Buffy - Season 5 impressions (episode 2)
Dec. 14th, 2005 11:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thalia_seawoodReal Me
A summary can be found here.
Introductory Notes
I watched this episode yesterday after a pretty crappy day at work. Well, this episode managed to cheer me up right away. :-)
I like that the title refers to both Dawn and Harmony. Both of them want the world to realise that they are much more than everyone thinks they are. Both want respect.
* Harmony wants to be a vampire villain, someone who accomplishes things. She wants to be tough and feared. It's interesting that she is unable though to give up the core of her personality to achieve that goal. The "real me" is not Vicious!Harmony, but Unicorn!Harmony who's both a girlie and superficial, but also has retained a strange innocence.
* Dawn wants not be seen as the little useless sister, but as someone who's strong and reliable. However, she has no idea how to achieve that goal.
* I think that their themes find a counterpart in Spike: He has after all achieved self-transformation quite successfully.
To those who are new to my LJ: Fool for Love was one of the earliest episodes I watched so I already know about Spike's human background.
- I like how this episode is filmed. We see almost everything what happens through Dawn's eyes. And I *love* that very often little bits of Dawn intrude into the scene, even if the main focus lies on other characters. But all of a sudden, there's her arm or her chin. This can be seen most clearly when Giles and Buffy drive to the magic shop and Dawn sits in the back of the car. This shows so perfectly how Dawn intrudes into the life of the scoobies.
- The resentment and underlying tension between Buffy and Dawn is a great new plot point. When Dawn talks about Buffy, we can see why she feels neglected. When Buffy talks about Dawn, we can understand why she thinks her sister is spoiled. It also makes us aware once more how tough Buffy's life is and that being a Slayer is not a fun job.
- I won't speculate about who or what Dawn really is. I pretty much know what she is, though I don't know the exact details. (To be entirely spoilerfree for a series that was broadcast years ago is just not possible.)
If I were spoilerfree, I would have started with her name though as the theme of naming things was brought up several times in the last episodes. "Dawn" is not only a pretty name, but marks the beginning of the day. As such I would see her as connected to the light and to new beginnings.
Going through the episode
- The first scene gives us Jedi!Buffy and Mentor!Giles. Yoda would be very proud of Buffy. He would also wack Dawn with his gimmer stick. :-)
- I love, love, love Dawn writing in her diary. The angst!!! The excessive use of exclamation points!!!!!
Nobody knows who I am. Not the real me. It's like, nobody cares enough to find out. I mean, does anyone ever ask *me* what I want to
do with my life? Or what my opinion is on stuff? Or what restaurant to order in from?
No. Underline. Exclamation point.
(We see her underlining the word and drawing the exclamation point. She ponders for a moment and then violently draws a few more, stabbing at the paper with her pen.)
Exclamation point, exclamation point.
(pause)
No one understands. No one has an older sister who's a slayer.
Somehow this scene made me think of pre-Spike William. Both Dawn and he are outsiders, both enjoy writing. Dawn has her diary, William has his poems. Both are overly emotional. Dawn, of course, has the excuse of being a teenager... but then William doesn't come across as very grown up either. :-)
- The interaction between Buffy, Dawn and Joyce is great throughout this episode. Michelle Trachtenberg is not only pretty, but she can act. E.g. the way she sometimes gets all stone faced around Buffy and then just one her eyes narrows slightly. Brilliant!
Dawn
- I've already liked Riley, but I've become even fonder of him in this episode. What can I say? I like his sense of humour. I also like that he does accept it when Buffy has other plans.
Riley: Now it's my turn to be surprised. I thought we had plans today.
They sit on the sofa.
Buffy: Plans? We planned plans?
Riley: Well, you said, uh, "come over tomorrow and we'll hang," and then I said, "OK." Not the invasion of Normandy, but still a plan.
Buffy nods in resignation.
Buffy: Right.
