"Helpless" [3x12] Review by Mikelangelo "MikeJer" Marinaro Posted by MikeJer on December 19, 2005 Writer: David FuryDirector: James A. Contner Quick Links Spoiler Warning! This is a retrospective review and may contain spoilers from anywhere in the series. Read at your own peril. Review An emotionally gripping episode that tests the previously thought solid relationship between Buffy and Giles to the extreme while also being one of the better 'horror' episodes in the entire series' run. On a show with a less capable show-runner, this episode would have been a solid but forgetful episode. With Joss Whedon in charge things go in, once again, completely new directions. Relationships, jobs, locations, and even life itself isn't a given on this show. Each of those things could change for any of the characters in an instant, as the death of Jenny Calendar in "Passion" (2x17) and the firing of Giles here demonstrates. This is what stand-alone episodes are supposed to do! The episode begins with Buffy and Angel training together. It's really fun seeing them playing around in an innocent way, but as soon as she jumps on top of him things heat up extremely quickly. This unreleased sexual tension makes her want to go out and patrol right away. Buffy doesn't get her sexual fix so now she wants to go kill something. Faith's "hungry and horny" theory continues to gain points. This eventually leads to the scene at night where Buffy gets dizzy in the middle of a vampire fight. Her stake then gets turned around and she almost gets staked herself. This action is unusual and exciting to see. Note that she actually does get stabbed with her own stake in "Fool for Love" (5x07). Buffy later explains to Giles what happened. He of course knows what's going on and lies to protect the truth of the "the test" from her. The 'test' itself is interesting to consider but is ultimately nonsense. Is this excercise really helpful and will it make Buffy stronger? Perhaps in some ways, but it's still a violation of her body and fundamentally wrong. Not only that, but Quentin Travers seems to toss aside Giles' concerns about Buffy's life. The most likely way the Slayer can fail this test is to die. Is that the purpose? Either the Slayer is strong enough or let a new one be called? All this seems completely ridiculous to me. If a Slayer is still alive by her eighteenth birthday that should be proof enough of her ability. It would have been useful to know more about the specifics of the test because I see it as something that would never be done by an organization trying to help in the fight against evil, especially not in today's world. The slow removal of Buffy's strength is underpinned by the father-daughter theme running through the episode. Buffy gets all excited that her dad is coming to take her to the ice show. She soon discovers that he bailed on her. After this huge disappointment she decides she has had enough of her dad's antics and realizes that he won't ever be there for her. At this point she does her best to accept that fact and move on with her life. Occasionally, though, we see just how much her father's absence in her life has hurt her. She makes her feelings painfully clear in "Forever" (5x17) when she says, "I can call my bastard father again to tell him that his ex-wife, our mother is gone." Even as late as "Normal Again" (6x17) we see her wishing her parents were still together, in love, and there to take care of her. With her father's neglection exposed she next turns to Giles to be that father figure for her. He's completely distracted by his 'job' to notice her cries for fatherly love. It's pretty touching that she'd even ask him to go with her and shows just how far these two have come together since the beginning of the series. Unfortunately this makes it extra painful to see him put her in a trance so he can stick a needle in her. Poor Buffy just can't win today and I feel terrible for her. When it begins to look doubtful that she'll get her powers back, Buffy begins to consider life without powers again. In reality this is actually what she's always wanted and explains this to Willow. The problem is that she knows about the supernatural world now and can't turn her back on fighting it, powers or not. She realizes with some finality that she'll never have a normal life, even if the Slayer responsibilities were pushed aside, so she can finally be at some kind of peace with her life. This is why she's so quick to ask Giles if he's found out anything about her weakness. We don't actually see Buffy complaining much about living a normal life after this episode. All of these threads come together in the saddening library scene where Giles shocks Buffy with the news that he is poisoning her with muscle relaxants to make her weak. All that painstaking trust that was built between these two people has been violently destroyed in this massive betrayal of Buffy's body and trust. She literally is having trouble even believing what Giles is telling her, and I can't blame her. This is the very first time Buffy catches a glimpse of this part of Giles' personality. Giles is always willing to do whatever is needed for the "greater good." While he never fully supports this 'test' he does go along with it until things begin to get out of control. He ends up ignoring council orders and goes to help Buffy fight the vampire because he realizes that the test is actually stupid and isn't for any "greater good." However, we see this "do what needs to be done" side of Giles come out again at several important junctions in the series, most notably in "The Gift" (5x22) when he kills Ben and again in "Lies My Parents Told Me" (7x17) when he stalls Buffy so that Wood can kill Spike. I really enjoyed the entire