BTVS S08I13: Wolves at the Gate Part 2, Japan Arc

Okay, just like last time, I haven't gotten around to getting my issue yet but I'll have it in a couple house so I thought some other people already have and wanna talk about it. Hence the posting of this topic.

Do we have an opinion we'd like to express?

Wow, I'm surprised no one has weighed in yet. Though I guess the fact that it was only 3 hours ago that I posted this topic I shouldn't be surprised.

Anyway, I'll say this. I think people assumed too much about the Willow situation which is probably our fault since we've been living in fanon world since the show ended. Her reaction was more of a friendly nature then a sexual one, though obviously there was some "curiosity" on Willow's part about certain details. Still, there's room for more conversation with Willow in the future since not everything was dealt with.

The thing with the Japanese vamps was pretty cool and sorta where I expected it to go. They're using the scythe for a reason and it IS slayer related. Things could get bad REALLY quickly if Buffy and the gang don't do something.

As for the Dracula stuff... didn't see that coming. Also, key information about what Xander did between Chosen and The Long Way Home was revealed and it's nothing like I would've expected. I wonder how far that's gonna go and what Dracula's gonna do when he finds out what the Japanese vamps are doing. Can't wait to see how this arc ends.

I really enjoyed the Willow stuff, really made me laugh. I agree it's mostly friendly curiosity, but I'm sure a lot of Wiffy shippers will be mighty pleased with the line "Do you have any idea how long I've wondered about this?" (Or words to that effect.) All this lesbian-ish-ness is making it a bad idea for me to read these babies in public, because I keep ending up in fits of delighted giggles. I am such a les-nerd.
I felt sorry for Satsu in this one. *Such* a bad idea to have a one-nighter with someone you love.
Xander's backstory is like... really? Kind of strange. But I'll run with it, I guess.
Otherwise, this issue was just story. The slayer being turned was cool - I was wondering how long it'd take them to make a vampire/Slayer. Drac is kind of meh-y.
Andrew made me giggle with his C.O.A - *snort*. He reminds me of me sometimes.

Phooey! I'm mad... at myself, for not preparing myself better for the possibility that there wouldn't be as much Buffy/Satsu in this issue as in the last. That space went to lots of Dracula/Xander/Renee scenes, instead, which, granted, were funny as hell, but that's not what I waited four weeks for! And now it's five weeks till #14 comes out, which is gonna seem even longer than that, since the "Angel" issues seem like they've been coming out every other week lately. (And even then, there's no guarantee there'll be any more of it in 14 than there was in 13; maybe we'll have to wait all the way till June, with #15.)

On the plus side, Satsu-wise, the scene with her and Willow was great. Ooh, naughty Willow, having those thoughts about Buffy! (So was that why she kept the Buffy-bot down in the Magic Box's basement, after all? ) Last month, it seemed everyone who commented on Willow's reaction were saying how angry and disapproving she obviously was, which I didn't get from those two panels at all--she just looked surprised as hell, like everyone else. She was adorable-Willow at her super-best-friend-iest again in this one, and I hope this means she and Buffy haven't drifted as far apart as maybe we were thinking after #10. (Have I mentioned yet that I still don't quite "get" #10? )

On the down side, the scene between Buffy and Satsu in command-central is probably just gonna give more ammo to those ranting against this development from the whole imbalance-of-power perspective. Yeah, Buffy's the boss, but for those in the inner-circle, like Willow and Xander--and now probably Satsu, Renee, Leah, and Rowena--I think it's more comparable to Angel being Wes, Cordy, Fred, and Gunn's boss on "Angel". If he'd slept with any of them, I don't think the fact that he was the 'boss' would've been the main problem most people had with it.

Using the Scythe to de-slayer-ize all the slayers wasn't much of a shocking twist, since people have been guessing that was what was going to happen for 2-3 months now, ever since the spoiler came out that it was going to be stolen. Still, it was almost hearbreaking to see it actually happen, which was kind of amazing, since it happened to a character we'd never even seen before. But to see what a great slayer she obviously was, and then to have it suddenly taken away and her be killed... I admit, I got a little . (BTW, we need a :crying: emoticon)

Oh, and FC and IaL, just so you know, you can read the Xander/Dracula short story that's talked about in this issue for free on Dark Horse's site: http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/preview.p...heid=11-756&p=1 (also here: http://www.slayaliveforums.proboards50.com...read=1204326653 )

You're probably right about the whole Buffy/Satsu thing not being as big of a deal within the slayer ranks. But I imagine that Twilight will take issue with it when he reappears. As for the not that much Buffy/Satsu stuff, I think they're building up to that slowly. It's possible that something will happen by the end of the arc, but also possibly not since the next arc is going to be taking Buffy elsewhere.

