Buffy - Season 6 impressions (episode 12)

[thalia_seawood]

Doublemeat Palace

For a summary click here.


I had low expectations of this episode as it was the first Buffy episode I saw on TV. Actually, I didn't even catch the entire episode back then, just tiny bits like Buffy's fight against the monster. As a result I thought Buffy was a very strange and very trashy TV show. *g*

After rewatching it, I definitely have to revise my opinion. It seems that a lot of fans don't like this episode very much, but personally I discovered a lot I really enjoyed. Yes, the monster is still trashy, but I don't mind. *g*


Not only is this episode a wonderful satire, it also makes good use of classical horror movie stereotypes. Like Buffy I expected that some of the employees had ended up in the burgers and that Manny the Manager had found the perfect way to make everybody a real part of the Double Meat Experience.

But what I especially like about Doublemeat Palace is its atmosphere.
Buffy has to hold a regular job for the first time in her life - and it's not just any job. It's a job that's incredibly boring: A combination of repetitive and mindless work surrounded by the smells of hot oil and frying meat while at the same time having to look prim and be nice to customers. (For these very reasons working in a burger chain was a job I never even considered as a student. *shudders*)

Buffy feels stuck in this job (and in her life) like a fly trapped in honey and the episode captures this brilliantly.

Dawn sums this up here:

DAWN: No, I just mean... (sighs) Buffy's never gonna be a lawyer, or a doctor. Anything big.
XANDER: She's a Slayer. She saves the whole world. That's way bigger.
DAWN: But that means she's gonna have like crap jobs her entire life, right? Minimum wage stuff. I mean, I could still grow up to be anything. But for her ... this is it.

Two people point out to Buffy that if she works hard enough, she will be able to work for the Doublemeat Burger Chain for a very long time - which is definitely not what Buffy wants to do with her life. Their well-meant promises are not uplifting, but a sinister threat.

MANNY: In it for life. Like me. You wanna get something out of this, Buffy? You'll do the same. You put the work in, and ten years from now, you'll be where I am.
He points at his chest. Close shot on a round blue button pinned to his shirt with "10 Years" on it.
MANNY: I promise you.

LORRAINE: I certainly hope so. I don't like short-timers, Buffy. I like people who *want* to be here. Maybe you didn't take this job seriously before, but from now on?
She points at the "5 years" pin on her uniform.
LORRAINE: See this? I want you to be shooting for this from here on out.
Buffy looks a little displeased by that, but resigned.
BUFFY: Right. Here on out.

The final scene reminds me of the end of Gone. In Gone, Buffy realises she no longer wants to die, here she decides to go on with her job even though she hates it. This takes a lot of determination. In season 6, Buffy's biggest fight isn't against any monsters, but against her own weaknesses.

Doublemeat Palace is for the most parts a slow episode. Nothing much seems to happen, in many scenes we see Buffy just drift through her tasks. She's not alone in that: Basically all of her co-workers zone out constantly, moving slowly and staring into space. Everybody is too lethargic to really care why some people stop showing up for work.

TIMOTHY: (OS) It's boiling with nothing in it. Sometimes it does that.
Shot of Timothy and Buffy standing side-by-side staring mesmerized at the boiling oil.

Beyond being lethargic, nearly all the employees are *very* strange.

PHILIP: ...inside your ears... (looks at Buffy) You wanna look inside my ears?
BUFFY: (very disgusted) No. No, that's okay.
PHILIP: Once I noticed I couldn't hear and went to the doctor. He said it was grease ... that made a plug.
BUFFY: (ew) Ohh.
PHILIP: Mm. They gave me a kit. Kit for cleaning my ears. (smiling) It's got this little bulb mechanism.
BUFFY: (fake smile) Imagine that.

