Buffy - Season 5 impressions (episode 12)
Jan. 6th, 2006 10:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thalia_seawoodCheckpoint
For a summary click here.
- This was the episode when I realized how fond I've grown of Buffy.
In the beginning of Buffy, I though she was an interesting character, but still wanted to kick her from time to time when she became all girlishly petty and played little "I'm going to make you jealous" games with Angel.
Then I could see that she was growing and changing, and I liked her a lot. She still wasn't a favorite though - also Sarah Michelle Gellar has been a favorite since the beginning. She just does such a brilliant job of bringing Buffy to live.
Well, after this episode was over I all of a sudden noticed that Buffy had joined the ranks of my favorite characters some time in season 5.
- Eek, the Watchers are coming. Poor Buffy. After all the Watchers have done to her//not done for her, I can totally understand her dread.
- It becomes harder for Buffy to keep Dawn's true nature a secret:
Buffy: (alarmed, to Giles) She was listening.
Willow: Does it matter? I mean, is she really gonna set the junior high school buzzing with "ooh, there's a delegation a-coming"?
Buffy: No, I, I guess not. You know, it's just ... sometimes we ... say stuff, and, and ... it's all good. Giles, you were saying ... something?
- Glory is totally instable - switching between depressed & scared to agressive & fearless. It seems she needs a lot of human energy to be able to function at all. Finally things fall into place and we see that all the mad people in Sunnydale is what's left over after Glory has fed from them.
- The Watchers are rude as always: Taking over Giles' shop and laying down the rules.
- Buffy's fighting style is still very aggressive. Since season 5, she doesn't only hunt, but also takes out her personal frustration on her opponents, e.g. when she torches down the nest of vampires after finding out about Riley. Well, at least there was a connection; after all these vampires ran the establishment Riley visited on a regular basis. This time around, though, the vampire she's fighting against had nothing to do with upsetting her.
She kicks, punches twice. The vamp swings, she ducks. She grabs him and spins him around, throws him against a headstone.
Buffy: Maybe you'd like to teach your own class!
Vamp: Who are you talking to?
- Interesting argument between Buffy and Spike after he kills the vampire she was fighting:
Buffy: You know what? I don't need a boyfriend, to rescue me or for any other reason.
Spike: Don't need or can't keep? (She stops walking to glare at him) You keep making notches in the headboard but eventually they get up out of the bed and run off, don't they?
Buffy: (deeply annoyed) You're disgusting.
Spike: Oh, rough talk. (They resume walking) Maybe that's your problem, maybe you push 'em away. Or is it the other? Maybe you cling too much. Or maybe ... your beauty's fading. (They stop again) The stress of slaying, aging you prematurely. Things not as high, not as firm.
Spike grins and makes a gesture with his hand as if trying to hold up sagging breasts.
Buffy: You know what, Spike? The more I get to know you, the more I wish I didn't.
Spike: Or maybe you just don't hold their interest.
He walks off, leaving Buffy looking stung.
While I don't see Buffy fretting about her fading beauty *g*, the other two comments Spike makes regarding regarding her boyfriends leaving her, totally hit the mark.
The word Buffy uses most often in connection with Spike is "disgusting". Now Spike is a lot of things, but "disgusting" is not the word I would use for him. Small wonder Spike/Buffy shippers were intrigued. If Buffy would simply call him "annoying" or "a nuisance", I wouldn't think she felt an attraction to him. But "disgusting"? I'd tag that as trying to avoid dealing with subconscious attraction...
- Travers: Buffy ... I can sense your resistance,
Wow, that's *extremely* perceptive of him. [insert heavy irony]
Honestly, remarks like that drive me up the wall. This brough back memories of Councellor Troi in season 1 of ST-TNG when she talked to obviously pissed off people along the lines of "I can sense your frustration.". Go Troi! You're so empathic. *g*
- The interview sequence where the Watchers question Buffy's friends is lovely. My favorite here is the interview with Spike - the only one who doesn't praise Buffy, but badmouthes her instead. And he's flirting with the female Watcher who's totally captivated by him.
Watcher2: (frowns) Is that what you want? I'd think you'd want to kill her. You've killed Slayers before.
Spike: (intrigued) Heard of me, have you?
He walks a little closer. The two male Watchers shift nervously and hold up their weapons.
Watcher2: (embarrassed smile) I ... wrote my thesis on you.
Spike: (grins) Well, well. Isn't that neat. (stops smiling) Tell me, pet, now we're such good friends, how's the Slayer doing? Is she okay? High marks in all categories?
A couple of fans paid tribute to this scene, put themselves into the shoes of Watcher2 and actually *wrote* the thesis mentioned in this scene. I'm totally impressed by this work of love, so here's the link to the thesis.
