Buffy - Season 5 impressions (episode 8)
Dec. 31st, 2005 12:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thalia_seawoodShadow
A summary can be found here.
- The hospital atmosphere is well-done.
- Buffy has become a lot more patient with Dawn. She's no longer a rival for her mother's affections, but she has started to take care of Dawn.
- This scene made me smile:
Anya: That's what I've been saying. I mean, I for one didn't want to start my day with a slaughter. (Suddenly gets a look of realization on her face; excitedly) Which really just goes to show how much I've grown!
- The interaction between Riley and Spike in the Summers' house is great.
Spike sniffing Buffy's sweaters and being caught by Riley - priceless. And he takes Buffy's underwear with him. [snickers]
Riley: (bemused) Were you ... were you just smelling her sweater?
Spike: (scoffs) No. (Riley glares at him) Well, yeah, all right, I did. It's a ... predator thing, nothin' wrong with it. Just ... know your enemy's scent, whet the appetite for a hunt. (He sniffs the sweater again) Ah, that's the stuff! Slayer musk, it's bitter and aggravating!
And there's the great rival scene between Riley and Spike where Riley tries to tell Spike he's harmless and not Buffy's best friend and Spike scores several times by hitting all of Riley's insecurities:
Spike: Okay, how 'bout this one. Twice in recent memory, she's had the lover-wiccas do a deinvite on the house. Keep out specific vamps. Ever ask yourself why she's never taken my name off the guest list?
Riley: (falters for a Mument) Because you're harmless.
Spike: Oh yeah, right. (scoffs) Takes one to know, I suppose. Least I still got the attitude. (looking Riley up and down) What do you got, a piercing glance? Face it, white bread. Buffy's got a type, and you're not it. She likes us dangerous, rough, occasionally bumpy in the forehead region. (patronisingly) Not that she doesn't like you ... but sorry Charlie, you're just not dark enough.
[...]
Riley: You don't know anything about Buffy, you never did. I'm the one who knows what she needs.
Spike: Oh yeah? That's why you're with her at hospital right now, giving her what she needs.
Riley: (pulls Spike back inside) What are you talking about?
Spike: Don't you know, didn't she tell you?
Riley: You tell me.
Spike: Mum's sickly. Buffy took her to the hospital for a bit of prod 'n probe. Bite-sized one went too. (needling) You know, it's-it's funny her not calling you about that. I've known since last night.
When was the last time Spike was in the Summers' house? In Lover's Walk? If yes, I really wonder why they didn't take his name of the invitation list. This means he must have been there after he got the chip. Maybe during Something Blue?
- Glory visiting the store and getting the necessary ingredients for her spell... I love irony.
- Ben, the intern, is nice. In the Jossverse, men who are nice - in particular when they are minor characters - should be avoided.
- I liked the interaction between Riley and Dawn. The funny-sad thing about it is that they both accidently hurt one another while trying to do something nice. I.e. the carousel is supposed to cheer Dawn up, but brings up memories of having no friends instead. And Dawn tells Riley that he's good for Buffy, but he only registers that his relationship with her isn't as passionate.
Riley: (surprised) Angel ... made her cry a lot, huh?
Dawn: Everything with him was all ... (grimaces, makes claw motions with hands) eee, you know?
Riley: All...?
Dawn: You know ... "my boyfriend's a vampire" crazy crazy. (Riley nods) Every day was like the end of the world. She doesn't get all worked up like that over you.
Riley looks stung, but tries not to show it. Dawn realizes she didn't say the right thing.
Dawn: I think you've been really good for her.
- The more I see of Glory the more she reminds me of a mix between Faith and Anya. There's the way she talks and moves and goes from depressed to hyperactive; like Anya she's very outspoken. Glory is vain, impatient and beneath all that comes across as very unhappy.
- I don't get how Buffy found Glory in the zoo, but so what. I liked how the love for her sister gives her the strength to defeat the giant snake demon. (I do feel sorry for the original cobra though. :-))
- Riley has started to feel totally useless and unwanted. It's odd: In season 4, he usually came across as a very self-confident character. I think that his self-confidence was based on his position in the Iniative and the fact that he was a very good fighter. Then he had to realize that his physical strength wasn't his own power at all, but something caused by Professor Walsh's experiments. And when he loses this strength eventually, he also starts to doubt himself. So in my opinion his self-doubts are what start to ruin his relationship with Buffy. Yes, she isn't there for him all the time due to what's going on with her mother and Dawn, but she doesn't actively try to exclude him. (Even when she closes the door to the hospital room in front of his face in the final scene it's not because she doesn't care for him, but because she thinks telling Dawn about her mom's brain tumour should be a private thing. It would have been better to include Riley, of course. Allow him into the family.) I think Riley could see that if he wasn't feeling so insecure at the moment. The way things are he's behaving as if nothing matters anyway and goes on adventure trip to the dark side. I guess he wants to find out why Buffy is attracted to vampires (Angel, Dracula) and conveniently ignores that he will hate himself for what he's doing and feel even more worthless after all.
