tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20051585681871875832024-03-07T01:12:37.139-08:00ShinyA new e-zine of Young Adult speculative fictionShinyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07422159345547001571noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-38276738614439020822009-09-14T20:31:00.000-07:002009-09-14T20:32:11.558-07:00Shiny ClosesIssue 6 will be the final issue of <span style="font-style:italic;">Shiny</span>. Twelfth Planet Press originally launched <span style="font-style:italic;">Shiny</span> to experiment with the webzine form, and to carve out an audience for YA short stories. With the overwhelmingly enthusiastic support for Twelfth Planet Press' print publications, both by paying readers and submitting authors, and with so many new books planned for the 2010 and 2011 schedules, it's time to let <span style="font-style:italic;">Shiny</span> go.<br /><br />In just over 2 years, <span style="font-style:italic;">Shiny</span> published 18 stories, 9 by Australians. "Cracks," by Trent Jamieson (Issue 2) won the 2008 Aurealis Award for Best YA Short Story and reminded us that good stories get noticed, no matter the published format. It was with extreme pride that we watched our little e-magazine that could, <span style="font-style:italic;">Shiny</span>, get flashed up in the Aurealis Award presentation slide show.<br /><br />It has been an honour to work with both my fellow editors, Ben Payne, Tansy Rayner Roberts and Tehani Wessely, and all the writers who have together made <span style="font-style:italic;">Shiny</span> a fun, exciting and worthwhile project to work on. Thank you to the loyal supporters who read and enjoyed the stories in the 6 issues, over the last two years.<br /><br />An option of the return of outstanding subscriptions via paypal or credit towards other Twelfth Planet Press products will be offered to those with subscriptions beyond Issue 6.Shinyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07422159345547001571noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-84073307274369751702009-07-23T07:02:00.000-07:002009-07-23T07:05:21.878-07:00Top 10 Buffy Episodes of all TimeDen of Geek released their <A href="http://denofgeek.com/television/291089/top_10_buffy_the_vampire_slayer_episodes.html">Top 10 list of Buffy episodes of all time</a><br /><br />I'm not sure I've thought about it hard enough to come up with my own list but it'd be hard to diasagree with the top 3:<br /><br />1. Hush<br />2. The Body<br />3. The Gift<br /><br />Though I'd probably put Hush at three.<br /><br />How bout you? What's your list look like?Alisa Krasnosteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998430128376197754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-18303832222203686052009-06-21T06:19:00.000-07:002009-06-21T06:20:50.735-07:00Stalking is not exactly a turn on for a girl, you knowEdward Cullen meets Buffy The Vampire Slayer<br /><br />(not kind to Edward, beware!)<br /><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AYGK5kyJ53Q" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="720" height="436" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>Alisa Krasnosteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998430128376197754noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-83097533470613035092009-06-09T03:37:00.000-07:002009-06-09T03:39:15.571-07:00Shiny Issue 5The latest issue of <i>Shiny</i> was released last Friday. <i>Issue 5</i> was edited by Alisa Krasnostein, Ben Payne and Tehani Wessely.<br /><br />The Table of Contents:<br /><br />"Like Us" by Tansy Rayner Roberts<br />"Root" by Emily Mah<br />"Paper Dragons" by Sue Isle<br /><br />Nonfiction<br />"Reading Like a Teenager" by Tansy Rayner Roberts<br /><br /><a href="http://shinymag.blogspot.com/">Issue 5 can be purchased on its own or as part of a subscription. </a>Alisa Krasnosteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998430128376197754noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-35009289592524141922009-06-03T05:45:00.000-07:002009-06-03T06:08:57.608-07:00BtVS: 3.04 Beauty and the BeastsRachel says:<br />There is not much to say about this very straightforward episode. Although it holds some interest as a mystery, there's nothing in it for repeat viewings. Pete and Debbie play out a Jekyll and Hyde story. We wonder if the killer is Oz, is it Angel? It's kind of a disappointment that it's Pete, the non-regular. In the end, Angel saves the day - and he is saved.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Great. Now I'm going to be stuck with serious thoughts all day."</span> - Cordelia<br /><br />However there has been some kerfuffle about the internets this week <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i666afabc28491e6a2f12dfb80c0f7098">regarding a Buffy movie</a>. The Kuzuis - whose names you will recognise from the opening credit sequence of every episode of <span style="font-style:italic;">BtVS</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">Angel</span> - are looking at taking advantage of the rights they hold having produced the original Buffy movie to relaunch the franchise. <br /><br />I'm actually not in favour of a Buffy movie at all. I think it would not have an audience outside of Buffy fandom and would probably go the way of <span style="font-style:italic;">Serenity</span> for the general public. ie a decent stand alone that has some bits that don't make sense. The Buffy franchise (if we want to look at it as a living thing) doesn't need a movie or "re-booting" at the moment, it lives in comic form and is very healthy in terms of tie-in products (calendars, action figures, novels...)<br /><br />But you can't argue that Kuzui Enterprises wasn't smart holding onto the rights for that long. If Fran and Kaz think they can make a go of it, why not let them? Either it'll be something we can enjoy or something we can forget exists. Like Star Wars I-III. But they're not doing their creative careers any favours by not pursuing a new story.<br /><br /><br />Alisa says:<br />I also am not in favour of the movie. I don't want a reboot. The whole point of Buffy, as we have talked about at length is the scoobs and without them, I'm not sure I'm interested. And more to the point, the movie completely sucked and I only saw it twice at the cinema cause Dylan from 90210 was in it.Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-40116199984752303832009-05-20T03:10:00.000-07:002009-05-20T03:18:27.043-07:00BtVS: 3.03 Faith, Hope and TrickAlisa says:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I'm gonna go out on a limb and say there's a new slayer in town.