“Friends with the Monster”, End notes
[ Endnotes posted 01 Jan 2018 ]
Since this is a remix, what prompted the direction this story took in differing from the original?
Honestly? The Xander/Spike relationship which was central to the original story has no resonance whatsoever for me. (The ur-original; DragonsPhoenix’s story was actually a sequel to one by another author.) I just don’t feel it. Canonically, the two men despised one another, and the closest either got to affection for the other was ignoring him. I could, I suppose, have put myself into that frame of mind if I’d been willing to work at it, but I wasn’t … and, with an alternative notion already whispering to me, I had no reason to psych myself up for something that held no appeal for me anyhow.
Is there any particular meaning in the title?
Mostly, I just like the sound of it. It did hark back to DP’s title, though, and it continued my practice of (whenever possible) using a song title or lyric as the title for a remix.
What is the thing I like most about this story? the thing I like least, or about which I feel most doubtful?
Like most: I enjoyed this Dawn’s newer, tougher persona. It was fun to figure just how far I could go - based on her past canon behavior - while trying not to overdo it. (I also got a kick out of the Claymation/Fiona Apple analogy, having seen and enjoyed the Celebrity Deathmatch episode Xander was referencing.)
Like least: Xander’s pessimism, his self-conscious self-flagellating withdrawal from human contact, really did sometimes come across as edging toward too much. I used the comparison to Angel to effect, but it got closer to that than was entirely comfortable. Seemed to fit, but I’m still a bit insecure about it.
Is there anything I think I could have done better, or might do differently if I had it to do over?
This story is still a bit too recent to allow me the objectivity for very much introspection. So, no ideas, sorry.
Was there a different direction I could have taken the story, and what would have been some of the advantages of the not-taken path?
The only other thought that comes to me at the moment would be for Xander (and the Sunnydale crew) to be having to deal with his new status, and concerns, on the spot rather than just him and Dawn a few years down the road. That has its possibilities, but I like this way better.
Any observations to add at the end?
Xander is absolutely stubborn enough to build-a-better-Xander and find a way to send him back in time. For the weakest one of the bunch, he’s every bit as much a You don’t want to mess with this one as the heavy hitters.