One thing that stood out to me in this episode was Buffy's sudden inability to fight vampires. I thought about Giles, Wesley, Cordelia, Gunn, Fred, Amanda and the potentials; characters who continuously proved that you don't need slayer strength to slay a vampire. While Buff, who has been slaying the undead kind of professionally "4 years running", is a martial artist yet she doesn't give one solid defense against the first vampire she encounters post-non slayer besides a scream for help and a typical make a run for it. The whole thing seemed ironic to me. The crystal took away her powers as the slayer, but not what she knew as the slayer. Was Buffy really that helpless? Or was it bad writing, or Hollywood's pattern to over dramatize everything?
Buffy's "helplessness" in Helpless?
- Thread starter Buff4ever
- Start date
Edmund Blackadder
Scooby
That was kind of the point.
If the Slayer was the only thing going on, then why bother testing the human side.
Buffy was dependant on the Slayer - this showed her she doesn't have to be.
I understand the theme of the episode. But I was pinpointing a particular scene, or encounter.
Edmund Blackadder
Scooby
Up until Helpless Buffy had the Slayer power to back up her.
When she didn't have that, obviously she is going to be scared and question what she can do.
She's just spent three years telling Xander and Willow (as well as Giles, Cordy, Oz - yadda) that they shouldn't fight the demons, they should let her do it.
Up to this point she's always felt it was her abilities that made her who she was - this is where she begins to understand that its alot more about who she is than being 'lucky'.
Buffy lost that part of herself that means the most to her, that part of herself that defines who she is, whether she likes it or not. Once that part was taken away, Buffy fell apart. In her mind, she wasn't the Slayer anymore, and she couldn't fight the vampires. She was just human, just a girl. Girls aren't supposed to know how to beat up the bad guys.
It doesn't matter that Buffy had all this training, in that moment, she felt defensless, usless, and helpless, and thus, she became that way.
This episode deals more with the psychological effects being the Slayer has on Buffy, and at the end of the episode, she realizes that, with or without the super strength, she IS the Slayer, and she uses what she's learned to defeat Kralik and free her mom.
It doesn't matter that Buffy had all this training, in that moment, she felt defensless, usless, and helpless, and thus, she became that way.
This episode deals more with the psychological effects being the Slayer has on Buffy, and at the end of the episode, she realizes that, with or without the super strength, she IS the Slayer, and she uses what she's learned to defeat Kralik and free her mom.
J
Joyce Summers
Mucho agreement and your last statement pretty much sums up the entire theme and point. ;)
G
Giants Rule 04
Couldn't put it any better myself, so I won't try. Well said!
Joyce Summers
Mom of a Chocoholic
My guess was blind panic on Buffy's part. Having been the Slayer for almost four years she had always automatically and instinctively relied on the power there and so had never felt the need or been prompted to learn how to deal with a vampire should her strength be MIA. The rest of the scoobies however have only EVER fought vampires whilst being entirely human and therefore by comparison weak.
So when Buffy's slayerness was taken away it left her as though someone who had never fought demons/vampires in her life. And she does attempt to punch one of the vampires only to find it made her arm feel like it was broken due to the pain being so bad.
So when Buffy's slayerness was taken away it left her as though someone who had never fought demons/vampires in her life. And she does attempt to punch one of the vampires only to find it made her arm feel like it was broken due to the pain being so bad.
She did? What part of the episode? I have the link from Hulu. I don't recall her punching either of the vampires, just attempting to loosen his grip on her.
Hulu - Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Helpless - Watch the full episode now.
I think the theory of Buffy being too panicked and/or heavily dependent on being the slayer is what caused her to react so helplessly, is a neat theory. But it raises some questions. Many of the potentials never fought or even seen a vampire their entire life. Example being Amanda or Molly. I believe it was one of them who killed the vampire in Potential: Her very first encounter against a vampire. Buffy was freaked yes, but ignorant no.
Crazy Flakes
Velma
Yes, but the Potentials never had super strength. Buffy did, which is why her mind (and possibly body) went into freak mode when she lost it. Plus, if I understand right, the Potentials have Slayer instincts, just not powers.
fly on the wall
you have but-face.
I agree with the panic theory.
All of a sudden, Buffy was weak. She felt weak, probably for the first time since becoming a Slayer. I don't blame her for running and screaming.
All of a sudden, Buffy was weak. She felt weak, probably for the first time since becoming a Slayer. I don't blame her for running and screaming.
Sunnydale Siren
Scooby
great episode, but bittersweet with Giles being fired.
We also saw how much Giles truly loves Buffy, like a daughter. Like others have said, Helpless showed that there's more to Buffy's slayer abilities than her physical strength.
We also saw how much Giles truly loves Buffy, like a daughter. Like others have said, Helpless showed that there's more to Buffy's slayer abilities than her physical strength.
white avenger
white avenger
The same thing happens to Buffy here as happens to Angel in "I Will Remember You." Both are experienced, proficient fighters who suddenly lose the "super" part of their super powers, and initially, they both basically panic. Neither one seems to realize that strength and speed aren't the only things that make a great fighter. At least Buffy eventually managed to accept the fact that, even as a normal human, she was also still a warrior, still capable of doing her job.
BuffyElevated
Scooby
VERY well said, Lyri... Once Buffy's strength was taken away, it made her question everything about herself. Yes, she knew "what" to do, but now "how" to do it. She wasn't used to being like Willow/Giles/Xander/any other character with no super strength, and it freaked her out so bad she forget everything else.
Kanazaka
Potential
Mental Faculties
Panicking was a big part of it, but I also think that Buffy's Slayer powers convinced her that she didn't need to really think through her attacks on vampires. Her vampire knowledge allowed her to know how the vampires would attack her, and her body was strong enough to attack most vampires and withstand most vampires' attacks. When she lost her insight and super-strength, she suddenly had to use both her mind and her limited power to attack vampires. My favorite moment in this episode is when
, because Buffy has learned that she can outwit, outplay and outlast (sorry, couldn't help it) vampires. She doesn't need to solely rely on the brute strength that her body provides, and/or her "sixth vampire sense". She can also outsmart her enemy. I imagine this must have come as a pleasant surprise for Buffy, who in the past has had trouble learning and retaining knowledge (including Slayer/demon knowledge).
Panicking was a big part of it, but I also think that Buffy's Slayer powers convinced her that she didn't need to really think through her attacks on vampires. Her vampire knowledge allowed her to know how the vampires would attack her, and her body was strong enough to attack most vampires and withstand most vampires' attacks. When she lost her insight and super-strength, she suddenly had to use both her mind and her limited power to attack vampires. My favorite moment in this episode is when
Buffy tricks her mother's captor into drinking holy water