show ended with a war, its always about war now. What abotu when the scoobies use to just battle Apocalypses with the limited amount of resources they have?
Everything is so large-scale now, I miss the more intimate feeling Buffy used to have.
Like Oz came back and there should be so much drama going on with him, his wife, Willow, kennedy, and even Tara.
But thats being out-shined by all the warefare...
Like No future for you and time of your life were some of the best sotries I've seen and those focues more on a small cast of characters.
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Post by AndrewCrossett on Nov 21, 2009 8:54:53 GMT -5
Every season of Buffy has had a mix of intimate-scale stories and large-scale stories, with the latter usually happening towards the climax of the season. Season 8 is no different.
I think it would be boring as hell if every story arc was an intimate character study.
Apocalypses are, by definition, pretty large-scale.
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rogue11
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Post by rogue11 on Nov 21, 2009 12:36:24 GMT -5
Okay well then there is too much large scale things going on. I dunno the end of the season appocalypses in season 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 didn't require large armies. they just involved a small group fighting a big bad and a couple of minions. I think the big bad can have the army but the good guys should definetly be a smaller group, it gives this feeling that they're the under dogs and who doesn't love when the under dogs overcome the odds!
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Post by wenxina on Nov 21, 2009 13:59:43 GMT -5
Buffy and Co. are still the underdogs. They are powerless, and Twilight seems to have a hold over at least a few world governments, not to mention some demons at his disposal.
It's not as though there are no quiet character moments in the midst of the large scale chaos. #28 showed that, and even #29 had some quieter moments.
There could be lotsa drama between Oz, Willow, Bay, and Kennedy, but that's not the story that the writers are telling. That's probably a good thing... having the Buffyverse devolve into melodrama is probably best avoided. There was some drama, but not quite the drama that some fans were predicting/hoping for. Oz and Willow didn't cheat, and Kennedy wasn't left in the lurch. Or blow a gasket. And really, why would these characters do all that nonsense anyway?
They've all moved on with their lives.
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maverik85
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Post by maverik85 on Nov 23, 2009 12:01:28 GMT -5
I don't think the season overall has been jsut big war scenes, it has primarily focused on a more core group. yes more have been around but we haven't seen them all. The only ones we've really had any focus on that are new are sasu and renee, and reneee died a while ago now. a couple others have had a few small lines but that's it.
As for tons of huge battles yes they have been there but more in the background or to the side and only small amounts.
TLWH- battling zombies durign an issue while the group worked on breaking the speel on buffy.
WATG- battle in the final issue to destroy the occulus and the vampire gang at the office building.
TOYL- side story had a small battel betweent he slayers/forest creatures and snake demons.
Retreat- all out war in the last two issues and small battle at the very start.
These are the only major battels we've had and they have been minor parts of the storeis or pushed inthothe back. Even retreat being the main war story so far only had half the story focus on war, the other issues were all story adn character development.
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Post by VampSlayer on Nov 23, 2009 12:29:06 GMT -5
I kinda agree. I'm still not 100% into Season 8. Jane's arc was awesome, but I still don't feel connected to the characters that much. The season is getting better, for sure, but it has many things that I don't like.
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sire
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Post by sire on Nov 24, 2009 4:30:18 GMT -5
I agree... I think that this season has lost its way. It started out so wonderfully then, I believe, a lack of direction has made the season fall flat  |
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Post by AndrewCrossett on Nov 24, 2009 8:23:34 GMT -5
And I disagree. I think season 8 is progressing very well as a comic book (not television) season of Buffy. Its problems are no worse than the problems in any of the televised seasons, and better than most.
I am ready and eager to see what Joss has in store.
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Post by NightlySorrow on Nov 24, 2009 21:17:42 GMT -5
rogue, I agree. All of these little things are starting to add up and it's hurting the story. We just have to hope it all comes together in the next 10 issues.
What I really hope is season 9 will be small scale and more intimate and not so over the top and unrelatable, and season 8 is Whedon just going overboard because he can and never had the money to do that on the show. And after he gets that out of his system, he'll get back to what fans really liked about Buffy to begin with.
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misterkent
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Post by misterkent on Nov 25, 2009 19:01:01 GMT -5
I agree with Andrew - the story has really only focused on the core Scoobies - the story scale has been a perfect balance of large scope and intimate stories so far.
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Post by butters on Nov 25, 2009 19:15:44 GMT -5
Im not a fan of this season at all. Started out great but now i could careless. The only reason im even still reading is because its Buffy.
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Post by henzINNIT on Dec 6, 2009 18:48:28 GMT -5
I was reading what Paul was saying in the Angel comics section about Dark Horse's approach to the series that really hit the nail on the head for me. The scope is too large for a focused story.
