ENISY

Character Death

2009-10-30T19:41:58Z

Still reeling from my favourite character's death in Bleach, even half a year after the event, and it got me thinking about my other fandoms...

View Poll: Buffy Question 1

View Poll: Buffy Question 2

View Poll: Buffy Question 3

View Poll: Harry Potter Question

View Poll: Angel Question 1

View Poll: Angel Question 2

View Poll: Bleach Question 1

View Poll: Bleach Question 2

VOTE, PEOPLE!

2009-10-04T13:13:59Z

ship_manifesto poll is underway, and it's... just... unacceptable! Spike/Buffy is losing to Dean/Castiel and Ulquiorra/Orihime is losing to Haruka/Michiru! Go give them a boost now! ~~Plz? For me? Look at my picspams/vidspams if you need convincing...~~

Spike/Buffy & Ulquiorra/Orihime: >> CLICK <<

Row, Row, Row Your 'Ship

2009-09-09T23:03:49Z

I'm suffering through a mild case of writer's block and going starry-eyed over easy_to_corrupt's Eric/Sookie MV post, so what better to do with my time than this...

Beware of crack 'ships and spoilers!

#10:

Logan/Veronica from Veronica Mars (TV series)

"What's your poison?"
"Oh, emotionally unavailable women."

#9:

Zuko/Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender (cartoon series)

"I didn't forgive him. I'll never forgive him. -- But I am ready to forgive you."

#8:

James/Elizabeth from Pirates of the Caribbean (movie trilogy)

"Our destinies have been entwined, Elizabeth -- but never joined."

#7:

Tom/Ginny from Harry Potter (book series)

"Well, that was a bit stupid of you, seeing as how you don't know anyone but me who's been possessed by You-Know-Who, and I can tell you how it feels."
"...I forgot."
"Lucky you."

#6:

Wesley/Illyria from Angel (TV series)

"Would you like me to lie to you now?"
"Yes... thank you, yes..."

#5:

Barney/Robin from How I Met Your Mother (TV series)

"I don't love her, okay? I just... miss her when she's not around, I think about her all the time and I imagine us one day running towards each other in slow motion and I'm wearing a brown suede vest."

#4:

Han/Leia from Star Wars (movie trilogy)

"You like me because I'm a scoundrel. There aren't enough scoundrels in your life."

#3:

Erik/Christine from Phantom of the Opera (stage musical, book, movies)

"Close your eyes and let music set you free... Only then can you belong to me."

#2:

Spike/Buffy from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)

"You can't blame the girl, Spike. You're all covered with her. I look at you... all I see is the Slayer."

#1:

Ulquiorra/Orihime from Bleach (manga/anime)

"What is this 'heart'? If I tear open your chest, will I see it inside? If I shatter your skull, will I see it there?"

Ulquihime in Japan

2009-07-08T14:22:40Z

So I was chatting with _penguins_ yesterday, and she's found a good few references to some survey done in Japan about the most popular Bleach pairings, in which Ulquihime allegedly ranked 2nd and Ichihime 50th (lawl). (This post mentions it, for example, as does this one.) Do any of the people who frolic in the Asian fandom know anything about it, or is it just a myth?

Survival of the Hottest 'Ship

2009-05-30T23:25:43Z

Goooooooo vote for Spike/Buffy and Spike/Xander at Survival of the Hottest 'Ship at ship_manifesto! (And maybe a vote to Ulquiorra/Orihime from Bleach and Barney/Robin from How I Met Your Mother, too, for me? *bats eyelashes*)

Ulquiorra/Orihime Music Video Recs

2009-05-26T01:04:49Z

Here's hoping this list won't meet the fate of my Spike/Buffy music video reclist, with YouTube removing or muting 85% of the videos. (Yes, I'm still bitter. :P)

My personal favourites are marked with three hearts. (♥♥♥) Oh, and I trimmed some of the descriptions for space, but if you're the vidder and you want me to add or edit something, you have but to say so in a comment.

Updated: September 24th 2009 ("Do You Feel Like a Man" by ccrbroc, "Hold Your Hand" by KusoAkuma, "Just Like a Circus" by Yuiachan, "Silhouette Dreams" by kunoichilove13, "Sorry" by ChibiKittyUchiha)

Addicted by Soonx2xBxCullen
Description: So, um, I finally did another MMV. I was going to do a GrimmIchi one, but this one just started to form before I could stop myself. Sadly, it's been sitting on my old comp for about a month... yeah. So, um, here it is, finally! ENJOY!
Song: Addicted - Kelly Clarkson

All Around by KittyCaution
Description: Here is my first Bleach MMV/AMV with Ulquiorra and Orihime... it's such a cute couple...
Song: All Around Me - Flyleaf

All the Things She Said (MEP) by chanelpinks
Description: Amazing MEP hoted by sasuuka. (= Hope you guys like my part. :P Ulquiorra kick ass! xD 8D
Song: All the Things She Said - Madbones

And I Find a Reason... by kawaiis26
Description: Dedicated to the UlquiHime FC at BA Asylum. ~Ulquiorra is not dead~
Program: Sony Vegas
Song: Shattered - Trading Yesterday

Baby It's You by PlainMelancholic
Song: Baby It's You - June

Beautiful You by ValeryaDeidara
Description: D: The chapter was so sad ~ but I am glad at the end too. x3 Orihime was so beautiful and UlquiHime moment too. :D And I think the song fit them~
The song is, like, 4 minutes? xDDDD LOL, I was thinking the song was so short, I don't know why. xDDDD
Song: Beautiful - Trading Yesterday

Black Black Heart by Nihilistc
Description: This is my audition.
Song: Black Black Heart - David Usher

Breath by ChibiKittyUchiha
Description: :] Just a little viddie I made for my new friend SamaraSigns!!! ;D
Program: Sony Vegas
Song: Breath - Breaking Benjamin

Broken by LuvinatheHedgehog
Description: Short, simple and not a lot of effects.
Program: Sony Movie Studio Platinum
Song: Broken - Seether and Evanescence

Broken Strings by xXSabryChanXx
Description: Hii, jeje, this is another short vid, yes, it's a MMV of one of my favorite pairings: UlquiHime. ♥ I don't know, but UlquiHime always reminds me of the beauty and the beast. xD I love this song. ♥ (It's too addictive to me...!)
Song: Broken Strings - James Morrison and Nelly Furtando

Can You See Me Now (MEP) by chanelpinks
Description: If you wanna see the MEP, sub here. This is my part for the Neverending Dream Production MEP, anime couples, so I choose Ulquihime. (= I was thinking about Ichihime, but right now I don't have too much inspiration for them. :I Aww. )'= Heheh, I don't put too many effects, BTW. :P Is a difficult song, so yeah. xD
Song: Clowns (Can You See Me Now?) - Tatu

Can't We Try by Billie
Song: Can't We Try - Dan Hill & Vonda Sheppard

Caramelldansen by Schweinefrau
Description: Deviantart-Link: Ulquiorra Orihime Flash. Yay, my favorite pairing in Bleach~ ♥ It was very fun to make it~ x333
Song: Caramelldansen - Caramell

Cold by Yuiachan ♥♥♥
Program: Sony Vegas Platinum 9.0
Song: Cold (But I'm Still Here) - Evans Blue

Collide by o0ShadyMidna0o ♥♥♥
Description: I finished ~! Haha. And before midnight too. :D Heehee. This is a little something I wanted to make sure I finished before I left for a week to go to the island with Nanokypoo. I just love UlquiHime so much. T.T Why did Ulquiorra have to leave it hanging!? Daaaaaaamn!! -cries in corner- I realize there are spelling mistakes... I suck at spelling!! Just enjoy the video! It's kind of obnoxious when I get comments telling me I mispelled words and then say nothing else.
Song: Collide - Howie Day

Come Back to Me by TehFrotu
Description: Well, after seeing all the beautiful Ulquihime videos people had been making with their own art, I was randomly inspired. I'm somewhat shocked that the inspiration actually translated into enough motivation to finish, though... that generally doesn't happen. Anyway, this became my portion of a joint project done with Fanfiction.Net's awesome Enchantable. Her lovely oneshot that goes with this can be found at Fanfiction.Net... Go read it! Since I haven't ever made a video before, I'd appreciate any feedback people feel willing to give. :)
Song: Come Back to Me - Trading Yesterday

Come to Be by Ongaku / ongaku_tenshi ♥♥♥
Description: I really like using Sony Vegas. This music video took me a lot longer to make than I expected. What was I thinking with this song?? LOL. Anyway, I think it turned out rather well so I hope you enjoy it! This will probably be the last Bleach music video I make for a while.
Program: Sony Vegas
Song: Hoodoo - Muse

Corner of Your Heart by Itwasonlyakiss4u
Description: Another video reuploaded. There are more to come so please resusbscribe! Ulquihime is taking the anime/Bleach world by storm, eh?
Song: Corner of Your Heart - Ingrid Michaelson

Dead in the Water (BETA) by uchihapeinangel
Song: Dead in the Water - Hawthorne Heights

The Delicious Tomato Song by YuriYura [Alternate Link: YouTube] ♥♥♥
Song: The Delicious Tomato Song - Daisuke Namikawa

Destiny's People by YuriYura [Alternate Link: YouTube] ♥♥♥
Song: Unmei no Hito (Destiny's People) - Fujita Maiko

Do You Feel Like a Man by ccrbroc
Description: Orihime is dating Ichigo who is a very jealous abusive man and Orihime's friend Ulquiorra is like, why do you take this, you can do better. (HINT: He likes Orihime.) Well, Orihime starts to like Ulquiorra, but she is so in love with Ichigo she is blind from what's in front of her (Ulquiorra). Ulquiorra kills Ichigo thinking Orihime won't be so attached anymore and to get revenge for Orihime, but she gets mad. Ulquiorra doesn't really understand why she is so pissed and leaves to think. Orihime is torn between two handsome men. Ulquiorra realises Orihime loves Ichigo more and because he loves her so much he lets her go.
Song: Face Down - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Note: Ulquiorra/Orihime/Ichigo

Entwined by SapphireStar26 ♥♥♥
Description: Another UlquiHime AMV! I really like the way this one turned out. The idea kept calling out to me until I finally had to surrender to the urge and make it, LOL.
Song: Entwined - Lacuna Coil

Fading by EternalEmoPrince
Program: Sony Vegas 5
Song: Fading - Decyfer Down

Fake Wings by NightmareCCL ♥♥♥
Description: This is my very first MMV. I love this song! It's so sweet and sad. It inspired me to write fanfiction one time, LOL.
Song: Fake Wings - Yuki Kajiura

Family, in Your Head by Missytalker
Description: This is the furthest thing from a love song. But for some odd reason it makes me think of their characters when I hear it. Sorry about the shaking crappy-ness. I made this at 3 in the morning yesterday.
Song: Zombie - The Cranberries

Final Conversation by Itwasonlyakiss4u
Description: I used WMM just to edit it and make it into the wonderfully now CANON couple, Ulquihime, video. This is all inspired by the wonderful Ulquihime single made by "for the ocean" located here. I am really happy they can be called canon now... I'm just theorizing and praying that he comes back, either by means of reincarnation or Orihime actually doing something like, I don't know, HEALING HIM, I just want him back. I've never loved a character more.
Song: Final Conversation - The Butterfly Effect

Go Ahead by sicksadangel
Description: I actually made this just for something to do while I was downloading another anime for another vid I want to do. I think it turned out alright. I do apologize I got a little lazy at the end, so forgive me.
Song: Go Ahead - Fireflight

Goodbye (The Dark Knight and the Princess MEP) by BJinlove
Description: Emospada-kun, we will really miss you and a goodbye to Orihime, the one you had your heart in her hand. T_T
Program: Sony Vegas 5.0, Adobe Photoshop
Song: Goodbye - Secondhand Serenade

Goodbye by nayachankawaii2 ♥♥♥
Description: YEAH ! A full videoo!!! *3* I know is a MMV. xD But is a full video. *.* OMG! This is soo sad. T.T Ulqui-kun... But he died seeing the face of his beloved...
Song: She Is the Sunlight - Trading Yesterday; Thinking of You - Katy Perry

Goodbye by o0ShadyMidna0o
Description: Uhh. Sorry I can't really seem to make a full video lately. ^^;
But I have a shitload of MEP parts to finish, let alone organizing my own MEP. :33
Song: Goodbye - Secondhand Serenade

Goodbye, I'm Sorry by o0ShadyMidna0o
Description: I'm the only one who thought of this!? O.o This song fits Ulquiorra's sad end perfectly. T_____T Sorry if there are any manga spoilers in here, but this couldn't be made without them. Like most people I hope that Ulquiorra isn't gone, but... it's unlikely that he'll come back, sadly. Everyone I like in both anime AND manga dies... -sobs in Sasuke's emo corner- And they are usually the coolest and most well-thought characters. Ah well. If he had to go... I'm glad it was like this. Reaching for someone he cared for. Why else would he bother reaching out for her?
Song: Goodbye, I'm Sorry - And Then I Turned Seven

Goodbye to You, Ulquiorra (MEP) by samarasigns
Description: The human heart feels things that eyes cannot see, and knows what the mind cannot understand. - Robert Vallet
Here's my part for StarCatcher393's Michelle Branch MEP. I started working on this at 9 and finished at 11. Yay! xD I only used one episode, too. ...I did work hard on it, though. Don't be mistaken. xD And yes, for once, I didn't use a crossover. 8D; I used UlquiHime, my current obession. Ha ha. It's in Orihime's perspective and I think it suits the relationship between them.
P.S. - I'm still in denial over Ulquiorra. ;____; He's not dead, damnit.
Song: Goodbye to You - Michelle Branch

Halo by o0ShadyMidna0o ♥♥♥
Description: I finally finished it! I've been working on this for the past week or so just to finish today. :D What's so special about today you ask? Well, today is the day school finally ends for the rest of the summer!! Whoooooo! I'm so happy, at around eleven o'clock today I will officially be a sophomore :)
Song: Halo - Beyonce

Happy Ever After in Your Eyes by BlumberBerry
Description: Requested By RazzleLove.
Song: Happy Ever After in Your Eyes - Ben Harper

