Random BtVS screencap #4
Monday, March 19th, 2007
Archive for March, 2007
Buffy, living with somebody is never easy. Especially for an only child…
Monday, March 19th, 2007Living Conditions (Marti Noxon)
Room-mates are a nightmare worse than sharing with your sisters because at least they are related. When I was at college in Aberdeen, I once shared with a lassie who worked in the bakery department of Tesco (or was it Asda?) and got up at five to go to work. Her alarm instantly woke me up while she would just sleep through it until I had to shout at her to wake up. Luckily, she didn’t take the snapping personally. Otherwise, I have just flat-shared with relatively normal people who never labelled their food.
Dagney Kerr is wonderful as Kathy, just the right side of truly irritating. However, Buffy’s friends really ought to trust her because despite behaving badly, she was also being de-souled by Kathy and so was right to be paranoid. They should remember Ted!
It could be considered a bit of an insult to the millions of people who bought Cher ’s Believe that they are soulless. It was number one in the UK for seven weeks and is the best selling single by a female artist which is astonishing…
It’s fun watching Buffy being bitchy and competitive (“OK, so that was the evil twin, right? Cause she was bordering on Cordelia-esque”) which is a major reason why I like Homecoming.
Urgh, Parker, that’s all I have to say for just now.
I’m sure that Xander didn’t want to hear this: “Not that I mind, but don’t non-college guys usually populate the non-campus?” because it’s rude and demoralising.
However, the most important part of this episode is a touch of foreshadowing as Oz and Veruca sniff each other out.
Willow wears the first of this season’s fashion disasters with her holey poncho.
“Hmm hmm, sounds like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.” “Hmm hmm, and guess what? You were next to it.”
“So, either you hit her, or you did your wacky mime routine for her.” “Well, I didn’t do either, actually. But she deserves it, don’t you think?” “Nobody deserves a mime, Buffy.”
“Buffy, this has to stop. I mean I get it, I have a sucky roomie, too. But you just have to deal.” “You’re right, I’ve been thinking a lot about this and it’s clear to me now.” “Good, that’s better.” ” Kathy’s evil. I’m an evil fighter. It’s simple…I’m gonna have to kill her.”
Happy Mother’s Day…thank you.
Monday, March 19th, 2007Happy mother’s day…thank you on Vimeo
An amazing six years ago!
North Britain
Sunday, March 18th, 2007Jennie Bond’s suggestion for alternative tourist spot is absent from the map in this article on the BBC News Magazine. I find it quite frankly offensive that the top of mainland Britain has been omitted from the map anyway but it is adding insult to injury that the tenth destination is not even marked. It is no wonder the BBC is accused of a southern bias when it does this sort of thoughtless thing plus the daily insult of the tv weather map being skewed so that north Britain is smaller than south Britain. Sigh.
Random BtVS screencap #3
Sunday, March 18th, 2007
We have debated who that girl in the opening credits in season 1 and 2 was and it turns out to be Amy’s mother, Catherine. So not a girl and not really a random screencap.
“Suck it up, Summers”
Saturday, March 17th, 2007Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Long Way Home #1
I was lucky that I could go along to Forbidden Planet in central London and get a copy of the Buffy Comic on Thursday. I walked in and there was a woman in the queue with two copies (Chen and Jeanty covers). I inwardly squealed with excitement and there was a couple in front of me who sauntered down the stairs. I’m a not a barger but I so wanted to shove them aside and get there. To cut a long and not very interesting story short I picked up the two covers and, of course, a trade paperback of Fables and the first issue of a new series of BPRD because I didn’t want to look like a Buffy geek which is madness because I am a Buffy geek.
The comic exceeded my expectations which had been lowered by Joss Whedon’s work on the Serenity comic and the Dangerous arc of Astonishing X-Men plus season 7 was, erm,… As a season opener I was very happy with it though I missed Willow and Giles. The dialogue was superb and I found the action easy to follow. Some commentators have questioned the step up from the poverty of the gang in seasons 6 and 7 to a gang with Global Frequency type communications and at least two helicopters. I say that there has been a step from two Slayers to almost five hundred and some of them must be rich and with connections. And maybe that castle belonged to the very defunct Watchers’ Council and rather like the Vatican, I suspect they were a wee bit rich.
