Who's got the money?
Mar. 15th, 2005 10:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hazelkEven more random episode pairage
At a very straightforward level Doublemeat Palace is about getting a job in a big corporation. Power Play is the culmination of a season long arc about going to work for the Man. Buffy applies to the McPalace to get money and be seen as a responsible parent figure for Dawn. Angel signs up with W&H to buy a new life for his son. On her first day Buffy optimistically opines that Manny can “bite her”. Angel gives the troops a rousing speech about how they can make a difference. Soon both are overwhelmed by the pervading sense of hopelessness engendered by their very different corporate environments.
The Scoobies turn up at the DMP, take advantage of the resources (Xander gets a free burger) and leave. Andrew, acting as Giles et al.’s representative, arrives at W&H, takes advantage of their resources and leaves (with Dana). Buffy gets a sign, a disembodied finger, that she believes is a clue to the true nature of the Palace. Angel, or so we learn in Power Play, receives a vision from a briefly embodied Cordelia that forms the basis for a plan of attack.
So far, so superficially similar. But the interesting part is really in the differences. Because in Power Play we learn that all the evil in the world is controlled by a secret cabal of demons and that by joining with the Man you can uncover his covert identity. While in Doublemeat Palace the great corporate conspiracy turns out to be vegetables and the all-consuming source of paralyzing evil turns out to be the customer. To be us.
At a very straightforward level Doublemeat Palace is about getting a job in a big corporation. Power Play is the culmination of a season long arc about going to work for the Man. Buffy applies to the McPalace to get money and be seen as a responsible parent figure for Dawn. Angel signs up with W&H to buy a new life for his son. On her first day Buffy optimistically opines that Manny can “bite her”. Angel gives the troops a rousing speech about how they can make a difference. Soon both are overwhelmed by the pervading sense of hopelessness engendered by their very different corporate environments.
The Scoobies turn up at the DMP, take advantage of the resources (Xander gets a free burger) and leave. Andrew, acting as Giles et al.’s representative, arrives at W&H, takes advantage of their resources and leaves (with Dana). Buffy gets a sign, a disembodied finger, that she believes is a clue to the true nature of the Palace. Angel, or so we learn in Power Play, receives a vision from a briefly embodied Cordelia that forms the basis for a plan of attack.
So far, so superficially similar. But the interesting part is really in the differences. Because in Power Play we learn that all the evil in the world is controlled by a secret cabal of demons and that by joining with the Man you can uncover his covert identity. While in Doublemeat Palace the great corporate conspiracy turns out to be vegetables and the all-consuming source of paralyzing evil turns out to be the customer. To be us.
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no subject
Date: 2005-03-16 08:27 pm (UTC)the idea (put forward more strongly in S6 than in others) that some of the most vital, difficult jobs are done by people who are underpaid and under-appreciated…..Anya suggests that Buffy should be compensated for slaying demons, and everyone else regards this as a crazy idea.
Interesting. I never really thought about the dismissal of Anya’s proposal that way. It works but it sounds like part of a larger thesis. Is it?
no subject
Date: 2005-03-16 10:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-16 11:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-17 01:35 am (UTC)Will head over and check them out.
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Date: 2005-03-17 01:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-17 09:12 pm (UTC)