tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post7251639233734747898..comments2024-02-04T05:13:04.501-05:00Comments on Nik at Nite: Buffy Rewatch Week 16Nikki Staffordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04463618183850438914noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-76713506703168973772011-06-14T23:02:02.885-04:002011-06-14T23:02:02.885-04:00I'm slowly catching up! I watched these three ...I'm slowly catching up! I watched these three eps this week, and, yes, what a great trio! 2 simple comments: I had NO idea that anyone didn't like Amends! And, Helpless is absolutely one of my favorite episodes. :)<br />The "other" Nikki ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-56577112641544955572011-05-05T18:17:34.078-04:002011-05-05T18:17:34.078-04:00"
And people call it hokey.
They scoff. They...<i>"<br />And people call it hokey.<br /><br />They scoff. They scorn.</i><br /><br />I call it hokey. I scoff. I scorn. Why? For me, the Buffy/Angel romance is an exercise in adolescent angst and I find it immature and over-the-top. And two, because Angel's remorse is manufactured, thanks to a spell created by the Kalderash gypsies. When people talk about Angel's redemption, why do they forget this one factor?RosiePhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11217705824689269830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-85825124079166781342011-05-04T03:56:17.121-04:002011-05-04T03:56:17.121-04:00I really love this episode. It's the one that ...I really love this episode. It's the one that frightens me the most, I guess. Sometimes the subtext in Buffy "rapidly becomes text", and they are dealt too heavy-handedly (like the witch hunt last episode, or frat boys in Reptile Boy). In this one, the subject of rape and the helplessness that comes with it is never mentioned per se (except when Giles tlaks about the big vampire's past), but it can be felt throughout the episode. <br /><br />In the teaser, Buffy is almost penetrated. Later, when those gross guys ask for a lap dance, she's wearing a Riding Red Hood, as you pointed out. Little Red Riding Hood is a cautionary tale against sexual predation. To add to the intertextuality, Zachary's lines inside the boarding house resemble those of the Big Bad Wolf. And it's not only young girls he preys on: lacking a grandmother, he victimizes Joyce as well.<br /><br />The worst part is that it's socially accpeted, according to the series. It's inflicted on women by undermining their power and taking it as a fact of life. It's disgusting how Quentin can be so cavalier about all that violence.<br /><br />Fotunately, we have Giles to act as our "hunter in the woods" and partially save them at the last minute. He's the control group of the episode, to show that not all men are pigs. Fortunately, because I don't like to think of myself as one.Gus Brunettihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15554920460249324531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-58190739410649560592011-04-22T16:55:12.709-04:002011-04-22T16:55:12.709-04:00I just don't think the suit and hair look righ...I just don't think the suit and hair look right for late 90s. Guess I could be wrong.Colleen/redeem147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-51178032285302941922011-04-22T08:03:57.809-04:002011-04-22T08:03:57.809-04:00@Colleen
The Modern Suit Guy has bugged the hell ...@Colleen<br /><br />The Modern Suit Guy has bugged the hell out of me for yrs.<br />Why I never thought of the brief Angelus "Fun" being the reason is beyond me....It's perfectly logical compared with what the other possiblities are.Missyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11352179063117525571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-69928150719570023392011-04-21T21:17:49.588-04:002011-04-21T21:17:49.588-04:00@Stephen: I was struck by that as well re: "d...@Stephen: I was struck by that as well re: <i>"despite all her insults to Buffy and the scoobies, when Buffy asks Cordelia to take her home, she says yes, no questions asked"</i><br /><br />Cordelia gave the same "of course" the night Jenny was murdered, when Buffy asked Cordy to drive them to Giles's house. <br /><br />When Buffy needs a lift, she can count on Cordelia, The Vampire Slayer Driver.Page48https://www.blogger.com/profile/09728079057077761364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-42982058162253062462011-04-21T13:38:47.763-04:002011-04-21T13:38:47.763-04:00I also love Cordelia's lines in Helpless, but ...I also love Cordelia's lines in Helpless, but especially how, despite all her insults to Buffy and the scoobies, when Buffy asks Cordelia to take her home, she says yes, no questions asked.