Heh. In terms of the show's kinkiness, I so loved it when Joyce went to Angel's home in "The Prom" and cast that dubious look at the chains on the wall.

One thing I always regretted was that the two of them didn't have more scenes interacting with each other.

I will note, however, that I didn't *start* watching for the sexy, nor is that why I kept watching. It was just a side benefit.

No, I didn't think so. But I was just realizing that that's a dimension that some folks get regularly from the show that I have not.

Having just rewatched "Normal Again", I am now wanking Season 7's Winnebago-sized plot holes, character inconsistencies & asspulls as Buffy's doctors using better drugs.

No, really. Once Sunnydale falls into the giant hole, she'll realize that it had a port but now it's in a desert. Then she wakes up and eventually pursues a career in Office Administration, goes out on weekends for Secretary Night at the karaoke bar, and develops an obsession with "The Rules".

Ok, so it's not a happy ending.

No, I didn't think so. But I was just realizing that that's a dimension that some folks get regularly from the show that I have not.

Amy Acker's ass also gives me pleasure.

So, you know, I could be easy.

One thing I am sort of realizing is that the ambiguity that ME played with in S6 is the sort of thing which is a very difficult to handle properly in a show which is broadcast. The audience is too broad, and finding the right balance between what would be an anvil, or what is too subtle or what is too dark, or what is (for the kinky minority like Ple and Me) not dark enough is almost impossible. Spike's sexual attack on Buffy is only the least manageable thing - primarily because it evokes so many personal responses separate from the narrative itself.

Like you noted Ple, the stun gun scene made sense in the season's arc but unwieldy in that actual episode. Those are the kind of balances which must have been so hard for them to hit.

I do think they got bogged down in S7 in ways where they wasted story time that they could have used to address that issue. It was probably a more important issue than what they thought was the S7 arc for Buffy (which Joss expressed as her aloneness or separateness). He also indicated that was part of him writing the character to the actor - which I do think has always been a factor with how people have seen Buffy as cold. Because they've sometimes sensed SMG's reserve and privacy in the character.

I do think they got bogged down in S7 in ways where they wasted story time that they could have used to address that issue. It was probably a more important issue than what they thought was the S7 arc for Buffy.

The Film-Force interview was pretty telling. Joss was defensive, but really didn't have much of a leg to stand on about the complaints regarding pacing, etc. Also, he basically admitted that they ignored a lot of shit to get that big moment with the activated potentials in Chosen. I agree, it is a fine line to balance. Just wish they'd bothered trying harder in S7.

I agree, it is a fine line to balance. Just wish they'd bothered trying harder in S7.

A world of wrod. I really enjoyed the beginning of the season, but I never recovered from Unnatural!NoTouchie!Giles being strung out for multiple episodes for a cheap sight gag.

but I never recovered from Unnatural!NoTouchie!Giles being strung out for multiple episodes for a cheap sight gag.

Giles didn't even recover from it until the last two episodes.

The script for The Pack is the original writer's draft. I'd say it's pre-Joss surgery because it's missing the "heimlich with stripes" line and it's less subtle. Here's the original interaction as written, though I think it was filmed differently.

WHAM! Someone jumps off the building onto Xander, knocking him to the ground. Xander and the FIGURE wrestle, back and forth, around and around, until Xander rolls on top, pinning BUFFY with his knees.

XANDER
I've been waiting for you to jump my bones.

BUFFY
Get off me!

XANDER
Is that what you really want? We both know what you really want.

Xander shifts off Buffy's arms. Buffy rolls onto her hands and knees. They're now face to face on hands and knees, exhausted from the struggle, panting like animals.

XANDER
You want danger, don't you - you like your men dangerous --

BUFFY
You're in trouble -- infected with some Hyena thing, like a demonic possession --

XANDER
--Dangerous and mean, right? Like Mr. Black Leather Motorcycle Guy -- Well, guess who just got mean --

Xander pushes toward her, menacing, and she backs up.

BUFFY
I don't want to hurt you, Xander.

He sniffs the air.

XANDER
I knew you were following me. I'd know your smell a mile a way.

Xander begins SNIFFING Buffy's shoulder.

BUFFY
You and the others -- ate Herbert alive --

XANDER
--You now how long I've waited? Until you'd stop pretending we aren't attracted--

Buffy rolls away and jumps to her feet. He follows her.

XANDER
Until Willow'd stop kidding herself, that I'd settle for anyone but you --

BUFFY
No, stop it -- You're scaring me.

Xander suddenly TACKLES her.

XANDER
Being scared make you wanna hurt me? C'mon, Slayer -- I like it when you smell scared.

Xander climbs on top, straddling her.

XANDER
--The more I scare you, the better you smell.

Xander roughly grabs Buffy's jaw. Begins kissing her, biting her lips -- but Buffy ROLLS him on his back, pinning his wrists against the ground. Now she's in control.

BUFFY
What part of "NO" don't you understand!

XANDER
The "N."

Suddenly, Xander THRUSTS Buffy's arms away, throwing her backward -- with a power that shocks her. Buffy's head hits the ground, just missing a pile of bricks. He leans into her face -- for the first time, we see his powerful biceps.

XANDER
(soft)
Welcome to the jungle.

Giles didn't even recover from it until the last two episodes.

I think they loaded Giles in Chosen from an earlier tape backup after his character flashed the Blue Screen of Death, thus causing the S1 flashbacks, the Real!Giles, etc. Alas for the data loss that robbed us all of Real!Giles reactions to that stretch in the middle.

Wow. I'm tired enough that that made sense.

Mouse batteries dying, going to give in and sleep. g'night.