New Season 8 Arc! SPOILERS

[allthings]

http://whedon.info/Buffy-Season-8-Co...oot,27373.html

Sounds cool to me

Spoiler:

Im loving that the world will know about vamps etc !

[dinamo]

Somehow I get the feeling everyone knowing can not possibly end well.

[Vampire in Rug]

Wow.

Spoiler:

It will be very, very interesting to see how the real world reacts to knowing about the supernatural.

One thing that might take me a while to warm up to... it that this changes [/i]everything[/i]. The Buffyverse used to be *somewhat* believable back when all the supernatural nasties would only be found near Hellmouth's. I'm not saying that this storyline is gonna be a bad thing, but it will certainly make the Buffyverse less relatable.

Although, upon reflection this kinda thing was inevitable with what's happening in "After the Fall" at the moment.

[Matt]

Wow, sounds awesome.

One question, I totalled the numbers up to 35, I thought there were going to be 40?

Spoiler:

I reached the conclusion of 35 because the Fray arc is #16-19, then the Jeph Loeb one-shot (#20), the Jane Espenson & others 5 arc (#21-25), Jane Espenson's Oz arc (#26-30) and Brad Meltzer (#31-35). Then again it says "Then Brad Meltzer will be writing five issues before the series wraps up." which gives the idea that his isn't the final story, so maybe that leaves #36-40 by Joss?

Spoiler:

I can't wait to see how the world finds out about the supernatural, that should be interesting and I'm waiting to see the part Oz plays because he is in the penultimate arc of the season so he must have some kind of impact on the series.

[Thomas]

Wow, sounds awesome.

One question, I totalled the numbers up to 35, I thought there were going to be 40?

Spoiler:

I can't wait to see how the world finds out about the supernatural, that should be interesting and I'm waiting to see the part Oz plays because he is in the penultimate arc of the season so he must have some kind of impact on the series.

Joss will be writing the last five issues, after Brad Meltzer's arc.

[Matt]

Joss will be writing the last five issues, after Brad Meltzer's arc.

Thanks, I just figured that out having re-read the article in detail. I was thinking it was strange for Joss not to write the final arc for his season 8.

I know it's a long way off, but I can't wait to see what happens over the course of this season and then in season 9 considering what we've already had in the past 16 issues with 24 more to go.

[vampmogs]

I think it's more believeable that the world would find out, that they wouldn't. It's something I've thought for a while now, especially given such things as 'Wolves At The Gate' with the big vamp battle in downtown Tokyo. I like the idea because it's always bugged me in the back of my mind a little that the world still wasn't supposed to know. It never did when they were in Sunnydale as such, but I feel it's appropriate and a natural progression that the whole world uncovers the whole thing.

It's also kind of eerie, you get a sense that when all of this kind of stuff starts happening something big is about to happen.

[Weredog]

Oh, wow, very interesting! Hmm, but it's not surprising the writers are going into this direction. We saw a progression of the civilians' blooming awareness of the supernatural.

Season 2: "Lie to Me" - teenagers form a cult to become vampires
Season 3: "Gingerbread" - Joyce speaks out for Sunnydale
Season 3: "Graduation Day" - Sunnydale High students prepare themselves for battle
Season 4: "The Initiative" - The US goverment knows exactly what's going on
Season 5: "Family" - The Maclays (civilians from non-Sunnydale) strongly oppose the supernatural
Season 7: "Empty Places" - Sunnydale clears out

The only thing it seems that none of the civilians were aware of was that Buffy Summers was the Vampire Slayer, chosen to protect them (aside from the few, yes: Ford, Joyce, Jonathan etc), definitely not on a global scale. I'm excited if this is where Season 8 is going with.

Can you say EPIC MUCH?!

[allthings]

The only thing it seems that none of the civilians were aware of was that Buffy Summers was the Vampire Slayer, chosen to protect them (aside from the few, yes: Ford, Joyce, Jonathan etc), definitely not on a global scale. I'm excited if this is where Season 8 is going with.

Can you say EPIC MUCH?!

My thoughts exactly! S8 has been rather fantastical with the scale of things and with some of the story we've had so far, so to push thing into a more epic direction will hopefully give the season a much better feel and make up from some of the mistakes of the season (e.g dawn smashing up tokyo. she was funny bu it would have been all over the news).

[dinamo]

I wonder if the humans will turn on the slayers as well, perhaps considering them demonic as well. Most people who knew about Buffy were okay wth it because they'd seen her fighting for good and knew she wasn't bad. But what if yo've never met a slayer, and all you know is that they fight for good but are powered by the heart of a demon. Could spell real problems.

[allthings]

I wonder if the humans will turn on the slayers as well, perhaps considering them demonic as well. Most people who knew about Buffy were okay wth it because they'd seen her fighting for good and knew she wasn't bad. But what if yo've never met a slayer, and all you know is that they fight for good but are powered by the heart of a demon. Could spell real problems.

