Buffy 3x14 - Bad Girls

[fajrdrako]

Okay, this episode caught my attention right off with Faith talking with Buffy about having sex with Xander. Faith doesn't have a lot in the way of inhibitions, does she? She not only is fairly outspoken, but seems unaware that other people tend to be more discreet. She thinks Buffy is strange because Buffy doesn't have sex with her friends? Or talk about it? Looks to me as if Faith is the one who is somewhat unusual.

Not that there's anything wrong with being 'unusual'. Especially when you're a slayer.

1. It's clear that Faith sees sex as a sort of unromantic thing. Is this cynicism or emotional frigidity? Incapacity or defensiveness? Or just the way she prefers it?
   
   
2. I totally loved the way this exchange went:

   Buffy: I think it ruins friendship to do that stuff.
   Faith: You think too much.
   Buffy: Hey. There's one more.
   Faith: How do you know?
   Buffy: I think too much.

   
   
3. I like Buffy calling Faith "Miss Attention Span".
   
   
4. Okay, okay, when Joss is dumb he's dumb but when he's inspired he is truly inspired. The Mayor says, "I just love the Family Circus! That P.J., he's getting to be quite a handful." That has got to be one of the most brilliant bits of off-the-wall characterization in the whole series. Characterizing Marmaduke as 'unsanitary' is good, but much more what we've been led to expect from the Mayor. Good characterization on Trick's part, too: "Nobody can tell Marmaduke what to do. That's my kinda dog."
   
   
5. We get set-up for the Dedication. Ominous. But I like the way that it's becoming a heavy plot thread this much in advance of the end of the season.
   
   
6. Buffy and friends are looking at their college admission correspondence. Another great Oz line:

   Xander: ...I'm just expecting thin slips of paper with the words 'No Way' written in crayon.
   Oz: They're typing those now.

   I don't know if it's just Oz's sense of humour or his sense of absurdity or his sense of the surreal but I love his lines so much. And this reminds me - digression here: I've been reading Terry Pratchett's Feet of Clay which has conversations betweenAngua the Werewolf and Cheery the Dwarf, only Cheery doesn't know Angua is a werewolf, so she says things like 'I think werewolves are the most terrible creatures, don't you?' and it reminds me of the episode in which we first learned Oz was a werewolf, and he was afraid to tell Willow.
   
   
7. Cordelia at her snarkiest: "That's so cute! Planning life as a loser? Most people just turn out that way, but you're really taking charge." If I didn't know better, I'd think Cordelia was challenging Xander to prove her wrong.
   
   
8. Wonderful Willow line: "Chemistry's easy. It's a lot like witchcraft, only less newt." You know, the phrase "chemistry is easy" has never passed my lips and never will. I'd be more likely to go for the newts.
   
   
9. Wesley. My first reaction was: he's cute. My second reaction: very cute.
   
   
10. Conversation between Wesley and Giles:

    Wesley: I have, in fact, faced two vampires myself. Under controlled circumstances, of course.
    Giles: Well, no danger of finding those here.
    Wesley: Vampires?
    Giles: Controlled circumstances.

    So what are 'controlled circumstances' when it comes to vampires? When they're asleep? drugged? chained? in circumstances like those that were supposed to happen in "Helpless"?
    
    
11. Wonderful first meeting of Buffy and Wesley:

    Wesley: It's very nice to meet you.
    Buffy: Is he evil?
    Wesley: Evil?
    Buffy: The last one was evil... Is he evil?
    Giles: Not in the strictest sense.

    Moments and lines like this make me love Giles so very much.
    
    
12. And I love Buffy's report:

    Buffy: Vampires.
    Wesley: Yes?
    Buffy: Killed 'em.

    
    
13. I was mildly annoyed with Buffy and Giles for being difficult with Wesley when I think he's cute. But I loved Faith's reaction to him:

    Wesley: This is perhaps Faith.
    Faith: New Watcher?
    Buffy and Giles together: New Watcher.
    Faith: Screw that.

    
    And she walks out.
    
