Isn't that a common trope in musicals though? Some wacky ending pulled out of the air (or ass) that neatly ties up the story? I've always thought Joss was giving a tip-o-the-hat to that trope.
River: I didn't think you'd come for me. Simon: Well, you're a dummy.
'Serenity'
Buffy and Angel 1: BUFFYNANGLE4EVA!!!!!1!
Is it better the second time around? Or the third? Or tenth? This is the place to come when you have a burning desire to talk about an old episode that was just re-run.
Jon B. - Apr 29, 2005 8:16:21 am PDT #469 of 10457
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!
Topic!Cindy - Apr 29, 2005 8:28:23 am PDT #470 of 10457
What is even happening?
Oh Jon. That's the best fanwank I've seen for Xander-summoned-Sweet, yet! I'm impressed.
§ ita § - Apr 29, 2005 8:30:21 am PDT #471 of 10457
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
The magic for me of OMWF is that Joss almost didn't sacrifice internal consistency and its place in canon to adopt the musical genre.
Such a clumsy asspull really eats into that.
If I'd wanted "just" a musical (not that I believe the unbelievable resolution is a requirement of the genre), I could get it elsewhere.
Connie Neil - Apr 29, 2005 8:32:17 am PDT #472 of 10457
brillig
Some wacky ending pulled out of the air (or ass) that neatly ties up the story
A wacky ending doesn't quite fit, though, with everyone finding out they'd pulled Buffy out of heaven and Tara finding out Willow's been playing with her mind.
Jon B. - Apr 29, 2005 8:34:55 am PDT #473 of 10457
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!
I'm impressed.
Thanks, but I didn't make that up. Someone else here suggested it at the time.
If I'd wanted "just" a musical
I agree that BtVS is best when it subverts the genre, not plays into it, but then the asspull didn't bother me as much as it seems to have bothered others.
Trudy Booth - Apr 29, 2005 9:41:29 am PDT #474 of 10457
Greece's financial crisis threatens to take down all of Western civilization - a civilization they themselves founded. A rather tragic irony - which is something they also invented. - Jon Stewart
Isn't that a common trope in musicals though? Some wacky ending pulled out of the air (or ass) that neatly ties up the story? I've always thought Joss was giving a tip-o-the-hat to that trope.
That's what I've always thought too. A little poorly executed deus-ex-machina as good fun.
Una - Apr 29, 2005 10:09:34 am PDT #475 of 10457
when i die, please bake my ashes into a brick and use me to hit fascists.
The asspull bothers me because Xander spends so much of the early parts of the episode being seriously disturbed by the singing.
And yet I am large with the OMWF lurve.
libkitty - Apr 29, 2005 11:17:48 am PDT #476 of 10457
Embrace the idea that we are the leaders we've been looking for. Grace Lee Boggs
It took me a minute with all the cut talk. I have the CD and have watched OMWF many times on DVD, and it always felt off, but in a good way. And yet, never until now did I realize that there had been cuts in the broadcast version. Stoopid networks. We need the whole thing! I lurve me some DVD OMWF, even with the ending. Really, it's kind of amazing that there is as much internal consistency as there is. I didn't expect as much as we got, even from Joss.
Connie Neil - Apr 29, 2005 11:21:45 am PDT #477 of 10457
brillig
I'm listening to OMWF myself, "Standing," and I'm still going, "No, Giles, you're an idiot to leave!"
Now to listen to ASH and AB voices do that neat thing together.
libkitty - Apr 29, 2005 11:31:07 am PDT #478 of 10457
Embrace the idea that we are the leaders we've been looking for. Grace Lee Boggs
Aw. I may have to dig out the CD now. I think I have it at work.