This claustrophobic atmosphere and the hints at insanity are why I see Doublemeat Palace as a lighthearted link between Afterlife and Normal Again. All three episodes have a slow, sluggish, drugged feeling as if nothing is real and it's an effort to drag through your life and an even greater effort to hold on to it. All three episodes end with Buffy holding on to her life in different ways: At the end of Afterlife, she's just resigned to somehow go on. At the end of Doublemeat Palace she's resigned to somehow continue working at this place. And in Normal Again she holds on to her life as the Slayer after ... well, I don't want to post any spoilers in case any newcomers to Buffy read this.

Another theme of this episode is that Buffy comes to the wrong conclusions. (BUFFY: No, you can't have this! It's not beef! It's people!) As far I can see, season 6 is the season were Buffy makes the most errors in judgement, e.g. it takes her longer than usual to figure out who her "nemesises" are. In a similar vein, she suspects the completely wrong people in Doublemeat Palace.


Some other moments that stood out:

- The creators of this show did a great job with the design for the Doublemeat Burger Chain. The hats, the logos, the cheerful training film for new employees.

- Buffy's take on the training film made me laugh.

MANNY: Interesting, isn't it?
BUFFY: (fake smile) Oh yes! Like how the cow and the chicken come together even though they've never met. It's like Sleepless in Seattle if, (Manny turning off the TV) if Meg and Tom were, like, minced.

- Spike showing up as a customer.
What I like about this scene is that it so clearly shows both sides of Spike: His destructive side and his caring side. He starts out with needling Buffy in the worst way (That the kinda demon you are), but then reveals that ultimately he wants her to be happy. Buffy doesn't take the easy way out, however, she decides to stick to her job.

SPIKE: Some demons love 'em. The way they vibrate makes the skin twitch. That the kinda demon you are, luv?
BUFFY: I am not a demon. I don't know why you can hit me, but (firmly) I am not a demon.
SPIKE: Oh. I see. That why you took this job? Prove something to yourself? A normal job for a normal girl? (shakes his head) Good way to drive yourself crazy, that is.
BUFFY: (shrugs) I'll be fine.
Spike leans forward, puts his hands on the counter.
SPIKE: Buffy.
She just stares at him.
SPIKE: You're not happy here.
BUFFY: (quietly) Please don't make this harder.
SPIKE: You don't belong here. You're something ... you're better than this.
BUFFY: I need the money.
SPIKE: I can get money. (gestures with his head) Walk with me now, come on.
BUFFY: I ... I need to go help Gary with the fries.

- Spike and Buffy in the alley:
This is the first time we see them having totally uninvolved sex. Well, Spike is involved, but Buffy is just going through the motions. In this episode, even Spike can't make her feel. I think she just uses him as some kind of anchor to reality or even only as a way to somehow pass the time.

- Halfrek, an old demon friend of Anya, appears for the first time.
Over the course of the episode, Xander is confronted repeatedly with the fact that Anya used to be a vengeance demon who enjoyed her job. He avoids thinking about the implications, however. Instead he appears to be worried about marriage to Anya in general and whether Anya looked as off putting as Halfrek when she was a demon.

- Amy gives Willow a large dose of magic so she can have some fun. While this is, IMO, the weak point of the episode, I liked seeing Willow coping with the overdose. It's remarkable that she kills the monster and saves Buffy without the help of magic.

Comments

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

You mentioned the Doublemeat sex scene, and it's interesting that the person who editted the episode chose the one they did because James/Sarah definitely did some takes that were far more involved and fun..

If you want to watch the dailies of the other scene that was shot, it's here.

http://s58.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=33XOJFZX7QLM10PP29MAF25ZVD

Gellar gets a bad rap in season six. The dailies are proof positive that we need to blame the editor. ;)

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Gellar gets a bad rap in season six. The dailies are proof positive that we need to blame the editor. ;)

Why does Gellar get a bad rap? Because she comes across as uninvolved so often in season 6?
If yes, I'm quite confused. Because the point of season 6 *is* that Buffy is uninvolved.
By the end of season 5, we saw that Buffy had problems holding onto reality. Life was so hard for her (it just keeps coming) that she actually lapses into catatonia at one point.
In the beginning of season 6, she gets torn out of heaven and from then on only drifts through her life. The only reason why she doesn't kill herself in Bargaining is Dawn.
Buffy's biggest battle in season 6 is against herself. She's a hero because she doesn't give up. She goes through darkness and has to fight every day to not simply stop trying.
So ZonedOut!Buffy is a perfect choice for season 6 and I like how SMG gets these emotions across.

