The Body

It was with some trepidation that I sat down to rewatch The Body. I'm teaching it, so I had to. And I'm teaching it on purpose - on of our texts refers to death as the thing that will "define the creation for the created" and I immediately thought of it. But it's a doozy, as far as I remember. I haven't rewatched it since I saw it the first time, but I remember how shaken up I was by that first image of Joyce on the couch. In addition to the power of the episode, there are obviously some memories there. No surprise, then, that while I'll be suggesting that we watch future episodes as a community, I have no intention of trying to watch The Body with my class.

But enough stalling.

I'd hoped to Rewatch at an accelerated pace and work my way up to here, but that obviously didn't happen, so I'm watching it out of context.

Mom. Mom? Mommy?

Brutal.

It's jarring to see the slayer looking so helpless, but that's the point - actual, normal, human death is the thing that the slayer helpless against (even in the case of her own, it's not her who has any power, and the power that's used has horrible consequences that suggest it maybe shouldn't have been).

Word vomit "good luck"/real vomit.

It think it's well done that it's like it doesn't sink in until Buffy says "the body" herself. Earlier, she corrects the person on the phone and, when she say "the body, " Buffy says, "No, my mom." When she finally yells at Giles, "We're not supposed to move the body!", that's when it really hits her, and she begins to cry. (That's also when I started to cry.)

The pieces of this are so perfect. All of the random things you freak out over, finding the perfect shirt, wanting to know what's expected, wanting to think it's just not true, wanting someone to blame...and then Emma Caulfield (Anya) just breaks it down. But Willow's response, which is less talked about, is also great:

Willow - "We don't know...how it works...why..."

Because that's really the problem, isn't it? We know, more than we know anything else, that it's coming. We don't know when, really. And we don't know how it works. IF you truly believe that it's just a cessation, even that's mysterious, because we can't truly imagine what it is not to have our consciousness anymore. So our brief lives are bounded by

displacement - I don't even know if I"m here

Buffy - Was it sudden?
Tara - No, and yes. It's always sudden.

My problem isn't with Dawn wanting to see, it's with not just saying, "I want to see." Why pick the dumbest way possible? Oh, because you're that character. If you lived in Sunnydale, why would you *ever* go into the morgue unattended, given how frequently people don't stay dead? You know that on any given night, there's got to be some vampire rising in the morgue.

And what, exactly, does Dawn think she's going to see? Or accomplish by seeing? I know this is an impulse for some people, but it's just not one that I share. I've seen the bodies. It's not a comfort, and it only gives you an unpleasant visual to remember. They don't look like the people you loved, and for exactly the reason Buffy gives at the end. "It's not her. She's gone."

Catching up on the Whedon spotlight -- the linkfest begins

Finally catching up on the PopMatters Whedon Spotlight, in which I will be featured on Wednesday. Here's are a couple you might want to check out: Why Cast a Spotlight on Joss Whedon? and Joss Whedon 101: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The first is exactly what is says. Lots of interesting info, and you should go and read it, but the author suggests that, in a nutshell, Whedon rocks because he likes what we (geeks) like, thinks we (the audience) are smart, and actually likes and respects women. The second article linked is all about how BtVS came to TV, and what the author thinks its place in TV history is in terms of female heroes* and narrative structure. Also an interesting read. Both of those pieces are by the spotlight editor, Robert Moore.

*I've mentioned this here before, but will say again: for a thoughtful treatment of the history of female heroes in popular American media, check out Jennifer K. Stuller's Ink Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology.

PopMatters Spotlight on Whedon has started!

Here's the link to the main page - Creator Spotlight: Joss Whedon. On March 23rd, they'll be running an article by yours truly on humanism and heroism is Whedon's work. Until then, check out some of the other pieces - I will, as soon as I'm done grading! Today, for example, there's a 101 article on Buffy, one on vampires, language and masculinity, one on Buffy's place in the fantasy cannon...

You get the picture.

Buffy 1.7 Angel, 1.8; I, Robot...You, Jane; 1:9 The Puppet Show

Angel

"OK, ok, look - I really don't want to fight all 3 of you. Unless I have to."

