AOQ Review 3-20: "The Prom"
Arbitrar Of Quality
threads.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Season Three, Episode 20: "The Prom"
(or "Let the Slayer be... your umbrella!")
Writer: Marti Noxon
Director: David Solomon
"I'm over the whole 'Buffy gets one perfect high school moment'
thing. But I'm certainly not going to let some subhuman ruin it for
the rest of the senior class."
After watching "The Prom," I think that more than ever before,
Buffy's thrown herself into her role as... hey, I just realized that
"protector" is indeed the perfect word. Selfless defender of an
unfair but innocent world. People like Tucker are always going to be
willing to punish the innocent for the perceived crimes of a few, and
the Big Damned Heroes like Buffy are the ones who keep giving, to serve
as the balance.
And the Money Moment of the episode is seeing the Buffster get
recognized for everything before she moves on, hearing that her work is
neither unnoticed nor unappreciated. Much like the episode itself,
this bit runs the risk of being too sappy, but I think it handles
itself well. Also, I'm not going to nitpick and am just going to
pretend that this quiet awareness among the student body is a perfectly
acceptable solution to the Forgettyitis problem, or at least the best
that can be done with it. It's more fun to laugh at the fact that
mortality rate statistics elicit a loud cheer, and above all, to let
our hero to get a little appreciation and a chance to enjoy the prom.
Maybe we can manage a genuine non-snarky smile too.
The obstacles for Buffy between the beginning of this episode and this
happy scene include a monster attack, and breaking up with her
boyfriend. Longtime fans of the show can probably guess which one gets
treated as a bigger deal.
So I'm even more confused as to why the show felt the need to use the
Mayor the way it did with regards to the B/A storyline. He doesn't
tell them anything they couldn't have figured out for themselves, and
this episode proves that Joyce is a much better catalyst should an
outside person be needed at all. (I also could've done without the
melodrama of the Combustible Buffy dream, but that's just a quibble.)
Some people have been arguing all season that Angel is going to need
to show some responsibility with regards to Buffy - well, he does.
This breakup feels more final than the last fourteen times they've
stopped seeing each other for some reason: maybe because it's the end
of the year, or maybe because it's Angel who's initiating it.
I wonder if Angel makes sure to put away the chains when he knows
he's going to have company.
How about the actual scene? Again, it'd be rife for melodrama, but
with the exception of some aftermath ("I can't breathe!") it
holds true to how we'd expect the characters to react, particularly
in the back and forth exchanges. Angel's keeping his thoughts to
himself until Buffy forces the issue, she's already accepted that
she'll never have a normal life, but that just leads him to think
that she should have a more normal relationship. He's trying to be
rational, she resents people trying to decide what's right for her,
he argues that she's not really thinking it through, which she
bitterly denies but ultimately decides that he's right. That kind of
thing.
This plotline also has its own sappy scene at the end: seeing be-tuxed
Angel at the end is a little predictable, but it thematically fits with
the one-last-night vibe of the rest of the episode.
The other heroes do appear, and just about everyone gets a moment
that's sweet but not too saccharine, so let's take a spin through
them one by one, and then make a few other random comments:
Willow's willing to vilify and grouse for Buffy and generally be a
good friend here. What's interesting is her later statement that
"Yeah, I think he is [right]. I tried to hope for the best,
but..." And I can think of several examples in previous episodes of
Willow saying things that can now easily be re-interpreted as loudly
trying to put a happy face on B/A while believing that it won't work.
Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with... Anya. Um,
wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
just weird.
Cordelia's descent into bankruptcy, as hinted at last episode, gets
explained. Seems a little sudden (although the "for the last twelve
years" tag is funny and says 'hey, don't think too hard about
this'), as external circumstances will I guess force the character to
go new places. Yet she's still more concerned about a prom dress
than anything else. Shallow person? Or sad person setting one
attainable goal for herself, to try to cope with the sting of
suddenly-unattainable things like college and The Future? The
interactions between her and Xander here are solid, with both actors
doing some good work (especially in their brief scene together at the
prom itself). Even haters of either character have to admit that
it's a cool thing for Xander to do, and the gift is accepted
graciously.
Oz is in this episode. Do we know anything about his plans,
academically or musically or anything?
Giles has two lines that Mrs. Quality adored (and I liked too): "I
understand that this sort of thing requires ice cream of some kind?"
(aww...) and "Just have at it, would you, and stop fluttering
about!" (it's funnier with the gestures). Speaking of Wes, the
writers certainly like having older guys mack on the high school girls.
The bit with Xander working the just-a-normal-VCR is a nice set of
jokes that're easy to forget amongst all the other stuff in the
episode.
Mrs. Q. and I were waiting all episode for the inevitable _Carrie_
joke, so we thought once Buffy made the reference, that was it. Then
there's the gag with the stacks of videotapes. That's just so
amusingly stupid. Much like the Hellhound story itself, of course.
Someone just went nuts with the wacky premise.
There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those HS
comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom would be the end
of the tale. On this show it feels like the calm before the storm, a
last chance to relax and act like kids before Graduation Day.
So...
One-sentence summary: A pleasant bit of moonshine.
AOQ rating: Good
[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]
MBangel10 (Melissa)
> A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these review
> threads.
>
>
> BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
> Season Three, Episode 20: "The Prom"
> (or "Let the Slayer be... your umbrella!")
> Writer: Marti Noxon
> Director: David Solomon
>
> "I'm over the whole 'Buffy gets one perfect high school moment'
> thing. But I'm certainly not going to let some subhuman ruin it for
> the rest of the senior class."
I loved that line.
>
> After watching "The Prom," I think that more than ever before,
> Buffy's thrown herself into her role as... hey, I just realized that
> "protector" is indeed the perfect word. Selfless defender of an
> unfair but innocent world. People like Tucker are always going to be
> willing to punish the innocent for the perceived crimes of a few, and
> the Big Damned Heroes like Buffy are the ones who keep giving, to serve
> as the balance.
So true.
>
> And the Money Moment of the episode is seeing the Buffster get
> recognized for everything before she moves on, hearing that her work is
> neither unnoticed nor unappreciated. Much like the episode itself,
> this bit runs the risk of being too sappy, but I think it handles
> itself well. Also, I'm not going to nitpick and am just going to
> pretend that this quiet awareness among the student body is a perfectly
> acceptable solution to the Forgettyitis problem, or at least the best
> that can be done with it. It's more fun to laugh at the fact that
> mortality rate statistics elicit a loud cheer, and above all, to let
> our hero to get a little appreciation and a chance to enjoy the prom.
> Maybe we can manage a genuine non-snarky smile too.
I loved it when the class gave her an award. "Class Protector" The look
of surprise and gratitude on her face truly made that scene for me.
Plus, it was Jonathon who gave it to her. It seemed fitting.
>
> The obstacles for Buffy between the beginning of this episode and this
> happy scene include a monster attack, and breaking up with her
> boyfriend. Longtime fans of the show can probably guess which one gets
> treated as a bigger deal.
>
> So I'm even more confused as to why the show felt the need to use the
> Mayor the way it did with regards to the B/A storyline. He doesn't
> tell them anything they couldn't have figured out for themselves, and
> this episode proves that Joyce is a much better catalyst should an
> outside person be needed at all. (I also could've done without the
> melodrama of the Combustible Buffy dream, but that's just a quibble.)
The wedding scene was a bit over-the-top for me too.
> Some people have been arguing all season that Angel is going to need
> to show some responsibility with regards to Buffy - well, he does.
> This breakup feels more final than the last fourteen times they've
> stopped seeing each other for some reason: maybe because it's the end
> of the year, or maybe because it's Angel who's initiating it.
Good point. In all the times they stopped and started, it was always
Buffy with the issues (which is very understood) but this time, Angel
sees the light and he knows it's just not meant to be.
>
> I wonder if Angel makes sure to put away the chains when he knows
> he's going to have company.
Mwahahaha! Good one.
>
<snip>
>
> This plotline also has its own sappy scene at the end: seeing be-tuxed
> Angel at the end is a little predictable, but it thematically fits with
> the one-last-night vibe of the rest of the episode.
A bit sappy but also a much deserved Buffy moment.
>
> The other heroes do appear, and just about everyone gets a moment
> that's sweet but not too saccharine, so let's take a spin through
> them one by one, and then make a few other random comments:
>
> Willow's willing to vilify and grouse for Buffy and generally be a
> good friend here. What's interesting is her later statement that
> "Yeah, I think he is [right]. I tried to hope for the best,
> but..." And I can think of several examples in previous episodes of
> Willow saying things that can now easily be re-interpreted as loudly
> trying to put a happy face on B/A while believing that it won't work.
I love it when Willow plays her 'best friend' role this well. She stands
behind Buffy even when she knows that Angel is right.
>
>
> Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with... Anya. Um,
> wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
> just weird.
Too true.
>
> Cordelia's descent into bankruptcy, as hinted at last episode, gets
> explained. Seems a little sudden (although the "for the last twelve
> years" tag is funny and says 'hey, don't think too hard about
> this'), as external circumstances will I guess force the character to
> go new places. Yet she's still more concerned about a prom dress
> than anything else. Shallow person? Or sad person setting one
> attainable goal for herself, to try to cope with the sting of
> suddenly-unattainable things like college and The Future? The
> interactions between her and Xander here are solid, with both actors
> doing some good work (especially in their brief scene together at the
> prom itself). Even haters of either character have to admit that
> it's a cool thing for Xander to do, and the gift is accepted
> graciously.
I really felt for those two in that moment. They were friends again (or
maybe for the first real time).
>
> Oz is in this episode. Do we know anything about his plans,
> academically or musically or anything?
Not at the moment.
>
<snip>
>
> There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those HS
> comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom would be the end
> of the tale. On this show it feels like the calm before the storm, a
> last chance to relax and act like kids before Graduation Day.
Yep, the only thing left is for the shit to hit the fan. At least they
got their prom first.
>
>
> So...
>
> One-sentence summary: A pleasant bit of moonshine.
>
> AOQ rating: Good
ITA.
Mel
Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
Aww, you left out the best one: "You have the emotional maturity of a
blueberry scone." That one always gets a laugh from me.
Mel
Jeff Jacoby
> Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
[snip]
>> Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with... Anya. Um,
>> wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
>> just weird.
>
> Too true.
Consider who Xander has been attracted to:
Ms. French (demony bug thing)
Buffy (demon fighter extraordinaire)
Faith (ditto)
Ampata (dried up mummy demon)
Willow (got that ol' demon magic goin')
Cordelia (acid tongued demonic temper)
and finally we have Anya, ex-demon
Sensing a trend here? Besides, she's hot!
>> Cordelia's descent into bankruptcy, as hinted at last episode, gets
>> explained. Seems a little sudden (although the "for the last twelve
>> years" tag is funny and says 'hey, don't think too hard about
>> this'), as external circumstances will I guess force the character to
>> go new places. Yet she's still more concerned about a prom dress
>> than anything else. Shallow person? Or sad person setting one
>> attainable goal for herself, to try to cope with the sting of
>> suddenly-unattainable things like college and The Future? The
>> interactions between her and Xander here are solid, with both actors
>> doing some good work (especially in their brief scene together at the
>> prom itself). Even haters of either character have to admit that
>> it's a cool thing for Xander to do, and the gift is accepted
>> graciously.
