Re: :Something New (or Tracey Forbes and UC-Shipping)

[danspector@xxxxxxxxx]

Well, I think the reason for "Beer Bad" 's popularity in fic is that
Buffy is stripped down to her basic impuilses, there's no artifice for
her to hide behind, so it's easy for writers to imagine her "true
feelings" coming out.

And it's not only with Willow, the ep is quite popular among B/Xers as
well. I remember I wasn't online then, but I hadn't handed in my B/X
badge yet, and, never mind "boy smell nice", all the B/X interaction had
me "awww"-ing, particularly the bit where Xander has his whole "sympathy
and a lighter" scheme to get the girls--and yet when a hottie comes in
and actually WANTS that from him, he's busy worrying about Buffy getting
drunk,and blows her off. Awww (see, I can still do it).

Indeed, it seems early Season 4 was a key point for all Scooby 'ships.
These lists were formed then, for example. And I've been to B/G sites,
where they've ooohed about how Giles, no longer stuck in
Watcher/Librarian mode, was being made over into sexy cycle-riding,
Olivia-banging, "Hugh Hefner" guy. Plus the whole point of "the
Freshman" is how disoriented Buffy feels by her new college experience,
and how she needs her buds to keep her upright.

With the overwhelming presence of Angel and B/A gone, and with Buffy
being used and abused by Parker the stereotypical college jerk, B/W B/X
and B/G fans alike were thinking that this was an indication that the
next step in Buffy's growth would be to reject the surface charms of
random guys and come home to someone who truly loves her.

Unfortunately, little did the fans know at the time that we'd get
subjected to a diet of Biff Lanternjaw (?David Hines), that the new
improved Giles so beloved of the B/G crowd was because they didn't have
a clue what to do with him, that Xander's "your my hero" speech would
swiftly be replaced by limiting his character to practically no screen
time (just long enough for the weekly "Hi, I'm Anya, and I like sex!"
joke)--

Of course, to be fair to Anya, in Season 5 they doubled her character,
moving away from "Hi, I'm Anya and I like sex!" to the brave new world
of "Hi, I'm Anya and I like money! And also sex!". (Seems like the
logical Season 6 development would have been for her to become a
hooker?)

--and that while Willow was moving straight (npi) towards lesbianism
(as is obvious in retrospect from the "Id boy" speech in "Beer Bad"),
she'd end up locked away in Tara's Secret Room, where there was no
danger of her infecting, er, affecting Buffy and Sledge McMuscles, Ourr
Hero. So Season 4,which began on such a pro-Scooby note, endied with
Buffy more separated from the gang than ever--the better to prove that
they're not really her friends after all and cut her free to be with her
true love, Spike-ums. (Oops, went back into Bitterland there--B/S is
over, and that wasn't the point, really--it just seemed like it during
the two years o' crap)

Anyway, people's foolish expectations for the arc aside, the reason
Tracey Forbes's eps are so good for fic is the same reason they're bad
TV--some artificial outside element removes Buffy's normal inhibitiions
and lets her get moved around like a chesspiece for purposes of the
plot. Makes for fun "what if"s, but it's a cheap substitute for real
drama.

To be fair, "Something Blue" is a fun romp, and there's a lot to like
about "Beer Bad", if you're willing to ignore the lame anti-booze
preaching (okay, that's like trying to ignore the vampire parts of
"Angel", but still?). Of course, one of the nice things about
"BB"--the last pure B/W/X scene for 56 eps--wouldn't be noticeable
until we'd suffered through the ensuing drought, but it's there anyway.

Getting back to what was--honest!--the original point of this letter,
Kirayoshi is either VERY modest or very forgetful, since DEM said she'd
never been able to find B/W-centric "Something Blue" fic,and he didn't
mention his own little gem based on the episode.

It's called "My Will Be Done" and it's at Pink Rabbit (
http://www.altfic.com )

And if you want "Hush"-based fic, head right to slayerhacker for
Janine's "More Than Words", although you absolutely should also read the
delightful first story in that series "A Little Birdie Told Me So".

And, Pedder, in case you're wondering, I also loved your story, and will
give a proper review later. Write more! (Please?)

Dan

seriously long-winded today