Buffy the Vampire Slayer (3x03) - Faith, Hope & Trick

[fajrdrako]

Buffy (3x03) - Faith, Hope & Trick

~ ~ ~

The coming of Faith. Now, ever since I've started watching, people have had a lot to say about Faith - always circumspectly, to avoid giving me spoilers, which I appreciate. Even maaboroshi, when she heard how far I'd got, said, "Now you'll have met Faith." And I wasn't sure what to say, because my reaction was, "Yes. So?" Faith does not seem impressive to me. I think I liked Kendra better, and I didn't much like Kendra. I'd thought from pictures I'd seen of Eliza Dushku, she was gorgeous - but Faith isn't.

Yes, I know, this is a Joss Whedon show, where characters change and grow and mutate (if they don't die) and I may come to like Faith. But so far? Hardly.

But I liked Trick, who has style.

1. It starts with a silly Willow scene: she's afraid to break school rules by going off-campus for lunch, even though it's all right now. Considering all the school rules she has broken, considering that she dislikes Snyder as much as anyone, this is strange - but very Willowlike.
   
   
2. Willow shows a moment of tact, not to mention kindness: "Maybe we shouldn't be too couply around Buffy." I like that.
   
   
3. Interesting interplay:

   Cordelia:Oh, you mean 'cause of how the onlyguy that ever liked her turned into a vicious killer and had to be put down like a dog?
   Xander: Can she cram complex issues into a nutshell or what?

   This is reasonably funny, but the interesting thing is that it sounds so much like the interplay Giles and Xander had a little while back, with Xander delivering Giles' line and Cordelia getting his. Interesting role-variation.
   
   
4. I liked Buffy calling Snyder "Snyde-man".
   
   
5. I don't like Scott. Boring guy. Ordinary. The kind of guy Buffy would probably like because she thinks he's "normal". Now, normally on this show, I'd say that destined him to (a) be a witch, demon, vampire, or otherwise evil guy; or (b) be about to be killed, but in this case it might just be to illustrate how Buffy really isn't going to have any luck dating a "normal" person.
   
   
6. Kakistos: another demon whose name make me think of Evil Immortals in Highlander.
   
   
7. Love Mr. Trick eating the fast-food guy. Another variant of the pizza delivery joke. (This of course carries through into Torchwood, in a subtler way.)
   
   
8. Another Buffy dream of Angel. I love this. Have I said that already? Usually I dislike or hate dream sequences in TV shows and movies - don't much like remembering them in real lige, either - but here? They're great. I particularly like this one, with the symbology of the ring. "Go to hell - I did." Oooh.
   
   
9. The meeting with Snyder. He's relenting, and not admititng that Giles' threats might have something to do with it. Love his line: "you provide, in writing, one glowing recommendation from any member of our faculty who is not an English librarian." I like the way Joyce interprets Snyder's change of heart to her approach to the school board, and I love Snyder's last line: "I'm required to educate every juvenile who's not in jail where she belongs."
   
   
10. I love this bit of Buffy-Giles dialogue:

    Giles: Of course it's wonderful that you're back. That goes without saying. But you... enjoy making me say it, don't you?
    Buffy: That and chocolate, what else have I got?

    
    
11. Buffy obfuscates on the story of the death of Acathla. We know why. Giles and her friends don't know what happened. Might Giles have had her confidence earlier if he hadn't been asking her what happened in front of them?
    
    
12. Strange clucking sound. Heh. Is that something we should have noticed, or did Willow imagine it?
    
    
13. I like Oz's comment on Scott: "bonus points for the use of the word "mosey.'" The thought is just so... Oz-like. He's so aware of words. All the time.
    
    
14. So Buffy meets up with Faith, mid-fight. And I'm thinking: This is Faith? This? This character everyone seems to like, who seems so cheesy? Who doesn't look nearly as pretty as the pictures I've seen of the gorgeous Eliza Dushku? She seems so rough and tough and sleazy. Just calling Buffy "B." put me off a little. But she's intriguing.
    
    
15. I love this exchange for its character contrast (and because it's just plain funny):

    Faith: God, I could eat a horse. Isn't it crazy how slayin' just always makes you hungry and horny?
    Buffy: Well... Sometimes I-I crave a nonfat yogurt afterwards.

16. Faith says, " I figured this was my chance to meet the infamous Buff and compare notes." Who has been talking to her about Buffy? Obviously Giles has not been talking to Buffy about Kendra and Faith and the other watchers.
    
    
17. Faith says to Oz, "As long as you don't go scratchin' at me or humpin' my leg, we're five-by-five, you know?" What does "five-by-five" mean?
    
