Official Discussion of "Normal Again" (UPN-US)

I really liked this episode. It had a very dark tone to it, that I kinda liked. It also got you wondering... a lot. Is Buffy really real in Sunnydale or is she just in the mental institution? It's crazy (no pun intended); and I guess this is why I love and loathe Joss. Being the B/A 'shipper that I am, I actually would have liked to have known what Buffy would have said in the institution about Angel and their relationship and the break up and so on.. good fanfic material, if you ask me.

At least the group didn't go all spazzo or "Dead Man's Party"/"Revelations" on her for almost getting them killed. Buffy's been through a lot lately and I'm hoping that the end was symbolizing something that Buffy isn't going to be going back "there" anymore, aka the institution, which I saw as being a place where Buffy was even more detached and distraught than she is in Sunnydale and where in the institution she has no friends; in Sunnydale she has the Scooby Gang to keep her grounded and always help her, even through the bad times.

She chose the life she had in Sunnydale, whether this be her made-up world or the Sunnydale and characters we've all grown up on... she's the Slayer and she's chosen to keep that, even with the temptations of having her family (minus Dawn) back.
 
Yeah, great ep.... Dawn's still annoying.... Spike's still in love (duh)....I'm starting to like Tara a lot more. I miss Joyce....
Finally, Jonathan, Warren and Andrew are back! I love the way they they tease eachother and pick on eachother! And I love Andrew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
All I can say is don't underestimate the Troika! Those guys have the power to take on Buffy and her friends without having to throw a single punch or kick! They could just screw with their minds to get the job done. I mean, Buffy was tripping and almost lost it completely. It really bothered me why she didn't take the antidote. The drug was so potent that it really made her believe her whole life wasn't real. Yes, this episode was quite disturbing!
 
I thought this was a pretty interesting episode. Obviously, I noticed that it had a connection to Charmed's Brain Drain eppy, but that didn't really bother me. I got confused at first, but I caught on. I noticed that Dawn got a little touchy when Buffy was in the "mental institution" saying that she didn't have a sister. Hmm...she's always like that, but then again, so am I! And my friend and I nearly freaked out when Buffy practically beat up Xander and Dawn. Personally, this was one of my fave episodes in this season. ^_^
 
This ep was great!!🙂 It really would've been a better series finale. Once Buffy comes to an end, this would've been a great way to shock us. Anyway, the funniest part of the ep was when she popped Xander with that pot!! I nearly fell off the bed laughing. It shocked me at first, but it was too funny.

I think that Dawn went out like a punk while she was fighting Buffy. Granted that Buffy is stronger than Dawn, but sometimes Dawn can be a little scrappy. She made me laugh when she said, "I'll be good!!" It was a shock to learn that Buffy's parents locked her up soon after she started slaying. It shows us that there is still a lot about Buffy that we don't know. The ending is confusing though. It makes it look like Buffy is really in an institution. Anyway, it gets a :: tu :: from me!! I can't wait until the next ep!!!🙂 😛
 
You ppl need to watch more Sci Fi. Hehe. This is an alternate reality thing, not a hallucination thing. Just like Willow and Xander were vampires in The Wish. But we know they're not REALLY vampires, right? In this other reality, Buffy really IS in an instutition. But in the reality we get to watch, she isn't.

I miss Joyce, too. 🙁
 
What a great ep! I totally loved it. I think all the actors did such a great job. I do hope that the story does start to "move on" soon. I'm dying to see Anya again and what will happen there - stuff like that. But now Dawn has an idea about Buffy and Spike (Buffy mentioned that part when she was ranting about all the things that make her and how none of that could be real). I'm wondering if Dawn will fully pick up on that and bring it up in the next ep.

Falcon
 
Originally posted by Syn
You ppl need to watch more Sci Fi. Hehe. This is an alternate reality thing, not a hallucination thing. Just like Willow and Xander were vampires in The Wish. But we know they're not REALLY vampires, right? In this other reality, Buffy really IS in an instutition. But in the reality we get to watch, she isn't.