</span><br /><br />I'm loving Oz so much in this rewatching. I think that's a sign of a good ensemble cast show that you can watch it over and over and enjoy the storylines from different character perspectives each time. I love how Oz is so unflappable, often steps in as referee and whilst so cool and calm, finds empathy for most people in most situations.<br /><br />Whilst this is another Monster of the Week episode, and random boy of the week (is Hope in here purely for the use of his name in the episode title?) there is much meta arc development afoot. Firstly the most divine Faith joins the cast - yay! Secondly we see Joyce start to accept Buffy for who she is and the enormity of the role she plays:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">When did you die? You never told me that you died.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I've tried to march in the Slayer Pride Parade</span><br /><br />And finally we get the unbelievable hot naked and sweaty Angel leap onto the screen at the very end! Angel! He is not dead!!! And wouldn't you know it, just like they tell me all the time, just when Buffy is starting to move on and past him, he shows back up. Typical!<br /><br />Rachel says:<br />Yeah, a new slayer in town wearing the worst outfit ever committed to film. That's a seriously unfortunate first impression, but you know, it's meant to be. We're not supposed to like her. And even though we do, I think it's only because of all the weight the character has built up over the years. Here, not so much. She's shallow and self-centred, tough, but not lovable.<br /><br />The character I really love in this episode is Mr Trick. And I'm so glad, out of all the bit parts (Scott especially), he's the one that we get to see more of. His big picture, high tech approach to everything is very inspiring.<br /><br />As for Angel returning from the undead/dead? Thank goodness for it. I was sick of all the dream sequences to justify Boreanaz's spot in the opening credits.Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-22271297836157657862009-05-13T02:58:00.000-07:002009-05-13T03:02:40.156-07:00BtVS: 3.02 Dead Man's PartyAlisa says:<br />So I already mentioned how much I don't love the Monster of the Week episodes, right? This is the zombie episode and well ... meh. The only bit I think I really and truly love is when Buffy and her Mum are having the awkward fight at her Welcome Home party and Buffy starts yelling at people and singles out Jonathan, <span style="font-style:italic;">"Anyone else want to weigh in? How 'bout you, over by the dip!"</span><br />Love it! It's one of my all time favourite lines.<br /><br />Underlying all the zombie mayhem, and flashing eyes, there's the fact that Buffy's friends didn't let her get away with bailing after the Angel confrontation. She seriously betrayed their trust and friendship and whilst uncomfortable, they force her to face up to and address it. Friendship underpins this series and is what I love about it.<br /><br />Yay - the Scoobs are back! Bring on Season 3 proper!<br /><br />Rachel says:<br />The awkwardness between best friends is really well played here - haven't we all been there? Where you want everything to be alright, but it just isn't?<br /><br />I have to disagree and say I quite like the use of zombies. Although the metaphor's a little obvious - all the problems Buffy tried to bury are coming back after her - how can you go past that cat? <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"I think you should call it Patches."</span><br /><br />And Giles is just terrific, his slayer is safely returned, but he isn't off the hook. <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Do you like my mask? Isn't it pretty. It raises the dead!"</span><br /><br />Actually the whole episode is filled with quotable lines (Nighthawk, dip, tingly feelings). For a Monster of the Week episode, this one's more than adequate. Killing off Pat - we all have one of those we'd like to shovel through the eyes - yet the arc is still moving forward with the Scoobies reconciled by the end, but not without a fight.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Talking about it isn't helping, we might as well try some violence."</span>Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-90380902174403342892009-05-06T04:11:00.000-07:002009-05-06T04:33:50.160-07:00BtVS: 3.01 AnneAlisa says:<br />I think it's becoming plain that I like the Monster of the Week episodes less than the ones that move the meta story arc or offer character development. <br /><br />I always think this is such a banal filler episode to introduce the third season after such a climatic finale for Season 2. You notice how Buffy is always out of town for summer vacation? Why doesn't she just want to hang out with her friends?<br /><br />Thanks Cordelia for the phrase: "and I use sarcastic quote marks" I'm so stealing that one! <br /><br />And of course, the most memorable line from this episode: <span style="font-style:italic;">Can I be Anne?</span><br />Don't we all have days when we want to start over and just ... be Anne?<br /><br />Rachel says:<br />It's Chantarelle/Lily/Anne! My favourite of all the recurring characters.<br />Really dislike Buffy in this episode. I really hate that she's given up - it's so demoralising and powerless.<br /><br />Another Hell dimension? So soon?<br /><br />I agree, Alisa, this is a very banal episode, not a great start to the season!<br /><br />Although I don't mind her going away over the summer. After all, we've been away from her too, and her catching up with Willow and Xander gives us a chance to find out what they've all been up to. And I wouldn't want to begrudge her any time with her Dad.Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-31801203902478365762009-04-29T04:11:00.000-07:002009-04-29T04:30:54.713-07:00BtVS: 2.22 Becoming Part 2Rachel says:<br />The Acathla thing really is ridiculous. Sucked into Hell? They just don't think these things through do they? In which episode does it become a "hell dimension"? Are they just using "Hell" as a generic term to describe the experience? Hell, I can't stop saying it. Hell.<br /><br />Hang on, if Acathla sucks the whole world into Hell, where does that leave Acathla? Standing in a void?<br /><br />But things to like about this one, there are some; I love Spike as the level headed character, it's sad to see him and Dru go at the end of the episode.<br /><br />Swordfight! Pretty convincing choreography, one of the best fight sequences of recent episodes.<br /><br />Xander's vindictive streak, although I of course hate that he's lying to both Buffy and Willow, adds such a great dimension to his character that I love it as well. It's something that lurks under the surface, one of the things that makes him so human.