ending "hide and seek" horror section where Buffy is trying to rescue her mom without her powers. It's all genuinely creepy including the very well-acted moment when Buffy pulls out a cross, shaking but determined, and then the vampire grabs her arm and puts the cross on his stomach and keeps pulling it lower and lower getting some kind of satisfaction out of the pain. Buffy is naturally scared and disgusted by it and runs off. All of the above would have made a really good episode, but courtesy of Whedon we get even more. Giles gets fired because, as Quentin puts it, he has a "father's love" of Buffy. Hearing what Giles gave up to help her begins to heal the wounds of his betrayal. After Quentin leaves, Giles comes over to Buffy and in a tender moment, takes the wet cloth Buffy was using to wipe the blood off her forehead and cleans it for her. Buffy will never be able to 'fully' trust Giles again after this episode even though much of it is recovered from his after-the-fact actions. To sum it up, I thought this episode was great. It had loads of darkness, raw emotion, and lasting importance which were all brought to life by the wonderful acting of Anthony Stewart Head and Sarah Michelle Gellar. My only complaints involve wondering why the vampire needs to take pills and some pacing issues. Otherwise this is another top-notch episode to add to the amazingly consistent third season. Minor Pros/Cons (+/-)
Foreshadowing
Quotes XANDER:An ice show? A show performed on ice. And how old are we again?WILLOW:I went to Snoopy On Ice when I was little. My dad took me backstage and I got so scared I threw up on Woodstock. BUFFY:Look, I know you guys think it's just a big, dumb, girlie thing, but it's not. I mean, a lot of those skaters are Olympic medal winners. And every year my dad buys me cotton candy and one of those souvenir programs that has all the pictures, and okay, it's a big, dumb, girlie thing, but I love it. OZ:It's not so girlie. Ice is cool! It's water, but it's not. BUFFY:I think it might be time to put a moratorium on parties in my honor. They tend to go badly. Monsters crash. People die. WILLOW:But eighteen is a big one, Buffy. I mean, you can vote now. You can be drafted. (smiles) You can vote not to be drafted. WILLOW:Aha! A curse on Slayers. Oh, no. Wait. I-it's lawyers. BUFFY:(RE ANGEL:You really like it? BUFFY:Of course I do. It's sweet and thoughtful and... full of neat words to learn and say like 'wilt' and 'henceforth'. ANGEL:Then why'd you seem more excited last year when you got a severed arm in a box?
Screencaps
Comments (55) All Comments | Link2 | MikeJer | CREATOR/ADMINApr 8, 2006 I just wanted to say that you pose a good question on "Helpless." I don't have the answer to it though. That's just a decision the writers decided to make, likely for a bigger impact. All Comments | Link3 | GroundedApr 9, 2006 Angel is living the mansion at this point right? Does he have a phone? All Comments | Link4 | bookwormApr 11, 2006 it's very likely (that Angel has a phone) because in Graduation Day Pt.1 he had contact with Giles, who wanted him to help Buffy with the volcanologist-thing. and I'm way sure that Angel didn't pass by at the library. I'm quite on the "writers-impact"-side too. Maybe Buffy needed the proof for herself (way down) that she will be able to handle herself without the power, because she's scared of the impacts of less strength. - QUOTE - Or maybe they really wanted to show an estrangement between Buffy and Angel (or Buffy and everyone)."What if I just hide under my bed, all scared and helpless? Or what if I just become pathetic? Hanging out at the old Slayer's home, talking people's ears off about my glory days, showing them Mr. Pointy, the stake I had bronzed." All Comments | Link5 | FallenApr 11, 2006 And they also had to find a way to begin healing the break between Buffy and Giles. She needs to go on her own to regain her own strength and she needs to get help from Giles to repair their bond. The writers think out the story that needs to be told, the growth that the characters need to make, and the plot follows. All Comments | Link6 | GroundedApr 11, 2006 Yeah, but it's hardly fair to say Buffy wouldn't ask Angel for help if her life was in serious danger. It's a plot hole, for sure. All Comments | Link7 | bookwormApr 11, 2006 her life at danger, well not so much the point. her mother's life at danger: big big point!!! All Comments | Link8 | DingdongMay 10, 2006 By the way, Mikejer, in your review for Helpless - which I more or less agree with - you said you wondered why the Vampire needed to take pills. I personally think the addiction was deliberately induced into th addiction by the Watcher's Council, to give them a hold on him, and possibly to make the test for the slayer slightly more controlled, giving her a specific flaw to look for, and exploit. Possibly also to make it less easy for the Vampire to kill her if she lost. Of course, the test is barbaric, anyway, but it makes sense that the Watchers' Council would have done something like that. All Comments | Link9 | GroundedMay 10, 2006 I always assumed he was psychologically dependent on the pills from before becoming a vampire. I believe they mention he was in an asylum? All Comments | Link10 | MikeJer | CREATOR/ADMINMay 10, 2006 Yeah, I think Grounded's right. But I do agree that they likely picked a vampire with a tangeable weakness for this test, so the Slayer has at least some resemblence of a fair chance. Still, bad test! All Comments | Link11 | DingdongMay 10, 2006 I disagree here, mainly because when humans are sired, weaknesses of the flesh most of the time disappear. Mind problems do not, as is evidenced by Dru, but physical shortcomings such as illnesses and addictions