Buffy the Vampire Slayer: When She Was Bad (2x01)

[fajrdrako]

Seems like a long time since I watched this episode, but it was only Tuesday. It's been a busy week.

Now, I liked this one, but didn't find it as memorable or gripping as "Prophecy Girl". Still: the show had a lot more of a smooth flow and comfortable pacing than even a few episodes ago in season 1.

1. The opening scene with Xander, Willow and the ice cream cone was really nice. So Buffy's been away with her Dad, Willow and Xander have been bored, and they're playing guess-the-movie-quote. They're better at it than I am. I'm much better at guess-the-Dunnett-quote.

2. Xander re Buffy: "Please, I'm so over her. Did she, uh, mention when she might be
gettin' back? About which I do not care." So unconvincing.

3. So Xander does the ice-cream-on-the-nose scene from "Witness", which just happens to be one of my favourite movies ever. The scene also reminds me of the paint-on-the-nose scene in the Highlander episode "Chivalry", in which Duncan MacLeod does it to Methos. My favourite Highlander episode. This moment has good resonances for me.

4. Doesn't work out so well for Willow, though. Buffy turns up, with a vampire in tow. So much for the romantic interlude.

5. Buffy: "Hi guys. Miss me?" Again like Captain Jack Harkness in "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang" - "Hi, kids, ya miss me?" Captain Jack watches the right sort of television. Obviously. How else would he know his cultural references?

6. Xander: Well, it's been a slow summer. I mean, that's the first vampire we've seen since you killed the Master.
Buffy: It's like they knew I was coming back.

Did they? I found this a little... ambiguous, if not confusing. If the vampires knew when Buffy was coming back, wouldn't they have tried to have their fun earlier, while she was away? While the cat's away the mice will play? Or is Buffy just being paranoid, and it's coincidence? Or did it take this long for the vampires to reorganize themselves after their loss of the Master?

7. I liked this passage:

Buffy: So, how did you guys fare? Did you have any fun without me?
Xander: No.
Willow: Yes!

8. So Buffy was distant with her father. Is she depressed?

9. Cordelia didn't like Tuscany? Cordelia is nuts! Even if shopping is all you're into, the shopping in Florence is terrific.

10. Good Cordelia line, though: "No one has suffered like I have. Of course I think that that kind of adversity builds character. Well, then I thought, I already have a lot of character. Is it possible to have too much character?" There's some interestingly ironic extratextual nuances there.

11. Wonderful exchange:

Snyder: It's incredible. One day the campus is completely bare. Empty. The next, there are children everywhere. Like locusts. Crawling around, mindlessly bent on feeding and mating. Destroying everything in sight in their relentless, pointless desire to exist.
Giles: I do enjoy these pep talks.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love Giles?

12. The overlap of Snyder's diatribe about adolescent hormones and Giles going all hormonal over Jenny Calendar is funny. Including his "Might as well be talking to myself" after Giles has gone. I wonder if Calendar is using magic on Giles. I don't much like them together but I like the last bit of conversation:

Jenny: You probably spent all summer with your nose in a book.
Giles: Yes. I suppose you'd consider that frightfully dull.
Jenny: Depends on the book.

13. Giles re the Hellmouth: "Well, it's, it's closed, but not gone. The mystical energy that emanates from it is still concentrated in this area." This reminds me of the sort of confusing double-message we get about the Rift in "Torchwood" - 'we closed it up but it's more unstable than ever' - right! Have it both ways, why don't you?

14. Xander puts it more clearly: "we're still the undead's favorite party town."

15. So Buffy is all sort of tense and crabby and still freaked by the Master. I guess she's earned her mood, but she's more fun when she's her normal self.

16. As vampires go, I like Absolom. He's worth twenty Masters and then some. Too bad the Anointed Kid is still around. Why doesn't someone get rid of him, and soon?

17. So Giles attacks Buffy, tries to kill her, and turns into the Master. Dream. Right. More nightmares. Buffy needs a shrink or pills or something. Is this PTSS?

18. Buffy is snarky to Angel. She really *is* in a bad mood. Get a grip, girl.

19. Buffy tells the others about Angel's visit.

Willow: Angel stopped by? Wow. Was there... Well, I mean, was it having to do with kissing?
Buffy: Willow, grow up. Not everything is about kissing.
Xander: Yeah. Some stuff's about groping.

I could be said to be starting to really like Xander.

20. Wonderful dialogue, especially Buffy's punchline:

Cordelia: Oh, look, it's the Three Musketeers.
Buffy: Was that an insult?
Xander: Kinda lacked punch.
Willow: The Three Musketeers were cool.
Cordelia: I see your point.
Xander: I woulda gone with Stooges.
Cordelia: Well, I just meant that you guys always hang out together. So, did you guys fight any demons this summer?
Willow: Uh, yes! Our own personal demons.
Xander: Uh, such as, as, as lust and, uh, thrift!
Buffy: I would have to go with Stooges also.

