School Spirits

9 May 2025: Besides a bit of work on my SSAWW paper and some little things on campus, I've been kind of lazy when it comes to work these past two days. And that's okay. One sign of that laziness? I just kind of randomly decided to start a new series on Paramount+, School Spirits. Since yesterday, I've watched the first six episodes and it is fun and smart, with some Veronica Mars and Buffy vibes. 

"Where'd she go?"

26 February 2025: I first saw Michelle Trachtenberg as Lily Benton way back in 1993. She must have been about eight. When she appeared in the last scene of "Buffy vs. Dracula," I clocked her as Lily right away. And then I just marveled at how well she played the very difficult role of Dawn--a character meant to be a lot and immature and annoying, but also just a kid. She nailed it. 

I keep thinking of the last scene of "The Body," where she asked, "Where'd she go?" as she reaches out to Joyce, with the scene ending just before she touches her. 

Hard to believe that kid is gone. I hope she rests in peace. 

"Buffy at 25: The Agony and The Ecstasy of ‘Becoming’"

16 May 2023: "When I was grieving over the loss of a very close friend, I’d often put that scene on to feel something. Sometimes it’d make me cry, sometimes it’d motivate me to get out of bed. It’s one of the most empowering pieces of media I’ve ever consumed. She’s got nothing left, but she sure as shit isn’t gonna go down without a fight. I think of her calm, “me” response often—it’s the kind of determination I can only hope to achieve." --Ian Carlos Crawford in this terrific piece on "Becoming," twenty-five (!) years later.  

Another Buffy post...

Now that I am thinking of it, I ought to link to a new favorite tumblr I stumbled across: BtVS Confessions. It's sort of like PostSecret for Buffy fans. I really agree with the one below. That scene kills me every time.

Buffy, Adam, and Age

Just today I was talking with a friend at work about how I never really feel "old" or that I am getting older in any negative kind of way. He more or less agreed.

And just today, I was talking with another colleague about how a bunch of her students are Whedon fans. That got me thinking about what the Whedon-verse means for them (as people in their late teens/early 20s) versus what it meant and continues to mean for those of us who are a bit older. I wondered to myself how timeless Whedon shows are.

So there's all that kicking around in my head...

Then, just a few minutes ago, I had the Buffy episode "Goodbye, Iowa," on in the background as I got some work done. The scene where Adam (a demon/robot/man hybrid) inserts a floppy disk into his chest...man, did that feel dated. More dated then anything else I can think of on Buffy, at least in terms of emotional resonance. I mean, it is an almost ridiculous image. I think I remember people saying almost immediately after it aired that that including that part of Adam was a silly and a weird decision by the writers. I think it must be because technology--specifically computer technology--so obviously and visually shows its age.

And if Buffy is old, then maybe I am, in fact, getting a bit older.

That ain't even a USB drive!

Oh well. I'm still okay with that. And again, there are all those young fans who still want to keep talking about these shows. I can deal with that, too. 

Spike is 50???

A friend sent me a link to this "where are they now" gallery of the Buffy cast. It's actually really comprehensive (including characters like Warren, Kendra, and Glory). Check it out!

Ouch!

I woke up this morning with a majorly swollen face--at least one side of it, anyway. Gross. It is still really swollen, too. Fortunately the pain isn't too awful (although it hurts to open too wide, talk too much, etc. and I am really sticking to my pill schedule because, boy, do I need them!).

Anyway, as I convalesce this evening, I am typing some notes for my Fanny Fern paper, working on my syllabi, and watching Buffy Season 4. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Buffy makes everything better. 

Happy birthday, Buffy!

Fifteen years ago today, Buffy premiered. I am marking the occasion by watching Season 4 while working on a book review.

A nice appreciation post here. And, like the writer, I too laugh every time I think about "Randy Giles."

A bit of a fall TV preview...

Some news on SMG's (that's Sarah Michelle Gellar, for those who aren't Buffy-philes) new show, Ringer. Count me in for the premiere. I hope it's good!

"Angela Chase...and 5 Other Deep TV Teens"

This is a pretty awesome list. Although I only watched one episode of Parenthood and didn't really care for it, I can totally get behind the other characters.

A couple of quick cross-posts (sort of) from my advanced comp class's blog...

1) I am THRILLED about Fringe's renewal. Take a look at this interesting piece about it. The piece's author explores how the TV landscape has changed since the days of Firefly. He also discusses the roles fans can play in "saving" a show.

Some important selections:

"Not so long ago, TV shows like 'Firefly,' 'Wonderfalls,' 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' and 'Dollhouse' were mourned by science fiction fans as having been canceled before their time, due -- as it always is -- to low ratings.

Another thing each had in common: They aired on Fox on Friday nights.

So observers of the TV world were surprised Thursday to learn of the network's renewal of the series 'Fringe' for a full fourth season after two months in a Friday timeslot."

 

2) Because there's a Buffy reference in it...

and because it's a very funny piece...

and because I love Adrianne Palicki (formerly of Friday Night Lights, one of the best TV shows ever...), who will be playing the new Wonder Woman...

and because it makes some great points about woman super heroes...

I am linking to this column about Wonder Woman's wardrobe. (Yeah--it's a doozy.) Good stuff.

