Buffy 3x16: Doppelgängland

[fajrdrako]

Buffy 3x16 - Doppelgängland

I like the title here - it would be a feeble pun, except that it's the umlaut that makes it brilliant. Another episode I totally loved, written, not surprisingly, by Joss Whedon, written with his usual charm and occasional superficiality. I was thrilled to see Dark Willow back - I like her strength of character.

So why does her immorality delight me, when Faith's tends to disgust me? Because Dark Willow is true to her own nature - she's a vampire and it's a vampire's job to exploit and destroy people. (Unless you are Angel, who's playing another game..) As a human, Faith is frighteningly self-involved, losing or destroying her connections with everyone, even Buffy, whom she values. And as a Slayer she's... using her role to indulge in mayhem. Of course she likes the Mayor, and the Mayor likes her. Two self-directed souls with their own agenda.

Besides, the sad truth is I find Dark Willow sexy, but Faith isn't. Since she has her fans, I know - like Joss himself - I hope this will change in later episodes. Meanwhile...

1. Poor Anya: trapped in a world, or at least a form, she didn't choose. I remember grade 12. Yes, it was dull. I was (probably) flunking math, too. Though I think that was one of the years I had a better than usual math teacher, and rose above myself.
   
   
2. I've heard a lot of fans say they like D'Hoffryn. His dialogue is fine but I don't like his cartoony look.
   
   
3. Who are the lower beings? Is that a generic term for being in the underworld, or a specific subclass?
   
   
4. What "carelessness" made Anya mortal?
   
   
5. "You can fold the fabric of time." Good phrase. So is, "by the pestilent gods". Nicely... ambiguous in tone.
   
   
6. Willow is into pencil-floating. Well, it's a start.
   
   
7. People are crazy if they want to be florists? Is there a joke I'm missing here? Do psychiatrists say that, or did Joss make it up?
   
   
8. I like Willow's unconvincing tone when she says, "I never wanted to do that." This sets the tone of the entire episode: Willow can't be anything other than what she is, whether she likes it or not. When she tries to play the dark vampire, she fails utterly. I'd like to see her more able to deceive and pretend; but there's also a charm in the way she can't.
   
   
9. Good bit of character revelation:

   Buffy: I want to do...
   Willow: Better than Faith?
   Buffy: So very shallow.

   But a good sign, I think. Buffy is still thinking of Faith as a friend, but instead of being half-fascinated and half-horrified, she's reacting by becoming competitive. She wants to show Faith she's better than Faith, not just morally, but physically. Since Faith prides herself on her physicality, this is quite a challenge.
   
   
10. Sanity Fair. Heh. Good one.
    
    
11. And back to the Buffy/Faith parallels - compare and contrast:

    Buffy: She had it rough. Different circumstances, that could be me.
    Willow: No way. Some people just don't have that in them.

    Now, I fully believe that given the right circumstances, anyone can do anything. But despite Buffy's own qualms, I agree with Willow here. The fact that Buffy is fully aware that she could do bad things and doesn't like the idea, proves that.
    
    
12. Speaking of which, how did Faith 'have it rough'? She's implied this, but I don't know what her problems were.
    
    
13. Obviously, practising magic is dangerous; it betrays your inner feelings. "Emotional control?" "I'm working on it."
    
    
14. So Snyder corners Willow for her talents. Another contrast here: Willow and Percy.

    Percy: Hey, I'm challenged.
    Snyder: You're lazy, self-involved and spoiled. That's quite the challenge.

    While Willow works hard, cares about others, and isn't spoiled at all. And she can't get out of this. Snyder is ruthless.
    
    
15. Lovely Buffy-Willow discussion of this.

    Buffy: So he threatened you? With what?
    Willow: Well, it wasn't exactly anything he said. It was all in his eyes. I mean, there was some nostril work there as well, but mostly eyes.

    Someone with power, like a principal, doesn't need to threaten his victims with something.
    
    
16. Interesting juxtaposition:

    Willow: I hate the way he bullies people. He just assumeseveryone's time is his.
    Giles: Willow, get on the computer. I want you to take another pas at accessing the Mayor's files.
    Willow: Okay.

    From which I take (a) Willow likes Giles and doesn't mind doing things for him - besides, computer hacking is fun - and (b) aplotline is being further set up. Willow will access those files and then... the anvil falls. Or something.
    
