Buffy the Vampire Slayer (3x07) - Revelations

[fajrdrako]

Buffy 3x07 - Revelations

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I think of this as the Gwendolyn Post episode.

1. Willow and Xander are so busy being mutually attracted that they're being awkward. Xander tries to deflect this to talk abut Buffy's own awkwardness, which is basically because he doesn't know that Angel is back. Buffy, distracted? Wouldn't anyone be?
   
   
2. There's a bit of a sexual tease about Buffy/Faith going on - the dating joke, the "Really, we're just good friends." Hmm.
   
   
3. Gwendolyn criticizes Faith and Buffy, in a not-very-nice way. She disses Giles and his library. We do not like her. I predict she'll be (1) bad and/or (2) dead by the end of the episode.
   
   
4. The Labyrinth Maps of Malta. I want to read that.
   
   
5. So the demon Lagos is after something. Why would a demon be named "Lake"? And... I must confess, my reaction was to roll my eyes and think, "Oh no, not another lame-ass demon." Enough already.
   
   
6. Nice dialogue:

   Buffy: Interesting lady. Can we kill her?
   Giles: I think the council might frown upon that.

   Tempting, though. Don't worry, I think some vampire might get her. I can't help thinking it would be nice if it were Angel.
   
   
7. I like the scene where Angel and Buffy do Tai Chi. Especially since I'm planning on taking a course in Tai Chi as soon as possible.
   
   
8. Of course Buffy and Angel want to kiss. They're only human. Or not quite, but close enough.
   
   
9. The glove. Very Torchwood-ish.
   
   
10. Did Xander and Willow think Giles didn't see them kissing? Of course he saw them.
    
    
11. I like Faith's prurient curiousity, when every else is more polite. "You boinked the undead. What was that like?" Well, presumably, in this show, like boinking the living, except souls get lost.
    
    
12. I like Buffy's line, "All the Angel issues are still kind of with me." They sure are.
    
    
13. Gwendolyn is so snotty to Giles: "The pictures are fun to look at, Mr. Giles, but one really ought to read the nice words as well." He, in return, is not above lying: "I can assure you that Buffy is both dedicated and industrious, and I am in complete control of my Slayer."
    
    
14. Xander sees Buffy and Angel kissing. Direct analoque to the other example of illicit kissing, between him and Willow. I suspect Xander is blind to the parallel.
    
    
15. I like Willow's attempts at diplomacy: "This isn't about attacking Buffy. Remember, 'I' statements only. 'I feel angry.' 'I feel worried.'" I don't think this will work with Xander.
    
    
16. Good dialogue:

    Buffy: You were spying on me? What gives you the right? [Well, fighting vampires is their business, and Angel is a vampire... but I'm on Buffy's side in this one.]Cordelia: What gives you the right to suck face with your demon lover again?
    Buffy: It was an accident.
    Xander: What, you just tripped and fell on his lips?

17. And they bring a few unspoken things out into the open:

    Buffy: You would just love an excuse to hurt him, wouldn't you?
    Xander: I don't need an excuse. I think lots of dead people actually constitutes a reason.
    Buffy: Right. This is all nobility. This has nothing to do with jealousy.

    I can't help thinking Buffy is right here.
    
    
18. And Giles, rightly, is furious with Buffy. "You have no respect for me, or the job I perform." He is having a bad day.
    
    
19. Xander plots. Xander tells Faith that Angel is alive and has the glove. Faith has no reason to be sympathetic to Angel.
    
    
20. Gwendolyn compliments Giles. This has to be a bad thing. Yes, she then clobbers him. Again Giles gets hit on the head. He might want to work on his "magical defence against blunt objects" skills.
    
    
21. Interesting dialogue between Willow and Buffy:

    Buffy: It's weird, though. Now that my secret... Angel, it's all out in the open... I feel better.
    Willow: Well, *sure* you do. This big burden's been lifted. I mean, keeping secrets is a lot of work. One could hypothetically imagine.
    Buffy: You have no idea.
    Willow: None whatsoever. But... Can I ask you a question? When you were with Angel and nobody knew about it, did that make it feel, you know, sexier somehow?

    This implies that Willow's attraction to Xander (whatever its past history) is strong because it's secretive and it's trangression and that turns her on. Which says something somewhat surprising about Willow, but it's interesting that she has the self-awareness to know it. And that she is somewhat embarrassed by it but really not ashamed.
    
    
22. And then Willow almost tells Buffy, but they're interrupted by a demon.
    
    
23. We know Willow wouldn't open her SAT test five minutes early. The very idea.
    
    
24. Uh-oh: Angel, don't let Gwendolyn near the glove.
    
    
25. Why didn't Gwendolyn stake Angel? Is hitting people on the head all she knows how to do?
    
    
26. Buffy saves Angel. Yay!
    
    
27. Faith and Buffy fight. This was inevitable, from the first hint of sexiness between them. I sigh at the predictability.
    