My favourite bits were “‘cept I feel a little weird about using a crucifix to kill someone” “yeh, dinno much about religion, do yeh?” and “but she’ll tell Willow, fine, her first time and it all goes wrong which I’m totally well versed in and anyhow Willow’s the expert on boys since when now?”
Criticisms: I hate exaggerated accents, it jarred in V for Vendetta and it jars here. The view of Sunnydale suggests it was a small place without an airport or docks or even a beach though it’s a great illustration.
Who was hovering over the church? Who is Amy’s boyfriend? Why aren’t the Summers girls allowed to lose their virginity without there being huge complications?
A funny dead parrot sketch
Wednesday, March 14th, 2007
Roxy: It opened up its cage and went crazy. Pet dabbed the robber’s eyes, scratched his face up like he was Tippi Hedren or some shit, and don’t you tell me that’s not friendship.
Mason: How big was his parrot?
Roxy: I don’t know, parrot size.
Mason: Well, a parrot can’t take on a full grown man unless that man is a big pussy.
Roxy: I didn’t say the parrot won. The robber stabbed it with a fork and killed its owner. The bird’s dead.
Mason: So why are you getting a bird?
Roxy: It’s not about homeland security, you stupid motherfucker, I’m gonna get a friend!
(Dead Like Me: Curious George written by Peter Ocko)
Are we gonna fight? Or is there just gonna be a monster sarcasm rally?
Tuesday, March 13th, 2007The Freshman (Joss Whedon)
Buffy’s disorientation was familiar and I remember that feeling that everybody knew each other or at least knew how to talk to other people except me who was lonely and useless. And, anybody I did know was far too busy making loads of new friends to bother with me. Moreover, I knew I shouldn’t bother them because I needed to make new friends but everybody knew each other and I didn’t…oh, god, it was awful, I hated every minute of it.
Erm, back to BtVS: it’s odd how poor new season openers are, particularly since they are written by Joss Whedon. I like Anne but it’s hardly a top ten episode and I hazard a guess that When She Was Bad, Buffy vs Dracula and Bargaining aren’t anybody else’s favourites either.
The episode is inconsistent. Buffy sustains injuries that suggest other forces at work not just a powerful vampire but nothing comes of it. Sunday was dispatched too soon; she would have made a great mini Big Bad. Buffy’s offing of Sunday with a twirl of her stake is a classic moment.
“Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal saviour?” “Uh, you know I meant to and then I just got really busy.” This is definitely a godless series.
“Yeah, this is great, you know, if we ever need a place for the Nuremberg rallies.” This library shrinks considerably by New Moon Rising.
Oh hi Riley, how any episodes were you in before you got interesting?
Hi Maggie, your introduction says it all: “I’m Professor Walsh. Those of you who fall under my good graces will come to know me as Maggie. Those of you who don’t will come to know me by the name my TAs use, and think I don’t know about, The Evil Bitch Monster of Death.”
“I still feel like carrying around a security blanket.” “Of Human Bondage. Have you ever read it?” “Oh, I’m not really into porn…I mean I’m just…I’m trying to cut way back.” Was Buffy given some of Xander’s dialogue?
“Big score for Klimt! Monet still well in the lead, but look out for team Klimt, coming from behind.” LOL
“Buffy, I’ve gone through some fairly dark times in my life, faced some scary things, among them the kitchen at the Fabulous Ladies Night Club. Let me tell you something, when it’s dark and I’m all alone and I’m scared or freaked out or whatever, I always think, “What would Buffy do?” You’re my hero. Ok, sometimes when it’s dark and I’m all alone I think, “What is Buffy wearing?”” “Can that be one of those things you never, ever, tell me about?” When Xander is giving a pep talk and I like what’s he’s saying, he’s a real cutey.
