Re: Random, vapid B/W S3-4 observations

[danspector@xxxxxxxxx]

Interestingly, I give "Normal Again" points over "Earshot" because
there's a better connection between Buffy's physical problem and the
larger plot. (In "Earshot" the telepathy is mostly a means to start the
mystery, get Buffy out of the way for an act, and touch on the "growing
gulf between Buffy and Angel" sub-arc. Whereas in "NA", Buffy's problem
is the larger problem.)

But I give "Earshot" the nod because of better pacing, humor and
stronger bonds between the characters, so the scenes "feel" right.

As for S4 worship, well, **boggle**. That's my lowest-rated year
(before this one, alas). Sure Aly is "cute as a button", but that's
like saying "I liked Season 4 because the sun came up". I mean,
Aly=cute is pretty much a given, no?

Plus there is a savage dearth of B/W scenes the latter half of the year.
(And as a I wrote about "Normal Again", that's when we lost the "Three
Musketeers scenes, after "Beer Bad".) Between B/R, W/T, B/R and W/T
meaning absolutely no B/W, a bad main arc which got yanked in a
go-nowhere direction when Lindsay Crouse had to go do a movie, the
marginalization of Giles, the misuse of Spike, and many other things,
I'm not going to give the year so many props.  

But yes, B/W were major cute the first half of the year. And there's
subtext aplenty, since they were setting up the "Willow goes gay" plot
and the "Buffy needs someone nice" plot simultaneously. I still want to
pull some of Rod's old posts from the early days of these lists, which
were the start of Season 4 (he's practically giddy--and, unfortunately,
mistaken). But I agree, that was a huge missed opportunity, with Joss
not realizing that the two above-mentioned plots should lead to B/W.
("Hush" is still a damn-fine ep, but I can't watch it without a tinge of
sadness now...) 

However my fave subtext bit in "Living Conditions" (which, IMO, reeked
and is probably the worst thing Marti ever wrote) (Yes, worse than
"Wrecked"; DEM, get your jaw off the ground, it's not a good look for
you <g>) is later when Willow bemoans that she can't be there to comfort
Buffy because she has to study. When she says that ordinarily she'd be
there, "doing the girly best friend thing", to my 'shipper-crazed ears
it sounds like Will's pretty upset that THAT's her lot in life. Girly
best friend, and nothing more, alas. (No wonder she's bummed.)

Dan

PS--I had actually missed the news on Layne Staley, so thanks for
pointing that out. And because I like to end on a cheap, tasteless, and
probably already been done to death joke, let me say: Hmm, I guess he
really is the "Man in the Box", now.

Told you.