>
> I really felt for those two in that moment. They were friends again (or
> maybe for the first real time).
Might have been nice if they got a chance to dance together.
Might have been too sappy (So what! Let 'em dance!)
>> Oz is in this episode. Do we know anything about his plans,
>> academically or musically or anything?
>
> Not at the moment.
Just Oz being an Oz. Good thing it wasn't the time
of the full moon. D'you know how hard it is to find a
good leash that won't clash with your dress?
Jeff
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
> willing to punish the innocent for the perceived crimes of a few, and
> the Big Damned Heroes like Buffy are the ones who keep giving, to serve
> as the balance.
remember that willow and xander are people like tucker
there but for the grace of snuggles
> that can be done with it. It's more fun to laugh at the fact that
> mortality rate statistics elicit a loud cheer, and above all, to let
beginning of the season
Larry: This is our year, I'm telling you. Best football season ever.
I'm so in shape, I'm a rock. (they stop by the vending machines) It's
all about egg whites. If we can focus, keep discipline, and not have
quite as many mysterious deaths, Sunnydale is gonna *rule*!
> I wonder if Angel makes sure to put away the chains when he knows
> he's going to have company.
reminds joyce once again her buffy has not had a normal childhood
or prospects for a long and happy life
> Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with... Anya. Um,
> wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
> just weird.
xnaders a demon magnet
miss french and oica mummy girl and anya
arf meow arf - nsa fodder
al qaeda terrorism nuclear bomb iran taliban big brother
if you meet buddha on the usenet killfile him
Opus the Penguin
> The bit with Xander working the just-a-normal-VCR is a nice set of
> jokes that're easy to forget amongst all the other stuff in the
> episode.
That one gets riffed on repeatedly in the Penguin household. There are
so many variations.
--
Opus the Penguin
The best darn penguin in all of Usenet
Opus the Penguin
> I loved it when the class gave her an award. "Class Protector" The
> look of surprise and gratitude on her face truly made that scene
> for me. Plus, it was Jonathon
ObPeeve: Jonathan.
> who gave it to her. It seemed fitting.
Those who watched the show as it aired in the US didn't get to
understand that except in retrospect.
Opus the Penguin
>> comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom would be
>> the end of the tale. On this show it feels like the calm before
>> the storm, a last chance to relax and act like kids before
>> Graduation Day.
>
> Yep, the only thing left is for the shit to hit the fan.
>
Oh, great. Just spoil everything for poor AoQ.
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
Opus the Penguin <opusthepen...@gmail.com> wrote:
> MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
>
> > I loved it when the class gave her an award. "Class Protector" The
> > look of surprise and gratitude on her face truly made that scene
> > for me. Plus, it was Jonathon
>
> ObPeeve: Jonathan.
aaaaaahhhhhhhhh
jonathon
MBangel10 (Melissa)
> MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
>> Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>>> There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those HS
>>> comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom would be
>>> the end of the tale. On this show it feels like the calm before
>>> the storm, a last chance to relax and act like kids before
>>> Graduation Day.
>> Yep, the only thing left is for the shit to hit the fan.
>>
>
> Oh, great. Just spoil everything for poor AoQ.
>
eli...@gmail.com
>melodrama of the Combustible Buffy dream, but that's just a quibble.)
Ah yes, the dream. This caused quite a bit of talk (amongst the female
fans): This is _Angel's_ dream and he puts Buffy in a Vera Wang
dress...
Apteryx
news:1143694009.1...@t31g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these review
>threads.
>Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with... Anya. Um,
>wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
>just weird.
I don't sense a lot of attraction on Xander's part here. I think his
explanation that there's not much choice on his part is probably pretty
right. He's not used to girls coming on to him, and Anya just wore down his
resistance.
>There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those HS
>comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom would be the end
>of the tale. On this show it feels like the calm before the storm, a
>last chance to relax and act like kids before Graduation Day.
There is that, but the themes in this episode are pretty much core to the
series so far. At the start, Buffy is still wanting the prom to be her
experience of normal school life. And then, as she finally realises she
can't have that, she moves on to a grim determination that everyone else
will have fun - "No! You guys are going to have a prom. The kind of prom
that _everyone_ should have. I'm going to give you all a nice, fun, normal
evening if I have to kill every single person on the face of the earth to do
it."
>One-sentence summary: A pleasant bit of moonshine.
>AOQ rating: Good
I'd say given the resonances, a little more than moonshine. I'd agree with
Good, but only because places for Excellent episodes are extremely limited.
Overall, the 23rd best BtVS episode, 4th best in Season 3 (though by such a
paper-thin margin over 5th best, which is still to come, that by the time
you get there, the positions may have been reversed)
--
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 20: "The Prom"
> And the Money Moment of the episode is seeing the Buffster get
> recognized for everything before she moves on, hearing that her work is
> neither unnoticed nor unappreciated. Much like the episode itself,
> this bit runs the risk of being too sappy, but I think it handles
> itself well. Also, I'm not going to nitpick and am just going to
> pretend that this quiet awareness among the student body is a perfectly
> acceptable solution to the Forgettyitis problem, or at least the best
> that can be done with it.
I wrote the following back after Graduation Day first aired. (I've
removed a couple of GD spoilers from it.)
What do the people of Sunnydale know?
Several people have speculated that the recent events in Buffy mark a
major departure from what they perceive to be one of the show's basic
premises: No one notices the weirdness. They point to Buffy receiving
her "Class Protector" award in 'The Prom' and other events as major
departures from the previous status quo and worry that these mark the
end of Buffy as we know it.
But what has really changed?
A large segment of the population of Sunnydale has been in on the
weirdness for some time. That has been obvious since 'School Hard.' We
have also seen that a lot of people in Sunnydale turn to the
supernatural where people from a more normal town would go out and get a
gun or something. These people will continue to do so. The Mayor has
people scattered throughout the civic government whose job it was to
suppress information on what is going on, and those people are still
there, and will presumably continue to do their jobs.
When he presented the award Jonathan said "We don't talk about it much"
and that is the key. People know about the weirdness, they just don't
talk about it. It is a taboo subject. For a hundred years parents in
Sunnydale have been teaching their children that there are certain
things you just don't talk about. It's kind of like sex. For a long time
people acted like sex didn't exist around children. (Some of them still
do.) Whenever the kids would bring up the subject they would be
discouraged from ever doing so again. Kids grow up hearing the stories
whispered in the dark, and thinking that they are just stories, but as
they get older they begin to learn that the monsters are real. Sort of
an inverse Santa Claus effect.
That is the stage that Willow and Xander were at when the series
started. They were reaching the stage in life where they have seen
enough weirdness for themselves that they are ready to learn that it is
all real. That is why they accepted the truth about vampires and Buffy
so easily.
The biggest change is that now Buffy knows that lots of other people
know what is happening around her. They haven't changed, and the way
they react to things will remain the same, but Buffy's (and our)
perception of their behaviour has changed. Most of the people in town
know that most of the stories about gangs on PCP, gas leaks and sewers
backing up are just cover stories meant to keep outsiders from learning
what really happened.
The old explanation of "everyone reinterprets the events as something
else, and forgets the bits that won't fit" was getting worn pretty thin.
It may be true for newcomers in town, but the long term residents do
know. Lots of people saw the Hansel and Gretel demon in 'Gingerbread' as
well as seeing Amy turn herself into a rat. Lots of people recognized
the vampire Willow in the Bronze, and watched her kill Sandy, but
nothing came of it.
Buffy now knows that for most of the town's people this is largely an
act. A put on facade to hide what is going on there from the rest of the
world, and from recent immigrants until they can be properly trained to
not talk about it either. She is also moving into a new environment, one
with a lot more outsiders in it, so there will be continuing pressure on
those who are in the know to keep up the "pretend it didn't happen" act.
But now we and Buffy know that for a lot of them it is an act.
--
Quando omni flunkus moritati
Visit the Buffy Body Count at <http://homepage.mac.com/dsample/>
Rowan Hawthorn
> A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these review
> threads.
>
>
> BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
> Season Three, Episode 20: "The Prom"
> (or "Let the Slayer be... your umbrella!")
> Writer: Marti Noxon
> Director: David Solomon
>
>
> good friend here. What's interesting is her later statement that
> "Yeah, I think he is [right]. I tried to hope for the best,
> but..." And I can think of several examples in previous episodes of
> Willow saying things that can now easily be re-interpreted as loudly
> trying to put a happy face on B/A while believing that it won't work.
That's another common trait for Willow. Is she really trying to put on
a happy face, or just whistling through the graveyard?
>
>
> Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with... Anya. Um,
> wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
> just weird.
Xander thinks so, too...
>
> Cordelia's descent into bankruptcy, as hinted at last episode, gets
> explained. Seems a little sudden (although the "for the last twelve
> years" tag is funny and says 'hey, don't think too hard about
> this'), as external circumstances will I guess force the character to
> go new places. Yet she's still more concerned about a prom dress
> than anything else. Shallow person? Or sad person setting one
> attainable goal for herself, to try to cope with the sting of
> suddenly-unattainable things like college and The Future? The
> interactions between her and Xander here are solid, with both actors
> doing some good work (especially in their brief scene together at the
> prom itself). Even haters of either character have to admit that
> it's a cool thing for Xander to do, and the gift is accepted
> graciously.
Several of the gang are growing up, one way or another.
>
> Oz is in this episode. Do we know anything about his plans,
> academically or musically or anything?
Oz? Plans? <Rolls on floor laughing hysterically>
<ahem!> Well, now that you mention it, there *was* something mentioned
about an Ebdim9 chord (speaking of which, either he was pulling Willow's
leg very gently, or he's really *not* a very accomplished guitarist.
Ebdim9 isn't that difficult a chord to make in most positions. Of
course, a couple positions are a real bitch, but then, who's going to
use those other than some fruity jazz band?)
>
> Giles has two lines that Mrs. Quality adored (and I liked too): "I
> understand that this sort of thing requires ice cream of some kind?"
> (aww...) and "Just have at it, would you, and stop fluttering
> about!" (it's funnier with the gestures). Speaking of Wes, the
> writers certainly like having older guys mack on the high school girls.
Speaking for us older guys, some of us wouldn't mind being at those
writers' mercy...
--
Rowan Hawthorn
"Occasionally, I'm callous and strange." - Willow Rosenberg, "Buffy the
Vampire Slayer"
Rowan Hawthorn
> MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
>
>>Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>>
>>>There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those HS
>>>comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom would be
>>>the end of the tale. On this show it feels like the calm before
>>>the storm, a last chance to relax and act like kids before
>>>Graduation Day.
>>
>>Yep, the only thing left is for the shit to hit the fan.
>>
>
>
> Oh, great. Just spoil everything for poor AoQ.
>
Well, that's really not much of a spoiler. Let's face it, this is
"Buffy." *Every* time something good happens, the shit hits the fan...
