Buffy season 10 no 28
Jun. 22nd, 2016 07:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shapinglightBrief summary, thoughts etc behind cut.
I gather this issue is already available for Android app, so some of you may have read it already.
Briefly, Buffy and Spike don't split up. Instead, they decide to work through their problems, stop running away from relationships (which I still don't think is something Spike has ever done - more like he's obsessively clung on to relationships - or relationship, as he only really had one before Buffy - when it was plain to everyone else they were over) and stay together.
This decision is real, actual character progression, I guess, it's just that it's based on a complete turnaround from how Buffy behaved in the previous issue. She goes from being in a more or less permanent strop with everything to being...well, a bit like the real, actual Buffy. She just decides they're not doing this now. She's also thought of a way to fight D'Hoffryn, which is also why she decided they're not doing this now. There are more important things to get on with. This made me happy, have to say. So much more like the really real, not so pleasant (but confident and resourceful) Buffy, as seen in season 7.
We don't learn what the plan is, but Buffy and Spike go through the book collecting reluctant allies (Archduchess Venobia, who Buffy beat up in the previous issue, and Vicki the vampire anyway) while continuing to discuss their relationship problems, so at least you don't get it all in one big lump. Hopefully, that will be that for some time, in the sense that, yes, their relationship has taken centre stage for much of the season and it's time to put it on the backburner and focus on other stuff.
Having said which, there are still two issues to go. Plenty of time for horrible things to happen, and since Gage has already said there'll be a season 11, the series may well end on a cliffhanger.
Meanwhile, Willow's security clearance with the military has been rescinded and she breaks up with Lake (because she can see Lake is comfortable in the military and she'd never be comfortable there herself), and Andrew has a heart-to-heart with Clive, who makes him see that Wannabe Vengeance Demon Jonathan may not have had his best interests at heart.
I like the Andrew scene. In fact, I like the way Gage has dealt with Andrew throughout the series. Not so happy about Willow and Lake splitting up - not because I much cared for Lake (I still think it was a mistake to split up Willow and Kennedy) - but because Willow's story has been a bit throwaway this series and she needs something to get her teeth into (as it were).
Meanwhile, meanwhile, in what is the best part of the issue, Dawn and Xander make their way home through endless demon dimensions, some of which are terrifying, some of which are downright hilarious, and finally make it back to earth (by which time Xander is dressed like Tarzan and has the muscles to match), in time to join in the big group hug back at the apartment.
Because yes, it all ends in yet another group hug (well, they don't actually hug, but the principal is the same) and all yay!us as they plan the fight back against D'Hoffryn.
So you end up wondering what was the point of all the rowing (I know I did) unless it's that it's obligatory that the Scoobies have a row and break up, only to get back together every season.
On the other hand, it's good to have Buffy behaving more like herself again. And at least Buffy and Spike not breaking up is a bit of a change from the usual relationship angst in the Buffyverse.
But I think the the group has got a bit insular (the way they were in high school). I remember fans (mostly B/X'ers) back in the day saying 'the only one for a core Scoob is a core Scoob', which is (clearly, IMO) ridiculous, and I regard this insularity as a retrograde step. Yes, old friends continuing to be friends is great (and makes it a lot easier in comic book terms because there are fewer characters to deal with), but the group needs to look outwards as well. See above, Willow splitting up with Lake, which I don't like for this reason.
I gather this issue is already available for Android app, so some of you may have read it already.
Briefly, Buffy and Spike don't split up. Instead, they decide to work through their problems, stop running away from relationships (which I still don't think is something Spike has ever done - more like he's obsessively clung on to relationships - or relationship, as he only really had one before Buffy - when it was plain to everyone else they were over) and stay together.
This decision is real, actual character progression, I guess, it's just that it's based on a complete turnaround from how Buffy behaved in the previous issue. She goes from being in a more or less permanent strop with everything to being...well, a bit like the real, actual Buffy. She just decides they're not doing this now. She's also thought of a way to fight D'Hoffryn, which is also why she decided they're not doing this now. There are more important things to get on with. This made me happy, have to say. So much more like the really real, not so pleasant (but confident and resourceful) Buffy, as seen in season 7.