    
18. Faith thinks Giles is hot. She's right. I like his reaction to her comments - "leaving aside for a moment my, uh, youth and beauty..."
    
    
19. Mr. Trick and the pizza boy. I love this stuff. Kakistos is just another nasty, but Mr. Trick is great.
    
    
20. I like Faith's description to Joyce of why she loves being a Slayer: "Well, when I'm fighting, it's like the whole world goes away and I only know one thing: that I'm gonna win and they're gonna lose. I like that feelin'." It says a lot about her.
    
    
21. And I love Buffy's line: "I'm just getting my life back. I'm not looking to go halfsies on it."
    
    
22. And it does seem that Faith like hitting vampires a little too much. I don't understand Buffy's comment to Giles about it: "The girl's not playing with a full deck, Giles. She has almost no deck. She has a three." What's a three?
    
    
23. So Scott tries to give Buffy a Claddagh ring just like Angel. Bad, bad idea.
    
    
24. What did Kakistos do to Faith's Watcher?
    
    
25. Buffy tells Giles about Angel's death. And he is sympathetic, and she feels better for having told someone.
    
    
26. Buffy agrees to go out with Scott (I can't help thinking it's a bad idea) and leaves her ring from Angel in the crypt. Then he appears. Fetchingly naked. Did the ring summon him? or did Buffy, somehow? What kind of magic is going on here?

Comments

[teaphile.livejournal.com]

Faith does change from this episode. I don't ever find her likeable, but she has a few admirable traits, for someone who is so broken.

What does "five-by-five" mean?

I believe it's an old radio code, meaning you're receiving on all channels.

What's a three?

Like the playing card?

Did the ring summon him? or did Buffy, somehow? What kind of magic is going on here?

Ugh. Sometimes the magic in this show is just inexplicable. I don't think there's any kind of logic behind his reappearance.

[flautopiccolo.livejournal.com]

[What does "five-by-five" mean?]

[I believe it's an old radio code, meaning you're receiving on all channels.]

It is indeed an old radio code, "loud and clear." I found a Wikipedia entry for it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_by_five

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Don't you just love Wikipedia? It's so useful! For all sorts of things.

[flautopiccolo.livejournal.com]

Yes, Wikipedia is great. We still do use our printed World Book, though, which is handy for resolving dinner table discussions.

I also love learning new vocabulary from Buffy - another similarity to Dorothy Dunnett!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I use Wikipedia and the various online dictionaries a lot (especially Chambers), but nothing beats the actual reference books - which I'm always running to, much to the amusement of my friends - over dinnertime conversation.

But I like the way Wikipedia keeps things up to date. And we seldom watch a movie in which someone doesn't want to check something or someone out on Internet Movie Database (http://www.imdb.com/).

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't ever find her likeable, but she has a few admirable traits, for someone who is so broken.

I assume the storyline will explore her brokenness?

I believe it's an old radio code, meaning you're receiving on all channels.

Got it now! Thanks.

Like the playing card?

Ah - right. That makes perfect sense but I didn't get it. (Can I plead sleepiness? Too much obsession over Captain Jack Harkness? Brain glitch? Busy weekend?)

Sometimes the magic in this show is just inexplicable.

So I noticed.

I don't think there's any kind of logic behind his reappearance.

Or any explanation? The show manages not to make that look cheap, but... Ah well, I guess the ways of hell are strange.

[liliaeth]

On one hand, Faith does get more complex, but on the other, I'm one of those people who've never grown a liking for her. But that's just me, I can't stand Willow either. It's an acting thing mostly.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Faith does get more complex,

Good.

'm one of those people who've never grown a liking for her.

Fair enough. TV is littered with character that I don't like but other people do.

I can't stand Willow either.

I sometimes have mixed feelings about Willow, which I'm mostly not talking about here. An acting thing, as you say. I like her lines and I generally like her character but sometimes she's a little too precious. I pretend (to myself) that I don't notice. I really dislike her voice, too.

But I've managed to sort my reactions out in such a way that these things - all part of "why I never watched the show in 1997" - don't bother me.

[liliaeth]

My problem with Alyson Hannigan is that she tries to hard to be cute and ends up being cutesy instead, which rather annoys me. That and the voice which tends to sound like nails on chalkboard to me.

(I was kinda starting to wonder if I was the only person who had a problem with her voice, cause most other people don't seem to notice it*g*)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

she tries to hard to be cute and ends up being cutesy instead, which rather annoys me

I can see that. I like the character and the idea of the character so I'm able to put on my cutesy-blinders and pretend I don't notice. But sometimes, just sometimes, I find myself thinking, "Good think I like this character, because if I didn't like her she'd drive me nuts." And for years I didn't want to watch because of the young underweight cutesiness of the female characters.

