Thanks very much for this very insightful essay. Lots and lots to mull over. It's interesting how both sets of characters, Dawn and the Potentials, tend to be overlooked and/or scorned. I wonder why that is? It's a shame, particularly in light of this essay, for the far-reaching (for want of a better word) potential they all could enact for Buffy. Dawn is definitely a character that has been redeemed for me after the show has concluded. In both cases, the characters of Dawn and Connor were used to the best benefit when they provided more insight into the characters of Buffy and Angel. That's a very interesting point, and a nice parallel between the shows; a humanising element to both characters. Dawn helped prepare Buffy to be the type of leader that a Slayer had never had to be before. I very much like this idea, but can't help feeling sorry for Dawn for being the testing ground! I guess this is why, perhaps, it was important that Dawn did not become a Slayer as was hinted at and then scupered in Potential for she was the line that delineated Buffy-the-Slayer from Buffy-the-Girl. It isn't about giving her power to someone else -- which is basically what happens when a Slayer dies. Yes, I've come to understand that the message of Season 7 is much more about empowering rather than trading on power. Some lovely points here, I'm sure I'll be back for more.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-02-11 08:59 pm (UTC)It's interesting how both sets of characters, Dawn and the Potentials, tend to be overlooked and/or scorned. I wonder why that is? It's a shame, particularly in light of this essay, for the far-reaching (for want of a better word) potential they all could enact for Buffy. Dawn is definitely a character that has been redeemed for me after the show has concluded.
In both cases, the characters of Dawn and Connor were used to the best benefit when they provided more insight into the characters of Buffy and Angel.
That's a very interesting point, and a nice parallel between the shows; a humanising element to both characters.
Dawn helped prepare Buffy to be the type of leader that a Slayer had never had to be before.
I very much like this idea, but can't help feeling sorry for Dawn for being the testing ground!
I guess this is why, perhaps, it was important that Dawn did not become a Slayer as was hinted at and then scupered in Potential for she was the line that delineated Buffy-the-Slayer from Buffy-the-Girl.
It isn't about giving her power to someone else -- which is basically what happens when a Slayer dies.
Yes, I've come to understand that the message of Season 7 is much more about empowering rather than trading on power.
Some lovely points here, I'm sure I'll be back for more.