Fanfic Discussion: 3 Deep: Ep 2…Buffy’s Dream

[wenchsenior]

Insomnia, my old familiar bedfellow…you have finally inspired me to get off my figurative ass and post my thoughts on the opening sequence of Episode 2 of “3 Deep” by the writers at Tea at the Ford.

I’ve been planning a big post addressing the dream/fantasy sequences, allusions, and subtext in “3 Deep”, but after tinkering with it for months, it has

Comments

Identification?

[tisiphone318]

Hello, I friended you a little while back just so I could read these lovely analyses you write. Thanks very much! I've got a question?

So, by the end of the dream she seems to have identified the lover as Angel, not Spike. I truly have no idea which of them it was meant to be, or why Buffy conjures Angel at the end.

What makes you think that the identification is Angel? Couldn't the text be interpreted to mean that she loved Spike, but he chose to leave her like Angel, and, like Angel, this left its mark on her. Why can't she just let it go? Because the damage Angel's leaving did to her, is the shadow cast.

Thanks,
Tis (who realizes she's probably fanwanking this like mad).

Re: Identification?

[wenchsenior]

Thanks for the lovely compliment!

Actually, your interpretation of the final line hadn't occurred to me...good point. I think the dream sequence was deliberately written so that the reader (and B) aren't exactly sure who the lover is. It might represent both vampires. There was lots of debate over it when the ep first went up, and I don't think any consensus was reached.

But your point is well-taken. I'm happy to fan-wank with you!

[db2305]

Whoohoo! Wonderful that you have returned to this. Great exegesis, although I can't confirm anything of course...

[wenchsenior]

I'm happy to do it. I know not all readers are that interested in the symbology and sub-text, but it's one of my favorite things!

[sylviavolk2000]

I like tisiphone318's point too! Very smart, nimble thinking. Spike's always been in Angel's shadow, something that's warped Spike's whole life out of shape. Well, his whole unlife, anyway. But the point stands.

And your take on the sun symbolism is intriguing, because we can extend it to contemplate the Otherland that Buffy kept visiting in canon: the world of too-bright sun and stark desert. Why should she visit the source of her power in a place so blighted? Nothing grows there. There aren't even any oases ...

[superplin]

If you ever decide to go back to this theme, you've certainly got more material to work with...