Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Teacher's Pet...

[fajrdrako]

I watched this a week ago, but haven't got around to posting about it yet. And now... looking at my notes...

1. I like the title. Very much. Best thing about the episode, probably.



2. On the whole, didn't much like the episode. It reminded me very much of the Smallville episode "Heat", where Clark Kent had a sexy-seductive teacher who used her wiles (and her pheromone superpower) to trick Lex Luthor into marrying her, so she could kill him for his money. She didn't intend to eat him, but that's the main difference in the story. Clark, of course, saved him. Probably the Smallville writers stole from Buffy, but I don't think it's a new plot anyway.
   
   As Smallville episodes go, "Heat" was redeemed by its slashiness. This episode of Buffy didn't have that to recommend it.



3. So what did it have? Lots of Xander - not my favourite character. I did like his dream at the beginning, where he cast himself as the hero saving and winning the girl. I think I liked dream-Xander better than real-Xander. He was at least more creative.



4. Doctor Gregory was really, really nice. This made me certain he wouldn't survive the episode. He didn't.



5. Actually, I think that was my main problem with the episode. It was very, very predictable. Xander's dream had to be a dream. Buffy's relationship with a really nice teacher who understands her has to be doomed. The too-sexy-to-be-true teacher has to be man-eater and since she's giving lessons about praying mantises, well, that's what she has to be. She has to prey on one of Buffy's friends, of course - I might enjoy it more if she preyed on Buffy, but that isn't likely here. So. Xander, the fall guy. And of course Buffy has to save him. If i Look over the show - were there any surprised? (Considers.) No.



6. Good line. Buffy: "You mean, 'great' in a bad way?" Followed by:

   Doctor Gregory: Imagine what you could accomplish if you actually did the...
   Buffy: ...the homework thing.



7. Blayne looked like a red-shirt in Star Trek too. He was too annoying to survive unscathed.



8. I really liked Angel here. The bit about his coat? Wonderful. Fork Guy was more interesting (if that's the right word) than Miss French. Maybe 'intriguing' is a better word.



9. I liked it when Buffy and Willow called Xander "young" and "so terribly innocent".



10. I like it that Giles calls Doctor Gregory "civilized".



11. I liked Claw Guy being afraid of Miss French. Reminded me of the Weevil seeing Beth in the Torchwood episode "Sleeper".



12. "Heal" was funny. I sitll find Mr. Flutey sinister, but amusing,



13. Eating crickets. Ugh.



14. Wonderful Giles moment: "Wasn't here, didn't see it, couldn't have stopped you."



15. I like the stuff on Giles' desk.



16. I like the hints of Buffy's attraction to Angel, and Xander's jealousy. "What kind of a girlie name is 'Angel', anyway?

All in all, this is another episode that was so silly and shallow that I'd have stopped watching if people weren't assuring me about how good it gets. I surprised myself by liking Angel this time round; Zander slipped in my estimation; Giles remains adorable and Willow is about the same.

Comments

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Angel is a poodle's name.

If we're talking poodle-love, then we're right back to Torchwood...

Spike is a good name in all ways.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

I must quote this at you. It lacks context and so isn't, really, a spoiler.

"Three-pronged Scythian death spear, category six. Weapons cabinet, third shelf. You know, back in my days as a rogue demon hunter I once used that very spear to pin down what I thought was a small Rodentius demon - of course the poodle's owners weren't very happy."

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

How beautiful! I love it! It reminds me of a Richard Stephenson quote I loved, in which Donald Strachey says he was viciously attacked by "a hyena in a poodle suit".

I hope it was Spike who said the above. I really, really do.

But don't tell me. I'll get there.

(More Buffy-watching with Beulah wil happen tonight.)

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

There is another boy you will probably love. Or, I hope you will love. If you don't love him at first sight, give him chances, he grows up amazingly with time.


Cat says to point out to you that Buffy s4 needs to go with Angel s1 for the crossovers and better understanding.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes. I'm going to be asking people about viewing order when I get to S4.

Another boy? okay.... will I meet him soon?

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

...No.

Not at this rate.

But don't worry. You will love quite a lot of people.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

And another because Cat loves this one, of the several poodle-related quotes:

"Um, I'm not sure you should say 'sex poodle' in your vows. "

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

LOL - where's it from?

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

This one's Buffy.
The other one's Angel.
I took off the speakers' names.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You sneaky devil, you.

I'm enjoying that.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Aw, sweet words would get you anywhere.

Actually my best pimpage worked through quotes. Slipped into a conversation where appropriate, and then credited to Joss. I got some souls taken that way. Souls like quotes.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Souls like quotes

This is the best argument for the notion that I have a soul that I've ever heard.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

See, some day you will get to a point where the line "I have a soul" would make you erupt in giggles, much like Cat is doing right now behind my back.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

...

...

I'll get there.

Soul or no soul.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

LMAO

Cat: DOES SAME