Buffy's probably trying to deal with the fact that all of her friends now know what happened between her and Satsu. It has probably turned her "I'm gonna think about it tomorrow and smile and giggle..." or however she put it into "Oh crap, how am I gonna talk about this and explain it to Dawn and my friends any everyone else?". That kinda takes top priority over talking with Satsu about where things are or aren't going with them, especially since they already sorta discussed the situation before the "big reveal".

Oh, and Loui, I don't think the slayer was turned. She was just turned back into a regular human before being murdered more permanently.

Oh. Right.

So have we completely exhausted the conversation on this issue already?

Well it would seem that way since it seems no one else has an opinion or feeling regarding the issue they feel the need to express.

My favorite part though is that it's not going in a fanfic style direction with what happened. It doesn't make assumptions about what's going on and how the characters will react. Makes figuring out what's going to happen next almost impossible. But that's not gonna stop me from trying.

The thing is, it was a great issue, but it just wasn't an issue that makes for a lot of good discussion afterward. There were really two main things going on: oodles of Xander/Dracula subtext, and new details of the Japanese vamp cult and their plan. What can we really say about either one?

Well, not all of our S8-readin' regulars have chimed in yet, so maybe not everyone's gotten their copy yet. Maybe things can still pick up. Hope so, 'cause we've got another 4-1/2 weeks to fill...

It's possible the reason there's less talk about this issue is that it doesn't involve Satsu and Buffy getting it on or talking about getting it on.

I definitely have something to add to the current discussion, but it'll have to wait. There's some private stuff I gotta deal with this week, so not much online-time for me. I did enjoy the issue tho, and it tossed some nice twists at us.

In-depth discussion coming up soon!

I just picked up my copy. I see your point FC, but sex is sex and that usually gets everyone talking. Not too fair to say that people aren't interested in the comic because it doesn't have them getting it on or talking about getting it on.

You'd think all we were interested in is sex.

On a side note, anyone get a good look at Willow's cans in this issue?

WAY HEY!! VA VA VA VOOM!!

I know that's probably not the reason, but I think it attracts people and makes people talk about it. Especially when it's something like what happened in the last issue.

Well, with the nature of the site and all, I think the Buffy/Satsu development is bound to be the most talked-about thing in season 8 around here, but I think, just in general, that surprising character-based twists are always going to be the things that are most interesting to discuss. Whether that's Buffy sleeping with Satsu, or Xander sleeping with Dracula, or whatever. That's what I was trying to say in my last post, that there was a lot of good stuff in this issue, but just not the kind of stuff that makes for pages and pages of discussion and speculation...

True, but I wonder if perhaps it may not be Dracula himself as well being a part of it. I seem to recall that a few people have said Dracula was not their most favoritest one time villain from the show. He was always one of my favorites, but then my opinion and other Buffy fans opinions rarely mesh well.

Could that be another factor? Cause I thought he was really cool and sorta different in this issue.

Barnabas, are you saying Xander likes the hole and the pole?

Barnabas, are you saying Xander likes the hole and the pole?

Not necessarily, but the ex-boyfriends subtext between them in this one was crazy-thick. In this case, tho, I really hope they leave it as nothing but funny subtext (and I think they will), 'cause with Drac's mind-control powers, and having Xander under his thrall, taking these two all the way would be a little too close to rape.

But back to lighter subjects, with Buffy/Satsu. So, sadly, there wasn't much new to talk about with them in this issue, but what there was was an after-effect that I don't think any of us talked about ahead of time: the possible perception of favoritism. You could interpret Buffy's harsh public reaction to Satsu's suggestion (of leaving some slayers back at the castle) in a lot of ways, but I really think she didn't want to be seen in front of the others as giving Satsu special treatment. This wouldn't have been a problem at all if they could've kept their night secret, like they'd wanted to, but you can bet that every single girl in the castle has probably heard about it by now...

was that sarcasm B...you stating that the whole favoritism bit wasnt discussed?



besos~~~LB

Was it? I honestly don't remember that being one of the angles that got any mention over the last month. If it did, then my bad...

Actually, I believe the problem of, for lack of a better way to describe it, "employer/employee" relationships was brought up but I don't believe the favoritism thing was brought in. They're fairly different things. But more than that, I think Buffy's "unwillingness" to show favoritism could backfire on her as well. Because how does it look if Buffy sleeps with Satsu and then treats her like crap afterwards? I'm sure that wasn't Buffy's intention, but it could be seen that way by other people in the room. And obviously, Satsu as well.

As for the Xander/Dracula stuff, I don't think it's likely that they'll be doing the same thing with them that happened with Buffy and Satsu. I think it's more likely that they're just playing off the reaction to Buffy/Satsu as a way to make a bunch of jokes like that. Causing a reaction as it were. However, if something did happen between Xander and Dracula, no matter how unlikely, I think it would depend on how much of his power Dracula used if any at all. Remember it was said in Buffy vs. Dracula that he likes to form a connection with his victims because he prefers that they give themselves willingly. Or something to that effect.