Magick in the Buffyverse

| Energy | Rituals and Spells | Witches | Mental Powers |

| Mystical influences on physical laws | Mystical forces outside Sunnydale | Rituals and Spells | Non-ritualistic invocation of mystic forces | Compounds with mystical effects | Invoking and thwarting the mystical by physical means | Other examples of mystic forces |

Energy: A medium or
substance by which things act to change other things. In the Buffyverse, there are both physical and mystical forms of energy.

Physical: Action in accordance with the laws of physics. The physical laws of the universe
sometimes get a boost from mystical energy. "Things like that are easy when you live on a Hellmouth." --Giles, Nightmares Examples:

Demon spirits transform the physiology of dead humans, turning them into vampires Time runs too fast while Buffy is taking an exam in Nightmares Marcie Ross' invisibility Assembling the perfect girl Building a robot: Ted, April Bezoar neural clamping The ghosts of some people (poltergeists) can effect physical objects Oz's werewolf condition improves his human senses Anya(nka) creates an alternate history in the Wish The Mayor heals quickly and is long-lived due to supernatural means An eclipse darkens the sky during the Mayor's commencement speech Gachnar can distort matter and reality while being summoned The Gentlemen steal the voices of the Sunnydale residents and trap them in a box Willow's incantation to ionize the air in Giles' apartment is classic control of the physical through mystical means Ethros demons take a physical form of their own when they need to regenerate their strength Traumatically repressed sexual desires can take on an un-life of their own Dracula's shape-shifting skills A spell transforms the Summers' memories and the objects in their home A spell makes the gang blind to very physical demons Magic can have a profound influence on the physical, but magic and medicine don't mix well. Healing spells can apparently make things worse than they were before. Not good news for Joyce. A demon fuses the two parts of his body back together in The Trial. A troll is physically trapped in a crystal for a millenium

The Key is a "living energy" A Pockla blessing can aid a body part transplant dimension-hopping involves a tricky combination of physics and magic. The Illuminata diamond gives a mystical boost to quantum-mechanical laws. Cedrian crystals act like batteries with a little mystical help Gwen-the-thief's electrical powers aren't just physics in action. Connor and Cordelia brought Jasmine into the world, only they can take her out of it.

Masquerade's note: If you have a problem with the science of the Buffyverse, remember Joss's axiom: "It's not physics, it's metaphysics!" Magic is always a factor in special powers displayed on the shows, and magic augments the laws of nature. Anyone trying to find a completely scientific explanation anything on the shows is forgetting they're in the Buffyverse.

Mystical: According to Willow's knowledge of magic, magic does not so much break the laws
of physics as use them to its advantage: Power cannot come from nowhere, it must be borrowed. Nothing can be created ex nihilo or completely destroyed, merely transformed. Transformation depends on finding catalysts to initiate the change. Despite this, the "laws of the mystical" have a logic all their own, often requiring rituals and spells to invoke them. With sufficient control, these forces can be harnessed. But insufficient precision (e.g., stray words, impure intentions) during the invocation of magic can produce results quite contrary to what was expected. Buffy's statement, "One day I'm gonna live in a town where evil curses are just generally ruled out without even saying" (IMG) is probably wishful thinking. Things congregate in Sunnydale that you normally wouldn't find anywhere else, but mystical forces work everywhere in the Buffyverse. Examples:

Priests locked Moloch's spirit in a book in Cortona, Italy in 1418 Ampata had to be guarded from awakening elsewhere on her tour of the US Giles and his friends summoned Eyghon in London The Judge once burned the righteous down elsewhere der Kindestod killed Celia in L.A. The Gypsy curse first took place in Romania Ken and his demons' door to hell was in large city outside of Sunnydale (LA?) Ovu Mobani is an African demon Faith fought vampires in Boston Anyanka's power of the Wish has been used all over the world Bizarro-world Buffy fought vampires in Cleveland (The Wish). Angelus spread his evil in Ireland, England, and Romania; Dru and Spike in Prague and Brazil The Hansel-and-Gretel demon played havoc in Omaha, Utah, and Germany There were Ascensions in Russia and Hawaii Vampires and demons lurk in the alley ways and boardrooms of Los Angeles Piasca is a flesh-eating Indian demon who enters a victim's mouth and eviscerates from within. Eww.

Oz found control of his werewolf condition with monks in Tibet while Vanessa Brewer learned her evil skills from monks in Pajaur A sacred spot in the desert near the Hellmouth counterbalances its evil energy

Mystical forces can also sometimes be invoked through certain actions which are not clearly ritualistic. Examples:

Any invitation to a vampire into a private residence, whether intentional or not Releasing a demon spirit from a book Undoing the Nightmare world The Judge was reanimated by assembling his body parts into their correct anatomical positions The invocation of The Wish When Willow tells Buffy about a protection spell, it breaks the spell's power Glory maintains her sanity by draining mental energy from human beings

Mystical forces are sometimes invoked by physical objects. Examples:

Talismans
"There's always a talisman." -- Buffy, Lessons

Catherine used doll surrogates to debilitate her enemies Breaking Ampata's seal frees the mummy from her tomb The statue of Janus in Ethan's Halloween spell The "mark of Eyghon" tattoo attracts... Eyghon The orb of Thessela is a temporary container of a human soul Scapulas are amulets worn around the neck as protection from evil Pulling out the sword in Acathla's chest awakens the demon Anyanka's amulet granted her demonic powers Balthazar sought his amulet in order to restore his full demonic power The Gem of Amara bequeaths invulnerability to the vampire that wears it An enchanted sword is needed to skewer and dismember the sewer monster in S&S. The Chumash knife makes the vengeance spirit Hus into flesh. Certain body parts of the those with supernatural gifts can be used by others to bring forth those powers. The Word of Valios is a 15th Century talisman used in a ritual to open the Hellmouth. A Doll's-Eye crystal can enhance the power of a spell. A Draconian Katra can be used to induce transmigration A Latin incantation to call forth a flame might fall flat most of the time, but "Don't speak Latin in front of the [spell] books." Don't underestimate the usefulness of a magic gourd.

The ferula-gemina leaves people beside themselves. Kuhl's amulet, a key ingredient in transmorgification rituals. The Shroud of Rahmon absorbs a demon's powers The idol of Granath in the police chief's ritual The Band of Blacknil will get you into hell, assuming you want to go. Pylean slave collars and bejeweled consoles: bad combo. Jonathan's magic bone enhances the power of his spells. Sweet's talisman summons the demon from hell to Earth. Diamonds are excellent for cursing. Count Kurskov's power center medallion The psychic vision orb The Orbs of Nezzla'kahn A talisman of bone sics manifest spirits on Buffy and Dawn The Axis of Pythia can be used to look across dimensions An enchanted letterman's jacket is the key to a football player's success The bodies of the Ra-tet contain talismans that are the key to the destruction of daylight. A container for souls: the muo-ping The Prokaryote Stone helps uncover psychological traumas The Slayer's Scythe: weapon and talisman The crystal amulet uses the power of the sun to cleanse an area of vampires The re-corporealization ring Techno-mystical hybrids are talismans whose physical components are technological in nature. Tezcatcatl's sun-talisman A mystical crystal is the key to freeing the "fail-safe" monster in the Wolfram and Hart vault A pendant removes Gunn's memory, locking him a fake suburban purgatory An Orlon Window allows people to see the past is it really occurred. Usually, one looks into the Window to see the past, but the past will also be revealed if the Window breaks.

Mystical forces are sometimes thwarted by physical means. Examples:

Any physical object that kills a vampire The power of Catherine's spell is reflected back at her by a mirror Ampata's seal keeps the mummy from leaving her tomb Breaking the Janus statue disrupts the Halloween spell Buffy disassembles the Judge with a rocket launcher

der Kindestod is visible to those who were sick and delirious with fever Acathla's vortex was stopped up by a sword-skewered Angel Ovu Mobani was killed by attacking its eyes When Bizarro-world Giles smashes Anyanka's amulet, she is turned into Anya

Crushing the Gem of Amara releases its mystical power Stabbing Hus with the Chumash knife turns him back into inert spirit When Riley smashes the Gentlemen's wooden box, it releases the trapped voices back to their owners A knife with the mark of Kekfadloren is the only way to kill Kek demons, if there are any If you can find an Ethros Box, it will trap an Ethros demon Killing a normally incorporeal demon by zapping it with electricity while it is in physical form. Warding off an ancient evil with the glowing Dagon Sphere Fire can destroy a demonic shroud Breaking the idol of Granath disrupts the zombie animation ritual A metal glove can kill a Kleynach demon Destroying an image of a deceased person used in a raising spell can end the spell. Metal can prevent individuals crossing through a dimensional portal together from ending up in different locations. Summers' blood closes a mystic portal between dimensions. When the urn of Osiris becomes defiled by breaking, it is no longer useful in the ritual to raise the dead. Shattering Count Kurskov's medal destrroys the source of his wizard powers Buffy slays the sword demon by breaking the sword in two You can trap a member of Sahjhan's species in a Resikhian Urn Buffy disempowers the Orbs of Nezzla'kahn by smashing them Breaking the bone talisman sends the manifest spirits whence they came Burning the enchanted letterman's jacket ends its spell on the women of Sunnydale Xander ends the First-Evil locator spell by smashing a bowl of essential ingredients. You stop a mystical gateway from opening with a lock-spell. You unlock the lock with a "skeleton key". Lindsey's memory is restored when a pendant around his neck is removed.

Compounds with mystical effects

Potions used in spells have mystical properties Slayer blood freed the Master from the Hellmouth and cured Angel of the "Killer of the Dead".

The mystical properties of Slayer's Blood.... Some of them may be "old vampire's tales" and so on, but...

Mr Trick Consequences:"I hear once you've tasted a Slayer, you never wanna go back." (jengod 11/16/00 5:51 pm, 19 Nov 2000 17:36) SpicoliVamp, "The Freshman": "Okay, but you gotta share the eatin'. 'Cause I'm thinkin' slayer's blood's gotta be - Whoa! - like Thai Stick." Spike, "Fool for Love": "Have you ever heard the saying, 'The blood of a Slayer is a powerful aphrodesiac?"

Better living through chemistry: Mystical steroids, Pete's super-mas-macho mixture, the slayer-power dampener, Metaphysical PCP Absorbing demon blood passes on aspects of the demon to Buffy, and regenerates Angel's human body. Demon blood can also absorb psychic powers from a human who gained those powers from another demon and can pass on violent impulses from demon to human. Binding powders: Ethros Demons , Preggothian disabler, Divining powder. Virgin blood can help keep a demon from coming back to life. The blood of the Key is the key to breaking down dimensional walls. And only blood like Dawn's can bring the walls back up. Certain mystical potions (and a heart-echtomy) give a vampire invincibility for six hours. Then, of course, it kills him. Fawn blood is a key ingredient in the ritual to raise Buffy from the dead When Sorbris root is ground into a powder and blown on a person, it is supposed to make them confused. Unless it mixes with other chemicals, which can counteract its powers. The "paranormal prophylactic" prevents women from losing their supernatural gifts during physical intimacy What's the cure when you've been infected with demonic Penloxia? Cylenthium powder, a mystical antibiotic. The blood of a murder victim activates the Seal of Danthazar. The tears of the murderer deactivate it. Calendula can be used to hide dishonesty while getting your aura read. Liaison Hamilton's blood is imbued with the power of the Senior Partners.

Other examples of mystical forces

James' haunting space What force caused Angel to return from Hell? Supernatural safeguards used to protect objects such as the Box of Gavrok Other supernatural "force fields": o the "mystic prison" that trapped the Master in the Hellmouth o the guard against uninvited vampires entering a house o the wall that kept braceleted demons from escaping slavery o ComboBuffy's shield against Adam's bullets o the barrier that protects the gas station refuge in Spiral o the sanctorium spell on Caritas puts up mystical barriers if there is violence. o the Furies' protection spell puts a force field around the Hyperion. o the mystical barrier that guards the Orbs of Nezzla'kahn will incinerate anything that isn't a Nezzla demon o A binding field prevents Willow from using her formidable powers on her friends o Willow's defense against the Grimslaw demon o the barrier against the Turok-han o the "sand of the red palm" can keep a powerful demon like Skip locked up tight, for a while.

the gateway to Illyria's temple a mystical barrier invisible to Angel but visible to Connor prevents Angel from helping his son fight a prophecied battle. The Ascension is the outcome of several rituals, but is not itself a ritual
o o

Rituals and Spells

| Rituals | Spells | Curses | Witch Spells | Bad Mojo | Tracing Rituals and Spells | The mystical forces in the Buffyverse do not behave in a completely random fashion. They can be controlled by those in the know. What is required is knowledge of a ritual or spell--specific words (the "incantation"),objects, and/or actions which harness specific mystical energies. The terms "ritual"and "spell" are used more or less interchangeably in the Buffyverse. The only apparent differences are that spells often mix incantations with potions, while rituals involve incantations and specific bodily actions. Furthermore, the word "spell" is often associated with witches and witchcraft.

Rituals
Clear examples of the use of rituals in BtVS:

| Creating the Vessel | Possessing and de-possessing the Pack | Binding Moloch | The revivification of the Master from his bones | Feeding Machida | The devotion to Chaos | Getting possessed by Eyghon | Restoring a sick vampire | Revoking the invitation to vampires | Opening the mouth of Acathla | The ritual of the undead (AKA The Gypsy curse) | Feeding Lurconis | Raising the dead | The Dedication ceremony for the Ascension | The ritual of Gavrok for the Ascension | The ritual of Mok'Togar | Summoning Gachnar | Eating of the ex-husband's brains | Summoning the warriors of vengeance | Summoning D'Hoffryn | Opening the Hellmouth | The
ritual to keep a demon dead involves burial in virgin soil, and a Latinate incantation (Wesley, IGYUMS) | Traveling to the Nether Realm | The ritual of primeval power | The revivification of Darla | Raising the Thesulac | Forging and defusing the ferula-gemina | Incarnating the Key | A Tirer la Courture | The supplication to Yeska | Transmogrifying a living being | Animating zombies | The ritual sacrifice | Disenchanting the Band of Blacknil | The ritual for slayer guidance | Crossing into Pylea | The raising ritual | Beseeching the Loa | The sacrifice to Avilas | Removing Angel's soul | Returning Buffy from the realm of the Shadowmen | The Bu'shundi locator ritual | Birthing a higher being | The Matis demon's "flesh magic" | De-consecrating holy ground | Crossing dimensions |

The coding of rituals:We have seen several cases in which rituals were kept safe from those who would misuse them by putting the text of the ritual in a secret code, including The Du Lac Cross, for reading his manuscript, and the transliteration annals of the ritual of the undead in B1.

Spells
Clear examples of the use of spells in BtVS:

| Detecting a witch | The transpossession, debilitating enemies, and bloodstone vengeance spells (The Witch) | Reversing witch spells | Catherine's spell to put Buffy in the trophy | Turning children into their costumes | The Cordy love-spell and the rat transformation spell (BBB, Gingerbread) | Exorcising poltergeists | Immolating the Glove of Myhnegon | Lover's walk: the de-lusting spell for Xander and Willow and the love spell for Drusilla and Spike | Summoning Anyanka | Willow's protection spells in Gingerbread and Bad Girls | Lifting the veil of the Hansel-and-Gretel Demon | The Clouding Spell | Binding the Hellmouth | Creating a temporal fold | Returning VampWillow to the alternate history | Reversing the aspect of the demon | The Breath of the Entropics | Destroying the Box of Gavrok | Reversing a soul transfer | The Guiding Spell | Making beer "bad" | Binding a Ghost (RWAV, CWDP) | Willow's vengeance curse (WAH) | The Sensitivity Spell | The "I Will It So" spell | The Truth Spell | Supplication to Thespia (the spell to detect demons) | Ionizing the atmosphere | The augmentation spell | The joining spell | Summoning the elements | The confounding spell | | The Tinkerbell spell | The Blind-to-demons spell | Weakening an enemy | Creating sunshine | Trapping Olaf in the crystal | Releasing Olaf's hammer | Sending Olaf to the Troll dimension | Disappearing and reappearing the cash register | Turning Olaf into a troll | The early warning spell | Teleporting a Hellgod | The deoculation charm | Raising Joyce | The Tara-protection spell | The spells of Darkest Magick | The supplication to Osiris (raising Buffy) | Incarnating the thaumogenesis demon | The sanctorium spell | Body-switching | Time-looping Buffy | Erasing Tara's memory | The sanctorium spell, pt 2 | The Tabula Rasa spell | De-ratting Amy | Rack's
black magic spells | Breaking a force-field | Retrieving a wayward person | The spell to enchant the cerebral dampener | Releasing the sword demon | Locating the orbs | Closing the Quortoth fissure | Locating Warren | The Sumerian protection spell | Reassigning someone's sex | Returning missing memories | Locating potential slayers | Delothrian's Arrow | The Turkish Conjuration | The Memory Mojo | Altering the calling of Slayers | Summoning the dead | Throwing Wolfram and Hart out of whack | Removing Enochian glyphs | Cloaking a television signal | Unlocking a lock spell | The memory/reality altering spell | Angel's Wolfram and Hart glamor | How do spells work? One fan speculates: I'd say that the electrical currents set up by the witches brain when reciting a spell create a sort of lens for natural forces to funnel through and effect change. The magic circle, whatever

ingredients or actions that accompany the spell are part of the lens, and direct the focus (Dianne, Dec 14 19:30 1998).

Curses: Spells and rituals meant to create long-term trouble for the victim. Examples:

Sid the ventriloquist's dummy Ampata the living mummy the soul-restoration ritual turns Angelus into Angel, a demon with a soul Spike wanted a "right proper" vengeance curse against Angel for "making him" lose Drusilla Anyanka had the power to curse unfaithful men Willow almost curses Oz in Wild at Heart Ethan Rayne turns Giles into a Fyarl demon Indians cursed the burial grounds where a Catholic convent was built curses for hire witches trap a mean ol' troll in a crystal Halfrek's curse was intended to trap Dawn, Buffy, and Buffy's friends in Buffy's house indefinitely. Amy casts a hex on her ex-friend, the powerful witch Willow. Tezcatcatl's mystical deal

Bad Mojo
Most magic on the show isn't "bad", but some is. Examples of human characters who have harnessed rituals, spells, and witch-powers to serve evil or for selfish reasons:

Catherine Madison, evil witch The Zoo-keeper in the Pack Ethan Rayne's mayhem spells Gwendolyn Post Jack O'Toole The Mayor's rituals of power Willow flirts with dark forces Wolfram and Hart's Sensitivity Spell mafioso wizards The Sobekites The demon Sahjhan Rack the black magician Magnus Hainsley the necromancer Matthias Pavayne Lucien Drake

Witches
| Witches | Natural witches | Other spell-casters | Good vs. Evil Witches | Sources of magic powers | Witch training | Witchcraft spells | Wicca the religion |

Witches are human beings who habitually harness mystical forces, with and without using
spells. Their power has limits, however. For example, Amy in rat form cannot reverse her own spell from Gingerbread.

Sorcerers and other spell-casters

Technopagans Giles has performed spells with Amy, Jenny, and Willow. The magic shop owner in Passion seemed to recognize and fear Dru. Perhaps she visited his store before to get supplies. A pre-witch Willow organized the Mangus-tripod. Angel(us) knows his way around rituals and spells. Ethan Rayne is an evil sorcerer Dracula is pretty powerful with that showy gypsy stuff of his. The 16th-century French sorcerer Cloutier Rival wizard firms Khul, high priest of the Sobekites Doc: demon witch or something more? The clerics of the Knights of Byzantium have knowledge of ritual magic. Among other things, shaman can treat the sick or pregnant with special magicks. The transuding furies Rack the black magician Mistress Meerna, expert in dimensional magic Ma'at, a white magic shaman Wo-Pang, dark mystic from the Order of the Kun-Sun-Dai. The Svea(r), a family of powerful Nordic priestesses Cyvus Vail, warlock subcontractor of Wolfram and Hart

Witch training: Willow's emerging witchhood

When Willow inherited Ms. Calendar's classroom and computer, she also got her spells. Being a quick study, Willow knew enough within months to help restore Angel's soul.

During the summer of 1998, Willow did some pagan blessings, a "glamour" (a kind of veil) to hide a zit, and tried to communicate with the spirit world, unsuccessfully--she blew the power on her entire block. Other spells: floating feather, fire out of ice. In Lover's Walk, Willow tells Spike "I'm not a real witch" (not yet a full-fledged witch). She could become a full-fledged witch by studying magic over the course of many years. Although she is a member of Amy's coven by Gingerbread, it is evident that Willow has a ways to go. She can summon 2 out of 4 elements, but she isn't powerful enough to escape the mob as Amy did. When Willow gives Buffy a protection spell in Bad Girls (a small black felt pouch, lavender scented), she calls herself a "wicca". In Doppelgngland and Choices, Willow floats a pencil by force of will alone (without an incantation). Willow is ready to move on to the next level--in witchcraft and evilfighting--in Fear, Itself. In Something Blue, Willow proves capable of reversing Amy's rat spell from Gingerbread, with the right counter-spell. Willow is befriended by Tara a powerful witch: Soda-machine moving, Rose-floating, Doll's-eye crystal, demon-hunt-thwarting, monsterblinding. Willow finally communicates with the spirit world successfully, with Tara's help. Full fledged witch? The spell in Primeval requires an experienced witch. Willow seems to qualify.

Willow reunites the two Xanders Is Willow' being careless with her power? Should Willow and Tara "register" as practicing witches? With whom? The Glory teleportation spell Willow attempts Darkest Magick on Glory. Gaining psychic access when you're not a natural psychic requires advanced magicks. Willow successfully brings Buffy back from the dead Regaining control of powerful magicks: Get It Done, Orpheus, Chosen Philosophies of witchcraaft: Willow vs. Tara

Mental Powers
| Mind control | Psychic powers | Telepathy, Telekinesis, and Teleportation | The nature of supernatural talents |

Mind control: Demons and other baddies often use various levels of mind control to get what
they want. Some examples:

Xander and the bad kids in The Pack Vamps with mesmeric power: The Master draws Buffy to her death, Dru uses hypnotic powers to subdue Kendra and Giles, Dracula seduces the slayer and her friends with more than just his reputation. A spell makes Xander and Buffy forget their identities in Halloween Ted's tranquil-izers Bezoar "neural clamping" The Cordy love spell in BBB A spirit's thrall When the adults of Sunnydale eat the Band Candy, they are not in control of their behavior, but they remember their adult lives. The Hansel-and-Gretel Demon flairs paranoia. The sensitivity spell puts the LAPD in touch with their inner children. The men of Oden Tal turn their women into obedient zombies by cutting the physical seat of their personalities. Dracula's thrall Turfog's thrall Rahmon's drive-'m-mad thing Willow control's Tara's memories with Lethe's bramble Willow gets out of a binding field with a little telepathic influence on the demonic Anya Non-magical mind control: brainwashing The Shiny Happy mojo: everything's beautiful in Jasmine's world. Or is it?

Psychic powers: An awareness of future, hidden, distant events which does not rely on
reasoning from evidence of the five senses. The characters who seem in possession of psychic powers are Buffy, Drusilla, the Caritas Host, and Cordelia via Doyle.

Some of Buffy's dreams are definite examples of precognition--she is seeing events that are yet to happen. Not all of her psychic dreams are that straightforward. Many are symbolic or vague enough to be interpreted in more than one way. Clear examples of Buffy's psychic dreams: WttH, Nightmares, WSWB, Surprise/Innocence, IOHEFY (day

dreams), Amends, G2, Hush, Restless, and Beneath You. Less clear examples: Anne, FH&T, Consequences, Bring on the Night, and Get It Done. Other psychic experiences: Buffy's "deja vu" feelings about the falling pencil in B1 lead to the discovery of Jenny's disk with the soul-restoration ritual on it, Buffy's knowledge that Whistler is a demon sent down to even the score between good and evil, Buffy's knowledge that the monks made Dawn "from her".

Drusilla's visions foretell the future or give her information about distant events she could not otherwise sense ("precognition"). They are typically vague. Either that, or she simply chooses to report it in a vague way. For example, in Halloween, Dru has psychic foreknowledge of Buffy's conversion into a helpless 18th-century girl: "Everything's switching. Outside to inside. It makes her weak. Tomorrow. Someone's come to change it all. Someone new." Drusilla has precognitive visions in: School Hard, Halloween, WML (in a tarot card reading), Surprise (a report of a dream), Innocence, Passion, IOHEFY, Becoming, FFL, Reunion, and Redefinition. In flashbacks (B1, Darla), we see that she had these gifts when she was human as well. Cordelia's (via Doyle) visions are short painful images that give her information which guide the Angel Investigations team in their fight against evil. Sometimes they are a little less informative (e.g., the bar in Lonely Hearts, but not what's evil there). Sometimes they are downright misleading (e.g., the Prio Motu and shop owners in TVT are good, not evil). Most of the time they help save the helpless just in the nick of time. The visions are an ancient powerful force that come from the Powers That Be. Despite this, the person who gets them may not be someone whom the Powers would have chosen to get them. Demons are the only ones who can withstand the blinding headaches that come with the visions, yet humans have had the visions more than once.

Unanswered question: is there one set of "visions" passed to Doyle down a line that included the 17th century woman in "Birthday", or can many people have the visions at once? (Or both?) This is unknown.

The Caritas Host is a spirit-reader whose powers give him knowledge of other people's futures and lives. The Master and the Anointed One both sense the "new, powerful, psychic force" above ground that is causing people's dreams to become reality in Nightmares. Vanessa Brewer substituted psychic powers for normal sight. The Thesulac demon can induce and feed off of paranoia Aggie, the Host's psychic friend The fez-wearing psychic can tap into the channel that sends Cordelia her visions. The Wolfram and Hart psychic core Rack the black magician can get into people's heads and control their magical tripping. Cassie Newton the Clairvoyant

The followers of Jasmine may not be psychic, but she certainly is. Mediums: psychics of the dead

Less clear cases:

Does Giles have a psychic vision in The Dark Age? Does Angel have a psychic dream in The Prom? What about in Somnambulist? VampMarcus seemed to be able to tell a lot about Angel just by touching his chest. Sahjhan the demon

Telepathy: The ability to read the minds or enter the minds of others

Buffy shares Angel's dreams in Amends The telepathic demons in Earshot There has been no evidence of psychic powers in any slayers other than Buffy. If the dream in G2 was psychic, it was Buffy in Faith's mind, not vice versa. Demon Barney was an empath, sensing the emotions of others. The Hacksaw Beast's psychic umbilical cord Ethros demon telepathy The telepathy twins do a sweep at Wolfram and Hart. Willow communicates covert plans to Spike in The Gift and to the entire gang in Bargaining. Willow, Buffy, and Xander make plans to defeat the Turok-han. Group minds created by a psychic connection: The Body Jasmine, the Harbingers of the First Evil.

Telekinesis: The power to move things with one's mind alone. It usually occurs under periods
of extreme emotional distress.

Catherine Madison in The Witch. A poltergeist is a ghost so plagued by anger and confusion that it can effect physical objects. Examples: James Stanley, Maude Pearson. Balthazar drew vampires towards himself. Willow stakes a vamp by telekinesis in Choices. Ronald Meltzer's ability to control his body parts when they are detached is a form of telekinesis. Willow and Tara join forces to move a soda machine and to float a rose. Ethros demon telekinesis Bethany Chaulk's got the power Willow and Tara together can move minions Lindsey shuts the door on Cordelia's escape in YW

Teleportation

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Season 1

Welcome to the Hellmouth

The Harvest

The Witch

Teacher's Pet

Never Kill a Boy on the First Date

The Pack

Welcome to the Hellmouth

The Metaphysics of "Welcome to the Hellmouth"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 6 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

Vampire Slayers: For as long as there have been vampires, there have been vampire slayers. Vampire slayers are young human girls (15 or 16 is a typical age to be called) who are endowed with supernatural strength and fighting skills. There can be only one slayer at any given time, and a new slayer is only "called" (her powers made manifest) when the old slayer dies. The Slayer's duty is to protect humanity from vampires and other demons who stalk the Earth. Buffy is the latest of the slayers, called in 1996 (BtVS movie, B1). Watchers are adults who train and prepare a slayer for her duties. Typically, there is a single watcher assigned to a slayer. Early on, the watchers formed a Council for governing their activities, and by extension, the activities of the Slayer. The early history of the first watchers and the first slayers are explored in later episodes. What is the Hellmouth? "Sunnydale's got too many demons and not enough retail outlets" -- Glory Giles calls Sunnydale a "center of mystical energy" or a "mystical convergence". By this he means that supernatural energy is concentrated more strongly here than elsewhere, due to the proximity of the Hellmouth, a point where the wall between our world and hell ("the demon dimension(s)") is thinner than usual, Its exact location is right under the Sunnydale High School library, which explains the unusual preponderance of supernatural activity at the high school. Vampires like the Master and demons like the Sisterhood of Jhe have tried to take advantage of the Hellmouth to open an entrance to hell (see also The Vahrall). Several times on the show dialogue has implied there may be more than one hellmouth: In the ep "The Wish" Giles told Buffy's watcher that Sunnydale was on a hellmouth. I think this is extremely significant because he used the word "a" not "the." It's entirely possible that at any given time on the world there could be several hellmouths. It might be that hellmouths are

revolving things that occur do to the accumulation of various mystical forces. Because of this hellmouths could change locations or be shut down only to tear open a small tear in some other portion of the globe (Dhark, Mar 18 22:11 1999). The cycles of the Hellmouth Psychic dreams: Buffy's nightmare is the first example we see of her psychic dreams. In her nightmare are images of places and creatures she hasn't yet seen and events that have not yet happened, but which will happen--the Master's lair, the vampires coming to attack the library, the demon Moloch, and Giles' Vampyr book. Unanswered question: Do all slayers have psychic powers, or does Buffy have a unique gift? In the Bronze, Giles assumes that Buffy has been having nightmares about the upcoming Harvest. He already knows she is capable of psychic dreams. He may know this because slayers are endowed naturally with this power, or he may know this because Buffy's previous Watcher kept a record of Buffy's psychic dreams and Giles was informed of it before he took up his Watcher duties in Sunnydale.

Evil in "Welcome to the Hellmouth"

Darla is a cat-like predator, 400 years old, and the favorite of her sire, the Master. The Master sends Darla and the younger Thomas (vamped in the 1980's?) to get him some food because he is trapped behind a mystical barrier. The vamps go after Jesse and Willow, and Darla finds it hard not to take a bite herself.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Welcome to the Hellmouth"

15-year old Buffy Summers of Hemery High in Los Angeles was called to be the next Slayer, but when the Watcher Merrick found her, she had no inkling of what she was or the power that she had. While the slayer Kendra was trained from an early age for her calling, Buffy led a normal (in "Helpless", she even admits shallow) life until the day this news was sprung on her. Merrick took this Prom Princess/Fiesta Queen/cheerleader out to the graveyard where she encountered and killed her first vampire. Her power forced her to reluctantly admit to the truth of her calling, and Merrick began her training. But Buffy still resisted the meaningful and self-sacrificing life of a slayer. Then one night during a patrol, the local master vampire, Lothos, set his hyno-eyes on Buffy and killed Merrick. Lothos then set out to kill Buffy at the school dance. When his vampire minions broke into the gym, Buffy defended the shallow classmates who had begun to shun her and staked Lothos. Now she's moved to Sunnydale, home of the big brewin' evil, but she's still a girl who longs for the ordinary in her extraordinary life.

Ethical Quandaries in "Welcome to the Hellmouth"

Should Buffy take up slayer duties in Sunnydale? Giles argues that it's Buffy's duty. She, out of all the girls in the world at present, has the strength and skill to hunt vampires. She is the Chosen One. Buffy is not sure she can accept the negative consequences of being a slayer. Slaying has gotten her kicked out of school, caused her to lose all of her friends, and compelled her to constantly fight for her life. Furthermore, she has been unable to explain any of this to anyone because she has to keep it a secret. Giles responds that the slayer is needed more than ever, because supernatural events at the Hellmouth are on the increase and will soon culminate in a crisis (the Harvest).

Philosophies Represented in "Welcome to the Hellmouth"

Buffy's "seize the day" philosophy: Life is too short to worry about what others think of you. Seize the moment, because tomorrow you might be dead. Buffy's philosophy of life is the sort that would have resonance with a slayer, considering what short lives they typically lead. And it was directly applicable to her decision about whether or not to sleep with Angel in Surprise, as Willow pointed out.