<br /><br />But Joyce, being also quite human, fails as a parent - you never want to say something that you're not going to be able to follow through!<br /><br />The costuming is a little obvious in its themes during this and Part 1 of Becoming. The coat changes from the cheery, hopeful blue with clean confident lines to a shapeless brown number. The fight outfit is minimal (although the way she tends to stride into battle with heels always irritates me), with the silver cross displayed prominently in the v of her black shirt.<br /><br />In the final scene she is in a hobo outfit that really had no place belonging in her wardrobe at all - overalls, giant jumper, brown vinyl bag from an op-shop. What were they thinking? <br /><br />Buffy's leaving is pretty dumb too, sure she's lost Angel (yeah, I snivelled again) but she still has her friends. Who are ace. And she needs to say sorry for being a dumbass and leaving them while Drusilla strolls in a wreaks the joint.<br /><br />However this was a really shocking way to end a season. Was it ever really done in television before this? Have, not really a dramatic cliffhanger, but a deep sense of hopelessness. But as we now know, this is so typically Joss.<br /><br />Alisa says:<br />Heh - Buffy's ooh if I wear a horrible brown coat and black beanie, I will look incognito! Surely not if you are the only person wearing the brown coat and black beanie and everyone else is not dressed for winter?<br /><br />Being a big fan of Whistler and his interfering to push things in the direction he wants: <br />Buffy: <i>What are you, just some immortal demon sent down to even the score between good and evil?</i><br />Whistler: (impressed)<i> Wow. Good guess.</i> (grins)<br /><br />This episode is such a powerful and strong ending to a great season.<br />In the end, you're always by yourself. You're all you've got. <br />That's the point. <br /><br />Which is sometimes the point in this show and sometimes not. Often it's about friendship and the people who have your back and how you wouldn't be able to do things without them. But then when it's the big hard crunchy decisions that are unpopular to make - those are the ones the hero must make alone, I guess. Like in this episode and in The Gift and so on.Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-36421367472043247662009-03-15T21:03:00.000-07:002009-03-15T21:15:02.266-07:00BtVS: 2.21 Becoming Part 1Alisa says:<br />I loved rewatching this episode. I found it funny how a lot of the scenes were familiar yet I hadn't associated them as belonging to this episode. This is mostly, I guess, because of the enormity of the episode to follow. Yet this episode contains so much overall backstory. It's here we glimpse some of Angel's life history including when he was sired. We see snippets of Drusilla before she was turned. <br /><br />We discover that Buffy was the motivating force for Angel to come out of his 90 year mooch-fest and join the real world - and that he knew about her long before they meet in Sunnydale, Angel having watched her get called. And that him watching that moment was what made him want to stand up and be counted. Whistler is a favourite character of mine - too underplayed and should so have gotten more screentime. He works well to hint at the greater worldbuilding for us - that not all demons want to end the world and that there might be some bigger fight at play. <br /><br />It occurred to me on this viewing that Willow channelling all the energy to re-curse Angel was perhaps the opening of the door that became very hard for her to shut again, in the end. <br /><br />It was nice to see that Jenny was working on the curse for Buffy and Angel in her private time - that she really was part of the posse and not out to get them.<br /><br />I love this episode. I love the drama of Dru coming in to kidnap Giles, that she so easily kills Kendra, that it shows how powerful she is in her own right even though she so often stands off to the side and watches and claps. Xander standing up and reminding everyone that it's not so clear cut - that Buffy wants to ignore the murder so she can have her boyfriend back - because oh that it were that simple!!<br /><br />I love the building to the climax episode. I'm a fan of the costuming department and the use of the coats for Buffy throughout the show. The blue one is so great and wears so well for all the really dramatic shots in this and the next episode - when she faces Angelus down and then when she runs back through the streets and round the halls of the school - its lines are long and clean and they make her look powerful and strong and simultaneously small.<br /> <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Buffy: This is a beautiful moment we're having. Can we please fight?<br />Angelus: Gosh, I was hoping we could get back together. What do you think? Do we have a shot? (gets a look from Buffy) Alright. We'll fight.</span><br /><br />I love how Angelus is always teasing her because she falls every time for thinking it's about her and it never is, it's always a trap. And one of the best suspenseful moments is when Buffy realises it was a trap and discovers her whole world (the library and her friends in it) in disarray. <br /><br />And I love the voice over at the end of this episode:<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Bottom line is, even if you see 'em coming, you're not ready for the big moments. No one asks for their life to change, not really. But it does. So what are we, helpless? Puppets? No. The big moments are gonna come. You can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that counts. That's when you find out who you are. You'll see what I mean.</span><br /><br />That's just awesomely brilliant writing. Does he meant for the next episode or for everything that happens after this moment? I love the way this show is written such that it is internally consistent and holds up all the way to the very end. <br /><br />Rachel says:<br />Actually I kind of hate the voiceover. <br /><br />Also, Alisa has said everything that could possibly be said about Becoming Part 1 except the best line of the episode:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"It's a big rock. Can't wait to tell my friends. They don't have a rock this big."</span> - SpikeRachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-91723794269810080382009-02-03T20:36:00.000-08:002009-02-03T20:37:28.522-08:00Final Day For ONE DOLLAR SHINY DEALToday is the last day you can get Shiny Issue 2 for $1 all this week in celebration of Trent Jamieson's Aurealis Award win for Best Young Adult short story for "Cracks"! <br /><br />It's ONE DOLLAR!! What better value??? Here's a sneak peek at Trent Jamieson's award winning story: <br /><br /><br />Cracks <br /><br />The dark is the dark. The song is the song.