But later it becomes clear that, while they're both tiny blondes, Buffy uses honourable, hale male tools to achieve her goals (violence and strategy and cleverness), Darla uses female tools like lying, looking sexy/innocent and, egads, guns.
Oh, yes, you're very right about this. I always take the talk about Buffy's power being routed in masculinity with a pinch of salt, because I wonder what the line is between things proving 'masculinity' and just 'having power' (/the confidence to express power) - and I've never quite worked it out. But when she's set against Darla, then the masculine/feminine divide definitely comes out, because they're technically physical equals.
actually, her no-makeup-overlarge-sweatshirt manipulation of Lindsey really delighted me
Me too! That scene of her in Redefinition, I think, when she's hiding out at Lindsey's apartment looking all fey and weak and white, only to roll her eyes at the cosseting and paw through Lindsey's files? I love that scene.
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Oh, yes, you're very right about this. I always take the talk about Buffy's power being routed in masculinity with a pinch of salt, because I wonder what the line is between things proving 'masculinity' and just 'having power' (/the confidence to express power) - and I've never quite worked it out. But when she's set against Darla, then the masculine/feminine divide definitely comes out, because they're technically physical equals.
actually, her no-makeup-overlarge-sweatshirt manipulation of Lindsey really delighted me
Me too! That scene of her in Redefinition, I think, when she's hiding out at Lindsey's apartment looking all fey and weak and white, only to roll her eyes at the cosseting and paw through Lindsey's files? I love that scene.