But I think that sense of community is a big factor in why the slayers in my universe are relatively happy with their lot -- there's something to be said for being in a group, rather than a lone warrior with the odd always stacked against you.
Which was the point I think the entire series was trying to get at. You have one girl (then two) who are under the thumb of an institution that has remained frozen in the way it operates for who knows how long. Information is doled out according to the needs of the Institution - which includes controlling the girls. And I think the point of the lone girl, the lone warrior, is something that can't be emphasized enough - compared to Riley in the Initiative, who is one of many soldiers and can count on back-up, on supplies, on a good paycheck (and if my brother's experience is any indication, health bennies, housing etc.)
I think post-series Buffy and Faith would have a lot of ideas of how the new organization should be run, with an eye to the well-being of the girls, and a team of watchers and support staff so no girl is alone, and no one watcher has the entire burden on their shoulders either. The other fic series I like in this regard is The Girls in Question series by the wife/wife team TigerDragon (Fuffy shippers). Dawn is a Watcher for instance and it's a very different dynamic to that of a young girl and a much older man. It's also just a damn good read and a real adventure story (and wonderful OC's.) http://archiveofourown.org/series/14394
(I haven't read the sections that happen "in canon" yet, I started post-Chosen: "Mornings After" but then "Reentry" is where we first see the workings of the organization itself; then "Investigations" and "Women, Fire and Other Dangerous Things".)
which doesn't take away the question of whether the spell should have been cast against their will, of course.
It does take away the problem of being hunted down and killed like dogs in the street without a way to fight back until the First has killed off every Potential, which was supposedly the plan in-canon. (I'm not saying the plan made any sense, mind.)
So yeah, I can definitely see both sides of the issue because it's complicated, and I think there are legitimate arguements to me made on both sides.
Rather than just say "oopsie" and dump the whole thing as the comics do (so we can, what, rehash the same story arc Buffy already took?), I'm more interested in the notion of actually dealing with the consequences and outcome of having power, individually and collectively, in a new way and having to learn how to use it.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-20 11:06 pm (UTC)Which was the point I think the entire series was trying to get at. You have one girl (then two) who are under the thumb of an institution that has remained frozen in the way it operates for who knows how long. Information is doled out according to the needs of the Institution - which includes controlling the girls. And I think the point of the lone girl, the lone warrior, is something that can't be emphasized enough - compared to Riley in the Initiative, who is one of many soldiers and can count on back-up, on supplies, on a good paycheck (and if my brother's experience is any indication, health bennies, housing etc.)
I think post-series Buffy and Faith would have a lot of ideas of how the new organization should be run, with an eye to the well-being of the girls, and a team of watchers and support staff so no girl is alone, and no one watcher has the entire burden on their shoulders either. The other fic series I like in this regard is The Girls in Question series by the wife/wife team TigerDragon (Fuffy shippers). Dawn is a Watcher for instance and it's a very different dynamic to that of a young girl and a much older man. It's also just a damn good read and a real adventure story (and wonderful OC's.)
http://archiveofourown.org/series/14394
(I haven't read the sections that happen "in canon" yet, I started post-Chosen: "Mornings After" but then "Reentry" is where we first see the workings of the organization itself; then "Investigations" and "Women, Fire and Other Dangerous Things".)
which doesn't take away the question of whether the spell should have been cast against their will, of course.
It does take away the problem of being hunted down and killed like dogs in the street without a way to fight back until the First has killed off every Potential, which was supposedly the plan in-canon. (I'm not saying the plan made any sense, mind.)
So yeah, I can definitely see both sides of the issue because it's complicated, and I think there are legitimate arguements to me made on both sides.
Rather than just say "oopsie" and dump the whole thing as the comics do (so we can, what, rehash the same story arc Buffy already took?), I'm more interested in the notion of actually dealing with the consequences and outcome of having power, individually and collectively, in a new way and having to learn how to use it.