Small epiphany

[truepenny]

The reason Buffy herself has been less than an unmitigated joy to watch this season is that she's finally grown up. BtVS has been from the very beginning about the process of growing up, but actual grown-ups on the show (i.e., Giles and Joyce) have been interesting largely for their use as foils to Buffy and the Slayerettes. And now Buffy has grown up, and it seems to be a little difficult for the writers to figure out what to do with her. She's accepted who and what she is (I was really disappointed last night when she was given her "Chosen Ones" speech that she didn't admit to her own less-than-thrilled response in Season Two--

GILES: You have a commitment in life. Now, how many people your age can say that?
BUFFY: We talking foreign or domestic? How about none?

--but if I want breathtaking and cogent continuity, I can't watch anything but Drew Goddard episodes ever again); she's absolutely centered, finally. The only thing left in Buffy's life that she doesn't have a handle on is her perennial bete-noire: romantic love. That's why the best Buffy moments last night were all with Spike; that's why the best Buffy-centric episodes this season have been either focused on her relationship with Spike ("Beneath You") or featured Buffy not being herself ("Him"--which also interestingly was dealing with a corrupt version of "romantic love"). Aside from the whole crazy and fucked-over-by-the-First thing, I think Spike, too, has grown up, which is why Spike is heart-breaking this season (if you're into the redemption arc, which I know many people are not), but not so much with the funny.

Xander, Willow, Anya, and Dawn have not finished the growing up process (although from the evidence last night, Xander's getting close). That's why "Selfless" brought back the Really Good Episodes from seasons past, because it was back in the thick of what BtVS does best.

I don't know if SMG will decide to come back next season or not, but I think it really is time for her to pass the torch. Buffy's finished her bildungsroman.

Comments

[natlyn.livejournal.com]

Wow. This is...yes. I can see this. Unlike many, I enjoyed last season. I thought it was an amazing exploration of life after being flung from heaven. This season I've been finding slightly unfocused and I think you may have nailed why for me. The central theme isn't Buffy learning and growing (unless it's learning to pass the torch), yet Buffy is very much front and center, so I've been a bit confused.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

I, too, thought Season 6 was amazing. It was trying to do something extremely difficult, and the fact that it didn't always succeed doesn't make the attempt any the less impressive. And the fact of the matter is that no season of BtVS (with the possible exception of Season 3, IMHO) hasn't had its share of flaws. But it is very greatly to the show's credit that it never has the same flaws twice.

More thoughts on Buffy herself in answer to djinanna's post