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shadowkat1. It's the first real snowfall of the season, and the world looks soft and clean with snow outside my window. As opposed to drab and in need of a thorough washing or at least a toss or two in the washer. Soft puffs of snow decorate each and every brank outside, and leaves now,, finally, fallen, no longer present a hindrance to the decoration.
Melting won't happen any time soon, with temperatures in the teens and low twenties (Fahrenheit). (When I type my posts in this journal, it's easy to forget that I'm corresponding with the world and not just my own locality or myself. Long gone are the days in which that was the case, and for the most part I'm happy about that.) Putting thoughts and words out there for whomever happens by - can be discomforting, when I stop long enough to ponder it.)
Done little this holiday season, except rest and ice my knee (or attempt to) and do knee exercises. I'm paying for ignoring the knee during the summer and fall months. Although in my defense, I thought it was just a sciatic nerve - and the best way of handling that is often to muddle through. Also did random chores (which didn't involve utilizing the knee - ie, no getting down on my knees or squatting), and watched television.
2. I've made it through Buffy S5 rewatch, which upon rewatch - I now understand why people are split over it. There's plot holes here and there and the villain is annoying. Also the Spike character arc is controversial to say the least. Particularly when paired with Angel the Series - where we are consistently reminded that having a soul doesn't mean you are good or bad, but you kind of require one to be good. Also the mixed metaphors on Angel - on Angel, being a vampire is about addiction, however having a soul means you have the ability to choose to become sober. When Angel loses his soul - he's drunk and off the wagon so to speak. On Buffy, they're moving in the same direction. Spike's chip provides him with the motivation to stay or become sober, no longer drunk on blood and violence, or drunk on power. I'm not certain the switch to the addiction metaphor in later seasons is a good idea? That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the season, and loved the Spike arc, but I can see why others didn't.
3. Last night, watched One Battle After Another - Paul Thomas Anderson's new film, starring Leo DiCaprio and Scean Penn, along with Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti. It's about a washed up revolutionary, who has to come to terms with his revolutionary past to save his daughter and himself from those pursuing them. Half satire, half suspenseful thrill ride, it's a mixed bag? I found it slow in spots, particularly to start, and difficult to get into, but once it got rolling, it became more suspenseful, and hilarious in places. There are some very funny sequences in it - mainly involving DiCaprio. It is definitely topical and highlights the abuses of power not to mention deep-rooted racism by Homeland Security and ICE. (Although uses different names for them.)
4. For the most part, I'm on a news diet - so only have a passing awareness of what is happening outside my window. I did however hear in passing that numerous folks have resigned their positions from the ultra-Conservative Think Tank, also known as the Heritage Foundation. What caused this latest fracture and exodus? Apparently the anti-semitism got to them finally - and they jumped ship to join Mike Pence.
5. Memage:
21. Yule is celebrated today to honour the triumph of light over darkness. As the longest night passes in the Northern Hemisphere, people rejoice in the promise of longer days. What time is sunset for you today?
On the 21st? It was 4:50 pm or thereabouts.
22. Have you any famous/well known ancestors?
Apparently I'm distantly related to Dwight D. Eisenhower, also distantly and not necessarily by blood, related to Prime Minister Lloyd George. Sigh, I'd rather not be related, distantly or otherwise to either.
23. What do you think of eggnog?
I have it in the fridge. Even if I shouldn't. I put brandy in it, but it's better with rum, I think. I like it. Egg Nog ice cream is particularly good.
24. What are your plans for today?
This was Christmas Eve? Layabout and do very little.
25. Are you having a fancy lunch/dinner today? What’s on the menu?
No.
I had the same thing I had for Thanksgiving, except with a dutch apple pie.
26. It’s National Pear Month – do you have a favourite variety of pear?
Not really. Not much of a pear fan? I find them tasteless and too sweet.
27. Do you have a favourite way of using up leftovers?
Rarely have any?
Melting won't happen any time soon, with temperatures in the teens and low twenties (Fahrenheit). (When I type my posts in this journal, it's easy to forget that I'm corresponding with the world and not just my own locality or myself. Long gone are the days in which that was the case, and for the most part I'm happy about that.) Putting thoughts and words out there for whomever happens by - can be discomforting, when I stop long enough to ponder it.)
Done little this holiday season, except rest and ice my knee (or attempt to) and do knee exercises. I'm paying for ignoring the knee during the summer and fall months. Although in my defense, I thought it was just a sciatic nerve - and the best way of handling that is often to muddle through. Also did random chores (which didn't involve utilizing the knee - ie, no getting down on my knees or squatting), and watched television.