do not seem to on the show. You could argue that the addiction was purely psychological, but somehow it seemed very physical to me. All Comments | Link12 | GroundedMay 10, 2006 But as you say, 'weaknesses of the flesh' disappear after siring, so how can it be physical? All Comments | Link13 | DingdongMay 11, 2006 As I said, weaknesses of the flesh disappear after siring, but that doesn't mean they can't be induced. After all Spike had to use a wheelchair after "What's my Line" and so its just as likely the Watchers' Council could induce an addiction to pills. All Comments | Link14 | GroundedMay 11, 2006 Sounds like a hell of a lot of trouble to go to since they already have the guy chained up in a box... All Comments | Link15 | DingdongMay 11, 2006 This are the reasons I think they might have indced the addiction. As you might have seen in the episode, having him locked in the box was hardly the most reliable precaution. All Comments | Link16 | GroundedMay 11, 2006 I'm not quite sure how inducing a drug dependency works as a precautionary measure... All Comments | Link17 | robgnowApr 15, 2007 I would say its mostly psychological on Kralik's part. Drug dependency can be a powerful mental block for anyone and we have to assume that when he was human his drugs made him feel better. But we also know that vampires can be affected by common enough drugs... knock out darts and alcohol just being two. It's certainly possible that even if he 'woke up' with no physical dependency, he quickly 'relapsed' into needing them due to his psychological dependency; especially if you go out on a limb and say that his symptoms (i.e. that bellowing in pain) was psychosomatically induced. I generally don't like having to explain things that writers should take the time to, but I've been able to justify Kralik's flaws to myself. Especially since he's not the point of the series, the Buffy/Giles relationship is. Rob All Comments | Link19 | AustinOct 5, 2007 Interesting note that Angel gives Buffy an old (I think 1st edition) book and in real life SMG collects old books thought that was a nice touch All Comments | Link20 | buffyholicOct 24, 2007 Amazing episode and one who just gets better with each viewing. So many wonderful moments, like when Oz and Xander discuss the different types of kryponite, when Xander cannot open the jar or my favourite when Giles cleans the blood of her forehead. Wonderful acting, just wonderful. All Comments | Link21 | Woohoo1729Dec 10, 2007 Great episode, and great review, Mike! Two issues: (1) I also questioned the effectiveness of the test upon initial viewings, but it makes sense for the twisted Slayer mythology--a slayer may make it to her eighteenth birthday due to circumstances other than her ability to slay vampires--maybe she's locked up in jail or an asylum and cannot perform her duties, or perhaps she's just flat-out refused to fight demons and has masterfully escaped the slayer duties. This would pretty much halt the slayer line for a good number of years. The Council just wanted a failsafe to deal with these situations. But obviously, these are just ways for me to justify the merits of the test; it is admittedly kind of hokey and probably thought up by the writers for the purpose of this particular episode. (2) I saw the pills as merely characterizing how mentally-unstable and therefore more frightening Kralik is. He's crazier than your normal run-of-the-mill vampire! I feel like for all of its merits, one thing that BtVS kind of fails at is consistency in explaining the relationship between a vampire and his/her human persona. All Comments | Link22 | KyarorinMar 16, 2008 Considering that it's the pills that get the people from the Watcher's council killed in the first place, my guess is that they were part of a pre-existing condition he already had. They probably wouldn't even need to subdue him that way in the first place. All they would've needed is a trank gun and two guys to ship him off. Other than that, I pretty much agree with all that has been said. All Comments | Link23 | KatzchenSep 24, 2008 Re: the purpose of the test. I figured it was BECAUSE the Slayer was turning eighteen, becoming an adult; the Watchers' Council needs the Slayer to be young, impressionable, and easily controlled so she can work for their agenda. Once the Slayer's an adult, she might start to think for herself, not be so easily controlled, go against the Council's wishes, so (to them) it makes sense to get rid of her before she can grow up and have the next impressionable, controllable young girl called. All Comments | Link24 | EmilyMar 21, 2009 "I see it as something that would never be done by an organization trying to help in the fight against evil, especially not in today's world." Mike, I think that's part of the point- Giles said it was an outdated procedure, and that the council should get rid of it. But the old English farts sitting on their asses all day don't comprehend that. Bookworm, I don't think Buffy and Angel were ever estranged in the sense that they didn't love one another and couldn't depend on each other. I think that the circumstances of his curse and her destiny forced them apart (also the fact that David B. probably really wanted his own show). I think the reason why the writers didn't have her go to him is because she needed to be able to do it on her own, like Harry Potter in the seventh book. I think they destroyed the tender moment between Buffy and Angel by giving SMG the line, "Or taken literally, incredibly gross." Why would they do that? The show is not a comedy- it doesn't always have to be funny. All Comments | Link25 | NixApr 6, 2009 Emily: that sort of subversion of expectations (especially via excessive literalness) is a Whedon