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Re: OT (on some lists): My review of
"Hell's Bells"
Date: Thu, 07 Mar 2002 21:46:10 +0000
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Excellent points Dan! I agree with most of that - I happen to like
B/X in addition to B/W, but hey - that just means that either way,
things are probably going to go my way :-). That threw me, too, the
fact that Willow - who was supposedly out looking for Xander - all of
a sudden swept in and held poor frightened Tara. And yeah, for the
entire last 10 minutes of the episode, I KNEW we would be teased about
whether or not Anya would rejoin D'Hoffryn - and therefore I was
really conflicted about the ending - 'twas the pain of not knowing
combined with the joys of A) being right and B) experiencing such a
nice cliffhanger. Anyways, yeah...
Nathan Campbell
NathanCampbell@xxxxxxxxxxxx
When sun sprays the earth
with straight-falling flames,
a cricket rubs his wings,
scraping up thin sweet song.
-Sappho
danspector@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
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<tt>
=FFis now available at<BR>
<a =
href=3D"http://community.webtv.net/danspector/hellsbellsreview";>http://c=
ommunity.webtv.net/danspector/hellsbellsreview</a><BR>
<BR>
This is an On-The-Fly review (i.e., I stop at each commercial and =
review<BR>
what I just saw), so some of the stuff in the beginning will be<BR>
contradicted by the end.<BR>
<BR>
Anti-B/Sers, I am searching for B/W portents here, but it's not a =
total<BR>
'shipfest.<BR>
<BR>
Multi-shippers on the B/W lists, this is anti-B/S, but I'm pretty =
nice<BR>
about it this week.<BR>
<BR>
And if you're both B/W and anti-B/S, dig in and enjoy!<BR>
<BR>
For those who just want a few thoughts,<BR>
<BR>
f<BR>
o<BR>
l<BR>
l<BR>
o<BR>
w<BR>
<BR>
m<BR>
e<BR>
<BR>
d<BR>
o<BR>
w<BR>
n<BR>
<BR>
h<BR>
e<BR>
r<BR>
e<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Ahhhh. Now that's more like it. I've been wondering =
where the show<BR>
has been all year (even the musical was essentially a plotless =
stunt,<BR>
albeit entertaining), but now we're back on board. The death =
knell of<BR>
B/S, omens for a B/W or B/X future, lots of funny stuff and then a =
shift<BR>
to serious matters and a far-too-long delayed examination of =
Xander's<BR>
issues.<BR>
<BR>
It's like my wildest dreams=FFthey put an end to B/S, and the show =
is<BR>
good again. So simple I don't know why they didn't do it =
sooner.<BR>
<BR>
Things I Liked:<BR>
<BR>
Opening with a cute B/W scene<BR>
<BR>
The Ironic Cut at the end of the teaser. Reinforcing the Ironic =
Teaser<BR>
Cut in "Smashed" ("you've got no one else; cut to =
Willow, meaning<BR>
that's who Buffy has) by validating the technique through re-use.<BR>
<BR>
Buffy acting more normal through the ep. Keep her away from Spike =
and<BR>
the slayer healing will have her back to herself in no time.<BR>
<BR>
Anya's line "I get to be with my best friend forever!" =
Since Anya has<BR>
never called Xander her best friend before, that line is probably =
there<BR>
to define how Kirshner and Marti view an ideal marriage. So =
people (ie<BR>
Buffy) should be with their best friend, huh? Much 'shipper =
joy.<BR>
<BR>
The Buffy/Xander stuff. B/X is okay (except that it leaves Willow =
out<BR>
of it=FFI'd rather pair either of them with her), but the simple<BR>
introduction of possibilities other than B/S means that we have a =
future<BR>
in a better direction. Besides, I still see an X/Ay hookup down =
the<BR>
road, which leads a friend-lovin' Buffy right to the redhead.<BR>
<BR>
Cutting from "Sometimes two people bring each other nothing but =
pain" to<BR>
B/S. Thank you very much.<BR>
<BR>
Spike admitting he doesn't see Buffy being happy when she's with =
him,<BR>
and he likes her when she is.<BR>
<BR>
B/S both being nicer people when they're apart. See, it was bad =
for<BR>
both of them.<BR>
<BR>
Buffy not being flustered, or struggling to deny a passion for =
Spike.<BR>
"It hurts, a little." That's not reconciliation, that's =
moving on (with<BR>
just a tinge of regret). It took her a whole year to get to this =
point<BR>
with Angel ("The Yoko Factor"), but then, Spike hardly means =
as much to<BR>
her.<BR>
<BR>
Spike disappearing from the episode quickly. He's a support, not =
the<BR>
hero, like B/Sers started to think he was.<BR>
<BR>
Xander/Willow hugs.<BR>
<BR>
Buffy/Willow touch (incredibly brief though it was).<BR>
<BR>
LOTS of continuity references.<BR>
<BR>
D'Hoffryn (Andy Umberger is always great)<BR>
<BR>
Anya's vows (final version)<BR>
<BR>
"The Wedding March" playing for Buffy. A portent?<BR>
<BR>
Buffy asking "anybody from out of town?" Heh.<BR>
<BR>
Buffy juggling.<BR>
<BR>
Finally, some serious issues on the show, not just moping and porn. =
<BR>
<BR>
I like light eps that turn serious, like "The Replacement" or =
"Couplet".<BR>
Tragedy and comedy should co-exist, especially on a Hellmouth.<BR>
<BR>
The possibility of Anya going Big Bad on us. <BR>
<BR>
B/W/D being a family at the end.<BR>
<BR>
Dawn not being a brat.<BR>
<BR>
Buffy not being pathetic.<BR>
<BR>
No Mary Sue characters (Riley, Sam, Tara in ep 14) making speeches.<BR>
Show, not tell, storytelling.<BR>
<BR>
Joyce and Hank in next week's preview.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Things I didn't like:<BR>
<BR>
Willow still being too much of a puppy around Tara (although I =
sense<BR>
they're setting up a fall there, so I'm not really worried).<BR>
<BR>
Willow rescuing Tara when she's supposed to be out hunting Xander.<BR>
<BR>
Xander completely blowing off the idea that "Future Xander" =
was from the<BR>
future, initially. Hello? Hellmouth? Ring any =
bells?<BR>
<BR>
Xander's issues not (yet) including child abuse. Go all the way =
and say<BR>
it, already.<BR>
<BR>
The possibility of big-time B/X (but I don't think =
so=FFVisionXander,<BR>
whom Xander hated, never got over Buffy, so doesn't that mean Xander =
has<BR>
to? Isn't working through his issues going to lead him back to =
Anya?)<BR>
<BR>
No mention of Giles, AGAIN. Can't he send a gift?<BR>
<BR>
That it took 15 eps to start things going this year. In =
particular, the<BR>
Xander/Anya story wasted countless opportunities for real comedy, =
and<BR>
hints of pathos, all year long.<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
Grade: 8.5 out of 10 Best "real" ep of the year, =
despite the musical<BR>
scoring higher on Style Points.<BR>
<BR>
One down, six to go. Keep your eye on the ball, Marti, and you =
still<BR>
might salvage something from the season.<BR>
<BR>
</tt>
<br>
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