    
17. Faith calls Wesley Princess Margaret? Heh. Why her? I don't actually understand why Wesley himself was running, though. Surely Watcher's don't have to compete with Slayers. (They'd lose.) Was Faith manipulating him again?
    
    
18. Great Faith line: "You're going to love it, B. It's just like fun, only boring."
    
    
19. Faith sounds apologetic to Giles. If I were him, I'd worry.
    
    
20. So Faith reports to Wilkins about what Giles (and Willow) are trying to do. Faith likes her place - of course; who wouldn't? And PlayStation sounds like just her thing. I like the way the Mayor is smarmy and avuncular at the same time: "Shoes! Shoes!"
    
    
21. And he says, "I'm a family man." Has there been previous mention of his family?
    
    
22. Wilkins talks about killing Buffy and assures Faith, "I wouldn't ask you to do it." Why? Does he think Faith likes Buffy too much?
    
    
23. Oz. Why has his relationship with Willow suddenly become uneasy? Or is it that she's out of sorts? I like the way Willow, feeling bad, twists the conversation:

    Oz: Didn't figure you for missing school.
    Willow: You think I'm boring.
    Oz: I'd call that a radical interpretation of the text.

    
    
    
24. Percy is very annoying. He doesn't even have an excuse (or want one) for not working. I like his snarky, "What, you got something better to do?"
    
    
25. So her rebellious gesture is to eat a banana when it isn't lunchtime yet. Yeah... radical. This nicely sets up Dark Willow later on, but is silly on the face of it.
    
    
26. I like the progression: Old Reliable, Old Faithful, Old Yeller. Willow's angry and Buffy and Xander are making it worse because they haven't a clue what's going on. And I like the way she later calls herself "Reliable Dog Geyser Person". I am reminded of KateSomerville, who hated being thought 'sensible'.
    
    
27. Willow says, "Maybe I'll change my look." Which is nicely prophetic, especially since in this episode she never even changes her sweater.
    
    
28. I also like her line, "Buff, I'm storming off. It doesn't really work if you come with me."
    
    
29. Interesting that Willow sees "a spell" and "Black Arts" as synonymous. Even though it doesn't seem that her Arts are particularly Black. Or is she just trying to be bad-ass because of the mood she's in? That may be part of it, but I really do get the impression she isn't drawing a distinction. And then when it's over Willow says, "That's a little blacker than I like my arts." Because she had a vision? I know she's a novice, but as far as she knows at that point, nothing material has happened.
    
    
30. I liked the worse of the spell: The child to the mother. The river to the sea.
    
    
31. Good magical visions. (A.k.a. recap of alternate world adventures.)
    
    
32. Love Willow's line: "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have someone else's homework to do."
    
    
33. Then we learn that Dark Willow is in town. Uh-oh. Here's where I really started to feel good about this episode. I love Dark Willow.
    
    
34. I liked the music in the scene in the Bronze. I'm never sure whether or to what extent the lyrics are supposed to reflect the show, but I liked the song and the singer.
    
    
35. Good use of "Bored now."
    
    
36. Xander comes to Willow's rescue. How... sweet. How unexpected.
    
    
37. I like the confusion while Xander thinks this is the real Willow with a change of clothes, and she thinks it's her Xander returned alive. I like the switch from alive=good to alive=bad.
    
    
38. Love it that Buffy doesn't even recognize her as Willow. And then doesn't know what to make of it. "I said 'extreme' already, right?"
    
    
39. Then Dark Willow recruits a vampire by breaking his fingers. Good "who do you work for" dialogue.
    
    
40. So Buffy, Xander and Giles are depressed to lost Willow. Why does Xander think it's his fault?
    
    
41. Good dialogue when Willow walks in:

    Buffy: Willow! You're alive!
    Willow: Aren't I usually?

    
    
    
42. So Willow gets hugs from everyone and has to deny being a vampire. And Giles calls it "strange".
    
    
43. Then Anya gets ID'd. Methos and Captain Jack Harkness don't have that problem.
    
    
44. I like Oz's self-parody:

    Devon: Other bands have roadies.
    Oz: Other bands know more than three chords. Your professional bands can play up to six, sometimes seven completely different chords.

45. Good to see Angel. Nice bit ofOzness:

    Alphonse the Vampire: Nobody cause any trouble or try to leave, and nobody gets hurt.
    Angel: Why don't I believe him?
    Oz: Well, he lacks credibility.

46. I liked Dark Willows entry line: "Everyone's all afraid. It's just like old times." Then Dark Willow goes for Sandi. I liked that. Predatory Wilow.
    
