11/17/08 - 11/23/08 Episode Discussion: Choices

[SpikedBuffy]

Season: three

Discuss the episode Choices here. What were your favorite parts or least favorite parts of this episode? Did you see a little bit of foreshadowing into Willow's character development into strong woman instead of meek little sidekick?


I really came to like Oz here. When he whips that stand against the counter while they are arguing about whether or not to save Willow right away, it gives me goosebumps. It really showed how he cared for Willow, considering he wasn't a very wear his emotion on his sleeve kinda guy.

 

[Lyri]

That is my very favorite Oz moment. I'm not a huge Oz fan, I like him, but he never really registered on my favorite characters list. I love how he can create this huge powerful statement, and he never utters a single word. His love for Willow is crystal clear in this scene, and I think it's one of the most powerful and moving scenes in the whole show.

The gang's first meeting with the Mayor, with Faith at his side, was harsh. I like the symmetry between the two sides, Buffy with her psuedo-father, Giles, and Faith with hers, the Mayor.

I liked seeing Willow stand on her own two feet. This is the moment when she left the geek and the side-kick phase behind, and became her own woman. She manages, for the most part, to take care of herself, and get herself out of her situation without sitting waiting for someone to come rescue her, which is exactly what she did only a few episodes before. (Lover's Walk). If it wasn't for her book-worm-like nature, she would have been able to get herself out of the building completely, but ou poor Willow loves to get lost in the books, even if she is on the wrong side of a hostage situation.

The last scene, even though it's Bangel, really makes my heart ache. Buffy's getting all happy, thinking about the future, and saying that the Mayor doesn't know what he's talking about, but we can see the look on Angel's facem even though Buffy can't. He knows that everything the Mayor told him is true, and he's starting to understand that he can't be with Buffy forever, that he's not the man that she should be spending the rest of her life with. This is when the thoughts start entering Angel's mind about leaving Sunnydale, and leaving Buffy to get on with her own life, and it'll be Joyce who really cements that knowledge next episode.

 

[sk]

Episodes like these makes season 3 on of the best (if not the best)

Some important things happens in this episode.
Willow really does step up and at the end decides to stay in Sunnydale to help Buffy, what would the rest of the series had been if she didn't 🙂
Maybe my favorite moment in this episode is at the end when Buffy and Willow are discussing this in the grass. Great friendship scenes, I love that.

Also Angel realizing that him and Buffy would never work. Which of course gave us the spin-off Angel.
I think Buffy knows this quite early too. But she takes longer to accept it.

As said already, great to see Oz take charge for once and end that discussion. There was no way Wesley was gonna win, it was just a waste of time.
Xander: I need a volunteer to hit Wesley... lol

Of course Wesley actually had a good point. Is it really smart to put lots of people in danger to save one?
Kinda hard not to support Buffy and the gang here though imho. Willow was so important for them, save her first, then later worry about how to stop the Mayor.
Making the exchange was an easy, safe, way to do it.

One thing that bugs me in this episode...
In the begining. Faith gets a cookie, takes a bite, puts it back on the plate.
Then the Mayor wraps the plate and the cookies (including the half eaten) in plastic and puts it away.
That's just so wrong... 🙂

/SK

 

[Karol]

Hm.. I don´t know, Oz is okay, but I don´t love him that much.

Now Willow was awesome is this episode! *_* Almost the S6 Willow! 😀 And it´s so cute int he end, when she decides to stay in Sunnydale "that's what I want to do. Fight evil, help people. I mean, I-I think it's worth doing."

And I like (that´s weird) the Bangel part too.. They are more... mature, if this is possible. The conversations about their "future" and when The Mayor says "She's a blossoming young girl and you want to keep her from the life she should have until it has passed her by. My God! I think that's a little selfish. Is that what you came back from Hell for? Is that your greater purpose?". I think this was the reason why Angel left, and the big bad of the Season said it, so poetic.


And what about that knife? I looove that knife *_*

 

[Fake Shemp]

Oz clearly loves willow (i know its not gushing lovey dovey in a grave yard oh no i sent you to hell love) it feels more real to me between them, from him anyways.

 

[Washburne]

I really came to like Oz here. When he whips that stand against the counter while they are arguing about whether or not to save Willow right away

I love that scene. And it´s so typical Oz. No need to talk when action always speak so much louder.

Of course Wesley actually had a good point. Is it really smart to put lots of people in danger to save one?

Smart? Not at all. But this is often the dilemma for heroes. Sacrifice someone they love for the greater good. Of course. in the fantasy world the herp often manages to save both the one they love and the world at the same time. But logically speaking of course one person isn´t worth saving if it helps save thousands of others. But you often rank peoples life after how close they are to you

Kinda hard not to support Buffy and the gang here though imho.

