Re: Spoilers/Speculation: Season 7

["sochankitsune" <annelise@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In buffywantswillow@y..., "blinviz" <debvii@y...> wrote:
> --- In buffywantswillow@y..., "sochankitsune" <annelise@s...> wrote:
> 
> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > 
> > > I'm 
> > > 
> > > going
> > > 
> > > to
> > > 
> > > have 
> > > 
> > > to
> > > 
> > > use 
> > > 
> > > our 
> > > 
> > > friendly
> > > 
> > > Spoiler
> > > 
> > > Space,
> > > 
> > > right?
> > > 
> > > 
> 

> What the huh? Since when is Willow subject to the Council?

Directly, she's not. The remit of the Watcher's council isn't just 
about the Slayers's welfare, however, as we'll be finding out. For 
those of us who've read Anne Rice's novels, the Talamasca should be 
most familiar. If not, then imagine a cross between Indiana Jones' 
Museum Patron ("Do you have that magical item, Indy? Ah, good, 
good!") and The Mummy's Bembridge Scholars.

>From Grave:
Giles: I came as soon as I heard.
Buffy: The Council?
Giles: The Council haven't a clue. About much of anything, really.

The whole point of showing the Watcher's Council (at all) is 
threefold:

1. It shows that Giles (and Buffy) have some sort of accountability, 
and its been that accountability that's been missing in Season 6. 
(From Joss's (Or rather Marti's) point of view, that was the whole 
point of season 6.) And Accountability and Duty will be the 
watchwords for Season 7 as Buffy finally matures into the Slayer the 
Watcher's council would be pleased with - A woman at balance with 
herself and her powers. Expect much vampire-bashing this next season.

2. The Watcher's Council will be making their way into the BBC's 
portfolio of crap TV. The 'Ripper' concept was approved by the BBC's 
Borehamwood studio (Makers of Grange Hill, Eastenders and Top of the 
Pops - as well as Dr. Who!) but Anthony Stewart-Head isn't going to 
be as available as first hoped. (Manchild was a flop, and his 
apearances in Spooks has limited his appeal as a reusable actor in 
the BBC portfolio.) Especially as Giles will be coming back in Season 
7 as a mainstay, not as a bit-parter.

3. Joss is a big England fan. The whole scones and tea-cosy thing. 
Even though very few Englanders actually like scones or even own a 
tea cosy. (Although many of us as girls wore the tea cosy on our 
heads, wrapped a beach towel over our shoulders, and pretended we 
were Linda Carter.)

The original Ripper concept was that Giles returned to England a 
broken man mourning his Slayer *in the eyes of the Council* and was 
given tasks to perform in an almost mercenary manner. (Again 
reminiscent of Indiana Jones, but without the action. More like 'A 
Touch of Frost' or 'Miss Marple'). Due to commitments and BBC apathy 
(Lethargy is our strategy!) it never happened, and Giles returns to 
Sunnydale having invoked assistance from a coven near Devon, (which 
is an amusing in-joke for those of you who have been to Devon) and 
even the convoluted beaurocracy of the hidebound Watcher's Council 
are unable to miss the signs.

I think Season 7 will be fantastic, especially with the authenticity 
(Joss: Normally, if we're, say, pretending to be in Venice, it'd be, 
like, pass the goblet...) and I really think you should come back to 
the fold, Dan.

Please?

Anne-Lise.