2. I've made it through Buffy S5 rewatch, which upon rewatch - I now understand why people are split over it. There's plot holes here and there and the villain is annoying. Also the Spike character arc is controversial to say the least. Particularly when paired with Angel the Series - where we are consistently reminded that having a soul doesn't mean you are good or bad, but you kind of require one to be good. Also the mixed metaphors on Angel - on Angel, being a vampire is about addiction, however having a soul means you have the ability to choose to become sober. When Angel loses his soul - he's drunk and off the wagon so to speak. On Buffy, they're moving in the same direction. Spike's chip provides him with the motivation to stay or become sober, no longer drunk on blood and violence, or drunk on power. I'm not certain the switch to the addiction metaphor in later seasons is a good idea? That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the season, and loved the Spike arc, but I can see why others didn't.
3. Last night, watched One Battle After Another - Paul Thomas Anderson's new film, starring Leo DiCaprio and Scean Penn, along with Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti. It's about a washed up revolutionary, who has to come to terms with his revolutionary past to save his daughter and himself from those pursuing them. Half satire, half suspenseful thrill ride, it's a mixed bag? I found it slow in spots, particularly to start, and difficult to get into, but once it got rolling, it became more suspenseful, and hilarious in places. There are some very funny sequences in it - mainly involving DiCaprio. It is definitely topical and highlights the abuses of power not to mention deep-rooted racism by Homeland Security and ICE. (Although uses different names for them.)
4. For the most part, I'm on a news diet - so only have a passing awareness of what is happening outside my window. I did however hear in passing that numerous folks have resigned their positions from the ultra-Conservative Think Tank, also known as the Heritage Foundation. What caused this latest fracture and exodus? Apparently the anti-semitism got to them finally - and they jumped ship to join Mike Pence.
5. Memage:
21. Yule is celebrated today to honour the triumph of light over darkness. As the longest night passes in the Northern Hemisphere, people rejoice in the promise of longer days. What time is sunset for you today?
On the 21st? It was 4:50 pm or thereabouts.
22. Have you any famous/well known ancestors?
Apparently I'm distantly related to Dwight D. Eisenhower, also distantly and not necessarily by blood, related to Prime Minister Lloyd George. Sigh, I'd rather not be related, distantly or otherwise to either.
23. What do you think of eggnog?
I have it in the fridge. Even if I shouldn't. I put brandy in it, but it's better with rum, I think. I like it. Egg Nog ice cream is particularly good.
24. What are your plans for today?
This was Christmas Eve? Layabout and do very little.
25. Are you having a fancy lunch/dinner today? What’s on the menu?
No.
I had the same thing I had for Thanksgiving, except with a dutch apple pie.
26. It’s National Pear Month – do you have a favourite variety of pear?
Not really. Not much of a pear fan? I find them tasteless and too sweet.
27. Do you have a favourite way of using up leftovers?
Rarely have any?
no subject
Date: 2025-12-27 05:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-28 01:56 am (UTC)I do like the villain - Glory, but I get how she annoyed various folks. I found the duality interesting? How they go against type or trope, and have the demonic hell god be the pretty mean girl, and shell be the nice guy medical intern, who lives simply. Yet, at the end, Dawn prefers the honest of Glory over Ben, who just lies to everyone including himself and is ultimately a coward. Plus the irony of having Giles kill Ben, after Ben basically sav Giles' life is classic.
Glory is also a good foil for Buffy, as was Cordelia and to a degree Darla and Harmony - the vapid mean girl cheerleader, into clothes, and popularity. It was who Buffy was prior to becoming the Slayer and meeting Xander, Willow, Giles, et al.
Regarding Intervention - yes, I felt Spike's pain, and damn he looked hot in that episode. And it has great lines:
Spike: I mean, I'm not a monster -
Xander: yes, you are. Vampires are monsters. They make monster movies about them.
Spike: Well, you got me there.
What surprised me about Intervention initially, and in rewatching - was that Spike did not just design Buffy as a sexbot. He didn't want a toy. He wanted Buffy - as a partner, who would sleep with him, slay the demons, and still be friends with the Scoobies, and protect Dawn with her life.
He actually had Warren design a more well-rounded, and kinder robot, who helped others and only hurt the demons - than Warren who designed a slave. Spike didn't really have a slave designed.