    
47. Another good dialogue:

    Oz: Willow. You don't want to do this.
    Dark Willow: I don't? But I'm so good at it.

48. And a perfect set-up dialogue for Dark Willow:

    Willow: This is a dumb world. In my world there are people in chains, and we can ride them like ponies.
    Anya: You want to get back there.
    Dark Willow: Yeah.
    Anya: So do I.

49. Willow says sarcastically. "Oh, right. Me and Oz play 'mistress of pain' every night." She has trouble making irony work.
    
    
50. Not Angel's smartest moment, failing even to notice Willow, whose death he has announced, even after he speaks to her.
    
    
51. Giles doesn't want Faith in combat around civilians. Because she's likely to kill them?
    
    
52. Dark Willow grabs Willow. Great cliffhanger. What was Willow looking for? OH, I see - the rifle.
    
    
53. Nice contrast between the two Willows. Willow goes from "This just can't get more disturbing" to "You're really starting to freak me out" in a few seconds. Shouldn't that be the other way round?
    
    
54. Interesting bit of Angel dialogue:

    Buffy: Willow, just remember, a vampire's personality has nothing to do with the person it was.
    Angel: Well, actually... That's a good point.

    I'd say most evidence proves them wrong there.
    
    
55. Another nice character contrast with Willow when Angel says, "Vampires are not notoriously reliable", when being reliable was the trait most annoying Willow.
    
    
56. I like the way Willow, dressed up as Dark Willow, walks as if the tight leather clothes are uncomfortable.
    
    
57. Good Willow line: "Don't worry, I won't do anything that could be interpreted as brave." And yet, she often does.
    
    
58. Willow is just so unconvincing, masquerading as Dark Willow. Lucky thing vampires are stupid. And when she waves at Oz - isn't she in the middle of the room, with everyone looking at her?
    
    
59. Meanwhile poor Dark Willow has to wear pink knits. Sad. And she's not so good at pretending to be good Willow either, but luckily she's only talking to Cordelia, who is habitually clueless. I like her: "Don't want to talk. Hungry."
    
    
60. Then I like the way she plays to Cordelia's game when chasing her: "I'm so over him. I need fresh blood."
    
    
61. Wesley comes to Cordelia's rescue. I like that. "Creature of the night!" A little to Rocky Horrorish, maybe, but cute. Nice exchange:

    Wesley: Leave this place.
    Dark Willow: Don't want to.

    
    
    
62. Cordelia's lack of concern for Willow was annoying.
    
    
63. Buffy and co. come to Willow's rescue at the Bronze. I liked Willow's fear of Dark Willow: "No more snuggles?" I liked the running shoes on Dark Willow.
    
    
64. And Willow stops Buffy from killing her dark self. In character: another contrast to Faith. Good dialogue:

    Dark Willow: This world's no fun.
    Willow: You noticed that, too?

65. And Xander loves the idea that he's evil in another world. Xander is so...dorkish.
    
    
66. I like it that Willow tries hugging Dark Willow good-bye and Dark Willow takes the opportunity for a grope.
    
    
67. So Dark Willow goes home and is instantly dusted by Oz. That's maybe the only thing in the episode (except for Cordelia) that Ididn' t like. It's a little cheap.
    
    
68. Then Willow learns that Percy has turned over a new leaf and actually did his homework. And wants her approval. Perhaps she's reconsidering the 'mistress of pain' business. The apple was a nice touch.

Comments

[toraks.livejournal.com]

I never liked Faith or Wesley. Blech. ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I like Wesley very much, at least so far - enough that I am disappointed that he seems to be played as a clown most of the time. I don't like Faith but she has an interesting part in the plot.

[liliaeth]

I never liked Faith or Willow, but this ep was ok.

The instant staking was to avoid a problem with the original ep that Dark Willow came from though.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The instant staking was to avoid a problem with the original ep that Dark Willow came from though.

What problem was that?

[liliaeth]

Making sure that the previous ep's ending's meaning wasn't ruined by having her suddenly survive. Since the point of the Wish was that all the main characters died in it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So she had to be dead? Pity.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

What people refer to as "dark Willow" or Darth Willow isn't the same as vamp Willow. Vamp Willow is... a vampire, and the one you know. Just... not same thing.

Disclaimer: ten billion years since I last actually saw this ep. Or most any other.

>What "carelessness" made Anya mortal?

Necklace got smashed.