    
14. Cute, though, when Wesley and Giles start making the same actions. And Giles gets self-conscious about it.
    
    
15. More amulet stuff. I am not excited. Somehow in this show, it seems to me, whenever amulets turn up, things get boring. Not that I've anything (theoretically) about amulets. The Story of the Amulet by E.Nesbit was one of my favourites books when I was a kid.
    
    
16. Faith's reckless philosophy of life: "Who said I had a plan? I don't know how many's down there, but I wanna find out. And I'll know when I land. If you don't come in after me I might die!" So Buffy follows her.
    
    
17. Good Buffy line: "I hate it when they drown me."
    
    
18. Wesley miscalculates: he tries to come between Giles and Buffy.

    Wesley: From now on, anything you have to say about slaying you will say to me. The only thing you need discuss with Mr. Giles is overdue book fees. Understood?
    Buffy (to Giles): We'll talk.
    Giles: Of course.
    Wesley: You're not helping.
    Giles: No. I feel just sick about it.

    If Wesley really doesn't want Giles interfering with Buffy, I'm not sure why he's discussing things with her in Giles' library with Giles there. I suspect what Wesley wants is to have Giles and Buffy both on his side, and business as usual. And what Giles and Buffy really want is business as usual without Wesley's interference.
    
    
19. Buffy's acting a little infatuated with Faith ("juiced", maybe, to use Faith's term) and it makes Xander's eye twitch. Then Buffy walks out on the test. Willow is shocked. (And rightly so.)
    
    
20. Buffy and Faith dancing at the Bronze. Very sexy. The femslash subtext is being slathered on with a heavy trowel. I'm not sure how conscious of this Buffy is. Faith... well, she's just in character as a bad influence and girls just wanna have fun.
    
    
21. Balthazar is typical of the kind of Buffy villain I don't like, but he does have some good dialogue: "I see fear... and remorse... and the pitiful look of faces that cry out for mercy! But what I *don't* see is what I *want* to see, AND THAT'S... MY... AMULET!" I like the way Buffy calls him "one big demon in desperate need of aStairmaster."
    
    
22. Faith breaks into a store to steal the weapons she needs. Why does this so closely remind me of Jack O'Toole and his zombie pals from only last episode? Good dialogue:

    Buffy: Think they're insured?
    Faith: Strangely, not my priority.

    But despite her qualms, Buffy starts to enjoy herself. This reminds me of the young Giles.
    
    
23. Balthazar throws another hissy fit. I almost like this guy.
    
    
24. Good Willow line: "Give me time, and I may be the first wicca to do all my conjuring in pine fresh scent." If I were her, I'd stick to lavender.
    
    
25. And Willow feels cast aside for Faith.
    
    
26. So then Allan is killed by Faith. Oops.
    
    
27. I liked Wesley up till the time he got captured. Then he turns into a coward. I'm not happy about that.
    
    
28. "His name is Angel." What a lovely entrance.
    
    
29. A villainous demon whose horrific utterance is "This is unacceptable!" This sort of thing is the reason I love this show.
    
    
30. Glies rescues Wesley. That's kind of... sweet.
    
    
31. So the Major is... just as he wants to be. Cut him in two and it doesn't phaze him. Reminds me of a laundry soap ad. (I'm not sure why. Maybe it's becuase "messy things happen but everything's okay because Tide will get out the stains and everything will be as new.") I like Wilkin's to-do list.
    
    
32. I am embarrassed that the Mayor likes root beer. That's my drink. It isn't as good as Kinnie, but it's the best of the North American soft drinks.
    
    
33. Faith says she doesn't care that she killed a man. Is this a change - is she becoming worse? Or was she always so careless and Buffy never noticed? Is this her way of rejecting Buffy? Well - it is at least a way of rejecting Buffy's values.
    
    
34. I miss Spike.
    

Comments

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Wesley's just a child in this one. "Controlled circumstances", indeed. And he's alone, no support from the others, and frightened, and very much unprepared for all of this. And tries to be authoritative when he doesn't have a shred of authority in him - yet.

The problem with comic relief characters is that people tend to forget that those characters are people too.

