Buffy season 10 no 18

[shapinglight]

Spoilers behind cut.




Plot-wise, there's really not an awful lot to say about this issue.

The gang fight Achaeus and his new!vamps while trying to open the mysterious box with the portal in it. Ultimately, they defeat him thanks to to Spike snapping Angel out of his Archaeus-control by pretending to be Angel's father. Buffy, Spike and Angel then fight Archaeus as a team while Willow strips the layers of magical defences from the mysterious box until there are so few left Buffy can break it open with the scythe. There's a big 'fwash' and Archaeus is gone. 'Took it on the lam,' Willow says. (Is that a thing people say?) The bits of the artifact, meanwhile, are being collected by a bunch of walking hands, courtesy of the Sculptor.

(Sidebar: I would just like to say that I think Angel's dad gets an unwarranted bad press. Yes, he's disappointed in Liam, but then Liam is a waste of space. Most dads - especially disciplinarian eighteenth century ones- would have been disappointed too. Also, Liam's dad is genuinely upset when Liam dies. Also, also, what snaps Angel out of his funk is Spike telling him that by doing what Archaeus tells him, Angel is just doing what his father tells him - 'dancing on a string to win his approval' - and, though we admittedly saw very little of their relationship, about the last thing we ever see Liam doing is trying to win his dad's approval. End sidebar.)

Back at Buffy's, D'Hoffryn tells everyone off for letting the Evil Three Stooges (Soul Glutton, Mistress, Sculptor) collect the bits of artifact - the Restless Door, it's called - which means, if they can reconstruct it, they can open portals all over the place and cause havoc. Buffy and co have made the world more dangerous, not less. Xander suggests they write a new rule in the book to make the Restless Door stop working. Mini!Giles says that won't work because it's not earthly, but D'Hoffryn thinks they can write things in the book that will mitigate its effect. Ultimately, though, they have to defeat the Evil Stooges.

Basically, as I read it, Archaeus himself is no longer important in the Buffy book. He's off to A&F (not, as far as I can tell, as a passenger in Angel's head. He's just making his own way to London).

The book ends with a lot of goodbyes. Xander and Angel are cool now. Xander - looking at Buffy binding up Spike's wounds- reckons he and Angel have more in common than he thought (Dawn is walking away from them at this point). Angel says goodbye to Spike. Says he can tell Spike cares for Buffy and as long as he acts like it, they're good. The minute Spike hurts her...

Spike interrupts to say, "I'll hold you to that." They shake hands.

Angel says goodbye to Buffy. Buffy hopes they've got to the point where they can be part of each others' lives again. Angel says all he wanted was for her to be happy. Since it seems she is, he can live with it. Buffy hugs him and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

Willow is to drive Angel to the airport. She says, "That was really big of you. Couldn't have been easy."
Angel: Wasn't that hard. It's not like it'll ever last.
Willow: Angel, I adore you (you do?), but if you even think of trying to cause problems for them...
Angel: I wouldn't do that but I don't have to. You were right (see previous issue). Immortals don't really change. Soul or not, he's still Spike. He fixates on someone. Decides they're gonna solve all his problems. Give his life meaning. Make him stop hating himself. But they don't, 'cause they can't. And in the end, he drives 'em away, confirming what he believes about himself. Letting him wallow in self-pity for a while. Then start all over again.
Willow: That sounds awfully...
Angel: Harsh? I know. And like I'm rooting for it to happen. Let's be honest - part of me is. Another part would really like to think there's a chance for guys like us. But I've lived a long time and never seen a happy ending. My experience, it's always the happiness that goes.

Okay, that all sounds very clever, and there is some truth in it. But there's also a lot that's not - starting with the whole 'Angel hasn't changed since 1922' thing in the previous issue. As for Spike, though Angel's right that unsouled Spike has a habit (well, he's done it twice in 120 years) of putting women on pedastals, I thought the whole point of Gischler's dull, dull, dull Spike mini series was to make him learn that he can't put the entire burden of his happiness on someone else's head.

