Throw me a line!
Apr. 22nd, 2002 02:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thebratqueenShoutout to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
witchwillow for the idea.
Here's the deal: as a way to deal with some deep bitterness about some of the plotlines on Angel and Buffy, we're going to list all the times we can think of where just one line change could have fixed a very painful and obvious problem.
Here are the rules:
1. You've got to accept the canon as it is. IE you can't suggest a line change in which Gunn and Fred are no longer in a relationship. But you can suggest a line change which would make the relationship more plausible to you.
2. No line changes for episodes that haven't aired in the US yet, but you can suggest line changes for any previous season.
3. Explain the problem, then actually show the line. In other words, using the previous example, you can't just say "I don't buy Gunn and Fred. They should have thrown us a line to explain that." you actually have to show us how a single line of dialogue in an already existing episode could have fixed the problem. It's not necessary to make the line of dialogue sound like the characters, a rough paraphrase will do.
4. "A line" means a short bit of dialogue. It doesn't mean you're limited to one sentence, but it does mean that an entire paragraph is probably pushing things. The point is to show how easy it would have been for the writers to fix the problem without fundamentally changing anything else about the episode. A short line of dialogue isn't a fundamental change, an entire paragraph starts getting into timing issues. (You can also remove a line or two of dialogue if that's how you'd like to fix the problem).
5. It's not necessary for others to agree with you in terms of the problem and the solution. All that's necessary is that for you it was a problem, and this single line of dialogue can fix it.
Sound good? Then let's get started. I'll post a few suggestions then y'all can reply and join in.
Problem:
In The Gift, deseperate as she is to save her sister and with what we are told is hours until the final battle, Buffy doesn't put a call in to Los Angeles to ask Angel to lend a hand or at least throw his body in the way of anyone trying to hurt Dawn. Why the Hell wouldn't she?
The line:
Buffy [hanging up phone at the Magic Box]: Still no answer from LA. Where are those guys?
Problem:
During the Pylea arc in season 2 Angel, it's stated that Cordy and Lorne's cousin might have ended up at opposite sides of the planet from each other, because the portals can dump you anywhere they like. However Cordy, Lorne's cousin, and the AI gang all apparently arrive on Pylea within a few miles of each other, thus making for an implausible coincidence.
The line:
Just remove the bit about opposite sides of the planet, or change the line to say "miles apart" instead.
Problem:
During the entire "Angel loses Connor" arc we never once hear from Cordy, and some pretty ridiculous excuses are offered for why the gang shouldn't call her, even when things are at their worst.
The line:
At any time we could have been told that Cordy deliberately went somewhere with no telephones and left her cellphone behind.
Problem:
In season 6 Buffy is poor and for some reason isn't hitting the Watcher's Council up for money.
The line:
At any time during the money discussions any one of the characters could have said "Buffy doesn't trust/want to work for the Council anymore."
Problem:
In Doublemeat Palace, Buffy takes a job at a fast food place instead of going back to waitressing, which she reminds us in the episode that she's done before (and, moreover, would pay her more money and give her the flexible schedule she'd need as a single mom and a Slayer).
The line:
Buffy: Yeah, I could go back and do the whole waitressing thing, but on the other hand I like not living in Hell. So do you want fries with that?
Problem:
In Birthday Cordelia becomes part demon. At no time are we told how the rest of the gang reacts to this, in spite of the fact that some if not all of them are bound to take it badly.
The line:
When Cordy gives her exposition speech to Connor in Provider, she could have said "Sure Angel/Wes/the guys/whoever freaked out when they heard, but it's not like me dying is a better option. I think they'll come around eventually."
Problem:
In Birthday the gang finds out that Cordy is taking prescription medication in order to deal with her vision headaches. They react as though this is a horrible secret she's kept from them, instead of taking it for granted that she would have seen a doctor at some point (or insisting on it themselves).
The line:
The shock of the revealation could have been kept while not turning the AI gang into idiots by having one of them say words to the effect of "I knew she was taking something but I had no idea it was this bad."
Problem:
In season 6 of Buffy, Willow becomes addicted to magic without anyone explaining to us why magic is suddenly bad for you, or why Tara can do magic but Willow can't.
The line:
At any time during one of Tara's speeches (or Giles's rant to Willow early in the season) someone could have said "You're tapping into black magic - it's not the same as what Tara uses. Tara's magic helps people, black magic just sucks you in." (or whatever Marti Noxon thought black magic was supposed to represent).
