Rewatch time - Choices

[gillo]

It is totally my fault that the schedule has been interrupted of late. A new Shakespeare course has sucked all my energy, in a really, really good way, but not helpfully. My apologies to all.

On we go now, to

Comments

[readerjane]

It just occurred to me: why didn't Cordelia take out student loans? I mean, it's not a wise choice unless you have a reasonable expectation that your degree will allow you to pay them back, but Cordelia wasn't all that wise at this stage. She would have been in character to assume she's marry a frat boy with a trust fund who could pay off her loans.

I guess the Doylesian reason is that Cordelia needed to go to L.A. to work at Angel Investigations. But I wonder what the Watsonian reason was?

Also, I'm still impressed at how much damage the Mayor could do simply by speaking the truth. He tells Buffy and Angel things that might have been said with concern and affection by someone who cared for them, but his words are clearly meant as weapons.

[sandy_s]

I also really liked Oz in this episode...in addition to the things you pointed out!

But I agree with you, too. It's definitely an episode that sets things up for the finale and next season(s).

[velvetwhip]

I'm reminded a phrase from Joe Bob Briggs. Too much plot getting in the way of the story (though, admittedly, he meant it rather differently and in quite another context). There were themes here and character moments which would have been better served not to be sandwiched in the midst of all this "move Character A to Point F so that Thing Y can happen" stuff.

Gabrielle

[snogged]

I absolutely love Oz in this episode, but I'm actually not surprised that Willow's decision to go to college UC-Sunnydale has nothing to do with him. Willow's not the sort to choose her academic pursuits based on her proximity to a guy. She chooses them based on where she can best help Buffy fight evil.

One of my favorite moments in this episode is when Willow's goading Faith.

Another favorite moment is when Faith gets her shiny new knife. It's a beautiful piece of handiwork.

[shapinglight]

For the first time, I really got how deeply Buffy feels about Angel.

Yes, that struck me very forcibly on this rewatch too. Though I also feel that their closeness in this episode is particularly emphasised so as to make the events of the next episode that bit more devastating.