>People are crazy if they want to be florists?

Lack of ambition. Many modern people hate lack of ambition.

>Speaking of which, how did Faith 'have it rough'?

No parents, growing up with watchers? No family, no friends. The her mommy-figure watcher got horribly killed before her eyes and she couldn't do anything. Yesno? I remember correctly?

>"Emotional control?" "I'm working on it."

Thanks for reminding me some things. Hmm.

>Snyder is ruthless.

But for a change, makes for good education. Getting good pupils to help lesser ones, that's not bad teaching.

>I don't actually understand why Wesley himself was running, though.

Don't remember specifics, but we're supposed to be mocking Wes - and others - for doing the humanly sensible, logical thing. Always.

>And he says, "I'm a family man."

There's some, if not before then later, but the point is the values he promotes as a politician. I think.

>Why? Does he think Faith likes Buffy too much?

No idea. But might be something on species-loyalty.

>Why does Xander think it's his fault?

Also don't remember specifics, but, he made her upset and she ran out? And got vamped, he thinks?

>Then Anya gets ID'd. Methos and Captain Jack Harkness don't have that problem.

GOD what a good conversation over beer that could be. Those three...

Willow: This is a dumb world. In my world there are people in chains, and we can ride them like ponies.

...So's our world, honey, you just need to find out where they are.

Angel: Well, actually... That's a good point.

He plays avoidy here. It's funny. Also foreshadowy gayness! Please to appreciate when the subtext rapidly becomes text.

>Perhaps she's reconsidering the 'mistress of pain' business.

Mmmyeahbaby.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

What people refer to as "dark Willow" or Darth Willow isn't the same as vamp Willow. Vamp Willow is... a vampire, and the one you know. Just... not same thing.

I didn't know. Never heard the phrase "Dark Willow". Now everyone has corrected me. So: Vamp Willow it is.

Many modern people hate lack of ambition.

I remember a Professionals slash novel in which Bodie and Doyle were florists rather than CI5 agents. This amused me.

Yesno? I remember correctly?

None of that seems so bad to me. She talks in "Enemies" about how her mother was a drunk who wouldn't give her what she wanted - but I'm afraid her attitude made me mostly feel sympathetic to her mother, not to her.

But for a change, makes for good education. Getting good pupils to help lesser ones, that's not bad teaching.

Most of Snyder's actions seem based on the notion that though he hates kids, he has to get learning into their heads somehow.

>Then Anya gets ID'd. Methos and Captain Jack Harkness don't have that problem.

GOD what a good conversation over beer that could be. Those three...

Hee. I'll put it on my list of "story ideas for when I get an idea about how to write it".

...So's our world, honey, you just need to find out where they are.

I noticed that Vamp Willow seems to confuse "Sunnydale" with "the world". Though I suppose where she's coming from, it would make sense that she thought her Sunnydale was "the World".

Also foreshadowy gayness!

I like that.

Mmmyeahbaby.

Big [g].

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

>I remember a Professionals slash novel in which Bodie and Doyle were florists rather than CI5 agents. This amused me.

So ask yourself: why was it amusing?

>None of that seems so bad to me.

Think of the child-soldiers recruited just now in Congo and other places.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So ask yourself: why was it amusing?

Because it looked like a reversal of stereotype, without being much of a change in character. I can't see Bodie and Doyle being particularly happy in a life without danger, though. Doyle, maybe. He thinks he wants it. Bodie would get himself into trouble in no time.

hink of the child-soldiers recruited just now in Congo and other places.

Hm. Point, but I find it exceedingly hard to feel any sympathy for Faith for some reason.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

stereotype

Precisely.

any sympathy

I don't have much sympathy for her since early Angel. But then, at this very moment, I have very little sympathy for almost anyone.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't have much sympathy for her since early Angel.

She comes back in Angel?

at this very moment, I have very little sympathy for almost anyone.

I'm sorry to hear it. Not even Buffy?

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Ha. you know I didn't have any sympathy for Buffy herself until OMWF? And even after that, not really much. My sympathy lies elsewheres.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Where do your sympathies lie?

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

At the moment, like I said, they lie under a rock, growling at the outside world.


But even at the very height of my love, Buffy and Angel specifically - Faith as well - were never really on the to-do list.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I know you liked Giles and Ethan. Anyone else?

