Buffy - Season 4 impressions (episode 9)
Something Blue
A summary of the episode can be found here.
Nice episode: The background for what happens is serious (Willow doing magic to cope with her pain), but the results are mostly comical. Well, if you're watching the episode and are not Giles, Xander, Buffy or Spike... :-)
- Oz sending for his stuff without contacting Willow in any way is really tough. In his attempt to work out his own life he doesn't take into account that Willow loves him and that he's hurting her badly. In some way, she gets punished because he was unfaithful to her. - No, I don't approve of that. He could at least write to her or call once in a while.
- Riley is a genuinely nice guy. He'd probably even be a nice vampire as he doesn't appear to have any big issues with himself. The fact that he's practicing conversations with Buffy in his head and that he admits it, brought him a bonus point in my rating system. :-)
He gets another bonus point for having a nice understated sense of humor. He doesn't take himself too serious either.
- Buffy: Exactly. Riley seems so solid. Like he wouldn't cause me heartache.
Buffy, don't worry. I'm sure there will be heartache one way or another.
- Spike manages to be haughty and imperial while chained to a bathtub. I'm impressed.
Spike: Underground. I came out through an air vent. I don't know exactly where. I'm done. Put the telly on.
(Giles enters, carrying a mug that reads "Kiss the Librarian" with a straw protruding from it. It contains blood.)
Spike: It's about time. Hope you got it warm enough.
- The whole scene between Buffy, Giles and Spike is hilarious. Buffy and Spike both have a talent for giving lip so they're nicely matched in their battle of words. Giles really is an innocent bystander who finds them both terribly immature but has no power to stop their behaviour. Interesting that not only Buffy sees Giles as a father figure, but that Spike sees him in a similar way. When he whines to Giles "make her stop" it strongly reminds me of children asking their parents to interfere in a fight between siblings.
Giles: Look, look, Spike - we have no intention of killing a harmless.. uh, creature.. but we have to know what's been done to you. We can't let you go until we're sure that you're .. impotent -
Spike: Hey!
Giles: Sorry, poor choice of words. Until we're sure you're, you're..
Buffy: Flaccid?
Spike: You are one step away, missy.
Buffy: (Sarcastically) Giles, help! He's going to scold me.
[...]
Buffy: You want something nicer? (She leans her head to the side, exposing her throat to him) A look at my.. poor neck? All bare and tender and exposed.. all that blood just .. pumping away..
(Spike, by this time, is all but licking his lips.)
Giles: Oh, please.
Spike: Giles, make her stop.
- Spike is an excellent observer of people. He easily sees beneath their facade and figures out what their problems and weaknesses are. He doesn't use this knowledge to make the world a better place full of puppy dogs and daisies, but mostly uses it as a psychological weapon against his enemies. E.g. he could cleary see in Lover's Walk that Angel and Buffy were still deeply in love and he later on mentions Buffy to Angel when he wants to hurt him or mentions Angel when he fights Buffy. - This time around he sees Willow is barely coping with Oz's leaving her behind. He hasn't used this knowledge yet against her - there was no need - but I can see him bringing it up to her should she ever do something he perceives as attack on himself.
I think it's this skill that made Spike such a successful vampire and a killer of two Slayers.
- Spike is such a TV junkie. He wants to see Passions and does know by heart when it's on!? (Does this show exist? If the name is any indication, it's one hell of a soap opera.)
- Willow is no good at coping with pain. First she mopes, then she gets drunk and then she tries a spell.
- Willow: So I get punished ‘cause I'm in pain?
Yep, it must feel that way to her. Oz leaves her to understand his inner wolf and Giles isn't a big help either. He expects Willow to function as usual. Wouldn't it be nice if he spent some time with her and they did research together and he helped her with her spells?
- Willow: And I didn't have the guts to do the spell on Veruca,
Huh? What is Willow talking about? - Because if she's talking about the spell on Oz she tried to do, i.e. the spell in which she never wanted him to find love again, then she's revising history big time. And she didn't go through with the spell, not because she lacked guts, but because she couldn't bear to hurt Oz in that way.
- Poor Amy.
- Buffy and Spike in premarital bliss are hilarious.
I don't think Willow's wish changed their basic personality, did it? Because if it didn't this means that they both are deeply romantic inside. (Okay, Spike's interest in Passions and the way he behaves around Dru were big give aways.)
It's very neat that Buffy and Spike are *still* arguing - now they just get distracted in between arguments.
Spike: Well, first thing I'd say, we're not having a church wedding.
Buffy: How 'bout a daytime ceremony. In the park.