The Harvest
The Metaphysics of "The Harvest"
Demon Origins: Buffyverse mythology traces the origin of demons back to a time before recorded human history, when the world was not controlled by human beings, but by the "Old Ones"--super-powerful and bloodthirsty beings (relative to us, anyway). We are not told exactly how they lost their claim to the Earthly reality, but humans are clearly in charge of it now (The Harvest, The Prodigal). In BtVS, demons are often depicted as wanting to take back the present world of animals and humans for themselves, or to bring Earth and/or humans into the demon dimensions (Innocence, Becoming pt. 2, The Zeppo, Doomed). The Master's mystic prison: Sixty years ago ("three score years", 1937), the Master, an old, powerful vampire, came to the Hellmouth to open a door to hell and bring the demons back to our reality. In the process of trying to open the dimensional portal, he got himself stuck and caused an earthquake that swallowed half of Sunnydale. He is now trapped (like a cork in a bottle) between dimensions in the ruins of an old church that collapsed into the ground with him. The ritual he must have performed to

open the Hellmouth backfired on him specifically--he cannot escape, but he can physically touch others who are not trapped. The Harvest is an event which comes one night in a century. The Master draws mystical power at a distance from one of his minions ("the Vessel") while it feeds on human blood. This will give the Master enough power to break free of the portal. The Vessel is bestowed with a mystical link to the Master in a special ritual. If the Master fails to get the energy he needs from the Harvest, he cannot use this method to free himself for another century. The ritual to create the Vessel: Luke kneels before the Master, who offers him his hand. Luke takes it and kisses it. Then the Master turns his hand over, palm up. Luke sinks his fangs into his wrist and drinks briefly. Master: My blood is your blood. My soul is your soul. Luke: My body is your instrument. The Master draws a three-pointed star on Luke's forehead with the blood from his wrist. Master: On this... most hallowed night... we are as one. Luke is the Vessel! Every soul he takes will feed me. And their souls will grant me the strength to free myself. Tonight I shall walk the Earth, and the stars themselves will hide! It's not clear that the last few sentences are part of the ritual. The Master just likes lots of pomp and preening. Written prophecy transpired: Giles says that The Harvest was "pre-ordained". Does this mean that the Master was destined to get himself stuck in the Hellmouth portal, and destined to get out? Or is the The Harvest simply a predictable centennial event used by the Master for his own purposes? The Harvest took place, as predicted. It just didn't end as the Master thought it would. He did not escape his mystical prison. But Buffy didn't kill him, either. (Note: the Rise of the Master didn't go as predicted in the alternative history of The Wish, either). Buffy did kill Vessel-boy, though, briefly fooling him into thinking that the sun had risen so she could distract him long enough to stake him. The origin of vampires: According to Giles' books, the creatures we know as "vampires" were created when a demon bit a human being and mixed their blood. The victim became "a human form possessed, infected by the demon's spirit "--essentially, a human-demon hybrid. This individual bit other humans, and so on, and so on, eventually creating an entire demonic race known as the Vampire. Vampires and their human predecessors: "Jesse was an excruciating loser who couldn't get a date with anyone in the sighted community! Look at me. I'm a new man!"

In the episode Angel, Giles says, "A vampire ...may have the movements, the memories, even the personality of the person that it took over, but it's still a demon at the core..." Many of the vampires we will get to know in the Buffyverse seem almost exactly like their human predecessors, except with blood-lust and no pulse. Others seem strikingly different, but in ways that are an extrapolation of the human we once knew. The mix of similarities and differences between vampires and their human predecessors raises a perplexing metaphysical quandary about "who" a vampire is--is it still the same "person" as we knew before, or is that person gone completely, replaced by an uncanny, evil, doppelganger who took over their body at death? Jesse was an awkward young man with a dry sense of humor, probably not unlike Xander. He had enough self-confidence to persistantly pursue Cordelia, but each time she gave him the brusque brush-off, he backed off until he had the courage to fumble through another lame comeon again. VampJesse, on the other hand, is full of self-confidence. He approaches Cordelia directly, doesn't take no for an answer on the dance floor, and later knocks her to the ground in anticipation of feeding on her. Certainly not the old Jesse with some blood lust. But a completely new man? Or a perversion of old Jesse with his potential as a stalker fully realized? Vampires and sunlight: Vampires will combust in about a minute in full sunlight. Filtered light, however, does not hurt them. Angel is standing in shadowy light while waiting for Buffy in the mausoleum. He arrived there the night before: "I knew you would figure the entrance out sooner or later. I just thought it would be a little sooner."

Good and Ethical Quandaries in "The Harvest"

Killing vampires who used to be friends In his first rash act of many, Xander joins Buffy in the Master's lair to rescue Jesse. They soon discover that Jesse has been turned into a vampire. At first, Xander does not understand the implications of this for his former friend. Giles sets Xander straight on this issue: Jesse is dead! You have to remember that when you see him, you're not looking at your friend. You're looking at the thing that killed him. Giles' last statement,"you're looking at the thing that killed him," is odd because vampJesse is obviously not the Master or Darla or whichever vamp actually turned Jesse into a vampire. Perhaps Giles' statement implies that the demon soul born into Jesse's body actually did the "killing" or banishment of the human soul from the body. Xander is still hesitant about killing vampJesse, though. This is the first case of the emotional quandary raised by the fact that vampires look, talk and often act like their human predecessors (other examples of this dilemma Angelus, VampWillow).

In the end, Xander wields the instrument of vampJesse's demise when he threatens him with a stake in order to save Cordelia, and a passerby pushes him and the stake into Jesse. Feminism in "The Harvest"

The Witch
The Metaphysics of "The Witch"
The metaphysics of witches and natural witches Transpossession spell: Catherine Madison "switched bodies" with her daughter Amy--in other words, used a spell to effect the transmigration of her spirit to her daughter's body and vice versa. Amy does not recall this event, only that she woke up in her mother's bed and in her mother's body. Debilitating enemies spells: Catherine uses doll surrogates (a voodoo spell?) to debilitate her enemies. For example, when she blinds a doll representing Cordelia, the real Cordelia is blinded. During this ritual, she says, Give me the power. Give me the dark. I call on you, the laughing gods. Let your blackness crawl beneath my skin. Accept thy sacrifice... of Cordelia. Feed on her. The spell to detect a witch: Giles finds a spell involving some of the witch's hair, quicksilver (mercury), aqua fortis (nitric acid), and eye of newt. In the science lab, Willow puts a frog's eye and the chemicals in a beaker that sits above a Bunsen burner. Buffy steals some of Catherine-inAmy's-body's-hair off of her brush. Willow adds the hair, mixes the ingredients, and pours some of the liquid into a test-tube. Buffy spills it on Catherine/Amy's arm. Since she had cast a spell in the previous 48 hours, her skin turns blue. The bloodstone vengeance spell: this spell hits the body hard, eradicating the immune system and causing the enemy's death in a matter of hours. Catherine places this spell on Buffy using her charm bracelet, intending to kill her for her interference. Reversing the spells: Giles and Amy use Dr. Gregory's chemistry equipment and Catherine's spell book. The spell involves another potion which includes eye of newt. Giles mixes the ingredients and recites the spell: The center is dark. Centrum est obscurus. The darkness breathes. Tenebrae respiratis. The listener hears. Hear me! ...Unlock the gate. Let the darkness shine. Cover us with holy fear. Show me... Corsheth and Gilail! The gate is closed! Receive the dark! Be sated! Release the unworthy! Release! Release! RELEASE!

There is a flash of light and the spells are all broken. The identity of "Corsheth and Gilail" is not clear. They may be demons, or they may be some sort of gods. Catherine's spell to put Buffy in the trophy: This spell calls upon a mystical power named Corsheth: I shall look upon my enemy! I shall look upon her and the dark place will have her soul! Corsheth, take her! With this simple supplication, Catherine, her eyes pitch black, lifts up her hands and sends a bolt of energy towards Buffy. Witch powers without spells: Catherine throws Willow, chokes Xander, knocks out Giles, makes an ax fly from Amy's hands to hers, and sends Buffy sailing, all without potions or words. Amy's Mojo of Ms. Beakman in BBB is another example.

Good and Evil in "The Witch"

Catherine Madison represents a very human kind of evil: vanity and envy. Catherine steals the body of her daughter Amy to relive her glory days as a youthful cheerleader. Her actions are a good example of the selfish use of magic, and the direct thwarting of it by people with good intentions. Catherine was willing to ruin her marraige and use her own daughter and others to get what she wanted. The irony is that Catherine Madison ends up exactly where she intended to put Buffy--poetic justice (and trapped as an eternal Barbie Doll like the voodoo surrogates she used on others as well). Catherine ...saw herself as a victim: pregnant and married (probably right after high school), trapped by the responsibilities of motherhood, then abandoned by her husband and left alone to watch the wrinkles accumulate in the mirror as her clumsy daughter made a mockery of her glory years. Catherine had the power to shape the outside world into the fantasy inside her head-and all she had to do was violate Amy to do it. (Unfortunately, like many child abuse victims, Amy followed in her mother's footsteps.) (CJL, 10:00:02 03/13/02) Undefeated evil? Catherine Madison wasn't killed, just trapped in the cheerleading trophy. There is additional evidence of this in Phases, when Oz notes that the trophy's eyes "seem to follow you wherever you go." Catherine's statue might have been destroyed in the bombing of the school in G2. However, a scene written for the episode "Doomed" but never shown indicates that Catherine is still trapped. The camera zooms in on the trophy as the gang walks through the debris of the burnt out high school:

It's a cheerleading trophy, black with smoke-damage. In fact--it's Amy's mother. Still entombed, her eyes dart desperately as Willow's foot comes crashing down on her. After Willow moves off, Amy's mom glares at her despite her impotence.

Ethical Quandaries in "The Witch"

Killing Humans: Giles points out that if they can't reverse the spells through magic, they will have to cut the witch's head off to reverse them. Buffy argues that killing Amy is not the solution because she is not really evil; she only resorted to witchcraft to please her mother's desire for her to become a cheerleader. Xander counters that it may be necessary in order to save Buffy from the Bloodstone vengeance spell, which will kill her in hours unless the spell is reversed.

Teacher's Pet
The Metaphysics of "Teacher's Pet"
The Praying Mantis: Giles' research reveals that the "she-Mantis" is a shape shifter who assumes the form of a beautiful woman and then lures male virgins back to her home. Buffy's evidence that Natalie French is a praying mantis: she can rotate her head 180 degrees, the "forkguy" vampire was scared of her, and her fashion sense "screams predator".

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Teacher's Pet"

Faux Natalie French is the personification (bugification?) of predatory evil, right down to her justification for her deeds: The reason they live alone is because they're cannibals! ...it's hardly their fault! It's the way nature designed them: noble, solitary and prolific." She is also an example of evil as deception, using an alluring human disguise to seduce young virgin men to a grisly headless death. Xander doesn't question the motives of an adult coming on to a kid--until it's too late. Undefeated evil: The eggs that Natalie French laid with the (virgin!?) science teacher, Dr. Gregory, were left behind in the science lab. A female sexual predator might sound feminist, especially given the misogyny of the male sexual predator, but Natalie French, the praying mantis, is an archetype of male fear of female sexual power, and one of the oldest excuses in the book (since Eve, at least!) for "keeping those nasty women barefoot and pregnant where they can't cause trouble." The quick-thinking, decisively-acting girl hero saves the helpless male victims (while her watcher seems to stumble

around cluelessly). This sends a good message for positive female power, but not for the power of victims of sexual violence in general. The hermetically insensitive Cordelia

Never Kill a Boy on the First Date

The Metaphysics of "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date"
Written prophecy transpired: Aurelius was a prophetic vampire from the 12th century, and was founder of The Order of Aurelius, an old and venerated sect of vampires that the Master now leads. Aurelius wrote about the coming of the Anointed One. The Master reads: And there will be a time of crisis, of worlds hanging in the balance. And in this time shall come the Anointed, the Master's great warrior... The Five will die, and from their ashes the Anointed shall rise. The Brethren of Aurelius shall meet him and usher him to his immortal destiny. All of this comes to pass, except, as we know, the Anointed One's destiny was less than immortal. The words "immortal destiny" may simply refer to the fact that he was vamped, although see 'stina's The Anointed One was not a vampire. ...the Slayer will not know him, will not stop him, and he will lead her into hell. This also comes to pass, although calling the Master's lair "hell" is a bit strange. The Master is trapped in the portal between Earth and the demon dimension, but the rest of his lair is just a cave on this Earthly plane. Pre-destination? Giles tells Buffy that when he was ten years old, his father informed him that he was "destined" to be a Watcher, as his father and his grandmother had been. It is unclear what made this Giles' "destiny". His families wishes? Some "calling" by the Forces of Good? Whatever it was, Giles felt compelled by it enough to rebel against it. The sire-ing of vampires: Do vampires have any kind of consciousness in the period after they are vamped and before they wake up a new vampire? vampAndrew Borba says, "they told me about you when I was sleeping," to Buffy just after he rises in the funeral home. He also talks about messages he is getting from an unnamed "he". It could be a possible psychic connection to some one telling him to go after the gang (perhaps the Master?). Or it could just be the loony personification of his own vampire appetite.

Vampires, wood, and metal: Luke, the vessel from The Harvest says it best--"metal can't kill me." Slaying a Buffyverse vampire is mostly a matter of metaphysics, not physics. It doesn't matter how pointy a weapon is; metal, plastic--pointyness doesn't kill vampires, unless it takes off their head. The substance an object is made of is what's important. The mystical properties of wood--whether it is a number 2 pencil or a tree limb--being shoved through the heart are the magical ingredients for turning vamps to dust. A wooden stake is the major item in the killing of vampires and it is made of trees ... I'd say that other religions can be named as well as Christian to kill/harm vampires ... Druids and then there are Wiccan. These religions are based on the natural (sunlight, earth, etc) (gazoo, Feb 22 20:01 2000). So why does metal implode upon staking? When vamps are staked, everything disappears--their bodies, their clothes, the stake. And the zippers and other metal on their clothes (and the metal part of the shovel in the graveyard scene in SAR). But somehow, the ring on the finger of the vamp in the opening sequence remained. Vampires and choking

Good and Evil in "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date"

Andrew Borba was insane before he was vamped, if his behavior in the airport van is any indication. This insanity carries over to the behavior of vampAndrew Borba (other cases: Drusilla, Zachary Kralik). Undefeated evil: Buffy slays Andrew Borba, but since he isn't the Anointed One, she doesn't stop the Anointed One from getting to the Master. The good of Giles

Moral Ambiguity in "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date"

Owenosity: The characteristic of being like, or just being, Owen. Although it can involve being book-wormy in a sexy kind of way (brooding is essential as well), it also means having a naive enjoyment of thrill-seeking that might quickly lead to death or injury if one hangs out with Buffy Summers. Buffy tends to like men who possess a certain amount of Owenosity. Examples:

Angel's Owenosity, More Angel Owenosity, Riley's Owenosity, More Riley Owenosity, Spike's Owenosity

Ethical Quandaries in "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date"

Slayer vs. Normal Girl: Buffy must decide between preventing a violent and disturbing prophecy (the rising of the Anointed One) and going on a date (her first since moving to Sunnydale). Giles points out that the prophecy must be stopped immediately. If the Brethren of Aurelius manage to bring the Anointed One to the Master, the Master will have a powerful ally. Buffy struggles with how abnormal it makes her feel to have "no life." Giles points out that a normal social life would interfere with her duties as a slayer. Buffy counters that it is only one date, not an entire social life. This is a straw man argument, because one can infer she will go on other dates in the future. In the end, Buffy chooses her duty over her date, and eventually compromises with "office romances".

The Pack
The Metaphysics of "The Pack"
Possession: An ancient ritual allows the spirits of predatory animals, in this case hyenas, to enter the bodies of humans. Xander retains memories of the events that took place during the possession even after the spirit has left his body, implying that he was conscious during the possession. However, he presumably he had no control over what the spirit did. The other clear case of retaining memory while under possession is Buffy/James and Angelus/Grace. Xander and Buffy also remember being under the influence in Halloween, but this is not a clear case of possession by an outside spirit. Animal Spirits: What is the difference between a human spirit and an animal spirit? Besides simply belonging to a different species, animal spirits do not have human rationality. The Primals, a sect of animal worshipers, believed that humanity was a perversion of the more sacred animal state. They returned to that purer state of being by bringing the spirit of predatory animals into themselves. The result was human bodies reduced to animal instincts without rationality or conscience. It is hard to say if the awareness of one's humanity would remain or finally go away permanently the longer the possession occurred. The ritual that possesses and de-possesses the Pack: The ritual, as Giles learns in Sherman Jeffries' work on the occult, involves performing a predatory act (e.g., attacking Willow, teasing a weaker student) within a sacred circle in the presence of the predators. It's unclear if a genuine reverse transpossession back to the hyenas ever happens. The Zoo Keeper basically performs the same ritual, attacking Willow, so that the hyena spirit leaves the students and enters him.

Evil and Ethical Quandaries in "The Pack"

The pack are predators. There is no evidence that they attack Principal Flutie or any of their other victims because of who they represent (e.g., authority figures, symbols of innocence). They attack them because they show weakness and distraction. The mother with the baby in her back pack came upon the pack when they were full. They would have attacked her, perhaps, if she had shown paralyzed fear of them, rather than regaining her senses and walking away. Were the Pack responsible for their actionss? What about the time when he and a bunch of other "hyena" kids ate the School pig and the principal-before-Snyder? It was implied that after becoming human he remembered the things he did as a "hyena" (BornYesterday, 25 Feb 1999 22:36) Xander wasn't responsible for the actions committed while under the influence of the hyena spirit. The mere fact that Xander remembers the hyena acts does not mean he did them himself in any way. He was possessed. The zoo keeper wanted the hyena spirit's power for himself, and would have killed Willow to perform the "predatory act" necessary to get it. Buffy threw him into the hyena cage. She tried to save him, but he had already been captured by the hyenas. Poetic justice, seeing as he wanted to become one of these vicious killers.

Moral Ambiguity in "The Pack"

Giles' initial explanation for Xander's cruel behavior? "Testosterone is the great equalizer, Buffy. It turns all men into morons." Just because a statement or action comes from a member of the sex being belittled doesn't mean it isn't unfair sexism (Cordelia is a good example of someone who tends to put down her own sex). Of course, Giles might be over-generalizing based on his own teen-aged years.

Angel
The Metaphysics of "Angel"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 4 BtVS/season 3 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

The metaphysics of Angel: In 1753, 26-year old Liam of Galway was vamped by Darla. At that point his human soul was gone, and the demon Angelus was born. As Angel explains, "When you become a vampire the demon takes your body, but it doesn't get your soul. That's gone." In 1898, Angelus fed on a Gypsy girl. The elders of the Romany gypsies conjured "the perfect punishment" for Angelus. They "cursed" him--restored his human soul. This, in effect, means that Liam's human soul now "possesses" his own vamped body--creating Angel the souled vampire. The invitation to vampires: The Three manage to get their hands in Buffy's front door before she shuts it, even though she did not invite them. Perhaps Buffy's invite to Angel seconds before left some mystical energy in place, just enough for the Three to break the barrier a bit.

Evil in "Angel"
The Three are "warrior vampires"--minions of the Master who fight his fiercest battles. They are unusually strong, even for vampires, and wear uniforms to indicate their warrior status. The Master sends the Three against Buffy hoping to defeat her once and for all. When they fail, they are required to give up their lives in penance. The Master allows Darla, his favorite vamp offspring, to do the honors. As swift, sure killers with specific targets, The Three are examples of evil-as-corruption. Darla appears to the vampire she sired nearly a century after she rejected him and his "filthy soul". She reminds Angel of the kills they made in Budapest prior to his curse. When that fails to arouse him, Darla goes for the throat--literally--biting Buffy's mother and thrusting her, unconscious and bleeding, into Angel's arms. "Aren't you hungry for something warm after all this time?" she taunts. He struggles against temptation and succeeds, but Buffy finds him there and misunderstands. Unanswered question: Does Darla already know about the happiness clause of the gypsy curse when she tries to lure Angel back into the Master's fold, even though Angel doesn't? She seems certain that she can turn him when she tells the Master her plan. Darla watched her most vicious progeny mope around soulfully for 100 years and then join the Slayer in fighting evil. It's certainly possible she looked into the events that lead to the restoration of his soul in hopes of counteracting them. The history of the Master and Darla & the Master and Angelus

Moral ambiguity in "Angel"

Angel: In the Bronze, after Buffy has tracked him down, Angel admits to wanting to feed from Joyce, although he restrained himself. He also admits to wanting to kill Buffy. It's clear Angel struggles with the demon within. But how much of his identity is demon and how much is human soul? This question is made evident when Angel tells Buffy about the days before he regained his soul. The vampire who saved her from the Three confesses killing the gypsy girl, and then tells her that "I" killed "[my family]... their friends... and their friend's children." Who is the "I" doing the talking?

Ethical Quandaries in "Angel"

Kiss or kill? Buffy realizes that she is in love with a vampire, and ponders what to do. On the one hand, Buffy says (reflecting Xander's somewhat self-serving letter-of-the-law argument), she simply should get over her feelings so she can kill him:

Xander's argument from duty: "Angel's a vampire. You're a Slayer. I think it's obvious what you have to do." This is similar to Faith's argument in Revelations: "Vampire. Slayer. Dead vampire." If taken as an absolute moral principle, contingencies of a particular situation (e.g., that Angel has a soul) do not matter. However, notice that killing Angel goes against the principle that slayers should not kill those who have souls. Unless this principle applies to living humans only. Buffy and Willow both argue that Angel hasn't ever hurt Buffy--he has in fact tried to help her. She finds it hard to kill someone who she has reason to think is good and that she feels for. Darla ends the dilemma by making it appear as if Angel attacked Joyce, so that Buffy goes after him. Fortunately, Angel gets an opportunity to tell Buffy the truth and prove his good intentions by killing Darla to save Buffy's life. In the end, Buffy and Angel decide it would be wrong for them to pursue a relationship, despite their feelings for each other. He is still a vampire, older and immortal, she is still a slayer, with a duty that comes first.

I Robot, You Jane

The Metaphysics of "I Robot, You Jane"
Moloch the Corrupter is a giant horned demon whose face resembles a bull. Demon spirts: As Giles explains, in the dark ages the spirits of demons were sometimes trapped in books, where they were powerless. The demon can be released by reading the book aloud, even if the reader does not know what they are doing. This is similar to what happens when Willow scans the book into the computer. Moloch is released and is "in the computer" in the form of electronic "information" that can move across phone lines and can effect other computers. The ritual to get Moloch into the book: Thelonius forms a circle with his fellows and reads, Per potere de cuesto circolo de Kayless... Per potere de cuesto circolo de Kayless, ti commando! Viene! Ti commando! Viene! VIENE! Translation: By the power of the circle of Kayless... By the power of the circle of Kayless, I command you! Come! I command you! Come! COME! Moloch bursts into tiny particles. The particles fall into the book. As this happens, an ancient script appears. When the pages are filled, Thelonius closes the book. Techno-pagans are experts on the supernatural who share knowledge amongst themselves over the internet. Jenny Calendar isn't a practicing witch, but she does dabble in spells. She knows the names of different demons and "casts bones" to reveal hidden truths and foretell the future.

Ritual to get Moloch off the Internet: Ms. Calendar forms the circle of Kayless "inside" the computer by setting up a network link with her techno-pagan group. Giles reads the spell, and Ms. Calendar types it into the computer to her group. By the power of the divine, by the essence of the word, I command you... By the power of the circle of Kayless, I command you... Demon, come! I command you! Demon, COME! In the library, wind is blowing and the computer monitor is disabled. For some reason that is unexplained, this does not put Moloch back in the book. The only difference in the rituals was that the second was also done on the computer. Moloch is trapped in his robot body. Buffy sends him packing from that with high voltage electricity, but it is unclear that the demon spirit is not still on the Earthly plane, somewhere.

Good and Evil in "I Robot, You Jane"

Moloch is called the corruptor for a reason. He is the personification (demonification?) of evil-as-corruption. Moloch charms his victims into believing he is their friend, uses them to do his bidding, then finally kills them. His bidding is to bring about more corruption. Moloch calculates very carefully how he will destroy what is innocent and youthful, one victim at a time. He is not a powerful demon, at least not in his computer-bound state. He must work through impressionable minions. As Xander points out, Moloch used Dave to kill Buffy, he didn't attack Buffy himself. Unanswered question: Moloch pays special attention to Willow because, he claims, she took him out of the book that held him. He says he wants to repay her. But is there more going on here than that? Earlier, Xander asks Buffy what Moloch could want with Willow. "Let's never find out," she replies. But perhaps Moloch senses that Willow has a hidden power she herself is not yet aware of, one he could corrupt for his own evil purposes. Fritz and Dave are not so much evil as lost and impressionable. They have a very human need to feel wanted, loved, and to have a place they fit in. To get this, they are willing to be lead. It is significant, therefore, when Dave finally finds the strength and self-confidence to realize the price for this is too high. Best kills: when the Moloch-robot has Buffy cornered in the computer factory and threatens to crush her, she looks around briefly, turns to him and says, "take your best shot". He throws a punch, which she ducks, and his metal fist slams right into an electricity box. Lights out for the demon robot. Willow power: If BtVS limited the powerful-woman action to Buffy alone, it would send a bad message about the strength of the ordinary female. But Willow is no shrinking violet. She's intelligent, resourceful, and possesses fighting skills of her own--what is now called "Willow power" in her honor. Examples of Willow power

Ethical dilemmas in "I Robot, You Jane"

Should Willow find romance on the internet? People meet on the 'Net, they talk, they get together, have dinner, a show, horrible ax murder. Xander and Buffy debate Willow's sudden interest in Malcolm, someone she is corresponding with on the internet. As Xander points out, "Malcolm" could be anyone, claiming to be a high school boy, including someone whose aim is to do Willow harm. Buffy thinks that they are overreacting. Nevertheless, she points out to Willow that she might be disappointed when she finally meets her friend. Willow denies that this will happen, responding that she and Malcolm really care for each other. Eventually, Willow gets more than she bargained for. Dave's dilemma: Kill Buffy and receive the knowledge and power Moloch promises, or prevent her from being killed? Dave, following Moloch's orders, sends Buffy into the girls' locker room where she will be electrocuted in the shower. At the last minute, though, he runs into warn her of the danger and is killed for it. Giles' and Ms. Calendar's debate over the value of computer technology This debate shows how and why technology can be both good and evil, not just for how it is used, but by its very nature. Giles: information on computers is de-contextualized: Books trigger the five senses, especially smell, which binds memories more securely in the brain. Getting information from a computer does not associate that information with the sensual experience of the medium (computers aren't smelly). Hence, information gained by a computer will not last as long in memory as information gained by a book. Ms. Calendar: information on computers is more easily accessed, and therefore more democratic. A book must be in a specific place. The information in books can therefore be guarded and used only by those in power. Giles: 1. computers can be used to communicate at a distance, thereby making a society in which human interaction is all but obsolete (this is a "slippery slope fallacy"--a highly unlikely outcome). 2. computers can be used to manipulate people. By this Giles means that information can be presented in a biased way. Since it gets to more people than books, as Ms. Calendar points out, it has a greater potential for manipulating more people. 3. musty old books have a great deal more to say than any of your fabulous web pages. Simply false, since, in theory, anyway, web pages will contain the same information as books. Except without the smelliness, of course.

The Puppet Show

Good and Evil in and the Metaphysics of "The Puppet Show"
Sid the ventriloquist's dummy is an example of a human spirit possessing an inanimate object. Sid used to be a human being, a demon slayer. He was cursed by a "really mean demon", and, in his words, "the next thing I know I'm not me anymore. I'm sitting on some guy's knee, with his hand up my shirt." Somehow, Sid's curse will be lifted after he has eliminated the brotherhood of seven demons. Why this trigger will release the curse is not explained. However, Sid makes it plain that when the curse is lifted, he will be dead. His spirit will leave the puppet body but have no human body to return to ("dust and bones, kid"). Marc, the magician in the talent show, is a member of a brotherhood of seven preternaturally strong demons who take the form of young humans. Every seven years these demons must replenish their mutating cells by extracting human vital organs (e.g., the brain and heart). Otherwise they revert back to their original ghoulish form. They can only die if all the healthy human organs they took are destroyed while in use. Xander chops Marc's head off with the the guillotine Marc meant to use to steal Giles' brain. Then Sid stabs the demon's heart. Poetic justice for the ghoul. Demon vs. human nature It's kind of simple in the broad scope: Human are mortal animals that strive for light and harmony. Demons are immortal monsters that thrive on darkness and chaos (joss, Jan 31 1998). Giles says, "A demon is a creature of evil, pure and very simple. A person driven to kill is... it's more complex." But there are some pretty complex exceptions to pure unadulterated evil demon behavior. More Joss on human vs. demon nature

Ethical Quandaries in "The Puppet Show"

Choosing between two evils: Buffy and the gang must find the demon killing kids at Sunnydale High for their organs, even though it means risking the wrath of the new and very suspicious Principal Snyder, who already knows they ditched their afternoon classes the day before and got in fight (probably referring to the battle with Moloch).

Nightmares
The Metaphysics of "Nightmares"
Altered realities: Billy's coma makes people's own recurring nightmares into reality, a reality that is undone, but not forgotten, when Billy wakes up. Astral projection is a phenomenon in which a person's spirit leaves the body and travels to other places while the person is sleeping, or in Billy's case, is in a coma (see also Willow in WAY, Cordelia in "Birthday"). Since the individual is not dead, we can presume that at least part of their spirit remains in their body OR that the "thread" which somehow connects body and spirit has not been broken. In Nightmares, Billy Palmer's "astral body" has left his actual body and is traveling around Sunnydale. The Hellmouth gives Billy's astral body a physical form, since Buffy can touch him. The mystic energy of the Hellmouth also allows Billy's astral travel to bring the dreams of those he comes in contact with to life. It is interesting that Billy keeps apologizing to those he effects, implying that he is not in control of his wandering. Undoing the nightmare world: When Billy takes the mask off the ugly man, he is psychologically facing the source of his real-life trauma. The action also brings an end to the astral travel caused by his trauma. Precognition: The episode begins with a psychic dream in which Buffy attempts to stake the Master and is overcome by his mental powers, which allows him to subdue and bite her. Except for the stake (and Buffy's physical appearance), this is very much like how she dies in Prophecy Girl. Vampires and crosses: The Master demonstrates the idea of overcoming fear to the Anointed One by clutching a large cross until his hand starts to smoke. His dialogue in no way associates his fear or the crosses' power with the Christian religion: "This symbol, these two planks of wood, it confounds me. Suffuses me with mortal dread...."

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in"Nightmares"

Billy cannot face the reality of a trusted adult giving him a traumatic beating, and so instead runs from "the ugly man"--a nightmare made flesh who is now attacking people other than himself. The little league coach: The real evil is the man who put Billy in a coma in the first place, his baseball coach. The Ugly Man is a manifestation of this real-life human monster, who blamed Billy for losing the game when he failed to catch a fly ball in the final inning and beat him senseless. The nightmares: Everyone in the gang faces insecurities in this episode. Giles worries about his ability to properly protect and train the slayer, Buffy endures the pain of having her "father" tell her that her parent's divorce was her fault. She is also buried alive by the Master. Xander has a horrific childhood phobia come to life. Willow's nightmare is the most telling, however. In her

operatic nightmare, she finds herself onstage at a performance of Madame Butterfly--with her in the title role. She can't sing to save her life and everyone looks at her with expectation and disappointment. Who is the real Willow, the shy girl who can't get a date and worries about what other people think of her, or the confident woman who dates werewolves and witches that we will later come to know? The Madame Butterfly dream revisited.

Invisible Girl
The Metaphysics of "Invisible Girl"
Interestingly enough, Marcie Ross's invisibility is discovered by Giles to have a physical cause whose effects have been amplified by the mystical energy of the Hellmouth. Specifically, one interpretation of quantum physics states that the very process of observing something will change the thing observed. This ordinarily only means that humans observing the behavior of subatomic particles will effect their position or velocity. But on the Hellmouth, not observing the human-sized Marcie Ross made her disappear (see also Xander's invisibility in Fear, Itself). Vampires and breathing

Evil and Moral ambiguity in "Invisible Girl"

Marcie, trapped by rage into a repeating cycle of vengeance, uses the invisibility caused by constantly being passed over by others to attack the one person she was most hurt by--Cordelia. Is Marcie evil? Her willingness to kill Giles, Xander, and Willow, and her delight at the thought of "Infiltration and Assassination" at the school for invisible people would seem to indicate that she is. But was this inevitable? Could she have been helped? Buffy dismisses her as a "raving looney", and after Buffy subdues her, Marcie is quickly whisked off by government (?) agents who intend to use her invisibility as a weapon. But just because a teen-age girl has mystic power (e.g., invisibility) doesn't mean you can turn her into an assassin. Marcie's rage at being overlooked and snubbed is what sent her over the edge. As Buffy says, "This isn't this great power that she can control. It's something that was done to her. That we did to her." Even if the invisibility can't be undone, it would seem the anger could be.

While bitca Harmony's behavior towards people outside her clique is classic arrogance and pride, it is also a sign of her weakness and impressionability. As Cordelia points out in BBB, she's a sheep, a follower, who only does things she believes the "cool" people will approve of. Harmony's rebirth

The hermetically insensitive Cordelia

Prophecy Girl
The Metaphysics of "Prophecy Girl"
Opening and closing the Hellmouth: It's unclear how the Master tried to open the Hellmouth the first time, but he got stuck. When he frees himself, the Hellmouth opens as when a cork is removed. It appears to close up upon the Master's death, although it is not clear how this happened. Slayer Blood: Only a few ounces of Slayer blood gave the Master the power he needed to "unstick" himself from his mystical prison. This is evidence that slayer blood is more powerful than the average person's (see also Graduation). Did the Master need the blood of a slayer to rise? No. In The Harvest, he could have broken free using the blood of many non-slayer victims. This is probably how he got out in The Wish. The Hellmouth Beast is a multi-headed tentacled monster who waits on the other side of the portal between our reality and the demon dimension. It captures victims in its tentacles, and with the sharp teeth it possess in its many mouths, presumably takes a chomp. It is the first of many beasts to follow who would get out if the Hellmouth were permanently opened (see The Zeppo). Written prophecy transpired: Ms. Calendar tells Giles that a monk, brother Luca from Cortona, has been sending out global mailings about the end of the world and the Anointed One. Isaiah 11:6, "The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf, the lion and the fatling together, and the little child to lead them." Giles and Ms. Calendar infer from this that the Anointed One is a child.

