30 Days of Buffy. (Days 1-15)
11 Jul 2011 03:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
promethia_tenkSo, to anyone worried that I might have died of late: fear not! I have not been dead but instead have been watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer. All seven seasons in a few weeks. Ok, so it was a bit like being dead. I know I owe massive amounts of fic reading, responding to comments, and corresponding, so hopefully I shall be getting back to that soon--thank you all for your patience.
I've never watched Buffy before this. And, truthfully, never had much desire to outside of wanting to know what everybody keeps going on about. What else I've seen of Joss Whedon (Firefly, Dr. Horrible, a bit of Dollhouse) I've enjoyed but not felt rapturous about, besides which it all gives me slightly weird vibes--not enough to be seriously off-putting, but enough to say "this isn't really your show." Still . . . it's Buffy. A major point of cultural and fandom literacy. One of those things you've just got to watch. And Elisi was around to hold my hand and listen to my inevitable rantings. And I'm ignoring Doctor Who right now because I don't know what to do with it. So why not?
Long story short: I'm glad I've seen it now. It was a satisfying journey to take. But those slightly weird vibes were right--this is not my show and never will be. I like using these 30 day memes for condensing my thoughts, though, so have some thoughts under the cut. Errrr--probably if you love this show to pieces and can't hear a word against it, you should not read more.
This is a bit tricky to answer. Joss characters really don't tend to make me squeeful. There are ones I like more and ones I like less, but I can't think of a single Joss-created character who gives me that special tingly feeling that would naturally land them on a favorites list. But I do know that there was one "character" I found myself consistently rooting for every single season: the anti-Buffy. Whichever female character was currently making the most credible go at facing down Buffy/being a mirror/being the outside voice of reason/knocking Buffy down a peg/making a power grab/having hair that wasn't blond . . . whoever that was she instantly and predictably became my character of choice. Broke my heart every time. I regret nothing. Here's to you Cordelia Chase . . . Dawn Summers . . . Faith the Vampire Slayer . . . dark!Willow . . . Anya the Vengeance Demon . . . psych professor/Initiative director/evil scientist lady whose name I forget . . . Riley's kickass wife whose name I also forget . . . Drusilla the Awesomely Demented . . . . You get the idea. *raises glass*
Day 2 - favourite male character.
Giles is my homeboy.
Giles is my homeboy.
Day 3 - least favourite character.
Xander Harris. Christ, he's annoying. I am given to understand that there are complex, substantial, feminist reasons for me to hate him, but I've got better things to do with my time than spend more time thinking about him. Remember that time when Willow was being awesome and then Xander thwarted her and saved the world through the power of
Day 4 - favourite episode.
I don't know the title, but the one where we're left with the possibility that Buffy is actually a patient in a mental hospital, hallucinating her life as the chosen one. In case you didn't catch on with my answer about female characters, I'm a bit . . . antagonistic to the basic premise of this show, and Buffy's character doesn't do much for me, and this episode came along right at a point when I was feeling particularly fed up with the whole deal. And it was like it managed to voice every major gripe I had going through my head. Plus I'm just a total sucker for any story that involves not being able to tell what is reality and what's not--it's a trope I love always, and I actually think this was one of the more interesting ways I've ever seen it used. The ending of that episode gave me a lot of momentum going forward.
Day 5 - favourite season.
Season five. I thought Dawn was a brilliant addition and I like how meta her retconning felt. I liked how Buffy had to start growing up. I never cared much one way or the other for Buffy's mom, but I thought her death was well-handled and did good things for the story. I liked how the emotional center of the story drifted away from Buffy's relationship with her friends and towards the more family type relationships with Dawn and her mom, with Giles, and with Spike. I loooooved Dawn and Spike together. I liked that Spike was a consistent presence but could still serve as comic relief. I liked the resolution to Riley's storyline (I'd been urging him to get out for his own good almost from day one). Anya made Xander more tolerable. And I think the narrative arc/season finale were the strongest of any season. Only major downside was that Glory was seriously annoying.
Day 6 - favourite couple.
I feel rather un-shippy about this show. I spent most of my time wishing people out of relationships. If I had to choose a romantic coupling, I guess I'd go with Buffy/Spike (if "romantic" is the right word there), but I'd say I found them interesting more than that I shipped them particularly. The one relationship I consistently cared about and wanted more from, though, was Buffy and Giles--they were my platonic OTP. I would have been a lot more interested in a show that was primarily about the Slayer/Watcher relationship rather than the relationships between Buffy and her peers. I loved pretty much every single moment of substantial character interaction between them.