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13748251815877457714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-39693348937127172352011-04-21T10:40:14.799-04:002011-04-21T10:40:14.799-04:00Thanks Nikki. I'd already posted it there, thi...Thanks Nikki. I'd already posted it there, thinking that blogger had eaten the comment again. Then I came to this side and found it here. No idea how that happened.Colleen/redeem147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-53965422790136522502011-04-21T10:13:39.238-04:002011-04-21T10:13:39.238-04:00Another possible reason for the Gingerbread bonfir...Another possible reason for the <i>Gingerbread</i> bonfire being indoors is that it could be the demon's idea: get a bunch of people to lock themselves in a room and set it on fire? Priceless.myeckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00743570522792899908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-24888585391793101092011-04-21T09:59:43.898-04:002011-04-21T09:59:43.898-04:00Hey Colleen: I deleted it for you. But I did so be...Hey Colleen: I deleted it for you. But I did so before checking if you were able to cut and paste it over to the spoiler board... I hope you were able to, it was good stuff! (And I'll admit, as I was reading it I was forgetting I was on the non-spoiler board, too!)Nikki Staffordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04463618183850438914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-15646696203044091452011-04-21T09:57:18.145-04:002011-04-21T09:57:18.145-04:00@Steve: I've gone in and changed it to Pachelb...@Steve: I've gone in and changed it to Pachelbel's Canon. Isn't it strange how your mind is thinking one thing and your fingers typing another? Happens to me... daily. Problem is, when I do it on the blog, it's ALWAYS noticed. Sigh. <br /><br />Maybe I need to start purposely slipping up and seeing who catches it, and then when I slip up for real, I can say, "Ha! I was just testin' ya." ;)Nikki Staffordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04463618183850438914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-77414780651790695232011-04-21T05:19:16.824-04:002011-04-21T05:19:16.824-04:00Lordy, like Nikki, I have misidentified (seems to ...Lordy, like Nikki, I have misidentified (seems to be the week for it!) - Marebabe is right, it's Pachelbel in the party scene - but regardless: apart from Bach and Handel's choral music, there was practically no interest at all in baroque music (most of which lay forgotten in private archives/ attics) until the 20th century and you simply never would have heard Pachabel, Vivaldi or any of their contemporaries being performed at this time (although it is definitely a viola, not a cello, at the start of the epsiode!)Steve Halfyardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-11302789111905489542011-04-20T23:49:54.421-04:002011-04-20T23:49:54.421-04:00One of the victims that the First impersonates is ...<i>One of the victims that the First impersonates is wearing a suit that is too modern to be from the time before Angel got his soul, but not modern enough to be from the time in season 2 when he lost it.</i><br /><br />I always figured that guy was just somebody who Angelus victimized in season 2. What is it about his suit that makes it not modern enough to have been worn by a middle-aged guy in 1998 or thereabouts? (I'm honestly curious, I know bugger-all about suits despite being a dude who has to wear them sometimes.)Tom D.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-74077035358044181852011-04-20T23:49:23.444-04:002011-04-20T23:49:23.444-04:00Just wanted to say great reviews, everyone. Really...Just wanted to say great reviews, everyone. Really enjoyable. Robert, especially thanks to you for a beautiful summation of Amends. I'm with you 100%, but have never been able to state it so well. <br />(And I'm generally a right bastard too.)Witness Ariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04640067376665953770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-84053144546532725812011-04-20T21:34:07.373-04:002011-04-20T21:34:07.373-04:00I forgot to mention one thing in Amends that confu...I forgot to mention one thing in Amends that confuses me. One of the victims that the First impersonates is wearing a suit that is too modern to be from the time before Angel got his soul, but not modern enough to be from the time in season 2 when he lost it. So who is that guy?<br /><br />Aw. My verification word is 'bless'.Colleen/redeem147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-17832977970951866382011-04-20T21:22:43.654-04:002011-04-20T21:22:43.654-04:00Did you know that Mr. Dressup and Mr. Rogers were ...Did you know that Mr. Dressup and Mr. Rogers were best buds (in a Mr. Rogers was his best man way) and that Mr. Rogers started in Toronto? When he moved back to the States, Ernie Coombs stayed here and opened his tickle trunk. But I digress.<br /><br />I hate Amends. There, I said it. The previous time I rewatched it, I thought maybe I liked it a little. But that's gone, now. It's the cheesiest of the Buffy cheese, and the snow is lame.<br /><br />The scariest thing about the episode is Buffy's bangs.<br /><br />Angel has never been whinier or mopier. The scene with Buffy and Angel couldn't be more over the top if they tried. I've seen less melodrama on Days of Our Lives.<br /><br />Okay, got that off my chest. Love the other two episodes, though, and 2/3 ain't bad.<br /><br />I did like the First saying "Dead by sunrise," which I assume is a nod to the Evil Dead's "Dead by dawn."<br /><br />In Gingerbread, Buffy takes the place of the mother in the relationship with Joyce, the second time since Band Candy. Though she's pretty naive if she thinks that adult humans don't do terrible things to children.