[beccaelizabeth]

*nods*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think Wesley's quite wonderful.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

And tries to be authoritative when he doesn't have a shred of authority in him - yet.

Does this mean there are better times ahead for him? I hope so!

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

He gets to grow up... the Joss way. *ominous*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You tease!

[atheneunknown.livejournal.com]

I find myself doing the 'I miss Spike' through every episode he's not in.

Wes never did grow on me the way I wished he had. Hes a good actor for it I guess.

He's also married to Willow in real life. Which is just kinda weird when you think on it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I took to Wesley right away, and was somewhat irritated with the others for being mean to him. Except Giles. His attitude was just right.

He's also married to Willow in real life. Which is just kinda weird when you think on it.

Why is that weird? Or will I understand as I watch more?

[luthien.livejournal.com]

I love Wesley, even in this first innocent, annoying appearance. He's the only character in the entire Buffyverse that I ever wanted to write. As with so many of the characters, he turns out to be more than he appears at first - or proves/finds out through circumstances that there's more in him than other people might want to believe, at least.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think there's a lot there! Now, I can see why the others resent Wesley - he's been sent to replace Giles, and they all know there's no replacing Giles. But still. I liked Wesley at once, and despite his panic under pressure, still do.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

She thinks Buffy is strange because Buffy doesn't have sex with her friends?

I think she doesn't get the concept of platonic friends very well. Or possibly just the concept of friends.

It's clear that Faith sees sex as a sort of unromantic thing. Is this cynicism or emotional frigidity? Incapacity or defensiveness?

Personally, I think it is cynicism and defensiveness all mixed up. She can't let people get too close because they'll just end up betraying her anyway... she thinks.

I like Buffy calling Faith "Miss Attention Span".

I always liked: "'The count of three' is not a plan. It's Sesame Street."

We get set-up for the Dedication. Ominous

I like the set up of Allan not quite being in line with the Mayor. He likes the wrong cartoon for a start, and then he actually suggests postponing the Dedication. In hindsight, it's a hint he maybe isn't totally on board with the evil plan.

Cordelia at her snarkiest

And a possible hold-over from The Zeppo where Xander snarks back but then lets it go as soon as she leaves - a slight bit of maturity?

Wesley. My first reaction was: he's cute. My second reaction: very cute

Fun facts about Alexis Denisof:
1. He's actually American
2. He was once in a play with Anthony Head and John Barrowman (!)
3. He was also in a Highlander episode (so was Tony Head, but sadly not the same one)

I enjoy Wesley - he is mainly comic relief but he does have other depths. Plus it helps that his presence gives Giles such very good lines and opportunities for sarcasm.

I also like Wesley's comment about Giles checking his credentials: "rather thoroughly... and phoned the Council" and his reaction to Buffy still asking if he's evil. Slightly peeved, but keeping going anyway.

I also like the Buffy/Faith conversation just after Faith walks out:
"Hey, slaying's what we were built for. If you're not enjoying it, you're doing something wrong."
because Faith isn't off base with that, and Buffy does almost admit it. The issue between them is where the line is drawn between being built for it and going so far into enjoying it that they forget that being a Slayer isn't just about killing.

And Faith, at this point, has a much more attractive life philosophy of being Slayer than the Council (as represented by Wesley). It makes sense that Wesley's presence pushes Buffy more towards Faith's side of the line.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think she doesn't get the concept of platonic friends very well. Or possibly just the concept of friends.

Only too true.

She can't let people get too close because they'll just end up betraying her anyway... she thinks.

Both defensive and brittle.

"'The count of three' is not a plan. It's Sesame Street."

Brilliant.

it's a hint he maybe isn't totally on board with the evil plan.

Yup. He's more than a little out of step, and hence in a danger zone.

Fun facts about Alexis Denisof:
1. He's actually American

Hee! A cute one.

2. He was once in a play with Anthony Head and John Barrowman (!)

Rent, right? No, wait, it must have been Bent. Or Rope? Eee! One of those monosyllabic titles.... I've seen pics. Not enough pics. I want more. I want to see the whole show. With them. All of them. That's rich pickings for one stage at one time.

