still no buffy icon.

[kaydeefalls]

Into "New Moon Rising" on Buffy, just past "Five by Five" on Angel. NNGK. Recent notes:

1. I have a bit of a bulletproof kink for bodyswap episodes, or anything along those lines -- one actor playing another actor's character for a scene, i.e. Cassandra hopping between the Doctor & Rose's bodies in "New Earth", Victor downloading Topher's imprint in Dollhouse, etc. So it should be no surprise that Buffy and Faith swapping bodies in that one episode made me unreasonably happy. (This is a small part of my attraction to theater -- I love love LOVE seeing different actors' takes on the same roles. And it's all about the acting; I have zero interest in the bodyswap trope in fic, oddly enough.)

2. Faith's breakdown in her fight with Angel in "Five by Five" BROKE MY HEART. And I'm not even particularly fond of Faith (though I love watching her, I very much don't love her, if that makes any sense). But, gah. There have been clear signs of her rapidly deteriorating mental state through the end of S3 BtVS and in her showdown with Buffy in "Who Are You?", but that scene. Oh man. And I love that the episode just cuts out there, with no catharsis. (In general, I adore Whedon's cuts at the end of episodes, especially as the series mature -- they always feel very true to me, without being pat or cutesy.)

3. I'm all of ten minutes into "New Moon Rising", and OH GOD, how is it possible that I simultaneously ship both Willow/Tara AND Willow/Oz? I feel obscurely guilty about it, too. I just -- can't we all have a happy triad and ride off into the sunset together? Why must there be choosing involved? It also seems unbalanced, as a viewer, because at this point we flat out know Oz a hell of a lot better than we know Tara, who is very sweet and has a great deal of potential for awesomeness but, well, hasn't been around for very long yet. (I'm trying to set aside factors like the groundbreaking nature of showing a healthy lesbian relationship on primetime television, which obviously skews me in favor of Willow/Tara, and the fact that I know which relationship "wins".) Just, oh, Joss. You had to do this as painfully and realistically as possible, didn't you? Bastard. [ETA: I just got to the part where Oz confronts Tara, and that swung me pretty strongly over to the Tara camp. Oh shit Oz.]
[ETA #2: Remember how I just mentioned loving the way Whedon ends episodes? THIS. OH MY GOODNESS. With Willow's offer and Tara blowing out the candle and OH MY HEART. Ok, firmly on Team Tara now, though saying goodbye to Oz AGAIN made me all teary AGAIN.]

4. Trading in Doyle for Wesley was NOT step up, in my opinion. Yes, I know Wesley improves with time, and I've been told he has one of the more compelling character arcs over the course of the series. I'm just SAYING.

5. I'm coming to realize exactly how much Russell T Davies yoinked from these shows for Torchwood, right down to the sneakily-including-Adam-in-opening-credits trick a la Jonathan in "Superstar". SO SUBTLE RUSTY.

6. Just about every episode has a guest star I recognize from elsewhere. In particular, I'm starting to track Buffy episodes by which X-Files alum has appeared where, but there are others. Oscar-winning Jeremy Renner has been an evil vampire progeny of Angel, Band of Brothers' Webster and Bull Randleman have been possessed by a hyena and an undead hooligan, respectively, and Mrs Landingham abused a bunch of kids into becoming malevolent poltergeists in Riley's frat house. FUN TIMES.

7. SPIIIIIKE. That is all.

Comments

[rm.livejournal.com]

OH GOD, YOU HAVE NO IDEA.

There are shot by shot references to Angel in Torchwood. It borders on the absurd.

And trust everyone about Wesley. They are right.

[newredshoes]

Were-hyena Webster? Why has NO ONE written this AU before?

[reebchan.livejournal.com]

I hated Torchwood for the first season and a half because every plot was directly ripped from Buffy and Angel, except without the strong female characters and the quippiness. (Eventually I liked Tosh. Gwen, never.)

[ink-gypsy.livejournal.com]

I mourned the loss of Doyle, even though he went out a hero. Sadly, from what I understand, Glen Quinn's drug use caused him to be fired from Angel, and he died from an overdose three years later. Wesley was an interesting choice to replace him, and while I didn't like the crossover at first, his character evolved.

[bunniewabbit.livejournal.com]

Sadly, from what I understand, Glen Quinn's drug use caused him to be fired from Angel

Really? Because I've read more than once that it was an existing plot line and Glen knew going into it that he would be gone after the first season. Of course, that could just be diplomatic retcon...

[azewewish.livejournal.com]

Wesley Wyndham-Price is pretty much THE only reason why I still give Joss Whedon a pass for life. I love that character so much that I stuck through 5 seasons of Angel for him & numerous Buffy episodes & I honestly couldn't stand Buffy (*ducks from a million Buffy fans*). But Wesley, oh man. His character arc is one of the most poignantly beautiful things to ever hit television, no lie.

[bunniewabbit.livejournal.com]

I was actually pissed when Wesley showed up on Angel. It took me a very long time to warm up to him, but once I did, I really loved him. Now, THAT'S some good character development!

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

I adore Faith's appearances on S4 Buffy/S1 Angel! Everything you said about the great body swap and the awesomeness of Faith's breakdown during that fight in the rain is so true. Fun fact: Apparently the script originally called for them to fight in the rain, but then the production team decided they couldn't afford the rain machine. Serendipitously (almost miraculously given that they shoot in LA), it rained anyway just when they needed to film the scene.

I will likely always ship Willow/Oz just a teensy bit more than Willow/Tara, if only because back in the day I identified so strongly with high school Willow and very much wanted an Oz of my own. However, having to choose is tragic, because Tara and her relationship with Willow are so awesome and lovable too, and I ship them like all get out.

DOYYYYYLLLLE! His death was so sad. :'(

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

That rain story is so awesome.

See, I think I'm torn on shipping because I identify so strongly with Willow, and all her bi-confusion.

[lorax]

Hee, watching you discover Buffy/Angel for the first time is a lot of fun. It was my first fandom, so I get all happy whenever someone new comes into it!

I was always an Oz/Willow, AND Tara/Willow shipper too. I loved them both.

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of glad I found it now, rather than earlier -- I think I'm getting a lot more out of it, and it's fun to catch up on all the meta that's accrued!

[insixeighttime.livejournal.com]

in class, so i'll be back to read the entry, but i'm applying to jobs and starting to panic and... well just remind me i don't want to sell my soul and apply to apprentice there?

[kaydeefalls.livejournal.com]

You really, really don't. At least aim for Shakes or Arena, if you must apprentice.

[insixeighttime.livejournal.com]

I'm hitting up both those places. I'm moving back, and I don't want to SM, so there's a limited job supply (esp. if I don't apprentice first). I'm just starting to freak out a little. It'll all work out, right?