Buffy - Season 6 impressions (episode 8)

[thalia_seawood]

Tabula Rasa

A summary can be found here.


- Another interesting episode.

- It starts out with a nice role reversal:
Spike gets the part of the "typical woman", Buffy plays the role of the "typical male", He is the one who wants to talk about what happened whereas Buffy tries to avoid the issue. When Spike is threatened by the Shark demon and his gang, Buffy slips into the role of his protector.

- Great insight on Buffy's part regarding Spike:
BUFFY: (to herself) If I were to stop saving his life, it would simple things up *so* much.

Considering how fast she reacts in order to protect him, she cares for him more than she admits both to him and to herself.

- Willow realizes what she has done to Buffy and blames herself:

WILLOW: We didn't wanna know. (Tara looks sadly at her) We were so selfish. *I* was so selfish.

This moment of insight is followed by a plan of action that's so unethical that it left me gaping at the screen:

WILLOW: (shaking head) I know a spell that will make her forget she was ever in heaven.

- Tara is understandably upset by Willow's suggestion and confronts her about the memory spell Willow cast on her.

I found this comment by Tara interesting, probably because my own response would have been slightly different:

TARA: If you don't wanna fight, you don't fight. You don't use magic to make a fight disappear.

I would have pointed out to Willow that even in the most perfect relationship there will be times when you have different opinions qnd may have an argument. Arguing doesn't mean that the relationship is over. Violating your partner's trust, however, is a much more severe issue.

While Willow using too much magic is a problem, it's a problem Willow and Tara could face together. Only Willow has started to use her magic against Tara which is an extreme breech of trust. Ultimately, this means that Willow risks losing Tara.

- Giles tells Buffy that he's going to leave Sunnydale:

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.
Beat. She stares at him anxiously.
GILES: Buffy, I've thought this over ... and over. I believe it's the right thing to do.
BUFFY: You're wrong.

The last time I was really upset with a character was during the end of season 2 when Xander withheld information from Buffy, i.e. that Willow tried to return Angel's soul.

This time around I'm quite upset with Giles. Sorry Giles, but things don't work that way. If someone is traumatised and depressed you don't just leave and tell them it will make them stronger. It's rather like telling a drowning person that they just have to tread water harder so they won't drown.

Apart from that it's irresponsible to leave Willow unsupervised. After she threatened Giles in the kitchen just some episodes ago, he should be aware how unpredictable she is.

Giles' decision turns him into another person in Buffy's life who pretends to know what's good for her. In the past, Xander, Angel and Willow have also made decisions on Buffy's behalf with which she wouldn't have agreed.

- I watched Tabula Rasa twice so far and both times this scene made a shiver go down my spine:

WILLOW: For Buffy and Tara, this I char.
She strikes a match and sets the flowers on fire.
WILLOW: Let Lethe's Bramble do its chore. Purge their minds of memories grim, of pains from recent slights and sins.
She reaches into a small pouch on her belt, takes out a clear crystal and holds it in the flames.
WILLOW: When the fire goes out, when the crystal turns black, the spell will be cast. (pulls the crystal back) Tabula rasa, tabula rasa, tabula rasa.

It creeps me out that Willow uses magic after the talk she had with Tara. Not only does she renounce the promise she made to Tara - not to use magic for a week - she also attempts to manipulate both Tara's and Buffy's memories. And that after Tara told her that she felt violated by Willow's actions...

- Spike in the brown suit is a very funny sight. So the vision in Restless does come true in a way. :-)
I also like the look Dawn gives Spike: Seems like she still has a bit of a crush on him.

- Things are so hard for Buffy. Here she finally voices how deeply upset she is and gets interrupted by Willow's memory spell. I wonder if things might have turned out differently if Giles and the other Scoobies had been given the chance to listen and react to Buffy's words.

BUFFY: Sorry. Everybody's sorry. I know that you guys are just trying to help ... but it's just, it's too much. And, and I, I can't take it any more. (tearful) If you guys ... if you guys understood how it felt ... how it feels. It's like I'm dying, it-

- It's fascinating to observe how all the characters behave under the memory spell:

* Buffy immediately takes care of Dawn. In fact, she treats her with more tenderness than she has done ever since she was resurrected.