All these global events, so many different slayer units experiencing different things. In particular, DH really lost out not persuing a "Faith" title after No Future For You (still the best arc written), and we have since seen her and Giles disappear off the radar after such a promising set-up.
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Post by wytchcroft on Dec 6, 2009 21:01:13 GMT -5
while i would agree in principle, i'm not not very military minded and those aspects of S4 and 7 were a drag for me, i've only felt that a couple of times (or a couple of issues), with S8.
looking back at the stories, the balance has been really well maintained - and, well, hell, i just love S8 is all.
and no way was No Future for You the last good writing!
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watcher
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Post by watcher on Dec 7, 2009 10:02:17 GMT -5
All of the latest issues of Buffy are so large-scale and the stories are trying to look at so many charatcers generally. But what made the show great was seeing the more in-depth character development that went on. Now you have Twilight and his huge army, and you have Buffy and her army (and am i the only one who's fed up with seeing images of the military in almsot every story out there today?) Its just the show ended with a war, its always about war now. What abotu when the scoobies use to just battle Apocalypses with the limited amount of resources they have? Everything is so large-scale now, I miss the more intimate feeling Buffy used to have. Like Oz came back and there should be so much drama going on with him, his wife, Willow, kennedy, and even Tara. But thats being out-shined by all the warefare... Like No future for you and time of your life were some of the best sotries I've seen and those focues more on a small cast of characters. This is pretty much how I've felt through season 8.. I really hope that season 9 is more close knit and down to earth. I can care less about the nameless army of slayer cannon fodder and I really hope their number is severely dwindled when 8 is over with. |
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Post by buffyfan21 on Dec 11, 2009 13:10:16 GMT -5
I see what you're saying, rogue11. It seems there haven't been as many of those intimate moments this season due to the writers needing to address the larger story. But I would say it was much the same in S7 as well. It just makes those intimate moments between the core scoobies that much sweeter when we do get to see them.  |
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Smashed
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Post by Smashed on Dec 20, 2009 12:51:36 GMT -5
I have to agree with the OP. The series has been to focused on getting in a cliffhanger at the end of an issue than telling a really great story. The comics don't have a Buffy feel, in my opinion. The show used monsters, demons, witchcraft as metaphors for real life problems. I think there is still some of that in Season 8, but I feel like, as a whole, season 8 has strayed from the original Buffy. It's not just season eight though, Even most parts of season 7 really felt distant. There were some episodes where we got a lot of Scooby interaction (First Date, CWDP, Lessons) and those felt like actual Buffy. Then there were things like the finale and the episodes leading up to it and It just didn't feel right. That said, I did like the first two arcs of season eight. But after that, I feel like it's all been about the war and using the new medium to show that there's no budget instead of character development and telling an engaging story,
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Post by AndrewCrossett on Dec 20, 2009 13:05:36 GMT -5
I guess I'll never understand the need to define Buffy as "like it was before."
Season 8 doesn't have the feel of season 2, or season 5, or even really season 7. It has the feel of season 8. I don't want Buffy to become like some old 70's rock star, relegated to doing nothing but playing his old hits at county fairs and steak houses. I want the story to move along, according to Joss's vision.
A story isn't a story if it just stays stuck in one place. It's just an empty nostalgia act.
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Smashed
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Post by Smashed on Dec 20, 2009 13:39:39 GMT -5
Hmph. I don't want Buffy to be "Buffy from 1998" or "Buffy from 2001". I want Buffy to feel like...Buffy. This "season" has the feel of nothing we've ever seen. Something that just doesn't have the feel of Buffy. We hardly see the core three in one scene and have we even seen B, W, X, and G in one panel?
Throughout the series there was a feel of togetherness. In my opinion it was brought by the characters and the writing. Now I don't feel like there's anything really connected. The Scoobies are all apart, Arcs take almost half a year to finish, and let's face it, the overall writing hasn't been consistent at all.
Again, I'm not saying that I want 17 year old Buffy back. Or 20 year old Buffy, for that matter. The comic series has alienated myself and other readers because it has strayed so far from the original series.
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Post by henzINNIT on Dec 20, 2009 16:10:36 GMT -5
I'm interested to experience the "season" as a whole, and read through the entire set. I feel very alienated by the issues but I think the long waits and small doses distorts perception. We've spent months on war, but really it was only a half episode battle. I find myself more satisfied by season 8 when I read the TPB.
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Post by AndrewCrossett on Dec 20, 2009 16:14:13 GMT -5
I wouldn't be enjoying season 8 as much if it hadn't strayed so far from the TV series. I loved the show, but it's over. This is the logical next step in the story, and I think it's been a very good one.
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