Riley: (studying her expression) We're not hangin' today, are we?
Buffy: Giles is on his way to pick me up.
Riley: Oh, slayer training.
Buffy: Slayer shopping, actually, but equally as important.
Riley: I have no doubt. Okay, well, we'll hook up later. (Starts to get up)
Buffy: Are you mad at me?
Riley: Oh, no, not at all. I'm plotting your death, but in a happy way.
Riley also listens patiently to Buffy's rants. Men who are patient when women rant and manage to provide a counter-balance are good.
Also: I need to learn how to make LJ icons. There needs to be a Riley icon with the text A studly yet sensitive boyfriend... . :-)
- Dawn being sent outside when Buffy and her friends find the corpse of the shopkeeper is very good scene. Like Dawn, the viewers are excluded from what's going on. Like Dawn, we can only try to get a peek through the window. Dawn is literally an "out-sider" in this scene.
While watching it I was thinking of other out-siders we have seen so far: Spike in Pangs who's looking through windows while wearing a ratty blanket. Faith who observes the scoobie gang through a window after awaking from her coma.
- Interesting scene. I think it echoes what Faith said in the first vision she shared with Buffy:
Guy to Dawn: I know you. Curds and whey. (Dawn looks shocked) I know what you are. (slowly and ominously) You ... don't ... belong ... here.
- Tara comes outside to keep Dawn company.
I see this as symbolic as well. Tara could be included in what's going on, but she doesn't feel as if she really belongs nonetheless.
- Oh, Giles so wants to have the magic bookshop. I sympathise!
- Buffy: What'd they take?
Willow looks in the inventory book.
Giles: I should think an item of, of value, or-or power, possibly even a-
Willow: A unicorn. 10-inch ceramic unicorn imported from Thailand.
Buffy: Was it valuable?
Giles stares in puzzlement at the empty case.
Willow:List price, $12.95.
Giles: Which begs the question, what kind of an unholy creature fancies cheap tasteless statuary?
:-) As soon as I learned a unicorn was stolen, there was no doubt that Harmony has to be behind it. Because unicorns and Harmony? OTP!
- Harmony trying to be a cheerfully motivating yet vicious gang-leader cracked me up several times:
Harmony: Yes, you deserve it. Secondly... (turns away to reach for something) somebody remembered to pick me up the sweetest little unicorn!
(Holds up the ceramic unicorn and smiles at Brad. The other vamps stare at him.)
Brad: (whispering to other vamps) What?
Harmony: Brad, guess someone was feeling guilty for standing me up in the tenth grade. (Admiring the unicorn)
Brad: (to other vamps) I, I had to get her something. She sired me.
Peaches: (to Cyrus) Sire-whipped.
- Dawn's slight crush on Xander is cute. And funny. Especially, the way Xander's work for Dracula gets reevaluated.
Dawn voiceover:Xander is so much cuter than anyone. And smarter too. He totally skipped college and got a job working construction. Which is so kind of ... deep, you know? He builds things. And he's brave too.
Cut to Dawn in her pajamas, lying on the bed and writing in her diary.
Dawn voiceover: Just last week he went undercover to stop that Dracula Guy.
- Willow trying to figure out why Tara feels like an outsider is a fascinating scene:
For one, Willow only blames men for why Tara has to feel that way: First Xander, then Giles.
And what does this moment mean?
Willow: You're completely one of the gang now. Everyone accepts that.
Closeup of their faces as they both smile.
Willow: You're one of the good Guys.
Tara's smile disappears and she pulls away, disengaging herself from Willow's embrace. Willow doesn't notice her expression.
My interpretation is that Tara isn't fond of categorisations like good or bad. I have the feeling that she's more than meets the eye and that maybe Willow wouldn't see her as "good" if she knew more about Tara.
- Anya made me laugh out loud in this scene:
Anya: Oh, crap. (slaps down her cards) Look at this! Now I'm burdened with a husband and several tiny pink children, more cash than I can reasonably manage...