The uninvolved sex scene is perfect, IMO. The way I see it Buffy uses Spike in order to escape from everything she's confronted with (This isn't real, I just want to feel.) This solution works temporarily: The sex does make Buffy feel something for a time, though she is usually disgusted with herself afterwards. Well, by the time of Doublemeat Palace, it becomes clear that sex with Spike will not solve her problems. She can have a brief respite from life by shagging Spike in an alley next to the garbagge dump of a burger chain (not exactly romantic, is it?), but in the end it solves nothing. IMO, Buffy is realising this in Doublemeat Palace - she's trapped in her life and *nothing* will stop her from feeling that way - unless she finds the strength to go on and a love for life within herself.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you.

I would say the main reason she gets a bad rap is due to some screen direction in the scripts where she's suppose to play things a bit differently and she doesn't. My point is that it could be like the DOUBLEMEAT dailies and IT IS played in different ways and the editor chooses a particular scene. I've seen enough dailies to know that both James and Sarah make varying choices on how to play a certain scene. Over season six, the editor seemed to go for the more sympathetic Spike and the colder unemotional Buffy.

I think many people felt season six jumped the shark because they wanted a different story told about Spike/Buffy. ("You have THIS and you throw it away!!!") Having went through it all (over months and months of dragging it out and speculation), I understand where all that came from..(and frankly, the writers were as torn as we fans were)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

Firstly, I think the "bad rap" is mostly limited to the Spike fan corner of the fandom. Having made with through the seasons with friends on both sides of the Spike Wars as well as a mixed flist, I'm somewhat in a position to make this claim.

Secondly, I agree with thalia_seawood that the editor made the right choice for Doublemeat Palace because that scene wasn't meant to look like Buffy being into the sex or having fun with it.

Thirdly, yes, the writers were torn, with, say, David Fury and Jane Espenson on different ends of the spectrum in season 6, but I think the overall direction by both Joss and Marti (I know Marti often gets blamed for it exclusively) as to where the Spike/Buffy relationship would go in 6 was pretty clear throughout, no matter the individual writers' opinion on it. Least we forget, the final scene in Once More With Feeling, with the lyrics Buffy sings, makes it crystal clear that this is just the reverse of the traditional Hollywood ending where a kiss solves all problems and goes for a happily ever after.

Fourthly, re:

I think many people felt season six jumped the shark because they wanted a different story told about Spike/Buffy.

Which ironically enough was why I stopped my foray into reading Spuffy fanfic which I did at some points in season 6. Because I thought the story told on screen was way more complex and interesting than the one I found in most (not all) stories, and Buffy especially was written less and less in a way I could recognize from the show and more and more into what the fanfic authors thought she should feel for Spike. Which isn't to say I disagree with your point, I do agree. In a way, season 6 was determinedly anti-fanfic, because a common topos of fanfiction is:

Old Enemies: *have UST and snark at each other at every opportunity*

Dangerous Crisis: *Ensues*

Former Enemies: *have sex*

Problems Between Them: *are solved*


Wheres with Buffy and Spike, it went:

Old Enemies: *bond through horrible situation*

Crisis: *ensues*

*Former Enemies*: Have sex.

Problems Between Them: *come back with a vengeance, far worse than they were before sex*

Relationship: *is a mess*

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you were around during all this, and it was alot more complicated than wanting Spuffy to live happily ever after. There were Redemptionists, who thought it would be interesting if Spike could slowly be redeemed without soul, etc. etc.