A summary can be found here.
- The hospital atmosphere is well-done.
- Buffy has become a lot more patient with Dawn. She's no longer a rival for her mother's affections, but she has started to take care of Dawn.
- This scene made me smile:
Anya: That's what I've been saying. I mean, I for one didn't want to start my day with a slaughter. (Suddenly gets a look of realization on her face; excitedly) Which really just goes to show how much I've grown!
- The interaction between Riley and Spike in the Summers' house is great.
Spike sniffing Buffy's sweaters and being caught by Riley - priceless. And he takes Buffy's underwear with him. [snickers]
Riley: (bemused) Were you ... were you just smelling her sweater?
Spike: (scoffs) No. (Riley glares at him) Well, yeah, all right, I did. It's a ... predator thing, nothin' wrong with it. Just ... know your enemy's scent, whet the appetite for a hunt. (He sniffs the sweater again) Ah, that's the stuff! Slayer musk, it's bitter and aggravating!
And there's the great rival scene between Riley and Spike where Riley tries to tell Spike he's harmless and not Buffy's best friend and Spike scores several times by hitting all of Riley's insecurities:
Spike: Okay, how 'bout this one. Twice in recent memory, she's had the lover-wiccas do a deinvite on the house. Keep out specific vamps. Ever ask yourself why she's never taken my name off the guest list?
Riley: (falters for a Mument) Because you're harmless.
Spike: Oh yeah, right. (scoffs) Takes one to know, I suppose. Least I still got the attitude. (looking Riley up and down) What do you got, a piercing glance? Face it, white bread. Buffy's got a type, and you're not it. She likes us dangerous, rough, occasionally bumpy in the forehead region. (patronisingly) Not that she doesn't like you ... but sorry Charlie, you're just not dark enough.
[...]
Riley: You don't know anything about Buffy, you never did. I'm the one who knows what she needs.
Spike: Oh yeah? That's why you're with her at hospital right now, giving her what she needs.
Riley: (pulls Spike back inside) What are you talking about?
Spike: Don't you know, didn't she tell you?
Riley: You tell me.
Spike: Mum's sickly. Buffy took her to the hospital for a bit of prod 'n probe. Bite-sized one went too. (needling) You know, it's-it's funny her not calling you about that. I've known since last night.
When was the last time Spike was in the Summers' house? In Lover's Walk? If yes, I really wonder why they didn't take his name of the invitation list. This means he must have been there after he got the chip. Maybe during Something Blue?
- Glory visiting the store and getting the necessary ingredients for her spell... I love irony.
- Ben, the intern, is nice. In the Jossverse, men who are nice - in particular when they are minor characters - should be avoided.
- I liked the interaction between Riley and Dawn. The funny-sad thing about it is that they both accidently hurt one another while trying to do something nice. I.e. the carousel is supposed to cheer Dawn up, but brings up memories of having no friends instead. And Dawn tells Riley that he's good for Buffy, but he only registers that his relationship with her isn't as passionate.
Riley: (surprised) Angel ... made her cry a lot, huh?
Dawn: Everything with him was all ... (grimaces, makes claw motions with hands) eee, you know?
Riley: All...?
Dawn: You know ... "my boyfriend's a vampire" crazy crazy. (Riley nods) Every day was like the end of the world. She doesn't get all worked up like that over you.
Riley looks stung, but tries not to show it. Dawn realizes she didn't say the right thing.
Dawn: I think you've been really good for her.
- The more I see of Glory the more she reminds me of a mix between Faith and Anya. There's the way she talks and moves and goes from depressed to hyperactive; like Anya she's very outspoken. Glory is vain, impatient and beneath all that comes across as very unhappy.
- I don't get how Buffy found Glory in the zoo, but so what. I liked how the love for her sister gives her the strength to defeat the giant snake demon. (I do feel sorry for the original cobra though. :-))
- Riley has started to feel totally useless and unwanted. It's odd: In season 4, he usually came across as a very self-confident character. I think that his self-confidence was based on his position in the Iniative and the fact that he was a very good fighter. Then he had to realize that his physical strength wasn't his own power at all, but something caused by Professor Walsh's experiments. And when he loses this strength eventually, he also starts to doubt himself. So in my opinion his self-doubts are what start to ruin his relationship with Buffy. Yes, she isn't there for him all the time due to what's going on with her mother and Dawn, but she doesn't actively try to exclude him. (Even when she closes the door to the hospital room in front of his face in the final scene it's not because she doesn't care for him, but because she thinks telling Dawn about her mom's brain tumour should be a private thing. It would have been better to include Riley, of course. Allow him into the family.) I think Riley could see that if he wasn't feeling so insecure at the moment. The way things are he's behaving as if nothing matters anyway and goes on adventure trip to the dark side. I guess he wants to find out why Buffy is attracted to vampires (Angel, Dracula) and conveniently ignores that he will hate himself for what he's doing and feel even more worthless after all.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-12-31 08:44 pm (UTC)This is where Buffy starts to take on maternal responsibility as well as sibling ones for Dawn, really.
