Buffy - More Season 3 impressions (episode 22)

[thalia_seawood]

Graduation Day - Part 2



Wilkins gets totally upset when Faith goes missing. Neat.
(This scene reminded me a bit about Palpatine feeling that Anakin is in danger and getting a shuttle ready to go to him.)

"Faith's a good girl. She can take anything they'll throw at her. She's going to be all right. She'll be all right. She'll be all right."
Love turns even villains into ordinary humans. :-)


I like this moment:
Xander: "Aren't you supposed to be drinking tea anyway?"
Giles: "Tea is soothing. I wish to be tense."


Interesting scene:
Cordelia: "So very funny. Any minute I am sure to laugh. I just got off the phone with him [Wesley]. He could hardly speak he was so upset. He said there was something about a fight? And he is leaving the country.
This makes it quite clear that Wesley may appear find on the outside, but behind the "ultra-British" facade he really cares about what happens. There's really not much worse than wanting to help only to be rebuffed time and again.


So Angel drinks Buffy's blood. This scene is way more erotic than their love-making in season 2, but also matches the darkness that they have both discovered in themselves along the way. (I.e. Angel has turned into Angelus and back again in the meantime and Buffy has found that she's able to kill/seriously harm Faith.)
Nice parallel: In the last episode of season 2, Buffy has to kill Angel. In the last episode of season 3, she saves his life.


The confrontation between Angel and Wilkins was great. In this scene, there are strong parallels between them: Both have come close to losing someone they love, both feel guilty about it in a way.

Camera pans back to the Mayor, who realizes just who that other girl must be. He leaves the room and walks over to Buffy's bed. He puts his left hand over her mouth, also blocking her nose. Buffy starts to move her head with a soft protest.
A nurse comes in and tries to pull his hand away, but is unable to budge him. :"Oh, my God. Sir! No!" She turns and runs out of the room shouting: "Somebody call security!"
Close up on Buffy struggling harder. A pair of hands grab the Mayor and push him away from the bed.
Angel: "Don't do that!"
The Mayor stumbles back, then gets right into Angel's face: "I will. I do that and *worse*. (looks over Angel's shoulder at Buffy) Murderous little fiend! Did you see what she did to my Faith?"
Angel: "Hadn't any plans to weep over that one."
Mayor seriously upset: "Well, I'd get set for some weeping if I were you. I'd get set for a *world* of pain! Misery loves company, young man, and I'm looking to share that with you and your *whore*!"


I feel sorry for Angel. He already has all the guilt going because he nearly drained all of Buffy's blood and then he also has to face the disapproval of her friends.


Emotionally, the most powerful scene is the dream sequence Buffy and Faith share. I watched it twice and each time I *loved* it.

Faith as Buffy looks back up: "You want to know the deal? Human weakness - never goes away. Not even his."
Buffy with a half smile: "Is this your mind or mine?"
Faith with a short laugh: "Beats me." Buffy gives a little laugh in return and looks down. Faith walks towards her: "Getting towards that time."
Buffy looks at all the boxes and the weapons laid out on the table beside her: "How are you going to fit all this stuff?"
Faith: "Not gonna. It's yours."
Buffy: "I can't use all of this!"
Faith: "Just take what you need. (reaches her right hand up to touch Buffy's cheek) "You're ready?"
Flash to white and to Buffy waking up in the hospital. She gets out of bed and slowly walks over to where Faith lies. She looks down at her then softly kisses her forehead.

They have hurt one another in so many ways (well mostly Faith tried to get back at Buffy and Buffy retaliated), but there aren't any apologies necessary between them. They have such a strong connection that in the end there is no forgiveness needed. Anyway, both have to forgive *themselves* to move on.
I don't mean that they should forget what they did, but endless guilt can't be the solution. There are things you can't undo, therefore you have to live with them and move on and try to do the right thing again and again and again in the future. - This is really something Angel has to face, too, every day of his existance.
Side Note: The scene between Buffy and Faith is what I could see happening between Anakin and Obi-Wan in the very end of the SW trilogy. Not the details of the scene, of course, but the general atmosphere of just accepting one another and what has happened.


This made me smile, because it's good to see Angel getting sarcastic:
Xander: "But I'm still key-guy, right?" Buffy: "Right." Xander: "Then Angel, - in his non key-guy capacity, - can work with me."
Angel sarcastic: "What fun."


