A Week of Buffy: Day 5

I think one of Buffy's oddest, but most lovable, characters was Anya. She was an ex-vengeance demon who found herself inexplicably attracted to Xander. They were such an adorable couple and funny as hell. Anya had very little in the way of people skills thanks to her demon days and Xander's reactions to her weirdness left me paralytic with laughter. Anyone familiar with the show will also know that Anya LOVES money.

Anya Jenkins:

  Anya: "Xander, you haven't been paying any attention to me tonight- just peddling those processed food bricks. I don't know why."

Xander: "Let me put it in a way you'll understand... Sell bars, make money, take Anya nice places, buy pretty things."

Anya: "That does make sense."

"The I in Team"

Xander: "Anya, the Shopkeepers Union of America called? They want me to tell you 'please go' just got replaced with 'have a nice day.'"

Anya: "I have their money. Who cares what kind of day they have?"

"No Place Like Home"

Willow: "I need help"

Anya: "I don't have any money."

Willow: "I don't want money!"

Anya: "Come in! Enjoy my personal space!"

"Same Time, Same Place"

 "We're all on death's doorstep, repeatedly ringing the bell, like maniacal Girl Scouts intent on making quota."

Anya, "Touched"

Anya: "I promise to cherish you... Eew, no! 'Cherish'? I promise to have sex with you whenever... I  want, and pledge to be your friend and your wife and your confidant and your sex poodle and-"

Tara: "Sex poodle?"

Anya: "Yeah, why?"

Tara: "Um, I'm not sure you should say 'sex poodle' in your vows."

Anya: "Huh."

"Hell's Bells"

Anya: "Oh, crap. Look at this. Now I am burdened with a husband and several tiny pink children and more cash than I can reasonably manage."

Xander: "That means you're winning."

Anya: "Really?"

Xander: "yes. Cash equals good."

Anya: "Oh, I'm so pleased! Can I trade in the children for more cash?"

Mastering the game of Life, "Real Me"

I was so bummed when she died at the end of season 7. But at least she went out with a bang.

A Week of Buffy: Day 4

What would the slayerettes have done without Rupert Giles? With his stiff upper lip and his knowledge of all things freaky and creepy, Giles was hands down my favourite grown up on Buffy. I just really wished that the writers could have given him a steady who didn't die. I think that a big part of my "blegh" attitude towards Angel came from the fact that he killed Jenny, Giles's lady love. 

Rupert Giles:

Buffy: "Giles, care. I'm putting my life on the line, battling the undead! I broke a nail, okay? I'm wearing a press-on. The least you could do is exhibit some casual interest... You could go 'Hmmmm.'"

Giles: "Hmmmm?"

"Prophecy Girl"

"If you want to criticise my methods, fine. But you can keep your snide remarks to yourself, and while you're at it, stop criticising my methods!"

Giles to Wesley, "Bad Girls"

"I'm great with the pacing and the saying of 'hmmmm,' and 'ahhhh,' and 'Good Lord!'

Giles, "The Yoko Factor"

"[Snyder] thought it would behoove me to have more contact with the students.I tried to explain that my vocational choice of librarian was a deliberate attempt to minimise said contact."

Giles, re: involvement in the annual talentless show, "The Puppet Show"

Buffy: "Giles, you planning to step in with an explanation anytime soon?"

Giles: "Well, something... something very strange is happening."

Xander: "Can you believe the Watchers Council let this guy go?"

"Doppelgangland"

Buffy:  "We don't say 'Indian.'"

Giles: "Yes! Right. Always behind on the terms. Still trying not to refer to you lot as 'bloody colonials.'"

"Pangs"

Right, well, I tried to find a clip from "The Yoko Factor" where Willow officially announces to the Scooby Gang that she and Tara are a couple. The reason I want this clip is largely because of Giles. He's a wee bit drunk and after Willow's little speech, you can hear Giles in the background going, "Bloody hell!" I laughed myself stupid at that episode.

But I can't find it. Sorry...

A Week of Buffy: Day 3

Today is all about Xander. He was probably the only "ordinary" member of the Scooby Gang, which I think made him generally unappreciated in the Buffyverse. But I can honestly say he was one of my favourite characters of any show, ever. He was so loyal to Buffy and Willow, his relationship with Anya was so sweet and so weird, and his sense of humour at the least appropriate times kept the 13 year old me from freaking out during the creepier Buffy episodes. Xander was totally my hero.