* Willow and Xander think they are a couple, but even though Xander doesn't really seem to be attracted to Willow. Willow in turn is attracted to Tara - and her feelings are returned.

* The connection between Buffy & Dawn and Willow/Tara suggest that the memory spell does *not* affect how the characters feel about one another. In fact, attractions that are normally hidden move to the forefront.

* As a result, Giles and Anya suddenly do recognize an attraction between them. Buffy still protects Spike and they even start working together.
Regarding, Giles and Anya I noticed in the past that Giles acts younger and more immature around Anya, especially during their fights. Whereas Giles is a father figure for the other Scoobies, he and Anya interact on the same level. So pairing Giles and Anya definitely doesn't feel incestuous.

* The only characters who not discover their real names are Buffy and Spike which is significant in my opinion. Both characters are going through an important transition. Even when their memory is intact, they don't quite know who they are any longer.

* Buffy chooses the name Joan for herself which immediately made me think of Joan of Arc, another outstanding heroine.

During this episode, Buffy rediscovers her Slayer identity and is enthusiastic to be a super hero. As a result it is clearly extremely painful for her when her memory returns: She now remembers what things used to be like when she started to work as a Slayer, yet is tossed back into a life when Slaying and life in general is a burden to her.

* Spike is cursed with the name Randy. (Even as I type this, I have to laugh.) Due to his outfit he thinks Giles is his father which makes him Randy Giles. :-) Such fun to watch this scene with Giles' comment from Restless in mind: He's like a son to me. I *love* the interaction between Giles and Spike in this episode.

GILES: Um, son. (Spike stops) Come here. Um, please.
SPIKE: Um...
GILES: Yes, um...
Spike goes over to Giles and they hug awkwardly, then Spike pushes Giles away.
SPIKE: Right.
GILES: Good, then.

Like Buffy/Joan, Spike/Randy rediscovers his super powers:
SPIKE: (turns to her) Hey, I'm a superhero too!

Love the scenes where Spike reinvents himself:
SPIKE: I must be a noble vampire. (Buffy looks dubious) A good guy. On a mission of redemption. I help the hopeless. (chuckles) I'm a vampire with a soul.
BUFFY: (frowning) A vampire with a soul? (beat) Oh my god, how lame is that?
[...]
SPIKE: I'm a hero really. I mean, to be cast such an ugly lot in life and then to rise above it. To seek out better, nobler things. It's inspirational, isn't it? And the two of us... (gestures from Buffy to himself) natural enemies, thrown together to stand against the forces of darkness. Utter trust. No thought of me biting you, no thought of you staking me.
BUFFY: Depends on how long you keep on yapping.

The first scene is incredibly funny as the vampire Spike describes is so obviously Angel. It's also deeply ironical that Buffy isn't impressed by "a vampire with a soul" considering that it matters to her that Angel has a soul.
Even if I hadn't any spoilers for Spike's future, I would consider this scene as prophetic.

The second scene I love because Spike sounds so much like William. :-) I have to rewatch this scene to check if his accent changes while he says these lines.

- In this episode we get some wickedly funny scenes, e.g. when the Magic Shop is attacked by the vampires working for the Shark demon. Lovely to see how everybody is so scared of them, even Spike.

This had me in stitches, especially Giles approving of Spike's actions:
VAMP 2: Send out Spike!
GILES: They seem to want spikes.
SPIKE: Oh!
Spike goes off, comes back with a handful of stakes.
SPIKE: Let's give 'em these.
GILES: Well done.

- However, the funny scenes are followed by tragedy. When Xander steps on Willow's magic crystal, it's not just the crystal that's shattered:
The relationship between Willow and Tara - that under the memory spell just came into being again - is over. Willow has betrayed Tara's trust once again and Tara will leave.
Giles and Anya are mortally embarrassed when they regain their memory while sharing a kiss.
Giles doesn't reconsider leaving Sunnydale - which floors me. After all, he has just experienced first hand how out of control Willow is.
Buffy reverts from an enthusiastic Slayer back to the depressed woman she was before.
Dawn is left alone again. Not only does she lose a loving, normal sister, Tara also moves out.
There's only one relationship that's reconfirmed at the end of Tabula Rasa: Spike and Buffy kiss for the second time. Seeing that Buffy takes up this relationship when she's hit such a low point in her life, it's not hard to guess that this relationship won't be a sunny strollthrough a field of daisies.


