AOQ Review 3-21: "Graduation Day (Part One)"
Arbitrar Of Quality
threads.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Season Three, Episode 21: "Graduation Day (Part One)"
(or "Rat sex!")
Writer: Joss Whedon
Director: Joss Whedon
This is one of those episodes where a lot of things click, on a
moment-by-moment basis. Especially in the beginning high school
scenes, almost every character reaction, every line of dialogue seems
just right, completely in tune with the mood of the show and who the
characters are. We'd like to imagine that all Written And Directed
By JW episodes are that way, which (as S3 has proved) isn't actually
the case, but I'm glad some of them are.
A list of scenes that I liked would include most of the episode, so
I'm just going to chronologically list some highlights until I get to
ten:
1] Willow's scene where she's signing yearbooks. "Don't you
hate her?" "[huge grin] Yes, with a fiery vengeance." Some
people buy into the mentality of that Billy Joel song they play at
every graduation, and Willow is adorable trying to hang on to
everything, including the soda machine.
2] Faith slipping ever further into nastiness while the Mayor looks on
with paternal pride. This time she kills an innocent man without much
caring, and seems to enjoy herself. And Dushku has done such a great
job all year at projecting at least the illusion of humanity (and yes,
she's also so hot)... however unlikely we know it is that she'll
find any kind of redemption, we still hang on every word of her
half-stories about growing up.
3] Hangman! And since it's in the same scene, also "Yes. Men like
sports, men watch the action movie, they eat of the beef, and enjoy to
look at the bosoms."
4] The sense of impending doom throughout the whole opening, which hits
its apex when Wilkins casually strolls right into Scoobie Central and
says hi. Like most people in positions of power, he can appeal to the
Values Voters but has absolutely no sense of human decency at all. And
also, he's invincible, can act with impunity within Sunnydale, and
knows full well that our heroes can't do a thing to stop him. Brrr.
Despite a dubious start, he's one of the best villains the series has
managed yet.
5] The Buffy/Joyce exchange, especially the mini-speech: "I wish I
could be a lot of things for you. A great student, a star athlete,
remotely normal. I'm not. But there is something I do that I can do
better than anybody else in the world. I'm gonna fight this thing, but
I can't do it and worry about you." For a fleeting moment, it's
almost like she knows exactly where her place in life is...
6] Anya actually having some minor relevance to the plot. So there was
a reason they re-introduced her. Also I got a kick out of her
induction into the world of romance, for some reason.
[Comment: Okay, here's what else I think is up with the whole Anya
thing. They wanted someone to be Cordelia for Xander, since after
"Lovers Walk" Cordelia herself can't be Cordelia anymore. With
the exception of the references to Anya's past as a demon (which, to
be fair, are prominent), these could've been X/C (pre-LW) scenes.]
7] Willow and Oz taking the time to cover the Amy-rat's cage before
getting too physical.
8] Boreanaz's acting when Angel finally allows himself an outburst
after Buffy asks him whether this is at all hard for him.
9] More B/A exchanges. "Are you mad at me for being around too much
or for not being around enough?" "Duh. Yes." And "on three.
One." "I knew you were gonna do that."
10] The fact that even when Wesley is being the jerk, he has a point
(that the deal with Angel is designed to distract Buffy).
And yes, this episode goes to, and beyond, eleven (I didn't even
mention the release of tension in the Buffy/Faith fight that we've
been building towards for so long... or Wilkins' line about fiber,
or...), but that's enough for now.
Moving on from gushing to just a few general comments (don't want to
spend too much time on this, since once I finish writing we're going
to watch Part II): I didn't really think the confrontation with
Wesley over the WC (other than the above, and "I've nothing to say
right now") was really necessary. Just because you can cram in as
many iterations of the main theme into an episode as possible doesn't
mean you should. Actually, the real issue may be that I just didn't
care about the Watcher's Council stuff - the show hasn't done
much with them beyond "Helpless." So distancing our hero from
them, which should be a major point in the overall arc of the series,
feels more like an afterthought.
More interesting is Buffy going out to try to kill Faith. It makes
enough sense under the circumstances that I'd have done the same
thing myself. But it's still not the "right" use of Slayer
powers, and you know what they say, Road To Hell/good intentions and
all that. Naturally, the show plays this up, with Faith's continued
questioning whether Buffy is becoming like her, and her satisfaction at
the ways in which she is, including the killing. A more sinister kind
of graduation?
But if you're really out to kill someone with no doubts, that
wouldn't be the way to do it. Go in stabbing while they've got the
loud music playing. Also, the handcuffs are kinda lame.
I'd assume that Faith is dead at the end (and then Buffy can agonize
over sorta-meaningless killing), but given what Slayers can survive,
we'll see. Feel free to make note, if you must, of the parallelism
with "Prophecy Girl" and "Becoming I," both of which also
prominently featured the apparent death of a Vampire Slayer.
So...
One-sentence summary: Everything's on target here.
AOQ rating: Excellent
[Season Three so far:
1) "Anne" - Decent
2) "Dead Man's Party" - Excellent
3) "Faith, Hope, And Trick" - Good
4) "Beauty And The Beasts" - Decent
5) "Homecoming" - Good
6) "Band Candy" - Weak
7) "Revelations" - Good
8) "Lovers Walk" - Excellent
9) "The Wish" - Decent
10) "Amends" - Good
11) "Gingerbread" - Good
12) "Helpless" - Excellent
13) "The Zeppo" - Decent
14) "Bad Girls" - Good
15) "Consequences" - Excellent
16) "Doppelgängland" - Decent
17) "Enemies" - Good
18) "Earshot" - Decent
19) "Choices" - Good
20) "The Prom" - Good
21) "Graduation Day (Part One)" - Excellent]
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
> sports, men watch the action movie, they eat of the beef, and enjoy to
> look at the bosoms."
the same teacher in -anne- telling students to slow down summer is over
> knows full well that our heroes can't do a thing to stop him. Brrr.
> Despite a dubious start, he's one of the best villains the series has
> managed yet.
he was sometimes refered to as the homocidal ward cleaver
note that up until now he has been following the evil overlord rules
now he starting to violate them
and that makes him vunerable
> Moving on from gushing to just a few general comments (don't want to
> spend too much time on this, since once I finish writing we're going
> to watch Part II): I didn't really think the confrontation with
especially rule 34
arf meow arf - nsa fodder
al qaeda terrorism nuclear bomb iran taliban big brother
if you meet buddha on the usenet killfile him
Apteryx
news:1143865057.1...@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these review
>threads.
>A list of scenes that I liked would include most of the episode, so
>I'm just going to chronologically list some highlights until I get to
>ten:
>2] Faith slipping ever further into nastiness while the Mayor looks on
>with paternal pride. This time she kills an innocent man without much
>caring, and seems to enjoy herself. And Dushku has done such a great
>job all year at projecting at least the illusion of humanity (and yes,
>she's also so hot)... however unlikely we know it is that she'll
>find any kind of redemption, we still hang on every word of her
>half-stories about growing up.
When she arrived, she was the anit-Kendra, taking a more freewheeling
approach to slaying than Buffy just as Kendra was less so. Now, she is
clearly the anti-Buffy, and not just on the good/evil axis. As Buffy is
growing up and shaking off adult influences, Faith is virtually getting
herself adopted, and loving it,
>4] The sense of impending doom throughout the whole opening, which hits
>its apex when Wilkins casually strolls right into Scoobie Central and
>says hi. Like most people in positions of power, he can appeal to the
>Values Voters but has absolutely no sense of human decency at all. And
>also, he's invincible, can act with impunity within Sunnydale, and
>knows full well that our heroes can't do a thing to stop him. Brrr.
>Despite a dubious start, he's one of the best villains the series has
>managed yet.
Very true. Though Angelus wasn't bad...
>But if you're really out to kill someone with no doubts, that
>wouldn't be the way to do it. Go in stabbing while they've got the
>loud music playing. Also, the handcuffs are kinda lame.
It makes you wonder whether she is more interested in beating Faith than
saving Angel. If saving Angel is the primary objective, and if Faith's
security is as bad as it seems, then any of the gang could have taken her
from behind with a gun (preferably a tranquiliser gun, both so her still
beating heart will make it easier for Angel to feed, and for the example,
for any young people who may be watching)
>So...
>One-sentence summary: Everything's on target here.
Mostly. There was a groan waiting to fall from Choices when Faith left
behind her shiny new knife for no reason at all, and it has to fall here.
There's some great lines you didn't mention:
Anya: Fine! You know what? I hope you die. Aren't we gonna kiss?
Xander: We're going to need a bigger boat.
Mayor: We don't knock during dark rituals?
>AOQ rating: Excellent
Pretty darn Good, but I wouldn't go any further than that. For me, 36th best
BtVS episode, 7th best in Season 3
--
Apteryx
Don Sample
"Arbitrar Of Quality" <tsm...@wildmail.com> wrote:
> A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these review
> threads.
>
>
> BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
> Season Three, Episode 21: "Graduation Day (Part One)"
> (or "Rat sex!")
> Writer: Joss Whedon
> Director: Joss Whedon
>
> 5] The Buffy/Joyce exchange, especially the mini-speech: "I wish I
> could be a lot of things for you. A great student, a star athlete,
> remotely normal. I'm not. But there is something I do that I can do
> better than anybody else in the world. I'm gonna fight this thing, but
> I can't do it and worry about you." For a fleeting moment, it's
> almost like she knows exactly where her place in life is...
And Joyce's comment on it all: "You know Buffy, looking back at
everything that's happened, maybe I should have sent you to a different
school."
> More interesting is Buffy going out to try to kill Faith. It makes
> enough sense under the circumstances that I'd have done the same
> thing myself. But it's still not the "right" use of Slayer
> powers, and you know what they say, Road To Hell/good intentions and
> all that. Naturally, the show plays this up, with Faith's continued
> questioning whether Buffy is becoming like her, and her satisfaction at
> the ways in which she is, including the killing. A more sinister kind
> of graduation?
>
> But if you're really out to kill someone with no doubts, that
> wouldn't be the way to do it. Go in stabbing while they've got the
> loud music playing. Also, the handcuffs are kinda lame.
I always thought that instead of her knife, Buffy should have taken the
tranq gun, and shot Faith in the ass with it before she knew she was
there. But then we never would have had the cool fight.
> I'd assume that Faith is dead at the end (and then Buffy can agonize
> over sorta-meaningless killing), but given what Slayers can survive,
> we'll see. Feel free to make note, if you must, of the parallelism
> with "Prophecy Girl" and "Becoming I," both of which also
> prominently featured the apparent death of a Vampire Slayer.
As you have noted "She's *not* *dead* *yet!*" It takes a lot to kill a
Slayer.
--
Quando omni flunkus moritati
Visit the Buffy Body Count at <http://homepage.mac.com/dsample/>
Don Sample
<mair_fheal-009BC...@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
<mair_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > 3] Hangman! And since it's in the same scene, also "Yes. Men like
> > sports, men watch the action movie, they eat of the beef, and enjoy to
> > look at the bosoms."
>
> the same teacher in -anne- telling students to slow down summer is over
Mr. Miller. A character we almost first saw in 'What's My Line' (his
scene was cut, but he's still in the credits) but we really first saw in
'I Only Have Eyes For You.'
He's near the top of my "He's gonna die!" list, right behind Jonathan.
eli...@gmail.com
>tranq gun, and shot Faith in the ass with it before she knew she was
>there. But then we never would have had the cool fight.
Don Sample
eli...@gmail.com wrote:
At this point, there's nothing about what she feels about guns, other
than she knows how to use one. (She knew how to work the gun that
Jungle Bob had in 'Homecoming' and Jonathan's gun in 'Earshot.')
drifter
> , and Willow is adorable
A phrase that should be in every review. She's even adorable when...
ah, but that would be telling.