Slayer lore: Written prophecies in volumes such as The Tiberius Manifesto and the Pergamum Codex concern "the role of the slayer in the end years". It is not clear whether all these volumes refer to Buffy, and what "the end years" refers to. It might indicate that Buffy was not actually destined to defeat the Master (bringing hell on Earth), or that those who wrote the prophecies assumed these were the end years because Buffy was destined to die. Buffy's death is a clear example of fatalism. Buffy is fated to die, and even given the exercise of her free will, it still comes about. The prophecy: "Ho korias phanaytie toutay... tay nuktee." "The Master shall rise, and the Slayer... [shall die]." The Pergamum Codex, which prophesied Buffy's death, is highly reliable, but Giles nevertheless cross-checks it against all his other volumes. Buffy is killed by the Master in Prophecy Girl and again in the alternative history of The Wish. The Master "walks the earth" in both histories as well. Slayer strength: After Xander revives Buffy, Xander and Angel are concerned that she might be feeling weak. But Buffy says "No, I feel strong. I feel different," in a way which implies more than "No, I'm fine." The source and the duration of this extra strength is unknown, although it came in handy in vanquishing the Master. She confidently leads her male lieutenants (Xander and Angel) back into battle for some world save-age. Joan of Arc would have been proud. Vampires and breathing

Evil in "Prophecy Girl"

The Master knows that the prophecy doesn't tell everything. Nevertheless, he is surprised when Buffy is revived and defeats him. The reason isn't hard to understand, though. He was so enraptured by his freedom after all that time that he forgot all about sucking Buffy dry and he let her fall into the puddle, so she only drowned.

Ethical Quandaries in "Prophecy Girl"

Was Giles wrong for not telling Buffy right away about the prophecy that she was going to die? Buffy finds out by overhearing a conversation between Giles and Angel. She is angry at Giles for not telling her. Giles' intentions were good. He hoped to prevent it from even happening so that telling her--and her death--would not be necessary. Did that make not telling her the right thing to do, though? Attempt to save the world and die or hope someone else will?

Buffy, a 16 year old girl who is naturally afraid of dying, decides to turn away from her duties as slayer. As Giles points out, however, she is the only slayer, and therefore may be the only one who can stop the Master from rising. Buffy does not accept her duty until it is made personal. A frightened Willow tells her about finding the body of Kevin, Cordelia's boyfriend, and some other school mates, killed by vampires on school property. Resolved now to do her duty, Buffy prevents Giles from taking it on for her and goes down into the Master's lair with only a crossbow (led by the Anointed One). There the Master puts the whammy on her, bites her, and leaves her to drown. Fan thoughts on Buffy's choice to face the Master: In Prophesy Girl, when she finally realized that she was going to die, and accepted it and went on, even tho she must have felt that it was something larger than herself that was pushing her forward... just remember her saying good-bye to Willow in Willow's bedroom... those few words said it all (Avarice, Dec 1 23:59 1998). It was the end of buffy's innocence it could never be as simple as pure again her death haunts her future (Angle man. Dec 1 23:53 1998).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Season 2

When She Was Bad Lie to Me

Some Assembly Required

School Hard

Inca Mummy Girl

Reptile Boy

Halloween

When She Was Bad

The Metaphysics of "When She Was Bad"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 5 BtVS/season 2 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

The revivification ritual: The gang figures out that the vampires of Sunnydale plan to bring the Master back to life using his bones. Giles discovers an inaccurate Latin translation of the ritual in his books, It implies that the vampires need the blood of someone connected to the Master. Later, Giles finds the original Sumerian, and discovers that what they need is the blood of the person or persons who were nearest to the Master when he died. In the actual ritual, the vampire Absalom hoists Willow, Giles, Cordelia and Jenny up on a conveyor, hanging them upside down and unconscious above the Master's bones. Absalom kisses the blade, intending to slit the throats of the sacrifices so that their blood falls on the Master's bones. Then he says, Behold, these four mortals, witnesses to our Master's wretched demise. They will breathe their last this night. The blood that pours from their throats will bring NEW LIFE to the old one. We gather for his resurrection. For the dawn of this new hell. For the old one. For his pain. For the dark.

(For another example of revivification, see TSILA) Psychic dream: Buffy has a dream in which Giles attacks her. In her struggle to free herself, she pulls a mask off him, revealing the Master's face. While this could merely represent her anxieties about the Master, the chance of his coming back to life is a very real threat. Vampires and fire

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "When She Was Bad"

The Anointed One is now the master of the Order of Aurelius. The tiny heir is not much of a spokesman, though. Inspiring the troops therefore falls to the more eloquent Absalom. He tells them. "Within three days a New Hope will arise. We will put our faith in him. He will show us the way." It is unclear if he talking about Collin (the Anointed One), the Master, or someone else (perhaps the arrival of Spike?). But clearly both Collin and Absalom are working to restore both the Master and his plan to rule the Earth. They thus represent evil-as-order. Buffy is back from L.A., but it's clear that there's a part of her that never left Sunnydale. As Giles points out, her death at the hands of the Master was a trauma that she hasn't dealt with yet at a conscious level, and Buffy goes into full loner-hero mode in order to avoid her "Master" issues. She refuses her friend's help in saving Cordelia from the Annointed One's minions, and heads off to face them herself. But it is a lure to draw Buffy away so that the minions can kidnap her friends. When Buffy returns, Xander decides he can no longer step lightly around Buffy's bitcay, standoffish attitude like he did when she teased him in the Bronze. He tells her she has to think about someone other than herself if she wants to save her friends. Later, Buffy gets a chance to work out her issues on the Annointed One's minions and salvage her friends--and friendships--in the process. It won't be the first time Buffy gets in trouble by refusing help in deciding how they will respond to an invitation from the forces the darkness (e.g., Becoming, Fear Itself, Dirty Girls).

Some Assembly Required

The Metaphysics of "Some Assembly Required"
Reviving the dead: The gang figures out that Chris and Eric are trying to "make a girl from scraps". Chris has dismembered the corpses of three girls with careful incisions based on physiology texts (Grays' Anatomy, Morticians' Desk Reference, Robicheauxs' Guide to Muscles and Tendons) and intends to put them together in some new combination and bring the combination girl to life. Chris has already revived and stitched his brother Daryl back together. He is obviously a brilliant high school student. But even if he is Doogie Howser, MD, his surgical equipment can't be the best. As Willow points out, Chris will not only have to stop the

natural decay of the dead girl's body cells, but combine their body parts, and reanimate them. Normally this shouldn't be doable, but they live on the Hellmouth, where mystical energy can give physical forces an extra boost. An electrical current combined with an adrenaline boost might do it. The idea of raising the dead appears in other episodes. It is clear from "Dead Man's Party" that Chris and Eric are not, strictly speaking, constructing a zombie. The combination girl had to be brought back to life, self-aware and self-sustaining, and as quickly after the death of the original girls as possible; she wouldn't have been dead if that had happened. The birth of vampires

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Some Assembly Required"

Daryl is unable to deal with his less-than-beautiful state--his face is discolored and criss-crossed with stitches. He believes that his looks and vigor were the reason for his former glories, so he hides out in the basement, willing to forego any chance of regaining his former life (including revealing himself to his mother mourns up above, with no life but her sorrow). He makes his brother, who revived him, promise to provide him with companionship in his self-imposed isolation. Eric seems to see women as objects--means to his own ends and desires. As he remarks when Chris has qualms over using a living girl, "Hell, it's just one lousy girl." He is less motivated by a desire to help Daryl than a desire to wield power over the dead girls. As Buffy says "He needs industrial strength therapy!" Chris is codependent--he enables his brother's actions because of his own guilt over being the cause of Daryl's new life. But his guilt is misplaced. His decision to revive his brother is something any of us might do for someone we loved if we had it within our power, and it is not his fault that Daryl chooses not to rejoin the world. Chris seems to use Eric as his motivation for doing what his brother wants, but that requires that he go along with Eric's "combination-girl" plan for getting Daryl a mate. He is constantly riddled by indecision about whether to carry out Eric's evil plan because he is not motivated by evil. The morally ambiguous Angel

Ethical Quandaries in "Some Assembly Required"

Chris Epps' choice: Chris faces an ethical dilemma--abduct an intact, living girl and mutilate her to get her head for his brother's Frankenstein girlfriend, or let his brother suffer in isolation. Chris sees this as murder, although it probably isn't. If who we are is essentially in our brains-our heads--the combination girl will be whomever the head belongs to (in this case it will be Cordelia, but with a new body), and she will not have been murdered.

Philosophies represented in "Some Assembly Required"

Why cut up three girls and put them into a new combination? Why not just reanimate one girl to be Daryl's mate? It would be a lot easier, and it is all that is necessary to satisfy Daryl's loneliness. There are two possibilities: 1. To make Daryl's "mate" more "beautiful". One reason, as Xander points out, is that creating a combination girl reflects (Eric's) desire to design a "dream" girl (what Giles calls "their masterpiece")-- to take the "best" of each and put them together. This implies that women need to answer to the standards of men, and that the "pre-made" women must be "corrected" to answer to these standards. Humans constantly change the natural world to meet their own needs and standards. Changing people, however--especially a class of people (such as women)--to meet the needs of other people, is another thing entirely. It's a practice as old as history, but that doesn't make it morally acceptable. From a Kantian point of view, using other rational beings as means to one's own ends and not as ends in themselves (of value as human beings) is morally wrong. Buffy expresses this concern for the girls when she contemplates the combination girl walking around: "What could she be thinking?" Willow brings up the implications of treating the girls as mere means when she adds, "And what are they gonna do with her?" 2. The other reason is to make Daryl's "mate" uglier. A revived dead woman (even one injured in a car crash) would be willing and able to live her own life. They want a woman who will feel compelled to stay put in the world they've created for her, and so they give her, in effect, a disability, much like the Chinese tradition of foot-binding. As Daryl "And when you're finished you won't go out. You won't run away. But we can hide together." Again, turning a human being into a means to one's own ends.

School Hard

The Metaphysics of "School Hard"

Mystical nights: There are certain mystical nights in which vampires have greater than normal strength. The Harvest was one of these.The Anointed one rose from the ashes of the Five on the evening of the thousandth day after the Advent of Septus (sometime in April of 1997), The Night of St. Vigeous is another. On this night, vampires' "power" shall be at its peak--whatever strengths and abilities they already posses will be at their best--an ideal night to feast. For three nights prior, the vampires prepare by chanting themselves into a frenzy, so that they will be at their most predatory as well.

It is unclear whether the Night of St. Vigeous is a recurring event (like the Christmas holiday) or is a one-time event (like the actual birth of Christ). Giles and Jenny's mumbled conversation about calendars and calculations implies a one-time event prophesied by the powerful vampire St. Vigeous. This issue is important because if Spike just ruined a recurring vamp holiday, it is not as big an affront to the other vampires as if he ruined a one-time event. Drusilla's psychic abilities: Drusilla "feels" the Anointed One's power at a distance. She also makes a less-than-successful attempt to "see" the slayer. Spike's sire: Giles tells the gang that Spike is barely 200. Spike tells Angel, "You were my sire, man!" (he calls him this again in In The Dark). This would imply a 200-year old Angelus-bit William the Bloody. But according to Joss: Angel made Dru who made Spike. SIRE means you came from their line, not just that they made you (Jan 17 1998). In FFL, we see Spike vamped by Dru in 1880, which means he can't be 200. In "The Initiative", Spike claims to be 126. This would make the date of his siring 1873. A continuity flub. The explanation? I suck at math (joss, Oct 13 22:27 1998). Regarding Giles' statement about Spike being nearly 200, the Watchers also have his whole background mixed up what with the William the Bloody and the railroad spike thing. I suspect that either Spike was spreading disinformation to augment his reputation, or that in the tradition of oral traditions, the fish got bigger with each telling (jengod, 19 Nov 2000 17:39). Seems Spike learned to lie about his age from Angelus (gazoo, Nov 14 22:01 2000).

Evil in "School Hard"

The Anointed One A1's power stemmed from his ability to control the other vampires by his use of ritual and his messianic promises of a brighter (darker?) future; Spike's strength came from his lack of respect for these same rituals. Like Buffy, Spike has broken the mold and is not bound by traditional values or constraints (aardwolfe, Jun 22 21:47 1998).

Moral Ambiguity in "School Hard"

Spike possesses obviously human traits that a creature of "pure evil" should not possess. This is a demon who knows about love (which Angelus without a soul is clueless about). He brings Drusilla to the Hellmouth to nurse her back to health, and is hurt when he realizes Angel, his "sire and yoda" has become a traitor to other vampires. More on Spike's impulsive ways

Spike and the slayer Xander was not exactly pleased when Angel joked about letting Spike bite him as a test of whether Spike believed he was evil or not. But you have to give Xander credit for baring his neck in front of the souled vamp, whom he has never liked, or trusted. Angel was trying to loll Spike into a false sense of security so he could take him out. He never would have allowed Xand to be bit. His comment at the end was just to ruffle the boys' feathers (Alex, Jun 9 12:18 1998). The hermetically insensitive Cordelia The repressive Snyder

Inca Mummy Girl

The Metaphysics of "Inca Mummy Girl"
The mummy's curse: Five hundred years ago, the Incan people sacrificed their princess to the mountain god Sebancaya by burying her alive in a tomb. She is kept from moving by a curse on the seal buried with her (a plate with Incan hieroglyphics on it). Breaking the seal frees her. Inca Mummy Girl was once human, now she's a mummified corpse. Although it was said that she was "buried alive for all eternity", she is, in fact, dead and has been for 500 years. In her natural state, she is a shriveled mummy--a state she can only reverse by draining energy out of the living with a kiss, mummifying them in the process. To continue to move about freely, she has to periodically find new victims. The mummy has been on tour in museums around the country. A guard has accompanied her on her tour to insure that she doesn't awaken and escape. Somehow, the guard misses Rodney breaking the seal. Theoretically, the mummy could have escaped in any city on her tour if someone had broken the seal.

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Inca Mummy Girl"

Ampata: Through not-so-subtle comparisons between Ampata and Buffy's chosen-one and "not a normal girl" status, we come to sympathize with this young woman who must, let's face it, kill to live. Ampata seems to have a genuinely human need to live a normal life, and her evil is predatory and deceptive, but still human. The hermetically insensitive Cordelia

Ethical Quandaries in "Inca Mummy Girl"

Killing monsters who used to be lovers Xander is immediately taken with Ampata, and is surprised and delighted when she shows an interest in him, just for who he is (geeky and all!). He defends her from her bodyguard, is willing to tell her the truth about the Scooby gang, and is moved by her beauty at the dance. This is no random date for Xander. Ampata eventually tries to kill him, but stops herself; she wants to be with him. But when she attacks Willow, everything changes. Xander is willing to offer himself to Ampata to prevent her from killing Willow. Is this an equivalent situation to Buffy's hesitancy in killing Angelus? While Xander's affection for Ampata does not come close to Buffy's love for Angel, the Ampata Xander loved was a killer, while Angelus the killer was not the Angel Buffy loved.

Reptile Boy
The Metaphysics of "Reptile Boy"
Machida, a huge snake-like demon, arises each year from his pit deep in the basement of a longstanding fraternity house in Sunnydale and consumes human flesh (in this case, young girls). He has human servants who provide him his meals in exchange for power, riches, and influence. Ritual to join the fraternity: Taking pledges and oaths is a regular part of fraternity life, but most don't pledge themselves to a giant demon snake. A diamond symbol is carved into the pledge's (or member's) torso with the tip of a sword. It draws blood. I pledge my life and my death to the Delta Zeta Kappas, and to Machida whom we serve. On my oath before my assembled brethren. I promise to keep our secret from this day until my death. In blood I was baptized. In blood I shall reign. In his name. Ritual to feed Machida: Once a year, in a ceremony not unlike a mass, one fraternity brother praises and calls upon Machida while the others repeat his key phrases. Tom (who calls Machida) places the sword in Richard's (who is guarding the chained girls) arms. Richard hugs the sword to his chest, crossing his hands over his heart, then lowers the sword and rests the tip on the floor. Tom tosses the stones into the well at the center of the basement one at a time. We who serve you, we who receive all that you bestow, call upon you in this holy hour. We have no wealth, no possession, except that which you give us. We have no power, no place in the world, except that which you give us. It's been a year since our last offering. A year in which our bounty overflowed. We come before you with fresh offerings. Accept our offering, Dark Lord, and bless us with your power. Machida! Come forth, and let your terrible countenance look upon your servants, and their humble offering. We call

you, Machida. For he shall rise from the depths, and we shall tremble before him. He who is the source of all we inherit and all we possess. Machida. And if he is pleased with our offerings, then our fortune shall increase. And on the tenth day of the tenth month he shall be enhungered. And we shall feed him.

Good and Evil in "Reptile Boy"

Machida seems merely predatory in an albeit sexist kind of way. The real evil in "Reptile Boy" is the fraternity members. Their greed and thirst for power that is like a serial killers'. They smile and charm young women to their demise. Is it just me, or did Buffy actually save herself and her fellow girls-in-chains with no help from her Cavalry friends upstairs? By the time they subdued the other frat members, Machida and his ring-leaders were defeated. Best line of the show: "Tom, you talk too much" *thud*.

Halloween
The Metaphysics of "Halloween"
The ritual devotion to Chaos: Janus is a Roman god who represents, among other things, the dualities of human existence (much like the eastern yin and yang). These include the division of human nature into masculine and feminine, our propensity for both good and evil, etc. Ethan kneels before the statue of Janus, which has a woman's face on one side to the man's face on the other. He wounds his own hands, drawing blood which he dabs on his eyelids and forehead, and says: The world that denies thee, thou inhabit. The peace that ignores thee, thou corrupt. Chaos. I remain, as ever, thy faithful, degenerate son. It is unclear whose power Ethan is invoking in this ritual. It is possible that the Roman God Janus is an actual demon, and Ethan is calling upon his/her powers. On the other hand, Ethan also states his devotion to "Chaos". Is this the state of chaos, or an entity named Chaos? It could be either in Joss's universe. Spell to turn children into their costumes Ethan kneels before the statue of Janus again and

Janus, evoco vestram animam. Exaudi meam causam. Carpe noctem pro consilio vestro. Veni, appare et nobis monstra quod est infinita potestas. Persona in corpus et sanguinem commutanda est. Vestra sancta praesentia concrescet viscera. Janus! Sume noctem! Translation: Janus, I call upon your spirit. Heed my plea. Seize the night for [as] your plan. Come, appear and show us that which is power infinite. The mask must be transformed into body and blood. By your sacred presence the heart grows greater. Janus! Take the night! A wind sweeps through the city, transforming the children and teens who have costumes from Ethan's shop into the embodiment of whatever they were dressed as. It does not affect people with costumes from other places (e.g., Cordelia).The costumes therefore have some quality (a mystical power, or the mere fact that they belong to Ethan) that is an important part of the spell as a whole. Breaking the Janus statue disrupts the spell. This implies that the presence of the statue was also vital in bringing about the spell in the first place. The gang's costumes: Buffy dresses as an 18th century noble woman to attract an 18th century vampire, and ends up as a shallow, clingy damsel-in-distress. It also apparently dampened her strength. While it's possible that Buffy simply did not remember she had those abilities, Dru predicted, "it makes her weak." If Buffy did still have her powers, she might have pushed away Spike or pirateLarry and been surprised by how well it worked (this didn't happen). Willow is temporarily transformed into a ghost. She loses the power to effect physical objects and can in fact pass right through them. She finds a new confidence to take charge, however. Xander's transformation is perhaps the most significant of all, because his soldier abilities and knowledge will stay with him long after the army-guy persona is lifted. Mental influence: One effect of Ethan's spell in Halloween was to make Xander, Buffy, and many of the children unaware of their real identities. Willow does not forget because she has been transformed into the ghost of herself. On some level, however, each did remember who they really were, but that part of their minds did not have control over their bodies. As Xander explained, "It's like I was there, but I couldn't get out." This is similar to his experience in The Pack. When was Angel born? Willow, reading from a Watcher diary, says that Angel was still human in 1775, while in B1 he is shown being vamped in 1753. While this can simply be attributed to Joss's math-suckage, one can ask--why would a Watcher diary have any record of Angel's life prior to vamping anyway? Unless the Watchers found old documents on his human life, the apparent discontinuity error can be passed on to Willow misreading the diary. She does not realize that 1753 was when Angelus was born, not when mortal Liam was born. Vampires and video tape

Good and Evil in "Halloween"

Ethan's chaotic evil Xander-the-soldier has few problems taking orders from ghostWillow and has little patience for noblewomanBuffy's helpless female act. I've seen numerous articles about how Buffy provides positive female role models (you could especially use the Halloween episode, where Buffy was turned into a "helpless" female but was chastized by Angel, who said he much preferred a woman with brains) for young girls (Closet Buffyholic, Jun 10 13:54 1998). Angel's words are especially important because they come after Buffy's puzzling line, "I just wanted to be a real girl for once." Why should any one role or persona qualify as a "real" girl? SlayerBuffy is just as "girlie" as the 18th century lady.

Moral Ambiguity in "Halloween"

Spike's devotion to Drusilla is obvious in his endearments and tender treatment of Dru's frailty (see Spike's moral ambiguity). However, it starts to become clear in Halloween that Spike is attracted to Drusilla for her evil predatory power. He hates seeing her ill and unable to hunt. He spends time studying the Slayer so he can kill her, but also to let Dru have her run of "Sunnyhell". Highlights of the Ripper

Lie to Me
The Metaphysics of "Lie to Me"
Angel believes that he is responsible for Drusilla's madness, and certainly Angelus was a key factor in driving the young woman over the edge. But Drusilla is neither frothing-at-the-mouth mad, nor is she simply an excitable psychotic. And she displays no genuine disdain for the vampire who aided and abetted her mental breakdown. The sort of insanity she displays has a very organic quality which isn't the insanity of psychological trauma alone. She seems locked into perceiving the world around her in limited, specific ways, with moments of lucidity that come and go. One of the ways she perceives the world is through the lens of her psychic ability. When her visions are in full swing, she cannot communicate her thoughts, sensations, and feelings to others outside the language of this lens. Another way she perceives the world is through the lens of a child. Even after she recovers her vampire strength, she still allows others around her to treat her like a little girl only concerned with dolls and games. It is possible, therefore, that Angelus tipped the scales for a young woman who already had a propensity towards schitzophrenia.

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Lie to Me"

What Billy Fordham does is truly despicable, but his reasons are at least sympathetic. Ford offers to give Spike and Drusilla the slayer in exchange for being made into a vampire. He wants to be a vampire because it is either that or death in six months from a painful and debilitating cancer (Ford seems to realize on some level that the vampire with his body would not be him, but is at the point of desperation). He also uses the impressionable trust of the members of the vampire wanna-be cult in his plan. They think they will also be turned into vampires, but in actuality, they are part of Ford's offering to Spike. The vampire wanna-be cult, as Ford explains, are sheep. Diego, Chantarelle and their friends believe in "friendly vampires" and imagine that becoming un-dead will counteract their loneliness and boredom. Angel insinuates that there have been such vampire wanna-bes before. Spike: Drusilla turns the normally assertive Spike into a puppy dog. In Lie to Me, we see hints of Spike's jealousy of Angel(us) as he questions Drusilla about her meeting with Angel. When he gets irritated at her ignoring him and doting over a dead bird, Dru is hurt and he apologizes profusely. Spike leads the gang to chomp down on the vampire wanna-bes, and takes Chanterelle by the neck violently. But of course, Spike gives up a room full of easy kills to save his ladylove's un-life when Buffy threatens her. Angel: There is no clearer example of the blurred distinction between Angel and Angelus than Angel's "confession" to Buffy in Lie to Me. After killing the mortal Drusilla's entire family and taunting her into madness, Angelus turned her into a vampire. Angel is understandably reluctant about sharing this story with Buffy, but was Angel responsible for Drusilla's fate?

Ethical Quandaries in "Lie to Me"

Let Buffy and the others die to gain a (dubious) immortality? Ford feels he doesn't have a choice, because he takes ending his own pain and saving his own life as a priority. As Buffy points out, he does have a choice, although its not a good one. He has chosen to be responsible for mass murder. In the end, she leaves Ford in the bomb shelter with the vampires. It was what he wanted, but...

The Dark Age

The Metaphysics of "The Dark Age"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 6 BtVS/season 3 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

Eyghon's terror goes back to the pre-Roman Etruscan culture. Also known as "the Sleepwalker", Eyghon can only exist in the Earthly reality by possessing a dead or unconscious host (e.g. it transfers from the dead guy to Jenny). Temporary possession gives the host a feeling of exhilaration. Unless the proper rituals are observed, the possession is permanent. If it possesses the dead, its demonic energy soon disintegrates the host, and it must find another victim to continue living.

Eyghon has come to Sunnydale looking for victims among its former "initiates", Giles and Ethan Rayne, who it recognizes by the "mark of Eyghon"--a tattoo--on their forearm. However, it also attacks Buffy, who was not part of the original group, after Ethan gives Buffy a tattoo and gets rid of his own. The tattoos act like a homing beacon to the demon, and it seems simply to want to kill those who have them. Psychic vision? Giles falls to the floor and has a vision in which he sees Buffy bound and tattooed by Ethan. This allows him to go the the costume shop to help save her. It is unlikely Eyghon wanted him to save Buffy, but he'd been having premenatory dreams of his past with Eyghon, as Ethan had. Perhaps Eyghon wanted to entice him over to Ethan's shop in order to kill him, or perhaps dealing with Eyghon causes a human to have psychic dreams and visions.

Good and Evil in "The Dark Age"

Eyghon: As a demon who methodically seduces and destroys his victims, Eyghon is an example of evil-as-corruption. The good of Willow

Moral Ambiguity in "The Dark Age"

Messing with Magicks: Young Giles and his friends' experimented with magic for "pleasure and gain"--until they graduated to the "big stuff" and Eyghon took the life of one of their friends. Angel shows up unexpectedly at the hospital on blood delivery day. Buffy still entrusted him with seeing the blood into the hospital safely, though. Why was Angel there? Ockham's Razor be damned, complex characters defy simplicity, and that's part of what makes them interesting... Angel stealing blood. ... the blood is necessary for his survival... instead of taking lives for his survival (by killing people), he is taking blood willingly donated... now this may add to a blood shortage, but there has been no mention of a blood shortage in Sunnydale, so it looks like he has taken the route of least damage to society (Chrissy, Jun 9 12:20 1998). It is also interesting that Angel uses the demon within him, an evil force he is always shown struggling against, to battle and defeat Eyghon. As Angel explains, the demon was just "waiting for a good fight." This implies either that Angel can control it for his own purposes, or perhaps that the demon doesn't care who he fights, as long as the fight's an enjoyable one (something which is plausible given Angelus' sadistic tendencies).

What's My Line (Parts 1 & 2)

The Metaphysics of "What's My Line"

Drusilla uses an unusual set of Tarot cards to confirm Spike's decisions and progress during the episode. When Spike decides to call in the Order of Taraka, Dru finds images representing them in her cards. When Spike is angry because Dalton can't decipher the ritual to restore Dru's health, Dru finds an image of the mausoleum where the decoder-key cross is. When one member of the order of Taraka dies, Dru knows this and turns his card over. When Spike and Dalton discover what is necessary for the ritual, Drusilla finds a picture of an angel on a card. It is unclear if the cards came this way or were affected by some sort of spell. The ritual to restore a sick vampire: In a church during a full moon, the hand of the sick vampire is bound to her sire's. Both are stabbed in the hand, allowing the blood of the sire to flow into the open wound of the ailing vamp. Blood and energy ebb from the sire until he is dead, and the sick vamp is restored. Spike sets up this scene, burning incense and using the Du Lac Cross with a dagger inside of it to create the wounds. He says: Eligor. I name thee. Bringer of war, poisoners, pariahs, grand obscenity. Eligor, wretched master of decay, bring your black medicine. Come. Restore your most impious, murderous child. From the blood of the sire she is risen. From the blood of the sire, she shall rise again. Multiple slayers: A new slayer is only called when the old one dies. When Buffy drowned in Prophecy Girl, she was dead--her vital signs ceased--until Xander gave her CPR. This was enough to activate the next slayer, Kendra. Kendra had already been identified as a slayer-inwaiting before her powers were activated: The watchers pinpoint the potentials if they can. In some cultures (like Kendra's) they can announce their presence and whisk the girl off. In some, they can't. And sometimes they can't pinpoint the girl until she is called, which is what happened with Buffy (joss, Dec 3 00:23 1998). The Powers that Be control the calling of slayers, so either they set the calling process on automatic, or they wanted there to be more than one slayer.

Evil in "What's My Line"

Spike calls in the Order of Taraka to eliminate the slayer. The Order of Taraka, who date back to King Solomon, are not predators, like vampires. As Giles says, "they have no earthly desires" to explain their deeds. Their credo is to create conflict, and their method for doing this is to rent themselves out as covert assassins (they are recognizable only by the ring they wear identifying them as a member of that group). They have no single method for doing the job, each works according to his or her own methods. They are relentless in this task. Like slayers, if one dies, another comes to finish the job. The Order of Taraka are an interesting blend of evil-as-chaos and evil-ascorruption. While their ultimate goal is

chaos, they choose to bring about disorder in the world by swift efficient killing. The fact that some are not demons but humans begs the question of what could motivate a human to want to increase chaos and pain (this same question arises with Ethan Rayne). Sadism: Drusilla pours Holy Water on Angel's chest, torturing him physically. Likewise, she knows what will get to him psychologically: his guilt over how Angelus chose to vamp her. She taunts him with tales of her family's happiness before he came, then how he "ripped their throats out". It seems unlikely that Dru has real horror of these memories, since they belong to the human soul who once inhabited her body, not the demon, and because she herself has done such deeds many times since. The impression I got was that when Dru tortured Angel, that's exactly what she was doing - she was "playing" the traumatized child because she knew that the image would visit psychological torment on Angel. She remembered the events, including her pain, but wasn't really hurting anymore about it. And she wasn't really angry with Angelus - it was just a way to get at Angel's source of pain (Darby, 8:59:54 02/15/02).

Moral Ambiguity in "What's My Line"

Spike's normal nastiness is once again tamed by Dru. When she asks him to dance, he snaps at her and then quickly apologizes. When she falters, he rushes to her and helps her back up, begging her forgiveness. Again, we see his desire to make Dru back into a predator: "Once you're well again, we'll have a coronation down Main Street, and invite everyone, and drink for seven days and seven nights." But Spike is still a nasty SOB to everyone else. His tenderness towards Drusilla constantly causes his bookish minion Dalton to relax around him, and Dalton usually ends up getting walloped for it. Spike's jealousy of Angel emerges when he suspects that Drusilla's torturing Angel has a sexual aspect to it, but he gives him to her anyway. The morally ambiguous Angel

Ethical Quandaries in "What's My Line"

Slayer vs. Normal Girl: Buffy's disgruntlement with being the slayer comes to a head during Career Week and she realizes her future is "sealed in fate". Buffy responds to Giles' demands on her by pointing out that she is the only slayer and he must take her as she is. She also compares her life to being dead: "I'm bored, constricted, I never get to shop, and my hair and fingernails still continue to grow." She longs for a normal life--a chance to really participate in Career Week, and to be a "regular kid" with her cradle robbing, creature-of-the-night boyfriend (!). When Kendra shows up and out-slays her, Buffy seriously considers letting Kendra take over. When she must save Angel from Spike, however, she realizes that she is good at her "line" and remains on the job.

Philosophies represented in "What's My Line"

Philosophies of slaying: Buffy vs. Kendra

Kendra's philosophy of slaying relies heavily on the application of learned technique. Buffy is a more spontaneous slayer, relying on "imagination", the things that occur to her at the moment. She's "resourceful", as Spike puts it in Halloween. Kendra believes in "even-mindedness"--emotions are weaknesses that interfere with her ability to keep her priorities straight. Buffy relies heavily on emotions. She believes they give her "fire"--extra power and motivation for the fight. She goads Kendra into feeling that anger to make her point, and later Kendra takes advantage of this when she gets pissed over her shirt ripping during a fight. Buffy makes Kendra's point when she charges out to save Angel and falls into the trap set for her by the double-crossing Willy. Kendra is a cautious slayer, relying on the Watcher for advice as she thinks out her game plan (but she had some strong opinions of her own on how things should be done). Buffy doesn't take orders (much). She does things her way. Good thing she has friends to bail her out.

Ted
The Metaphysics of "Ted"
Ted is a robot designed by a man who probably died in the '50s or '60's, and therefore, as Willow points out, well ahead of its time mechanically. There is no evidence that Ted actually was a robot possessed by a demon spirit and not just a robot programmed by a demented human being (the original human Ted). His method of controlling others is also unmystical--Joyce goes "Stepford" (mellow and compliant) because Ted has put Dematorin, a tranquilizer, in his cooking.