Mike Zeares
Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>
> After watching "The Prom," I think that more than ever before,
> Buffy's thrown herself into her role as... hey, I just realized that
> "protector" is indeed the perfect word. Selfless defender of an
> unfair but innocent world. People like Tucker are always going to be
> willing to punish the innocent for the perceived crimes of a few, and
> the Big Damned Heroes like Buffy are the ones who keep giving, to serve
> as the balance.
Nicely put. It's one of Joss Whedon's main themes. That and teenage
girls with superpowers.
> And the Money Moment of the episode is seeing the Buffster get
> recognized for everything before she moves on, hearing that her work is
> neither unnoticed nor unappreciated. Much like the episode itself,
> this bit runs the risk of being too sappy, but I think it handles
> itself well. [snip]
Yes, the whole episode skirts right along the edge of too stupid/sappy
without going over. I got quite choked up the first time.
> This breakup feels more final than the last fourteen times they've
> stopped seeing each other for some reason: maybe because it's the end
> of the year, or maybe because it's Angel who's initiating it.
I once joked that it was doomed as soon as Buffy started talking about
having a drawer for her stuff at Angel's.
> Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with... Anya. Um,
> wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
> just weird.
Heh. I'm pretty sure it was all just for laughs. Worked for me. "Men
are evil. Will you go with me?" It helps that Emma's line readings
are generally excellent.
> Mrs. Q. and I were waiting all episode for the inevitable _Carrie_
> joke, so we thought once Buffy made the reference, that was it. Then
> there's the gag with the stacks of videotapes. That's just so
> amusingly stupid. Much like the Hellhound story itself, of course.
> Someone just went nuts with the wacky premise.
I liked Buffy's "you've got to be kidding me" reaction to it. It is
one of the sillier setups that they had. I would love to have been in
the writers room when they broke this one.
> There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those HS
> comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom would be the end
> of the tale. On this show it feels like the calm before the storm, a
> last chance to relax and act like kids before Graduation Day.
So you're getting that feeling of impending doom, Doom, DOOM too, eh?
-- Mike Zeares
hopelessly devoted
Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
> BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
> Season Three, Episode 20: "The Prom"
Just have to say right out, Hated Hated Hated the first 45 min. on
first viewing. It's grown on me. Hell Hounds. Quick Slays. Perfectly
Ironed Dress from the weapons bag. The only saving grace, someone
FINALLY had the nerve to say "For the love of GOD, don't ever play Cool
and the Gang EVER AGAIN!
Beautiful opening. Especially on the tails of what the Mayor has just
said.
Back to the Xandar arc, yes, it's only in my mind. I find it
interesting that X is reluctant to go with Anya. Pretty girl,
ex-demon, yes, but pretty, and X's not gaga? For me, X is being a
little bit more cautious these days.
Interesting moment re: A/B moment. It started off looking like B's
dream and then quickly switched. Boring and overdone, yes. Nice
switch though
> And the Money Moment of the episode is seeing the Buffster get
> recognized for everything before she moves on, hearing that her work is
> neither unnoticed nor unappreciated.
And Beck rules again. One of the truely memorable moments in BTVS
history. For one night, she gets to be both slayer and normal girl.
Not unseen. Not unheard. Not unrecognized. Brings a tear to my eye
every time. Well, not every time.
> So I'm even more confused as to why the show felt the need to use the
> Mayor the way it did with regards to the B/A storyline. He doesn't
> tell them anything they couldn't have figured out for themselves, and
> this episode proves that Joyce is a much better catalyst should an
> outside person be needed at all.
It's one thing to hear it from a mortal enemy. It's another to hear it
from someone you know. Had it JUST been the mayor, they could have
ignored it. However........
> I wonder if Angel makes sure to put away the chains when he knows
> he's going to have company.
I wonder what was going through Joyce's mind when she saw them???
> This plotline also has its own sappy scene at the end: seeing be-tuxed
> Angel at the end is a little predictable, but it thematically fits with
> the one-last-night vibe of the rest of the episode.
Actually, the unexpected moment for me. But then again, I'm gullable.
> Cordelia's descent into bankruptcy, as hinted at last episode, gets
> explained.
As always, and pretty natural, worried about keeping up appearances.
There was, at least for me, a real moment of sympathy for C. For once,
honestly and truely, she is out of her element. In the real world.
And doesn't know what to do.
> Oz is in this episode. Do we know anything about his plans,
> academically or musically or anything?
I think that's a contradiction in terms.
> There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those HS
> comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom would be the end
> of the tale. On this show it feels like the calm before the storm, a
> last chance to relax and act like kids before Graduation Day.
Also my ofv impression. Nice ep that had to be done before everything
goes a little nuts. See season 2. But much better than Go Fish.
All in all, the ep had to happen. Required by law.
"I can't believe you're breaking up with me."
"Honey, I'm getting my own show."
One of the greatest lines in Buffy History, IMHO:
The great thing about being a Slayer, kicking ass is comfort food.
MBangel10 (Melissa)
> Opus the Penguin wrote:
>> MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
>>
>>> Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>>>
>>>> There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those HS
>>>> comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom would be
>>>> the end of the tale. On this show it feels like the calm before
>>>> the storm, a last chance to relax and act like kids before
>>>> Graduation Day.
>>>
>>> Yep, the only thing left is for the shit to hit the fan.
>>
>>
>> Oh, great. Just spoil everything for poor AoQ.
>>
>
> Well, that's really not much of a spoiler. Let's face it, this is
> "Buffy." *Every* time something good happens, the shit hits the fan...
>
BTR1701
Opus the Penguin <opusthepen...@gmail.com> wrote:
> MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
> > Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
> >>
> >> There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those HS
> >> comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom would be
> >> the end of the tale. On this show it feels like the calm before
> >> the storm, a last chance to relax and act like kids before
> >> Graduation Day.
> >
> > Yep, the only thing left is for the shit to hit the fan.
> >
>
> Oh, great. Just spoil everything for poor AoQ.
LOL! Yeah, and the boat sinks at the end of "Titanic", too.
vmac...@yahoo.com
>> Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with... Anya. Um,
>> wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
>> just weird.
>Xander thinks so, too...
One of my favorite moments here has Anya blithely recounting hideous
vengeances she'd visited while walking arm-in-arm with a
thousand-yard-stare Xander.
>Speaking for us older guys, some of us wouldn't mind being at those
>writers' mercy...
One reason I can enjoy things with a clear conscience is that many of
the mack-worthy girls are comfortably in their twenties here.
VMacek
George W Harris
<mban...@comcast.net> wrote:
:I loved it when the class gave her an award. "Class Protector" The look
:of surprise and gratitude on her face truly made that scene for me.
:Plus, it was Jonathon who gave it to her. It seemed fitting.
Worth noting that Jonathon made it to the prom
with a smokin' hottie.
--
"It is always a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a
democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist
dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the
bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is tell them
they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of
patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every
country."
-Hermann Goering
George W. Harris For actual email address, replace each 'u' with an 'i'.
chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu
> threads.
>
>
> BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
> Season Three, Episode 20: "The Prom"
> (or "Let the Slayer be... your umbrella!")
> Writer: Marti Noxon
> Director: David Solomon
>
> "I'm over the whole 'Buffy gets one perfect high school moment'
> thing. But I'm certainly not going to let some subhuman ruin it for
> the rest of the senior class."
And then, in the end, she does get that moment, and an unexpected bonus
moment too. Sometimes virtue is rewarded, even in the Whedonverse. (Just
don't count on it.)
> And the Money Moment of the episode is seeing the Buffster get
> recognized for everything before she moves on, hearing that her work is
> neither unnoticed nor unappreciated. Much like the episode itself,
> this bit runs the risk of being too sappy, but I think it handles
> itself well.
Especially with the beginning "We're not friends," leaving us uncertain
what the hell he's going to say. As far as sappy moments go, I think
they're fine IF kept within limits and IF the show has earned them by
refusing to take the cheap and easy path earlier. The Class Protector
award and the final dance with Angel both succeed here.
> The obstacles for Buffy between the beginning of this episode and this
> happy scene include a monster attack, and breaking up with her
> boyfriend. Longtime fans of the show can probably guess which one gets
> treated as a bigger deal.
Has there ever been an episode where the monster/villain is so thoroughly
pushed into the background? (Jryy, Gur Obql, V fhccbfr.) IMHO, the
hellhounds and their video indoctrination were deliberately silly and
disposable, a comment on how they're NOT the important thing in this
episode.
> So I'm even more confused as to why the show felt the need to use the
> Mayor the way it did with regards to the B/A storyline. He doesn't
> tell them anything they couldn't have figured out for themselves, and
> this episode proves that Joyce is a much better catalyst should an
> outside person be needed at all.
Sure, but the Mayor's speech shows that the hopelessness of the B/A
relationship was clear to anyone with an unbiased eye. If Angel or Buffy
(not to mention their friends) hadn't been fooling themselves, they
wouldn't have needed the Mayor *or* Joyce to wake them up.
(BTW, just because I keep referring to the B/A relationship as doomed does
NOT mean that I prefer one of her other beaus....)
> This plotline also has its own sappy scene at the end: seeing be-tuxed
> Angel at the end is a little predictable, but it thematically fits with
> the one-last-night vibe of the rest of the episode.
Their dance is single-handedly responsible for me listening to that cover
of "Wild Horses" more than once or twice.
--Chris
______________________________________________________________________
chrisg [at] gwu.edu On the Internet, nobody knows I'm a dog.
Opus the Penguin
Comedy isn't pretty. Sometimes it's not even understood.
Opus the Penguin
Fine. You want to play that way, we can play that way. I'll just go
and spoil EVERYTHING, shall I?
Clark Kent is really Superman.
The chick in The Crying Game is really a guy.
"I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!" tastes nothing like butter.
Marxism doesn't work.
Neither does communism or socialism.
She's getting you a sweater, just like last year.
Opus the Penguin looks more like a puffin.
John Lovitz might be gay.
The secret flavor of the blue Skittle was raspberry.
The after-shave won't get you the chicks, but the car might.
When they said "interesting" and "unique," what they meant was
"uninspired goat drool."
The butler did it.
If you have an average sized tongue, 437.
There is no magic pill. Eat less and exercise.
Milli Vanilli were just lip-synching.
Area 51 was created by the US Government to draw attention away from
Area 52.
J-Lo IS as dumb as she looks.
It's not normal. It doesn't happen to every guy. And it is a big
deal.
Dick Nixon actually was a crook.
It's not your imagination. The cat is plotting to kill you.
The events detailed in letters to Penthouse probably didn't occur.
Steven Spielberg lost his touch long ago.
Of course people can tell. It looks like a giant spider lounging on
your head.
Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father.
It doesn't really matter where Waldo is.
_This Is Spinal Tap_ isn't really a documentary.
"Does this make me look fat?" was a trick question.
Any idiot can say "Ross Swiss" without a smile.
Jell-O is not necessarily evil.
He's not nearly as scared of you as you are of him.
The kind of wrestling done by the WWF is choreographed.
You were needy and shallow. And, no, she's not coming back.
_Knight Rider_ was actually a children's show.
The secret ingredient is love.
Are ya happy now?
Arbitrar Of Quality
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges wrote:
> In article <Xns9795F3598D469op...@127.0.0.1>,
> Opus the Penguin <opusthepen...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
> > >Plus, it was Jonathon
> >
> > ObPeeve: Jonathan.