And that surprised me - I honestly thought we'd have April 2.0 except played by Sarah Michelle Gellar. Or a vicious robot. But nope. I think it surprised Willow, Anya, and Xander as well.
Spike is interesting in that episode - he does the exact opposite of what we've been lead to expect him to do - via Buffy's point of view in the last several episodes. Spike doesn't do what the other characters expect, and over time, several bond a bit with him.
I honestly think Intervention is when Buffy begins to have "real" feelings for Spike. He surprised her. It's also when she begins to actually trust him. After Intervention - she goes to him for help without thinking, and elects him as her right-hand support. He's the only one she can trust to not kill Dawn and to protect her if things go south. The others might kill Dawn to save the world, Spike won't. Spike would die first. It's why she asks him to protect Dawn if anything should happen to her. Not Giles, not Willow, not Tara, no Xander - Spike. And it's why Spike's still fighting with the gang and with the gang - even after Buffy is dead. Because of that promise to protect Dawn no matter what. Intervention is the true beginning of Spike's redemptive arc - although they built up to it from Becoming, rather well, to the point in which Spike's actions in Intervention make sense, and so do Buffy's and the others, partly because of previous episodes where Spike helped.
They know he's an opportunistic bastard, but he seems for reasons unknown to them - to favor their side in most battles post the chip. They don't understand why. They assume it's the chip. Like in Becoming - it was Dru. It makes his character interesting and kind of like a puzzle? Because the other characters aren't sure whether to trust him or not, so neither is the audience?
In Intervention - they didn't know what he would do. Or if he told Glory to save himself. So, Buffy finds a way to find out - they can't dust him, without finding out, because they need to know if Glory is coming for them. It's ironic - because it is actually Dawn who revealed who she was - by randomly trusting Ben, and she doesn't tell Buffy she told Ben, nor does she remember Ben becoming Glory in front of her. (Just as Dawn is the reason Spike knows.)
No, I think Spike figuring out if anything happened to Dawn - that would destroy Buffy - and he can't stand that - and telling Buffy that - basically was a huge game-changer in more ways than one.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-28 06:01 pm (UTC)I love Glory and her poor minions. Their efforts to flatter her in increasingly elaborate ways were amusing.
I'd forgotten Ben had saved Giles' life - yeah, that was more harsh, now I remember! Had to be done though. At least he's more efficient than most of the Council!
"damn he looked hot in that episode." I'm running that up the flagpole and saluting it!
"What surprised me about Intervention initially, and in rewatching - was that Spike did not just design Buffy as a sexbot. He didn't want a toy. He wanted Buffy - as a partner, who would sleep with him, slay the demons, and still be friends with the Scoobies, and protect Dawn with her life."
I'm glad you mentioned that, because it had completely passed me by that he could have the choice to just make a bot that looked like Buffy without being in any way like her!
"Spike doesn't do what the other characters expect, and over time, several bond a bit with him." Xander, despite himself, for sure. I'm annoyed with Giles for not trying harder to recruit him.
"Intervention is the true beginning of Spike's redemptive arc - although they built up to it from Becoming, rather well, to the point in which Spike's actions in Intervention make sense, and so do Buffy's and the others, partly because of previous episodes where Spike helped."
It took a long time, didn't it? how many fights did they have in the writers' room, over each and every step forward, I wonder!
"No, I think Spike figuring out if anything happened to Dawn - that would destroy Buffy - and he can't stand that - and telling Buffy that - basically was a huge game-changer in more ways than one."
You know, I have a feeling he wouldn't have given Dawn up, regardless of Buffy. But maybe he can't yet admit to himself that he has an allegiance to yet ANOTHER Summers female!
no subject
Date: 2025-12-28 08:16 pm (UTC)So, regardless - the writers freaked and ensured Spike and Dawn stopped sharing scenes unless absolutely necessary. They also freaked out over the chemistry between Marsters and Hannigan - and made sure they didn't share too many scenes together, nor did Tara and Spike. (Marsters had chemistry with everyone including the kittens and the door to his crypt.) It's kind of obvious in places - how the writers/directors are working over time to keep Spike and certain characters from sharing screen time.
They weren't just fighting over Spike in the writers room, they were also fighting over Xander - Whedon wanted to kill off the character, and the other writers ganged up on him and convinced him not to. Whedon was kind of blood thirsty in regards to killing off characters apparently.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-28 10:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-28 10:18 pm (UTC)