5.16: The Body - Page 3 - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Asmiley · 20th February 2002, 03:23 AM

hee-hee of course.

Highlander II · 12th March 2002, 02:19 PM

this one was on last week - (yes, FX has this one now) --

i still like this episode - a lot -- very emotional --

and this ep has the scene where i start to not dislike Anya so much -- she's still kind of annoying, but you feel sorry for her b/c no one will tell her what's going on - and she just wants to understand and everyone's being all 'human' and stand-offish and she really gets it, but doesn't understand that she gets it ---

obcooke · 17th November 2002, 07:50 PM

Some of us "old hands" were commenting on lines missing from syndicated versions of the episodes that we feel are meaningful or significant. I wanted to put these lines back in, so new fans watching the syndies would know what they were missing:

[The Scene: Willow is trying to get dressed and is distressed. This is after Xander & Anya pull up in Xander's car and before they enter the room.]

----------------

WILLOW: Okay. We can be there for Buffy. And Dawn... sob, Little Dawn.
TARA: We can be strong.
WILLOW: Strong like an Amazon?
TARA: Strong like an Amazon, right.
WILLOW: Okay. I wish I had the blue (sweater).

[In the hallway]

ANYA: So... what do we do?
XANDER: I'm not sure. We'll, uh, talk to Giles
ANYA: Xander, what will we do? What will we be expected to do?

----------------

These lines are significant because they show how the two women draw strength from each other and some of the distress that Anya later talks about concerning how confused she is about mortal death and what is expected of the survivors.

Tabitha · 17th November 2002, 09:01 PM

WHy on earth would they remove those scenes?

It has been that long since I saw this ep that I am not sure those were in it for me or not. I have a tendency to think they were. But can you shed a light on why they were expunged?

Highlander II · 17th November 2002, 09:09 PM

They were removed so that the episode would fit the 'time slot' in syndication - so that US networks can add more stupid commercials trying to sell you junk you don't want anyway...

Tabitha · 17th November 2002, 09:30 PM

I can't really say anything apart from - that's terrible

In some programs I wouldn't miss a few seconds of dialogue, but in Buffy that is a crime!

obcooke · 17th November 2002, 10:22 PM

Exactly. Sadly in the US 15-20 seconds mean another commercial can be inserted. Syndicated shows have more commercial time set aside than first-run epsiodes, so unless the show was filmed for syndication initially, time must be cut from the ep to make room.

This often makes for a very unsatisfying experience if you were used to the more "full-bodied" story.

The scene above takes longer to act out than it does to read, with dramatic pauses. Also, despite Anya's repeated attempts to get answers from Xander, he continues to walk silently because he has no answers.

For instance, in this episode there is another cut that I didn't mention because no lines are lost, but it still makes for a very choppy sequence.

[The scene: Tara has just told Buffy about her mother dying when Tara was just seventeen and the two share a moment of bonding over their mutual tragedy.]

-------------

BUFFY: Was it sudden?

TARA: What?

BUFFY: Your mother.

TARA: No...... Yes... It's always sudden.

-------------

After Tara says this, there is a moments pause and then we see Dawn sneaking out of the restroom and going off in search of her mother's body.

That and the scene above are two moments when Tara really gets to shine, after mostly just being Willow's girlfriend.

In the syndication, the split-second after Tara makes this poignant and insightful observation - some new sports car is flashing across the screen. There is no time to consider the weight of the words.

It's jarring and helps to remind me why I often avoid watching the re-runs. After you've seen the real thing, the chopped-up version is difficult for me to watch without getting upset.

chosen/smgslayer · 9th June 2007, 07:56 PM

poor buffy i cant believe her mom died

Pyar · 17th April 2009, 08:08 AM

wow these posts are so old. anyway i just started watching buffy in february from the beginning and i am obsessed! it is such a great show. and as a matter of coincidence this episode of the last one i just saw. (yes ive seen almost 5 seasons in less than 3 months) I really thought this was an amazing episode. it was probably the saddest things ive seen. i think they all did a wonderful job, especially joss whedon.