Also, somewhere in the midst of this (after being totally about Spuffy and their relationship) Gellar was pretty vocal about hating the storyline, Fury called a fan a serial killer lover (A friend of mine) James came out and became pretty vocal about hating the events of SEEING RED, too and brought Marti's name into it. Espenson and Fury were on complete opposite sides, (except for SEEING RED, surprisingly they both felt that they should have done it differently) and to defend the online Spike fans--- they couldn't help but be influenced by all this. If the writers weren't agreeing and stories are written from their viewpoints week to week, then it's bound to effect the fans.

In the end, we find the mess that was Spuffy became so deep because you couldn't fit it in a box and define it as THIS certain way. It turned out to be epic and controversial and fans still get in heated debate about them even after all these years.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Adding something else here:

I think the overall direction by both Joss and Marti as to where the Spike/Buffy relationship would go in 6 was pretty clear throughout, no matter the individual writers' opinion on it

I really don't think it was that clear. I think from INTERVENTION up to TABULA RASA (and even OMWF, considering Spike saves Buffy from burning to death) It seemed that they were leading to a romance. Gellar and Marsters thought that was the direction, so if THEY thought that, then why wouldn't the fans?

I'm really not sure if the writers knew where they were taking them, except Buffy would be depressed, they would have sex and Spike would end up getting his soul...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

"This isn't real, but I just want to feel" does not lead into a romance (in the usual Hollywoodian sense - mind you, I think Spike and Buffy do have a romance, but one that refuses to play along the usual lines, which is part of what I like about the relationship - they bring out both the worst and the best in each other, but the later part leads us into season 7 territory, so, back to 6), and Thalia already talked about the symbolism of Buffy and Spike falling into a grave together, and Buffy climbing out first, going away. Considering Joss started to work on OMWF before any of the s6 episodes were written, I think that they were clear on the idea that a sexual relationship between Buffy and Spike in season 6 would not end happily.

Add to this the obvious depression theme, and you have Buffy in a state where Prince Charming himself could have arrived in Sunnydale and she wouldn't have been able to to have a functional romance with him. Let alone with Spike who has his own baggage.

As for the actors - it's a minefield, regarding them as an authority on the direction of their characters. The Jossverse with its slashfriendliness on the part of writers and actors is something of an exception, but let me tell you, there are fandoms where there were truly ugly occurences when some fans had the bright idea to present actor X with fanfic and actor X took major offense to his character presented having sex with another man (and even wrote an extremely bad novel about his character's backstory of pure heterosexuality in one case). With the result that in at least two of the fandoms I've been in (Blake's 7 and Highlander), you still have wars between fans where individual actors are quoted as saying their characters would never, ever, and how disgusting the mere idea, etc. See what I mean with minefield? Actors work with the material they're given at the time. They do their best. We love them for it. But they don't "own" the character. And sometimes, the very fact they disagree with writely directions creates ambiguity in the performance which can enrich the character.

Back to the Jossverse: we've had Robia della Morte refusing to come back because she got religion and found having to play Dru/Jenny in Becoming and the First Evil in Amends offensive. We've had Alexis Denisof stating his ideas about Wesley's affections and 'shipping preferences which run in direct contrast to what the majority of the fandom thinks of Wesley. Strangely, this did not result in many fans regretting Robia's last two appearances as not-Jenny in s2 and 3, or changing their mind about Wesley's love life. Which leads me to the conclusion that actor comments, like all kind of quotes, are usually just used when they support something the viewer believes or wants to believe already. Best to leave them out of the textual interpretation entirely.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

there are fandoms where there were truly ugly occurences when some fans had the bright idea to present actor X with fanfic and actor X took major offense to his character presented having sex with another man (and even wrote an extremely bad novel about his character's backstory of pure heterosexuality in one case).

Out of curiosity: In which fandom did this happen? Highlander?