Ben, the intern, is nice. In the Jossverse, men who are nice - in particular when they are minor characters - should be avoided.
Indeed.*g* (Though you know, I'm still grateful Willow didn't avoid Oz...)
I liked the interaction between Riley and Dawn. The funny-sad thing about it is that they both accidently hurt one another while trying to do something nice. I.e. the carousel is supposed to cheer Dawn up, but brings up memories of having no friends instead. And Dawn tells Riley that he's good for Buffy, but he only registers that his relationship with her isn't as passionate.
Yes, and that irony of misunderstanding told me then and there the relationship with Buffy was doomed. Because she does treasure what he gives her, but, due to the various circumstances you list below, he can't see that she does anymore.
ROFL
Date: 2005-12-31 11:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-01 02:04 am (UTC)As I noted in your later episode analysis, Buffy confided in Spike, and NOT Riley, which lead to his insecurities and caused Spike to almost get fried outside. ;).
In comparision to Angel and Spike, Riley really isn't that bad a guy. He isn't a serial killer, he is just really insecure about her attraction to the dark side, and now add Spike into the mix.. I think that Riley could be easily forgiven for his big sin against Buffy much easier than Angel and definitely unsouled Spike would or should be. So why was Buffy so hard on him?
This is why I don't think she really loved Riley. It has nothing to do with shipping Spuffy, it's just the way she wouldn't open up to him, even when he pleaded.. You have already saw INTO THE WOODS, and yes she goes after him, but was it more Xander's desire for Anya talking to her or was it a real love for Riley?
Also, there is a change in Spike/Buffy--not huge, but as I noted in FEAR ITSELF (that you just reviewed) the director focused on Spike/Buffy's hands as he helped her up. Riley comes in on their lingering hands. Although Spike was irritated that the exchange was stopped, Buffy was truly worried about her mother's condition, and seemingly irritated in Riley's view. (not for catching her with Spike, but because of stress over mother, but Riley didn't know this.)
What I think Riley had alot of doubts, which I think could have been remedied if Buffy had just talked to him.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-01 02:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-02 08:25 pm (UTC)Yes, and here Spike is extremely lucky. If Riley had visited Buffy, she would have confided in him and things might have happened slightly differently. The irony is that Spike goes to her place to kill her. :-)
Although Spike was irritated that the exchange was stopped, Buffy was truly worried about her mother's condition, and seemingly irritated in Riley's view. (not for catching her with Spike, but because of stress over mother, but Riley didn't know this.)
Interesting perspective. Definitely makes sense to me. Add to this that Spike gloated at Riley about Buffy confiding in him and not to Riley.
What I think Riley had alot of doubts, which I think could have been remedied if Buffy had just talked to him.
Very true. Of course, she's just so occupied with her mother that she doesn't have the time to also think about Riley a lot. And immediately after her mother is getting better, she finds out about Riley's "little addiction".
no subject
Date: 2006-01-02 09:03 pm (UTC)I think Buffy does enjoy interaction with Spike, in spite of herself.. I have always maintained that Angel was the man she loved (if it was a bit idealized) Riley was the man she desperately wanted to love, and Spike was the one she didn't want to love at all.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-03 09:21 pm (UTC)Interesting perspective. I'll have to wait until I see more of her interaction with Spike over the next seasons to make up my mind how the three men in her life relate to her.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-02 11:48 pm (UTC)Really good point about the door closing shot that ends the ep -- it's a very subjective shot, from Riley's POV. I wish he could respect what she's going through a little more, and understand that everything she's doing is not personal and directed at him. But it's understandable and human that he doesn't. He needs to feel needed. Also, I think the "triangle" between Riley, Buffy, and the Initiative is one of the most intriguing aspects of his character and one I wish had been a little more at the forefront. Because Riley has every reason to hate the military; they screwed him over, betrayed him, endangered the lives of those he loved, etc. But they also provide him with a certain comfort zone, and that's where he defaults when things are hard with Buffy. It may be true that Buffy retreats into her family, but in a sense, Riley retreats into his as well.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-07 10:23 am (UTC)Great observation! That's exactly it!