Unpopular fandom opinion
Jun. 24th, 2009 09:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatAs you know, I've been comforting myself by rewatching my favorite tv series on DVD this summer from the beginning. Just finished Season 4 BTVS, and am now on Season 5 BTVS - which, yes, still ranks as amongst my favorite seasons. I don't quite know why. If it's because I identify more with the characters now that they aren't in college or high school, or if it's because the storyline is less monster of the week and more serialized? [Shrugs. What can I say, we like what we like.]
Just finished watching the first four episodes of the season tonight. Two last night. Two tonight. Buffy vs. Dracula through Out of My Mind. And realized a couple of things, first - the series is consistent as are the characters. Not to mention the over-arching/over-lapping dual themes of feminism and sexism. We keep seeing these themes demonstrated in different ways.
But before I write any more on that bit - an aside, there's a meme going around entitled "unpopular fandom opinions" meme. It basically asks - name a fandom and I'll provide my unpopular fandom opinion. Except, as![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
selenak points out - our opinions tend to actually be quite popular with at least one faction of fandom. Per example say you hate Spuffy or Bangle - that's not an unpopular fandom opinion. Hate to break it to you - but there's quite a few people who share that opinion. Like more than a thousand. Which ahem, makes it a popular opinion, now don't it? So you really can't whine about being all on your lonesome regarding it, without looking a wee bit silly. At any rate...it got me to thinking
what was mine?
Well - since the only fandom I've taken any active or psuedo-active part in whatsoever has been Buffy, I'd say it was the fact that I loved the story exactly as it played out. I loved Buffy/Angel when Buffy and Angel were together and shipped those characters when I first watched the episodes air live and unspoiled back in the 1990s. I loved Buffy and Riley when they were together. I still do, actually. In some ways I find their relationship more interesting than Buffy/Angel - because what tore them apart was more subtle and less melodramatic. And I adored Buffy and Spike when they aired and still adore them for many of the reasons my friends hate them. I liked the layers. I liked not knowing whether Buffy loved him or not. I liked the fact that it wasn't obvious. That you had to think about it. That what kept them apart was complicated and what brought them together was complicated. And I like the fact that they aren't together now and probably never will be - that Buffy will most likely not end up with something. I like that. I like the story that I'm being told. I'm satisfied in an odd way with it - it feels real to me, I can identify with it. I also like how Xander, Giles, Willow, Tara, Oz, etc stories were told. I like Dawn. I loved the fact that Whedon killed off Tara and turned Willow evil - great storyline. I liked the magic as crack metaphor and the magic as sex metaphor - and the wonkiness and confusion of the two metaphors overlapping, and what that says about our society.
So, my unpopular fandom opinion - is, I think, the fact that I find myself loving the things so many fans hate about the series. That I find Buffy to be a powerful and interesting character who I can identify with. And each of the men she slept with or fell for, interesting characters in their own rights. I do not see her ending up with any of them. That said? I do think the writers left the Buffy/Spike romance open-ended, although I'm not entirely sure the writers are in agreement with me on that point. I would like some sort of closure. But, I'll be okay if it is never forthcoming.
My other unpopular fandom opinion, which is not limited to just Buffy but to all fandoms - and this is huge - is that I don't care that much about the nitty gritty details or the world-building. For me? It's all about the characters. Everything else is just window-dressing.
It's late and I need to go to bed. Besides, I'm not sure you care all that much about my musings on Buffy vs. Dracula -Out of My Mind...from the scant replies I got on my last few replies on BTVS, I'm guessing I'm correct on that point. You probably don't care about the above either. But..well, it's up there at any rate, do with it what you will.
Just finished watching the first four episodes of the season tonight. Two last night. Two tonight. Buffy vs. Dracula through Out of My Mind. And realized a couple of things, first - the series is consistent as are the characters. Not to mention the over-arching/over-lapping dual themes of feminism and sexism. We keep seeing these themes demonstrated in different ways.
But before I write any more on that bit - an aside, there's a meme going around entitled "unpopular fandom opinions" meme. It basically asks - name a fandom and I'll provide my unpopular fandom opinion. Except, as
selenak points out - our opinions tend to actually be quite popular with at least one faction of fandom. Per example say you hate Spuffy or Bangle - that's not an unpopular fandom opinion. Hate to break it to you - but there's quite a few people who share that opinion. Like more than a thousand. Which ahem, makes it a popular opinion, now don't it? So you really can't whine about being all on your lonesome regarding it, without looking a wee bit silly. At any rate...it got me to thinkingwhat was mine?