3. He was also in a Highlander episode (so was Tony Head, but sadly not the same one)

Which one? And which one was Tony Head in? I must have seen it - I saw them all, some of them many, many times - but I wouldn't have known either of them at the time.

it helps that his presence gives Giles such very good lines and opportunities for sarcasm.

I like anyone who plays well with Giles.

Slightly peeved, but keeping going anyway.

I imagine he doesn't have a lot of options. It's like a schoolteacher with an unruly class starting out new in September. Soldier on and persevere.

The issue between them is where the line is drawn between being built for it and going so far into enjoying it that they forget that being a Slayer isn't just about killing.

And of course, who the target is, and who it isn't.

It makes sense that Wesley's presence pushes Buffy more towards Faith's side of the line.

Good point. The choice between fascism and anarchy. Faith is offering Buffy fun while Wesley's trying to be authoritatian.

2 of 2

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Buffy's acting a little infatuated with Faith ("juiced", maybe, to use Faith's term) and it makes Xander's eye twitch. Then Buffy walks out on the test. Willow is shocked. (And rightly so.)

And also expressing a rare appreciation for being a Slayer rather than a normal girl. I think Xander is twitching over Faith in general though and not Buffy's mad crush.

Incidentally, I love how Faith draws a heart with a stake on the window to get Buffy to leave. Not subtle at all!

Buffy and Faith dancing at the Bronze

I really like how Angel shows up and Buffy just goes after him - it is not her usual behaviour with him at all. And I love them talking around Wesley and leaving him out of the loop. Poor boy.

But despite her qualms, Buffy starts to enjoy herself. This reminds me of the young Giles

This scene also contains one of the most quoted lines: "Want. Take. Have." I see that so much - especially on icon posts.

I like how Buffy is essentially such a good girl still under the adrenaline. The police showing up really goes a long way to snapping her out of Faith's tempting perspective and back to her reality and the guilt of the escape from the police car finishes it off because she really isn't into hurting people.

Ooh, Giles and Wesley actually arguing is a good bit, especially Giles finally losing his temper:
"If you want to criticize my methods, fine. But you can keep your snide remarks to yourself and while you're at it, stop criticizing my methods!"

So then Allan is killed by Faith. Oops

Yeah. So the question of the day is: if it had been Faith who did the throw and Buffy who went to stake, would Buffy have been able to stop herself in time? Or to put it another way, did Allan die because Faith was so into the fight she wasn't paying attention? She's been reckless and on the edge of control in fights all along - how much of it was malign chance and how much was down to her differences from Buffy as a Slayer?

I liked Wesley up till the time he got captured

But doesn't it make Giles look absolutely supercool in comparison? I have to say I adore the way Wesley says "But… I like to have… my kneecaps…" I mean, who doesn't?

A villainous demon whose horrific utterance is "This is unacceptable!"

His hissy fits were fun. And he gets a killer last line "When he rises… you'll wish I had killed you all." Because we know he's talking about the Mayor, and they don't.

Faith says she doesn't care that she killed a man. Is this a change

I think it is complete denial. She looks like she cares when she goes back for the body - she just can't admit it because then she has to deal with it, and she's too isolated from the rest of them to see them as help or as even likely to be on her side.

I miss Spike

Like I don't know you've been watching season 4 already. Cheater.

Re: 2 of 2

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I love how Faith draws a heart with a stake on the window to get Buffy to leave. Not subtle at all!

No, not at all, and kind of cute.

I love them talking around Wesley and leaving him out of the loop. Poor boy.

I've been really enjoying all the Xander scenes.

This scene also contains one of the most quoted lines: "Want. Take. Have." I see that so much - especially on icon posts.

I think I've seen it - I'll now know where it comes from.

if it had been Faith who did the throw and Buffy who went to stake, would Buffy have been able to stop herself in time?

My guess is that the answer is 'yes'. It isn't a mistake Buffy has ever made, and we've seen scenes of her fighting vampires, twirling to attack a figure behind her, and stopping just before steaking Giles or Xander or some other friend. A Slayer has that kind of control, normally. Faith doesn't, probably because she doesn't care.

