Buffy the Vampire Slayer: What's My Line, Part 2 (2x10)

[fajrdrako]

Comments on the second part of "What's My Line", which certainly had some interesting situations.

So Buffy fights Kendra, each believing herself to be The one and only Slayer. Oops.

I wonder if there's a hellmouth in Jamaica. I wonder if we'll ever see Kendra again, or meet up with Sam Zabuto, her Watcher. It's the first time (that I recall) that another watcher besides Giles has been mentioned by name.

1. Why does Kendra have no last name? Why does Buffy think that having no last name is being 'stuck in the 80s'?
   
   
2. Buffy says: "Back off, pink ranger!" Made me laugh.
   
   
3. Love Giles' line: "With Buffy, however, some flexibility is required."
   
   
4. Kendra says, "Mr. Zabuto said all the signs indicate that a very dark power is about to rise in Sunnydale." What, darker than we've already seen? Darker than the Master? Darker than the Anointed One? (Not so hard.) Darker than Spike? Okay, bring it on. Nice foreshadowing.
   
   
5. So Willy takes Angel out of his cage and sells him to Spike. Very cool. I like this.
   
   
6. Spike being flirty:

   Willy: What are you gonna do with him anyway?
   Spike: I'm thinkin' maybe dinner and a movie. I don't want to rush into anything. I've been hurt, you know.

   I love this.
   
   
7. Cordelia says to Norman, "Do you have anything in raisin? I know you wouldn't think so,
   but I'm both a winter and a summer." This is one of her funniest lines yet. I almost feel sorry for poor old Norman the Worm Guy.
   
   
8. So Xander and Cordelia hide in Buffy's basement. Why doesn't Norman follow them? I suppose because he's looking for Buffy: they really aren't his prey.
   
   
9. Wonderful Willy line: "I swear on my mother's grave! Should something fatal happen to
   her, God forbid."
   
   
10. Good exchange:

    Buffy: I don't take orders. I do things my way.
    Kendra: No wonder you died.

    I like the whole contrast of Kendra as militaristic duty-girl, so earnest about her Slayer work, and Buffy's more conflicted attitude. I also like the touch of Buffy being jealous because she thinks Kendra is what Giles would like her to be.
    
    
11. More delightful dialogue between Spike and Drusilla:

    Drusilla: I was dreaming.
    Spike: Of what, pet?
    Drusilla: We were in Paris. You had a branding iron. And there were worms in my baguette.

    
    
12. Love the hints of personal history when Drusilla calls Angel "my Angel" and says "You've been a very bad daddy." Oooh.
    
    
13. So Giles thinks Drusilla is the dark power foreseen by Zabuto. Hmm.
    
    
14. I love Buffy's shock on hearing there is a Slayer's Handbook: "Handbook? What handbook? How come I don't have a handbook?" and Giles' casual summation: "the handbook would be of no use in your case." (Perhaps he lacks respect for the handbook himself? Or simply respects Buffy's independent spirit?)
    
    
15. I hate it when Buffy talks about wanting a normal life.
    
    
16. Love the fight between Xander and Cordelia that ends with them kissing. Classic romantic comedy stuff. Threfore predictable, but such fun. And they are both so horrified! They thought they were in a different sort of story.
    
    
17. I like the way that oz gets excited over his music.
    
    
18. So Order of Taraka Assassin #3 is the cop at the Career Day. Cool. But on the whole, the Order of Taraka doesn't live up to its advance billing. Spike must be disappointed. Maybe an Order gets stale after a few millennia? Turns into scar-guy and worm-guy and bad-shot-cop and lacks its former badass killer qualities?
    
    
19. Why is Kendra so shy and respectful with Xander? I'm not sure he knows what to make of her, after the initial 'pretty girl' reaction.
    
