Buffy - Season 6 impressions (episode 4)

[thalia_seawood]

Flooded

For a summary click here.


- This is the episode where Buffy and the Scoobies once again have to deal with every day life - and none of them is doing very well.

- Since I have a thing for symbols, I couldn't stop myself from over-interpreting the imagery of the flooded basement. Please bear with me. *g*
My personal take is that the falling apart of the Summers' home is a symbol for Buffy's mental state.
In the upper floors everything looks all right: Buffy tries to appear normal. In the moments, when she doesn't successfully keep up the normal routine, her friends help her pretend that nothing whatsoever is wrong.

In the foreground we see Buffy staring at the sink as if mesmerized.
[...]
BUFFY: (still staring) You were right. The plumber will make everything good.
Close shot of what Buffy's staring at. It's the kitchen sink. The faucet is running. The water drains out normally.
Buffy continues to watch the water flow.
TARA: Dawnie, you're not eating breakfast?
Dawn looks around at the food, makes a face.
BUFFY: (still mesmerized by the faucet) Dawn, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
Dawn looks over at Buffy. Shot of Buffy's back (Dawn POV).
BUFFY: (still distractedly) It's unbelievably important. You should eat breakfast at least three times a day.
Another shot of the running water.
Willow comes over and turns off the faucet, gives Buffy a concerned look. Buffy looks at her.
DAWN: I'll, um, grab something before school. (Tara nods)

However, in the basement the pipes are broken and when Buffy tries to fix them by using her super-strength, she actually makes things worse. The basement gets flooded: To me this is nicely symbolic of what's going on behind Buffy's facade of normalcy.
In the world of symbols, water often stands for emotions, whereas the underworld represented by the basement can stand for the subconscious. So I interpret the flooded basement as a turmoil of emotions in Buffy's subconscious.
We later on hear that Buffy believes herself to be unable to feel, but I believe the real issue is that she does still feel a lot, only her emotions are so unsuitable she tries to push them as far away as possible. E.g. she feels a lot of resentment for the Scoobies who have always been her closest friends, she feels pressured by Dawn's need and love for her, part of her feels attracted to Spike. None of these emotions are acceptable.
This pushing away of feelings also has a parallel in the real world where Buffy tries to ignore the open bills.
I think it's also important that Buffy can't fix the flooding in the basement by using force... If she wants to become whole again, she needs to find another way.

None of the Scoobies is able to fix the basement problem. Now Spike can't offer a solution either, but he steps down into the basement along with Buffy and he points out the problem to Buffy.
It seems equally important that Buffy doesn't want to fight the demon that's coming after her in the upper floors. She wants it in the basement - and then really lets lose when she kills it.

The demon tries to attack Buffy with the pipe but she grabs it, kicks him in the groin and then hits him with the pipe. He goes down with a big splash.
Buffy begins hitting him with the piece of pipe, one stroke for each word.
BUFFY: Full... copper... re-pipe! No... more... full... copper... re-pipe!
Finally she stops. The demon is floating face-down in the water.
Buffy drops the pipe into the water, looks up, sighs and pouts. Walks over to where the pipe attached to the ceiling is still emitting a steady trickle of water. She stares at it unhappily.
SPIKE: (OS) Whoa.
We see Spike standing at the top of the stairs staring down.
SPIKE: Did you know this place was flooded?
Buffy closes her eyes in frustration.

My interpretation: Buffy wants to keep her monsters tugged away in her subconscious. She doesn't want to be bothered by her inner darkness.
As for the Scoobies and Spike: None of them will be able to provide an easy fix and transform Buffy into her old self again. However, Spike at least acknowledges that there's a problem - despite Buffy not caring much for his insight. If I read the symbolism of the scene correctly, Spike will help Buffy to corner her inner monsters (see the scenes where he helps Buffy to drive the monster down to the basement) and will get a look into her subconscious and her inner darkness.

And now on to the rest of the episode:

- One thing I'm really wondering about: Why does noone in the Scoobie gang offer to help Buffy with her money problem?
After all, Buffy was dead. She certainly didn't spend any money. ( But I haven't spent any money. I was all ... dead and frugal.)
So how comes Tara and Willow don't take on a part-time job to at least pay some rent for the room in the Summers house in which they are staying?
Giles should have plenty of money, too. After all, the Watcher's Council paid him retroactively.
And while I'm at it: Why are Watchers paid by the Watcher's Council and Slayers aren't?!?

- There's some tension between Xander and Anya which has been caused by him proposing to her, but now letting her hang. Seeing that Anya used to be a vengeance demon, she no doubt feels that she has been set up for the great fall. She's in love with a man, this man actually made her an offer of marriage - and then doesn't deliver. This must bring back memories of millions of spurned women.

