(late) thoughts on the Buffy reboot

*X-posted from The Writer's Notebook*


By now, most of us die-hard Joss/Buffy fans have heard the news about the Buffy reboot. I know I'm a little late to the blogging party, but between teaching and lack of internet, I haven't had time to really sit down and write about this whole thing. So here goes:

I too am marching in the "Anti-Buffy Reboot" parade. Why? Well, to summarize, leave a good thing alone. But there's more to it for me than that. I think the show ran its course in several ways:

1) Characters/Char arcs: I, personally, was happy with the way Buffy wrapped up. I was sad to see it go, but I think the story and the characters had completed their journey. (Yes, I know about the Season 8 comics. I've read 2...wasn't impressed. I've heard more about some of the storylines and well, I am not terribly motivated to read more, sadly). I feel like all the characters got to nice "end" points in their lives where we could leave them and 'write our own ending' in some ways. For me, Buffy went on to have a more normal life with her friends, maybe occasionally fighting vampires and such. Xander continued with his job. Dawn grew up even more and helped out Buffy from time to time. You get the idea. Perhaps that's too "boring" but I mean after 7 years of what they faced, wouldn't YOU want a break too?

2) Nobody does it better--casting. I can't see anyone else playing any of the main characters as well as SMG, Nicky Brenden, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Head, et all played them. I just can't. Those actors WERE those roles for 7 years. For me, they became those characters--not just actors playing them. Each actor brought new levels of emotion, humor, drama, and so forth to their parts over the years of the show. I recently watched the show all the way from the beginning (for the first time on dvd) (and yes, that will probably be the subject of a near future blog entry) and it is amazing how the actors grew into their roles season by season--how the roles/characters changed and grew along the way. The actors made it feel very natural--nothing seemed contrived or forced for the most part. Rarely did they act 'out of character' unless there was a specific reason for it. So to see a new shiny cast try to fill those shoes? I think it would be a disaster. Plus what would be the purpose of "starting from scratch" when such a large story has already come full circle? I just don't see a point.

3) Go Joss or Go Home! Whedon created those characters and their universe. He did so with great care. Honestly, who else's hands could shape a movie/show like he did? Joss Whedon seems to be a master of writing and bringing together eclectic characters. Not many writers/directors/etc can do that. I just don't know of anyone with his level of sheer genius that could handle the task.

4) Remakes and Sequels--they never end well. I've seen many-a-reboot/remake etc in my time (ok in my short 25 years). 9 times out of 10, they are AWFUL or not as good as the original (i.e. Bridget Jones' Diary, The Matrix trilogy). Leave a good thing alone, I say.


Those are my main thoughts on the subject. Ultimately, what Hollywood wants, Hollywood will probably get....but I won't support it.

you think know...what's to come...

I'm currently working on a watch-through of BtVS on dvd--beginning to end. I'm on season 6 right now and I hope to finish the series before the end of the year, so I can do a write-up/reflection of watching the show all the way through for the first time (I think) since it aired on tv. Just wanted you all to know I still know this blog is here and there will be an update soon!

everything i need to know i learned from Buffy...

I could probably write a short "book" on the title of this post, but I don't have enough room here & well I wanted to write an entry because I feel like I neglect this blog. So when I got an idea for it, I figured I would jump on it. :-) So here are 5 things I've learned from watching Buffy (as always, the potential for spoilers exists, so read at your own risk).

1) The older I get and the more I learn, the less I really know.

In "Lie to Me," (S2) Buffy put it this way "the more i know, the more confused I get." It seems to me, that the older I get, the more confusing things become. Right and wrong don't seem as clear. Decisions are more difficult to make. Risks are higher. So much for that childhood notion of mine that I would know a lot more stuff by the time I was in my 20s!

2) Love makes you crazy

I love the way Willow put it in "Some Assembly Required" (S2) "love makes you do the wacky."
Emotions make us do/think/say crazy things--especially when it comes to love and attraction. It blinds us--makes us not think logically and clearly. This also seems to hold truer the older I get.


3) Adulthood can suck, but that's normal.

I never cared for season 6 until about a year or so ago. I watched it through again--and realized that as dark as it is, it's also quite accurate about the entrance into adulthood. It's confusing, dark, strange, depressing...this is not to say that I have died and come back to life or suffered from an addiction or unhealthy relationship as some of the characters did, but I can *understand* why they made choices they made (albeit poor ones at times). The term "quarter-life crisis" comes to mind. Mid 20s is an awkward age to say the least. But it's comforting to know that you can get through it with strength and a little help from your friends and family. If Buffy can make it through season 6, I can too.

4) You don't have to be a "superhero" to matter

Buffy was the slayer. Willow had magic. Xander...had no supernatural power, but he had the ability to see/relate/feel ("the heart" of the group). I've never had a special "power" or skill...mostly im intuitive and creative. Sometimes that doesn't feel like much, even when it might be. In "Potential" (S7), Xander and Dawn put it this way:

Dawn:Maybe that's your power.
Xander: What?
Dawn: Seeing. Knowing.


5) We'll get through this together.

One of my favorite episodes is from S6 "Once More With Feeling." In one of the opening songs the cast sings "what can't we face if we're together." In the past several years, I have really come to learn the deep value of community--whether it be church., school, work, etc...when it's absent, I feel a drastic difference in myself. Sometimes it can't be helped--sometimes alone is what you are faced with--but it's not forever.

Till next time,

--Prophecy Girl

if i could ask Joss 5 questions...