>
> aaaaaahhhhhhhhh
> jonathon
Is there some kind of joke behind that, or is it just one of those
Mispellings That Won't Go Away? Most of the Buffyworld transcripts
even use Jonathon. But check the end credits of "The Prom" (or any
episode in which the character's name is listed), and it's clearly
Jonathan.
-AOQ
Arbitrar Of Quality
> > Oz is in this episode. Do we know anything about his plans,
> > academically or musically or anything?
>
> Oz? Plans? <Rolls on floor laughing hysterically>
Yeah, point taken.
-AOQ
Arbitrar Of Quality
> I wrote the following back after Graduation Day first aired. (I've
> removed a couple of GD spoilers from it.)
>
> What do the people of Sunnydale know?
>
> Several people have speculated that the recent events in Buffy mark a
> major departure from what they perceive to be one of the show's basic
> premises: No one notices the weirdness. They point to Buffy receiving
> her "Class Protector" award in 'The Prom' and other events as major
> departures from the previous status quo and worry that these mark the
> end of Buffy as we know it.
>
> But what has really changed?
[snippage]
> Buffy now knows that for most of the town's people this is largely an
> act. A put on facade to hide what is going on there from the rest of the
> world, and from recent immigrants until they can be properly trained to
> not talk about it either. She is also moving into a new environment, one
> with a lot more outsiders in it, so there will be continuing pressure on
> those who are in the know to keep up the "pretend it didn't happen" act.
> But now we and Buffy know that for a lot of them it is an act.
I think that's a good way to think about it, and one of the things that
feels right about "The Prom" and late-S3 in general (i.e. knowing that
Wilkins created Sunnydale specifically for supernatural purposes,
etc.). One thing that I'm curious about is the discussion of
immigrants. If you grow up in Sunnydale and never leave, that kind of
spell can hold more easily than for a newcomer, and particularly a
family of newcomers of different ages. How are they "trained?" And if
one wanted to preserve Sunnydale as-is. wouldn't it make sense to have
some sort of screening process? Joyce and Buffy didn't seem to have
much trouble moving in. Come to think of it, Joyce doesn't fit as
neatly into the explanation, since she didn't take long to get really
good at the selective forgetting, and there's some suggestion that she
may have already honed said skills in LA.
Now, of course, this is a chance for the show, should it choose to do
so, start again and/or better with a secret identity gimmick starting
next year. But if UC-Sunnydale is in the town itself (which'd be weird
given that it was never mentioned before, but hey...), it could be part
of the Sunnydale Effect too. (I'm just assuming that someone or
something will survive the Ascension here.)
-AOQ
Rowan Hawthorn
> MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
>
>
>>Rowan Hawthorn wrote:
>>
>>>Opus the Penguin wrote:
>>>
>>>>MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those
>>>>>>HS comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom
>>>>>>would be the end of the tale. On this show it feels like the
>>>>>>calm before the storm, a last chance to relax and act like
>>>>>>kids before Graduation Day.
>>>>>
>>>>>Yep, the only thing left is for the shit to hit the fan.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Oh, great. Just spoil everything for poor AoQ.
>>>>
>>>
>>>Well, that's really not much of a spoiler. Let's face it, this
>>>is "Buffy." *Every* time something good happens, the shit hits
>>>the fan...
>>>
>>
>>Thank you. I didn't think so either.
>
>
> Comedy isn't pretty. Sometimes it's not even understood.
>
That's cause it's so hard to see people's faces on usenet...
Rowan Hawthorn
> BTR1701 (btr...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
>
>
>>In article <Xns9795F3B42D09Dop...@127.0.0.1>,
>> Opus the Penguin <opusthepen...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
>>>
>>>>Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those
>>>>>HS comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom
>>>>>would be the end of the tale. On this show it feels like the
>>>>>calm before the storm, a last chance to relax and act like
>>>>>kids before Graduation Day.
>>>>
>>>>Yep, the only thing left is for the shit to hit the fan.
>>>>
>>>
>>>Oh, great. Just spoil everything for poor AoQ.
>>
>>LOL! Yeah, and the boat sinks at the end of "Titanic", too.
>
>
>
> Fine. You want to play that way, we can play that way. I'll just go
> and spoil EVERYTHING, shall I?
>
>
> Are ya happy now?
>
Yup. Now, *that* was funny...
Rowan Hawthorn
> Rowan Hawthorne wrote:
>
>>>Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with... Anya. Um,
>>>wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
>>>just weird.
>
>
>>Xander thinks so, too...
>
>
> One of my favorite moments here has Anya blithely recounting hideous
> vengeances she'd visited while walking arm-in-arm with a
> thousand-yard-stare Xander.
Heh. And his desperate relief at the conversation being interrupted.
>
>
>>Speaking for us older guys, some of us wouldn't mind being at those
>>writers' mercy...
>
>
> One reason I can enjoy things with a clear conscience is that many of
> the mack-worthy girls are comfortably in their twenties here.
"Conscience...?"
<flips through desk dictionary>
Oh. That explains a lot...
vague disclaimer
Rowan Hawthorn <rowan_h...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Opus the Penguin wrote:
> > MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Rowan Hawthorn wrote:
> >>
> >>>Opus the Penguin wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>>There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those
> >>>>>>HS comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom
> >>>>>>would be the end of the tale. On this show it feels like the
> >>>>>>calm before the storm, a last chance to relax and act like
> >>>>>>kids before Graduation Day.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>Yep, the only thing left is for the shit to hit the fan.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>Oh, great. Just spoil everything for poor AoQ.
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>Well, that's really not much of a spoiler. Let's face it, this
> >>>is "Buffy." *Every* time something good happens, the shit hits
> >>>the fan...
> >>>
> >>
> >>Thank you. I didn't think so either.
> >
> >
> > Comedy isn't pretty. Sometimes it's not even understood.
> >
>
> That's cause it's so hard to see people's faces on usenet...
You mean your face doesn't look like this: :-) or ;-)?
Bugger.
--
A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend
vague disclaimer
chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu wrote:
> > So I'm even more confused as to why the show felt the need to use the
> > Mayor the way it did with regards to the B/A storyline. He doesn't
> > tell them anything they couldn't have figured out for themselves, and
> > this episode proves that Joyce is a much better catalyst should an
> > outside person be needed at all.
>
> Sure, but the Mayor's speech shows that the hopelessness of the B/A
> relationship was clear to anyone with an unbiased eye. If Angel or Buffy
> (not to mention their friends) hadn't been fooling themselves, they
> wouldn't have needed the Mayor *or* Joyce to wake them up.
>
> (BTW, just because I keep referring to the B/A relationship as doomed does
> NOT mean that I prefer one of her other beaus....)
Also, one thing in the Whedonverse is that there is very rarely a single
cause of anything emotional: for Angel's departure to work it need more
that Judas!Joyce. Someone else had to lay the groundwork.
> > This plotline also has its own sappy scene at the end: seeing be-tuxed
> > Angel at the end is a little predictable, but it thematically fits with
> > the one-last-night vibe of the rest of the episode.
>
> Their dance is single-handedly responsible for me listening to that cover
> of "Wild Horses" more than once or twice.
You too, huh?
I once found (but forgot to save) a live performance where Harriet
Wheeler said they did it because it was the first song she ever loved.
Rowan Hawthorn
<sigh> We all have our crosses to bear... of course, neither did the OP's.
peachy ashie passion
>
>
> xnaders a demon magnet
> miss french and oica mummy girl and anya
>
And Cordelia. Don't forget Cordelia
peachy ashie passion
> vmac...@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>> Rowan Hawthorne wrote:
>>
>>>> Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with... Anya. Um,
>>>> wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
>>>> just weird.
>>
>>
>>
>>> Xander thinks so, too...
>>
>>
>>
>> One of my favorite moments here has Anya blithely recounting hideous
>> vengeances she'd visited while walking arm-in-arm with a
>> thousand-yard-stare Xander.
>
>
> Heh. And his desperate relief at the conversation being interrupted.
>
>>
>>
>>> Speaking for us older guys, some of us wouldn't mind being at those
>>> writers' mercy...
>>
>>
>>
>> One reason I can enjoy things with a clear conscience is that many of
>> the mack-worthy girls are comfortably in their twenties here.
>
>
> "Conscience...?"
>
> <flips through desk dictionary>
>
> Oh. That explains a lot...
>
Share said explanation with the rest of us who are still confuzzled?
Please?
Rowan Hawthorn
Explains why I can enjoy looking at those mack-worthy girls without
needing to go, "Oh, it's okay to look, 'cause she's *really* 24..."
William George Ferguson
>A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these review
>threads.
>
>
>BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
>Season Three, Episode 20: "The Prom"
>(or "Let the Slayer be... your umbrella!")
>Writer: Marti Noxon
>Director: David Solomon
>
>"I'm over the whole 'Buffy gets one perfect high school moment'
>thing. But I'm certainly not going to let some subhuman ruin it for
>the rest of the senior class."
>
>And the Money Moment of the episode is seeing the Buffster get
>recognized for everything before she moves on, hearing that her work is
>neither unnoticed nor unappreciated. Much like the episode itself,
>this bit runs the risk of being too sappy, but I think it handles
>itself well. Also, I'm not going to nitpick and am just going to
>pretend that this quiet awareness among the student body is a perfectly
>acceptable solution to the Forgettyitis problem, or at least the best
>that can be done with it. It's more fun to laugh at the fact that
>mortality rate statistics elicit a loud cheer, and above all, to let
>our hero to get a little appreciation and a chance to enjoy the prom.
>Maybe we can manage a genuine non-snarky smile too.
Nobody else that I've seen has commented on this yet, so I will. Recall
all the fairly bitter comments about Earshot being pulled because of the
Columbine shootings and not shown til 6 months later? Except for Mutant
Enemy employees, and a handful of critics that had received a review copy
before the ep was pulled, 100% of the people watching that scene when it
aired had not seen Earshot. The scene works fairly well stand alone, but
when we finally saw Earshot, and realized that Jonathan's speech starts by
paraphrasing Buffy's speech to him...
>The other heroes do appear, and just about everyone gets a moment
>that's sweet but not too saccharine, so let's take a spin through
>them one by one, and then make a few other random comments:
>
>Willow's willing to vilify and grouse for Buffy and generally be a
>good friend here. What's interesting is her later statement that
>"Yeah, I think he is [right]. I tried to hope for the best,
>but..." And I can think of several examples in previous episodes of
>Willow saying things that can now easily be re-interpreted as loudly
>trying to put a happy face on B/A while believing that it won't work.
>Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with... Anya. Um,
>wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
>just weird.
As Xander explained to Oz, it was her or the sock puppet of love. Also, I
liked that Buffy acknowledged that her glass house made it not a good idea
for her to criticize his choice.
And did you notice that, in passing, Anya put him in the 'Alpha Male'
category?