It definitely doesn't help that Xander *is* having second thoughts by now. He has started to realize that he's a bit young for marriage after all and that he might not be able to offer Anya everything she expects, e.g. lots of money. *g*

- Buffy goes out to get a loan.
That's something I find totally impressive. I hate doing stuff like this, even though I haven't been brought back from the dead. So I can fully appreciate how much will power it takes to go there, when every little thing in life takes already so much effort.
Also appreciate the realism of the scene: Despite fighting the demon who threatens the bank, she doesn't get a loan...

- This scene is excellent. The transcript doesn't do it full justice - you really need to see Buffy's face during this scene for it to take full effect.
During the entire scene I got the impression that Buffy *loathes* Willow. She's the one who tore her out of heaven and she hates her for it. Only she doesn't let her emotions out. Instead she pushes all her emotions deep down inside and feels nothing. The bitter irony is that Willow wants to make Buffy feel something - but should actually be glad Buffy doesn't unleash her emotions right now.
Oh, and I think Willow can sense that Buffy despises her; she's very uncomfortable around her and acts extremely insecure. Of course, Willow is excellent in avoiding the truth.
Their interaction reminds me of Willow's nightmare in Restless where she's afraid of Buffy.

WILLOW: (surprised) Hey. (gets down, goes over to her) Buffy, you're mad.
BUFFY: (stops punching) You noticed. (shrugs) It'll pass. (resumes punching)
WILLOW: No! Anger ... is a big, powerful emotion you should feel.
BUFFY: (stops punching) Well ... that's good then.
Buffy stands there, steadying the punching bag with her hands. She shrugs.
BUFFY: It's gone now.
WILLOW: Okay ... uh, let me make you mad again. Uh ... ready? Um ... (thinks, gets an idea) Last semester, I slept with Riley.
Buffy gives her a dubious look.
BUFFY: And you know I really doubt it.
WILLOW: Caught me. Big fib. To ... cover up the sleazy affair I had with Angel. (smiles proudly)
BUFFY: (frowning) Will ... what the hell are you doing?
WILLOW: Pissing you off.
BUFFY: Yes, true. Why?
WILLOW: Well, 'cause, you know, since you've ... been back, you haven't exactly been big with ... the whole range of human emotions thing.
BUFFY: (blankly) What do you mean?
WILLOW: (fidgets) Well, you haven't ... no, I mean it's just, um ... (Buffy still looks blank. Willow gives up) You know, this is really ... my problem. (backing away) I'm just, I'm all over the place and, you should just, uh, forget I even said anything, cause, cause, (sits back down) well, 'cause you know... banks, man.
Willow nods agreement with herself, looks at Buffy for agreement. Buffy just returns to punching.

- Nice lighter moment when Dawn starts research with the demon books:

DAWN: That's a weird place for a horn.
She looks again, slowly closes the book.
DAWN: (quietly) That's not a horn.

- All scenes between Buffy and Giles are wonderful.

He's so happy to see that she's alive. On Buffy's side it looks as if she will also be able to bear Giles' presence. He hasn't helped to bring her back from the dead and he doesn't expect as much love and caring as Dawn does. She actually starts to tell him a bit about what she feels like, but then tries to turn her admission into a joke when it looks as if he cannot accept the bitter truth.

BUFFY: I mean, yeah, you know, sleeping's hard, but ... just because of the whole waking up in a box thing. So maybe waking up's the problem. You know, but just for a second. I sleep okay. Great even. Except, you know, for the dreams ...
She trails off, looks away again.
GILES: You seem to be doing remarkably well under extreme circumstances. I'm proud of you.
BUFFY: Well, actually, it wasn't me. Willow brought me back. I just lay there.
GILES: You-you know -- I meant -
BUFFY: I know what you meant. It was just a little post-post-mortem comedy.

In a later scene, Giles tries to explain to Buffy that he understands she's going through a difficult time and that he wants to be there for her. But unlike with Spike, Buffy cannot fully open up to Giles and tell him that no, she hasn't been in Hell, but in Heaven.
My explanation for this is that Buffy sees herself as tainted and broken after coming back. She can only indirectly admit this to someone whose respect was never vital to her, i.e. Spike. Around everyone else she has the need to keep up the facade: She doesn't want to be seen differently from how she was. So when Giles gets to close and actively reaches out to her, she withdraws.

