Allright new season. Good start as far as I am concerned....questions...... 1. Is the principal evil? 2. What was that shapeshifting thing at the end? 3. What the hell is up with Spike being at the school? 4. Who brought the vengence manifestations?
I normally don't watch the show but I had to tape it for the missus. 1. Is the principal evil? Dunno. Are they usually evil? 2. What was that shapeshifting thing at the end? New evil baddie? 3. What the hell is up with Spike being at the school? Ever try to get a job without a high school diploma or GED? 4. Who brought the vengence manifestations? The shapeshifting baddie? Dawn's new female friend? A player to be named later?
On the principal, I would think that with the history of the school and the town, they would put someone with more clue in as principal. Maybe he'll turn out to be deeper than the first episode showed, but for now he seems to be kind of over his head. Here's another question: They showed this girl running from black-robed people in Istanbul in the beginning, and then nothing was shown on that again. What's up with that? I'm guessing that it is related to the shape shifter and whatever it's doing to Spike, and that it will be explained further in coming episodes, but it felt kind of incomplete in last night's episode. I enjoyed Smallville more last night as it resolved all of the outstanding cliffhangers from last season's finale.
The principal is either evil or soon to be eaten. Or both. Maybe the hooded guys in Istanbul are the Knights of Byzantium? Because Istanbul was Constantinople, which was Byzantium. But it's nobody's business but the Turks.
Regarding the shapeshifter, who do you normally deal with when bargaining your soul? I'm thinking the devil went down to Sunnydale. Istanbul will take some more explaining, for sure. Later, COZ
The blonde evil woman goddess Glory was something of a shapeshifter and I heard they were bringing her back. The principal might be evil (that toss-off line about "deadening young minds" smelled like brimstone to me), but before we find out yea or nay on that he'll be Buffy's new love interest.
Answers: Istanbul - the girl is a slayer in training Spike living under school - I am 99% sure that is where his hide-out was with Dru when they were raising hell. I seem to remember a trap door to right outside the high school Vengeance - my guess is they are setting up a confrontation between Zander and Anya Shape-shifter - no clue here
Good point. My wife thinks that Anya's vengerance demon friends could be behind the amulet in an attempt to drive a wedge between her and Zander. Then again, my wife is rather Machiavellian. My question: how long is it gonna take for Buffy and Zander to hook up?
Well interesting that you mention these. My friend came up with a theory that is really difficult to underscore. Your Istanbul slayer theory is an intriguing one. But here is the thought. Buffy died two seasons ago in the finale. Third death. Twice before a new slayer was born, see Faith and that other girl. So, this time no slayer was born. So slayer is out there. The Istanbul thought for the slayer is interesting. However, what if Dawn is the "slayer". There was some discussion that Dawn's blood was made out of Buffy's blood that is why Buffy could jump through the portal and shut the dimension that Glory created. So we have Dawn the slayer. She needs a watcher. Here we have the principal. In the old school the library was where the hellmouth came out of. Giles, the watcher was in the library. In this season, principal's office is built over where the hellmouth was. So principal is the watcher. Principal is Dawn's watcher. Hence he has no problem bringing Buffy into the school because he is the watcher. There is no urgency for the watcher of Dawn to start training Dawn as the slayer is training Dawn as mentioned in the beginning of the episode. So that is the theory. Only hardcore buffy fans would like it. With regards to Spike, I think he might have brought the vengence demons. The shapeshifting thing at the end is probably the thing that opens the hellmouth. It might be Glory but I thought she died when they killed Ben at the end of season 2. Oh yeah, I should be shot for this post.
Good theories.. A few notes if I please.. Things to consider in the following season.. 1) Don't ever underestimate Joss Whedon and what he is thinking.. The Istanbul thing will make sense in due time.. 2) Faith is scheduled to make a return by seasons end.. Rumor has it in fact that she will be part of the end of season episodes.. 3) I also got the sense that the Principal is some sort of Watcher type, but it's too early to tell.. He very well could end up being evil and hired Buffy to keep close tabs on her and Dawn.. Not to mention that his office is directly over the opening to the Hellmouth.. 4) For acuracy's sake, the Glory episodes were Season 5, not 2 as previously stated.. As for Glory, I've heard rumblings as well that she is slated to return but my inside peeps tell me that the Master is the one who is coming back.. All in all, not quite what I was hoping coming off of a long layoff, but there is definitely a lot left out on the table.. Thus the legend that is Joss Whedon.....
Resident slayer with the answers here.... 1. no, but he's rather hot. I think this one might not actually get eaten. third times a charm! 2. Remember The First Evil from season 3 in Amends (the xmas ep)?? Remember The First Slayer telling Buffy that her power is rooted in darkness. I'll bet we're exploring those things. 3. He's a vamp still. He has to have some place dark to live....basement of the school. Plus, I think he's insane now. 4. Remember the scene with Anya at the beginning of the ep? I bet Hallie or D'Hoffryn had something to do with it.
Is that the thing that was in one episode a few years back, it took the shape of Miss Calendar after she had been killed by Angel? I always wondered if they were ever going to bring that thing back.
Looks like they're killing slayers-in-wait/training if you ask me. If you explore some of the Buffy books that are out or even Kendra in season 2, some cultures know members of their society/tribe/whatever are born warriors (ie: slayers) and train them from birth whether they are later "chosen" or not.
Glory was a god. I'll have to ask around to see if she's doing any more eps. Principal probably no on the love interest, but that doesn't mean Buffy won't be trying to "hook it up" at school (Aimer has some spoilers, hee hee)
harkes... istanbul...correct! Spike and Dru were living in an abondoned factory that Giles burned down after Angelus killed his girlfriend Jenny Calander in season 2's "Passion" I believe ep 5 this season is going to explore Anya's past a little more. Shapeshifter...first evil/first slayer connection.
Joss has said in several interviews that when Buffy died at the end of season 5 that no new slayer would be chosen....the succession line runs through Faith now as she was chosen when Kendra died. Faith-Kendra is the true Slayer succession line because Kendra was chosen when Buffy died the first time. Faith (Eliza Dushku) will appear in the last 5 eps of Buffy this season and 3 eps of Angel during Feb. sweeps. Any other questions? My Watchers guides are ready to go!!!
speaking of the movie....let's talk about it. Did you know, the original plan was supposed to be what you hear in Episode 1 of season 1. She was supposed to burn down the gym and well, Pike (Luke Perry) was supposed to go down in flames cuz she thought he got vamped. Well, everyone knows that you can't have Luke Perry dying in a movie in the early 90s....box office disaster (not that his living in the end help matters, I think more would've pay to see him fry), so they made Joss rewrite the ending (bummer they didn't even film the original ending for later use. IE: video/dvd). So if you watch the movie, pretend this in the ending if you want to go straight to the series.....Buffy burns down the gym and gets expelled from Hemery in L.A. (did you notice that they have the same mascot and the same gold in their colors as Sunnydale High?). Also, the vamps don't go "poofie" like they do in the series (fyi....that effect supposedly costs $10k a pop) Discuss the movie.....coming next: Welcome to the Hellmouth. Breaking out my dvds and watchers guides.
I quite enjoyed last night's episode. A little bit of (almost) everything: gore, demons, humor, arguments, new backstory, etc, and now we know how the whole rabbit think started. I was impressed by Emma Caulfield's performance. They don't often give her that much of the story, but she handled it well.