hallmark. (Also, to be honest, what Angel says is *so* ludicrously soppy that *I* was thinking 'urgh' shortly before Angel commented on it. If the viewers are likely to be thinking the same thing, why not turn it funny?) I'm fairly sure the Watcher's Council entirely understand that the Cruciamentum is outdated. But, firstly, they don't get rid of things merely because they're outdated and don't work ('we're talking about laws that have existed longer than civilization'), and secondly it *does* have the decidedly useful habit of knocking off Slayers before they get too old to easily control. At the bottom of it all, after all, one major purpose of the Watchers' Council is *control of the Slayer* at almost any cost. Their forebears *created* her, and by damn they're not letting her go: she's the only strength most of them have got. Killing off Slayers prematurely, what of it? A new one will be along soon. Being completely dispassionate about it, the Cruciamentum could be considered a sort of Slayer selection filter. The especially skilled ones live through it (the time before they turned 18 being time to gain enough experience to stand a chance), while the subnormal and merely normal ones are, um, 'cycled out' so that a new one can pop up who might be better. So the procedure does, in a way, strengthen the 'statistically average Slayer' (assuming that Slayers that survive the process tend to live for a while, to counteract the effect of killing the subnormal ones off sooner, decreasing the average age and experience of the statistically average Slayer). It's utterly vile and stupid, but that doesn't mean that it might not work. All Comments | Link26 | Darth BunnyJun 20, 2009 I know I'm likely to get objects thrown at me if this was a real discussion, but I believe the Council's test does have real merit. Granted some things could and should definitely change, such as the rule against the Slayer being informed of the test. The test is however an excellent lesson about Slayers. Is a Slayer just super strength and the ability to throw darts at a single target? No of course not; as Buffy herself demonstrates later a true Slayer is self-sufficient. She can survive on her own without assistance. In essence, a Slayer is an adult! Its not a coincidence the test is held when the Slayer is 18, the age when most people can, as Willow pointed out, vote or be drafted, or vote not to be drafted. In this episode the test is vile because it is done without the Slayer's knowledge. The test is outdated because it shows no understanding of modern day relationships or concern for the Slayer as a person. Ironically, the Council's use of this test contradicts its purpose: The test is to prove that the Slayer is an adult, even though the test ensures most Slayers will not make it past their 18th birthday. However the goals of the test, to prove that a Slayer is more than just muscle and to ensure that the Slayer is indeed capable of being independent, are still admirable. Indeed, Giles and even Buffy herself use similar tactics later in the series. Giles helps Buffy with the other vamp in this episode, but in Season 6, he leaves the Scoobies because he's convinced they won't grow with him around. In season 7 when she's training the potentials, she and Spike lock them in a room full of vamps. And since they're still potentials, none of them had Slayer strength to begin with. It's a little hypocritical to cry foul when the Council does this to Buffy here, but to play it off as something comical or even necessary when Buffy does it to a handful of girls four seasons later. But it is necessary because the goals are noble. The only thing bad about it this episode is the Council's execution of such a test. Getting a father figure to violate a person's trust without her knowledge is revolting. Forcing a person to become an adult and to realize that strength, real strength, comes from within however, is a noble if not dangerous goal. The point is, this 'test' is not as black and white as many on this site seem to believe. All Comments | Link27 | ChristianJun 29, 2009 Great ep. SMG's acting is awesome. I think the whole episode just comes together very nicely. And I do agree that the "creepy" factor was high. I was really scared that something might happen to powerless Buffy. All Comments | Link28 | TaraJul 22, 2009 To be honest, I think this episode deserves a P rating. Writing, character, plot and theme were all top-notch. There is a ton going on in this episode: Buffy and Angel's increasing sexual frustration, the ongoing theme of Buffy's father's absence, the relationship between Buffy and Giles and where his loyalties lie, and Buffy's realisation that being the Slayer is now a part of who she is. Even with all this thematically dense material, we get a highly tense and thrilling plot. The scene in the house is one of the show's few truly scary scenes, and Kralik is downright unnerving as villain. In answer to some of the questions above, I also thought the Council's keeping Kralik on pills was intentional on their part, for the Slayer to be able to exploit that particular weakness and give her a fighting chance (which does ultimately lead to his death). The emotional factor is incredibly high, and to have Buffy's trust in Giles shaken this far into the show is a bold move on the part of the writers. It also sets up Giles's later actions in The Gift and Lies My Parents Told Me. Although the rift here is being healed, it does sow the seeds for later discord between them. It's additionally painful that Buffy discovers his betrayal just as her own father has bailed on her and especially needs some fatherly affection. That scene in the library breaks my heart every time I watch it. Definitely P worthy, in my