Puffy Xander
Rogue Demon Hunter
Something I've been wondering about for a while is the extremely subtle references to the season 4 episode Restless, in the season 6 episode Tabula Rasa. There are 3 references I observe:
1)The "loan shark". In Tabula Rasa, Buffy and Spike are approached by a shark like man attempting to collect debt from Spike. In Restless, a line of dialogue from Xander's dream is: "Yes- like a shark... on land, with feet, and with much less fins..." This is a physical description of the loan shark.
2) Spike and Giles as father/ son. In Restless, again in Xander's dream, Giles says "Spike is like a son to me" as they are swinging together. In Tabula Rasa, when the Scoobies' memories are erased, Spike and Giles conclude that Spike is Giles' son.
3) Spike's suit. This is a very minor reference to Restless, however the suit that Spike wears in Tabula Rasa while attempting to evade the shark guy's debt collectors is the same suit worn by Spike in Restless in Xander's dream.
The only thing that these 3 references share in common is that they are all references from the same scene in Xander's dream, where Buffy is in the sandbox and both Giles and Spike are swinging. I guess my question is, what do you all infer from this? I didn't even notice these things until my friend pointed it out, and I was extremely surprised. Do you think there's an actual purpose for these clear similarities between the two episodes, or is it just the writers messing with the viewers?
1)The "loan shark". In Tabula Rasa, Buffy and Spike are approached by a shark like man attempting to collect debt from Spike. In Restless, a line of dialogue from Xander's dream is: "Yes- like a shark... on land, with feet, and with much less fins..." This is a physical description of the loan shark.
2) Spike and Giles as father/ son. In Restless, again in Xander's dream, Giles says "Spike is like a son to me" as they are swinging together. In Tabula Rasa, when the Scoobies' memories are erased, Spike and Giles conclude that Spike is Giles' son.
3) Spike's suit. This is a very minor reference to Restless, however the suit that Spike wears in Tabula Rasa while attempting to evade the shark guy's debt collectors is the same suit worn by Spike in Restless in Xander's dream.
The only thing that these 3 references share in common is that they are all references from the same scene in Xander's dream, where Buffy is in the sandbox and both Giles and Spike are swinging. I guess my question is, what do you all infer from this? I didn't even notice these things until my friend pointed it out, and I was extremely surprised. Do you think there's an actual purpose for these clear similarities between the two episodes, or is it just the writers messing with the viewers?