GILES: Buffy, perhaps you're putting too much pressure on yourself. I mean, to return from some ... unknown level of Hell ... it's only natural that coming back ... will be a process.
BUFFY: In the meantime, I'm scaring people.
GILES: Well, that can take time, too.
Buffy stares into the distance as Giles looks at her with concern.
GILES: Well, if it's any consolation, life can be ... pretty overwhelming even for people who haven't been ... where you have.
BUFFY: (softly) I guess.
GILES: Look, tomorrow morning, you and I will sit down together and we'll go through everything. Every bill, one by one. We'll work it out together.
Buffy looks at him. They gaze at each other.
BUFFY: I'm glad you're back.
GILES: Well, I'm glad you are too.
Giles reaches out to put a hand on her shoulder, but she stands up and walks off before he can touch her. Giles sits there looking concerned, watching her go.

- Jonathan and Warren are back and form a Geek trio with Andrew, a new character. Well, we have briefly met Andrew's brother Tucker back in season 3.
On the surface, these three are fun to watch characters that provide comic relief. However, we also see that they can become very dangerous. All three of them are very smart, but when it comes to moral decisions they either have no conscience (Warren) or are too naive to truly defend their beliefs (Jonathan and Andrew). Yes, Jonathan and Andrew tell Warren that they don't want to kill Buffy, but they don't question Warren overly when he gets rid of the demon so easily.
Regarding their joined mission: Warren is the only one who has real ambitions, the two others are along for the ride because they are bored and probably because becoming a "super villain" is a way to win attention and respect. But mostly, things are just a game for Andrew and Jonathan.

JONATHAN: (O.S.) Are we really gonna kill her?
Cut back to the Geek Trio conferring in their basement lair.
JONATHAN: That's so sad.
WARREN: (scornfully) Shut up, Whine-athan.
ANDREW: But ... I, I don't want to kill Buffy either.
JONATHAN: Yeah, she saved my life a bunch of times! Plus, she's hot.
WARREN: It's her or us. I mean, we have to do it.
ANDREW: We're talking about murder.
WARREN: No, we're talking about staying alive, and since this is my mom's house, I think what I say goes.
ANDREW: But aside from the moral issues, and the mess, we can get in trouble for murder.
WARREN: Duh! You know, the last I checked, the authorities also frowned on bank robbery too. Genius!
JONATHAN: I don't even know if we could kill Buffy. She's got super-strength.
ANDREW: And, you know, killing people, this is not why we got together in the first place.
JONATHAN: Yeah. We teamed up with one clear, super-cool mission statement. Remember?
Flash-cut to the three of them in the basement, sitting around a table with cans of soda, playing a board game.
WARREN: So ... you guys wanna team up and take over Sunnydale?
Andrew and Jonathan look at each other, shrug.
ANDREW/JONATHAN: (unison) Okay.

- Another *excellent* scene that gave me the shivers.
It's so creepy to see how pleased Willow is with what she has done when we know how much she has hurt Buffy.
Oh, and I love when Willow defends herself and claims that she's "not a bad guy". Willow, don't you know that the bad guys very often don't think what they are doing is evil...
And when Willow actually threatens Giles and Giles gets a little dark-sad smile on his face and Willow then draws backs once again to keep everything harmonious and peaceful. So *awsome*.

GILES: (closes the door behind him) Yes, now that she's back.
WILLOW: (smiling) Isn't it awesome?
GILES: (goes over to the sink) Mmm. (removes his glasses) Tell me about this spell you performed.
WILLOW: (excited) Oh, okay, first of all? So scary. Like, the Blair Witch would have had to watch like this.
She covers her eyes with one hand, peeks through parted fingers. Then drops the hand and grins. Giles looks grim. Willow continues, not noticing his expression.
WILLOW: And, and, and this giant snake came out my mouth and there was all this energy crackling, and this pack of demons interrupted, but I totally kept it together. And then, the next thing you know? (triumphant) Buffy.
She smiles proudly, takes out a cookie from the box and takes a bite. Giles has his back to her, doing something in the sink.
GILES: (over his shoulder) You're a very stupid girl.
Willow pauses chewing, slowly stops smiling and frowns.
WILLOW: What? Giles...
GILES: (turns to face her) Do you have any idea what you've done? The forces you've harnessed, the lines you've crossed?
WILLOW: I thought you'd be ... impressed, or, or something.
GILES: Oh, don't worry, you've ... made a very deep impression. Of everyone here ... you were the one I trusted most to respect the forces of naure.
WILLOW: Are you saying you don't trust me?
GILES: (intensely) Think what you've done to Buffy.
WILLOW: I brought her back!
GILES: At incredible risk!
WILLOW: Risk? Of what? Making her deader?
GILES: Of killing us all. Unleashing hell on Earth, I mean, shall I go on?
WILLOW: No! (stands) Giles, I did what I had to do. I did what nobody else could do.
GILES: Oh, there are others in this world who can do what you did. You just don't want to meet them. (turns away again)
WILLOW: No, probably not, but ... well, they're the bad guys. I'm not a bad guy. (upset) I brought Buffy back into this world, a-and maybe the word you should be looking for is "congratulations."
GILES: Having Buffy back in the world makes me feel ... indescribably wonderful, but I wouldn't congratulate you if you jumped off a cliff and happened to survive.
WILLOW: That's not what I did, Giles.
GILES: (angry) You were lucky.
WILLOW: I wasn't lucky. I was amazing. And how would you know? You weren't even there.
GILES: If I had been, I'd have bloody well stopped you. The magicks you channeled are more ferocious and primal than anything you can hope to understand, (even more angry) and you are lucky to be alive, you rank, arrogant amateur!
Giles angrily grabs his towel and turns to leave.
WILLOW: You're right.
He pauses by the door, looks back at her.
WILLOW: The magicks I used are very powerful. I'm very powerful. And maybe it's not such a good idea for you to piss me off.