Oh. The kiss between Cordy and Wesley didn't work out. Funnily enough, these two give off brother-sister vibes to me. (In this moment, I could actually see them as human counterparts to Drusilla and Spike/William. Then again I might be over-interpreting. :-))


The Mayor's graduation speech is an absolute highlight and therefore there's more quotage.
Yes, Wilkins is a villain, but he understands a lot. This speech works on several levels: On the one hand it's an hommage to himself and a threat to everyone else, but it's a memorial speech for Faith. And it covers how much Buffy and her friends have grown over the last three years.

Mayor clears his throat and surveys the students: "Well. What a day this is! - Special day. Today is our centennial the one hundreds anniversary of the founding of Sunnydale, and I know what that means to all you kids: not - a darn thing. Because today something much more important happens: today you all graduate from high school. Today all the pain, all the work, all the excitement is finally over. And what's a hundred years of history compared to that? You know what kids?"
Buffy: "Oh my God. He's going to do the entire speech."
Willow: "Man, just ascend already."
Buffy: "Evol!"
Mayor: "For all of you it may be that there is a place in Sunnydale's history, whether you like it or not. It's been a long road getting here. For you - for Sunnydale. There has been achievement, joy, good times, - and there has been grief. There's been loss. Some people who should be here today - aren't. (close-up on Buffy listening) But we are. - Journey's end. And what is a journey? Is it just distance traveled? Time spent? (shakes his head) No. It's what happens on the way, it the things that happen to you. At the end of the journey you're not the same. Today is about change. (close-up on Willow) Graduation doesn't just mean your circumstances change, it means you do. You ascend - to a higher level. (Pan across Xander and Cordy) Nothing will ever be the same. (a shadow falls across the Mayor) Nothing." He looks up. Buffy and the other students look up to see the sun being totally blocked. The Mayor flinches in pain. Then swallows and continues his speech: "And so as we look back on... (Pain hits him again and he turns half to the side groaning) on the events that brought us to this day (another wave of pain)"
Buffy with her hat off: "Come on."
Mayor: "We...(stops in pain again all the students are watching tensely) we must all... (screams) (the students and the faculty look at each other uneasily) It has begun. My destiny. (smiles) It's a little sooner then I expected I had this whole section on civic pride. (shuffles cue cards) But I guess we'll just skip to the big finish!"


I love that all the students fight back. It shows that in some way they've also grown up along the way. Buffy no longer needs to be their sole saviour, but they are all willing to do their part.


Synder gets eaten by Wilkins. No!! I loved Snyder. How very sad. - I'm still trying to get over this...


Seems like Harmony is getting bitten by a vampire during the fight. Now, selenak, since you hinted that we would see her again this means there will be Harmony as vampire. I don't see as of yet, when there would have been the time to transform her into one. I guess I'll find out.


Poor Wilkins. - Yes, yes, he's evil. He's the bad guy. But his love for Faith makes me go "ahhhh" every time. And it's kind of tragic/ironic that it's his love for her that gets him killed.


Buffy and friends get to blow up the school. This is something most pupils dream about at least once. Not that I'd know. :-)
I really hope they got Giles' rare books out before blowing it up.


And how comes it's supposed to be funny when Wesley is in pain? - Ah well, his day will come!

Comments

[selenak.livejournal.com]

There's really not much worse than wanting to help only to be rebuffed time and again.

Um. Behold my first BTVS fanfiction, written in German, about Wesley directly after Graduation Day:

http://www.cheery.de/Splitter.htm


This scene is way more erotic than their love-making in season 2, but also matches the darkness that they have both discovered in themselves along the way.

Also known as the orgasmic feeding scene (tm). And yes, absolutely. It's the sex they can't allow themselves to have any longer, and with all the changes in them since then.

Emotionally, the most powerful scene is the dream sequence Buffy and Faith share. I watched it twice and each time I *loved* it.

Oh, me too. For all the reasons you name, and because it has some neat foreshadowing. I don't know whether you've noticed, but in the beginning, Faith talks about "Little Miss Muffet, counting back from 7-3-0". And remember, Slayer dreams are prophetic...

In this moment, I could actually see them as human counterparts to Drusilla and Spike/William. Then again I might be over-interpreting. :-))

*mumblereconstructshisfamilymumble*

Snyder death: alas, yes. And yet inevitable. He was the High School Principal, and High School is over now. There is no way they could have justified his continued existence on the show.

Speech and Wilkins in general: fantastic, I agree.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Um. Behold my first BTVS fanfiction, written in German, about Wesley directly after Graduation Day .

Oh, shiny! I really liked this story.

My beta reader mind noted two mistakes. Maybe you want to fix them:
In the second line it's either "der Himmel" or the verb needs to be plural.
Further down there the sentence "Die Warnung vor Buffys Ausdrucksweise befindet nicht umsonst darin.“. It's missing a "sich".

