Buffy Season Eight, The Long Way Home

[lady_windermere]

My Buffy Season Eight comic arrived today. So thought I would do my overview of the whole arc.....not Joss friendly!


Ok, so first off, I was annoyed at the change to canon from the TV Series, especially Season Five of AtS. A lot of very good fanfic was written using the Buffy in Rome with Dawn and Andrew, dating the Immortal. So was this arc worth pulling the rug out from under us? Definitely NO!

I will suspend disbelieve in a lot of things, such that in only 18months they tracked down 1,800 slayers around the world, and have an amy of 500 slayers now. All set up in various places throughout the world, and fully equipped with weapons, Buffy herself never had I am like *shrugs shoulders*, whatever. I will believe you.

Xander is not in Africa, but with a team of slayers overseeing a computer HQ. Ok, fine.

They have lost contact with Willow, listening to Andrew, and letting him lead a team of Slayers. Since when did they trust him that much, but ok. Guess I can work with it.

Giles is pretty much on his own, in an unidentified City as yet, training and gathering information, that I can believe easily.

Didn't like the Shipper baiting either, seemed petty and cheap.

Anyway on to the real story.

First we have Giant Dawn, still not fully explained, saying that Willow is like a Mother to her. Casting this in Buffy's face, but trusting her t save Willow. When did this happen. Did I close my eyes when Willow was regaining Dawns trust in Season 7? At what point did Dawn move from being the only one in "Same Time, Same Place", to say that perhaps Willow not being at the airport was Willow's fault and not one of them. Willow has also been busy with her own life since Season 7 it seems, so shouldn't really have happened then either. When exactly does Willow become a mother figure to Dawn? That was Tara, more than anyone else

The use of portals. Never liked them. My main concern is that if Amy can so easily take both herself and Willow through one to where Warren is, then why was she trapped in Sunnydale's crater. It is Buffy who says "I am the one who wanted to go home", so why does Amy stay. Amy then takes Warren through a portal to save them. So no reason she couldn't before. Then I don't really like the use of magic, always leave too many unanswered questions, unless used very sparingly.

Next off, Warren frayed, but saved in a 4 second window before he dies by Amy, is the boyfriend, who never really died, but kept alive by Amy's magic. If he never died, how did The First take on his form? It was dead people who The First was able to impersonate, please don't say Buffy wasn't dead, she died twice, was buried and out the picture for 3 months. Willow used magic to bring her back.

They also killed Ethan, the Major has shot him through the head. What a waste of a great character, and the chance to see him maybe redeem himself as well.

The humans have banded together and pronounced The Slayers as demonic themselves. They wish to defeat them. This did bring back the core element of strong women install fear. Buffy's assertion that she will take on the humans, a little frightening, but makes me hope for a good long term story arc.

So was this arc worth the canon changes, shipper baiting, and loss a great character?

My own impression is NO!

I think that to an extent Joss has moved on from Buffy. He has come back cos there is so much interest in the characters still, and it is a cash cow waiting to be milked. But this story was not a classic.


Ok that was my impressions.

Comments

[sueworld2003.livejournal.com]

I pretty much agree with everything you've said love.

[http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/]

Thank You Sue!

[erin-starlight.livejournal.com]

*Claps* THANK YOU! You basically said everything I've thought about hearing and seeing this story. Most places I go online fans seem to be praising this as "clever" and "the return of greatness to Buffy." It makes the critical part of me wonder if they would say this if Joss wasn't writing it.

I am a comic fan and am pretty strict about canon but there are things that just don't fit that keep me from accepting this as canon despite what Joss says. The recons seem pointless and very messy. Like the characters are being taken back to who they were in early seasons. Buffy isn't having a fling despite making it clear that she belongs to no one, Willows' killing is cleaned up, even Dawn likes Willow again despite not seeing her for ages. Oh and apparently she's back to whining.

Hate the shipper baiting, it's not needed, people will by the title because Joss is writing and saying it's canon. Ethan was a great character that has so much potential that unless become a ghost it will be wasted.

[http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/]

Yes, and the fans fawning over Joss, because the great man is writing it, just doesn't work for me. I feel he is laughing at us, and probably laughing at them for going along with it.

I am so pleased you agree with me :-)

[wildannuette.livejournal.com]

Shipper baiting? What kind of ships he introducing now? *shakes head* I avoided the comics because of not liking that media anyway but sounds like the whole 'comics are so definetely canon along with the show' that ive seen by some authors is gonna bite everyone in the butt by confusing the both of them.

*sighs* Kinda glad im not reading now, even if it was story written as a book i think i'd give it a miss, sounds like fanfic is better.