Headlock by Carol175225
Description: YouTube destroyed the timing. ;_____; Okay, so I really don't know why I'm putting this on YouTube, but oh well, just to show people I (kind of) improved in Vegas. I kind of got bored halfway through soo yeah, I don't really like how this turned out, and I'm not going to even post this on my main account because I really want to put my future and better works there. Since some people asked me to put this here, well there you go.
Time Spent : Almost 1 month o_o
Time Rendering : 5 times --' (all night yesterday until 4 a.m. and last time this afternoon)
Program: Sony Vegas Pro 8.0
Song: Headlock - Imogen Heap

Hekkushun by YuriYura [Alternate Link: YouTube] ♥♥♥
Song: Hekkushun - Radwimps

Hellfire by LadyChaos2003
Description: A rather one-sided tribute to Ulquihime.
Song: Hellfire - Tony Jay

Hold Your Hand by KusoAkuma
Description: I was listening to the "Across The Universe" soundtrack and I thought this song went well with Inoue's character. I decided to use Ichigo, Tatsuki, Ishida and Ulquiorra as side characters since I feel those are the people that Inoue has connected on another level with.
Program: Sony Vegas 7.0
Song: I Want to Hold Your Hand - T.V. Carpio
Note: Ulquiorra/Orihime, Ichigo/Orihime, Ishida/Orihime & Tatsuki/Orihime

Hollow Knight by Billie
Description: I think the mood and lyrics of the song fits Ulquihime very well =V= Ulqui was like a knight to protect the Princess in TV216. XD (And the opposite, Kurosaki like a villain. =3= Well, in my opinion, he has been a big villain when he was in front of Ulquihime. =3=+) At the end of this video, it is my hope！ She cried about her love for him，he asked softly, "Is this your heart?" She smiled and answered, "Yes." .......I so hope it comes true!!!
Song: Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi (Vampire Knight OP)

Houki Boshi (No.4 version) by G5S8A
Song: Houki Boshi - Younha

I Hate Myself for Loving You by Billie
Song: I Hate Myself for Loving You - Joan Jett and The Blackhearts

I Hate You by YorleniProduction
Program: Sony Vegas 8.0
Song: I Hate Everything About You - Three Days Grace

I Miss You by sicksadangel
Description: Even though Ulquiorra has been killed off I still love the pairing of UlquiHime and I believe this song is just too cute for them.
Song: Miss You - Blink-182

I Will Let You Down by uchihapeinangel
Description: *~Beautiful Pairing ♥ Think about it. Shall I finish..? You have a cold-hearted guy; and a sweet giddy girl. VERRRY SIMILAR to the NaruHina pairing.
Program: Windows Movie Maker, Ulead Video Studio
Song: Let You Down - Three Days Grace

I Would Be There by ValeryaDeidara
Description: POV: Ulquiorra. Yay, my first (and not my last) Ulquihime AMV. :D And is so bad. xD I couldn't find another song for the AMV ~ I HATE THE SIZE. X___X I think I will have the same of my other AMVs better. D:
Song: Fly on the Wall - Tatu

I'm Sorry, Orihime by axelstarLOVESneji
Description: Yeah, I just HAD to make something Ulquihime now that it's, like, CANON!!! xD Not really a good MMV at all. XD But the audio makes up for it. *sniffles* ULQUI-SAN!!!
Song: I'm Sorry - Advent

It Was You (BETA) by o0ShadyMidna0o
Description: I hope to finish this soon. :33 Well... actually, more likely it won't be finished until AFTER Ulqui's release appears in the anime. ^^ Stupid fillers. -crosses arms and pouts-
Song: It Was You - 12 Stones

Jinsei Bimi Raisan by YuriYura
Song: Jinsei Bimi Raisan - Ali Project

Just Like a Circus (BETA) by Yuiachan
Song: Circus - Britney Spears
Note: Ulquiorra/Orihime & Ichigo/Rukia

The Knight and the Dragon by Myahle
Description: "In the end, you have to let one of them go." This is my part for a MEP I'm participating in. Nothin' special, but I kinda like it. Should I eventually make this a full video? :o I want your opinions. :D
MiniStory // One is a Hollow; an empty and emotionless creature that devours souls. The other, a part-time Death God with a Hollow waiting for the right moment to claim the body he's imprisoned in. Orihime loves Ichigo and Ulquiorra both. When the time comes for their final battle, who is it that she's cheering for? Her rescuer; Her Knight in shining armor? Or her guardian; Her Dragon that protects her?
Song: Breathe into Me - Red
Note: Ulquiorra/Orihime/Ichigo

Kokoro·Heart by Billie ♥♥♥
Description: I love the ending! I hope it will come true! I believe it will come true! I am sure it will come true!
Song: Kokoro - Kagamine Rin

La Principessa by ivoryxorchid ♥♥♥
Description: My second UlquiHime MMV, spanning from Bleach chapters 315 to 353.
Song: La Principessa - John Gentry Tennyson

Lacrimosa by PlainMelancholic
Song: Lacrimosa - Kalafina

Long Kiss Goodbye by PlainMelancholic
Song: Long Kiss Goodbye - HaliCali

Losing You by Yuiachan
Description: Enjoy. ^^ I've working on this for months. ^^'
Song: Losing You - Dead by April; Shojo S - Scandal; Still Doll - Kanon Wakeshima

Lost (The Dark Knight and the Princess MEP) by chanelpinks
Description: I'm hosting an Ulquihime MEP. I don't have a due deadline yet, it's until everybody finishes their parts. (=
Song: Lost - RED

Love Song by MicMic18
Description: Orihime's story was a complicated one. Kidnapped. Taken away by the enemy of her friends. Thrown into a world of loneliness. However within this world she found a bit of hope in Ulquiorra who stayed with her often and spoke with her. They began to develop feelings gradually until she was proven useless to Aizen and taken back to the human world by Ulquiorra. Orihime found herself longing to stay with him but no matter how she pleaded he still left her alone.
Our story starts here dealing with Orihime's feelings of longing for the man who took her away and then left her alone. She finds herself remembering him and while thinking of him he confronts her once again with orders to take her back to Hunco Muedo. She wants to refuse but finds herself following him. While there she's left alone in her cell often and finds herself crying more and more even when he is with her. Eventually Ulquiorra comes to see her tears and comforts her. Their moment of happiness is interrupted by Ulquiorra's need to fufill Aizen's command of killing Ichigo. He tells Orihime of the deed he's about to do and leaves her alone once again. Orihime determined to stop him pushes at the door before she decides to try and reject it. The idea is successful and the door disappears. Quickly she ventures outside to discover the battle between her former crush and her Ulquiorra. She feels torn of who to comfort and desperately calls for him to stop fighting. Not wanting her hurt as a result of both Aizen's orders and his own feelings both Ichigo and Ulquiorra stop the battle. Orihime realizing that any day Ulquiorra could be taken from her rushes to him enveloping him in a tight embrace. Unable to hold it in anymore she tells him the words I love you and he answers her with his kiss.
Program: VirtualDub, Sony Vegas 7.0, Video Converter Premier
Song: Love Song - Sara Bareilles

Memories by Billie
Song: Memories - Within Temptation

Monster by StrawRabbi ♥♥♥
Song: Monster - Meg & Dia

Monster (MEP) by LaiiLaHaTaKe
Description: I never thought I would make a video for this pairing. Actually, I'm a IchiHime supporter... but Ulquiorra and Orihime are my favorite characters. [L]___[L] [Buaaa!!! I'm so sad 4 his death. =(] So it's my part for Chanelpink's new Ulquihime MEP! [Yah! Another MEP part xDD... my account need more full vids. x__X] I am in LOVE with this song at the moment and we need more Ulquihime tributes...!!!!
Song: Monster - Meg & Dia

My Feelings for Him by Ongaku / ongaku_tenshi
Description: I am not an Ichigo/Orihime fan. Not in the least. I do like both characters though. This song just screamed... make me for Orihime and it suited her feelings for Ichigo so well, but think of this as her farewell to Ichigo 'cause I won't be making any more like this. xD
Song: Sally's Song - Amy Lee
Note: Ulquiorra/Orihime & Ichigo/Orihime

Mystery of You (BETA) by meam214
Description: Yeah, I really want to finish this. The beta needs A LOT of work, as you can probably tell. I like it, though. There's a lot of manga in it, which is a new thing for me. It's not as "busy" as some other videos I've done. If you can't read the text, it reads: "Come with me, woman." ... "Silence." ... "The next word you will say is 'yes'." ... "Don't ask questions." ... "Don't say a word." ... "You have no rights and no options." ... "We are not negotiating." Those are all things Ulqui said to Orihime when he told her about Aizen wanting her power and blah blah. If you're wondering why the audio is crap in the middle, it's because it was two separate clips I had and published them together on WMM cos I'm lazy. -__-
Song: Mystery of You - Red

No Air by ccrbroc
Description: I was planning on redoing this video cause I know I can make it better, but I'm just too lazy to redo it. Anyway, people, here is my old video that got deleted!
Song: No Air - Jordin Sparks

Not Meant to Be by LightningDreamer ♥♥♥
Description: Somehow I really like this -- though it's rather simple and not my best work because it was done quickly -- might be related to my love for this pairing or just the fact that this finally uploaded. O__O I put an intro (if you can call 4 seconds that) before the actual video and had to dispute the audio claim. *sleepy eyes falling shut* Anyways, the latest chapters left me kinda sad and unsatisfied, so I had to do something with these scenes. Nooo, Ulquiorra! It's soo sad. T__T In case you haven't noticed my love for Ulquihime -- this is NOT anti, just a little sad and hopeless and you get the point how I feel about them. *goes to read Ulquihime fanfics* And yes, this is rather short for a change, not that anyone would notice beside myself. *self-ironical mind takes over* xD
Programs: Sony Vegas, Particle Illusion
Song: Not Meant to Be - Theory of a Deadman

Paparazzi by Yuiachan
Song: Paparazzi - Lady Gaga
Note: Ulquiorra/Orihime & Ichigo/Rukia

A Perfect Plan by ccrbroc
Description: It has been quite some time, HAHA. Well, here is a video I have finally finished. It's meant to look like a music video, LOL... I'm so alone.
STORY -- There is this great plan to kill Ichigo Kurosaki and Ulquiorra and Orihime are behind it, the plan is to make Ichigo fall for Orihime and then to swiftly kill him, but the plan goes askew after Orihime really falls in love with Ichigo. Ulquiorra notices this and tells her she can never be with Ichigo, that they walk two different paths; an angry Orihime tells Ulquiorra he is wrong and that she knows he loves her back, but he really loves Rukia. She is broken hearted and her and Ulquiorra kill Ichigo and Rukia.
Song: Away from Me - Evanescence

Please Dance a Waltz with Me by CAELUM [Alternate Link: YouTube] ♥♥♥
Song: Atashito Warutsu Wo (Please Dance a Waltz with Me) - Onitsuka Chihiro

Pokerface by Yuiachan
Description: FIRST FULL AMV WITH SONY VEGAS! =D
Program: Sony Vegas
Song: Pokerface - Lady Gaga
Note: Ulquiorra/Orihime & Ichigo/Rukia

Regret by Billie
Song: Regret - Mai Hoshimura

Revolutionary Ulquihime (WIP) by Billie
Description: It's the unfinished work, and I will work hard to finish it. =V=
The Love Song of the Sun and Moon.
Song: Round Dance Revolution (Revolutionary Girl Utena OP)

Silhouette Dreams by kunoichilove13
Description: Orihime and Ulquiorra have obvious feelings for each other, but neither can be in the other's world. Orihime cannot see Ulquiorra as an Arrancar monster, merely a pawn in Aizen's game, helpless to leave his master. While Ulquiorra struggles to keep Orihime by his side, he tries to understand what it means to be human, and what it means to have a heart... even in death.
The song was very inspirational for me, and I thought it fit Ulquiorra's character/spirit very well. The concept was to keep it as close to the "original" as possible (...?) Basically, I wanted it to feel as if this could have actually unfolded in the manga series. (i.e, Ulquiorra asking about "hearts", about love, about Orihime being happy, etc.) For me, I channeled my inner fanfiction writer and tried not to make it too unbelieveable. (...making sense o_o?) Take what you want from it, anyways. :) Even though it's not as smooth as I had planned, I am still unable to destroy it. :D
Program: Windows Movie Maker
Song: You Be the Anchor That Keeps My Feet on the Ground, I'll Be the Wings That Keep Your Heart in the Clouds - Mayday Parade

Simply in Love by elidor7
Song: Simply in Love - BT

Snow White Queen by o0ShadyMidna0o
Description: Okay, I'm most likely going to make an extended version of this but for now this is all you guys are getting. XD The story behind this I guess is... -ehem- self-explanatory if you listen to the lyrics. XDD Ulquiorra OWNS Orihime X33 literally in this video. As the chorus goes, "You belong to me, my Snow White Queen", so yeah. :D Heehee. And yes... that IS Kimimaro's sexy chest and shoulder. ;D
Song: Snow White Queen - Evanescence

Sorry by ChibiKittyUchiha
Song: Sorry - Buckcherry
Note: Ulquiorra/Orihime & Ichigo/Orihime

Stardust by xAmuIkuto
Description: This is for my dear Manu, I feel really sorry what happened, and I hope you get through it fine. D: I love you, Manu-chan. I know this vid isn't all awesome or something... xD But I hope you like it. Hope you guys like it, too!
Program: Sony Vegas Pro 8.0, Particle Illusion 3.0
Song: Boats and Birds - Gregory and the Hawk

Starlight (MEP) by ValeryaDeidara ♥♥♥
Description: SORRY ABOUT THE AUDIO. T___T It was the only way to uploaaad it ~
Song: Starlight - Muse

Still Here by cinder87aljoy
Description: Not one of my greatest videos, but I really like this pairing! UlquiHime forever!
Song: Still Here - Kristian Valen

Strawberry Blonde by xxXNekoSamaXxx
Description: Finally my tribute to UlquiHime. :3 I really like this couple, even if they won't be together. -_-'
Song: Strawberry Blonde - The Subways

Taking Over Me by uchihapeinangel
Description: A revision of my older one. What's the difference? 1. No Subtitles :] 2. Better Quality 3. A bunch of overlays.
Song: Taking Over Me - Evanescence