Your take on Wesley is interesting and makes a lot of sense: He's fundamentally someone who tries to connect to other and would love nothing better than to get along with them and make friends. But somehow whatever he does or says is taken the wrong way, simply because he's very laid back emotionally.

He reminds me a lot of my best friend which might explain why I care so much for this character. My friend is definitely smart and great when it comes to academic achievements, but often has problems getting close to others. Some people claim that she can't express herself, but when she told me about this I couldn't believe it at first. It turned out that she never has any problems talking to me: She talks very smoothly then, without stammering or going totally silent. When she feels uncomfortable with people, though, I've seen now that she will clam up. It's exactly what I see happening to Wesley. The more he feels that the others dislike him, the more complicated his speech patterns get - which leads to the other finding him ridiculous.

It's very telling that he feels comfortable around Cordelia of all people. She's the only one who did not rant at him or made him feel unwelcome.

One question: Is the difficult childhood you gave Wesley based on confirmed fact or your own interpretation?

I love the parallel you draw between Wesley and Faith. It's a spot on observation! Great!

What really got to me in your story is the present Giles brings for Wesley. Giles is one of my favorite characters (though it's hard to choose :-)), but this is unworthy of him.

Also known as the orgasmic feeding scene (tm).
What a great term. :-)

Re. dream sequence:
I was thinking that probably all the details are important. I'm looking forwarding to finding out how exactly they'll play a role in the long run.


*mumblereconstructshisfamilymumble*
Ah. I'm on the right track then.
If this theme is carried through this could mean that Wesley will remake himself into a "cool guy" eventually.
And Cordelia will lose her mind eventually. Not something I want to see happening, but it would fit.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Posted too quickly. Of course, I've got more to add to this point: "What really got to me in your story is the present Giles brings for Wesley. Giles is one of my favorite characters (though it's hard to choose :-)), but this is unworthy of him."

I felt this was very much an obligation present which makes it all the more sad that Wesley is still so moved by it.

A really considerate present would have been some interesting books, something for Wesley to pass the time.
And it's not something far fetched either: It's a present Giles would appreciate when having to spend weeks in a hospital. And Giles is a librarian and very well read plus he would know what Wesley would find an interesting read.
Just made me sad that he didn't bother about a nicer gift...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Mistakes: I'll tell bimo, who runs the archive. She wrote the partner story to this one, from Giles' pov, which was actually the original story (it's linked there) which I beta'd for her. I then as a fun beta exercise wrote Wesley's pov.

Wesley's childhood: that's canon. Yes, Harry wasn't the only kid locked under the stairs. Actually, Wesley gets referenced by Joss with some other HP characters, too. When Spike meets him, he calls him Percy. Because Wesley was headboy.

If this theme is carried through this could mean that Wesley will remake himself into a "cool guy" eventually.
And Cordelia will lose her mind eventually. Not something I want to see happening, but it would fit.

Um. Um. That's... um. No, not saying anything.

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

Hi! Selena sent me over here b/c she knows I love Wesley and thought I'd appreciate your comments. I think you're right on about a character that a lot of people took some time to warm to. (Just about everybody loves Wesley NOW but he's been through quite a lot).

He talks very smoothly then, without stammering or going totally silent. When she feels uncomfortable with people, though, I've seen now that she will clam up. It's exactly what I see happening to Wesley.

Oh yes, it's very true and becomes more apparent as he shifts over to Angel. I think one of the reasons I bonded with Wesley is that I'm a teacher, and a relatively young one; I teach small classes and deal with students who arent' much younger than me at fairly close quarters. There's a delicate balance involved in creating a persona that I'm comfortable with that still conveys the right kind of authority, and I'm really conscious that the persona that works for one teacher doesn't work for another; I even have to shift between classes. So Wesley strikes me as a teacher who completely misjudged the persona he needed for his job; I think it would be a mistake to assume that the Wes we see in season 3 is the "real" Wes; it's just another persona he's trying on, and not one he's very comfortable with. But he learns, he grows, and there's always next semester --

I have a major soft-spot for the Cordy/Wes fic, and I can link some early-Wes fic of my own if you're interested -- I mostly write in the AtS timeline, but I have a few that aren't spoilery past BtVS.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Great to meet someone else who hearts Wesley. (I watched the first episodes of Buffy and Angel and found that I miss him a lot.)

I like characters that are not perfect, i.e. I find it amazing that Willow and Xander aren't afraid of dark graveyards, walking across the dark campus or fighting demons - because I would be scared in their position. It's much easier with me to identify with Wesley, because he's afraid at times. And despite being afraid, he participates in the final battle. That, IMO, is true courage - doing something when you scared of it.

