Re: "As You Were" (Nathan Campbell)

["debvii" <debvii@xxxxxxxxx>]

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I can see both sides of the "breakup" debate. On the one hand, I do 
think this was supposed to be the real breakup for really truly, with 
possible challenges & re-affirmations to follow. OTOH, I think it was 
mis-played. This was one scene for which I think Joss should have 
"come downstairs" and supervised. First, I think JW directs SMG better 
than Petrie does. Sarah came off far too much like her earlier "no-yes" 
Buffy self. Perhaps she was going for quiet resolve and sympathy (and, 
remember, SMG is still playing Buffy as depressed), but it sounded too 
much like uncertainty in places, and I, like Dan, caught a few odd, 
Xander-hears-'Faith' twitches in there.

Second, while I'm all for Spike-empathy (vs. bashing) where it's 
warranted (as it was here), the scene should have been about BUFFY, and 
Petrie is too unseasoned a director and too Spike-lovin a writer to get 
the balance right. Plus, too much of the weight of the ep went to B/R. 
I can only hope that ME knew they wanted to leave a little room for 
upcoming Spike-challenge/Buffy-reaffirmation scenes, so they didn't 
make this scene as BIG as we might expect for a Last Word on the 
Subject. ya know?

DEM