> 4] The sense of impending doom throughout the whole opening, which
> hits its apex when Wilkins casually strolls right into Scoobie
> Central and says hi.
Now, see, here's where I thought they could have stopped him. He
can't be killed, and doesn't really seem to have any other real power
(or at least he hasn't shown any, other than a talent for magic rituals)
so why not just dice him up and put him in separate boxes of concrete
a la The Judge, and drop him in the ocean? At the time, others in the
group argued that he would have just come back together too quickly
to be decapitated, but even when he got his head split earlier, it took
several seconds for him to reintegrate. Give Angel a scimitar and
let him go nuts. The poor guy needs some kind of release; they must
be getting very blue by now.
> Like most people in positions of power, he can
> appeal to the Values Voters but has absolutely no sense of human
> decency at all.
Got anyone specific in mind here?
> And also, he's invincible, can act with impunity
> within Sunnydale, and knows full well that our heroes can't do a
> thing to stop him. Brrr. Despite a dubious start, he's one of the
> best villains the series has managed yet.
Got a great sense of style, doesn't he?
> 7] Willow and Oz taking the time to cover the Amy-rat's cage before
> getting too physical.
Huh. Never noticed before.
> More interesting is Buffy going out to try to kill Faith. It makes
> enough sense under the circumstances that I'd have done the same
> thing myself. But it's still not the "right" use of Slayer
> powers, and you know what they say, Road To Hell/good intentions and
> all that. Naturally, the show plays this up, with Faith's continued
> questioning whether Buffy is becoming like her, and her satisfaction
> at the ways in which she is, including the killing. A more sinister
> kind of graduation?
>
> But if you're really out to kill someone with no doubts, that
> wouldn't be the way to do it. Go in stabbing while they've got the
> loud music playing.
Buffy would never do that, She's a hero.
> Also, the handcuffs are kinda lame.
Oh, c'mon. Two hot girls getting physical with a pair of handcuffs is lame?
Still, I would say that this is the best fight scene yet.
Hagvy Knaqre naq Unezbal'f ovgpn-fync svtug yngre ba, bs pbhefr.
--
Kel
"I reject your reality, and substitute my own."
BTR1701
wrote:
> Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>
> > , and Willow is adorable
>
> A phrase that should be in every review. She's even adorable when...
> ah, but that would be telling.
>
> > 4] The sense of impending doom throughout the whole opening, which
> > hits its apex when Wilkins casually strolls right into Scoobie
> > Central and says hi.
>
> Now, see, here's where I thought they could have stopped him. He
> can't be killed, and doesn't really seem to have any other real power
> (or at least he hasn't shown any, other than a talent for magic rituals)
> so why not just dice him up and put him in separate boxes of concrete
> a la The Judge, and drop him in the ocean?
Or just chain him up somewhere where he can't complete the rituals. When
the 90 days or whatever it was passes, then presumably the threat would
be over.
Bill Reid
For some reason, recently the Arbitrater Of Qualify's messages haven't
been coming through in a format that my newsreader can automatically
quote. So I will dispense with his message entirely not just for technical
reasons, but because of course ONLY MY OPINION COUNTS.
But IAWHO (I Agree With His Opinion), no matter how unimportant
it is in comparison to my own. This is like the pictch-perfect distillation
of all the "Buffy - The High School Years" themes all rolled up into a
single jam-packed hour. How can you not love an episode that has
hypocritical yearbook signing behavior (remember "invisible girl"?),
brutal stabbing murders of tweedy nattering college professors,
spearing politicians through the chest with a fencing foil, juvenile
ex-boyfriend snipe-fests, yanking arrows out of the ex-boyfriend's
almost always exposed chest, "shy girl" first time, giant spider
consumption (man, could he have cleaned up on "Fear Factor"),
and THE GREATEST CHICK FIGHT IN RECORDED HISTORY.
Plus, they turn the whole "cliff-hanger" ending around by making it
a "cliff-faller". Buffy Summers, you just metaphorically battled your own
worst inner impulses and won, now what are you going to do?
Original US viewers of the show had to wait months to find out,
but it was worth the wait, because improbably, it just gets even
better. Then it kind of peters out toward the final conclusion, due
to a long-running problem with the show that Mr. Arbitrary
detected "years" ago, but overall, these two episodes are kind
of like the final high-water mark for the show.
You'll see some great individual episodes in the coming "years",
but you'll never have quite the same season-long story payoff as
you're watching right now...
---
William Ernest Reid
vague disclaimer
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
And you would be left with someone who is permanently invincible.
--
A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend
BTR1701
disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
But really no more of a threat than anyone else. I suppose he could pick
up a gun and start killing people or something but anyone could do that.
So leave him chained up indefinitely, then.
In any event, at that point in the story, they had no other viable plan
for how to deal with him once he ascended so given the two options, I'd
pick having a normal man who just can't be hurt over the alternative.
Opus the Penguin
> Buffy Summers, you just metaphorically battled your own
> worst inner impulses and won, now what are you going to do?
"I'm going to graduation!"
--
Opus the Penguin
The best darn penguin in all of Usenet
vague disclaimer
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
Or, say, walk into a nuclear power station and start twiddling dials. Or
raise a hell beast of some sort. Or any of many possibilities.
> or something but anyone could do that.
> So leave him chained up indefinitely, then.
>
> In any event, at that point in the story, they had no other viable plan
> for how to deal with him once he ascended so given the two options, I'd
> pick having a normal man who just can't be hurt over the alternative.
So you take the opportunity to deal with a problem once and for all, or
leave it for future generations (in practice, indefinitely rarely means
forever).
How very in tune with modern thinking. A veritable parable for global
warming.
Benjamin Pavsner
PERFECT to end the series. I think "Graduation Day" would have made a nice
coda to BtVS (especially given how the show jumps the shark with the intro
of the Initiative). Granted, I'm happy for some of the stuff that came from
season 4 on, but...
2. One of my favorite scenes isn't from "Graduation Day," but to a season 4
reference in season 7, when Andrew, when he misinterprits the definition of
"Vulcanologist." tells the potentials how Faith kills a Vulcan.
"Arbitrar Of Quality" <tsm...@wildmail.com> wrote in message
news:1143865057.1...@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
BTR1701
disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
You must have missed this part of my response: So leave him chained up
indefinitely, then.
> > In any event, at that point in the story, they had no other viable plan
> > for how to deal with him once he ascended so given the two options, I'd
> > pick having a normal man who just can't be hurt over the alternative.
>
> So you take the opportunity to deal with a problem once and for all, or
> leave it for future generations (in practice, indefinitely rarely means
> forever).
>
> How very in tune with modern thinking. A veritable parable for global
> warming.
Oh, I get it. You're one of those guys who needs to make every
discussion into something political. Nice try.
BTR1701
Pavsner" <pavs...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
So you're going to just go ahead and post spoilers directly above
Quality's polite request for people not to do so in his review threads?
Ass. Hole.
Arbitrar Of Quality
> Now, see, here's where I thought they could have stopped him. He
> can't be killed, and doesn't really seem to have any other real power
> (or at least he hasn't shown any, other than a talent for magic rituals)
> so why not just dice him up and put him in separate boxes of concrete
> a la The Judge, and drop him in the ocean? At the time, others in the
> group argued that he would have just come back together too quickly
> to be decapitated, but even when he got his head split earlier, it took
> several seconds for him to reintegrate. Give Angel a scimitar and
> let him go nuts.
What I think people who suggest atacking or imprisoning the Mayor are
forgetting is that he's the *Mayor*. He may not have his security with
him at the moment, but you can bet that his people know where he is.
Plus this guy has the full legal authority of the city on his side.
> > Like most people in positions of power, he can
> > appeal to the Values Voters but has absolutely no sense of human
> > decency at all.
>
> Got anyone specific in mind here?
Heh. Read what you will into it, but I'm not trying to start a
political flamewar or anything.
-AOQ
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> In article <l64o-1rj5-7C180...@mercury.nildram.net>, vague
> disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
>
> > In article <BTR1702-F7B64B...@news.east.earthlink.net>,
> > BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> >
> > > In article <l64o-1rj5-B1A7D...@mercury.nildram.net>, vague
> > > disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > > In article <BTR1702-07E896...@news.east.earthlink.net>,
> > > > BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > In article <t7uXf.962$ZJ2...@fe03.lga>, "drifter" <ne...@home.net>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > , and Willow is adorable
> > > > > >
> > > > > > A phrase that should be in every review. She's even adorable
> > > > > > when... ah, but that would be telling.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > 4] The sense of impending doom throughout the whole opening,
> > > > > > > which hits its apex when Wilkins casually strolls right into
> > > > > > > Scoobie
> > > > > > > Central and says hi.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Now, see, here's where I thought they could have stopped him. He
> > > > > > can't be killed, and doesn't really seem to have any other real
> > > > > > power
the mayor walked into the library alone
but he was not alone
not only could faith mount a rescue for him
but the entire sunnydale police department could as well
at that moment the slayerettes still didnt know what they were dealing with
(not until they analyzed poor lesters notes)
and except for a few people everyone else assumed the mayor was a normal human
and he was still the head of the city government
he has real power
of a very convential nature
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
"Benjamin Pavsner" <pavs...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> "Arbitrar Of Quality" <tsm...@wildmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1143865057.1...@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these review
> threads.
you know
thats rather lame
vague disclaimer
"Benjamin Pavsner" <pavs...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
snbip spoiling crap
vague disclaimer
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
Heh. You're the one who confused "indefinitely" with "permanently".
Arbitrar Of Quality
> In article <dVAXf.1579$ki....@bignews1.bellsouth.net>,
> "Benjamin Pavsner" <pavs...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>
> snbip spoiling crap
Thankee kindly. I've never used a killfile before, but there may be a
first time for everything...
-AOQ
KenM47
If it's the post I think we're talking about, I think it was a simple
mistake, an error in posting judgment, and not intended as a "Ha Ha
I've spoiled you" thing.
Ken (Brooklyn)
chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu
> threads.
>
>
> BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
> Season Three, Episode 21: "Graduation Day (Part One)"
> (or "Rat sex!")
> Writer: Joss Whedon
> Director: Joss Whedon
> 1] Willow's scene where she's signing yearbooks. "Don't you
> hate her?" "[huge grin] Yes, with a fiery vengeance." Some
> people buy into the mentality of that Billy Joel song they play at
> every graduation, and Willow is adorable trying to hang on to
> everything, including the soda machine.
I like her forlorn hope that their commencement speaker will be Siegfried,
Roy, or at least one of the tigers. (But shouldn't the commencement
speaker have been announced weeks earlier? Perhaps the Mayor strongarmed
his way onto the program at the last minute.)
> 2] Faith slipping ever further into nastiness while the Mayor looks on
> with paternal pride. This time she kills an innocent man without much
> caring, and seems to enjoy herself.
A great brutal scene. "I'll scream." "Who wouldn't?" And even better,
when the professor cries out "But why?" and Faith replies "You know, I
never thought to ask," and then the camera slides away to the volcano
painting as she stabs him.... That's my brrrr moment.
> 4] The sense of impending doom throughout the whole opening, which hits
> its apex when Wilkins casually strolls right into Scoobie Central and
> says hi. Like most people in positions of power, he can appeal to the
> Values Voters but has absolutely no sense of human decency at all. And
> also, he's invincible, can act with impunity within Sunnydale, and
> knows full well that our heroes can't do a thing to stop him. Brrr.
> Despite a dubious start, he's one of the best villains the series has
> managed yet.