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Comments

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

scattered thoughts...

I found Willow appalling in this episode. Someone on my review once made a good point that if Spike/Willow had been paired as was considered in season four, (and kept the personalities that evolved) that she would have completely destroyed Spike.. Willow can't stand conflict and will do anything to hang on. Spike won't let go, even if a relationship is bad for him. As you have seen (being up to episode 16) Buffy has similar obsession for Spike as Willow for Tara, but she finally knew it was time to end it as the relationship wasn't doing either of them any good.

Other things of interest, Spike doesn't consider himself as evil even with faced with the fact that he is indeed a vampire.

Giles/Anya are great fun.. I LMAO at her making the bunnies while Giles is fighting the skeleton things.

Lots of people have problems with Giles leaving Buffy on her own at that point, and I suppose it doesn't make much sense. Tony Head was going to be with his family in England, and I guess that they had to think of an excuse for him not to be there. Perhaps an emergency for Giles would have been better?

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Someone on my review once made a good point that if Spike/Willow had been paired as was considered in season four, (and kept the personalities that evolved) that she would have completely destroyed Spike..

Yes, agree with this take completely.
The only way I can see Spike/Willow together is if he had turned her into a vampire. They would have made frighteningly successful vampire couple. VampireWillow, IMO, has several traits in common with Drusilla.

Like selenak I think Giles leaving Buffy like this is in character for him. Ever since season 4, there was this theme of Giles intending to leave Buffy for her own good.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Shark demon: this was also a tongue-in-cheek challenge to the fans who were at that point complaining that Buffy the show had "jumped the shark", i.e. gone bad. So Buffy the character jumps the shark.*g*

This time around I'm quite upset with Giles. Sorry Giles, but things don't work that way. If someone is traumatised and depressed you don't just leave and tell them it will make them stronger. It's rather like telling a drowning person that they just have to tread water harder so they won't drown.

Yes. As spikeylover points out, there was a meta reason for this - i.e. Tony Head wanted to live in England with his family again and hence was only available for some guest star episodes - but as opposed to S., I do think it's a decision which is in character. Completely wrong, but in character. Because Giles has done this before, only in milder forms, see season 4, The Freshman, for example, and because Bargaining in some sense via the scene between Giles and the Buffybot lays the groundworks. If you ask me, Giles just couldn't stand the prospect of Buffy dying again, and he knew that in her current state, that was very likely. Of course, this was not a reason he could face, and hence, because it was selfish, and hence, he repressed it and came up with the "must help you stand on your own feet" thing instead.


Giles' decision turns him into another person in Buffy's life who pretends to know what's good for her. In the past, Xander, Angel and Willow have also made decisions on Buffy's behalf with which she wouldn't have agreed.

And Riley left her for her own good as well... there will be a later point (in season 7) where Giles will make a decision for Buffy which will lead to a very serious reaction from her.

Things are so hard for Buffy. Here she finally voices how deeply upset she is and gets interrupted by Willow's memory spell. I wonder if things might have turned out differently if Giles and the other Scoobies had been given the chance to listen and react to Buffy's words.

They might have. It's the one point where Buffy just can't do the stoic facade thing anymore and spills in front of her friends, and of course she gets cut off. Which leaves Spike as the only emotional release, which is fatal. If you ask me, this episode leads to what Buffy does to her friends in Normal Again, where those feelings do get vented, but in a more serious fashion than just verbally.

During this episode, Buffy rediscovers her Slayer identity and is enthusiastic to be a super hero. As a result it is clearly extremely painful for her when her memory returns: She now remembers what things used to be like when she started to work as a Slayer, yet is tossed back into a life when Slaying and life in general is a burden to her.

Tabula Rasa at the same time shows us Buffy's quintessential character traits if she's not burdened by memory - she's a protector, both of Dawn and of "Randy" or anyone else threatened, she has fun fighting, she's witty - and then contrasts this with the present. And the disastrous thing is that when her memories do come back, all the progress Buffy made between Bargaining and now in terms of dealing is undone because she's essentially put through the same thing again in a rapid pace. Hence her lying on the ground as if suckerpunched.