I miss Joyce, too. 🙁
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Oh? I don't think so, myself. How do you hash out this idea? How would Buffy get to experiece both realities? If it was an alternate reality, wouldn't there be two separate Buffys? Are you saying she...took over her other self while she was there? That's not usually the way these things work, from what I've seen. All indications point to either she is in the Sunnydale universe in her head or that the institution universe is fake. I can't see your theory at all. Could you explain more?
 
I thought this was an amazing episode!! Metaphorically, Buffy has chosen to live her life and not give up. This is what she has been strugling with this entire season, growing up. By deciding not stay with the alternative reality, she chose to live her true life, no matter how hard it may be. That was a tough choice for her.

I really thought Willow was gong to have to break out some magic when they were all tied up, but she didn't!! I was so proud of her. But if Tara hadn't showed up......... well who knows!!

I think the season is getting better and better ith each episode. I can't wait to see whats next.
 
A little late for discussing I know but I just decided to tell everyone how much I loved this episode.

It was one of my favorites by far this season. I just thought it was really interesting. Kept my interest. I thought the whole thing with her and giving her friends to the demon was so itneresting.

I thought the whole storyline was just really good. There was a Charmed episode like this butt he Charmed episode was a little different in certain ways. I really enjoyed that episode of Charmed but I definitely liked this one better. It's storyline was just so great, I thought so anyway.

Very cool demon there too.
 
Official Discussion of "Normal Again" (SkyOne-UK)

from thewb.com

Buffy is sent into a wild fluctuation between alternative realities - in one world she's the vampire slayer, in the other she's been institutionalized for severe delusional schizophrenia.

With either world appealing and disturbing for different reasons, she faces a difficult choice of which reality to accept.
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like it's going to be one of those "Should I choose to remain the Slayer or to be normal" eps.

normalagain.jpg
 
I didn't know what to expect from this episode, it's wierd that both Buffy and Charmed have dealed with similar 'mental' situations but I think they both pulled it off. I thought it was a really interesting concept of how she could have been making it all up because the concept is so absurd, and It was nice to see a cameo from Joyce, I doubt that will happen again soon. Overall, a good enough ep I thought
 
OMG 😱

It's episodes like that which make me love buffy so much. It was just so real and I could really imagine that happening. The doctors eplination of things seemed to explain everything. All the wierdness - why Dawn was there, why Buffy died and came back, why there isn't a big bad of this season. It kinda brought everything together. I completely believe that the world of Buffy is just an illusion now (I mean I believe that in show, the whole thing is in her head)

I wonder if she'll ever go back? It was a little deranged how she was attaking her friends. She for some reason reminded me of something out of a horror serial killer movie 🙂 SMG's acting surpassed itself and this has given me faith that this season is not going downhill at all.

Anyway, I'm done babbling - can't wait till next week 🙂

~Ross~
 
Well all I can say is... what a complete and utter Mind (Insert Evil Dark Perverted Word Here)!!!!

I have to say, I thorouly enjoyed tonights episode especially the ending, has her life as the slayer all been a wacky dream, where she feels safe? despite the whole, losing your one true love, yer mother dieing, your watcher leaving, your ex marrying another woman, your friend getting addicted to magic, making love to a vampire you neither like nor love, Never knowing when or where the next challenge will be coming from.... I can see why she felt safe there... 😀

Nice to see Kristine back for an episode, the way Buffy once again said goodbye to her mother was touching, it's like she lost her mummy all over again 🙁 but was it for the better....

And the relapse last summer, when her 'friends' pulled her back in... was the outside world, being with her mother and father, living a normal life, really Buffys heaven? to feel complete, safe?

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh thankyou for that episode, but what was Anyas Descision? She didn't even appear in this episode after last weeks dramatic ending....
 