Good and Evil in "Ted"

Evil as Order: Ted has an obsessive need to control other human beings, to mechanize and subordinate them to his will. He is a monstrous representation of a human evil that is represented by serial killers and wife-beaters. [Ted] seemed to represent a certain sort of forced order, the perceived order of that 'simpler' time, the 50's. When housewives were happy with their household appliances, and children were seen but not heard (Mircalla, 27 Dec 1998). If one lived in Ted's orderly household, chaos (in the form of rebellion) would be good. Because he is a killer robot who passes as a human being, he is also an example of evil as deception. The good of Giles

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "Ted"

Buffy must deal with the possibility that she could take a human life. While Ted turns out not to be human, she attacks him and causes his apparent "death" before she knows this. Xander and Willow don't think she is really capable of killing "an innocent man" and seek out an explanation for her behavior--some hint or clue Buffy picked up on before she killed Ted that made her think he was a monster and not a person. Buffy is capable of killing a human because she tends to act first, regret later--like many humans. ...she was a little scared of herself and her actions [in Ted], but this begs the important question "what did buffy do with this knowledge/realization?" (Eiddileg, Jan 17 21:49 1999). Buffy is deeply troubled by her own anger, and how it led her to do what she did: "He was a person, and I killed him." While some might argue that she did it in self-defense or in defense of her property, she sees different standards for herself: "I'm the Slayer. I had no right to hit him like that." This line is interesting because her status as a slayer leads Cordelia to the opposite conclusion: "Buffy's the Slayer. Shouldn't she have--" Xander: What, a license to kill? Cordelia: Well, not for fun. But she's like this superman. Shouldn't there be different rules for her? Willow: Sure, in a fascist society. Cordelia: Right! Why can't we have one of those? Cordelia will come to similar un-democratic conclusions about the swim team in "Go Fish". For more on Buffy's reaction to the possibility of killing humans, see Dead Things When Buffy "killed" Ted, Joyce should have been concerned about her daughter's violent proclivities--after all, Buffy had already destroyed at least two school buildings. Why didn't Joyce show more concern? If you've got a kid who's in trouble all the time and you are not doing everything you can to find out why/who/where then you are too dense to be out without a keeper. Most parents want to believe the best of our kids, but there is a limit... If Joyce Summers was on the ball then she would have found out about Buffy a long time ago (Jocor, Jun 10 14:25 1998). The *illusion* of her being a problem child is created by her Slaying duties. Maybe Joyce recognizes that Buffy's problem-child status doesn't fit, but she can't figure out what the real state of affairs is. She hangs out with polite, friendly semi-loosers, she gets along well with the school librarian and was close with the computer teacher... her grades are low but not everyone is a straight A student. The fact that Buffy has been branded as a trouble maker doesn't correspond with what Joyce sees of Buffy at home- ie that she's is a nice, bright, well-meaning girl (Chrissy, Jun 16 13:09 1998). The hermetically insensitive Cordelia

Bad Eggs
The Metaphysics of "Bad Eggs"
The Bezoars are one of the more unique baddies on the show because there does not seem to be anything supernatural about them at all (they are fictional, but that is another matter). The mother Bezoar is a disk-shaped, non-mobile, tentacled life-form that lives underground laying eggs. The baby Bezoar is an intelligent parasite (a creature who performs some function necessary to its survival--typically eating, although not in the case of the Bezoar--by direct use of another creature). (Other examples of parasitic behavior--Tahlmer's host jumping, the Hacksaw Beast's procreation, the Sluks). The role of the human host in the Bezoar life-cycle is to spread the eggs, and thus the offspring, to other human hosts. Although baby Bezoars are highly mobile upon hatching, humans are more mobile. By spreading the offspring over a wider area, there is a greater chance that some will survive to the age in which the females will find a place to hibernate and procreate. Human hosts are also used to uncover the mother at the time of egg dissemination. The resemblance of Bezoar eggs to chicken eggs provides camouflage. All these adaptations enable the Bezoar to spread their offspring farther and faster before they are slaughtered by humans, and make sense from an evolutionary standpoint. "Neural clamping": Bezoars clamp their bodies onto the spines or the base of the neck of the human host. From this position, they can insert tentacles into the nervous system and send electro-chemical impulses to the brain, blocking the host's ability to make use of higher-level cognitive functions (e.g., decision-making), and allowing the Bezoar to send their own instructions to the motor cortex (the part of the brain that controls movement). Since Giles, Willow, and Cordelia appear to be speaking and interacting in a more or less natural way while under the influence of the Bezoars, the mama Bezoar might not call on their services until they're needed. However, both Giles and Willow also act like themselves at some points while they are carrying out mama's bidding, so it is safe to say that the Bezoars take control of the host's cognitive functions as well. Since the host does not control their mind or their body while under the influence, it makes sense that the students and faculty were left confused after the incident and did not remember what happened while they were under the influence of the Bezoar. Vampires and human procreation: Vampires have a lot of "normal" physiological functions, but it's been made somewhat clear on the show that procreating the natural way isn't one of them. Angel explains this to Buffy: Buffy: ...Like I'm really planning to have kids anytime soon. Maybe someday, in the future, ...but right now kids would be just a little too much to deal with. Angel: I wouldn't know. I don't--Well, you know, I can't. Buffy: Oh. That's okay. I figured there were all sorts of things vampires couldn't do. You know, like ...volunteer for the Red Cross, or have little vampires.

Vampires can "sire" other vampires by an exchange of blood. But they can't have human children (but see Lullaby).

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Bad Eggs"

There is nothing truly evil about the Bezoar; she's just trying to procreate. What is undesirable from a human perspective is that she uses human beings to do it, and does so by putting them in a robotic servile state of mind. The Bezoar is therefore an example of Evil-as-Order. The Gorch Brothers: Lyle Gorch and his brother, Tector, are from Abilene. They massacred an entire Mexican village while they were still human in 1886. One wonders how they had the brains or bravado to do this or anything else. Perhaps this is an example of how becoming a vampire can change the personality in unexpected ways. "Machiavellian ingenuity"

Surprise/Innocence
The Metaphysics of "Surprise/Innocence"
The Judge's power works like a battery. Weak upon reassembling, with enough "charge" to attack only with a touch, he gathers strength until he can zap the people at the mall at a distance. He kills by inducing physical combustion in his victim. The Judge reaches out his arm and an arc of energy emanates from his hand to the victim, who freezes in place until they combust. This power can also shoot out from one victim to another, holding them all in place in a web and destroying them en masse. There is a supernatural aspect to this energy. The Judge does not simply "know" who has humanity and attack them (although he can do this--e.g., Dalton); the power itself is attracted to humanity--it cannot combust the purely evil. The properties of "purely evil" and "humanity" it responds to are therefore properties of the soul, not the body, since vampires have human bodies (albeit vamped ones), but not all vampires combust at the Judge's touch (e. g., Angelus) (for the opposite situation, see the beacon of the Scourge).

Giles said MOST vamps can survive the judges touch. See, a vamp is a human possessed by a demon. Not pure -- a pure demon has no emotion. But vamps are diluted, they have some human traits (like Spike and Dru, who love each other in their twisted way.) Dalton (the nerd) loved learning and reading and was just too human not too burn (joss, Jan 23 23:06 1998).

The Judge can't be killed, nor can he be injured by most weapons, only dismembered so that he can't function (which means reassembling him makes him functional again). An army was needed to overwhelm him in ancient times. Little ol' 20th-century Buffy used an anti-tank rocket launcher. Buffy's psychic dreams in Surprise and Innocence are particularly relevant to her real life, but nevertheless steeped in misdirection.

Dream one: the short interaction with Joyce in Buffy's first dream in "Surprise" closely duplicates the actual subsequent event where Joyce dropped the plate after saying, "Do you really think you're ready, Buffy?" However, Dru's staking of Angel does not, since Angel's body is not destroyed in real life; instead, he loses his soul. However, three aspects to the dream portend the future: (1) Drusilla's presence, indicating that she is still alive; (2) falling to the floor, symbolizing the end of Angel and Buffy's relationship; and (3) the barely whispered words of Angel during his disintegration: "my soul". Dream two: Buffy's dreams of the factory, which she has not seen in real life before this point, are accurate. However, again she dreams of Drusilla, this time threatening to behead Angel with a knife unless Buffy stays away from the Judge. There is no evidence that Drusilla or the Judge have any direct connection to whatever caused Angel to lose his soul. The other accurate portent in this second dream is the presence of Jenny in the factory. She will loom large in the coming action. Dream three: This dream begins with a replay of an actual event--Buffy and Angel making love. In a flash, it segues into a daytime funeral. Angel is dressed like Angelus, but he makes Buffy take notice of Jenny, the key to finding out what has happened to turn him evil. It is unlikely that Angel's now-missing human soul visits Buffy in the dream. It has gone back to the ether (another ocassion in which somebody out of commission appears in Buffy's dream to give her a vital clue occurs in Graduation, pt. 2).

Drusilla has two psychic episodes in S/I: The first is when she says to Buffy and Angel in the factory "I only dreamed you'd come", implying that she dreamed of this event now actually taking place. The second is when she senses the loss of Angel's soul at a distance. First, she feels his pain and collapses to the floor. Then she senses the powerful presence of Angelus unfettered by Angel's soul and smiles. She does not actually realize what is behind these sensations until Angelus arrives at the factory and does not burn at the Judge's hand. "The happiness clause": The curse that restored Angel's human soul had a rather strange condition attached to it. If Angel achieved even just a moment of true happiness, he would lose his soul, and Angelus would once again have free reign on the body. Theories about the reason for the happiness clause: 1. The gypsies' desire for vengeance was petty; if it cannot torture, if it cannot get the revenge it wants, it basically restores the very situation that caused the trouble in the first place: it brings back the killer. 2. I think that the *happiness clause* was the price the gypsies had to pay to get Angel's soul out of the ether. Whom/Whatever granted the power of the spell to the gypsy elder

woman also placed the burden of the *happiness clause* on the gypsy clan. It was their duty/fate/price to spend the rest of their lives to insure that Angel never knew happiness. They failed and the soul was returned to the ether. The *happiness clause* wasn't the gypsies idea, it was a burden/penalty put upon the gypsies (gazoo, Jan 4 22:10 1999). 3. Demon ascendance is simply a metaphysical side-effect of experiencing happiness (see Eternity)

Evil in "Surprise/Innocence"
The Judge: the role of a judge in a court of law is to determine who is guilty and who is not and eliminate the influence of the guilty on society. The Judge, a blue-horned demon sent forth long ago to eliminate humankind from the Earth, serves a similar function for the demon agenda. The best way to understand this is to go back to Giles' statement in The Harvest: "For untold eons demons walked the Earth. They made it their home, their Hell. But in time they lost their purchase on this reality. The way was made for mortal animals, for, for man." If the Judge can eliminate all creatures of humanity, the demons can once again rule the Earth. As a demon who disdains all that is human, wishes to see our destruction, and has the power to do it, the Judge represents evil-as-corruption. Drusilla revels without any empathy whatsoever in Dalton's death and the thought of Angel watching Buffy die. We also see that she is more unhinged than ever, given her reaction to the decorations at her party and her anger at Dalton losing the Judge's arm. The evil of Angelus Spike: So you didn't kill her then. Angelus: Of course not. Drusilla: You don't want to kill her, do you? You want to hurt her. Just like you hurt me. Angelus: Nobody knows me like you do, Dru. Angel (Angelus) definitely has feeling for Buffy, but he is so stinking evil and twisted that no matter what, those feelings can only manifest themselves in hateful, destructive DEMONIC ways. ...Demons are immortal monsters that thrive on darkness and chaos. And Angelus is the badassiest of them all (joss, Jan 31 1998).

Moral Ambiguity in "Surprise/Innocence"

Spike and Armageddon: In B2, Spike is anti-apocalypse. In other words, he does not want to see the end of human beings on Earth. This leads to an interesting question--why was Spike so blas about the Judge? He in fact scolded the Judge for not getting on with "destroy[ing] the world already", and he gave the Judge to Drusilla as a gift. The unanswered question here is: was the Judge Drusilla's idea, or Spikes? Drusilla clearly knows about the Judge and is delighted at the gift, taking full advantage of it. But did she indicate her desire for it to Spike at some earlier

time? Regardless of who is responsible for the Judge, though, Spike changes his mind about the value of an apocalypse before B2. I think Dru was the impetus behind the Judge business- it was her party, her present, Angel said she was crazy enough to do it. A 'whatever Princess wants, Princess gets' deal. I also think that the Judge himself, with his disdain for vampires and their lingering humanity, might have had Spike reconsidering the value of an apocalypse (Pathetique, Jun 3 07:47 1998). Would Spike and/or Drusilla have combusted if the Judge had decided to touch them? My guess is that Spike would have, for obvious reasons (see the section on Spike's moral ambiguity). "This one is full of feeling" the Judge said about Dalton. This could be said just as easily about Spike. When Spike reminds the Judge who brought him forth, he touches the Judge briefly and nothing happens; however, the Judge is not up to full power yet. Drusilla is another matter. While she has affection for Spike, she is a greater creature of evil than he is, colder and more sociopathic. An open call whether or not Drusilla would have burned. Did Jenny betray Giles and Buffy? In Surprise, we find out that Jenny is a gypsy (Janna of the Kalderash people), sent to Sunnydale by her people to watch Angel. Presumably, her task was to make sure Angel still suffered. Once The elder woman of the gypsies read signs that told her that Angel's suffering was decreasing, Jenny's uncle Enyos arrived to tell Jenny to separate Buffy and Angel, but didn't tell her why. She tried to do this by sending Angel out of the country to bury the Judge's arm. This fails when Buffy and Angel are attacked on the docks. When Jenny goes to talk to her uncle again, she is finally told about the curse, but by then, it is already too late. The upshot: Jenny was sent on a mission without sufficient information. The only thing she is guilty of was not telling Giles and Buffy why she was there and who she was. Although she was part of the causal chain that lead to Angel losing his soul, she was not responsible for Angel losing his soul.

Ethical Quandaries in "Surprise/Innocence"

Is Buffy responsible for Angel turning in Innocence? Buffy tells Giles, "this is all my fault". She's feeling guilty because when Angel said, "maybe we shouldn't [make love] ", she insisted. While Buffy's sleeping with Angel was the direct cause of his change, responsibility is a matter of intent and negligence, and Buffy neither intended to turn Angel, nor was she negligent because she did not seek out the possible mystic consequences of sleeping with him. Giles insists that what happened isn't Buffy's fault, and in IOHEFY, Willow echoes this view. In DMP, Cordy claims, rather thoughtlessly, that it was Buffy's fault.

Philosophies Represented in "Surprise/Innocence"

When is vengeance not justice? For those who see revenge as a form of justice, this line by Jenny's uncle must seem a bit strange:

"It is not justice we serve. It is vengeance." Enyos, a representative of the Gypsy's point of view, is a good example of the philosophy of Retributivism (the biblical "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" philosophy). Unlike Jenny's Utilitarian stance, Enyos is not interested in Angel's redemption, or any other consequences of his Retributivist principle, even the destruction of the human race at the hands of the Judge. Nor is his principle a simple "tit-for-tat" vengeance--"like commerce"--which assumes that revenge is the tool of those who apply it. For him, the reverse is true: he sees himself as the tool of vengeance, the subject of a principle much larger than himself or his tribe. Vengeance demands the indefinite torturing of the vampire who killed the gypsy girl and her loved ones back in 1898: "It commands", he says, and "we merely play a part." Enyos and Jenny understand the ethics of how to deal with Angel very differently. Jenny is interested in the consequences of their actions. Seeing Angel suffer is all well and good until the cost of his suffering is too high. Jenny would rather see Angel make amends by doing good deeds, such as saving Jenny from Eyghon and the world from the Judge (a more Utilitarian view).

Phases
The Metaphysics of "Phases"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 5 BtVS/season 2 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

Oz is a human being, albeit a human being with a "condition" that transforms him radically, both physically and psychologically, three nights a month--a werewolf.

Evil in "Phases"
Cain the Werewolf hunter kills elephants and werewolves for financial gain and rationalizes it to himself by calling werewolves "animals" and hunting them only in their wolf form. If ever there was a human character on BtVS without moral ambiguity, it is Cain. In a way, he is as much an "animal" as the werewolves he hunts, killing for personal benefit without a thought to the moral implications of what he is doing. He talks down to Buffy and accuses her (and Giles, for that matter) of taking the "let the werewolf live" side out of feminine emotions, which he finds ethically irrelevant. One wonders if he finds anything ethically relevant, however, beyond his own self-interest.

Moral Ambiguity in "Phases"

How does Oz really feel about being a potential killer? When he wakes up in the forest naked, his reaction is a mildly curious "...huh." After he confirms that the cousin who bit him is a werewolf, he is troubled and worried about hurting people. And rightly so; the only reason Ozwolf didn't attack Willow in the forest was because he smelled another human--Cain--nearby. When Willow kisses him at the end, Oz calls himself "a werewolf in love." In saying this, he is on the way to accepting what he is, which isn't so hard when someone loves you despite it. More on Oz's wolfy struggle with self-image.

You mean that stereotype's not over yet? When Buffy suggests that Willow make the first move with Oz, Willow worries it will make her a slut. Collective groan from the older generation of women.

Ethical Quandaries in "Phases"

Should werewolves be killed? Giles: Killing is punishment for an act done out of conscious free will, and a werewolf acts on instinct. The human self (who has conscious free will) is not doing the werewolf's acts, and is therefore not guilty of them. In addition, if the human self is not aware of his werewolf state, he is not negligent for his failure to control the werewolf's acts. As unethical as he is, Cain gives Buffy an argument that resonates with her--not killing the werewolf gave it a chance to escape; hence any harm it perpetuates after that point Buffy will have played an active causal role in. This sinks in after Theresa is found dead. Even a single death is one death too many. However, it does not follow from this that Oz should be euthanized. Euthanasia is one response, so is finding another way of preventing Oz from ever attacking another human being. Willow: Even if a human being is aware of being a werewolf, they have not chosen to be a werewolf, and therefore should not be killed simply in virtue of that fact. Other methods to restrain them should be found. Regardless of how many people Oz killed when he first changed, it does not make him guilty of anything. At the time, ignorance left him without known options. Now that he knows what is happening, he has options. Oz, ...walks into his cage without coercion. Killing Oz would be like killing anyone with a contagious fatal disease. We don't do that. We just try to keep them away from the rest of us. (Michael Hennebry, 07 Jul 1999 16:29) More on werewolves and responsibility (B&tB)

Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered

The Metaphysics of "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered"
The "mojo": Witch powers without spells--Amy stares into Mrs. Beakman eyes. A moment later Mrs. Beakman smiles at Amy and gestures as though she's accepting a paper from her. The Cordy love-spell: Xander sits holding a candle on the floor of the science lab inside a large red "woman" symbol. He has three red vertical stripes painted on his bare chest. Amy twirls Cordelia's locket in a circle over a potion which is boiling in a beaker, reciting her spell. As she

does so, mystic energy emanates from the beaker and swirls above it. Xander blows out the candle as the power dissipates. Diana... goddess of love and the hunt... I pray to thee. Let my cries bind the heart of Xander's beloved. She lowers the necklace into the brew, which begins to spark. May she neither rest nor sleep (the brew sparks) until she submits to his will only. Diana, bring about this love and bless it. Turning Buffy into a rat: Amy's eyes turn pitch-black. She lifts her hands. Goddess Hecate, work thy will. Before thee let the unclean thing crawl! Mystic energy swirls around her. She thrusts her arms out at Buffy, and the energy leaps from her hands, envelops the Slayer, then dissipates. From the sleeve of Buffy's empty raincoat, a rat comes crawling out (see also Gingerbread). The spell to undo Amy's spells: Giles assists Amy in two spells. After bringing a potion to a boil in the science lab, Amy recites the spell while Giles sprinkles powder into the potion. Goddess of creatures great and small, I conjure thee to withdraw. Hecate, I hereby license thee to depart. This changes Buffy's rat status (see also Gingerbread). Giles then takes a pinch of an herb from a jar and puts it into the potion. He twirls Cordelia's pendant over the brew and drops it in. A powerful swirl of energy appears above them and spirals down into the beaker. Giles Diana, goddess of love, be gone. Hear no more thy siren's song. This stops the love spell.

Evil in "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered"

Spike vs. Angelus: We begin to see the truly sadistic side of Angelus in BBB. Spike gives Drusilla a beautiful if somewhat macabre necklace for Valentine's day. But when Angelus arrives and gives the insanely evil Dru a fresh human heart, Spike knows he has been out-gifted in Dru's eyes. Angelus adds insult to injury by mocking Spike's gift and putting the necklace on Dru himself. Then Angelus belittles Spike by, in one sentence, insulting Spike's disabled state and moving in on his territory: "I know Dru gives you pity access, but you have to admit it's so much easier when I do things for her."

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered"

The unintended consequences of magic: In what is probably not one of his finer moments, a dumped and hurt Xander blackmails Amy into doing a love spell on Cordelia so he can get revenge--win her love, then break up with her and subject her to the same hell she put him through. Amy is hesitant because his motive isn't good, and this may explain what happens next. Xander finds every woman in Sunnydale responding to the spell

except Cordelia, and then their interest in him escalates into selfish, murderous obsession. Giles explains to Xander what Amy did not: "people under a love spell lose all capacity for reason." To his credit, Xander saves Cordelia from the crazed girl-mob (almost becoming Angelus-bait in the process) and doesn't let the effects of the spell go to his head. When Buffy, the woman he has had a crush on for over a year, advances on him, love in her eyes and *nothing* on under a leather coat, he gulps, sweats-- and tells her he can't (singed_cat, 25 Mar 2000 15:57), The moral ambiguity of Harmony

Passion
The Metaphysics of "Passion"
The ritual to revoke the invitation to vampires: The owner of a private residence can revoke the invitation to a vampire by reciting certain rhyming Latin couplets, burning moss herbs, sprinkling holy water, and hanging crosses. When Angelus tries to enter Buffy's house after Joyce unlocks and opens the door, Buffy and Willow are coming down the stairs. Willow is reading a Latin verse from a book: Hicce verbis consensus rescissus est. Translation: By these words [Angelus'] consent [to enter] is rescinded. Angelus hits an invisible barrier. The orb of Thessela is the "spirit vault for the rituals of the undead"--in other words, it is a temporary container of a human soul (presumably, of someone who has been vamped) summoned from the ether. It is unclear why the orb glows when Angelus picks it up. It also glowed when Jenny picked it up, so this might just be a response to being held. The Ether: We know very little about the ether, except that this is where Angel's human soul is residing while Angelus rules the body. It is implied that this is (a dimension?) where all human souls reside while a vampire is in possession of their bodies. If this is true, it means that any human soul could be brought back to its vamped body. This is what happened in Angel's case. The other thing we know about the ether is that Angel seems to have no memory of his time there (Becoming, Part II). Fan speculation on the ether:

I don't think that the Buffyverse is lacking in heaven. I believe that the reason that Angel's soul was in the ether and not in heaven was because while his body was "dead" his memories and such were still in use. It's my theory that those souls who's bodies become the domain of vampires are relegated to the ether until the vampire using their body is distroyed, at which point soul can be reuinited with memorys and experience and be finally put to rest in paradise. I think of the ether as a kind of cold storage for souls. They just float around in oblivion till they get connected with the rest of what made them human (minus the body of course) then they get to go to heaven (Lovely Poet, Apr 8 09:53 1999). The transliteration annals: Like other rituals, the text of "the ritual of the undead" has been kept safe from those who would misuse it by putting it in a secret code. Deciphering it requires "transliteration annals". Without the annals, the text of the ritual makes no sense. This is why Jenny told Buffy that re-cursing Angelus "couldn't be done" in Innocence--thanks to the mass slaughter of the Kalderash, her people no longer know how to break the code. But Jenny resourcefully uses her computer to translate the encoded incantation to English based on a random sampling of the text. Psychic visions: Dru has a vision of Jenny's visit to the magic shop and is able to sense some of Jenny's intentions in going there.

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Passion"

Again in Passion we see that Angelus has more interest in torture than in killing. He taunts Spike's wheel-chair bound helplessness and comes on to Drusilla in front of him. Rather than use his invitation to Willow's house to kill her or her family, he kills her fish to frighten her. Although he does kill Jenny, he takes as much delight in taunting and belittling her verbally and chasing her through the school. And he doesn't drink from her. Instead, he breaks her neck in a perverse play on the way Angel saved her life in TDA. The real fun, though, comes in putting Jenny's dead body in Giles' bed and decorating his living room in a way that implies that Jenny is upstairs waiting for romance. The way Giles' expression goes from giddy expectancy to shock is Angelus' legacy. Finally, Angelus lurks outside of Buffy's house to see Buffy and Willow's sorrowful reaction to Jenny's death. He smiles. Evil-assadism in its pure demonic form. Reawakening the Ripper: Giles avenges Jenny by grabbing his "good weapons", including a torch which he uses to set Spike's factory aflame, and a club which he also sets alight before whacking Angelus across the face repeatedly. The look on his face as he moves in on the sadistic vamp says all. The "hermetically insensitive" Cordelia Xander, attitude boy

Ethical Quandaries in "Passion"

Was it right for Jenny to keep her real identity and mission from Giles and Buffy? Jenny's defense of her secret identity and mission

Jenny explains to Giles that she was raised by the gypsy clan who originally cursed Angelus to avenge the gypsy girl he killed. Her loyalties when she came to Sunnydale were with her people, her only goal, to keep an eye on Angel and report back. Once she arrived, she met Giles and Buffy and became their friend, but lied to them about her real purpose in town, probably because they were friends with the vampire she had been taught to hate. Later, after getting to know Angel and seeing his attempts to do good, she became his friend as well. As she moved into her new life, she gradually began to neglect her duty as a member of the gypsy clan. By the time her uncle arrived to remind her of it, it was too late--Angel had turned. Her lie caught up with her. Even though she didn't know about the "happiness clause" of the curse until after Angelus was back, Giles felt betrayed by her duplicity. It is possible that if she had told them the truth, Giles might have wondered why the gypsies wanted someone to spy on Angel, and might have discovered the happiness clause before it was invoked.

Who is morally responsible for Jenny's death? The demon Angelus is solely responsible Legally . . . this is a hard call. Demonic possession is not something that the courts tend to rule on although people are not held accountable for actions (and results) they make when they sleepwalk or are having seizures. People are accountable for their actions when they are "under the influence." The difference being that being under the influence is generally a choice; whereas an epileptic seizure or sleep walking may be an uncontrollable condition (but even this has degrees of culpability). Philosophically - I am not sure where I would land. Probably that Angelus is solely responsible for Jenny's death because for all intents and purposes, the essence that is Angel (the soul) was not present when the act occurred. The only analogy that I can think of is also supernatural - a zombie. Ethically ...it is my belief that Angel and Angelus are different "persons" - Angel = the soul; Angelus = the demon. I know that this is somewhat sophistry because the demon is always there; however, I don't feel that Angelus is always there (advocate, Dec 7 10:16 1998). Many people are responsible--including Jenny Let's start with Darla, who made Angelus, then Angelus who actually killed Jenny (*sob*), Buffy holds some responsibility, Jenny (*sob*) herself is somewhat responsible, Jenny's (*sob*) uncle and the person who cursed Angel both have responsibility. Now if

you want to assign percentages, I can't, except to say that Angelus is by far the most responsible (Cosmic Bob, Dec 7 06:50 1998). On one hand you have Angel forced to carry the guilt of what his demon did, BUT Jenny did know what she was getting into by trying to restore his soul...she had to have known there was a risk (noni, Dec 7 06:34 1998). Angel himself has some responsibility I think [Angel's memories] had an affect on the "person" Angelus was. ...The person Angel was had, through the parts left when the demon took over the first time, an influence on how the demon acted. The "person" Angel was when he lost his soul in Surprise had an influence on the demon Angelus and his acts. This doesn't mean Angel is to blame in entirety. But he isn't free from blame. Giles can't condemn Angel for killing Jenny... it wasn't Angel. But Angel can't feel like Jenny's death had nothing to do with him. Because it did (Lady Bathory, Dec 20 16:53 1998). Does Ty King bear any responsibility? I hold Ty King the most responsible (Leather Jacket, Dec 7 07:31 1998). Don't blame me for Jenny's death. I said it before - I did not write in Jenny's death... David B. improvised that. You believe that, don't you? (Ty King, May 22 09:20 1998). Masquerade's note: holding the author of an episode responsible is akin to holding God responsible in a universe where God controls (at least some of) our actions and we do not have (complete) free will.

Killed by Death
The Metaphysics of "Killed by Death"
der Kindestod ("child death"), looks like a hideous old man but is much more able-bodied. Dressed like a 19th-century dandy, he is a predatory child-killer, feeding off of children by sucking the life energy out of them. He kneels over his victim, and two long proboscis protrude from either of his eyes. They extend toward the victim's forehead where they attach themselves. der Kindestod cannot normally be seen. His invisibility is never explained, but it seems to be a supernatural adaptation that prevents this monster from being caught. However, he is visible to those who are sick and delirious with fever, and sick children are his preferred victims. After death, they appear to have died from their illness.

Evil in "Killed by Death"

der Kindestod is a good example of predatory evil. He attacks to drain the life energy from his victims. Like less supernatural predators, he picks the easy targets--the young and sick. Angelus takes delight in beating up a sick Buffy. His intent does not seem to be to kill her, but when he sees a chance to rid himself of her with minimum damage to himself, he decides to take it. Luckily, Buffy's friends come to the rescue and Angelus only ends up putting Buffy in the hospital. When Angelus arrives there to take further advantage of her weakness, he finds instead an opportunity to taunt Xander by reminding him that he has had sex with Buffy.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Killed by Death"

Buffy's point-me-at-something-to-kill mode kicks in when her guilt over Jenny's death makes her ill. A trip to the hospital reminds her of her cousin's death long ago, and Cordelia suspects she is trying to "conjure up a monster that you can fight so you can save everybody and not feel so helpless." Luckily for Buffy, there is a real monster threatening the hospital, and she's a real super-hero. *crack* The "hermetically insensitive" Cordelia

I Only Have Eyes For You

The Metaphysics of "I Only Have Eyes For You"
A ghost is a human spirit that has remained on the Earthly plane. Haunting is a highly psychological phenomenon. Appearances of a ghost are tied closely to places (Sunnydale High, especially the balcony where James accidentally shot and killed Grace) and events (the night of the Sadie Hawkins' Dance) that were meaningful in the life of the individual who is now a ghost. "Purgatory" refers to the condition they take on in this state. One fan speculates: ...as seen by Giles' definition of James/Grace's predicament in IOHEFY, where tortured souls eternally attempt to right their wrongs (Shalazar, May 25 21:04 1998). James is condemned to reenact the last traumatic moments of his life again and again through living human intermediaries, with no ability to change the outcome as a living person could. A poltergeist is a ghost so plagued by the problems it faced in life that its anger and confusion somehow allow it to effect physical objects (unlike Willow in Halloween, but like Maude Pearson). Many of James' poltergeist activities occur by possessing living human beings (e.g.,

when Buffy's teacher is lecturing on the New Deal but writing "Don't walk away from me bitch! " on the board.) Examples of cases in which he does control physical objects:

causes a yearbook in Snyder's office to fall on the floor and open to a page with his eulogy in an attempt to get Buffy's attention; causes the doors at the ends of the school hallways to slam shut, trapping the gang in the school before the ritual; causes a wind to blow out the candles of the exorcism spell; creates objects (probably with some Hellmouthy-assistance)--unleashing snakes in the cafeteria and creating a swarm of wasps that overwhelm the school. Xander is attacked by an arm that shoots out of his locker and grabs him by the shirt, pulling him in until Buffy manages to push him away and shut the locker door. Cordelia's snake bite appears to turn into a huge, cracked scab on her face.

The exorcism of poltergeists: The purpose of the "Mangus-tripod" is to bind the spirit--to keep it from doing harm. Willow, Xander, and Cordelia go to positions around the school that create a triangle. Buffy goes to the balcony where Grace died--James' "hot spot". At midnight, each lights a candle and I shall confront and expel all evil, out of marrow and bone, out of house and home, never to come here again. It is unclear why the spell does not work. It might be the fact that Cordelia uses slightly different words, or because Willow did not pick the right kind of exorcism spell. Psychic day-dreams: In history class, Buffy sees a student and teacher flirting with romance in that very same room in 1955. Later, she sees James and Grace slow dancing in the music room. Finally, she has a vision of Grace being chased and shot to death by James. Buffy goes out on the balcony, where James appears to her, partially decomposed, and tells her to "get out!". Psychic visions: Drusilla has a vision in which she sees a black gate open to take the slayer into death. Dru realizes "the gate" needs Angelus to complete this task, and she tells him to find Buffy. Possession: James and Grace possess a boy and his girlfriend, George the Janitor and Ms. Frank, and Buffy and Angelus in a ritual acting-out of the last moments of their lives. An interesting part of this re-enactment is the phantom gun, which actually kills Ms. Frank and wounds Angelus (temporarily). Since we do not see Grace's spirit except when the ritual is being played out and later when Angelus/Grace saves Buffy/James from killing herself, it would appear that Grace's haunting is only in virtue of James' purgatory, not her own. James took possession of Buffy (Giles calls it being in the spirit's "thrall") in her home because before she left the school, a poster from the 1955 Sadie Hawkins dance, physically manifested during one of her visions. ended up in her coat pocket.

Resolution finally comes when Grace's ghost is freed from the reenactment ritual by Angelus' inability to die from a gun shot. Grace, in Angelus' body, is able to confront James in Buffy's body, forgiving him. This causes their souls to leave Buffy and Angelus' bodies and ascend out of the Earthly plane (See also RWAV)

Evil in "I Only Have Eyes For You"

By IOHEFY, Spike is on to Angelus' lack of interest in killing Buffy. When he points it out, however, Angelus uses the challenge as an opportunity to physically flirt with Drusilla right in front of the (presumably) disabled Spike. But Spike will not take Angelus' taunts sitting down for much longer. He is simply biding his time until he can take his revenge. Spike's sire from the Freudian perspective The Angel/Dru/Spike fits the classic Oedipal profile. We have a father figure - Angelus - a mother figure - Dru - and the child - Spike. Dru's siring of Spike entangles him more firmly into this complex relationship because she, in a sense, birthed him into this life. Angelus' siring would somehow distance Spike from Dru, rather than result in the closeness they shared, making him more brother than lover. In this relationship, Spike feels a hatred for Angelus, his "father", a desire to kill him and to take his place in "mother" Dru's bed. Dru is fulfilling her role in the triangle by catering to both of them, fueling the fire of competition (strigoi, Jan 21 16:09 2000).

