Buffy - Season 5 impressions (episode 3)
Dec. 18th, 2005 06:56 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thalia_seawoodThe Replacement
For a summary click here.
- It's good to finally see an episode again that focuses on Xander.
- This episode also managed to surprise me: Like the Scoobies I had thought at first that the elegant, self-assured doubleganger was the demon in disguise, though this theory became shaky when I noticed this Xander had no violent tendencies. It says a lot that I was convinced Loser!Xander was the real Xander and Successful!Xander the imposter. *hangs head in shame* In my defense, Xander has being worrying incessantly over not being good enough and is amazed himself that he does have it in him to be successful.
- It's nice to learn more about Xander, e.g. about his parents and that he's embarrassed by their constant (probably drunken) fighting. All his friends seem to be aware of the situation, but noone openly talks about it.
- Love this line: "A mythic triumph over a completely indifferent foe." :-)
- The fight between Buffy and Dawn is fun to watch. I can totally understand that Joyce gets a headache when having to listen to them both.
- So Spike is building a Buffy mannequin... Hmmmmm. Most interesting. Obsessed much?
- Xander doing the Snoopie dance to prove his identity to Willow is very, very funny.
- Riley reassuring Buffy that he loves her exactly the way she is is very touching.
- The interaction between ScruffyXander and SuaveXander is fun. They still have so much in common. :-)
SuaveXander: Well, I'm good at that stuff.
ScruffyXander: I am?
SuaveXander: Yeah.
ScruffyXander: And hey, how 'bout that lady, huh? The apartment Manager.
SuaveXander: How weird was it when she called me "mister"?
The Xanders grin goofily at each other.
Willow: We're ready. We should do it now. (The Xanders turn their grins toward her)
Anya: What'll we do if this doesn't work?
XanderS: (unison) Kill us both, Spock! (They look at each other and laugh delightedly.)
Buffy: They're ... kinda the same now.
Giles: Yes, he's clearly a bad influence on himself.
- This cracked me up. Riley is so playing on the fact that he was part of the Iniative once. I like it that he can look at a serious situation with a sense of humour.
Riley: psychologically, this is fascinating. Doesn't it make everyone wanna lock them in separate rooms and do experiments on them?
Everyone gives him an odd look.
Riley: Just me, then.
- Anya: (turning to the others) Well, maybe we shouldn't do this reintegration thing right away. See, I can take the boys home, and ... we can all have sex together, and ... you know, just slap 'em back together in the morning.
You know, I had exactly the same idea as Anya. :-))
Too bad Giles is all serious about it: Giles: (getting up from the floor) Uh, uh, we just need to light the candles. Also, we should continue to pretend we heard none of the disturbing sex talk. I guess someone has to make it clear that Anya's idea is most improper or the scene would have been cut. :-)
- What a heart twisting end. Hey, Riley, don't give up like that!! I think she loves you! And if she doesn't want to have you, I'll take you. I know you would be a good boyfriend. :-)
Riley: (grinning) Hey, I'm well aware of how lucky I am. Like, lottery lucky. Buffy's like nobody else in the world. When I'm with her it's like ... it's like I'm split in two. Half of me is just ... on fire, going crazy if I'm not touching her. The other half ... is so still and peaceful ... just perfectly content. Just knows: this is the one. (Smiles a little, continues packing for a moment, then looks up at Xander again.) But she doesn't love me.
Xander stares at him, not knowing what to say. Buffy re-enters.
Buffy: Got something else for me to carry?
Riley: Uh, you can help me pack this.
Buffy: Sure. (goes over to Riley and kisses him) Sure.
They both turn to the packing as Xander watches. End.
For a summary click here.
- It's good to finally see an episode again that focuses on Xander.
- This episode also managed to surprise me: Like the Scoobies I had thought at first that the elegant, self-assured doubleganger was the demon in disguise, though this theory became shaky when I noticed this Xander had no violent tendencies. It says a lot that I was convinced Loser!Xander was the real Xander and Successful!Xander the imposter. *hangs head in shame* In my defense, Xander has being worrying incessantly over not being good enough and is amazed himself that he does have it in him to be successful.
- It's nice to learn more about Xander, e.g. about his parents and that he's embarrassed by their constant (probably drunken) fighting. All his friends seem to be aware of the situation, but noone openly talks about it.
- Love this line: "A mythic triumph over a completely indifferent foe." :-)
- The fight between Buffy and Dawn is fun to watch. I can totally understand that Joyce gets a headache when having to listen to them both.
- So Spike is building a Buffy mannequin... Hmmmmm. Most interesting. Obsessed much?
- Xander doing the Snoopie dance to prove his identity to Willow is very, very funny.
