Spoiler Slayer

PM Update

Do you want to hear a funny story...

If you look at the timestamp for this post, you will see that it was done roughly around 5 PM Pacific Standard Time. That's because I planned on watching a movie, catching up on some TV, and watching the season finale for 'Coupling' on BBC America. Which I have done, as it is now shortly before 9 PM PST. I wrote the first of the site reviews earlier today and stored it, planning to do a quick surf for spoilage after I watched the shows and then publishing both the spoilage and the review to the page.

The first site I hit, as you can see from the review, was Ain't It Cool News. Hercules has posted fresh spoilers for Buffy, mainly detailing the events of the Wedding Episode.

You'll want to read those before proceeding.

My first thought was that either Hercules had one of those 'funny aneurysms' or had gotten hold of some very bad 'magic weed'. If it was anyone but Hercules, I doubt that I would think twice about the probability of any spoiler that featured the phrase 'future Xander'. The plot for the Wedding certainly sounds like Fan Fiction to me.

Even with the glowing review that I had written earlier (it's at the bottom of this update, unchanged), I had to admit that I had my doubts. But then I checked my e-mail, and discovered that Hercules wasn't the only one with these spoilers.

Wendy at the Spoiler Zone has a new update, most of this info is coming from casting sides. I'm also seeing confirmation from other known sources on the messageboards.

I'm digesting this right now, I'll have more comments in the morning. I'm not doubting the accuracy of the sources, however I think that Mutant Enemy knows darn well where some of their biggest leaks are. Strange that this one wedding seems to incorporate more than a few false spoilers from the past year. It's not that I'm doubtful that Spike and Buffy might be on the outs around the time of the wedding, it's a definite possibility. Likewise, I can believe Buffy making some comment about letting Xander get away. It just seems a bit much for just one episode.

More tomorrow...

Spoiler Site Review - Hercules from Ain't It Cool News

Herc doesn't get half the credit he deserves. Three months before Season Six even began, he posted spoilers for the first eight episodes. Extensive, detailed, and amazingly correct spoilers. Sure, he was wrong about what would happen in Episode Eight (Buffy enters an asylum), but in all probability that was a change on the part of Mutant Enemy later in the season. Out of over 50 detailed spoilers for Season Six, he only missed that one. Still, it didn't stop people from doubting his accuracy. Indeed, even as I write this, there are still fans who are convinced that Herc will be wrong about the Big Scooby Death.

These criticisms were part of the reason why I started the Spoiler Slayer last year. I couldn't stand the fact that accurate spoiler sources were being scoffed at, then or now. Not that Herc was correct 100% of the time last season, as he did claim that Anya would die at some point. However, I think it's important to note why he said that. There were legitimate reports from the set of a very morose Xander carrying Anya away from the tower, where she had been struck by falling rubble. Anyone could have made the same mistake, and it's easy to see how a mistake like that could be made. He's right 99% of the time, and when he is wrong, it is understandable.

He's also quick to update his spoilage, or explain the reasons why he said something. No matter how clear you might try to be, people can and will jump to the wrong conclusion. I know whenever I've ever made a mistake when summarizing his spoilage, he's immediately fired off an e-mail to let me know. He's also written me on occasion, to point out flaws in my own speculation or incorrect spoilage that other sites have posted. He also puts a great deal of work into this, I know how hard it is to manage the spoilers for just one show, he does it for dozens.

Some people attack him for ending his spoilage with, 'I warn you not to defy me!'. Trust me, I've called him on things in the past as well. Trouble is, I always end up eating my own words when his spoilage turns out to be correct. I didn't believe that the Scooby Gang would have anything to do with Buffy's resurrection, I doubted that Willow and Tara would have a fight and break-up, yet it all happened like he said. Sadly, I think that people were expecting him to provide spoilage like that all season. These things go in cycles, and while we might not be getting summaries for the last eight episodes of the season, I fully expect that he'll continue to provide accurate spoilage for some time to come. I can't recommend him enough.

P.S. I would say that his is the first place I check every morning for news, but it's not (it's the second). Here's the first.