Xander: That means you're winning.
Anya: Really?
Xander: Yes. Cash equals good.
Anya: Ooh! (claps her hands in excitement) I'm so pleased. (Scoops up the plastic markers that represent children) Can I trade in the children for more cash?
- Dawn accidentally inviting Harmony in.
Drat. I saw that coming. And while she makes a mistake, Buffy should go easy on her. I mean: Why didn't Xander or Anya just shut the door and ignore Harmony? In some way, they were all eager for a fight and totally underestimating the danger.
- Harmony has honed her instincts. She's a much better fighter than last time, so she still doesn't take on other vampires.
- Harmony meeting Spike is such a wonderful scene.
Particulary like how she calls him "Spikey" first and then takes the endearment back in this super-dignified way.
Spike looks tiny when compared to Mort. Nevertheless, he gets a kick out of riling him a bit...
Harmony: I'm not gonna make the same mistakes you did. I've been doing my homework, reading books and stuff.
Spike: What, Evil for Dummies?
- Anya does something selfless for someone other than Xander for the first time when she tries to ensure Dawn's safety.
- I'm wondering: Have we ever heard Buffy laughing out loud before this episode? I'm pretty sure we haven't, because I would have remembered her laughter. It's laughter of the best kind, you just want to laugh along with her. Anyway, in this episode she cracks up twice: When Xander tells her Harmony wants to fight her and when Giles tells her he was so bored that he watched "Passions" with Spike. (Very funny image. :-))
- Buffy rescuing Dawn and then immediately starting a fight with her. Going back home and pretending to their mother that everything is just fine.
Just perfect.
p.s. I can someone point me to some nice Dawn icons?
A summary can be found here.
Introductory Notes
I watched this episode yesterday after a pretty crappy day at work. Well, this episode managed to cheer me up right away. :-)
I like that the title refers to both Dawn and Harmony. Both of them want the world to realise that they are much more than everyone thinks they are. Both want respect.
* Harmony wants to be a vampire villain, someone who accomplishes things. She wants to be tough and feared. It's interesting that she is unable though to give up the core of her personality to achieve that goal. The "real me" is not Vicious!Harmony, but Unicorn!Harmony who's both a girlie and superficial, but also has retained a strange innocence.
* Dawn wants not be seen as the little useless sister, but as someone who's strong and reliable. However, she has no idea how to achieve that goal.
* I think that their themes find a counterpart in Spike: He has after all achieved self-transformation quite successfully.
To those who are new to my LJ: Fool for Love was one of the earliest episodes I watched so I already know about Spike's human background.
- I like how this episode is filmed. We see almost everything what happens through Dawn's eyes. And I *love* that very often little bits of Dawn intrude into the scene, even if the main focus lies on other characters. But all of a sudden, there's her arm or her chin. This can be seen most clearly when Giles and Buffy drive to the magic shop and Dawn sits in the back of the car. This shows so perfectly how Dawn intrudes into the life of the scoobies.
- The resentment and underlying tension between Buffy and Dawn is a great new plot point. When Dawn talks about Buffy, we can see why she feels neglected. When Buffy talks about Dawn, we can understand why she thinks her sister is spoiled. It also makes us aware once more how tough Buffy's life is and that being a Slayer is not a fun job.
- I won't speculate about who or what Dawn really is. I pretty much know what she is, though I don't know the exact details. (To be entirely spoilerfree for a series that was broadcast years ago is just not possible.)
If I were spoilerfree, I would have started with her name though as the theme of naming things was brought up several times in the last episodes. "Dawn" is not only a pretty name, but marks the beginning of the day. As such I would see her as connected to the light and to new beginnings.
Going through the episode
- The first scene gives us Jedi!Buffy and Mentor!Giles. Yoda would be very proud of Buffy. He would also wack Dawn with his gimmer stick. :-)
- I love, love, love Dawn writing in her diary. The angst!!! The excessive use of exclamation points!!!!!
