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

love stinks: why can't anyone be happy in the buffyverse?

BUFFY: It's just ... I just wanna know that there's gonna be another good one. One that I won't chase away.

XANDER: There will be. Promise. He's out there, he could come along any minute.

BUFFY: Yeah, and the minute after that I can terrify him with my alarming strength and remarkable self-involvement.

XANDER: What? I don't think you're like that.

BUFFY: Maybe I could change. You know, I could, I could work harder. I could spend less time slaying, I could laugh at his jokes, I mean, men like that, right, the, the joke-laughing-at?

XANDER: Or maybe you could just be Buffy, he'll see your amazing heart, and he'll fall in love with you.

--"I Was Made to Love You" (season 5)

The thing is...even though someone else is in love with her (and she with him, but I think she's in denial about it) (I'm not name dropping for those who don't want to be spoiled...) there's no happily ever after for Buffy by the time we get to season 7. Now, I can see the reasoning behind it...but my problem is this, Joss: WHY CAN'T ANYONE IN ANY OF YOUR DAMN SHOWS FIND LOVE THAT WORKS OUT??

Ok, now that I've yelled, I feel a little better. But honestly...why don't any of the relationships work out? I mean they either leave (Oz) (someone whose name rhymes with Smiley in season 5) , die (Angel in season 2...or someone else in season 6..."your shirt..."), and so on and so forth. Now I know in REAL LIFE (I really know this as well as the next person) that relationships don't always work out. I've seen it in my life and in the lives of others. But on tv...would it really hurt? I mean at least ONE person, Joss. ONE. I need some hope here. I'm with Buffy--I just want to know that there will be one I won't chase away.

Angel top 10

The moment we've all been waiting for...well sort of. See, I'm just not sure if I can rank these fairly--and im dying to show off the list--so...here are my 10 favorite Angel episodes with 5 honorable mentions! (Note: some spoilers for AtS)

Waiting in the Wings (S3): I love this ep because it has romance (Angel/Cordy...even though I never could get on board with that relationship), humor (Angel's remark about seeing Giselle back in 18something and crying...and he was evil! Brings the LOLZ), and ballet. One of the best (if not the best) episode of season 3.

-You're Welcome (S5): the 100th episode. I mostly like this one because Cordy shows up (albiet for the last time) and the whole AI team dynamic is back for one last time. The end also just tugs at the heartstrings. Plus there's a cool fight between Angel and Lindsay :D

-Smile Time (S5): I admit I kinda scratched my head when I first heard about this episode--I mean Angel turned into a PUPPET? However, all doubts were put to rest when I saw the ep--probably one of the funniest in the series ("Nina tried to eat me!") ("You're a wee little puppet man!") Classic scenes ensue: Puppet Angel trying to work the remote, hiding under his desk...Fred's "You're so cute" Angel "you're fired." Too many laugh out loud moments. And of course there's the Wes/Fred relationship just starting to bloom again...

-A Hole in the World (S5) and Shells (S5) : These episodes are some of the most heartbreaking in the series for me, mainly because I was a strong Wes/Fred shipper...and we all know that in the Jossverse, no one gets to be happy. So just as they were getting back together, they were torn apart. Bittersweet scenes between Wes/Fred and great scenes with Spike and Angel doing everything they can to try and save her (St Petersberg....Angel and Spike holding hands? A great laugh amdist the tragedy and heartbreak.

-I Will Remember You (S1): Angel gets to be human for a day with Buffy. It's romantic. It's funny. And I cry every time. Nuff said.

-Dear Boy (S2): what stands the most to me in this one is Julie Benz's acting! Here in this ep we see a very multi-faceted Darla--most importantly a HUMAN one! She plays the role with such vulnerability--especially in the last couple of scenes between Angel and Darla. I'm not a A/D shipper per se, but I always found the dynamic between them interesting as well as the history of the two characters (which we see a bit of here, but moreso in "Darla").

-Darla (S2): This ep is meant to be part two to "Fool For Love" (Buffy, season 5, ep 7). We get more Darla's history which is interesting. I also like the attraction of Lindsay to Darla (a pair I definitely shipped). Great scenes between all of these characters--and so much emotion.

-Reunion (S2): very emotionally-driven episode. Darla is back, but is now a vampire again, and Angel is conflicted about her still. Dru is also back (she's responsible for Darla's "rebirth"). What stands out to me the most is Angel's defiance at the end when he locks Darla and Dru in the room with all the Wolfram and Hart lawyers and says "and yet I just don't seem to care."

-Dead End (S2): Lindsay is one of my favorite supporting characters (and it's not just because he can sing and has a lovely set of blue eyes). I like that we get to know him more in this episode--and that we see that he does have more than a trace of a conscience. It's also got the classic horror element of a hand coming to life. An underrated episode!