Day 7 - least favourite episode.
That one where Willow became awesome and sucked power out of books and stopped busses through the power of her awesome and was full of rage and grief and awesomeness and told Buffy she needed her butt kicked and then might have made a very satisfying end to the whole show by destroying the world but then she was THWARTED by Xander freaking Harris and the force of
Oh, wait . . . that never happened. Yup.
Day 8 - least favourite couple.
Xander and Willow. I would have fallen asleep from boredom except that I was too busy being angry at how much screen time their snooze-fest was taking up and yelling at Willow to get over it and move on already.
Day 9 - favourite villain.
Xander Harris.
Runner up: Angelus. I thought the parallels to his behavior as Angel were one of the most interesting things about season two--that perhaps the two of them were not so far separated as the people involved would like to believe.
Day 10 - something you liked that most people didn’t.
Bit hard to say since I'm not really in touch with the Buffy fandom. I thought Dawn was one of the best things to happen to the show, and I gather she's not all that popular. Also I like Riley. Ok, he's a bit dull to watch and he and Buffy were clearly doomed from the off, but I like him. I was so thrilled when he came back married and his wife seemed like someone who would actually communicate with him and would smack him upside the head and/or poke fun at him when he needed it. In my head cannon they are very happy.
Day 11 - something you hated that most people liked.
Same caveat as above. Plus I have to ask if there's anything in the whole Buffy-vese that "most people" agree on? I guess I'll say here that I've got no particular attachment to the core Scooby gang--neither Buffy nor Willow nor Xander do much for me--which does make caring about the show difficult, particularly when too much of the emotional weight of the show is hinging on the relationships between them. I did pick up some investment in Willow towards the end, once she started power-tripping, so I'm not sure if that might carry back if I ever decided to watch earlier seasons again.
Day 12 - least favourite season.
I thought season three was a drag. The storylines might have been better done than season four, but the mix of characters was somehow endlessly dull. Also, Faith the Vampire Slayer seemed like a potential high point, but after awhile I was feeling more and more like I was watching Kara Thrace . . . if someone stripped Kara Thrace of a whole lot of her complexity, nuance, and ambiguity; dyed her hair; and chained her to someone else's narrative for the sake of giving the hero a dark mirror character. Why should I want to watch that when I could be watching KARA FRAKING THRACE instead? Not impressed. Here, have some Kara Thrace:
Ahhh--that's better.
Day 13 - favourite character arc.
I'm gonna have to go with Buffy here. I don't actually like her all that much, and I'm tired of the freaking superhero crusader savior of the world story, but her development over the course of the whole show is seriously impressive. Credit where credit is due: she's a fantastically developed character, particularly in the later, darker seasons.
I'm gonna have to go with Buffy here. I don't actually like her all that much, and I'm tired of the freaking superhero crusader savior of the world story, but her development over the course of the whole show is seriously impressive. Credit where credit is due: she's a fantastically developed character, particularly in the later, darker seasons.
Day 14 - a scene that made you laugh.
The scene in the fourth season when Spike tried to bite Willow and found out he had a chip in his head and then they have a whole hysterical conversation as if he were suffering a bout of impotence and they were both insecure about it and trying to reassure each other. I was in stitches and wanting them to be bffs and paint each others' finger nails. Apparently this was wrong of me because that scene was a Rape Metaphor and the show was making light of it and therefore I ought to be cross. To which I say that VAMPIRES are rape metaphors (with a built-in 'blame the victim' mechanism, none the less--you have to invite them in!), which the show makes light of every damn episode, and I'm cross every time I come across yet another show/movie/book that glorifies vampires as objects of lust and teenage romantic ambition.
Day 15 - a scene that made you cry.
The scene at the prom when the school thanked Buffy and gave her that silly umbrella thing and Giles was proud of her. I'm such a creampuff.
The rest tomorrow, probably:
Day 16 - something that made you think “WTF?!”.
Day 17 - saddest character death.
Day 18 - best “Scooby Gang” line-up.
Day 19 - favourite Buffy moment.
Day 20 - favourite Willow moment.
Day 21 - favourite Xander moment.
Day 22 - favourite Giles moment.
Day 23 - wackiest-looking demon.
Day 24 - a character who didn’t get enough screentime.
Day 25 - rec a fanfic or fanvid (or both).
Day 26 - something that you wish had never happened.