21. Buffy calls Cordelia a moron to her face. Not cool. As Willow says: "She's never been mean." And Buffy says to Angel: "Could you contemplate getting over yourself for a second?"

Now, the interesting thing there is that Buffy in her out-of-character crabby/depressed state is defining the 'real' Buffy by giving us a sort of 'mirror universe' Buffy. It's as if Joss is exploring the character by showing us what she isn't.

22. And frankly, she has every reason to be less than thrilled to see Angel. Under the circumstances. But... we also know that she cares, and she doesn't normally vent her frustrations on the innocent and the well-meaning.

23. So Cordelia gives Buffy advice on making friends and influencing people. Everything is the opposite of what it seems. It would be more interesting if it had more significance. "Buffy's in a really bad mood today" just doesn't seem like much of a plot.

24. The best line of the whole episode is Giles':

Snyder: There are some things I can just smell. It's like a sixth sense.
Giles: No, actually that would be one of the five.

Oh how I love Giles! And then he really comes through:

Snyder: That Summers girl. I smell trouble. I smell expulsion, and just the faintest aroma of jail.
Giles: Well, before you throw away the key, you might consider giving her the benefit of the doubt. She may surprise you.
Snyder: You really have faith in those kids, don't you?
Giles: Yes, I do.

25. I was hoping no one would ever, ever, ever even mention the Master again. And now they're messing with his bones. Groan. Vampires have no taste. They can't even tell a bad cliche from a good one. Can't they go find someone more interesting to dig up? No, that would be too much to ask.

26. Good Willow line:

Buffy: I can't do it anymore. I can't look after the three of you guys while I'm fighting.
Willow: Well, what about the rest of the note?
Buffy: What rest of the note?
Willow: The part that says, 'P.S. This is a trap'?

27. Buffy to Angel: "I don't trust you. You're a vampire. Oh, I'm sorry, was that an offensive term? Should I say 'undead American'?" Somehow that isn't as funny as it ought to be.

28. So Buffy challenges Angel to a fight and he turns her down. I was thinking: "Uh, guys, you already played that game. You couldn't hurt each other. Remember? Been there, done that already?" It just goes to show: anger makes you stupid. But we know that already, no revelation.

29. I really liked the scene of Buffy putting her cross in the vampire's mouth. Powerful.

30. I really do like Absalom. "For the old one. For his pain. For the dark." The Master made that kind of line sound silly. Absalom makes it sound cool and creepy.

31. The fight is dull but Xander gets a good line:

Giles: Where's Buffy?
Xander: She's working out her issues.

32. Finally Buffy smashes up the Master's bones and cries. And Angel holds her. Very romantic. That *almost* made the story worthwhile.

33. Cute Giles-Buffy dialogue:

Giles: Punishing yourself like this is pointless.
Buffy: It's entirely pointy. [That is totally a Firefly line. It really is.] I was a moron. I put my best friends in mortal danger on the second day of school.
Giles: What are you gonna do? Crawl inside a cave for the rest of your life?
Buffy: Would it have cable?

I'm not sure whether the problem was in the idea or the execution: it's still a lightweight story. Buffy's in a bad mood, lashes out, then regrets it. Without much cause and effect, let alone resolution.

34. As usual, Giles has the best bit: "Believe me, that was hardly the worst mistake you'll ever make. Uh, that wasn't quite as comforting as it was meant to be."

35. So of course Xander and Willow aren't mad at Buffy, they're just glad to see she's herself again, and everyone has bad days. So.... that's it? That's the intro to the second season? Okay, it isn't terrible, it isn't as bad as most of the first season in terms of writing and pacing, but I'd had my hopes set up for something punchier. It's anticlimactic after "Prophecy Girl".

Comments

[ceruleancat.livejournal.com]

Giles re the Hellmouth: "Well, it's, it's closed, but not gone. The mystical energy that emanates from it is still concentrated in this area." This reminds me of the sort of confusing double-message we get about the Rift in "Torchwood" - 'we closed it up but it's more unstable than ever' - right! Have it both ways, why don't you?

That's a very real duality there. Like a volcano. There's stuff boiling under the surface and when it reaches a certain level of bubbling, it needs an outlet. And the weak spot that was once open is usually more likely to give.


Is this PTSS?

That's what I always thought.


As usual, Giles has the best bit: "Believe me, that was hardly the worst mistake you'll ever make. Uh, that wasn't quite as comforting as it was meant to be."

Can't fault his logic though. He has a lot of good lines in this ep. I like the boy.


