Beauty and the Beasts- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

[BuffyElevated]

I love this episode. I just watched it today and it is so sad, and I loved that the writers chose to do an episode about domestic abuse. Especially since when you think about that, most of the time, you don't think about it happening in high school couples- even though it definitely does.
What was your take on Pete's Jekyll and Hyde thing going on? I, personally, think it would have been a lot scarier if

Spoiler

the juice he drank hadn't turned him into a demon-thingie

. Like, what if he just had bipolar or something and got out of control? Sometimes the best villains are humans.

 

[Paramour]

I, personally, think it would have been a lot scarier if

Spoiler

the juice he drank hadn't turned him into a demon-thingie

. Like, what if he just had bipolar or something and got out of control? Sometimes the best villains are humans.

I agree. Although, if there wasn't some supernatural element involved, it would have just seemed like an after school special.

The metaphors in this episode are a little too blatant, much like Willow's magic(drug) addiction in Season 6. The "potion" he drinks is clearly a metaphor for alcohol and when he drinks it he turns into a violent abusive a-hole who beats his girlfriend for just talking to another guy. Then when Buffy and Willow confront her about how dangerous her boyfriend is (ironic?), she says what girls in abusive relationships who are too afraid to leave say, "It's not his fault. He's not himself when he's like that." And of course she blames herself too. I might have liked it more if she would have stood up for herself in the end but if I remember correctly - it's been a little while since I've seen it - he ends up killing her when she goes to warn him that Buffy is looking for him. She's still more concerned with protecting him than herself. It's my least favorite episode of the season. Especially when you compare it to the rest of the season, which in my opinion is one of the best of the series.

 

[Flannen]

I agree. Although, if there wasn't some supernatural element involved, it would have just seemed like an after school special.

The metaphors in this episode are a little too blatant, much like Willow's magic(drug) addiction in Season 6. The "potion" he drinks is clearly a metaphor for alcohol and when he drinks it he turns into a violent abusive a-hole who beats his girlfriend for just talking to another guy. Then when Buffy and Willow confront her about how dangerous her boyfriend is (ironic?), she says what girls in abusive relationships who are too afraid to leave say, "It's not his fault. He's not himself when he's like that." And of course she blames herself too. I might have liked it more if she would have stood up for herself in the end but if I remember correctly - it's been a little while since I've seen it - he ends up killing her when she goes to warn him that Buffy is looking for him. She's still more concerned with protecting him than herself. It's my least favorite episode of the season. Especially when you compare it to the rest of the season, which in my opinion is one of the best of the series.

I agree that the whole concept of it being domestic abuse is blatant, but I don't necessarily think it's that bad of a thing to have done.

And I think the importance of Debbie behaving like most females do in that situation, is simply because it's how most of them feel. Unfortunately, abused woman do feel at fault, because it's drilled into them by their abuser that is their fault. I think it would have been interesting to see her standing up for herself, but this is unfortunately rare in cases like this, and where it does happen it also ends up in extreme cases such as them standing up so strong they end up becoming involved in violence themselves. I think the fact that Joss did use the 'text book' case is his way of showing women why they should be empowered and why they should try and tackle the situation head on, bearing in mind their own personal strength and worth, so that they don't end up like Debbie.

And, I agree Brit, if it had have just made him superhuman or effected his mental abilities more than making him an actual demon, it would have been much more disturbing.

 

[Professor Walsh]

And, I agree Brit, if it had have just made him superhuman or effected his mental abilities more than making him an actual demon, it would have been much more disturbing.

To some extent, I agree. But I nonetheless think it's a decent metaphor for men who drink or do drugs to, Pete's words: "to be the man you wanted!" It's a malfunctioning way of handling life in general and relationships in particular, yet people do continue to do so. The episode is blunt, in your face, but I'm fine with that. There's nothing subtle about domestic violence. I see the end of the scene in the supply room, where Debbie consoles Pete, is heart breaking rather than pathetic because it's so bloody realistic. These things happen. Over, and over, and over again. There are two holes in my social circle due to that.

 

[BuffyElevated]

The episode is blunt, in your face, but I'm fine with that. There's nothing subtle about domestic violence. I see the end of the scene in the supply room, where Debbie consoles Pete, is heart breaking rather than pathetic because it's so bloody realistic.

I totally agree. It was definitely a beat-you-over-the-head-with-it type of point the writers were making, but I was glad they did. I wish more young girls would see this episode and realize it's not ok for guys to hit them, no matter what. And it's NOT their fault- it's the beater's.