No one harms Willow! :tongue:

And what about that knife? I looove that knife *_*

I´ve never been much of a fan of the knife actually. But I can´t figure out why Faith left it. Hadn´t taken her that long time to go and get it.


And God does Snyder get on my nerves. He do has his moments but boy does he act like a complete psycho. And what´s with his drug obssesion in this episode? Everything is drugs. And how come he´s at school at night? Working late?

 

[Fake Shemp]

oh noes i love the knife... especially how its like she cant go back (to them now after the betrayal is totally open and the divide between her and mayor now and the scoobies) and get her knife....

 

[Kean]

It's when you go through the episodes like this that you really see the calliber of Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 3. I mean to go from Earshot, Enemies and now Choices. Fantastic viewing that I really do not think can be overlooked.

Yet another brilliantly executed episode. Relationships are really scrutinized here. Oz's throwing of the stand displayed his feelings for Willow more profoundly than any words written for him ever could. Even the twisted intimacy of the Mayor and Faith is given new light. The beginning and closing scenes always get me (Bangel, no surprise there). The way Buffy was doing her very best to maintain some sort of normal life with Angel, how she calls him 'honey' as they are fighting and when she pouts about how he doesn't take her anywhere new and exciting to kill things. She is trying so hard to carve out a life for them, a routine, like every other couple. She clings to this notion the same way she clings to Angel at the end of the episode. She knows it's not going to work right now but she refuses to acknowledge it. They are utterly sure in their love for eachother but everthing else stands in their way. Like Lyri said it's heartbreaking to watch.

 

[luckystar]

Big fan of this episode. again im loving oz here its great to see a different side to the laidback persona he portrays here and it isnt till new moon rising that we see its always willow that brings something more out of him, also loving the willow faith interaction it was great seeing our wicca be all brave standing up to the slayer here, wesley bugged me a lil dont know why lol ive always like the faith mayor partnership no matter how bad it goes in some ways i felt sorry for faith to see how much she really seems to need someone and possibly a daddy figure and for one brief moment i though faith was going to join the scoobies then i realised she was looking at her impressive knife sigh, oh and faith looked extra hot here 😉

 

[Karol]

And God does Snyder get on my nerves. He do has his moments but boy does he act like a complete psycho. And what´s with his drug obssesion in this episode? Everything is drugs. And how come he´s at school at night? Working late?

HE has a drug obssesion every single episode... It´s always the drug gang >.< He´s urgh, I was glad he got eaten by a big snake xD

 

[Aly Fan]

I absolutely love this episode!! It's one of my favourite episodes of the entire show. I love that willow finally steps out of her shell!! I love every bit of it, from willow giving Faith her speach about her being a wasteless piece of space, to willow saying to buffy that she's staying right there in sunnydale to fight the good fight ...i also love the bit when willow asks the vampire if he got permission to eat the hostage...i don't think so!!

Personally i don't think there was a moment of doubt in any of the gangs mind whether to trade the box for willow or not (except wesley obviously). I understand what Wesley is saying but i know what i'd do if it was someone i loved being held hostage.

 

[Bluebird]

I loved the story in this episode. And I love the fact that, even as far back as this, we see Wesley willing to sacrifice someone for the greater good. Which then carried onto Angel...

I´ve never been much of a fan of the knife actually.

I love Faith's knife! I want it.:biggrin:

 

[LorneyTunes]

I found this and it is quite funny hehe


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCcD_Xk1jWc

I love this ep , it has so much in it. Xander and Cordy are being very mean to each other, Wesley doing the best for the greater good, Willow being strong in the face of almost death.

Faith getting that big shiney knife , like a dolly from Daddy almost quite sweet if it wasn't a weapon of death.

The Box of Gavrok almost like the box pandora opened releasing evil upon the earth .

Oz showing how much he loves Willow by smashing the pot so the box is not destroyed .

Also finding out Cordy is broke and workin in a shop , its all rather sad, Atonement for all her Queen C moments .

Plus any ep with the Mayor in it makes me happy hes just so Gee Golly about everything makes me smile evil can be happy too .

Poor Buffy also realises she cannot leave sunnydale because it depends on her .

 

[Lou]

This is probably the one episode I always feel like I need to watch again, even after just watching it.
SO MUCH happens! I always feel like I'm watching in a dream and can't keep up.

It always kinda stings to see Cordy working, but then gives me the happys when I remember Xander being nice later. I feel bad for Faith that her only somewhat loving relationship is with the Mayor. But, he is kinda nice...other than the being evil part.

Somehow I usually seem to MISS most of Willow being held captive. I'm not sure how. Carefully placed need to pee, I'd bet.

The spider things are amusing and so is Snider at the end. They make me giggle.
It feels like the giant turning point in a GREAT season. But, it may be almost TOO loaded. Because I did just watch it last week just so I could comment and now, it just seems like a giant blur.
But that could be the cold meds too. Hard to say!