Hey pikachu1060, don't worry I know you were making a general point and not necessarily voicing you personnal preference, I wasn't attacking you, I hope there's no tension between us.*g*
We actually agree on a lot of things, I too have heard a lot of people telling me that they too wouldn't go to the trouble of watching a sub-titlted version - it's the majority, you're right. But, you know, before I realized that I was missing on a lot of stuff - thank you, the Internet*g* - I didn't really feel the need to try and see the original version of BtVS. I actually think that on Série Club, with their double airing, a lot of people actually watch both versions, even if only once in a while. I mean, how can people choose between oranges and apples if you don't offer them the apples, you know ? If the M6 people had half a brain, they would air both versions, just like Série Club does.
Besides, OMWF really is a special case, I mean, it's not any episode, it's a musical for god's sake. And it's probably the best Btvs episode ever. And now, how will people perceive it here ? As a joke, a stupid joke, because it's been slaughtered. That's why the idea that BtVS is a stupid show is so widely spread in France : because the people airing it make their best to make it stupid.
Oh, and feel free to criticize, make fun of, and throw stuff at french people. I mean, we're really dumbasses, I mean sometimes I feel like masquerading as a foreigner so I could make fun of the french, so... *g*
Finally, yes it is stupid to get rid of the 'coupley' dialogue, but yes, they could also get rid of the kisses and hugs, if they suddenly felt like it. They id it on Angel, where they simply cut out the entire sex scene at the end of 'Reprise', thus leaving a lot of viewers scratching their heads, trying to figure out how in Hell Darla and Angel conceived Connor since they never saw them having sex. France is a little slow that way, people need to have it all spelled out. Thank God, they haven't really done anything like that on Buffy, but still, the changes they make disminish the emotional impact of W&T... I mean, 99% of the people I know who were watching BTVS S4 had no idea what suddenly happened in New Moon Rising, because they had erased all traces of the girls' relationship up to that point. So, it still does have an impact on viewers. Moreover, they sometimes change lines to accomodate what they feel is appropriate : the famous example of the french translation of 'I'm all skanky.. And I think I'm kinda gay' comes to mind.
And, finally, about being used to the dubbing voices : I've seen 3 full seasons of Buffy without knowing anything else but the dubbing voices, so maybe one could say in a way I got used to them. But they actually influenced my feelings on the characters. For example, I so loathe Xander's french voice that from the first time I heard him talk, I hated him. And Willow, my beautiful Willow, everyone I know thinks she's a total airhead, because of her dubbing voice. And the second I heard the original cast's voices, I just knew that this was 'it', you know, the real deal, and that never again I would accept the pathetic substitute they were feeding us.
Rose
'Magic, thy name is Tara.' - Mariacomet, The Stone Circle.