Day 27 - something that you wish had happened.
Day 28 - sexiest scene.
Day 29 - ickiest scene.
Day 30 - whatever tickles your fancy.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 10:20 am (UTC)I was mental for this show as a kid/teenager but it doesn't grab me like it used to... my love for it now is mostly nostalgia I suppose.
(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 07:01 pm (UTC)season 7 is the worst by far. :P
See, I felt like 5, 6, and 7 (collectively) were pretty much the *point* and everything up to then was so much faffing about. 7 seemed like a very satisfying conclusion, although I suppose watching the whole thing at a pitch and not having time to think over what I might want instead could help a lot there. My point is, stepping back and looking at the broad strokes of the narrative, I think it worked well. But that might be me treating a TV show more like a book?
I was mental for this show as a kid/teenager but it doesn't grab me like it used to... my love for it now is mostly nostalgia I suppose.
This is why I'm scared to actually go back and watch any ST--I'm pretty sure it won't live up to my memories.
(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 11:57 pm (UTC)I want more episodes of that owl being creepy.
I have strong feelings on the AWFULNESS of season 7. It just feels, to me, like the show lost it's sense of humour and became depressing and tired. There are three great episodes, and the rest is just a slog. And Kennedy. Dear God I hate Kennedy.
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 01:04 pm (UTC)*points to icon and sticks tongue out*
(Plus, if you've not read the comics, you do not know awfulness. TRUST me.)
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 01:14 pm (UTC)I quit after the first one...
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 01:19 pm (UTC)Dude, I set up
I quit after the first one...
You are very wise. If they ever invent brain bleach, I'm getting some. (Mind you, I was [eventually] paid to read it. But still... UGH)
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 04:18 pm (UTC)<3 I missed you!
It just feels, to me, like the show lost it's sense of humour and became depressing and tired.
Ok, I can definitely agree with that. I think I liked it for what it was (and I really liked the way it dug into what it means to be the Slayer), but I can see a lot of justification for being upset about what it wasn't, especially if you were more attached to the earlier seasons that I was.
And Kennedy. Dear God I hate Kennedy.
Was she the potential who kept coming on to Willow? Why? I just stumbled over a whole lot of hate for her the other day and was scratching my head. I mean, she wasn't the greatest character, but I thought she livened things up a bit.
(no subject)
Date: 15 Jul 2011 09:22 am (UTC)Kennedy is a potential yeah, and she and Willow lesbian together. I found their whole relationship grating and lacking in chemistry. Having a thing for Tara probably didn't help though.
(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 11:06 am (UTC)*points to icon* :) (Incidentally, this was my first EVER icon. And I've never deleted it.)
Also, this made me laugh. A lot:
That one where Willow became awesome and sucked power out of books and stopped busses through the power of her awesome and was full of rage and grief and awesomeness and told Buffy she needed her butt kicked and then might have made a very satisfying end to the whole show by destroying the world but then she was THWARTED by Xander freaking Harris and the force of
mediocritylove.YELLOW CRAYONS! Don't diss the yellow crayons. Srsly though, I went to the dentist this morning, so half my face is all numb and I was trying to eat my lunch (using the not-numb part of my mouth) when I read this and nearly choked. *looks stern*
Apparently this was wrong of me because that scene was a Rape Metaphor and the show was making light of it and therefore I ought to be cross.
Well it's only the po-faced, grumpy part of fandom who thinks that. I don't hang out with that lot. :)
Anyway. LIFE IS CALLING ME. (Stupid life.)
ETA: I'm beginning to get a feeling that you ought to have an icon which says 'I blame elisi'...
(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 08:15 pm (UTC)That's what I use this one for ; )
*points to icon* :) (Incidentally, this was my first EVER icon. And I've never deleted it.)
<3
YELLOW CRAYONS! Don't diss the yellow crayons.
Stupid yellow crayons, always sticking their stupid yellow points in where they're not wanted. Ruining all those hostile bids to destroy the world. Insinuating themselves into touching childhood memories. You know who you never have these kinds of problems with? RED CRAYONS! Red crayons would never put up with this kind of BS . . . *grumble, grumble*
Srsly though, I went to the dentist this morning, so half my face is all numb and I was trying to eat my lunch (using the not-numb part of my mouth) when I read this and nearly choked. *looks stern*
The management is not responsible for any injuries sustained in the reading of this journal. Proceed at your own risk ; ) (Ugh, waiting for novocaine to wear off is the worst part of going to the dentist! *squish* Feeling any better yet?)