- Buffy's physical review.
Since she was never trained in the usual way, she has no chance to understand all the fighting moves Travers names. And what the point of all this anyway. In a real battle, noone will be telling her how to move either.
- Glory paying a visit to the Summers' residence in order to talk to Buffy.
A chilling scene, especially when Glory actually meets Dawn - and doesn't recognise her for what she is.
- Oh, Buffy is asking Spike to protect her mother and her sister. I was pretty amazed by that. After all, Spike hasn't exactly been trustworthy in the past. Spike acts his usual bratty self at first, but ultimately is flattered by the trust Buffy shows.
Oh, and I love the Spike/Joyce interaction in that scene, brief as it is.
Buffy: I'm serious. (even more quietly) You have to look after them.
Spike: Well, that's a boatload of manly responsibility to come flying out of nowhere. What's the matter, Slayer? You're not feeling a hundred percent?
Buffy: (frowns) No.
[...]
Buffy: (annoyed) Spike, I need an answer. Now. In or out? (quietly) You're the only one strong enough to protect them.
Spike: (looks at her for a moment) All right then. (calls to Joyce and Dawn) Ladies... (walks toward them; Buffy follows) Come on in. There's plenty of blood in the fridge.
[...]
Buffy: (walks over to Spike) I don't think I need to remind you, but-
Spike: Yeah, yeah, "anything happens to 'em I'll stake you good and proper." Sing me a new one sometime, eh? That bit's gone stale.
Buffy leaves. Spike, Dawn, and Joyce stand around looking uncomfortable.
Joyce: I, I love what you've, um, neglected to do with the place.
Spike: Just don't break anything. (goes to turn on the TV) And don't make a lot of noise. Passions is coming on.
Joyce: (comes forward) Passions? Oh, do you think Timmy's really dead?
Spike: Oh! (gestures to his armchair. He and Joyce each sit on one arm) No, no, she can just sew him back together. He's a doll, for god's sake.
Joyce: Uh, what about the wedding? I mean, there's no way they're gonna go through with that.
- Buffy's day gets even more fun when she meet a new set of opponents, the Knights of Byzanthium. They are also after the Key and want to destroy it, because they believe it to be the source of great evil.
- *Love* it when Buffy stands up to the Watchers and tells them that they need her and not the other way around. Am also happy for Giles who will finally earn some money. Heaven knows he needs it after his shop was destroyed twice.
Buffy: You're Watchers. Without a Slayer, you're pretty much just watchin' Masterpiece Theater. You can't stop Glory. You can't do anything with the information you have except maybe publish it in the "Everyone Thinks We're Insane-O's Home Journal." (Pauses, addresses Travers again) So here's how it's gonna work. You're gonna tell me everything you know. Then you're gonna go away. (resumes pacing) You'll contact me if and when you have any further information about Glory. The magic shop will remain open. Mr. Giles will stay here as my official Watcher, reinstated at full salary...
Giles: (coughing) Retroactive.
Buffy: ...to be paid retroactively from the month he was fired. I will continue my work with the help of my friends...
- Cool final revelation: Glory isn't a demon, but a god.
For a summary click here.
- This was the episode when I realized how fond I've grown of Buffy.
In the beginning of Buffy, I though she was an interesting character, but still wanted to kick her from time to time when she became all girlishly petty and played little "I'm going to make you jealous" games with Angel.
Then I could see that she was growing and changing, and I liked her a lot. She still wasn't a favorite though - also Sarah Michelle Gellar has been a favorite since the beginning. She just does such a brilliant job of bringing Buffy to live.
Well, after this episode was over I all of a sudden noticed that Buffy had joined the ranks of my favorite characters some time in season 5.
- Eek, the Watchers are coming. Poor Buffy. After all the Watchers have done to her//not done for her, I can totally understand her dread.
- It becomes harder for Buffy to keep Dawn's true nature a secret:
Buffy: (alarmed, to Giles) She was listening.
Willow: Does it matter? I mean, is she really gonna set the junior high school buzzing with "ooh, there's a delegation a-coming"?
Buffy: No, I, I guess not. You know, it's just ... sometimes we ... say stuff, and, and ... it's all good. Giles, you were saying ... something?
- Glory is totally instable - switching between depressed & scared to agressive & fearless. It seems she needs a lot of human energy to be able to function at all. Finally things fall into place and we see that all the mad people in Sunnydale is what's left over after Glory has fed from them.
- The Watchers are rude as always: Taking over Giles' shop and laying down the rules.
