(Review) BtVS Season 9: Willow: Wonderland part II

[stormwreath]

The second issue of the 'Willow:Wonderland' arc sees our heroine reunited with (one of) her True Love(s), while her morality is put to the test. There's also hints at something even more disturbing going on back on Earth.

Comments

[erimthar]

I'm fairly certain the fading-memories-of-Dawn theory is correct. (Another bit of evidence is Xander's having forgotten her birthday). In Angel & Faith it was confirmed that the memories of Connor's false life faded away for everyone but him... they must be doing the same for Dawn.

But then why were Buffy and Xander also faceless in Willow's borrowed nightmare? Is everyone eventually going to fade, and the only way to survive is to escape into another dimension? Is Twilight inevitable after all?

I loved seeing Aluwyn again and I'm really beginning to "ship" her and Willow a little bit... but I keep waiting for her to live up to her reputation as a trickster and a liar. Willow seems to trust her implicitly, which is odd, considering she knows Aluwyn's nature perfectly well. Is this paradise with sexy snaky lover and two dozen beautiful, admiring witches some sort of "honey trap" Aluwyn has constructed to get Willow into her power?

[stormwreath]

Yes, when Christos Gage confirmed in his Q&A that memories of Connor had faded, but when asked if the same applied to Dawn he simply said, "No comment. Read 'Buffy'", that was a pretty broad clue. :)

Is this paradise with sexy snaky lover and two dozen beautiful, admiring witches some sort of "honey trap" Aluwyn has constructed to get Willow into her power?

It wouldn't be the first time Aluwyn has constructed a false reality as a test for Willow. And if this is really this world's equivalent of the Deeper Well, it does imply it's not as benevolent as it appears. And like you, I would like to see more evidence of Saga Vasuki being a Trickster.

On the other hand, two things occur to me:

1. The lesson Willow had to learn in 'Goddesses and Monsters' was to look beyond the surface appearance to the truth behind it (and the truth behind that, and so on recursively). It could be that she sees past Aluwyn's facade of being tricky and deceitful and knows that at heart she's loyal

[ladydorotea]

Very nice point about the Memory water - and we already agreed on the Hyberrax. One little thing though I want to point out is that it is the Caterpillar guy, not Marrak who speaks of dark gatekeepers to path of righteousness and of Energy being released by opposing forces ( as well as about light casting dark shadows). Writer ventilating much ? we shall see.

Btw - did you notice how the Scythe changed its colors after repair ? It now looks completely red without the silver edge, and exactly like Fray's Scythe. Yet it is still the same weapon.

[stormwreath]

it is the Caterpillar guy, not Marrak who speaks of dark gatekeepers

True. Slip of the fingers there. Thanks.

I mentioned the Scythe's makeover. :) The only problem is that it was all-red in 'Fray' but red and silver (like Buffy's) in 'ToyL'. I assume it's a continuity error, but I wonder if they'll find a way to explain it?