Then again, if the whole 'immortals can't change' is the schtick they're going with as a way of breaking up Spike and Buffy, Spike will just be like Angel and be learning the same lesson over and over and it will never stick. But at least when Spike forgets his lessons, he only hurts himself and a few other people, when Angel does, lots of people die and a lot of stuff goes boom. ;)

So, this may be a big pointer to the way they're going to end Spuffy (basically, self-sabotage on Spike's part). If season 10 is the last season, maybe it'll end with a big scooby group-hug (would be par for the course with this comic) and Spike and Angel walking off into the sunset together, arguing as they go about which one of them is Rick and which is Louis.

All I can say is, I hope Buffy gets some input into this, rather than it being done to, or for, her.

The letters on the letters page are all Spuffy-positive. Someone even points out how it would be a new thing in the Buffyverse for someone to have a stable, mature relationship which doesn't end and where no one dies.

Not that I'm expecting that. Ever. Especially not if there is a season 11.

Comments

[kerry-220.livejournal.com]

I would just like to say that I think Angel's dad gets an unwarranted bad press. Yes, he's disappointed in Liam, but then Liam is a waste of space.
But unless Angel is viewing his human life like a movie this wouldn't necessarily be his opinion. His father features large in the back story because Angel has strong feelings for him - bitterness and resentment aren't unreasonable when you think the wastrel doesn't want to blame himself. The fact that we see the father did love the son was just proof that Liam was wrong, but that wouldn't change how he felt.

Also, Spike could easily have known Liam's back story from Darla. She wasn't exactly one to hide past nasties if it served her sense of vengeance.

I'm thinking (hoping) too that Angel's final comments are merely his opinion and not what we're supposed to take as fact (canon?). There is a lot about that just sounds like jealousy/pettiness talking and just doesn't stand up to examination. I can't believe the writers will just ignore so much back story to break up Buffy and Spike. It feels like they are setting it up to refute it. I can't imagine there is a BtVS fan who doesn't know the "Yoda" speech - surely the writers know this too.

(I think I'm rambling...sorry)

[shapinglight]

- bitterness and resentment aren't unreasonable when you think the wastrel doesn't want to blame himself. The fact that we see the father did love the son was just proof that Liam was wrong, but that wouldn't change how he felt.

True. I guess it just offends my sense of fair play or something, because Angel's dad isn't around to stick up for himself. ;)

I really don't know what to make of Angel's final comments. Yes, he's talking more about himself. On the other hand, that doesn't mean that what he thinks will happen won't happen. On the face of it, what he says about Spike sounds very plausible. It's only when you really think about it you realise it barely touches Spike's story.

Equally, what Willow said about Angel himself never changing is just not true. It sounded true, though - or rather there is some truth in it, which is probably why Angel bought what she said so easily.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

It's only when you really think about it you realise it barely touches Spike's story.

Kind of like the whole 'she just wouldn't let herself be happy' stuff they used in the previous arc. It doesn't have much basis at all in the character's story, but we were supposed to see it as true. And they'll probably keep repeating it until the reader forgets it isn't true.

[shapinglight]

Yeah, I find that sort of thing very frustrating - particularly when I've recently rewatched the show and seen just how hard Buffy tried to be happy, and how when she wasn't it wasn't her fault.

Complete crock.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

I suppose Gage will answer your question the same way he did when people complained about Giles' rant way back. "What the characters say isn't necessarily the the truth."

Yet it's clear it's supposed to be.

[shapinglight]

Q&A answers are up now. That's pretty much exactly what he said, not just to me but to the several other people who asked similar questions. The 'immortals don't change' thing is Willow's opinion. Angel partly says what he says because he's upset about Spuffy etc.

He also spoilered that Mrs Marsters Dylan will be back, which annoys me. I hate characters who are created just to be someone's girlfriend (it's usually girlfriend), the most egregious example in the comics so far being Spider in A:AtF.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine how they'll work her back in. Unless they have her vamped or something. Come to think of it, that's probably what they'll do.

[shapinglight]

Drusilla Mk2? That's all we need.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

Well, there's no mention in 21. And I think it's safe to assume 25-30 will be the finale arc, probably a Crossover Event o' the Year, that leaves about 3 issues. They're also bringing whatsherface back 'cause they just don't have enough characters to write for.

[shapinglight]

They're also bringing whatsherface back 'cause they just don't have enough characters to write for.

