Buffyversemeta entry

[aycheb]

This is what I wrote for the buffyversemeta metathon

Title: Reader, I destroyed him.

Summary: The special treatment of girl’s stories in BtVS

Source texts: All of BtVS including the S8 comic issues 1-4. AtS S1 The Prodigal, S3 Lullaby, S4 Inside Out and S5 Damage

Word count: 2642

Notes: The original prompt was azdak’s "People are gonna die. Girls are gonna

Comments

[ponygirl2000]

What an awesome essay! Quite brilliant from the title on. I particularly liked your comparison of the male/female encounters in Restless. I've read dozens of analyses of the episode but that's a genuinely new insight.

[aycheb]

The title was the hardest part :-) I hadn't been thinking so much about Buffy lately but there always seems to be more to it when you do.

[yourlibrarian]

I really enjoyed the way you broke this into its separate strands, and also brought folktale analysis into it. It strikes me as a great introduction to various storylines in the show.

I'd add that of all the dead mothers, Cordelia was the best known character. She may not have died right away but hers was a direct result of birthing Jasmine.

[aycheb]

Yes, Cordelia too, I was trying to stick to biological mothers (which she would actually count as more than any of them, duh AtS blind spot in operation) but it's interesting that she gets to return in S5 when Joss was back on the show full time.

[lillianmorgan]

Here via molly_may's pimp. Wonderful essay - very well written and funny too. I really enjoyed reading it.
There are slightly disturbing parallels to be drawn between her self-abnegation and Buffy’s in The Gift particularly if the latter is viewed as a sacrifice made on Dawn’s behalf.
Yes, I also found this disturbing in the context of the DVD commentaries where the writers state that Dawn is Buffy's love-interest for Season 5. Though, I suppose, love is an over-arcing theme that runs through the show. And with Darla's sacrifice I have always been motivated more in the context of her actions being an overwhelming drive of narrative and character, I was in tears when it happened and made Darla that much more interesting, rather than considering the wider implications.
Fascinating essay though.

[aycheb]

Thank you. And yes, Darla is doubly complicated because although self-immolation is expected of female heroines you certainly wouldn't expect it of Darla. It's a very powerful scene.

[moscow_watcher]

Great essay. I think I'm going to re-read (and then re-read again) to master the wealth of your ideas.

[aycheb]

::Is flattered::

[shapinglight]

Great essay. Like many people, I feel I have nothing intelligent to add - can only stand back and admire, and I don't think you'd fail.

[aycheb]

Thank you!