Rewatching S4 "Harsh Light of Day"

[sosa lola]

The Harsh Light of Day:

- Remember my ramble about Spike being a jerk to Harmony? After watching this episode, I really can't blame him. She is annoying. But I did feel bad for her later when he tried to kill her. Now that's scary. Spike, honey, you need to go to an anger management class. Yelling and beating Harmony might be okay, who can blame you? But killing her?

- James' accent is so awful here! I cringed a lot. Was he that bad in S2? I didn't notice at all, but in this ep it's so notable. He does get better later though.

- Spike is HOT, HOT, HOT!!! I think S4 totally agrees with him... looks!wise.

- Is Buffy too dense or something? I understand what it feels like to be fooled by a jerk (been there) but I didn't have the same stupid thoughts. While watching, I reacted the same as Willow, "I think you're missing something about this whole poop head principal." Parker is a poophead, all he said were lines to get into Buffy's pants, and he succeeded. Poor Buffy is so hurt to see that.

- Xander thinks like a stereotype woman, while Anya thinks like a stereotype man. Anya thinks they should have sex, Xander thinks they're rushing things, and they should start a relationship first. Poor Xander is still effected by his Faith experience, when Anya said she's over him, from his response I got that he already expected it. Poor guy.

 

[Violette]

- I agree with Harmony being annoying, but she's funny as a vampire. Spike treated her that way mainly because he was taking out his anger (after Dru dumped him) on her.

- I didn't really notice Spike's accent difference in this episode.

- Parker was a jerk. Period. I'm surprised Buffy's didn't just leave him in the fire in "Beer Bad".

- I just love Anya and her approach at understanding what it's like to be human, how to function and react in human situations, and her bluntness 🙂

 

[sosa lola]

- I agree with Harmony being annoying, but she's funny as a vampire. Spike treated her that way mainly because he was taking out his anger (after Dru dumped him) on her.

Poor Harmony. She's the S4 version of S6!Spike, except a funnier one.

- I just love Anya and her approach at understanding what it's like to be human, how to function and react in human situations, and her bluntness 🙂

It's weird because Anya seemed to grasp the human behavior easily in S3, what happened during the time she was away that made her dumb?

 

[fly on the wall]

- As someone said, Spike was taking out his anger toward Dru and women in general on Harmony.

- God, Buffy moaning on and on for what felt like 10 episodes about Parker was so annoying. We get it, you made an error in judgment, he's a jerk, get over it. It's not like you have five kids with the guy, it's not even like you had what could be defined as a relationship. Jeez.

- In S3, I don't think the writers had fully developed Anya, who she was, who she'd be in the show, etc. Her voice isn't clear yet. In S4, it is. That's probably why she didn't seem quite as clueless in S3 (although we still get moments...like when she's trying to court Xander. XP)

 

[Spirit_Of_Fred]

It's weird because Anya seemed to grasp the human behavior easily in S3, what happened during the time she was away that made her dumb?

- In S3, I don't think the writers had fully developed Anya, who she was, who she'd be in the show, etc. Her voice isn't clear yet. In S4, it is. That's probably why she didn't seem quite as clueless in S3 (although we still get moments...like when she's trying to court Xander. XP)

this may be fanwank, but in my opinion, it kind of makes sense. i mean, i do agree that the writers hadnt developed her, and that had a lot to do with it, but there was also more than that. anya as a vengeance demon had one purpose: to get vengeance wishes from scorned women. she didnt have to understand greatly how men think or relationships work; she just needed to show up, let the girl whine a little, get her to make a wish based on what she said, grant it, then leave. even in doppelgangland the single-mindedness couldve carried over. one task, get her powers back. not overly concerned with understanding humans, and especially relationships. and to emphasize my point, as fly on the wall said, she had her "clueless moments" in s3, so long as they were post-doppelgangland, when she changed trying to get her powers back to wanting to woo xander.

but, as a human in s4, she actually had to understand relationships to be in one, a skill she didnt quite have down. plus, she had a lot of new human emotions that she did not understand. she had to combine the mixed signals her emotions were giving her, with the mixed signals she felt xander was sending her, with what she knew and had heard about relationships, fact or fiction, and figure out exactly what is supposed to go on if she wants to be with xander. her confusion makes sense to me 😛. i dont see her as being dumb there.

 

[Perny]

First of all... Harmony was kinda a ditz.. Spike was still not over Dru, who dumped him for some goo demon or somtehing this time. I wouldn't blame him, and I don't. His accent... Funny, I can't really remember it...But if you say it's bad, then it probaly is.