A close second to Angelus, in my opinion, and this whole scene is great.
I love his sudden entrance, and the way he can't stop giving out fatherly
advice even as he admits that it won't matter, as he'll kill them all
soon. The gang didn't know about his invincibility yet, did they? Their
shock after he shrugs off being stabbed in the heart helps explain why
they didn't try any further attacks. They don't know *what* he might be
capable of. But Buffy has the presence of mind to hide the newspaper so
the Mayor doesn't know they've made the Lester connection. Clever girl.
> 5] The Buffy/Joyce exchange, especially the mini-speech: "I wish I
Note the similarity and contrast to Prophecy Girl. In PG she asks her
mother if they can go out of town, in a doomed attempt to avoid her
destiny. In GD1, she asks her mother to go out of town to keep *Joyce*
safe, while Buffy faces a fight to the death.
> [Comment: Okay, here's what else I think is up with the whole Anya
> thing. They wanted someone to be Cordelia for Xander, since after
> "Lovers Walk" Cordelia herself can't be Cordelia anymore. With
A fair guess. She's also like old Cordelia to the rest of the group --
someone who's part of the team even though no one really likes her, and
who has an abrasive personality -- although she doesn't get enough time
with them to fill that role completely.
> 7] Willow and Oz taking the time to cover the Amy-rat's cage before
> getting too physical.
And their dialog right before getting down to it: Willow panicking, Oz
calm, Willow's "Panic is something people can share in time of crisis," Oz
kissing her: "What are you doing?" "Panicking."
> 9] More B/A exchanges. "Are you mad at me for being around too much
> or for not being around enough?" "Duh. Yes." And "on three.
> One." "I knew you were gonna do that."
How about Angel stumbling as he enters the professor's apartment? I
always wondered if DB stumbled for real, and he and SMG improvised their
reactions. (Alas, I never saved the shooting script before Psyche's site
disappeared.)
And the scene with Xander in the library, right before the fight: "I just
don't want to lose you." "I won't get hurt." "That's not what I mean."
It's good that her friend sees how close she is to going over the edge,
and it's GREAT that she doesn't say anything to reassure him.
> More interesting is Buffy going out to try to kill Faith. It makes
> enough sense under the circumstances that I'd have done the same
> thing myself. But it's still not the "right" use of Slayer
> powers, and you know what they say, Road To Hell/good intentions and
> all that. Naturally, the show plays this up, with Faith's continued
> questioning whether Buffy is becoming like her, and her satisfaction at
> the ways in which she is, including the killing. A more sinister kind
> of graduation?
One of the all-time great fight scenes. As AOQ and others have pointed
out, Buffy should have just attacked Faith by surprise, maybe shot a
tranquilizer dart into her ass as she was lying on the bed. That would
have been smart, yeah. But clearly Buffy wanted more than just Faith's
blood. She was full of rage and hatred (you can tell by how deadly calm
she was acting), and really *needed* the face-to-face confrontation before
the fight. Which meant that Faith soon had cause to regret Buffy getting
in touch with her "see - want - have" impulse.
IIRC correctly, the shooting script described the beginning of the fight
like this:
FAITH: Okay, then. Give us a kiss.
Buffy hits her so fucking hard her head nearly comes off.
But it's interesting that when Buffy finally stabs Faith, she suddenly
looks shocked at what she'd done. Perhaps she wasn't quite as ready to
kill as she thought she was?
--Chris
______________________________________________________________________
chrisg [at] gwu.edu On the Internet, nobody knows I'm a dog.
chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu
> threads.
>
>
> BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
> Season Three, Episode 21: "Graduation Day (Part One)"
> (or "Rat sex!")
> Writer: Joss Whedon
> Director: Joss Whedon
Forgot to mention another bit I really liked: the Mayor's conversation
with Principal Snyder. It's clear that Snyder still thinks he is on the
good side, struggling to keep order among all the supernatural chaos
around the Hellmouth; and he still thinks the Mayor is on the good side
too, yet he's scared of him anyway. The Mayor plays with him a little
bit: "Sunnydale owes you a debt, and it will be repaid." Does Snyder
realize how ominous that really sounds?
Don Sample
chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu wrote:
> Arbitrar Of Quality <tsm...@wildmail.com> wrote:
> > A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these review
> > threads.
> >
> A close second to Angelus, in my opinion, and this whole scene is great.
> I love his sudden entrance, and the way he can't stop giving out fatherly
> advice even as he admits that it won't matter, as he'll kill them all
> soon. The gang didn't know about his invincibility yet, did they?
They've know about it since 'Enemies' when Angel put the letter opener
through the Mayor's hand.
> How about Angel stumbling as he enters the professor's apartment? I
> always wondered if DB stumbled for real, and he and SMG improvised their
> reactions. (Alas, I never saved the shooting script before Psyche's site
> disappeared.)
Buffy enters, breaking through the police tape. She looks about
some.
Finds a bunch of books on volcanoes. Looks them over briefly,
then moves to his desk. It is piled with papers. Buffy looks
through them, finds a bound report of about thirty pages at
the bottom of a pile.
She is leafing through it when she hears a small clatter at
the doorway. She turns to see
ANGLE: ANGEL
Has bumped his head entering the room.
ANGEL
Ow.
BUFFY
That was stealthy.
ANGEL
Not my best entrance... I think they
were mopping in the hall.
>
> One of the all-time great fight scenes. As AOQ and others have pointed
> out, Buffy should have just attacked Faith by surprise, maybe shot a
> tranquilizer dart into her ass as she was lying on the bed. That would
> have been smart, yeah. But clearly Buffy wanted more than just Faith's
> blood. She was full of rage and hatred (you can tell by how deadly calm
> she was acting), and really *needed* the face-to-face confrontation before
> the fight. Which meant that Faith soon had cause to regret Buffy getting
> in touch with her "see - want - have" impulse.
>
> IIRC correctly, the shooting script described the beginning of the fight
> like this:
>
> FAITH: Okay, then. Give us a kiss.
> Buffy hits her so fucking hard her head nearly comes off.
FAITH
Okay then. Give us a kiss.
Buffy punches Faith so fucking hard her head nearly snaps off.
Faith responds in kind, twirling and backfisting Buffy. They
face each other, the handshake over.
BTR1701
disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
No, I said exactly what I meant. Nice try.
BTR1701
<mair_fheal-7B563...@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
<mair_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
That's why it would have been prudent for Buffy, Wesley and Giles to
contact the Council and have them send one of their assassination
squads. Kidnap him, spirit him out of town and lock him away in the
bowels of Castle Watcher in England. Faith wouldn't know where he is and
wouldn't have the resources to cross the Atlantic even if she did and
the Mayor would, of course, be well beyond the reach of the Sunnydale PD.
BTR1701
<Ken...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
Well, the guy has making a lot of noise in other threads about how
stupid he finds the whole spoiler issue in terms of these reviews so I'm
inclined to think he's being an asshole on purpose.
Michael Ikeda
news:122tte5...@corp.supernews.com:
> Arbitrar Of Quality <tsm...@wildmail.com> wrote:
>> A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these
>> review threads.
>>
>>
>> BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
>> Season Three, Episode 21: "Graduation Day (Part One)"
>> (or "Rat sex!")
>> Writer: Joss Whedon
>> Director: Joss Whedon
>
> Forgot to mention another bit I really liked: the Mayor's
> conversation with Principal Snyder. It's clear that Snyder
> still thinks he is on the good side, struggling to keep order
> among all the supernatural chaos around the Hellmouth; and he
> still thinks the Mayor is on the good side too, yet he's scared
> of him anyway. The Mayor plays with him a little bit:
> "Sunnydale owes you a debt, and it will be repaid." Does Snyder
> realize how ominous that really sounds?
>
Snyder does get this strange expression, as if he's processing what
the Mayor said and isn't entirely sure it's a good thing.
--
Michael Ikeda mmi...@erols.com
"Telling a statistician not to use sampling is like telling an
astronomer they can't say there is a moon and stars"
Lynne Billard, past president American Statistical Association
One Bit Shy
news:1143865057.1...@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> 1] Willow's scene where she's signing yearbooks. "Don't you
> hate her?" "[huge grin] Yes, with a fiery vengeance." Some
> people buy into the mentality of that Billy Joel song they play at
> every graduation, and Willow is adorable trying to hang on to
> everything, including the soda machine.
I don't know what other people's experiences were, but there really was a
strange nearly global coming together in the waning days of my high school
class. Yes, even longtime enemies. Curious.
But everybody should love Harmony. She's just -um- misunderstood.
> 2] Faith slipping ever further into nastiness while the Mayor looks on
> with paternal pride. This time she kills an innocent man without much
> caring, and seems to enjoy herself. And Dushku has done such a great
> job all year at projecting at least the illusion of humanity (and yes,
> she's also so hot)... however unlikely we know it is that she'll
> find any kind of redemption, we still hang on every word of her
> half-stories about growing up.
And yet we keep hoping for that redemption. Was that some sort of pang of
concience in Faith when she remembered her mother and being called a
"firecracker"? Here she is, a remoreseless killer eagerly looking to kill
or maim some more, and we're grasping at straws, still trying to reach for
her heart.
> 3] Hangman! And since it's in the same scene, also "Yes. Men like
> sports, men watch the action movie, they eat of the beef, and enjoy to
> look at the bosoms."
Speaking of heart, I like how Xander caught that Anya really was trying and
switched gears to help her even though he doesn't have much reason to like
her.
Willow sure was hostile to Anya in the library.
> 4] The sense of impending doom throughout the whole opening, which hits
> its apex when Wilkins casually strolls right into Scoobie Central and
> says hi. Like most people in positions of power, he can appeal to the
> Values Voters but has absolutely no sense of human decency at all. And
> also, he's invincible, can act with impunity within Sunnydale, and
> knows full well that our heroes can't do a thing to stop him. Brrr.
> Despite a dubious start, he's one of the best villains the series has
> managed yet.
"That's one spunky little girl you've raised.... I'm goint to eat her."
Brrr is right.
> 5] The Buffy/Joyce exchange, especially the mini-speech: "I wish I
> could be a lot of things for you. A great student, a star athlete,
> remotely normal. I'm not. But there is something I do that I can do
> better than anybody else in the world. I'm gonna fight this thing, but
> I can't do it and worry about you." For a fleeting moment, it's
> almost like she knows exactly where her place in life is...
Yeah, I suppose. This scene felt to me more like a construct to usher Joyce
off stage.
> 6] Anya actually having some minor relevance to the plot. So there was
> a reason they re-introduced her. Also I got a kick out of her
> induction into the world of romance, for some reason.
I really liked her being the source that triggers greater understanding of
the Ascension. Aside from being a fresher solution than once again finding
something in a book, there's a kind of gravitas given the news coming from
the direct witness of a 1000 year old demon. It makes sense she'd know
stuff like that and doesn't feel so much like pulling a rabbit from the hat.
> [Comment: Okay, here's what else I think is up with the whole Anya
> thing. They wanted someone to be Cordelia for Xander, since after
> "Lovers Walk" Cordelia herself can't be Cordelia anymore. With
> the exception of the references to Anya's past as a demon (which, to
> be fair, are prominent), these could've been X/C (pre-LW) scenes.]
Yes, I agree that there are Cordelia elements at work - presumably
deliberate. But I think the point is to showcase the end of the year
Xander. The big difference between Anya and Cordelia is that with Anya,
Xander is the source of wisdom and experience.
> 7] Willow and Oz taking the time to cover the Amy-rat's cage before
> getting too physical.
I sure missed that. Nice catch. My farorite moment in the scene is Oz's
"Our lives are different than other peoples." For some reason the W/O
consummation doesn't work for me as well as its supposed to. I like the
sentiment. ("What are you doing?" "Panicking.") But it doesn't strike me
as the life changing moment I think they're after.
