I think faith had me at the first "wicked cool," though I did somewhat resent her within the story context for driving a wedge between Buffy and Willow.
Ditto. Any dislike I had for her was within story context, like when she tried to strangle Xander.
I liked her as a counter-point to Buffy
Ditto. I dug the path-not-chosen vibe. After seeing Kendra, the ultra-dutiful slayer, it was cool to see the other end of the spectrum.
Rewatching those earlier episodes now, I have a lot more sympathy for Faith than I did at the time. Maybe cold!Buffy in Season 7 is colouring my perceptions. In the various scenes where she tries to get Buffy to talk about herself and Buffy just shuts her down -- especially in regards to Angel stuff -- I think I used to be on Buffy's side, like "Mind your own business!" But now I think Buffy is too rude and cold. Each time it happens Faith looks momentarily stung before she recovers her attitude. I think it's brilliaint in Revelations when the fake watcher chick plays on this insecurity.
I think it's brilliaint in Revelations when the fake watcher chick plays on this insecurity.
Aww, poor Faith. This was my first Faith episode, and it's where she's at her most sympathetic, so that probably contributed to my instant affection for her.
I think faith had me at the first "wicked cool," though I did somewhat resent her within the story context for driving a wedge between Buffy and Willow. Extremely promising character from the get-go, however.
Yes, and when she told the Mayor he was "wicked gross" she owned me forever (I think in part, this is because it was obvious that not only Faith was a home girl (for me), but that Eliza is, too). I resented the wedge between Buffy & Willow too, except--damn--that's fine writing, acting, and direction that makes a person resent a fictional character in that way.
Faith's stoopid and relly uncool. I h8ed her!!1!
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Will Shetterly's excellent review of S3 and why it is great.
Nice review. I agree with everything he says.
Although he did seem a tad sensitve to certain things:
When the Scoobs argue and Xander is the one who sees things clearly, it's a nice moment for Xander because it rarely happens and he quickly hands the Brains of the Outfit hat back to Giles, Willow, and Buffy. But mishandling either of these elements will make it look … girls need guys to solve their problems (see the resolution of season six).
Noxon's "Beauty and the Beasts… ends with Angel saving Buffy rather than Buffy saving herself.
I disagree that showing Xander saving the day or Angel saving Buffy damages the show's feminist credibility too badly.
My memory may be dim, but I don't recall Angel so much "saving" Buffy in "Beauty and the Beasts" as ruthlessly killing the guy she was fighting before Buffy herself could put him down in a non-lethal manner. Actually, "Angel" and "Earshot" are about the only instances I can recall where Angel clearly saved Buffy rather than just helping out.
Fab Filippo [Scott Hope] is on the cover of this week's Now, one of Toronto's alternative weeklies. He's from Toronto originally and performing in "This is our youth" here until October 18th. The article title says "Hot actor returns to the stage after wooing Buffy and wowing Sophia". (Loren)
