Buffy thoughts

[yendi]

So, some thoughts on the various things we saw:

First, whatever the shape-shifter was, I'd bet it had nothing to do with the other returned victims. It could change shape, so it could have accomplished most of the same things, without needing a talisman. If it needed a pathetic little talisman to get the job done, it's not that big a threat.

So, what's up with the talisman?

My first guess is the principal. Let's face it -- he knows something about Buffy. In fact, right after she beat the baddies, he hired her for a job. Which could mean it was a test. Either the principle is just very In the Know, and, realizing that he's on the Hellmouth, wants someone like Buffy around, or he's Got an Agenda (good, bad, or just with a gun), and needs her as a part of it.

If it's not him, the best bets are someone we haven't seen yet, or one of the Scrappies (although I'd be very surprised by the latter).

As for the shapeshifer, everyone says he's The First Evil from a few years ago, the one who tortured Angel by pretending to be Jenny Calendar (aside -- looking like Jenny Calendar will never actually harm any hetero male). It's not a bad theory, but there are a few problems with it:

First, by the Buffy Formula, the Big Bad is never around this early (Season One excluded). Even Glory waited a few episodes before appearing. And yeah, I know that's not a major reason, but it's something to consider.

Second, The First Evil needed his Eyeless Minions to help him. They were nowhere to be seen.

Third, it's too fucking obvious. Joss doesn't like being Too Fucking Obvious.

Okay not a ton of convincing reasons, but it's not like anyone should expect all the evidence to be out there already.

So, what do I think?

I think this force might be evil, might be good, might be neither. Until we see who else it's targeting, it'll be hard to tell. But if it's only picked Spike because of his soul, maybe it's something like Whistler, trying to guide him on how to achieve balance. If it targets others, I'll revise as necessary. And after one epsiode, my ego won't be crushed if I'm totally wrong.

As to the final mystery -- the opening scene. A group of people is killing slayers-in-training. Personally, I think this will be the running plot this season. And my guess is that it's renegade Watcher Council members. They've got the access to the information (who else could know all potential Slayers?). And I suspect that their nominal head will be the Little Bad. Whatever force is manipulating them wll be the Big Bad.

Anyway, that's my initial set of thoughts on the subject.

Comments

[rollick.livejournal.com]

First, whatever the shape-shifter was, I'd bet it had nothing to do with the other returned victims. It could change shape, so it could have accomplished most of the same things, without needing a talisman. If it needed a pathetic little talisman to get the job done, it's not that big a threat.

I don't buy that. Just because you're good in one area doesn't mean you're good in other areas. Just because Spike is strong doesn't mean he can fly. Or control zombie-ghost things, for that matter. Presumably the shape-changer has a lot worse up its sleeve, and this was just a minor test, or distraction, or personal amusement, for which it didn't need to exert itself much. But I don't think that just because it can change shape implies that it could create and control zombie-ghosts without the necessarily tools.

[malinaldarose.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if the principal could possibly know that Buffy is the Slayer. Principal Quark-Snyder knew, but I doubt it's the sort of thing that gets noted in a student's school file. Unless Principal Smiley (Robin Woods? Maybe there's a clue to his identity in his name.) got access to the files that the Mayor's assistant was keeping (though weren't they destroyed by Trick and the Mayor?), or is a part of the Watcher's Council himself (now that would be an interesting idea and not unlike them to position someone on the Hellmouth), how could he know.

On the other hand, he could just be a good guy who is a good judge of character and makes snap decisions.

And I seem to be Parenthetical Comment Girl suddenly (thank god you're here, Parenthetical Comment Girl!).

Scrappies *hee I love that*

[alphafem.livejournal.com]

My thought is that the talisman was made by the girl Scrappy. Just... a feeling I had. I think she's the 'new' Willow. Geeky girl experiments with magic, trying to make herself popular and ends up raising the dead. Happens all the time in schools around the country.
I had heard on various spoiler boards that this season's 'Big Bad' was supposed to be a shapeshifter, so maybe we did see them in the first episode. Or, maybe it was all a figment of Spike's imagination. He seemed to come back from his re-souling a little 'not right'.
And on another note, I might be wrong, but I don't think Snyder ever knew Buffy was the slayer. He knew she was a 'bad element' and that the mayor had it in for her, but as we all saw in the season finale that year, Snyder really had no clue as to what the mayor was up to. Although it's good they got a *tastier* principal this time around. I was worried the Hellmouth might be getting indigestion.

[yendi]

Fair enough. I just have trouble accepting that the Big Bid would be dumb enough to put the talisman in the bathroom, and I don't see what it would get out of testing Buffy. As I said, it's only one episode, so I'm fully prepared to find out that I'm wrong on every count.

[yendi]

"Just a good guy?" Ha! No such thing in the Buffyverse!

Re: Scrappies *hee I love that*

[yendi]

I'd heard the "Scrappies" term banded around all summer when rumors of Dawn getting a posse started up, so I can't take credit for it.

But yeah, the girl Scrappy is the one I'd say is likely (especially since we first meet her in the bathroom). I'm not sure if Snyder knew or not -- I thought he did (he covered up for one incident, as I recall), but I don't remember how much he ever mentioned.

[galdrin.livejournal.com]

I agree that it is wayyyyy too early for much speculation. I would comment, however, that I was left with the impression that the shapechanging whatever at the end with Spike was for Spike alone and really did not connect with the Buffy/Dawn segment at all - yet.

I also had a feeling that I was seeing the passing of the torch - from the Soobies to the Scrappies - as Dawn and her new buddies walked away down the hall toward class at the end.