Episodes in Focus: Out Of My Mind and Untouched
This week’s Episodes in Focus are Out Of My Mind and Untouched. It's what's inside your head that's at issue, across both series. Whether it's a chip that keeps you on a leash or a trauma that gives you the strength to defend your personal space with terrifying force, the power of mind over matter is this week's key theme. From Monday your time, get sharing anything and everything you've got relating to our exciting new episodes!
Episode in Focus: Out Of My Mind
Giles is settling into the Magic Box, with a training room created for Buffy, and showcasing Xander's practical skills. Happy days. Something horrible must be on the horizon - and it's Harmony, who's taken up Evil Villainous Smoking. Oh noes!
But there are worse things starting to loom. Joyce has a little dizzy spell, and no one knows why. Spike's frustrated. Riley's going nuts. What do they have in common? Turns out, it's not just the Initiative's little gimmicks - it's also that they have feelings for Buffy. Riley's not able to match her any more; Spike's her avowed enemy. This can't end well, right? It certainly can't end without some kind of surgery, and a visit to familiar haunts from seasons past: the Initiative, and the burned-out ruins of Sunnydale High. *Apocalypse nostalgia*
Key quote:
WILLOW: Listen to us! We-we're arguing! We're having a debate about a college lecture! I have dreamt of this day since ... forever! (proudly) You are turning into quite the student. Should I be watching my occipital lobe?
BUFFY: Your what?
WILLOW: Occipital. (pointing to her head) The lobe in the back of your brain. You know, like, "should I be watching my back?" But, you know, the ... back of your brain. (sighs)
BUFFY: Apparently not. Don't worry, Will, you still wear the smarty-pants in the family.
WILLOW: I don't know. You've been studying ... really a lot.
BUFFY: I'm trying. But they're really piling on the reading, and Giles fills any free time I have with extra training ... I'm starting to think this working hard is hard work.
WILLOW: Isn't it crazy like that?
BUFFY: I thought it was gonna be like in the movies. You know, inspirational music ... a montage, me sharpening my pencils, me reading, writing, falling asleep on a big pile of books with my glasses all crooked, 'cause in my montage I have glasses. (Willow nods) But real life is slow, and it's starting to hurt my occipital lobe.
WILLOW: (sympathetic) Aw. Poor Buffy's brain
*
Episode in Focus: Untouched
Do you remember Bethany Chaulke? One of AtS's memorable one-shots, the abused girl whose emotional trauma is translated into telekinesis. Lilah and Angel battling for this one girl, whose power is extreme - this is one of those times when you're pretty sure Angel really is on the side of the angels.
While, at the same time, Darla starts to invade Angel's dreams. And Wesley guesses that Bethany's trauma stems from her relationship with her Dad. Which is a) true, and b) an interesting insight into Wesley too.
Key quote:
Wesley: "That's an ugly looking wound."
Angel: "It doesn't feel pretty either."
Wesley: "We should definitely approach this girl with caution. - I guess you already figured that out."
Angel: "She's very powerful. We got to find out everything we can about her."
Cordy buttoning up Angel's shirt: "Like - oh, say, her name?"
Angel: "I was impaled at the time."
Cordy pats his knee: "Of course. Perfectly understandable."
Angel: "You know how hard it is to think straight with a re-bar through your torso?"
Cordy: "Actually, I do. Benefits of a Sunnydale education. No address or anything?"
Angel: "She said she was staying with a friend."
Cordy: "Well, that narrows it down to people with friends. (To Wesley) Where do we keep that list?"
*
Meanwhile, over at still_grrr, the month's theme is Mythology March. This week, it's the Free For All, so go wild with your mythological inspirations.
*
Still have something to share about last week's episodes, The Replacement and First Impressions? You have another week's grace to post anything you want for these eps. We can always stand a little more of the good stuff!
*
Episode in Focus: Out Of My Mind
Giles is settling into the Magic Box, with a training room created for Buffy, and showcasing Xander's practical skills. Happy days. Something horrible must be on the horizon - and it's Harmony, who's taken up Evil Villainous Smoking. Oh noes!
But there are worse things starting to loom. Joyce has a little dizzy spell, and no one knows why. Spike's frustrated. Riley's going nuts. What do they have in common? Turns out, it's not just the Initiative's little gimmicks - it's also that they have feelings for Buffy. Riley's not able to match her any more; Spike's her avowed enemy. This can't end well, right? It certainly can't end without some kind of surgery, and a visit to familiar haunts from seasons past: the Initiative, and the burned-out ruins of Sunnydale High. *Apocalypse nostalgia*
Key quote:
WILLOW: Listen to us! We-we're arguing! We're having a debate about a college lecture! I have dreamt of this day since ... forever! (proudly) You are turning into quite the student. Should I be watching my occipital lobe?
BUFFY: Your what?
WILLOW: Occipital. (pointing to her head) The lobe in the back of your brain. You know, like, "should I be watching my back?" But, you know, the ... back of your brain. (sighs)
BUFFY: Apparently not. Don't worry, Will, you still wear the smarty-pants in the family.
WILLOW: I don't know. You've been studying ... really a lot.
BUFFY: I'm trying. But they're really piling on the reading, and Giles fills any free time I have with extra training ... I'm starting to think this working hard is hard work.
WILLOW: Isn't it crazy like that?
BUFFY: I thought it was gonna be like in the movies. You know, inspirational music ... a montage, me sharpening my pencils, me reading, writing, falling asleep on a big pile of books with my glasses all crooked, 'cause in my montage I have glasses. (Willow nods) But real life is slow, and it's starting to hurt my occipital lobe.
WILLOW: (sympathetic) Aw. Poor Buffy's brain
*
Episode in Focus: Untouched
Do you remember Bethany Chaulke? One of AtS's memorable one-shots, the abused girl whose emotional trauma is translated into telekinesis. Lilah and Angel battling for this one girl, whose power is extreme - this is one of those times when you're pretty sure Angel really is on the side of the angels.
While, at the same time, Darla starts to invade Angel's dreams. And Wesley guesses that Bethany's trauma stems from her relationship with her Dad. Which is a) true, and b) an interesting insight into Wesley too.
Key quote:
Wesley: "That's an ugly looking wound."
Angel: "It doesn't feel pretty either."
Wesley: "We should definitely approach this girl with caution. - I guess you already figured that out."
Angel: "She's very powerful. We got to find out everything we can about her."
Cordy buttoning up Angel's shirt: "Like - oh, say, her name?"
Angel: "I was impaled at the time."
Cordy pats his knee: "Of course. Perfectly understandable."
Angel: "You know how hard it is to think straight with a re-bar through your torso?"
Cordy: "Actually, I do. Benefits of a Sunnydale education. No address or anything?"
Angel: "She said she was staying with a friend."
Cordy: "Well, that narrows it down to people with friends. (To Wesley) Where do we keep that list?"
*
Meanwhile, over at still_grrr, the month's theme is Mythology March. This week, it's the Free For All, so go wild with your mythological inspirations.
*
Still have something to share about last week's episodes, The Replacement and First Impressions? You have another week's grace to post anything you want for these eps. We can always stand a little more of the good stuff!
*