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

Spike. Willow. Drusilla. Wesley of course. Illyria. Lorne. I never disliked Xander, just wasn't ooh-shiny about him. Oz was good. Tara of course. I'm good with Connor, in his own way, though I never liked his parents much - you'll get there. Cordelia had great moments. Even Harmony had good moments. I liked Hamilton. Anya was fun, though like Xander, it was never a wow. I was okay with Joyce, even okayer with Dawn. The mayor was way cool. I didn't mind Jenny, at the time. Lindsey had moments, Lilah had moments, I dunno, not incredibly impressed, but not hating. Doyle was of the good. And you know what, I just named off my memory and then off one very partial list. So probably more.

Actual hate/anger was directed at very few.

*List most likely incomplete.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Spike. Willow. Drusilla. Wesley of course. Illyria. Lorne.

I like all of those, except I haven't seen Illyria.

Oz, yes. Tara I don't much like yet but I haven't seen enough of her to know. Haven't seen Connor. I liked Cordelia for a while but so much depends on her role - it's gets very arch and one-dimensional sometimes, and I'm currently "off" Cordelia. Harmony, I liked. Don't know Hamilton. Agree that Anya is fun - though I don't feel much sympathy or identification with her, it's more that she's a good character and well-written in her role. Haven't seen the others except Doyle, whom I don't yet like at all, but haven't seen much of him. Sometimes I love Joyce and sometimes she makes me want to scream.

All my lists are incomplete, and not just because I haven't seen all the episodes yet. There's always someone to remember/forget. My current top ten favourites (in no particular order, though I could pluck out a top 3):

Spike
Drusilla
Giles
Wesley
Buffy
Willow
Oz
Angel/Angelus (stipulating that they are one character, not two - it's the dichotomy that intersts me)
Ethan
Willy

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

stipulating that they are one character

It's just the guy and his personality. (Although this argument is infinitely better than that with people who would argue that Ripper is some kind of psychological disorder and a different person than Giles - which seriously, have you ever - okay, never mind. It's a dumb discussion that actually happens/happened, and that'll teach ya something about mankind, not to mention fankind.)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's just the guy and his personality.

Yes. I like to make it clear that I see them as an integrated (and uneasy) whole, rather than two separate personalities, which I've heard people argue.

As for Ripper and Giles... Well. It's amazing what some fans will think and say.

I have no trouble with either of those characters. I do have a problem with the Doctor in Doctor Who sorting out whether (and to what extent) each incarnation of the Doctor is or is not the same entity or personality. There, I tend to think they are in effect different/similar beings with shared characteristics and memories.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

I'm not in the fandom so was never in real depth arguments on it, but I do remember the idea of the Doctor being this one guy with different bodies, and wondering vaguely about the role of physiology in personality - why so much (speech patterns, body language, not to mention basic traits) changes all the time.

Your idea sounds good, but leads to "what degree of our Self is memories and learned habits".

There was a discussion on 'Self' that was interesting and never had any resolutions - I think it might have been on your lj, too :) - long ago.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I do remember the idea of the Doctor being this one guy with different bodies, and wondering vaguely about the role of physiology in personality - why so much (speech patterns, body language, not to mention basic traits) changes all the time.

I was at first perfectly happy to take it on faith and assume it was the same man. And I've only seen three Doctors. (Eight, Nine, and Ten.) In all cases... the difference in personality is so great that I can't see it as being the same man. The psychology is slightly different. The memories may be the same, but the feelings related to them are not. (For instance: Nine loved Jack, Ten didn't.)

"what degree of our Self is memories and learned habits".

I used to ponder that when I was suffering from depression and lost all the traits I'd thought were intrinsic to my personality. (Intelligence, for example.) What was left of me? I still felt like me, but I was different.

There was a discussion on 'Self' that was interesting and never had any resolutions - I think it might have been on your lj, too :)

Yeah, I find it an interesting subject, though basically unanswerable in fact. In fiction.... It's either in the canon, the implied canon, or in the interpretation of the canon.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

the difference in personality is so great

Is it possible that as the body changes, the brain chemistry alone is enough to change such traits? Assuming it was biologically possible.

intrinsic to my personality

I have serious existential problems nowadays, with the whole Self (Who am I? What do I like/want?) and 'direction of life', etc.

the interpretation of the canon

How about the interpretation of Real Life? How does that work?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Is it possible that as the body changes, the brain chemistry alone is enough to change such traits? Assuming it was biologically possible.

Sure. That's a fine explanation for it. Works for me.

I have serious existential problems nowadays, with the whole Self (Who am I? What do I like/want?) and 'direction of life', etc.