- Riley reassuring Buffy that he loves her exactly the way she is is very touching.
- The interaction between ScruffyXander and SuaveXander is fun. They still have so much in common. :-)
SuaveXander: Well, I'm good at that stuff.
ScruffyXander: I am?
SuaveXander: Yeah.
ScruffyXander: And hey, how 'bout that lady, huh? The apartment Manager.
SuaveXander: How weird was it when she called me "mister"?
The Xanders grin goofily at each other.
Willow: We're ready. We should do it now. (The Xanders turn their grins toward her)
Anya: What'll we do if this doesn't work?
XanderS: (unison) Kill us both, Spock! (They look at each other and laugh delightedly.)
Buffy: They're ... kinda the same now.
Giles: Yes, he's clearly a bad influence on himself.
- This cracked me up. Riley is so playing on the fact that he was part of the Iniative once. I like it that he can look at a serious situation with a sense of humour.
Riley: psychologically, this is fascinating. Doesn't it make everyone wanna lock them in separate rooms and do experiments on them?
Everyone gives him an odd look.
Riley: Just me, then.
- Anya: (turning to the others) Well, maybe we shouldn't do this reintegration thing right away. See, I can take the boys home, and ... we can all have sex together, and ... you know, just slap 'em back together in the morning.
You know, I had exactly the same idea as Anya. :-))
Too bad Giles is all serious about it: Giles: (getting up from the floor) Uh, uh, we just need to light the candles. Also, we should continue to pretend we heard none of the disturbing sex talk. I guess someone has to make it clear that Anya's idea is most improper or the scene would have been cut. :-)
- What a heart twisting end. Hey, Riley, don't give up like that!! I think she loves you! And if she doesn't want to have you, I'll take you. I know you would be a good boyfriend. :-)
Riley: (grinning) Hey, I'm well aware of how lucky I am. Like, lottery lucky. Buffy's like nobody else in the world. When I'm with her it's like ... it's like I'm split in two. Half of me is just ... on fire, going crazy if I'm not touching her. The other half ... is so still and peaceful ... just perfectly content. Just knows: this is the one. (Smiles a little, continues packing for a moment, then looks up at Xander again.) But she doesn't love me.
Xander stares at him, not knowing what to say. Buffy re-enters.
Buffy: Got something else for me to carry?
Riley: Uh, you can help me pack this.
Buffy: Sure. (goes over to Riley and kisses him) Sure.
They both turn to the packing as Xander watches. End.
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no subject
Date: 2005-12-18 09:45 pm (UTC)Buffy and Riley: it's an ongoing debate whether or not she loved him. Note that she hasn't actually said the words. She hasn't to anyone yet, post-Angel, at this point of the show. This being said, I think at the very least she cared for more than Riley thinks she does. Her relationship with him is certainly the happiest and most functional of her romances.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-19 06:25 pm (UTC)Yes, the change is already noticable in the next episode.
Regarding the evil twin: Usually, the doppelganger is evil, but we do also get the Riker doubleganger who essentially the same as Riker, only with some different memories. I should have been thinking about that episode. :-)
Oh, thanks for the info about the twin brother! I hadn't noticed that.
It's also fitting that both Willow and Xander get a doppelganger experience.
Regarding Buffy & Riley:
Love comes in many different forms. The super-passionate love isn't necessary the love that will make you happy. And the love that does make you happy, might be underappreciated, simply because there usually are no extreme highs and lows as a part of a stable relationship.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-19 03:45 am (UTC)this ep was a turning point for a lot of people in viewing the character -- I've always liked him, but many more people will admit they liked him after the "too bad she doesn't love me" scene.
i mentioned a while back that people trying to tell Buffy how she feels, rather than paying attention to what she says, will be a recurring pattern. Riley is a prime example.
- So Spike is building a Buffy mannequin... Hmmmmm. Most interesting. Obsessed much?
*whistles* No comment. though you've seen "fool for love," you have an idea where this is going *g*
no subject
Date: 2005-12-19 05:39 pm (UTC)I'll be generous and let you have him. :-) My husband-to-be has all of Riley's best sides so I don't necessarily need Riley. He would have been more of a backup. :-)))
this ep was a turning point for a lot of people in viewing the character -- I've always liked him, but many more people will admit they liked him after the "too bad she doesn't love me" scene.
Seems like characters suffering from unrequited love get an immediate sympathy bonus. :-)
i mentioned a while back that people trying to tell Buffy how she feels, rather than paying attention to what she says, will be a recurring pattern. Riley is a prime example.
Yes, I watched episode 4 yesterday and this became very clear there. Sheesh, this would piss me off so bad. I hate it when people tell me what I feel and that they know what's best for me.