opinion. All Comments | Link29 | NixNov 5, 2009 @ 12:58pm As if we needed it, there's *another* flaw in the whole Cruciamentum idea. Imagine everything had gone right: Kralik hadn't escaped, Giles's part in it had remained concealed... a 'normal' Cruciamentum. How would Giles have explained it afterwards? How is *any* Watcher supposed to explain it? The vampire is hardly likely to conceal the truth, and would probably expose the Watcher's part in the matter just to shake his intended victim --- so *at its best* this ritual can only serve to damage trust between Watcher and Slayer. Or so it seems to me. All Comments | Link30 | AttackedWithHummusJan 3, 2010 @ 7:34pm While I fully recognize the power and excellence of this episode I have only watched it a couple of times due to my personal discomfort in watching it. Unlike with "The Body" (5x16), which people often find too difficult to watch, I find this episode lacks the resonance "The Body" has and is simply not as good. I am put off by the very sensation I feel while watching Buffy in this state and so I need to be in the right place to watch it. That being said, there are many bits I love, most of them covered in the "pros" section or by commentators, but I would like to add an interesting one: the skater Brian Boitano (briefly mentioned in Buffy's attempt to convince Giles of the ice show trip) is not only awesome, but was also born in SunnyVALE, California! All Comments | Link31 | IzzyFeb 3, 2010 @ 11:08pm Just a thought where is Faith in all this.She is a slayer but is not forced to keep up her training,or take this test.To me it seems unfair all the slayer responsibilities are given to Buffy and Faith does not turn until the Enemies episode. She never takes the test I don't how old she was but it seems there was not much of an age difference between them.It's like Giles or the high and mighty council does not care or acknowledge Faith as a slayer and do not care about what she does forcing Buffy to be THE slayer. I am not defending Faith in fact I really don't like her to me it just seems unfair to Buffy to have to be the only one that had to go through it and letting Faith off the hook. All Comments | Link32 | Smallprint84Mar 15, 2010 @ 3:47pm I liked this episode so bad. Pure horror as it should be. Also credit for Jeff Kober as Krelik, he played his role with a lot fun. All Comments | Link33 | G1000May 18, 2010 @ 6:17pm Tara, I completely agree. This one absolutely deserves a P rating. It's on par with "Passion", "Innocence", and both parts of "Becoming". And the ending scenes are some of the most terrifying things I've ever seen. Man, I hope this Council guy gets eaten or something. He's a total jerk. All Comments | Link34 | fray-adjacentMay 24, 2010 @ 11:44am Definitely one of my favorite episodes of the series. MikeJer, I didn't think of Giles's willingness to go along with the Council as evidence of his "do things for the greater good" outlook, but as evidence of his beholden-ness to the Council. Giles at this stage will still follow the rules, even if he disagrees with them, but in the course of this episode he learns that he CAN break the rules. He loses his job, but not his actual role in fighting the good fight, or his relationship with Buffy. This is an important growth episode for Giles, too, and in Season 3 he as well as Buffy "graduates" from the control of the Watcher's Council. All Comments | Link35 | LizzieJun 30, 2010 @ 9:01pm Believe it or not, this is one of the episodes that makes me cry the most. The hardest thing for me is to be betrayed by someone you trusted with your life. All Comments | Link36 | AndreaAug 10, 2010 @ 8:07pm I kind of love that Buffy goes tearing around Sunnydale, on a quiet residential street, just *screaming* for help, and not one person comes out to help her or opens their door. Of course they don't come out: they probably hear that kind of thing all the time, and know enough not to come out and try to help. I like these little suggestions that people in Sunnydale know that there's "something" off about that town. It's interesting to see Buffy experiencing 'the Sunnydale life' from the POV of all the other screaming, helpless girls we've seen killed over the years. (Also kind of a ironic twist on Joss's original spark for the show: the helpless blonde girl in the alley who always gets killed.) All Comments | Link37 | AndreaAug 10, 2010 @ 8:14pm Also love that Giles and Quentin are taking tea on fine china in the creepiest, dirtiest old mansion you've ever seen as they discuss the violation and possible death of a young girl. Decorum, you know. Then later Quentin is enjoying a nice cuppa again while Buffy may very well be getting disemboweled in said mansion. Has anyone noticed that whenever Buffy's feeling particularly horrible/depressed/feeling a little sorry for herself she puts on those denim overalls? Lol! I like that little touch of character detail, very true for a lot of girls, I think, who dress their outsides to fit their feelings inside! All Comments | Link38 | nathan.taurusAug 20, 2010 @ 11:43pm The Good: Buffy rubbing the phallus like crystal and then realising and quickly putting it down. Xander and Oz talking about Superman. Taking the heart metaphor as incredibly gross. I thought the same thing straight away. Buffy running and screaming for help in a reversal role. She acted very scared. Giles and Buffy in the library when he comes clean. Buffy using her smarts to kill Kralik. The dramatic library scene. The way she winces when she touches the cut on her forehead. Xander offering to be the man and help Buffy with the jar and then needs help. The Bad: Agree. Why would Kralik need pills. The incredibly small crucifix necklace again. Andrea: Yes the denim