Me too. And yes, it's always tough.

How about the interpretation of Real Life? How does that work?

If I ever figure it out, I'll let you know.

[filkferengi]

I always enjoy your Buffy posts. Not only do you remind me of stuff I enjoyed, you bring new stuff to enjoy, for the win!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So glad you're enjoying them! Coming to a fandom so long after its heyday, it's great to have people to listen to my babbling.

[gillo]

I missed this when you posted it.

I've heard a lot of fans say they like D'Hoffryn. His dialogue is fine but I don't like his cartoony look.

He grows on you. He appears several more times over the years, with some excellent lines. I think the stereotyped demon look is part of the point.

Who are the lower beings? Is that a generic term for being in the underworld, or a specific subclass?

Inverted hierarchy - if you get better as you go up and worse as you go down, then the lower you are the more important you must be in a demon world.

I like Willow's unconvincing tone when she says, "I never wanted to do that." This sets the tone of the entire episode: Willow can't be anything other than what she is, whether she likes it or not. When she tries to play the dark vampire, she fails utterly. I'd like to see her more able to deceive and pretend; but there's also a charm in the way she can't.

I love her little wave at Oz when she's pretending to be Vamp!Willow

Now, I fully believe that given the right circumstances, anyone can do anything. But despite Buffy's own qualms, I agree with Willow here. The fact that Buffy is fully aware that she could do bad things and doesn't like the idea, proves that.

We actually saw "different circumstances" Buffy in

The Wish

- and, hard-bitten as she is, that Buffy is not at all like Faith.

Obviously, practising magic is dangerous; it betrays your inner feelings. "Emotional control?" "I'm working on it."

Willow's control of her magic, or lack of it, becomes a recurring and ultimately important theme.

Wilkins talks about killing Buffy and assures Faith, "I wouldn't ask you to do it." Why? Does he think Faith likes Buffy too much?

He doesn't want to risk any sort of Slayer Solidarity interfering with his plans just yet - he doesn't yet know quite how far Faith will go, after all.

Then we learn that Dark Willow is in town. Uh-oh. Here's where I really started to feel good about this episode. I love Dark Willow.

She's Vamp Willow. Dark Willow is a whole nother phenomenon. And later.

I'm never sure whether or to what extent the lyrics are supposed to reflect the show, but I liked the song and the singer.

On occasion Joss worked with singers to get teh right lyrics in place, but more often he just picked songs that "went".

Good use of "Bored now."

Which is why so many of us squealed with joy when Captain John said "Thirsty now." in KKBB of TW.

Giles doesn't want Faith in combat around civilians. Because she's likely to kill them?

Because he realises she wouldn't care if she did or not.

And when she waves at Oz - isn't she in the middle of the room, with everyone looking at her?

Her back is to the baddies.

Dark Willow: This world's no fun.
Willow: You noticed that, too?

Poor Willow. But she tries to change it to suit herself way too often.

So Dark Willow goes home and is instantly dusted by Oz. That's maybe the only thing in the episode (except for Cordelia) that Ididn' t like. It's a little cheap.

It's necessary or the carnage near the end of The Wish would be invalidated.

I like this episode, though the logical plot holes are even bigger than normal. Lots of foreshadowing in it, too.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I missed this when you posted it.

I posted another episode commentary last night.

He appears several more times over the years, with some excellent lines.

I look forward to that.

I think the stereotyped demon look is part of the point.

I was afraid of that!

the lower you are the more important you must be in a demon world.

Makes sense. Sort of like in Dante.

We actually saw "different circumstances" Buffy in
The Wish - and, hard-bitten as she is, that Buffy is not at all like Faith.


Exactly! She's still Buffy, essentially.

He doesn't want to risk any sort of Slayer Solidarity interfering with his plans just yet -

Very wise. Do you think she would kill Buffy? My inclination is to say 'no', even if she wanted to. Buffy is too important to her. Buffy is maybe the only person who is important to her. The Mayor is important in terms of her situation, but not personally important, the way Buffy is.

Hmm: sometimes Faith reminds me of Joleta.

Vamp Willow. Dark Willow is a whole nother phenomenon. And later.

Right. I didn't know.

Which is why so many of us squealed with joy when Captain John said "Thirsty now." in KKBB of TW.

I hope it isn't too long before we see Captain John again. (And I must finish my current Captain John story.)

It's necessary or the carnage near the end of The Wish would be invalidated.