And her voice - well, can't really ignore it, I just try not to think about it.

And I call myself a Willow fan! But it's in spite of these things.

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

This is Faith? This? This character everyone seems to like, who seems so cheesy? Who doesn't look nearly as pretty as the pictures I've seen of the gorgeous Eliza Dushku? She seems so rough and tough and sleazy.

Wait. :D

Faith says, " I figured this was my chance to meet the infamous Buff and compare notes." Who has been talking to her about Buffy?

Wait. :D

What does "five-by-five" mean?

We understand one another perfectly. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_by_five)

"The girl's not playing with a full deck, Giles. She has almost no deck. She has a three." What's a three?

Deck of cards. She has one card, and it's a low card.

Did the ring summon him? or did Buffy, somehow? What kind of magic is going on here?

Wait. :D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Wait. :D

Yes, ma'am.

Wait. :D

Will do.

"Five by five" - oh. I wouldn't have guessed! Thanks.

She has one card, and it's a low card.

Ah. Right. Yes. Makes sense now.

I'm waiting - and watching! Onward.

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

I've caught up again.

Mr. Trick is great. Yes, he has style. I suppose we'll keep him for a while. Help cover Spike withdrawal. Spike withdrawal. Now there's a graphic concept. Unintentional.

She seems so rough and tough and sleazy. Yes. But I see all these "Wait"s above.

Buffy tells Giles about Angel's death. And he is sympathetic, and she feels better for having told someone. Buffy tells Giles after he has been grilling her for information he needs for this spell he's putting together to bind Acathla. Which Willow again asks to help with after this moment. But there never was such intention. Wily Giles.

Then he(Angel) appears. Well, looking forward to a whole series titled "Angel", I suppose something had to happen. I know. Wait.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've caught up again.

Well done!

I suppose we'll keep him for a while. Help cover Spike withdrawal.

Hardly a fair trade, but so much better than nothing!

Spike withdrawal. Now there's a graphic concept. Unintentional.

LOL. Don't encourage me! I don't need encouragement!

Wily Giles.

See why I love this man?

looking forward to a whole series titled "Angel", I suppose something had to happen.

Yes. There wouldn't be much point to a show without its own main character, would there?

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

See why I love this man? I think he's my favorite character. Thanks for the Ross video link. My wife wanted to know what it was that had me chuckling and snorting.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think he's my favorite character.

He's quite wonderful, isn't he? And has such good lines.

My wife wanted to know what it was that had me chuckling and snorting.

Hmm, I suspect I come under the category of "a bad influence" on you. So proud!

[abrakadabrah.livejournal.com]

Faith has a lot of energy. She's an energizer bunny of show energy. She livens things right up.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The show is already lively; but you're right. Faith is a whirlwind.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

I'm not a Faith fan. But not because of the "rough and tough and sleazy". I'm good with rough and tough and sleazy. What I have problems with comes much later.

Faith thinks Giles is hot.

...Having said that, I seem to be writing quite a lot of Faith pornage for someone who wants to write her under anvils rather than under Ripper. Complexities, I has them. Or, cheap porn, I used to has it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm good with rough and tough and sleazy.

I... hmm. I don't have any problem with rough and touch and sleazy if it's an interesting character. It's just that so far I don't see more to Faith than that, and it's not very interesting. But I suspect there will be more to her than that.

What I have problems with comes much later.

We'll see what I think when the time comes.

...Having said that, I seem to be writing quite a lot of Faith pornage for someone who wants to write her under anvils rather than under Ripper.Complexities, I has them.

One of your more charming characteristics.

Or, cheap porn, I used to has it.

What, have you given it up for the sake of your sanity? I hope not!

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Writing properly. I no longer has it :(

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Writing properly. I no longer has it

Yeah, me too. What happened to us? Waaaaah!

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

It's not just us, it's some other people too. I've got a theory - this line will be amusing some years from now, when you reach the right moment - I got a theory that says there's an evil fairy about taking all of people's writingness.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

And ultimately giving it back, I hope.

Or a good fairy that will go and fight for our sakes.