Angel to the rescue, very carefully fighting without getting his game face on. And a vamp somehow getting an arm in the door without in invite?

Now, I know she's not up to total slayer speed yet, but really? She's not getting any vampire vibe from Angel? And no "something is not quite right about you" None at all? That always bugged me.

"I am weary, and their deaths will bring me little joy. Of course, sometimes a little is enough."
--The Master

I never liked Darla, even when we were supposed to feel sympathy for her in later plots.

I love the vampire family lessons. Family matters, as we saw in The Pack.


"No speaking up - that way leads to madness and sweaty palms."
--Willow

I had forgotten how completely stupid Angel is and how easily he allows himself to be setup. Really?

Joss' vampires do love monolouging, don't they?

"See ya' around?"
Buffy to Angel

And, as I said, first time around, this relationship is *such* a bad idea. Deuling death wishes, age difference, serious conflict of interest, and then there's the unfortunate instability of Angel's soul.

Not that I didn't enjoy the hell out of every angst-filled moment of it, but it just shouldn't happen.

I, Robot...You, Jane

"You are a thing of evil for not telling me this right away!"

Uh oh - he's not hacking into the mainframe, is he?! And what's with the two different birthdays (10-24-80, and 5-something-79) in her file? Neither of which is the January whatever that people just celebrated. Interesting.

Jenny: You here again? You kids really dig the library.
Buffy: We're literary!
Xander: To read makes our speak English good.

Giles: There's a demon in the internet
Jenny: I know.

Buffy: "Let's face it - none of us are ever going to have a happy, normal relationship."
Xander: "We're doomed!"
--Awkward silence, fade to black.
Buffy and Xander, "cheering Willow up" after she says that the only boy that's liked her was a demon robot, by reminding her that their track record includes a vampire and a giant preying mantis.

So, this episode introduces "techno pagan" Jenny Calendar." I'd forgotten that she did, in fact reveal her pagan knowledge right away, remembering only that there are Very Important Things that she does not reveal.



The Puppet Show
Anthony Stewart Head's face is amazing when Charisma Carpenter is butchering The Greatest Love of all. And when Buffy and The Scoobies are getting drafted for the talent show.

Here's a question: why would anyone *ever* stay late at this school for *anything*?

Principal Schneider: Principal Flutie would have said "Kids need understanding. Kids are human beings. That's the kind of wooly-headed liberal thinking that leads to being eaten."
--One of my favorite lines ever, which i had forgotten until I heard it again

Principal Schneider: There are things I will not tolerate. Students loitering on campus after hours. Horrible murders with hearts being removed. And also, smoking.

Who ever thought ventriloquist dummies were an ok idea? They are creepy incarnate, even when they don't suddenly appear at your window. So not ok. And the pitter patter of little feet just makes it worse.

What a strange, unslayer-like reflex, to send your mom after the thing in the bed. Inconsistent writing much?

Giles : I'm sorry-- your hair...
Cordelia: There's something wrong with my hair?! (Running off)
Giles: Xander was right. It's worked like a charm.

Why does no one listen to the slayer when she says "I'm pretty sure I got attacked by the dummy." She's the slayer, kids. When she told you Xander was acting like an animal, he was an animal. When she told you the teacher was a monster, the teacher was a monster. If she tells you she's pretty sure the dummy is alive, you should at least consider the possibility that the dummy is alive.

I love how they automatically think he'll want a young brain. Smartest YOUNG brain around is Willow.

And there's the revelation. SAVE GILES' BRAIN!


"I don't get it. What is it. Avante garde."

"Oh, Oedipus, Oedipus, unhappy Oedipus. That is all that I can call you and all that I shall ever call you."

She's the strangest girl: Buffy 1.5 - Never Kill a Boy on the First Date, 1.6 - The Pack

Never Kill a Boy On the First Date

"Ok, at this point you're abusing sarcasm."

It's a little late for the "don't get involved, don't tell anyone" speech, isn't it? I mean, Giles is the one who didn't bother to check that there was no one in the library, which is how Xander found out.