    
28. Of course, Xander trusts Gwendolyn. I am out of charity with poor gullible angry Xander.
    
    
29. Good line:

    Oz: Sounds like we missed a lot of fun.
    Xander: Then we're telling it wrong.

30. Another good bit of dialogue:

    Buffy: The place looks nice.
    Faith: Yeah, it's real Spartan.

    She learns fast.
    
    
31. Buffy tells Faith she can trust her. Faith is skeptical. If I were Buffy, I wouldn't be trusting Faith.
    
    
32. Still no Spike. I'm ready to whimper. Really, Gwendolyn was no substitute.
    
    
33. How many revelations do we actually have? Angel is revealed to be alive. Buffy is revealed to be loving him still. Gwendolyn is revealed as a renegade Watcher. Xander is revealed to be jealous of Angel still. No one reveals that Willow and Xander are secretly canoodling. Anything else?
    

Comments

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Xander tries to deflect this to talk abut Buffy's own awkwardness

I will not talk about Xander in this episode, except to say I think it displays all his worst aspects, and I'll leave it at that. (Don't want to rant all over your lj).

There's a bit of a sexual tease about Buffy/Faith going on

I think I mentioned before that their relationship (to and with each other) is intriguing.

I predict she'll be (1) bad and/or (2) dead by the end of the episode.

Correct on both counts. Have a gold star.

Did Xander and Willow think Giles didn't see them kissing? Of course he saw them

And doesn't say anything. Following a policy of non-interference unless it's Buffy?

I suspect Xander is blind to the parallel

Ya think?

Xander: What, you just tripped and fell on his lips?

Screaming great hypocrite! Argh! *restrains self*

I'll just say I hate that scene and move on. Though the scene between Giles and Buffy is marvellous (but painful). She should have told him - I'm thinking she was perfectly right to not tell the others yet considering their reactions, but Giles should have known.

One thing I like about this episode is where it takes Faith. Gwendolyn actually manages to connect with her, drives a little wedge of distrust in about the rest of the gang (not invited to the Angel meeting, after Buffy won't tell her about him) - and then totally betrays her. Given Faith already has obvious issues with trusting other people, it's no surprise this affects her badly.

I also liked that Willow isn't angry with Buffy because she has her own guilty secret and so gets some of how Buffy feels. Unlike Xander.

Xander plots.

The one thing that ever-so-slightly redeems him in this for me is that he's aware enough to know that if it had been Angelus that attacked Giles, Giles would most likely be dead, dying or gone. His hatred hasn't entirely stopped him thinking.

Of course, he then kills it for me again by his manner when Buffy and Willow arrive when he immediately implies it was Angel.

Why didn't Gwendolyn stake Angel?

She didn't know he was a vampire until he stood back up - Giles just said he was a friend of Buffy's.

Which says something somewhat surprising about Willow, but it's interesting that she has the self-awareness to know it. And that she is somewhat embarrassed by it but really not ashamed.

Yeah. I'm in agreement with all of that. Willow has some facets that do not fit at all with the cutesy image.

Faith and Buffy fight. This was inevitable, from the first hint of sexiness between them. I sigh at the predictability.

I like Buffy and Faith fighting. I don't care if it's predictable.

I am out of charity with poor gullible angry Xander

It's nice when Faith smacks him out the way though (sorry, I tried not to complain about him, it was just too diffcult). Okay, I do like that he says he trusts Buffy at the end.

Still. The Faith/Buffy fight aside, not a favourite episode for me.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think it displays all his worst aspects, and I'll leave it at that. (Don't want to rant all over your lj).

I think we have talked about Xander before, and have agreed. As I watch more, I find myself less and less inclined to give Xander the benefit of the doubt - especially since, as time goes by, 'immaturity' become less and less an excuse for bad behaviour.

What's worst, I think, is that he would be surprised to hear that someone thought him petty, mean, and dishonest.

He does get good lines but I don't admire him.

Have a gold star.

So proud! Polishing it as we speak.

And doesn't say anything. Following a policy of non-interference unless it's Buffy?

Files away the information, I think. It's not for him to interfere unless he has a good reason.

Screaming great hypocrite! Argh!

Uh-huh.

I also liked that Willow isn't angry with Buffy because she has her own guilty secret and so gets some of how Buffy feels.

Willow was great in this episode. And she isn't a hypocrite about what's happening between her and Xander - I think she sees rather clearly what she's doing, and enjoys it too much to stop.

he then kills it for me again by his manner when Buffy and Willow arrive when he immediately implies it was Angel.

Any excuse to harm Angel.

She didn't know he was a vampire until he stood back up - Giles just said he was a friend of Buffy's.

Ah - right. I forgot that.

The Faith/Buffy fight aside, not a favourite episode for me.

I like almost all the character interaction, but the plot is too thin to really be interesting.