This issue seems to have polarised opinion, with some people loving it and others being really, really hostile. I enjoyed it on its own merits as a classic Gothic horror story, but I don't think it had much to do with the Buffyverse or Season 8.
I wonder if the demon is supposed to work as a social commentary on the demographic situation in Europe where many places have negative natality rateThe other analogy that came to mind is the way the older generation send their children away to fight and die in wars in the name of protecting (their own) way of life. It can be seen as a metaphor for the Slayers pre-empowerment spell. The folk of Hanselstadt convinced themselves that they were doing the right thing, making sacrifices for the common good. You could also draw the analogy with what their parents did in the Germany of the 1930s, with the Watcher Fillworthe in the role of a certain other well-known leader of that period. (If, that is, you assume that the plan to deliberately feed children to the demon to protect the adults of the
( ... )
(If, that is, you assume that the plan to deliberately feed children to the demon to protect the adults of the town was his idea, and they went along with it.)
My impression is that we;re supposed to think that they were feeding children to the demon for a long time.
The other analogy that came to mind is the way the older generation send their children away to fight and die in wars in the name of protecting (their own) way of life. It can be seen as a metaphor for the Slayers pre-empowerment spell. The folk of Hanselstadt convinced themselves that they were doing the right thing, making sacrifices for the common good.
Yes, I agree, there are many metaphorical reading of this situation, but I think it just Doesn't. Make. Sense. literally. People won't feed their children to a monster.
(I've just got the reply to the comment I left on your LJ). Yes, I think that the townsfolk could be (partially) hypnotyzed by the demon, although it's not in the text.
I have the impression that this is the biggest problem with season 8. It's doomed to be either sensational or boring. There is no middle ground. To be compelling it has to be controversial. The comics don't grab me unless Buffy turns out to be a lesbian, or an enemy of humanity, or a bank robber. Or she (arguably) destroys the Fray timeline. Or?...
Good point, Moscow. And I agree. This issue was very lacklustre and you could have substituted Faith and Giles for any character because there was nothing to distinguish them as Faith and Giles IMO.
you could have substituted Faith and Giles for any character because there was nothing to distinguish them as Faith and Giles IMO.
I agree. There are so many interesting ways to develop Giles and Faith. But the characters just service a badly conceptualized plot based on a highly unprobable premise that people can feed their children to a monster.
I argued w/a friend that wanting to become a vampire was tantamount to wanting to commit suicide, because no vampire can grow or create or ever hope to be more than what they are. My friend disagreed 100% to her wanting to become a vampire was wanting to embrace sexual desire even if it is 'forbidden' or not what is accepted as normal. I think both of us got our attitudes from Buffy, and that both have merit.
Yes, I think BtVS is an interesting example of the artificial universe that is so rich that there are countless interpretations of it. I have been always intrigued by the fact that all the three BtVS demons who were in the regular cast (Angel, Spike, Oz) happened to be creative persons (artist, poet, musician). Was is random or intentional? Were demons supposed to personify our creative side? Our id as a source of inspiration?
I'm confident that he will tie everything together eventually (as he did w/Astonishing X-men) but heaven knows how long he'll take to get there!
Hopefully it will happen before I stop caring completely
Comments 47
I wonder if the demon is supposed to work as a social commentary on the demographic situation in Europe where many places have negative natality rateThe other analogy that came to mind is the way the older generation send their children away to fight and die in wars in the name of protecting (their own) way of life. It can be seen as a metaphor for the Slayers pre-empowerment spell. The folk of Hanselstadt convinced themselves that they were doing the right thing, making sacrifices for the common good. You could also draw the analogy with what their parents did in the Germany of the 1930s, with the Watcher Fillworthe in the role of a certain other well-known leader of that period. (If, that is, you assume that the plan to deliberately feed children to the demon to protect the adults of the ( ... )
Reply
My impression is that we;re supposed to think that they were feeding children to the demon for a long time.
The other analogy that came to mind is the way the older generation send their children away to fight and die in wars in the name of protecting (their own) way of life. It can be seen as a metaphor for the Slayers pre-empowerment spell. The folk of Hanselstadt convinced themselves that they were doing the right thing, making sacrifices for the common good.
Yes, I agree, there are many metaphorical reading of this situation, but I think it just Doesn't. Make. Sense. literally. People won't feed their children to a monster.
(I've just got the reply to the comment I left on your LJ). Yes, I think that the townsfolk could be (partially) hypnotyzed by the demon, although it's not in the text.
*shrugs*
Still, icky.
Reply
Good point, Moscow. And I agree. This issue was very lacklustre and you could have substituted Faith and Giles for any character because there was nothing to distinguish them as Faith and Giles IMO.
Such a disappointment.
Reply
I agree. There are so many interesting ways to develop Giles and Faith. But the characters just service a badly conceptualized plot based on a highly unprobable premise that people can feed their children to a monster.
Reply
Reply
Yes, I think BtVS is an interesting example of the artificial universe that is so rich that there are countless interpretations of it. I have been always intrigued by the fact that all the three BtVS demons who were in the regular cast (Angel, Spike, Oz) happened to be creative persons (artist, poet, musician). Was is random or intentional? Were demons supposed to personify our creative side? Our id as a source of inspiration?
I'm confident that he will tie everything together eventually (as he did w/Astonishing X-men) but heaven knows how long he'll take to get there!
Hopefully it will happen before I stop caring completely
Reply
Reply
To quote Evil!Willow...
Bored Now.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment