Summary
Please come join us for our most parent-y discussion yet! Cory campaigns for justice for Sophie, Laine *definitely* knows how to pronounce “anachronism,” and we love how fierce Tara is in this one. Thanks for listening to our discussion of Season 6, Episode 14: Older and Far Away.
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Myth Taken: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcast 
I’m really enjoying your episode discussions this season! Season six isn’t my favorite, but I do appreciate the different directions they took this season, even if I think the execution is somewhat lacking. I meant to comment after the last episode about that one deleted scene with Tara where she says the slur – I’m glad they didn’t keep it in because that really doesn’t seem like something Tara would say. The word itself might have been used to be deliberately shocking to straight viewers (I’m just guessing here) which isn’t a bad motive at all, but again it doesn’t fit with Tara’s character to say it. Still, I wish Tara HAD mentioned her own sexuality in some way in that scene, because I honestly think it’s a great way to give some additional context and perspective to what Buffy’s going through. The way Buffy’s dealing (or not dealing) with her thing with Spike makes it seem like she feels ashamed not just of the fact that Spike has no soul (which ties in well with her own doubts and feelings of disconnectedness since her return) but also of her own sexuality – of the fact that she’s having sex with someone for reasons other than genuine conscious romantic interest and affection. I think Tara could provide a perspective that I think would give Buffy room to accept that your feelings about sex can change or go against the norm and that’s completely fine. Tara’s also uniquely suited to talk to Buffy because of her own history with grief and her generally non-judgmental nature, and I think the writing addresses that well. I get why they cut the line, and maybe it would’ve been too complicated to try and get into any issues of sexuality beyond what we see on screen, so they figured if they couldn’t make it short/pithy they’d just leave it out. I get that, but I feel like as it stands Buffy’s feelings about her own sexuality aren’t being dealt with as well as they could be, considering they’re being brought into the story in the first place.
Anyway, to this episode! Before I forget, I completely agree with Laine about Anya talking in a lower register and seeming almost as close as she ever has to how she was in season three/the beginning of season four. I never noticed it before, but it seems so clear now, and now I’m going to be watching for that from her post-Hells Bells. It also makes me think about her big episode Selfless in season seven. It’s a good episode on its own, but it always felt like a bit of a retcon to me, because it seemed to completely leave out THIS Anya, the less cute and quirky version.
I also agree about the line ‘we all have things we’d rather be doing’ (if I’m remembering it right). I think it also gets to a core misunderstanding the scoobies are having this season – this idea that they’re grownups now so they’re all supposed to have their ‘own lives’ and to have their shit together. But the truth is what they are all in dire need of is each other’s support. Right after they all learn that Buffy was in heaven they have a discussion where Xander suggests having a video club to help Buffy. Willow dismisses it, but the truth is that’s kind of exactly what they all need. They need to actually physically be there for each other and make the effort to spend time with each other, even if they have other stuff going on. They keep trying to find fixes (Xander and Anya’s rush to get married despite having some serious issues and them pushing Buffy to date; Willow’s actions in Tabula Rasa; Giles thinking leaving is the right thing to do), when the answer is as simple as it is obvious- they need to give themselves and each other more time and attention, rather than trying to force everyone to be ‘normal’ or ‘better.’
Thanks again for another great episode!
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Oh, I meant to say in my previous comment – if the “having seen the episode having talked about the episode” is a reference to with The Horror Virgin or Romancing the Pod, I love those podcasts as well! This podcast and NWW are the ones I listen to when I go for walks, and those two podcasts are what I listen to while doing chores . 🙂
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