Buffy S9 #1 "Freefall" and Angel & Faith #1 "Live Through This"

[boot_the_grime]

So, finally, after a long wait, three preview pages, lots of craziness in the fandom caused by spoilers and a couple of weird early reviews and people's general tendencies to read their own preconceptions and obsessive peeves into the text and several really bizarre quasi-controversies with some things blown way out of proportion, I finally read

Comments

[ceciliaj]

I've been following your comments over at BF, and it's nice to see them all compiled here in an extended review. Many good observations, and I agree with most of them, especially about the superiority (at this point) of Angel & Faith.

[boot_the_grime]

Here's a thought I've just had: maybe the "subtext" of Xander's remark to Buffy that she isn't good at making plans that aren't battle plans wasn't (just) any resentment at her, maybe it's what he thinks about himself, that he was only someone important in the army setting (making battle plans) but will never amount to anything in this "normal life" civilian setting. Did Buffy realize that, and is that why she wasn't upset with him for saying that

[moscow_watcher]

Agree. Pre-season 9, he mattered. He was part of a great team. Now there is no team anymore, and everything looks small and unimportant. Soldiers who return to normal life, often go through this phase before they adapt to normal life.

[moscow_watcher]

Great analysis.

If that was the case, it's easy to see why Angel was picked, as the only vampire with a soul at the time, but why Buffy? How did TPTB know that she would turn out to be more special than most other Slayers? Was there a prophecy about her?

My guess is that Buffy was the first Slayer not brainwashed by The Council. She would fall for a vampire easier than, say, Kendra.

[boot_the_grime]

It's clear why she is considered special, but I'm talking about the time when Whisler told Angel about Buffy, which when she had just been called. Nobody knew then what kind of Slayer she would be. Why did he think that he should point Angel to her, rather than to one of the previous Slayers? He had 100 years to pick someone.

[moscow_watcher]

Because previous slayers would've staked a vampire without hesitation, soul or no soul?

[boot_the_grime]

Yes, but how would Whistler know that at the time? It would require some prophesies or psychic abilities.

[tennyo_elf]

Nice review. I agree, I don't think Buffy slept with anyone and it's all just a big mislead. Though I'm wondering about the consequences mentioned from that night.

I have a wild theory, but what's new, right?