Honorable Mentions:

-Guise Will Be Guise (S2)

-Eternity (S1)

-Awakening (S4)

-5 by 5 (S1)

-Sanctuary (S1)

Till next time...--Prophecy Girl

buffy top 10

I actually wrote this list a little over a yr ago, but I thought it should be posted at this blog. Also I've made some revisions in it--I changed #9 and I switched 5 and 6 too. :) Let me know your thoughts, dear readers!


10. The Prom(S3)--Ok, so the main reasons I love this are : one is because of the ending with the "class protector" award and two: Angel showing up to dance with Buffy at the end. Makes me misty-eyed every time. Also, it's got some great comedic moments (Wes asking Giles about whether he should dance with Cordy....priceless). But mostly I like it b/c i'm a big SAP.

9. Lover's Walk (S3)--it's a Spike ep. And it has probably some of the best dialogue ever in it (mostly spoken by Spike). But it's got a great blend of comedy/angst (something Joss is a master at). There's no way I could NOT include this one on my list.

8. The Gift (S5)--Another one that brings tears to my eyes because of Buffy's sacrifice at the end and each character's reaction to it. I also love the Giles/Ben confrontation. But mostly I just like the emotional intensity of this episode--it's quite a rollercoaster.

7. Restless (S4)--So this episode is quite different than the majority of Buffy eps, but I like it. I like it because there is SO much symbolism (Xander being afraid he'll never get out of his basement, for one) and foreshadowing in it (i.e. the coming of Dawn). It's all dream sequences, so it has a very hazy feel to it, but it works. It also apparently contains some refs to TS Eliot (don't know if they're intentional or not). It's one I catch something new about every time I watch it.

6.Dopplegangland (S3)--just flat out funny. Wilow's evil vampire twin is back and of course that makes for some interesting subtext as well as comedy. I like the episode especially because it deals with Willow's frustration of being "old reliable" all the time (which I can relate to). Plus there are some great one-liners ("say, you all didn't happen to do a bunch of drugs did ya" and "you know you can OD on virtue").


5. Becoming part 2 (S2)--Yes, I do love the final fight with Buffy/Angelus--one of the best chereographed fights i've seen in tv--but what I love about this episode is that it mixes comedy, tragedy, romance, action all in one episode and it does it well. The scene with Buffy, Spike, and Buffy's mom is HILARIOUS, Buffy's last kiss to Angel with Christophe Beck's score music...SIGH. So much good here. But it's a season finale, and that is one of the things Joss does best.


4. Innocence (S2)- Heartbreaking episode, but great use of metaphor. This episode picks up after "Surprise" where Buffy and Angel consumate their relationship, and Angel loses his soul. He becomes Angelus (a monster, basically) and becomes the guy that says "he'll call" you and acts weird after sex happens (at least this is what I hear) and litereally becomes "a monster." Go watch it.

3. The Body (S5)--Yes, the one where Buffy's mom dies. This is one of the most haunting episodes of the show, not just because of the death, but because of how death is portrayed and how the characters deal with it. It's also I think the only episode with no musical score, so if no one is talking, there's no noise at all, which makes it even more haunting. And it's also important to note that the mom's death was natural, not supernatural, as many of the deaths are on the show. I think this one probably makes me cry the easiest.

2. Hush (S4)--The silent episode! This is probably the only time where a villain(s) actually scared me! I've never seen anything (other than a clown maybe) as creepy as The Gentlemen are in this episode. But the episode also includes tons of humor--especially when the Scoobies all meet to discuss the situation and Giles has the overhead projector, complete with drawings! Great episode about the power of communication--or lack thereof.

1. Once More With Feeling (S6)--THE MUSICAL EPISODE! If any show can pull off a musical ep, it's Buffy. Who know most of them could sing??? And dance??? Catchy songs, innovative dances, romance, heartbreak, foreshadowing, zanyness? It doesn't get much better than this. Plus the songs will stay stuck in your head :) By the way, I think Tara and Giles are the best singers. Followed by Spike.



EDIT 3/18/10: some honorable mentions

"Becoming Part 1"
"Graduation Day parts 1 and 2"
"Earshot"
"Amends"
"New Moon Rising"
"Something Blue"
"Fool For Love"
"Crush"
"Entropy"
"Dead Things"
"Conversations with Dead People"
"Storyteller"
"Selfless"

"why use magic when you can do something naturally: what's the reason for willow's magic addiction?"

Having rewatched season 6 of Buffy, and having read two essays on the season (or mentioning it) it appears there is a lot of criticism regarding Willow's character arc in season 6. One critic, a reviwer, writes this:


"I don't have an inherent problem with the writers wanting to explore drug addiction, but I really dislike the idea and implementation of it here. Plus I'd still have rather seen a more broad study of addiction in general, keeping Willow's character flaws (i.e. "power hungry") in close context"
-from http://www.criticallytouched.com/buffy/season_6_review.php

Another writer argues the following in an essay entitled "The Good, The Bad, and The Ambivalent" in Seven Seasons of Buffy:

"Now frankly, the season six twist of Willow becoming "addicted" to magic was just weak writing [...] there was no precedent for it in her characterization or in the portrayal of magic"

I can definitely see the points both writers are trying to make--I mean Willow's addiction sort of just happens (although we do see her increasing power from season 3 to season 5--and season five foreshadows--especially in the later episodes--just how powerful she's gotten) but the "addiction" or "dependence" doesn't seem to really come into play till season 6. The question is--what triggered the addiction?