overalls. She stole them from Willow. Trivia: Buffy throws the case at the wall while Giles is standing in the doorway. In 'Prophecy Girl' she was upset and threw books at the same wall and Giles and her were in the same positions. All Comments | Link39 | JasmineJan 11, 2011 @ 8:39pm I just went back and watched this episode again just to see that crystal rubbing scene. Oh dear...She even has a guilty smile on her face after setting it down. "I just have some energy to burn". :) All Comments | Link40 | nkJul 25, 2011 @ 10:10pm One of the few truly disturbing Buffy episodes - and after everything that happens, Travers still treats her in a patronising and condescending way at the end. I remember watching this for the first time and wishing she would tell the Council where to shove it, which of course made it all the more satisfying when she finally did at the end of the season. I'm not sure I ever could have forgiven Giles for his involvement in the test if he hadn't lost his job over it. Because he does though, I think it ultimately makes his relationship with Buffy even stronger and richer because, like Willow in ''Choices'', he chooses to continue fighting alongside her out of love and friendship rather than any kind of duty or habit. All Comments | Link41 | Gemma Dec 17, 2011 @ 2:10am This is an insightful episode, we see character development of Buffy. For the past seasons and in some scenes to come we see her desire to be a normal regular girl, Prophecy girl she quit out of fear (although she did accept her fate), her desire is continued throughout season two and others. Notably in The Gift she saves a boy and he questions how she did what she did, she's just a girl and Buffy responds with 'thats what i keep saying' As far back as Welcome To The Hellmouth we see her dilute her calling as being something she can walk away from. This episode she gets what she wants. The result; Buffy wants to be the slayer, she wants to have the power and the abilities she has lived with for years. This is made prominent in a scene she shares with Willow and that her knowledge of whats out there would stop her from not continuing the fight even without her inherent slayer qualities. In short Buffy lives with a catch 22. This episode is conducive to the father daughter relationship existing between Buffy and Giles. With her own father's absenteeism she is desperate for a bond to replace the hole in left. This episode subverts the once thought solid bond watcher and slayer have. The set up to this episode signifies Giles taking his role as watcher seriously and falling the job description to the letter. His violation of Buffy's trust and respect shows us the Ripper side of Giles. The side willing to do or say the hard things for the greater good. A foreshadowing of The Gift, Once More With Feeling and his decision to leave Buffy to stand on her own and of course Lies My Parent's Told Me. Watching Giles do this is a betrayal The emotional outburst from Buffy when Giles confesses to her what he has done is breathe taking. SMG's performance as well as Antony Head is formidable. The scene acts as a catalyst to shatter the father daughter illusion Buffy thinks she will find in Giles. With the words 'Who are you' . The scene is one that can not be innocent of drawing you in to their plight, to resonate with them. The pain and anguish in their eyes is touching to see. The final scenes when Buffy goes to the house to rescue her mother are dramatic and the most horrific of the the entire series. The vampire is portrayed excellently to instil terror. This is probably one of the most spectacular and yet horrifying battle scenes, a powerless Buffy goes for her mother. Its the weak defenceless blonde girl going up against the crazed monster, on the contrary this girl is Buffy. She uses her wits and her skill to subvert and outmanoeuvre the vamp. I don't know if trusting GIles would be something Buffy could do after what she learned he had done but his entering the field of play to save her and choosing to remain in Sunnydale when he is fired by the council because he has a father's love for the child makes it possible for her. She has in a way what she needs, a father figure and its common knowledge that all parents mess up, they're not perfect. She forgives him when she lets him wipe the blood of her face. In addition, Giles stands by Buffy in Choices when Wesley proclaims that rescuing WIllow is not the best option for the world. It seems that Buffy doesn't tell her friends what Giles did. At least we never saw it and the gangs relationship with Giles never changes nor is there a comment or reference made in the future to them knowing, they do that he was fired but do they know the 'gut wrenching misery and horror'. This episode is well paced and full of great dialogue, witty banter and hard hitting outbursts. This episode once again escalates the need to expect the unexpected in Buffy-Verse something we haven't seen Jenny's death in season two. Giles being fired and Buffy's loss of her power are great to drive home this point. All Comments | Link42 | x factorDec 27, 2011 @ 12:35am If No Place Like Home garners a "P" grade, this episode should receive a PPPP+ grade. lol. Gemma covered it well, but i just want to reiterate just how amazing, wellpaced, engaging, emotionally satisfying, and entertaining this episode is. This episode is proof positive that you dont need forced contrived storylines, pseudo characters, or torture porn to generate intense drama and strong emotional reactions. Just a couple of powerhouse performances by SMG and AH, a terrifying villain, a deeply unsettling undertone of implied sexual violence without going overboard, a lively tertiary character, the trademark BTVS humor. Set