And word about Wesley creating a persona.
I think his watcher persona is the one he created for the Council at first. I think he's less aware of having created a persona than you are as a teacher - with him it seems to be a strongly ingrained defense mechanism and in season 3 he never once manages to leave this persona behind.
He tries to make some jokes to get the others to warm up to him, but they always fall flat. People laugh about him, never with him.

I'd love to read some Cordy/Wes and I'd appreciate any links you can provide.

p.s. I really need a Wesley icon. :-)

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

oh yes, the intriguing thing about Wesley as a poser is that he doesn't always realize what a poser he is -- particularly not in his BtVS days. So are you watching season 4 of Buffy and 1 of Angel together -- that's cool. And you will be getting Wes on Angel before too long.

cheesygirl makes the best Wes icons. I was searching her memories for a post that doesn't have any spoilery stuff -- I think this works: Wes icons. and some more. And these are all from BtVS

Linking a few nonspoilery fics for starters -- my favorite BtVS-era Wes/Cordy story (not overly shippy, more of a character study of the 2 of them) is Ornate Walls by velvetandlace.

And then my take on what if things had gone differently post-season 3 (shameless angst-fluff, which is a sort of subgenre very common in Wes-fic: Resistance is Futile. I have another Wes/Cordy, but my archive page is being a bitch and won't open so I can get the link. So another fic I wrote set post-S3 is Highway Kind, which is Wes/Xander.

Let me know if these work for you and I'll try to dig up more.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for the links.

As you can see I got a Wesley icon from [Bad username or unknown identity: cheesygirl</i].

So far I've read "Highway Kind" and enjoyed it a lot. The pairing works quite well under the circumstances and the story has a realistic feel.

I will check out the other stories on the weekend - which starts tomorrow. Yay, another week of work nearly over. :-)

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

oh, man, I just realized that "Highway Kind" spoils a bit of Wesley's story when he shows up on Angel.

*is dense*

I should have waited until you'd seen him on AtS. Will be more careful in the future.

I've been looking through old posts and found some meta that i did about Wesley's stint on "Buffy"; however, I don't want to link it b/c it's got some spoilers for later events. If you're interested, I could edit it down and email it to you.

(my email is karabair@gmail.com)

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about the spoiler. I've been sort of expecting to see a wilder version of Wesley since he has so many parallels to William/Spike. People who are unhappy with themselves very often try to build up a whole new identity.

I'd love to read Wesley meta!
If you can send it to me in a spoiler-free version, I'd be very happy. My mail address is thalia_seawood@hotmail.com.

[lyore.livejournal.com]

Never thought about the Anakin and Obi-wan/Faith and Buffy angle before, but the more I think about it, the more I think I agree. Interesting.

And now is the time that I realise you post on one of the Star Wars lists I lurk on. Well, I never claimed to be fast on the uptake.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

And now is the time that I realise you post on one of the Star Wars lists I lurk on. Well, I never claimed to be fast on the uptake.

Is that the Luke-Vader list? :-) I'm mostly a lurker there myself.

I love drawing parallels between different fictional characters and fandoms. I find that it actually can deepen the understanding of characters when you do that. (I totally dislike it, though, when comparing of characters leads to bashing. I never get all the fandom wars fought between entire fandoms or inside a fandom (e.g. Star Wars versus LOTR or Harry/Hermione versus Ron/Hermione). All very tiring.)

[lyore.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's the one.

I'm with you when it comes to comparing characters/reactions/situations between fandoms. I read an extremely interesting essay once comparing the ancients and Daniel Jackson (from Stargate) to the Jedi and Luke. Can't find it now. While I didn't agree with all the points, it certainly made me think about things from a different point of view.

I've been debating getting back into the Harry Potter fandom, since HBP rekindled my interest. I took one look at the shipping wars going on over there, and backed away *slowly*. Character bashing is my major turn off in any fandom.

While I can kind of see where the potential conflict between H/Hr and R/H comes from, the Star Wars/LotR thing I really don't get. Apart from being trilogies, they have so little in common that I don't see how people can see it as a competition at all.

It's all such mention being such a waste of energy - you are never going to change anyone's mind.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Have you ever been to this (http://www.aimoo.com/forum/freeboard.cfm?id=314579) Star Wars webpage with a focus on Anakin?

It's proof that you can discuss things in a fun way without having to bash the creator of the whole thing or the characters or the actors.

[lyore.livejournal.com]

I haven't, but I'll have to go check it out.