    
20. I liked Xander's line: "Angel's our friend. Except I don't like him." Nicely expresses his mixed feelings.
    
    
21. I missed the 'holy water' label on Drusilla's potion so I was at first confused as to what she was torturing Angel with. Anyway, this all contains interesting hints about Angel's past (especially his shared past with Drusilla) without ever being specific.
    
    
22. Buffy suggests watching "something from the Ringwald oeuvre." I heard this as "Ringworld" and was thinking Larry Niven. Realize now it's Ringwald, as in, presumably, Molly. Whatever happened to her?
    
    
23. Xander made me laugh again: "I am the bug man, coo coo ka choo."
    
    
24. Interesting interchange between Spike, Angel, and Drusilla, with Angel clearly baiting Spike over Drusilla, though we don't know what's behind his comments. Or at least... I don't. I don't think there's something I missed, I think this is more clues towards future developments. Nice scenes anyway of vampire anger and jealosy. I take it that Angel is trying to tease Spike into staking him so his death won't help Drusilla.
    
    
25. Kendra says to Buffy, "We can't stop dis ritual alone!" Why not? Because it seems Buffy isn't strong enough to take Spike down? Because she'll be outnumbered?
    
    
26. Interesting: Eligor isn't just a made-up-Whedon demon, he's one of the Great Dukes of Hell.
    
    
27. Mostly I don't like rites and rituals but I love the way Spike does this. "Restore your most impious, murderous child." Nice. And I love the way the heavy rite gets its own Spikelike twist from dark spell into humour:

    Spike: From the blood of the sire she is risen.
    
    From the blood of the sire, she shall rise again.
    
    Right, then! Now we just let them come to a simmering boil, and remove to a low flame.

    As is typical with Spike, he does it, and he does it right, but he does it in his own way.
    
    
28. And then one of those brilliant, classic Spike moments:

    Spike: It bugs me, too, seeing him like that. Another five minutes, though, and Angel will be dead, so... I forebear. Don't feel too bad for Angel, though, he's got something you don't have.
    Buffy: What's that?
    Spike: Five minutes.

    
    
29. And the exchange between Spike and Buffy is almost heartwarming:

    Spike: I'd rather be fightin' you anyway.
    Buffy: Mutual.

    
    
30. Compared to the rest of the episode I didn't much like the fight scene, but I did like seeing Giles come in with the crossbow. Have we seen him with a weapon before? Not that I recall. I like that.
    
    
31. I couldn't believe that Giles et. alia didn't dig up Spike's and Drusilla's bodies from under the organ and stake them. What were they thinking? That it was better to escape and fight another day? Don't they know you can't leave defeated vampire enemies just lying around? Don't they know they always come back, worse than ever? What lame comic books are those people reading, anyway?
    
    
32. Lovely line from Oz: "I don't do thanks. I get all red. Have to bail. It's not pretty." His whole animal cracker dialogue is cute. Oz is quite endearing, and has developed a personality rather quickly. "All monkeys are French." Seems to me there ought to be something really profound in that.
    
    
33. So Xander and Cordelia fight again and kiss again and it's all quite delightfully according to pattern.
    
    
34. As Kendra leaves she and Buffy have an interesting and friendly conversation, but I don't get a sense they are simpatico even then - it's more like mutual respect.
    
    
35. Of course Drusilla and Spike survive. ...And are we supposed to believe that Drusilla now has her full power and is a dark and dangerous force? I look forward to it.

Comments

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Why does Buffy think that having no last name is being 'stuck in the 80s'?

Um, Madonna, Sting, Bono...

What, darker than we've already seen? Darker than the Master? Darker than the Anointed One? (Not so hard.) Darker than Spike? Okay, bring it on

Muahahahaha! I suspect that Mr Zabuto means Dru - but your comment made me think about what's coming up.

Wonderful Willy line: "I swear on my mother's grave! Should something fatal happen to her, God forbid."

Willy is rather good. He's one of those incidental characters that occasionally makes a reappearance.