(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 08:39 pm (UTC)Dude, yellow crayons have NOTHING on My Little Ponies when it comes to childhood memories. I WILL TAKE ALL THE BLAME! ♥
*squish* Feeling any better yet?
Oh I'm OK. Guess I should know better than reading LJ...
OH HEY THERE NEW LJ HEADER BANNER THING. It's... brown and stuff.
(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 09:02 pm (UTC)That's good, because I do blame you personally for every thing that inspires me to use that icon.
OH HEY THERE NEW LJ HEADER BANNER THING. It's... brown and stuff.
Whuuuuu---? And also: ugh. *eyes LJ skeptically*
(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 09:31 pm (UTC)Oooh I'm the Spike to your Buffy:
SPIKE: So, am I wrong?
BUFFY: Everything about you is wrong, Spike.
*is pleased*
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 04:20 pm (UTC): P
(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 11:22 am (UTC)Which is probably why I also hate Riley. Not because I particularly loved anyone else instead, but because I was introduced to him during that whole vampire hookers "you don't pay me enough attention and I can't handle the fact you're stronger than me!" phase with Xander delivering righteous speeches about how she didn't appreciate him and just blech.
But yeah, I did love Dawn and Anya and Cordelia and just generally never really managed to find a major female character I connected with (or any character really) which was always the main problem I had with the show.
Mostly I spent most of the latter years not understanding why Angel got a spin-off but Anya and Tara as buddy-cops co-parenting Dawn never did. ::crossface:: :p
(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 08:54 pm (UTC)I definitely found Buffy more sympathetic and engaging in the later seasons, so I wonder if that would improve my opinion of early Buffy if I ever went back. The thing is, the things that people tend to praise about the character and her development I do genuinely appreciate. I don't like *her* much, personally (I mean, she's not someone I'd enjoy spending much time with), but that's hardly the be-all and end-all of fictional characters. My real annoyance is at her position in the story, the way Joss sets up the basic rules and mythology of the Slayer and the demons, the very polarized morality that he never quite manages to complicate or examine rigorously enough for my tastes, the way Buffy is pretty much always 'right' seemingly by virtue of being the Slayer . . . . I've been spoiled by true ensemble dramas. I think I'd like her a lot more and root for her more if I wasn't continually being told to--it just brings out all my contrariness.
Oooo--yeah, I think I would hate Riley too if I'd met him in season five.
just generally never really managed to find a major female character I connected with (or any character really) which was always the main problem I had with the show
I suspect this is my big problem with all of Joss. I've watched shows I've hated the premise of for the sake on one character I loved, but I never really *love* his characters.
Anya and Tara as buddy-cops co-parenting Dawn never did. ::crossface:: :p
Would watch!
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 06:52 am (UTC)I should really be in charge of television. :p
But yeah - the morality issue is another thing that bugs me. I think that - okay I would prefer more rigorous looks at it and more moral variation, but I think that one could write a coherent and thought-provoking show where there is an absolute moral framework if one examines that properly. The problem with Buffy is that it sets up this situation where Demons are always fundamentally evil, then tries to play against that with certain characters, but never really explains exactly why or how they're so unique or whether the characters are, in fact, blithely going around murdering thinking beings with a chance at redemption simply due to their species.
It was like...originally I didn't think it was a particularly interesting way to deal with the concept of good/evil/demons/humans, but I at least figured, okay, it's supposed to be absolute; I personally don't believe in the concept of a soul, but the show does, and these things don't have them and it makes them utterly amoral and selfish. Except then we started getting characters like Anya after she was redemonified, or Lorne or what have you, and...it gets messy and icky real quick?
Anyways, yes. It IS always nice to meet another non-cultist. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 05:06 pm (UTC)I kind of felt continually dicked around by the show on the morality/alternative perspectives front. I too was willing to suspend disbelief and just go along with their cosmology but then, as you say, they went and complicated their own system without really addressing the implications of doing so. And the thing is, the show did generally show a pretty high level of self-awareness. They were good about putting in that outsider character, of bringing up criticisms, of putting in that scene or episode that suddenly addressed all the questions and annoyances I'd been building up. But then, pretty invariably, they would immediately drop it and revert to business as usual, and it was like the show was going "psych--demons are just evil and Buffy is always right!"
That self-awareness, though, is I think what makes me willing to say "eh, it had some problems and it's not really the show for me, but whatever" rather than wanting to rage over it. RTD-Who, in contrast, often seemed just oblivious and tone deaf and left me wanting to throw things.