I've just recently rediscovered my love for the due South fandom - a fandom with a large percentage of extremely well written fanfiction, mostly Fraser/Kowalski centric. Here the leading actors were actually supportive of slash and fanfiction which makes for a nice change.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

No, Blake's 7. The actor in question was Paul Darrow, who played Avon (the ambiguous character and most popular of the show, who gets paired pretty much with everyone under the sun. (The novel is called Avon: A Terrible Aspect and was promptly nicknamed Avon: A Terrible Novel.)

However, Highlander had one actor, Valentine Pelka, who guest starred in some of the most important episodes and was really upset by the mere idea of slash. (His character, Kronos, gets slashed on a regular basis with Methos, and this is one instance where the relationship actually makes more sense that way.) But in HL for the most part fans respected that and just didn't ask slash questions at conventions.

(And on the other end of the scale: Ron Moore, scriptwriter for DS9 and these days head producer for BSG, upon hearing Andy Robinson's novel about Garak includes a Garak romance with a girl in the past: "I don't think Garak swings that way...")

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

And Freddie Prinze Jr certainly didn't help Sarah at all. ha..

I missed what Alexis said, (I'd love to know) but I'm sure you saw Joss's recent comments about the slash and putting people in their place who were horrified at the idea of Spike/Angel the couple.

I agree something like what Robia said wasn't taken to heart, the way what Sarah or James quotes have, particular (as you said) if fans agree with anything that the actors said.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

I loved what you said about Prince Charming himself not being able to pull Buffy out of the hell she was in, because Joss showed us as much when she rescued someone similar to him in OMWF. (How can I repay you?== Buffy: whatever..)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

That was one priceless scene. (I'd love to know what the casting notice said - "total stud, must be able to sing half a line?" *g*)

[elisi]

In the script he is described as 'handsome young victim man'. *g*

[selenak.livejournal.com]

*looks at unspoiled Thalia warily*

Alexis: He said Wesley hadn't loved PERSON NOT TO BE NAMED, though he had felt something for her, and that his most intense relationship with and greatest love was PERSON VERY UNPOPULAR WITH MOST OF FANDOM.

Joss' comments: yes, and they caused much adoration on my part. I so need a "in my universe, heroes bugger each other senseless" icon. But then, Joss has always been very encouraging of fanfiction and pairings and the whole fannish subculture. I got online in season 3 of BTVS, and I remember that when the WB refused to show Graduation Day I+II, he famously advised fans to "bootleg the puppy"...

(Oh, and did you read his recent mock flame war with fellow comics writer Warren Ellis where they ended up slashing each other?)

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

(Oh, and did you read his recent mock flame war with fellow comics writer Warren Ellis where they ended up slashing each other?)

OMG, no--I didn't see that.

Well, all I can say is GO ALEXIS. I agree completely with him if you are referring to who I think you are referring too. And I DONT think that pairing was unpopular--or maybe the zillion Spike fans I hung with online over the years are a different breed all together. (OMG, they loved the idea of Darla/Angel, too)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Wait a bit, I'll try to find the link of the Joss/Warren Ellis for you.

No, I think we have our references crossed. *tries to think of unspoilery way to put it* Alexis was in favour of the season 5 pairing, not the season 4 pairing. It is the season pairing which is wildly popular with Spike fans (to my knowledge), and that is the one Alexis said had Wesley not loving the person in question.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

OMG, so he, Sarah and James were seperated at birth? LMFAO. Mostly disagree with their interpretations of character late season, although they play them so well, that you don't get that this is their true feelings.

Well, all this has been cryptic and confusing. ha.

The Joss/Warren Ellis...

[selenak.livejournal.com]

aka RPF written by the RPs:

http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=1848

Re: The Joss/Warren Ellis...

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

OMG, LMAO. That is great. I don't know how that one got past me.

P.S.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

...and I left out a number: meant to say that "it is the s4 pairing which is wildly..." etc. Or, to put it in another way: Alexis said Wesley's One True Love was the thinner girl of the two, and that 'ship, while canonical, is to my knowledge not very popular, not just among Spike Fen but fans in general.

