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Date Posted: 00:03:10 03/11/03 Tue
Author: Robin
Author Host/IP: h24-70-225-237.hn.shawcable.net / 24.70.225.237
Subject: My thoughts...
In reply to: PJzallday 's message, "Is it too early to start discussion? (RE: "Love is Blind" by Avalon)" on 15:48:21 03/07/03 Fri

Before I say anything, let it be known that I'm not a Spuffy fan. At all. Just for the record.

That said, I didn't mind the story. It was well written, well thought out, and well planned.

The characters were believable, and the story flowed nicely.

I only have a couple of gripes. First of all, for such a long story, that Willow, Tara, Anya and Xander didn't even make a cameo kinda irked me. Tara and Anya definitely weren't mentioned, and I don't think Xander was, either.

Second of all, the empty pool that led to the Trial area...wasn't in Sunnydale. I don't think Spike and Buffy could have walked to and from it.

Other than that, the story was pretty good. It's not going on my Bookmark list, but I didn't hate it.

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Replies:

[> Review of "Love is Blind" -- Bri, 00:54:47 03/11/03 Tue (cpe-66-1-253-227.co.sprintbbd.net/66.1.253.227)

I'm one of those people who can really really like a 'ship on the show, and hate it in fic. Spuffy is one of them. I used to try and read Spuffy fic, but I don't think I came across more than one or two that actually made sense to me.

This one is one of those fics.

My biggest problem with most Spuffy fics is that they emasculate Spike or turn Buffy into this simpering twit who jumps into "Spiky Bear's" arms. Avalon did an *excellent* job, IMO, of keeping both of them completely in character. Spike's hesitation and indecision, his evil side wanting to see her destruction warring with the side that wanted to save her, that was very believable. And Buffy's resistance to the growing attraction, and her assertion at the end of the fic that she didn't want to *be* with him like that, it was very true to the show. Even the bits with Giles and Joyce and Dawn were consistant with the way they're portrayed in canon.

So, characterization gets an A+ in my book.

I also *loved* the English Trial guy. He was perfect for comic relief. There were a couple moments where I was giggling like a crazy person, particularly the sugar exchange: "Sugar?" "Why?" "To sweeten the tea." I think the dashes of humor adequately counterbalanced the dark, grim tones of the blindness and its consequences.

I only had a couple complaints about this fic, and they were minor. First off, as PJzallday said, the fact that the Trials were the same as Angel's. Granted, they're probably not used to vampires becoming Champions, so they wouldn't have any reason to come up with any variations on the "vampire challenges," but there could have been an effort made for some originality there.

Secondly, the fact that Buffy was being the martyr and going out and getting herself killed to bring forth a new Slayer. She's not that self-sacrificing. In fact, I've always thought that pretty much up until the current season, she's been remarkably selfish. It's a coward's way out, and it only took her a week to decide she had to die. As many Apocalypses as Buffy's beaten, you'd think she'd know by now that at the eleventh hour, a way always makes itself known. She just had to be patient.

Those two things were small, though, and just personal stylistic issues. Compared with the story's overall flow, the vivid imagery and spot-on dialogue/characterization, they mean virtually nothing. Avalon deserves a high mark for this, so I'll give it a 93/100.


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