I like the whole contrast of Kendra as militaristic duty-girl, so earnest about her Slayer work, and Buffy's more conflicted attitude. I also like the touch of Buffy being jealous because she thinks Kendra is what Giles would like her to be.

Yeah. Kendra is a kind of mirror for Buffy - I think she's meant to reflect what Buffy could have been if the Council had got to her early enough and cut her off from her friends. She's really more the ideal of a Slayer from the Council's POV and that is one of the reasons why Buffy is so very lucky that she got Giles as her Watcher because he doesn't try to force her into that mould.

personal history when Drusilla calls Angel "my Angel" and says "You've been a very bad daddy." Oooh.

Oh yeah. You're really going to like some of the stuff in later eps. Also, if you look at the credits you will observe that these episodes were written by Marti Noxon who has a well-known penchant for putting Angel in chains while shirtless.

"the handbook would be of no use in your case." (Perhaps he lacks respect for the handbook himself? Or simply respects Buffy's independent spirit?)

I think probably the latter. Giles is fairly pragmatic - I think he sees that the way Buffy operates works and so isn't interested in having a big struggle to change that.

Love the fight between Xander and Cordelia that ends with them kissing. Classic romantic comedy stuff. Threfore predictable, but such fun. And they are both so horrified!

That scene makes me laugh every single time. It's the sweeping romantic music on the soundtrack that gets me, and their decision that facing the bug man is preferable to kissing each other.

So Order of Taraka Assassin #3 is the cop at the Career Day

Did you notice that the kid she took hostage was Jonathon? And Oz was cool in that scene.

Why is Kendra so shy and respectful with Xander?

Unlike Buffy, Kendra has been brought up to respect male authority? Or possibly she just really isn't used to meeting boys.

I like the scene between Buffy and Kendra when they're talking about emotions and fighting technique, particularly the way Kendra sharpens the knife when Buffy starts to get to her.

Interesting interchange between Spike, Angel, and Drusilla, with Angel clearly baiting Spike over Drusilla, though we don't know what's behind his comments. Or at least... I don't.

I thought it was fairly obvious - Angel is taunting Spike by suggesting that Drusilla prefers Angel as a lover. He's not very subtle about it - "maybe you two just don't have the fire that we did" - and it very nearly works and gets Spike to kill him. Spike doesn't think very clearly when he gets emotional.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Madonna, Sting, Bono...

The tradition both pre- and post-dates the 80s, but Buffy mightn ot realize that.

Willy is rather good. He's one of those incidental characters that occasionally makes a reappearance.

Yay! I was hoping we'd see him again, and hoping no one would eat him.

if you look at the credits you will observe that these episodes were written by Marti Noxon who has a well-known penchant for putting Angel in chains while shirtless.

I can't complain, though I think I prefer Angel with his shirt on.

Giles is fairly pragmatic - I think he sees that the way Buffy operates works and so isn't interested in having a big struggle to change that.

Very sensible of him.

Did you notice that the kid she took hostage was Jonathon?

No. I still don't recognize him on sight. Thanks for pointing it out.

Angel is taunting Spike by suggesting that Drusilla prefers Angel as a lover.

Well, yes, that part is obvious enough. It's the 'what set up this relationship' that isn't.

Spike doesn't think very clearly when he gets emotional.

I love Spike.

part 2

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Kendra says to Buffy, "We can't stop dis ritual alone!" Why not? Because it seems Buffy isn't strong enough to take Spike down? Because she'll be outnumbered?

Because they are setting Willy up? I think that it is part of the plan, but that Kendra probably believes most of what she says. I don't see how the rest could have found the curch like that if they hadn't arranged for Buffy to be bait and follow her and Willy at a distance.

the exchange between Spike and Buffy is almost heartwarming:
Spike: I'd rather be fightin' you anyway.
Buffy: Mutual

Heh. That's a good moment. I have a theory that Spike likes his fights to be personal.

His whole animal cracker dialogue is cute. Oz is quite endearing, and has developed a personality rather quickly.