Well - since the only fandom I've taken any active or psuedo-active part in whatsoever has been Buffy, I'd say it was the fact that I loved the story exactly as it played out. I loved Buffy/Angel when Buffy and Angel were together and shipped those characters when I first watched the episodes air live and unspoiled back in the 1990s. I loved Buffy and Riley when they were together. I still do, actually. In some ways I find their relationship more interesting than Buffy/Angel - because what tore them apart was more subtle and less melodramatic. And I adored Buffy and Spike when they aired and still adore them for many of the reasons my friends hate them. I liked the layers. I liked not knowing whether Buffy loved him or not. I liked the fact that it wasn't obvious. That you had to think about it. That what kept them apart was complicated and what brought them together was complicated. And I like the fact that they aren't together now and probably never will be - that Buffy will most likely not end up with something. I like that. I like the story that I'm being told. I'm satisfied in an odd way with it - it feels real to me, I can identify with it. I also like how Xander, Giles, Willow, Tara, Oz, etc stories were told. I like Dawn. I loved the fact that Whedon killed off Tara and turned Willow evil - great storyline. I liked the magic as crack metaphor and the magic as sex metaphor - and the wonkiness and confusion of the two metaphors overlapping, and what that says about our society.
So, my unpopular fandom opinion - is, I think, the fact that I find myself loving the things so many fans hate about the series. That I find Buffy to be a powerful and interesting character who I can identify with. And each of the men she slept with or fell for, interesting characters in their own rights. I do not see her ending up with any of them. That said? I do think the writers left the Buffy/Spike romance open-ended, although I'm not entirely sure the writers are in agreement with me on that point. I would like some sort of closure. But, I'll be okay if it is never forthcoming.
My other unpopular fandom opinion, which is not limited to just Buffy but to all fandoms - and this is huge - is that I don't care that much about the nitty gritty details or the world-building. For me? It's all about the characters. Everything else is just window-dressing.
It's late and I need to go to bed. Besides, I'm not sure you care all that much about my musings on Buffy vs. Dracula -Out of My Mind...from the scant replies I got on my last few replies on BTVS, I'm guessing I'm correct on that point. You probably don't care about the above either. But..well, it's up there at any rate, do with it what you will.
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no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 04:33 pm (UTC)To me Buffyverse is clearly divided into three periods: season 1-3 (school years), season 4 (transitional) and season 5-7 (years of maturity). Each period has its distinct flavor, and I love them all.
And, funnily enough, s5 is often voted the favorite in fandom polls, although I suspect that it has nothing to do with the actual content and and only reflects the shipping preferences online. (Season 5 is the golden era of Spuffy and Spander - two very popular ships).
no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 05:10 pm (UTC)I spent most of my time in S6 and S7 (when they aired) on a fanboard that had a lot of anti-Spike and anti-shippers frequenting them, also TWOYP and AICN - two non-shipper sites. Which may explain the hate? One friend accidentally got the season on DVD and gave it to me, because he despised that season - it was his least favorite next to S7. First DVD I got of the BTVS series.
But you are correct, it does tend to be a favorite of a lot of fans. Just not the people I spend most of my time with online for some reason...
To me Buffyverse is clearly divided into three periods: season 1-3 (school years), season 4 (transitional) and season 5-7 (years of maturity). Each period has its distinct flavor, and I love them all.
Agreed. Absolutely. I have exactly the same take on the series.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 05:34 pm (UTC)Was it "All Things Philosophical...?" I lurked there as well as at Cross and Stake, but couldn't find the courage to post. I remember reading your essays and being happy that there are fans who have a balanced opinion on the show.
BTW, TWoP is still a sanctuary for the haters of the later seasons: they still tell each other how awful these seasons were. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-06-25 05:41 pm (UTC)Yep.
And thank you.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 12:58 am (UTC)And a tv show?
Mindboggling.
I'd think they'd want to focus on things they enjoy?
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 10:16 am (UTC)http://slayalive.com/index.cgi?board=btvs&action=display&thread=7552&page=7#139398
On one hand, it's ridiculous, OTOH, it's incredible - BtVS still arouse so much passion in people.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-27 02:32 am (UTC)This is an odd tv show - it is the only one I've seen that whenever I rewatch it, I catch something new.
I wait a few years, start watching again, and realize it is still fresh, still good, still relevant, and still layered.