Nobody knows who I am. Not the real me. It's like, nobody cares enough to find out. I mean, does anyone ever ask *me* what I want to
do with my life? Or what my opinion is on stuff? Or what restaurant to order in from?
No. Underline. Exclamation point.
(We see her underlining the word and drawing the exclamation point. She ponders for a moment and then violently draws a few more, stabbing at the paper with her pen.)
Exclamation point, exclamation point.
(pause)
No one understands. No one has an older sister who's a slayer.
Somehow this scene made me think of pre-Spike William. Both Dawn and he are outsiders, both enjoy writing. Dawn has her diary, William has his poems. Both are overly emotional. Dawn, of course, has the excuse of being a teenager... but then William doesn't come across as very grown up either. :-)
- The interaction between Buffy, Dawn and Joyce is great throughout this episode. Michelle Trachtenberg is not only pretty, but she can act. E.g. the way she sometimes gets all stone faced around Buffy and then just one her eyes narrows slightly. Brilliant!
Dawn
- I've already liked Riley, but I've become even fonder of him in this episode. What can I say? I like his sense of humour. I also like that he does accept it when Buffy has other plans.
Riley: Now it's my turn to be surprised. I thought we had plans today.
They sit on the sofa.
Buffy: Plans? We planned plans?
Riley: Well, you said, uh, "come over tomorrow and we'll hang," and then I said, "OK." Not the invasion of Normandy, but still a plan.
Buffy nods in resignation.
Buffy: Right.
Riley: (studying her expression) We're not hangin' today, are we?
Buffy: Giles is on his way to pick me up.
Riley: Oh, slayer training.
Buffy: Slayer shopping, actually, but equally as important.
Riley: I have no doubt. Okay, well, we'll hook up later. (Starts to get up)
Buffy: Are you mad at me?
Riley: Oh, no, not at all. I'm plotting your death, but in a happy way.
Riley also listens patiently to Buffy's rants. Men who are patient when women rant and manage to provide a counter-balance are good.
Also: I need to learn how to make LJ icons. There needs to be a Riley icon with the text A studly yet sensitive boyfriend... . :-)
- Dawn being sent outside when Buffy and her friends find the corpse of the shopkeeper is very good scene. Like Dawn, the viewers are excluded from what's going on. Like Dawn, we can only try to get a peek through the window. Dawn is literally an "out-sider" in this scene.
While watching it I was thinking of other out-siders we have seen so far: Spike in Pangs who's looking through windows while wearing a ratty blanket. Faith who observes the scoobie gang through a window after awaking from her coma.
- Interesting scene. I think it echoes what Faith said in the first vision she shared with Buffy:
Guy to Dawn: I know you. Curds and whey. (Dawn looks shocked) I know what you are. (slowly and ominously) You ... don't ... belong ... here.
- Tara comes outside to keep Dawn company.
I see this as symbolic as well. Tara could be included in what's going on, but she doesn't feel as if she really belongs nonetheless.
- Oh, Giles so wants to have the magic bookshop. I sympathise!
- Buffy: What'd they take?
Willow looks in the inventory book.
Giles: I should think an item of, of value, or-or power, possibly even a-
Willow: A unicorn. 10-inch ceramic unicorn imported from Thailand.
Buffy: Was it valuable?
Giles stares in puzzlement at the empty case.
Willow:List price, $12.95.
Giles: Which begs the question, what kind of an unholy creature fancies cheap tasteless statuary?
:-) As soon as I learned a unicorn was stolen, there was no doubt that Harmony has to be behind it. Because unicorns and Harmony? OTP!
- Harmony trying to be a cheerfully motivating yet vicious gang-leader cracked me up several times:
Harmony: Yes, you deserve it. Secondly... (turns away to reach for something) somebody remembered to pick me up the sweetest little unicorn!