Taste of Ink by ThEternaLight
Description: BAH! I'm annoyed! YouTube messed up the audio so now there are all these random sounds. The only sounds there was supposed to be were the three slaps. -_-* Maybe I'll try to reupload it again, but I can't be bothered to go through all the copyright claims again.
There are not enough UlquiorraxOrihime videos so I decided to add one to its ever growing fanbase. ^^ As this AMV grew from procrastination, frappuccinos and green screens, it's not that great. Though I kinda like it. Hm... a paradox indeed.
Anyways, it seems to be based around Ul's machoism and the fact that he always seems to be watching over Orihime. Orihime realizes this and doesn't like the fact that Ul always seems to be watching her but knowing there is nothing she can do about it, she tries to make a run back to Kurosaki with the help of Grimmjow. Ul gets her back and in the end she can't take it anymore and slaps Ul, frustrated that he has trapped her here and she can't do anything about it.
P.S. I just wanted to relive Orihime's mega slap a couple of times. That's why it's in there so much. =D
Program: Imovie 9
Song: Taste of Ink - The Used

Tears of an Angel by SymptomOfSynesthesia
Description: Gosh, I miss them already. :'( This is my first MMV, it was fun! I do so love this pairing, it's so bittersweet.
Song: Tears of an Angel - RyanDan

Too Late by EiaSan
Description: An MMV centered around the last moments between Orihime and Ulquiorra.
Song: Pachelbel - Karma

Touched by Ongaku / ongaku_tenshi
Description: My first music video using Sony Vegas. It was a lot of fun so you can expect more AMVs from me soon. If you can't tell, I really like Ulquiorra and Orihime. I just wanted to try a number of effects with this video and use only a part of the song. Hope you like it!
Song: Touched - BoA

Waking Up in Vegas by CakeAndBloodStudios ♥♥♥
Description: Our first video ever! :D As you can see... is not the best one around! :3 But is not the worst, right? x3 D: This is also our first Sony Vegas video, hence we spent most of the time exploring the effects tab, but in the end... it ended with, for sure, not so many effects of Vegas, and yes, with a lot of Particle Illusion effects! :D Anyway, I just can't believe Ulquiorra is dead!! DDX I'm sure he's still alive.. D; I feel it! D8
Program: Sony Vegas Pro 8.0, Particle Illusion
Song: Waking Up in Vegas - Katy Perry

Watch Me Bleed by NorikoAT
Description: I really don't like UlquiHime pairing, but it's cute, so I wanted to try to do it video. Actually, I was training image processing from Sony Vegas. So that's why there's only manga pics.
Program: Sony Vegas 9.0 Propack Platinum
Song: Watch Me Bleed - Scary Kids Scaring Kids

What's Left of Me (MEP) by chanelpinks
Description: Well, so this is my part for TwistedProductions, "What's Left of Me (MEP)". :P (Yay, I get in. xD) I choose UlquiHime. :D 'Cuzz this song fits so well for those two, more for Ulqui. :D
Song: What's Left of Me - Nick Lachey

Wherever You Will Go by sicksadangel
Description: Oh, I was sooo sad when I read the manga. Why the hell did they let Grimmjow live but not Ulquiorra...
Song: Wherever You Will Go - The Calling

The World Is Not Enough by Billie
Song: The World Is Not Enough - Garbage

You're Onto Me by samarasigns
Description: "Oh, I get it. This is it. This here in my hand... the heart." -- Ulquiorra Schiffer
The new chapter tugged at my heartstrings. I loved that it was in Ulquiorra's perspective. Now he finally realizes what a heart it and I'd like to think that Orihime gave her 'heart' to him. So sweet. :'D The chapter cover said 'entrusted with a heart', after all.
I'm in an MMV-mood, so expect more? 8D I like making MMVs because it's a little more creative and plus, it's fun! I like it. Oh, and about this video, it's in Hime's perspective. I think this song portrays how she feels about Ulquiorra. xD;
Song: Gravity - Sara Bareilles

You're So Cold (BETA) by uchihapeinangel
Description: I made this beta awhile ago... should I finish?
Song: Cold (But I'm Still Here) - Evans Blue

enisy @ 2009-05-16T03:32:00

2009-05-16T00:34:12Z

"DOLLHOUSE" HAS BEEN RENEWED. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Dollhouse 1.10: Haunted

2009-04-26T23:31:14Z

I hope everyone is watching Dollhouse, because episodes 6-10 have been just amazing.

* I thought Eliza Dushku's acting in this episode was a noticeable improvement over previous offerings. Who knows, maybe she'll turn out to be our next David Boreanaz, who started out nearly unwatchably bad in Buffy and Season 1 of Angel, and ended up evolving into one of the best actors the franchise had to offer.

* Aww, Topher. I have a huge soft spot for him, because I (think I) see the groundwork being laid down for him to be our next Spike or Wesley, in terms of twisty character arcs. Amoral though he may be, he has heart (as this episode showed) and an incredible actor in Fran Kranz to push him up. (Here's to more Topher/Claire interaction next episode, on that note.)

* Nice mystery, even nicer reflection on family, death, and its aftermath.

* Paul/Mellie less cute and more creepyhot this time around, but, well, how could it not be, after the latest revelations?

* Show would have already been renewed if Dichen Lachman was the lead, y/n? How talented and hot is she?

So, yes. I'm loving it.

VOTE!

2009-03-11T17:42:21Z

Semifinals for 2009 FANDOM STEEL CAGE MATCH MARCH MADNESS are up and Spike is losing to Supernatural's Dean! GO GO GO!

Angel: After the Fall, Issue 16

2009-01-22T17:28:03Z

Wow. Okay. Now that I've actually read the issue, instead of relying on summarized spoilers, I have to eat my criticisms. I liked it best out of all the Angel: After the Fall issues, and possibly even better than Issue 4 of Spike: After the Fall. Real sorry about that textual eyeroll over at Whedonesque, Brian!

King and Pat are absolutely right that it brought about too many changes for it to be dismissed as a "reset" -- not least the disclosure of the supernatural element to the public. And even the problems I would have had with the character deaths are ameliorated by this exchange: "No. Leave me be. Please, let me die." -- "Sorry, Charles. It's not that easy." Reminds me of what D'Hoffryn said in Selfless: Never go for the kill when you can go for the pain. (One has to hope, though, that that's actually followed up in Angel: Aftermath.)

'Course, in this 'verse, you get joy and happy-teary right alongside the pain: Angel/Connor reunion. Most moving scene in the issue, and even moreso after Angel's acknowledgment of Connor as his "true love". Wouldn't this have made a great ending to the issue, if not the series? "In fact, it's kind of a happy ending, isn't it?" -- "I'm not sure... I've never had one before." Sniffle.

Now, I have to admit that Wesley's presence in After the Fall after his incredible death scene often felt like unjustified fanservice, and that, other than the few and far between Wesley/Illyria bits, he's competing with Spike for the least satisfying arc out of all the characters, but: his closing line here was perfection. "Yes. But so was she." There's never been any question in my mind that Fred had to be his "ever after", even though I'm going to miss Wesley/Illyria something terrible in the future continuations.

Other things I liked, writing-wise... the funny Brian managed to squeeze into so grave an issue. ("Illyria. Have you lost weight? See, because -" -- "Because I was a massive creature. I understand. It was a marginally successful attempt at humor." -- "Thank you?" Nyahaha!) The alley fight; much more exciting and atmospheric than the glimpse we got in First Night. The Doublemeat Palace! LOVE EET. I think I would like Buffy: Season 8 so much more if it ignored its pride just long enough to slip in an Angel reference or two, the way Angel: After the Fall and Spike: After the Fall have been doing all along.

The only things I'm unsure about are Westerberg's inclusion, which seemed more than a bit self-indulgent, and the lack of payoff for the Spider decapitation panel. What was the point of her character again?

On another note, the colouring was one of the first things that rubbed me the right way about this issue. It's positively breathtaking and by far the best in the series so far; no other issue even comes close. Vibrant yellows and reds and blues is what Hell should have looked like all along, not the washed-out browns we've had to tolerate for the past issues.

And art-wise, Urru outdid himself. His best work. I didn't like the double use of Wesley walking to Illyria's body, but he knocked all the rest out of the park, from the triumphant and eerie power-shot of "I'll live" to the adrenaline of "-- she won't have to" to the extremely emotional Angel/Connor hug.

10/10

"Angel" Vidrec

2008-11-30T15:20:53Z

If you like Lindsey or Angel/Lindsey even slightly, you should really check out obsessive24's new music video:

Cuckoo (Angel - Lindsey)
Song: "Cuckoo" by I Am Kloot
Duration: 3:37 minutes
Summary: Where Lindsey ends and Angel begins.

It's just amazing.

"The Write Environment" Joss Whedon Interview

2008-11-29T01:50:16Z

You guys... I've never loved Joss this much. And that's saying a lot, since I had oodles of love for him even before this.

This is an excerpt from an interview that icafreak transcribed from "The Write Environment" DVD. icafreak recently unlocked her post, so you can also see the transcript here.

Follow the cut...

Jeff: So when did you realize that Spike was more than just a villain?

Joss: Pretty much when James Marsters auditioned for it. Um, Spike was ya know, Spike was somebody that I loved conceptually and then ya know, James just brought and then kept on bringin'. So, it just, it was a pretty gradual process but it was always happening.

Jeff: A unique transition in that character from just a villain to almost the typical anti-hero. And yet never completely there.

Joss: Well, as a villain he was, ya know the Master that we started with was a straight up villain like, his belief system was just evil. And what was fun about Spike was, I said ok great and, and Mark, Mark Metcalf did a wonderful job, but now we need a villain who, that we can relate to in the way that we're relating to our other people, so that thematically they can become useful. So to introduce this guy who is clearly 'oh I'm such a bad ass' and then have him very tenderly in love with another vampire, so from the very beginning the idea was well he's not just, ya know a cardboard. He's, he's, he's gonna have levels to play. Um, how many I didn't at the time realize, but ah, in a way he, he really didn't change that much. Ah, he's a character that I always liked a little bit more than Angel because --

Jeff: He's got more of an edge.

Joss: He was more evolved, though. He had more of an edge, but at the same time ya know he was, ya know he chose to have a soul.

Jeff: Sure.

Joss: Ya know he ah, he learned from his mistakes and he um, Angel was kinda the classic Lestat puffy shirt, ya know...

Jeff: Right.

Joss: Um, and ah, and Spike was sort of the new mod rebellion against that, so I ah, I like that character. I always, I always thought he was a good guy even when he was a bad guy.

Jeff: Bad boy though, chicks love bad boys.

Joss: They do, they do. If they loved bad dancers the way they loved bad boys I would have been like, whoo.

Jeff: You would have been writing that.

Joss: Oh yeah.

Jeff: So it was an easy decision to bring him from Buffy over to Angel.

Joss: Um, the WB said they would not renew Angel unless we brought him over, so yeah it was a very easy decision.

Jeff: Really? Oh.

Joss: Um, and it was also an easy decision creatively, yes. We were, it was, and the best decision because we had a great ensemble on Angel um, but Spike and Angel's history meant that he and David played off each other in a way that nobody could, male or female and, ya know, David did some of his best work because he was in the room with James and Spike and Angel just... you think it's a banjo act and a banjo act but it's really not, they're so different.

Jeff: Instant conflict and yet great comedic moments.

Joss: Yeah. The two of them were so funny together.

Angel: After the Fall, Issue 14

2008-11-20T00:53:50Z

And the verdict is: "Oh man, that's epic" (IDW regulars will get the reference).

I can only imagine how much more epic the ending would have been if we hadn't gotten those spoilery covers with Illyria's true form months back... but even so, there's a silver lining to our pre-spoiled condition, which is that the sheer originality of the storyline shines through. I browse all the main Buffy forums (and a few minor ones), so I'd heard speculation after speculation based on the aforementioned covers -- Fred would be restored to her body through the Resurrection Room and inadvertently release Illyria, Wesley had made an agreement about Fred with the Senior Partners that would come to fruition here, the cast would have to make a choice between Illyria and Fred, etc. -- and they were all off the mark. Needless to say I like Brian's version better, not least because it gave us one of the best Wesley/Illyria scenes in canon...

"There you are."
"Fred -"
"I tried, Wesley. I tried to be."
"I know you did."
"I don't think... I don't think she's here."

It's no secret that the Wesley/Illyria relationship tugs at my heartstrings like no other Buffyverse 'ship save Spike/Buffy... and I actually got a little teary here, which is very rare for me. (Brian, you weren't kidding when you said that Wesley and Illyria had more Big Moments to come.) I'm extremely glad that the Spike: After the Fall Issue #4 revelation about Illyria still holds true, and that it was addressed in an equally (if not more) emotional scene here. That these Fred-centric time-skips were a conscious attempt on Illyria's part to recapture what Fred had with Wesley, and perhaps even revive him, is a very organic development of her covert jealousy and longing in Season 5 of Angel, and the perfect icing to my recent Wesley/Illyria marathon. Even non-fans have to acknowledge that this takes Illyria's already-complex characterization to a new, higher level (and, by doing so, takes the plot to a new, higher level). This ups the stakes.

I can only say "thank you". The only complaint anyone can have about the Wesley/Illyria moment is that it should have been longer.

Now, the payoff of that scene suffers a lot from the colourist's insistent pinks and reds, but ignoring that, I'm rather fond of the chaotic, almost surrealistic feel of it all. ("Do you see?!" -- "See - what?") It felt right for the magnitude of the event. Also happy that Betta George is revealed to be more than a "filler" character, for realsies. I'll be interested to see what ammo the mandatory haters will find for their comments now. (I do hope the pacing in the remaining issues won't be as fast as it was in the final scene of this issue, though. It worked well as a one-time thing, but it has the potential of getting annoying, if used more.)

Another highlight of this issue was Spike learning about the Shanshu (shock, nervousness and jealousy all wrapped up in Lynch-quality dialogue and body language), as well as the Gunn/Illyria sequence. Illyria and Gunn have displayed the most interesting changes in the series so far, in my eyes, and that's evident in the panels they share here. Was particularly moved by Illyria's easy switch from her Fred-mannerisms to her usual self's honor and cold pride ("I enjoyed sparring with that dragon. It came close to being an equal"), Gunn's little speech about masks (his "teeth and Klingon brow mask" versus Illyria's Fred-mask, what a way to put it), and his breath in the time-skip. Another thing that was interesting to me is that he seems to harbour a resentment towards Angel's "Chosen One" title ("They want... well, they want who they always want. The one everybody always wants") -- reminded me of Spike for a second there, with his decades under Angel's shadow and his underdog status re: Shanshu and Buffy alike.