"Desperate-for-a-shag" Giles: yes, that was priceless.*g* And then Spike reinventing himself as Angel, after all the Giles interaction. No, he doesn't have Daddy issues at all.*veg*

Giles and Anya: yep, no incest taboo as with the other Scoobies.

Willow: yes, it's appalling. And the unfortunate logical consequence of two different ongoing character traits - one is Willow's inability to deal with direct conflict as a part of a good relationship (see also her reaction when Buffy returns to Sunnydale at the start of season 3, for example), let alone to deal with breakups (see also: Oz), and the other her increasing tendency to use magical fixits if things get bad.

As you know from reading my other meta, I see what she does here as a direct parallel to what Warren does to Katrina in Dead Things. Warren will get paralleled with Willow a couple of times more...

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Interesting and true that you compare Willow and what she does to Tara with Warren/Katrina. I wonder if Whedon, Hannigan or Benson see it quite that way as they are often held up as the most healthy relationship. (Which causes me to scratch my head)

I bet Willow would have turned you into a rat for suggesting such a thing. ;)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, I don't know. I'm currently rewatching season 7 (quite a pleasant experience, I might add, I had forgotten how many episodes and aspects I liked), and The Killer in Me is a quite clear indication that the writers at least were very conscious of the Willow/Warren parallels.

And now I have to be totally vain and have to ask whether you've read me making making the point in fictional form?

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that. I'll bookmark it.

In the new Buffy DVD sets (with the one extra disc) They talk about relationships, and it's very clear that the writers and Benson feel Willow/Tara were the one to be held up, to which I disagree completely..

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Well, you have to consider the uproar which followed the (spoiler), after which they were accused to be homophobes. (I always liked the retort by Drew Greenberg best, who said that nobody bothered to ask whether any of the writing staff were gay before making that accusation, and he was, thank you very much, and (spoiler) was definitely treating W/T like any of the straight couples in his eyes.) So they're defensive about it.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Yes, that explanation makes sense.

I really can't think of a popular (or semi popular) ship in Jossverse that didn't go through hell.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

I really can't think of a popular (or semi popular) ship in Jossverse that didn't go through hell.

I don't know about the big spoiler yet, so I have a feeling what will happen.
Even though the accusation doesn't make sense to me: So far we have seen so many heterosexual relationships not work out: Xander/Cordelia, Buffy/Angel, Willow/Oz, Giles/Jenny, Buffy/Riley. In all cases, the couple either went through a very difficult time before the breakup or the relationship ended with a tragedy.

I guess the writers should be accused of hating heterosexual couples. *g*

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

and "so" should be spelled "though"...

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

Nice review; I like to think of "Tabula Rasa" as a sort of remix of OMWF -- episodes that basically take the characters to the same place (by the end) in very different ways. As wrong as Willow is here, I love from a storytelling perspective that she doesn't "learn her lesson" from OMWF but that she keeps repeating the same bad behavior out of desperation.

Buffy's quintessential character traits if she's not burdened by memory

This is such a nice way to put it, and it highlights one of the strengths of Jossverse characterizations -- that they generally ARE burdened by their memories and past experiences, which is one of the things that television, as a narrative long-form, can explore the way few media can, but that they rarely bother to do.

i.e. Tony Head wanted to live in England with his family again and hence was only available for some guest star episodes - but as opposed to S., I do think it's a decision which is in character. Completely wrong, but in character.

Yes, though Giles' departure pains me, I do buy it -- not just as Giles personal character, but as part of the Council philosophy that Giles is still burdened with. The Watcher is not "supposed" to provide an emotional/familial support network for his slayer. He's supposed to throw her in the water and see if she can swim and, if she doesn't, wash his hands of the whole thing because that's just the way the system works. Cruciamentum is the most extreme, but hardly the only, example of this philosophy at work. I recently rewatched "Untouched" (the Bethany episode of "Angel") and it occurred to me that -- given the right training and socialization -- Lilah would have made exactly the kind of watcher that Quentin Travers (and probably Wyndam-Pryce Sr.) would have approved of.

