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selenakHanging out with teachers still feels weird, even at 34. I wonder whether I'll ever get over it? In any case, they were nice enough, though they beat any fannish flame war in intensity when eviscerating Ms. Hohlmeier, basically their boss (i.e. she's the minister in charge of their department) in Bavaria.
Back in Munich from my little day trip, I found In Harm's Way waiting for me - thanks,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bimo! 'Twas a delightful watch.
Mercedes McNab already often proved she's a delightful comedienne, and in episodes like Disharmony showed that she could handle more serious stuff as well - I'm thinking of Harmony's little "look at us now - you're a secretary and I'm dead" scene with Cordelia. So I'm not surprised she carried the episode perfectly.
And you know, I didn't mind a bit we didn't get an immediate follow-up to the big Destiny cliffhanger. The suspense is supposed to last a while, and it's in tried and true ME tradition (think Guise Will be Guise after Darla, or Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered between Innocence and Passion. Though you could argue the episode In Harm's Way has most in common with is either Storyteller or The Zeppo, with it's firm emphasis on the outsider's pov instead of the usual heroics. (Actually works better than The Zeppo for me, because the sudden Xander-as-pizza-boy-out-of-the-action device was ridiculous given that he's well part of the team on all other occasions in that and the previous season.) Like Andrew, Harmony isn't taken seriously by the regulars and/or treated with contempt. Like Andrew, she didn't come by that treatment innocently - though arguably Harmony's trading Cordy and the Fang Gang in in Disharmony was more impulsive and excused by vampiric nature than Andrew's (premeditated) killing of Jonathan and year-long-stint as a supervillain wannabe.
Both Andrew and Harmony have the puppy-dog eagerness to please and wonderful capacity at self delusion. Angel from Harmony's pov looks even harsher and downright humourless than Buffy did from Andrew's pov; even worse, he looks exploitative, which Buffy never did. This isn't the complete truth about them, of course, but it is true to perspective. In the case of Harmony and Angel, it works as an additional comment to the way he lost the original mission to help. Ironically, Buffy who never signed on for the soul-saving gig (that's not what a Slayer does) did this for Andrew; Harmony technically might not have a soul to save, but she does try (without soulless Spike's motivation back when) to walk the straight and narrow, and if it's up to Angel, she's without any help there as she might as well not exist.
It's not surprising that the regular coming over best in Harmony's perspective is Fred, who these days is the one A.I. member still believing and working in the "help the hopeless" mission - vide her attempts with Spike which he thanks her for early in the episode. You've got to love the continuity with Harmony still automatically classifying Fred as the kind of badly dressed geeky girl she'd never have bothered to talk to in High School. But High School is over, and Harmony's gratitude when Fred does respond to her overtures is quite genuine. Also, in case we're wondering the writers let Fred say a day later, unasked, that she did have fun - probably the first time someone thanked Harmony for her company (though at that point she's not in the state to appreciate it). For those of us keeping score, there's another confirmation that the Fred/Gunn romance is well and truly over, what with her agreeing to Harmony's description of Knox and Wes (but not Gunn) as hot. Fittingly, it's Fred who pleads Harmony's cause in the end and points out that Harmony (even in a panic) didn't kill anyone. As opposed, one might say, to Angel these days who kills with ever increasing casualness.
Since Spike's treatment of Harmony as a convenient sex toy was always something all too easily forgotten by fans in season 6 when discussing Buffy's treatment of Spike, I continue to be delighted to see that he does get called out on it by this season's writing. His early "keep it simple, Harm" remark is on a level with the "I love syphilis more than you" we heard in the first episode the two of them appeared as a couple, In the Harsh Light of Day; in contrast, when they have their conversation at the end, it's probably the first time Spike actually listens to what Harmony says. And even what she doesn't say. Do we see Spike getting a clue about parallels here?
Bits and pieces:
- that W&H ad is the most hilarious thing since the Holland Manners Memorial Montage in Blood Money
- so the demons call Angel "man whore"; why am I not surprised?
- you know, Spike's reason in the end for not going to Europe and Buffy...works for me (for a while at least), because
Spike is such a drama queen, and he's right, showing up after the great finale and their goodbye would be an anticlimax
- though Buffy is so going to kill him for this if they get SMG for a guest spot.
Lastly, I'm flattered by all the marriage proposals. But guys, I still need a title for the Londo/G'Kar!