"Clark Kent has a job - I just want to go on a date!"
--Buffy, when Giles tells her that maintaining a normal social life as the slayer isn't possible:

"He's like, super librarian. Everyone forgets, Willow, that knowledge is the ultimate weapon."
--Xander, about Giles, when Willow worries that he'll need help:

Owen: It's weird - one minute you're right there - I got you figured! The next minute, it's like you're two people.
Buffy: Which one do you like better?
Owen: I'll let you know.

Best line of the night, though, has to be "Pork and beans...pork and beans!" Of course there's a crazy religious fanatic vampire mistaken for messiah figure of the brotherhood of vampires. Whedon's work is so fascinatingly anti-religious, while simultaneously being deeply religious.

And a predicament fueled by there being a beeper and no cell phone access - wow. Pre-cell phone era scenarios.


The Pack
This one is all spoiler all the time past this spoiler tag. They're possessed by hyenas.

I remember loving this episode the first time around, so have been looking forward to seeing it again. There's one scene in particular - the walk through the courtyard in pack formation - that I consider one of the best moments in all seven seasons. It does not disappoint.

"Family Matters" (Written on the info in front of the elephant exhibit.)

In the episode booklet for The Chosen Collection, Whedon lists The Pack first on his list of favorite episodes, saying that it took them months to figure out that one of the main gang needed to be infected, "one of the most valuable lessons for the rest of the show." Boy, did they take that one to heart.

Oh, the dodgeball scene. Classic. I've actually seen that happen, and I'm pretty sure none of my classmates had been possessed by hyenas. If I'd been in middle school when I watched this show, I'd have called the mean kids hyenas from then on.

And here it is - The Courtyard Scene. Still great. Not sure I noticed the first time how alpha Xander is in all this.

Giles: Testosterone is the great equalizer; it turns all men into morons.

Buffy: I cannot believe that you, of all people are trying to Scully me. There is something supernatural going on here - get your books! Look stuff up!

Oh, Principle Flutie. Oh, Xander. I had managed to forget this part. Both of these parts. They made it clear very early on that they were not playing.

And here's a scenario that will later be very familiar. Willow in the library with the cage.

Ahhhhh - run, lady with baby, RUN!!!

Also, Willow? Usually the smart one? Back the hell up off that cage and stop being stupid. Thank you.

And Giles? Why are you so gullible/trusting?

So, in addition to the awesome with which the creepy wrongness of this episode is handled (Xander goes bad well, and the pack is well filmed), the hurt, confusion and betrayal each step of Xander's  hyena-ing is met with (from both Willow and Buffy), and Buffy's immediate "this badness simply *cannot* be Xander"  are well done, and serve to underscore the "family matters" noted above. This of course makes it all the more disturbing/touching that the bitterness towards Buffy's love of dangerous men is not completely not-Xander (it will come up repeatedly, and often at times when Xander is more sympathetic), and also begins to lay the groundwork for the other times that one Scooby or another will have to remember that this badness/betrayal/confusing choice or behavior simply *cannot* in essence be allowed to alter the love felt for another Scooby.

The good stuff really does begin early, despite my maligning of the first season (monster of the week, high corniness factor, lots of terrible special effects). I wonder if I'd have appreciated it as much if I'd seen it in order? (I saw starting from 2nd season Halloween, then watched the 1st season in reruns.)


OK, that's all the Buffy I'm allowed until the weekend. I don't know how much I'll blog of the rest of the rewatch to come - probably short thoughts on many, longer thoughts on some.

Buffy 1.3 - Witch, 1.4 - Teacher's Pet

Witch
Wow. I did *not* remember that this witch thing started so early. But, the witch excitement is not the only thing that starts early.

Joyce: "I don't get it."

Buffy: "I'm inscrutable, huh?"

Joyce: "You're 16."