> 8] Boreanaz's acting when Angel finally allows himself an outburst
> after Buffy asks him whether this is at all hard for him.
mmm. If you say so. You seem to have come to like his acting more than I.
> 9] More B/A exchanges. "Are you mad at me for being around too much
> or for not being around enough?" "Duh. Yes." And "on three.
> One." "I knew you were gonna do that."
Wonderful ex-lover's spat.
> 10] The fact that even when Wesley is being the jerk, he has a point
> (that the deal with Angel is designed to distract Buffy).
(And to torment her. They are nasty after all.) So what? It wasn't news.
Or useful. Distraction or not, Angel was still dying.
> And yes, this episode goes to, and beyond, eleven (I didn't even
> mention the release of tension in the Buffy/Faith fight that we've
> been building towards for so long... or Wilkins' line about fiber,
> or...), but that's enough for now.
I liked most of the scenes you describe. But overall it feels to me like
cleaning up loose ends - just as the Mayor did. For me, the show takes off
when we find it'll take Faith's blood to cure Angel. Now there's purpose
and everything locks in for the final ride. The rising tide music during
the intercuts of Faith training, Buffy mentally preparing, and Angel hurting
right through to prone Faith riding off in the truck and, "To Be Continued".
Action. Tension. Poignance. Everything with an edge. And peaked with
perhaps the most awful expression Buffy ever shows in the series right after
sliding the knife home. Among the best 10 minutes ever in the series.
Xander: I just don't want to lose you.
Buffy: I won't get hurt.
Xander: That's not what I mean.
Is Buffy risking her soul?
Buffy: There's a cure.
Faith: Damn. What is it.
Buffy: You're blood.
Faith: <silence>
Faith has lived a lot of danger thus far. And tasted blood. But has she
ever *really* faced her mortality before?
Faith: Well look at you. All dressed up in big sister's clothes.
There was some discussion a while back about whether that line indicates
which is chronologically older. Watching it again now, I don't think the
line has anything to do with age. It's very much about graduating to the
big time. Real killing.
Xander: We're going to need a bigger boat.
Clever, but also dead on to the implication. Unfolding the picture - twice.
Nice touch.
Wilkins: We don't knock during dark rituals?
Joss can't resist the wisecracks can he? But shortly followed by real
concern on his face when he hears of trouble at Faith's. He has very
conciously manipulated Faith to this point. But not just to craft a weapon.
He really does see her as his daughter.
Faith: You should have been there, B. Quite a ride. <falls into truck>
Last words to Buffy suggesting, I guess, that they should have done it
together. I'm not entirely sure how to take the concluding line, but the
element that strikes me - as she's falling to her presumed death - is that
she links the two of them together one last time.
> Moving on from gushing to just a few general comments (don't want to
> spend too much time on this, since once I finish writing we're going
> to watch Part II): I didn't really think the confrontation with
> Wesley over the WC (other than the above, and "I've nothing to say
> right now") was really necessary. Just because you can cram in as
> many iterations of the main theme into an episode as possible doesn't
> mean you should. Actually, the real issue may be that I just didn't
> care about the Watcher's Council stuff - the show hasn't done
> much with them beyond "Helpless." So distancing our hero from
> them, which should be a major point in the overall arc of the series,
> feels more like an afterthought.
I'm sure it's not an afterthought - or even just distancing. It's an
outright severing, making official what had become defacto back in Choices.
As slayer, she's in charge now. It ties into the general sense of
graduating. It also points back to what has happened between her and Giles.
Earlier in the season she expressed near total dependence on Giles. When
she acted on her own (as in hiding Angel), she was the wayward daughter
acting bad. But no more. She may still need Giles in a fashion. But the
fashion in which he works for her. She's in charge. It really is necessary
to put the final cap on that.
This also reveals how in the end she does kind of become Faith - but on
Buffy's terms with Buffy's head and heart. Faith rejected personal
connections and authority to be free - and ended up as daddy's little girl,
totally under control. Buffy ends up with the real independence. You need
the final break from the Council to establish this. It's not just in
support of a theme. It's a very concrete change in slayer status that
mirror's Faith's earlier choices.
However, there's still big problems with the Watcher's Council aspect.
There are and will be useful functions served to the story by the existence
of the Council. But after Helpless (where I liked the way they were
portrayed), they became substantially less meaningful to me. Kind of the
generic stand in for the ills of corporate and government bureaucracy, but
lacking the finesse that a real player in the game ought to have. Wesley
doesn't provide that - even though I think he's personally entertaining.
They've become something to rail at anonymously rather than be a serious
contributor to the tension of the series. I've always been disappointed in
the way the Council was constructed.
> More interesting is Buffy going out to try to kill Faith. It makes
> enough sense under the circumstances that I'd have done the same
> thing myself. But it's still not the "right" use of Slayer
> powers, and you know what they say, Road To Hell/good intentions and
> all that. Naturally, the show plays this up, with Faith's continued
> questioning whether Buffy is becoming like her, and her satisfaction at
> the ways in which she is, including the killing. A more sinister kind
> of graduation?
Yes, this certainly is part of graduation. Yes, they're playing up whether
Buffy is becoming Faith. (Add Xander's fear of losing Buffy.)
But look what you said yourself about it making sense under the
circumstances and doing the same thing yourself. This decision is nothing
like Faith's murderous choices. As for "right" use of slayer powers,
considerable pains have been taken to demonstrate that Buffy refuses to
follow the established dictates of being a slayer. She refused to sacrifice
Willow for some supposed greater good. She's refused to sacrifice Angel
multiple times - and won't now. There are variations on that throughout the
series. But what can get forgotten in that picture is that she's also quite
clearly established long before Faith showed up that she'll kill when she
really has to. Angel can attest to that. Buffy has always rejected the
impersonal view of morality, demonstrating that real morality is not cold,
and thereby challenging the whole slayer construct of however many thousand
years the Council has been in charge.
Going after Faith here "looks" like the path to become Faith - and is set up
to worry you that it might happen. And in a sense it does. She does drive
the knife home. Yet it's so different. "I'm talking about watching my
lover die. I don't have a clue what you're talking about, and I don't
care."
Don't misunderstand. I'm not extolling the virtues of vigilante justice.
It matters a lot that Faith is a slayer too. If it were a more common
criminal, Buffy would be on considerably shakier ground. But it's not.
Putting it in terms of abuse of slayer power I think is a bit off because
slayer power is what it takes to deal with another slayer. Faith is
operating in Buffy's realm of authority - the muscle behind a demon to be on
the verge of ascension.
> But if you're really out to kill someone with no doubts, that
> wouldn't be the way to do it. Go in stabbing while they've got the
> loud music playing. Also, the handcuffs are kinda lame.
No doubts? I wouldn't go there. A determined decision, yes, but surely
doubt. Just a short time earlier she said she couldn't kill Faith. In any
case, once the decision was made, her focus would have switched to the
confrontation with Faith she had been expecting for some time. Faith does
matter to Buffy. She still feels a connection. Faith had even (maybe)
saved her life. I can't imagine Buffy stabbing Faith in the back. She
would feel compelled to let Faith know why. For her to know the justice of
it.
I don't think the handcuffs are terribly important, but I like them.
Underscores the certainty that it is to be settled now. Running away isn't
an option.
> I'd assume that Faith is dead at the end (and then Buffy can agonize
> over sorta-meaningless killing), but given what Slayers can survive,
> we'll see. Feel free to make note, if you must, of the parallelism
> with "Prophecy Girl" and "Becoming I," both of which also
> prominently featured the apparent death of a Vampire Slayer.
Now I feel like an idiot. For some reason I've never connected that.
> So...
> One-sentence summary: Everything's on target here.
> AOQ rating: Excellent
I waffle on this. Today I'll agree - just barely. The first part isn't up
to that level for me, but the ending is so superb I'll go with Excellent
anyway.
OBS
Arbitrar Of Quality
BTR1701 wrote:
> In article
> <mair_fheal-7B563...@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
> >
> > the mayor walked into the library alone
> > but he was not alone
> >
> > not only could faith mount a rescue for him
> > but the entire sunnydale police department could as well
>
> That's why it would have been prudent for Buffy, Wesley and Giles to
> contact the Council and have them send one of their assassination
> squads. Kidnap him, spirit him out of town and lock him away in the
> bowels of Castle Watcher in England. Faith wouldn't know where he is and
> wouldn't have the resources to cross the Atlantic even if she did and
> the Mayor would, of course, be well beyond the reach of the Sunnydale PD.
Yeah, the Council has really shown a lot of skill in that regard.
Were you sugegsting they come up with this plan on the spur of the
moment (the Sunydale PD would be there first), or earlier as a
preemptive stirke into Wilkins HQ?
-AOQ
BTR1701
> IIRC correctly, the shooting script described the beginning of the fight
> like this:
>
> FAITH: Okay, then. Give us a kiss.
> Buffy hits her so fucking hard her head nearly comes off.
And yet when filmed it looks like any of a thousand punches thrown in
any of a thousand TV shows and movies.
This is where the show always kinda let me down. I mean, these are
people with superpowers but we hardly ever see them do anything that's
actually super.
Watch Arnold fight the T-1000 in the corridor of that mall in T2. Or
Arnold and the TX in the bathroom in T3. That's what fights between two
fantastically strong beings should look like.
I understand the considerations of budget and time but it would have
been nice if they'd thrown us a bone every now and then. This was the
season finale and for the first time two Slayers really going after each
other. I expected a little more.
BTR1701
> drifter wrote:
>
> > Now, see, here's where I thought they could have stopped him. He
> > can't be killed, and doesn't really seem to have any other real power
> > (or at least he hasn't shown any, other than a talent for magic rituals)
> > so why not just dice him up and put him in separate boxes of concrete
> > a la The Judge, and drop him in the ocean? At the time, others in the
> > group argued that he would have just come back together too quickly
> > to be decapitated, but even when he got his head split earlier, it took
> > several seconds for him to reintegrate. Give Angel a scimitar and
> > let him go nuts.
>
> What I think people who suggest atacking or imprisoning the Mayor are
> forgetting is that he's the *Mayor*. He may not have his security with
> him at the moment, but you can bet that his people know where he is.
> Plus this guy has the full legal authority of the city on his side.
That's why you get him out of town, beyond the reach of those whom he
commands. Maybe... oh, I don't know... call on the resources of that
ancient brotherhood of Watchers and actually have them do something
productive for once.
Michael Ikeda
news:BTR1702-1F9C0E...@news.east.earthlink.net:
It would perhaps not be safe to assume that all of the Mayor's
allies are limited to this side of the Atlantic.
nimue
> "Arbitrar Of Quality" <tsm...@wildmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1143865057.1...@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>> 1] Willow's scene where she's signing yearbooks. "Don't you
>> hate her?" "[huge grin] Yes, with a fiery vengeance." Some
>> people buy into the mentality of that Billy Joel song they play at
>> every graduation, and Willow is adorable trying to hang on to
>> everything, including the soda machine.
>
> I don't know what other people's experiences were, but there really
> was a strange nearly global coming together in the waning days of my
> high school class. Yes, even longtime enemies. Curious.
>
> But everybody should love Harmony. She's just -um- misunderstood.
I love my sweet little Harmony, my kittenish little cupcake. Anyone who
doesn't love my adorable, vulnerable little Harmony is a total bitca!
>
snip
>
>> 6] Anya actually having some minor relevance to the plot. So there
>> was a reason they re-introduced her. Also I got a kick out of her
>> induction into the world of romance, for some reason.
