May 25 2012
Joss Whedon and the Apocalypse.
Interesting essay on how Whedon's characters deal with the potential end of the world. Includes spoilers for The Cabin In The Woods.
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And then we turn the table. The choice Marty and Dana make in "Cabin" reminds me of Angel's 4th season and Angel's argument against Jasmine, that if people must be sacrificed for a better world, the cost is too high. Even if this saves more people than it destroys. This is also like Mal's (paraphrased) "Me and mine gotta lay down and die so you can live in your better world?" Granted, Jasmine's altered world and The Alliance's secret-protecty world aren't the same as "saving the world", but, same general notion.
I think Joss tackles both perspectives in his work. But it's important that he uses apocalypses. The stakes couldn't be greater, so the challenges are that monumental and the hero's rise to overcome them is that significant.
Also, on the Cabin note, although I LOVED the ending, I have to recognize The Editing Room's hilarious parody of that decision:
KRISTEN CONNOLLY
You’d rather sacrifice everyone on earth, knowing that 99.999% of them aren’t even aware of this conspiracy, while you know about it and are making literally the most selfish decision humanly possible, which ironically actually makes you extremely deserving of death?
FRAN KRANZ
Uh…
KRISTEN CONNOLLY
A handful of teenagers every year, compared to the alternative, is nothing. More people die from falling in the fucking bathroom. I’m shooting you, you selfish dick.
WhatsAStevedore | May 25, 08:24 CET
In the "this is how many apocalypses for us now?" conversation between Buffy and Giles, she says, "I sacrificed Angel to save the world. I loved him so much. But I knew I was right. I don't have that any more. I don't understand."
I read that as Buffy suggesting she couldn't make that choice again (at least at that particular moment in time).
I just read about Wastelanders, and hopefully we'll get more juicy apocalyptic moments!
GortandKlaatu | May 25, 10:17 CET
Sunfire | May 25, 13:20 CET
Mindwipe | May 25, 20:32 CET
/goes/
VicTopher | May 26, 07:21 CET
Long may Joss wrassle with apocalypsii, and the decisions made in them. If he was sure about the answer he wouldn't keep writing about it.
I'm thinking that's a GOOD thing.
ferdy-m | May 26, 07:57 CET
This arc is picked up in Season 8, quite deliberately, and is being laid bare in the current comics season, though, given recent events, it is difficult to say to what extent Buffy is, herself, reconsidering her own position in (and of) the world. If nothing else, what we know so far, I think, can be taken to imply that at least those around her imagine that Buffy has not given up on having a 'fully human' life.
sph | May 26, 12:27 CET