(Holds up the ceramic unicorn and smiles at Brad. The other vamps stare at him.)
Brad: (whispering to other vamps) What?
Harmony: Brad, guess someone was feeling guilty for standing me up in the tenth grade. (Admiring the unicorn)
Brad: (to other vamps) I, I had to get her something. She sired me.
Peaches: (to Cyrus) Sire-whipped.
- Dawn's slight crush on Xander is cute. And funny. Especially, the way Xander's work for Dracula gets reevaluated.
Dawn voiceover:Xander is so much cuter than anyone. And smarter too. He totally skipped college and got a job working construction. Which is so kind of ... deep, you know? He builds things. And he's brave too.
Cut to Dawn in her pajamas, lying on the bed and writing in her diary.
Dawn voiceover: Just last week he went undercover to stop that Dracula Guy.
- Willow trying to figure out why Tara feels like an outsider is a fascinating scene:
For one, Willow only blames men for why Tara has to feel that way: First Xander, then Giles.
And what does this moment mean?
Willow: You're completely one of the gang now. Everyone accepts that.
Closeup of their faces as they both smile.
Willow: You're one of the good Guys.
Tara's smile disappears and she pulls away, disengaging herself from Willow's embrace. Willow doesn't notice her expression.
My interpretation is that Tara isn't fond of categorisations like good or bad. I have the feeling that she's more than meets the eye and that maybe Willow wouldn't see her as "good" if she knew more about Tara.
- Anya made me laugh out loud in this scene:
Anya: Oh, crap. (slaps down her cards) Look at this! Now I'm burdened with a husband and several tiny pink children, more cash than I can reasonably manage...
Xander: That means you're winning.
Anya: Really?
Xander: Yes. Cash equals good.
Anya: Ooh! (claps her hands in excitement) I'm so pleased. (Scoops up the plastic markers that represent children) Can I trade in the children for more cash?
- Dawn accidentally inviting Harmony in.
Drat. I saw that coming. And while she makes a mistake, Buffy should go easy on her. I mean: Why didn't Xander or Anya just shut the door and ignore Harmony? In some way, they were all eager for a fight and totally underestimating the danger.
- Harmony has honed her instincts. She's a much better fighter than last time, so she still doesn't take on other vampires.
- Harmony meeting Spike is such a wonderful scene.
Particulary like how she calls him "Spikey" first and then takes the endearment back in this super-dignified way.
Spike looks tiny when compared to Mort. Nevertheless, he gets a kick out of riling him a bit...
Harmony: I'm not gonna make the same mistakes you did. I've been doing my homework, reading books and stuff.
Spike: What, Evil for Dummies?
- Anya does something selfless for someone other than Xander for the first time when she tries to ensure Dawn's safety.
- I'm wondering: Have we ever heard Buffy laughing out loud before this episode? I'm pretty sure we haven't, because I would have remembered her laughter. It's laughter of the best kind, you just want to laugh along with her. Anyway, in this episode she cracks up twice: When Xander tells her Harmony wants to fight her and when Giles tells her he was so bored that he watched "Passions" with Spike. (Very funny image. :-))
- Buffy rescuing Dawn and then immediately starting a fight with her. Going back home and pretending to their mother that everything is just fine.
Just perfect.
p.s. I can someone point me to some nice Dawn icons?
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-12-15 12:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-17 08:34 am (UTC)Buffy/Laughing
Date: 2005-12-15 03:36 am (UTC)Re: Buffy/Laughing
Date: 2005-12-15 04:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-15 04:41 am (UTC)I guess this ep must have been weird for people seeing it the first time w/o knowing the Dawn story -- I just keep telling newbies, "Trust Joss! It all comes together."