>Cordelia's descent into bankruptcy, as hinted at last episode, gets
>explained. Seems a little sudden (although the "for the last twelve
>years" tag is funny and says 'hey, don't think too hard about
>this'), as external circumstances will I guess force the character to
>go new places. Yet she's still more concerned about a prom dress
>than anything else. Shallow person? Or sad person setting one
>attainable goal for herself, to try to cope with the sting of
>suddenly-unattainable things like college and The Future? The
>interactions between her and Xander here are solid, with both actors
>doing some good work (especially in their brief scene together at the
>prom itself). Even haters of either character have to admit that
>it's a cool thing for Xander to do, and the gift is accepted
>graciously.
A huge moment in the series for Xander lovers.
>Oz is in this episode. Do we know anything about his plans,
>academically or musically or anything?
He wants to learn a third chord (and play in a fruity jazz band).
Seriously, the indications are that he wouldn't even be in school this year
except to be with Willow. Since as goes Willow, so goes his nation, if he
goes to college it will be UC-Sunnydale, it will really only be because of
Willow. (there's no spoiler involved in the above, just commentary on what
we've seen of Oz this season)
>Giles has two lines that Mrs. Quality adored (and I liked too): "I
>understand that this sort of thing requires ice cream of some kind?"
>(aww...) and "Just have at it, would you, and stop fluttering
>about!" (it's funnier with the gestures). Speaking of Wes, the
>writers certainly like having older guys mack on the high school girls.
You really need to do the entire quote on that one. "You have the
emotional maturity of a blueberry scone" has is on the short list of most
quoted lines. It also led to a lot of speculation on exactly what made
blueberry scones less mature than other types of scones.
>The bit with Xander working the just-a-normal-VCR is a nice set of
>jokes that're easy to forget amongst all the other stuff in the
>episode.
Also, Wesley getting to do that dry Brit humor (or humour)
"Let me guess. He was quiet, kept to himself, but always seemed like a nice
young man."
Favorite lines (not all humorous)
"And I, myself, will be wearing pink taffeta, as chenille would not go with
my complexion."
"I think horrible is still coming. Right now, it's worse."
Buffy: "No! You guys are going to have a prom. The kind of prom that
everyone should have. I'm going to give you all a nice, fun, normal evening
if I have to kill every single person on the face of the earth to do it."
Xander (very small voice): "yay?"
"The great thing about being a Slayer, kicking ass is comfort food."
You have no idea how many times I've deleted 'Slayer comfort food" after
typing it in the last few weeks. It is just so the perfect description of
those moments ("Heeere vampire." "Giles, find me something to pummel.")
"Oh come on! That song sucks."
Student: "Bathroom?"
Buffy points
Student: "Th-th-th"
Buffy: "You're welcome."
(a one-off joke until the presentation a few minutes later)
"Every now and then, people surprise you."
And the Class of 99 is under Buffy's umbrella.
--
HERBERT
1996 - 1997
Beloved Mascot
Delightful Meal
He fed the Pack
A little
William George Ferguson
wrote:
>
It's just a misspelling that won't go away, like misspelling Wyndam-Pryce.
(and the ultimate annoyance, Zander for Xander)
peachy ashie passion
oh. And why can I?
Patrician
"Opus the Penguin" <opusthepen...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9796522FACF34op...@127.0.0.1...
> BTR1701 (btr...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
>
>> In article <Xns9795F3B42D09Dop...@127.0.0.1>,
>> Opus the Penguin <opusthepen...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
>>> > Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >> There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those
>>> >> HS comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom
>>> >> would be the end of the tale. On this show it feels like the
>>> >> calm before the storm, a last chance to relax and act like
>>> >> kids before Graduation Day.
>>> >
>>> > Yep, the only thing left is for the shit to hit the fan.
>>> >
>>>
>>> Oh, great. Just spoil everything for poor AoQ.
>>
>> LOL! Yeah, and the boat sinks at the end of "Titanic", too.
>
>
> Fine. You want to play that way, we can play that way. I'll just go
> and spoil EVERYTHING, shall I?
>
>
>
> It's not normal. It doesn't happen to every guy. And it is a big
> deal.
Don't know about the others but wasn't this one in an episode of Friends?
Said by Rachel to Ross?
<snip>
Trev
Don Sample
> Sure, but the Mayor's speech shows that the hopelessness of the B/A
> relationship was clear to anyone with an unbiased eye. If Angel or Buffy
> (not to mention their friends) hadn't been fooling themselves, they
> wouldn't have needed the Mayor *or* Joyce to wake them up.
But it isn't doomed for the reason everyone keeps bringing up. It
doesn't matter that as a vampire he could live for centuries. She's
going to be lucky to survive another decade, and as soon as he started
actively helping her fight the good fight, the same is true for him.
The real deal-breaker for their relationship is that "momment of perfect
happiness" thing.
--
Quando omni flunkus moritati
Visit the Buffy Body Count at <http://homepage.mac.com/dsample/>
Rowan Hawthorn
?? Same reason - lack of conscience? (Not to mention, some of those
girls are *truly* mack-worthy...)
Opus the Penguin
That's where I got it from, yep. Chandler then appears from behind
the door and yells, "I KNEW it!!!"
Now, the big question is, what was she talking about? It's one of two
things, obviously. I wonder if it says anything about a person
psychology depending on which one they assume it is. I wonder if it
says anything about my psychology (or my pathetic life) that I
immediately thought of both and couldn't decide.
Sam
Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>
> So I'm even more confused as to why the show felt the need to use the
> Mayor the way it did with regards to the B/A storyline. He doesn't
> tell them anything they couldn't have figured out for themselves, and
> this episode proves that Joyce is a much better catalyst should an
> melodrama of the Combustible Buffy dream, but that's just a quibble.)
One of the recurring devices the writers really get a kick out of on
Mutant Enemy shows is for the villains to understand the heroes better
than the heroes understand themselves, and for the heroes to actually
learn fairly valuable lessons from their mortal enemies. Spike is often
the ultimate example of this, to the point that Buffy even comments on
it in "Lover's Walk." We see it here with the Mayor, too.
It happens pretty regularly on both shows.
--Sam
kenm47
Don,
Where does this "perfect" happiness business come from? I see "true"
happiness in the scripts, it's what Enyos says, but not "perfect."
Ken (Brooklyn)
Espen Schjønberg
> Don Sample wrote:
>
>>
>>The real deal-breaker for their relationship is that "momment of perfect
>>happiness" thing.
>>
>>--
>>Quando omni flunkus moritati
>>Visit the Buffy Body Count at <http://homepage.mac.com/dsample/>
>
>
> Don,
>
> Where does this "perfect" happiness business come from? I see "true"
> happiness in the scripts, it's what Enyos says, but not "perfect."
About the curse: it is nothing about sex.
The curse is something like: "For you never to live an hour without
remorse, we give you your _soul_".
If he lives an hour without remorse, the first part of the curse is
broken, ergo the curse is broken, ergo the soul disappears.
We don't have the exact words, so we don't know how long he should live
without remorse, but he obviously passed the line in Surprise. or
perhaps it was something like "for you to wake up every day knowing you
are hated by every singel human being".. the point being, they made it
to elaborate.
That shoddy gypsy craftsmanship.
Apart from that, I think they leave each other for the wrong reason. It
should be for the curse, not for the age difference.
--
Espen
peachy ashie passion
There are two?
Apteryx
news:N6OdnT7Fy9G...@giganews.com...
On usenet, everyone can dead-pan
--
Apteryx
Rowan Hawthorn
> Opus the Penguin wrote:
>
>>
>> door and yells, "I KNEW it!!!"
>>
>> Now, the big question is, what was she talking about? It's one of two
>> things, obviously. I wonder if it says anything about a person
>> psychology depending on which one they assume it is. I wonder if it
>> says anything about my psychology (or my pathetic life) that I
>> immediately thought of both and couldn't decide.
>>
>
> There are two?
Wee-e-lll, did you ever hear the joke about the sailor in the bordello
who fastened up the right side of his trouser flap, then began
unbuttoning the left side, saying, "Now for the other one..."?
Don Sample
"kenm47" <ken...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
You're splitting hairs. "True happiness." "Perfect happiness." It all
comes down to the same thing: Angel trying to make any sort of an
unlife for himself that doesn't involve brooding over all his past
misdeeds, is playing with fire.
kenm47
No, I'm not. I see that the two can be different things, with "true" a
lesser hurdle than "perfect."
For example, that night on Buffy's 17th b/day with no knowledge of what
would happen was possibly "perfect." It certainly was "true." If the
standard was "perfect," and that night was (since Angel lost the soul
and changed back to Angelus, it must have been), there's really no
reason to think those things wuld ever be confluent again. Among other
things, Buffy could never give up her virginity to her Princess Bride
"true love" twice. They'll also NOT ever NOT know again about the soul
escape clause either.
If the standard is "true," then another coitus episode between the true
lovers might, even with worries of the world and consequences, trigger
Angel's soul's departure.
So, I guess I'm right then? They never onscreen call it "perfect
happiness"?
Ken (Brooklyn)
Patrician
My Psychology must be warped or something because I can only think of one
thing. If I really stretch my imagination I can perhaps, maybe, come up
with possibly one other.
Trev
omnie
because first-time reviews are so much fun.)
Delurking to respond to the "perfect happiness" question: searching for
"perfect happiness" on the Buffyverse Dialogue Database only gives hits
from AtS. They tend to use "perfect" and "true" interchangeably,
though. Observe:
PBEQRYVN: Url, lbh jrera'g nebhaq gur ynfg gvzr Natry jrag zragny. V,
ba gur bgure unaq, jnf ba gur svefg jnir bs gur pyrna-hc perj. Ur xabjf
cresrpg unccvarff, ur tbrf rivy. Fb qba'g gryy zr abg gb jbeel.
JRFYRL: Natry'f zbzrag bs gehr unccvarff bppheerq orpnhfr ur jnf jvgu
Ohssl. Lbh ernyvmr ubj ener gung vf -- gehr unccvarff?
<relurkifying>
Opus the Penguin
> of one thing. If I really stretch my imagination I can perhaps,
> maybe, come up with possibly one other.
>
I don't know what it says about your psychology. Which one did you
think of? What's the other one?
The two basic possibilities are:
1. Cerzngher rwnphyngvba
2. Grzcbenel vzcbgrapr
Opus the Penguin
> There is that, but the themes in this episode are pretty much core
> to the series so far. At the start, Buffy is still wanting the
> prom to be her experience of normal school life. And then, as she
> finally realises she can't have that, she moves on to a grim
> determination that everyone else will have fun - "No! You guys are
> going to have a prom. The kind of prom that _everyone_ should
> have. I'm going to give you all a nice, fun, normal evening if I
> have to kill every single person on the face of the earth to do
> it."
Yay?
Opus the Penguin
> Now, of course, this is a chance for the show, should it choose to
> do so, start again and/or better with a secret identity gimmick
> starting next year. But if UC-Sunnydale is in the town itself
> (which'd be weird given that it was never mentioned before, but
> hey...), it could be part of the Sunnydale Effect too.
Interestingly enough, UC Santa Barbara is pretty much surrounded by
Goleta, the neighboring city to the west. If it weren't for the name of
the college, I suspect that land would be zoned as being part of
Goleta.
(I know, I know. Sunnydale is NOT Santa Barbara. I'm just saying.)
Steve Schaffner
> Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>
> > I wonder if Angel makes sure to put away the chains when he knows
> > he's going to have company.
