Darn your sinister attraction!

Buffybot ,'Dirty Girls'


Angel 5: Is That It? Am I Done?  

[NAFDA] This is where we talk about the show! Anything that's aired in the US (including promos) is fair game. No spoilers though -- if you post one by accident, an admin will delete it.


Polter-Cow - May 18, 2004 11:33:35 am PDT #385 of 3531
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!

I thank you for the compliment - except is it really a theory? I'm pretty sure they said it outright.

What they said was this, and I quote Strega because we had a similar reaction to the way said "theory" was presented:

"The thousand-year war of good versus evil is well underway." Oh, I see. Angel adds that evil hasn't mentioned it to anyone, "which is probably why they're winning." Maybe the MoG can win if they just ignore it, then. What if they gave an apocalypse and nobody came? Spicule says, "We're apparently on the wrong side. Or the right side, if you like winning." Gunn still isn't convinced, but Angel insists, "Next time you go out there, take a good look around. It's true." Gunn promptly gets up and exits. Ten minutes later, he rushes back in, sits down, and says, "Holy cow, it's totally apocalyptic out there!" Okay, that didn't happen. I don't know. On the one hand, I like the idea of the apocalypse being something subtle instead of another round of hellmouths and world-ending disasters. On the other hand, I don't think "subtle" means "completely undetectable."


§ ita § - May 18, 2004 11:35:52 am PDT #386 of 3531
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

Another thing, Jessica, is that just about no one does convincing kicks, even the stuntpeople. They may do beautiful and difficult kicks, but nothing you'd ever use in a fight. So folk aren't used to watching for anything vaguely realistic.

Punches, OTOH, are much more accessible, and you can't really distract with theatrics.

You poll most non-martial artists (and even including them, perhaps) that have been in impromptu fights, and most of them won't have kicked, and even fewer kicked above the waist, much less the head. It's just not sensible unless you're really good. And even then ...


Wolfram - May 18, 2004 11:36:39 am PDT #387 of 3531
Visilurking

Not sure what the deal is these days as I stopped watching 1 or 2 seasons ago.

I think it's mostly AM's character with the wi-fu now, and the rest just use the good old potion asspull.


Daisy Jane - May 18, 2004 11:40:17 am PDT #388 of 3531
"This bar smells like kerosene and stripper tears."

You poll most non-martial artists (and even including them, perhaps) that have been in impromptu fights, and most of them won't have kicked, and even fewer kicked above the waist, much less the head.

Yep. Too hard to land anything and too easy to get knocked over.

Not that I fight in bars a lot or anything.


Jessica - May 18, 2004 11:43:33 am PDT #389 of 3531
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

Another thing, Jessica, is that just about no one does convincing kicks, even the stuntpeople. They may do beautiful and difficult kicks, but nothing you'd ever use in a fight. So folk aren't used to watching for anything vaguely realistic.

True, that.


MechaKrelboyne - May 18, 2004 11:46:14 am PDT #390 of 3531
... and that's a Pantera's box you don't want to open. - Mister Furious

I like the idea of the apocalypse being something subtle instead of another round of hellmouths and world-ending disasters. On the other hand, I don't think "subtle" means "completely undetectable."

I find I'm OK with it. We can't really see it because it's all around us. Like a goldfish looking for water.

Punches, OTOH, are much more accessible, and you can't really distract with theatrics.

Unless the theatrics involve wearing a big trenchcoat that billows all over the place when you throw the big looping shot. Spike, I'm looking at you.

The kicking thing holds up though. It's like when the UFC and mixed martial arts fighting first started. Everyone expected the Muay Thai and Karate guys to just axe-kick everyone to death, but turns out that since they all only ever fought other students of the same form, nobody ever prepped them on what to do when the other guy just dives at your legs and knocks you over. Thus Brazilian Jiu jutsu and amateur wrestling guys pretty much took over.


§ ita § - May 18, 2004 11:52:27 am PDT #391 of 3531
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

when you throw the big looping shot.

But those get thrown in real life too. Which is good, because they're much easier to see.

Thus Brazilian Jiu jutsu and amateur wrestling guys pretty much took over.

Knee kicks are illegal, right? Because Muay Thai would definitely benefit if you left that in.


Kristen - May 18, 2004 12:10:12 pm PDT #392 of 3531

What if they gave an apocalypse and nobody came?

I think I love this line. I might want to tag it.


Wolfram - May 18, 2004 12:19:28 pm PDT #393 of 3531
Visilurking

What if they gave an apocalypse and nobody came?

No Jasmine.


MechaKrelboyne - May 18, 2004 12:20:34 pm PDT #394 of 3531
... and that's a Pantera's box you don't want to open. - Mister Furious

But those get thrown in real life too. Which is good, because they're much easier to see.

Of course. But if you're going to do it on TV, wear a trenchcoat so it swirls around in a cool way when you do it.

Knee kicks are illegal, right? Because Muay Thai would definitely benefit if you left that in.

What is legal, and very useful too, is kicking the thigh right above the knee. Muay Thai guys are very good at that, and can win a fight by bruising someone's leg so badly it won't hold their weight anymore. Ernesto Hoost is really good at this, he does K-1. Leg kicks are also quick enough and low enough that they aren't as risky as high kicks.

But still, back then, the big problem was that nobody really knew how to defend against the takedown. In large part, this is because the early UFC shows were partially financed by the Gracie family, so they went for fighters who didn't really know how to deal with their type of fight.