- I also heart the porch scene with Buffy and Spike. Spike's the one person Buffy doesn't lie to in this episode:

BUFFY: I guess. Everyone ... (long pause) they all care. They all care so much, it ... makes it all harder.
SPIKE: I'm not sure I followed you around that bend, luv. (steps onto second stair)
BUFFY: I don't know. I just, I feel like I'm spending all of my time trying to be okay, so they don't worry. It's exhausting. And then, I...
She trails off, makes a frustrated gesture and then clenches her hand into a fist.
SPIKE: And that makes 'em worry even more.
Buffy looks at him, doesn't reply. Spike walks the rest of the way up onto the porch, comes to stand next to her.
SPIKE: You want me to take them out? Give me a hell of a headache, but I could probably thin the herd a little.
After a moment Buffy smiles a little. Spike looks pleased.

- When Angel calls, Buffy leaves immediately. Not only does she want to meet Angel, she's also glad to be able to push all financial concerns away.

Comments

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Again...so insightful..

I asked the same questions.. Why didn't the Scoobies offer help? If they pay Giles, why don't the Watcher's pay the Slayer?

I guess we weren't suppose to think about this.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

The Summers house as a symbol for Buffy's mental and emotional state - much as the Hyperion is for Angel's - is an inspired interpretation that works in season 7, too. I never thought of this before, though. Kudos!

Why are Watchers paid by the Watcher's Council and Slayers aren't?!?

Actually, that one - as opposed to "why don't Willow and Tara, who live at Casa Summers, pay rent to contribute for the costs?" - is easily answered. Firstly, consider the traditional attitude of the Watchers towards their Slayers (Slayers as weapons; you don't pay your weapon). Secondly, in all cases before Buffy, the Slayer would not have been living with her family or having her own household, she'd have been living with her Watcher, thus, paying the Watcher would automatically cover the costs for the Slayer.

As to why the two witches don't bear a part of the costs: this reminds me that I've been wondering how Tara finances her time in Sunnydale anyway, since she broke with her family, and college life in the US is expensive if you don't have a scholarship. Willow, otoh, both would have no problem qualifying for a scholarship and getting money from her parents, one supposes.

Xander and Anya: what you said.

All scenes between Buffy and Giles are wonderful.

Yes. They love each other very much, and as you said, Buffy opens up a bit to him, but only up to a point. Agreed that she sees herself as broken and tainted and doesn't want Giles to see her the same way.

On the surface, these three are fun to watch characters that provide comic relief. However, we also see that they can become very dangerous. All three of them are very smart, but when it comes to moral decisions they either have no conscience (Warren) or are too naive to truly defend their beliefs (Jonathan and Andrew).

Another reason why the Trio work so well for me: they tie into this season's themes of consequences, responsibility and adult life. Emotionally, they're still stuck in high school. They want to have everything without consequences. Being a supervillain sounds very cool, but they haven't realized yet what that actually means. More on this in the later part of the season, once you've watched the relevant episodes. Just that one of the items on their agenda (on their white board), which sounds so fanboyish and amusing right now, will look horrible and sinister in retrospect.

For now, though, and going back to comic relief, I must pimp Trio: The Musical, aka the thruth about "Once More, With Feeling", which andrastewhite and myself wrote. Revealing what the Troika was up to in that episode was a blast. *veg*

The scene between Giles and Willow is fantastic, and chilling precisely because Willow shows all her old innocent little Willow mannerisms; she's totally the pleased and praised student telling her old teacher about a marvellous feat she accomplished. And then praise doesn't come - plus have we EVER Giles hear talk harshly to Willow? To Xander, of course, to Buffy, on occasion (Revelations, for example), but Willow really was the Scooby he described as "the best of us" in "Doppelgangerland", the adorable, trustworthy scholar - and suddenly, you have this threat moment, which she doesn't quite know to follow up yet.