Xander Harris:

Xander: "People scoff at things like school spirit, but when you see these young women giving their all like this..."

(Amber, am attractive, agile girl, her feet on two chairs, slides down into an extra low split.)

Xander: (mesmerised) "... Oooh, stretchy. Where was I?

Willow: "You were pretending that seeing scantily-clad girls in revealing postures was a spiritual experience."

Xander: "What do you mean, pretending?"

"The Witch"

Xander: (yelling) "HEY! Riley! What's the..." (hand gestures) "... all about?"

Riley: (five paces up ahead, sighs) "It means yell real loud so the vampires who don't know we're coming will have a sporting chance."

"Fool for Love"

Xander: "So, here it is. The latest state-of-the-art combat technology. I gotta say, it doesn't look that complicated."

Buffy: "So, can you repair it?

Xander: "Sure. Just as soon as I get my master's degree in advanced starship technology."

Willow: "Well, why don't we experiment, then? You know, press some buttons, see what happens."

Xander: "It's called a 'Blaster', Will. A word that tends to discourage experimentation. Now, if it was called 'The Orgasminator,' I'd be the first to try your basic button-press approach."

"This Year's Girl"

"I don't get this. The candy's supposed to make you all immature and stuff, but I ate a ton and I don't feel any diff- never mind"

Xander, "Band Candy"

Xander: "You girls need a lift?"

Buffy: "What is that?"

Xander: "What do you mean, what is it? It's my thing!"

Willow: "Your thing?"

Xander: "My thing..."

Buffy: "Is this a penis metaphor?"

Wheels are key to cool, "The Zeppo"

Xander: "You were going to stake yourself?"

Spike: "Fag off. It's no concern of yours."

Xander: "Is too. For one thing, that's my shirt you're about to dust. And for another, we've shared a lot here. You should have trusted me enough to do it for you."

"Doomed"

So very many more Xander quotes but I don't want to bore anyone. I think it's enough to say that Xander is a very funny man.

A Week of Buffy: Day 2

A character I loved on Buffy more than any other was Willow. She was the sweetest person on this program and, given how timid and shy she was, I couldn't help rooting for her. I also loved how she went from shy wallflower to being a kick ass chick in her own right. 

Willow Rosenberg:

"It could be anyone. It could be me... It's not though."

Willow explaining why human criminals are more upsetting, "The Puppet Show"

Willow: "Great! I'll call Xander, ask him to join us. What's his number? Oh, yeah: 1-800-I'm-Dating-a-Skanky-Ho."

Buffy: "Me-ow!"

Willow: "Really? Thanks! I've never gotten a 'me-ow' before."

"Phases"

"I happen to think mine is the level head and yours is the one that things would roll off of."

Willow defending her judgement, "Pangs"

"You two are the two who are the two. I'm the other one."

Willow to Buffy and Xander, feeling left out, "The Yoko Factor"

"I'm a big fan of school. You know me, I'm all, 'Go school, it's your birthday!' Or something to that effect."

Willow, "Tough Love"

Oz: "I'm gonna ask you if you wanna go out tomorrow night. I'm actually kind of nervous about it. It's interesting."

Willow: "Oh. Well, if it helps at all, I'm gonna say yes."

Oz: "Yeah, it helps. It-it creates a comfort zone. Do you wanna go out with me tomorrow night?"

Willow: "Oh! I can't!"

Oz: "Well, see, I like that you're unpredictable."

"Surprise"

I normally hate fan-made videos but this one had pretty much all my favourite Oz/Willow moments and I had to share. These two were my favourite Buffy couple. The reason Buffy/Angel don't occupy this position is that we all knew they were pretty much doomed. But I really believed that Willow and Oz would last. I was totally devastated when they broke up.

A Week of Buffy: Day 1

I declare this week Buffy Week. I miss this program so bad! So since I have to study during my week long holiday, I can't watch it. But to tide me over until the next holiday I am going to post a few of my favourite quotes from my favourite characters. If you were a Buffy fan back in the day, I guarantee that these quotes will make you smile. 

Today is all about Buffy.

Buffy Summers

"I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Buffy and you are- " (plunges her stake into the vampire's heart) " -history."

Buffy, "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date"

Buffy: "I wasn't gonna use violence. I don't always use violence. Do I?"

Xander: "The important thing is, you believe that."
"Inca Mummy Girl"

Buffy: "There was a cat. A cat here and then there was, another cat. And they fought, the cats, and then they left."

