Would the episode Help have worked in earlier school seasons?

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slayer730

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When season 7 first started out, there were a few episodes that revisited the high school setting and used them heavily for the plot. I feel like out of all of them, Help was probably the strongest due to its bleak ending and the message it had that she cant always save everyone.

I was wondering if you guys think that the main plot revolving around Buffy trying to save Cassie and failing could have been written during the high school years? Obviously the parts about her being a counselor would need to be retooled to just being a student and I think seasons 2 & 3 would be the best candidates for a story like that.
 
I think it is much stronger than comparable episodes from the early seasons, such as Out of Mind, Outta Sight and Earshot.
 
You easliy could, just replace Dawn with Buffy herself as the Scoobies investigate Cassie's life and deal with an actual cult of students on campus...

But I don't think it would've worked half as well, given the ending where Cassie ultimately dies, setting up one of the themes of the season 7- 'sometimes you try your hardest and people still die, maybe its enough that you tried'.
In the earlier seasons the Scoobies are still quite idealistic and this might've been a step too far imo showing them the 'adult' view of things.

I think 'Help' is of a similar quality to a weaker S2 episode; like 'Some Assembly Required', given all the cruddy teen poetry and the lame demon climax.
 
thetopher said:
You easliy could, just replace Dawn with Buffy herself as the Scoobies investigate Cassie's life and deal with an actual cult of students on campus...

But I don't think it would've worked half as well, given the ending where Cassie ultimately dies, setting up one of the themes of the season 7- 'sometimes you try your hardest and people still die, maybe its enough that you tried'.
In the earlier seasons the Scoobies are still quite idealistic and this might've been a step too far imo showing them the 'adult' view of things.

I think 'Help' is of a similar quality to a weaker S2 episode; like 'Some Assembly Required', given all the cruddy teen poetry and the lame demon climax.
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On par with Some Assembly Required? I don't know, I think given the nature of the topic and the ending it definitely elevates it to above that. I think in a lot of ways this episode has some similarities to Lie to Me and could probably fit in the back half of season 2. Her being unable to save Cassie could mirror her being unable to save Angelus in time.
 
slayer730 said:
On par with Some Assembly Required? I don't know
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In terms of execution rather than theme. In terms of theme I think its as good as 'Killed By Death' maybe.

I think the theme is rather interesting but maybe a bit too dark/mature for high school Buffy, although obviously teen suicide is a good 'high school is horror' idea.
Maybe it could fit, but I think it fits the themes of S7 to well for it to move anywhere else and have a greater impact.
 
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