Lastnamehere

My daughters (2 and 4) love the book, so I was excited when I saw a movie version on Netflix a few days ago. They have watched it over and over and over. So I'd say this short is a huge success with the target audience.

I get a kick out of the lower reviews marking it down for unsophisticated humor. But aside from my little ones loving it, I appreciate the sweetness of the story, which is essentially about belonging. Not fitting in, but belonging - two very different concepts. I also appreciate the simple and beautiful communication between the characters as there is very little dialogue.

I can not get over the modernity and feminism of this episode. It revolves around the sexuality of a young girl and the growing danger of men on both a physical and a systemic/political level as she becomes a woman on her 18th birthday. The episode opens with Buffy sparring and letting off sexual steam with Angel. It opens on the fun, flirty side of sexuality. Buffy turns 18 and she is suddenly helpless and we enter the realm of the darker, more frightening side of a woman's new sexuality - helpless to stakes, needles, pointy teeth and all things penetrating. She is also helpless to catcalls, violence, predation, and even the politics of the watchers. The fear and anxiety Buffy feels as she runs and fights is accurate. Don't walk home alone. Be on your guard, even against the very political groups formed to watch and protect you. Be prepared to face test after test even though you've long ago proved yourself worthy. And never has the strength and stability of a father figure been more important. This episode is just beautiful. Tragically accurate, but stunning for it.