30 Days of Television - Day 9
Day 09 - Best scene ever
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Fool for Love
The episode begins with a fight between Buffy and a no-name vampire. Something goes wrong and Buffy is nearly killed with her own stake. In an attempt to avoid the fate of the slayers that have come before her, Buffy turns to Spike to learn how he managed to kill two slayers.
Through flashbacks, the audience learns of Spike’s human life as William, a shy, romantic man who writes poetry about the girl he loves. Cecily isn’t pleased to learn his “bloody awful” poems are about her and breaks his heart telling him, “You’re beneath me.”
In scene 25 of this episode, Spike shows Buffy how he killed the second slayer. The scene is intercut with shots from the subway car where he and the slayer fought in 1977. The fight in 1977 mirrors the sparring between Spike and Buffy in this scene with only one major difference. Vampire and Slayer in 1977 are fighting for their lives. In 2000, the Slayer knows the vampire can't hurt her.
This whole scene is actually a character study on Buffy. As Spike says, “The question isn’t ‘How’d I win?’ The question is ‘Why’d they lose?’” He continues, “Death is on your heels, baby, and sooner or later it’s gonna catch you. And part of you wants it… not only to stop the fear and uncertainty, but because you’re just a little bit in love with it. Death is your art. You make it with your hands, day after day. That final gasp. That look of peace. Part of you is desperate to know: What’s it like? Where does it lead you? And now you see, that’s the secret. Not the punch you didn’t throw or the kicks you didn’t land. Every Slayer has a death wish. Even you. The only reason you’ve lasted as long as you have is you’ve got ties to the world… your mum, your brat kid sister, the Scoobies. They all tie you here, but you’re just putting off the inevitable.” And then it seems he’s not talking about her death wish anymore. “Sooner or later, you’re gonna want it. And the second - the second - that happens, you know I’ll be there. I’ll slip in… have myself a real good day.” He could be talking about killing her, but judging from the palpable sexual tension between them, he probably isn’t. “Here endeth the lesson. I just wonder if you’ll like it as much as she did.”
But here’s the thing Spike didn’t consider. He’s a monster. He’s a murderer. He is someone Buffy could never be with. He disgusts her. “Get out of my sight. Now,” Buffy says.
“Oh… did I scare ya? You’re the slayer. Do something about it. Hit me. Come on. One good swing. You know you want to.” Since Spike became a vampire, he’s always equated violence and sex. He doesn’t stop to consider that maybe Buffy doesn’t.
“I mean it.”
“So do I. Give it me good, Buffy. Do it!”
“Spike…”
Spike leans in to kiss her, but Buffy backs away in horror.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Spike grabs her arms, and breathes, “Come on. I can feel it, Slayer. You know you want to dance.”
“Say it’s true,” Buffy says. “Say I do want to.” She shoves him to the ground and looks down at him with disgust. “It wouldn’t be you, Spike. It would never be you.” She tosses a wad of cash at him, payment for the lesson. “You’re beneath me.”
This would be an incredible scene, but what makes it my favorite scene of all time is the 20 seconds that come right after Buffy walks away from Spike. This is when we see what a Juilliard-trained actor can do. Dazed and on the verge of tears, Spike fumbles around for the money. The hurt of Buffy’s rejection is magnified by her use of Cecily's words. He takes a second to compose himself, the anger of the demon that is Spike rising above the hurt and when he looks up again, only rage and hate remain.
Past
Day 01 - A show that should never have been canceled: Futurama
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching - Doctor Who
Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this TV season): Community
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever: Doctor Who
Day 05 - A show you hate: Charmed
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite TV show: Doctor Who: "Blink"
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite TV show: Doctor Who: "Planet of the Dead"
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch: The Prisoner
Day 09 - Best scene ever: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "You're beneath me."
Future:
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you've watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best TV show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First TV show obsession
Day 29 - Current TV show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Fool for Love
The episode begins with a fight between Buffy and a no-name vampire. Something goes wrong and Buffy is nearly killed with her own stake. In an attempt to avoid the fate of the slayers that have come before her, Buffy turns to Spike to learn how he managed to kill two slayers.
Through flashbacks, the audience learns of Spike’s human life as William, a shy, romantic man who writes poetry about the girl he loves. Cecily isn’t pleased to learn his “bloody awful” poems are about her and breaks his heart telling him, “You’re beneath me.”
