A few Pangs

[joansummers]

As proven by the complete lack of posts on the episode 'Pangs', this is hardly a stand-out episode, even among, in my opinion, the weakest season. And, I don't know, maybe it's the NyQuil talking, and the bleary eyes, and the is-my-head-floating feeling ("My head feels big. Is it big?"), but I happened to love the silly goofiness of this ep (how I miss you, season 1). To wit: "A bear! You made a bear! Undo it, undo it!"

Also, Jane Espenson's writing is second only to Mr. Whedon himself.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

Seriously? I always thought it was a popular episode. Not one of the weakest at all. It wasn't just a nice episode, it was a good episode, IMO.
Plus, Spike tied up to a chair.... nice! Somehow it seems like Buffy always ties him up. Or is it just me?

 

[Lyri]

Xander tied him up. A lot. Sorry, getting sidetracked.

I adore 'Pangs'. There's just something funny and silly about it that I love. I remember watching this with my mother one night and watching her laughing at Spike's antics. It's the only ep of BtVS my mother actually likes.

S4 is my favorite season, not because of the overall arc, but because it had so many amazing stand alone eps, this being one of them. Everyone was great in this ep, and I love the final scene where Xander spills about Angel being there, lol.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

Xander tied him up. A lot. Sorry, getting sidetracked.

I adore 'Pangs'. There's just something funny and silly about it that I love. I remember watching this with my mother one night and watching her laughing at Spike's antics. It's the only ep of BtVS my mother actually likes.

S4 is my favorite season, not because of the overall arc, but because it had so many amazing stand alone eps, this being one of them. Everyone was great in this ep, and I love the final scene where Xander spills about Angel being there, lol.

Yes on everything!
My mom also laughes when watching this episode. Especially when Spike is being an arrow cussion. But my mom likes Buffy overall, so that wasn't too hard to find episodes she likes, lol.

And yes again, I LOOOVE season 4, for the very same reason. Not only that, when I feel like watching Buffy, most chances are I'd pick this season to watch.

 

[Icarium]

It would have been a decent episode if the show were a sitcom. As it is, people being grossly out of character isn't all that funny, IMO.

 

[prophecygrrl]

It's a popular episode! It's actually among Joss's favorite episodes, according to my Chosen Collection episode guide. 😀 I can enjoy the goofiness of it, but I found the race commentary to be really muddled and clumsy. :/ Just my two cents.

 

[Carrrrgh]

I loved this episode mainly because Angel was back and I was all giddy like oooh Buffys gonna be so happy to see her man!

Then she didn't see him, and I was disappointed. Now I watch the episode because I fell in love with Spike and he is just too funny in this ep.

I especially love the ending when Buffy finds out Angel was in town and that everyone knew except her:


One of my favorites.

 

[PassionBecoming]

I also love this ep, along with season 4! I thought the race arguments to be a little oddly placed and a little too prominent, but other than that, great!

I did find it strange how Xander revealed Angel had been there: (paraphrased) "It was nice, like old times, especially with Angel being here and all." He hated Angel, so I wouldn't think he would be feeling all nostalgic about him being there...

 

[xfivebyfive]

I love this episode its hilarious!! Its actually one of the only crossovers I like. This episode always makes me laugh 😀

 

[patriot1123]

I love this episode. But then, of course, I would, since Giles is at his sarcastic best in this ep. ("Let's give him some land.") Lots of good drama as the characters debate what's the best thing to do.

 

[TeamSunnydale]

I love this episode! But i have no idea what "pangs" means......
Its just one of those episodes that isn't too serious, and is just nice to watch when you want a nice, light episode. 🙂

 

[patriot1123]

I love this episode! But i have no idea what "pangs" means......
Its just one of those episodes that isn't too serious, and is just nice to watch when you want a nice, light episode. 🙂

I always assumed the epi name was a reference to the pangs of guilt that Willow and Buffy were feeling about how Native Americans had been treated.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Actually, I may be in the minority here, but Pangs is one of my top three favorite episodes.

I love the obvious anti-colonial commentary, the obvious anti-Thanksgiving stance, and yes, the whole scene with Spike and Buffy and the "bear" is hilarious.

 

[Kean]

I always assumed the epi name was a reference to the pangs of guilt that Willow and Buffy were feeling about how Native Americans had been treated.

I agree. Although I would also include the title referring to the "pangs" Buffy feels by Angel's presence (At the start of the ep when she is patrolling, when she is gazing out the window, when she is in Giles' apartment and then at the end when she glances as he walks up the steps) like she said in IWRY "Whether I see you or not, I feel you, inside...".

Equally, Angel experiences similar pangs when he sees Buffy with Riley and whilst he is watching/protecting her.

On top of that is Buffy's pangs for her childhood and the whole dinner at Giles basically being fueled by her desire to recreate that feeling.

 

[VisionGirl]

I wouldn't say this is my favorite episode of all time, but I did like it too. If you can overlook the quite obvious PCishness of it, it's enjoyable!

