Talk:Jasmine (Buffyverse)

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[edit] Jasmine Versus Glorificus

Although "Buffy" and "Angel" episodes frequently cover the same ground, why do you think the writers insisted on the white-hats fighting a god... twice?

Glorificus and Jasmine served essentially the same purposes on both shows. Both retconned reality-warping teenagers (Buffy’s sister, Dawn, and Angel’s son, Conner) to into the shows’ storylines. Each served as they key (literally in Dawn’s case) to existence for their respective god. Both gods also have naming issues, or rather the lack thereof: Jasmine cannot choose her own name because her real one holds the key to her power. “Glorificus” is technically a title her minions gave her, and she only insisted on the diminutive “Glory” because of her increasing materialism. Both also reside within human bodies: Glory shares a body with Ben, a human host created especially for her, and her ultimate weakness. Jasmine implants herself in Cordelia’s body and has to impregnate herself with Conner so she (as Cordelia) can give birth to herself (as Jasmine).

More importantly, both goddesses were also potential show-enders. “Buffy” Season 5 could have easily been the final series, and the Season 5 finale (“The Gift,” Buffy 5x22) could serve as a series finale for fans that didn’t want to switch to UPN (or simply wanted out of the show entirely). The “Angel” Season 4 finale (“Home,” Angel 4x22) would have also been an appropriate series finale had the show not been renewed. Both also serve a purpose in the real world: Buffy’s death on the show was a literal death on the WB network level, and Buffy (the character and show) was resurrected the following season on UPN. Cordelia’s pregnancy was written into the show because of Charisma Carpenter’s real-life pregnancy. The Jasmine storyline also conveniently wrapped-up countless loose ends by saying that Jasmine simply orchestrated everything on the show--no loose ends make for clean series cancellations.

Although many “Buffy” fans were bothered by Season 5 (more by the addition of Dawn than the rest of the Glory storyline), the latter half of the “Angel” run (Seasons 4 and 5) represent a very specific shift in the focus of the show, essentially veering the entire series off-course… twice. Season 4 deemphasized the quest for redemption (given to Angel by the Powers That Be) by making Cordelia the season’s Big Bad. Season 5 reacted to all the problems of the previous season; unfortunately, Season 4 linked everything on the show to Jasmine, and by effectively retconning Jasmine out of the show, the original point of “Angel” was lost--the entire concept of visions driving Team Angel on their respective quests for redemption was scrapped.

The question is: If the Glory storyline was so bad and received so poorly (by fan and network executive, alike), why did the “Angel” writers then virtually recreate it, tainting their show for the rest of its run?--hypercritic 21:40, 13 April 2006 (UTC)

There are some major similaritiies, but the 2 story lines are used in different ways. Glory's storyline in season 5 is designed to investigate themes of family, adoption, and sacrifice. Angel Season 4 Jasmine storyline is more about dealing the fanaticism (and violence) religion can create, and issues about free will. Was Buffy Season 5 really poorly received by fans as a whole, in my experience this has not been the case? -- Paxomen 12:29, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

Point taken--Angry fans usually stand-out more than happy ones, so there might be fewer dissenters than I thought.--hypercritic 04:55, 10 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] First appearens

Didn't she technically appear in the episode "Spin the Bottle"? I mean, that's when she took over Cordelias' body. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 213.200.165.75 (talk) 18:48, 18 January 2007 (UTC).