Welcome Emlah! I think you're our only active Sydneysider at the moment, although John H (who isn't currently posting but is still very much alive and well) is also from Sydney. I was just about to introduce you to all the other Aussies, but if you've been lurking you know us already, right?

Yes. I know you. Even when you don't realise it. Even when you're asleep...... {Copyright Joss Whedon}

I haven't really noticed bad pacing this year, but that may be because I've thrown myself into Season 7 with a giddy, geeky gusto I haven't felt since Season 3 - even going spoiler free for the first time since the end of Season 4 - so I'm much more forgiving of sins than usual. Similar situation with Angel, although the memory of Season 3 will always be lurking in the back of my mind, keeping me from loving the show with ardent abandon the way I used to.

Leigh, I second your emotion for this week's Angel. Great stuff. By the way, what degree are you doing at uni? I'm in Arts. I'm curious because I did a Shakespeare and Film subject a couple of years ago, and it was lots of fun.

It seems to fit here the best: according to the Buffista Calendar today is Min's birthday. I haven't seen her post here for a very long time, but I hope that somehow she gets the 'good birthday' well-wishes.

Clearly you haven't perused our "Realistic" and/or "Falcon" range

Do they come with extra bonus footage of scruffy!Wes being all reserved but heartbroken? No? Then I stand by my statement.

Great stuff. By the way, what degree are you doing at uni?

I'm doing Arts/Law. Five years of studying my ass off and then I owe the government money. t /ungrateful brat But that Shakespeare&Film course is great, isn't it? I've developed a sad aversion to Branagh, though, the poor man. Great actor, but you can alone watch some people so much, y'know?

Eeeek. Is everyone asleep?

Well, I saw Lies My Parents Told Me last night, and I can't understand it. I mean I understood it, but I can't understand why I felt underwhelmed -- all the ingredients were there for massive drama, but it just fell a little flat for me.The acting, the pacing seemed... off. Shall watch again to make sure I wasn't insane the first time.

I mean I understood it, but I can't understand why I felt underwhelmed -- all the ingredients were there for massive drama, but it just fell a little flat for me.The acting, the pacing seemed... off. Shall watch again to make sure I wasn't insane the first time.

Not insane, and some of the parts that would have made it make more sense from a narrative standpoint were cut, like Giles talking about having to kill Ben, and yes I'm still bitter.

I watched it while v. drunk, because it's the episode that made half my mailing lists go so nuts that I had to set them to no mail, and it wasn't as bad as it could have been, but it wasn't as good as it should have been. If that makes sense.

I just liked the fact that they made it crystal clear that Robin really was second priority to his mother. Also that Buffy would let Dawn die if she had her time over again. That was hardcore.

Honestly, though, of all the various versions of Spike we get on this show, I think I like Fury's the best (which isn't saying a lot, really).

Pod!Giles was upsetting, because I completely didn't believe that he would really pull that kind of crap behind Buffy's back. However, my newly acquired Spike hating heart was conspiring with my brain and I kept chanting 'Faster pussycat. Kill. Kill!' to myself and forgetting I was annoyed at the whole 'we have to kill Spike' scenario.

Happy birthday, Min! t looks around for Min, under seat cushions and behind fridge Hello?

Not insane, and some of the parts that would have made it make more sense from a narrative standpoint were cut, like Giles talking about having to kill Ben, and yes I'm still bitter.

That would have been fantastic. That's never ever been addressed, has it? Man, knowing about cut dialogue can be so disappointing. I read somewhere - probably in the Buffista archives - that some dialogue got cut from First Date which included Xander asking his date if she hatched from a praying mantis egg at the old school, which delights me so very much I've decided to pretend it happened off-screen.

Pod!Giles was upsetting, because I completely didn't believe that he would really pull that kind of crap behind Buffy's back.

I kind of felt the same way. I listened to the commentary for Helpless a couple of days later, and David Fury was talking about how much the fans hate it when the writers cause tension between the Scoobies. I felt that was a little unfair - I mean, we understand the need for drama and tension, but we expect it to be well-written and believable. It gives me tummy rumblings when Giles and Buffy fight, but it's a different kind of tummy rumble when I don't really buy the motivation. The events of Helpless were very upsetting but in that hurts-so-good way - I totally believed the way both characters acted and reacted. But I wasn't fully on board in this episode, so that last shot of Buffy closing the door on Giles kind of made me feel like the writers were slapping me in the face for loving Buffy's relationship with Giles and disliking her relationship with Spike.

All that said, I still liked the episode. I really believed Spike was going to kill Wood. And I liked the mother retcon because it creeped me the hell out.

I just didn't feel adequately convinced by any of the dramatic set-ups. In series 5 (my favourite), I was utterly convinced by everything that Buffy and Dawn and Spike did. Combination of good writing, acting, directing. In so much of series 7, the plot movement, the characterisation seem forced (except for Conversations with Dead People and First Date -- far and away the best -- and Selfless).

I should have been blown away by the Spike/Wood confrontation, and Nikki and Spike fighting in the rain with little Robin looking on. But all I could think was how inferior it was to Fool for Love, which still has me going, Wow, Wow, Wow, after the ninth watch.