I've come to expect this level of awesomeness from Brian by now, but I was surprised how much I loved Mooney's art in this issue. Is he getting better, or am I getting more used to his style? The only thing I didn't like was his uniform rendition of the conduits (and the colourist is partly to blame for that, too). Still, you can't argue with panels like "I don't want to hear it! ..." (Spike), "I need Illyria" (Gunn), "Her memories haunt me" (Wesley/Illyria-as-Fred), "Charles tried to bring out ..." (Wesley), "That'll work" (Gunn).

Where do we go from here?

No idea, but I at least hope that Illyria survives, that there are no easy "saves" like a pre-Not Fade Away reset, that everything comes with a price, that Wesley and Illyria get more interaction (and I'll join the LiveJournal chorus in wishing for a kiss), that the next issues cut down on the spelling/grammar errors, and that the universe doesn't go kablooie.

Rating: 8.5/10 (might be my third favourite After the Fall issue, after Issue 4 of Spike: After the Fall and Issue 12 of Angel: After the Fall)

'Splainy?

2008-11-16T14:26:36Z

From Joss's recently published interview with "Vampires and Slayers":

Joss Whedon: Season 6... okay, she's come back from the dead, so you have to deal with that in a big way. Season 6 was basically about, "Okay, now we're grown-ups". Now we take away Giles, because Tony wanted to go back to England. You see, a recurring theme is, whenever the actors are unavailable, we work around it. But it made sense. We have no mentor, we have no mother, we have no parental figures, we're dealing with marriage and alcoholism and a really abusive relationship, we're dealing with someone who is practically suicidally depressed -- which, weird, people didn't respond to that so much! But we're dealing with... what was metaphoric sex has become very graphically real sex, what was mystical demons has become three nerds with guns. Very real death, very mundane. House payments -- we're doing an episode about house payments! It's like... the idea was to break down the mythic feeling of the show because there is a moment at childhood's end where you no longer get that, you no longer... Everything isn't bigger than life, suddenly everything's actual-sized, it's a real loss. And at the same time, the darker, dark, dark, dark side of power, and Buffy's guilt about her power, and her feeling about having come back to the world and getting into a genuinely sort of unhealthy relationship that was all about dominance, control, and, ultimately, deep deep misogyny. And how lost did we get? Well, our villain turned out to be Willow.

Love, love, love hearing Joss talk about Buffy, but: Misogyny? Whaaaaaaaaaaat?

Spike: After the Fall, Issue 4

2008-10-30T19:23:09Z

Amazing. This actually beats Issue 3 as my favourite Spike: After the Fall issue.

What's been remarkable about this series from the start is that it's not just pointless fanservice (which could have been an option for a lesser writer than Brian, since people would have bought the series even if it was just "88 pages of Spike sitting around shirtless, chained up, snarking about Angel and thinking passionate and inspiring thoughts about his one true Slayer love", as King of Cretins put it) -- but in fact, Spike: After the Fall informs the main Angel: After the Fall series in many, many ways, and this issue more than any other. Brian called it a "game-changer", in that "it will make you look at all the other ATF issues that have come out in a different light", so I will assume this is the final word on a much-debated subject...

Fred is dead, has been dead all along. What we've been watching all this time... is Illyria.

The Sadecki demon functions much in the same way as the Judge in Innocence, like angearia very accurately pointed out, or -- I will add -- Drogyn in A Hole in the World. A character who drains humanity to tell us that there's no humanity in Angelus. A character who can tell no lies to tell us that there's no way to save Fred. And now a character who can influence any lifeform, to tell us the nature of Frillyria's lifeform. "There's nothing human about her. She wants it! She's trying to force it... but there's nothing left but -- Illyria."

Needless to say, this is huge for Illyria's character, and immeasurably more interesting than the alternative (Fred body-sharing with Illyria) would have been. She wants it. She's trying to force it. This from the character who disparaged humanity and all its associated weaknesses every chance she got, when she first appeared in the series.

Now that the cat's come out of the bag, her transformations to Fred break your heart and creep you out by turns; you've got moments to remind you how far she's come, like her wobbly, vulnerable "It's scary, I know --" (nailed, I mean nailed by Franco), and moments to remind you that she may wear Fred's face, but she's still Illyria, like her straight-faced "You told me, Spike. No-one... matters... but... me."

So -- and again, this is only applicable if this is the final say on the mystery, as most people believe (and as Brian has led us to believe) -- Wesley had it right. ("She's confused by Gunn's sudden re-appearance, so she's doing what Fred would have done when she didn't understand something. She has no idea what to look for but it's making her feel better.") He knows them both so well. Spike, on the other hand, seems to be in denial about the whole thing, which, very in-character for him. He feels like he's protecting Fred like he couldn't protect her in A Hole in the World, or Dawn and consequently Buffy in The Gift (as James Marsters said: "In my own mind, I killed her. ... I failed up there completely. I was supposed to protect her and Dawn, and I absolutely failed." ... "Big time guilt about that. Huge").

Not surprisingly, all the best scenes in this issue are Illyria-centric, and they're all -- and this is a compliment I don't give out lightly, so savour it while it lasts -- as good as anything that's been done with her in the televised series. Until this issue, I honestly didn't think that could be done. At any rate: topping the list are the two aforementioned moments, along with the scene of Illyria "strengthening their flock" by ensuring Jeremy's "absence". Ouch. We all expected Jeremy to die, at least in the back of our minds, but no-one could have imagined he would die in this manner. Further proof that death doesn't have to be "gratuitous" in this 'verse, as some readers seem to be complaining these days -- not when it gives the remaining characters (like Illyria and Spike here) such huge moments. Bring on the delicious pain, Brian. (Illyria's "Tell me I was right to do it" plea, followed by that haunting panel of Jeremy's dead body, makes for one of the most shocking character deaths in the whole 'verse -- and here we thought it would be among the most predictable ones!)

I loved Spike in this issue, too. The Spike-Connor rapport was funny and adorable; he's definitely the boy's "cool uncle" in this weird family dynamic. (Can we get a dream sequence with Angel, Darla, Connor and Spike playing Scrabble together, pretty please?) Spike swearing off "attachments" on account of what happened to his previous attachments, most recently Jeremy, was very sad and believable, too. His affair with Spider makes even more sense when viewed from that perspective, although I'm not surprised to see he's become a little more attached than he had intended to. (This issue is not likely to improve people's opinion of her, by the way, with the Charmed reference. *g*)

Also, this is not likely to interest anyone but me, but... what is up with Spike and musicals? LOL! He appears to be acquainted with "My Fair Lady" ("By George, I think he's got it!"), "The Music Man" (The day you suss out what you do want, there'll probably be a parade. Seventy-six bloody trombones"), "Les Misérables" ("Trust me, halfway through the first act, you'll be drinking humans again"), and now "Starlight Express". No wonder he gets along with Lorne. (Loved that little nod, by the way. Canonize Asylum and Shadow Puppets already!)

Also loved that the Hugh Hefner jokes that had been running rampant in the forums for months were made textual. Hee!

Franco has a lot to do with the awesomeness of this issue, too, since he did some of his best work here. The first panel featuring the Sadecki, the "nothing human about her" Illyria panel, the "It's scary, I know --" Illyria-as-Fred panel, Jeremy's death and Spike's reaction to it, the time-travel sequence, that simplistic and simultaneously loaded panel of Illyria-as-Fred holding her hand... wow. I didn't like the colouring, but I've gotten used to not liking it by now, so it didn't really detract from my enjoyment.

The only thing I can think of that took me out of the moment was Connor's "Feed you, how? Like, a date? Because that is inappropriate and ill-timed, and I kinda like someone else", which seemed... inappropriate and ill-timed. ;) Oh, and I thought the last few pages moved a bit slowly. However, these things were barely a blip in my radar compared to the Good Stuff, so I give it...

9/10

(I do wish certain people on the forums would stop clinging to a character that died one season ago -- and this after Joss had met the resurrection-quota required for people to throw up their hands and cry "No More" -- to the point that they can't enjoy the story for what it is. Especially when they so obviously do it for 'shippy reasons, i.e. to give Wesley a happy, or to hook her up with Spike and clear the way for Angel/Buffy. It's a bit unnerving to see, although it can't be helped.)

Angel: After the Fall, Issue 13

2008-10-22T23:56:59Z

I'll go with the same review structure I used for my Buffy Season 1 reviews, since I've grown so accustomed to it...

Best Character:
Gunn. That last scene broke my heart. While I'm not a hundred percent sure of what use he thinks Frillyria will be to him, his inner conflict and despair there were absolutely believable and real to me.

Best Dynamic:
Gunn and Frillyria. We'd never seen any significant interaction between Gunn and Illyria in Angel canon until now, despite Gunn's history with Fred and his unwitting orchestration of Illyria's rebirth, and I had been feeling the lack of it since Season 5. This scene definitely lived up to my expectations, with Illyria having one of her rare -- but all the more treasured for that very reason -- moments of compassion, and with Gunn seemingly stuck in that "bad but trying so hard to be good" area that I'd come to associate with Season 6 Spike. (And both soulless vampires eventually fail at their efforts, as can be expected.)

Best Scene:
See above.

Best Surprise:
I totally bought that Spike fake-out for a moment there, so I'll have to go with that (and its resolution). Very cruel and evil and twisty and I kinda love Brian for it. :) My second favourite surprise was probably Fred's apparent death. The execution is brill, even if she isn't really dead (and even if she isn't really Fred, for that matter.)

Worst Surprise:
Nothing, really. Maybe Cordelia's sorta abrupt departure, but even that only in retrospect.

Best Quotes:
3)
GUNN: Sending an army, huh? Been there, done that.
WESLEY: No, you really haven't.
GUNN: Oh, yeah? What do you call the army in the alley?
WESLEY: Comparatively? The company softball team.
- - -
2)
VAMPIRE LACKEY: You think this will stop me? I survived slayers!
SPIKE: I didn't. Yet here we are.
- - -
1)
GUNN: Admittedly, I didn't think of your feelings but in the grand scheme of things -- who the hell are you, anyway?
CONNOR: I'm Angel's son. I'm Gwen's boyfriend. I'm also the guy who just did that.

Worst Quote:
Not a specific quote, but I didn't much like Connor repeating paraphrased versions of past monologues. (Didn't like it in the Kate issue, either.) I get why they're there, and I get what they mean for Connor's character, but still, I would have rather seen some original monologues in their place.

Best Panel:
I'll say... the Angel/Cordelia hand-holding panel ("Please. Let's go.") and the splash page with all the dragons.

Worst Panel:
I'll give you two. One is the Angel/Cordelia "It's not all building up to something ..." panel, in which Cordelia looks... incongruously scary. The other is the Gunn/Fred "What can I do to help?" panel in the second-to-last page. That was such a crucial moment for both characters that Mooney should have tried his best to do it justice, but his Fred's proportions and features came out all wrong.

Question You Most Want Answered:
What's gonna happen to Angel now?

Additional Notes:

- Like the art, dislike the colouring. Here's hoping the new guy will do a better job at it.

- Xavier on BuffyForums pointed out that Spike's "I didn't [survive slayers]" line could be considered a big moment for his character, because he seemed strangely... okay with that fact. Proud of it, even. Pretty big leap from the guy whose entire Spike persona was built around that "Slayer of Slayers" title.

- Why did we have to see that Spike-thumbing-his-belt pose (very obviously taken from a Season 2 promo) twice? It's not a mannerism of his, and it wasn't even particularly suitable for the panels in question.

- Loved Gwen's epic death to bits, and thought it very fitting for her to die while using the powers that had ruined her whole life -- and using them for good, this time. That said, I thought the dialogue got a bit confusing at one point: Gwen saying "Oh, Charles. You'd better be right." and immediately following it with "Love you so much" -- the latter of which I assume was directed to Connor, not Gunn. That's the comic equivalent of changing speakers without changing paragraphs.

- I'll miss Cordy the Dragon more than I'll miss Gwen, unfair as that may sound. His death really bummed me out (but in a good way -- guess you have to be a bit of a masochist to properly enjoy the Jossverse).

- Agree with King on this: Why are the slayers suddenly all buddy-buddy with Spike?

- Angelus is going to make a comeback, y/y? I don't think there's an awesomer direction for this story to go in (but on the other hand, I know Brian could prove me wrong, if he so desired). I'm siding with the IDW posters who want a Soulless Angel vs. Souled Spike showdown. That would be (NPH voice) legendary!

- Not missing Spider and co. in the least, but missing Lorne, and, to a lesser degree, Betta George.

- The Cliffhanger from Hell. November can't come fast enough.

Verdict: Definitely one of the best issues in the series so far. I might have liked Issue 12 more, but it was a tight contest.

Rating: 7.5/10

PaleyFest Uploaded

2008-10-13T17:10:54Z

The whole PaleyFest panel is now up on Civilized James, courtesy of fenderlove. :D

The Spuffy-related bits, for your reading pleasure, are:

Matt Roush: A coming-of-age allegory where high school really was Hell, where the wrong decision truly could herald the end of the world, where adolescent anxieties took on demonic form, and where even after graduation, a truly explosive event, the life lessons, and the after-life lessons, just kept coming, with all of the pain and joy and sex and friendship and betrayal and sex and consequences and death and sex that all of that implies. Yes, Buffy was a very hot show. And yes, it was good for me. In fact, the new issue of TV Guide just out ranks the scene of Buffy and Spike bringing down the house when they did the hot nasty as... (cheers from the audience) ...yeah. The number one hottest scene ever. Yep. Even outranked The Thorn Birds. I mean, really, come on. (PaleyFest, 3-08)

Matt Roush: (to Sarah) Asked all the time. Final analysis, final verdict: Angel or Spike?
Michelle Trachtenberg: Well, who's sitting on stage? (nods towards James) (PaleyFest, 3-08)

Sarah Michelle Gellar: (to James) You look at things lately and I've seen a bunch of lists recently where there were talks about favourite characters, favourite shows... I saw the best love scenes this week - it was you and me, by the way. (audience cheers)
James Marsters: Oh, really?
Sarah Michelle Gellar: Yeah! (nods towards Matt Roush) Thank him! Thank him!
Matt Roush: Yep, bringing down the house. Take that, Angel!
Sarah Michelle Gellar: Yeah! (laughs) And that's why we're still here now. (PaleyFest, 3-08)

Sarah Michelle Gellar: (on the Buffybot) But I think, again, it's what keeps it fresh. You're playing a character for so long, and you don't want to get lazy. You find yourself relying on certain things, so by taking away all the other parts of Buffy, I did have to find exactly the essence of her again, and... you know, it was fun to be his slave for a little bit... (gesturing towards James)
James Marsters: I'm a good master for a little while... (PaleyFest, 3-08)

And the muchly iconized and bannerized "flirting" photo comes from this exchange: Sarah says "My favourite movie... Is it okay to say Southpark: Bigger, Longer, Uncut?", the audience cheers and claps, James claps along and playfully asks her "Would you give us a soooong?" and Sarah kind of bats her eyelashes at him and goes "...no." Heeeeeeee.