I knew there had to be a reason. ;)

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

Mrs. Marsters, Satsu, Harmony, Clem, the other 3 big bads. A veritable parade.

I suppose the most sense would be for Mrs. Marsters to be one of the victims of the incubus in 20. Her being enthralled might explain why should couldn't track Spike down despite knowing what bar he frequents.

[shapinglight]

You forgot Hank Summers. We've all missed him sooo much!

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

I actually did forget about that. Also Ghost!Anya and there's apparently another Big Bad to spring forth. And Vicki the vampire.

Looking back on it, nothing really happened in this arc, really.

[shapinglight]

No, it was particularly pointless given that Archaeus has gone off to be the villain in A&F.

There's not another Big Bad, is there? On the Slayalive Q&A, Gage said that adulthood is the Big Bad of the season.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he said there was no real Big Bad, but just prior he said they have Archaeus and the 3 and there'd be another one. It was an interview a couple weeks ago.

"I mean there are bad guys in it, and there are some that have not been revealed yet"

[shapinglight]

It's possible these bad guys who aren't revealed yet will turn out to be people we've already met. D'Hoffryn, for instance. It still seems implausible to me that he's on the up, as it were.

It is just possible (though not probable, IMO) that Mrs Marsters Dylan has been vamped and will be a villain.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

Probably they'll be little bads. Still, it's a lot for 11 issues to go. Plus I can't imagine snake lady not returning.

I kinda doubt Mrs Marsters will be a vamp. If anyone comes back vamp, it'll probably be Satsu.

[shapinglight]

I kinda doubt Mrs Marsters will be a vamp.

I doubt it too, but if she's not one, I just don't see how she's meant to work as a new love interest for Spike (and I can't see why bother to introduce her at all if not to cause conflict between Spike and Buffy) seeing as the whole 'immortals shouldn't date mortals' thing applies to her too.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

I don't know about love interest. They tout her as that, but will probably just add drama. Wood was a love interest, too, after all. K'oh started off as that.

My honest guess is she'll be reintroduced with this incubus storyline. Where it goes from there, I dunno.

[shapinglight]

We'll see, I 'spose. I'm just irritated that the character got 'canonised.'

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

I don't like the selectiveness of it. From what I understand the character is canon, but not necessarily JM's comic? Or is it like the IDW run and they'll never say what exactly is or isn't?

It's a horrible retcon, but I really can't say it's worse than anything in S8.

[shapinglight]

Yeah, I think it pretty much works that Mrs Marsters Dylan is canon but the rest of the story isn't.

I've been re-reading season 10, btw. Needless to say (because it's usually the case) it reads much better and more coherent in a big chunk rather than spun out over 18 months. Far less like it's been Buffy/Spike all the time.

It's also far more anvil-ly and obvious reading it like this how Buffy and Spike jumping into their relationship feet first (as it were) is a big mistake on both their parts. The text was hammering it home pretty relentlessly for the previous however many issues it was before the storyline started.

[infinitewhale.livejournal.com]

the rest of the story isn't.

That's my take. And I hate it.

I usually reread the past issues before the new one. As a whole, S10 is much better than 8 or 9. You can go from issue to issue and not feel like you've missed 4 or 5 in between. As an isolated story, it works. As part of the whole... it doesn't. Yeah, it's definitely shown that it's bad. The problem is they never get into why they do it. Why do they jump in bed together so fast? Why does Buffy go from clearly not caring in 8 or 9 to being all about him 10? Angel and Xander speak for Spike, Willow and Dawn speak for Buffy and none of what any of them say actually fits things.

Maybe now that the Archaeus thing is over, they'll actually talk. Technically speaking, they've only been together in-story, what, 2 or 3 days?

[rahirah]

Someone asked Gage about that at the latest Q&A, and he said of course that's just Angel's opinion, and seemed a little surprised that everyone was taking it so seriously. On the other hand, I doubt he threw it in just for laughs...

[shapinglight]

It might be Angel's opinion, but that doesn't change the fact that it might also be foreshadowing - something I pointed out on Slayalive, but got slapped down for saying.

Not because people didn't agree with that, but because...oh, some bollocks about life, the universe and everything. I forget.