If there's anyone I love in that
oh-you-are-so-adorable-I-must-love-you-forever way more than Harmony, it's
Anya. I ADORE Anya. Thank god they re-introduced her. Just hearing her
say, "Men are evil. Will you go to the prom with me," was enough to make me
fall in love with her forever.
>
> I really liked her being the source that triggers greater
> understanding of the Ascension. Aside from being a fresher solution
> than once again finding something in a book, there's a kind of
> gravitas given the news coming from the direct witness of a 1000 year
> old demon. It makes sense she'd know stuff like that and doesn't
> feel so much like pulling a rabbit from the hat.
A RABBIT? What kind of sick freak are you? How DARE you mention bunnies
when you are discussing, uh, Xander's girlfriend? I don't even want to have
the lovely name Anya in the same sentence as the B-word -- they aren't just
cute like everybody supposes, you know!
>
>
>> [Comment: Okay, here's what else I think is up with the whole Anya
>> thing. They wanted someone to be Cordelia for Xander, since after
>> "Lovers Walk" Cordelia herself can't be Cordelia anymore. With
>> the exception of the references to Anya's past as a demon (which, to
>> be fair, are prominent), these could've been X/C (pre-LW) scenes.]
>
> Yes, I agree that there are Cordelia elements at work - presumably
> deliberate. But I think the point is to showcase the end of the year
> Xander. The big difference between Anya and Cordelia is that with
> Anya, Xander is the source of wisdom and experience.
The other big difference, of course, is that Cordelia is loathesome and Anya
is endearing. Cordelia knows she is a bitch and glories (not Ben-Glory,
but, oh, never mind) in it. Anya is so clueless and hilarious. She's as
innocent as a child but as vulgar as a sailor (or perhaps a stevedore).
It's foreshadowing for Dawn.
>
>
snip
--
nimue
"Evil is not merely banal; it prides itself on sticking to the rules
and looks forward to its pension." Kyle Smith
"Violence always wants to erupt and only creativity can control it."
Sister Wendy
MBangel10 (Melissa)
BTR1701
<mmi...@erols.com> wrote:
> BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in
> news:BTR1702-1F9C0E...@news.east.earthlink.net:
>
> > In article
> > <mair_fheal-7B563...@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
> >> the mayor walked into the library alone
> >> but he was not alone
> >>
> >> not only could faith mount a rescue for him
> >> but the entire sunnydale police department could as well
> >
> > That's why it would have been prudent for Buffy, Wesley and
> > Giles to contact the Council and have them send one of their
> > assassination squads. Kidnap him, spirit him out of town and
> > lock him away in the bowels of Castle Watcher in England. Faith
> > wouldn't know where he is and wouldn't have the resources to
> > cross the Atlantic even if she did and the Mayor would, of
> > course, be well beyond the reach of the Sunnydale PD.
>
> It would perhaps not be safe to assume that all of the Mayor's
> allies are limited to this side of the Atlantic.
No, but he's the mayor of a small California town. We saw no evidence
that he was a major world player.
BTR1701
Earlier, obviously. When they're fretting endlessly about how to stop
the Ascension. Hey, if you can't stop it, stop the guy from doing the
rituals that lead to it.
vague disclaimer
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
Then the word doesn't mean what you think it means. Nice try.
vague disclaimer
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
It may have slipped your notice, but that is exactly what they tried to
do. And failed.
vague disclaimer
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
We KNOW that he is much more than that. He has sucked up to some major
demons.
BTR1701
disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
I know exactly what it means and I used it correctly to say what I
wanted to say. Try again. Maybe while you're at it, you can also try and
turn this into a discussion about Iraq or universal health care or
whatever other political burr is currently up your ass.
BTR1701
disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
So try again with something different. Helluva leader you'd make. "Well,
we tried and it didn't work out so... game over I guess. I give up."
BTR1701
disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
And the Council fights demons. Big deal.
chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu
> In article <122tsk7...@corp.supernews.com>,
> chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu wrote:
>
>> A close second to Angelus, in my opinion, and this whole scene is great.
>> I love his sudden entrance, and the way he can't stop giving out fatherly
>> advice even as he admits that it won't matter, as he'll kill them all
>> soon. The gang didn't know about his invincibility yet, did they?
>
> They've know about it since 'Enemies' when Angel put the letter opener
> through the Mayor's hand.
That's right. And I just remembered, they also saw him recover from a
Gavrok-spider attack in Choices. They still seemed shocked after Giles
stabbed the Mayor, though. Maybe they were just suddenly afraid of what
the Mayor would do in response.
vague disclaimer
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> In article <l64o-1rj5-E631A...@mercury.nildram.net>, vague
> disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
>
> > In article <BTR1702-4CF568...@news.east.earthlink.net>,
> > BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> >
> > > In article <l64o-1rj5-5F973...@mercury.nildram.net>, vague
> > > disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
>
> > > > > > So you take the opportunity to deal with a problem once and for
> > > > > > all, or leave it for future generations (in practice, indefinitely
> > > > > > rarely means forever).
> > > > > >
> > > > > > How very in tune with modern thinking. A veritable parable for
> > > > > > global warming.
> > > > >
> > > > > Oh, I get it. You're one of those guys who needs to make every
> > > > > discussion into something political. Nice try.
> > > >
> > > > Heh. You're the one who confused "indefinitely" with "permanently".
> > >
> > > No, I said exactly what I meant. Nice try.
> >
> > Then the word doesn't mean what you think it means. Nice try.
>
> I know exactly what it means and I used it correctly to say what I
> wanted to say. Try again. Maybe while you're at it, you can also try and
> turn this into a discussion about Iraq or universal health care or
> whatever other political burr is currently up your ass.
You clearly didn't and I don't have any political burr up my arse.
That's your fiction. Try again, without trying to change the subject.
vague disclaimer
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
Which is precisely what they are doing. At the moment there is no
evidence whatsoever that they will have to settle for containment.
> Helluva leader you'd make. "Well,
> we tried and it didn't work out so... game over I guess. I give up."
Well, given that you appear to be favouring cowardice in the face of the
enemy, that's a tad rich. Needless to say, I never said or implied
anything of the kind. Again, that is your fiction (more original that
your old style creative snipping, to be fair).
vague disclaimer
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
So you favour escalating the problem to a global crisis then?
nimue
> Spoilers people!!!!!!!! WTF?
Oh, boy. What are the new rules on this? I mean, it seems to me that
since this show has been over for a long time, we should be free to discuss
all aspects of it. Are we not? Anyway, there's nothing all that spoiler-y
in my post.
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
in broad daylight in an american high school
with police nearby and motivated to act
and perhaps even bodyguards waiting outside the library
you dont just grab the mayor of city
without some alarm bells going off
arf meow arf - nsa fodder
al qaeda terrorism nuclear bomb iran taliban big brother
if you meet buddha on the usenet killfile him
MBangel10 (Melissa)
> MBangel10 (Melissa) wrote:
>> Spoilers people!!!!!!!! WTF?
>
> Oh, boy. What are the new rules on this? I mean, it seems to me that
> since this show has been over for a long time, we should be free to discuss
> all aspects of it. Are we not? Anyway, there's nothing all that spoiler-y
> in my post.
>
AOQ has *specifically* asked for all comments posted in the threads he
starts to remain spoiler free. He posts this at the top of every review
he does.
You stated two major spoilers in your comment, you might not think they
are major, but to him it they are. He is watching this show for the
first time and does not want it ruined (there are also other 1st time
viewers following along too). Please take notice of this when commenting
in his threads.
A good rule of thumb is, if it hasn't already been stated in an episode
previous to (or included in) his review episode, don't mention it.
I'm sure it was an honest mistake, but please be careful.
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
"One Bit Shy" <O...@nomail.sorry> wrote:
> "Arbitrar Of Quality" <tsm...@wildmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1143865057.1...@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> > 1] Willow's scene where she's signing yearbooks. "Don't you
> > hate her?" "[huge grin] Yes, with a fiery vengeance." Some
> > people buy into the mentality of that Billy Joel song they play at
> > every graduation, and Willow is adorable trying to hang on to
> > everything, including the soda machine.
>
> I don't know what other people's experiences were, but there really was a
> strange nearly global coming together in the waning days of my high school
> class. Yes, even longtime enemies. Curious.
all just scar tissue
it fades away
> Willow sure was hostile to Anya in the library.
anya tricked into her retrieving a vampire version of herself
that just couldnt get more disturbing
> Xander: I just don't want to lose you.
> Buffy: I won't get hurt.
> Xander: That's not what I mean.
>
> Is Buffy risking her soul?
her identity
if she kills humans the same way faith does
then she is faith
jura jvyybj tvirf vagb ure natre gb xvyy jneera
fur fnlf jvyybj vfag gurer nalzber
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
Michael Ikeda <mmi...@erols.com> wrote:
> chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu wrote in
> news:122tte5...@corp.supernews.com:
>
> > Arbitrar Of Quality <tsm...@wildmail.com> wrote:
> >> A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these
> >> review threads.
> >>
> >>
> >> BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
> >> Season Three, Episode 21: "Graduation Day (Part One)"
> >> (or "Rat sex!")
> >> Writer: Joss Whedon
> >> Director: Joss Whedon
> >
> > Forgot to mention another bit I really liked: the Mayor's
> > conversation with Principal Snyder. It's clear that Snyder
> > still thinks he is on the good side, struggling to keep order
> > among all the supernatural chaos around the Hellmouth; and he
> > still thinks the Mayor is on the good side too, yet he's scared
> > of him anyway. The Mayor plays with him a little bit:
> > "Sunnydale owes you a debt, and it will be repaid." Does Snyder
> > realize how ominous that really sounds?
> >
>
> Snyder does get this strange expression, as if he's processing what
> the Mayor said and isn't entirely sure it's a good thing.
if snyder realizes hes on the wrong side he can do one of two things
switch sides
refuse to acknowledge he is on the wrong side
Mel
chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu wrote:
> Arbitrar Of Quality <tsm...@wildmail.com> wrote:
>
>>A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these review
>>threads.
>>
>>
>>BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
>>Season Three, Episode 21: "Graduation Day (Part One)"
>>(or "Rat sex!")
>>Writer: Joss Whedon
>>Director: Joss Whedon
>
>
>>1] Willow's scene where she's signing yearbooks. "Don't you
>>hate her?" "[huge grin] Yes, with a fiery vengeance." Some
>>people buy into the mentality of that Billy Joel song they play at
>>every graduation, and Willow is adorable trying to hang on to
>>everything, including the soda machine.
>
>
> I like her forlorn hope that their commencement speaker will be Siegfried,
> Roy, or at least one of the tigers. (But shouldn't the commencement
> speaker have been announced weeks earlier? Perhaps the Mayor strongarmed
> his way onto the program at the last minute.)
>
>
>>2] Faith slipping ever further into nastiness while the Mayor looks on
>>with paternal pride. This time she kills an innocent man without much
>>caring, and seems to enjoy herself.
>
>
> A great brutal scene. "I'll scream." "Who wouldn't?" And even better,
> when the professor cries out "But why?" and Faith replies "You know, I
> never thought to ask," and then the camera slides away to the volcano
> painting as she stabs him.... That's my brrrr moment.
>
>
>>4] The sense of impending doom throughout the whole opening, which hits
>>its apex when Wilkins casually strolls right into Scoobie Central and
>>says hi. Like most people in positions of power, he can appeal to the
>>Values Voters but has absolutely no sense of human decency at all. And
>>also, he's invincible, can act with impunity within Sunnydale, and
>>knows full well that our heroes can't do a thing to stop him. Brrr.
>>Despite a dubious start, he's one of the best villains the series has
>>managed yet.