Here’s that IQ drop: Buffy knows Dadaist but then in the very next scene we get this exchange: “You up for a little reconnaissance?” “You mean where we all sculpt and paint and stuff?” “No, that was the renaissance.”
“Let’s think this through.” “How can you be so calm?” “Long, arduous hours of practice.”
Tonight Matthew, I’m going to be Barbra Streisand
Man, just ascend already
Monday, March 12th, 2007Graduation Day I and II (Joss Whedon)
The yearbook thing and the graduation ceremony to the tune of Land of Hope and Glory (I mean, Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1) is all a mystery to us on this side of the Atlantic. We just leave school after we finish our exams and that is it.
Anyway, poor Amy, as much as it sweet that Willow and Oz get it on at last, she hardly deserves to get to watch and listen. And it’s typical that Willow gets to spend most of the two episodes in a peach top but we do get to see her on a bike.
Buffy and Faith:
- Faith is now being portrayed as a cold-blooded killer and she does have an awful lot of redeeming to do. We get a glimpse of her past as she recalls her childhood: “You little firecracker”.
- “Faith has you at a disadvantage, Buffy.” “Cause I’m not crazy or cause I don’t kill people?” “Both, actually.” “I hear you. I can’t kill her, fun as it may sound.”
- “No, it’s perfect. Angel needs to drain a Slayer, then I’ll bring him one.” “Buffy, if Angel drains Faith’s blood, it’ll kill her.” “Not if she’s already dead.” One of the many strengths of BtVS is the moral ambiguity. Is Buffy right to even contemplate killing Faith to save Angel (who is actually a mass murderer rather than one making baby steps)? Do we think at this point that she actually will attempt kill Faith? I have to say I was shocked when she did.
- “Well, look at you. All dressed up in big sister’s clothes.” “You told me I was just like you. That I was holding it in.” “Ready to cut loose?” “Try me.” “Okay then. Give us a kiss.”
- Buffy kisses Faith: surely, Buffy realises she isn’t so different from Faith? Buffy denied Faith’s assertion in Consequences that “You know in your gut we don’t need the law. We are the law” but Buffy in the end did take the law into her own hands. Buffy did something that Faith may well have done even when there was an alternative (the one that lead to Buffy being in hospital). I believe that Buffy was guilty of attempted murder.
“Men like sports. I’m sure of it.” “Yes. Men like sports. Men watch the action movie, they eat of the beef, and enjoy to look at the bosoms. A thousand years of avenging our wrongs and that’s all you’ve learned?” “I’m trying, okay? You don’t need to take my head off.” Oh Anya, you have four more seasons of these patronising put-downs to put up with.
It happens a lot in BtVS when characters make decisions for others: in this case, Buffy decides for Joyce. This was probably so the writers didn’t have to write anything for Joyce to do.
I don’t really like the scene when Buffy mutinies partly because I dislike making somebody who hasn’t done anything wrong (except being annoying and pompous) into the bad guy and also have him say the only thing that makes sense. Buffy prevails in spite of all the bad decisions she is constantly makes.
Willow loses her ability to type as Oz plays with her hair. The same doesn’t happen with Tara in The Yoko Factor, which is either a very valuable pointer to the difference in their relationships or just the programme makers shying from making the latter relationship too blatant or maybe me trying too hard.
Faith is eating red vines and probably would be smoking too except maybe she isn’t as evil as Angelus. The mayor loves Faith. “Well, I’d get set for some weeping if I were you. I’d get set for a world of pain! Misery loves company, young man, and I’m looking to share that with you and your whore!”
Metaphors sometimes work…Buffy makes Angel drink her blood and this scene is way hotter than any soft focus heavy breathing nonsense we’ve had before (and have in the future).
When I don’t like Xander, I hate him: “Well, it’s just good to know that when the chips are down and things look grim you’ll feed off the girl who loves you to save your own ass.” – just, shut up, you don’t know anything.
“If I need someone to scream like a woman I’ll give you a call.” this sort of line really bugs me – Buffy screams like a woman in Hush.
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