A note on the Dawn-diary bit; this whole ep is sort of a takeoff on the seminal teen drama "My So-Called Life" in which most of the eps are narrated by the main character (played by Claire Danes) but there is one ep that is told from the little sister's POV. Dawn + diary plays as a bit of an homage to MSCL.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-17 08:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-15 06:37 am (UTC)The first scene gives us Jedi!Buffy and Mentor!Giles. Yoda would be very proud of Buffy. He would also wack Dawn with his gimmer stick. :-)
He so would. Joss & Co. are such geeks. (More of this and SW allusions on display in season 6.)
The interaction between Buffy, Dawn and Joyce is great throughout this episode.
Isn't it? And it comes across as a real family dynamic. In the breakfeast scene, it does feel as if they had this routine since years.
Interesting scene. I think it echoes what Faith said in the first vision she shared with Buffy:
Yes. It's a part of an English children's rhyme. Little miss muffet, etc.
Oh, Giles so wants to have the magic bookshop. I sympathise!
Me too. I loved what they did with Giles and the magic shop that season.
Because unicorns and Harmony? OTP!
Oh yeah. David Fury, who wrote this episode, has a very big and very soft spot for Harmony, and you can always rely on great Harmony in a Fury episode. Keep this in mind on both shows.
Trivia note: the actor who plays the tiny, tiny role of Cyrus the minion, Tom Lenk, was lucky to get that part, because that's how he ended up in the pool of actors Joss uses. He landed a major role in season 6 and 7 (different character, though).
We saw Buffy giggle, grin and snort at various points of the show, but not a lengthy laughter like that one, yes, and I agree, it's incredibly cute.
One more word about Buffy and Dawn: after that episode, you could totally tell who was an older and who was a younger sibling in the fandom. Having been an older sister, I naturally could understand why she didn't go easier on Dawn.*g* (Objectively speaking? Sure, you're right.) The Buffy-Dawn relationship is one of my favourite things about later BTVS.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-16 05:06 pm (UTC)Yes, brilliant display of passive aggression on Dawn's side. And Buffy can't speak up, because Joyce would just tell her to be nice to her little sister. :-)
Yes. It's a part of an English children's rhyme. Little miss muffet, etc.
Will have to google it up.
One more word about Buffy and Dawn: after that episode, you could totally tell who was an older and who was a younger sibling in the fandom. Having been an older sister, I naturally could understand why she didn't go easier on Dawn.*g*
As I didn't take a side, it's easy to deduce that I'm an only child. :-)
All my childhood friends were older siblings, though, which means I'm very familiar with the parental admonishment: "Why don't you take your little sister/brother along when you go out and play!!" We used to sneak out of the house to avoid that... Later on, all the younger siblings grew up and became real people and not just little nuisances. :-)
no subject
Date: 2005-12-15 05:17 pm (UTC)Very nice review of Real Me. I've always been fond of it and now you've made me want to rewatch.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-16 04:34 pm (UTC)Glad you enjoyed the review. :-) Rewatching the episode will make you smile, trust me. It's so lovely.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-15 10:14 pm (UTC)And can I just join in the Riley-love - I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who likes Angel, Spike and Riley.
p.s. I can someone point me to some nice Dawn icons?
I actually made a few a while ago, but I don't think I've posted them yet. I'll have to check, and if I haven't posted the icons, I'll put them up tonight.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-15 10:27 pm (UTC)I love that Whedon started preparing her arrival back in season 3 when Buffy and Faith share their first vision. I appreciate long time planning in TV shows!
Cool! You like Riley, too.
Yes, I'm very fond of him and as you say I have no problem loving Angel, Spike and Riley. They all have their good sides and their bad sides.
Looking forward to seeing your Dawn icons.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-09 08:08 pm (UTC)Anya: Really?
Xander: Yes. Cash equals good.
Anya: Ooh! (claps her hands in excitement) I'm so pleased. (Scoops up the plastic markers that represent children) Can I trade in the children for more cash?
Remember that discussion for later - it's all Xander's fault! *g*