For something that's not an essay that was very thoughtful and, well, long. ;-)
I don't think that the premise of BtVs is necessarily feminist.
I think that depends on how you're defining feminism. If you go with "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people", then 'Buffy' - a show which takes its female protagonist seriously, shows her growing into a strong, self-confident and heroic woman respected by her friends and enemies alike - is very much feminist. It's only if you say that to qualify, a show must tackle "serious themes" about women's rights in a very self-conscious manner that questions arise. S7 does do that, and I think there was an element of Joss saying "The show's nearly over, so let's make our underlying message explicit now so we end on a positive note"; but that doesn't invalidate the earlier seasons.
Interesting view of Riley; I'd not considered the idea before that Buffy was trying to conform and "join his team". It's a good insight. One thing that has struck me is that before 'Surprise', Buffy trusted Angel and sometimes allowed herself be weak and vulnerable with him. He was her safe space. When he betrayed her, she decided (subconsciously) that she could never let her guard down with another man again. Riley sensed that, and it's what drove him away since it wasn't what he needed from a relationship. I'm not sure quite how that ties up with your view of them. :-)
Either Buffy made a decision because she's had the hots for Angel for 8 years and she did want him even after what he did, or she is in some thrall
My reading is a mixture of all the above and some other stuff too. I know it's possibly dangerous to say this in your hearing (;-)), but I do think Buffy had the hots for Angel all along - at least in a small, tucked away part of her mind. He was her first lover and she never quite got over him. That doesn't mean she can't love anybody else, and I think she's well aware that a relationship with Angel is a bad idea and would never work... but whenever she sees him again, part of her reacts the way the 17-year old girl did. Look at 'I Will Remember You', 'Forever' and 'End Of Days', let alone 'Twilight' - almost every time Buffy and Angel meet after the end of Season 3 they end up kissing passionately at the very least. So there's that.
Buffy is in an emotionally vulnerable position at the moment. She's seen her Slayer Army vilified and destroyed by the rest of humanity. Many of the women who trusted her to lead them are dead. She's been told that it will all come to nothing; posterity won't even remember them. Because she's Buffy, she blames herself for this. Then Angel comes along to say that no, everything that's happened wasn't for nothing; there's a higher purpose behind it all. Something good. Oh, and he's been on her side all along, trying to help her from behind the scenes. Buffy's immediate reaction is sceptical, even angry; she doesn't believe him and hates the fact that he's been playing with her. But he asks her to search her heart, because she knows he's right. And she does, and then she believes him. Was she wrong to? Many fans think so, but Buffy's always been one to trust her instincts.
As for the thrall - Willow says it's controlling them, not letting them stop having sex. Much like WTWTA. My own reading, though, is that Buffy willingly chose to do this. She let the glow take charge of her. Angel challenged her, "Don't you want to be happy?", and she thought about it, then floated up into the air so she was on a higher level than him, grabbed the lapels of his coat and dragged him towards her for a kiss. If there's a drugs metaphor, I don't think it's Rohypnol; it's two adults deciding to get high and have wild crazy sex while they're out of their heads.
That's not the wisest of things to do, of course. I think she's surrendering some of her autonomy because she's at an emotional low point. But as I've said lots of times recently, this isn't the final issue of the comic. There are still six to come. This is 'Weight Of The World' or 'The Yoko Factor' or 'Seeing Red' or 'Empty Places'; it's Buffy's lowest ebb before she rallies and comes back for the grand finale. At least, I hope it is. :-)
no subject
I don't think that the premise of BtVs is necessarily feminist.
I think that depends on how you're defining feminism. If you go with "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people", then 'Buffy' - a show which takes its female protagonist seriously, shows her growing into a strong, self-confident and heroic woman respected by her friends and enemies alike - is very much feminist. It's only if you say that to qualify, a show must tackle "serious themes" about women's rights in a very self-conscious manner that questions arise. S7 does do that, and I think there was an element of Joss saying "The show's nearly over, so let's make our underlying message explicit now so we end on a positive note"; but that doesn't invalidate the earlier seasons.
Interesting view of Riley; I'd not considered the idea before that Buffy was trying to conform and "join his team". It's a good insight. One thing that has struck me is that before 'Surprise', Buffy trusted Angel and sometimes allowed herself be weak and vulnerable with him. He was her safe space. When he betrayed her, she decided (subconsciously) that she could never let her guard down with another man again. Riley sensed that, and it's what drove him away since it wasn't what he needed from a relationship. I'm not sure quite how that ties up with your view of them. :-)
Either Buffy made a decision because she's had the hots for Angel for 8 years and she did want him even after what he did, or she is in some thrall
My reading is a mixture of all the above and some other stuff too. I know it's possibly dangerous to say this in your hearing (;-)), but I do think Buffy had the hots for Angel all along - at least in a small, tucked away part of her mind. He was her first lover and she never quite got over him. That doesn't mean she can't love anybody else, and I think she's well aware that a relationship with Angel is a bad idea and would never work... but whenever she sees him again, part of her reacts the way the 17-year old girl did. Look at 'I Will Remember You', 'Forever' and 'End Of Days', let alone 'Twilight' - almost every time Buffy and Angel meet after the end of Season 3 they end up kissing passionately at the very least. So there's that.
Buffy is in an emotionally vulnerable position at the moment. She's seen her Slayer Army vilified and destroyed by the rest of humanity. Many of the women who trusted her to lead them are dead. She's been told that it will all come to nothing; posterity won't even remember them. Because she's Buffy, she blames herself for this. Then Angel comes along to say that no, everything that's happened wasn't for nothing; there's a higher purpose behind it all. Something good. Oh, and he's been on her side all along, trying to help her from behind the scenes. Buffy's immediate reaction is sceptical, even angry; she doesn't believe him and hates the fact that he's been playing with her. But he asks her to search her heart, because she knows he's right. And she does, and then she believes him. Was she wrong to? Many fans think so, but Buffy's always been one to trust her instincts.
As for the thrall - Willow says it's controlling them, not letting them stop having sex. Much like WTWTA. My own reading, though, is that Buffy willingly chose to do this. She let the glow take charge of her. Angel challenged her, "Don't you want to be happy?", and she thought about it, then floated up into the air so she was on a higher level than him, grabbed the lapels of his coat and dragged him towards her for a kiss. If there's a drugs metaphor, I don't think it's Rohypnol; it's two adults deciding to get high and have wild crazy sex while they're out of their heads.
That's not the wisest of things to do, of course. I think she's surrendering some of her autonomy because she's at an emotional low point. But as I've said lots of times recently, this isn't the final issue of the comic. There are still six to come. This is 'Weight Of The World' or 'The Yoko Factor' or 'Seeing Red' or 'Empty Places'; it's Buffy's lowest ebb before she rallies and comes back for the grand finale. At least, I hope it is. :-)