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Date Posted: 19:47:32 02/18/03 Tue
Author: Gwynevere1
Author Host/IP: dhcp0228.hrn.resnet.group.upenn.edu / 165.123.185.122
Subject: Review of PJzallday's Suggestion: "Purgatory" by Michael T.
In reply to: PJzallday 's message, "Guess I should have included my e-mail above. (Sorry)" on 12:10:46 02/17/03 Mon

The Good:

In general, there was good characterization; all the characters held true to their own distinct voices. Especially, I always love a good Snyder. The dialogue was quippy and original. There was nothing confusing about the plotting. There were no *major* violations of canon. The action is realistic; no character had powers beyond his or her capabilities at that point. There are no blatant spelling or grammatical errors, except when the author is making the conscious decision to reflect the characters' way of speaking, e.g. how the writer explaining "Buffy Speak" in that Season 3 DVD featurette. Therefore, these are positive aspects of the writing, not negative.
Almost to my surprise, I found the background about Cooper's past truly affecting, and a nice parallel to Buffy's situation. Making bad choices. Seeking redemption. Isn't that what this show is all about?


The Bad:

There is a lot of post-"Becoming, Part II" fic out there, and this piece really suffers by comparison. There was a great deal of long, drawn out passages describing details that the reader, who is naturally a fan of the show, would already know. For instance, always describing the clothes and other aspects of the characters' appearance when they served no purpose to the overall story. Maybe for homeless Buffy it was necessary, but the reader knows how Old School Willow dressed. I, personally, prefer crisp, tight narratives. There were too many times when I found myself saying, "Alright, I get it. Do we have to chat about it all day?"
There were a few too many continuity errors, albeit minor ones, that just bothered me. Why would Cordelia have gone up to the Girls Formally Known As Cordettes by the beginning of Season 3, anyway? Her association with them ending "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered." Dingoes Ate My Baby should not have been considered good by the rest of the group. It was a running gag that the band was BAD. I don't think there is really AP Renaissance History (Does anyone know? I apologize if I'm wrong there). Also, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe? Not even close. Doug Petrie's original draft of the intervention scene in "Revelations," maybe, but that? Willow would have known better.
There were no new insights into the characters. I also felt that the story came across as emotionally hollow.
In addition, it had way too many similarities with "Anne": the duel storyline; the activities in Sunnydale; the homeless shelter; the frightened, shy girl Buffy had to rescue; Buffy's choice of pseudonym. Although this story had no date that I saw, it had to have been written after "Anne" if we knew Buffy's middle name even was Anne and if we knew that Oz's full name was Daniel Osborne. I prefer stories that do not use existing episodes as a crutch.

Conclusion: I noticed that this was Part One in a series. Although the story didn't have me wishing I could sleep with my eyes open, I have no interest in reading the next parts. Basically, this was not a bad story, but I've read so much better.

Overall Score: 83

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