*hugs* Sorry it's getting you down hon

[http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/]

Oh it was the second comic, and the "Kiss from a True Love", with a hint of Bander in it. Of course the Bangel and Spuffy shippers were waving the flag about who would save Buffy. *sigh*

The comic has not been the best media for this. While Joss just seems more impressed with what he can do in a comic, rather than tell a good story.

*hugs*, this is not what is really getting me down! Other things.

[wildannuette.livejournal.com]

Ah *rolls eyes* well i expect neither, she's a big enough girl and cunning enough to save herself and both the men too lol. Probably all the warring shippers too :)

It's always meant to be about the story, about the characters and 'verse, not so fun if it's just about using something.

*hugs* I know, but annoyance is never nice on top

[http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/]

*nods*, and the shipper waring is a bit of a cheap shot! Then the whole comic was full of them!

*hugs*

[aschicca.livejournal.com]

All the more reason for me to stay away from these comics. I'm in denial, I refuse to acknowledge this weirdo season 8...

I wish Joss wouldn't ruin everything... *sighs*

[http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/]

Yeah, you are probably best away from them I guess!

[so-sharlemaine.livejournal.com]

I have to echo aschicca's comment above. This is the very reason I haven't been interested in the comics. I thought something like this might happen, cause Joss loves to create and destroy. Sometimes I think he actually wants to make us all mad so that we'll move on from the Buffy fandom and not wish him back here.

[http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/]

Yes, it does seem a bit distructive. And the retcon not needed, could've left us all in our happy place with the existing canon!

[bakatulip.livejournal.com]

Gotta let you know, I'm in complete disagreement with you there.

First of off- I am SO glad to see what we found out about the Scoobies in Angel Season 5 was a lie. And people are all: But that's what they said! No. That's what Andrew said. And also Andrew, being part of a council sent to retrieve a slayer that no longer trusts Angel Investigations which is made clear many times in that season, why on earth would he tell them the truth about where they all are? Think about that.

Also if Buffy was in Rome dating the Immortal and Andrew was crashing at her place? Why would he be able to invite Angel and Spike in. It's not his place. Plus they made it seem like her life was just "dating the Immortal" that's all she was doing. She was in no way involved with the council. And that's just not Buffy.

Also, symbollically I know Dawn viewed BOTH Willow and Tara as her moms. Do you know why? They took Joyce's bedroom. Oh yeah, they took a bedroom big deal. It's symbolism. They're her mother figures. Also when W and T split it definitely seemed like Dawn was reliving divorce. So it is believable to say Wil is like a mom to her. But that's not to say Buffy isn't.

I still have questions about Warren. But as beer_good_foamy pointed out to me, at the rate of the comics it would take us a year and a half to find out that Dawn wasn't a giant (pardon the pun) retcon.

And because I have faith in Joss, he said himself he is not doing it for the money, he is doing it because he has stories to tell.

I don't believe there's ANY Bander going on, aside from that one dream. One could say there was Xillow shipper baiting going on in Tabula Rasa, but doesn't make it real.

[http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/]

The symbolism of Willow and Tara in Joyce's bedroom was up-rooted in season 7 after Willow went away to England. Buffy is the one sleeping in the bedroom at that point.

Andrew may have been the one telling Angel and Spike about Buffy, but it was in canon, and a canon more people have seen. As such it is still established by the majority of the fans. To have this massive change only shows the fact that less people will read the comic, and cause a sepration in the fan base.

[bakatulip.livejournal.com]

There's always separation in the fanbase. Some people refuse to aknowledge anything that happens after The Gift. There are people who refuse to aknowledge anything that happens after Graduation Day. There are people who refuse to aknowledge anything that happened after Surprise. It happens.

And also, even if Buffy sleeps there now, she held that position at one point. So it's still valid. Also Dawn and Buffy have been heavy on the arguing lately.

Lastly, as I've said before, I have a split in what I view as canon. Personally I like jetwolf's The Chosen more than I like Joss's season 8. But I still like it. I just like the events of the Chosen better... still gonna defend the comics though.

I also wanna point out that Fray has some heavy retcon, in which they say after Chosen, there were no more magic or demons which we know is false from ATS 5...

[yourlibrarian]

Yeah, it's interesting to see your reactions to all four issues together. I think an argument can be made for some interesting developments as well, but as an overall "here is what's been changed" list there's been a leap from the ending of the show in this series.

[http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/]

Yes, he really changed a lot, still deciding if it is for the better. Will give other writers a chance before I decide overall I guess.