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Date Posted: 11:48:56 06/17/02 Mon
Author: DeepaD
Subject: In defense of yahtzee - not that she needs it!

Spoilers for seasons 6/3, and for Yahtzee’s Destination Unknown








Jen,
I used to ship Buffy and Angel as much as possible, because they were so sweet together. I never thought they would realistically work out, because to me, fairly tale endings are pure fantasy, but I still kinda sneakily hoped they might defy the odds.
But sadly, it is hard to say the same about b/a fanfic. Although it is what brought me into the fandom, I find it by and large, trite, maudlin, and utterly implausible. Even the most twisted Spike characterisation interests me more than fictional explanations for Buffy and Angel’s undying love. The few exceptions, such as Yahtzee’s Phoenix Burning, worked because they did not make any assumptions. This is a rare thing to do.
Since this last season of Angel, though, I have lost interest in him as a character, and a love interest. This has extended to such point that I even struggle to read fanfic about him, even the original him, such as Rheanna and Jenny-O write. I’m even more welcoming of Spike/Giles slash than I am of Spike and Angel!
Which brings me to Giles. I really can’t see him with the scoobies. It creeps me out. Anya, maybe, it’s a possibility I’m slowly warming to. But Buffy or Willow, never. Not so much because of their age difference, but because of the clearly paternal relationship so deeply entrenched in the show’s canon. To go against that seems like incest, and that’s a line I don’t like crossing.
Having said that, though, I have to point out, that the show has crossed its own lines, many times. It’s one of the reasons why it is so different (and dissapointing in some ways) from the original series I fell in love with. If Angel can fall in love with Cordelia etc etc, then why can’t other lines be crossed?
I think perhaps Yahtzee is trying to answer these questions. I don’t presume to know her, so these are just wild guesses that I’m making, but…
She has proven to be a deeply insightful and intelligent writer. I believe she sympathises with Buffy and Angel. I suspect she nurses (or did until recently) a small hope that they might rediscover their love. But she will not exist in an alternate universe. And the choice given to us now is to either live in the past, vanish into an alternate reality, or else, look forward.
I’m still looking for someone who can go into the future and show me how Buffy and Angel can work out. It hasn’t happened yet. Perhaps Margot or Vatrixsta or Trixie might be able to manage it, but at this point, I couldn’t care less. Angel can stay at the bottom of the ocean for all I could be bothered. Which leaves the other options open.
Yahtzee could have gone into the Spuffy love sweeping our mailboxes. She hasn’t, and I get the feeling that she isn’t too comfortable with Spike as a postitive character. (Although, I am sure she would be as rational and considerate in writing him as she is of any other character, and I would love to see a spike-centric story by her.)
Instead, though, Yahtzee chose what she did. She may be as unhappy over the result as we are, but she chose to explore a very rational and logical question. And she does it so well.
I would never ask you to waste your time reading something that you don’t want to, but since you have seen the ending, and know the worst, why not go back and read the best?
Yahtzee writes so well, and there is such warmth in her story that it makes me happy for her characters, even if they aren’t doing the things that I’d like them to do.
And a final point for your consideration – this whole story has at its premise, people exploring choices that they would normally never take. It’s a little like a fantasy, not quite wholly entrenched in reality. Under such circumstances, a lot can be accepted, especially if told by a master storyteller.
Deepa D.

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Replies:

[> Deepa, tell us what you really think! <g> -- angela, 16:32:38 06/17/02 Mon


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[> [> Huh?! -- DeepaD, 10:29:58 06/18/02 Tue

You think I didn't mean what I said? Ok, Angela, first lets hear what you have to say about it, and then I'll give you my unbiased review.
Now don't tell me you haven't read it yet, because that is just pure cussedness! *grin*
Deepa D.


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[> [> [> Re: Huh?! -- Taramisu, 19:43:30 06/18/02 Tue

>Now don't tell me you haven't read it yet, because
>that is just pure cussedness!

Haven't read it. Don't wanna. Hate Angel. In fact, I challenge you guys to send me a rec that will make me like Angel again. I don't think it can be done. I was on my way there, then

Spoilers season 3 of AtS






















he tried to kill Wesley. Now I hate him again.


Taramisu


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[> [> [> [> Well, in his defense... -- DeepaD, 08:32:15 06/19/02 Wed

..... No, wait.
Sigh. Wesley is too dishy. There is no defense. I could care less about Conner

But Tara, try Master of Tactics, recced on the list a day or so ago. It's really funny. And I'm sure Rheanna can come up with something, sometime... somday
(west side story overdose)


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