up well with a powerful payoff - Buffy and Giles are even closer after their trials. Episodes like this make the whole B/G father/daughter dynamic when Joyce dies perfectly and completely believable. The Buffy/Giles relationship is the heart of this show, despite the writers attempts to ruin it in season 7. If you really think about it, when Giles is marginalized or totally absent (season 6, 7, and 4), this show is at its worst. All Comments | Link43 | OdonFeb 5, 2012 @ 2:33pm The purpose of the test becomes more apparent in Season 5's "Checkpoint", when Buffy realises they're actually about the Watcher's Council maintaining control. This is seen by the fact that not only Buffy but Giles was being tested; one suspects this isn't the only occasion when a Watcher got too attached to his Slayer, so it's a "loyalty test" for them as well. I like the surprised look on Buffy's face when she hears Giles has a "fatherly love" for her. One suspects she's never given conscious thought to the idea that Giles is her father substitute until now. Also Buffy threatening to kill Giles if he ever touches her again, then allowing him to tend to her wound at the end. All Comments | Link44 | SarahFeb 14, 2012 @ 11:34am "I see it as something that would never be done by an organization trying to help in the fight against evil, especially not in today's world." That's the whole point - the Council runs on antiquated, anachronistic traditions that largely have not adapted to modern times. The fact that Buffy and Giles do things differently than previous generations is what makes them special - they're redefining the fight against evil so that it makes sense and is relevant to modern times. This episode is brilliant in the way it further solidifies both Buffy's belief in her calling and our belief as viewers. By challenging the whole basis of the Buffy-verse, this episode makes an even stronger case for it - I truly feel this episode is a stellar for that reason. It's one of the episodes that made me a hardcore Buffy addict. I can't help but see the themes of this episode as an excellent metaphor for criticizing certain traditions - whether religious or cultural (the cultural practice of female genital mutilation comes to mind speaking of Buffy being physically violated) - in the way that they often disregard modern circumstances in favor of blindly adhering to myth and custom. I also love that Buffy being forced to question her calling as a metaphor for someone who feels they have a calling for a certain line of work - whether art or medicine or whatever - naturally going through a period of failure or lack of self-confidence in which they question if they are truly able to live up to that calling. This episode is pure genius, Period. All Comments | Link45 | SarahFeb 14, 2012 @ 11:43am Also, in the last scene Travers says that the Council is not in the business of fair. He says "we're fighting a war", and Giles correctly jumps in with "you're waging a war, she's fighting it, there is a difference". This goes to show how disconnected the Council is from the reality of this war because they aren't putting their own lives on the line each day (much like how a certain former president of ours skipped out on his own military duty yet as president jumped into a war based on false pretenses, not seeming to care at all for the people actually fighting it). I find it completely believable that the Council would administer a test like this. All they care about is a false sense of control over the Slayer because she's truly the one with the power (as she'll come to realize in Checkpoint). The parallel to female genital mutilation becomes even more apparent. All Comments | Link46 | PineapplerMar 7, 2012 @ 6:33pm Ah, this is really such a quintessential Buffy episode. I forgot how amazing it is. One second I found myself laughing at all the silly little antics and the next moment I found myself crying at how the trust Buffy had for Giles was shattered. I am pretty sure this episode is one of my favorites, but I do tend to say that after every episode I watch. All Comments | Link47 | ckMar 13, 2012 @ 3:37pm The one thing that bothered me about this episode is how Giles takes Buffy's slayer powers away. Travers defends the test by saying that this is the way things have been done since the beginning ( not a quote but the essence of what he said). Basically, this is the tradition so do it. Giles injecting Buffy using a syringe full of muscle relaxers, etc. did not seem realistic as a tradition because syringes can't be more than 200-300 years old. The writers may have wanted Giles's role to be as invasive as possible for the impact it would have on his relationship with Buffy, but I found that aspect unrealistic. I think the writers could have come up with a magical way for Giles to rob Buffy of her powers that would have worked just as well. All Comments | Link48 | AntoinetteMar 28, 2012 @ 3:57pm this is one of my favorite episodes of buffy! i think it exemplifies what buffy is. the episode had drama, suspence, laughs and romance. i love it!!! and isnt the guy who plays the psyco vampire the same guy that plays rack is season 6!?!?! All Comments | Link49 | fanMar 30, 2012 @ 5:33pm did anyone else notice she was wearing the same thing she did in surprise but in white. and its exactly one year later. i wonder if there is a significance with the repeat outfits. theres the same thing with willow in season 6. she wears that denim jacket twice. once in a couple episodes before villians when she runs into tara outside the magic shop and then ofcourse in villians, two to go, and grave All Comments | Link50 | Ryan ONeilOct 19, 2012 @ 6:21am I'm wondering how much of the emotion of this episode is a flashback to the