bitter about fandom, but loving the show

[timepiececlock]

You know, my reaction from this week's episode already seems to be so different form everyone who's read the wildfeed-- even to some degree the optimists. The ones who like episodes feeling like you have to apologize, and like you're watching with blinders on. Well, you are. But your blinders are the spoilers, not your shippy or non-shippy opinion.

Try watching it without hearing everyone else's opinion first.

That's how this show-- how ALL shows are meant to be watched. I'm fully confident that my opinions are valid, probably even more so than that of someone whose read the spoilers. Why? I get it straight from the source. The show is intended to be viewed by an unspoiled audience, and so the impressions your get and the opinions you form after seeing it are the most accurate and untainted reactions you can have. Because all that is influencing your views are Mutant Enemy, and yourself.

Every spoiler a person reads, the person who wrote the sentence is tainting the information that they give you. Even if they believe they're truthfully conveying it, they're creating their own bias from the first moment, and when you read the spoilers that bias is transferred to you.

I can't believe people keep reading wildfeeds or in-depth spoilers if it leaves them feeling they have to apologize for a show or make excuses for it.

Why do it if you don't like it, or the experience makes you unhappy? Are you masochistic?

Do I think spoilers are bad? No. And I think it's perfectly fine that people read them. I think it's unbelievably cool that we have something like the itnernet that allows such a high level of fan involvement with the production/release side of anything there's a fandom for. But I wish people would stop complaining about it when they're not even watching the show, they're watching someone else's commentary on it. They're not judging the show, they're judging what other people tell them.

I'm just sick of hearing "Oh, the wildfeed said it was so bad," or "Some people seem to like it but I don't know because the wildfeed spoilers didn't sound good" or "the spoilers look like it'll be just a bad and silly, so it must be this and this and this..."

Why don't people watch THE SHOW, and then comment. Stop whining. It's not what you read on the internet before hand. What you see on screen that matters. Whine about that, and then I'll listen to you.


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Get It Done spoilers ahead
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I guess some people are upset about Buffy's speech, huh?

Well, I think its about time.

She wasn't out of line at all. Refusing to tolerate the cowardice of Chloe or Annabelle.

All the seriousness we've been seeing on AtS-- the constant tensenes, the bone-deep knowledge of all the characters that the world will end if they don't act and they're holding on by their fingertips... that awareness is finally sinking in with the Sunnydale gang.

It's sinking in that this isn't a game for children, this is a horrible, evil, nightmarish world they're in, and it's going to kill them. They're really, really going to die. And if they want to prove their worth as human beings before they choke, they're going to do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of the the human world until their very last breath is ripped from their throats.

Buffy's realizing that confidence may give the potentials strength, but won't spur them into action. So--- maybe fear will. Buffy's live a life of fear and pain and harsh truth; she should know better than anyone. Her point was valid: this isn't summer camp or a witness protection program; she won't tolerate a house full of victims. To do so is not in the Slayer's interest (her concern is saving the world, and babysitting does not accomplish that), and moreover it's not in Buffy's personality. Buffy's a fighter who has spent her whole life surrounding herself with other fighters. The ones without usable supernatural power (Xnader, Oz, Dawn) still had the fighter spirit she has. And suddenly she's surrounded by victims, victims she's responsible for, and she's sick of it. Now she's going to do everything she can to make them fighters, because if they're too scared then she can't use them. Just like she has no use for a Spike who is too afraid of himself to be that kind of fighter again.

I really think that Buffy's speech showed that saving the world is more important to her than saving the lives of these girls. Which must be a hard lesson for them, because they came to Sunnydale believing she would protect them. This is an interesting change from season 5, when Buffy didn't care about the world, she only cared about Dawn. In GID, Buffy reminded me a lot of Giles. And that's to her credit.

So I probably pissed off someone with that first thing. Oh well. And you know, I probably should wait until AFTER Buffy has aired for everyone before I post my opinions on any of it.