- Buffy's fighting style is still very aggressive. Since season 5, she doesn't only hunt, but also takes out her personal frustration on her opponents, e.g. when she torches down the nest of vampires after finding out about Riley. Well, at least there was a connection; after all these vampires ran the establishment Riley visited on a regular basis. This time around, though, the vampire she's fighting against had nothing to do with upsetting her.
She kicks, punches twice. The vamp swings, she ducks. She grabs him and spins him around, throws him against a headstone.
Buffy: Maybe you'd like to teach your own class!
Vamp: Who are you talking to?
- Interesting argument between Buffy and Spike after he kills the vampire she was fighting:
Buffy: You know what? I don't need a boyfriend, to rescue me or for any other reason.
Spike: Don't need or can't keep? (She stops walking to glare at him) You keep making notches in the headboard but eventually they get up out of the bed and run off, don't they?
Buffy: (deeply annoyed) You're disgusting.
Spike: Oh, rough talk. (They resume walking) Maybe that's your problem, maybe you push 'em away. Or is it the other? Maybe you cling too much. Or maybe ... your beauty's fading. (They stop again) The stress of slaying, aging you prematurely. Things not as high, not as firm.
Spike grins and makes a gesture with his hand as if trying to hold up sagging breasts.
Buffy: You know what, Spike? The more I get to know you, the more I wish I didn't.
Spike: Or maybe you just don't hold their interest.
He walks off, leaving Buffy looking stung.
While I don't see Buffy fretting about her fading beauty *g*, the other two comments Spike makes regarding regarding her boyfriends leaving her, totally hit the mark.
The word Buffy uses most often in connection with Spike is "disgusting". Now Spike is a lot of things, but "disgusting" is not the word I would use for him. Small wonder Spike/Buffy shippers were intrigued. If Buffy would simply call him "annoying" or "a nuisance", I wouldn't think she felt an attraction to him. But "disgusting"? I'd tag that as trying to avoid dealing with subconscious attraction...
- Travers: Buffy ... I can sense your resistance,
Wow, that's *extremely* perceptive of him. [insert heavy irony]
Honestly, remarks like that drive me up the wall. This brough back memories of Councellor Troi in season 1 of ST-TNG when she talked to obviously pissed off people along the lines of "I can sense your frustration.". Go Troi! You're so empathic. *g*
- The interview sequence where the Watchers question Buffy's friends is lovely. My favorite here is the interview with Spike - the only one who doesn't praise Buffy, but badmouthes her instead. And he's flirting with the female Watcher who's totally captivated by him.
Watcher2: (frowns) Is that what you want? I'd think you'd want to kill her. You've killed Slayers before.
Spike: (intrigued) Heard of me, have you?
He walks a little closer. The two male Watchers shift nervously and hold up their weapons.
Watcher2: (embarrassed smile) I ... wrote my thesis on you.
Spike: (grins) Well, well. Isn't that neat. (stops smiling) Tell me, pet, now we're such good friends, how's the Slayer doing? Is she okay? High marks in all categories?
A couple of fans paid tribute to this scene, put themselves into the shoes of Watcher2 and actually *wrote* the thesis mentioned in this scene. I'm totally impressed by this work of love, so here's the link to the thesis.
- Buffy's physical review.
Since she was never trained in the usual way, she has no chance to understand all the fighting moves Travers names. And what the point of all this anyway. In a real battle, noone will be telling her how to move either.
- Glory paying a visit to the Summers' residence in order to talk to Buffy.
A chilling scene, especially when Glory actually meets Dawn - and doesn't recognise her for what she is.
- Oh, Buffy is asking Spike to protect her mother and her sister. I was pretty amazed by that. After all, Spike hasn't exactly been trustworthy in the past. Spike acts his usual bratty self at first, but ultimately is flattered by the trust Buffy shows.
Oh, and I love the Spike/Joyce interaction in that scene, brief as it is.
Buffy: I'm serious. (even more quietly) You have to look after them.
Spike: Well, that's a boatload of manly responsibility to come flying out of nowhere. What's the matter, Slayer? You're not feeling a hundred percent?
Buffy: (frowns) No.
[...]
Buffy: (annoyed) Spike, I need an answer. Now. In or out? (quietly) You're the only one strong enough to protect them.
Spike: (looks at her for a moment) All right then. (calls to Joyce and Dawn) Ladies... (walks toward them; Buffy follows) Come on in. There's plenty of blood in the fridge.
[...]
Buffy: (walks over to Spike) I don't think I need to remind you, but-
Spike: Yeah, yeah, "anything happens to 'em I'll stake you good and proper." Sing me a new one sometime, eh? That bit's gone stale.