Spike/James was hot for s4... But he is ALWAYS HOT! Do not forget it. He does tend to come out extra hot sometimes, but it's totally fine with me... As long as he isn't weraing his tight blue shirt, I'm happy. (The hawaii shirt doesn't count, he put it on cos he had no other option)


Buffy was being such a dumbass with Parker. She was totally sum. Really. Naive and not at all Buffy like. :/

The Anya/xander relationship in s4 was nothing I approved off. I think it's because Anya stood forward as a really dumb nympho. (And I didn't like her hair 😀)

 

[sosa lola]

First of all... Harmony was kinda a ditz.. Spike was still not over Dru, who dumped him for some goo demon or somtehing this time. I wouldn't blame him, and I don't. His accent... Funny, I can't really remember it...But if you say it's bad, then it probaly is.

Still, if we're going to chide Buffy for mistreating Spike in S6, same thing should happen here. Spike is treating Harmony like nothing but a shag, and he kept beating her around and insulting her, I hated seeing him like that, even though he's a soulless vampire.

 

[Perny]

Still, if we're going to chide Buffy for mistreating Spike in S6, same thing should happen here. Spike is treating Harmony like nothing but a shag, and he kept beating her around and insulting her, I hated seeing him like that, even though he's a soulless vampire.

true,but it is how he is. :/
But you can say Harm grew after that. She learned from the relationship, and ended up a better place. Maybe Spike treated her like dirt, but she could just have left him....(This might sound very...not nice, but it's not meant like it.::bbat:🙂

 

[Atren]

Nah, Harmony should have staked Spike instead of just threatening him in later episode 😛 Not that i mind she did not 🙂 Spike was treating her very bad and kept talking about Dru all the time. I wonder how you feel if all the time you with your current mate you hear about the ex?

As of Anya being Nympho, if you go without good (emphasis on good) sex for 1000 years...how do you think you will react? I guess this is more aimed at adult viewers.

 

[Perny]

As of Anya being Nympho, if you go without good (emphasis on good) sex for 1000 years...how do you think you will react? I guess this is more aimed at adult viewers.

Of course it is... But it can still be too much. It's like it's all she could talk about. Kinda boring in the end. Luckily she evolved later on. 😀

 

[sosa lola]

Xander must have been really good then, lol. Faith must have taught him well. 😉

 

[Airam]

Can I just say how upsetting it was that Bif Naked's "Lucky Ones" was wasted on jerk-ass Parker? I love that song 🙁

 

[Perny]

I agree with you Airam! Spike was at his hottest in s5!

 

[Airam]

Oh and also (I'm watching it right now 😛) doesn't it seem to anyone else that Spike was in the direct sunlight far too long after Buffy yanked he ring off without barely sizzeling? I'm sure we've seen vamps go up in flames in a second and Spike was out there at least 5. Not that I'd want my Spikey to burn all up, but come on!

 

[Perny]

Oh and also (I'm watching it right now 😛) doesn't it seem to anyone else that Spike was in the direct sunlight far too long after Buffy yanked he ring off without barely sizzeling? I'm sure we've seen vamps go up in flames in a second and Spike was out there at least 5. Not that I'd want my Spikey to burn all up, but come on!

Actually Spike can go a bit without bursting into flames. Like in Lover's walk, where his hand just kinda burns...And after Fool for love (can't remember the episode, shadow?) where Riley pulls Spike outside, after he finds Spike in Buffy's room(sniffing her sweater, and stealing her underwear*)



* A scene I enjoy and laugh at all the time. He just kinda yanks the panties on his way out. PERV 😀

 

[Atren]

Chuckles, this is Harsh Light of Day and not Fear, Itself Auram 😉

 

[Perny]

Wrong episode Airam _D

 

[bigmoneygrip]

Love the shot at the end - the individual shots of Buffy, Anya and Harmony then the high shot of all three, walking alone in different directions.

 

[CordyCat]

ugh

anya acted more human when she was a demon than when she was human. I think they ruined her. I also think Harmoney Rules...LUV YA BITCH SMOOCHES! Also Buffy was a cry baby all through s4 and she was also really weak and just too out of character. Parker I don't hate he was a guy thinking about lots of sex I mean yeah its wrong and all but hey he is just a guy who wants sex.

 

[BuffyElevated]

anya acted more human when she was a demon than when she was human. I think they ruined her. I also think Harmoney Rules...LUV YA BITCH SMOOCHES! Also Buffy was a cry baby all through s4 and she was also really weak and just too out of character. Parker I don't hate he was a guy thinking about lots of sex I mean yeah its wrong and all but hey he is just a guy who wants sex.

I agree with parts of this... I do agree about Anya... She was more convincing as a human when she was till a demon, but I don't think they ruined her- she had some of the best lines/gestures ever! 🙂 I don't think Buffy was a crybaby... She acted the way a lot of people that age do... They whine about stuff 'cause they're being made to grow up and sometimes they don't like it. And I don't hate Parker, either... He was just your typical college guy.