So.... that's it? That's the intro to the second season? Okay, it isn't terrible, it isn't as bad as most of the first season in terms of writing and pacing, but I'd had my hopes set up for something punchier. It's anticlimactic after "Prophecy Girl".

Told you. First eps of seasons are weaker and the finales go boom.
But think how much better this ep is from some of the first eps on S1.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

the weak spot that was once open is usually more likely to give.

Sure. Ongoing danger builds, climaxes, defuses, builds again... It gives them closure and continuance at the same time. Sort of like real life.

He has a lot of good lines in this ep.

He does indeed.

But think how much better this ep is from some of the first eps on S1.

Yes. Pretty much infinitely better.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

I'm actually pretty fond of this episode, mean!Buffy and all.

So Xander does the ice-cream-on-the-nose scene from "Witness"

I feel so bad for Willow later when she tries to repeat the moment and just gets "You've got something on your nose" in response.

I found this a little... ambiguous, if not confusing. If the vampires knew when Buffy was coming back, wouldn't they have tried to have their fun earlier, while she was away?

Well, the meta answer is that Buffy series tend to follow the school year so we never see what happens in the summer break. Though I think this is the only one where they say there weren't any vampires around for a while. Personally I'd go for the idea that they were lying low because of the big defeat and being careful - just because Xander and Willow haven't seen any doesn't mean there aren't any in town. Plus I don't see how they would know that Buffy was away.

Or is Buffy just being paranoid

Yes. Or more feeling that her life in Sunnydale is all about the monsters.

So Buffy was distant with her father. Is she depressed

PTSD. The girl died after all. Hence all the inappropriate anger and pushing people away, and a lot of fear. She knows she can lose now.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love Giles?

All Giles bits with Snyder in this are fantastic, especially the sixth sense exchange.

Willow: The Three Musketeers were cool.
Cordelia: I see your point.

I'd forgotten about that bit until I rewatched. I really like how they have a conversation about Cordelia's insulting form and she agrees it wasn't that great - it's just so bizarre.

"Buffy's in a really bad mood today" just doesn't seem like much of a plot.

Well, the plot is really "Buffy gets closure from the whole being killed thing", and like I said, I like this episode. Buffy messes up and makes mistakes and acts out - and then she pulls it together and moves on. And did you notice that Giles was the only one who was giving her space? I think he knew exactly what was up with her from the bit with the training.

I really do like Absalom. "For the old one. For his pain. For the dark." The Master made that kind of line sound silly. Absalom makes it sound cool and creepy.

Absalom was cool. Shame he got burnt to a crisp so quickly really.

The fight is dull

Darn it, and I was just going to ask if you'd noticed the choreography improve from last series! I get the feeling that you're not really watching for the kicking moves though.

Buffy's in a bad mood, lashes out, then regrets it. Without much cause and effect, let alone resolution.

She does nearly get most of her friends killed, and then has a mini-breakdown. But yes, after a finale episode it does seem a bit more lightweight. The first episodes tend to be more resetting the scene than showstoppers - they catch you up to where everyone is and tidy up any loose ends from the previous finale.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm actually pretty fond of this episode, mean!Buffy and all.

Despite what I see as a weakly-structured plot, I liked it too.

I was just going to ask if you'd noticed the choreography improve from last series!

Cinematography and choreography have both improved. No more cartwheels without obvious purpose! They could work on fight-concepts a little more, though.

I get the feeling that you're not really watching for the kicking moves though.

Well, no, but I might be, if the fights were done in a different way. I like martial arts movies. So far the fights just haven't been very interesting. This isn't really a complaint; you're right, I'm watching for character and story. What I like about the fights so far is Buffy's determination and spirit.

She does nearly get most of her friends killed

I think I didn't quite get that. I know it's what she and Xander thought, but really, she isn't to blame for vampire strategies. Put another way: is this so different from any other episode? I don't see her really being more culpable here than at any other point.

I didn't think it was lightweight, just unstructured. It was, if anything, rather too heavy - the weight of the world on Buffy's shoulders, and she can't figure out how to handle it except to fight, and her bitterness shows through.

I felt sorry for her father.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

I think I didn't quite get that. I know it's what she and Xander thought

It comes from the way she refuses to work with the rest and goes marching off to what she thinks is a trap for her. If she had stayed to strategise about the incredibly obvious trap, or let the others go with her, it would have gone differently.

But you're right, she isn't really to blame for what the vampires do.

So far the fights just haven't been very interesting

There are some fights that I remember as being very good. They do continue to improve.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

If she had stayed to strategise about the incredibly obvious trap, or let the others go with her, it would have gone differently.

I get that. But I don't see it as the 'fatal mistake' that the show seems to accept it as. Time and again she's got into trouble both with their accompaniment and without it. This time it went against them; I don't see that it's her decision that made all the difference. Her way might have worked out better, given what she (and they) knew at the time.

