Buffy 7x19 Empty Places

[oyceter]

I so called it! Well, before I was spoiled. And not the Buffy being kicked out, but the Buffy wielding power wrongly thing. And this has been happening ever since Selfless, at least. Oooo also, after rewatching Selfless, D'Hoffryn calls Xander "one who sees with the eyes of love."

It just seemed like Buffy was turning into the Watcher's Council. No Bronzing, despite the fact that she used to do that all the time with Giles' displeasure. Everyone has to do what she says, just like the Watcher's Council used to do. And don't get me wrong, I don't hate Buffy. And I don't think I'm bashing the character, even though I do think she is going about things the wrong way. I don't know if we're supposed to agree with all the stuff Buffy was saying, about how you can't lead as a democracy and how the entire group must do what the leader says. It just all seems so antithetical to everything Buffy's been doing. And it seems a little strange (but not really, given her previous comment about only trusting Spike) that she takes their protests to her plan as a protest against her... when they say stuff like they think her plan is a little reckless (which I thought it was) she immediately thinks that they are going against her. And I think Giles is right too. She doesn't trust them. She doesn't seem to think that any of them do know what to do. And it hurt very much when everyone, from the potentials to the Scoobies, turned on her.

And yay Dawn for telling Rona to shut up at the very end.

I found the last scene extremely emotionally satisfying in a wrenching sort of way... esp. with Xander. I guess partly the stuff Buffy was saying about Faith was justified, considering their history, but it also seemed as though she was trying to put the blame on anyone but her own judgment. She claims it's a popularity contest, she says they're too scared, she implies that they're just against her. In the end though, I think her plan was kind of reckless, and not in the brave way. They should at least have waited until Spike and Andrew got back with the information, at least have tried to get a little more information about Caleb, scouted out the vineyard. Lots of things before running in there, which is what she made it sound like. Ex. in season 3 when she decides to take the box from the Mayor, which is risky, they research it, get blueprints, have this entire stealth/spell thing worked out. Even when they killed the Ubervamp, they had the arena set up. I guess Buffy could have explained better, but to me, it just sounded as though she was just planning on having everyone charge in and fight their way through.

Other things:
- Blooming onion conversation! "I'll bite you if you tell anyone we had this conversation."
- Andrew. I love Andrew. I really do. Him worrying about Hot Pockets (mmmmmm yummy) during the apocalypse, trying to play bad cop, like Anya ("Run is a four letter word!").
- The Xander/Willow scene at the hospital. I nearly cried when Willow started tearing up.
- Buffy didn't even hug Xander when he got back!
- I just like Dawn. Always have, but especially concerned about Xander Dawn, helping Giles research Dawn and hugging Xander Dawn.
- "Andrew's gone with him." "And again I ask the question." Hee!
- loved the echoes from Conversations with Dead People on Buffy's superiority complex.