Ford: "Oh. I thought you were just slaying a vampire,

Buffy: "What? Whatting a what?"

"Lie to Me"

Buffy: "Anybody besides Larry fit the werewolf profile?"

Willow: "There is one name that keeps getting spit out. Aggressive behaviour, run-ins with authority, about a screenful of violent incidents..."

Buffy: "Okay, most of those weren't my fault."

"Phases"

"I'm the Slayer... Slay-er. Chosen One? She who hangs out a lot in cemeteries...? 'In every genara- ' You know. I really don't feel like doing the routine. Ask around. Look it up: 'Slayer comma The.'

Buffy to Riley, "Doomed"

I completely and utterly LOVE this theme song so I couldn't resist putting it in.

Have an awesome Monday everybody!

Women of the Otherworld: Stolen

Stolen is the second book in the Women of the Otherworld series and man, this book was good! I could not put it down! Which is weird because, like I said yesterday, Bitten didn't sit well with me. This book was fast paced and action-packed, which I imagine will probably be the case with most of Armstrong's books. 

The book is written from Elena's perspective again and I really think she redeemed herself. Yes, she could be a wee bit callous but she did seem a little more human-y in this book.

The book starts with Elena investigating what looks like someone selling information on an authentic case of werewolf attacks in Pittsburgh. But she doesn't find what she's expecting. Instead, she finds two witches who tell her that someone is kidnapping supernaturals and holding them captive to "study" them. The witches hope to hold a meeting to decide the best way to deal with the situation. And Elena, oddly enough, has a hard time dealing with the fact that creatures like witches, vampires and half demons exist. But after a run-in with some of the scary crazies trying to grab her, Elena decides to tell Jeremy (the Pack leader) that they may have a problem.

The story progresses from there and Elena gets kidnapped by these "scientists". These people range from the crazy to the stupid to the misguided. 

We met a whole bunch of new characters who I adored. We didn't see much of the Pack beyond Jeremy and Clay but that's okay. These new people totally made up for it. There's Paige, a feisty young witch and her aunt Ruth. Then we have Savannah, a twelve year old with crazy powers. Xavier, the half demon who worked for the crazy scientists, was brilliant. Despite being a self-absorbed ass, he was funny as hell.

Just a little warning: this book was kinda graphic in terms of the blood, guts and gore. And, being the wuss that I am, it freaked me out a little bit. Just in case there are any other scaredy-cats planning on reading this book, I just thought I'd give you a heads up. 

I'm not going to read the next book (Dime Store Magic) in this series just yet but it is definitely on my "to be read" list.

Women of the Otherworld: Bitten

I finished the first book from the Women of the Otherworld a few days ago. Bitten is written from the perspective of Elena Michaels, the only female werewolf in the world. The werewolf gene is passed on along through males, but a person can become a werewolf if they're bitten. This is what happened to Elena ten years ago.

Her boyfriend, Clay, bit her. She's never quite forgiven him for it and, as a result, their relationship is what you would call stormy. So after several years of breaking up and making up, Elena decides that she's had enough. No more. She leaves Stonehaven, where she lives with The Pack, and moves to Ontario where she tries to carve out a normal life for herself. And she does. For a year, she manages to be "normal" (midnight strolls not included). She has a job and she's living with a really nice, understanding (human) guy. Then she gets a phone call from the Pack leader, Jeremy, telling her that she needs to come back to Stonehaven immediately.  Some "mutts" (non-Pack werewolves) have been causing trouble and the Pack needs Elena's help getting them in line.

This book was really action-packed. But I struggled with it a little bit. 

I really liked that Elena was one of those no-nonsense heroines and that she could totally take care of herself. I liked that Clay respected that fact and didn't get all uber-macho protective over her. He respected her abilities and let her do her thing. I liked how the Pack was one big family and that they all had each other's backs. I was also really looking forward to the mutts getting their butts kicked for all the trouble they were causing.

Now for me to get picky. I thought that Elena sometimes came off as... kinda heartless. I don't know why. I found it really hard to root for her. She totally forgot about her human boyfriend while at Stonehaven and didn't feel any more than a pang of guilt for engaging in hanky-panky with Clay. 

I think my biggest issue with Bitten was that I didn't really like Elena all that much.

But have no fear. I've just finished the next book in the series, Stolen, and I have to say that it was MUCH better. I think I will keep track of this series.