<br /><br /><br />The shadows were boiling to midday when Lolly Robson found me by the river, my feet dangling over the bank, not touching earth so I could get some peace. He grinned, that crooked stunning smile, and spat a wasteful spit on the ground like it was a challenge, like everything for Lolly was a challenge to be spat out. “Jean. I got need of you.” <br /><br />“Yes I see that,” I said in my old voice. The voice that isn’t mine, but that’s all me, which you’d understand if you had what I had, and maybe you do. “And don’t be all spitting and short with me, boy. Just because I was raised peculiar, don’t mean you have the right.” <br /><br />Lolly looked almost abashed, but he didn’t say sorry. Robson boys don’t. They’re haughty. Pretty too. <br />“I like your dress,” he said, kind of charming. <br /><br />I fixed him with a black stare. “Flattery, boy. Too hot for flattery.” Though I liked it. He was a Robson after all. Not that I’d show my pleasure. “What’s your need?” <br /><br />We’d done our dance. Lolly understood, and took the direct path, and snatched back a bit of the old voice’s respect. <br /><br />“Snake’s bit my mum.” He touched his bicep, then a point above his wrist, near where he would be cut when he came of age, like all the Robson boys were cut. "Here and here. She's dying."Shinyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07422159345547001571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-19293621261397109872009-02-03T20:33:00.000-08:002009-02-03T20:35:17.030-08:00Shiny Swancon Young Adult Short Story Competition<a href="http://shinymag.blogspot.com">Shiny</a> and <a href="http://2009.swancon.com.au">Swancon 2009: Contact</a> are proud to announce the 2009 Shiny Swancon Young Adult Short Story Competition. <br /><br />Judging the competition will be Alisa Krasnostein and Tehani Wessely of <i>Shiny</i> along with a third, as yet unconfirmed, judge. Eligible stories should be both speculative fiction and young adult in nature, with a word limit of 3000 words. <br /><br />Entry to this competition is free and open to those aged 16 and under, and participation certificates will be provided for all entrants. <br /><br />Submissions for the competition are due by March 20th, 10pm WST time. <br /><br />Please submit your entries electronically in .rtf format to: shinystories@gmail.com with the subject heading 'Swancon Young Adult Short Story Competition'. <br /><br />1st Prize is $25, subscription to the <i>Shiny</i> 2009 series and the complete <i>Shiny</i> back issues. <br />Two runners up will be awarded <i>Shiny</i> 2009 series and the complete <i>Shiny</i> back issues. <br /><br />Prizes will be awarded at the judges' discretion. All judges' decisions are final and winners will be notified by email and announced at the Swancon Awards Ceremony on Sunday April 12th 2009. <br /><br />Information about this competition can also be found on the Swancon <a href="http://2009.swancon.com.au/yashortstorywebsite">website</a>Shinyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07422159345547001571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-5384126589576249152009-01-27T18:24:00.000-08:002009-01-27T18:29:04.731-08:00Shiny Congratulates Trent Jamieson!Shiny congratulates Trent Jamieson on his Aurealis Award win for "Cracks" which appeared in <span style="font-style:italic;">Shiny's Issue 2</span>.<br /><br />In celebration, we are offering the issue with the award winning story for just $1 for all this week.<br /><br />We're also offering all <span style="font-style:italic;">Shiny</span> back issues for free for subscriptions to the 2009 series, purchased this week. Already got all our back issues? Nominate a friend who you think would love to read them instead!<br /><br />Both offers finish February 4, 2009.<br /><br />Look out for more Shiny changes over here - coming soon!Alisa Krasnosteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07998430128376197754noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-79442764898853747702009-01-05T01:00:00.000-08:002009-01-05T01:00:00.940-08:00BtVS: 2.20 Go FishRachel says:<br />For a monster of the week episode <span style="font-style:italic;">Go Fish</span> is really well put together. Although the costumes were never very convincing due to their design (bipedal water monsters? Huh?). I like the way there's the swimmy/water/sea theme through it all. Even the drug is administered in a moist, and yes, clothing-minimal, environment.<br /><br />But the best part is Cordy's speech to the fish creature she thinks is Xander. The way her character grows in the last part of this season is great, and I think this is the first speech where she is entirely selfless. Gives us a peek at the woman she becomes in <span style="font-style:italic;">Angel</span>.<br /><br /><br />Alisa says:<br />Poor Jonathan is the guy being picked on at the swim team post-meet party. Setting aside how funny it used to be able to spot "Random Guy" as we used to call him (always the same guy as random person), it must have really sucked to actually be Jonathan, considering his Sunnydale experience.<br /> <br />But this episode is pretty much all about the Xander in the Speedos right? <br /><br />Am I wrong?<br /><br />That, and stalling for what we know is coming ...<br /> <br />*girds loins for episodes 2.21 and 2.22*Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-41809889249274545172009-01-02T00:52:00.000-08:002009-01-02T01:00:07.340-08:00BtVS: 2.19 I Only Have Eyes For YouAlisa says:<br />I love the music in this episode. Actually, I love the music in pretty much all the episodes but the opening song to this one had me tracking down Angie Hart's new band of the time (Splendid) and fell in love with that whole album. <br /><br />This episode marks the start of Willow's journey as a witch as she conveniently steps into the role of Miss Calendar by inheriting all her notes and files. And reveals that Principal Snyder is bad, as we suspected, and is in fact in with the bad guys. Not only that, but here we have the first foreshadowing if the Mayor also being on the side of, well, bad.