Re: Re: OT: My Season 6 review

[danspector@xxxxxxxxx]

Thomas,

First, thanks for the props on the fic. Second, I'll try to respond to
most of what you brought up at a later date, but given that it's been
three months since I posted a fic, it's probably not a good idea to hold
your breath on my accomplishing any given task. Just take what comes
and either enjoy it, or hold your nose and hit "delete", depending on
your opinion of my opinions (and fics, if such animals are ever seen
again).

But I did want to quickly comment on the point DEM responded to. While
Willow's power has not reached the heights you've imagined in her
battles from "Tough Love" on, it has increased enough to make her a
significant force in any battle she partakes in. After all, in "The
Gift" Buffy said Willow was the strongest of any of them, the "big gun".
Thus it became necessary to slap her down, powerwise, since it ain't her
show, after all. This could have been accomplished either by making her
become the Big Bad (which I felt would damage the show thematically, and
which could only be explained by a hackneyed "power corrupts"
motivation--conveniently ignoring that Buffy's power hasn't corrupted
HER), or by the current addiction arc, which has been badly executed,
but which I still prefer to the Evil Willow they seemed to be headed for
earlier.

But that still begs the question: Season 6 defenders claim that you
don't need an external Big Bad, that the internal conflicts are what
will move the season-arc. I disagree with that theory, since I think
that external pressures spur internal change (like the seduction of
governmental power led to the splintering of the gang in Season 4, or
like how the threat of Glory caused a redefinition of Buffy's
relationship with Dawn), but let's go with that theory for a moment.
Since the individual Season 6 fights are supposed to be so unimportant
that we don't need involving villains or plots or a feeling of danger,
why not advance the "damn, I think Willow's getting a little too
powerful" story by having her kick some major ass in what would probably
be some pretty cool visuals? Instead, she was ineffective in the combat
in "Bargaining" and didn't see action again until "Wrecked". It would
be more alarming if Tara was worried by Willow kicking undead booty all
over the place, rather than by some party decorations. For a good
little Wiccan, Tara apparently missed "An' harm none, do what ye will"
in the Wiccan Rede.

Oh, and while I hate the trick "Enemies" plays on the audience with a
fiery passion, the acting and directing keep it from coming close to a
"worst ep" nomination, IMO. (Particularly good is David Boreanaz being
Angelus, but not quite, so that you can just get the hint he might be
faking.) It's not even the worst in the "ha! fooled you!" genre--that
goes to last year's "Blood Money" on "Angel". Indeed, the fake-out plot
is executed better in the recent "Dad" than it was in "Enemies", but I
still rate "Enemies" higher for the overall quality of the work. Of
course, it would have been much better if they just made it that Angel
was faking but hadn't had time to clue anyone else in, thus not ruining
Buffy's well-expressed horror by having it all be an act.

Geez, now I'm reviewing Season 3 eps. Anyway, thanks for responding,
and thanks to DEM for her comment. And I'll try to get back on more of
your letter later.

Dan