>
>
> A close second to Angelus, in my opinion, and this whole scene is great.
> I love his sudden entrance, and the way he can't stop giving out fatherly
> advice even as he admits that it won't matter, as he'll kill them all
> soon. The gang didn't know about his invincibility yet, did they? Their
> shock after he shrugs off being stabbed in the heart helps explain why
> they didn't try any further attacks. They don't know *what* he might be
> capable of. But Buffy has the presence of mind to hide the newspaper so
> the Mayor doesn't know they've made the Lester connection. Clever girl.
Angel knew about the invincibility, so it's likely he told the others,
or at least Buffy. Probably still a little shocking to see though.
Mel
nimue
> nimue wrote:
>> MBangel10 (Melissa) wrote:
>>> Spoilers people!!!!!!!! WTF?
>>
>> Oh, boy. What are the new rules on this? I mean, it seems to me
>> that since this show has been over for a long time, we should be
>> free to discuss all aspects of it. Are we not? Anyway, there's
>> nothing all that spoiler-y in my post.
>>
>
> AOQ has *specifically* asked for all comments posted in the threads he
> starts to remain spoiler free. He posts this at the top of every
> review he does.
Ah, well, I didn't read or respond to his original post -- I responded to
One Bit Shy's, so I never saw AOQ's request.
>
> You stated two major spoilers in your comment, you might not think
> they are major, but to him it they are. He is watching this show for
> the first time and does not want it ruined (there are also other 1st
> time viewers following along too). Please take notice of this when
> commenting in his threads.
I will.
>
> A good rule of thumb is, if it hasn't already been stated in an
> episode previous to (or included in) his review episode, don't
> mention it.
>
> I'm sure it was an honest mistake, but please be careful.
It won't happen again.
KenM47
>In article <ivqt225nrausdpi0t...@4ax.com>, KenM47
><Ken...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>> "Arbitrar Of Quality" <tsm...@wildmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> >vague disclaimer wrote:
>> >> In article <dVAXf.1579$ki....@bignews1.bellsouth.net>,
>> >> "Benjamin Pavsner" <pavs...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> snbip spoiling crap
>> >
>> >Thankee kindly. I've never used a killfile before, but there may be a
>> >first time for everything...
>> >
>> >-AOQ
>>
>>
>> If it's the post I think we're talking about, I think it was a simple
>> mistake, an error in posting judgment, and not intended as a "Ha Ha
>> I've spoiled you" thing.
>
>Well, the guy has making a lot of noise in other threads about how
>stupid he finds the whole spoiler issue in terms of these reviews so I'm
>inclined to think he's being an asshole on purpose.
Hmmm. I guess it's possible. I hadn't realized that's who it was.
Ken (Brooklyn)
jil...@hotmail.com
Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
> vague disclaimer wrote:
> > In article <dVAXf.1579$ki....@bignews1.bellsouth.net>,
> > "Benjamin Pavsner" <pavs...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> >
> > snbip spoiling crap
>
> Thankee kindly. I've never used a killfile before, but there may be a
> first time for everything...
>
> -AOQ
Has he done this before, or it this the first slip-up of a person who
is sometimes a bit dense?
Don Sample
<mair_fheal-F5E3F...@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
> In article <122u3ne...@news.supernews.com>,
> "One Bit Shy" <O...@nomail.sorry> wrote:
>
> > Willow sure was hostile to Anya in the library.
>
> anya tricked into her retrieving a vampire version of herself
> that just couldnt get more disturbing
Plus there was the whole thing with Anya trying to get a vamp to eat her.
--
Quando omni flunkus moritati
Visit the Buffy Body Count at <http://homepage.mac.com/dsample/>
jil...@hotmail.com
BTR1701
disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
That's a radical interpretation of the text.
Quelle surprise.
BTR1701
disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
Yes, I did. I just didn't say what you apparently want me to have said.
> and I don't have any political burr up my arse.
Yeah, that global warming comment was *so* relevant to the Buffy show.
> Try again, without trying to change the subject.
Behold the irony.
BTR1701
disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
Yes, and we were talking about other alternatives before you came along
and imparted you "wisdom" on the subject.
Of course, without you, we'd probably all still be in the dark as to how
this episode ties into the issue of global warming. So thanks for that.
> > Helluva leader you'd make. "Well,
> > we tried and it didn't work out so... game over I guess. I give up."
>
> Well, given that you appear to be favouring cowardice in the face of the
> enemy, that's a tad rich.
You really have a problem with putting words in people's mouths, I see.
BTR1701
<mair_fheal-B828F...@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
<mair_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> In article <BTR1702-1F9C0E...@news.east.earthlink.net>,
> BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
> > In article
> > <mair_fheal-7B563...@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
> > mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
> > <mair_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > not only could faith mount a rescue for him
> > > but the entire sunnydale police department could as well
> >
> > That's why it would have been prudent for Buffy, Wesley and Giles to
> > contact the Council and have them send one of their assassination
> > squads. Kidnap him, spirit him out of town and lock him away in the
>
> in broad daylight in an american high school
When did I say they should do it during daylight or at the high school?
> with police nearby and motivated to act
> and perhaps even bodyguards waiting outside the library
>
> you dont just grab the mayor of city
A city the size of Sunnydale? Yeah, you could do just that. Especially a
mayor as cocky and arrogant as Mr. Invincible. Everyone compares
Sunnydale to Santa Barbara. Well, the mayor of Santa Barbara doesn't
walk around with a full Secret Service security package. The mayor of
NYC and Los Angeles have police security details but not Santa Barbara.
He drives himself to work and walks around just like any other citizen.
As do the mayors of similar-sized cities all over the nation.
And Wilkins's lackeys are vampires. Perhaps daylight isn't such a bad
idea after all...
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
Don Sample <dsa...@synapse.net> wrote:
> In article
> <mair_fheal-F5E3F...@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
> mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
> <mair_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > In article <122u3ne...@news.supernews.com>,
> > "One Bit Shy" <O...@nomail.sorry> wrote:
> >
> > > Willow sure was hostile to Anya in the library.
> >
> > anya tricked into her retrieving a vampire version of herself
> > that just couldnt get more disturbing
>
> Plus there was the whole thing with Anya trying to get a vamp to eat her.
rather petty on willows part
MBangel10 (Melissa)
One Bit Shy
news:mair_fheal-2867B...@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net...
> In article <dsample-2ACF19...@news.giganews.com>,
> Don Sample <dsa...@synapse.net> wrote:
>
>> In article
>> <mair_fheal-F5E3F...@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
>> mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
>> <mair_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> > In article <122u3ne...@news.supernews.com>,
>> > "One Bit Shy" <O...@nomail.sorry> wrote:
>> >
>> > > Willow sure was hostile to Anya in the library.
>> >
>> > anya tricked into her retrieving a vampire version of herself
>> > that just couldnt get more disturbing
>>
>> Plus there was the whole thing with Anya trying to get a vamp to eat her.
>
> rather petty on willows part
Yes, terribly. On the other hand, getting between Xander and his girlfriend
is only justice. ;-)
(I was just observing a few of the highlights. I liked Willow getting huffy
about her - and the grudging acceptance when she found Anya was actually
helping. Gurl'yy trg cerggl tbbq ng favcvat ng rnpu bgure. N creirefr wbl
gb jngpu.
OBS
Arbitrar Of Quality
> It won't happen again.
Thanks. Generally you can tell if a thread is for newbs by the "AOQ
Review;" when people want to talk the spoiler-talk without rot13, they
generally change the subject line.
-AOQ
hopelessly devoted
Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
> BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
> Season Three, Episode 21: "Graduation Day (Part One)"
> This is one of those episodes where a lot of things click, on a
> moment-by-moment basis. Especially in the beginning high school
> scenes, almost every character reaction, every line of dialogue seems
> just right, completely in tune with the mood of the show and who the
> characters are. We'd like to imagine that all Written And Directed
> By JW episodes are that way, which (as S3 has proved) isn't actually
> the case, but I'm glad some of them are.
>
> A list of scenes that I liked would include most of the episode, so
> I'm just going to chronologically list some highlights until I get to
> ten:
>
> 1] Willow's scene where she's signing yearbooks. "Don't you
> hate her?" "[huge grin] Yes, with a fiery vengeance." Some
> people buy into the mentality of that Billy Joel song they play at
> every graduation, and Willow is adorable trying to hang on to
> everything, including the soda machine.
Has anyone ever had the teal? I think maroon is the only color they
come in.
I've always heard there is a certain fear that comes with graduation.
Leaving the known for the unknown, where even the vacuous tramps are
better than what's beyond. Everyone seems to be enjoying their last
days of the high school years. Even Faith was enjoying her new role.
Visiting retired professors and slaying. Very cold calculated scene.
Faith seems very comfortable, not reluctant in the least.
> 2] Faith slipping ever further into nastiness while the Mayor looks on
> with paternal pride. This time she kills an innocent man without much
> caring, and seems to enjoy herself. And Dushku has done such a great
> job all year at projecting at least the illusion of humanity (and yes,
> she's also so hot)... however unlikely we know it is that she'll
> find any kind of redemption, we still hang on every word of her
> half-stories about growing up.
A couple of things to note: The Mayor, along with giving her the
"fatherly attention" he's doled since his first appearance, he's also
telling Faith, unknowingly, everything she wants to hear. She gets to
be the center of attention without any of the "rules" that come with
it. Faith no longer has a voice of opposition. She has distanced
herself from any signs of guilt or remorse, internally or externally.
She doesn't have to play by any rule she doesn't see fit to play by
and the rules she does have to play by, seem to suit her tastes.
> 3] Hangman! And since it's in the same scene, also "Yes. Men like
> sports, men watch the action movie, they eat of the beef, and enjoy to
> look at the bosoms."
Again, I think that Xander has been through a lot this year. First
with C then with W, and on a couple of different levels with Faith. If
you include the X attractions from S1, we see him sitting next to Anya,
and practically ignoring her. Trying not to be a demon magnet, not to
attract the wrong element, again. So it's very interesting to me that
Anya is an ex Vengence DEMON, with no real power at the time, and yet X
still doesn't even give her a second glance. He seems very reluctant
to get "involved" in any way, shape or form.
> 4] The sense of impending doom throughout the whole opening, which hits
> its apex when Wilkins casually strolls right into Scoobie Central and
> says hi. Like most people in positions of power, he can appeal to the
> Values Voters but has absolutely no sense of human decency at all. And
> also, he's invincible, can act with impunity within Sunnydale, and
> knows full well that our heroes can't do a thing to stop him. Brrr.
> Despite a dubious start, he's one of the best villains the series has
> managed yet.
Absolutely! You gotta love The Mayor. One thing I will say about the
scene. For me, it was completely unexpected. Yes, we'd just seen him
with Snyder, but....WOW! The Mayor walks right in. Is there Anyone
who's heart didn't just outright stop. One thing you have to love
about the mayor, especially on repeated viewings, each and every line
is both mundane and chilling. "The beast will walk upon the earth and
darkness will follow. The several races of man will be as one in their
terror and destruction." Aw, that's kind of sweet. Different races
coming together. The Sword through the chest felt like it should have
been a cut to black, but here they decide to let the tension and horror
continue through to an even eerier end. Could not have been better.
He strolls right in and he strolls right out.
Also interesting to take into account the people that have been in the
Mayor's corner: Allen, Snyder, Trick and Faith. Seems like there is a
small trend (except Trick of course).
> 5] The Buffy/Joyce exchange, especially the mini-speech: "I wish I
> could be a lot of things for you. A great student, a star athlete,
> remotely normal. I'm not. But there is something I do that I can do
> better than anybody else in the world. I'm gonna fight this thing, but
> I can't do it and worry about you." For a fleeting moment, it's
> almost like she knows exactly where her place in life is...
