"Smashing" Into The Basement

[white avenger]

My sister in law was visiting us from Norfolk recently, and we were watching this episode. When Buffy and Spike tore the house down, she thought that it was funny, but she positively broke up when they fell through the floor into the basement. I'd never really looked at it out of the context of the episode, but I have to admit, the whole "falling through the floor and never breaking contact or even losing rhythm" thing IS kinda funny. Has anyone else ever thought that, or am I just betraying Spuffies everywhere?

[palabravampiress]

^ No, dude... the first time I saw that scene was out-of-context, too, and I thought it was pretty ridiculous. I knew next to nothing about BtVS at that time, so that scene sort of confirmed my worst -- and silliest -- suspicions.

I was like, "What the heck? Why is the house falling down? Is it super duper condemned or something? Is there an earthquake? What?" I think I may even have laughed, too.

Then, when I saw it in context, it made a lot more sense.

[Blondie Bear]

I've only ever seen it in context (well, except for that one time I went looking for the uncut scenes), but I did wonder about the house falling down until I started doing some reading about the symbolism behind it. But I never thought it was funny.

[caitaintdead]

Blondie Bear - agreed! I saw it in context the first time and even as a young 15 year old I thought that it was very clever how symbolic it was to show Buffy's life falling apart that way. I also remember having a giggle at the zipper noise as well though so I can't say I was viewing it with complete seriousness.

[Vampmogs]

The symbolism is great, it’s Buffy’s world crashing down around her. But yeah, it's a little silly. They weren’t doing anything that would have brought that house down, a few hands through walls and roughing each other up against them wouldn’t bring down a house.

And that's not me ignoring their supernatural strength or anything, but just nothing they were doing in that scene would have caused that.

[Bangelxx]

i did think it was a bit cheesy...heheh but good symbolism i suppose.

[Cangel]

I watched it out of context the first time (well I knew there was something going on between them because I saw OMWF first, but I hadn't seen this episode yet) and yet I still didn't think it was funny. Rather passionate. Okay, maybe it was the context, I was watching this video on youtube with best love scenes or something well and this scene was among them. I never even considered funny. Although I did find this one wall tearing apart looked so fake!

[randiann]

I've always hated that scene, really. It's too over the top for me. Like Vampmogs said, there is no way their actions would have destroyed the whole house like that. Isn't Buffy sleeping with a soulless vampire symbolism enough that she's falling apart?

[willow23]

I don't think that is matters whether or not it is possible for them to bring the house down. It is the symbolism that matters. The idea of Buffy and Spike's relationship as a manifestation of her self destructiveness and that bringing the house down around them, as Buffy's world falls apart is true symbolically.

That being said, they do have super strength and they do damage a great deal of structural beams and such in their fight scene.

[The Ferg]

No, I actually didn't think it was funny... Well, I didn't laugh at least... (Just for the record, I thought it was a great metaphor for the relationship. Just imo)

[~angelic slayer~]

I'm still undecided about this.... I knew the gist of the Spuffy relationship before it happened (reruns!), and as many of you know I'm a bit of a bangel gal, especially in my older days! So when I first saw it my response was "Nooooooo *heart dies*" and then I suppose I was too caught up in the show to really think about it. I was wondering why the camera lens was shaking (it did shake, yes?), but otherwise I just kind of figured the older floorboards couldn't handle the weight.

Looking back though, it is kinda funny. Definitely a cheese factor involved ;)

[palabravampiress]

I have to tell the rest of the story. I already told you that, the first time I saw this scene, it was totally out of context. I wasn't even a Buffy fan.

What I didn't say was that I was totally squicked because of the context in which I saw it. I was visiting an ex-boyfriend. We sort of attempted to remain friendly for a couple of years after we dated. This was not very successful. The guy never did get over it. So one day, while I was hanging out with said ex, he decided to show me some Buffy... the claimed aim, I guess, was to make me a fan. But he showed me that Spuffy scene! He acted like it was the coolest thing ever and wasn't I so impressed? I was completely weirded out. I was like... "Gah. Inappropriate!" It was one of the most awkward moments of my life. I mean, sitting in ex-boyfriend's bedroom (on his bed, no less!) and watching what has since been rated the #1 TV sex scene ever whilst waiting for current boyfriend (who eventually became my hubby) to come pick me up (because, of course, I don't drive)... soooo awkward. His intentions could not have been entirely honorable.

So, yeah. My nervous laughter and nit-picking of the implausibility of the scene was at least in part an attempt to dissolve the horrible awkwardness of that particular moment in my life.

Gah! I'm getting the creeps just thinking about it. I mean, who tries to woo an ex with Spuffy sex? That's just... unhealthy. It's hot, but not exactly anything approaching functional. Ick.