[isagel.livejournal.com]

I don't particularly like Faith as a person, but I love the fucked-up relationships she develops with various characters on the show. She is, as someone said above, broken, and the ways in which she connects with people are not healthy, and there is something raw and gut-twisting, yet oddly delicate about how the show explores this. Perhaps it's not so much Faith herself who's interesting, but rather the contact surfaces where she rubs up against the rest of the cast, what the friction she causes tells us about them, what choices they end up making about her and because of her. In particular, this is true of Angel and Buffy and a character you haven't met yet. There are some horrifying, beautiful, breath-stealing moments coming up involving Faith (most of them quite a ways down the line) that have remained among my all time favourite tv moments.

Also, I do find Eliza Dushku oh so hot.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

love the fucked-up relationships she develops with various characters on the show

Ah-hah! I'm sure I will lvoe that.

there is something raw and gut-twisting, yet oddly delicate about how the show explores this

You know, I think I can see this already. Certainly the 'raw and gut-twisting', because there is something painful in Faith's strength and openness.

not so much Faith herself who's interesting, but rather the contact surfaces where she rubs up against the rest of the cast, what the friction she causes tells us about them

Excellent! my favourite kind of thing.

There are some horrifying, beautiful, breath-stealing moments coming up involving Faith (most of them quite a ways down the line) that have remained among my all time favourite tv moments.

I look forward to this.

I do find Eliza Dushku oh so hot.

That too, assuming I do, which I think I will.... Just (disappointingly) not yet. On the cusp, maybe. It astounds me that I often find Buffy hot, which I never expected to, at all.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Yay, Faith! I guess you already know I like her. As a character initially I think I didn't at all, but by the end she has one of the most interesting stories for me. And she definitely keeps things lively.

Willow shows a moment of tact, not to mention kindness: "Maybe we shouldn't be too couply around Buffy."

I like Oz's "Prepare to uncouple... uncouple".

I don't like Scott. Boring guy. Ordinary. The kind of guy Buffy would probably like because she thinks he's "normal".

Yeah. What I like about it is how enthusiastic Willow is, though I have a niggle about how she should really leave Buffy alone to work through things with no pressure.

Kakistos: another demon whose name make me think of Evil Immortals in Highlander

I never thought of that! Another in the long line of evil names beginning with K.

Might Giles have had her confidence earlier if he hadn't been asking her what happened in front of them?

I don't think so. She's not ready to tell anyone yet. And he only asks in front of Willow, who she tells at the same time as him later anyway.

She seems so rough and tough and sleazy. Just calling Buffy "B." put me off a little. But she's intriguing.

Yes, she is. And I like the bit about horny and hungry as well. She's much more rough and ready than Buffy is and I love that Buffy is so embarrassed by the comment.

Obviously Giles has not been talking to Buffy about Kendra and Faith and the other watchers.

But poor Giles, not getting invited to the Cotswolds. Either there is some interesting dynamics between the rest of the Watchers and Giles (maybe they're jealous he got a Slayer, maybe they disapprove of him) or maybe he doesn't get to go because he has an active Slayer and so is assumed to have other priorities. Faith is lying about her Watcher being invited after all.

One thing that bugs me a bit is after the last episode where everyone is apparently okay again, Buffy's friends and mother practically abandon her as soon as Faith appears. And if they told Faith that Buffy "oughta deal and move on but you're not" that also bugs me. Give the girl some space!

I do like how Buffy and Faith face off, particularly "Why are your lips still moving, "F"?"

So Scott tries to give Buffy a Claddagh ring just like Angel. Bad, bad idea

Yeah, and also, am I the only one who finds that gesture a little creepily intense? Who gives someone they barely know a ring? I wouldn't react well to that if it was me, even if it didn't remind me of killing my ex.

What did Kakistos do to Faith's Watcher?

More horrific that we don't know, I think.

I really like how Mr Trick stops the other vampire from helping Kakistos because he's too old fashioned and won't pay for cable. I like Mr Trick's style.

Buffy tells Giles about Angel's death. And he is sympathetic, and she feels better for having told someone.

Giles is a wily one. He knew she was holding something back and that it was hurting her.

Did the ring summon him? or did Buffy, somehow? What kind of magic is going on here?

Magic with a sense of irony. Don't think about it too hard.

part 1

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I guess you already know I like her. As a character initially I think I didn't at all, but by the end she has one of the most interesting stories for me.

Cool! This is good. I like that kind of character. Rose was like that for me in Doctor Who and I came to love her.

she definitely keeps things lively.

Oh, right. Like this was ever a static show that needed something to liven it up.

But you're right, she's an interesting wild card thrown into the picture. We've come to know the regular characters and she's like a firecracker suddenly in the mix, and you never know when she'll go off.

I have a niggle about how she should really leave Buffy alone to work through things with no pressure

Yes, but Willow is just so enthusiastic - and so wants to help, or to see thigns go better for Buffy. She's also one of those people who, with the kindest of intentions, just likes to interfere. Especially when she cares about people.