Re: P.S.

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

It isn't popular with any of us, because it came out of nowhere. (although there are alot of vids, so that's why I was thrown off and thought well...maybe it was popular) Dear gawd, I'm going to shut up now...

No, I think the boys just like being paired with that skinny girl, because James was all about being with her, too. (which she found quite amusing) So have you seen my old Spike fan tribute vid?

http://www.spikeylover.com/Crush.htm

Re: P.S.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Heh. I love how cryptic the two of you are getting! Riddles are such fun. *g*

Seeing as there aren't many women on the show, guessing shouldn't be so hard. I definitely don't see Wes with Cordy and Justine, so there are just two ladies left. My guess: Lilah in season 4, Fred in season 5. *smile* -- Well, I'm going to find out soon.

[elisi]

so need a "in my universe, heroes bugger each other senseless" icon.
Here you go! :)

[selenak.livejournal.com]

Thank you, oh gracious one!

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Excellent! I snatched two of them as well.

[spikendru.livejournal.com]

earth_vexer made several lovely ones. I chose the one with Joss, but there are several Spangel ones, too.

[spikendru.livejournal.com]

Guess I'm late to the party. I saw the request and responded before I scrolled down farther. Oh well, one can never have too many bugering icons.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Which ironically enough was why I stopped my foray into reading Spuffy fanfic which I did at some points in season 6. Because I thought the story told on screen was way more complex and interesting than the one I found in most (not all) stories,

Yes. Back in season 5, I still occasionally looked for Spuffy fiction, but I stopped reading fanfiction for them by the beginning of season 6. What happens on screen is so fascinating, multi-layered and complex that for once I have no wish for an alternate story.

[spikendru.livejournal.com]

I just realized that I haven't actually written any Spuffy set in S6 that I can think of. I did write some S5, but most of my work takes place post-series.

[selenak.livejournal.com]

What I like about this scene is that it so clearly shows both sides of Spike: His destructive side and his caring side. He starts out with needling Buffy in the worst way (That the kinda demon you are), but then reveals that ultimately he wants her to be happy. Buffy doesn't take the easy way out, however, she decides to stick to her job.

Agreed completely, and I like the complexity of that scene. Which is why interpretations of "Buffy should have just listened to Spike" bemused me. If she had, she would have gone back to what she tried in Gone; sticking it out is progress. Plus like you said, the ambiguity of Spike is on full display here, and I like that.

Over the course of the episode, Xander is confronted repeatedly with the fact that Anya used to be a vengeance demon who enjoyed her job. He avoids thinking about the implications, however.

Xander: king of denial. In this case. And it will come to haunt him and Anya both.

The creators of this show did a great job with the design for the Doublemeat Burger Chain. The hats, the logos, the cheerful training film for new employees.

The training film easily had me in stitches. ME is very good at that kind of satire - remember the Holland Manners Memorial Film in Blood Money? (In season 5, there is also a Wolfram and Hart training film which you'll love.)

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Spike gave Buffy the same advise that Riley gave her, in AS YOU WERE, that she took to heart. Yes, she should have stuck it out (although I'm sure Spike was getting the money from the Doctor thing AYW) but then Willow and Tara could have gotten a job and helped, too. I felt sorry for Buffy in this since it seemed she was brought back from the dead to work long hours and be a slayer, so everyone else could live in comfort.

[elisi]

I have no time for commenting properly, but I really wanted to rec this FitB set during DMP. An excellent look at Buffy and her relationship with Spike... (probably R, but quite short).

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

Elisi, I have to say I love thedeadlyhook and her interpretation of the verse, even when I don't always agree with it. I agree here, though--there had to be a reason that she kept coming back to him.

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec!
I thought the second part a bit too optimistic, but then there was the irony of the sign "Teamwork" (love that bit in the film, too) and the final sentence that's not so optimistic after all, and this made everything come together.