Buffy Season 4: A prelude to "A Hole in the World"

[TheMasterGeek]

It just hit me that the whole Initiative storyline in Buffy Season 4 is one big metaphor for Cavemen versus Astronauts. Think about it, The Initiative was this government group with the latest in scientific weaponry, and got involved with the demon, trying to defeat the demon with said scientific advances. So they are the Astronauts. As the Scooby Gang uses Primative weapons and witchcraft, and they get by. It may be ugly but they survive. Like the cavemen.

So guess what happens when the Astronauts (The Initiative) butt heads with the Cavement (Scooby Gang), guess who wins? The Cavemen won, and the Initiative had weapons, because the Scoobies had the ultimate weapon, human ingenuity and team work.

So the debate is settle, Cavemen win, even if the Astronauts have weapons.

[tjaman]

Well, yeah. And Fred died despite all the best possible medical science at her disposal.

Cavemen always win.

[MaxC]

I think 'caveman' is the wrong term I guess, or maybe it's not when using astronauts as an example.

When we think of astronant, we think of people who are technologically advance, and in this way, we associate that with power. Unfortunately, in the case of the question, the 'cavemen' has abilities that supercedes science and technology. Primitive maybe, but so much more powerful.

This has been seen throughout Buffy and even Angel. Although science can get most of the work done, you need magic to do the impossible - hence why Willow would use magic over her technological abilities when possible.

[tjaman]

I think it may be rationalism vs. intuition, and intuition just has a sexier edge for storytellers -- especially in speculative storylines.

[MaxC]

tjaman said:

I think it may be rationalism vs. intuition, and intuition just has a sexier edge for storytellers -- especially in speculative storylines.

Yes, the age old logic vs intuition.

If I may be so bold to suggest that is one of the reasons given for humans being the dominant species in Star Trek.

[tjaman]

That and the fact that humans wrote it.

[MaxC]

tjaman said:

That and the fact that humans wrote it.

Wouldnt it be great if some things werent.

[Bango]

crazygolfa said:

It just hit me that the whole Initiative storyline in Buffy Season 4 is one big metaphor for Cavemen versus Astronauts.

Yep.

On the S4 DVD they mention how the season theme was magic versus science, and so forth.