I know. I'd rather it were invalidated.

I like this episode, though the logical plot holes are even bigger than normal.

What are you thinking of? There's a certain 'convenience' factor, but I don't see plot holes. (Mind you, I usually can't figure out what people mean by 'plot holes' in any given instance.)

Lots of foreshadowing in it, too.

I like that.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Whoops, saw the Enemies post and realised I'd never commented on this one.

I think from this episode to the S3 finale, there aren't any that I don't really, really like.

What "carelessness" made Anya mortal?

She let Giles break the necklace that was her power centre in the Wishverse. I love Anya's line about flunking math - it's so petulant and annoyed about it. I like it when she complains that 12th graders are boring too. Actually, I like her whole speech here: the switches from archaic and grand to petty are amusing.

Obviously, practising magic is dangerous; it betrays your inner feelings. "Emotional control?" "I'm working on it."

I love the bit when Willow is insisting that she is fine talking about Faith until Buffy gets her to look at the pencil going totally nuts.

So Snyder corners Willow for her talents

Willow's line after Snyder talks about Percy and her being a perfect match really makes me laugh: "You want us to breed?"

Faith calls Wesley Princess Margaret? Heh. Why her? I don't actually understand why Wesley himself was running, though

I just assumed it was the only princess Faith could think of. Maybe Wesley was running because otherwise he couldn't see how she was dealing with the obstacles? I liked his line about just needing a moment and some defibrulators - he has a nice line in deprecation sometimes.

he says, "I'm a family man."

The thing about the Mayor is that he does really mean that. This is part of why I just love him and Faith together because he is just what she needs, if only he wasn't also evil! He isn't interested in her sexually, he takes care of her and believes in her and loves who she is - it is hardly a wonder that Faith is so on his side.

Wilkins talks about killing Buffy and assures Faith, "I wouldn't ask you to do it." Why? Does he think Faith likes Buffy too much?

He's talking about killing Willow here, not Buffy. It is Willow's hacking that is the threat, and it is Willow that he sends the vampires after. I think he wouldn't ask Faith to do it because as hard as she is, she hasn't had to face killing someone she actually knows and she isn't ready for that - you can see it in the way she hesitates. And the Mayor knows that it's too early to push it - he won't ask her to do something like that yet because that might lose him some of her trust.

Percy is very annoying. He doesn't even have an excuse (or want one) for not working. I like his snarky, "What, you got something better to do?"

And he knows he can push Willow and get away with it because she'll get into trouble with Snyder and he won't, and because she's too nice to stand up to it. She's so undefiant with people around her that the best she can do is eat a banana!

Old Reliable, Old Faithful, Old Yeller. Willow's angry and Buffy and Xander are making it worse because they haven't a clue what's going on. And I like the way she later calls herself "Reliable Dog Geyser Person".

I love that scene, they just dig themselves such a hole. And then Willow can't even storm off properly - she just doesn't have the hang of not being a doormat at all in this episode! It's interesting in a way that vamp!Willow shows her she can stand up for herself more.

Interesting that Willow sees "a spell" and "Black Arts" as synonymous. Even though it doesn't seem that her Arts are particularly Black. Or is she just trying to be bad-ass because of the mood she's in?

I think so - she's still trying to be a rebel. I adore her line where she asks if they can pretend it is dangerous.

Love Willow's line: "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have someone else's homework to do."

And she was doing so well with being angry until then - not exactly the best exit line! But I do love "Did you try looking inside the sofa in HELL?" and when she claims back her chicken bones.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think from this episode to the S3 finale, there aren't any that I don't really, really like.

Probably true for me, too - this is a really wonderful set of episodes. But I'm not sure; we'll see.

I like her whole speech here: the switches from archaic and grand to petty are amusing.

It's a lovely set-up for Anya.

I love the bit when Willow is insisting that she is fine talking about Faith until Buffy gets her to look at the pencil going totally nuts.

Willow tries so hard - and is often so very transparent.

Willow's line after Snyder talks about Percy and her being a perfect match really makes me laugh: "You want us to breed?"

That was funny. And nicely indicative of the way Willow doesn't think in mundane fashion.

I liked his line about just needing a moment and some defibrulators - he has a nice line in deprecation sometimes.

Oh, always. I find him delightfully funny almost every time he opens his mouth. His self-deprication really is funny, and self-depricating - and he doesn't seem self-centred about it, the way Xander does, to my ears. I love Wesley.

he is just what she needs, if only he wasn't also evil!