<br /><br />The episode is co-written by Thania St. John of Lois and Clark.<br /><br />Buffy's birthdays are just as successful as Mary Richards' parties.<br /><br />Buffy is the only one of her circle to be close to her parents. That may also apply to Giles, who is neither a grocer or a fighter pilot.<br /><br />The affliction seems to be shared by adults with teenagers being immune - much like Band Candy. I'm beginning to wonder what Jane has against grown-ups.<br /><br />The first time we see the dead children talking to Joyce, we might assume that it's the First again.<br /><br />Helpless is the best of this set. Such a sad episode, and yet also very exciting with Buffy in the house with the vampire. A vampire who has more polaroid film than I've ever seen in one place. There's only 10 pictures in a pack.<br /><br />I wonder if the Council did something to get Hank to cancel. His presence could have spoiled their plans.<br /><br />I have a new plan - lets lock Travers in the house with the crazy vampire. Did he eat his mother before or after he was turned, btw?<br /><br />Dominic Keating, who plays the Watcher who is turned, was signing my Buffy book (a little something called Bite Me by Nikki something) when his Enterprise castmate looked at him and said "You weren't on Buffy!" He sounded impressed.<br /><br />Oz is right about gold kryptonite - it takes Superman's powers permanently.<br /><br />Buffy's not a bit concerned that Angel said he loved her when she was 15 (or was it 14?)<br /><br />Giles is more squeamish than Buffy - he almost vomits when he sees the Watcher's body, while Buffy barely glances at it. Granted, Giles did know the guy...Colleen/redeem147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-17600418164911673492011-04-20T16:40:06.795-04:002011-04-20T16:40:06.795-04:00@G1000, I am glad you pointed out how terrifying &...@G1000, I am glad you pointed out how terrifying "Helpless" is because it is something I thought about while watching it, too. I am not usually a big fan of horror movies since I can't stand to be scared while watching something. This is one reason why I didn't watch Buffy when it first aired. However, as you say, most Buffy episodes are not really terrifying in the way this one was. I was on the edge of my seat while watching the scenes in the creepy hotel even though this was second viewing and I knew the outcome. It had a real Silence of the Lambs feel to it.Suzannenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-86639772929004057262011-04-20T16:27:29.910-04:002011-04-20T16:27:29.910-04:00@Efthymia, you made two points that I completely a...@Efthymia, you made two points that I completely agree with and felt myself while watching. First of all, Gingerbread really scared me the first time I watched it since it seemed so horrible that Joyce could be caught up in something like that enough to do to Buffy as she did. As a first-time watcher last year when I first saw it, I could barely even enjoy it since I was so upset about what Joyce (and Willow's mom) appeared to be willing to do to their daughters so easily. Of course, we find out at the end that the monster is brainwashing them in the form of the little children, but when you watch it the first time, it doesn't sink in until almost near the end. This makes it hard to absorb the humor until the very end. Watching it this time around, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and adored the episode, which kind of surprised me since I hadn't remembered enjoying it as much the first time. Now it is one of my favorites.<br /><br />As for you point about a patriarchial body such as the Watchers trying to control feminine power, I completely agree. This is one of my favorite themes that runs through the show. I wish I could get my young daughter to watch with me since Buffy is one of the most empowered females we see on television or in the movies for that matter. She struggles to get there as many women do in real life. As you mention, there are times when she isn't sure if she wants her power or independence, yet in this episode it is clear that if she is faced with losing the power, she is devasted about the possibility. <br /><br />I adore the way she stands up to The Watcher's Council leader and even to Giles (although it broke my heart to see the tear in their relatiohshop) because it was such a powerful move. She has come so far from the girl who seemed to give in so easily to the Master in Season 1. <br /><br />When she lost her powers and had to go to save Joyce without them, I kept thinking why doesn't she bring the Scooby Gang, why doesn't she bring Angel? Yet, I was so glad that she didn't!! This was the ultimate act of courage since she needed to prove to herself that she could rely on herself to face any fear and handle it. Even though "Helpless" isn't my favorite episode, I love so much about it that I rate it very high. The message in it is wonderful, especially for women.Suzannenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-60037143803629389902011-04-20T15:30:02.059-04:002011-04-20T15:30:02.059-04:00@MISSY:
I am indeed a newbie, this was my first t...@MISSY: <br />I am indeed a newbie, this was my first time ever sitting down and watching Buffy. I'd seen snippets of the show before, back when it was on the air, but never a full episode. My first introduction to the Whedonverse was Firefly, and that was only after it was cancelled and the Serenity movie was just coming out.<br />But I'm lovin' me the Buff and I'm excited for Angel, too. My friend (who has seen them all before) says that while both shows are amazing, "Buffy" is more like Dawson's Creek, and "Angel" is more like Batman.The Question Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-68321472635232327952011-04-20T14:28:36.589-04:002011-04-20T14:28:36.589-04:00I've been reading these posts every week for a...I've been reading these posts every week for a while, but haven't commented mainly becaue I don't have all that much to say. I like "Buffy" a lot (and its significance in TV history cannot be overstated), but I don't feel the same passion for it that most do. <br /><br />However, I felt compelled to say something about "Helpless" (which is a top ten episode for me). After reading the post and perusing the comments, I find it hard to believe that almost no one is pointing out the episode's biggest virtue: the fact that it's downright terrifying. <br /><br />There's some great character development in the episode, for sure. But the scenes in the house are something else entirely. I knew Buffy would get out alive, but the sustained sense of terror these sequences create is rivaled only by a few of the greatest horror movies. The only other "Buffy" episode that comes close to delivering this level of tension is "Passion" (which admittedly does trump "Helpless" as far as character and story development goes). <br /><br />One of my favorites. Also, I don't care for "Gingerbread".Greg Boydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08367592228032874654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-21468844603549861972011-04-20T13:06:08.641-04:002011-04-20T13:06:08.641-04:00@Nikki - thanks for defending the writers. I know...@Nikki - thanks for defending the writers. I know it probably would have been a 20 min episode if all the action were outside, so I appreciate the obstacles the writers had to build in. But I had suspend more disbelief than usual to buy that they needed to be IN city hall instead of just at city hall. <br /><br />I did love these episodes BTW. Amends was touching, Gingerbread was creepy (I hate Willow's Mom, neglect being the worst form of underrecognized abuse), and Helpless made me fall in love with Giles even more.JShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06219841452322761803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-23237510710561304282011-04-20T12:43:25.316-04:002011-04-20T12:43:25.316-04:00This trio of episodes has long been my least favor...This trio of episodes has long been my least favorite in Season 3, so, as has been commented upon many times in other weeks, I want to thank you all for helping me gain a new appreciation for this trio of episodes!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05997191228899274706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-11395762588385511452011-04-20T12:19:06.118-04:002011-04-20T12:19:06.118-04:00JS: LOL! Another great question. Well, on a purely...JS: LOL! Another great question. Well, on a purely storytelling level, it was inside so A) Cordy and Giles would have to pick the locks; B) Xander and Oz could get into a ventilation system; C) the parents would feel trapped once the moster actually revealed itself. <br /><br />But if I had to come up with a defense for the writers here, there are two things I could argue: one, that one of MOO's mandates is to prove that it's too dangerous outside, and they're moving all activities inside. And two, that deep down, MOO knows that what they're doing is no better than what the baddies are doing, so just as the monsters lurk in the shadows, so do they hide themselves in a locked room.Nikki Staffordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04463618183850438914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-60474100648787291192011-04-20T12:16:38.451-04:002011-04-20T12:16:38.451-04:00StephenC: Angel's Oirish accent is one of the ...StephenC: Angel's Oirish accent is one of the most irksome things on the show. It's truly awful (especially considering Boreanaz was married to an Irish woman at the time, if I remember correctly). <br /><br />Marebabe: excellent find on Pachelbel's Canon!! <br /><br />Question Mark: Yes, I brought up the Fury factor before, but he is the same David Fury from Lost, who debuted on that series with the brilliant "Walkabout."Nikki Staffordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04463618183850438914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30892649.post-39160339954814694322011-04-20T12:14:37.415-04:002011-04-20T12:14:37.415-04:00Lisa: I always found the little plate of cookies s...Lisa: I always found the little plate of cookies sad, but now even sadder!! ;) Although something tells me Santa probably never visited Xander. I can't imagine his parents ever put any presents under the tree for him.Nikki Staffordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04463618183850438914noreply@blogger.com