Moral Ambiguity in "I Only Have Eyes For You"

Cordy's disdainful comments about the Sadie Hawkins' dance are classic anti-feminism. She is willing to trade her freedom of choice for dependence on men (letting dating be a system in which men always pay). Other examples of Cordelia's sexism.

Ethical Quandaries in "I Only Have Eyes For You"

Does James deserve forgiveness for killing Grace? In Buffy's view, James let his anger over Grace leaving him get the best of him. Even if he realizes later it was wrong to kill her, she is still dead, he still did it, and it was his emotional weakness that caused him to do it. Since he is guilty of such a heinous crime, he cannot be forgiven. Giles argues that James' guilt is irrelevant in the decision to forgive. Forgiveness is not ignoring a crime or the proverbial "slap on the wrist" punishment, it is a therapeutic act. Since James cannot deal with his own guilt and is stuck in an eternal purgatory of self-blame and violence, the only way to help him is, literally, "therapy for the dead". When Grace's spirit returns via Angelus and forgives James, he is able to get past his guilt and move on to the next life.

Go Fish

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 3 BtVS/season 4 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

The Metaphysics of "Go Fish"

The fish monsters are dark green bipedal fish-human hybrids with sharp teeth and scaly ridges across their heads. When a human (males only?) ingests a sufficient amount of a special steroid mixture, he essentially transforms into the monster beneath his human skin. When the monster is sufficiently developed, it breaks free of the skin and the higher cognitive abilities of the human apparently begin to go as well. The steroid mixture which transformed humans into fish monsters was developed from Soviet experiments using fish DNA. It didn't improve their Olympic swimmers, but it went overboard on the Hellmouth.

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Go Fish"

The fish monsters are non-rational predatory beasts not unlike Oz-wolf, but in this case the state is permanent. Their actions--killing or raping--are unacceptable and have to be stopped, but they are acting on mindless instinct and therefore are not evil as such. The real evil is the "win at all costs" system that encouraged Coach Marin to give the boys the steroid mixture and encouraged Principal Snyder to overlook the boy's academic failures. Athletic achievement is a good thing to be valued, but in this case, it was over-valued at the expense of other things of value: Buffy's reputation, the boy's academic careers, not to mention their human lives, and other priorities the school could have had if it didn't put money into the excess care and training of the swim team. This is an example of the human moral weaknesses of arrogance and pride: the over-valuing of one's self. In the end, the coach is a victim of his arrogance. When he tries to bean Xander with a gun, Buffy trips him and falls into the sewer with the monsters. She tries to keep the coach from dropping into, but he's soon monster meat anyway. Sexism: The quintessential drug of faux male power, steroids, turns young men into killing and (potentially raping) monsters. Buffy fends'm off, fine, and is rightfully miffed when the out-ofcontrol hormonal behavior of her swim-team date is blamed on her. But Cordelia's disturbing belittling of Xander in the episode sends the mixed message: "you ran like a woman" "why don't you go out and practice running like a man"? Stereotype much, Cordy? It wasn't Cordelia's macho expectations of Xander that turned him from wimp to hero in the second season of BtVS, it was his own reaction to the circumstances around him.

Ethical Quandaries in "Go Fish"

Go for "the win" even though it has the side effect of turning one's team into monsters? Nurse Greenleigh argues that the boys' lives are the paramount value. Winning swim meets is not as important as keeping the boys in their normal human form. What the Coach is doing is sacrificing individual players just so he can squeeze out a winning team.

Coach Marin sees the issue within the context of teams and winning. In his view, Nurse Greenleigh is "part of the team" and hence should support decisions which are best for the team. In his view, winning is the ultimate value, and anything that leads to winning is good, no matter what its side effects. Since Nurse Greenleigh chooses not to support his use of the steroid mixture, she is not supporting the team; she is a "quitter". Buffy lets them the fish-monsters go out to sea instead of killing them. This may because they used to be human and didn't ask for their fate (except for the mistake in judgment, taking the steroids), or because, out to sea, they won't harm any humans, or possibly both. Democracy vs. neo-fascism (or, Xander and Cordelia debate student athlete perks) Xander and Cordelia have an interesting exchange in Go Fish that illustrates the on-going tension between Xander's unrefined democratic-ness and Cordelia's haughty neo-fascism. When Willow reports that Principal Snyder asked her to change Gage's grade, Xander comes down clearly against it. In his mind, grades are a matter of merit, they must be earned through academic achievement. Cordelia responds that "certain people are entitled to special privileges. They're called winners." This neo-fascist principle implies a distribution of grades not simply according to academic achievement, but as rewards passed out based on other standards (like athletic achievement) which are irrelevant to academic ability. Her reason? "That's the way the world works." This is a classic example of the naturalistic fallacy--that what is implies what ought to be. This is a fallacy because one cannot move deductively from a factual statement about how the world is to a statement about what rules we should have. Xander responds with the quintessential statement of the principle of democracy in the United States: "And what about that nutty 'all men are created equal' thing?" Cordelia objects that those who are "not winners" invoke this principle, not because it is a correct principle, but only because it gives them the power that on her non-democratic standards they do not deserve. On her standards, they are "ugly" (by which she means more than lack of looks, but lack of athletic ability, etc, e.g., Lincoln) and therefore "less deserving." When Willow chimes in that Jefferson coined the principle of democracy Xander invoked, Cordelia responds with another fallacious argument (either Ad Hominem Circumstantial or Tuquoque)--since Jefferson kept slaves, whatever he says about equality and justice must be false. This may make Jefferson a hypocrite, but it does not make his statements false.

Becoming, Part 1 and 2

| Metaphysics | Evil | Moral ambiguity | Ethical Quandaries |

The Metaphysics of "Becoming"

| Whistler | Callings | The ritual of soul restoration | Acathla | Psychic powers | Timeline discrepancies |

Whistler

"Nobody understands me. That's my curse."

Whistler is a demon, but he is not "dedicated to the destruction of all life," as many other demons are. In B1, he calls Angel to join the forces of good. In B2, he tells Buffy how to stop Angelus and Acathla. He's a Watcher-type...guides people, but doesn't really interfere himself. Annoying, but I guess that's how it works: "In the end, all you have is yourself. That's the point" (Mircalla, Jan 3 20:01 1999). Callings: Whistler finds Angel derelict on the streets of Manhattan in 1996. He already knows he's dealing with a vampire with a human soul. He knows Angel "could go either way"--become a force for good or remain the same clueless loser for the rest of his un-life. When Whistler says to him, "I wanna know who you are," he is setting up Angel to make that choice. Whistler then takes Angel to witness something that he hopes will motivate the vamp to join the forces of good: Buffy's calling as a slayer. Moved by the young girl's struggle to accept her destiny, Angel asks to help her, to "become" someone worthy. Prophecy transpired? When Buffy confronts Whistler in Giles' apartment, Whistler tells her: "I figured this for Angel's big day. But I thought he was here to stop Acathla, not to bring him forth." This implies that there was a prophecy that Angel would stop Acathla. If there was such a prophecy, the events of B2 do not contradict it. Although Angel is only a tool in closing the mouth of Acathla, he did do it, albeit skewered on Buffy's sword.

In the Buffyverse prophecy has real weight, so I'm ASSuming that yes, Angel's course was to at least some extent preordained (which would explain why Whistler knew so much about him, too, come to think of it -- if the prophecy was at all detailed, Whistler didn't have to have been tailing Angel for long or using other means of information retrieval to know what had been going on with him, at least in a general way, post cursing) (Malista, May 26 03:34 1998).

Restoring Angel's Soul

The ritual of the undead (AKA the gypsy curse) Romania, 1898. The Elder Woman of gypsies sits beneath a tent canopy chanting over an Orb of Thessela within a sacred circle. Reda trupului ce separa omul de animal! Te implor Doamne, nu ignora aceasta rugaminte. Nici mort, nici al fiintei, te invoc, spirit al trecerii! Lasa orbita as fie vasul care-i va transporta sufleutul la el. Asa sa fie! Asa sa fie! Acum! Acum! Translation: Return to the body what distinguishes Man from the beast! I implore you Lord, do not ignore this request. Neither dead, nor of the living, I invoke you, spirit of the passing! Let this orb be the vessel that will carry his soul to him. So it shall be! So it shall be! Now! Now! The glowing Orb gets very bright for an instant, and then goes dark. Angelus' eyes glow briefly, then return to normal. The human soul has been restored to the body. At first, Angel does not remember anything--not the ether where his soul resided, not the 150 years of Angelus' reign. Slowly the "memories" come back to him, though, as he sits where Angelus fell, and he is devastated by them. Sunnydale, 1998. Willow has the Orb of Thessela nestled in a basket within a sacred circle surrounded by candles, bones and stones. She casts some stones onto the tray table above her hospital bed. Cordelia swirls incense in the air and Oz begins to read the Latin incantation. Willow does not get very far into the ritual before she weakens, becomes possessed and begins to chant in Romanian: Quod perditum est, invenietur. Translation: What is lost, return. Nici mort, nici al fiintei, Translation: Not dead, nor not of the living, Te invoc spirt al trecerii Translation: Spirits of the interregnum, I call. Te implor Doamne, nu ignora aceasta rugaminte! Translation: I call on you, God, do not ignore this supplication!

Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-i va transporta, sufletul la el. Translation: Let this Orb be the vessel that will carry his soul to him. Este scris, aceasta putere este dreptul poporuil meu de a conduce. Translation: It is written, this power is my people's right to wield. At this point, the orb begins to glow with the presence of Angel's soul. Asa sa fie! Asa sa fie! Acum! Acum! Translation: So it shall be! So it shall be! Now! Now! The glowing Orb suddenly gets very bright for an instant, and then goes dark. Angelus' eyes glow briefly, then return to normal. Angel's soul has been restored to the body again. It is not clear he ever remembers anything--not the ether where his soul resided, not the four-five months of Angelus' sadistic rampage--before Buffy sends him to hell. Who or what possessed Willow during the ritual? This question has never been answered. Was it "The Powers That Be"? Did Willow curse Angel when she re-souled him? Can Angel lose his soul again in a moment of happiness? Answering this question is vital in resolving two issues: (1) whether Angelus could ever get free and kill again, and (2) whether Angel can ever be with Buffy (or any other women he'd love) again. In Amends, the First Evil tries to tempt Angel with a seductive dream in which he makes love to Buffy and then tries to kill her. This is one indication that the clause still holds. Angel's evening of synthetic bliss is another. And his "perfect day" fantasy probably resolves the question once and for all. What Jenny researched and Willow cast was almost certainly a straight transliteration of the original curse. Willow and Jenny are not real witches... and probably did not have the skill and knowledge to create or modify an existing spell. Also, Willow would certainly have told Buffy and the others if she had altered the spell and made Angel "safe" (Edward, Dec 13 22:23 1998).

Acathla
Acathla is a stocky, horned demon dedicated to the destruction of all human life. His mouth is a dimensional portal between the Earthly plane and (a/the) demon dimension. His method of destruction is to "swallow the world"--literally, Acathla will take a breath that will create a vortex that pulls everything on planet Earth into the demon dimension. There, any non-demon life will suffer horrible and eternal torment (this seems to imply that life on Earth will be sucked into hell physically, but will not die in the demon dimension). The ritual to reawaken Acathla: Acathla was turned to stone by a virtuous knight who pierced the demon's heart with a sword before Acathla could draw a breath to suck the world into hell.

Acathla was buried near the Hellmouth (one wonders what sort of "knight" would have been in southern California in the ancient days referred to. He could have been a Native American warrior or a European or Polynesian explorer). The spell on this enchanted sword is basically this: as long as the sword remains in the demon, the demon is dormant. If the sword is pulled, the demon comes back to life. The sword can only be pulled by someone who has their own blood on their hands and performs the right ritual. Before Buffy arrives, Angelus speaks the following incantation: Acathla, Mundatus sum. Pro te necavi. Sanguinem meum pro te effundam quo me dignum esse demonstram. Translation: Acathla, I have been cleansed. I have kill before you. For you I will pour out my blood, by which I will show myself to be worthy. When Angelus finally gets the opportunity, he pulls the sword with his own blood on his hand, and the mouth of Acathla is opened. Closing the mouth of Acathla: Once the sword is pulled, only the blood and "life" (being physically pulled into hell) of the person who reawoke Acathla can make the demon dormant again. This reversal ritual necessitates that this individual's blood be drawn by a second sword. This sword also has mystic properties endowed upon it in a blessing given by the Knight who first slew the demon. Once Angelus pulled the sword, the reversal ritual was necessary. Buffy had to draw (the now souled) Angel's blood and send both him and the sword into Acathla's mouth in order to seal the vortex. Drusilla's powers: Human Drusilla had "pre-cognitive" gifts--she could "see things before they happen". Drusilla was a young cockney lass whose family were coal miners. She was Catholic and lived in London. She was not a gypsy (Joss, 3/15/00). The vampire Drusilla seems to sense Acathla's presence before he is brought to the mansion. It may simply be that she read about the tomb, and realized psychically that something evil was inside of it. She also reads Giles' mind by putting her hand on his head and make the torture-weary watcher think he is seeing and hearing his beloved Jenny. Giles then reveals to "Jenny" the key to opening the mouth of Acathla. Timeline discrepancies: In Halloween, Willow said Angel was still human in 1775, and in Becoming it shows him being vamped in 1753. Let me clear up this whole timeline confusion once and for all. People seem to be tripping over themselves and the explanation is really not all that complicated. So, for the record. I suck at math (joss, Oct 13 22:27 1998).

Angelus was sired in 1753. The tombstone of Liam of Galway puts his mortal birth at 1727 (The Prodigal). Vampires and choking

Evil in "Becoming"
In 1860, Angelus took an interest in the human Drusilla, tormenting the pious young woman by playing priest and condemning her psychic abilities as "evil". In 1998, he has his minions kidnap Giles, ostensibly so that the watcher can tell Angelus how the ritual to reawaken Acathla works. However, Angelus seems just as interested in torturing Giles. What we know of the torture: he binds Giles tightly to a chair until his arms are bleeding and breaks his fingers. Angelus' pre1898 evil Acathla: As a demon who wishes to destroy the Earthly plane as it is, Acathla represents evil-ascorruption. He provides the sure means to destroy all that is human and earthly.

Moral Ambiguity in "Becoming"

Liam (Angel), 1727-1753: B1 showed us ... a young man too little to do and too much time in which to do it; a stereotypical scion of the minor gentry who was bored and frustrated at home (and I can't blame him. My great-grandfather Pete came from the Galway area: he always said it was "A nice place to be from."), got drunk with his friends (Woo! An Irishman getting drunk! Shocking!), and liked to flirt with a pretty girl (Taster's Choice, Jun 9 10:50 1998). I didn't think that Angel drank from Darla on his own. Angel was weakened by the bite that Darla inflicted and she pulled his mouth to the wound she made on her breast. Just like in the story of Dracula, the mouth was pushed against the vampires wound so that the victim had to drink as the victim had to breathe. As the victim sucked in air, so did the victim sucked in blood of the vampire. Angel had no choice (gazoo, Jun 3 22:00 1999). More on Liam and the siring of Angelus Spike: When Buffy is running from the law, Spike becomes the surprising ally who prevents her capture. He then puts up the "white flag"--not of surrender, but of compromise--a temporary truce between vampire and slayer. Buffy is skeptical of course, given all the times in the past he has tried to destroy her, but Spike's motives are not all that hard to understand. He wants to get Drusilla away from Angelus and Sunnydale, and he prefers the world as it is, with the Earthly pleasures that only humans can provide: dog racing, the Manchester United Football Club, and four billion "happy meals with legs". Buffy wants to save the Earth as well, but, as Spike points out, neither of them can fight Drusilla and Angelus alone. In return for

Buffy's help, Spike agrees to keep Giles alive and help Buffy defeat Angelus when the time comes. Highlights of Spike's moral ambiguity:

forgetting himself and trying to kill a cop right in front of Buffy. helping Buffy kill the vamp that attacked Joyce. This was in his self-interest, since it was probably a spy for Angelus. very awkwardly but politely making small-talk with Joyce while waiting to go into his summit meeting with Buffy. But what small-talk it was, reminding Joyce that she had to save her daughter from him in School Hard. showing obvious delight in the fact that Dru killed Kendra, a slayer and Buffy's friend. saving Giles from being chain-sawed to death by Angelus, keeping his deal with Buffy. getting up out of his wheelchair and hitting Angelus in the back with an andiron. This was meant to help Buffy get the upper hand, of course, but was no doubt something Spike had wanted to do for months. leaving Buffy in the hands of Angelus once he had Drusilla, even though this meant the Earth would probably be sucked into hell.

Joyce has apparently washed blood out of Buffy's clothes on more than one occasion. When Detective Stein asks her, "Your daughter has a history of violence. Doesn't she, Ms. Summers?", Joyce can't deny it. But when Buffy reveals she's the slayer, Joyce's only response is to demand that she stop. Joyce's weakest moment throwing Buffy out of the house in B2 (even though she didn't mean it) (aardwolfe, Dec 20 22:33 1998). Should Joyce have been told before now? The corrupt Principal Snyder

Ethical Quandaries in "Becoming"

Was it wrong for Buffy to take so long eliminating Angelus? She sure did. What happened to Angel really wasn't any different from what happens when anyone else is turned into a vampire. Remember that speech Giles gave Xander about Jesse after he became a vampire? If Xander and Willow's best friend doesn't deserve preferential treatment, why should Angel? Buffy is indirectly responsible for every person Angel killed after "Innocence" (Odin, 22 Jan 1999 14:24) Right and wrong have nothing to do with it. She didn't choose to let him live and then choose to kill him. It was not an ethical dilemma, but a mental and emotional block. She just wasn't ready, nothing that happened or anything anyone said or what she thought could made her able to kill Angel, or even speed up the process. She had lost someone who she loved. And as anyone who has lost someone will tell you, it takes time before you can let them go. Perhaps it would have been better if she had been able to kill him sonner, but is she wrong for that? No, just human. (Kay 4 Jan 1999 17:05) Should Angelus be killed or cured?

When Willow and Buffy tell the gang that they found the curse to restore Angel's soul, and Willow claims to be able to get it to work, it sets off a heated debate about the wisdom of doing so. Killed: Giles is concerned about Willow putting herself in danger by channeling the mystical powers required through herself. This in itself isn't an argument for not curing Angel, but they have very few alternatives at this juncture. Xander believes that killing Angelus is paramount. He sees attempting to restore Angel's soul as "forgiving" him for killing Ms. Calendar, in the same way that some people see sending deranged murderers (e.g., John Hinkley, jr.) to mental hospitals for rehabilitation as an inadequate punishment. Is souled Angel responsible for Jenny's death? Cured: Giles argues that curing Angelus might be a way to honor Ms. Calendar, since she was attempting to cure Angelus before she died. Buffy argues that since Angel wasn't at fault for turning into Angelus, he should be given another chance at life. In arguing this way, she is implying that Ms. Calendar's death is also not souled Angel's fault. Xander disagrees with this implication. He also sees Buffy's argument as motivated by the desire to get her boyfriend back, a selfish desire given the circumstances. This is a fallacious ad hominem argument on Xander's part. Even if Buffy's argument is solely motivated by her desire to get her boyfriend back, that in itself is not an argument against Angel's re-souling. That must rest on the consequences of the re-souling and whether Angel himself deserves it. The Relationship of Angel and Angelus Xander: Now, that's a new look for you. Buffy: (lifts her sword) It's a present for Angel. Xander: Willow. Uh, she told me to tell you... Buffy: Tell me what? Xander: Kick his ass.

Xander's Lie

Xander never made it a secret that he disdained Buffy's vampire boyfriend--for being a vampire, for being Buffy's boyfriend, and for the perverse juxtaposition of the two. When Angelus returned, Xander saw his hostility as vindicated. He was dead set against giving the sadistic vampire back his soul, and he made his feelings clear--to attempt to the curse would be "forgiving" Angelus for killing their teacher and friend, Ms. Calendar. So when Xander failed to tell Buffy that Willow was going to attempt to restore Angel's soul in lieu of Buffy's killing

Angelus, fans were divided about Xander's motives: was he supporting Buffy's resolve, or was it a final act of jealousy? Xander's motives were selfish I think the outcome might have been very different if Buffy had known that Willow was going to try the curse again - she might have made a greater effort to keep Angel away from the statue, even if it meant turning her back on the other vampire briefly (aardwolfe, May 25 10:02 1998). Joss uses character history throughout. And if anyone appreciates that Joss is an artistic master of mythopoeic construct, I do. It is for that very reason that I am absolutly certain that Xander was not motivated by a desire to protect Buffy from Angelus. Joss does not set that up in any way, shape or form, as the motive. Joss does, repeatedly and in detail, set up Xander's opionion that Angel should die, as the motive that keeps him from telling Buffy what she needs to know (Margot, Jun 9 12:42 1998). Xander's motives were good Xander did not know that Angel would pull the sword before Buffy could get to him. So he can't be held responsible for the fact that Buffy had no choice in stabbing him. What Xander did know is that Buffy repeatedly had stopped short of killing Angel, and people had been killed. This time, however, it was the whole world at stake and Buffy had resolved herself to doing it. Telling her about the spell would have made her hesitate, and she would fail. Xander did the right thing (Laurence, Dec 10 19:40 1998). Even if he had told Buffy what was going on it wouldn't have helped, only hurt. Buffy would have still been too late to stop Angelus from pulling out the sword. Plus, she may have waited too long to stab him in the hopes that the spell would take affect. Since we don't know how long it takes Acathla to reach full power, it was essential that Buffy close him as soon as possible. Any delay, for whatever reason, may have been disastrous. I just wish Willow had been a little slower so that Buffy could have sent Angelus instead of Angel to Hell. With no soul, he may still be there yet (CharlieX, Dec 10 19:20 1998). I'm not seeing that Xander's lack of info-sharing with Buffy in B2 can be perceived as a moment of moral weakness. ...I think it was rather courageous. His priority was the fate of the world, I don't even consider his feelings for Buffy to be part of it. Really, how effective could she have been if she was waiting around for the spell to possibly work during her fight w/ Angelus? The spell was not a definite thing, and if I were in the Buffyverse, I, for one, would not want the fate of the world being thrust aside while one teenage girl hopes her ex-boyfriend will gain some sense and stop trying to turn her into a shishkebob while they're in the middle of a swordfight. She needed to focus on the big picture - the fate of the world, and Xander knew it. As Willow once said - When it comes to Angel, Buffy can't see straight. So Xander did what had to be done (Monique, Dec 20 20:35 1998).

The Xander betrayal issue... hasn't come up with us, and here's why. Xander made a decision. Like a general going into battle, he had to keep Buffy's fighting spirit strong and he felt telling her the truth would blunt it. And Angel needed to be stopped. It was a tough decision, and an unpopular one, but I'm not sure it wasn't the right one. I'm on the fence, and that's what makes it FUN! So there (joss, Oct 20 21:42 1998).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Season 3

Anne Revelations

Dead Man's Party

Faith, Hope & Trick

Beauty and the Beasts

Homecoming

Band Candy

Anne
The Metaphysics of "Anne"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 4 BtVS/season 4 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

Ken and his cronies are demons who inhabit one of the many demon dimensions. They have ravaged-looking skin and no hair on their heads. While entirely evil, the demons do not seem exceptionally flexible, and this is their flaw. Ken has come to expect humans not to fight back, and so he is easily vanquished by Buffy and Lily when they do. The demon dimensions: A homeless girl, Lily, falls through the thin membrane (a small rectangular pool filled with a black liquid that resembles tar) that separates our world from Ken's dimension. When Buffy attacks Ken, she falls in with him as well. This membrane is easily passed through, no doubt made that way (somehow) by the demons themselves. Why does the portal close up after the teens leave? Perhaps the demons below were cutting their losses, at least for the moment. Accelerating the aging process: Ken's victims actually age in the normal way--time passes, they get old. But because time moves faster in Ken's demon dimension than on Earth, several decades can pass in the demon dimension while only a day has passed on Earth. Hence, you can be 17 years old on Tuesday morning, September 29, 1998 when you fall through the portal, pass seventy years in the demon dimension, and reemerge back on Earth at the age of 87 on Tuesday evening, September 29, 1998 (Ken states specifically that the difference for his realm is 100 demon dimension years/to 1 Earth day.)

Psychic dream? It is unclear that Buffy's dream of Angel on the beach indicates anything except Buffy missing the souled vamp she sent to hell three months before, with one exception. In the dream, Angel says, "Forever. That's the whole point." Later, in the diner, Rickie says to Lily, "Yeah, forever. I mean, that's the whole point."

Good and Evil in "Anne"

Ken is masquerading on the earthly plane as the operator of a local homeless shelter, The Family Home. Teens with no other place to go are enticed into the shelter with promises of love and belonging. Once there, he kidnaps them and puts them to work in a factory that is part of his dimension. This factory is a classic nineteenth or twentieth century vision of hell--endless physical labor amidst the heat and noise of a factory whose purpose is totally unknown to you. Ken hides his demon identity while on Earth by gluing on a mask and wig. His evil is illustrated most poignantly by the speech he gives Buffy when they first run into each other, apparently sympathetic, but full of double meaning: This is not a good place for a kid to be. You get old fast here. The thing that drains the life out of them is despair. I mean, kids come here, and they got nothing to go home to, and... this ends up being the last stop for a lot of them. Shouldn't have to be that way. Similarly chilly is his line to Lily when he meets her for the first time: "But hope is a real thing, just like despair. And hope can fill up a part of you that's missing." Ken knows the hideous psychology of what he is doing. Ken's demon dimension is a good example of evil-as-order. Humans are forced into the highly disciplined life of factory slaves, stripped of their humanity and individuality. After they are released from hell, the now-elderly victims have no memory of their previous lives on Earth. For example, the homeless man who rudely pushes his way between Lily and Buffy was, in fact, Rickie, Lily's lover, but he shows no recognition of her. Ken's victims are also completely devoid of self-worth (evidenced by their repeated, "I'm no one."). The older Rickie seems instead intent on suicide, first throwing himself in front of a car (Buffy pushes him out of the way), then swallowing a bottle of drain cleaner. When the blood bank nurse screens the donor blood, she notes which teens are healthy and passes this information on to Ken. The morality of the nurse's actions does not depend on how much she knows about what Ken's purposes are; she seems to not want to know a lot about it--as if she suspects he is up to no good. Nevertheless, she continues to help him. We are not told if there is any compensation to her, in which case her sin might be greed. She may likely fear Ken, in which case she is putting her own survival ahead of the teens (selfishness). Poetic justice "I'm Buffy. The Vampire Slayer. And you are?" Buffy used her identity as the slayer to foil Ken and his cohorts, whose modus operandi was to strip their victims of their identity.

Undefeated evil: The dimensional portal closed up after Buffy and the others escaped. That was the demon's doing. But What happened to those individuals/slaves who did not escape with Buffy.... Are they doomed to work in that alternate world until they die? (Cleio, Mar 14 21:50 1999)

Moral Ambiguity in "Anne"

Lily: Chanterelle, one of the gullible members of the vampire wanna-be cult, ran away to the city and changed her name to "Lily". Lily is just as weak as she ever was. We are meant to simultaneously feel sorry for her and to not feel sorry for her. She has learned dependence as a way of life and it is a hard habit to break. But like Buffy, we rapidly lose patience with it, asking her to stand on her own. Lily takes a step towards this when she throws Ken off the scaffolding. To even conceive of taking advantage of the situation (being alone behind Ken on the scaffolding) requires thinking of ones' self as independent. No doubt having Buffy put her in charge of the others was empowering, but she takes that power at that moment. Later she cements this change by taking over Buffy's alias, Anne.

Ethical Quandaries in "Anne"

Was it right for Giles and Buffy to have kept Buffy's slayer identity from her mother? Joyce blames Giles for Buffy leaving town, accusing him of influencing and guiding her (i.e., playing a parental role) behind her back. Giles' only defense is that he is doing his duty as a watcher, guiding the slayer, who happens to be Buffy. Joyce shouldn't know The main argument for keeping Joyce in the dark comes out in WttH and Passion--if Buffy's identity as a slayer is revealed, it could put those around her in danger. Joyce in particular is a target because she is the only member of the slayer's family living in Sunnydale. And, in fact, Joyce has been in danger a few times: e.g., when Angelus approached her in Passion, trying to get in the Summers' house. The problem with this argument is that it is really an argument for why other people besides Joyce should not know Buffy is the slayer. If others know, they might put Joyce in danger. It has never been a good argument for why Joyce shouldn't know that Buffy is the slayer. The best argument against Joyce knowing is Joyce's reaction itself. As long as she doesn't know Buffy is the slayer, she can give her daughter the close-to-normal home life a teen-aged girl needs. Once Joyce found out, however, she had to deal with her daughter being in constant danger and the good odds of her daughter's early death. The dark forces Buffy fights never seem to have any trouble identifying her or her friends and family and have often used them to get to her. If those who are close to her are unaware of the danger they face, as Joyce was in Passion, they will be more likely to fall foul to the demon's

plots and harm Buffy and be harmed as a result. ...Having said that... I believe it was Buffy's prerogative to tell Joyce or to keep her ignorant. She's a girl under incredible pressure, if she wishes to preserve some semblance of normalcy in her life by trying to have a non-supernatural home life then she should have that right. But ...she should also bear the consequences of her decision to lie (Vox, Nov 3, 1999). Full text of this argument on Vox's Website Joyce should know Parents are responsible for their children. Prior to "Helpless", Buffy was underage. Her mother was therefore legally responsible for her, but she lacked important information. From Joyce's point of view, Buffy was simply a teen-aged girl with unusually violent tendencies (although Joyce often chose to ignore this fact). It can be argued that Joyce had a right to know (as a loving parent) about the constant danger Buffy is in and the (very legitimate) reasons for her violent behavior.

Philosophies Represented in "Anne"

Marxist subtext: The dark satanic mill is ruled over by demonic managers who use religion to enslave young people, suppressing their identities and using them up until it spits them out, old and broken down. The revolution is led by one who asserts her identity (class consciousness, anyone?), wielding a hammer and sickle. Slayers of the world, unite! (Jim L. Baird, 02:44 pm Jun 15, 1999). The hammer and sickle were not intentional, but I too noticed the imagery when I saw them and was most pleased (joss, Oct 3 23:25 1998). Is Buffy an existential character?

Dead Man's Party

The Metaphysics of "Dead Man's Party"
Zombies: In the Buffyverse, zombies are the animated corpses of dead animals or humans that do not appear to have any will of their own. These zombies simply seek out the mask of Ovu Mobani, killing anyone who gets in their way. They aren't easily disabled, since they are already dead. Ovu Mobani ("Evil Eye") is a demon who inhabits a Nigerian mask. The wooden mask has long, pointed teeth and no jaw. From inside the mask, Ovu Mobani sends out some sort of mystic

signal which raises the zombies. The first zombie to reach the mask puts it on. The mask integrates itself into the zombie's face, allowing the demon to possess the body. As Giles explains, the power of the demon lies in its eyes. It is able to paralyze a living person who is looking directly at it with a flashing light that emanates from its stare, immobilizing them until it can kill them. Willow's emerging witchhood

Evil in "Dead Man's Party"

Ovu Mobani's raison d'tre seems to be to cause mayhem. Its power creates a whole army of killer zombies, and once Pat dons the mask, her only goal is more random killing which doesn't seem to serve any practical function for the demon.

Ethical Quandaries in "Dead Man's Party"

Was Buffy wrong to leave Sunnydale? Buffy has been gone all summer without telling her friends and mother where she went. The Scooby Gang has had to take over her slayer duties. They know she was wanted for Kendra's murder (and isn't anymore), they know she was kicked out of school (and still is), they know she saved the world from Acathla and Angelus, but they do not know that Angel got his soul back before Buffy sent him to hell. Most of the argument that ensues is emotional and doesn't get anywhere. The central point that Joyce, Willow, and Xander each convey is the emotional turmoil that Buffy put them through:

Joyce was worried sick not knowing where Buffy was. Willow was angry at Buffy for not having someone to talk to about the changes that took place in her own life over the summer: her increasing closeness to Oz, her witchcraft studies, and the necessity of slaying vampires. Xander's reaction was disappointment that the slayer he admires could be selfish, abandoning her duties over personal issues.

Buffy's response should have been to tell them what happened during her confrontation with Angel(us), but she was not ready to talk about it. Instead, she makes vague references to "what she was going through" and how they "have no idea" what she was feeling. Xander points out that her feelings, whatever they were, did not justify her leaving; she could have talked to someone, and he may be right. Although Buffy would probably not have garnered sympathy from Xander or Giles, Willow may have empathized with her having to send her boyfriend to hell. Cordelia, of course, had her own special way of chiming in.

Everyone's got a valid perspective and a real block about seeing other people's. Such is life. Nobody's totally right (joss, Oct 6 21:54 1998). ...I hope you all benefitted from the message: VIOLENCE SOLVES WHAT TALKING WON'T. That's something we can all learn from, dontchya think? (joss, Oct 6 21:45 1998).

