How did they manage telepathy?

[Anya2012]

I just rewatched Showtime and I don't get the scene between Buffy, Xander and Willow...how did Buffy manage telepathy? I know Willow can do it but Buffy...then even Xander did it.

How was this possible? Did I miss something?

 

[Ms.Trick]

Yesterday, while studying, I thought it would be great to be able to communicate by telepathy during exams. It made me think about that too! (I almost did a thread for that :biggrin3🙂

If Willow had started it, I would have understand it better.
We've already seen that Willow could speak in people's head (cf Bargaining). I guess with her new magics, and as everything is connected, she has a deep connection to the Scoobies (or maybe she just can read minds as well?). If my theorie is right, Buffy would just have to concentrate to 'call' Willow so that Willow would get it, her mental attention would be grasped.

So it kind of makes sense that Willow is able to have a telepathic conversation with Buffy and Xander, and hearing both of them.
I understand less how could Xander hear Buffy's thoughts and Buffy hear Xander's thoughts, unless Willow "connected" them as well.

 

[zobothehobo]

Yesterday, while studying, I thought it would be great to be able to communicate by telepathy during exams. It made me think about that too! (I almost did a thread for that :biggrin3🙂

If Willow had started it, I would have understand it better.
We've already seen that Willow could speak in people's head (cf Bargaining). I guess with her new magics, and as everything is connected, she has a deep connection to the Scoobies (or maybe she just can read minds as well?). If my theorie is right, Buffy would just have to concentrate to 'call' Willow so that Willow would get it, her mental attention would be grasped.

So it kind of makes sense that Willow is able to have a telepathic conversation with Buffy and Xander, and hearing both of them.
I understand less how could Xander hear Buffy's thoughts and Buffy hear Xander's thoughts, unless Willow "connected" them as well.

I've always just assume Willow "connected" Buffy and Xander too. Like some sort of little spell that made them all hear each other's thoughts.

 

[FetalPig]

I always thought Buffy was able to get Willow's attention, who then listened and relayed things to Xander.

 

[The Unspoken]

Yesterday, while studying, I thought it would be great to be able to communicate by telepathy during exams. It made me think about that too! (I almost did a thread for that :biggrin3🙂

If Willow had started it, I would have understand it better.
We've already seen that Willow could speak in people's head (cf Bargaining). I guess with her new magics, and as everything is connected, she has a deep connection to the Scoobies (or maybe she just can read minds as well?). If my theorie is right, Buffy would just have to concentrate to 'call' Willow so that Willow would get it, her mental attention would be grasped.

But Buffy concentrating doesn't accomplish anything in itself, since she doesn't have any telepathy to begin with. She can't send or receive thoughts by herself. Either Willow can receive thoughts passively, or she was actively 'tuning in' during that discussion.

 

[Fusions2]

I'm assuming with the power that Willow has inside her and Buffy knowing that, she hoped Willow would pick up on it. The way I look at it, Buffy just kept thinking about Willow hearing her telepathically and Willow used her powers to pick up on it and was able to connect them all in to hearing each others thoughts. It seemed to me it was more down to knowledge of knowing how much power Willow had rather than Buffy suddenly developing telepathy.

 

[sylvanscribe]

if you are looking for an in-story excuse, the ones posted above are as credible as any.

But, honestly, overall I think it's just another example of sloppy writing from Season 7. A lot of times people do simply whatever the plot requires them to do.

 

[Bexieh]

I always figured after all they'd been through together, and when they joined together to defeat Adam and whatnot, that the had some kind of connection going on and it just took someone to try and tap into it to use it for communication. I know Buffy isn't a witch, but she's still got a fair amount of power in her that I figure could have helped her do it.
Or perhaps when Willow started using telepathy to communicate in the past, perhaps she tried experimenting and created a way for them to communicate but they'd just never really needed to use it as much before. Although, if they had done that you'd think it would have been very useful and used alot more.

Ack, I don't know. I'll just leave it as one of life's great mysteries. I don't think it was too implausible and it's never really bothered me before. Infact I haven't thought about it that much, so good call on making this thread! It is an interesting point 🙂

 

[AustCF]

Once the connection is made with Willow, they can all connect. That's my theory 🙂

 

[Black Eye Guy]

I think it comes across pretty clear Buffy and Xander have no power.

Willow has this power, we've seen Telepathy before when it was given to Buffy, but because she wasn't ready for it, it started to kill her, but Willow was prepared for it, so I'd image it's not something she turns on and off, it's probably always on but unless she taps into it, it's all background noise, but someone saying your name to get your attention grabs your attention (the same as if your in a room full of people and someone mentions you, often enough you'll pick up on it)

Plus there mustn't be a connection between the 3 of them, as doesn't Buffy tell Willow to grab Xander, because she can't, their just talking though Willows power, and Willow effectively 3-way calls Xander in.

 

[SlayerFae]

My issue with it wasn't how they managed it, my question was... why didn't XANDER say something? I guess he was in serious mode too, but usually I'd expect that Xander would be like "Oh god, Buffy can hear my thoughts again" or think that him being able to think to them was cool, or something to that affect? But he just sort of went with it without any sort of comment.

 

[Black Eye Guy]

My issue with it wasn't how they managed it, my question was... why didn't XANDER say something? I guess he was in serious mode too, but usually I'd expect that Xander would be like "Oh god, Buffy can hear my thoughts again" or think that him being able to think to them was cool, or something to that affect? But he just sort of went with it without any sort of comment.

Buffy couldn't read his thoughts, it was Willows power, and she'd been doing it since the end of Season 5, why would he be surprised? (and he did jump and say "What?!")

 

[SlayerFae]

Buffy couldn't read his thoughts, it was Willows power, and she'd been doing it since the end of Season 5, why would he be surprised? (and he did jump and say "What?!")

That's true. Good point though that if he just knew it was Willow's doing, then he wouldn't really question it.

 

[LyteHouse]

I'm assuming with the power that Willow has inside her and Buffy knowing that, she hoped Willow would pick up on it. The way I look at it, Buffy just kept thinking about Willow hearing her telepathically and Willow used her powers to pick up on it and was able to connect them all in to hearing each others thoughts. It seemed to me it was more down to knowledge of knowing how much power Willow had rather than Buffy suddenly developing telepathy.

Yeah Buffy's a smart cookie. She knows how powerful Willow is and just knew she'd be able to reach her with her mind. And Willow then acted as a conduit - bringing hers, Buffy's and Xanders mind together for a cerebral threesome. Yuppers.

 

[PassionBecoming]

I thought there was a reference (maybe in a different episode) to them being able to communicate telepathically ever since they did the spell calling on the First Slayer because it pulled their essences together or something to that effect.

 

[Chosen Enemy]

Wow, many theories. I was under the impression that Buffy "picked up" Willow's abillities. Like Willow taught her (and Xander) a little magic.
In season 5, when Buffy did the trance thing, it was the first time she actually did magic on her own. So it wouldn't be totally weird if Willow "shared her wisdom" with them.

 

[frankie]

Bargaining part 1 showed telepathy being used, and Willow stated that Xander and Anya didn't have to speak out loud for her to hear them. She was connected to them, I guess it was just getting that connection. With the revelation that the potential Eve was the first in this episode and was in the house all along, listening to their plans, I'd say Buffy told Will to keep a connection with her so that they could pass information without the first knowing. Then Xander got brought in.