BtVS 1.02: The Harvest

2008-10-07T17:11:42Z

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Season 1, Episode 2: The Harvest

Best Character:
Xander. Already from this episode, you can see why the trait of Xander's that D'Hoffryn highlighted in Selfless was his courage. ("Oh, he's gallant, isn't he. I understand what you saw in him.")

Best Dynamic:
Nothing really stands out... I guess Xander and Jesse was the most moving relationship here, if you "experience" the events from Xander's point of view, and consider how they shaped his view of vampires.

Best Scene:
Buffy and Xander in the tunnels. Good suspense and comic timing ("I have this, though." -- "Turn that off!" -- "Okay, okay!")

Best Quotes:
3)
Buffy: Oh, fire, beheading, sunlight, holy water, the usual.
Xander: You've done some beheading in your time?
Buffy: Oh, yeah. There was this time I was pinned down by this guy that played left tackle for varsity... Well, at least he used to before he was a vampire... Anyway, he had this really, really thick neck, and all I had was a little, little Exact-O knife... (off Xander's nervous laughter) You're... not loving this story.
Xander: No, actually, I find it oddly comforting.
- - -
2)
Xander: And that would be a what?
Giles: For as long as there have been vampires, there's been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One.
Buffy: He loves doing this part.
Giles: All right. The Slayer hunts vampires, Buffy is a Slayer, don't tell anyone.
- - -
1)
Giles: We're at the center of a mystical convergence here. We may, in fact, stand between the Earth and its total destruction.
Buffy: Well, I gotta look on the bright side. Maybe I can still get kicked out of school!
Xander: Oh, yeah, that's a plan. 'Cause lots of schools aren't on Hellmouths.
Willow: Maybe you could blow something up. They're really strict about that.
Buffy: I was thinking of a more subtle approach, y'know, like excessive not-studying.
Giles: ...The Earth is doomed.

Additional Notes:

- Teenage Sarah Michelle Gellar is cute as a button, despite the cake-sized hair. And by far the best actress among the kids.

- I'm surprised how atmospheric and foreboding I'm finding the graveyard so far. It loses that charm in the following seasons, when both the viewers and the characters are accustomed to it.

- The Master is flamboyant and campy, but with a charmingly minimalistic design, compared to the villains that came next (especially evident in Lessons).

- So Darla slavishly hurried back to the Master after Angel left her? Huh. I've always viewed her as more of a leader than a follower.

- The limited budget becomes glaringly obvious every time they show us the Master's lair and the vampires in game-face.

- Love that look Buffy and Giles share upon his "Do I have to tell you to be careful?". It's the seeds for their father/daughter relationship being planted.

- "Sensible girl with her feet on the ground!" --> Feet off the ground. --> Caaaaamp.

- David Boreanaz, still hot, but I swear he had some of his worst line deliveries ever in this episode. It was pretty painful to watch. (Like that eyetwitch he does at "Actually, I thought it was gonna be a little sooner"? Gah.)

- Angel's excuse for giving the tunnels a pass ("'Cause I'm afraid") is actually sincere, according to the shooting script ("The unashamed openness of the statement catches [Buffy] a bit off guard"). This works as a nice setup for Prophecy Girl, where Angel was once again going to stay put, if Xander (the guy who did follow Buffy into the tunnels in this episode) hadn't given him a wake-up call.

- Great use of the Dashboard Puppets' "Ballad for Dead Friends", when Darla and co. are heading to the Bronze.

- Charisma Carpenter is an amazing screamer. No wonder Joss assigned her the "damsel in distress" role long-term.

- The fight in the Bronze was -- and picture me saying this in my best Illyria voice -- "...unimpressive". Partly due to bad lighting, partly due to lackluster acting, partly due to cheesy lines ("There's something you forgot about, too. Sunrise! ...It's in about nine hours, moron!").

- I've heard many people complain about the fact that Xander never mentioned Jesse's death after this episode, even though he'd been "his bud" for years. I think that happened for the same reasons why there was no special attention paid to Renee's death in Season 8: the extra-textual reason is that both characters were set up as nothing more than Red Shirts, and the textual reason is that "[Xander's] dealing with it. By [himself]" (Time of Your Life).

Verdict: See Welcome to the Hellmouth. Most Season 1 episodes have the same strengths and weaknesses, really.

Rating: 4.5/10

PaleyFest Reunion DVD!

2008-10-05T14:19:00Z

The PaleyFest reunion DVD is released this Tuesday at BestBuy!

Sarah and James making naughty comments about being each other's "slave"! Sarah bringing up the Smashed love scene's top rank at the TV Guide poll! Audience squeeing over the Spike/Buffy OMWF kiss! Even more shiny reunion icons and banners and wallpapers! *bounces*

BtVS 1.01: Welcome to the Hellmouth

2008-10-01T22:41:06Z

So.

Like many brave souls before me, I'm going to attempt a Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel the Series rewatch, with a review for every episode. I'll probably skip the commentaries, though, because it's sad enough that I'm giving Buffy and Angel the best... bunch of months of my life; wouldn't want that to become years. ;)

Take one.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Season 1, Episode 1: Welcome to the Hellmouth

Best Character:
Giles. Largely because Tony is such a marvellous actor, whereas the rest of the main cast are still finding their feet. There's almost as much mystery surrounding Giles's character in this episode as Angel's, but without the cliché'd lines and the robotic delivery, and with charm of a more substantial quality than "Hel-lo, salty goodness" (although of course there's that, too...)

Best Dynamic:
Buffy and Giles. Their relationship was actually my first "hook" to the show, fourteen episodes before Spike reared his radioactive-coloured head. Love how intimidated by, and impatient with her Giles is; love how snarky and simultaneously curious about him Buffy is; love how they don't cut each other a break for a second. So much promise there.

Best Scene:
Buffy and Giles's first meeting. (Are you sensing a theme here?) The "VAMPYR" book is the creepiest little non-sequitur, and Buffy's terrified "That's not what I'm looking for ... I'm way sure..." only adds to the effect.

Best Quotes:
3)
Xander: You know, I kinda had a problem with the math.
Willow: Uh, which part?
Xander: The math. Can you help me out tonight, pleeeease, be my study buddy?
Willow: Well, what's in it for me?
Xander: A shiny nickel.
Willow: Okay. Do you have "Theories in Trig"? You should check it out.
Xander: Check it out?
Willow: From the library? Where the books live.
Xander: Right, I'm there! See? -- I wanna change...
- - -
2)
Giles: What did you say?
Buffy: The Harvest. That mean something to you? 'Cause I'm drawing a blank.
Giles: I'm not sure. Uh... W-who told you this?
Buffy: This... guy. Dark, gorgeous in an annoying sort of way. I figured you two were buds.
Giles: No. The Harvest. Did he say anything else?
Buffy: Something about the Mouth of Hell. I really didn't like him!
- - -
1)
Giles: Like zombies, werewolves, incubi, succubi, everything you've ever dreaded was under your bed, but told yourself couldn't be by the light of day. They're all real!
Buffy: What? You, like, sent away for the Time-Life series?
Giles: Ah, w-w-w-yes.
Buffy: Did you get the free phone?
Giles: Um, the calendar.

Additional Notes:

- Funny that the first subversion of the "blonde-cheerleader-getting-killed-in-an-alley" stereotype wasn't actually Buffy in this series, but Darla. She's not the victim; she victimizes. She's not scared of the monster in the dark; she is the monster in the dark. Great fakeout, too.

- The vampire makeup is cringeworthy in this season.

- Buffy's nightmare comes with a verrrry atmospheric montage, and gives a hint of the gothic tone that will come to characterise the series (well, not so much Season 1, but definitely Seasons 2 and 3). Nice.

- What is up with Buffy's hair this season? And Xander's, for that matter?

- Kristine Sutherland is looking very pretty -- dare I say sexy -- with the shorter hairdo. Never much liked the "mom hair" that she usually sported in BtVS.

- I must be in the minority with this, at least among the female BtVS audience, but I actually like Buffy's short skirts and suggestive tops. Exploitative, sure, I'm with you -- but I think they further emphasize the fact that Buffy is "just a girl", as one of the guys she saves will later point out to her. She's as heroic a hero as you'll ever find in modern fiction, but even so, she still takes the time to... date pretty boys and go to the Bronze and freshen her lipstick and paint her nails light-blue and, yes, wear barely-there skirts. Walk, talk, shop, sneeze... It's something I was missing in Seasons 5-7 of BtVS, as much as I thought the absence was justified.
Related quote:
Jane Espenson: I love breezy Buffy. The syndicated episodes just premiered on F/X, and I watched episode 1. I was really struck by how much I missed breezy Buffy -- the Buffy who gets that there's a big fight going on, but is more interested in her social life. We can't really do breezy Buffy anymore. She's been through too much. She'll get into that mood occasionally, but she gets now how big this fight is and how never-ending it is. It's inevitable and it's interesting, and it's right that she's in that place, and it does mean that I have to put myself in that place.

- Flutie! He may not have Snyder's presence or his inadvertent humor, but aw, he's adorable. *pinches his cheek*

- Xander's "Can I have you? Duh! Can I help you?" line appears to be popular with Xander and Xander/Buffy fans, but it mostly just annoys me. Who talks like that?

- Sarah's so small and earthy next to tall, curvy, luscious Charisma. Spot-on casting, there.

- Sarah seemed to be slightly phoning in her "Go ahead. Prepare me" speech to Giles, which struck me as strange, since I remember reading that they had to refilm that scene months later, because their first takes weren't intense enough. You'd think she'd have gotten it by then. (Although, in all fairness, the script is not doing her any favours.)

- How hot is David Boreanaz in Season 1? Just... wow. (Before you pipe in with "Someone give that boy a sandwich!": I like them skinny.) I remember, the first time I watched Season 1, I was honestly prepared to OTP Angel/Buffy forever and a day -- until the seventh episode, Angel, which kinda spoiled it for me with the Instant Love. I'll be interested to see if my view of that episode changes with this rewatch. ('Cause I know the view of the 'ship in general won't. I often like it, in two episodes love it, in its Angel/Buffy/Spike variation 'ship it like whoa, but ultimately my heart belongs to another.)

- I'm not sure how I feel about Buffy "choosing" the underdog Willow over pep queen Cordelia. For one thing, it's such a tired characterization choice (from Harry and Ron in Harry Potter to Claire and Zach in Heroes) that I have to strain to take it seriously. For another, Buffy had no reason to like Willow at the time she made that choice, only to pity her -- which, speaking from personal experience, does not a solid basis for friendship make. I'm glad it worked out for them, in the end, but I'm blind to the noblety of Buffy's actions, or the organic progression of her friendship with Willow, which other people squee over. It doesn't help that both characters are, in my eyes, ciphers until Prophecy Girl (in Buffy's case -- even later in Willow's case).

- Their conversation about boys similarly stilted.

- Buffy's quips in the final scene annoyed me to no end the first time I watched this episode -- I thought they made her come off vain and obnoxious -- but now that I know her so well, they're not at all unpleasant to watch. On the contrary, they showcase the spunk and attitude so iconic for her character. ("You know, I just wanted to start over. Be like everybody else. Have some friends, y'know, maybe a dog... But, no, you had to come here, you couldn't go suck on some other town.")

Verdict: Intriguing premise, witty dialogues, and visible potential in the Buffy-Giles dynamic and, to a lesser extent, the Buffy-Xander dynamic, but loses points for lack of depth, crappy makeup and general campiness.

Rating: 5.5 / 10

Spike: After the Fall, Issue 3

2008-09-18T12:22:22Z

Bringing this over from the IDW forum...

Favourite character: Spike. Then Illyria. ("--You made me kneel before you." This is the regality and self-respect that make her Joss's favourite character -- and my third favourite character.)
Favourite surprise: I'd say Connor, but honestly, I was more relieved to see Jeremy there.
Least favourite surprise: Can't think of anything, now that I've rationalized the Spike/Fred fantasy.
Favourite line of dialogue: "Why? Because they're looking? I told you, they're dead, they just don't know it. Besides, my mandibles are blocking all the action."
Least favourite line of dialogue: "Plus, superficially, have you seen you? I have, and wow." ... "Stop worrying about her." I'm very conflicted about all this. :P
Favourite panel of art: Probably the Spike/Illyria kiss. Also liked the three panels showing Spike's reaction to Illyria versus Big Axe. Franco's characters don't have a variety of facial expressions when viewed from afar, but when you zoom in? Wowzers.
Least favourite panel of art: The panel featuring my least favourite lines of dialogue (see above). Makes it all that harder for me to view the happenings from Spider's perspective when the art plays up the Evil Seduction vibe.
Question you most want answered: The Slayers' apparent regeneration, and whether or not it will play a role in Angel: After the Fall.

Additional notes:

mrs_underhill pointed out that Spike/Spider is something like Season 6 Spike/Buffy in reverse: "with Spike in Buffy's role somewhat, having conflicted feelings toward besotted but morally-challenged creature who happens to be an enemy partly responsible for deaths of people he'd sworn to protect". Not a direct parallel on an emotional level, I don't think, but kinda true on an archetypal level (Spider could be the "Temptress" in Spike's Hero's Journey, like Spike was in Buffy's). I don't think all of it is necessarily in reverse, either. Spike must be deploring the fact that he's being seen and used as "flesh" again. (By the way, the mandibles and the zombies in the background gave this scene a dark, creepy tone we haven't seen in any other coming-on scene to date; gives the Dead Things balcony scene a run for its money. I thought it all worked very well.)

But I take back what I said about the Spike/Spider kiss being "kinda hot", after seeing the Spike/Illyria kiss. Rawr. Amazing fanservice, while keeping the characters in-character and not interferring with the Good 'Ship Wesley/Illyria or the Good 'Ship Spike/Buffy. ;) Better than any of our speculations when the cover first came out. 'Sides, would have been worth it if only for Spike's "Whu hi. Whu hi Illyria." Hee.

