Some thoughts on Buffy S8 (Spoilers)
Michael Ikeda
Season 3/6 to come?
(Spoilers below)
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I've always thought of Season 8 as being a lot like Season 5 but on
a larger scale. We start S8 on a hopeful note with Buffy in her new
role as leader of the Slayer army. But, as in Season 5, she becomes
aware of a new threat. One which proves to be more than she can
deal with. The pressure grows on multiple fronts until in the
"Retreat" arc (as in S5 "Spiral") she basically bolts in panic. And
when that fails she escapes into a private universe. Unlike Season
5, however, she leaves the private universe on her own, without
needing anyone's help. Like Season 5 she returns to a desperate
situation. One which she does find a way out of but at great cost.
Not her death this time, but four other "deaths". The death of
magic, the disintegration of her Slayer Army, the death of her
father-figure and adviser Giles, and Angel's descent into his own
private hell inside his mind.
There are also parallels to Season 2. The person who is guiding the
attacks on the Slayer army turns out to be Angel. Not a soulless
Angel as in Season 2, but instead one who honestly believes he is
doing the right thing--choosing the only possible alternative that
doesn't end in annihilation. And just as in Season 2, Angel is
trying to break Buffy down emotionally. And, of course, he
ultimately gets sent to hell, at least metaphorically.
A frequent division of the broadcast seasons is to divide them into
two trilogies: Seasons 1-3 and 5-7, with Season 4 as a transitional
season. Looking at S8, I think there is a case for a different
division. Seasons 1-3, Seasons 4-6, and Seasons 7-9. Seasons 1 and
4 both introduce a new situation. In Season 1 Buffy comes to
Sunnydale, while in Season 4 she enters college. And both Seasons 1
and 4 end on a reasonably straightforward victory. Season 7 isn't
as much of a new situation, although it is Buffy's first
introduction to her role as General. But like Seasons 1 and 4 it
ends in a solid victory. Seasons 2, 5, and 8 all show Buffy
overwhelmed by circumstances. And they all end in death or the
equivalent. And in a "victory" that is very much Pyrrhic. And in
all three cases, Buffy takes a break from her duties before being
recalled to them. Seasons 3 and 6 both deal with the consequences
of "death" and "resurrection" and both end in a "graduation".
Which brings us to Season 9. There are four "deaths" in Season 8. I
do not expect Giles' death to be reversed. Angel's "death" however
will be. Story-external, we know that Angel will have his own S9
series. Story-internal, he's actually already survived worse. And
Faith is perhaps the best person to bring him back from his
particular paralysis. Of all the people who know Angel, she's the
only one he might be able to face right now. She's the one HE
helped save from her own darkness.
The Slayer army may reform in part, at least informally as events
unfold. I suspect one reason it fell apart so completely was that
Buffy may not have made any effort to keep it together.
Which brings us to magic. Willow seems determined to find some way
to bring magic back. Partly for personal reasons (she seems to
suggest she has fallen in love with Saga Vasuki) but also because
she thinks the world needs magic. I suspect she will at least
partially succeed, but with results that are not entirely pleasant.
Remember my suggestion of a triple trilogy structure. And that
Season 8 has elements of both Seasons 2 and 5. This may suggest
that Season 9 will have elements of both Seasons 3 and 6 (which is
fitting since 3+6=9). That it will see one or more of the Scoobies
put through the emotional wringer. And perhaps will end in some
important milestone.