(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 01:33 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 09:03 pm (UTC)Proud Buffy Fan Since 1998
Date: 11 Jul 2011 02:39 pm (UTC)Giles is pretty cool, but he's not my favorite male. I tend to like Spike more.
I actually really loved that scene between Xander and Willow at the end of S6 because it brought back nostalgia for the early days when they were the bestest of best friends. Then again, I don't hate Xander all that much. I'd probably put Andrew in this slot.
The title for your favorite episode is "Normal Again."
Dawn and Spike are great! Anya's speech following Joyce's death still gets me every time. Season 5, however, not my favorite season. *shrugs* But that's because I get a bitter taste in my mouth when it comes to Spike loving Buffy.
Ah, the Angelus/Angel dichotomy is a great one. If you ever get around to watching Angel the Series, you'll see an awful lot more blending between the two characters. But if you're not interested in that, I could send you to a fabulous fic writer who's got a great handle on that. (Warning: she writes a lot of Angel/Willow so if that's an idea you can wrap your head around, I'll keep you away from her.)
I like Riley too! (And Dawn!)
As for Willow, I freaking love her. I felt invested in her from the beginning so I'm pretty much biased when it comes to her story-lines and growth arc.
Re: Proud Buffy Fan Since 1998
Date: 11 Jul 2011 09:17 pm (UTC)Thanks for the names and episode title!
Anya's speech following Joyce's death still gets me every time.
That was very well done. And that whole episode, really. I think it's probably the best "death" episode of a show I've ever seen.
Ah, the Angelus/Angel dichotomy is a great one. If you ever get around to watching Angel the Series, you'll see an awful lot more blending between the two characters. But if you're not interested in that, I could send you to a fabulous fic writer who's got a great handle on that.
Sure, give me the name--I might just get inspired on that. And I wouldn't mind Willow/Angel, I don't think. I am planning to watch AtS at some point. This actually all kicked off with me watching just season five of that show so I could make some comparisons to Doctor Who. I get the sense that I actually might end up liking that one slightly more than BtVS, even if I don't care for Angel that much either. But right now I definitely need a break for something that is thoroughly *not* Joss!
As for Willow, I freaking love her. I felt invested in her from the beginning so I'm pretty much biased when it comes to her story-lines and growth arc.
Somehow I'd gathered that from your journal ; ) And, actually, I was hoping to connect with Willow a lot sooner than I did, knowing she was such a favorite of yours. I'm glad I did eventually, though.
Re: Proud Buffy Fan Since 1998
Date: 11 Jul 2011 09:21 pm (UTC)The author's name is
I'm glad you were eventually able to connect with Willow too.
Re: Proud Buffy Fan Since 1998
Date: 11 Jul 2011 10:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 04:37 pm (UTC)That is exactly why I have not really ever been able to watch Buffy. I think I've seen pieces of perhaps . . . three episodes. Probably never seen an entire episode. But you've heard me rant about my inability to sit down and WATCH television unless it really *captures* me, and Buffy has never done that. Yet, there is part of me that wants to know what everyone is talking about. And my SO happens to really like Buffy and Angel in her way (she's never been a big fangirl about things). But still . . . Maybe some day, I'll be able to get around to watching them all like you have.
Also, I am terribly glad that you haven't died or just plain disappeared. I've missed seeing you around. (I really hope that doesn't sound creepy. I just got done with a 40 mile bike ride and am SO TIRED that I can't tell. lol)
(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 06:36 pm (UTC)We have a penguin AU, if that might help sway you... :)
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 08:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 08:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 11 Jul 2011 10:04 pm (UTC)If you ever do decide to take the plunge, it'll help to know that large swathes of the first four seasons are perfectly suited to having on while you do other things. There are lots of stand-alone episodes, and it's always pretty obvious what is Important Character Stuff and what's ignorable monster attacks. I did a whole lot of strategic multi-tasking. You can choose to ignore whole character arcs and relationships if they don't grab you without it really impacting on the big picture. None of which should be taken as me prodding you to watch, but if you ever get the urge, it doesn't have to be as big a commitment as it seems.
Also, I am terribly glad that you haven't died or just plain disappeared. I've missed seeing you around. (I really hope that doesn't sound creepy. I just got done with a 40 mile bike ride and am SO TIRED that I can't tell. lol)
Lol--not creepy at all. I've missed you too, and everybody else <3 Plus I felt a bit bad about being completely AWOL from the ficathon, but my enthusiasm took a major plunge and I figured better to just take a break.