Happy birthday, Buffy!

She's 30, which as everyone knows, is the new 20.

"We need more vampire slayers--just not more Buffy"

You must give this article a read. The comments, too. It's pretty great.

I am surprised that the author (and the comment-leavers) haven't mentioned Veronica Mars, which was, I thought, a great heir to the Buffy tradition.

Yeah, I still miss Veronica Mars. Bad.

Still an awful idea...

I've blogged about this before, but a new Buffy movie without Joss is an awful idea.

I think I need this...

Buffy the Vampire Slayer soda. You know, I do have a birthday coming up...

Two Quick Links...

1) I've been meaning to post this one for a long time: the unaired Buffy pilot. Worth checking out if you are a big Buffy fan. The biggest difference, of course, is the actress playing Willow. You can get more info about the pilot here and here.

2) Holla Back DC! Fighting back against street harassment. There's at least one good 4Cs paper in here, isn't there?

Things that make grading better...

1) Buffy Season 3 DVDs. Normally, I can't even have the TV on while grading. Buffy and Angel are just about the only exceptions. (Actually musicals work, too.) I sit at the dining room table with the episodes playing in the living room, occasionally looking up or stopping. In a way, because I know them so well, Buffy episodes are the video equivalent of "study music" for me. Note: this only works for ENGL 204 papers and--I hope--final exams. Sure, I get sucked in every once in a while, but so far, rediscovering this awesome season (it's been awhile!) has been terrific.

2) The Very Best of Nat King Cole playing on my ipod. Perfect for grading seminar papers or capstone projects. I was inspired to put this album into rotation after hearing this piece on NPR. A brief quotation from it:
"Nat King Cole's voice was liquid, soothing. His pitch was impeccable. And there's a word you hear a lot when people talk about Nat King Cole: relaxed.

'When you start listening to him, one of the most important things is he keeps you relaxed,' says Cole's younger brother, Freddie Cole.

'The amazing thing about Nat's voice is that it has this kind of incandescent quality to it,' music historian Will Friedwald says. 'It's like some kind of magic spell is being cast.'"

Absolutely. So yeah, this might make me seem like a 70 year old man or something, but it works for me.
3) This album. Yeah, I know I am late getting on board with these guys and the very fact that I think they are pretty cool means that they are already uncool for most actual cool people, but it's the best I can do. What can I say? The songs just make me happy...and the ones that don't are great songs to grade to. Bonuses: the album puts me in the summer spirit and I've woken up every morning this week to Track #1. Not bad at all.

4) One of these, vanilla-flavored, please. Surprisingly delicious and easily accessible in small-town Shepherdstown. This one can backfire, though. Yesterday I had a stomach ache all day. Not fun. That happens a lot with me and coffee.
5) An everything bagel and a soda at Panera. I've got to drive to Ranson or Hagerstown for this, but there is (for me) no better place to get grading done. Comfy seats and tables, a (relatively) quiet atmosphere, and breakfast for less than $3.00? Awesome. I turn on my ipod and can work for an hour and a half straight. (I feel weird staying any longer than that!)

6) Short blogging breaks. Like this one. And since I said "short," I better get back to work!

More on Buffy vs. Twilight

The creator of that awesome clip writes about why he made it here.

Some key passages:

"As an aspiring feminist guy, I wanted to speak out about issues of sexism and gender oppression in media but I wanted to do so carefully and intentionally. That’s why I chose to focus my critique on Edward’s patriarchal behavior in Twilight rather than on Bella’s actions. I didn’t feel it was my place to lecture her on desire (even in remix form), especially since her character is already disempowered by the original screenplay to the point of absurdity. So I built each scene around Edward, and then looked for appropriate responses from Buffy. Sorting through seven seasons worth of witty dialog and dramatic footage from Buffy was a lot of fun, and telling the tale through her and her friends’ perspective allows us to understand the messages underlying the mythology of the film and the TV show in a new way – and to enjoy the process. I should note that I am not the first to make this critique of the Twilight series, nor did I invent the process of re-imagining pop culture stories. I was inspired by women who have been creating fan fiction as self-conscious creative communities since before I was born. I was heavily influenced by fannish vidding as well as by feminist critiques of popular culture, especially those of bell hooks, whose writings have helped opened my eyes on issues of race, gender and love."

But I think this is my favorite part:

"In the end the only reasonable response was to have Buffy stake Edward – not because she didn’t find him sexy, not because he was too sensitive or too eager to share his feelings – but simply because he was possessive, manipulative, and stalkery."

Buffy vs. Twilight

Here's the set-up for this most excellent video clip: "In this remixed narrative, Edward Cullen from the Twilight Series meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer at Sunnydale High. It's an example of transformative storytelling serving as a pro-feminist visual critique of Edward's character and generally creepy behavior. Seen through Buffy's eyes some of the more patriarchal gender roles and sexist Hollywood themes embedded in the Twilight saga are exposed in hilarious ways."



Having never read a word of any of the Twilight books, I am in no position to speak too critically of them, but it's pretty clear that Twilight is no Buffy.

UPDATE: My good friend "Someday Ph.D." puts it all even better than I could have. Have a read, won't you?

Worst idea ever...

A Buffy movie without Joss Whedon? Get out of here.