Ok it's official - we share the same mind! At least when it comes to Buffy, the Summers sisters, Buffy and Tara as "tragically undeveloped BFF-ery" - Buffy and Tara are my OTF. I do have some additional thoughts here and there, such as with EP/Touched, but I don't have a tumblr account and it seems a weird format to me - to be able to "like" it or share it but not so much have a conversation as we are here; that's what brought me to this fandom. I'd love to comment and if you ever happen to put stuff on your LJ - no pressure of course *bats eyes hopefully* I'd happily come to chat. I'd even bring cookies.
mostly more literally....Though I guess that really symbolifies what you're saying -- getting to the root of the problem, if you will.
The literal and metaphorical are so tightly interwoven on this show that I can't extricate them, but my brain is very comfortable shifting back and forth between the the two frameworks or lenses. She actually did go "down" to the Master but I don't remember if the text states that she was literally going down into the Hellmouth, but she did metaphorically, in order to be reborn as a "Slayer" and claim the title on a deeper level than she had before.
Let's say -- she's preparing to be ready. Emotionally she's not there yet because, yes, S7 sees her extremely trapped in that expection <-> obligation dynamic, and that's a huge mental block. Especially considering S7 ups the ante....she feels she should know how to handle but really has no idea
YES! "expectation <-> obligation dynamic" is exactly right. And furthermore, Giles and the SG's overheard conversation makes clear that once again there is no one else to handle it.
Your analysis of Help was terrific - concise, focused and right-on (I'm terrifyingly verbose as you've seen and admire those qualities in other writers). I've seen lots of fans mention Cassie as a pro-Potential or foreshadowing the Potentials, but I'd forgotten about the even more personal connection between her and Buffy and two girls who know they WILL die young.
What you said actually reminded me of how Buffy has related to other people, esp other "young people" who are also Chosen Ones and have to bear unwanted responsibilities - specifically Ampata in Inca Mummy Girl. And she does the same with RJ in Him, briefly, connect to him as someone who is a leader, with specific responsibilities - but she's falling under the spell when that's happening. So it's not that RJ doesn't have real responsibilities but he's cheated to get them; they don't come from within like The Slayer or Cassie as a Seer. And the source is the jacket that comes from his father and tied to a sport (football) that's coded specifically as "masculine".
That RJ has a choice in the matter, whereas Ampata, Buffy and Cassie never did, would actually be to the good IF he didn't then chose to abuse/misuse that power. The original script had Xander stating - twice - that the "poor kid" had no idea the jacket had magic powers, as so RJ was as much a victim as the girls, but those were removed and the episode itself gives every indication that he knows exactly what he's doing. I don't think I'd like Him as much as I do if they'd stayed with the "RJ as victim" reading.
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branchandroot
This is gonna get lengthy, hope you don't mind!
Date: 2013-04-24 02:39 pm (UTC)mostly more literally....Though I guess that really symbolifies what you're saying -- getting to the root of the problem, if you will.
The literal and metaphorical are so tightly interwoven on this show that I can't extricate them, but my brain is very comfortable shifting back and forth between the the two frameworks or lenses. She actually did go "down" to the Master but I don't remember if the text states that she was literally going down into the Hellmouth, but she did metaphorically, in order to be reborn as a "Slayer" and claim the title on a deeper level than she had before.
Let's say -- she's preparing to be ready. Emotionally she's not there yet because, yes, S7 sees her extremely trapped in that expection <-> obligation dynamic, and that's a huge mental block. Especially considering S7 ups the ante....she feels she should know how to handle but really has no idea
YES! "expectation <-> obligation dynamic" is exactly right. And furthermore, Giles and the SG's overheard conversation makes clear that once again there is no one else to handle it.
Your analysis of Help was terrific - concise, focused and right-on (I'm terrifyingly verbose as you've seen and admire those qualities in other writers). I've seen lots of fans mention Cassie as a pro-Potential or foreshadowing the Potentials, but I'd forgotten about the even more personal connection between her and Buffy and two girls who know they WILL die young.
What you said actually reminded me of how Buffy has related to other people, esp other "young people" who are also Chosen Ones and have to bear unwanted responsibilities - specifically Ampata in Inca Mummy Girl. And she does the same with RJ in Him, briefly, connect to him as someone who is a leader, with specific responsibilities - but she's falling under the spell when that's happening. So it's not that RJ doesn't have real responsibilities but he's cheated to get them; they don't come from within like The Slayer or Cassie as a Seer. And the source is the jacket that comes from his father and tied to a sport (football) that's coded specifically as "masculine".
That RJ has a choice in the matter, whereas Ampata, Buffy and Cassie never did, would actually be to the good IF he didn't then chose to abuse/misuse that power. The original script had Xander stating - twice - that the "poor kid" had no idea the jacket had magic powers, as so RJ was as much a victim as the girls, but those were removed and the episode itself gives every indication that he knows exactly what he's doing. I don't think I'd like Him as much as I do if they'd stayed with the "RJ as victim" reading.
And I have TOTAL LOVE for your observations about Buffy's sisterly love trumping the spell in the end. http://kikoujutsuka.tumblr.com/post/22595518115/image-four-gifs-from-the-buffy-the-vampire