Buffy and Bricks

[lathany]

Buffy season seven started on Sky One last night.

I was pleasantly surprised by the episode. I think it is the best season opener since Welcome to the Hellmouth (although the first half of Bargaining is also pretty good). The "previously" section was shortened and whilst there was aftermath from the previous series (ie. Willow and Spike), the episode did not dwell on it. Additionally the season got into its own elements rather than clearing up from the previous season (eg. Season two really launched with School Hard, Season three with Faith, Hope and Trick, etc, etc.) The dialogue was back up to standard and the characters all seemed to have moved on a little. I liked it and I hope it is representative of the rest of the season.

Back in the real world, the twins are into their wooden bricks at the moment. Not building things, of course. Instead it is all about emptying the entire tub onto the floor and then hiding bricks under the sofa, the play mat, etc. At least it keeps them happy.

Comments

[ealuscerwen.livejournal.com]

Interesting - my feelings about the episode were entirely different. I was irritated by the touchy feely stuff in England and disliked the new characters at the school, with the exception of the Principal.

Moreover, I have a bad feeling about the 'bad guy' who appeared at the end. I foresee great revisiting old failures of episodes potential.

[lathany.livejournal.com]

As far as the touchy feely stuff went - yep, a tad irritating. But not dwelt on nearly as much as the series sometimes is prone to (possibly because it was not Buffy herself who was affected).

Dawn's friends - not terribly impressive. Depends whether they are one-offs or not of course.

And the 'bad guy' ? Well, the revisiting of old characters did look like a bit of a ratings grab. But I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

Perhaps I feel more upbeat about it because I believe that they would have to drop a long way before they even got close to the disaster which was season six (OMWF and Tabula Rasa excluded).

The principal

[triskellian]

Do we think he's a good guy or a bad guy?

(It's not a question I know the answer to - they haven't done much else with him yet in the others I've seen)

Re: The principal

[lathany.livejournal.com]

I would bet on him having some sort of "potential"; probably not a possible mage, but you get the idea. Not good or bad, but there for the use of someone else.

Certainly someone has been feeding him the "Buffy Summers" file.

Re: The principal

[unknownid.livejournal.com]

I have no flippin' clue, which is very cool. He's definitely the best new character (with the exception of one who only lasted one episode...)

I'm guessing that he's good, but it might just be coz he's cute.

Re: The principal

[triskellian]

He's definitely the best new character
I think so, too.

(with the exception of one who only lasted one episode...)
Ooh, which?

Re: The principal

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

I'm voting for Bad Guy !

I didn't like the rest of the episode quite as much as lathany, though it wasn't bad. The part which got me was the blatant setting up for possibly having to do an 8th series with half of the old cast missing.

Unlike ealuscerwen, I liked the bits in England. In fact, that was some of the best stuff in some ways - the insight into Willow's tenuous relationship with her new tutors was particularly nice.

Re: The principal

[kauket.livejournal.com]

Don't get too excited about it, whilst some of this season is excellent, when an episode is bad, it's worse than any other buffy episode that's been made.......but that's just my opinion

We're about half way through now in the States, and I just have no idea where the season is going. I'm hoping it gets better. But I think Buffy's days are numbered....

Re: The principal

[lathany.livejournal.com]

Don't get too excited about it, whilst some of this season is excellent, when an episode is bad, it's worse than any other buffy episode that's been made.......but that's just my opinion

Is that possible ? Surely Doublemeat Palace could wipe the floor with any competitors when it comes to the award for "worst episode".

Re: The principal

[kauket.livejournal.com]

Wait until you see episode 7x11 ( I can't even remember the name), or the one that is called something like 'Him' or 'Boy' or some such.

In saying this there are a couple of fabulous episodes, including one that competes with Hush for scariest episode (well it freaked me out)

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

Ooh ! 'Hush' is my all-time favourite episode, so that's sounding like fun !

Re:

[kauket.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's my all time favourite as well :)
Competing with Once More With Feeling, but still winning :)

[unknownid.livejournal.com]

I'll match Restless against those -- it probably times with OMWF as far as I'm concerned...

"There's trees in the desert since I moved in, and I don't sleep on a bed of bones."

Re:

[kauket.livejournal.com]

Which one is Restless?

Restless ?

[lathany.livejournal.com]

End of season 4. The one with the First Slayer coming back in the four dream sequences (plus the cheese man and hints of Dawn).

Re: Restless ?

[triskellian]

I don't remember hints of Dawn. But then I haven't seen it since it was first shown. I'll have to re-watch. Kauket? Is it among your collection? I can't remember, and downstairs is too far away ;-)

Hints of Dawn

[lathany.livejournal.com]

I think it is a sentence made from Tara to Buffy in the latter's dream. Something like "you need to be back before Dawn."

JW has since said that it referred to the arrival of the new character.

Re: Hints of Dawn

[elethiomel.livejournal.com]

There are much heavier hints earlier in season 4 in "This Year's Girl" and "Who Are You?" - the Faith / Buffy body-swap episodes. Faith is talking to Buffy whilst in a coma. As they make a bed in the dreamscape, Faith and Buffy have the following exchange:

Buffy: "I wish I could stay, but..."
Faith: "Oh, you have to go."
Buffy: "That's just what..."
Faith: "Little sis coming. I know.
Buffy: "So much to do before she gets here."

Fave episode, btw - "School Hard". Just for the Spike to Angel line: "You're my sire. You were like my Yoda, man!"

Re: Hints of Dawn

[lathany.livejournal.com]

I thought that was in Graduation Day Part 2 ? Certainly that episodes contains hints as well.

Re: The principal

[triskellian]

Haven't seen 11 yet. Something to look forward to ;-)

I think it's called 'Him'. Pretty dismal. But I think it's better than 'Doublemeat Palace'. The first three-quarters ish of it is dire, but there's one scene at the end which is very good indeed, and IMO rescues the episode from beating DP to the worst award.

I don't think the scary one is as scary as Hush, but, yeah, it's pretty scary.

Re: The principal

[kauket.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's just a few of the things in The Scary Episode (I won't say the name as it is almost a spoiler) are the kind of things that really scare me :)

[verlaine.livejournal.com]

I've seen the first 6 episodes of S7, and they're all pretty pants as far as I'm concerned, with the possible exception of the Anya episode. I'm extremely disappointed, especially after advance reviews which suggested that S7 was a return to form after the excesses of S6.

As far as I'm concerned Angel now knocks the socks off Buffy without even trying. The first 5 episodes of Angel S4 are all really good.