However, this makes Giles' decision in "Once More With Feeling" (which you've already seen, so I can say it) to leave really irresponsible. One can debate whether or not he's right about Buffy (I don't think he is, but okay, it's debatable), but he knows Willow is on a dark path and needs an ongoing reality check. And he still leaves.

Second porch scene for Spike and Buffy: yes, it is lovely. Echoes their first, of course, and yet is different.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

However, this makes Giles' decision in "Once More With Feeling" (which you've already seen, so I can say it) to leave really irresponsible. One can debate whether or not he's right about Buffy (I don't think he is, but okay, it's debatable), but he knows Willow is on a dark path and needs an ongoing reality check. And he still leaves.

Yes, on all points!! When I realized that he really will leave, I actually got upset. You don't leave people who are going through a deep depression and hope they will get well when they have to rely on themselves. It doesn't work that way. Plus leaving Willow to her own devises is a bad idea!
Well, Giles follows the tradition of well-meaning people in Buffy's life...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

He does. Except for her mother and Spike, I guess...

[spikendru.livejournal.com]

It was very unfortunate that this was the path the writers chose for Giles (whose character I had adored up until S6&7, when his choices frequently don't make a lot of sense) because ASH wanted to spend more time in England with his family. He originally had a 5-year contract, and at the conclusion of that, chose to become a reoccurring character, rather than a main character - I can totaly understand; his daughters are growing up and it was hard for him to be away from the family for so much of each year - but Giles is very perceptive and did know that Buffy was depressed, had just come back from the dead and was expected to financially provide for everyone, parent Dawn and still keep up with her Slayer duties. He also knew she had issues with men leaving her at the most inopportune times, and that Willow was definitely on a dark path. Since ASH was leaving, I just wish they had come up with a better reason for Giles to go. (There's a moment much later in this season that makes me tear my hair out, but I won't discuss it with you until you get to the end *g*)

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Well, Giles does have this tendency to think about leaving Buffy, because he wants her to be independent. (Happens in the beginning of season 4 and season 5, too.) He just never really went through with it. Which means what happens isn't out of character for Giles.

selenak had a great explanation for why he does leave this time around: He's afraid of losing Buffy again. He has dealt with her death once; now he's scared that losing her again will shatter him. That's not something he would admit to himself, but I see it as a subconscious motivation.

That means I like the way the wrote Giles temporarily out of the show. It makes his character more flawed, but that's perfectly fine with me. Flawed characters are much more real.

[spikendru.livejournal.com]

Have you gotten to the end of S6 yet?

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Yep. Plus the first episode of season 7.
Currently I'm on hold until I've written a couple more reviews. If I just continue watching I'll never catch up with my writing.

[spikendru.livejournal.com]

Okay. Then I can mention the part where I wanted to slap Giles in the head! In "Grave", Buffy is filling him in on everything that went wrong while he was gone, and he apologizes for leaving, and she tells him it's okay. He them says "Sometimes the most adult thing you can do is ask for help when you need it." and I just wanted to scream at him. What exactly does he consider "asking for help" when she needs it? Because she asked for help in several episodes. She was going through clinical depression, had financial problems, had to become the sole parent of Dawn, get a job to pay the bills and still do all the slaying. In OMWF, Giles and the group finally discovered that she had been pulled out of heaven, and yet a few days later, Giles tells her again that he is leaving and she comes right out and asks for help:

GILES: You have to be strong. I'm, I'm trying to-
BUFFY: Trying to, to what? (angrily) Desert me? Abandon me? Leave me all alone when I really need somebody?
GILES: (quietly) I don't want to leave-
BUFFY: So don't. Please don't. I can't do this without you.
GILES: You can. That's why I'm going. As long as I stay you'll always turn to me if there's something comes up that you feel that you can't handle, and I'll step in because, because ... Because I can't bear to see you suffer.
BUFFY: Me too. Hate suffering. Had about as much of it as I can take.
GILES: Believe me, I'm loathe to cause you more, but this... I've taught you all I can about being a slayer, and your mother taught you what you needed to know about life. (Buffy looks away, pouting) You ... you're not gonna trust that until you're forced to stand alone.
BUFFY: But why now? Now that you know where I've been, what I'm going through?
GILES: Now more than ever. The temptation to give up is gonna be overwhelming, and I can't let-
BUFFY: So I won't! No giving up. You can be here, and I can still be strong.
GILES: Buffy, I've thought this over ... and over. I believe it's the right thing to do.
BUFFY: You're wrong. (storms off)

I don't think she could have been any clearer than that. Giles chose to go in spite of her plea, which I can understand, if he truly believed he was doing the right thing. But it was pretty darn sanctimonious of him to later tell her she should have asked for help when she needed it, because she did ask - he just wasn't listening.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Just realised I never replied to your comment:
To me, these scenes made Giles more human simply because he made the wrong decision in going away. And he *knows* he made the wrong decision and Buffy knows it, too. When they start laughing in this episode, it's because they made mistakes and that's the only way how they can cope with them. It's easier crying or yelling - or getting hysterical with laughter.
So I can understand your urge to bitchslap Giles. He deserves it. Even though, his wrong decision and his reaction to it afterwards made him a more interesting character, IMO.