[gillo]

The first episode of each season is basically about Buffy trying to define her own identity, come to terms with what being a Slayer means and how to integrate it into the rest of her life. In this one she's had a summer away, with a father who is a disappointment to her in a lot of ways, and after the fear of

Prophecy Girl

she's had time to convince herself that she needs to be hard and distant in order to get the job done without endangering others.

This Slayer is different, though - she has friends and family, which most Slayers don't. And her true strength comes from connection with them, a message she has to relearn frequently, because all the Slayer lore has it that as the "one girl in all the world" she

should

be solitary. In a way it's an exploration of solipsism.

5. Buffy: "Hi guys. Miss me?" Again like Captain Jack Harkness in "Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang" - "Hi, kids, ya miss me?" Captain Jack watches the right sort of television. Obviously. How else would he know his cultural references?

We certainly know what the TW writing team have watched. A lot. You will keep on recognising bits from KKBB for some while.

8. So Buffy was distant with her father. Is she depressed?

He's not really part of her life any more - and all the most important things that happened to her over the year are off the agenda, conversation-wise.

Now, the interesting thing there is that Buffy in her out-of-character crabby/depressed state is defining the 'real' Buffy by giving us a sort of 'mirror universe' Buffy. It's as if Joss is exploring the character by showing us what she isn't.

Buffy herself has to find out how she works too. She's still only sixteen - most girls that age are not very clear on who and what they are. And feel alone and disoriented in many cases.

Have I mentioned lately how much I love Giles?

It's just possible you've mentioned it.

I could be said to be starting to really like Xander.

It's just possible we told you so.

32. Finally Buffy smashes up the Master's bones and cries. And Angel holds her. Very romantic. That *almost* made the story worthwhile.

It's all about the metaphor here.

it's still a lightweight story. Buffy's in a bad mood, lashes out, then regrets it. Without much cause and effect, let alone resolution.

See above, re metaphor. It's not as strong as later episodes in the season, admittedly - Joss is still trying to hook in new viewers for a new season too, so there's bound to be some recapping.

"Believe me, that was hardly the worst mistake you'll ever make. Uh, that wasn't quite as comforting as it was meant to be."

Nope. And too, too true. As you will see.

::rushes off to see responses on SunnydaleU too now::

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The first episode of each season is basically about Buffy trying to define her own identity, come to terms with what being a Slayer means and how to integrate it into the rest of her life.

Interesting pattern! I like that. Hadn't seen it yet, having only seen the one season.

In this one she's had a summer away, with a father who is a disappointment to her in a lot of ways

He is? No, don't explain. I take it this theme will be revisited?

In a way it's an exploration of solipsism.

Yeah... needs a little fine-tuning at this point, though. Play it too strong and Buffy just looks self-pitying and bitchy.

It's all about the metaphor here.

You lost me on that. Which metaphor? I thought this scene was about releasing and rediscovering emotion - putting aside the defenses of anger and isolation and allowing warmth, love, consolation, release, vulnerability, grief. So - metaphor?

[khavrinen.livejournal.com]

16. As vampires go, I like Absolom. He's worth twenty Masters and then some. Too bad the Anointed Kid is still around. Why doesn't someone get rid of him, and soon?

I read something back when I was going through my own Buffy binge about five years ago that said Joss Whedon had originally intended for the kid to be the big bad-guy for this season. Then somebody realized that having an immortal, "unchanging" vampire portrayed by an actor who might start puberty any day now wasn't terribly practical, so they had to come up with something else, and he doesn't last too many more episodes.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Joss Whedon had originally intended for the kid to be the big bad-guy for this season.

Oh dear. Couldn't he even pick a kid with a personality?

Then somebody realized that having an immortal, "unchanging" vampire portrayed by an actor who might start puberty any day now wasn't terribly practical

LOL. I quite like the idea of 'the evil child', but this kid seems about as threatening as vanilla pudding. He'd be scarier if he had charm.

he doesn't last too many more episodes.

Glad to hear it!

[jackarono.livejournal.com]

>>Too bad the Anointed Kid is still around. Why doesn't someone get rid of him, and soon>>

Your wish is my command. :) Just wait till you see ... One of the great quotes ever, btw, accompanies fulfilling your wish.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Wonderful!!

[star-momma.livejournal.com]

So of course Xander and Willow aren't mad at Buffy, they're just glad to see she's herself again, and everyone has bad days. So.... that's it? That's the intro to the second season?

Season 2 is all about the resolution... and the introduction of Spike. Honestly, if Season 2 did nothing else, giving us Spike would STILL make up for it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Spike? Coming up soon? Oh happy day. (My Spike-senses are tingling already.)