Comments

[minim_calibre]

I'm spoiled, but downloading episodes ahead of time (I don't read the wildfeed, being more of a casting sides kind of girl) has totally changed my view. I can see it unpolluted, which, as a left coaster, was hard as hell before.

And it allows me about 24 hours to form opinions, rewatch, and think.

I think it was about time. I don't think Buffy was at ALL out of line. I think she was frustrated, at the end of her rope, and the only one doing anything at all in that house.

So yeah, I liked the episode.

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I can see it unpolluted, which, as a left coaster, was hard as hell before.

I can sympathize with that a bit, but the truth is I only really got to having to avoid reactions after getting LJ, and I only had LJ about 4 months before I figured otu how to download the episodes. So there wasn't a lot of time. But for me, also, being able to see them early (or, more often, having the option of seeing them early) has curbed my temptation to read about it before hand.

I think it was about time. I don't think Buffy was at ALL out of line. I think she was frustrated, at the end of her rope, and the only one doing anything at all in that house.
So yeah, I liked the episode.

Me too. :) I'm excited to watch the Buffy I see this season, I'm less certain of what she's going to do, how she will react, and I find that refreshing. She's surprising me this season, and mostly for the better.

Re:

[minim_calibre]

Ah, see, last year, I had this ritual (I was unspoiled last year) where I would not read anything anywhere for about three days before an episode, unless it was somewhere I knew was safe.

It got to be exhausting, and in the end, I was accidentally spoiled for Giles coming back.

I'm enjoying seeing her grow up, face her adulthood. It's neat.

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

It got to be exhausting, and in the end, I was accidentally spoiled for Giles coming back.

See, I was totally unspoiled for that. I jumped from where I sat on my couch and kind of "Whooop!"-ed, real loud. I was alone, thankfully, for that somewhat embarrassing display.

What I did get spoiled for accidentally was Spike leaving, Spikegoing to Africa, and Spike getting soul/?humanized. It was the fanfic that did it. I was so annoyed-- people would write fic based on spoilers, and their summaries would look liek this:

"Spike thoughts on the way to Africa. Spoilers for season finale."

ARGH! That pissed me off so much. Also, the people who wrote spoilers into their fics but didn't warn you, or passed it off as original ideas. How many fics can you read with the same events before you begin to get suspicious? That's how I was spoiled for Spike.

I also read two fics without spoiler warnings wherein Tara was shot, and havign known from the beginning fo the season that a Scooy would die, when it actually happened I had already guessed it would be her. Especially with fic summaries like "Willow in mourning for love lost. Character death. Spoilers." How obvious IS that?!

So I'm probaly going to have to spurn ff.net in May, as much as it may pain me, if I don't want to have the show ruined.

[elz.livejournal.com]

But you know, I think the same issues that apply to spoilers also apply to fandom as a whole. I mean, I don't need to have read a single spoiler to know how some fans will react to Buffy's speech, and that can't help but affect my own view, or at least how I present my view online. Fandom drives people towards homogenous opinions - if you see things differently from other people, then you start to feel like your opinion is wrong or something you need to apologize for. Especially when there are scripts and interviews reaffirming the idea that there's a right answer and a correct interpretation to everything. And then there's the whole online herd mentality - you join a group because you have things in common with the other people in it, but once you're part of it, there's a strong (even if invisible) pressure to conform. There's a huge upside to fandom, of course (like-minded people, fun conversation, fanfic), but it's a rare person who can hold onto their own completely independent perspective. And if they do, they usually end up with groupies of their own. *g*

I'm definitely on board with the idea that it's silly to complain about things that haven't aired yet, though. Talk about shooting your own enjoyment in the foot.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Fandom drives people towards homogenous opinions

That's so true. Since getting into online fandom through BTVS, I've noticed it.

I mean, I don't need to have read a single spoiler to know how some fans will react to Buffy's speech, and that can't help but affect my own view, or at least how I present my view online.

Yeah, but will before hand affect you as you watch it? Because that's the important part to me-- I get the most of my fan enjoyment from the experience of watching the show. The second probably from fanfic; discussion is only third on its importance to my Buffy experience. Probably it's not that way for everyone else.