Others have pointed out B clearing mom out of town. So I will point
out 2 things. Finally someone else agrees with me on the graduation
ceremony. "Mom, graduation is a pointless ceremony where you sit
around and listen to a bunch of boring speeches until someone hands you
a piece of paper that says you graduated which you already know and
maroon does nothing for my complexion, so don't argue, okay?" And
there you have it in a nutshell. Add in the price of the cap and gown
and you have every reason why I skipped the whole graduation thing
myself. See Mom, I'm not the only one who felt that way.
And 2nd - What is Graduation???
> 6] Anya actually having some minor relevance to the plot. So there was
> a reason they re-introduced her. Also I got a kick out of her
> induction into the world of romance, for some reason.
>
> [Comment: Okay, here's what else I think is up with the whole Anya
> thing. They wanted someone to be Cordelia for Xander, since after
> "Lovers Walk" Cordelia herself can't be Cordelia anymore. With
> the exception of the references to Anya's past as a demon (which, to
> be fair, are prominent), these could've been X/C (pre-LW) scenes.]
At the top of the ep Xander was afraid of dying, but when approached by
Anya and actually given an out, given a way to live, he chooses to stay
and fight. Not to win. Because it's where he wants and needs to be.
In the end, what else does X have?
> 7] Willow and Oz taking the time to cover the Amy-rat's cage before
> getting too physical.
A wonderful scene except for one reason. It's the first real
relationship that's working. Not Giles/Jenny, not X/C, not B/A. The
two meekest and mildest of them all. For me, that's what makes that
scene work. Oz and Willow, the perfect little couple in every way.
Ahhhhh.
> 8] Boreanaz's acting when Angel finally allows himself an outburst
> after Buffy asks him whether this is at all hard for him.
I STILL didn't understand how he was getting his own show. With
Cordelia, no less.
> 9] More B/A exchanges. "Are you mad at me for being around too much
> or for not being around enough?" "Duh. Yes." And "on three.
> One." "I knew you were gonna do that."
B/A - Beautiful uncomfortable scene of two people who are not breaking
up because they don't love each other, but because, in the long run, it
will be better in the end for both. Faith's obvious more interested
in causing them both pain than killing either one of them. "Missed
the heart" - Meant to" There is something else that has been
happening. Why did Faith go after A in Enemies. The Mayor had been in
town for quite a while and one could assume already knew about Angelus.
So why did he wait? Buffy will need to be "kept occupied" but whose
idea was it? If it were the Mayor's idea, he could have done it
years ago. Faith certainly has a reason to want A down and B occupied.
But how about two birds one stone. Throughout the season, A has been
B's weak link and a serious breaking point between B and F. Each
time the conversation turned to A, B was quick to remind F that it was
none of her business. So how about put them both in as much pain as
possible AND keep B occupied during the ascension. Faith's happy,
the Mayor's happy, everybody wins.
> 10] The fact that even when Wesley is being the jerk, he has a point
> (that the deal with Angel is designed to distract Buffy).
>
> And yes, this episode goes to, and beyond, eleven (I didn't even
> mention the release of tension in the Buffy/Faith fight that we've
> been building towards for so long... or Wilkins' line about fiber,
> or...), but that's enough for now.
>
> Moving on from gushing to just a few general comments (don't want to
> spend too much time on this, since once I finish writing we're going
> to watch Part II): I didn't really think the confrontation with
> Wesley over the WC (other than the above, and "I've nothing to say
> right now") was really necessary. Just because you can cram in as
> many iterations of the main theme into an episode as possible doesn't
> mean you should. Actually, the real issue may be that I just didn't
> care about the Watcher's Council stuff - the show hasn't done
> much with them beyond "Helpless." So distancing our hero from
> them, which should be a major point in the overall arc of the series,
> feels more like an afterthought.
The question is What is Graduation? B splits with the council as a
matter of personal graduation. The core of the season has been one of
finding out who you are. So who is Buffy at the core? More than just
a girl, more than a slayer, she is someone who has to make tough
decisions and live with the consequences of those decisions. Now she
is faced with the very organization that she is supposed to represent.
They endangered her mother and nearly get her killed in an ancient and
barbaric ritual. They refused to offer any assistance in the
Sisterhood of Jhe and the reopening of the hellmouth.
Then they send Wesley ('nough said),
Together with Wesley, they terrorize Faith "The first priority of both
myself and the Council is to help you." and then let her escape.
The shrinks fail to properly assess Faith AND put her back on active
duty.
Wesley's insistence that the box come before Willow.
And now the Council will not help the one person that B undoubtedly
loves. Someone who has fought the battles but can not reap the reward
of a cure because he gets a little fangy. In this respect, Post
actually spoke the truth to Faith in Revelations. Buffy is blinded by
love. By the love of her friends, her family, Angel, Giles. When it
comes to the people she loves, B CAN NOT accept any other laws, longer
than civilization or otherwise. There is only one law that matters.
The laws dictated by the heart. The split was more than just about
ending ties because it was the end of the season. It was about the
defining of principles. The understanding of ones core philosophy.
While it also fell in nicely with the season closer, it actually could
have happened anywhere.
Wesley: Buffy, they're very firm. We're talking about laws that have
existed longer than civilization.
Buffy: I'm talking about watching my____________die. I don't have a
clue what you're talking about and I don't care.
That type of conflicting relationship can not hold. And perhaps, in
retaliation for Giles, B gets to fire the Council for the exact
opposite reasons that they fired him.
Get a job.
Graduation is the ceremony. The formality. People graduate each and
every day at various ages through their lifetime. Graduation is not
about the formality. It is about the realization. The understanding
of where you were compared to where you are. Without that growth, the
formality is nothing. Each character has changed. Has grown.
Xander, through relationship crisis, test by bomb, near death, has
grown and has come to an understanding about his core being. Willow
through relationships crisis, standing up to Faith, sex. G, fired from
the council, deeper relationship with his slayer than perceived or
allowed, facing himself in the form of Wesley. B, returning home,
Angel, Mother, Angel, Giles, Angel, Faith, Angel. They have each
learned what is at their core. Formality aside, each has already
graduated in his/her own way. The only one still unable to accept
growth, is Faith. She instead chose to ignore the "learning
experience" and hide behind her strength as a slayer.
So what is graduation? Graduation is a pointless ceremony. You sit
around and listen to a bunch of boring speeches (from the Council, from
the Principle, the Mayor, Wesley, Faith). Telling you what you
already know (from their point of view. As well as how you should feel
about it, again from their point of view). Until someone hands you a
piece of paper that says you
graduated..............................which you already know. B has
listened this year to a lot of people regarding the type of person she
SHOULD be. In the end she decided. Skip the Slayer ceremony. She
already knows what type of Slayer (and person) she really is.
> More interesting is Buffy going out to try to kill Faith. It makes
> enough sense under the circumstances that I'd have done the same
> thing myself. But it's still not the "right" use of Slayer
> powers, and you know what they say, Road To Hell/good intentions and
> all that. Naturally, the show plays this up, with Faith's continued
> questioning whether Buffy is becoming like her, and her satisfaction at
> the ways in which she is, including the killing. A more sinister kind
> of graduation?
I kind of like my new theory that F came to Sunnydale to best the
Slayer and claim the title. Best, did not originally include torture
and fight to the death, but it did include proving her self better. In
the absence of this, proving that She is the better of the two by
proving that B has more F in her than she realizes. Even if that means
driving her to kill.
Interesting scene at the weapons cage. Not too long ago, Faith was
also hell bent for hide with Angel. Buffy, in a manner is in the same
position. Xander's fear of losing B is possibly not as far fetched
as one might think. Faith showed similar tendancies and seemingly
never returned. Xander possibly has learned to recognize the look of
"out for blood". A Bit of Faith that Xander now sees in Buffy?
> But if you're really out to kill someone with no doubts, that
> wouldn't be the way to do it. Go in stabbing while they've got the
> loud music playing. Also, the handcuffs are kinda lame.
Since F's first ep, "Did I just hear a threat?", it's been
coming and we've even gotten a taste. But this was the true test of
the best. So why did B just show up? Why not just shoot her in the
ass with a tranq gun? Easy answer. Because it's exactly what F
would have done (or did, with A twice). Hiding in the shadows. Sneak
attack. Bait and switch. F and B are alike in a lot of way. But the
face off had to be done. B had to prove a point. As much as they are
alike, There Are Differences. And B will not hide in the shadows. B
will not attack from the rear. And why the handcuffs? No chance for
F to run away (as she's done before) if things were not going according
to plan. This was the showdown. Not with F's rules, but with B's,
which is something that she has not given before. Each scene with F
has been on Faith's terms. Now it's not. New Game. B's rules.
The scene going into the fight shows point blank the two different
temperaments at work. B calm and thoughtful, F almost a powder keg.
No one to fight with, but that doesn't stop the fight. Because of
real life drama, I've stopped calling Faith Crazy, Out of Control,
Psycho or any thing else. Faith is completely IN control. In her own
way. She has thought things through carefully, in her own way. People
like F grow up every day without killing, stealing, or maiming in any
way, but still manage to be exactly what F is now, cold, calculating
and uncaring. The only difference is, F at this point still has a
chance. Is she troubled? Yes. She's troubled by her own demons.
Does she cause her own trouble? Absolutely. Is Faith's true enemy
herself? Exactly!
AND THE FIGHT TRULY KICKS ASS. KUDOS TO ALL 4 OF THEM.
> Feel free to make note, if you must, of the parallelism
> with "Prophecy Girl" and "Becoming I," both of which also
> prominently featured the apparent death of a Vampire Slayer.
As others have pointed out, Great Catch!! Missed that one.
Don Sample
"hopelessly devoted" <cry...@cinstall.com> wrote:
> So it's very interesting to me that
> Anya is an ex Vengence DEMON, with no real power at the time, and yet X
> still doesn't even give her a second glance. He seems very reluctant
> to get "involved" in any way, shape or form.
Given that their last date mostly involved her telling him about all the
men she'd horribly killed, I think he'd rather go on another date with
the car girl than Anya about now.
One Bit Shy
news:1143959042.2...@u72g2000cwu.googlegroups.com...
>> 1] Willow's scene where she's signing yearbooks. "Don't you
>> hate her?" "[huge grin] Yes, with a fiery vengeance." Some
>> people buy into the mentality of that Billy Joel song they play at
>> every graduation, and Willow is adorable trying to hang on to
>> everything, including the soda machine.
>
> Has anyone ever had the teal? I think maroon is the only color they
> come in.
Mine was dark blue. I wouldn't call it teal. (I also had a peace symbol
taped to the cap.)
OBS
Michael Ikeda
news:BTR1702-61B46D...@news.east.earthlink.net:
> In article
> <l64o-1rj5-BF9A2...@mercury.nildram.net>, vague
> disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
>
>> In article
>> <BTR1702-6CC850...@news.east.earthlink.net>,
>> BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>>
>> > In article <ZrudnVN7kZXWjbLZ...@rcn.net>,
>> > Michael Ikeda <mmi...@erols.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > > BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in
>> > > news:BTR1702-1F9C0E...@news.east.earthlink.net:
>> > >
>> > > > In article
>> > > > <mair_fheal-7B563...@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews
>> > > > .net>,
>> >
>> > > >> the mayor walked into the library alone
>> > > >> but he was not alone
>> > > >>
>> > > >> not only could faith mount a rescue for him
>> > > >> but the entire sunnydale police department could as well
>> > > >
>> > > > That's why it would have been prudent for Buffy, Wesley
>> > > > and Giles to contact the Council and have them send one
>> > > > of their assassination squads. Kidnap him, spirit him out
>> > > > of town and lock him away in the bowels of Castle Watcher
>> > > > in England. Faith wouldn't know where he is and wouldn't
>> > > > have the resources to cross the Atlantic even if she did
>> > > > and the Mayor would, of course, be well beyond the reach
>> > > > of the Sunnydale PD.