I always had trouble with how not awesome Joyce was as a mom. Now, that seems to be a necessary part of having a superhero child - how else could you spend most of your evening out slaying if your mom were really on top of it? (There's a fantastic moment some time way later where Buffy asks just that, but in a much more dramatic way.) But it was also always clear that she's distracted for very understandable reasons, especially at the beginning. Single mom, working hard to start over, and there is that whole "if you don't know about the slaying you just think Buffy is hardcore teenage drama and a pretty serious discipline case to boot." And, of course, with the other stuff going on in the episode, there's a little perspective to be had.

And then there's the dad stuff with Giles. Seriously, who doesn't want a dad who will cast out evil forces and take on a crazy witch to save your life? Or, you know, just be there and not suck. That relationship is, of course, one of the best parts about the show.

Favorite lines:

Xander:- What do you mean - we're a team! Aren't we a team?

Willow: Yeah. You're the Slayer, and we're like, the Slayerettes.

Xander: For I am Xander - king of cretins. May all lesser cretins bow before me.

Amy's mom: I shall look upon my enemy and the dark place shall have her soul.


Teacher's Pet

I take back what I said about not spoiling. These entries will be spoilery, though I will spoilery tag huge things. 

It bugs me that the stake in Xander's dream went into the wrong side of the vampire's chest.

OMG. The lead singer of the band at The Bronze is wearing a ginormous shiny silver shirt. OMG.

It's interesting watching from the beginning - I forget what a really bad slayer she was at the start.

Excellent lines

Principle Flutie: HEAL!

Buffy: Giles, while we're young.

Buffy, as Angel walks away: Oh, boy.

Buffy 1.1 - Welcome to the Hellmouth, 1.2 - The Harvest

1/16 picture

Welcome to the Hellmouth
"In every generation, there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the slayer."

I will not blog them all, but thought jotting down some highlights from the first set might be fun, especially since I didn't watch them in order the first time. If I had, the first scene might had sold me on it. I think I'll try not to include spoilers in these comments (or at least to spoiler block them, though it will be best to watch before reading if you intend to watch), but let's just say it's characteristically fantastic. I recognized the actress, but if I hadn't, it would have been a great surprise.

PS: SPOILERS! I mean, it's been 16 years, tho.

One girl in all the world...

My friend J. was kind enough to give me a lift home from a holiday party tonight, and suggested that we watch an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I've had Whedon on the brain lately, as I've been working on a couple of Whedon-related proposals, so - oh, who am I kidding - I'd have been psyched to watch an episode of Buffy regardless! She suggested something from season two (a great season), and we settled on "I Only Have Eyes for You." I don't think I'd seen that one since it aired (somehow, I have not rewatched most of the show) but, once it came back to me, it came back to me that it had been one of my my favorites. In context, when I was watching that traumatic arc unfold, that episode was heartbreaking (except for the shocker in the final scene). Watching it tonight, what stuck out to me most strongly was how unforgiving Buffy could be, especially of herself. This was really highlighted in the Angel/Angelus arc, but it was one of the central aspects of her character. I always liked the way her unwavering sense of rightness both defined her heroism and problematized her humanity, and the way her Scooby gang strengthened her by softening her.

God, I miss that show.

Speaking of which, I've been saying for a while that I should rewatch Buffy, especially since I'll be teaching it and trying to write on it. I came across this post recently, about a Great Buffy Rewatch that someone (Nikki Stafford, the author of Bite Me, an unofficial companion guide to BtVs) has organized, and I think I'm going to watch along with her. Well, sort of. I don't know if I'll keep to the 3 eps. a week schedule, but I'll use it as a rough guide. I might go more month to month. She'll be blogging about it and will have lots of interesting looking guest bloggers (scholars, sports writers, novelists, TV companion writers, poets, pop culture bloggers, etc) writing about episodes, so I look forward to reading that (info about contributors), and I'm sure you'll see some links to some of that, and some comments over here in the peanut gallery.

I also look forward to writing a bit about it myself - yes, you can expect to see a lot of Buffy posts over the next year as I participate in the rewatch and use the blog to record at least some of my thoughts on the show. Let me know if any of you decide to watch along as well, either all the way through or in parts. Let me know especially if you're local, and would like to get together for some Buffy watching! Unlike the site linked above, I will not be restricting myself to Tuesday nights.