Wash: Don't fall asleep now. Sleepiness is weakness of character. Ask anyone. You're acting captain. Know what happens you fall asleep now? Zoe: Jayne slits my throat, and takes over. Wash: That's right. Zoe: And we can't stop it.

'Shindig'


Buffy 4: Grr. Arrgh.  

This is where we talk about Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No spoilers though?if you post one by accident, an admin will delete it. This thread is NO LONGER NAFDA. Please don't discuss current Angel events here.


Vortex - Oct 28, 2003 11:06:19 am PST #6329 of 10001
"Cry havoc and let slip the boobs of war!" -- Miracleman

Really, why does the slayer's identity have to be secret?

Because the Watcher's Council is a bunch of controlling bastards, and if they shut the Slayer off from everyone else, and were the only people that the Slayer had to rely on, they could control her much more easily.


JohnSweden - Oct 28, 2003 11:18:36 am PST #6330 of 10001
I can't even.

Because the Watcher's Council is a bunch of controlling bastards, and if they shut the Slayer off from everyone else, and were the only people that the Slayer had to rely on, they could control her much more easily.

I realize this is the view of a certain portion of the fandom, but it is a very limited view, in my opinion.


Matt the Bruins fan - Oct 28, 2003 11:22:39 am PST #6331 of 10001
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand

The Watcher's Council might have been fearful that a full public revelation of an enemy that could offer eternal youth and vast physical power to people who joined its side would do more harm than good. Take Billy Fordam and multiply by, say, 50,000.


Micole - Oct 28, 2003 11:52:12 am PST #6332 of 10001
I've been working on a song about the difference between analogy and metaphor.

>There's also the fact that while NASA can't send its loudest detractors to the moon to prove them wrong

razzafrazzinCongressgrumblegrumble
spoilineverybody'sfungrumblegrumble

I briefly went to a place where I could get NASA to send me to the moon by proclaiming I didn't believe in the moon landing. I lied very enthusiastically. It was a happy place.


Vortex - Oct 28, 2003 12:17:07 pm PST #6333 of 10001
"Cry havoc and let slip the boobs of war!" -- Miracleman

I realize this is the view of a certain portion of the fandom, but it is a very limited view, in my opinion.

Well, why do you think that the Watcher's Council insisted that the Slayer keep her identity secret?


ted r - Oct 28, 2003 12:48:03 pm PST #6334 of 10001
"You got twelve, and they got twelve. The old ladies are just as good as you are." -Dr. Einstein

Take Billy Fordam and multiply by, say, 50,000.

I think you need to add more zeros.


JohnSweden - Oct 28, 2003 12:59:43 pm PST #6335 of 10001
I can't even.

Well, why do you think that the Watcher's Council insisted that the Slayer keep her identity secret?

Take Billy Fordam and multiply by, say, 50,000.

This. Owen. Joyce. Having to live somewhere. CNN. Stalkers. Madonna having to rent entire floors of hotels when she is in town. Homeland Security and George W. Bush.

Comics and speculative fiction are filled with good and vast explanations for keeping a secret identity secret. I'm not saying that's the only way it could be, just that there are plenty of other and interesting explanations. Also, Buffy as Madonna might be an interesting show (and might not) but it wasn't the one we were watching from WTTH.

Patriarchy=Eb1L, got that anvil, but I just think that the Helpless-only focus on the Council is a limited take on secret identity and other Watcher-related issues and it gets waved around alot. Sorry, didn't mean to pick on you, that's just one of my interpretation hot buttons.


helentm - Oct 28, 2003 2:01:55 pm PST #6336 of 10001
Religion isn't the cause of wars. It's the excuse. - Christopher Brookmyre

Yeah, I don't buy Giles and Wesley as the only good things the Council has ever produced in several thousand years. I'm sure Quentin Travers is *far* from their only evil malnipulative bastard, but it still seems likely they did quite a bit of good in their way. And regarding the Kendra Slayer method, frankly, there were bound to be plenty of Slayers for whom that would've been a blessing.


Cindy - Oct 28, 2003 3:05:10 pm PST #6337 of 10001
Nobody

I don't think the council should be viewed as good or bad. It's purpose was good. Some of its methods were good, some were bad. Some watchers were good. Some were bad. I think the Council enjoyed wielding the power the secret-identity-issue gave it over the slayer. I don't think that power was its only motive for keeping the slayer's identity a secret, or even the biggest one. I think was a motive, though.


helentm - Oct 28, 2003 3:45:01 pm PST #6338 of 10001
Religion isn't the cause of wars. It's the excuse. - Christopher Brookmyre

Okay, Cindy is me, but much clearer.