Angelus arc: had early-Season 2 Buffy been put through the test, she would've probably been so trusting of the people around her that her fury at Giles for betraying her would've been overshadowed by her disbelief that something like that could even happen in the first place, and she would've probably tried to convince herself that the poison was a kind of wax-on-wax-off thing like the council thought it was. However, starting precisely a year before the test, she had spent months learning that the people you love and trust can turn into brutal murderers, and she would be remembering it even more strongly on the precise anniversary of the nightmare beginning. Thus, instead of being too blindsided by Giles's betrayal to process it completely, she processed very quickly and immediately went into violent fury. Also, in reply to CK (#47), I'm thinking that just the poison was what had been traditional for centuries and that syringes were just a new way of delivering it more reliably than having her drink something. All Comments | Link51 | JELDec 10, 2012 @ 9:56pm There is a nice Cordelia moment that might rank as a minor pro: When the distraught Buffy asks Cordelia if Cordelia could give Buffy a ride home, Cordelia says "Of course" without any hesitation and with a fair amount of compassion. I can't imagine the first or second season Cordelia doing this, but it seems "right" at this point in the 3rd season. Someone made this point on some other site and now every time I watch this episode I pick up on this moment. (I've never thought the test here made any sense, but I just chalk it up to "why let logic stand in the way of a great story" and it does makes for a great episode.) All Comments | Link52 | AlexDec 11, 2012 @ 3:28am *in reply to JEL (#51) I love that moment too, JEL. I'm a big Cordelia fan and I like the way this little moment shows that while she may not be Buffy's closest friend, she now has enough compassion and perception to help without question when it's obvious that someone is really suffering.All Comments | Link53 | Ryan ONeilJan 13, 2013 @ 6:52pm *in reply to JEL (#51) Personally, I think it makes a lot of sense that the Council does things that don't make sense :) It's not bad writing on the part of the writers, it's good writing of bad people.Plus, remember when Buffy was complaining about an upcoming test for school and asked why she couldn't just join a tribe that inflicts bodily injury as a coming of age ritual? I really want to say that Anya had a role in this, becuase Buffy finds out that she actually is in a "tribe" like that :) That line was before this episode, right? It was the let-me-back-into-high-school tests, not the SAT's? All Comments | Link54 | Gemma Jan 14, 2013 @ 11:04am Having re-watched this episode, i can honestly say it is a great piece of writing, displaying characters in a negative light, showing the Council and in particular Quentin as black hats for the side of good. The test Buffy faces, is an archaic one, designed as Quentin says to test the Slayer, i think is a little more than just that. Not many Slayers live as long as Buffy and so i think this test is suppose to humble the slayers who do make it? Or maybe on a harsh note to ensure the slayers don't live long and that new ones are created? All Comments | Link55 | ArachneaFeb 24, 2013 @ 5:05am The first time I watched this episode, I thought this test was utter nonsense and a good way to alienate any trust a slayer could have in her watcher. But I didn't care too much because the whole episode had so much resonance and consequences. But now it makes a whole lot of sense and I agree with some of the other commenters. The power of the Council is only in being able to control the Slayer. I always wondered why the slayers were so young: they were "made" like that in order to be controllable. I don't know how many slayers have made it to 18, but it's reasonable to assume that those who did stood very little chance to survive the test, thus having a fresh young slayer the Council can mold. The watcher should be able to determine wether the slayer is dependable or not, the test is just an excuse. The episode also explains why the council doesn't want a relation of affection between watcher and slayer: they won't let emotions get in the way to remain in total control. So a great episode indeed ! Although I know the episode was about Giles and Buffy, I would have liked some conversation with the Scoobies. She could have acknowledged how hard it can be for her friends to fight without any powers. Also, the subtle touch with Cordelia's scene was very well done. Post a Comment
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question: Buffy's without power, she was attacked by a vampire couldn't fight him, the life of her mother was at risk, everybody already knew that Angel was alive and that they were seeing each other. Why didn't she go to him for help?
I can imagine it's quite difficult to locate Faith (they got along quite well at that point) and time's a major thing, but all she would have needed to do was call Angel (or head over) and ask him to meet her there...
of course, it wouldn't have been that creepy and she wouldn't have passed the test, but duh...
I'm seeing a major change in her behaviour from s.2 "passion" until that point: in "passion" Buffy said: "Every time something like this happens, my first instinct is still to run to Angel..." and now she hasn't any powers and she's doing it alone, doesn't (even) want HIM anymore to take care of her when lives of loved ones depend on her ability to fight vampires...
and anybody is wondered that she doesn't let Riley take care of her in season five, when she's pumped up with power and he's just with normal human strength???