Also, I'm probably the only person in fandom who thinks "Willow said 'kick his ass'" was the right thing (or at least the pragmatic thing) for Xander to say.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

This is such a nice way to put it, and it highlights one of the strengths of Jossverse characterizations -- that they generally ARE burdened by their memories and past experiences, which is one of the things that television, as a narrative long-form, can explore the way few media can, but that they rarely bother to do.

So true, and one of the things I love about the Jossverse characters. They really do develop throughout their respective shows.

Lilah as a Watcher in regards to her treatment of Bethany: yes indeed. And how to put it in an unspoilery way... a certain method your boy uses in season 4, Release would indicate that you know, he's, too.

Also, I'm probably the only person in fandom who thinks "Willow said 'kick his ass'" was the right thing (or at least the pragmatic thing) for Xander to say.

Nah, you just don't hang out with enough Xander fans. I've heard it justified quite a lot. My own take: I think Buffy, if informed there was another resouling attempt in the offering, would still have fought as hard (and of course still would have had to go through with the stabbing), but I can see why Xander, given her previous encounters with Angelus, would have reasonable doubt. Otoh, quite apart from the fact he was hardly objective given his feelings re: Angel(us), it wasn't his call to make, it was hers.

But the whole thing came to bitchslap him in such an elegant way in one of my favourite BTVS scenes in season 7 that I really can't wish he'd have done something else.*veg*

[likeadeuce.livejournal.com]

certain method your boy uses in season 4, Release would indicate that you know, he's, too.

yes, yes, absolutely.

re: Xander --
Otoh, quite apart from the fact he was hardly objective given his feelings re: Angel(us), it wasn't his call to make, it was hers.

point taken. maybe Xan-man has some Watcher in him too.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Whedon defends Xander and says it was a defensive strategy. I'm not sure I buy that, but he wrote the thing. ;)

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

It may have been a defensive strategy, but I don't buy Xander would have used that strategy if he hadn't distrusted/been jealous of Angel in the first place. E.g. if Riley had been in Angel's place, I think Xander woud have acted differently.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

But the whole thing came to bitchslap him in such an elegant way in one of my favourite BTVS scenes in season 7 that I really can't wish he'd have done something else.*veg*

Even more curious now.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

As wrong as Willow is here, I love from a storytelling perspective that she doesn't "learn her lesson" from OMWF but that she keeps repeating the same bad behavior out of desperation.

Yes! While I hate her behaviour, I love the fact that she doesn't learn her lesson easily. It's way more realistic this way.
I know that I'm aware of many of my character flaws and still will make the same mistakes again and again. I think we also have the tendency to twist things in such a way that we tell ourselves "well, doing this is really not *that* bad". *g*

Repeating your mistakes seems to be a general theme in season 6. Buffy and Dawn definitely follow the same pattern so far.

Lilah would have made exactly the kind of watcher that Quentin Travers (and probably Wyndam-Pryce Sr.) would have approved of.

Love that insight! I can totally see Lilah as a Watcher. I can just see her and Lydia scheme over a cup of tea.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Shark demon: this was also a tongue-in-cheek challenge to the fans who were at that point complaining that Buffy the show had "jumped the shark", i.e. gone bad. So Buffy the character jumps the shark.*g*

Interesting tidbit! *g*

If you ask me, Giles just couldn't stand the prospect of Buffy dying again, and he knew that in her current state, that was very likely. Of course, this was not a reason he could face, and hence, because it was selfish, and hence, he repressed it and came up with the "must help you stand on your own feet" thing instead.

Love your theory and find it completely convincing.

If you ask me, this episode leads to what Buffy does to her friends in Normal Again, where those feelings do get vented, but in a more serious fashion than just verbally.
I will watch this episode this weekend. I'm really curious now!

Tabula Rasa at the same time shows us Buffy's quintessential character traits if she's not burdened by memory - she's a protector, both of Dawn and of "Randy" or anyone else threatened, she has fun fighting, she's witty - and then contrasts this with the present.
Very well put. That's exactly it.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Once you've seen Normal Again, feel free to read my meta on it and Hell's Bells here:

http://selenak.livejournal.com/25305.html

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link. I bookmarked it.