It could do yeah. I mean Maggie Walsh wasnt too happy with Buffy in season 4, and General Vol the start of this season. I think Buffy and co will be at war with even more soldier's if they dont like the way shes doing things. The governemnt will want to take control of Buffy and co, and have them working for the. And as we've seen with Buffy, she doesnt jump through hoops on command.

[OkinawanSteel]

I'm wondering whether the general public finding out about the supernatural is going to be a permanent, or just for that arc. (Say, a "The Wish" type 'what if?' scenario, or just something that happens that is taken back, if you will, at the end of the arc.)

[Breathless]

Wow. This indeed spells trouble. I am also curious to know if this is only for an arc, or if from now on the entire world will know about the supernatural stuff going on. It's bound to start havoc. I hope they can wipe clean the population's memories of this, sort of like what happened to Connor at the end of Angel season 4. But my guess is that the season will probably end with the death of all magic/supernatural (Herein: monsters, Slayers, witches, the whole nine yards), and such an event will probably make the public forget or believe the world safe again. This could be an excellent way to sort of re-boot the entire Buffy series. I hope they will take it back to its roots with only Buffy and her friends knowing about the evil, and all the other Slayers just ordinary girls again. I'm not saying pull a "Dallas" on season 8 - cause it is awesome - but have only Buffy and the core characters remember what really went down, and then have magic and evil slowly creep back into the world again in season 9. But how would that affect Fray's future? This whole future thing's got me confused

[CaptainOats]

Wow. This indeed spells trouble. I am also curious to know if this is only for an arc, or if from now on the entire world will know about the supernatural stuff going on. It's bound to start havoc. I hope they can wipe clean the population's memories of this, sort of like what happened to Connor at the end of Angel season 4. But my guess is that the season will probably end with the death of all magic/supernatural (Herein: monsters, Slayers, witches, the whole nine yards), and such an event will probably make the public forget or believe the world safe again. This could be an excellent way to sort of re-boot the entire Buffy series. I hope they will take it back to its roots with only Buffy and her friends knowing about the evil, and all the other Slayers just ordinary girls again. I'm not saying pull a "Dallas" on season 8 - cause it is awesome - but have only Buffy and the core characters remember what really went down, and then have magic and evil slowly creep back into the world again in season 9. But how would that affect Fray's future? This whole future thing's got me confused

Yeah, It is gonna be nice to see how the whole season wraps itself up. And they also have to keep in mind they can't do anything to serious that would affect Fray and the Future. But knowing Joss and his writers I'm sure they have everything all planned out. I must say season so far is looking fantastic and I can't wait for the Oz arc!

The only thing I'm kinda worried about is this whole everyone knowing. It kinda destroys the whole point of the show that there is one girl in all the world fighting the forces of darkness protecting everyone from their deepest fears that linger just outside there doors. Although Season Eight has kinda been building up to the whole ''Slayers Against the World'' thing. Honestly, I'm not sure how it will turn out, but regardless of what does happen, I'm sure, as fans, we will all be pleased....

[dinamo]

I wonder if Twilight will initially loose to the Scoobies and the Slayers, and season 9 is Buffy realising now that people know about it, the world has totally changed so a world without magic in it really could be teh way to go. If you've got goverments taking on slayers, if you've got humans afraid and turning into vigilante groups, it could be what makes her make that choice. (that is if she is the ''B'' Slayer at all, that could have just been something to send us in the wrong direction from Fray) Maybe season 9 is how Buffy slowly changes her mind more and more, it may develope into Buffy not knowing why she's trying to save a world that wants her and her like gone. Also perhaps realising taht whilst Twilights methods of killing what stands in his way and blowing stuff up may not be stuff she agrees with, she maybe does agree with his stance on what needs to change and his views on the supernatural/magic/demon world.

[ThePoet's<3]

Oh WOW!! I can't wait for these storylines to unfold!

And my favorite teaser???

Spoiler:

OZ!

It should be interesting to see how the rest of the world will acknowledge Vampires and the Vampire Slayers... This was certainly set up in the early issues that claim Buffy and the Slayers will begin to take matters of judgement into their own hands. This seems to be what disturbs Twilight.

I think Buffy and Slayers will find themselves "siding" with the vampires and other creatures. I can see people disturbed about monsters roaming amongst them - but also quite frightened about young women who are strong enough to take on these monsters.

[Matt]

Spoiler:

I'm seriously excited about Oz returning, he was my favourite character and he and Willow were my favourite couple, so it should be awesome. Does Kennedy know Willow dated a guy once? Anyway, so excited, it'll be interesting to see how Oz fits back in with the group after being away for so long and also to see the capacity in which he plays his part, I mean, will he be evil? Fighting for good using his wolfy-mojo? Pop up needing Buffy's help? I can't wait.

[Slayer+]

Spoiler:

It'd be great if people reacted to the news with incredible indifference.