Faith, Hope, & Trick

The Metaphysics of "Faith, Hope, and Trick"
Buffy's psychic dream is primarily an expression of her guilt over sending Angel to hell, since Angel's angry reaction to her deed in the dream does not foretell his actual reaction after he returns. However, when Buffy tries to take his hand and the claddagh ring falls off her finger to the floor, it does foreshadow two subsequent events in the episode: 1. when Buffy receives a claddagh ring as a gift from Scott, she reacts strongly to it and drops the box it is in. The ring falls free and hits the floor with a clinking sound that resembles the sound her ring made in her dream. 2. later in the episode, Buffy goes to the spot in the Garden Mansion where Acathla sucked Angel into hell on her sword. She sets her own claddagh ring (a gift from Angel in Surprise) on the floor at that spot. What force caused Angel to return from Hell? Three possibilities present themselves: 1. Buffy's claddagh ring. Buffy's visit to the Garden Mansion is definitely a psychological ritual--the first step in letting go of a loved one so that she can move on in life. Its significance as a mystic ritual remains an open question. A moment after she leaves the Mansion, a bright beam of light illuminates the ring on the floor, and grows more intense. The ring begins to vibrate against the marble. With a flash, a dimensional portal opens above the ring and Angel falls through onto the floor, naked and disoriented. 2. the only mystical force which has taken credit is the First Evil in Amends. 3. The Powers That Be: In Blind Date, a prophecy implies that Angel has a duty to the Forces of Good, even a destiny. The PTB's therefore have an interest in and the power to bring Angel back. Giles on life in the demon dimensions Vampires and age: Although vampires are immortal, they do change as they get older. Kakistos was OLD, that causes the clovenness. Remember the Master? He looked like a bat -- a LOT like a bat (with fruitpunch mouth). the idea is that the older they get, the more animalistic -- but not necessarily the same animal. They devolve. That's my theory (joss, Oct 13 21:34 1998).

Why didn't this effect Angel's looks after all those years in hell? He was not in hell long enough: As for demon dimensions, the one Buffy was in was NOT the one angel was in, time moves differently in each (joss, Nov 18 22:30 1998). So why did the Master's skeleton get left behind, while Kakistos' wasn't? Unknown. The invitation to vampires The meaning of "five by five" The "Five by Five" comes from military radio operators who used the phrase to tell the person they were talking to how well they were coming in. There was a five point scale in two categories, strength of signal and clarity of transmission. A strong, clear signal was coming in "Five by Five", lesser signals would be judged with lesser numbers. Radio operators and other servicemen picked up the phrase to represent generally good circumstances. So when Faith says everything is "Five by Five", things must be, by her standards at least, going great (Hugin, Feb 24 12:11 2000). The "spell" to bind the mouth of Acathla was a ruse by Giles to get Buffy to own up about sending the souled Angel to hell. It was not a real spell. Multiple slayers

Evil in "Faith, Hope, and Trick"

Kakistos seems primarily interested in bloody revenge on Faith for a wound she gave him. There is little point in this except his own emotional satisfaction. Killing a slayer will only produce another one. Mr. Trick's predatory evil

Moral Ambiguity in "Faith, Hope, and Trick"

A new slayer in town: Faith's talk is full of bravado, sexual innuendo, and tall tales. She comes on to Giles and enjoys killing vampires a little too much. After she beats on a vampire while Buffy is pinned down, Buffy remarks to Giles, "The girl needs help." What is known about Faith:

She's from Boston. She had a drunk, neglectful mother and her childhood was often unhappy (Enemies), although not always so (G1). The vampire Kakistos gave Faith's first watcher a grisly death with Faith unable to stop him. In FH&T, she finally killed him.

More on the morally ambiguous Faith Buffy vs. Faith

Beauty and the Beasts

The Metaphysics of "Beauty and the Beasts"
Human monsters: Pete is a high school boy with some knowledge of biochemistry. It is not clear he knows anything about the black arts; he could have simply put together a mixture of hormones, steroids, or other drugs that induce violence, and the Hellmouth completed his transformation. At the time we meet Pete, however, not even the chemicals are necessary anymore; Pete's own violent nature and a little bit o' Hellmouth turn him into the "Hyde" persona spontaneously, whenever his anger makes the extra strength and aggressiveness it provides him tempting. The skin on his face and neck begin to thicken, and his veins bulge out. In this state, Pete has mas macho super-strength than even Ozwolf has. He is able to pull the door off the cage in the library, for example (VampWillow and hyena'd Xander couldn't do this either, although Eyghon could). Angel's return "Call of the Wild" ...the choice of story was far from incidental. ...it's about a dog who is brought up living a pampered life of luxury at an estate in California until, one day, he is kidnapped by an unscrupulous servant, shipped to the Yukon, and sold as a sled dog. He has to learn very quickly that everything he's learned up to that point about honour, chivalry, and regular feedings have to be abandoned in favour of pure survival. ...he's torn overnight from a fool's paradise and forced to grow up or die, in the real world, where a single mistake means death (aardwolfe (Nov 23 15:19 1998). In the Garden Mansion, Buffy finds a silhouette of scorch marks on the floor shaped like a man and deduces that this is the place where Angel was returned to the Earthly plane. When she questions Giles about the "possibility" of Angel returning, he tells her that there is no record of anyone returning from a demon dimension once the portal was closed. This implies that whatever brought Angel back was no ordinary mechanism of dimensional travel. Giles tells Buffy that the demon dimensions are a world of brutal torment for those with human souls, in which time moves at a different rate than on the Earthly plane. In other words, Angel has suffered one hundred years of torture (in Deep Down, Angel explicitly states it was one hundred years). Psychological studies of prisoners of war and abused children have revealed that many people do not ever recover from such trauma--they remain withdrawn and animalistic, without a sense of self, rational thought, or a normal range of human emotions. And at first, Angel goes between growling at Buffy and cowering like a trapped animal before her.

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Beauty and the Beasts"

There was Oz - a nice guy who's capable of violence, knows it, and so takes special precautions to prevent it from happening. Angel, a monster who, in Giles' words, "wants to be redeemed". And there's Pete, who, even when he regains his senses, still blames his actions on his victim (aardwolfe, Nov 10 13:54 1998). The feminist message in B&tB isn't Faith's anti-male "all men are beasts, Buffy." It's a powerful message about the contrasting attitudes of three particular men towards their own beastliness. We see Oz struggle with the possibility that he may have killed a human being, even though if he had (he didn't), it would have been in a non-rational werewolf state he couldn't control. However, when changing into Oz-wolf gives Oz the ability to do things that he as a human finds morally acceptable--such as fighting Pete (or saving Willow from Veruca)--Oz's attitude changes. The Oz vs. Oz-wolf ambiguity is also played on when Willow refers to her boyfriend as "cold-blooded". The moral ambiguity inherent in using the name "Angel" when discussing the deeds of the demon Angelus are played up in Buffy's conversation with the school psychologist, Mr. Platt. Buffy has to talk to the psychologist to be let back in school; but when he asks her about the events that led to her running away, Buffy can't tell him the truth about her vampire boyfriend. As a result, she talks about Angel and Angelus as if they were the same person--a good man she loved who "changed" and "got mean" but that she didn't stop loving. The problem with this is that while Buffy found it hard to kill the demon with her boyfriend's face, she didn't love Angelus. Pete's misguided decision to use chemicals to turn himself into a more "macho" man reflects the classic human sin of pride. Debbie no doubt found strong, assertive men attractive. But she didn't want what she got, a jealous, insecure abuser who hit her and demeaned her. Debbie is depicted as (1) co-dependent--she "enables" Pete's violence by accepting it, covering for it, and making excuses for it, and (2) weak--willing to accept such evil in exchange for security and freedom from choice. Debbie lives for the moments when Pete is doting, non-violent, and charming; but she can never win. Fan thoughts on BtVS's depiction of domestic violence

Ethical Quandaries in "Beauty and the Beasts"

Who is morally responsible for the "beast's" behavior? In my experience, there are two types of monster. The first can be redeemed, or more importantly, wants to be redeemed. The second is void of humanity, cannot respond to reason... or love. -- Giles The story line of B&tB begs a comparison between three couples--Pete and Debbie, Angel and Buffy, and Oz and Willow. Nevertheless, the situations are not analogous in the following sense: Angel could not control the brutal deeds done by Angelus when his soul was not even in the body, and Oz cannot control Ozwolf because human Oz is not even consciously aware during the period he is transformed.

Pete, however, is still Pete, whether he is normal or transformed--he is fully conscious from one moment to the next during his transformation. The fact that he no longer needs the green fluid means he is allowing his anger to trigger the effect in him. Before that, his conscious decision to drink the fluid was a choice to trigger the effect. Pete is morally responsible for the deaths he caused. If Oz-wolf had killed Jeff Orkin after taking every precaution in his human state to prevent Oz-wolf's escape, human Oz himself could not have been held morally responsible for Oz-wolf's deeds. This does not mean that we are not justified in locking Oz up or even killing him to prevent Ozwolf's deeds, all it means is that this incarceration or death could not be construed as "punishing" human Oz for his "actions." A similar conclusion is drawn for souled Angel in Revelations.

Homecoming
The Metaphysics of "Homecoming"
Kulak of the Miquot Clan is a yellow-skinned demon with spiny ridges on top of his head and long, serrated, green darts in his forearms. He meets his end from the Gruenstahlers' grenade.

Evil in "Homecoming"
The Mayor has many of the vampires in town in his hip pocket. When he finds out Mr. Trick is in town, he pulls him in without a warrant, delights in his "enterprising" idea to kill the slayers, and drafts him to serve his own purposes. Mr. Trick's downfall Frederick and Hans Gruenstahler are human terrorists from Germany wanted for murder and the bombing of a passenger jet. The Gruenstahlers' boss is an wheelchair-bound computer expert who tracks Buffy and Cordelia's movements for his hit men using the girl's corsages. Jungle Bob is a frontiersman also out to take the slayer's lives. Each of these human baddies is somewhat two dimensional, so we can only speculate about their motives (see also Earshot).

Moral Ambiguity in "Homecoming"

When Buffy's new boyfriend sends her a dump-o-gram, her favorite teacher doesn't remember her, and Cordelia fails to tell her about yearbook pictures, Buffy begins to feel like the invisible girl. She lets her "quality rage" get the most of her and decides to reclaim her past glories at Hemery High when she was a normal, popular girl and not a slayer. Buffy gets in a name-calling cat fight with Cordelia and guilt-trips Willow with the number of times that she's saved her life. Even though it's the ultimate favor you can do someone, Buffy never saved Willow expecting pay-back, and she shouldn't ask for it now. The Buffy-Cordy showdown was female competition

reduced to the nastiest form of cat-fighting. In the end, Trick's trick forced them to cooperate. Which is just as well. The evil-fighting activities of both Buffy and Cordelia took them off the popularity list a long time ago. Buffy's human body count: When Buffy determines that the corsages are wired to the Germans' computer system, she comes up with a plan to get the two humans to kill each other. She uses wet toilet paper to attach the tracers to one of the brothers. When his twin shoots at him, he shoots back, and they are goners.

Ethical Quandaries in "Homecoming"

Were Willow and Xander wrong to give into the "clothes fluke"?

Band Candy
The Metaphysics of "Band Candy"
Lurconis, which means "glutton", is a snake-like demon who lives in the sewers. No doubt the Mayor promised to give this demon his "tribute" (ritual feedings, much like Machida in Reptile Boy) in exchange for power. Every thirty years, Lurconis emerges and is given human babies to feed on. The ritual feeding of Lurconis: Four vampires dressed in red robes chant in Latin, standing amidst torches and candles by a small concrete pool in the sewer. One of them steps down with a bowl of water from the pool and anoints four babies stolen from the hospital maternity ward. The ritual is never finished, because Buffy slays the demon before he has a chance to feed. Cursed candy? The only evidence we have that the Milkbars are cursed is Buffy's say-so. She comes to this conclusion after linking the candy to the adult's irresponsible behavior. The gang in the library never come up with anything concrete about the candy before they begin to investigate Lurconis. But let's assume the candy has been cursed. The most likely suspect for the performing the spell would be Ethan Rayne, who is in charge of the distribution operation. The candy bars cause those who eat them to behave like irresponsible adolescents and seem to be addictive, although whether this is from an additional ingredient or the "young feeling" they provide isn't clear. Another thing which isn't clear is whether the adults are simply acting like irresponsible adolescents in general, or whether each is showing his or her own teen-aged persona at its worst. Since we do not know much about the teen-aged years of any of the adult characters on the show, this is hard to judge. Giles said in The Dark Age that he went through a period of rebellion from his calling as a watcher at the age of 21, and we know from the same episode that he was in a band. In B2, Principal Snyder admitted to having no dates in high school, which is consistent with the geeky hanger-on personality he displays. However, the drug also takes away their sense

of responsibility. While irresponsibility is part of the teen-aged persona, as Willow points out, it is not typical of all teenagers. But it is necessary here in order to make sure that the adults don't feel any obligation to protect their homes and their children.

Evil in "Band Candy"

The Mayor has been covering up the weird events of the town for many, many years, so that people wouldn't move out. No wonder he sicced (sic?) Snyder on Buffy. Not only was Buffy taking out demons, her activities at the high school were calling attention to the strange events of the town. A big bad for the Mayor and his plan (Mircalla, Mar 18 22:16 1999). Evil as chaos: Once again, Ethan Rayne is in Sunnydale spreading mayhem. Lurconis seems mainly interested in feeding. He would have ate the babies, and did eat one of the vampires before Buffy sent him to a flamey death with an exposed gas pipe that has started to burn.

Moral Ambiguity in "Band Candy"

When Giles' personality reverts back to the age of 16, we find a juvenile delinquent who uses rock 'n' roll, crime (breaking into a clothing store), sex (doing it with Buffy's mother, on the hood of a police car, twice), and violence (beating up a police man, almost shooting Ethan with his stolen gun) to get his kicks. Snyder (one word, like "Barbarino") eagerly tags along with the gang--whom he has no respect for in his normal state--as they fight evil. Although he is under the influence, his behavior implies that he is rather clueless about the depth of evil he is part of; he helps Buffy fight the Mayor's plan in his own ineffectual way. Still, there is a lot Snyder does seem to know. When he talks about how the candy got distributed, he says, "It came through the school board. If you knew that crowd..." He obviously does not know she's the force for good in town, although this should have made him a bit wiser about her (it doesn't). He was the kid that everybody was constantly trying to ditch. He was the nerd who was eager to be friends with everybody and was constantly snubbed. And that made it clear how he became the child-hating martinet that we had so much fun with (Joss Whedon March 15, 2000). The moral ambiguity of the Mayor

Revelations
The Metaphysics of "Revelations"

Lagos, a warrior demon who keeps a battle-ax on his back, arrives in Sunnydale looking for the Glove of Myhnegon. The Glove of Myhnegon is a ghoulish clawed hand of metal and leather with steel clamps that pierce the forearm of whoever wears it. Presumably of Gaelic origin, once someone puts it on, it can never be removed. The glove acts something like a laser pistol. It gathers energy from lightening, stores it, then sends it out in a bolt towards its target. Gwendolyn Post extends her gloved arm above her toward the skylight in the Garden Mansion and recites the Gaelic incantation that will invoke the power of the glove: Tauo huogan maqachte milegaing! Translation: Be mine, the power of Myhnegon! Up in the sky above the mansion, lightning and thunder begin. Gwendolyn calls power from the glove: Tauo freim! Translation: Be free! A bolt of lightning smashes through the skylight and strikes the glove. Now the glove has the power of the lightening within it, and Mrs. Post uses it to strike out at Willow, Buffy, and Faith: "Tauo freim!" The power of the glove is controlled by the person as long as they are wearing it. When Buffy severs Gwendolyn's arm, removing the glove from her body, she is no longer in control of the lightening which has been "fueling" the glove. The lightening strikes her in the eyes and chest, vaporizing her.

The Spell to Destroy the Glove of Myhnegon: To "immolate" means to burn in sacrifice, much like ancient cultures would offer up an animal or human for sacrifice. The glove is burnt with a "Living Flame"--a fire that has been fed by various powders (the "catalyst"). We see the spell being performed by Angel. He prepares the catalyst and tosses it into the flames, saying: Exorere, Flamma Vitae. Prodi ex loco tuo elementorum, in hunc mundum vivorum. Translation: Arise, Flame of Life. Come forth from your place of the elements, into this world of the living.

Good, Evil, and Moral Ambiguity in "Revelations"

Gwendolyn Post (Mrs.) comes to Sunnydale claiming to be Faith's new watcher and a representative of the Watcher's council sent to report back on the situation in Sunnydale. In reality, she was kicked off the Council two years earlier for misuses of dark power and is now after the power of the Glove of Myhnegon. To get it before Logos does, she intimidates Giles

and later assaults him; she captures the trust of an initially hostile Faith and at the key moment, convinces Faith to continue to fight Buffy instead of listening to what Buffy has to say about Angel. This distracts both slayers long enough for Gwen to don the glove. Her evil is a greed for power obtained by deception. In the end, evil Gwendolyn Post is struck by the very lightening she used to give her deadly power. Angel may be on the good guy's side while Mrs. Post isn't, but what's with him batting her around like a rag doll after her unsuccessful attempt to kill him to get the Glove of Myhnegon? Willow is ready to accept him again after he saves her from Mrs. Post's attack, but he is going to have to earn back the trust of the others. The morally ambiguous Faith Buffy vs. Faith

Ethical Quandaries in "Revelations"

Was Buffy wrong to keep Angel's return a secret? After his return from hell, Buffy hides Angel in the Garden Mansion and keeps Angel's return a secret from her friends. She lies to Willow and Giles about "putting in mom time" and to her mother about slaying and studying with Giles, then goes to see Angel. Although Buffy lets Angel think that she is dating Scott, there is definite hormonal angst between them, and they finally give in to a kiss. Unfortunately for them, Xander witnesses it. This leads the gang to stage an "intervention" with Buffy: Buffy believes she was justified in keeping her secret. Angel's soul has been restored, and they know better than to start up their romantic relationship again. She is not entirely certain that Angel is no longer a threat since she does not know what power brought him back, but she is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until she figures it out. She did not believe the gang would feel the same way after what Angelus did to them, however, and believed that they would not easily separate Angel and Angelus. So, to protect Angel, she chose not to tell them he was alive. Xander is less interested in Buffy lying (although he does display disappointment in Buffy's actions) than in the issue of what should be done about Angel now that they know he's alive. He gives a utilitarian argument for the necessity of Angel's death, a view Faith later gives as well. For Faith the equation is simple. Angel is a vampire, she is a slayer--Angel deserves death. Giles is much more interested in Buffy's lie itself. While he understands the reasoning that led Buffy to lie, he can't accept fact that she lied. He believes the lie "jeopardized the lives of all that you hold dear." Buffy has therefore betrayed her duty as the slayer.

Lover's Walk

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 6 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're

The Metaphysics of "Lover's Walk"

in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

The De-lusting Spell: We never do get to see this spell performed, but Willow puts, among other things, skink root and essence of rose thorn into a mixture which she brings to a boil, and she gives Xander a raven feather to hold (which, as the shopkeeper explains, tend to breed a little more discontent than canary feathers). The Love Spell: We don't get to see this spell, either, but the ingredients include essence of violet, cloves, a set of runic tablets, and rat's eyes. Chaos demons

Good, Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Lover's Walk"

Spike further blurs the lines between good and evil in the Buffyverse when he arrives back in Sunnydale a broken shell of a vamp. Drusilla has left him--he's "not demon enough for the likes of her." He calls a truce with Buffy to get what he wants once again, has an amiable chat over hot chocolate with Joyce, and even spouts pearls of romantic wisdom to his two worst enemies. But Spike is still a demon--he throws Willow around, threatens her and then Xander, kills the magic store merchant, and reminisces about a homeless man he and Dru killed together on a bench. His attitude in coming to Willow is not unlike when Xander approached Amy in BBB. Spike isn't just interested in getting Drusilla back, he wants revenge on her at the same time, to see her humbled for walking out on him. He finally decides magic isn't the way to go; torture is the way to Drusilla's heart. Willow I think Willow showed great courage when she was dealing with Spike in Lover's Walk. Spike was very menacing, and the situation could have turned ugly. Willow was obviously terrified, but kept her head and talked him down. Reason doesn't always get you out of trouble. Panicing will certainly make it worse, and Willow is to be commended for staying calm, and waiting for a chance to get away from Spike (NuPhalanx, 13 Jan 1999) Although Willow never gets a chance to perform her de-lusting spell due to Spike's appearance, it is, for Willow, an early sign of her morally questionable philosophy of witchcraft. In her desire to "fix" her own emotional quandaries and relationships, Willow doesn't stop to consider the ethical implications of trying to control another person's feelings. It is tempting to want to make Xander's feelings "go away" simply because they are difficult to deal with. But they are Xander's feelings, not hers. Magic is also the easy way out when dealing with her own feelings. Although the reprecussions would have been few in this case if her spell had succeeded, Willow needs to learn to deal with her emotions, to own them and take responsibility for the actions she takes based on them. The corrupt evil of the Mayor

Oz: werewolf or human?

Ethical Quandaries in "Lover's Walk"

Were Willow and Xander wrong to give in to their hormones? When Willow and Xander try on their outfits for the dance in Homecoming, they see each other dressed to kill and hormones flare. Both were dismayed at their actions, but neither was quite ready to put on the brakes for the sake of fidelity to their respective partners. They continued their flirtation in Band Candy. While it might have been the candy on Xander's part, it wasn't for Willow; she was getting the attention of the boy she has always wanted. Willow almost confesses their illicit smootchies to Buffy in Revelations, then finds she can't. Both try to put an end to the tryst in Lover's Walk, but in a final "impending death" kiss, they are discovered by Cordelia and Oz. NO I think their timing was a bit off and maybe they should've either explored their feelings before they were involved with other people or waited until they were both available before they made a move, but...they're young they are both going to make mistakes. Feelings are what they are. They don't just go away and they seldom wait until it's convenient to express them. I do think that Willow is in love with Oz, but I think that her, not so much unresolved, but unrequited feelings for Xander will continue to cause her angst and confusion. Even though she is very happy with Oz, I think she will wonder how things would have been with Xander. For Xander's part, I think that he is just beginning to see beyond himself and is starting to see how special Willow is (WomanWarrior, Jan 31 19:58 1999). Xander and Willow are in high school, and they aren't married to their respective others. i saw if they feel it, go for it. truthfully, i wish they had stayed together and left oz and cordy in the dust. because when all is said and done, i don't think willow and oz have what it takes. sure, he practically worships her like a goddess, but i truly think willow will get bored of that. she deserves someone that not only loves her, but that she truly loves back. and i just don't see that with oz. as for x/c, they were bound to end. i mean, realistically, nearly no high school relationships survive the college test. in my graduating class of 226, 1 couple from high school is still together (Bruces Mom, Jan 31 19:44 1999). YES If Xander and Willow had kissed and realised that yes they loved each other and had had the courage to tell Oz and Cordy then OK. But the sneaking around and then when they were caught realizing that they didn't love each other made it quite different. Bad even (Fly-by-Nite, Jan 31 19:43 1999).

Yes, I think it was wrong for Xander and Willow to give in to their feelings. ...I think their behavior showed a complete and utter lack of integrity as well as a lack of respect for Oz and Cordelia. Their "digression", as it were, was left as a pure lust thing, but unlike Xander's trysts with Cordy in the broom closet, his dalliance with Willow was secret and never meant to materialize into a real relationship. They could have exercised self-control and wouldn't have gone through the pain and heartbreak they went through. Their relationship with each other would have remained free of the awkwardness it has now, as well. (re: not being able to "touch digits", etc.) (Megdalen, Jan 31 19:38 1999). I think all viewpoints regarding X/W are valid, glad to see I could cause some pain and dissention (joss, Nov 18 22:43 1998).

Philosophies Represented in "Lover's Walk"

Existentialism: While Spike is spying on him in the Garden Mansion, Angel is reading Jean Paul Sartre's La Nausee. "Nausea" is the reaction of Sartre's protagonist, Antoine Roquentin, to life, his environment, and the "human predicament" as Sartre sees it--that life is meaningless. In the novel, Roquentin lifts away the pre-conceived world-views that others around him hold and faces this "fact" dead on. According to Sartre, realizing that life is meaningless is supposed to supply an individual with freedom--if there is no meaning and purpose, there are no constraints. Angel's reading of "La Nausee" represents his struggle to come to terms with what, if anything, his return to the Earthly realm is supposed to mean. It is a step on his journey from his return from hell to the moment in Amends when he decides not to take his un-life.

The Wish
The Metaphysics of "The Wish"
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Anyanka is a wrinkled and raw-looking demon. Dubbed "the Patron Saint of scorned women", she possesses great physical strength and the power to grant wishes. Appearing to a woman as the human Anya, her modus operandi is to bring out the hurt in the woman scorned, get her to make a wish (typically, no doubt, something disfavorable to the man in

question), and then grant it. It seems that she must grant the first wish her target makes (otherwise, she would have waited for Cordelia to make a wish about Xander). Anyanka's power to grant wishes is directly tied to her amulet or "power center". Without it, she doesn't have that ability. Anyanka's origins "Your powers were a gift of the lower beings." --D'Hoffryn, Doppelgngland 1120 years ago, Anya was a human being with some magical abilities, similar to Willow. When she was dumped by a man she loved, she performed some vengeance spells with the aid of the demon D'Hoffryn. He gave her the amulet that turned her into a vengeance demon. This was probably her free choice, since he offered Willow a choice as well in Something Blue. Giles: Anyanka raised a demon to ruin her unfaithful lover. The demon did her bidding - but then cursed her and turned her into a sort of... patron saint for scorned women. Apparently, the cry of a wronged woman is like a siren's call to Anyanka. (dialogue edited out of The Wish) Summoning Anyanka: Giles has a large golden goblet with smoldering ingredients sitting on his desk. He pulls bits of an herb from a bushel and drops them into the goblet, saying: Oh Anyanka, I beseech thee. In the name of all women scorned. Come before me.

The bizarro world

Creation of the bizarro world: Anya takes her pendant off and puts it around Cordelia's neck. Cordelia vocally wishes that Buffy Summers had never come to Sunnydale. Anya turns into Anyanka and says "Done", and it is. Altered history: The alternate history was NOT another "dimension". Cordelia's wish destroyed the history of our Buffyverse as we know it and created a new history for the Buffyverse (like erasing a video tape by taping new material). This new history is essentially the same as the old history, except that Buffy never came to Sunnydale. We don't know much about the rest of the world, but bizarro-Sunnydale is rapidly going to the vampires. School is still in session, some businesses remain open, but a curfew keeps humans off the trash-filled streets and night-time entertainment is a thing of the past. Also, when Cordelia arrives with Anya's pendant still around her neck, she does not have her wound from Lover's Walk. Cordelia's memory: In the bizarro-world, Cordelia's memory of the old Buffyverse history is intact because she was the one who was granted the wish, and a wish is only as good as the receiver's appreciation of it. This is part of Anyanka's modus operandi. No one (not even Cordelia) remembered what happened when the old history of our Buffyverse was restored--it was as if the bizarro-world had never happened (the tape erased again and the original material re-recorded). We are taken right back to the same moment Cordelia made the wish in the first place and time resumes its course from that point.

Reversal of the bizarro-world: Giles reads in his text, "In order to defeat Anyanka, one must destroy her power center. This should reverse all the wishes she's granted, rendering her mortal and powerless again." When Giles smashes the amulet, the old history is restored. Anyanka is turned into an ordinary woman and her powers are gone. Unanswered question: how were the other wishes reversed, especially those that happened in the more distant past? And if they were reversed, wouldn't that alter the old Buffy time-line in noticeable ways? Pre-destination? Angel in the alternative history knows Buffy from when he glimpsed her calling as slayer in front of Hemery High in 1996. After that, he went to Sunnydale to work with her, but she never arrived. He tells her that she is his "destiny." There is no evidence that Angel was pre-destined to help Buffy, only that the forces of good (through Whistler) asked him to. He does do good in the alternative history (saving people from vampires), and is a prisoner of the Master as a result. And in both histories, he helps Buffy.

Good and Evil in "The Wish"

VampXander and VampWillow: Are vamps like their human predecessors? "The Master's most vicious disciples" don't seem very much like their human counterparts. The Scooby gang heroes vamped become walking embodiments of sadism and predatory evil. First they kill Cordelia while Giles watches helplessly. Later, when VampWillow can't hunt, she assuages her boredom by torturing Angel with matches while VampXander watches. The Master is free, but he never opened the Hellmouth; the world, for what it's worth, still more or less belongs to human beings. What's up with that? The only explanation for why the world has not gone to the demons with any independent evidence is that the Master now lacks the ambition he had in the first season. This is evidenced by his distaste of the predator role (Gina, Dec 10 12:08 1998). The Master's factory: Evil-as-order replaces predatory evil. A wooden cage of humans await an evil assembloodline--the victim is laid down, alive, on a long stainless steel pan. The pan moves along the conveyor to the blood-draining station, where four arms with needles on them extend over the victim. They plunge into her body, draw the blood from it, and then extract themselves. The pan with her corpse then moves along the conveyor for disposal. The Master defends his creation thus: Some have argued that such an advancement goes against our nature. They claim that death is our art. We have always been too parochial, too bound by the mindless routine of the predator. Hunt and kill, hunt and kill. Titillating? Yes. Practical? Hardly. Meanwhile, the humans, with their plebeian minds, have brought us a truly demonic concept: mass production!

Poetic justice: Anyanka granted a wish so horrible that its victims found a way of reversing it that destroyed her power to grant wishes altogether. Bizarro-world Oz (cheated on by Willow in the normal Buffyverse) staked VampWillow with a broken piece of a wooden cage.

Moral Ambiguity in "The Wish"

Anyanka "My claim to fame was to maim and to mangle. Vengeance was mine." --Anya Although Anyanka's deceptive custom of coming to scorned women in the human form of Anya and granting their wishes wreaks havoc on unfaithful men, this "scary, veiny fairy" is the embodiment of moral ambiguity. The power of the wish has probably brought happiness to some of these women. However, the old adage, "be careful what you wish for" applies, because we never know what the secondary consequences of our wishes might be. Anya was the equivalent of the genie or devil in every joke you've heard about a guy who gets three wishes. ... her ambiguity was used to inflict great harm and cause regret. Anya fed off of emotion (Sam Hain, Dec 9 23:41 1998). The power of the Wish was a gift from "the lower beings", and it is doubtful they gave her these powers to right any wrongs. The destruction and chaos it caused was for their pleasure. And this was fine with Anyanka. Buffy: I thought the lesson of The Wish was not so much, be careful for what you wish, but friends count. My old paraphrase: "There are old slayers and lone slayers, but no old lone slayers." The teaser for The Wish has Buffy being strangled by the whatever monster. She's saved because Willow throws her the "knurf." Shortly after, Xander ask her how she handles the rocky road of relationships. Buffy answers, "I have you guys." Later, when the bizarro-Buffy starts off to the factory. bizarro-Giles suggests waiting for back-up. No, she works alone. Dies alone (wolfguard, May 22 21:53 1999). Cordelia's memory: Cordelia retained no memory of the conclusions she drew about Buffy in the bizarro-world. In other words, she didn't "learn" anything from this episode. This is classic Joss Whedon moral ambiguity at work. So, a lot of people upset that nobody learned anything in this episode. But you know what I thought was cool? Nobody learned anything in this episode! For Cordy to cause such a hideous disaster and be totally unaware of it and not learn anything just totally makes me laff. On the other hand, the audience learned (to be pedantic) the importance of Buffy's support group, so it's not like everything is the same (joss, Dec 8 21:12 1998).

Amends
The Metaphysics of "Amends"
The First Evil is a non-corporeal (non-physical) entity, neither monster nor demon--as if the concept of evil took the form of a being. It can take the form of any dead person, and appear to one person while being invisible to someone else. Because the First Evil is non-physical, it lacks the ability to attack physical beings like Angel and Buffy directly. It works instead by psychological means--temptation and taunting. The FE isn't the most powerful evil, it was just the first. It had no form and laid in wait until the animal, demons, and man came along. Thru the eons it became more controlling by using the darkness in man's/demon's minds to do it's biding. Without the evil that dwells in each of us, then the FE would be harmless (gazoo, Dec 17 18:28 1998). The First Evil returns The Harbingers (or Bringers) are demon high priests of The First Evil. They have runes branded in their flesh where eyes should be, and their presence kills off life, such as the Christmas trees above their cave. In a book, Giles reads that they have the ability to conjure up "spirit manifestations" and set them on people to influence them (e.g., Daniel on a Sunnydale street, Jenny Calendar in Giles' apartment, and Margaret the maid in the Garden Mansion). It is likely, however, that the "spirits" haunting Angel are actually the First Evil itself. The return of Angel: According to Giles' research, the First Evil is capable of bringing Angel back from hell. It also takes credit for doing so. It's possible that the "first evil" did bring Angel back. If the first evil wants, not only for Angel to revert, but to destroy/torture/punish Buffy, this is the perfect way to do it. Angel appeared right at the moment when Buffy was ready to forgive herself for killing him, was ready to move on.... She was on the path to making peace with herself, and saying goodbye to Angel, once and for all (symbolized by her laying down her ring). If the first evil wants Buffy to suffer, then it its eyes, this "moving on" was a bad thing. Thus, return of Angel to up her angst level, culminating in the final destruction of Buffy by the most horrible means possible (Mircalla, Dec 15 23:37 1998). Buffy and Angel's dreams:

Buffy witnesses Angelus biting Margaret the maid at a Dublin dinner party. Angel sees her there in his dream. Buffy joins Angel while he is dreaming of the two of them making love. Suddenly Buffy sees a Harbinger standing by her door. In a flash of thunder and lightening, Angel vamps out and bites Buffy on the neck.

Psychic dreams? Angel has a dream where he sees the Harbingers in their cave. However, it is unclear that Angel himself possesses psychic abilities. The dream was probably brought on by the Harbingers themselves.

