Buffy Season 8 Recap - The Long Way Home - Part 1

We start on a shot of the earth seen from space with the sun shining from behind it, it is unclear whether it is a sunrise or a sunset but perhaps it is purposely ambiguous and open for the readers interpretation, is this a new beginning, or is it the end?
Buffy’s narration also contributes to the opening image. “The thing about changing the world, is once you do it the worlds all different.” We turn the page to see Buffy and a couple other women who we do not recognise jumping from a helicopter as Buffy continues her narration. She informs us that there used to be one Slayer and now there is nearly Eighteen Hundred, Five Hundred of which are working for her in Ten different squads. Buffy has turned her power, her ‘curse’ into an organisation. She tells us there is even three Buffys, one is underground “literally” and the other is partying in Rome, dating some guy called the Immortal which she tells us was Andrew’s idea and that it would be funny. For those who did not watch Angel this refers to the season of Angel after Buffy had finished, the episode revolves around Angel and Spike as they chase the rumour that Buffy is in Rome, the episode never showed Buffy other than the back of a blonde haired woman presumably because Sarah Michelle Gellar was unavailable for a cameo, however we now have confirmation that it never was Buffy but a double.

Buffy tells us that she still has a Watcher, we then see Xander who is easily recognisable with an eyepatch after the events of Season Seven. He is surrounded by large screens, computers and women working at them. He is seen talking to Buffy and telling her that everything is Five by Five, which was one of Faith’s phrases perhaps a sign that Faith is working with them, foreshadowing Faith’s arrival, or is he simply using the phrase in a military style like it originated. Xander is then seen talking to a particular girl in the ‘control room’, she is not recognisable from the series she informs him that there are problems with the "Barecelona squad" informing the audience that not only does Buffy have hundreds of Slayers working for her but they are also worldwide which was hinted at during Angel's final Season. Xander asks jokily if he can be referred to as Sergeant Fury due to his eye patch and the Slayer agrees. While the series often made reference to popular culture this is made even more relevant due to its new comic format and Xander’s new image as an army general with an eyepatch. We discover that the Slayer’s name is Renee and consider whether she is a love interest for Xander

Buffy and her group of Slayers kick through a door to a stone built building and find some human bodies and some demons, this seems like a normal patrol for Buffy which is very different to the patrols we saw in the series. Buffy and her fellow Slayers quickly dispose of the monsters thanks to some help from even more Slayers with harpoons, Buffy finishes the final one off with the sharp end of a large crucifix. She quips that she finds it weird using a crucifix to kill something, however for the reader it is a great image full of Buffy humour and a great moment to contemplate how far Buffy has come, from the second episode surviving a vampire attack due to the tiny crucifix necklace she is wearing to this moment of using a crucifix almost as big as herself to skew a great demon.
They return to the human bodies and note a symbol carved into their chests, Buffy tells the others to take a picture and send it to Giles confirming that Giles is still involved with Buffy even though Xander has taken over the role of ‘Watcher’. The next image is still of Buffy but much further away, far enough away to include the image of two black boots and a black drape of clothing floating in the sky showing that someone seems to be watching Buffy.

We then leave all the characters we would recognise and see a helicopter during the day, two men in army clothing are talking about the Slayers as enemies. They point out that there is a leader, they are organised and they have many weapons, the other man observes that they also work in different ‘cells’ which makes Buffy and her team comparable to “terrorists”. The other agrees with the statement then says “look what she did to her hometown” we then see that the helicopter is above Sunnydale, or what is left of it which is nothing but a crater.






Military personnel in hazmat suits are shown deep below in the wreckage of Sunnydale searching for traces of magic, perhaps trying to work out how and why Sunnydale is now just a crater. One man states that there is nothing “down here” no bodies or traces of magic. We then see two arms move towards him, he turns around and we see a face reflected in his helmet as he screams.

The symbol from earlier is now seen in black and white as Buffy and Xander debate what it could mean. Xander thinks it is a “guy with a monocle frowning” Buffy cocks her head to the side and says that she thinks it looks like “a beautiful sunset”.
“You need to see Dawn” Xander interrupts, Buffy is obviously trying to avoid the unsaid situation. She tells Xander that there is nothing they can do until they find Willow anyway, telling the audience that Willow is missing and that they do not know where she is. Buffy is pressured to go talk to Dawn anyway, she needs her sister Xander reminds her. While they are now running a Slayer organisation and fulfill the the image of mature professionals, behind closed doors Buffy and Xander are the same kids we saw grow up in the series, they joke, Buffy unprofessionally eats while studying important information and most importantly they still have very human problems which diverts Buffy's attention away from the symbol.

Buffy walks in and her narration begins again, telling the audience that all Dawn does is talk about her problems, but then Buffy feels a little guilt because Dawn’s problems are definitely big enough to warrant some complaints. It is then revealed that Dawn is now a giant. Buffy and Dawn bicker like sisters, Buffy blames Dawn’s relationship with a Thricewise on the fact that she is now a giant, Dawn wants to talk to Willow about this, Dawn claims she was helpful after Buffy died (insinuating Willow is more of a Mother than Buffy ever has been). They continue bickering even as Buffy leaves, exchanging insults Buffy leaves and it is revealed that they are now all living in a castle. “I miss my home” Buffy thinks. “I miss my mom, I miss the gang” Buffy’s world is certainly “all different”.

The military General that was overlooking the crater earlier is now walking down a hall with other military personnel. He looks into a cell and is instantly alarmed “how is that thing alive??” a scientist explains that they think Subject One is keeping it alive with magic. The General asks what the subject wants, the scientist explains that she wants access to all magic hardware and a weapons lab for her boyfriend plus immunity and release if they succeed in killing Buffy Summers. Also she wants lots of cheese, the General asks what her name is, “Her name is Amy”.


Already we can see a key theme to this Season, perspective. Is this the beginning or the end? Is Buffy right in forming this 'army'? Your perspective on a situation rules your thoughts on it which will play an important part later in the season.
Xander's quick interruption while looking at the symbol perhaps holds a double meaning, while Buffy can see a sun setting, Xander tells her that she needs to see dawn e.g. a sun rising. Does Buffy see the end, is Xander telling her she needs to see the beginning.
Xander's new role is a great continuation from Season Seven where Dawn points out that Xander's power is watching his loved ones and knowing what they need. While Giles was a great Watcher, Xander is possibly better as he is watching and helping both Buffy's professional life and private life.


Questions left open by this issue.
Where is Willow?
How is Buffy funding this new Slayer organisation?
What does Buffy mean by her double being underground, is she dead?
Who was watching Buffy from afar?
What is a thricewise?
Who or what is Amy’s ‘boyfriend’?
What does that symbol represent?