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 08:14 pm (UTC)True. And I'm just awful in that way.
"If you ever do decide to take the plunge, it'll help to know that large swathes of the first four seasons are perfectly suited to having on while you do other things."
That's very good. Except for the fact that I will sometimes start off with TV on while I'm doing things, like folding laundry, and then I'll do either one of two things: 1.) I'll truly ignore the television, look up at the end of the show, and realize I don't remember what happened after five minutes in. 2.) Turn off the television because it's holding just enough of my attention to annoy me.
Like I said, I'm awful.
Of course, having TV on in the background while doing something else is how I got into DW. I was cleaning house when I decided to have s5 DW episodes on. To be quite honest, with the Dalek episode, I was almost at the point of turning off the TV. But then River came on screen. And I actually *sat down* to watch her. Which, knowing how truly awful I am about watching things (REALLY), you now understand why that was a BFD.
And so happy that didn't sound creepy before. I did miss your work in the ficathon. I really would have been interested in seeing what you'd write. Because writing/reading after AGMGTW has been the only way I've been able to deal with the reveal. There are some authors that have come to love it. Not me. I can *stomach* it. But even then, I can only stomach it according to what some people have written for it and some versions of it in my head-canon. I'm kind of scared to see where they'll go with it in canon, because I'd hate for River or River/Doctor to turn into something like the Harry Potter series for me. Meaning, I was far more fond of the fanon than the canon. Anyway! I hope to see you around more often now.
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 08:59 pm (UTC)Lol! It is what it is (probably makes you more productive). And I'll admit it's not the most stress-free way to watch television *or* to get things done. But I can make it work with some shows.
I did miss your work in the ficathon. I really would have been interested in seeing what you'd write. Because writing/reading after AGMGTW has been the only way I've been able to deal with the reveal.
Oh, thank you <3 I'm actually not sure how I *would* write anything for them right now, and I feel like Moff has hung me somewhere where I'm stuck with nothing to do and so I'm just trying to ignore it until we get back and get more material? Thus the Buffy-watching. The thing is, I do know exactly what I would want to write: how River copes with having her whole life and identity so entirely defined by the Doctor (on all sides) and how she manages to overcome that and to make her story her own anyway. That, to me, is the burning issue to come out of AGMGTW and I find it in turns fascinating and horrifying. I'm not going nuts because I do, in fact, trust Moffat to treat the issue well (and I can't wait to see how he tackles it), but as we are right now, with so very little idea of how any of River's early life went, I feel like I don't even have enough of a foundation from which to begin speculating. I did poke my head into the ficathon at the beginning and have done some skimming of fics here and there (and just of all the fic written since the finale), and as far as I can tell it's fine fic . . . but from where I'm standing it's all seemed a bit beside the point. I'm sure I have some tunnel vision going on here, and I am hoping that when I sit down and really go through the ficathon I'll find some stuff to inspire, maybe start building up some ideas . . . But I'm finding it hard to get excited about fluffy shippy fics, or angsty shippy fics, or life with the Pond family, or any other of a hundred fairly straight-forward sorts of fics I've seen floating around when there are EXISTENTIAL ISSUES on the table.
And now you should really feel free to smack me upside the head and dress me down for turning into a pretentious fic elitist, but that's where I am *waves hands around uselessly*
(no subject)
Date: 13 Jul 2011 04:08 pm (UTC)SO MUCH WORD OMG!
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 03:43 am (UTC)Can't wait to read the rest of your answers. Also gotta admit that I'm super curious what you would think of Angel, any plans to give that one a watch? *g*
(no subject)
Date: 12 Jul 2011 04:32 pm (UTC)That is some love, there, wow. I did end up with a lot of respect for her. Just didn't like her much *shrug*
Also gotta admit that I'm super curious what you would think of Angel, any plans to give that one a watch? *g*
This all actually started with me watching AtS season five so I could make some comparisons with Doctor Who, then I was sort of in the Joss groove and figured I might as well take advantage of it to finally watch Buffy. I was pleasantly surprised with what I saw of Angel, overall, and I do want to give it a go, probably when I've recovered a bit ; ) I didn't particularly care about Angel the character (and I'm still in disbelief over what they did to Fred), but I have a suspicion that the show as a whole might be more to my tastes than BtVS. And I want more Cordelia and more of Faith away from Buffy!