<br /><br />I have so much sympathy for Spike in this episode as Angelus constantly taunts him about being "Special Needs Guy" and keeps insinuating that he is sleeping with Drusilla and that Drusilla likes it. I find it a really interesting peek into that group's dynamics because it does look like Dru likes sleeping with Angelus, yet Spike clearly has a monogamous thing going for her from his perspective. It makes me wonder how icky things got back when they all used to hang out. <br /><br />So for me, the awesome awesome awesome moment in this episode comes when Buffy and Aneglus relive the moment/tragedy of the killing because they get to go through their own love story using someone else's words and it's so heart-wrenching with the tenderness and the Buffy/Angel theme in the background. Also, Buffy gets to call Angelus a bitch, which is really funny. And then the scene moves from tender to hilarious when Angelus comes to and can't deal with the kissing and the love and has to go and have a long shower. He could have just as easily killed her where she was, especially as she is in a very vulnerable state. But he can't deal with love more than the wanting to kill her. It's really cool the themes that Joss Whedon is playing with here.<br /> <br />And the big Yay! as Spike is planning to fight back and betray Dru and Angelus - oooh! Dram-ah! <br /><br />Rachel says:<br />This ep is very similar to "Out of sight, out of mind" with the music room and atmosphere and all. <br /><br />But there are guns! Guns are bad. <br /><br />Love is bad. <br /><br />Angel is bad.<br /> <br />Any questions?<br /><br />Oh come on, it's all about lurve and romance and the One True, um, One, what do you expect me to say?Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-89108483680087299872008-12-08T23:12:00.000-08:002008-12-08T23:57:18.610-08:00BtVS: 2.18 Killed By DeathAlisa says:<br />Here we have another break in the intensity of the season arc with a Buffy Needs Some Rest episode. Buffy gets sick - which is a bit weird because she's the Slayer; she never gets sick. But, the break works because otherwise, Come On! Someone kill someone already! The fight scene in the beginning of the episode between Sick!Buffy and Angelus reminded me of how she didn't just kill him when she had the chance last episode.<br /> <br />I think though that I'm not the biggest fan of the break in intensity episodes. I noticed random things like the fact that the creepy music for the monster roaming around in the hospital is the music that use for the menu on the DVDs. I also noticed the great credit shot, right at the end after Buffy kills the monster.<br /> <br />This episode does have some awesome moments though. The confrontation between Xander and Angelus where Xander has no chance of stopping Angelus, if he really had to, but that fact doesn't get in the way of him trying to protect Buffy and will damn well go down trying. We see that Xander is a hero. Or a hero in the making.<br /> <br />Verdict: <span style="font-style:italic;">"Tact is just not saying true stuff."</span><br /><br />Rachel says:<br />I dunno, there's something really horrible in the mundanity of Buffy having the flu. And as you may have gathered, I prefer these off-arc episodes. There's only so much you can do with Buffy vs Angelus given that they can never kill each other - otherwise the show would've had a much shorter run! <br /><br />For this week's monster we get the Kinderstott who is just the right amount of yuck. He almost looks like an elderly person (surely the most terrifying real life thing that kids ever face) but then has the nasty teeth and eyes that eat you. Which is what old people threaten to do to kids. "Oh, you're so adorable I could just eat you up!" It really hits the buttons in what is scary for a kid. Not to mention that it's something the adults can't see and don't believe in.<br /><br />Other neat scenes in this episode are Cordelia distracting the security guard, Willow's "Frogs! Frogs!" moment and the sequence where we get a little peek into Buffy's childhood. I know I had never thought of her as a little girl before this.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"I feel fine. I mean, the world's spinning a little bit, but I like it. It's like a ride."</span>Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-48700584606817989652008-12-04T21:54:00.000-08:002008-12-05T01:29:31.557-08:00BtVS: 2.17 PassionRachel says:<br />This was the first Buffy episode to make me cry, and it turns out, it still does. Not Jenny's death per se, but Buffy and Willow's response. So heartbreaking. The other standout sequence is the chase between Angelus and Jenny. The camera angles, editing and low lighting all create a superbly creepy and scary run through the school culminating in the horrible neck snap.<br />The scene in Giles apartment, where he thinks Jenny is waiting for him upstairs (and I suppose she is) is brilliantly portrayed by Giles, almost to the point where you think there has been some mistake and Jenny really is waiting for him. *sob*<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"You know, I think there may be a valuable lesson for you gals here about inviting strange men into your bedrooms."</span><br /><br />Alisa says:<br /><br />I think this episode raises the stakes for the audience. It's here, at the climax of this episode, we learn that all the rules don't apply in Jossverse and that all bets are off - anyone can die, even a main player. And so too, Angelus kills Jenny in an almost anticlimatic, off-hand way, such that I think it becomes all the more shocking and heartbreaking. He doesn't break a sweat. He doesn't stalk and play with her (much). He just does it. Dramatically and with a gorgeous backdrop of the night, framed in that window. And he glorifies in it too but more so because of the anticipated effect on Buffy than for the kill itself.<br /><br />This episode is about passion and the bookend narration is by Angelus. I think this works beautifully to use the change in POV to show that we, the viewers, should expect the unexpected. That this is not all going to go the way we want it to go. Evil, Angelus may be, but as Willow points out, he is still obsessed with Buffy. Sort of the dark to the lightness that went before.<br /><br />Even having watched this episode many times before, I still cried in that moment that Giles calls Buffy to tell her what has happened. And it works well. Despite watching it from afar, removed, with Angelus looking through the window, it's still very powerful and desperately sad. And there is a really great shot of Buffy as she sinks down to the ground, absorbing the enormity of what has happened and you can see the realisation dawn to her that this is *real*.<br /><br />I want to finish by saying how rightly it depicts how CREEPY it is for one's Vampire to sit and watch one sleep. (*cough* Bella Swan *cough*)Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-21559007528190541862008-12-02T18:01:00.001-08:002008-12-02T18:01:23.902-08:00Shiny Issue 4<A href="http://thefix-online.com/reviews/shiny-4/">The Fix</a> have given <i>Shiny 4</i> are really great review. Thanks <lj user="punktortoise"> for the heads up.