Another in the long line of evil names beginning with K.

Yes. For some reason this really amuses me. I know lots of people named Kathy and Kristy and Kevin and the like who are perfectly nice. But beware the evil overlords of K on television!

I love that Buffy is so embarrassed by the comment.

I thought that was a good moment. All that adrenalin and no place to go. Buffy squirmed a little. She must have been thinking, "Yes, but I wouldn't say that out loud!"

Either there is some interesting dynamics between the rest of the Watchers and Giles (maybe they're jealous he got a Slayer, maybe they disapprove of him) or maybe he doesn't get to go because he has an active Slayer and so is assumed to have other priorities.

Given Giles' attitude, my suspicion is that there are some kind of politics going on among the Watchers - perhaps personal history or friction. Perhaps Giles' former bad-boy days count against him. (But of course it's an advantage, too.) And I don't expect Giles is very... tractable. Or compromising. If he and others had differing views on how things should be, they might well resent his strength of conviction. And he would resent anyone whose ego or ambition got in the way of their work.

How do you get chosen to be a Watcher, anyway? Is there an application process? Or is it the Finger of Fate, like with Slayers, and a person is simply approached and appropriated?

part 2

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Faith is lying about her Watcher being invited after all.

Giles doesn't call her on it. But then - he wouldn't.

Buffy's friends and mother practically abandon her as soon as Faith appears. And if they told Faith that Buffy "oughta deal and move on but you're not" that also bugs me. Give the girl some space!

And time. Yes. But... one thing this show often does is to work on an exaggerated scale, sometimes when it doesn't have to. Overkill. Making points too strongly. On the whole I like this as a storytelling technique - it's dramatic! - but sometimes, as here, it misfires and the characters look either stupid, or unlikely. (As with the party situation in "Dead Man's Party".) Usually, it works surprisingly well. Which makes the awkward bits show up a little more.

I do like how Buffy and Faith face off, particularly "Why are your lips still moving, "F"?"

That was wonderful.

am I the only one who finds that gesture a little creepily intense? Who gives someone they barely know a ring? I wouldn't react well to that if it was me, even if it didn't remind me of killing my ex.

No, it really was over the top. If they'd been already dating for a few months, or friends for a long time, or something, it would have been fine, but for someone you aren't even dating yet - ? Well, I can write it off to Scott just being young and clueless and not realizing how pushy it would seem, but it didn't endear him. And it led to that beautifully dramatic moment.

More horrific that we don't know, I think.

No doubt. And it might even seem anticlimactic if we knew - the important thing is the effect it had on Faith.

I like Mr Trick's style.

And his dialogue! He's wonderful. I like the way he combines the practical, the canny, and the arcane.

Giles is a wily one.

And he seems to understand Buffy so well.

Magic with a sense of irony.

I like that kind. In this case, anyway.

[swsa.livejournal.com]

Hello, I've been lurking on your LJ and enjoying your Buffy entries very much. So not to be too stalkerish, but I did want to say that I think quite a few people don't really get the Faith thing. For myself, I enjoyed her arc in S4 to a degree, but I've never been impressed by Eliza Dushku and kind of feel like Faith is bad cliches piled on top of bad cliches. So no, you weren't alone in your initial reaction. I also tend to think that a lot of the Faith worship is from people who have never been the biggest Buffy fans, and so they enjoy a character who is less of a goody two-shoes, and less with the occasional forays into self-righteousness. I love Buffy, because of her flaws even, so that likely also makes Faith more of a yawner for me.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've been lurking on your LJ and enjoying your Buffy entries very much.

I'm so glad! and glad you said 'hi'.

I've never been impressed by Eliza Dushku and kind of feel like Faith is bad cliches piled on top of bad cliches.

The hints of 'troubled past' don't do much to explain her; I find her rather unmotivated in her actions. It's interesting to see that there is no special moral imperative that comes with being a Slayer, which makes me wonder: why don't Slayers in general get all monomaniac and take advantage of their powers for personal gain and glory? Why dedicate themselves to an unwanted fate?

Perhaps Slayers usually have a good moral code, but Faith is broken. Maybe the demon who killed her Watcher did something to her mind.

Anyway, your comments on Faith are interesting, and I look forward to seeing what I make of her in season 4. By the end of season 3 (which is where I am now) she's quiet entertaining, but one-dimensional - which, to be frank, I find to be Joss Whedon's greatest writing flaw. He often creates characters in broad strokes and never bothers to fill in the details. The result being sort of cartoonish.