>
> I wonder what was going through Joyce's mind when she saw them???
"Handcuffs are much more convenient."
--
Steve Schaffner s...@broad.mit.edu
Immediate assurance is an excellent sign of probable lack of
insight into the topic. Josiah Royce
Kevin
Mike Zeares wrote:
> Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>
> Yes, the whole episode skirts right along the edge of too stupid/sappy
> without going over. I got quite choked up the first time.
OK, well, I guess I'm the only dissenter among current a.t.b-v-s
contributors: IMO it skirts along the edge, and then tumbles right
over it. The class protector award scene did indeed bring a genuine
smile to my face, but I can't see this as redeeming the episode, which
still falls well short of "good." Second worst of the season, after
Choices (where I seem to be an even lonelier minority opinion).
After watching the Prom, anyone care to argue that Marti Noxon doesn't
write fanfic? This is the fanniest, ficciest fanficciest fanfic in
fandom. The marriage dream? The prom dance? The "plot" that seems as
if it were thrown together in 5 minutes, so there'd be something to
squish the gooey stuff onto? Zeares, stick up for me here! :)
--Kevin
Michael Ikeda
news:ydllkur...@phosphorus.broad.mit.edu:
> "hopelessly devoted" <cry...@cinstall.com> writes:
>
>> Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>>
>> > I wonder if Angel makes sure to put away the chains when he
>> > knows he's going to have company.
>>
>> I wonder what was going through Joyce's mind when she saw
>> them???
>
> "Handcuffs are much more convenient."
>
"Don't think of Giles. Don't think of Giles. Don't think of
Giles..."
--
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
Jeff Jacoby
Ah, I think I get it now...
It's like Lennonism vs. McCartneyism, right?
I'll just echo Paul when he asked "And what's wrong with
that? I'd like to know."
Jeff
hopelessly devoted
Opus the Penguin wrote:
> Fine. You want to play that way, we can play that way. I'll just go
> and spoil EVERYTHING, shall I?
> The butler did it.
Why this is the funniest of them all, I'll never know.
:->
George W Harris
<opusthepen...@gmail.com> wrote:
:BTR1701 (btr...@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
:
:> In article <Xns9795F3B42D09Dop...@127.0.0.1>,
:> Opus the Penguin <opusthepen...@gmail.com> wrote:
:>
:>> MBangel10 (Melissa) (mban...@comcast.net) wrote:
:>> > Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
:>> >>
:>> >> There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those
:>> >> HS comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom
:>> >> would be the end of the tale. On this show it feels like the
:>> >> calm before the storm, a last chance to relax and act like
:>> >> kids before Graduation Day.
:>> >
:>> > Yep, the only thing left is for the shit to hit the fan.
:>> >
:>>
:>> Oh, great. Just spoil everything for poor AoQ.
:>
:> LOL! Yeah, and the boat sinks at the end of "Titanic", too.
:
:
:Fine. You want to play that way, we can play that way. I'll just go
:and spoil EVERYTHING, shall I?
:
<snip>
:Are ya happy now?
You missed the biggest one:
It was his sled.
--
They say there's air in your lungs that's been there for years.
George W. Harris For actual email address, replace each 'u' with an 'i'.
Mike Zeares
Kevin wrote:
> Mike Zeares wrote:
>
> After watching the Prom, anyone care to argue that Marti Noxon doesn't
> write fanfic? This is the fanniest, ficciest fanficciest fanfic in
> fandom. The marriage dream? The prom dance? The "plot" that seems as
> if it were thrown together in 5 minutes, so there'd be something to
> squish the gooey stuff onto? Zeares, stick up for me here! :)
I'll be the first to agree that Marti wrote fanfic. So did Jane
Espenson. However, "The Prom" works for me in a way that, say, "Band
Candy" didn't. Maybe I'm just a sap. Actually, there's pretty much no
"maybe" about that. I gave "Amends" 4 stars once, mainly because of
the magic snow ending.
I wish I could have a Heart of Stone like AOQ. I do in real life, just
not with tv.
-- Mike Zeares
peachy ashie passion
> peachy ashie passion wrote:
>
>> Opus the Penguin wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> That's where I got it from, yep. Chandler then appears from behind
>>> the door and yells, "I KNEW it!!!"
>>>
>>> Now, the big question is, what was she talking about? It's one of two
>>> things, obviously. I wonder if it says anything about a person
>>> psychology depending on which one they assume it is. I wonder if it
>>> says anything about my psychology (or my pathetic life) that I
>>> immediately thought of both and couldn't decide.
>>>
>>
>> There are two?
>
>
> Wee-e-lll, did you ever hear the joke about the sailor in the bordello
> who fastened up the right side of his trouser flap, then began
> unbuttoning the left side, saying, "Now for the other one..."?
>
no?
One Bit Shy
news:1143694009.1...@t31g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
.
> After watching "The Prom," I think that more than ever before,
> Buffy's thrown herself into her role as... hey, I just realized that
> "protector" is indeed the perfect word. Selfless defender of an
> unfair but innocent world. People like Tucker are always going to be
> willing to punish the innocent for the perceived crimes of a few, and
> the Big Damned Heroes like Buffy are the ones who keep giving, to serve
> as the balance.
Heck of a change from Anne, isn't it? Heck of a change from Bad Girls too.
I don't think she's ever been more at ease in her slayer skin. Maybe
briefly she approached that at the end of Prophecy Girl, but this seems so
much better grounded. Now she's really seen the alternatives. (And, hell,
she got a little slayer comfort food to perk her up.)
> And the Money Moment of the episode is seeing the Buffster get
> recognized for everything before she moves on, hearing that her work is
> neither unnoticed nor unappreciated. Much like the episode itself,
> this bit runs the risk of being too sappy, but I think it handles
> itself well.
Somebody had a thread about moments that make you tear up. As I recall, it
mainly went for the sad pain. But BTVS also brings a few happy tears. This
one gets me every time. It's not sappy because Buffy damn well earned it.
> Also, I'm not going to nitpick and am just going to
> pretend that this quiet awareness among the student body is a perfectly
> acceptable solution to the Forgettyitis problem, or at least the best
> that can be done with it. It's more fun to laugh at the fact that
> mortality rate statistics elicit a loud cheer, and above all, to let
> our hero to get a little appreciation and a chance to enjoy the prom.
> Maybe we can manage a genuine non-snarky smile too.
I don't think there is a true solution to the forgettyitis. The problem is
inherent to the construct of maintaining a normal sleepy town on top of a
hellmouth. But I'm really impressed how they've gradually built up as much
of a rationale as they did - and somehow found there way to this wonderful
moment.
Of course this is BTVS, so you don't really think this moment is over with
do you?
> So I'm even more confused as to why the show felt the need to use the
> Mayor the way it did with regards to the B/A storyline. He doesn't
> tell them anything they couldn't have figured out for themselves, and
> this episode proves that Joyce is a much better catalyst should an
> outside person be needed at all. (I also could've done without the
> melodrama of the Combustible Buffy dream, but that's just a quibble.)
> Some people have been arguing all season that Angel is going to need
> to show some responsibility with regards to Buffy - well, he does.
> This breakup feels more final than the last fourteen times they've
> stopped seeing each other for some reason: maybe because it's the end
> of the year, or maybe because it's Angel who's initiating it.
Spike pounded some sense into them - but said it was their passionate fate.
The Mayor pounded some sense into them - but wanted them to suffer in it.
Joyce is the one who actually wanted them to break up. So she got sneaky,
went to Angel behind Buffy's back, and played on his sense of guilt. Even
got him to be the bad guy to make it happen.
I always struggle with the scene. I know Angel's series is looming and
something has to be done. I know that Joyce is acting out of love and doing
what she believes is right. I know that they soften the blow with some
eventual surprising acceptance by Buffy and the nice last dance. But I
still can't help hating Joyce right then. Absolutely my low point regarding
her.
The actual break up is kind of interesting to me. We've seen Buffy walk
away umpteen times now and then return. Kind of bouncing Angel around. And
kind of unfairly counting on Angel always being there to take her back
if/when she changes her mind. So how fair is it to get mad at Angel when he
finally pulls the plug himself? Kind of fair I think anyway. Buffy hadn't
been dishonest with him. Her conflicted feelings about them were right out
front. And aside from wanting to die when the First was playing him, he
made quite clear and repeatedly the eternal love he offered. So him pulling
the plug was much the greater surprise and breaking of oath. (Oooh. That
Joyce.)
But to hell with that. I'm still grateful to *finally* have that <sort of?>
done with.
> Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with... Anya. Um,
> wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
> just weird.
Xander's happy ending is really with Cordelia. Anya's just his date. But
for Anya, you did notice that she thought the close dancing was sort of
nice. I know that Anya is the side show in this. (Canibalizing oneself.
Now there's a vengeance wish to give you pause. I can see why Anya would be
proud of it.) But that's an interesting little connundrum she's in. A 1000
years as a demon and then suddenly thrust into the mortal coil as a lusting
teenager. Must be a little - uh - confusing. I have to give her credit for
at least *trying* to deal with it. Even if she's clueless how.
> Cordelia's descent into bankruptcy, as hinted at last episode, gets
> explained. Seems a little sudden (although the "for the last twelve
> years" tag is funny and says 'hey, don't think too hard about
> this'), as external circumstances will I guess force the character to
> go new places. Yet she's still more concerned about a prom dress
> than anything else. Shallow person? Or sad person setting one
> attainable goal for herself, to try to cope with the sting of
> suddenly-unattainable things like college and The Future?
The latter of course. And give her some credit for going out and getting a
job. And for seeing what the hell hounds were after. She's trying to hold
onto her dignity through graduation. God knows what the future holds in
store. But at least get her through prom and graduation. I think it makes
a lot of sense.
> The
> interactions between her and Xander here are solid, with both actors
> doing some good work (especially in their brief scene together at the
> prom itself). Even haters of either character have to admit that
> it's a cool thing for Xander to do, and the gift is accepted
> graciously.
Not as teary as the umbrella, but still a sweet moment.
> Oz is in this episode. Do we know anything about his plans,
> academically or musically or anything?
Yeah, right. Well, the only thing I've noticed - and it's hardly a clue I
think - is that he did sort of complain once about redoing senior year of
high school. So I'm going to guess that he's going to make a point of
graduating this time.
> There are many cases (here I'm thinking specifically of those HS
> comedy movies we all love so dearly) in which the prom would be the end
> of the tale. On this show it feels like the calm before the storm, a
> last chance to relax and act like kids before Graduation Day.
Yes, it's the calm. And a chance to let the heroes be happy for a moment.
The first time I saw it I thought it was kind of a gift to the audience - a
chance for them to go "awww" amids all the Faith craziness.
But there's another function being served. The calm gives you a moment to
pause and see where the characters have come this year. Buffy's the big
example. The first thing you noted was her throwing herself into her slayer
role. What a change. But look also at how she interacted with Willow about
Angel - and remember how twice they've been estranged this season. And the
moment when Xander watches Buffy and sees her sadness and speaks to her - a
different way of connecting than they sure had been. And Giles beaming
pride in her when she gets the award and then tells her that she did good
tonight.
