Re: A Second Look: BTVS S7D5

> them there.  With Giles, on the other hand, I do believe there's an
> intention to tell a specific story with him taking on the mantle of
> the kind but still paternalistic and ultimately wrong-thinking
> authority figure.

giles present a particular style organization 
stereotype masculine hierarchy
with clear lines of authority and delegation of decision making

Travers: Buffy ... I can sense your resistance, and I don't blame you. But
I 
think your Watcher hasn't reminded you lately of the resolute status of
the 
players in our little game. The Council fights evil. The Slayer is the 
instrument by which we fight. The Council remains, the Slayers change.
It's been 
that way from the beginning,

general buffy is try to fit into that kind of organization
with giles tutelage

in -lies- she makes a decision that suits her as an individual
but as the commander of a paramilitary force its a major blunder
shes choosing to endanger many people who depend on her

the subsequent attack on the winery is typical of faith-buffy hijinks
and previously they had only endangered themslves
for example jumping into sewers without reconaissance

whats different this time is large number of wannabes
who accepted buffy and put themselves in danger at her command
and they ended up trapped ambushed overpowered
and only escaped without massive loss if life
because caleb was arrogant or upn didnt want a bunch of bodies on screen

her trrops are upset but what pushes them to rebellion
is buffys demand to repeat the same failed tactic


at this point they change the leader but not the organization
and faith is no better a military thinker
so they end up trapped and ambushed again
with a much higher body count

then comes one of the stupidiest speeches by spike in the series
where he never questions the heriarchial organization
and demands that buffy must be the general not because shes a competent
general
because shes good heroic warrior which is completely distinct skill set


its finally at this point buffy starts to think outside the hierarchy
she returns the winery and fights the fight to her advantage
not trying to meet overwhelming violence with underwhelming violence
but with maneuver litheness and a kind of non-aggressive combat

she scores big

she returns to the island
not to take command
but to introduce an alternative organization
a stereotype feminine heterarchy based on consensus
no clear lines of authority
no one person in command
no power center

the scythe representing the power is not buffys alone
the scythe is passed from fighter to fighter
used by the person who can use it best at the mment
and then passed on to the next who needs it most


giles is wrong but not a traitor or an idiot
he was schooled in particular organization
and was unable to break out of it himself
    GILES
    It¹s a lot more than that. Buffy, what you said‹ it flies in
    the face of everything we¹ve everŠ of what every
    generation has done in the fight against evil. (beat) I think
    it¹s bloody brilliant.
but he is willing to grow beyond that

buffy is atrocious in the rigid hierarchy she accepts
but once she operates as she really wants shes bloody brilliant too

arf meow arf  -  everything thing i know i learned
from the collective unconscience of odd bodkins
sacramento - political pigsty of the western world
or a babys arm holding an apple