Oz is definitely endearing. I'm very fond of him. He has a few lines in the future that make me go all melty - oh, and that one about Willow having the sweetest smile he's ever seen. Aaaaaw. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that the bit about the crackers ended up being improvised as well.

As Kendra leaves she and Buffy have an interesting and friendly conversation, but I don't get a sense they are simpatico even then - it's more like mutual respect

Yeah, sounds about right. They aren't friends, but they get each other I think.

Of course Drusilla and Spike survive

One of my very favourite images is Drusilla carrying Spike out of the church like a ragdoll. I'm pretty sure they framed it deliberately to look religiously iconic as well - what are those statues of Mary holding Christ's body called, Pieta? Reminds me a bit of that.

Re: part 2

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't see how the rest could have found the curch like that if they hadn't arranged for Buffy to be bait and follow her and Willy at a distance.

That all makes sense to me.

I have a theory that Spike likes his fights to be personal.

So it seems. Another good reason to love Spike.

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that the bit about the crackers ended up being improvised as well.

Very clever, then!

I'm pretty sure they framed it deliberately to look religiously iconic as well - what are those statues of Mary holding Christ's body called, Pieta? Reminds me a bit of that.

Yes, that's all there, and I love it all.

Re: part 2

[flautopiccolo.livejournal.com]

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<<I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that the bit about the crackers ended up being improvised as well.>>

I really enjoyed that animal crackers bit.

Marti Noxon mentions in the commentary that the end of the animal crackers conversation was ad libbed. You can see exactly how much was ad libbed by looking at the script (which is also on that DVD).

Re: part 2

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's nice to see that they could do that so cleverly. It added so much to Oz's charm.

[omnivorously.livejournal.com]

How long has it been since we've had a conversation? Nothing since Dead Man Walking or whatever that episode was called. It's like I broke up with someone that you're still friends with XD

I still think Ianto is SUCH a cutie, though. That nose. That accent. That usage of 'avant garde'.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's like I broke up with someone that you're still friends with XD

Hee. Well, I've been lying low, because The Foot doesn't leave me with much energy.

Ianto is a cutie. In a lot of ways. For some reason, I particularly love him in "Meat" with the stun-gun and the steely look.

[omnivorously.livejournal.com]

One doesn't observe that confluence of well-dressed and bad-ass any day of the week!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes - it tempts me to go back and watch again. Ianto at his best.

[gillo]

Of course Drusilla and Spike survive. ...And are we supposed to believe that Drusilla now has her full power and is a dark and dangerous force? I look forward to it.

Originally, it seems, Spike was intended to die under the organ, but Marsters did such a good job and the character was so popular that he was reprieved. For another six years, as it happens...

Spike being flirty:

Willy: What are you gonna do with him anyway?
Spike: I'm thinkin' maybe dinner and a movie. I don't want to rush into anything. I've been hurt, you know.

I love this.

Me too. So cool and snarky as well as evil.

love the hints of personal history when Drusilla calls Angel "my Angel" and says "You've been a very bad daddy." Oooh.

We will find out a lot more about this over the years.

Love the fight between Xander and Cordelia that ends with them kissing. Classic romantic comedy stuff. Threfore predictable, but such fun. And they are both so horrified! They thought they were in a different sort of story.

They are both deeply ashamed of their lust and their relationship embarrasses each of them.

Interesting interchange between Spike, Angel, and Drusilla, with Angel clearly baiting Spike over Drusilla, though we don't know what's behind his comments. Or at least... I don't. I don't think there's something I missed, I think this is more clues towards future developments. Nice scenes anyway of vampire anger and jealosy. I take it that Angel is trying to tease Spike into staking him so his death won't help Drusilla.

"Jealous vampire crap" will be a recurring issue.

Spike: I'd rather be fightin' you anyway.
Buffy: Mutual.

Yes, there is a connection there.