Xander is also shown to be in a way better spot. (Do you suppose he blew
the rest of his road trip money on Corelia's dress?) Reconciling with Cordy
is awfully good. As is being on sound footing with Buffy. But more it's
how stable he seems. Is that the Xander we knew in DMP and Revelations?
The showcase probably isn't as strong for everybody, but they all get at
least a moment to see where they are. That's what makes this break so much
more effective than Go Fish was the previous year. If your reviews are
still coming a few seasons ahead I'll remind you of this moment.
> So...
> One-sentence summary: A pleasant bit of moonshine.
> AOQ rating: Good
Part of me wants to give this an Excellent because the Prom scene works so
well for me. And actually so does the brief silly hellhound hunt. It
worked as a release for her and the audience. (Loved Buffy pulling her prom
dress out of her weapons bag.) But the Joyce thing keeps bugging me, and
though the breakup was handled well, it's not really any kind of season
highlight. So I guess it has to stay a Good.
OBS
Rowan Hawthorn
That's strange, me too. I snuffled and slobbered over several episodes
of BtVS, when Modesty Blaise and Willie Garvin died, and when Captain
Kirk crashed the fraggin' U.S.S. Enterprise, for pity's sake. Somebody
gets shotgunned in my neighborhood and I just shrug and go, "Oh, well."
Think maybe there's something out of whack there?
Rowan Hawthorn
Well, that's pretty much it. Personally, I think he's stretching things...
KenM47
>A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these review
>threads.
>
>
>BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
>Season Three, Episode 20: "The Prom"
>(or "Let the Slayer be... your umbrella!")
>Writer: Marti Noxon
>Director: David Solomon
>
>"I'm over the whole 'Buffy gets one perfect high school moment'
>thing. But I'm certainly not going to let some subhuman ruin it for
>the rest of the senior class."
>
<SNIP>
>
>So...
>
>One-sentence summary: A pleasant bit of moonshine.
>
>AOQ rating: Good
>
Once again, not a lot to say here. I'll go with Good (+).
Provided a bit of catharsis, the Xander/Cordelia stuff was incredibly
bittersweet (always nice to see NB showing he actually can act, in
that reveal scene with Cordy), but SMG just sells the hell out of
every disparate scene she's in. One second you can buy her as the
braindead schoolgirl writing stuff on the cover of her notebook, next
can't breathe girl, and later take charge girl/heroine.
Oh, and as others have noted, I too always disliked Wild Horses up to
this episode of this show.
Ken (Brooklyn)
One Bit Shy
news:dsample-B15337...@news.giganews.com...
> In article <1143694009.1...@t31g2000cwb.googlegroups.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 20: "The Prom"
>
>> recognized for everything before she moves on, hearing that her work is
>> neither unnoticed nor unappreciated. Much like the episode itself,
>> this bit runs the risk of being too sappy, but I think it handles
>> pretend that this quiet awareness among the student body is a perfectly
>> acceptable solution to the Forgettyitis problem, or at least the best
>> that can be done with it.
>
> removed a couple of GD spoilers from it.)
<snip, snip, snip, snip>
Don, I think that's a fantastic analysis. There are still a few cracks -
but I think there have to be - it's too difficult a problem. And you even
have a decent way to move ahead. Nice job.
OBS
Mel
Rowan Hawthorn wrote:
It has to be the weepy music they play to get you to bawl like a baby at
the appropriate time. You never hear that in real life.
Of course, that doesn't explain why the same thing happens when I'm
reading a book....
Mel
Rowan Hawthorn
Heh! Mus' be the music in our minds...
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
> the appropriate time. You never hear that in real life.
>
> Of course, that doesn't explain why the same thing happens when I'm
> reading a book....
gurer vf gur bar fubg va bapr zber jvgu srryvat
jurer ohssl ybbxf fgenvtug vagb gur pnzren
naq lbh pna fvat nybat
arf meow arf - nsa fodder
al qaeda terrorism nuclear bomb iran taliban big brother
if you meet buddha on the usenet killfile him
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
peachy ashie passion <exquisi...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges wrote:
>
>
> >
> >
> > xnaders a demon magnet
> > miss french and oica mummy girl and anya
> >
>
> And Cordelia. Don't forget Cordelia
bitch goddess
not demon
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
"hopelessly devoted" <cry...@cinstall.com> wrote:
is giles jeeves?
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
> 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 20: "The Prom"
> > (or "Let the Slayer be... your umbrella!")
> > Writer: Marti Noxon
> > Director: David Solomon
> >
> > "I'm over the whole 'Buffy gets one perfect high school moment'
> > thing. But I'm certainly not going to let some subhuman ruin it for
> > the rest of the senior class."
>
> And then, in the end, she does get that moment, and an unexpected bonus
> moment too. Sometimes virtue is rewarded, even in the Whedonverse. (Just
> don't count on it.)
dont recall it being punished either
virtue isnt it in the ending waiting for its reward
viture is in the doing
Daniel Damouth
haven't seen mentioned yet: the scene that reveals the villain's
motivation to train Hell Beasts to attack guys in formal wear. To me,
this two-second scene ("Do you want to go to the prom with me?" "No.")
is intentionally funny in its concisety and lameness and a subversion
of the stereotype of the villain having an eloborate psychological
drive.
I put it in the same category as the two-second "previously on"
consisting solely of "you're fired." Hilarious mostly because it's
unexpected and different.
-Dan Damouth
vague disclaimer
"Kevin" <kl...@ucsc.edu> wrote:
>
> Mike Zeares wrote:
> > Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
> > > Much like the episode itself, this bit runs the risk of
> > > being too sappy, but I think it handles itself well. [snip]
> >
> > Yes, the whole episode skirts right along the edge of too stupid/sappy
> > without going over. I got quite choked up the first time.
>
>
> OK, well, I guess I'm the only dissenter among current a.t.b-v-s
> contributors: IMO it skirts along the edge, and then tumbles right
> over it. The class protector award scene did indeed bring a genuine
> smile to my face, but I can't see this as redeeming the episode, which
> still falls well short of "good." Second worst of the season, after
> Choices (where I seem to be an even lonelier minority opinion).
>
> After watching the Prom, anyone care to argue that Marti Noxon doesn't
> write fanfic? This is the fanniest, ficciest fanficciest fanfic in
> fandom.
That depends. Do you want the five minute argument or the full half hour?
--
A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
Daniel Damouth <dam...@san.rr.com> wrote:
> I'll just mention one thing I greatly enjoyed about "The Prom" that I
> haven't seen mentioned yet: the scene that reveals the villain's
> motivation to train Hell Beasts to attack guys in formal wear. To me,
> this two-second scene ("Do you want to go to the prom with me?" "No.")
> is intentionally funny in its concisety and lameness and a subversion
yes
let us laugh at all those lame nerds with their pocket protectors and glasses
tuckers pain was real
though i guess hes being a nerd
means we are allowed to dismiss it and him
tuckers response was inappropriate
but his anger was not
vague disclaimer
<mair_fheal-B891E...@sn-ip.vsrv-sjc.supernews.net>,
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges
> In article <T_SWf.16892$W75.2249@trnddc07>,
> peachy ashie passion <exquisi...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges wrote:
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > xnaders a demon magnet
> > > miss french and oica mummy girl and anya
> > >
> >
> > And Cordelia. Don't forget Cordelia
>
> bitch goddess
>
> not demon
Jryy, qb lrg.
vague disclaimer
vague disclaimer <l64o...@dea.spamcon.org> wrote:
Well. That made sense.
*Abg* lrg, boi.
vmac...@yahoo.com
either gives up too easily, or goes all evil too easily.
He's certainly a marked contrast to Season 1 Xander, who is rejected by
the girl he'd been pining for a whole half season, and comes out of it
all heroic.
VMacek
kenm47
omnie wrote:
> (Hi! I'm new here - I've been following along with the AOQ threads
> because first-time reviews are so much fun.)
>
> Delurking to respond to the "perfect happiness" question: searching for
> "perfect happiness" on the Buffyverse Dialogue Database only gives hits
> from AtS. They tend to use "perfect" and "true" interchangeably,
> though. Observe:
>
> PBEQRYVN: Url, lbh jrera'g nebhaq gur ynfg gvzr Natry jrag zragny. V,
> ba gur bgure unaq, jnf ba gur svefg jnir bs gur pyrna-hc perj. Ur xabjf
> cresrpg unccvarff, ur tbrf rivy. Fb qba'g gryy zr abg gb jbeel.
>
> JRFYRL: Natry'f zbzrag bs gehr unccvarff bppheerq orpnhfr ur jnf jvgu
> Ohssl. Lbh ernyvmr ubj ener gung vf -- gehr unccvarff?
>
> <relurkifying>
Thank you,
Ken (Brooklyn)
Arbitrar Of Quality
Heh. Reminds me of a _Square One TV_ skit where the butler was named
"Diddit."
-AOQ
Arbitrar Of Quality
> After watching the Prom, anyone care to argue that Marti Noxon doesn't
> write fanfic? This is the fanniest, ficciest fanficciest fanfic in
> fandom. The marriage dream? The prom dance? The "plot" that seems as
> if it were thrown together in 5 minutes, so there'd be something to
> squish the gooey stuff onto? Zeares, stick up for me here! :)
Okay, I'm sticking wiht my assesment that if something is part of the
show's canon, it's by definition not fanfic. Part of wiritng a
serialized show is to give segments of the audience what they want part
of the time, and gleefully withold it the rest of the time.
-AOQ
Eric Hunter
> "Does this make me look fat?" was a trick question.
Worst response possible to, "Does this dress make me
look fat?"
.
.
.
.
"It's not the dress..."
Eric.
--
Rowan Hawthorn
Oh, I dunno, I'd go with: "No, the fact that you're *fat* makes you look
fat..."
chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu
> let us laugh at all those lame nerds with their pocket protectors and glasses
>
> tuckers pain was real
> though i guess hes being a nerd
> means we are allowed to dismiss it and him
>
>
> tuckers response was inappropriate
> but his anger was not
But you're just *assuming* he's a persecuted nerd. (Znlor orpnhfr ur'f
Naqerj'f oebgure?) AFAIK we never see any evidence that he was. The only
pain he was dealing with was the girl turning him down for the prom. It
wasn't just his response that was inappropriate -- his level of anger was
inappropriate too.
--Chris
______________________________________________________________________
chrisg [at] gwu.edu On the Internet, nobody knows I'm a dog.
Don Sample
chr...@removethistoreply.gwu.edu wrote:
> mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges <mair_...@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > yes
> > let us laugh at all those lame nerds with their pocket protectors and
> > glasses
> >
> > tuckers pain was real
> > though i guess hes being a nerd
> > means we are allowed to dismiss it and him
> >
> >
> > tuckers response was inappropriate
> > but his anger was not
>
> But you're just *assuming* he's a persecuted nerd. (Znlor orpnhfr ur'f
> Naqerj'f oebgure?) AFAIK we never see any evidence that he was. The only
> pain he was dealing with was the girl turning him down for the prom. It
> wasn't just his response that was inappropriate -- his level of anger was
> inappropriate too.