(In case anyone is confused about Illyria's reasoning, Brian elaborated on it: "Illyria thinks that THAT is the best way to insure that Spike fight alongside her. 'You did that with them, you'll do it with me better', and Spike immediately tells her that it wasn't necessary, that he'd fight alongside her against just about anyone.")

Also? Non is so awesome. She's like Glory Done Right: all the power and the motivation, with 100% more wit and vanity and brain-sucking. Loved seeing the contrast between her and Gunn, starting with the latter's "Don't disrespect the dead." Then comes the hint of affection for Spike (always thought those two would get along well -- they both like the "crunch"), and his ever-present feelings for Fred... man. Even the people who refused to sympathize with soulless Spike in Season 5 and 6 of Buffy have to feel something for soulless Gunn here. There are monsters, and then there are monsters.

Spike, now... well, what's to say about him? We all know how well Brian writes him. Brian knows it. Spike knows it. There really isn't much more to add. Oh, but I really liked this line: "It's quickly followed by the ever so tiny desire to see Jerry make it through this so he can propose to his lady." Aw. Spike would certainly sympathize with that.

In regards to the last page... so Spike already knew about Connor? Pity. I was looking forward to seeing his initial reaction.

I see many people are enamoured with the new colourist, but I think Franco's art is still missing something compared to its black-and-white version. Ah well.

All in all, this was my favourite Spike: After the Fall issue so far.

Meme

2008-09-17T15:54:23Z

By stormwreath:

I miss my old show.
When you see this, post another Buffy quote in your LJ. Let's see how long this can go on.

"The Slayer does not walk in this world."

"I walk. I talk. I shop. I sneeze. I'm gonna be a fireman when the floods roll back. There's trees in the desert since you moved out. And I don't sleep on a bed of bones. Now give me back my friends."

Scott Allie

2008-06-08T16:43:34Z

This should be verrrrrry interesting for those curious or wary about Scott Allie's rumoured anti-Spike sentiment. I posted this and this on SlayAlive, and Allie responded (!) with this. Also available here:

Hey gang, interesting thread.

I certainly don't hate Spike as a character. I've written repeatedly, and consistently, in editorials and in interviews why we made the jump to Buffy Year One when we did—through Season Six, when Tom and Jim were writing, we found ourselves quickly catching up in continuity, to the TV series. The problem with this was that it takes much longer to make an issue of a comic than an episode of the show. It was impossible to be current with the events of the show, as we'd be writing a mid-April comic, for instance, in December, whereas Joss would be writing a mid-April episode in February or March. Yes, this led us to shortchanging the Buffy-Spike relationship in the comic; it also kept us from having Faith in the comic almost at all. It caused us to miss a lot of things that came and went in the TV series before we could get up to date with them in the comic. Faith is one of my favorite characters—but there was nothing I could do to get her in the comic in a way that would be current, because her role in the TV show, and her relationship with the other characters, was evolving faster than we could keep up with. Ditto Spike. Jim and Tom left the book for reasons totally unrelated to Spike, or any other character—or anything I can tell you. My new writer, Scott Lobdell, pitched what would be the first Season Seven story. He pitched it, Fox approved it, and we started working on it. Then Joss told me what he was gonna do in Season Seven, and our stories were too similar for us to go forward with the plot Fox had approved—it would have stolen Joss's thunder. So we hurriedly came up with Notes from the Underground, which would be the last storyline set during TV continuity. Next, Scott pitched the idea of doing Buffy Year One—setting a story between the film and the first episode of the series, filling in some continuity Joss had only addressed by anecdote. One of the posters here seems to think that this was done specifically to remove the popular Spike character from the comics—what the poster fails to mention is that it also eliminated almost all the other supporting characters. Spike was not singled out. Willow and Xander were pretty much totally lost. Angel had a role in one arc, but was out of the other ones. Giles had a small role. Anya, Tara, they were all gone. For the most part, setting the story between film and TV eliminated the supporting cast, but allowed us to fully explore a stretch of time that we knew Joss was not going to be dealing with. The choice had nothing to do with Spike. We were not looking to eliminate a highly merchandisable character—we were looking to tell the stories we wanted to tell.

I certainly never demanded Spike never appear in another comic. That's a really weird notion, and based on nothing. Again, the changes that kept Spike out of the comic also kept a lot of other characters out. The reason Spike effectively disappeared after the Spike-centric Fassbender/Pascoe comic—a story that needed my approval from the beginning—is that that issue, and Creatures of Habit, were two of the only stories we did during the period when he and Buffy were sleeping together.

The comments I've made about Spike having raped Buffy—and I'm happy to have anyone argue that with me—were made in response to the question of Buffy + Angel or Buffy + Spike. Yes, it is my opinion that Angel is her true love, and that every relationship that followed, including Spike—and Satsu, and Riley—pale in comparison to her love of Angel. This is a matter of opinion. I know some fans agree; I know some feel the opposite. The fact that Spike did what he did to her on that bathroom floor, to me, reflects on his love of her. If your sister met with that treatment at the hands of her boyfriend, would you judge? I think you would. Love's a complicated thing, in life as in the Whedonverse, but to me, Angel and Buffy were the real thing. While I think Spike loved Buffy more than she loved him, his frustration led him to express it in some bad ways. That's not a healthy kind of love ... in life, as in the Whedonverse.

Most of the comics I've edited with Spike in them feature him as a villain because they were set during the time when he was a villain—which is the majority of the seven TV seasons. Right?

When I said that Satsu's a more appropriate partner than Spike, that has to do with Satsu being someone who fights vampires, and Spike being a vampire. And it was totally in the context of the reaction we were getting to Buffy fooling around with a woman. I was shocked by some of what we were hearing, and I was reacting to that.

Also—when the comic was finally canceled, the decision came about like this: We'd completed Year One, and the TV series was ending. I felt that the only direction to go in was forward, past Season Seven. Nothing else would feel relevant. I met with Joss, and we talked about it, and he agreed. I said I only wanted to do it with his direction, with him providing the guidelines for the continuation of the series. He agreed, said he'd think about it. We talked about Jane Espenson writing it, but she was real busy—she's always real busy. I think she would have done it for Joss, I think she'd do about anything for Joss, but it was hard for him to find time for it too. We talked about it a number of times over the next few years, but we were both always busy with other things. Finally he surprised me with the first Season Eight script. We never intended for there to be as much time passing between the end of the first series and the beginning of the new one, but that's how it worked out. Never, in any of that, was there any plotting on my part against a character.

Whoever supposedly talked to me, and then spoke for me, about my dislike of Spike, was wrong about everything, or this poster heard it wrong. Everything I've written in the post above has been written elsewhere, consistently, so the notion of me hating Spike and conspiring against him in the comics is a fantasy that I think someone wanted to come up with.

In fact, when we first made the decision to give up the Angel license, I had a conversation with my contact at Fox specifically guaranteeing that we would be able to use Spike in any future Buffy comics. My argument, that Spike was in the final episode of the Buffy TV series—unlike Cordelia, who left BTVS to be on Angel. My Fox contact promised me that we'd be able to use Spike when we got Buffy up and running again. That conversation was not at the prompting of Joss or anyone else.

And while most of what's said about me in this thread is based on false info, El Diablo Robotico is right in saying that my feelings can't keep these characters out of Season Eight. Joss is running the show. There will be no head butting. I didn't try to keep Spike out of the old comics, and I'll be happy should he appear in the new ones. (Sorry, no spoilers here.)

Finally, the only reason I'm commenting on this is to ask you all to reconsider this sort of speculation. You can never know the motives behind a writer or an artist, or even an editor's work. You can judge what's on the page, but don't assume you know what the person was thinking in laying that down. Someone in the thread above wrote that they were leery of reading Season Eight if there was a Spike-hater at the helm. I'd hate to think someone wasn't reading Joss's book because they think I have a beef against a fictional character. It's not true.

Thanks for reading—
Scott

Thoughts?

Oh, and deannab, I guess the damage is done now (*hangs head*), but if you want me to delete that post containing your comments, I'll get right on it. I'm really sorry for not asking for your permission to post them beforehand; I didn't think those posts would cause such a fuss.

"Again with the random. I like it."

2008-06-02T15:02:32Z

I'm going to come off as a total newbie with this question, but... anyone know where these are from? And if any of them have been avatar-ized? *bounces on the balls of her feet*

[Cut]

In other news, I finally watched Firefly and Serenity, and OMGITSSOGOOD. I'm particularly amazed at Joss's unfailing ability to create likable protagonists. I love Mal as much as I love Buffy, and Angel in his own show, whereas I'd be hard-pressed to find one protagonist I enjoy from all the other TV series I've watched. Just... no-one writes outsiders as believable and as relatable as Joss.

Spike/Buffy VIP Quotes (Part 2)

2008-05-14T21:50:40Z

--> Continued from here.

Spike/Buffy VIP Quotes (Part 2)

GF asks about the kiss Buffy gave Spike at the end of "Intervention" - it was certainly gratitude and forgiveness... Yep, certainly those things all right. -- Jane Espenson

The kiss at the end of this episode ["Intervention"] is a huge milestone. She finds out for sure by pretending to be the Buffybot that Spike did not betray her, that he did not tell Glory that Dawn is the key. Buffy owes him a genuine debt of gratitude and gives him a kiss at the end of this episode, still in the guise of the Buffybot. -- Jane Espenson (Season 5 Overview)

It was one of the better episodes, for me personally, this season. It actually spawned what will be my vote for best one-liner of the entire year and that is Spike, the line where he says "Every night I saved you". That is my absolute favourite line.
Ohhh, thank you. I was very fortunate on that, because usually those moments like that are all Joss. I've commented before that if anyone ever compliments a line from an episode, it's a Joss line. That scene was just like I wrote it in the first draft. Marti said, this is great, this is a great scene. I think she was saying, I didn't know you could write that good. Nah, nah, Marti's cool. But she really loved that scene and I was very fortunate that it stayed how I wrote it. I surprised myself a little with that. -- Jane Espenson (The Succubus Club, 5-02)

About "After Life", when Buffy went to Spike's crypt and sat there in silence, in "After Life", why do you think she was there? As the writer of the episode or just as a fan, what do you think was going through Buffy's mind at that point and in particular during Spike's "every night I saved you" speech? Because she just sat there in silence, she didn't really say anything.
Yes, she sat there in silence with him there. I think she didn't know why she was there, except she wanted to be with someone... who wasn't demanding anything of her... and wasn't expecting anything. And someone who could understand, because he has the line that I really liked where he looks at her hands and he knows right away that she crawled out of the grave. And it's hard to hear, the line that gets a little lost but he says "I've done it myself" or been there. There is the implication that he is identifying with her because he also crawled out of his own grave. Then when he says the "I've saved you lots of times", I think all we can do is know what we would be thinking and the kind of person Buffy is... that she has to be thinking... "wow, what a guy". -- Jane Espenson (The Succubus Club, 5-02)

We knew, the whole time, from the very beginning he was gonna go get a soul. And when he says "I want Buffy to have what she deserves", he means a lover with a soul. -- Jane Espenson (The Succubus Club, 5-02)

I love that [Giles] doesn't call her on it. And that she realizes it's not as dire as she was making it. That adults realize sometimes, you know, you go for... everybody's got their juice and darkness and, and kinky and, and, and --
And handcuffs!
Yeah.
And it's nothing to be ashamed of.
Exactly. In fact, if Buffy hadn't been ashamed of it, it would've gone better, the whole way through. -- Jane Espenson (The Succubus Club, 5-02)

He's been looking for a world in which he can feel strong and confident, and yet when he falls in love, he's got a poet's heart. -- Jane Espenson (Season 6 Overview)

Do you have a favourite season or story arc in particular?
I really loved Faith and the Mayor even though I never wrote for Faith. I thought that was great fun. I enjoyed the Nerds - always! They were always so funny. I've been interested in Principal Wood this year. But my number one has got to be the Buffy and Spike love story. I think that is just a gorgeous story. How do you follow-up her romance with Angel? I like the romance with Spike better. I'm more interested in the heat between those two characters because I felt Buffy and Angel had romantic love. Spike and Buffy have something so much more complicated that it's got that romance and all this other stuff on top of it which makes it so interesting for me. -- Jane Espenson (TV Zone Interview, 2002)

Some would say Angel and Buffy really had more of an idealized first love while Spike and Buffy have the more adult, messy kind of love which is more realistic?
That's right. It's not idealized and it's just so often ugly and yet when James Marsters does stuff where you look in his face and you go "Oh, my God, he loves her so much!" Ahh! It's just so wonderful. -- Jane Espenson (TV Zone Interview, 2002)

Yet that story line has been polarizing too since some fans will always want Buffy and Angel together then there are those that don't think Spike can be redeemed and then there are the fans that think Spike is redeemed already. It's the perfect example of where you just have to write your story despite the feedback.
You have to write your story, exactly! If we have made both love stories compelling enough that they both have adherence, then we've done our job. Our job isn't to advocate one or the other but to present two reasonable romances with balance. I feel if it's polarizing then - great we did it! -- Jane Espenson (TV Zone Interview, 2002)

(on "Touched") This is what their relationship never had, that they both secretly wanted it to have, but could never get there and this was them finally getting there. For other characters, it wouldn't have had the same impact. For them, this is what was always missing. -- Jane Espenson (The Succubus Club, 5-03)

Which is your best Buffy the Vampire Slayer scene ever?
The best I wrote? I think the Anya-seducing-Xander sequence in "Harsh Light of Day" was pretty good... a really high concentration of funny lines. I also like the Buffy-asks-Anya-about-alternate-universes scene in "Superstar". That had the comic runner about the World Without Shrimp. Oh! No! I've got a better one. The scene after Buffy comes back to life, where Spike tells Buffy that he dreams about saving her every night - that was really hard because it wasn't funny and I think I did okay with it. -- Jane Espenson (Ain't It Cool News, 6-03)

In the end of "Chosen", when Spike tells Buffy "No, you don't", somebody asked who was right. [Jane Espenson] said she believed that Buffy did love Spike, but that it still hurts her because she doesn't like to think that Spike's self-esteem is so low at that point. Somebody suggested that maybe Spike knew Buffy loved him, but said it to "let her off the hook" so she could leave. And she thought that was fascinating and said she'd have to think about it more - she'd never thought about it from that angle. (Fan Report, Las Vegas Writer Con, 2004)