<br /><br />Of Bren MacDibble's "Being Bella Wang", Smith writes: <i>In this short tale, MacDibble expertly evokes an exotic locale full of magic, as well as vivid, interesting characters with a strong bond.</i><br /><br />Of Michael Merriam's "All the Leaves Your Bed”, she says: <i>Merriam deftly skirts the well of sentiment that could so easily have drowned this story, and takes it to surprising places. There is an image near the end that is simply breathtaking.</i><br /><br />And of Rhonda Parrish’s “Skitter Skitter,” - <i>Parrish does a great job with teen exasperation as Chloe describes their progress, often talking in the purple clichés of teen writing... The rest will please readers who like the illogic of go-for-the-grue horror.</i><br /><br />Take advantage of our special promo and purchase <i>Issues 4</i> and <i>5</i> for the special price of $5 and get <i>Issue 4</i> in your inbox now and <i>Issue 5</i> very very soon. <form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><br /><input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick"><br /><input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="1610393"><br /><input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_AU/i/btn/btn_buynowCC_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt=""><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_AU/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1"><br /></form>Shinyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07422159345547001571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-43418806067964331432008-11-30T21:36:00.000-08:002008-11-30T21:53:56.814-08:00BtVS: 2.16 Bewitched, Bothered and BewilderedAlisa says:<br />For a very long time I used to say this was my least favourite episode of the whole series. Hated it even. But having just rewatched it twice in recent weeks (let's not talk about bad notetaking), I think in truth, it's quite a fun little episode. We have Xander subverting the gender stereotype and being the lovelorn teenager who convinces Amy to cast a love spell to get Cordelia to love him (and take back the breakup which she so heartlessly delivers on Valentines Day). Course, as is a must in Jossverse, the spell goes horribly wrong and every girl <span style="font-style: italic;">but</span> Cordelia, including Buffy, Willow, Drusilla, Joyce, Miss Calendar and even Amy, comes after Xander with lovelust. I love the moment that Cordelia finds out he cast the spell for her -<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Would've worked fine, except your hide's so thick, not even magic can penetrate it!" </span><br />It's funny because it's true - you can always rely on Cordelia to avoid the glamour and see the world as it is and not for how others want her to. So often the spells miss her - like the one on the previous Halloween with Ethan's spell on the costumes for example. And she proves her true colours at the end of the episode when she tells Harmony where to stick it and stalks off after Xander. Yay!<br /><br />I think my favourite bit (apart from Buffy's, <span style="font-style: italic;">"I seem to have a slight case of nudity here"</span>) is where Oz comes up to hit Xander because Oz had listened to Willow cry for an hour on the phone the night before ... over Xander. But that's just cause I have the Oz Love.<br /><br />So why did I hate this episode for so long? I think it's because Buffy is hardly in it. She was guesting on Saturday Night Live the week they taped it and so they did all her bits on the Monday and she took off. In retrospect, she actually appears for a good half of the episode, and these days I am less Buffy obsessed so it didn't bother me as much. Though I will say that it's a very distinct break in the Angel-goes-psycho plot-line and for me I think I always felt jarred by the standalone nature of this episode after so much season arc.<br /><br />Rachel says:<br />Just plain fun. They went all out with this, ramping up the absurd to hilarious levels. It's never scary - even with all the chasing and the axes and the kitchen knives - because it is just so crazy. Although it's painful watching Buffy debase herself in such a way, mega points to Xander for coming through.<br />I love that Angel gets chased away from Xander by Drusilla and it's good to see Amy again- she's starting to turn bad!! A real cheer-er upper which is refreshing after all the arc-heavy angst of recent episodes. We even discover that Oz's band's name is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dingoes_Ate_My_Baby">Dingoes Ate My Baby</a> - suitably wrong but a little thrill for us Australian fans.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"And you know what? I'll date whoever the hell I wanna date. No matter how lame he is."</span>Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-21296219947481613012008-11-27T01:45:00.000-08:002008-11-27T01:45:00.946-08:00BtVS: 2.15 PhasesRachel says:<br />This episode works on every level for me. Oz has the horrible discovery that he's a werewolf, and it's a genuine surprise to the rest of us too. The fake out with Larry is wonderful, I just love his speech to Xander in the change room.<br /><br />Buffy is clearly still cut up by Angel, but is able to (or the writers were able to) put it aside long enough to get on with the job. Saves us all dying of boredom, which is a real danger when characters rant and wail endlessly.<br /><br />The werewolf costume still looks great, so many years later. I guess we've reached the pinnacle in dog suit technology (furry joke not intended). The Oz-wolf morph is also worth a mention, although the tech used is obvious, it's convincing.<br /><i>"Welcome to the mystery that is men. I think it goes something like, they grow body hair, they lose all ability to tell you what they really want."</i><br /><br />Alisa says:<br />One of the things I love about Buffy is the constant self-referential and in-jokes. This episode opens with Oz looking at the cheerleading trophy that has Amy's mum, the witch, trapped inside it - her eyes follow you where ever you go. There's also a really cool foreshadowing moment for the rewatcher when Oz defends Willow to the bullies by saying she is an evil mastermind. Uh-huh. If only you knew.<br /><br />This is an okay episode that brings Oz into Buffy's circle in his own right. I like how nonchalantly he finds out and deals with being a werewolf - almost but not quite like it's not a big deal.Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-20696160886197383352008-11-24T01:45:00.000-08:002008-11-24T02:04:28.433-08:00BtVS: 2.14 InnocenceAlisa says:<br />Or the loss of ...<br /><br />Oh poor sweet innocent Buffy! That has got to be the worst feeling to have lost your virginity to the love of your life and for him to not be there when you wake up in the morning nor be contactable and when he does finally show back up ... well to be less than gentle, loving and kind.<br /><br />Stilll.. mmmm yummy topless Angelus in black leather pants. Yummy.<br /><br />The best moment in the episode is when Angelus rises, drains the hooker and then blows out the puff of smoke from the cigarette that she was smoking. Does it *get* any hotter? I ask you!<br /><br />This is a contretemps episode - all the stakes (ha!) are raised and it represents a real pivotal point in the series.<br /><br />We learn the essential catch in the Buffyverse - that if Angel experiences one true moment of happiness the curse the gypsies put on him is lifted and he loses his soul. Again. And how utterly romantic and beautiful that for him, that moment of happiness was making love to Buffy.<br /><br />Our characters have all pretty much paired off. Poor Willow walks in on Xander and Cordelia and discovers what we have known for episodes now - that he would rather be with someone he hates than we with her. My heart breaks along with hers every single time! But, we see that even though Willow is not yet ready to give up Xander, the adorable Oz loves her anyway - <span style="font-style: italic;">Willow kissage</span>!! And <span style="font-style: italic;">I'll wait</span>! Awwww ....<br /><br />Xander gets to show how he is useful and that he is an important and valuable member of the Scoobies in his own right. He comes up with the plan to destroy the judge and how to get the weapons they need to save the day.<br /><br />Buffy: <span style="font-style: italic;">Thanks for my present</span>.<br />Xander: <span style="font-style: italic;">Thought you'd like it.</span><br /><br />I love the rewriting of old for new and the idea that old and mystical works should be read within the context and time in which they were written:<br />The Judge: <span style="font-style: italic;">No weapon has been forged to destroy me</span>.<br />Buffy: <span style="font-style: italic;">That was then and this is now.</span><br />Yeah, an uzi will probably get the job done. The looks on Angelus' and Dru's faces when they realise whats in Buffy's hand is priceless as is the way they throw themselves out of the way.<br /><br />But what I love most about this episode is how the stakes are so rapidly raised between Buffy and Angel. In one episode she goes from being in this starcrossed lovers type of innocent and deep and true love to suddenly finding herself in a highly abusive and somewhat twisted relationship. And how many of us don't have our own (perhaps scaled down) tales of the same woe. Or at least who hasn't had the "but I thought he liked me, why did her turn" experience in high school? Buffy's ex-boyfriend is going to torture and ruin her and enjoy it. She goes from this broken, soft and hurt little victim in the beginning of the episode (and understandably so, she just shared something so intimate with the one man she loves and who she thought loved her) to working her way up to killing him. Give me time And I love the way Giles switches from parent to friend in this episode, to reflect her passage, perhaps from innocent to young adult,<br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">You won't get guilt from me. You'll get nothing but respect." </span><br /><br />Rachel says:<br />I get very angry at this episode. I know Whedon is only making his characters suffer because that makes for good television, but it still rankles that Buffy has sex and then must be punished. And killing a prostitute and smoking is hot for you, Alisa? It's an effective character moment, I'll grant you... but hot??<br /><br />Gellar outacts nearly everyone in <i>Innocence</i> with her wailing and crying and gnashing of teeth. Boreanaz does not yet have the evil Angelus side quite up to speed, but we will see this more convincingly in later episodes.<br /><br />Relationships are breaking all over - Willow and Xander, Giles and Jenny. It's really not a very great joy to watch, except that really, they are all getting together too - Willow and Oz, Xander and Cordelia. And then we get to the<br /><br />Rocket Launcher.<br /><br />Two things make it work - the dolly shot up to Buffy standing on the concession stand and Drusilla's reaction. Otherwise we would be paying more attention to the ridiculous layout of this shopping centre set, and notice that the launcher looks like a supersoaker on steroids.<br /><br />I also think that the fight scene between Angel and Buffy after the Judge has gone down is kind of an anticlimax. Well, it's a post-climax because the best bit was the explosion, naturally. So why this petty bickering and groin-kneeing under the sprinklers?<br /><i>"We're going to destroy the world. Want to come?"</i>Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-91542518554863535082008-11-20T01:22:00.000-08:002008-11-20T01:22:00.137-08:00BtVS: 2.13 SurpriseAlisa says:<br />Things never go well on Buffy's birthday. This year the Scoobies are planning a surprise birthday party, but Drusilla has a surprise all of her own as she collects all the bits and pieces of the Judge and assembles him. We see Buffy's secret fear that Angel will get dusted as she dreams one dream after the other that he does. I'm all down with the smoochies and hot and intense Buffy/Angel moments which inevitably lead to the big crescendo - they finally make sweet sweet vampire/slayer loveage. And then we are left on the terrible cliffhanger - which if I recall correctly is where Channel 7 left us for about 6 months when they initially screened it in Australia!<br /><br />Other important moments include the implication of a duplicitous side of Jenny Calendar - suddenly she is not as she seems. Whose side is she on and what are her intentions? It seems that she is out to make sure that Angel and Buffy are kept apart!<br /><br />For me, this is one of my most significant episodes. Firstly for the final consummation of Angel and Buffy's love. That seen is *hot* and *sexy* - or so I thought way back when I first watched it. Now it actually seems a bit tame. And sweet, maybe. Ugh! I hate this rewatching thing! Nothing is the way it first seemed. Also of course this is the lead up to the horrible horrible next episode for Buffy.