Thanks for your thoughtful reply. People keep moving this to a discussion of Spuffy, and I'm definitely not arguing that Spuffy will continue. I just think that Spuffy has an impact on current Buffy, and so we need to know how Spuffy resolved. But I should also add that the Chosen could not possibly have been written by someone who wanted to sweep Spuffy under the rug as a result of the after effects of SR. Perhaps we have different understandings of what that relationship was or how important it was to Buffy's story. But on my reading Joss knows perfectly well how central Spike is and he threw in a raft of details to make it clear that Spike has been central for a long time.
I can't share your relief about Spike being shipped off to IDW because I really don't like how AtF has played out. The characterization of Spike is off in a way that disconnects me from the character enough that when he was momentarily dusted I realized that it wasn't a disaster for me because he wasn't the real Spike. And also because I think Lynch doesn't see how rich the source material is and has flattened it down in a way that looses much of what I thought was brilliant in the series. I'm waiting for the end to see if it can be retrieved, but I've got a pretty long rant on AtF to put out at some point. OTOH, if that's all the Spike we could get because you are right about Joss's refusal to explore the character further, I suppose some Spike even if it's not really the real Spike is better than none. And Lynch hasn't trashed the character by any means. I recognize that Lynch LIKES Spike a great deal. I just don't think Lynch is a good enough writer for this material. So I'd still have lost something if Spike remains over at IDW, and a part of me would see Spike's "real" story as being in suspension in any case.
I did see Allie on the blanks that wouldn't be filled, but Spike wasn't on that list -- and obviously some blanks have been filled. As I said elsewhere on this thread, I do think there are other blanks that simply have to be filled as well. Most urgently we need to see how Buffy came to be a bank robber. If Joss thinks that's a blank that needs no filling, then I'll join you in all the ranting and cynicism.
BTW: There's an irony for me in all of this. The segment of fandom that I most respect and learn the most from mostly hates season 8 and mostly likes or even loves AtF. The segment of fandom that loves season 8 (on other boards) is not nearly so interesting. Anyway, y'all distrust Joss for a variety of reasons. The main reason I distrust Joss is that he picked Lynch to do AtF and had a hand in outlining the story there. If you want to sell me on the notion that Joss is not all that, that's where you'd start. But that's obviously not how y'all see it -- and so I have these strong reactions, but also think that I might well be completely loony to have them.
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I can't share your relief about Spike being shipped off to IDW because I really don't like how AtF has played out. The characterization of Spike is off in a way that disconnects me from the character enough that when he was momentarily dusted I realized that it wasn't a disaster for me because he wasn't the real Spike. And also because I think Lynch doesn't see how rich the source material is and has flattened it down in a way that looses much of what I thought was brilliant in the series. I'm waiting for the end to see if it can be retrieved, but I've got a pretty long rant on AtF to put out at some point. OTOH, if that's all the Spike we could get because you are right about Joss's refusal to explore the character further, I suppose some Spike even if it's not really the real Spike is better than none. And Lynch hasn't trashed the character by any means. I recognize that Lynch LIKES Spike a great deal. I just don't think Lynch is a good enough writer for this material. So I'd still have lost something if Spike remains over at IDW, and a part of me would see Spike's "real" story as being in suspension in any case.
I did see Allie on the blanks that wouldn't be filled, but Spike wasn't on that list -- and obviously some blanks have been filled. As I said elsewhere on this thread, I do think there are other blanks that simply have to be filled as well. Most urgently we need to see how Buffy came to be a bank robber. If Joss thinks that's a blank that needs no filling, then I'll join you in all the ranting and cynicism.
BTW: There's an irony for me in all of this. The segment of fandom that I most respect and learn the most from mostly hates season 8 and mostly likes or even loves AtF. The segment of fandom that loves season 8 (on other boards) is not nearly so interesting. Anyway, y'all distrust Joss for a variety of reasons. The main reason I distrust Joss is that he picked Lynch to do AtF and had a hand in outlining the story there. If you want to sell me on the notion that Joss is not all that, that's where you'd start. But that's obviously not how y'all see it -- and so I have these strong reactions, but also think that I might well be completely loony to have them.