I loved it - when Joyce was talking to Buffy near the end I was crying and oh my god the end was awesome.......now we're always gonna be thinking...maybe she is mental....
 
Aww it was good to see Joyce back 🙂 I liked this eppy, pretty emotional though. I wish Dawn would stop acting like a spoilt brat though with the whole "you don't want me as a sister" thing.

SMG was amazing, she really did a great job. It was quite a weird eppy, I missed the beginning of it though so I'll have to re-watch it 😉
 
i think at the moment buffy really doesn't want a sister,at least she's acting that way.she's been very remote and self centered this season.dawn's been thru as much and needs support and buffy can't even support herself.
 
Originally posted by Spike
OMG 😱

It's episodes like that which make me love buffy so much. It was just so real and I could really imagine that happening. The doctors eplination of things seemed to explain everything. All the wierdness - why Dawn was there, why Buffy died and came back, why there isn't a big bad of this season. It kinda brought everything together. I completely believe that the world of Buffy is just an illusion now (I mean I believe that in show, the whole thing is in her head)

I wonder if she'll ever go back? It was a little deranged how she was attaking her friends. She for some reason reminded me of something out of a horror serial killer movie 🙂 SMG's acting surpassed itself and this has given me faith that this season is not going downhill at all.

Anyway, I'm done babbling - can't wait till next week 🙂

~Ross~
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I KNOW THIS IS LONG BUT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ AND HELP! LOL, SORRY ! ! !

I have to say - OMG, WHAT AN AMAZING EPISODE! Apart from the musical, i belive it was the best this season.
SMG surpassed herself! She was truly brilliant.
Jonut, i too went "omg! just like charmed!" lol. It was quite funny how they both did thtat and screened about the same time! But i belive Buffy is far better written and clever.
LM, i never thought of the whole 'heaven with parents thing' - so clever.
But as soon as it finished i was like "duh, its obvious which is real'! But after reading this, im not so sure. Surely, with at least another season after this, the WHOLE SIX YEAR PROGRAM has not been a lie, an hallucination. But i woulnt put this past joss! Lol, the damn possibly-evil brilliant genius!
AND it doesnt explain the troika at the beginning - i mean, it only started when they did something. She cant have been hallucinating that they made her hallucinate - if you get what i mean!? Omg, im so confused and cant wait till next week! Please help with the whole "surely it cant have all been hallucinations?!?!?!?!" Id ::crying:: if it was!

THANKKS - LOL

😀
 
Ahhh so you wish to know about the demon at the beginning... my take on the matter is... if we were to believe the insanity plea hehehe then the trauma caused by the demon stabbing in this so called fantasy land would have caused Buffy to pop in and out of her delusional land, after all she wasn't expecting, a big pointy to pop out of no where... (Pun intended)

So that must have caused the in and outage of the episodes... causing buffy to flip from one reality to the next......

I'll post my ideas on the season seven and possibly the Shows final ending later on in the week.... cause if you've read me first and only 3 fan fics you'll know I have a vivid imagination... also the journal enteries in the LA RPG here on the boards and also the character thread in the RPG...

Anyway... that's my take on it all... and as for the parent thing... think about it... the end of Season five "I wish mom were here..." the whole seperation anxiety, when all you know is turned upside down because of the departure/death of an individual, when you cannot properly function without their presence, no matter how self sufficient you believe yourself to be... Buffy longs to be with her family again but in the Scooby Gang universe, that can never be....
 
i just think the whole thing was a backwards metaphor for season 6.a way to explain buffy's behaviour.she wants the delusion(madhouse and all ) to be true,so she doesn't have to deal with her current situation.she's been very escapist,explains the relationship with spike.everything the doctor said could be applied to "real" buffy.i think the scene with her mum at the end could be buffy finally letting go.maybe now she can carry on.and if buffy can carry on maybe she can now help dawn.
 
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