Okay gang, I've got more but now it's time for you to play. Throw me a line!
witchwillow for the idea.Here's the deal: as a way to deal with some deep bitterness about some of the plotlines on Angel and Buffy, we're going to list all the times we can think of where just one line change could have fixed a very painful and obvious problem.
Here are the rules:
1. You've got to accept the canon as it is. IE you can't suggest a line change in which Gunn and Fred are no longer in a relationship. But you can suggest a line change which would make the relationship more plausible to you.
2. No line changes for episodes that haven't aired in the US yet, but you can suggest line changes for any previous season.
3. Explain the problem, then actually show the line. In other words, using the previous example, you can't just say "I don't buy Gunn and Fred. They should have thrown us a line to explain that." you actually have to show us how a single line of dialogue in an already existing episode could have fixed the problem. It's not necessary to make the line of dialogue sound like the characters, a rough paraphrase will do.
4. "A line" means a short bit of dialogue. It doesn't mean you're limited to one sentence, but it does mean that an entire paragraph is probably pushing things. The point is to show how easy it would have been for the writers to fix the problem without fundamentally changing anything else about the episode. A short line of dialogue isn't a fundamental change, an entire paragraph starts getting into timing issues. (You can also remove a line or two of dialogue if that's how you'd like to fix the problem).
5. It's not necessary for others to agree with you in terms of the problem and the solution. All that's necessary is that for you it was a problem, and this single line of dialogue can fix it.
Sound good? Then let's get started. I'll post a few suggestions then y'all can reply and join in.
Problem:
In The Gift, deseperate as she is to save her sister and with what we are told is hours until the final battle, Buffy doesn't put a call in to Los Angeles to ask Angel to lend a hand or at least throw his body in the way of anyone trying to hurt Dawn. Why the Hell wouldn't she?
The line:
Buffy [hanging up phone at the Magic Box]: Still no answer from LA. Where are those guys?
Problem:
During the Pylea arc in season 2 Angel, it's stated that Cordy and Lorne's cousin might have ended up at opposite sides of the planet from each other, because the portals can dump you anywhere they like. However Cordy, Lorne's cousin, and the AI gang all apparently arrive on Pylea within a few miles of each other, thus making for an implausible coincidence.
The line:
Just remove the bit about opposite sides of the planet, or change the line to say "miles apart" instead.
Problem:
During the entire "Angel loses Connor" arc we never once hear from Cordy, and some pretty ridiculous excuses are offered for why the gang shouldn't call her, even when things are at their worst.
The line:
At any time we could have been told that Cordy deliberately went somewhere with no telephones and left her cellphone behind.
Problem:
In season 6 Buffy is poor and for some reason isn't hitting the Watcher's Council up for money.
The line:
At any time during the money discussions any one of the characters could have said "Buffy doesn't trust/want to work for the Council anymore."
Problem:
In Doublemeat Palace, Buffy takes a job at a fast food place instead of going back to waitressing, which she reminds us in the episode that she's done before (and, moreover, would pay her more money and give her the flexible schedule she'd need as a single mom and a Slayer).
The line:
Buffy: Yeah, I could go back and do the whole waitressing thing, but on the other hand I like not living in Hell. So do you want fries with that?
Problem:
In Birthday Cordelia becomes part demon. At no time are we told how the rest of the gang reacts to this, in spite of the fact that some if not all of them are bound to take it badly.
The line:
When Cordy gives her exposition speech to Connor in Provider, she could have said "Sure Angel/Wes/the guys/whoever freaked out when they heard, but it's not like me dying is a better option. I think they'll come around eventually."
Problem:
In Birthday the gang finds out that Cordy is taking prescription medication in order to deal with her vision headaches. They react as though this is a horrible secret she's kept from them, instead of taking it for granted that she would have seen a doctor at some point (or insisting on it themselves).
The line:
The shock of the revealation could have been kept while not turning the AI gang into idiots by having one of them say words to the effect of "I knew she was taking something but I had no idea it was this bad."
Problem:
In season 6 of Buffy, Willow becomes addicted to magic without anyone explaining to us why magic is suddenly bad for you, or why Tara can do magic but Willow can't.
The line:
At any time during one of Tara's speeches (or Giles's rant to Willow early in the season) someone could have said "You're tapping into black magic - it's not the same as what Tara uses. Tara's magic helps people, black magic just sucks you in." (or whatever Marti Noxon thought black magic was supposed to represent).
Okay gang, I've got more but now it's time for you to play. Throw me a line!
