Comments on: Joss News

By: belledame222

belledame222 — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 18:12:15 +0000

I thought it was a bit muddled, myself, but i still unabashedly adore the Joss. too bad wrt WW. o well.

By: Andrew R.

Andrew R. — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 22:34:10 +0000

I may be mis-remembering, but I seem to remember a Whedon statement that things going pear-shaped (Xander’s eye &c.) when trying to initially take on the First was his way of opposing U.S. unilateralism. I cannot seem to find that statement at the moment, though, so I may backtrack until I can find some more concrete evidence.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 18:19:46 +0000

I’d have to rewatch the last half of Buffy, Amp, which isn’t in the cards at the moment. There were a couple episodes in there where I was rolling my eyes, but I can’t think of the specifics. Oh, I can think of one: the episode where Willow’s boring girlfriend’s family comes to get her because she’s a devil-woman. That one was pure “let’s make a cartoon and beat on it” preachy.

It didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the show as a whole but I wouldn’t want to see more episodes on that model.

By: Maia

Maia — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 13:16:01 +0000

I think you could argue that Anne was preachy Amp. Although preachy is the wrong concept, because it’s the visuals, not the words, that are lacking in the subtle. Chosen isn’t the subtlest piece of writing ever, either, but again it’s the action and the narrative which get the message across - Buffy, Willow and Xander don’t suddenly start arguing like they’re in a Ken Loach movie.

I’m incredibly fond of both those episodes (although I would concede that the lack of subtlety ultimately hurts Anne in a way that I don’t think it hurts Chosen). But they’re not necessarily the most political episodes in the Jossverse - you’d find it much harder to argue that Restless or Graduation Day were preachy.

By: Ampersand

Ampersand — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 09:53:41 +0000

I’m curious - is there a particular episode of Serenity or Buffy written and/or directed by Joss which you (Robert or Andrew) would give as an example of Joss being “too preachy” about politics? The complaint seems a little out-of-the-blue to me.

By: Maia

Maia — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 06:59:00 +0000

While there is a fairly strong political message in Season 7 of Buffy, I’m fairly sure it has nothing to do with the war in Iraq.

When Jane Espenson, Rebecca Rand Kirschner and one of the Drews were on the succubus club at the end of Season 7 they discussed. They explained that they worried that part of the arc could be misinterpreted as endorsing Bush’s military action (which they all opposed). They explained that the plot-line was planned well in advance, and they couldn’t change it when it became apparent which directions world events were going. The lead times of TV being what they are (particularly as the last episode of the season was planned before the season ended) there was no way the writing staff of Buffy were sure that Iraq would be invaded, or that the action was going to be unilateral, when they were planning the episodes that aired at that time.

By: Robert

Robert — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 06:42:05 +0000

Agreed. When his social commentary is in the background of the show - as in the hardscrabble libertarianism of the frontier vs. the benevolent liberalism of the Alliance in Serenity - it’s a great addition. When he preaches…well, as a preacher, Joss is a great director.

By: b!X

b!X — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 06:37:06 +0000

“One reason that Season 7 sucked so immeasurably is that it was essentially a political parable about the dangers of taking unilateral military action.”

Bwuh? Did we watch the same Season 7?

By: Andrew R.

Andrew R. — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 05:34:58 +0000

One reason that Season 7 sucked so immeasurably is that it was essentially a political parable about the dangers of taking unilateral military action. Joss Whedon does good relationships and snappy dialogs–his political screeds, OTOH, do not help his storytelling at all.

By: When Fangirls Attack

When Fangirls Attack — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Goyer and Whedon: a dream deferred NO. just, freaking, NO. i’m distraught. Jenny-O’s Wonder Woman Joss Whedon has announced that he’s no longer involved with the Wonder Woman film I Wonder… Women? Joss News You’ll Never Look At Superman The Same Way Again Oh, looky, it’s manga vs capes again Independent study YES - Reviews for 01/31 The Politics of the Acockalypse Thursday Thirteen: 13 Pet Peeves

By: Chaos Theory

Chaos Theory — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Buffy vs. the military (again).

By: pesky'apostrophe: always better than an unexpected period.

pesky'apostrophe: always better than an unexpected period. — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

issue #1 of the new season eight Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic book today. I’m weak. Well…at least I have some mail to look forward to next month. Speaking which, the big news is that Joss Whedon is making Buffy into an enemy of the War!on!Terror!