In any case, the point is intent/reaction, not so much the deed itself, but I think the real point is that Buffy is careful and Faith is not.

Or to put it another way, did Allan die because Faith was so into the fight she wasn't paying attention?

I'm not sure Faith didn't know, on some level, exactly what she was doing. Allan may have been human but he was working with vampires and demons. So killing him isn't in the Slayer's job description but it isn't against her interests, either.

The show has made vampires into people, often sympathetic people, to such an extent that I'm not sure the human/vampire dichotomy is as great as Buffy thinks. But a Slayer would have to believe it was, or, like Faith, she'd over the edge.


I miss Spike

Like I don't know you've been watching season 4 already. Cheater.

Hee - but it's true. I miss him whenever I'm not seeing him.

Re: 2 of 2

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

It isn't a mistake Buffy has ever made, and we've seen scenes of her fighting vampires, twirling to attack a figure behind her, and stopping just before steaking Giles or Xander

Interesting point. I like the idea that Faith doesn't have that control because she doesn't care enough.

I'm not sure Faith didn't know, on some level, exactly what she was doing

I don't think I agree with that though. They don't find out the Mayor is a bad guy until the next episode - and even if they had known, I don't think they would have had time to recognise Allan as the Mayor's aide in the alley. At that point he's just a random human.

I don't know I agree with the vampires being often synpathetic either - I agee that Spike, Dru and Angel are but they also make explicit in the show that Spike, Dru and Angel are unusual for vampires in various ways. And even then, it's clear that Spike and Dru and Angelus (if not Angel) are sadistic killers. I love Spike, but he's as likely to try to kill you as not and probably torture you for the fun of it too.

The human/vampire dichotomy is perhaps a topic best left for another time though. I do agree that the Slayer has to keep a black and white view of it in order to perform her role and stay sane.

[gillo]

Wesley. My first reaction was: he's cute. My second reaction: very cute.

He adapts and changes more than almost any other character in the Buffyverse, though mostly in

Angel

. He's adorable and heartbreaking - a marvellous actor. His accent is superb - way better than Spike's.

Though I don't think he's quite so hot

.

Moments and lines like this make me love Giles so very much.

Giles is wonderful.

If Wesley really doesn't want Giles interfering with Buffy, I'm not sure why he's discussing things with her in Giles' library with Giles there. I suspect what Wesley wants is to have Giles and Buffy both on his side, and business as usual. And what Giles and Buffy really want is business as usual without Wesley's interference.

He's just terribly inept and naive at this point in his life, trying to cover uncertainty with bluster.

Faith says she doesn't care that she killed a man. Is this a change - is she becoming worse? Or was she always so careless and Buffy never noticed? Is this her way of rejecting Buffy? Well - it is at least a way of rejecting Buffy's values.

I think she does care a bit but is determined not to face teh reality of what she's done by confronting it. I agree that it's a way of rejecting Buffy's values. All this episode she's been trying to lure Buffy to the Dark Side, but ultimately her killing of a random Deputy Mayor repels Buffy, and Faith just doesn't get that - she genuinely believes being a Slayer gives her more rights and a get-out clause.

I miss Spike.

Well yes. Always.

[star-momma.livejournal.com]

Wesley... he's fucking gorgeous, actually. But I fully admit that I didn't much like him until the second season of Angel. That's when he finally grew into himself as a character for me enough that I could start really, genuinely liking him. Now, he's very well used on Buffy, and he's interesting. I just didn't like him in a personal sense. heh And I just realized I don't have a Wesley icon. How odd.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

he's fucking gorgeous

Oh yes! No argument there!

I'm happy to know that there is good Wesley stuff coming up for me in future. I look forward to it.

[star-momma.livejournal.com]

There's all kinds of fun in the future, have no fear!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Incentive not to stop. Right!

[star-momma.livejournal.com]

Additionally, of COURSE you miss Spike. But "Lover's Walk" = one of my favorite eps of the show ever and one of my favorite Spike episodes. That has to count for something.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It does; I know there's good Spike stuff coming up. I just feel impatient.