>> > >
>> > > It would perhaps not be safe to assume that all of the
>> > > Mayor's allies are limited to this side of the Atlantic.
>> >
>> > No, but he's the mayor of a small California town. We saw no
>> > evidence that he was a major world player.
>>
>> We KNOW that he is much more than that. He has sucked up to
>> some major demons.
>
> And the Council fights demons. Big deal.
The Council records and collects information about demons.
Important in its own right, but a different thing from fighting
them. Which, in the view of the Council, is the Slayer's job.
It is not at all clear that the Council has the ability to keep
someone with powerful demonic allies imprisoned indefinitely. It
is not at all clear that the Council would even be willing to try.
For that matter, it isn't even clear that they can get the Mayor to
England in an untraceable way.
Also note that Giles and Wesley both have some idea of what the
Council is and isn't capable of and neither of them seems to have
suggested direct intervention by the Council.
--
Michael Ikeda mmi...@erols.com
"Telling a statistician not to use sampling is like telling an
astronomer they can't say there is a moon and stars"
Lynne Billard, past president American Statistical Association
BTR1701
<mmi...@erols.com> wrote:
Nah, they have that coven casting spells and sorcerors and all that.
Their resources go beyond just one girl with better-than-average
strength.
> It is not at all clear that the Council has the ability to keep
> someone with powerful demonic allies imprisoned indefinitely. It
> is not at all clear that the Council would even be willing to try.
>
> For that matter, it isn't even clear that they can get the Mayor to
> England in an untraceable way.
They certainly implied that they have serious pull with authorities in
high positions of power in the American government. Higher than mayor of
a small California coastal city, anyway.
Mel
hopelessly devoted wrote:
> Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>
>
>>BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
>>Season Three, Episode 21: "Graduation Day (Part One)"
>
>
>>This is one of those episodes where a lot of things click, on a
>>moment-by-moment basis. Especially in the beginning high school
>>scenes, almost every character reaction, every line of dialogue seems
>>just right, completely in tune with the mood of the show and who the
>>characters are. We'd like to imagine that all Written And Directed
>>By JW episodes are that way, which (as S3 has proved) isn't actually
>>the case, but I'm glad some of them are.
>>
>>A list of scenes that I liked would include most of the episode, so
>>I'm just going to chronologically list some highlights until I get to
>>ten:
>>
>>1] Willow's scene where she's signing yearbooks. "Don't you
>>hate her?" "[huge grin] Yes, with a fiery vengeance." Some
>>people buy into the mentality of that Billy Joel song they play at
>>every graduation, and Willow is adorable trying to hang on to
>>everything, including the soda machine.
>
>
> Has anyone ever had the teal? I think maroon is the only color they
> come in.
Mine was blue (school color)
Mel
drifter
>> 7] Willow and Oz taking the time to cover the Amy-rat's cage before
>> getting too physical.
>
> A wonderful scene except for one reason. It's the first real
> relationship that's working. Not Giles/Jenny, not X/C, not B/A. The
> two meekest and mildest of them all. For me, that's what makes that
> scene work. Oz and Willow, the perfect little couple in every way.
> Ahhhhh.
Oz, meek? Not in the least.
Meek: adj 1: humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness
or even cowed submissiveness.
Mild, of course; but meek, never.
--
Kel
"I reject your reality, and substitute my own."
chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu
>> IIRC correctly, the shooting script described the beginning of the fight
>> like this:
>>
>> FAITH: Okay, then. Give us a kiss.
>> Buffy hits her so fucking hard her head nearly comes off.
>
> And yet when filmed it looks like any of a thousand punches thrown in
> any of a thousand TV shows and movies.
>
> This is where the show always kinda let me down. I mean, these are
> people with superpowers but we hardly ever see them do anything that's
> actually super.
Much as I love the GD1 fight scene, I have to agree. It would have been
even better if they just threw in a few small touches: the wall-mounted TV
screen could have shattered when Faith threw Buffy into it, or the outside
electrical box could have crumpled when Buffy slammed Faith's head into
it, or one of their stray punches could have taken a chunk of plaster out
of the wall. Something like that. Oh, well, it's still great in my book.
--Chris
______________________________________________________________________
chrisg [at] gwu.edu On the Internet, nobody knows I'm a dog.
chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu
>
> Has anyone ever had the teal? I think maroon is the only color they
> come in.
My high school's colors were blue and gold, so at graduation the boys wore
blue gowns and the girls wore gold.
> A couple of things to note: The Mayor, along with giving her the
> "fatherly attention" he's doled since his first appearance, he's also
> telling Faith, unknowingly, everything she wants to hear. She gets to
> be the center of attention without any of the "rules" that come with
> it.
I don't think it was unknowing. The Mayor knew exactly what Faith wanted
to hear. Of course he was totally sincere about it too, and no doubt he
just thought of it as making her happy, not manipulating her. But I don't
think he was unaware of how his words affected her.
> At the top of the ep Xander was afraid of dying, but when approached by
> Anya and actually given an out, given a way to live, he chooses to stay
> and fight. Not to win. Because it's where he wants and needs to be.
> In the end, what else does X have?
It's not unlike Willow's decision to go to UC-Sunnydale instead of Oxford,
so she can keep fighting by Buffy's side.
> A wonderful scene except for one reason. It's the first real
> relationship that's working. Not Giles/Jenny, not X/C, not B/A. The
> two meekest and mildest of them all. For me, that's what makes that
> scene work. Oz and Willow, the perfect little couple in every way.
> Ahhhhh.
Vs n eryngvbafuvc va gur Jurqbairefr frrzf gb or jbexvat, gung whfg zrnaf
vg unfa'g ynfgrq ybat rabhtu lrg....
Mel
vague disclaimer
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
What coven? There's been no coven.
Fcbvyref crbcyr.
Naq gur Qriba pbira jnf abguvat gb qb jvgu gur Pbhapvy.
TVYRF: V pnzr nf fbba nf V urneq...
OHSSL: Pbhapvy--?
TVYRF: Gur Pbhapvy unfa'g n pyhr. Nobhg zhpu bs nalguvat, ernyyl. Ab,
gurer'f na rkgerzryl cbjreshy pbira va Qribafuver. Gurl frafrq gur evfr
bs n qnatrebhf zntvpny sbepr urer va Fhaalqnyr. N qnex sbepr shryrq ol
tevrs.
> > It is not at all clear that the Council has the ability to keep
> > someone with powerful demonic allies imprisoned indefinitely. It
> > is not at all clear that the Council would even be willing to try.
> >
> > For that matter, it isn't even clear that they can get the Mayor to
> > England in an untraceable way.
>
> They certainly implied that they have serious pull with authorities in
> high positions of power in the American government. Higher than mayor of
> a small California coastal city, anyway.
--
A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend
vague disclaimer
BTR1701 <BTR...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
Well, no. You were proposing an approach that left the bad guy as a
problem for future generations...
> Of course, without you, we'd probably all still be in the dark as to how
> this episode ties into the issue of global warming. So thanks for that.
...a bit like those in denial on other subjects.
Don't get me wrong, I like you approach. It's very modern, but sadly you
were so busy looking to be offended that you didn't realise you were
being paid a compliment.
> > > Helluva leader you'd make. "Well,
> > > we tried and it didn't work out so... game over I guess. I give up."
> >
> > Well, given that you appear to be favouring cowardice in the face of the
> > enemy, that's a tad rich.
>
> You really have a problem with putting words in people's mouths, I see.
Coming from you, that's spectacular.
Tell us again your quaint theories about Europeans.
Eric Hunter
> hopelessly devoted wrote:
>>
>> Has anyone ever had the teal? I think maroon is the only color they
>> come in.
>
> Mine was blue (school color)
Yup, dark blue for the boys, white for the girls, our
school colors. I'm not sure where teal came from,
I would have expected gold.
Eric.
--
hopelessly devoted
Wow!
Mine was dark blue. I wouldn't call it teal. (I also had a peace
symbol taped to the cap.) - OBS
Mine was blue (school color) - Mel
Yup, dark blue for the boys, white for the girls, our school colors.
- Eric.
My high school's colors were blue and gold, so at graduation the boys
wore
blue gowns and the girls wore gold. --Chris
My school sucked.
;->
nimue
> NIMUE!!!!
(cringing) I know! I know! I'm evil! But I CAN be redeemed. :-)
--
nimue
"Evil is not merely banal; it prides itself on sticking to the rules
and looks forward to its pension." Kyle Smith
"Violence always wants to erupt and only creativity can control it."
Sister Wendy
James Craine
Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
> A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these review
> threads.
>
>
> BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
> Season Three, Episode 21: "Graduation Day (Part One)"
> (or "Rat sex!")
> Writer: Joss Whedon
> Director: Joss Whedon
> 1] Willow's scene where she's signing yearbooks. "Don't you
> hate her?" "[huge grin] Yes, with a fiery vengeance." Some
> people buy into the mentality of that Billy Joel song they play at
> every graduation, and Willow is adorable trying to hang on to
> everything, including the soda machine.
Would that be "Keeping the Faith", or something else?
> 4] The sense of impending doom throughout the whole opening, which hits
> its apex when Wilkins casually strolls right into Scoobie Central and
> says hi. Like most people in positions of power, he can appeal to the
> Values Voters but has absolutely no sense of human decency at all. And
> also, he's invincible, can act with impunity within Sunnydale, and
> knows full well that our heroes can't do a thing to stop him. Brrr.
> Despite a dubious start, he's one of the best villains the series has
> managed yet.
He's definitely my favorite villain. Also the epitomy of
what I believe that the typical politician really is.
>
> And yes, this episode goes to, and beyond, eleven (I didn't even
> mention the release of tension in the Buffy/Faith fight that we've
> been building towards for so long... or Wilkins' line about fiber,
> or...), but that's enough for now.
But Buffy's a sap though. Giving Faith a chance is a fair
fight is just stupid. She should have tranked her, or shot
her with a crossbow, or charged with the knife before she
could react. Giving her warning was putting us all at risk
and just stupid.
> More interesting is Buffy going out to try to kill Faith. It makes
> enough sense under the circumstances that I'd have done the same
> thing myself. But it's still not the "right" use of Slayer
> powers, and you know what they say, Road To Hell/good intentions and
> all that. Naturally, the show plays this up, with Faith's continued
> questioning whether Buffy is becoming like her, and her satisfaction at
> the ways in which she is, including the killing. A more sinister kind
> of graduation?
I think it is exactly the 'right' use of her power. She
saves an innocent and deals out justice to his assailant at
the same time. What could be better.
James Craine
vague disclaimer wrote:
>>Or just chain him up somewhere where he can't complete the rituals. When
>>the 90 days or whatever it was passes, then presumably the threat would
>>be over.
>
>
> And you would be left with someone who is permanently invincible.
I had the impression that he was invinciple for 100 days.
Didn't he say something like "For the next 100 days nothing
can harm me"? If the 100 days passed and no ritual then he
would revert to normal.
James Craine
BTR1701 wrote:
>
> So try again with something different. Helluva leader you'd make. "Well,
> we tried and it didn't work out so... game over I guess. I give up."
"I never understood why we always quit after the first try."
-- Lisa Simpson.
(Harmony) Watcher
"James Craine" <James...@Hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:m84lg.36303$mF2....@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
cage for use next time.
What did Buffy call those spiders?
--
==Harmony Watcher==