Joan the Vampire Slayer
Carpe Spuffy!
In the midst of my current S7 re-watch, I noticed I enjoyed this episode more than usual, and it's one we don't often discuss on here.
What are people's thoughts on this episode?
Here are mine:
First scene: "Coddling" implies an overprotective impulse. Interesting choice of words on Spike's part, and even more interesting is Buffy's reaction to the words ("Go to your closet"). Perhaps putting Spike "in the closet" is an analogy for where she wants him "“ easily accessible, shut-in (as in controlled) yet safe from the outside world?
Buffy and Dawn's conversation on the bleachers is interesting. This is the first time we get to hear Buffy talk about what happened with Spike. She tells Dawn that no she doesn't love him but she does "feel for him." When someone says this, it implies they emphasize with the other person's struggles or what not. The question is, How does Buffy "feel for" Spike? How does she emphasize with his struggles at this point in his arc? It doesn't seem as though she feels bad for him, it seems like she means that she can relate to him. And Dawn makes a good point when she says that having a soul doesn't necessarily make someone a better man, using Xander as an example.
My overall comment? I feel like even though this is obviously a filler episode, and despite it not having a huge part in the greater arc of the season, this episode is important because it takes the show back to it's lighter, more campier roots. This episode is classic Buffy at it's best. You can't help but laugh out loud at many scenes in this episode.
Continuity: The thing that confuses me is when Buffy calls Anya her "friend" and expresses concern for her well-being an episode after she tried to kill her. The point here is that Buffy would and is willing to kill any one of her friends if she had no choice. Granted, Anya was never a close friend of hers, it just seems hypocritical of her to express such concern considering her previous actions in "Selfless."
Thoughts?
Other observations:
- Fun to see Dawn in Buffy's old cheerleading uniform.
- I think this episode is important to the development of Dawn's character. Despite the fact that Dawn is under the love spell for most of the episode, she does retain her basic personality traits (tear-eyed and angsty as per usual 😉
- There's just something so absolutely humorous about Dawn telling Buffy she "doesn't know what love is" and Buffy's completely helpless look of confusion. Classic. Reminds me of how Joyce used to look when she was trying to comfort Buffy back in HS.
- How funny is it how embarrassed Xander is after having been caught checking out Dawn at the Bronze? Now, that's Xander in character, in my opinion. In light of recent events, I guess I'm supposed to re-evaluate what I consider "in character", but his reaction always makes me laugh out loud. It's cute to see Xander and Buffy try to "parent" Dawn "“ they're so clueless!
- It's so ironic that Xander always walks in on Buffy "getting busy" with people! First Riley, then Spike, now R.J. Nice little continuation of that running joke in this episode.
- I feel like Buffy was being too hard on Dawn regarding dancing with R.J. Sure, she's young but it's not like she was getting wasted or anything. She was just dancing! What do you guys think?
This episode is just classic camp. Reminds me so much of the first season. The catfight, the love spell, the rising background music, the funny one-liners (Dawn's fear that she's the "pushy Queen of Sluttown!", "Get off the boy, Buffy. We're going home.", "What do you know about our love? It's true and real. This isn't magic, this is my heart!" and Willow's willingness to overlook a certain physical trait of R.Js; "Just think about who loves him the most. Clearly I do, since I'm willing to look past the orientation thing!), the trademark Buffyspeak ("No more with the talky!")....
This episode, to me, belongs in the categor that "Doublemeat Palace" and "Smile Time" belong in. They're filler episodes, and contribute little to the overall plot, but they're important because they bring much-needed humor to the series.
What are people's thoughts on this episode?
Here are mine:
First scene: "Coddling" implies an overprotective impulse. Interesting choice of words on Spike's part, and even more interesting is Buffy's reaction to the words ("Go to your closet"). Perhaps putting Spike "in the closet" is an analogy for where she wants him "“ easily accessible, shut-in (as in controlled) yet safe from the outside world?
Buffy and Dawn's conversation on the bleachers is interesting. This is the first time we get to hear Buffy talk about what happened with Spike. She tells Dawn that no she doesn't love him but she does "feel for him." When someone says this, it implies they emphasize with the other person's struggles or what not. The question is, How does Buffy "feel for" Spike? How does she emphasize with his struggles at this point in his arc? It doesn't seem as though she feels bad for him, it seems like she means that she can relate to him. And Dawn makes a good point when she says that having a soul doesn't necessarily make someone a better man, using Xander as an example.
My overall comment? I feel like even though this is obviously a filler episode, and despite it not having a huge part in the greater arc of the season, this episode is important because it takes the show back to it's lighter, more campier roots. This episode is classic Buffy at it's best. You can't help but laugh out loud at many scenes in this episode.
Continuity: The thing that confuses me is when Buffy calls Anya her "friend" and expresses concern for her well-being an episode after she tried to kill her. The point here is that Buffy would and is willing to kill any one of her friends if she had no choice. Granted, Anya was never a close friend of hers, it just seems hypocritical of her to express such concern considering her previous actions in "Selfless."
Thoughts?
Other observations:
- Fun to see Dawn in Buffy's old cheerleading uniform.
- I think this episode is important to the development of Dawn's character. Despite the fact that Dawn is under the love spell for most of the episode, she does retain her basic personality traits (tear-eyed and angsty as per usual 😉
- There's just something so absolutely humorous about Dawn telling Buffy she "doesn't know what love is" and Buffy's completely helpless look of confusion. Classic. Reminds me of how Joyce used to look when she was trying to comfort Buffy back in HS.
- How funny is it how embarrassed Xander is after having been caught checking out Dawn at the Bronze? Now, that's Xander in character, in my opinion. In light of recent events, I guess I'm supposed to re-evaluate what I consider "in character", but his reaction always makes me laugh out loud. It's cute to see Xander and Buffy try to "parent" Dawn "“ they're so clueless!
- It's so ironic that Xander always walks in on Buffy "getting busy" with people! First Riley, then Spike, now R.J. Nice little continuation of that running joke in this episode.
- I feel like Buffy was being too hard on Dawn regarding dancing with R.J. Sure, she's young but it's not like she was getting wasted or anything. She was just dancing! What do you guys think?
This episode is just classic camp. Reminds me so much of the first season. The catfight, the love spell, the rising background music, the funny one-liners (Dawn's fear that she's the "pushy Queen of Sluttown!", "Get off the boy, Buffy. We're going home.", "What do you know about our love? It's true and real. This isn't magic, this is my heart!" and Willow's willingness to overlook a certain physical trait of R.Js; "Just think about who loves him the most. Clearly I do, since I'm willing to look past the orientation thing!), the trademark Buffyspeak ("No more with the talky!")....
This episode, to me, belongs in the categor that "Doublemeat Palace" and "Smile Time" belong in. They're filler episodes, and contribute little to the overall plot, but they're important because they bring much-needed humor to the series.
