Ok, this smacks far too much like 'Fate' which is against my own non-belief system (We have no fate but that which we make ourselves-or something like that).

The old saying about 'those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it'; and something about Human Nature and the inability to learn from others mistakes would cover most of what you're trying to say (unless I've totally misunderstood you).

On a simpler note it might all have something to do with that thing about there only being seven original plot-lines in all of history. BTW have you noticed how often the number seven crops up?

As I say this all goes against my 'free will and self-determination' kick, and I've never liked the idea of karma where it jumps from one life to another. To me its like saying the nine year old girl deserved to be raped cos she did something bad in a previous life!

I can't agree with the suggestion of reincarnation, but I do agree that you always find the same types of people wherever you go, with the same problems and hang-ups.

However, I enjoyed what you've written here and I look forward to the next bit. You've put forward some interesting idea's, and its made me think about plot lines and being careful about repeating myself.

Does this make any sense? My head hurts. Shutting up now.

Dave.

"As I say this all goes against my 'free will and self-determination' kick, and I've never liked the idea of karma where it jumps from one life to another. To me its like saying the nine year old girl deserved to be raped cos she did something bad in a previous life!"

Yes I dislike reincarnation as a philosophy strongly because of this reason too, cultures that have this as a belief system aren't big on charity have you noticed? Also there aren't enough souls to go around unless of course you accept the recent theory that there are other souls on planets which ties into Battlestar Galactica nicely.

Thank you very much for your review.

Interesting read.

thanks

You know, the similarities are far too general.. not seeing how this works.

I can point out just as many similarities between BtVS and Pokemon.

EDIT: Yes i understood you. No worries.

And both Pokemon and the 1-3 season of BTVS are basically coming of age stories.

Both feature the painfully overused First time is a screw up but then we prep, come back and kick ass plot line for episodes.

Both have enemy "main boss" types (Gym leaders), who have their own showdown episodes and minion/lackeys (Team rocket, random trainers on the road) that are often quickly dispatched.

Both have a main character who ignored advice, go the opposite way from conventional wisdom and tradition, and yet somehow pull off the win... often through the aid of devoted friends. Both main characters are also raised by single moms, and family and the pains involved therein are a common theme. Also, both Main character are "chosen ones" with destinies, and frequently engaging in extremely dangerous stunts which they somehow survive.

Both have a parental figure, an older academic type who gives advice and conducts research, as well as providing equipment. This older figure often makes of for the missing father figure. (Giles and Oak)

Both shows are full of deadbeat parents- Brock's left him to take care of a huge family of siblings, Xander's are not much less lousy, and Willow's mom barely seems to know her daughter at all.

Both feature a Redhead with a hopeless crush they are unwilling to admit to the guy. (Misty and Willow)

Both feature a powerful witch type who is not defeated by force, but won over by emotion ad friendship (Sabrina and Willow)

Etc, etc. You can make a lot of parallels between anything if you dig deep and get creative.

"I can point out just as many similarities between BtVS and Pokemon."

Well my inner child is saying petulantly - go for it then. I'd like to see you pull it off.*

But my adult side laughs at myself for stuffing up this piece so badly and is truly appreciative of your honest feedback.

Hopefully I can can make a convincing case in the next and final part of this essay.

But thank you very much for your review, you're correct the similarities are too general.

It was the Pokemon comment that made my mouth drop open in shock.

Serves me right for attempting to be even slightly esoteric in the first place.

* Hey? Did you understand what I meant by those sentences, one phrase is Australian English and don't worry I wasn't being coarse but I just can't think how to translate the sentiment into North American English right now.

I think this is an interesting idea, but the way the essay is written (as a string of comparisons with relatively little analysis and repetition of the same sentence structures over and over again) was off-putting to me, and- primarily as a result of the form not being effective on me- I haven't been convinced of much of what you've said. I think that were this written as an actual essay, instead of just a stop-and-go string of sentences that don't flow smoothly from one to another, it might be easier for me to get your point.

Also, I think the first section is much less interesting than the second. Most television shows have love triangles on them. The torture and the mystical pregnancies are both common when dealing with a certain genre of show. Same goes for rape. These are isolated incidents, and I can't really see any meaning to the fact that they happened on both shows. Also, these aren't "themes." Pregnancy and rape aren't themes. They're events. Torture isn't a theme, and neither is mental illness. If you want to discuss the themes of the shows, you'd want to talk about things like identity, hell/heaven as a metaphor, redemption, family as who you choose it to be, the power of friendship, etc.

I'm also wondering why you think Faith is a disassociative schizophrenic, because it's not ringing any canon bells for me.

Anyway, I know this review is coming off sounding awfully negative, but I think it's mainly that I like what you're trying to do, but think that there are better ways for you to do it, and that an actual, structured essay (paragraphs, and discussion more than just rattling off surface similarities) would be interesting and more effective. Good luck.

I love honest non abusive feedback, what writer does not love to get a review like yours?

Points you raised in order.

The first part could be ditched. Maybe you're right. If I hadn't posted it I would delete it. I think I'll rename it 'events' however, that's a good idea.

If this was written as an actual essay - unfortunately I haven't written an academic essay for over twelve years and my rust is showing. It was damn hard to do let me tell you, to try and work out how to format this piece. (I'm not excusing poor quality just explaining why)

Also most essays I wrote in the past (History, Political Studies, Ancient History, Sociology, never English and themes, although I should remember how to theme from Art History essays, god damnit!) had a question I needed to answer, and there would be an intro, a middle bit where I proved whatever argument I was taking with footnotes and the conclusion.

I did an intro, obviously the middle bit isn't working for you, but the conclusion isn't here yet. I can see I better strive my utmost to make it convincing.

"I'm also wondering why you think Faith is a disassociative schizophrenic, because it's not ringing any canon bells for me."
I first read the theory in Levy's TV tie in book 'Go ask Malice' which was a bio of Faith's life before Sunnydale.
It's because Faith hallucinates and blacks out and she's just at the age bracket where these things manifest.

If she's not a schizophrenic I'd go with suffering Post Traumatic stress. But she's definitely mentally ill in Sunnydale.

Wesley (before he gets tortured by her) says Faith's a sick, sick, girl.

"I think it's mainly that I like what you're trying to do, but think that there are better ways for you to do it, and that an actual, structured essay (paragraphs, and discussion more than just rattling off surface similarities"

The terrible thing is I'm trying - oh god, obviously writing an essay is not like riding a bicycle.

Still if at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again.

If only there was a box marked 'superficial article' I could have ticked.

Thanks again for your helpful review. :)

Okay, now this is fascinating comparisons you've drawn here, and I'd certainly like to see more.

My only trouble is the formating - your chosen structure makes it hard to read in places with the dialogue quotes almost running into your discussion points. May I suggest italics for the quotes? And underlining would suggest the start of sections a lot better.

thank you for such useful feedback, changing now.