[spikendru.livejournal.com]

Oh, I agree those scenes make Giles more human, and that he doesn't always make the right decisions, but he makes me crazy when (as I mentioned) he chides her for NOT asking for help, when she clearly did - even though, for reasons of his own (which could very well be because he was afraid of losing her again) he chose to ignore her.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Am not really defending him. Go ahead and kick him. It will do Giles some good. :-)

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Oh, one other thing I forgot:
I believe Giles *knew* Buffy needed his help. He didn't stay, because he had lost her once and didn't want to experience losing her again. I have the feeling that he saw the entire situation as messed up and Buffy quite possibly beyond help. At least, he had the feeling that he just hadn't anymore strength to give. He is totally overwhelmed by Buffy wanting him to be her father/mother, her anchor to life.
And no, that doesn't make Giles look good, but it makes him imperfect and human. I appreciate that.

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

As to why the two witches don't bear a part of the costs: this reminds me that I've been wondering how Tara finances her time in Sunnydale anyway, since she broke with her family, and college life in the US is expensive if you don't have a scholarship. Willow, otoh, both would have no problem qualifying for a scholarship and getting money from her parents, one supposes.

While I suspect the real answer is that the writers didn't give it much thought (as TV characters never have to think about earning a living unless it enhances the plot -- here, Buffy's money woes send her to the bank, lead to angst, etc) there is a fairly plausible fanwank re: Tara. If you assume that her father's family is very poor, or even lower-working/middle class, (which is at least not contradicted by what we see of her family) she could have her tuition and some of her living expenses covered by government grants and/or student loans. She might have to forge her father's signature on a few things, but between her and Willow, I imagine they could pull it off. Ironically, it's often harder for students from wealthier families whose parents refuse to support their education, since the government treats every student below a certain age as though their parents were contributing to education, whether that is true or not.

I think this situation has changed a bit in recent years, as government financial aid programs have been cut, but it's good enough for fanwankage.

Alternatively, her mother could have left her some money that, as she's an adult, her father wouldn't have any control over -- but perhaps just enough to support herself in school, and not to help Buffy. When I watch those eps, I prefer to assume that Willow is contributing what she can financially, and that Buffy is reluctant to ask her for more, although you do wonder why no one ever suggests Willow or Tara get a job; I guess we're supposed to think they are consumed with their studies but then, Buffy is saving the world every night!

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Alternatively, her mother could have left her some money that, as she's an adult, her father wouldn't have any control over

Yes, that's my theory as well.

I guess we're supposed to think they are consumed with their studies but then, Buffy is saving the world every night!

Exactly. I know that we're supposed to see a Buffy that needs to fend for herself, but I wish the writers had come up with a better explanation.

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

yay, trio!

I like your interpretation of the flooded house as Buffy's psyche, very much.

I can't say I agree that Buffy hates Willow -- I think she still loves Willow, but hates what she did, and that's part of what makes the experience so painful. She's used to being angry at her enemies, but has no idea about her friends.

The money issue will never make any sense, so don't strain yourself trying to figure it out :). I wrote a fic i want to link you to that indirectly comments on this ep, but I have to wait until you've seen "Billy"

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

I've seen "Billy" this morning, so link away.
This evening, I did a Buffy viewing marathon and am up to episode 12. What can I say: I still like season 6.

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

Count me a season 6 fan too, though I don't find myself rewatching it all that often (aside from the musical!)

A couple of my things I didn't want to link earlier, since they reference Wesley's crush on Fred, which isn't apparent until "Billy" --

Rendezvous (which is set in the Angel offseason but bears on what we've been talking about re: events in season 6) and A Dream and Fruitless vision, which deals with "That old Gang" from Wesley's POV.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

The next episodes start the rollercoaster ride in a major way.. (In my episode review, I believe the number of posts probably indicate the controversy of the episode) Beware of anything written by Stephen DeKnight. ;)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

*fangirls Stephen DeKnight*

And not just for the controversials in season 6 (i.e. Dead Things and Seeing Red). The man wrote what is arguably the best Angel season opener ever, Deep Down (season 4, of course *g*), which managed to wash the bad taste of the season 3 finale away and made me a fan all over again.