I couldn't believe that Giles et. alia didn't dig up Spike's and Drusilla's bodies from under the organ and stake them. What were they thinking? That it was better to escape and fight another day? Don't they know you can't leave defeated vampire enemies just lying around? Don't they know they always come back, worse than ever? What lame comic books are those people reading, anyway?

They have a sick Angel to look after, and fire and organ-crushing in a church with all those crosses around probably seemed pretty permanent.

Oz is quite endearing, and has developed a personality rather quickly. "All monkeys are French." Seems to me there ought to be something really profound in that.

Oz does laconic and superficially profound extremely well. I love Oz.

(I love Spike more, though.)

Glad you're back on track with these. You have some wonderful episodes in your near future.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Spike was intended to die under the organ, but Marsters did such a good job and the character was so popular that he was reprieved. For another six years

I'm glad to hear it, because Spike is way, way too good to lose.

They are both deeply ashamed of their lust

But enjoy it when it's happening.

Oz does laconic and superficially profound extremely well. I love Oz.

So far, he is quite endearing.

(I love Spike more, though.)

Spike is The Best. And better all the time.

Glad you're back on track with these.

It's just a matter of energy and stamina. Working on it. Might be able to do the next one today.

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

Why is Kendra so shy and respectful with Xander?

I'd say formal rather than respectful. She's not supposed to have anything to do with boys - comment she makes later on.

I couldn't believe that Giles et. alia didn't dig up Spike's and Drusilla's bodies from under the organ and stake them.

But - but - but they're on everyone's favorite list. Can't have that! OTOH, tell that to Mal and Book . . .

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

She's not supposed to have anything to do with boys - comment she makes later on.

Yes - Xander must seem like a strange creature. I am reminded of a novel I once read in which the (tenn-aged) heroine had never seen a man. When she meets one - she's quite appalled by how odd he is.

But - but - but they're on everyone's favorite list.

Point.

Can't have that!

I hope not.

OTOH, tell that to Mal and Book . . .

Whimper.

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

And that's not Mal, that's, who, Wash? And I've seen that movie several times. Time to trade in brain for new model. But, at least, current version is enjoying Buffy. And your comments.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I mourn for Wash. I'd like to pretend the events of the movie Just Didn't Happen, for his sake.

Well... Book too.

[ceruleancat.livejournal.com]

Dark force - Comments like that are rather open to interpretation. We don't really know what parts of the future plot were already planned for and to what degree. Personally, I don't think he was referring to Dru actually, whatever Giles might have thought.

The handbook - I like the idea that Giles doesn't think much of it. It would be in line with other things. Regardless, he's good at evaluating what he's dealing with and going with the practical rather than the traditional.

Giles with crossbow - Lovey! Always like Rupert displaying fighting skills he must possess if he's to train the slayer.

I couldn't believe that Giles et. alia didn't dig up Spike's and Drusilla's bodies from under the organ and stake them.

Very remiss of them, but perfectly understandable from a meta perspective.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

[Sorry - I had to log in again]

Dark force - Comments like that are rather open to interpretation.

Yes. It's so vague it's open to any kind of interpretation - especially if you factor in that the cards (or whatever oracular method) might not be accurate; and the events following the prediction might also change its outcome.

he's good at evaluating what he's dealing with and going with the practical rather than the traditional.

It's one of the things he's good at. I love that. I'm not too impressed with 'tradition' these days.

Giles with crossbow - Lovey!

A wonderful moment.

Very remiss of them

I am of course very happy about the lapse. Wouldn't want to lose Spike and Dru. The other vampires - good riddance.

[ceruleancat.livejournal.com]

he's good at evaluating what he's dealing with and going with the practical rather than the traditional.

He was never to keen on the council, was he.

I'm not too impressed with 'tradition' these days.
Can't say I ever was. Not if 'tradition' is all it has going for it.

Giles with crossbow - A wonderful moment.

Wait 'till you see him with a sword...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Wait 'till you see him with a sword...

Oh, what a wonderful mental image! I can hardly wait.