<br /><br />Rachel says:<br />Drusilla is in top form in this episode in contrast to Buffy falling all over her man, which is kinda pathetic. Angel is a little creepy older boyfriend-y. Erk, yuk yuk. I can't help thinking that the scene at the dock is Angel leaving to go to war with his knapsack on his shoulder.<br /><br />Do Drusilla and Buffy share a birthday? Why is this never mentioned again? There's something in that you know - Angel siring Dru and then Buffy is the love of his life. Something astrological.<br /><br />The Judge, well he is just neat-o. And blue, which is a nice change from green for a demon.<br /><br />Oz also gets more love from me in this episode, he is just so ridiculously cool.<br /><i>"See I like that you're unpredictable."</i>Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-12153705547465153142008-11-17T01:18:00.000-08:002008-11-17T01:21:15.088-08:00BtVS: 2.12 Bad EggsRachel says:<br />There's nothing really wrong with Bad Eggs, but nothing too special either. The Gorches I find very dull and one dimensional as villains. However, the scene where Buffy tracks the hatchling in her bedroom is a great piece of suspenseful television. There should be more of that.<br /><br />Being not much of a mushy fan, I find the quantity of smoochies in this episode to be painfully over the top.<br /><br /><i>"I see your 'gyegh!' and raise you a 'gnyaah!'"</i><br /><br />Alisa says:<br />See, my verdict is: "mmmmm" just for all the Angel/Buffy smoochies alone.<br /><br />This episode had me at its broody, dark, forbidden kisses in the cemetery. Other highlights for me were Xander boiling his egg and showing that sometimes there are rewards from breaking rules and taking shortcuts, and also the bonus cameo of Jonathan - I'd not seen that one before! I also love the bit where Buffy is fighting the vampire and they both turn to fight off people under the spell before turning back to fight each other. I just love the ridiculousness of that.<br /><br />I also think the way she kills the creature - hacking it to pieces from the inside- was grrl power AWESOME! I just love it when, after she kills the gross monster of the week, she throws the pick up out of the hole, climbs out after it and finishes off the vampire. That moment, which was just a little world-weary, made me think - she's a vampire slayer, why does that mean she has to wear the weight of the world and all the other demons on her shoulders as well?<br /><br />And then extra "awwwww" for the final scene of Angel leaning in Buffy's window for some nigh-night smoochies. Where, though, is the attraction for a 270 year old vampire to be with someone so young and so unworldly and so naive, especially at this point, so early in her slayer career? I spose we could argue that her youth and passion and lack of world-weariness is attractive to him - that her innocence is appealing? Or that he can see in her, even this early in, that she is the most powerful slayer ever born.Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-7242827317495642492008-11-13T14:09:00.000-08:002008-11-13T14:09:00.242-08:00BtVS: 2.11 TedAlisa says:<br />I hate this episode for so many reasons. I hate Ted. I hate the idea of Ted - where did he suddenly come from? Joyce has been secretly dating him and Buffy never noticed? It feels so contrived. As does the episode climax and unravelling. I hate it. I hate Ted and his stupid cookies and mini golf.<br /><br />Bah! Onto the next ep!<br /><br />Rachel says:<br />I hated this episode too when it first aired, but I have grown to really quite like it. I was surprised how much my impression of <span style="font-style: italic;">Ted</span> has changed. I was so drawn in by the character that first time I saw it, I so believed he was a human bad-guy, that I was angry, really angry when his secret was revealed. I'd been duped as badly as if I'd been eating his cookies!<br /><br />But it truly improves on multiple viewings and it's largely due to the late John Ritter's performance. He's so dreadful and horrible as a human character and yet, once you discover his robotic secret, it slots together so nicely. I love the way Xander follows him around begging for food treats for the whole episode, and the scene where he discovers the cupboard's contents is so creepy because you don't see anything but his reaction, which is played perfectly.<br /><br />This is amongst the best of Buffy because it hits where it hurts most - her mother.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"What? Freud would've said the exact same thing. Except he might not have done that little dance."</span>Rachel Holknerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16842829540539900581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2005158568187187583.post-23722043754118777802008-11-12T22:57:00.000-08:002008-11-12T23:01:56.333-08:00Sneak Peek Inside Issue 4Bren MacDibble makes her second appearance at <em>Shiny</em> with this story, set against the exotic backdrop of Bali, it's a little bit SF, a little bit Fantasy. Here's a taste of it.<br /><br />Being Bella Wang<br />by Bren MacDibble<br /><br /><em>I'd felt her presence ever since the plane touched down in Bali and still I jumped at my name.<br /><br />“Sienna!” A frail figure swanned across the green, hips jutting through a lime silk slip-dress.<br /><br />A row of black shadow puppets danced across the hem at her knees. Her chest was<br />impossibly bony. The silk gaped, unfilled, and her sinewy feet were bare on the fine grass.<br /><br />“Juliet?” She’d always been thin but this was the wasted body and disaffected pose of one of the starvation cults.<br /><br />I dropped my putter and hurried towards her. She stretched out her hands, and when I took them they were cold, bizarre in the mugginess of a Balinese morning.<br /><br />I pulled her to me, whole again after so long apart. She was stiff in my embrace and returned it with just one arm to my back, then pulled away. It hurt. She seemed shorter than me now, beyond the height given to me by golf cleats, but that was<br />impossible. We were genetically identical.<br /><br />“Sienna, you softy,” she said. “How goes the golfing life?”<br /><br />“It’s good enough I suppose.” The old arguments came back to me.<br /><br />“I hear you’re the favourite for the junior strokeplay tomorrow. The Mother must be<br />pleased.” Juliet had never regarded the original Bella Wang as a mother, just as The Mother.<br /><br />“She’s here you know.” I nodded at the clubhouse.<br /><br />Juliet’s cool pose broke and she glanced towards the clubhouse.<br /><br />I enjoyed a moment of evil glee until I saw her face in profile. </em>Shinyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07422159345547001571noreply@blogger.com1