Episode Poll: 5.11 Triangle

[gabrielleabelle]

Is this the last true comedy episode of S5? I mean, there's Intervention, but that eventually turns all SRS BSNS. So yeah. Let's count this one as the last comedy eppie. Triangle!

Comments

[local_max]

5,6. I like BGF's answer on this -- but, bottom line, they both have a big point. In particular, Anya does try to kill Xander in Entropy, and I do think that there is still a part of Xander that Willow can touch but Anya can't (not, like a body part): c.f. their intimate moment in The Body in the middle of the Scooby scene (the forehead kiss).

[I do think Anya is sincere in her "I'll never hurt Xander," but I think there is just a little bit of "I'll never hurt Xander, because he's better than those other men" implied in her thinking. The problem of course is that Xander, while basically decent, is not that essentially different from those other men, and until Anya gets to Selfless she is still in a position of being willing/able to return to vengeance when she is re-disillusioned about men. It's at Selfless where "men can be vicious assholes; but I guess it's still best not to have a spider rip their hearts out" is made explicit.]

[gabrielleabelle]

In particular, Anya does try to kill Xander in Entropy

Yeah. Willow ends up being...kinda right, so...

and I do think that there is still a part of Xander that Willow can touch but Anya can't (not, like a body part): c.f. their intimate moment in The Body in the middle of the Scooby scene (the forehead kiss).

Also agreed.

[local_max]

:)

to be less obviously Willow-partial, I should say that Willow is not that much more reliable, and Anya is right to be worried about Willow working to undermine the Xander/Anya relationship -- which she is totally trying to do. I don't think she wants Xander romantically now, but she is super terriorial and has years' worth of lingering resentments over Xander choosing not just women, but 'bad' (from Willow's POV) or literally demon women over her. Not to mention that by arguing over the Magic Box Willow is implicitly being territorial about Giles' affections too.

[gabrielleabelle]

*is being totally Willow-partial*

I think there's a distinction, though, in that after the conflict and fears get aired in this episode, Willow doesn't further try to undermine the Xander/Anya relationship. All's cool. Anya, as noted, does eventually try to hurt/kill Xander. So while Anya's fear that Willow will break them up doesn't pan out, Willow's fear does.

Not to mention that by arguing over the Magic Box Willow is implicitly being territorial about Giles' affections too.

Also, it wasn't just Willow arguing against Anya managing the shop. Buffy and Giles speak against it, too.

[local_max]

I agree about that, re your first paragraph :). I will say that the Willow/Anya conflict doesn't dissipate for a while yet -- it still comes to a head in The Body -- but after this episode she isn't trying to interfere with Anya/Xander, and so Willow keeps her end of the bargain. :) Yay Willow

[gabrielleabelle]

No, you're right about Willow stealing. She's annoying there. I was thinking more of the earlier scene wherein several of the group bring up concerns about Anya being in charge.

[local_max]

Oh right right. :)

[mcjulie]

Willow working to undermine the Xander/Anya relationship -- which she is totally trying to do

I also think it's been clear all along that Willow simply doesn't like Anya all that much, and not just because she's territorial. Which I always liked as a friend-group dynamic, because it totally happens in real life.

[eowyn_315]

Yep. Plus, Willow's first encounter with Anya involved the spell that brought Vamp Willow. Doubly freaky for Willow, because she got a glimpse of that scary world AND had to deal with an evil twin because of Anya.

Not surprising, then, that she might not like Anya, regardless of her involvement with Xander.

[local_max]

Also that is a great screencap of both ladies' faces. Hannigan and Caulfield should get a sitcom together. Preferably as Willow and Anya, obvs.