Spike: Fabulous. Enjoy your honeymoon with the big pile of dust.
Buffy: Honey, we need to talk about the invitations. Now, do you wanna be William the Bloody, or just Spike? ‘Cause, either way, it's gonna look majorly weird.
Spike: Where as the name Buffy gives it that touch of classic elegance.
Buffy: What's wrong with Buffy?
Giles: Huh.. such a good question.
Spike: (Ignoring Giles) Well, it's a terrible name.
Buffy: My mother gave me that name.
Spike: Your mother, yeah, she's a genius.
Buffy: Don't you start in on my mother.
- Spike: Well, where would Angel like to register? And can we have the photographer Angel would've wanted? And, flowers Angel would have liked?
I sense Spike having a lot of issues with Angel. Well, the last time they met Spike had him tortured, so it all fits.
- Poor Riley. I feel with him: Things are slightly surreal.
Buffy: My wedding! I'm getting married - can you believe it?
Riley: I don't think "no" is a strong enough word.
- This scene cracked me up - just so surreal:
Buffy: (Excitedly) Spike and I are getting married!
Xander: (Baffled) How? What? How?
Giles: Three excellent questions.
Spike: (To Buffy) What are you lookin' at?
Buffy: The man I love.
(They kiss. A lot. Anya and Xander look a bit disgusted.)
Xander: Can I be blind, too?
- Most interesting revelation:
Anya wasn't always a demon, but was turned into one because of her talent for vengeance.
I had always thought Anya was so blunt and lacked empathy because she was a demon, but now I'm wondering if it was the other way around and she became of demon because she was like that to begin with.
- Willow gets the offer to be turned into a demon. Interesting to see that it's possible to turn this offer down with no repercussions. And ... the offer still stands.
Willow: Really.. no offense intended.. I mean, you've been super-nice and everything, but.. I don't want to be a demon. I just wanna
go back and help my friends.
Ta'hoffren: That is your answer?
Willow: It-it is.
Ta'hoffren. (Menacingly) I'm sorry to hear that. (Lighter tone) Oh well. Here is my talisman. (Holds it up and Willow takes it) You change your mind, give us a chant.
- Willow baking cookies to make things right with her friends. Well, it's a start. There's not really much she can do to make things better. Shows quite clearly that you can't undo certain things.
A summary of the episode can be found here.
Nice episode: The background for what happens is serious (Willow doing magic to cope with her pain), but the results are mostly comical. Well, if you're watching the episode and are not Giles, Xander, Buffy or Spike... :-)
- Oz sending for his stuff without contacting Willow in any way is really tough. In his attempt to work out his own life he doesn't take into account that Willow loves him and that he's hurting her badly. In some way, she gets punished because he was unfaithful to her. - No, I don't approve of that. He could at least write to her or call once in a while.
- Riley is a genuinely nice guy. He'd probably even be a nice vampire as he doesn't appear to have any big issues with himself. The fact that he's practicing conversations with Buffy in his head and that he admits it, brought him a bonus point in my rating system. :-)
He gets another bonus point for having a nice understated sense of humor. He doesn't take himself too serious either.
- Buffy: Exactly. Riley seems so solid. Like he wouldn't cause me heartache.
Buffy, don't worry. I'm sure there will be heartache one way or another.
- Spike manages to be haughty and imperial while chained to a bathtub. I'm impressed.
Spike: Underground. I came out through an air vent. I don't know exactly where. I'm done. Put the telly on.
(Giles enters, carrying a mug that reads "Kiss the Librarian" with a straw protruding from it. It contains blood.)
Spike: It's about time. Hope you got it warm enough.
- The whole scene between Buffy, Giles and Spike is hilarious. Buffy and Spike both have a talent for giving lip so they're nicely matched in their battle of words. Giles really is an innocent bystander who finds them both terribly immature but has no power to stop their behaviour. Interesting that not only Buffy sees Giles as a father figure, but that Spike sees him in a similar way. When he whines to Giles "make her stop" it strongly reminds me of children asking their parents to interfere in a fight between siblings.
Giles: Look, look, Spike - we have no intention of killing a harmless.. uh, creature.. but we have to know what's been done to you. We can't let you go until we're sure that you're .. impotent -
Spike: Hey!
Giles: Sorry, poor choice of words. Until we're sure you're, you're..
Buffy: Flaccid?
Spike: You are one step away, missy.
Buffy: (Sarcastically) Giles, help! He's going to scold me.
[...]
