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

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I didn't know what that thing was called; I know it's really not a sickle or scythe - then again, the Slayer scythe is not really a scythe, either - but the reference to the communist symbol is still pretty cool. And Buffy with an axe is always a good thing.

I do like "Anne", though it suffers from lack of Spike.

Agree to disagree? When I was first watching the show I bemoaned the disappearance of Spike, NOT because I shipped them in any way, but because he was a terrific character. I had thought he'd be the Big Bad of S2; so when he came back as a bit of a heartbroken woobie in Lover's Walk I was sort of disappointed. It all paid rich dividends in the end, but I didn't know that yet.

But in terms of "Anne", his presence for me would have been inappropriate; this is very much about Buffy's trauma re: Angel, and she needs to climb out of that Hell on her own, I think.

The guy who plays Ken appears in other Whedon projects, and he embodies the banality of evil almost too well!

YES! In the scene where he first interacts with Buffy, he could be good or evil - the show doesn't tip it's hand - yet - either way, except in that his message of comfort has implicitly (conservative religous) undertones - like the Christian groups that promise prenatal education and are really anti-abortion centers, etc. But he speaks truthfully to her in that scene ("When I was a demon I told the truth all the time". Ha) and could either be friend, guide (like Whistler) or foe.

And is it just me, or does his sort of wholesome, square-jawed appearance remind anyone else of Riley?