A good analysis, thank you. One point which might be worth elaborating on is the idea of "coping", seen as a crutch both necessary and undesirable. You cope with your problems either through a stiff upper lip or through diversionary activities, be they purely self-absorbing (Spike or whoever) or apparently useful (sure I will help you, my problems can wait). Unfortunately, in my experience one of the most deadening aspects of depression is not the question of what to do, but the issue of whether to do anything at all - the feeling that no action or goal is worth its while. It is at this point that one looks for something external which might might prod one awake, ideally bringing back to the surface things like curiosity and enthusiasm. It can be a long search.
Somehow I see the B/S "chat outside the shop" scene and its consequences more in this light rather than B simply coping with her issues, i.e. avoiding them.
I think that Dark Willow is also foreshadowed in "Ted", when she expresses her admiration for Ted's intelligence despite he was a serial killer. Willow doesn't seem very concerned with morality (As her *usual self*?) because there is intelligence and power involved.
Nice meta and I LOVE season six. Lovelovelove. But I've never found the Trio funny. Even in the beginning of the season they use their fancy gadgets to torture Buffy (Life Serial) and that's not funny.
I think that Dark Willow is also foreshadowed in "Ted"
Oh yeah.
Willow: The sad part is the real Ted must've been a genius. There were design features in that robot that pre-date... Buffy: (interrupts) Willow, tell me you didn't keep any parts. Willow: Not any big ones. Buffy: Oh, Will, you're supposed to use your powers for good! Willow: I just wanna learn stuff.
I think Willow is concerned with morality - she just takes it as a given. The good guys are good guys, the bad guys are bad guys, and as long as everyone knows who's who and follows the rules for their side there's no problem. It's when she learns that rules can be broken without the world ending that things start to go wrong for her - if it's really OK to walk off-campus in broad daylight, or if it's somehow wrong to resurrect Joyce, then what's to say all rules can't be discarded?
Nice point! I also think that she assumes an external point of view on morality. She thinks that moral is= socially acceptable. She needs to form her own moral code and to understand personally what is the difference between right and wrong.
It's notable that Willow's expertise with robotics (which may/may not have been helped by studying Ted parts) pays off in a big way with the Buffybot. The things that are scariest about Willow are also the things that make her most essential, which is pretty cool.
I think Willow is concerned with morality - she just takes it as a given. The good guys are good guys, the bad guys are bad guys, and as long as everyone knows who's who and follows the rules for their side there's no problem. It's when she learns that rules can be broken without the world ending that things start to go wrong for her - if it's really OK to walk off-campus in broad daylight, or if it's somehow wrong to resurrect Joyce, then what's to say all rules can't be discarded? Part of what makes the shifting magic metaphor work so well is that something about the core of what magic is for Willow is consistent -- it's always about changing at least perception of reality and what is possible. "I'm so skanky and evil -- and I think I'm kinda gay!" Magic may allow the
( ... )
Favourite season, favourite everything. I agree with most of what you write here.
I think Rack is best understood more as a Monster of the Week figure who is there partly to represent one aspect (among many) of Willow's story, and, in parallel, on Buffy/Spike. Willow being in the thrall of Rack's magic comes at a time when Buffy can't admit that she has agency in her relationship with Spike, and the paralleling is a big part of what's going on there. Magic for Willow and vampire-sex with Buffy are (both) about agency and control, and loss of identity and self-erasure, and (while imperfectly) I think that's part of what's going on there and why I've mostly made peace with the Rack and druggy stuff.
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Somehow I see the B/S "chat outside the shop" scene and its consequences more in this light rather than B simply coping with her issues, i.e. avoiding them.
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Nice meta and I LOVE season six. Lovelovelove. But I've never found the Trio funny. Even in the beginning of the season they use their fancy gadgets to torture Buffy (Life Serial) and that's not funny.
Reply
Oh yeah.
Willow: The sad part is the real Ted must've been a genius. There were
design features in that robot that pre-date...
Buffy: (interrupts) Willow, tell me you didn't keep any parts.
Willow: Not any big ones.
Buffy: Oh, Will, you're supposed to use your powers for good!
Willow: I just wanna learn stuff.
I think Willow is concerned with morality - she just takes it as a given. The good guys are good guys, the bad guys are bad guys, and as long as everyone knows who's who and follows the rules for their side there's no problem. It's when she learns that rules can be broken without the world ending that things start to go wrong for her - if it's really OK to walk off-campus in broad daylight, or if it's somehow wrong to resurrect Joyce, then what's to say all rules can't be discarded?
Reply
Reply
I think Willow is concerned with morality - she just takes it as a given. The good guys are good guys, the bad guys are bad guys, and as long as everyone knows who's who and follows the rules for their side there's no problem. It's when she learns that rules can be broken without the world ending that things start to go wrong for her - if it's really OK to walk off-campus in broad daylight, or if it's somehow wrong to resurrect Joyce, then what's to say all rules can't be discarded? Part of what makes the shifting magic metaphor work so well is that something about the core of what magic is for Willow is consistent -- it's always about changing at least perception of reality and what is possible. "I'm so skanky and evil -- and I think I'm kinda gay!" Magic may allow the ( ... )
Reply
I think Rack is best understood more as a Monster of the Week figure who is there partly to represent one aspect (among many) of Willow's story, and, in parallel, on Buffy/Spike. Willow being in the thrall of Rack's magic comes at a time when Buffy can't admit that she has agency in her relationship with Spike, and the paralleling is a big part of what's going on there. Magic for Willow and vampire-sex with Buffy are (both) about agency and control, and loss of identity and self-erasure, and (while imperfectly) I think that's part of what's going on there and why I've mostly made peace with the Rack and druggy stuff.
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