Good and Evil in "Amends"

The goal of the First Evil is temptation to evil. The apparition of Jenny tempts Angel with the "peace" and simplicity of becoming Angelus, and freedom from a literal eternity of guilt and pain as a vampire with a soul. The way to this peace is the even more pleasant prospect of "taking" Buffy--making love to her, feeding from her, and killing her. Angel decides to die rather than give in. This decision is motivated in part by feelings of worthlessness--he has been reminded of the sort of human he was prior to vamping, and wants to be neither Angel nor Angelus. This wasn't the First Evil's plan, but "it'll do"---if Angel won't go bad, he might as well kill himself so he can't do good. The First Evil's purpose was to destroy Buffy. This could be accomplished best by Angel returning to the fold, giving into his killer instinct, and sucking Buffy dry. However, if Angel had killed himself, Buffy would have been wrecked emotionally. We saw Buffy's reaction to Angel's presumed "death".... To have him suddenly gone again, forever, after already having to go through it once, would totally wreck Buffy. So, either way, the purpose of ruining Buffy would be accomplished (Jade, Dec 17 17:47 1998). Should Angel have died? The Snow: Buffy tries to convince Angel to live as a vampire with a soul and do good, rather than to kill himself. But Angel seems determined to incinerate at sunrise. Just as Buffy gives up, it begins to snow. As the weatherman reports, "an extreme cold front has sprung up out of nowhere around Sunnydale"--one that will block out the sun all day. Unanswered question: who or what caused it to snow? This serves Evil well, as his damned soul and demon remain intact and the world is still allowed to sit on the brink of destruction, as this mentally unstable person remains on Earth as a tool for manipulation by Evil. If Angel had killed himself, then Evil would have lost its new-found tool...that rare mystical mistake which tilts the scales in favor of Evil (Shalazar, Dec 16 18:35 1998). It wasn't evil that made it snow. Remember, Jenny/evil saying that Angel's death was good enough if he wouldn't kill Buffy. Evil knows that Angel will never turn on Buffy and evil knows that it cannot fight against love, evil would have rather seen Angel turn to ash then save him from it. Something else made it snow (gazoo, Dec 15 21:25 1998). The snow was not evil! The snow was good. It was hope (joss, Dec 15 22:17 1998).

So, if we're going to take the big guy's word for it, the Powers that Be prevented Angel from killing himself by keeping the sunrise from coming, and are likely the ones who brought Angel back from hell.

Moral Ambiguity in "Amends"

Angel: Amends is one of the few episodes where souled Angel directly distances himself from his demon, when he says of Angelus' deeds "It wasn't me." But how accurate is this claim? The demon is still inside him, part of his identity. Buffy gets an eyeful of his past in Angel's dream of a kill made in the early 1800's. And he is in touch with the demon part of himself when he comes on like Angelus later in Buffy's bedroom. Is Angel an existential character? Willy, bar tender and snitch

Gingerbread
The Metaphysics of "Gingerbread"
The Hansel and Gretel demon takes the illusory ("veiled") form of two children--Hansel and Gretel of the fairy tale. In its true appearance, it is a single giant demon with sharp bottom fangs and red eyes. The gang discovers that every fifty years going back as far as 1649, identical murders--two children found dead with a mysterious mark on them--have occurred, each time in a different town. The original deaths are the only real ones: a cleric near the Black Forest found the bodies of Gretel Strauss, 6 and Hansel Strauss, 8. The others have been created by the demon. Mental influence: Joyce discovers the dead children in the park with a wiccan symbol on their hands, and becomes deeply concerned about other mysterious deaths in Sunnydale. The demon takes advantage of this and elevates her pain to a hysterical level by "haunting" her with images of the two children, who urge her to "hurt the bad people the way they hurt us". When Buffy tells her mother that witches may be responsible, Joyce starts the vigilante group MOO, Mothers Opposed to the Occult, and orders a raid on the school to weed out the kids with an interest in witchcraft. Eventually Willow, Amy and Buffy end up being taken by their own parents to be burnt at the stake with Giles' books as kindling. Lifting the demon's veil: Cordelia shreds wolfsbane, crushes satyrian root, and adds a toad stone into a mixture. Once Giles is in the presence of the demon, he recites a German incantation:

Ihr Goetter, ruft Euch an! Verbergt Euch nicht hinter falschen Gesichtern! Translation: You gods, I call upon you! Do not hide behind false faces! He then tosses the bottle with potion at the children's feet. As the potion begins to steam around them, the children embrace and morph into the demon in its true form. This negates the mental whammy on the adults of Sunnydale. The protection spell: Amy, Willow, and Michael, now a practicing witch coven, perform a protection spell for Buffy as a birthday gift. With black robes that cover their heads, they sit around a square on the floor that is covered with burning candles. Michael puts a string of beads in a human skull. Amy picks up the skull and takes it over to the other side of their square. She hands Willow a small bowl of a bubbling liquid. Willow pours the liquid into the cauldron in front of her. At the center of their square is the protective wiccan symbol. Animal transformation: In Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered, Amy used a supplication to the goddess Hecate to turn Buffy into a rat. She uses this spell again to turn herself into a rat to escape being burnt at the stake. Unfortunately, as a rat, Amy can't seem to do a spell to return herself to human form.

Good and Evil in "Gingerbread"

Mob mentality: Since the demon uses some kind of mental manipulation, it is not clear that its adult victims are merely weak and impressionable, although a certain level of repression and gullibility seems to be part of living in Sunnydale. By the end, Joyce seems to have forgotten her crusade and Mrs. Rosenberg forgets Willow's confession about her involvement in the occult. On the one hand, this is good, because Joyce revealed to everyone at the city hall that Buffy was the slayer. On the other hand, waking up to the evil around them would be a good thing. Demons: When Willow tells Buffy that the wiccan symbol found on the children's hands is harmless, Buffy concludes that Willow and her friends have been set up. The demon has coopted Hansel and Gretel, a tragedy associated with witches, to foster hatred and persecution in peaceful communities by creating a paranoid, hysterical self-righteous mob that turns human against human. This makes him a prime example of both evil-as-deception and evil-ascorruption. Buffy and the good fight: Joyce points out that although Buffy can bring the culprits who killed the children to justice, she can't bring the children back. She can slay vampires, but new vampires take their place. In response, Angel reminds Buffy of her own words to him in Amends--it's important to keep fighting even though we never win; because we don't fight to win once and for all, but because there are things worth fighting for. Buffy has saved the entire world more than once, but her smaller contributions are significant too. In this case, justice is poetic-she uses the stake she was to be burnt to death on to impale Hansel-and-Gretel demon. The deceptive evil of the Mayor

Moral Ambiguity in "Gingerbread"

Buffy killing humans: When Giles suggests the murders could have been done by a cult as a ritual sacrifice, Buffy is deeply offended that humans could have done it. She "could you also find a loophole in that 'slayers don't kill people rule'?" Buffy doesn't seem ethically conflicted about killing human beings, she seems genuinely ready to kill them. During MOO's raid on the school, Principal Snyder leads the unnecessary search and seizure of the student's lockers which gets Amy and Willow in trouble and gets another "tingly moment" when policemen take Giles' books away. Granted, he may be as under the influence of the demon as are the other adults, but he enjoys his actions a Principal Snyder-kind of way. When witches are harassed by other students at Sunnydale High, it's Michael who really gets picked on. Is this because he is adopting a way of life normally associated with women?

Helpless
The Metaphysics of "Helpless"
Cruciamentum: Cultures built around war often give their young soldiers an initiation or rite of passage to prove their worth. The Watcher culture is no different. If a slayer reaches her 18th birthday, she must prove that she can think on her feet and fight by her wits as a normal girl. The watcher is required to administer injections that take away her powers and send her to a house specially prepared for the rite. All the escape routes have been blocked and she is trapped inside with a vicious vampire she must defeat. Dampening slayer powers: Giles hypnotizes Buffy and injects her with an organic compound of muscle relaxants and adrenal suppressors. The temporary effect of this mixture is to dampen Buffy's strength, coordination, and ability to call upon her training, with only a sudden dizzy spell as warning. The watcher council never took Buffy's powers, they were always there. The injections merely numbed them. Just as Buffy's strength was overpowered by Catherine "the Great" and Ethan's spells, and the fact that Buffy was able to be drugged in IG and RB, we know that Buffy's powers can be numbed but NOT removed (gazoo, Jan 20 14:38 1999). Vampires and drugs: Kralik is being fed pills in large quantities. It is not clear what the purpose of these drugs are, but it is clear the vampire is addicted to them, or believes that he is. We have seen other examples of vampires being influenced by chemical substances. A summary of fan speculation on the purpose of the pills: 1. The Watchers purposely addicted Zachary, to better control him and/or to increase his bloodlust (like that would really be necessary...but I don't put anything past those nasty Watchers). 2. Zachary was addicted to the pills as a human (perhaps they were given to

him in the asylum?), and the addiction carried over. Or the illness that the pills were meant to combat crossed over (Mircalla, Jan 20 01:29 1999).

Good and Evil in "Helpless"

Zachary Kralik: Like Drusilla, Kralik's evil is influenced by the madness his mortal predecessor displayed (see also Andrew Borba). The mortal Kralik murdered and tortured over a dozen women and was committed to an asylum for criminally insane. Now vampKralik is to be part of Buffy's Cruciamentum test. But Kralik frees himself from his straitjacket and chains, turns one watcher into a vampire, and kills another. His goal is to vamp the slayer. He kidnaps Joyce to entice Buffy back to the house where the test was to occur and sadistically taunts them both.

Moral Ambiguity in "Helpless"

Giles Yes, his job told him to do one thing, his heart another. But when your job has you doubting yourself, that is the time to make the right decision...like when your company tells you to burn some files, or....dump some toxic waste...do you use the excuse...I was just doing my job! Lame excuse, and I think he knew it, and came right in the end (Clattering, Feb 14 20:39 1999). The moral ambiguity of the Watcher's Council

Ethical Quandaries and Philosophies Represented in "Helpless"

Giles' moral conflict: the ethics of the warrior vs. the ethics of the caregiver Warrior ethics sees morality as a set of abstract ideals of behavior or character which an individual must adhere to impartially across situations: e.g., honesty, truthfulness, justice, courage and self-control. Under this morality, caring for one individual above others is often trivialized as undue softness, sentimentality that leads to unclear thinking, or unethical favoritism. The under-emphasized care-giver morality, on the other hand, holds that there is more to morality than following an abstract set of principles. Under the care-giver morality, people are motivated by feelings such as love, affection, compassion, sympathy, and empathy towards those they have close relationships to. The danger of impartiality (from this point of view) is that it can make us neglect the special duties we have to our family and friends--responsibilities that demand emotional attachment. Quentin Travers argues that the purpose of the Cruciamentum is to test the self-reliance and resiliance of the current slayer: They are waging a war. Yes buffy is fighting it but buffy is a soldier in the war. The soldiers are expendable. The generals must focus on the bigger picture. One girl's life does not amount

to much when the world's at stake. The watchers would probably prefer if the fate of the world didn't depend on a young girl but they deal with what they have. They keep an emotional distance because to do otherwise would put the world at risk. It's not the individual slayer that matters it's the war. Do the watcher's wish otherwise that they could raise an army? most likely, but as the the credo goes only one girl in all the world who has the strength and skill.... The slayer is indestructible, one dies another called and they keep coming. War is not a time for sentiment. just because buffy didn't volunteer to begin with. it's clear that she voluntairly continued to risk her life (Angle Man, Jan 20 19:52 1999). Travers tells Giles that if Buffy is as good a slayer as Giles says she is, she has nothing to worry about. See also mudpuppy's defense of the Watcher Council A Watcher should not be close to a Slayer for many reasons. It can effe ct his/her decision making in times of crisis. If you think too personally of a Slayer, you won't be able to send them out to there death even when it is absolutely needed. It also makes the Watcher much more vunerable to getting killed. Watchers aren't automatically called and good ones can last a lifetime. Slayers are temporary. They just don't live long enough. So protect the longer living resource. Also, it is harder on the Watcher if they become too close to the Slayer. Slayers will die. You could destroy a Watcher by having too much emotional attachment to the Slayer (sweick, Mar 23 10:17 1999). It is unclear if Giles would have gone along with the Cruciamentum test had it not gone awry. But it did. And while Travers is content to let the test play out in its new form, Giles is not. "This is not business," he says, stating not only his opposition to the Travers' "big picture" view of slayers, but also embracing the care-giver morality. From this point of view, the likelihood of Buffy's death from the test is no small concern. Giles' moral imperative now is to save Buffy and salvage his relationship with her: "Whatever I have to do to defeat Kralik and win back your trust I'll do." I see killing them off in the Test when they reach 18, which has undoubtedly happened before, as a grave moral wrong. To expose a weakened Slayer to such a vicious creature, giving her no means of escape, is unconscionable. It's tantamount to murder. In a war, officers may send their troops to battle the enemy, but they won't send one soldier, unarmed, straight into enemy camp with no disguise and no reinforcements or reconnaissance. It's the same thing here. ...the Slayer may have to sacrifice herself to the good of the world, but she should not be sent to an almost-certain death because of A TEST. By doing so, the Watcher's Council reduces the Slayers to a disposable object, something less than human, and that I find unconscionable (devil, Jan 19 21:33 1999). From the Watcher's Council's point of view, Giles' decision arises merely from lack of objectivity, rather than Giles' adoption of a different moral standard: "Your affection for your charge has rendered you incapable of clear and impartial judgment. You have a father's love for a

child. That is useless to the cause." He is relieved of his duties as watcher. In the end he is left with only his duties as care-giver, tending Buffy's wounds. Amother example of the ethics of the care-taker and the ethics of the warrior: Buffy vs. Xander in "Selfless" Are feelings antithetical to objectivity? What is objectivity except the ability to see things as they really are? And who is more objective-the dispassionate outsider, or the emotionally involved insider who is more familiar with the situation? Travers denies Giles the right to have a say in whether Buffy is tested or not because he is "too close" to the situation. Is this a viable argument? I think Giles is doing an excellent job, considering the unique circumstances that are Buffy. However, I think, in any mentor/student watcher/slayer situation, it is not good to become too emotionally involved. Overall, I think emotional involvement clouds judgements. I think it takes Giles too long to make decisions sometimes and protects her too much. However, this is not an entirely bad thing.... His concern for Buffy also helps her, because he fights more than most watchers would. He also seems to help with research more. But she relies on him too much - what if he gets killed like Faith's watcher - who will Buffy run too? (cabin7man, Jan 20 06:18 1999) The importance of objectivity: the idea that Giles can't be a good watcher because he cares too much seems to assume that logic and compassion are in contradiction, which to me is the same sort of nonsense that led to things like the sterile child rearing practices of 1950s America. I believe logic => compassion (Jaan Quidam, Jan 20 05:44 1999).

The Zeppo
The Metaphysics of "The Zeppo"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 3 BtVS/season 2 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

The dead guys are basically the animated human corpses. Unlike Daryl and his would-be bride in SAR, they have not been brought back to life in the biological sense. And unlike zombies (DMP), they still have free will. It is not clear if, like vampires, they would retain what looks they have indefinitely, or continue to rot (see also Provider). The ritual to raise the dead: On a night when the stars have aligned (one assumes this means planets, since stars don't move relative to each other from the Earthly perspective), Jack crouches over the grave of Bob and the others, cuts his hand with a knife, and drips blood on the grave, saying: He calls forth the spirit of Uurthu, the restless. No one shall speak. He shall arise! Hear me... the blood of the earth shall restore him... He shall arise! He shall arise!

Jack's grandfather's did the same for him three weeks earlier. Willow casts the Clouding Spell with an incantation in Latin: Obscurate nos non diutius. Translation: Enshadow us no longer and blows out a candle. This momentarily confuses the Jhe-demon, allowing Buffy to overpower her, and Faith to stab her with a sword. The Sisterhood of Jhe: These ugly gray pointed-eared female warrior demons have one purpose--to bring the demons back to Earth. They have fought for this cause before, evidenced by records of their post-battle habits (they celebrate victory by eating their foes). Now, they have come to Sunnydale to open the Hellmouth. It is unclear exactly how they intend to do this, but we were never told how the Master did it, nor how it was closed in Prophecy Girl. The Spirit Guides When Giles no longer has the resources of the Watcher's Council, he goes to Restfield cemetery and holds a cross up to a sepulcher to gain information from the Spirit Guides. A floating flame comes out of the sepulcher, and a voice says, "These secrets belong to time and the dark regions. To reveal them would bring chaos down upon the living earth." This is not very helpful, but that doesn't make the Spirit Guides evil; it is possible that if they tell Giles the future, he may do something to change the successful outcome that in fact occurred. Theories on the Buffyverse Spirit Guides: (1) The Spirit Guides are ghosts of the dead. They exist outside of time (Star Trek aficionados: like Bajoran Prophets/Wormhole aliens). Think of time as a river we human beings are forced to constantly sail downstream in; we know where we've been, and where we are, but we can't see very far downstream at what is to come. The spirit guides, however, stand on a cliff above the river, and are able to look at the whole river simultaneously. They hence have knowledge of the future. (2) ...It is only human arrogance that dictates that spirits are of the [human] dead. There are many, many forces out there that have never been human, and many more that have never lived physically. Much like we interact with the dream world, they interact with us. It's like a diver swiming in the ocean. ...the diver is interacting with the suroundings, but the diver is not their in a natural state, but rather a forced one. The spirits can work in the same way, but the task is most strenuous for them, and it's gennerally not worth the effort.... (Zoshi the Malevolent, 20 Jul 1999)

The Spell to bind the Hellmouth: Giles and Willow set up a sacred circle on the area where the Hellmouth opened the last time. They put candles along its edge. Giles reads a Latin incantation from the Hebron's almanac: Terra, vente, ignis et pluvia. Cunctate quattuor numina, vos obsecro. Defendete nos a recente malo resoluto. Omnia... vasa... veritatis! Translation: Earth, wind, fire, rains, linger, O four divinities, I pray you. Defend us from the new freed evil, all [you] vessels of truth.

Good and Evil in "The Zeppo"

The dead guys: Jack O'Toole and his buddies represent both the evil of arrogance and evil-aschaos. Basically, they find fun in destruction--of property and human egos. Xander: Zeppo was in relation to the Marx Brothers.... "Zeppo" Marx was the youngest brother to Groucho and Chico and was always in the background, in their shadows and sort of acted as a sort of tool for their comedy antics....so The Zeppo was sort of a parallel made to Xander!!....which he proved to be anything but (scram, Mar 10 18:22:10 2000) "It must be really hard when all your friends have, like, superpowers -- Slayer, werewolf, witches, vampires -- and you're, like, this little nothing," Cordelia taunts Xander. And he actually seems to believe it. But Xander has an irrepressible font of courage, if he only digs deep enough to find it. The scene where he out-waited O'Toole in the boiler room and the final scene where he walks away without taking credit for (or even mentioning) his part in the adventures of the night before (Jade, Jan 29 21:49 1999) Who has less fear? Xander may be "the Zeppo" of the group (something Cordelia is not fated to claim for herself), but in more ways than this, it makes him the most human as well. The Sisterhood of Jhe: Because they have one purpose, to bring about Armageddon--the return of the demons to this reality--these demons are good examples of evil-as-corruption.

Moral Ambiguity in "The Zeppo"

The moral ambiguity of Oz-wolf Willy the bartender

Bad Girls
The Metaphysics of "Bad Girls"
El Eliminati are a vampire cult which formed during the 15th century, a time when dueling and swordsmanship were popular among humans. They continue to carry the long and short swords of that era even though the hey-day of the cult is past. Their numbers dwindled due to antivampire activity and their penchant for getting beheaded in sword fights. They eventually put themselves into the service of the demon Balthazar, who brought them to Sunnydale. Around 1899, they were all driven out of the Hellmouth, and now are back. Balthazar is a demon whose power is tied to an amulet that was stolen from him around 1899. Since he lost the amulet, Balthazar has gained a considerable amount of weight and sits nearly immobile in a tub of water. He also needs to have his body lubricated with water, although the reason why is unclear. Balthazar is back in Sunnydale to retrieve his amulet, which will restore his strength. What little power he possesses involves the ability to move vampires telekinetically (if he had the ability to move other things, he would have been able to draw Giles and Wesley close to him and might have been able to prevent Buffy from killing him). He drew one vamp minion towards his large belly and appeared to snap his neck. Vampires should not be able to die from a broken neck, so he may have paralyzed him, temporarily incapacitated him, or removed his head completely, killing him. The purpose of the Dedication ceremony seems to be to bestow invulnerability on a human seeking "Ascension". The Mayor kneels, hands out at his sides, inside a pentagram circumscribed by a circle, and recitees an incantation: Potestatem matris nostrae in tenebris invoco. Maledictum filium tuum ab omne periculo custodias nunc et in saecula! Translation: I invoke the power of our mother in darkness. May you protect your accursed son from all danger now and forever! The ground shakes. Mr. Trick sets the vampire Vincent upon him. Vincent slices the Mayor's head in half with a sword, and the two halves come back together. For the next 100 days leading up to the Ascension, nothing can harm Mayor Wilkins. The Dedication ceremony is also the point at which the Mayor stops mentioning his dislike for germs.

Good, Evil, and Moral Ambiguity in "Bad Girls"

Vamps who have a code of honor? El Eliminati are warriors on the side of evil. As such, they are sent on (or they pick) individual battles to fight. They are thus examples of evil-ascorruption. When Balthazar sends Vincent to attack the Mayor, he does so "man to man, as befits a true warrior". In other words, he uses no cowardly tactics that will give him an advantage, other than the hiding in the liquor cabinet. Trick captures him. Balthazar: Despite being a demon, Balthazar seems motivated by his own individual needs and

wants, specifically, his own power. He is therefore an example of the (usually human) sin of selfishness and greed for power. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce is Buffy and Faith's new watcher, assigned by the Council after they fired Giles. "Is he evil?" Buffy asks. Not really; but he is a little bit inexperienced and naive. Slayers: The last laugh is on the cops when they snicker at the notion of "girl gangs." "The Slayers" break out of the police car while it's on its way to the station.

Philosophies Represented in "Bad Girls"

Philosophies of slaying Buffy

has not always been the most cautious slayer. Her "Wait, stop, think" to Faith before they go after el Eliminati echoes Wesley's "A good slayer is a cautious slayer," but Buffy knows this from experience. She's had her share of trouble going in fighting without a plan. is motivated by the desire to see good prevail. When Faith tries to talk her into escaping the police, she says to Buffy "We can't save the world in jail." It is unclear that this would motivate Faith herself, but it does persuade Buffy. Buffy vs. the Watchers

Faith "Slaying is what we were built for. If you're not enjoying it, you're doing something wrong." This is similar to Aristotle's functionalistic theory of virtue. Aristotle believed that the point of moral or ethical rules was human happiness. Humans will achieve happiness if they act according to their nature. The real "nature" of anything, Aristotle argued, is determined by the function(s) it was designed to fulfill. The way to happiness for a slayer, then, is to fulfill her function. Faith's attitude rubs off on Buffy, as she describes to Willow and Xander: "It was like I just let go and became this force." The thrill of the hunt is celebrated in Faith and Buffy's post-slayage dance. "Want, take, have": Faith explains this principle to Buffy when the two break into a sporting goods store to steal weapons for the attack on Balthazar and his minions. Faith's expression of her own power as "the chosen one" turns its back on duty and sees only privilege--"since I am strong, I will take what I want and do as I wish." One can relate this to Fredrich Nietzsche's dual value systems: the master morality and the slave morality. Masters value freedom, self-definition, and self-expression. The master is an individual of action. He or she acts out of their own individual nature, and whatever

meets their needs is what is good. Nietzsche calls this self-expression the "will to power". Slaves value whatever is useful or beneficial to the weak--sympathy, kindness, pity, patience, humility, helping. The slave morality is the morality of the conquered, "the herd." It is also resentful and suspicious of any outsider that would threaten the herd. Wolfram and Hart's Master morality The First Evil on good and evil The Beast's Master's master morality Slayer jurisdiction

Consequences
The Metaphysics of "Consequences"
Psychic dream? Buffy is struggling under water, trying to reach the surface, but the murdered Deputy mayor Allan Finch grabs hold of her leg and keeps her under. She manages to get free, but on reaching the surface, Faith is waiting, and pushes her head back under the water. This may foretell Faith's betrayal--when she tells Giles that Buffy killed Allan, and later defects to the Mayor's camp. The inivitation to vampires I think the reason Angel was able to enter Faith's motel room is that hotels and motels are public houses, like for example, whether you stay there or not you can use their facilities persae (delf, Feb 17 07:51 1999).

Good in "Consequences"
Deputy Mayor Allan Finch: From the moment we saw the look on his face in Homecoming, it has been evident that Allan was not entirely comfortable working for the Mayor. We may never know what side he was actually on, but Buffy concluded, "I don't think he was in that alley by chance. I think he came looking for us. I'd like to know why."

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Consequences"

Faith didn't kill Allan without remorse, but she quickly went into denial about the significance of what she had done. When Buffy wouldn't go along with her denial, Faith had two choices-accept its significance or reject Buffy and her friends and their do-gooder attitude. She chose the latter. Faith already envied Buffy for having friends, praise, and Giles' attention. She also

resented the gang for leaving her on the outside of things (even if she contributed to this as much as they did). So Faith repressed her initial horror over Allen's death. Then she tried to justify her actions by telling Buffy that Buffy had a lust for the kill that could make her take a human life, too, although perhaps not as easily as Faith could. Buffy adamantly denied this. She also claimed to want to help Faith, but it was never easy for Faith to trust people's good intentions, and at that point, she'd lost any trust she had in Buffy and the gang. Then Angel's confrontation and the force applied by Wesley and the watchers made Faith feel the pressure of her denial. At that point, flirting with evil was a relief, and a way to spite Buffy and the others. But more was going on than that, as Angel knew. Murder has a seduction all its own, and Faith didn't have a sufficient moral foundation not to give into the pleasure of it--it gave her a power over others where before she felt powerless--a power she felt again when she almost choked Xander to death. Her initial move towards the Mayor was also mere flirtation with evil, but he was so gosh darn nice, it only accelerated her path down the dark side. Faith = evil. No ifs, ands, or buts. Evil, evil, evil. I said ...if she kept trying to repress any remorse over killing Allan, she'd eventually succeed, and would become someone who can kill in cold blood. Her almost-strangulation of Xander and her willingness to kill the guy in the WC van without a second thought show that this is indeed what she has become. And, her setup of Buffy shows she'll do anything to save her own ass. ...she's gone to [the Mayor] so she can continue to kill, because Angel's right--she has gotten a taste for it (devil, Feb 17 12:26 1999). Angel "I know the power, the exhilaration. It was like a drug for me" Angel is trying to relate to Faith in order to help her deal with killing Allan, but he does it by treating his situation like Faith's. Their situations are not entirely analogous. Angelus committed his evil deeds when he was without a human soul and conscience. Faith is embarking on evil with her soul in tact. She cannot find her guilt via a transformative spell; she must find it in herself as she is.

Ethical Quandaries in "Consequences"

Should Allan's death be treated as "Collateral Damage"? Buffy and Faith disagree about how to react to Allan's death. Buffy adopts the principle that every human life has intrinsic value, and that what happened to Allan cannot simply be ignored. Faith wants to discount and forget Allan's death. She argues that

this one death is insignificant next to the number of lives they've saved. This is something of a Utilitarian justification.

Allan's death is not important because he was not innocent; he was "mixed up in dirty dealings".

Buffy responds that they have reason to believe (after being in Allan Finch's office and seeing the Mayor with Mr. Trick) that Allan was a good guy--he may have been coming to help them. Faith argues that slayers do not have to answer to human justice (which demands that those who cause human deaths be accountable) because they are above it by design. They have the strength and fighting skills needed to protect other humans. In Faith's view, these powers give them not only a duty, but a privilege to mete out their skills as they see fit (see Faith's Philosophy of Slaying). Buffy responds that slayers should not be able to do whatever they want; killing humans is the limit to what slayers should be allowed to do (a point she also makes in Ted, and bringing us back to her first point about human life having intrinsic value). It is arguable that Faith's rationalization for killing Allan isn't what a Utilitarian would prescribe, however, since the greatest good for the greatest number would be making sure no one good dies (the same goes for Doyle's hypothetical rationalization for Angel giving in to temptation in City Of...) Should buffy be more like Faith, or should Faith be more like Buffy? Faith argues that Buffy is repressing her natural instincts and is jealous of Faith. Buffy is the "good little girl" doing what she is told; Faith is the self-actualized Slayer doing whatever she wants. [In] the beliefs of ...Thomas Hobbes... Morality is seen as an external force, while sinfulness is seen as an internal one. A common perception of good is that it's something society imposes on people, that the "establishment" created these rules about how to behave and that they'd been ingrained into us over the years. Doing the wrong thing, however, is often seen as being what people really want to do, but outside influences force people to suppress it. Because of this, a good person is seen as weak willed, caving into society's rules about what to do and what not to do. Meanwhile, a bad person is seen as having a strong will and doing what they really want to do (Finn Mac Cool, 2003-09-01 22:30) Faith looks at Buffy and thinks she's repressed and boring, and needs to loosen up and act more wild. But Buffy's not simply some reactive stick-in-the-mud. Buffy has a heavily internalized and ingrained sense of duty, she's thought seriously about how she approaches slaying and life, and it's not simple repression. If Buffy's boring, it's not because she's making a serious attempt to live up to an ethical and moral code. ...I come from a religious tradition in which people are considered flawed, but are generally expected to be striving for "good" (dlgood, 2003-09-01 22:45). Is Faith legally culpable for killing Allan?

Faith did not murder Allan; what happened was a tragic accident. While it is true that Faith has a reckless fighting style, Buffy could have easily made the same mistake. Both were systematically killing vampires who were jumping out at them in the alley, and Faith did not realize Allen was not a vampire until it was too late. Kantian morality stresses the motive rather than the consequences of an action as an integral part of respecting the autonomy of the individual. Faith's intention was to stake a vampire, the tragic mortal death resulting from her intention says nothing about her character (Vox, Nov 3, 1999). So what would the law say? For a legal perspective on Faith's actions, see Vox's Website. Was Wesley justified in locking up Faith? What if Faith were the ONLY slayer? Do you lock her up and throw away the key (as he seemed intent on doing)? If so, you'll be without a Slayer until her death, which with her under lock and key as opposed to out fighting every night, wouldn't be for a good long while (RTBS (Feb 17 18:08 1999). Watchers and slayer justice He did what he thought was right. Sure he messed it up, and was wrong to boot, but that's beside the point. What else was he to do? Giles was constently undermining his authority, keeping secrets from him and basically giving him a hard time. He just trying to do a real bitch of a job and gets nothing but grief for his trouble... Giles- Made a mistake at keeping Wesley out of the loop. His lack of trust in him led the young Watcher to do what he did. If Giles had told Wesley what the deal was, they could have worked something out. He didn't and wackyness insued. I love Giles, and think he is one of the best character's on the show, but he was wrong to keep the truth from Wesley (Godeater, Feb 16 23:52 1999).

Doppelgngland
The Metaphysics of "Doppelgngland"
Creating a temporal fold: The amulet of Anyanka, the 1120-year old demon first seen in The Wish, was lost in a history that no longer exists. The mortal Anya goes to see D'Hoffryn to request his help in getting it back. She asks him to "fold the fabric of time"--essentially, to use magic to reestablish the alternative history. Restoring the moment in time before the amulet was destroyed would allow her retrieve it. It would also, of course, restore the alternative bizarro-history and erase the normal history of the Buffyverse; the only reason the normal Buffyverse history exists is because bizarro-Giles had a chance to destroy the amulet. When D'Hoffryn is not sympathetic to Anya's

request, she approaches Willow. The metaphysics of Anya The spell to restore the amulet: Anya sets down a plate with a drawing of her amulet on it. Willow has provided candles, bones, chicken's feet and other spell ingredients. They first offer a supplication to Eryishon, the endless one (some sort of demon with power over time?), putting their hands out, palms up, fingertips touching: Anya: Eryishon k'shala meh-uhn. Willow: Diprecht, Doh-tehenlo Nu-Eryishon. Both put their hands on a bottle of sacred sand, preparing to pour it onto the plate. Anya (picks up the bottle of sand): The child to the mother. Willow (touching the bottle of sand): The River to the sea. Anya: Eryishon, hear my prayer. This cracks open a fold in time. Light flashes and mystic energy comes forth. As it does, Willow sees images of the events that happened in the timeline that had been undone. She begins to realize that this power is darker than she was lead to believe. Instead of helping Anya pour the sand onto the plate, she hesitates and holds the sand back. Anya persists, and as the sand falls, it hits Willow's hand before it hits the plate. When Anya's amulet doesn't appear, she inadvertently triggers the spell by breaking the plate in anger. The appearance of VampWillow: The spell does what it was intended to do in this respect--it restores the evil time-line. The spell does not effect the amulet, though. Hence, it does not prevent bizarro-Giles across town from crushing the amulet and restoring the normal time-line again, with one difference--VampWillow has not been erased. She appears in the restored normal timeline version of the factory. The spell to send VampWillow back: This spell basically restores the evil time-line. VampWillow is put back in the time and place she was taken from, right before she was killed. Since VampWillow's reappearance does not effect the rest of the alternate history, Giles' smashing of the necklace happens again, and the normal history is once again restored. As a result of Anya's behavior and the spell, however, the gang now knows that Anya is a baddie stripped of her powers.