My opinions have changed after reading other people's analyses of episodes (I must have changed my Seeing Red stance 8 or 9 times over the months), but I wasn't bothered to think about any of it when I was watching the show air. I watched everything on tuesday nights at 8 o'clock last season, like clockwork. Didn't even know you COULD download episodes. I personally have to have that initial enjoyment of first seeign it for myself-- I've rarely enjoyed or disliked an episode to dramatically greater degree watching it a second time. My analysis might change, but my first impression sticks with me too.

[mrthursday.livejournal.com]

Well, if you waited for everyone to watch Buffy, and you counted me in everyone, you'd have to wait months! Curse my slow English networks!

On the Plus side I do tend to form my own opinions about episodes/character etc, even if they are in direct opposition to what everyone else seems to think (I wonder if this is because I am in my own "buffy fandom" ghetto, since I don't hangou out much with Online fans, I have opinions that are just mine, rather than that of a peer group?). And I also try hard not to look at spoilers, because nothing beats coming to a show without any expectations or pre-digested critical opinion.

Off-topic :D

[sweet-ali.livejournal.com]

Okay, this is completely off-topic to your post (tho, i agree with a lot you are saying, about this ep and about the pessimistas lurking about the Buffy fandom), but i wanted to tell you that i found this BTVS video to Stone Sour's "Bother". Thought i'd let you know since i know you love that song. Here's the link:

http://spikeshaven.tvheaven.com/video.html

Enjoy!

Re: Off-topic :D

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

thanks! I've downloaded two different vids to that song (both linked at that big BtVS msuic vid artchive); but I'm curious to check if this is the same one.

[caille.livejournal.com]

Yay, rashaka! Can I get you a soda? I think I'm in love....

I've had to make myself scarce on the various forums because otherwise I'll get defensive. It's kind of a variation on Spike's confession "Every night I save you..." except not so poignant. Every time I go into a forum, I save her. You know? Then I immediately have to amend my comments to indicate that I think it's perfectly acceptable to Not Like Buffy. No one needs to feel like I do. But then I get tired of the disclaimer (it's vague and is nobody's friend).

Spoilers are demonic. Besides, I want Drew Goddard to kiss me, and kiss me hard. Spoiler free is the only way that's going to happen.

http://www.drewgoddard.com/

Here's Drew Goddard's reason, posted to the Bronze Beta VIP board the other day:
--------------------
Drew Goddard says:
(Sat Feb 1 06:02:44 2003)

Hey gang,

Can’t stay and talk, so save your “Sweet Drew Goddard, I bow at your knee and worship your every move-s” for another time. Just wanted to do a quick drive-by because I’ve been thinking about it and I’ve decided that spoilers are bad.

Now, I know I’m not saying anything new here. I’m realistic. Let’s face it – those of you who read spoilers aren’t going to stop just because I tell you not to. So I’ve decided to come here and make you all an offer. Here it is:

Anyone who can remain spoiler-free for the rest of the season – all the way through the finale – will be immediately and passionately French-kissed by me.

That’s right – I will French-kiss anyone, woman or man, who can avoid spoilers for the rest of the year.

Ho ho. How does that sound? May want to think twice before clicking on your spoilerslayers or your cross-and-stakes or your whatevers now, won’t you?

I mean, ol’ U. D. is gonna French-kiss the hell out of you if you’re good. That’s a sweet deal. I mean, it’s just five months, spoiler-free…

And seriously, I’m an awesome Frencher. And for the rest of your life, you’ll be able to tell everyone we Frenched.

Nice.

Now, I know I’ve been off the radar for a while, but they’ve been working us hard here in the coal-mines, so please forgive me. As soon as I’m done working on this script, which should be next week sometime, I’ll be back for a good round of Hose Down the Slip-and-Slide (what the hell does that even mean? Sorry – it’s late.)

But in the meantime, the offer’s on the table. Hey – if you want to look at spoilers now, it’s up to you, but man, you’re gonna be missing out.

Hee.