Re: Thoughts on "Him" 7.6 [Spoilers]

[JDMeans@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 11/6/2002 8:32:55 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
danspector@xxxxxxxxx writes:

> 
> I'm
> 
> finishing 
> 
> up 
> 
> the 
> 
> review 
> 
> this 
> 
> evening
> 
> and
> 
> while
> 
> I'm 
> 
> normally
> 
> tempted to keep people in suspense,
> 
> because some folks don't like the ep, 
> 
> and because other folks don't like the fact that I don't like a lot of
> the eps,
> 
> 
> ...I thought it be a good idea to just come out and say that I thought
> it was the best ep of the year. 
> 
> Yes, the plot was a reworking of an old story, but frankly, unoriginal
> plots are not the thing that most weeks gets my vitriol going. And this
> was less of a ripoff of "BB&B" than "Dead Things" was a total steal from
> "Bad Girls/Consequences" or "Older and Far Away" was equal parts "The
> Wish" and "Fear, Itself".
> 
> I kind of compare it to "Gone". Like "Gone" it takes an old plot
> (invisibility, irrational love) and tackles it from a somewhat different
> angle. I certainly think that "Gone" and "Him" fall short of "OoM, OoS"
> and "BB&B" in the theme department, but that they succeed as just plain
> entertainment.
> 
> I suppose a lot of people have inverted reactions to "Him" based on how
> they enjoy the current eps. If coldhearted Buffy, the redemption of
> Spike and Spuffy angst are your thing, you may find the ep lightweight
> and trivial. OTOH, I'm quite grateful for an ep that tells a story, is
> consistently funny, and gives me very little to bitch about.
> 
> (Also, Dawn=hot. Which is kind of scary, when you think about it.)
> 
> Bring on the fluff!
> 
> Dan
> 
> the happiest mod in mod-land :) 
> 

OMIGOD!

Who are you and what have you done with our Dan? I mean, our curmodgenly 
list mod actually admitting to liking an episode? Without the usual vitriol 
about how the show's jumped the shark and this is the last ep he'll ever 
watch?

Dan, I love you like a brother. I believe everyone on both lists to a person 
would be proud to lift up a cold one in your honor. But I tend to avoid your 
reviews like the Klez worm. Not because of the spoilers, but because the 
ones I've read tended to make you out to be a little anger-ball. Now, after 
Season six, I can understand that well enough, but that was then. Joss has 
owned up to the faults of last season time and again, and from what I've 
heard(WAH! I still don't get UPN in Spokane!) he and his writers have been 
working on retooling the show. Making Dawn less shrill, rethinking the whole 
"Magic=addictive drug" attitude, and above all else, lightening up! Not to 
mention that this season so far has given us Buffy/Willow writers more 
material to work with than all of last season! I've already read at least 
three very nice stories set after 'Same Time Same Place', where Buffy is 
meditating with Willow, giving away her strength. 

So who knows? Maybe Joss's rep isn't so much a myth as you think? Maybe 
there's hope for the show. Okay, I'm a hopeless optimist. Someone has to 
counter the Grumpasaurus Dan!

Kirayoshi
PS. "Firefly" is getting better too, IMO. Nice to see Joss write a married 
couple, not to mention a religious character. Plus for once, a lead 
character who doesn't have a great destiny(that we know of yet). And I'm in 
love with Kaylee!