If someone is there for you, is asking nothing of you and has loved you faithfully and unconditionally for all those years, and if that person is the one that you turn to for comfort and support when you are at your most vulnerable, and if they give you that comfort and support unconditionally asking nothing in return, then whether you acknowledge it or not, that is love, so yes, Buffy loved Spike. -- Jane Espenson

I know there is a faction of fans who want reformed "Mr. Romantic Season 7 of Buffy, Spike". But he was like that because he was in a relationship with a woman who inspired him to be like that. It's not that he's changed or that we've forgotten that, it's just he hasn't been put in where you have seen just that side. -- Jeffrey Bell

In Season 4, we brought him in, but he was sort of the wacky neighbour - "can I borrow a cup of sugar and insult you?" We were sort of feeling our way 'round, what to do with him. Until I realized he was madly in love with Buffy and always had been. The process by which we sort of got to take him to that realization was very fun, because at first "Oh, it's just lust. I'm a bad guy, so it must be lust", and then him actually figuring out it was true love. And in "Family", there's this tiny beat of "Ohhh, I want her dead! ...I have to save her!", which is totally different than, you know, "Oh, she's a hottie". It's him trying to be the hero, and of course, because he's invisible to her, she never figures out that he actually saved her. It was yet another increment of "this is more than just an infatuation with an arch enemy". -- Joss Whedon (Season 4 DVD Commentary)

She really turns him on. -- Joss Whedon (Season 4 DVD Commentary)

What time was it decided for Spike to fall in love with Buffy?
[Joss said that] Spike was left with nothing to do. He was like the whacky neighbour. It makes sense - he wants to get his ass kicked, and she's the one to do it. They should increase the relationship.
[Joss said that] when he was told, James Marsters replied "I wanted to pitch that, but I didn't think you'd go for it". (UK Science Fiction Convention, 2001)

And when I told James, he was like, "I wanted to pitch that but I thought that would be presumptuous of me", and I was like, "Well, don't worry, 'cause we're gonna go there the full nine yards." It seemed so obvious when I thought of it that I was like, "Why didn't I think of it before?", but I just have to wait for it to come. -- Joss Whedon (Nocturnal 3K, 6-01)

This is kind of a sensitive interlude in our little rock tune. It came from the line that's coming up, "If my heart could beat it would break my chest". That's the first line I thought of for James, and it was in a different song, but... it moved me too much not to use it. -- Joss Whedon ("Once More, With Feeling" Commentary)

Spike's complete reversal from "I hate her" - "I love her" is really fun. -- Joss Whedon ("Once More, With Feeling" Commentary)

CGI smoke, and then the real deal, and then... Spike, bringing her the rest of the message. And I knew where I was going with this episode. And the two things that needed to happen for them to get where they were gonna go, at the end were: one, for Spike to say "go away", for him to tell her once and for all "just leave me alone", because nothing attracts somebody more than telling them to go away. Believe me, as a fellah who's had many restraining orders in his time... what a turn-on. But you know, the moment you say to someone "you know what, I'm my own person, I don't need you, you know I love you, but I don't want you near me" is the moment they start to take you seriously, and that's just the truth of it. And then, that he would save her. That he would be the person who would bring her the message of hope, even though it's the classic in my stuff, really desolate, almost pathetic hope. Still, those were the two things that would get them to the smoochy place and where they will inevitably end up. Because this is a musical, and if it doesn't end with a kiss, I'm doing something wrong. -- Joss Whedon ("Once More, With Feeling" Commentary)

Knowing that Spike was gonna fall in love with Buffy in Season 5 - or of sort of realizing that he had been in love with her - was a great motivating force that made him more than just the wacky vampire neighbour. -- Joss Whedon (Season 6 Overview)

"This is not a fan convention," says Claire Thomson, one of the conference organizers, who had expected to receive about 10 papers from graduate students in the United Kingdom but got more than 100 proposals from as far away as Australia. "People take it incredibly seriously."
Considering another lecture that [Joss] Whedon fixates on, we believe her. Titled "The Spike/Buffy Relationship: Law, Morals, Rape and S&M; or You Always Hurt the One You Love," the session promises legal, social and feminist interpretations of Buffy and Spike's infamous Season 6 bathroom scene. "I wish I could be there hearing the live debate," says Whedon. With his Buffy, Angel and Firefly shooting schedule, he'll have to borrow someone's notes. (TV Guide, 10-02)

We had a few things in mind with Season 7. One, everybody was tired of being depressed, including us. Two, this was the last season. Three, let's get back to where we started. Let's go back to the beginning. Not the word, not the bang, the real beginning. And the real beginning was girl power. The real beginning is, what does it mean to be a Slayer? And, not to feel guilty about the power, but having seen the dark side of it, and finding the light again. To explore the idea of the Slayer fully and to see a very grown up and romantic and confusing relationship that isn't about power, but actually genuinely beautiful between two people in the form of Buffy and Spike. -- Joss Whedon

Whedon stated that "in time what went on with Spike and Buffy was very textured and complicated". The relationship, as it evolved in Season 7, "has a romantic/sexual angle but not a physical one". -- Joss Whedon (San Diego, 2003)

TV's like whitewater rafting: Without rocks, there wouldn't be rapids, and it wouldn't be as much fun. ... [Rolling with it] gave us Spike falling in love with Buffy. ... You plan your ideas and themes, and then you let the rest form naturally, and then it feels real. It doesn't feel like you're imposing something on everybody. -- Joss Whedon (The Salon, 5-03)

At long last, Angel is returning to the show. How does that affect Buffy's ongoing love-hate relationship with Spike?
I wanted to make definite statements about both relationships but I had to do it in the same episode. It was weird. I had a lot of structural juggling to do to figure out how to make sense of the two most important men in Buffy's life showing up at once. -- Joss Whedon (Entertainment Weekly, 5-03)

And this was the trick: how to get her in the sack with Spike half an act after Angel had left. But, you know, the experience... you know, I've said this probably a hundred times, probably all of them on the audio commentaries to these damn episodes, the trick is always to make the audience go through exactly what she's going through. It's confusing to us, emotionally, that we should bounce from one to the other, and it's confusing to her. But... Spike is the person in her life right now. -- Joss Whedon ("Chosen" Commentary)

The great Marsters with a chemistry with Buffy that is just completely different from Angel's, and different than David's, and yet works very, very well. He's more on Buffy's level. He's more... Their vulnerabilities come out, and I don't just mean as characters, but as actors around each other. And that really works, it works on a very different level. Their relationship has clearly been through a lot - much more, in fact, than her relationship with Angel, in a way. And you feel that history with these two, and they bring it to the set every time they come to work and that's why we still came to work, because they did. -- Joss Whedon ("Chosen" Commentary)

This bit here I did actually add on set, not just the picture of Butthead on the punching bag, but this, where I said I wanted to get a couple of shots - we were going fast - and that one I didn't know if I was going to use, the two of them, and to me, it's almost the most important shot in the show, because it really shows, you know, the mystery of their relationship. And that's one where I wanted the audience to fill in the blanks. I wanted them... I wanted whatever you want to have happened to have happened. If people believe that on their last night together they made love, great. If they believe that on their last night together they talked all night, great. If they believe that they had a fight, great. Whatever it is, it's up to the viewer and I think the viewer has earned that, and I love that elliptical nature of their last night together. I think there should be work for the viewer to do in that sense, emotionally, because I think that makes it more textured, and that shot of the two of them looking at each other I just find beautiful. -- Joss Whedon ("Chosen" Commentary)

I thought this was a sort of romantic image, the two of them. We actually did it with real fire, but their hands were all gelled up and you could tell, so this was added in CGI and it looks beautiful. I thought it was a nice comment on their relationship. But what I basically told [Sarah and James] was: "Play the romance. Be proud of him. Love him when you say you love him. Love her when you say she doesn't love you. Forget about the crumbling world. For that period of time, it doesn't exist. It's a cinematic trick, but it's a necessary emotional one." -- Joss Whedon ("Chosen" Commentary)

Buffy was in love with Spike the moment their hands clasped. -- Joss Whedon (San Diego Convention)

Will you pair him with a new special someone?
I'm still trying to figure out how to bring him back to life. I don't think he's the kind of guy that would be like, "Well, that was a fun time with Buffy..." I don't think he feels a sense of resolve or resolution about the relationship. I think he feels that he was ready to sacrifice himself for her, and it was a beautiful thing, but... it wasn't like he's cured of loving Buffy... -- Joss Whedon (TVGuide Online)

I won't be using the ancillary characters from Angel [in Season 8 of Buffy] unless I absolutely think that nobody else can fit this bill. Spike and Angel I will definitely use, but sparingly. But I would do that anyway. You don't want to use it up by having Spike standing around in the background of every frame. He means so much to Buffy, so did Angel, that you want to save them for the big hits. -- Joss Whedon (GeekMonthly, 2-07)

Do you get tired of fans demanding spoilers? All your online and in-person Q&As seem to revolve around people wanting to know how you're going to resolve this twist or that cliffhanger.
...I think the need has just gotten overwhelming. It's also just really tough now, because the questions aren't, "Is Spike going to get together with Buffy?" The questions are, "Are you ever going to do anything?" (laughs) I'm like, "I can't spoil that." -- Joss Whedon (The A.V. Club, 8-07)

After a well-reviewed theater career in Chicago and Seattle, Mr. Marsters arrived in Los Angeles in 1997 "willing to sell out, happily". Being cast in Buffy was "wonderful irony", he said. "I get more acting jollies from the show than I did from any full season of theater. The writing is not safe. That's the best thing about it. It can be horrifying, but in the most exhilarating way."
Viewers saw proof of that in the haunting final scene of this season's best episode to date, "Beneath You", in which Spike revealed his soul to Buffy in an empty, moonlit church. Mr. Marsters gave Spike's madness and despair a moving, shattered dignity. There was something Shakespearean in his readings of lines like "Why does a man do what he mustn't but for her; to be hers", delivered in half-darkness, and in the devastating last shot: Spike striking a martyr's pose - draped around a large cross, bare back to the camera, flesh smoldering - for a love that Mr. Marsters calls "unquenchable". -- Joyce Millman, New York Times Writer ("A Vampire With Soul, and Cheekbones", 1-03)

She's been emotionally frozen for the past couple of seasons, unable to drop her guard and let love (her adoring former sex partner Spike) in. -- Joyce Millman, New York Times Writer

Spike's devotion to Buffy and her mission has set him on a path to redemption; he endured torture to win back his soul for her, then suffered at the hands of the First Evil. But Buffy has yet to tell him she loves him. -- Joyce Millman, New York Times Writer

I want to see Buffy beat on everyone and everything in sight, save the world again and still find the time to finally admit her feelings for poor Spike. -- Joyce Millman, New York Times Writer

Think about some of the great TV couples from series past. I don't even have to name the shows for most people to know who I'm talking about. Sam & Diane, Mulder & Scully, Ross & Rachel, Carrie & Big, Buffy & Spike... I could go on and on. What qualifies these couples as "will-they-won't-they" is the build up. Plenty of shows include couples. Both dramas and comedies often involve romantic relationships but it's the shows that engage viewers by making us want to see those two people finally get together that I am referring to. -- Kelly West, Cinema Blend ("The Clicker Examines Great TV Romances", 11-05)

The other scenario is when the two characters are so different and often do not get along with one another. They fight and argue constantly but then one thing or a series of "things" happen and they are forced to put up with each other. Eventually the sexual tension builds up so much that they have to either kill each other or sleep with each other. A good example of this is Spike and Buffy in 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'. From the beginning the sexual tension seemed almost unintentional but fantastic nonetheless. The build up went on for seasons and only when Buffy was at her emotional lowest, did she finally give in. While it was evident that she wasn't proud of her behavior with Spike, the passion between the two was delicious. Their first kiss was only matched by their first romp-session (which literally brought down the house). -- Kelly West, Cinema Blend ("The Clicker Examines Great TV Romances", 11-05)

(on "Smashed") Lots of discussion of how we could get Buffy and Spike to the next phase of their relationship. We had talked about lots of realistic ways it could happen, and Joss was like, "It just has to be epic, it can't be a little thing". -- Marti Noxon (SFX Vampire Special, 1-02)

I do think Buffy and Spike have feelings for each other, but I think they're trying to hide from all that. -- Marti Noxon (Buffy Magazine, 9-02)

He sort of represents Buffy's other side. He's her id. He's hang dog because he loves Buffy, and he's not been getting his way. But in some ways I think he's the most powerful. And he's constantly struggling with his nature, which is also a part of Buffy's character arc. So, to me, he is heroic in the Buffy universe, because he's right there representing what the show's about, which is the struggle to be a hero and the other part of you that wants to drag ya on down into the abyss. -- Marti Noxon (Metro, 9-02)

(on "After Life") We thought it was interesting that Spike would be the one she could tell the truth to. What we were suggesting there was that she knows how much it would hurt everyone else, and she still doesn't know how much he cares and how much it will affect him that she's in so much pain. In a way, to her, he's like a neutral party. He won't judge it, he'll just listen. -- Marti Noxon

(on "Life Serial") I loved the Buffy/Spike poker game where the demons are playing for kittens. -- Marti Noxon

(on "Once More, With Feeling") It wasn't going to be a standalone; we wanted it to serve a dramatic purpose. And it gets so emotional. The stuff with Spike at the end just kills me. It's so beautiful. Joss is a frighteningly talented guy. -- Marti Noxon

I loved the whole Spike-Buffy thing and the whole Willow thing. Those two storylines really worked for me. I don't know how we could have done another, "Here comes the Big Bad" without repeating ourselves. We'd done it so many times and very successfully. I felt that we had to shake it up, and that was probably what was going on. Joss wanted to try some new stuff and we were all up for it. -- Marti Noxon

More recently, I think the Buffy/Spike relationship has definitely been challenging to write. Some moments of that have been very dark and sexy and felt quite real, in particular, the aftermath of their first sexual encounter. I had a good time with that one. -- Marti Noxon

I've always joked around that he became attracted to Buffy because she could hit him the hardest, that he liked to be abused. Then we discovered that there was a real heart to that story-line, and they had a real chemistry together. ... And as we watched, eventually we found that Spike was a real romantic foil for Buffy. -- Marti Noxon

