I apparently like "Anne" a lot more than fandom does - and in fact I might even love it (1/?))

[red_satin_doll]

The first time I watched "Anne" a few months back (which I apparently enjoy more than the general fandom does?  With possible exception of norwie2010, I dare say) I remember seeing a blink-and-you'll miss it image of Buffy with a hammer and sickle and thought "Did I just see what I thought I saw?"



I didn't take it to mean that JW was espousing communism, but in the context of the imprisoned workers throwing off their masters in the factory, it was simply a clever steal and a bit of a joke.  (Or painfully obvious and on the nose, depending on your POV.) But I still love that ridiculously and I think Buffy's fight in that factory is one of her most awesome, kick-ass battles in the entire series. I hadn't been able to find a screencap of that moment until today, from http://twitter.com/whedonesque/

Of course there's the emotional context of the episode, that of Buffy is fighting to reclaim her identity after the tragedy/trauma of Becoming: "I'm Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.  And you are?" SMG is wonderful in that episode, parsing through all the layers of Buffy's emotions: numbness, grief and despair giving way to fierce determination, hope and love, leaving behind a self-imposed hermitage to reconnect with friends and family. "Anne" packs into a single episode what Season 6 takes 22 episodes to unspool; the final image of Joyce embracing her prodigal daughter will be called back in Buffy and Dawn's embrace in "Grave".

Glorious Buffy, indeed. (With apologies to norwie for stealing the phrase, and to readerjane for finding the photo.)



I have so much love for this episode I cannot contain it to one post, so....Part two of my "Anne" meta HERE.

Comments

[mcjulie.livejournal.com]

The first time I saw Anne I enjoyed it, but thought the metaphor was a little too flat -- oh, here's their episode about teenage runaways. But it's grown on me over time. I think there's more going on than it first appears.

The moment when the camera pans up at Buffy with the hammer & sickle becomes what Joss calls the "hero shot" for the next several seasons of opening credits, although they pick a moment where you can't see the hammer & sickle.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

The first time I saw Anne I enjoyed it, but thought the metaphor was a little too flat -- oh, here's their episode about teenage runaways.

I actually thought they handled the social aspect (teen runaways, or people of any age on the streets) fairly well and appreciated that about it. (It brought to mind people I've seen in New York - or Norwich or New London CT, where I live.) I actually found the handling of it relatively deft compared to treatments of it I've seen elsewhere. It doesn't get too preachy or "Lifetime special" about it, it doesn't romanticize living on the streets, and it doesn't offer a solution to the problem.

I'm glad it's grown on you though. What I noticed this time was all the other stuff going on around the social themes. Storywise, it just sort of exploded on me, how much of the entire series is right here. (Xander and Cordy's relationship deserves it's own meta treatment.)