Thanks.

[juonetar.livejournal.com]

I have much enjoyed reading your comments on the season 3. You make me remember how I felt when I first watched it. Some things I had almost forgotten, like that I really liked Wesley. Though I think it's just that I automatically liked all adult characters -- I got irritated at the teen mentality often.

Yeah, I can see Anakin and Obi-Wan accepting their history in a Buffy/Faith manner in the end. Also, the big B/F fight now, after Episode 3, reminds me so much of the legendary A/O. Two skilled warriors, who know each other throughoutly. Sisters, shadows of each other.

How do you feel about Buffy/Faith slash at this point, by the way? I mean, do you find the pairing interesting? If I had OTPs, I guess Buffy/Faith during and after the season 3 would be one. Well, I also liked the idea of Giles/Wesley.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Like you I identify more with the adult characters. Well, Buffy would see me as ancient anyway. :-) I think even as a teenager as wasn't as teeny as these high school kids. Maybe the super-teenieness is partly an American thing. Not sure.

How do you feel about Buffy/Faith slash at this point, by the way? I mean, do you find the pairing interesting? If I had OTPs, I guess Buffy/Faith during and after the season 3 would be one. Well, I also liked the idea of Giles/Wesley.

You know, it's odd. Most of the time, I don't see them together in a sexual way at all. There are exceptions, e.g. the episode when they both get totally into the slaying and Buffy leaves the classroom just to follow Faith.
Wesley/Giles: Not sure yet. In many ways, they seem too alike to me. I think Giles might not be so fond of Wesley, because he shares many traits he doesn't like about himself. Usually, you aren't keen on people who share your faults, because not many people want to look into a mirror of unpleasantness. :-)

So far my shipper nature hasn't asserted itself in the Jossverse. There are so many pairings happening on screen I don't have the normally overwhelming need to fill in the holes.

I would like to read friendship fics, though. E.g. I'd love to read Giles and Angel coming to terms with what happened in season 2.

[juonetar.livejournal.com]

So far my shipper nature hasn't asserted itself in the Jossverse.
I understand this perfectly. Relationship stuff is so much realized on screen there isn't the usual need for inventing. I don't think I have quite the same attitude towards ships in any other fandom than Buffy & Angel. First, I don't have any urge to write Buffy fan fiction. I love to speculate about various pairings, but plotbunnies have left me completely alone. Second, I read fics very randomly and without clear preference. There are pairings that tickle my imagination, but I don't find the kind of fics I'd like (Spike/Angel, Buffy/Faith). I like some so obscure pairings there's only few fics written (Giles/Wesley, Giles/Spike, Spike/Joyce, Spike/Andrew). Thinking of the pairings I like I guess they are not of the true love -type. On the contrary, both persons in the relationships I imagine would prefer someone other as a lover. Plus, there is also other problems between them. Hm, I wonder if imperfect and dysfunctional "love" is my kink...

And yeah, gen fics are interesting in the Buffyverse.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

There are pairings that tickle my imagination, but I don't find the kind of fics I'd like (Spike/Angel, Buffy/Faith). I like some so obscure pairings there's only few fics written (Giles/Wesley, Giles/Spike, Spike/Joyce, Spike/Andrew).

Yes, I feel very much this way.
I could also see potential for Angel/Wesley or (one-sided) Angel/Doyle. I looked for Angel/Wesley and there are some stories, but I didn't check many because they are all set later in the series. The few I checked out didn't impress me at all.

Anything I've seen so far for Spike/Angel left me unimpressed, too.

All the characters have such distinctive voices and ways to behave that an author needs to be skilled to get them.

But I found a lovely Spike & Cordelia gen fic today which I will definitely rec when I update my livejournal.

[vanimy.livejournal.com]

The trouble I have with this parallel is that I never liked Faith. The only episode when I felt sorry for her has yet to come so I can't say I was sorry for her in the end nor did I like Buffy/Faith while I love Anakin/Obi-Wan. I felt her turn "to the dark side" coming so to speak. But that's funny how we can see things differently. :)

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Oh, I can safely say that I love Anakin more than Faith. He's probably my favorite fictional character ever, he's just so complex.

Regarding Faith:
I felt sorry for her in the beginning when she felt excluded by everyone, but then makes an effort and takes up Buffy on the Christmas invitation.

Overall I think I'm less forgiving of her actions, because she gets such a kick out of being cruel. Anakin isn't like this: He never appears to enjoy cruelty for cruelty's sake, it always serves a purpose for him. - Not that the results of what he does are any better when compared to Faith's actions. I just feel for him more.