We don't learn what the plan is, but Buffy and Spike go through the book collecting reluctant allies (Archduchess Venobia, who Buffy beat up in the previous issue, and Vicki the vampire anyway) while continuing to discuss their relationship problems, so at least you don't get it all in one big lump. Hopefully, that will be that for some time, in the sense that, yes, their relationship has taken centre stage for much of the season and it's time to put it on the backburner and focus on other stuff.
Having said which, there are still two issues to go. Plenty of time for horrible things to happen, and since Gage has already said there'll be a season 11, the series may well end on a cliffhanger.
Meanwhile, Willow's security clearance with the military has been rescinded and she breaks up with Lake (because she can see Lake is comfortable in the military and she'd never be comfortable there herself), and Andrew has a heart-to-heart with Clive, who makes him see that Wannabe Vengeance Demon Jonathan may not have had his best interests at heart.
I like the Andrew scene. In fact, I like the way Gage has dealt with Andrew throughout the series. Not so happy about Willow and Lake splitting up - not because I much cared for Lake (I still think it was a mistake to split up Willow and Kennedy) - but because Willow's story has been a bit throwaway this series and she needs something to get her teeth into (as it were).
Meanwhile, meanwhile, in what is the best part of the issue, Dawn and Xander make their way home through endless demon dimensions, some of which are terrifying, some of which are downright hilarious, and finally make it back to earth (by which time Xander is dressed like Tarzan and has the muscles to match), in time to join in the big group hug back at the apartment.
Because yes, it all ends in yet another group hug (well, they don't actually hug, but the principal is the same) and all yay!us as they plan the fight back against D'Hoffryn.
So you end up wondering what was the point of all the rowing (I know I did) unless it's that it's obligatory that the Scoobies have a row and break up, only to get back together every season.
On the other hand, it's good to have Buffy behaving more like herself again. And at least Buffy and Spike not breaking up is a bit of a change from the usual relationship angst in the Buffyverse.
But I think the the group has got a bit insular (the way they were in high school). I remember fans (mostly B/X'ers) back in the day saying 'the only one for a core Scoob is a core Scoob', which is (clearly, IMO) ridiculous, and I regard this insularity as a retrograde step. Yes, old friends continuing to be friends is great (and makes it a lot easier in comic book terms because there are fewer characters to deal with), but the group needs to look outwards as well. See above, Willow splitting up with Lake, which I don't like for this reason.
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no subject
Date: 2016-06-24 07:27 pm (UTC)I find it frustrating that the one lesbian reoccuring character in the comics has been not only sidelined in S10 but has had no sex life or romantic life whatsoever compared to other characters; and that it's been established over and over that NO WE ARE NOT REVIVING TARA NO WAY when they have brought every other dead character to life. And Gage can't even be bothered to write another decent gay or bi female love interest for Willow? In San Francisco? Really?
Gage comes off as a little bit of a prude on that account, which I doubt it intentional. But there it is.
no subject
Date: 2016-06-24 09:35 pm (UTC)"Gage comes off as a little bit of a prude on that account"
Have you read Willow: Wonderland he co-wrote? About half of it is about Willow's relationship with Aluwyn and there's nothing prudish about how they are portrayed as a couple in that mini-series.
"I find it frustrating that the one lesbian reoccuring character in the comics has been not only sidelined in S10 but has had no sex life or romantic life whatsoever compared to other characters; and that it's been established over and over that NO WE ARE NOT REVIVING TARA NO WAY when they have brought every other dead character to life"
It is frustrating but I think that there's a very good in-story reason for that. Basically, Willow has been consistently keeping her lovers away from Buffy because, of course, of Tara's death. Kennedy confronted her about it in "Anywhere But Here" in season 8 ( and Willow confirmed it to be true ) but Aluwyn and Lake could never become a part of Buffy's circle in the first place because of who they are; a majestic snake demon and married to her job civil servant/career military/spook/whatever Lake actually is. And I don't hold it against Willow but it is what it is. I think that when Willow's ready for her lover to become a part of Buffy's life again she will allow it but right now she's clearly not. Hopefully Will will get a better story and a more interesting and better developed love interest in the next season.
About Tara. You do not want Tara resurrected, at this point that's vengeance demon levels of cruelty. More importantly, Willow's changed too much for that relationship to work again. For one, I don't think Tara would be able to handle the Willow that is, in her own words, not repressed anymore.