We have no idea *why* she turned him down. Maybe she'd already agreed
to go with someone else. Maybe she just didn't like him. Are girls
under some obligation to say "yes" to any guy who asks them for a date?
--
Quando omni flunkus moritati
Visit the Buffy Body Count at <http://homepage.mac.com/dsample/>
vague disclaimer
Rowan Hawthorn <rowan_h...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Eric Hunter wrote:
> > Opus the Penguin wrote:
> >
> >
> >>"Does this make me look fat?" was a trick question.
> >
> >
> > Worst response possible to, "Does this dress make me
> > look fat?"
> > .
> > .
> > .
> > .
> > "It's not the dress..."
>
> Oh, I dunno, I'd go with: "No, the fact that you're *fat* makes you look
> fat..."
Engure guna cbvag gung'f n fcbvyre sbe rirelbar gb frr, V'yy whfg rapbqr
vg ba gur cevapvcyr gung NbD jba'g gura abgvpr.
alphakitten
mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges wrote:
> In article <Xns979716ED3CDD...@66.75.164.119>,
> Daniel Damouth <dam...@san.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
>>I'll just mention one thing I greatly enjoyed about "The Prom" that I
>>haven't seen mentioned yet: the scene that reveals the villain's
>>motivation to train Hell Beasts to attack guys in formal wear. To me,
>>this two-second scene ("Do you want to go to the prom with me?" "No.")
>>is intentionally funny in its concisety and lameness and a subversion
>
>
> yes
> let us laugh at all those lame nerds with their pocket protectors and glasses
>
> tuckers pain was real
> though i guess hes being a nerd
> means we are allowed to dismiss it and him
>
>
> tuckers response was inappropriate
> but his anger was not
>
How so? She didn't go "ewwwww!" or laugh in his face, or call her
friends over so they could laugh in his face. She said no, that's it.
~Angel
Rowan Hawthorn
Gung'f jul V qvqa'g tvir nal ersrerapr nf gb jura vg jnf fnvq, be ol jubz.
Arbitrar Of Quality
> > After watching "The Prom," I think that more than ever before,
> > Buffy's thrown herself into her role as... hey, I just realized that
> > "protector" is indeed the perfect word. Selfless defender of an
> > unfair but innocent world. People like Tucker are always going to be
> > willing to punish the innocent for the perceived crimes of a few, and
> > the Big Damned Heroes like Buffy are the ones who keep giving, to serve
> > as the balance.
>
> Heck of a change from Anne, isn't it? Heck of a change from Bad Girls too.
> I don't think she's ever been more at ease in her slayer skin. Maybe
> briefly she approached that at the end of Prophecy Girl, but this seems so
> much better grounded. Now she's really seen the alternatives. (And, hell,
> she got a little slayer comfort food to perk her up.)
Well, she's been getting comfortable with different aspects of the
Slayer role. And we tend to see big moments for her towards the ends
of seasons: PG, "Passion"/"Becoming," and now here. I think I said
early in the year that the show is positing that as hard as it is to
make the big sacrifices, it's harder to keep giving afterward with the
full udnerstanding of how unfair things are. Well, Buffy learned about
the former in S2, and the latter in S3.
> Joyce is the one who actually wanted them to break up. So she got sneaky,
> went to Angel behind Buffy's back, and played on his sense of guilt. Even
> got him to be the bad guy to make it happen.
>
> I always struggle with the scene. I know Angel's series is looming and
> something has to be done. I know that Joyce is acting out of love and doing
> what she believes is right. I know that they soften the blow with some
> eventual surprising acceptance by Buffy and the nice last dance. But I
> still can't help hating Joyce right then. Absolutely my low point regarding
> her.
She was trying to help. That's the thing with Joyce. We see Buffy's
anger towards Angel for the patronizing idea that she's not capable of
making/thinking through her own decisions (which is, of course, pretty
much true here; "BUFFY & ANGEL 4EVER" indeed). We'd see some of the
same anger towards her mom if she knew about her involvement, and it'd
be understandable. I think in the end Joyce just serves to give Angel
a little push towards somewhere he was going anyway.
> [Cordelia]'s trying to hold
> onto her dignity through graduation. God knows what the future holds in
> store. But at least get her through prom and graduation. I think it makes
> a lot of sense.
Yeah, high school was her world, where she was Queen Cordy. She is (or
was, rather) one of those people for whom HS is the best years of their
life.
-AOQ
One Bit Shy
Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
> One Bit Shy wrote:
>
> > > After watching "The Prom," I think that more than ever before,
> > > Buffy's thrown herself into her role as... hey, I just realized that
> > > "protector" is indeed the perfect word. Selfless defender of an
> > > unfair but innocent world. People like Tucker are always going to be
> > > willing to punish the innocent for the perceived crimes of a few, and
> > > the Big Damned Heroes like Buffy are the ones who keep giving, to serve
> > > as the balance.
> >
> > Heck of a change from Anne, isn't it? Heck of a change from Bad Girls too.
> > I don't think she's ever been more at ease in her slayer skin. Maybe
> > briefly she approached that at the end of Prophecy Girl, but this seems so
> > much better grounded. Now she's really seen the alternatives. (And, hell,
> > she got a little slayer comfort food to perk her up.)
>
> Well, she's been getting comfortable with different aspects of the
> Slayer role. And we tend to see big moments for her towards the ends
> of seasons: PG, "Passion"/"Becoming," and now here. I think I said
> early in the year that the show is positing that as hard as it is to
> make the big sacrifices, it's harder to keep giving afterward with the
> full udnerstanding of how unfair things are. Well, Buffy learned about
> the former in S2, and the latter in S3.
Ah, so we should add "giving" to the list of S3 themes. Fair enough.
Or perhaps termed as "selflessness". That might tie in with the
general theme of growing up and graduating. And may be a
distinguishing characteristic between her and Faith.
> > Joyce is the one who actually wanted them to break up. So she got sneaky,
> > went to Angel behind Buffy's back, and played on his sense of guilt. Even
> > got him to be the bad guy to make it happen.
> >
> > I always struggle with the scene. I know Angel's series is looming and
> > something has to be done. I know that Joyce is acting out of love and doing
> > what she believes is right. I know that they soften the blow with some
> > eventual surprising acceptance by Buffy and the nice last dance. But I
> > still can't help hating Joyce right then. Absolutely my low point regarding
> > her.
>
> She was trying to help. That's the thing with Joyce. We see Buffy's
> anger towards Angel for the patronizing idea that she's not capable of
> making/thinking through her own decisions (which is, of course, pretty
> much true here; "BUFFY & ANGEL 4EVER" indeed). We'd see some of the
> same anger towards her mom if she knew about her involvement, and it'd
> be understandable. I think in the end Joyce just serves to give Angel
> a little push towards somewhere he was going anyway.
I'm still not sure what Angel was going to do on his own, but I
understand Joyce's good intentions. It's just the way she did it.
Behind Buffy's back. Kind of manipulating Angel. It rubs me the wrong
way. I can't help it. Probably a reflection of my own sensitivity to
parental interference.
OBS
DysgraphicProgrammer
Or (one of Joss's favorate tricks) act like you are giving it out, then
take it away.
(Qnja gur FVG va gung 7gu frnfba rcvfbqr pbzrf gb zvaq)
peachy ashie passion
> peachy ashie passion wrote:
>
>> Rowan Hawthorn wrote:
>>
>>> peachy ashie passion wrote:
>>>
>>>> Rowan Hawthorn wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> vmac...@yahoo.com wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Rowan Hawthorne wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Xander has an odd part involving going to the prom with...
>>>>>>>> Anya. Um,
>>>>>>>> wha? Their scenes together are sorta fun, but mostly, wha? It's
>>>>>>>> just weird.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Xander thinks so, too...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> One of my favorite moments here has Anya blithely recounting hideous
>>>>>> vengeances she'd visited while walking arm-in-arm with a
>>>>>> thousand-yard-stare Xander.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Heh. And his desperate relief at the conversation being interrupted.
>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Speaking for us older guys, some of us wouldn't mind being at those
>>>>>>> writers' mercy...
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> One reason I can enjoy things with a clear conscience is that many of
>>>>>> the mack-worthy girls are comfortably in their twenties here.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> "Conscience...?"
>>>>>
>>>>> <flips through desk dictionary>
>>>>>
>>>>> Oh. That explains a lot...
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Share said explanation with the rest of us who are still confuzzled?
>>>>
>>>> Please?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Explains why I can enjoy looking at those mack-worthy girls without
>>> needing to go, "Oh, it's okay to look, 'cause she's *really* 24..."
>>>
>>
>> oh. And why can I?
>
>
> ?? Same reason - lack of conscience? (Not to mention, some of those
> girls are *truly* mack-worthy...)
>
I keep telling people and telling people. I've GOT morals! They
just aren't generally the ones the rest of the country uses.
peachy ashie passion
> peachy ashie passion wrote:
>
>> Rowan Hawthorn wrote:
>>
>>> peachy ashie passion wrote:
>>>
>>>> Opus the Penguin wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> That's where I got it from, yep. Chandler then appears from behind
>>>>> the door and yells, "I KNEW it!!!"
>>>>>
>>>>> Now, the big question is, what was she talking about? It's one of
>>>>> two things, obviously. I wonder if it says anything about a person
>>>>> psychology depending on which one they assume it is. I wonder if it
>>>>> says anything about my psychology (or my pathetic life) that I
>>>>> immediately thought of both and couldn't decide.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> There are two?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Wee-e-lll, did you ever hear the joke about the sailor in the
>>> bordello who fastened up the right side of his trouser flap, then
>>> began unbuttoning the left side, saying, "Now for the other one..."?
>>>
>>
>> no?
>
>
> Well, that's pretty much it. Personally, I think he's stretching things...
>
Sailors are like that.
peachy ashie passion
> In article <T_SWf.16892$W75.2249@trnddc07>,
> peachy ashie passion <exquisi...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>>mariposas rand mair fheal greykitten tomys des anges wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>
>>>xnaders a demon magnet
>>>miss french and oica mummy girl and anya
>>>
>>
>> And Cordelia. Don't forget Cordelia
>
>
> bitch goddess
>
> not demon
Says you. I call it demon.
peachy ashie passion
> In article <Xns979716ED3CDD...@66.75.164.119>,
> Daniel Damouth <dam...@san.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
>>I'll just mention one thing I greatly enjoyed about "The Prom" that I
>>haven't seen mentioned yet: the scene that reveals the villain's
>>motivation to train Hell Beasts to attack guys in formal wear. To me,
>>this two-second scene ("Do you want to go to the prom with me?" "No.")
>>is intentionally funny in its concisety and lameness and a subversion
>
>
> yes
> let us laugh at all those lame nerds with their pocket protectors and glasses
>
> tuckers pain was real
> though i guess hes being a nerd
> means we are allowed to dismiss it and him
>
>
> tuckers response was inappropriate
> but his anger was not
no? Because someone said no?
That's appropriate for a two year old. By 10 you should have learned
to hear no.
Rowan Hawthorn
LOL! I have to remember that.
Jeff Jacoby
"Large amounts of money tend to quench any scruples
I might be having"
-- Stephen Wilms (in comp.lang.c)
Jeff