Hush (so no talking, you at the back)

[shapinglight]

I've been counting the days to when I get to use this icon. Isn't it great?

What else is great is this episode, which encapsulates in the space of forty minutes or so why BtVS has withstood the test of time, and why many people think Joss Whedon is a genius.

It has everything.

Comments

[kikimay]

FREAKING AWESOME EPISODE! (And freaking awesome tiny icon, congrats!)

I really want to ask about Buffy's dream at the beginning. Apart from "maybe Buffy likes public sex" XD what do you think about it? It's just a random dream sequence to introduce the more important one (The little girl with the box) or it has a deeper meaning?

In the dream, Riley says ""If I kiss you it'll make the sun go down", what does it mean in your opinion?

[shapinglight]

Hmm.

I think Riley's line about the sun is definitely something to do with the spell, which doesn't take hold until after the sun goes down.

The kissing in weird circumstances part, I'm not so sure of. I think Buffy likes Riley a lot. Maybe she subconsciously likes the idea of kissing him in public, or maybe her subconscious is telling her stuff about the Riley/Maggie Walsh relationship that she's noticed but isn't consciously aware of yet?

I don't know. I just know that despite the fact it's all very weird a bit..off, I still find it very sexy.

[kikimay]

I think Riley's line about the sun is definitely something to do with the spell, which doesn't take hold until after the sun goes down.

Good point! But also, metaphorically, the connection between sex and death in Buffy's own brain? When I kiss you, the sun go down = kissing equals darkness. Or am I forcing this up a bit too much? Dreams in Buffyverse are always so layered.

maybe her subconscious is telling her stuff about the Riley/Maggie Walsh relationship that she's noticed but isn't consciously aware of yet?

Good point! It's actually dream!Maggie to guide both Riley and Buffy into the kiss, "controlling" them both.

don't know. I just know that despite the fact it's all very weird a bit..off, I still find it very sexy.

I struggle to find chemistry in all the Riley/Buffy scenes. :/

[shapinglight]

Dreams in Buffyverse are always so layered.

Well, Joss is certainly very good at making it seem that they are. I'm a little more sceptical about that since listening to the commentary for Restless, though. Fans spent years before the DVD set came out analysing that episode to death, only to have Joss come along and say none of the dream sequences were meant to mean anything.

I struggle to find chemistry in all the Riley/Buffy scenes. :/

I did have a feeling it was probably just me. ;)

[kazzy_cee]

encapsulates in the space of forty minutes or so why BtVS has withstood the test of time

I totally agree. This episode is just so clever and I love the humour throughout, but at the same time it's really chilling in places.

[shapinglight]

It is. And it slips so easily from one mood to the other that you can only marvel at the brilliance of it. ;)

Re: N

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I have to say I put this episode and OMWF at the very top of the list. It is brilliant in every way and Joss will always have hero status for these episodes no matter what else he has done or not done.

I agree with this. The Body is great work and all, but it's so a-typical of the show that I just can't put it in the same category.

I was glad you mentioned the music because I notice the music very much in all episodes, and it is spectacular in season four and five.

The music is always pretty wonderful in BtVS. Here, I think it excels itself.

I found it highly erotic

I'm so glad I'm not the only one. Most people seem to dislike Buffy/Riley too much ever to feel that.

I have listened to the commentary for Hush but I don't remember what Joss says about the dream scene. It is so beautifully done, though - like the Buffy's tirer le couverture quest sequence in No Place Like Home in season 5. That is also a stunning piece of work

Re: N

[shapinglight]

Re: the music, should have said, one of the things I love most about the lecture theatre scene is that Giles has set his 'talk' to music, and taken the time to find the perfect soundtrack. :)

[shapinglight]

It's great, isn't it? :))

[teragramm]

I am usually not a huge fan of episodes that get all the hype and love BUT I love, love this episode. There is not a single miss step every moment is wonderful and it's done with very little words.

Then again, I find this non-dream Buffy/Riley kiss later in the episode very sexy too, so maybe it's just me?I too found this kiss very sexy. I think it was the spontaneity of the kiss and the fact that many things are said with one simple kiss. The kiss portraits fear, worry and feelings not yet spoken, which is all very sexy! I found the dream kiss a little uncomfortable because of the public setting and I was embarrassed for Buffy.

the utterly wonderful in every way lecture theatre scene, where Giles presents his Gentlemen slide show. In a show that is wonderful from start to finish, this scene is extraordinarily wonderful! We all love the miss understanding of Buffy's staking gesture but I always get a huge kick out of Buffy being insulted that Giles drew her hips too big. It's such a girl thing to do!

GILES

[shapinglight]

I think it was the spontaneity of the kiss and the fact that many things are said with one simple kiss.

Yes, I think you've hit the nail on the head here. A big part of the reason why that kiss is so charged is because it has to speak for everything they're feeling, because they can't actually talk. Plus, both SMG and MB act like they're really into it, which they also do in the weird kiss scene, which may be one of the reasons why it works for me, despite the awkwardness and embarrassment.

In a show that is wonderful from start to finish, this scene is extraordinarily wonderful!

Yes, I could watch that one on repeat. :)