I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed this episode of BtVS immensely, which is even more surprising when one considers that I am not a fan of most things “scary.” I still am a bit unsure about the series in general, but that may be due to my lack of background knowledge and experience with the series before this class. (And yes, Dr. H, I did read the handout before we watched the episode; I just think I need to see the character development to truly enjoy the show.)
I was left with a series of questions, though, that went unanswered through the course of the episode; though in all fairness, they could be a result of my OCD-like desire to have storylines properly supported and thoroughly brought to resolution at their closure, but it did bother me that there were so many things left unsaid nonetheless:
- Why did the “gentlemen” need hearts? Why seven, other than the relatively well-known mystical associations accorded that number?
- How do they choose the victims/hearts? They could have picked the first seven people they came across and been done with it, but they didn’t; at one point they specifically bypass several doors before choosing a particular one. Why that one and not the ones before it, hmmm?
- What happens if/when they acquire all seven of the necessary hearts? What is Buffy’s motivation to prevent them acquiring them? For a protagonist to strive so fiercely to prevent something, there must be an equally pressing reason spurring them – so where is Buffy’s motivation to stop the “gentlemen,” other than the desire to save the seven lives; what is really at stake (no pun intended) here?
Also, I am happy to point out, as I did in class, that I am impressed by Whedon for paying homage to the original purpose and style of fairy tales. They were not the happy, cutsie, everything-always-ends-well-for-everyone-good-and-on-a-happy-note (aka “Disney”) sort of story endings that we are used to today; fairy tales were much darker, wrought by violence, death, and pain – but then, the intended audience wasn’t teensy kiddies before bedtime, as it seems to be now. Want a “true” version of a fairy tale? Read the Brothers Grimm version of “Sleeping Beauty” – she wasn’t woken up by a happy, pleasant kiss …
5 comments:
As an answer to your last question, I would think that Buffy's real motivation isn't the seven lives, it's getting everyone's voice back. The lives are probably a secondary concern.
I like that you pointed out the questions you had about the vagueness in the episode. I think the questions you posed invoke a sense of helplessness in the audience which creates a sort of psychological horror. It is these unanswered questions that scare the audience moreso than any amount of scary makeup can.
@Adam: That is a good point, but I was meaning the question more directly related to the gentlemen (If she doesn't stop the gentlemen what will happen?) and how that motivates her to stop them, autonomous of the motivation to reclaim vocal communication? Any ideas?
I wonder if it's simply enough that they are "bad" and she is a force for "good" so she has to fight them. It's maybe that primal and simple--that basic.
I am on the fence, totally frustrated that we never see the total laid out intent of the Gentlemen, but also realizing that that was probably the point, to have this epic, yet simple frightening thing happen to a small town and a few people.
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