But it's his evil that makes it possible for her to accept him and respect him. If he were a really nice guy, she'd scorn him, or try to use him.

He isn't interested in her sexually, he takes care of her and believes in her and loves who she is - it is hardly a wonder that Faith is so on his side.

She's desperate for that kind of acceptance, but she wouldn't admit it. It's her Achilles' heel.

She's so undefiant with people around her that the best she can do is eat a banana!

Pity the banana.

It's interesting in a way that vamp!Willow shows her she can stand up for herself more.

Hmm - good point.

I adore her line where she asks if they can pretend it is dangerous.

Beware what you wish for.

I do love "Did you try looking inside the sofa in HELL?" and when she claims back her chicken bones.

So very cute.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Good use of "Bored now."

I use that line all the time. (And you will hear it again in Buffy.)

Xander comes to Willow's rescue. How... sweet. How unexpected

You think? One of Xander's good points is he does defend his friends.

I like the switch from alive=good to alive=bad.

I like Xander's reaction to vampWillow feeling him up. And I love the whole conversation between vampWillow and Buffy - Buffy is trying so hard to be a supportive friend in the face of Willow-as-dominatrix and vampWillow doesn't even really know who Buffy is. The cross-purposes thing is great.

So Buffy, Xander and Giles are depressed to lost Willow. Why does Xander think it's his fault?

General sense of guilt? I do like how they are all so devastated.

Good dialogue when Willow walks in

I always like "Jeez, who died? Oh God! Who died?" because of the change in tone. And this scene is just so funny - the smothering with hugs, Willow's freaked out reaction to Giles hugging her, the line about them doing drugs... but the best bit is Willow's offended denial "I'm not a vampire!"

"Everyone's all afraid. It's just like old times." Then Dark Willow goes for Sandi. I liked that. Predatory Wilow.

Oh yeah. And I love Oz confronting vampWillow.

Not Angel's smartest moment, failing even to notice Willow, whose death he has announced, even after he speaks to her

But he recovers pretty well - doesn't dwell, goes straight to the pertinent information.

Interesting bit of Angel dialogue:
Buffy: Willow, just remember, a vampire's personality has nothing to do with the person it was.
Angel: Well, actually... That's a good point.

Yeah. The souled vs. unsouled concept is not that clear cut - the person's personality does inform the demon's and both Buffy and Angel know it. And it is not a comfortable thought for either of them, though I think Buffy cutting Angel off is more about not freaking Willow out just then.

I like the way Willow, dressed up as Dark Willow, walks as if the tight leather clothes are uncomfortable

I like the way she comments on her cleavage and all the men look uncomfortable!

Willow is just so unconvincing, masquerading as Dark Willow

I don't know - she gets into it with Anya okay and she's pretty quick on the mark to shut Anya up by suggesting they start by killing her. But yes, just as well most vampires aren't very bright.

I do love Anya and the vampire's reaction to Willow screaming. I also really like Willow punching Anya.

Perhaps she's reconsidering the 'mistress of pain' business. The apple was a nice touch

I like how Buffy repeats "You wanna go out tonight?" in exactly the same tone as she asked it the first time. I think Willow does slightly reconsider being a doormat at the end, if not actually an S&M lifestyle - vampWillow didn't mess up everything she touched by taking charge. It's a nice ending.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I use that line all the time. (And you will hear it again in Buffy.)

I look forward to it.

One of Xander's good points is he does defend his friends.

He does? I've often seem him try, and fail; or intend to do it, but not quite carry through. Only sometimes he carries through. I'll try to sort it out a little better.

I love the whole conversation between vampWillow and Buffy - Buffy is trying so hard to be a supportive friend in the face of Willow-as-dominatrix and vampWillow doesn't even really know who Buffy is. The cross-purposes thing is great.

I loved it. Buffy was so delightfully confused. She knew this wasn't quite her Willow... but what was it?

I always like "Jeez, who died? Oh God! Who died?" because of the change in tone.

Such a good scene.

it is not a comfortable thought for either of them, though I think Buffy cutting Angel off is more about not freaking Willow out just then.

She doesn't want to freak out herself, either. I wonder if this has a bearing on the end of "Enemies" where she says she needs a break from Angel.

I think Willow does slightly reconsider being a doormat at the end, if not actually an S&M lifestyle

I think she sees new possibilities for herself, and feels she has things to think about. Not an epiphany, more of a reconsideration of her situation.