Re: Re: Normal Again Mini-Review

[Jason Rune <winter_herald@xxxxxxxxx>]

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> I really think Guiterrez was playing at something in the subtext. The
> weird thing was the lack of touchage during all those sincere moments
> and declarations. It was almost as if SMG and AH were NOT supposed to
> touch. Or maybe I'm just making shit up. :) Just seemed like there
> was a big disconnect between the words & tone, and SMG/AH's body
> language & blocking.

They were shown holding hands right after Buffy's line about falling for 
Willow. But only for a moment, as Xander burst in the door.

> > Buffy told her parents about vampires back in LA? And they sent her
> > to a clinic? Was this ever mentioned before? Oh... they '"forgot."
> > Retcon.
>
> That is one story element I'm really having trouble with. I'm not sure
> why that bit was there, other than to add weight to the final scene.
>
> hmmm...OTOH, I think it paradoxically helps to explain Joyce's S1-2
> cluelessness. That is, saying that Joyce and Hank "forgot" reinforces
> how implausible it was that they didn't know. You know?

I suppose. Denial can be a powerful thing, and the people of the hellmouth 
seem to be pretty good at it. Sometimes I wonder if there isn't some sort 
of magical compulsion over the whole town preventing people from seeing the 
demonic truth. I wouldn't put it past la Boca del Inferno. Even so, it 
seems like a pretty major part of Buffy's life, as a girl and a slayer, for 
us not to have found out about it by now. Hence, retcon.

> > Spike is laying it on thick, isn't he? It's not nice to tell someone
> > they're addicted to misery while they're sick and out of it.
>
> Good gods, I wanted to throttle him!

Join the club. I have double the problems with it because my mom, who 
adores Spike and think's he's morally superior to the Scoobs much of the 
time, took the scene as an example of his "honesty." Eep. Of course, most 
of the time she's just teasing. I think.

> > And tying up Willow in the basement. This is bad :(
>
> I would have loved to have seen that happen. Someone needs to write a
> fic of that missing scene.

But it wasn't in a fun, kinky way. It looked uncomfortable, with duct tape.

> > No, not Dawn... oh wait, I forgot that
> > they're making M.T. be a whiney little drop this season.
>
> Her first scene turned me off so badly that I had to work to empathise
> with her in the chase scene. Did you notice how similar Spike's and
> Dawn's reactions were? MT has her acting moments and I think she did a
> pretty good job with that 2nd scene, but her character is intolerable!
> I keep trying to give Dawn the benefit of the "15-year-old" doubt, but
> I can only be pushed so far!

I just watched "Spiral" on FX. In season 5 Dawn actually managed to be 
pretty nice some of the time. But this season she's laying it on way too 
thick. Buffy's dealing with the possibility of her whole world being a 
delusion, and Dawn starts spouting off about how in Buffy's "ideal world" 
she doesn't exist, of course. Self-centered and just plain irrational, much?

> That last Buffy-Joyce scene was great. Buffy has accepted her mother's
> death, internalised her, and is trying to move forward. Nice stuff,
> and well-played by KS and SMG.

Yes, Kristine did a good job... and it's nice to see that Buffy's finally 
waking herself up, even if it took a delusion of her mother trying to 
convince her that everything else was a delusion to do the job.

> > Wouldn't that have made a nifty series finale?
>
> ummmm....no. ;-) It was a FAB ep, IMO, but I would have felt
> unsatisfied had it been a series finale. Too cheaty.

I would have been amused :) I mean, I wouldn't suggest just moving this ep 
to the end, as there are still too many unresolved issues, but the concept 
could make for a really twisted finish.

> I think this was the 2nd best ep of the season, easily. I was riveted
> from beginning to end.

I'd also rate it highly. But what do you think comes in 1st? I'm rather 
torn. Bargaining was fairly solid, the musical was hilarious but lacked a 
great plot, Tabula Rasa was also funny but lacked the B/W interaction it 
should have had, Dead Things appealed to my dark, twisted, demented side, 
and Hell's Bells was a nice return to what I think is the old and at least 
partially healthy Buffy.

> your fic rocks.

Aww, shucks. And here I've been neglecting fic writing *and* reviewing in 
favor of school and computer stuff. I'll be back in force soon, promise.


Jason Rune (Zephyr)

"No one's going to go see the story of Othello going to get a peaceful 
divorce."
-Joss Whedon


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