Back in Munich from my little day trip, I found In Harm's Way waiting for me - thanks,
bimo! 'Twas a delightful watch.Mercedes McNab already often proved she's a delightful comedienne, and in episodes like Disharmony showed that she could handle more serious stuff as well - I'm thinking of Harmony's little "look at us now - you're a secretary and I'm dead" scene with Cordelia. So I'm not surprised she carried the episode perfectly.
And you know, I didn't mind a bit we didn't get an immediate follow-up to the big Destiny cliffhanger. The suspense is supposed to last a while, and it's in tried and true ME tradition (think Guise Will be Guise after Darla, or Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered between Innocence and Passion. Though you could argue the episode In Harm's Way has most in common with is either Storyteller or The Zeppo, with it's firm emphasis on the outsider's pov instead of the usual heroics. (Actually works better than The Zeppo for me, because the sudden Xander-as-pizza-boy-out-of-the-action device was ridiculous given that he's well part of the team on all other occasions in that and the previous season.) Like Andrew, Harmony isn't taken seriously by the regulars and/or treated with contempt. Like Andrew, she didn't come by that treatment innocently - though arguably Harmony's trading Cordy and the Fang Gang in in Disharmony was more impulsive and excused by vampiric nature than Andrew's (premeditated) killing of Jonathan and year-long-stint as a supervillain wannabe.
Both Andrew and Harmony have the puppy-dog eagerness to please and wonderful capacity at self delusion. Angel from Harmony's pov looks even harsher and downright humourless than Buffy did from Andrew's pov; even worse, he looks exploitative, which Buffy never did. This isn't the complete truth about them, of course, but it is true to perspective. In the case of Harmony and Angel, it works as an additional comment to the way he lost the original mission to help. Ironically, Buffy who never signed on for the soul-saving gig (that's not what a Slayer does) did this for Andrew; Harmony technically might not have a soul to save, but she does try (without soulless Spike's motivation back when) to walk the straight and narrow, and if it's up to Angel, she's without any help there as she might as well not exist.
It's not surprising that the regular coming over best in Harmony's perspective is Fred, who these days is the one A.I. member still believing and working in the "help the hopeless" mission - vide her attempts with Spike which he thanks her for early in the episode. You've got to love the continuity with Harmony still automatically classifying Fred as the kind of badly dressed geeky girl she'd never have bothered to talk to in High School. But High School is over, and Harmony's gratitude when Fred does respond to her overtures is quite genuine. Also, in case we're wondering the writers let Fred say a day later, unasked, that she did have fun - probably the first time someone thanked Harmony for her company (though at that point she's not in the state to appreciate it). For those of us keeping score, there's another confirmation that the Fred/Gunn romance is well and truly over, what with her agreeing to Harmony's description of Knox and Wes (but not Gunn) as hot. Fittingly, it's Fred who pleads Harmony's cause in the end and points out that Harmony (even in a panic) didn't kill anyone. As opposed, one might say, to Angel these days who kills with ever increasing casualness.
Since Spike's treatment of Harmony as a convenient sex toy was always something all too easily forgotten by fans in season 6 when discussing Buffy's treatment of Spike, I continue to be delighted to see that he does get called out on it by this season's writing. His early "keep it simple, Harm" remark is on a level with the "I love syphilis more than you" we heard in the first episode the two of them appeared as a couple, In the Harsh Light of Day; in contrast, when they have their conversation at the end, it's probably the first time Spike actually listens to what Harmony says. And even what she doesn't say. Do we see Spike getting a clue about parallels here?
Bits and pieces:
- that W&H ad is the most hilarious thing since the Holland Manners Memorial Montage in Blood Money
- so the demons call Angel "man whore"; why am I not surprised?
- you know, Spike's reason in the end for not going to Europe and Buffy...works for me (for a while at least), because
Spike is such a drama queen, and he's right, showing up after the great finale and their goodbye would be an anticlimax
- though Buffy is so going to kill him for this if they get SMG for a guest spot.
Lastly, I'm flattered by all the marriage proposals. But guys, I still need a title for the Londo/G'Kar!
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no subject
Date: 2004-01-21 08:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-21 11:58 am (UTC)Apart from everything else, I think it was the writers of the ep proving once again all the Jossverse scribes read fanfic; it was a teasing wink to the fans.
Within the Jossverse, yes, I assume the demons see Angel as a sell-out to W&H.
no subject
Date: 2004-01-21 09:30 am (UTC)But guys, I still need a title for the Londo/G'Kar!
In Vino Veritas???
no subject
Date: 2004-01-21 11:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-01-21 02:46 pm (UTC)