In scene 25 of this episode, Spike shows Buffy how he killed the second slayer. The scene is intercut with shots from the subway car where he and the slayer fought in 1977. The fight in 1977 mirrors the sparring between Spike and Buffy in this scene with only one major difference. Vampire and Slayer in 1977 are fighting for their lives. In 2000, the Slayer knows the vampire can't hurt her.
This whole scene is actually a character study on Buffy. As Spike says, “The question isn’t ‘How’d I win?’ The question is ‘Why’d they lose?’” He continues, “Death is on your heels, baby, and sooner or later it’s gonna catch you. And part of you wants it… not only to stop the fear and uncertainty, but because you’re just a little bit in love with it. Death is your art. You make it with your hands, day after day. That final gasp. That look of peace. Part of you is desperate to know: What’s it like? Where does it lead you? And now you see, that’s the secret. Not the punch you didn’t throw or the kicks you didn’t land. Every Slayer has a death wish. Even you. The only reason you’ve lasted as long as you have is you’ve got ties to the world… your mum, your brat kid sister, the Scoobies. They all tie you here, but you’re just putting off the inevitable.” And then it seems he’s not talking about her death wish anymore. “Sooner or later, you’re gonna want it. And the second - the second - that happens, you know I’ll be there. I’ll slip in… have myself a real good day.” He could be talking about killing her, but judging from the palpable sexual tension between them, he probably isn’t. “Here endeth the lesson. I just wonder if you’ll like it as much as she did.”
But here’s the thing Spike didn’t consider. He’s a monster. He’s a murderer. He is someone Buffy could never be with. He disgusts her. “Get out of my sight. Now,” Buffy says.
“Oh… did I scare ya? You’re the slayer. Do something about it. Hit me. Come on. One good swing. You know you want to.” Since Spike became a vampire, he’s always equated violence and sex. He doesn’t stop to consider that maybe Buffy doesn’t.
“I mean it.”
“So do I. Give it me good, Buffy. Do it!”
“Spike…”
Spike leans in to kiss her, but Buffy backs away in horror.
“What the hell are you doing?”
Spike grabs her arms, and breathes, “Come on. I can feel it, Slayer. You know you want to dance.”
“Say it’s true,” Buffy says. “Say I do want to.” She shoves him to the ground and looks down at him with disgust. “It wouldn’t be you, Spike. It would never be you.” She tosses a wad of cash at him, payment for the lesson. “You’re beneath me.”
This would be an incredible scene, but what makes it my favorite scene of all time is the 20 seconds that come right after Buffy walks away from Spike. This is when we see what a Juilliard-trained actor can do. Dazed and on the verge of tears, Spike fumbles around for the money. The hurt of Buffy’s rejection is magnified by her use of Cecily's words. He takes a second to compose himself, the anger of the demon that is Spike rising above the hurt and when he looks up again, only rage and hate remain.
Past
Day 01 - A show that should never have been canceled: Futurama
Day 02 - A show that you wish more people were watching - Doctor Who
Day 03 - Your favorite new show (aired this TV season): Community
Day 04 - Your favorite show ever: Doctor Who
Day 05 - A show you hate: Charmed
Day 06 - Favorite episode of your favorite TV show: Doctor Who: "Blink"
Day 07 - Least favorite episode of your favorite TV show: Doctor Who: "Planet of the Dead"
Day 08 - A show everyone should watch: The Prisoner
Day 09 - Best scene ever: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "You're beneath me."
Future:
Day 10 - A show you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving
Day 11 - A show that disappointed you
Day 12 - An episode you've watched more than 5 times
Day 13 - Favorite childhood show
Day 14 - Favorite male character
Day 15 - Favorite female character
Day 16 - Your guilty pleasure show
Day 17 - Favorite mini series
Day 18 - Favorite title sequence
Day 19 - Best TV show cast
Day 20 - Favorite kiss
Day 21 - Favorite ship
Day 22 - Favorite series finale
Day 23 - Most annoying character
Day 24 - Best quote
Day 25 - A show you plan on watching (old or new)
Day 26 - OMG WTF? Season finale
Day 27 - Best pilot episode
Day 28 - First TV show obsession
Day 29 - Current TV show obsession
Day 30 - Saddest character death