Buffy: You want something nicer? (She leans her head to the side, exposing her throat to him) A look at my.. poor neck? All bare and tender and exposed.. all that blood just .. pumping away..
(Spike, by this time, is all but licking his lips.)
Giles: Oh, please.
Spike: Giles, make her stop.
- Spike is an excellent observer of people. He easily sees beneath their facade and figures out what their problems and weaknesses are. He doesn't use this knowledge to make the world a better place full of puppy dogs and daisies, but mostly uses it as a psychological weapon against his enemies. E.g. he could cleary see in Lover's Walk that Angel and Buffy were still deeply in love and he later on mentions Buffy to Angel when he wants to hurt him or mentions Angel when he fights Buffy. - This time around he sees Willow is barely coping with Oz's leaving her behind. He hasn't used this knowledge yet against her - there was no need - but I can see him bringing it up to her should she ever do something he perceives as attack on himself.
I think it's this skill that made Spike such a successful vampire and a killer of two Slayers.
- Spike is such a TV junkie. He wants to see Passions and does know by heart when it's on!? (Does this show exist? If the name is any indication, it's one hell of a soap opera.)
- Willow is no good at coping with pain. First she mopes, then she gets drunk and then she tries a spell.
- Willow: So I get punished ‘cause I'm in pain?
Yep, it must feel that way to her. Oz leaves her to understand his inner wolf and Giles isn't a big help either. He expects Willow to function as usual. Wouldn't it be nice if he spent some time with her and they did research together and he helped her with her spells?
- Willow: And I didn't have the guts to do the spell on Veruca,
Huh? What is Willow talking about? - Because if she's talking about the spell on Oz she tried to do, i.e. the spell in which she never wanted him to find love again, then she's revising history big time. And she didn't go through with the spell, not because she lacked guts, but because she couldn't bear to hurt Oz in that way.
- Poor Amy.
- Buffy and Spike in premarital bliss are hilarious.
I don't think Willow's wish changed their basic personality, did it? Because if it didn't this means that they both are deeply romantic inside. (Okay, Spike's interest in Passions and the way he behaves around Dru were big give aways.)
It's very neat that Buffy and Spike are *still* arguing - now they just get distracted in between arguments.
Spike: Well, first thing I'd say, we're not having a church wedding.
Buffy: How 'bout a daytime ceremony. In the park.
Spike: Fabulous. Enjoy your honeymoon with the big pile of dust.
Buffy: Honey, we need to talk about the invitations. Now, do you wanna be William the Bloody, or just Spike? ‘Cause, either way, it's gonna look majorly weird.
Spike: Where as the name Buffy gives it that touch of classic elegance.
Buffy: What's wrong with Buffy?
Giles: Huh.. such a good question.
Spike: (Ignoring Giles) Well, it's a terrible name.
Buffy: My mother gave me that name.
Spike: Your mother, yeah, she's a genius.
Buffy: Don't you start in on my mother.
- Spike: Well, where would Angel like to register? And can we have the photographer Angel would've wanted? And, flowers Angel would have liked?
I sense Spike having a lot of issues with Angel. Well, the last time they met Spike had him tortured, so it all fits.
- Poor Riley. I feel with him: Things are slightly surreal.
Buffy: My wedding! I'm getting married - can you believe it?
Riley: I don't think "no" is a strong enough word.
- This scene cracked me up - just so surreal:
Buffy: (Excitedly) Spike and I are getting married!
Xander: (Baffled) How? What? How?
Giles: Three excellent questions.
Spike: (To Buffy) What are you lookin' at?
Buffy: The man I love.
(They kiss. A lot. Anya and Xander look a bit disgusted.)
Xander: Can I be blind, too?
- Most interesting revelation:
Anya wasn't always a demon, but was turned into one because of her talent for vengeance.
I had always thought Anya was so blunt and lacked empathy because she was a demon, but now I'm wondering if it was the other way around and she became of demon because she was like that to begin with.
- Willow gets the offer to be turned into a demon. Interesting to see that it's possible to turn this offer down with no repercussions. And ... the offer still stands.
Willow: Really.. no offense intended.. I mean, you've been super-nice and everything, but.. I don't want to be a demon. I just wanna
go back and help my friends.
Ta'hoffren: That is your answer?
Willow: It-it is.
Ta'hoffren. (Menacingly) I'm sorry to hear that. (Lighter tone) Oh well. Here is my talisman. (Holds it up and Willow takes it) You change your mind, give us a chant.
- Willow baking cookies to make things right with her friends. Well, it's a start. There's not really much she can do to make things better. Shows quite clearly that you can't undo certain things.