Thalia, once you get to Dead Things I'll try to dig up an old post of mine where I ramble on at length about it and the much earlier Life Serial because I think on of the funniest season 6 eps and one of the pitch-black-darkest season 6 eps are directly related and paralleled.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to let you know: I've seen Dead Things today and think it's an excellent episode. Love it on so many levels.
I'm 12 reviews behind, but will catch up again over the course of next week.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Then here is my meta on it.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

This episode really brings out the great discussion and essays. Yours DEFINITELY does not disappoint. Thanks for the great read.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

*blushes*

You're very welcome.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

DEAD THINGS is one of the great episodes of the verse. So much going on there..

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Next to Joss himself, I LOVE DeKnight. DEAD THINGS, SEEING RED, DEEP DOWN, DAMAGE, DESTINY, HELLBOUND, TGIQ, SHELLS.... He laments that he always got the controversial episodes, but IMO, nobody could handle it better.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Agreed. They were all ever so good. Though wait, wasn't Damage a Drew Goddard/David Fury coproduction, or am I confusing this with LMPTM?

Anyway. Yes.

*uses icon from DeKnight episode *g* *

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Actually, DAMAGE was DeKnight and Goddard. It appears in ATS season five when dealing with deeper Spike, the crew always seemed to bring out Deknight to help.. (even though he wasn't there in BTVS season seven, he certainly GOT the character in season six in a major way)

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

I still have to go through most of the reviews you wrote for season 6. Since you're faster at posting than I am, I've saved them for later.

Am pretty sure "Dead Thing" has caused strong reactions in the past. Personally, I think it's outstanding. I guess I have a fondness for exploring the darker side of characters and for controversial topic.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

My reviews are basically a recap of the episode (with some of my bias crap thrown in) but the replies are where all the juicy stuff lie. (and probably spoilers) One thing is certain, you can't put Spike fans into a neat little package and say this is what they think.

As for DEAD THINGS, it is brilliant. IMO, it is the most underrated episode of the verse, and would be in my top ten.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

I want to link this. (and yes, I'm getting ahead of myself with DEAD THINGS)

http://www.billiedoux.com/buffy6x13.html

I read Selenak's interpretation of the dream, I feel that both of them see it similarly.

I like this interpretation. Mine has pretty much been that she had issues with Spike's soul-less nature and what that means as a slayer if he does indeed love her.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

By now, I've read some takes on Dead Things and it seems many fans strongly dislike it, mostly because Buffy mistreats Spike. Now I don't think what she does is okay by any means, but it makes sense considering what has happened so far.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

As I've read many viewpoints, I think that more than a few feel that the "heroes" don't pay quite as much and as harshly for crimes committed as the ones who aren't so much heroes.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Forgot to comment on Buffy - Willow:
I don't think Buffy hates Willow, but in this episode she loathes her or to be more precise being around Willow, having to interact with her costs her a lot of strength. There's Willow, one of her closest friend, and who actually believes that she did Buffy a huge favour. So Buffy can't bear being around her, because it means she has to put on a huge act. After all, she has to force herself to not be angry and upset with Willow.

[hecubot.livejournal.com]

>> Willow, don't you know that the bad guys very often don't think what they are doing is evil...

Joss has often mentioned that one of the formative influences on his writing was reading an interview with Willem Dafoe. The interviewer asked, "Do you prefer playing villains to heroes?" (clearly angling for the villains) and Dafoe answered, "It doesn't matter. Everybody's justified in their own mind. Everybody is the hero of their own story."

Which also echoes the famous line from Renoir's Rules of the Game: "There is but one tragedy in this life. Everybody has their reasons."

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

"It doesn't matter. Everybody's justified in their own mind. Everybody is the hero of their own story."

Very cool quote! I definitely appreciate Joss's approach.

[runespoor7.livejournal.com]

Hi, I've been reading your reviews, and it's been harder and harder not to stop to comment with bounces and squeals of delight, because it's so nice to find someone who can be objective and not bash characters indistinctively (coughRileycough), and who is still aware of their faults.

So there's that, but I also wanted to present a different perspective on Willow in this ep, but admittedly I'm a big fan of late-seasons Willow. Regarding the magic, and particularly the confrontation with Giles, well, I have to say I'm very angry at *Giles*. Willow's the one he trusted the most re: magic abuse? Huh? And where does *Tara* fit in this equation?... And also Willow's comment that she's one of the good guys. And rather that explaining that good is as good does, he just goes on to making her ever more stubborn and arrogant by picking apart what she feels makes her stronger, makes her being worthy of having been chosen as the gang's leader when Buffy was dead. *sighs*

As for the rent, I have a fanwank that explains that Willow and Tara were basically filling in a parental role, taking care of the house, of Dawn, daily. They were more or less au pair, except that they didn't get paid for it. Also, I'm in two minds about the Summers' financial problems - after all, Buffy tries to go back to university in Life Serial, so her getting a job wasn't an absolute necessity at that time.