I got this idea on a limb...feel free to comment w/ your own questions/thoughts :-)

**possible spoilers for BtVS and Ats**


*these are not in any special order*

1. What in the world am I supposed to do/think with/about the ending of Angel? I mean seriously...

2. Who in the world came up with the Connor/Cordy storyline in Angel season 4 and why didn't you stop them?!?


3. What does your writing process look like?


4. Why couldn't you let one couple be happy on any of your shows?

5. What is your favorite book? And what written work has inspired you most?

top 10 WORST episodes of Buffy

I know you all probably didn't think it was possible, but believe it or not there are a handful of episodes of Buffy that just make me go "what were the writers thinking?" So here is my list--in no particular order really--of my least favorite/worst Buffy episodes (SPOILER alert for those who haven't seen seasons 2-6)

*"Bad Eggs" (S2). ok the premise was amusing--the whole egg/baby sex ed thing...but it got rather hokey from there when there was a mother "thing" that was using the eggs to get the students.


*"Ted" (S2) arguably one of the creepier episodes--and the reason I can't watch John Ritter in anything else. He plays Joyce's love interest who turns out to be an evil robot. It's no fun to watch a show when you have the heebie jeebies the entire time.

"Killed By Death" (S2) also a creepier one...now there are a couple of funny lines/moments (like the end with the peanut butter jar that Buffy can't open) but overall very creepy and dark. More heebie jeebies.

"Go Fish" (S2). While Xander in a speedo was not a necessarily unwelcome sight *ahem* the whole concept was silly. *shrug*

"Gingerbread" (S3). I like the fairytale motif here, but the few times I've watched the ep it just falls flat. There's nothing that really stands out to me. Just seemed like a poor attempt at filler.

"Helpless" (S3). Creepy. Just creepy. I mean the episode is well-done, but it's not one I like to return to.

"Where the Wild Things Are" (S4). This is probably one of the WORST ones. I mean the whole frat house being haunted or whatever...all the sex...it was just lame. Plus the whole thing about the old lady and the children...creepy.

"Doomed" (S4) While I like the whole "it's the end of the world...again" moment as well as Spike in Xander's shirt...why all of a sudden a end of the world episode? why all of a sudden is someone trying to open the hellmouth? Just seems very random-- Especially since it follows the spectacular "Hush."

"Older and Far Away" (S6). This episode is just slow...and maybe that's on purpose b/c it's about feeling trapped. It's not awful, but not one I return to.

"Double Meat Palace" (S6) This is probably the worst next to "Where the Wild Things Are." The premise was GROSS...and I had trouble watching the ep just because of all the ick factors. And honestly, the whole "human bits in fast food" has been done enough. But that's just me.


So there you have it...least favorite/worst eps...you heard it here.

--Prophecy Girl

they belong together: top 'ships of Buffy and Angel

ok, so these aren't any specific order...but just the top 5 'ships I support in the Buffy/Angelverse:

Buffy&Spike

Yes, yes. I can hear all the Buffy/Angel shippers now. But THEY were in LOVE. Yeah, I think they were--or as in love as Buffy could be as a high school girl. Someone once put it this way: Angel is the gorgeous first love guy you meet when you're young--but it doesn't/can't last for whatever reason. With Spike, Buffy found a real "adult" (and not just in the sexual sense) relationship. I was always a fan of Spike's Romantic poet/bad boy persona and he and Buffy just had a undeniable character chemistry from the beginning in season 2 of Buffy. Their relationship is not the always the healthiest (see season 6) but in the end he really does love her and care for her and fights for her, gets a SOUL for her, etc...and he is supportive of her in season 7 when everyone has turned against her (and gives one of the best speeches ever...see "Touched" season 7). Needless to say, I always wanted to see them together and was thrilled when they got together.

Willow&Xander

Maybe it's because Willow is my favorite character and I identified with the whole "I like my best friend thing but they don't like me back or maybe they do" thing. I always thought Willow and Xander were SO cute together and would've been perfect. But as is the way of the Joss, we don't get what we want nor do characters get happiness...so...they got together with other people (while still having some sort of feelings for each other...see "Lover's Walk" season 3).

Darla&Lindsay

In season 2 of Angel, this relationship--or rather the possibility of it--exists briefly once Darla has returned as human to W&H. I thought the relationship had potential--especially for Lindsay with his grey area character. They were also just sexy together, let's be honest. ;) But I don't know if I can quite put my finger on a specific WHY I ship them...other than the mystery/bad boy/sexy factor that is...

Fred/Wesley

The ultimate "brainy" but romantic relationship. And doomed of course. But still--the way they would look at each other while doing research or while they were out monster hunting? Priceless. I thought Fred was a better match for Wes than Gunn--simply because they had more in common and understood each other better--not because of the race factor (cue Othello).

Willow&Tara

I loved Tara's character. I really did. And I love Willow (of course). The relationship was "unconventional" but it worked. And I grew attached to both characters individually and together--just the soft romantic-ness. As Joss put it "they were the safe place for viewers." And I think that was true. They were the stable, safe place for a while amidst the chaos in the Buffyverse. And it was lovely while it lasted.


So there you have it...top 5. Til next time...--Prophecy Girl

coming soon--the annoying placeholder entry--verse ships' i support

Oh how can we all ever choose what ships' in the 'verse we support? I'll name my top 5 in an upcoming entry--mainly Buffy/Angelverse focused. Stay tuned!