It would have been a decent episode if the show were a sitcom. As it is, people being grossly out of character isn't all that funny, IMO.

Can you be specific about who's out of character & how?

 

[Icarium]

Can you be specific about who's out of character & how?

Willow and Buffy for their complete non-reaction to Xander's deathly diseases. Everybody in the Scooby gang for giving shelter to Spike. Spike for looking for help from them - is he suicidal or just stupid? Okay, don't answer that. 😉 Willow is even joking about Spike's attempt to kill her in the previous episode - bear in mind she has no idea if his inability to bite hasn't been just a one time thing, so this nonchalant attitude is way out of place. There is also Willow trying to defend a stupid spirit at the cost of prolonging Xander's pain.

 

[mayfever]

I wouldn't say this is my favorite episode of all time, but I did like it too. If you can overlook the quite obvious PCishness of it, it's enjoyable!

You found it PC-ish? Funny, I thought it was more a parody.

You won. All right? You came in and you killed them and you took their land. That's what conquering nations do. It's what Caesar did, and he's not going around saying, "I came, I conquered, I felt really bad about it." The history of the world isn't people making friends. You had better weapons, and you massacred them. End of story.

Quite an interesting commentary on colonialism and postcolonial guilt, methinks..

Can you be specific about who's out of character & how?

I second that question. Except for the Xander bit that was already mentioned, I can't recall any OC-ness in this ep.

All in all, it's not my favourite ep but I liked it well enough. Being a Bangel, I disliked that Angel and Buffy didn't communicate, but it was nice to know they still feel each other inside. Also, some of my all-time favourite Buffy lines come from this ep.

Giles: "Oh, right. Yes, yes. Always behind on the terms. Still trying not to refer to you lot as 'bloody colonials.'"

Buffy: "You're the reason we had to have Pilgrims in the first place."

Spike: "I'm saying that Spike had a little trip to the vet, and now he doesn't chase the other puppies any more."

Angel: "I haven't been evil for a long time!"

and, of course

Spike: "You made a bear!"

Sorry. I'll be over here.

 

[prophecygrrl]

Kean agrees: I dunno, Giles and Spike adopt a rather unapologetic POV about colonialism whilst the colonised people are portrayed as savage. I was really disappointed by that aspect.

Yeah, I'm with you, Kean.

Joss counts 'Pangs' as one of his favorite episodes and on the Chosen Collection episode guide he says this about it:

To me, [Pangs is] one of the most radical and potentially offensive and necessary messages we ever played. American History has fictionalized itself, and in an attempt to deconstruct it, we find ourselves repeating it.

We fight the same fight even if we didn't believe in the last one. Because that's what you do when someone's fighting you. The bicycle cavalry shot is one of my all time favorite moments, on many levels. Most of all on the silly level, but also all that history stuff I was going on about.

I understand what he's trying to do, I just think it was really clumsily done. If he wanted to make this point, fine, (even though I disagree with it, I think re-thinking history is actually really vital) but why rely on 'savage', offensive stereotypes who can't speak for themselves? It just comes off as very one-sided.

 

[Kean]

I understand what he's trying to do, I just think it was really clumsily done. If he wanted to make this point, fine, (even though I disagree with it, I think re-thinking history is actually really vital) but why rely on 'savage', offensive stereotypes who can't speak for themselves? It just comes off as very one-sided.

I agree, we must have revisionist history. It is essential. Of course you get radical aspects of that, but the perspective in which we view history is always changing as society progresses. For instance, history written in the earlier parts of the last century is quite often vastly different from history written on the same topic today. With this progress it is possible to view history with much less bias and see the events for what they were.

As for the point Whedon was trying to make, well, I actually find it rather tired, old and ultimately offensive. In the end colonialism triumphs, the stance of Willow and Buffy is portrayed as ridiculous and hysterical, whilst the Chumash are ultimately portrayed as needing civilizing and thus the colonial power vindicated.

Whedon managed to tick every Imperialist box in this episode.

 

[The Unspoken]

I agree, we must have revisionist history. It is essential. Of course you get radical aspects of that, but the perspective in which we view history is always changing as society progresses. For instance, history written in the earlier parts of the last century is quite often vastly different from history written on the same topic today. With this progress it is possible to view history with much less bias and see the events for what they were.

As for the point Whedon was trying to make, well, I actually find it rather tired, old and ultimately offensive. In the end colonialism triumphs, the stance of Willow and Buffy is portrayed as ridiculous and hysterical, whilst the Chumash are ultimately portrayed as needing civilizing and thus the colonial power vindicated.

Whedon managed to tick every Imperialist box in this episode.

Not quite. Vengeful spirits are always violent in the Buffyverse, so the fact that the Chumash are as well isn't a statement on colonialism.
And they have to kill the Chumash spirits out of self-defense anyway, so you can hardly say 'Pangs' indicts one stance or the other.