cautiously treading the water....

[selenak]

Not sure whether I triumphed over the evil of blaster virus yet, but I did manage to squeeze in Unleashed. Also, I surfed a bit without being thrown out. If you want to read an interesting comparison between the ending of season 4, Farscape, and season 4, Angel, go here.


Obviously a monster of the week episode, very reminiscent of such season 1 eps like I Fell To Pieces. Also, picking a werewolf obviously invites comparisons to BTVS, which is problematical, given that Wild at Heart, still the werewolf episode, was one of the classics both of Marti Noxon and the show.
(This was my plug for Marti-the-bashed for the day.)

However, amidst the avarageness, there were some nice bits to enjoy:

1.) Distrust towards Gunn. Makes sense, will lead to resentment, and thus future conflict. And you can both see the point of distrusting the “upgraded” Gunn and Gunn’s suspicion they just resent him being the intelligent guy now.
2.) Spike. Hooray for moral ambiguity. On the one hand, he’s unabashedly selfish throughout the episode, and thus ensures the viewers they won’t be getting Saint Spike. (Sorry, the horror of St. Cordy is still haunting me.) On the other hand, given that he’s in the process of dissappearing into hell or nothingness or both, who can blame him about his priorities?
3.) Fred. Who is torn between regarding Spike as drama queen and as someone seriously in pain and need of help. And you’ve got to love how she went from being taken in by Spike’s dramatic tale of backstory with Wesley to figuring out that he was lying, pure and simple. “You’re so full of crap” indeed.

Now, I’ll find out whether my computer will permit me to post this. And then I’ll shamelessly exploit someone to send me Hellbound.

Comments

exploitation

[cavendish.livejournal.com]

Hi there!

If you wish to change the people you exploit once in a while: I expect the episode to be there on sunday ;-). I could include some of Chaplin's films.

On the other hand the usual someone might get jealous ... ;-)

Well, choose your pick ;-)

F.

Re: exploitation

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the offer! Having a bunch of people to exploit is nice. I'll consider.*g*

Chaplin's films: I'll buy the DVDs when they make it across the sea, I think, because of the promised commentaries. Still, again, thank you.

::raises hand::

[cadesama.livejournal.com]

Can I blame Spike? Not because I dislike him, but because the ambiguity led me to a place where I was wondering if he was "fading" on purpose for sympathy - which then led to anger as I realized that there was no way ME would play it like that.

For my own score, it gets upgraded from mediocre just for the chill I got at the wolf!girl trussed up and *willing* to die. Oh, and the guy getting bitten. I just pretend they didn't go for the offscreen save.

Well, it's not beyond Spike, but...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

...I can understand why ME didn't play it like that in this case. A genuine threat to a character much of the audience cares about is just better drama than said character faking it. They did show Spike's ability to manipulate with the fake Wesley'n Me backstory bit, anyway.

Re: Well, it's not beyond Spike, but...

[cadesama.livejournal.com]

*That* . . . is the best icon ever. Although, Gaiman well shaved is just bizarre to look at. Where's the stubble? Why does he look groomed?

Oh, I agree that they needed to do it as a genuine threat. I think my annoyance comes from the fact that the ambiguity I felt it wasn't really on purpose. I can't really think of a good way to phrase this thought, but it felt like the writing and Masters were working at cross purposes, making it look like Spike was up to something. A narrative flaw posing as a subtextual hint, possibly? Eh. Lost of words to say "weird vibe".

The "Wes'n Me" story was pretty good and it would be rather humorous to find out if any genuine newbies - to both Angel and Buffy - believed it. But that's an experiment to be filed with finding out if genuine SW virgins would be surpised at Anakin turning.

Somehow, I knew you'd like it. *g*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Icon courtesy of copperbadge. He created some more cool Neil icons, btw - take a look and grab.
(The shaved look is due to this being the photo for the back cover of American Gods, I believe.)

The "Wes'n Me" story was pretty good and it would be rather humorous to find out if any genuine newbies - to both Angel and Buffy - believed it. But that's an experiment to be filed with finding out if genuine SW virgins would be surpised at Anakin turning.

Quite. Which brings up another question - how to find such a genuine SW virgin? Because once we have Episode III, I really really want to test this on someone.