Buffy Came Back Wrong: As You Were and Hell's Bells

[gabrielleabelle]

No clue what this is? Read the first post in the series.

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."

- the Buddha

Yep. It's that time again. We're coming off the heels of Dead Things (and OAFA). Buffy has clued in to the fact that things

Comments

[ladycallie]

Perfect timing on this as I just watched these two episodes last night as part of my rewatch. I've been enjoying going though this season and recalling bits from your meta. Thanks!

[gabrielleabelle]

Hee! I timed this just for you. :)

[me_llamo_nic]

Have I mentioned that these BCBW posts are probably my favorite meta ever?

Season 6 has some of the ripest metaphors in all of Joss' works, IMHO, and you highlight this one brilliantly.

I'd also like to add my two cents about Riley. I've heard a lot of complaints about Riley just having the absolutely perfect life when he comes back, and it is bothersome at first glance, but looking at it through this lens (and hoping the metaphorical messages were intentional) I can respect its place among the arc of the season. Because when you're depressed, you'll look out at the world, at strangers, at your current friends, and at your old friends. No matter how their life actually is, no matter how they feel about it, you're going to see it as too perfect. Everyone looks happier than you. Sometimes this just makes you feel like shit, but other times (like with Buffy) it stirs you to reflection and positive, proactive behavior.

From the standpoint of this metaphor, I really quite like 'As You Were'.

[gabrielleabelle]

Perspective is important, and I do like the idea that AYW purposely shows a skewed POV. That makes it almost The Zeppo-ish in concept. Which, in concept, I also like AYW. :)

[shipperx]

I suppose I just look at things in too literal of terms because I'm always taken out of the story by the details of it.

[gabrielleabelle]

I'm sorry. I'm not sure exactly what you're referring to.

[shipperx]

The Petrie plot stuff in it that doesn't add up or make sense. Unfortunately, I've had a horrid (overworked)deadline at work, too little sleep, and have just had vodka so I don't think I can have a particularly intelligent conversation at the moment. :)

[speakr2customrs]

I believe that shipperx feels, as I do, that the appallingly sloppy execution of the episode (the utter insanity of Spike being The Doctor, Riley and Sam arriving by SUV but departing by helicopter, the ludicrous life-cycle of the Suvolte demon) makes it hard to treat it as anything but a jumbled mess in which any apparent metaphors are really only there by coincidence.

[eowyn_315]

This has very little to do with anything, but I just noticed it - My bad. I keep forgetting you dropped out of college. Dude. You have a bachelor's degree and you're still working at the Doublemeat Palace. How exactly is that less pathetic than Buffy? (I don't like Todd

[gabrielleabelle]

Dude. You have a bachelor's degree and you're still working at the Doublemeat Palace. How exactly is that less pathetic than Buffy? (I don't like Todd.)

Todd's a douchebag.

And I hear a lot of complaints about "how dare Riley swoop in and judge her after being away for a year," but your analysis shows why it HAS to be Riley, it has to be someone outside her current life.

Indeed. And, to Riley's credit, he doesn't judge her. At all.

I know a lot of people (me included) find it very difficult to watch this episode because it does drag Buffy through the mud so much with the "let's remind Buffy how much she sucks" theme. Her embarrassment is so cringeworthy, even infuriating to those of us who love her - but is it necessary to show her depression? To get that uncomfortably tight POV? I am wondering if you think it would still work if it were a little less harsh on Buffy.I'm not sure. I do have a lot of issues with the execution of the episode. I feel, in particular, the Buffy Sucks theme is too hamfisted. I prefer more subtlety in

[eowyn_315]

I guess I'm left wondering why it was necessary to pile it all on in this episode. Ideally, we'd have had this theme all season long, so by this point, it's just a given that Buffy's life is going to suck when compared to Riley's.

Yes. I definitely think that's where they went wrong. (Well, one of them, anyway...)

I dislike anvils in my themes.

Heh. You know, for all S6's brilliance and subtlety, there are an awful lot of anvils mixed in there. I think it makes it more painful when one conks you on the head.

[me_llamo_nic]

I guess I'm left wondering why it was necessary to pile it all on in this episode.

Hazarding a guess: They (the writers) knew they wanted Buffy making dramatic steps forward after this, but still had leftover mud that they had meant to drag her through and so they squeezed in as much as they could.

[amycooper]

*fangirls your meta*

[gabrielleabelle]

:)