17th November 2002, 07:50 PM	#33 (permalink)
obcooke OB-Wan Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,357	What's missing in syndication Some of us "old hands" were commenting on lines missing from syndicated versions of the episodes that we feel are meaningful or significant. I wanted to put these lines back in, so new fans watching the syndies would know what they were missing: [The Scene: Willow is trying to get dressed and is distressed. This is after Xander & Anya pull up in Xander's car and before they enter the room.] ---------------- WILLOW: Okay. We can be there for Buffy. And Dawn... sob, Little Dawn. TARA: We can be strong. WILLOW: Strong like an Amazon? TARA: Strong like an Amazon, right. WILLOW: Okay. I wish I had the blue (sweater). [In the hallway] ANYA: So... what do we do? XANDER: I'm not sure. We'll, uh, talk to Giles ANYA: Xander, what will we do? What will we be expected to do? ---------------- These lines are significant because they show how the two women draw strength from each other and some of the distress that Anya later talks about concerning how confused she is about mortal death and what is expected of the survivors.

9th June 2007, 07:56 PM	#38 (permalink)
chosen/smgslayer Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 6	Re: 5.16: The Body poor buffy i cant believe her mom died

17th April 2009, 08:08 AM	#39 (permalink)
Pyar anticipating destiny Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 155 Blog Entries: 1	Re: 5.16: The Body wow these posts are so old. anyway i just started watching buffy in february from the beginning and i am obsessed! it is such a great show. and as a matter of coincidence this episode of the last one i just saw. (yes ive seen almost 5 seasons in less than 3 months) I really thought this was an amazing episode. it was probably the saddest things ive seen. i think they all did a wonderful job, especially joss whedon.

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20th February 2002, 03:23 AM	#31 (permalink)
Asmiley lost in Time Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 9,373	hee-hee of course.

12th March 2002, 02:19 PM	#32 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 9,596	this one was on last week - (yes, FX has this one now) -- i still like this episode - a lot -- very emotional -- and this ep has the scene where i start to not dislike Anya so much -- she's still kind of annoying, but you feel sorry for her b/c no one will tell her what's going on - and she just wants to understand and everyone's being all 'human' and stand-offish and she really gets it, but doesn't understand that she gets it ---

17th November 2002, 09:01 PM	#34 (permalink)
Tabitha Save Angel! Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 3,638	WHy on earth would they remove those scenes? It has been that long since I saw this ep that I am not sure those were in it for me or not. I have a tendency to think they were. But can you shed a light on why they were expunged?

17th November 2002, 09:09 PM	#35 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 9,596	They were removed so that the episode would fit the 'time slot' in syndication - so that US networks can add more stupid commercials trying to sell you junk you don't want anyway...

17th November 2002, 09:30 PM	#36 (permalink)
Tabitha Save Angel! Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 3,638	I can't really say anything apart from - that's terrible In some programs I wouldn't miss a few seconds of dialogue, but in Buffy that is a crime!

17th November 2002, 10:22 PM	#37 (permalink)
obcooke OB-Wan Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,357	Exactly. Sadly in the US 15-20 seconds mean another commercial can be inserted. Syndicated shows have more commercial time set aside than first-run epsiodes, so unless the show was filmed for syndication initially, time must be cut from the ep to make room. This often makes for a very unsatisfying experience if you were used to the more "full-bodied" story. The scene above takes longer to act out than it does to read, with dramatic pauses. Also, despite Anya's repeated attempts to get answers from Xander, he continues to walk silently because he has no answers. For instance, in this episode there is another cut that I didn't mention because no lines are lost, but it still makes for a very choppy sequence. [The scene: Tara has just told Buffy about her mother dying when Tara was just seventeen and the two share a moment of bonding over their mutual tragedy.] ------------- BUFFY: Was it sudden? TARA: What? BUFFY: Your mother. TARA: No...... Yes... It's always sudden. ------------- After Tara says this, there is a moments pause and then we see Dawn sneaking out of the restroom and going off in search of her mother's body. That and the scene above are two moments when Tara really gets to shine, after mostly just being Willow's girlfriend. In the syndication, the split-second after Tara makes this poignant and insightful observation - some new sports car is flashing across the screen. There is no time to consider the weight of the words. It's jarring and helps to remind me why I often avoid watching the re-runs. After you've seen the real thing, the chopped-up version is difficult for me to watch without getting upset.