Buffy leaves. Spike, Dawn, and Joyce stand around looking uncomfortable.
Joyce: I, I love what you've, um, neglected to do with the place.
Spike: Just don't break anything. (goes to turn on the TV) And don't make a lot of noise. Passions is coming on.
Joyce: (comes forward) Passions? Oh, do you think Timmy's really dead?
Spike: Oh! (gestures to his armchair. He and Joyce each sit on one arm) No, no, she can just sew him back together. He's a doll, for god's sake.
Joyce: Uh, what about the wedding? I mean, there's no way they're gonna go through with that.
- Buffy's day gets even more fun when she meet a new set of opponents, the Knights of Byzanthium. They are also after the Key and want to destroy it, because they believe it to be the source of great evil.
- *Love* it when Buffy stands up to the Watchers and tells them that they need her and not the other way around. Am also happy for Giles who will finally earn some money. Heaven knows he needs it after his shop was destroyed twice.
Buffy: You're Watchers. Without a Slayer, you're pretty much just watchin' Masterpiece Theater. You can't stop Glory. You can't do anything with the information you have except maybe publish it in the "Everyone Thinks We're Insane-O's Home Journal." (Pauses, addresses Travers again) So here's how it's gonna work. You're gonna tell me everything you know. Then you're gonna go away. (resumes pacing) You'll contact me if and when you have any further information about Glory. The magic shop will remain open. Mr. Giles will stay here as my official Watcher, reinstated at full salary...
Giles: (coughing) Retroactive.
Buffy: ...to be paid retroactively from the month he was fired. I will continue my work with the help of my friends...
- Cool final revelation: Glory isn't a demon, but a god.
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no subject
Date: 2006-01-07 04:08 am (UTC)The reason I ship Spuffy is scenes like the one when she took Joyce and Dawn to him. With Spuffy there is so much mystery there--and I love a good mystery.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-07 09:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-07 07:54 am (UTC)And now think of Real Me, and Dawn's encounter with that man... he was what?
Interview sequence: it's adorable, and especially Lydia (the female Watcher). Oh, and a trivia for you: in a nodd to Joss, Dr. Barnett tells Arvin Sloane in season 3 of Alias she wrote her thesis about him...
Oh, Buffy is asking Spike to protect her mother and her sister. I was pretty amazed by that. After all, Spike hasn't exactly been trustworthy in the past.
I think what makes the difference in points of her entrusting him with her mother and sister was the end of Fool for Love.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-07 09:31 am (UTC)I agree. Also Spike hasn't told her yet about his feelings for her, so she isn't too embarrassed to ask for his help.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-07 07:05 pm (UTC)yes! this is the episode I always point to when people ask why I love Buffy (the character). Now, I am a sucker for stories about power dynamics, in general, and watchers' council politics in particular so of course I love this episode.
also, if anybody thinks Buffy is not intelligent, well, that speech is absolutely brilliant and shows how perceptive she is. the pattern of people telling her she's not important goes throughout the episode (and certainly includes Spike, who is still a bit in his 'you have stupid hair' phase).
As for Lydia, the blonde watcher (I don't think she has a name here, but she gets one later, when she's back for a very small part) -- she's sort of the female version of what Wes was in S3. I like to believe there's a backstory there *g*
no subject
Date: 2006-01-07 07:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-07 07:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-07 08:44 pm (UTC)No, seriously. It wasn't before lj fandom that I found out Americans see cousin/cousin as incest.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-07 08:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-01-08 08:24 am (UTC)We Europeans are totally decadent! *g*
But seriously, I might have been squicked if they had grown up together, but that's not the case. Both are from different towns and met about twice a year.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-08 10:19 am (UTC)Another transatlantic difference recently discovered, a legal one this time: I mentioned meeting Mr. Crzimek at the bookfair, whose grandfather, the legendary Bernard Grzimek, adopted him after marrying his widowed daughter-in-law after the death of his beloved son. Now that isn't exactly normal over here (psychological implications ahoi!), but it's not illegal, and I was surprised when
Back when Order of the Phoenix got published, you could see this divide beween European and American readers, too, with all the talk about the incesteous House of Black because of the family tree showing some cousins had married. Us lot over here went "huh?" when the Americans mumbled something about House of Usher and Blackcest.
no subject
Date: 2006-01-08 08:51 am (UTC)I totally agree. There are so many moments that show Buffy is not stupid. If people claim she's stupid, they obviously disregard canon evidence.
Yes, she doesn't do well at school first, but it's more an "I'm bored" attitude than lack of intelligence. In season 1 and season 2, she also still tries to find a balance between her life as the Slayer and her average life including school, friends and just being young.