Hmm. Reading through the comments on this post, it tends to look as if one's view of Buffy vs Dracula is also rather tied up in one's view of Xander.
I'm not particularly a Xander fan (don't dislike him, but he's not a favourite of mine), and I love all the comedy aspects of his relationship with Dracula, continued in Antique, and am looking forward to more in the comic (not for 'shippy reasons -that Xacula stuff was tongue-in-cheek).
None of which of course has any bearing on your meta, which is wonderful and explains exactly why that episode was the best season opener season 5 could have had (I agree, it was, though as a season opener, I prefer Bargaining). Thematically, it's perfect. I've always thought so without having the ability to explain why - but thankfully you've done that so well here I don't need to even try.
Re: Dracula in the comic - I'm pretty much of the opinion he's just being brought in because Drew Goddard thought it would be fun, not for any serious thematic reasons. Him fighting back to back with Buffy doesnt' mean a redemption story. It just means they have something they both want and combining forces is the best way to get it (like Buffy and Spike in Becoming). I don't read any more into it than that, though I agree he may well be the 'prince' mentioned in 10 (in this comic, the simplest explanation is usually the right one).
As for the Japanese vampires sharing Dracula's powers, I believe they are suppose to be vampires from Japanese mythology and have all sorts of powers, including some that struck me as odd, when I was told about it (can't remember by who). I think there's a page on Wikipedia.
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Date: 2008-03-11 12:07 pm (UTC)I'm not particularly a Xander fan (don't dislike him, but he's not a favourite of mine), and I love all the comedy aspects of his relationship with Dracula, continued in Antique, and am looking forward to more in the comic (not for 'shippy reasons -that Xacula stuff was tongue-in-cheek).
None of which of course has any bearing on your meta, which is wonderful and explains exactly why that episode was the best season opener season 5 could have had (I agree, it was, though as a season opener, I prefer Bargaining). Thematically, it's perfect. I've always thought so without having the ability to explain why - but thankfully you've done that so well here I don't need to even try.
Re: Dracula in the comic - I'm pretty much of the opinion he's just being brought in because Drew Goddard thought it would be fun, not for any serious thematic reasons. Him fighting back to back with Buffy doesnt' mean a redemption story. It just means they have something they both want and combining forces is the best way to get it (like Buffy and Spike in Becoming). I don't read any more into it than that, though I agree he may well be the 'prince' mentioned in 10 (in this comic, the simplest explanation is usually the right one).
As for the Japanese vampires sharing Dracula's powers, I believe they are suppose to be vampires from Japanese mythology and have all sorts of powers, including some that struck me as odd, when I was told about it (can't remember by who). I think there's a page on Wikipedia.