Many critics (including the two aforementioned), want to know more about that...however, (of course i've not suffered an addiction myself) is it possible that such things really do just happen? Does there have to be a psychological reason for it? Most of the time there is--but does there need to be? I'm not sure, but these critics seem to think there should be. I understand that the reason the magic gets worse towards the end of season 6 is because of Tara's death--so I think that is explained. But what about before? Is it just the power hunger? Or is it something more? It seems to me that Willow just liked the power, but that she also liked that her increading skill made her less of "mousy" than the Willow of the early seasons. --and makes her feel important and more confident. Afterall, it is when she begins her relationship with Tara and delving deeper into magic that she becomes a more confident character. Tara made her feel loved and accepted, yes, but was it enough? Perhaps she felt the need to "move up" in magic to keep up with Tara? (at least early on).

So I don't have as big of a problem as some critics seem to, but I can see where they're coming from as well. Ultimately, I wonder if they didn't look at Willow close enough, or maybe there's something I'm missing...afterall, they're published :-)


--Prophecy Girl

buffy season/seasons of life

I feel like I'm living a mix of season 4 and season 6 of Buffy...i'll try to explain in my usually wordy/overanalytical way :) (spoiler warning for those who haven't seen all of season 4 or season 6 of Buffy)

Much of season four (or at least the beginning) is about being in a new place and about being separated from what you're used to. In this season, Buffy and Willow have started college, Angel has gone to LA (as has Cordelia) and Xander is off doing his own thing. The gang is separated and are all in new unfamiliar places for the most part. I've been at my new job for 6 months now--atmosphere and the routine are more familiar, however, I still feel very much like Buffy in that most of my friends aren't right here with me anymore--some of them are in school, some are out of school, married, traveling, working, etc, etc...we've all gone our own ways. And honestly, there's not much commradary (sp?) where I work--I keep trying, and well, most of my efforts are a bust. I happened to meet one girl at orientation last fall and we've stayed in touch, but that's it (Maybe she's standing in for Willow haha).


WILLOW: It's exciting, though, isn't it?
BUFFY: Yeah! It's gonna be an adjustment.
--"The Freshmen"

Season 6, shares a similar theme of isolation that season 4 does--but on a deeper, darker level I think. It's the isolation of adulthood and the monotony of everyday life. It's also about coping (although not necesarily in the healthiest of ways) with those things, depression, addiction, etc...I'm not really depressed. And i'm not addicted to anything (well nothing harmful hah). But I can sympathize with the monotony and isolation...as well as the general grey area regarding some things in life. What I know though is that Buffy does make it through the season and come out stronger...which gives me some hope that I too can get through this "season six" period of life, even if it takes a while.

I don't want to beeeeee...
Going through the motions
Losing all my drive.
I can't even see
If this is really me
And I just want to be-
Aliiiiiive.
-Buffy "Once More With Feeling"



--Prophecy Girl, out!

my 5 favorite powerful Joss show moments

**Disclaimer: I stuck to mostly Buffy and Angel here b/c (blasphemer I am) I don't feel I know Firefly well enough to reference it much. This is something I MUST fix asap though.


In no particular ranking order, I present what I think are 5 (because I'm too tired to do 10, even though I could list 10+) of the most powerful moments in the Jossverse (oh, and SPOILER ALERT for those who haven't seen most of the series!!)



*Lorne shoots Lindsay (Angel, season 5)
Most of us would not have expected Lorne to be the one to kill Lindsay. We expected Angel to, or anyone else. But not Lorne--the funky, funny, sweet, Lorne. I sure didn't see it coming, but it is a moment that really hit me hard: when the going gets tough (he knew Lindsay was a traitor), the sweetest of us have to be tough/ugly. Wow.



*Angel loses his soul (Buffy, season 2)
This is probably one of the strongest metaphors the show portrays. After having sex (Buffy and Angel that is) Angel loses his soul and reverts back to his evil self, Angelus. It is a heartbreaking moment not just because of how he changes, but the episodes to follow show us a "creature" completely opposite of Angel that is terrifying.



*Xander saves Willow (Buffy, season 6)
The yellow crayon speech. Need I say more?





*Wes/Illyria (Fred) death (Angel, season 5)
Wes is dying. Fred has turned into Illyria. She transforms into Fred one last time before Wes dies. It's a scene that always brings tears and grabs the heartstrings.



*Tara's death (Buffy, season 6)
"Your shirt..." I don't think there's much more to say (right, Dusten...if you're reading this lol).


There are many more I could write about...I'm just too tired after this busy day. Till next time

--Prophecy Girl