This was the beginning of the most divisive story we've ever had, which was Buffy and Spike boning. Really, I've never seen such a strong reaction on both sides. People either love it or hate it. To this day, people either truly believe that Spike is completely redeemed and should be treated a lot better, or they truly believe that Buffy is a fool for trusting someone who's been evil and how can she be so unheroic as to allow herself to be caught up in this really sordid romance? So you get the total Buffy/Spike shippers or you get the attitude, "I just don't respect Buffy any more." It's fascinating to see. The thing I keep saying is that it's not black and white. I'd love it to be, but it's not. To me, this is much more real. If these two crazy kids can make it work, it will be a lot more interesting than a kind of perfect romance with obstacles thrown in. To me, this is real life; this is people making their own problems. If they can get it together, that would be amazing. But it was never going to be easy. That's why Spike did something radical at the end of the year. Joss came up with the idea of the house coming down around them while they made love. It was perfect, because we needed something catastrophic to go along with this huge dangerous union. -- Marti Noxon

We've seen so much response to the relationship Buffy had with Spike and [the dark magic] with Willow, I don't know if we stopped to think these storylines would be going on at the same time. -- Marti Noxon (Buffy Magazine, 1-03)

Over the past couple of seasons, Buffy's romantic interest has been Spike, this bad guy who may or may not be bad anymore. The attraction is complicated. And it seems like a lot of things have gone into confusing, grey areas. It's actually been less confusing this season [Season 7]. -- Marti Noxon (Buffy Magazine, 7-03)

I think when we saw him die at the end of the series, he was transcending, y'know, he had really given in to the best part of himself, and that was because he really loved her. -- Marti Noxon (Chosen DVD Collection Bonus Disk)

A coming-of-age allegory where high school really was Hell, where the wrong decision truly could herald the end of the world, where adolescent anxieties took on demonic form, and where even after graduation, a truly explosive event, the life lessons, and the after-life lessons, just kept coming, with all of the pain and joy and sex and friendship and betrayal and sex and consequences and death and sex that all of that implies. Yes, Buffy was a very hot show. And yes, it was good for me. In fact, the new issue of TV Guide just out ranks the scene of Buffy and Spike bringing down the house when they did the hot nasty as... (cheers from the audience) ...yeah. The number one hottest scene ever. Yep. Even outranked The Thorn Birds. I mean, really, come on. -- Matt Roush (PaleyFest, 3-08)

Matt Roush: (to Sarah) Asked all the time. Final analysis, final verdict: Angel or Spike?
Michelle Trachtenberg: Well, who's sitting on stage? (nods towards James) (PaleyFest, 3-08)

He's not really paying attention to Harmony at all. His focus is always on Buffy, and you can see through that episode ["Out of My Mind"] he's obsessed, and you can sort of see there's another side to his obsession. -- Rebecca Rand Kirshner (Season 5 Overview)

Rebecca Rand Kirshner: (on the "Hell's Bells" Spike/Buffy scene) This is a scene that Joss wrote.
David Solomon: I know. It's beautiful.
Rebecca Rand Kirshner: Very beautiful. So subtle, too. ("Hell's Bells" Commentary)

Rebecca Rand Kirshner: (on the "Hell's Bells" Spike/Buffy scene) Look what a good sport she's being.
David Solomon: If he had brought you to the wedding - if you had played the part of Tarantula - you would have stayed.
Rebecca Rand Kirshner: [Buffy] would have bitch-slapped me. ("Hell's Bells" Commentary)

(on "Touched") From the minute I knew about this episode where Spike and Buffy just held each other I sort of tried to finagle to get it because that was really how I thought of them and that's what I've wanted since I was a fan of the show. -- Rebecca Rand Kirshner (The Succubus Club, 5-03)

Talk to us about her mind right there and what helps her get to the place where she can go and kick Caleb's ass.
Well, I think essentially she was... I mean, it's all about connect- reconnecting to other people and also to herself. I mean, I think when she's lying on that bed there, she's in an abandoned house in an abandoned town and she's all by herself and just completely sort of desolate and disconnected and what Spike does, outside from make a pep talk, is that he connects to her, and I think it was her being able to receive that from him and being affected by him then that allowed her to reconnect to herself and then to be able to reconnect to the others.
It's something I've said all along about her and Spike's relationship is that he's the only one she can be truly authentic with. And last night was the perfect example. He's just "I'm not gonna lie to you", you know, "let's not lie to each other" and that's why I think I've always felt that they are close and that they could be close.
Yeah, what I was really excited about in this episode was that turning point - I mean, obviously - but also that Spike was the person to do that, and in terms of storytelling, he's both the least likely person to do that and the most. It's the gesture that tells the truth to the King, it's the Fool, and that's sort of traditional storytelling, and yet it fits organically. -- Rebecca Rand Kirshner (The Succubus Club, 5-03)

I also thought it was important for Buffy to know that she has been giving and giving and giving all these years and to me it looked like after all of that, this is where she was left [in "Touched"], you know, alone, in a room, after doing so much for so many people, for the world. I got the feeling that it was nice for her to hear that somebody didn't want something from her. To me, that was the most beautiful part of what he said, which was "I'm gonna love you whether you give me something or not", 'cause I think that's the most beautiful kind of love, just to know that they're in the world, to know that they're trying - what he said, "I love seeing you try" - and I think that was probably huge for her to hear that.
Yeah, yeah, that someone didn't want something like that from her - the superhero, the capacity to do all that stuff - he didn't need her to do anything, she could just be there. The moment for me when I saw it, every time he said "you're one hell of a woman", every time I go "Ohhhhh!" -- Rebecca Rand Kirshner (The Succubus Club, 5-03)

Buffy is completely broken down and isolated, and has to find the strength in herself, independent from anything. Spike was a big part of that. He helped Buffy figure out who she was and what she could do, and knowing that somebody believed in her that way allowed her to be herself and go forward. -- Rebecca Rand Kirshner (Season 7 Overview)

James is one of the most marvelous actors whom I've worked with. One of the most intelligent I've ever met. He's very very well trained, Shakespearean style. He is super professional and he wants to do everything to perfection and it shows in everything he does. He even does most of his stunts on Buffy. One time he even burned his hand, and he continued just the same. He's simply an incredible actor and an extraordinary human being. I appreciate working with him every day. -- Sarah Michelle Gellar

I'm so glad he's coming back. I'm president of his fan club. -- Sarah Michelle Gellar (Entertainment Weekly, 10-99)

So with David Boreanaz's Angel out of the picture, who's next? "Joss doesn't like to tell us - with good reason," says Sarah, who admits she'd be the first to spill. OK, so Sarah won't dish love details, but she did reveal her fantasy guy: Spike! "When I mentioned the possibility of Spike and Buffy," says Sarah, "Joss was like, 'No more vampires!'" -- Sarah Michelle Gellar (Teen Magazine, 1-00)

The thing about Buffy and Spike is they understand each other on a level that nobody else understands her. They've both lived a hundred lives and I think there's a connection there that we will see evolve over the next couple of years where she realizes that he really is someone that she can trust, someone that's a companion to her and someone that really understands her unlike anybody else. -- Sarah Michelle Gellar (BBC)

What about the Spike thing?
Sarah Michelle Gellar: That hasn't changed.
Marti Noxon: She kicks him in the head. That's right.
Sarah Michelle Gellar: Foreplay.
Marti Noxon: She kicks and then she kisses.
Sarah Michelle Gellar: Basically, I look at it, you know when you're little, like my Goddaughter came to me the other day and she was crying because the little boy pulled her pigtails. I said, "But that means he has a crush on you." So it's sort of the same thing, just as an adult, you just beep.

(on love scenes with James) He makes it incredibly comfortable. I've been with this group for six years and so if I feel like I'm silly or I feel uncomfortable they help me out. -- Sarah Michelle Gellar (SFX Magazine, 7-02)

How much are you going to miss your cast-mates?
That's going to be so weird. I think of James Marsters and me: we're basically like brother and sister. -- Sarah Michelle Gellar (Seventeen, 5-03)

What was your first meeting like?
James came in for "School Hard", I remember that. It was second season, third or fourth episode. It was one of our longest days ever on the show. And I remember that he wore these big boots, and he wasn't that great at stunt fighting yet because he came from theater, where everything was a little more real. I had these bruises up and down my arms from James's big boots. I still tease him about it to this day. -- Sarah Michelle Gellar (Seventeen, 5-03)

[Sarah Michelle Gellar says] Marsters is among the things she will miss most from her time as the Slayer. (Modesto Bee, 5-03)

Sarah Michelle Gellar: Oh, I could take David Boreanaz and James Marsters. In fact, I think I did.
James Marsters: Yeah, you took it, baby, and you liked it. (TRL UK, 10-04)

Sarah Michelle Gellar: (to James) You look at things lately and I've seen a bunch of lists recently where there were talks about favourite characters, favourite shows... I saw the best love scenes this week - it was you and me, by the way. (audience cheers)
James Marsters: Oh, really?
Sarah Michelle Gellar: Yeah! (nods towards Matt Roush) Thank him! Thank him!
Matt Roush: Yep, bringing down the house. Take that, Angel!
Sarah Michelle Gellar: Yeah! (laughs) And that's why we're still here now. (PaleyFest, 3-08)

Sarah Michelle Gellar: (on the Buffybot) But I think, again, it's what keeps it fresh. You're playing a character for so long, and you don't want to get lazy. You find yourself relying on certain things, so by taking away all the other parts of Buffy, I did have to find exactly the essence of her again, and... you know, it was fun to be his slave for a little bit... (gesturing towards James)
James Marsters: I'm a good master for a little while... (PaleyFest, 3-08)

There are still people out there who will refuse to believe that a show called "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," created and written by a guy named Joss Whedon, could possibly deal with anything remotely sophisticated, let alone some of the darkest, most deeply recessed sexual fears and longings of the soul. But the past two episodes of the show ["Smashed" and "Wrecked"] have been more sexually frank (without being particularly explicit), and more downright exhilarating, than anything I've seen on television in recent years - perhaps ever. In fact, it's rare to see sex dealt with so bracingly even at the movies. With the exception of David Lynch's "Mulholland Drive", I can't think of a recent movie that dealt with the emotional risks and dangers of sex in such a startling and affecting way. -- Stephanie Zacharek, The Salon ("Buffy's will-to-power", 11-01)

It's shocking but somehow not surprising when, after clocking Spike, Buffy suddenly lunges at him for a kiss. (Note that she's the one to make the first move.) And it's bone-rattlingly sensual the way she slams him against a wall and hikes herself up on him, not bothering to waste a minute with anything so dithery as foreplay. To paraphrase Paglia, now the feminine hurls itself at the masculine in an eternal circle of pursuit and flight. Why? Because it feels so damn good. And it never, ever lasts long enough. -- Stephanie Zacharek, The Salon ("Buffy's will-to-power", 11-01)

He turns to Buffy and her strength, hoping that it'll affect his soul. -- Steven S. DeKnight (Season 6 Overview)

Spike/Buffy considered a major success. And in my episode coming up - wait a minute! Don't think you can trick me! -- Steven S. DeKnight (1-02)

Hey, I'm rooting for Spike and Buffy to work things out. That'll give us evil guys a better image. -- Steven S. DeKnight (1-02)

Yeah, Spike's playing nice now. But heck - he sure did kill himself a mess of innocent people before that, didn't he? Not something you can just skate over. But still - I hope those crazy kids work it out. -- Steven S. DeKnight (1-02)

"Dead Things". Hee hee hee. Watch it with someone you love. -- Steven S. DeKnight (2-02)

Visions of handcuffs in your head? My job is done. -- Steven S. DeKnight (2-02)

It takes forever to do that stuff. You write a few lines, get distracted, then you need a nap. Took me three days to get through that balcony scene. My legs still hurt. -- Steven S. DeKnight (2-02)

Buffy sure has been rough on Spike. But she recognizes that, and knows deep down it's wrong. This is particularly evident in the final scene of "Dead Things". On the other hand, Spike is a complicated character. He's trying to be good, but man does it go against his nature as a vamp. Personally, I'm rooting for these crazy kids to work things out. -- Steven S. DeKnight (3-02)

Yes, Buffy will regain her focus. Episode 22 centers around a trip to the ophthalmologist where Buffy will be fitted with a hip pair of corrective lenses. ... I know a lot of fans have commented on the Buffy/Spike inconsistencies, but for me they really don't exist. Buffy's feelings for Spike have been plotted specifically to be all over the map. She's back from the dead, she's hurting, she's confused. Not just about Spike, but about everything. Maybe those glasses will help clear things up. -- Steven S. DeKnight (3-02)

It was actually very easy to write all the extended dialogue scenes between Spike and Buffy this season. I just imagined myself naked between them. Mmm! Steve sandwich! -- Steven S. DeKnight (4-02)

I haven't seen the shirt [with Buffy and Spike surrounded by a heart]. I have nothing to do with that. I don't know. I'm not sure. ...can I get one? -- Steven S. DeKnight (The Succubus Club, 5-02)

Can you shed any light on -- I know you probably can't, just feel free to say "no" -- just for the fans out there who really like seeing [Spike and Buffy] together... what kind of future can you see with them? Is it absolutely over? Can you even answer that?
Not even close. Not even cloooose.
"Not even close" that you can answer it, or "not even close" that it's over?
Not even close! -- Steven S. DeKnight (The Succubus Club, 5-02)

"I wish that I could say [the Spike/Buffy balcony scene in Dead Things] was my idea, but it's something Joss had in the back of his head for a year. It just so happened that it happened in my episode." ... "Dead Things" rates as the [episode] for which Steve is most proud and his personal favorite of any episode he's written for either series. But he's quick to share his reasons why it's dear to him. "Hats off to the amazing [director] Jim Contner for that episode. I thought he did an amazing job. And Lisa Lassek, the editor on that did just phenomenal work. Sometimes, you have an episode where everybody 'shows up'. The actors are spot on. The direction is great, the editing, the music, etc... That was just one of those episodes where everything just came together." -- Steven S. DeKnight (City of Angel, 2003)

TV's Favorite Couples:
#3. Buffy and Spike.
"Buffy and Spike were my favourite couple. Spike was hilarious. What girl doesn't want to be with a guy who has the best lines?" -- Canadian TV Guide (3-04)

TV's 10 Hottest Scenes Ever:
#1. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Spike (James Marsters) beat the hell out of each other before doing the deed on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. (2001) -- TV Guide ("TV's Hottest Scenes Ever", 3-08) [Link]