BTW, I have this whole theory about parallels between Willow and Spike, and how they're the two of the Scooby Gang ready to do very, very wrong things for the people they love without a second thought, which makes me think that the reason Willow didn't tell Spike about trying to resurrect Buffy wasn't because she knew he wouldn't let her undo it if Buffy came back wrong (if only because Willow is no longer in touch with other people's feelings, and the more powerful and self-confident she gets, the less she's sensitive, which I think is kinda what happens with Buffy, too, but the Willow/Buffy parallel is talk for another day). I think it was more because she feared the spell wouldn't work.

I also think your interpretation of the symbolism about the basement is very ingenious - and how come I'm only just thinking that it all ties in with Buffy drowning at the end of S1, and her subsequent fears? (such as we see in Bad Girls and Consequences, when she and Faith take on the Eliminati and then Buffy has a nightmare about drowning, with the mayor's assistant dragging her underwater).

And word on the Trio.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Thanks for your comment! It's nice to see that my reviews are still being read, even though I haven't updated my LJ for so long. If you want to post squeals of delight, please do so. Feedback makes me smile. :-)

Oh, you're right about Giles. (That's what I *love* about Buffy: It's never as simple as "Character A is all right and character B is all wrong." You can usually see a situation from both sides.) He really doesn't handle the situation very well. Plus leaving in the course of season 6 was definitely not the right decision. Still he's so scared of seeing Buffy destroy herself, he can't watch and rather deserts her.

Good point about Tara and Willow doing the work around the house and taking care of Dawn in addition to their studies. - On the whole, I have the impression that the "Buffy has not enough money" topic was that well thought out. There are some odd discrepancies, e.g. Giles giving her presumably a large sum of money and Buffy still taking a shitty job at a Burger chain.

Willow and Spike: Yes, I can see this parallel easily. They also seem to quite insecure under their tough facade.
Vampire!Willow reminds me of Drusilla by the way. While I don't feel like reading Willow/Spike, Vampire!Willow/Spike has some appeal.
Yes, regarding the spell! I don't think Willow admits this to herself, though. At least she shoves any worries she has regarding the spell deep down into a hidden corner of her mind.

and how come I'm only just thinking that it all ties in with Buffy drowning at the end of S1, and her subsequent fears?
Cool! I hadn't linked it with these events, but you're right!

[runespoor7.livejournal.com]

I agree with you about the money issue. I think they were trying to milk the situation for all the drama that it was worth, in fine "Everything that can go wrong, will; everything that can't, will dissolve into emtional hell" Season 6 tradition. The only way I can make sense out of it is to blame it on Buffy's general angst (self-hatred + putting money on the side for when she needs it in a crisis, as I don't doubt she must have been viewing her life as nothing more than a succession of unexpected crisises + having something to do during the day + trying to regain a life outside her Slayerness...), because anything's better than 'sloppy plotting', right?

Willow and Spike: yes, Vampire!Willow and Drusilla share at least the childishness. And Vampire!Willow seems not to play with an entire deck, contrarily to, say, Vampire!Xander. Theoretically, I like Willow/Spike, but fanfics tend to bash Buffy/Tara/Oz, and/or take place during Season Four, and I like my Season Seven setting quite a lot, dammit. Friendship fics would be nice. I'm not wild about Vampire!Willow in fics, because she feels so different from Willow!Willow, and because of the childishness, but the idea of the two of them together makes a lot of sense.

At least she shoves any worries she has regarding the spell deep down into a hidden corner of her mind.
Oh, yes. And, you know, I don't think she's wrong about it. At this time in the Scoobies' history, she's Buffy. She's the leader, she's in charge, and as such she has to believe in what she's doing. That's exactly what Buffy has always been doing ("It's time we stop talking."). There's at least another comment I'd like to make, but I'm not sure how far you are into the show, so I'll keep my potential spoilers to myself.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Vampire!Willow and Drusilla: Yes, they share the childishness, but also the delight in being cruel. Once again, their delight in causing pain is the delight of very young children which makes it so creepy.

I hate character bashing in any way. For me it's pretty rare to hate a fictional character. I may not want to meet a certain character in real life, but as long as the character makes sense in itself - has proper motivations, strenghts, weaknesses, likes and dislikes - I appreciate this character for itself. Hope that makes sense.

At this time in the Scoobies' history, she's Buffy.
That's a very good point! From her POV, her actions are logical. Which shows how well-written the show is.