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Doppelgngland"

Corruption and temptation: When VampWillow emerges in a very human Sunnydale, she is dismayed. She wants her evil timeline back. The Mayor's ex-minions have no trouble calling VampWillow "the boss" after she twists their arms (or was that breaking their fingers?) Anya sees this vampire version of Willow with her lackeys in the Bronze (feeding on Sandy and musing about treating humans like ponies) and realizes that the spell

worked, just not in the way she intended. She tells VampWillow that the evil timeline can be restored with the help of human Willow. Before engaging her help, though, VampWillow takes the time to cuddle up to her human counterpart and tempt her to "be bad". Are vamps like their human predecessors? Joss confuses the issue more when Buffy reassures human Willow that "a vampire's personality has nothing to do with the person it was," and Angel briefly comments, "Well, actually... yeah, good point." VampWillow is not merely the human + some blood lust. She takes what she wants, is not afraid to tell others what to do, and seems to live for pleasures of all sorts, especially of the ouchy variety. In what ways is that similar to the more reticent, kind human Willow? Well, human Willow can take charge in situations that demand it, as we saw in Halloween. (Does VampWillow shed light on Willow's sexuality?) The evil and moral ambiguity of Anya(nka) The hermetically insensitive Cordelia The corrupt Snyder

Ethical Quandaries in "Doppelgngland"

Xander: Hey, wait 'til you have an evil twin, see how you handle it! Willow: I handled it fine. Was it wrong not to stake Vamp-Willow? VampWillow attacks human Willow in the Bronze and tries to choke her. When Buffy comes to the rescue, Willow stops her from staking her evil counterpart. Both agree they cannot kill this demon with Willow's face. Yes I agree that it was morally wrong to send VampWillow back to her world, where she could torture and kill humans...where she could "have a chance"...what is that? And why would everybody go along with it? Way too sentimental of them.... Hey, if there were a VampTallulahdahling, I'd want to dust her as fast as I could. I wouldn't want her anywhere out there doing evil with my face (Tallulahdahling, Feb 23 19:23 1999). Only a Consequentialist with precognitive abilities could argue that sending VampWillow back was okay because it changed none of the events in bizarro-world. It is not morally acceptable for a Vampire Slayer to release a vampire merely because the potential harm she may cause will be on nobody you know. This would be far more evident if the question was left hanging, if we never saw what happened back in bizarro-world (Vox, 16 Nov 1999 17:35). No

At first, I thought sending Vampy Willow back was the wrong thing to do. However, if you figure it this way, they all knew what her world was like (that's proven by Xander knowing he's a vamp in this other world), they know the vampires run things and they know they can't be harmed by it. What's the harm in letting her go? If they'd let her loose in reality Sunnydale, I would have been pissed, but not in this case. It really didn't matter whether they staked her or not (Drugal97, Feb 23 20:24 1999). Masquerade's note: if Giles understood the metaphyiscs of temporal folds correctly, he knew he was sending VampWillow back to a world that would quickly be erased again. It was six of one, half a dozen of the other. The ethics of boyfriend stealing: Cordelia doesn't have much to say on this subject, except that the "fact" that she didn't really like Xander all that much (as if) did not give Willow the right to have smoochies with him.

Enemies
The Metaphysics of "Enemies"
What would it take for Angel to lose his soul again? In Surprise, Angel achieved a moment of true happiness while making love to Buffy, and lost his soul, giving Angelus free reign on the body. After Faith's attempt at seducing the vampire fails, she participates in a ritual to take away his soul. She throws blood on his chest, and then a masked man comes out of the shadows, recites an incantation, and mystical energy fills the room, centering on Angel. The light show is a ruse to fool Faith. Although the Mayor chanted and sacrificed to summon a demon to help him take Angel's soul, the "ritual" could not have been a real ritual (or was done wrong on purpose). Otherwise, Angel would have lost it. His soul, that is. It is therefore unclear if it is possible for Angel to lose his soul through a ritual. But what would it take? I don't think that sleeping with Faith would be sufficient to give Angel a happy. I am of the opinion that it wasn't the sex that did it in "Suprise", it was the love that came with the sex that did it. Faith can't give that to Angel, in any way, shape or form. She doesn't have it in her, but Buffy did and still does (Cosmic Bob, Mar 17 12:25 1999). Although the happiness clause has been connected to sex (e.g., in "Revelations" Xander says Angel is safe, "as long as [he and Buffy] don't get pelvic", and in "She", Angel implies dating women is dangerous for him) it has also been connected to other forms of happiness. In Amends, Giles is wary of giving Angel "peace of mind" about why he came back to Earth in FH&T-"...peace of mind? Do you think that's something you should have?" Furthermore, Angel does have sex with a woman he was very close to, and wakes up from it as souled as ever. Does the gypsy curse still hold?

More on Angel and true happiness Was the masked man a demon? This is never explicity stated. He has supernatural powers, but he could simply be a human sorcerer of some sort. The Mayor used chanting and sacrifice to summon him, but one does not normally say things such as "Peace be with you" to a demon, nor does it seem as if demons would put themselves into the debt of humans, especially a Watcher. Is the Mayor human? At the hall of records, Oz finds a scrap book with an old picture labeled "Richard Wilkins." It looks just like the Mayor, Richard Wilkins III. Wesley reasons that "Mayor Wilkins is over 100 years old. He's not human". The Mayor's story about watching his wife grow old while he remained young seems to clinch the age question. But it does not follow that he's not human. His immortality and invulnerability are both be spell-induced without taking away his basic humanness. The Mayor made a deal in which he allowed the demons to have free reign in Sunnydale in return for the power of the Ascension. This could also be the deal that explains his age. In The Prom, Giles says "'The Ascension' refers to a human transforming into a demon,.... And on Graduation Day, our Mayor Wilkins is scheduled to do just that." Ergo, he was (an albeit super-powerful) human--until Graduation Day. The Books of Ascension

Good and Evil in "Enemies"

Faith was very defensive about the fatherly attentions of the Mayor at first. But he played on the emotionally vulnerable girl's need for love. He gives her a gift and scolds her for acting "spoiled" (and when she apologizes, he gives her a cookie). He is clearly in charge, and the slayer who has problems with authority figures not only allows it, she enables his evil as surely as he encourages hers Demonic and subtle - the Mayor is giving Faith, step by step, inch by inch, what she really wants - a father. And much more subtly than having Old Scratch appear in a puff of flame, saying, "Give me your soul, and in exchange, I'll give you a father." Put like that, Faith might actually have resisted. But the toys, the attention (It's full of calcium!), the fussing, the refusal to take sexual advantage, these are all the things which Faith desperately needs. She is both pathetic and dangerous (BellaDonna, Mar 17 07:06 1999). The bad guy's plan When Faith told the Mayor about the demon with the books of Ascension, he not only sent her off to kill the demon and retrieve the books, he also made it clear that he expected Faith to do something about Buffy. After seeing Angel and Buffy kissing, Faith knew Buffy's vulnerability. She and the Mayor decided to take Angel's soul away. Turning Angel back into Angelus would both devastate Buffy and get another demonic power on their side. After Faith killed the demon, she went to see Angel with blood on her hands, claiming to be overwhelmed by what she had done. But in reality, she was trying to seduce him, playing on his sympathy for her "inner struggle" with evil.

Later, believing she was allies with Angelus, Faith made clear that she had become part of Sunnydale's "Big, brewing evil." When Buffy asked why, Faith revealed her jealousy of Buffy. Faith was supposed to be the chosen one, kicking butt in Sunnydale, but always had to compete with Buffy, the slayer-who-has-everything: friends, family, and love. Faith also revealed that the Mayor allowed demons to run free in Sunnydale, and that his reward was "the Ascension" which would occur on Graduation day. "I'll be sitting at his right hand," she said. It just seemed like Judas kiss to me. A kiss of the final betrayal. The truth was out. But a kiss good bye-to Buffy, to everything she represents to Faith--goodness, humanity. ...she's gone over the line. Her transformation is complete. ...As long as the gang didn't know about her, a small part of her could pretend it wasn't real. ...But she left that hope behind in the mansion (MeeB, Mar 17 10:20 1999). The good guy's plan What the good guys knew:

I think Giles has probably been suspicious since Faith falsely accused Buffy that first time. Lying is one thing - accusing a friend of murder is another all together (StGermain, Mar 17 09:55 1999). When the Mayor called for the masked man to perform the soul-removing ritual, the masked man saw an opportunity to remove this debt and went to Giles to tell him of the Mayor's intentions. Angel knew that Faith killed a demon. At the Graveyard-demon's apartment, Buffy sees Faith turns on the kitchen light without even looking and infers that she's been there before. Buffy suspects that Faith killed the demon and took the books of Ascension for some unknown purpose.

Based on this evidence, Giles, Buffy, and Angel hatch a plan to find out about the Ascension and Faith's loyalties.

After they hatch the plan, more evidence: Willow gets through the encryptions on the Mayor's computer files only to find them missing. "He saw me coming," she says. This indicates a leak. Buffy only pretends she has not spoken to Angel about his earlier encounter with Faith (the fact that he talked about it does not mean anything he said assuaged the jealousy Buffy felt). Angel tests the Mayor by throwing his letter opener at him like a knife. The mayor blocks it with his hand, which heals instantly. They now know he is invulnerable, although (as far as we know) there was no reason for Angel to suspect the Mayor was invulnerable before this, unless Faith told him.

Is Faith Evil?

Moral Ambiguity in "Enemies"

Angel Faith: "What can I say? I'm the worlds best actor." Angel: "Second best." Part of the good guy's plan required Angel to behave like Angelus, a task he performs almost too well. "It's all an act," Buffy reminds herself when it's over, but she doesn't seem completely convinced. Angel's deeds as "Angelus":

throwing Faith around and hitting her, punching Xander: "That guy just bugs me" hurling a letter opener at the Mayor, launching into immediate and emotionally significant harassment of Buffy--"I never properly thanked you for sending me to hell," hitting Buffy (hard enough to really knock the slayer out?) But it was Angelus. The demon didn't go away when Angel got his soul back, he's still there, always has been. So when Angel did the Angelus bit, he was letting the demon out just a little. Buffy was seeing that the demon was still there. That has to be disconcerting (Rile, Mar 16 18:47 1999).

Good demons? The unnamed horned Graveyard demon is more interested in his own survival than in killing anyone. Although out for money, he took a risk going to the slayers with his offer sell the Books of the Ascension. "I don't think he falls into the deadly threat to humanity category," Buffy concludes. In addition, the demon seems to live pretty much like a regular person, with an apartment, dishes in the drainer, and a pet fish. While this doesn't prove he is always good, he certainly doesn't seem to be always bad.

Earshot
"Who hasn't idly thought about taking out the whole place with a semi-automatic?" --Xander

The Metaphysics of "Earshot"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 5 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

The "mouthless demons" are human-sized with pale scaly skin, tails, large cat-like ears (horns?) and, of course, no mouths. As Buffy fights with them, she notices that they seem to be able to anticipate her moves. The aspect of the demon: After Buffy stakes one of two demons, silver-white blood leaks from the demon's chest onto the back of her hand, where it is absorbed into her skin. When she tells Giles her skin is itching, Giles finds the demon species in one of his books. The book explains that this kind of demon can infect the host with one of its own traits. Soon after, Buffy develops

telepathic powers. Giles and Wesley try to contact a man in Ecuador who contracted the same condition, but he is in complete isolation. Buffy seems headed towards the same fate: the voices in her head soon become so numerous and loud that she can't understand them anymore. Reversing the aspect of the demon: Giles and Wesley find a potion, but they have no proof it will work. One of the ingredients needed is the heart of the same species of demon. They send Angel out to get the demon-who-got away because Angel has the necessary strength to fight him, and the demon will not be able to anticipate Angel's fighting moves (see below). A vampire's mind casts no reflection: Buffy tries to use her new telepathic powers to find out Angel's true reaction to kissing Faith. But just as vampires do not have reflections in a mirror, their thoughts do not have reflections in the mind of a telepath. That Angel already knows this to be true indicates (at least) that he has heard about vampires meeting telepaths.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Earshot"

Xander: "I'm still having trouble with the fact that one of us is just going to gun everybody down for no reason." Cordelia: "Yeah, because that never happens in American high schools." Was the lunch room lady evil? Her motives for wanting to kill all the students are never clear, cheating us out of any understanding of the mass murders that caused the postponement of this episode. The other suspects had reasons, but they didn't murder-

Freddy the editorial writer openly loathed many normal parts of high school life. A teacher idly disdained students for being bothersome. Jonathan felt as if no one at the school even knew he existed, and that when they did notice, they didn't like him (the ultimate metaphor for this kind of pain is Marcie's invisibility).

In fairness, though, Buffy's words to Jonathan in the clock tower were aimed at kids out there who would turn the guns on themselves or others. The good of Xander Giles' thoughts in Earshot match his words for the most part--he really does spend a lot of time thinking about his work, he shows Buffy he cares about her, but he doesn't always tell her how he worries about her. On Giles having sex with her Mother...Does anyone else find it interesting that Giles never once thought about it? (Giles' Lady, Sep 22 19:09 1999) Oz reveals himself to be a thinker rather than a talker:

"I am my thoughts. If they exist in her, Buffy contains everything that is me, and she becomes me. I cease to exist. Huh." "No one else exists, either. Buffy is all of us. We think, therefore, she is."

The hermetically insensitive Cordelia

Ethical Quandaries in "Earshot"

Television's responsibility to real-life violence

Philosophies Represented in "Earshot"

The paradox of self-interest: "Everyone is ignoring your pain, because they're too busy with their own." The theme of this episode is the loneliness and isolation people feel around each other as a result of each individual's concern for him or herself. As Buffy points out to Jonathan, this is a problem we all face, whether we're "short idiots", or "beautiful and athletic" (did you see the moves Buffy used in apprehending Jonathan in the clock tower? Wow! Oh yeah, back to the point). She's learned this by living in other people's minds for two days. Buffy begins the episode feeling sorry for herself, then finds out everyone else is doing the same. This is part of the human condition--nature drives us toward our own self-interest, but does not give us telepathy so we can have direct contact with other people's worries and concerns. It's a catch-22 situation: the more we fret over our own loneliness and the apparent insensitivity of others to it, the more insensitive we become to them, and the worse we make the situation for ourselves. The problem is not insurmountable, however, once we begin to care about others as much as ourselves. When we were shooting [Earshot] I thought it felt like the final high school ep. ...EARSHOT sort of contains the shows thesis statement in a way (joss, Jun 19 15:48 1999).

Choices
The Metaphysics of "Choices"
The Box of Gavrok: According to Giles' books, this two-foot square metal box houses a "demonic energy" which the Mayor will need to consume on the day of his Ascension. The Box,

which the Mayor has flown in from South America, is filled with demonic spiders--50 billion, he claims. The spiders kill by impaling the face of their victims with multiple spines (perhaps their legs). The few that escape are easily destroyed by crushing (Buffy) and knives (Faith). The Breath of the Entropics: The Mayor has the Box of Gavrok protected by a round magic force field. In order to take possession of the Box, Willow performs this standard spell for counteracting such supernatural safeguards. She pours an unknown powder from a glass bottle down towards the Box. The powder falls around the Box without touching it. Willow takes out a spell book and reads: Sis modo dissolutum. Exposco validum scutum. Diutius ne defendas a manibus arcem intendas. Translation: May you immediately be dissolved. I demand that the strong shield give way. Ward off our hands no longer, nor stretch forth your defenses. The force field dissolves. The spell to destroy the Box of Gavrok: Never actually used, this spell involves, among other things, putting essence of toad and twice-blessed sage in a cauldron on a pedestal. Is the mayor human?

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Choices"

Faith kills the human who delivered the Box of Gavrok, then cuts his handcuffed hand from the Box. When she tells the Mayor what she did, he only praises her initiative. After the gang steals the Box, she kidnaps Willow and threatens her life. Notice her face when Willow told her it was too late - there was just a second of pain/anguish. Faith may finally realize what she has lost by turning to the Mayor. When she threw the knife at the bug thing, she was saving everyone. Why whould she do that? The door was open, she could have escaped and let the gang fend off the creature. Was it just reflex? I don't think so. Faith wants what Buffy has - friends, love, a sense of belonging. Her choice of the Mayor reflects on her other bad decisions/choices (NuPhalanx, 8 May 1999 17:27) The Mayor married his wife, Edna Mae, in 1903. Immortal, he watched his wife grow old and bitter about his youth, and eventually, watched her die. Did the Mayor love his wife? NO The mayor is a major evil force. Can you imagine what he has done to qualify for ascension? ...Such an evil is not capable of love. ...if he did have a wife, and if he did stay with her, you can bet it is because it served his purpose in some way (raptamama, May 4 20:17 1999). YES

I think the Mayor did love his wife. ...Did you notice what he said? Old, senile, and cursing him. But he was still with her. He probably stood right by her side until the bitter end, and oh boy, would that end have been bitter. Nope, love doesn't conquer all, and it can leave a nasty taste in the mouth once it goes badly. ...he was still young and strong, but he was still with her. Yeah, I think that's love (Robyn the Snowshoe Hare, May 4 18:54 1999). The repressive Principal Snyder The hermetically insensitive Cordelia

Good in "Choices"
Willow showed great courage in staying to read the Books of Acension. Willow was curious, no doubt - but I also think she was looking for a few pages she could take with her to help the gang. It was foolish of her at the same time, but Willow kept her head and got crucial information for Giles and Wesley. When Faith showed up, Willow stood her ground, even after Faith punched her. Willow's defiance of the rogue Slayer might have been calculated, for it wouldn't have surprised me if she was terrified inside. (NuPhalanx, 8 May 1999 17:11)

Ethical Quandaries in "Choices"

Save Willow by trading her for the Box of Gavrok or destroy the Box and end the Ascension, risking Willow's life? Buffy insists rather dogmatically that a trade is not only the safest plan, it's the only plan. Wesley does not argue that they must give up Willow's life for the thousands that will be saved. He wants to make Buffy realize that giving up the Box is not the only way to save Willow. This is their chance to destroy the Box, which is the key to the Mayor's Ascension. The lives of thousands of Sunnydale residents, their friends and families--including Willow--depend upon destroying it. Wesley also argues that saving the town is Buffy's chance to get out of Sunnydale. This appeal to her self-interest falls flat in comparison to saving Willow's life, as it should. Did the gang make the right choice in trading Willow for the Box? YES Someone... said "It's stupid to serve yourself up for certain death if you can live to fight another day." If W illow had been taken during the mayor's ascention, or if leaving her would clearly be the only way to prevent it, then I think she should've been, well sacrificed. But let's face it, when there is still time, why not save a friend, and live to fight another day? (artemis, May 4 20:00 1999).

I don't see where the choice to save Willow has resorted to the lost of 1000's. The choice of saving Willow was a "no brainer". Buffy and the gang still have time to get the box back (if they need to) BUT they couldn't do it without Willow's wiccan talents. They need Willow. ...Willow has helped Buffy save many more than a 1000 souls (the whole world .. twice) (gazoo. May 4 22:05 1999). NO They could have gotten Willow back without given up the box. or, at the very least, they could have tried. they could have bluffed the mayor. they could have gone in on a rescue mission.... they were not condemning willow to a certain death by keeping the box. they were risking it. the choice was not 'willow dies or everyone dies', the choice was 'risk willow's death or risk everyone's death.' and without so much as a backwards glance, Buffy risked everyone's death. they got the box out, why couldn't they get willow out too? ...as for getting the box a second time, i highly doubt it. the mayor isn't stupid, now that he knows they can get it in city hall, he's gonna put it somewhere totally out of the way (Bruces Mom, May 4 22:13 1999). Police that fight the mob, political activists, and journalists that report on drug lords, all risk the lives of their families and friends. Somehow they must come to grips with this danger. Buffy should understand this by now. ...I respect loyalty to individuals alot. But I've never understood why it valued over other ethical considerations. I suspect that people are unable or unwilling to extrapolate loyalty to society as a whole... Buffy can be forgiven for her decision because she's a young girl and a flawed hero is more interesting... (Bob Vaillancourt 16 Jul 1999 22:58) Vox on Did Buffy make the right decision in trading Willow for the Box of Gavrok? Should Buffy and Angel stay together (even if it might hurt them both in the long run)?

The Prom
"I'm going to give you all a nice, fun, normal evening, if I have to kill every single person on the face of the Earth to do it." --Buffy

The Metaphysics of "The Prom"

The Hell-hounds are vicious half-man, half-dog demon soldiers bred to kill during the Mahkash wars. They feed off the brains of those they kill. Psychic dream? Angel dreams that he and Buffy are alone in a church with a priest, who is marrying them. After they are wed, they walk down the aisle hand in hand. Angel is wary as they approach the front door, knowing that the sunlight should kill him. But when they step out onto

the front steps of the church, he is O.K. Buffy, however bursts into flames and is consumed by them. Theories on the meaning of this dream:

this could merely be his anxiety over outliving the mortal Buffy. it might foretell her offering her life to save his in Graduation, pt. 2. Buffy's combustion makes Angel realize the intense amount of pain he would endure if he were to lose her and makes him realize that if he stays with her, he is putting her through the same amount of pain and he doesn't want to do that hence the breaking up (Amy-Lynn, 6/10/99 11:11).

Good and Evil in "The Prom"

Art imitates life, Hellmouth-style: Tucker Wells, a disgruntled and disturbed high school boy, angry at being turned down by a girl when he asks her to the prom, decides to unleash four hellhounds on the prom-goers (how exactly he conjured them is unclear). Using video tapes of movies which feature high school dances, he trains his hell-hounds to attack people in formal wear. Wesley comments: "Let me guess. He was quiet, kept to himself, but always seemed like a nice young man." Willow hacks into Tucker's email account. He has a message there for a friend which says, "The Sunnydale High lemmings have no idea what awaits them. Their big night will be their last night." Tucker is much more representative of the sort of person who lashes out at those around them than the lunch lady in Earshot--yet somehow, "The Prom" was shown on schedule, while Earshot and Graduation, pt. 2 waere postponed. The good of Xander

Moral Ambiguity in "The Prom"

Anya represents the line liberated women walk between standing up to the "treachery and oppression from the males of the species" and winning their love. She believes strongly in her mission as a demon--to avenge women who had been wronged by their husbands and lovers. At the same time, she is compelled by strong emotions and desires, and wants a date to the prom. She focuses her desire on Xander, a logical choice, considering he is single, attractive, and knows exactly what she is (or was, and could be). He is, however, also the man who "done Cordelia wrong". She knows this, and we suspect she won't put up with any crap. Anya starts out being the prom date from hell (literally), telling Xander about all the deeds she did as a demon. Later. she decides dancing with Xander "isn't bad."

Ethical Quandaries in "The Prom"

Should Buffy and Angel stay together (even if it might hurt them both in the long run)?

Graduation, Parts 1 and 2

| Metaphysics | Good and Evil | Moral ambiguity | Ethical Quandaries |

The Metaphysics of "Graduation"

| The Killer of the Dead | The Slayers | The Ascension |

Killer of the Dead: Faith shoots an arrow that misses Angel's heart. When it is removed, however, Angel collapses, burning up with fever, his shoulder numb. Willow uses a spell to run a trace analysis of the poison, which she identifies in one of her magic books. It's a mystical compound whose Latin name translates as "killer of the dead" (i.e., vampires). Among the accounts of its use, Oz finds a cure that completely reverses its effects: a vampire must drain the blood of a slayer. Vanquishing the killer of the dead: Once again we have evidence that slayer blood has power normal human blood doesn't--its ability to cure a vampire stricken by the Killer of the Dead poison. When Buffy fails to bring Faith to Angel, she offers herself to him and he refuses. She then provokes him into taking her by hitting him in the face repeatedly. Angel finally vamps out, digs his teeth into her, and they fall together onto the floor. In a very erotic, scary scene, he pins her to the ground and begins to suck her dry. Buffy realizes she's about to loose consciousness, but she's too weak to get him off of her. Angel breaks himself away to find her lying on the floor, unconscious. With his own strength returned to him, he rushes her to the emergency room of the hospital for a transfusion. Buffy won't become a vampire, he later tells Willow, because she didn't feed from him. Psychic dream: After Faith suffers head trauma, she lies in a coma in the hospital. Buffy returns to Faith's apartment in a dream, where her enemy gives her a vital clue: "You want to know the deal? Human weakness. It never goes away. Even his." Buffy replies, "Is this your mind, or mine?" In other words, is this her own unconscious mind pulling together the solution from her knowledge of the Mayor, or did Faith redeem herself by coming to Buffy in a dream? The psychic nature of this interchange is unclear. Regardless of whether it was the real Faith who helped or not, Buffy goes into Faith's hospital room when she wakes up and kisses her on the forehead before she head off to war.

What is the meaning of dream-Faith's words, "Yes. Little Miss Muffet counting down from 7-30"? The meaning of 7-3-0: DW: When did you find out they were going to kill Buffy? SMG: Joss [Whedon] told me about three years ago. Were shooting a scene where Faith [was comatose]. Buffy [had] tried to kill Faith, but she had lived. [Then]Buffy had a dream where Faith said something along the lines of "Counting down from 361, Little Miss Muffet..."I don't remember the exact riddle. I didn't understand it, as I often don't understand what Joss puts in sometimes. I went to him and said "Could you explain this?" and he said, "Sure, as long as you swear not to tell anyone. That was the exact number of days until the 100th episode and Little Miss Muffet was going to be Dawn, so Buffy was going to get a sister and then [that] day was going to be the day Buffy died (Sarah Michelle Geller [Buffy] Dreamwatch magazine, February 2002). 730 returns Did Buffy dream of Faith or was Faith in Buffy's dream? It was Faith I believe that the Faith in the dream was Faith's subconscious and not the outside Faith that we see. Faith (deep inside) wants to be the a "good" slayer but she was always over ruled by the outside Faith, the one that saw the easy road, the things that she couldn't have but could with the mayor. ...THAT Faith helped Buffy, it would be the only Faith that would/could (gazoo, Jun 20 20:42 1999). It wasn't Faith Isn't it also possible that it wasn't Faith, but it was Buffy's way of saying good-bye to Faith? After all, while we do know that slayers can have ESP-like dreams, would they really be able to pop in and out of each other's dreams like that? We've seen very little evidence that such a thing would be possible (Monique, Jun 20 19:39 1999). the "higher power" of good ...let whatever source gives Buffy her dreams, her premonitions, the ability to figure out how to stop the Mayor (MeeB, Jul 14 11:44 1999). Given her persecution complex, I would think that this confirms that the dream sequence in Grad 2 was in Buffy's head, not Faith's (Publish or Perish, Feb 23 08:55 2000).

Olvikan: Wesley examines the research of Lester Worth, Professor of Geology and Volcanology (the study of volcanoes), who found a carcass buried by an eruption while excavating old lava

beds near a dormant volcano in Kauai (part of the Hawaiian Islands). Professor Worth thought it might be a dinosaur. Giles concludes that it is the demonic remains of a failed Ascension and that since the Mayor tried to hide it, this is the demon the Mayor plans to turn into. Giles discovers that the villagers around the volcano site referred to the legend of Olukai, which sounds like the ancient demon Olvikan. He also infers that since the demon died, the Mayor will only impervious to death up to the Ascension. In his demon form, he can be killed. The ritual of Gavrok: To prepare himself for the Ascension, the Mayor has to ingest several of the spiders in the box of Gavrok. The spiders suffuse him with power and transform him from within. The Ascension: In Enemies, a horned demon seeks out Buffy and Faith while they are on patrol in the graveyard. He is interested in selling what he calls the "Books of Ascension" for $5000.00, money he plans to use to skip town. He indicates that the mayor would not be pleased if the good guys got their hands on the books before this big event, but the demon is vague on the details. When Buffy mentions the "Ascension" to Giles and the gang, Willow remembers a reference to it in The Merenshtadt Text, a book hidden amongst the more powerful tomes that Giles is trying to keep hidden from her. Giles reads from The journal of Desmond Kane, the pastor of a town called Sharpsville, an entry dated May 26, 1723: "Tomorrow is the Ascension, God help us all." The town of Sharpsville disappeared afterwards. Using the pages Willow stole from the Mayor's office in Choices, the gang has deduced that the man who has been Sunnydale's Mayor for 100 years plans to transform himself into a pure embodiment of the demon Olvikan on the centennial anniversary of the founding of the city. Anya fills in the rest of the puzzle--eight hundred years ago, in the Koskov valleys of the Urals (a densely forested mountain system extending across Russia into Kazakhstan), she witnessed a sorcerer achieve Ascension, transforming into a pure demon. He massacred a village within hours. During the Mayor's commencement speech, an eclipse darkens the sky (standard procedure for an Ascension--the eclipse, not the speech), and he doubles over in pain. Then, while his vampire minions trap the graduating seniors of Sunnydale High in their seats, Richard Wilkins III mutates into a huge dragon-like beast with a long neck. He is vulnerable in those first moments because he requires food (namely, the students) to sustain the change. Written prophecy transpired? When the Mayor enters the library in Graduation, pt. 1 to taunt the gang, he finds a book they have been consulting about the Ascension. Although it might refer to a past case of Ascension, or the process of Ascension in general, it could also be a foretelling of the events of Graduation day, Sunnydale, 1999: The beast will walk upon the earth, and darkness will follow. The several races of man will be as one in their terror and destruction. The (semi-) multi-racial student body of Sunnydale High fought together against the Mayor, but most were not destroyed (R.I.P., Larry! Harmony's fate).

Good and Evil in "Graduation"

Faith stabs Professor Lester Worth without remorse, and without knowing what the Mayor stands to gain from it (he wants to cover up the professor's research). Later, she "drops" Angel to distract Buffy during the final preparations for the Ascension. The reason Faith just didn't dust Angel instead of just wounding him was becuz she wanted Angel to suffer and Buffy to have to watch. ...She figured Buffy would be out of the mayor's hair while she watched Angel slowly, and painfully die away. Buffy would have been right after Faith if Angel had been dusted. Turned out Buffy did just that cuz Faith WAS the cure (gazoo, May 18 22:21 1999). Xander is Buffy's loyal general again (see Innocence and B2). He pulls together a student army, and after the Mayor completes his transformation, Buffy gives the war cry. The graduating seniors of Sunnydale High remove their maroon robes in unison and draw out swords, crosses, stakes, flame throwers, and cross bows. They breath fire at the Mayor-dragon and dust vamps with flaming wooden arrows. My daddy can beat up your daddy: After goading the Mayor, Buffy takes off down the school hallway and enters the library. The demon's head follows, breaking down everything it passes through. Buffy leaps out the library window, and the demon, his head stuck through the library door, sees that the room is full of dynamite. "Well, gosh," he says. As soon as Buffy is by his side, Giles sets off the dynamite. The building explodes, taking Olvikan (AKA Mayor Richard Wilkins III) with it. It's ironic (or perhaps it's fate) that the Mayor's 100-year long plan to ascend and destroy Sunnydale coincided with the current slayer's graduation day, and that the only things which were actually destroyed were the Mayor himself, and the library which the graduating slayer used as her base of operations in high school.

Moral Ambiguity in "Graduation"

Buffy | Buffy vs. The Watchers | The Mayor | Angel | Principal Snyder | Anya Despite Buffy's statement that she could not kill Faith, she overcomes her scruples and stabs Faith to save Angel. Although the damage to Faith's kidneys is reparable, the blood loss from the stab wound inflicted by Buffy nearly killed her. Was Buffy's stabbing of Faith justified? Did Buffy intend premeditated murder?

I don't think Buffy went to kill Faith. She had said she would but that long bathroom scene (to me) had her changing her mind. That is why Buffy handcuffed Faith. Buffy intended to take her alive, have Angel drink enough to be healed and then tote Faith to the hospital and then into a watcher council cell. Once Faith got the handcuffs off, Buffy pulled the knife. Back to plan A (gazoo, May 18 21:47 1999). I honestly do think Buffy intended to kill Faith. Faith has caused so much trouble for her, and poisoning Angel was finally enough for Buffy to act. Buffy is probably remembering what happened when she had the chance to kill Angelus, but couldn't bring herself to do it. I think she didn't want to make that mistake this time (NuPhalanx, May 18 20:05 1999).

Will Buffy's attempt to kill Faith change her character in the long run?

Xander: I just don't want to lose you. Buffy: I won't get hurt. Xander: That's not what I mean.

I think she will react differently, ...to "killing" Faith than Faith did to killing the mayor's lackey. It won't harden her, it will give her a lot of pause for concern (Arctic Lurker, May 18 20:57 1999). A slayer shouldn't think that she can do anything, but a person can use force to save a loved one from death. I guess I feel she made a tough decision, and can still live with it ...Some people have the souls of warriors (for good) and can do the killing that has to be done, w/o turning to the dark side (Clattering, May 18 21:34 1999). A Father's Love: When the Mayor discovers that Buffy has stabbed Faith, he makes finding the slayers a priority over last-minute preparations for the Ascension. He truly does care for Faith in his own way. In the hospital, he over hears the nurse talking about Buffy, goes into her room, and puts his hand over her nose and mouth. Angel foils his murder attempt, but the Mayor, who saw Buffy before only as an annoying hurdle to the Ascension, now wants revenge. Was Angel coerced into drinking Buffy's blood? ...so it seemed, another theory is that Angel accepted Buffy's invitation, ...he realized what was going on after the second smack, and it didn't take much to make him revert to demon state. ...if the demon was battling with him so much, why did we see no evidence of this? (George Mori, 23 Jun 1999 19:37) Even though I believe Angel lost control while he was feeding, he wasn't entirely at fault for doing the feeding in the first place. Buffy forced the issue by beating the demon into taking "control" and shoving her neck in his face. What was Angel to do? He was weakened from the poison. He couldn't stop himself by that point. ...Now, once the demon took over and started

feeding... He lost control. And he liked it. ...the "higher power" of good thwarted evil this time and Angel stopped in time (MeeB, Jul 14 11:44 1999). Principal Snyder shows his great talent for denial up to the very end. As the students begin to fight the 60-foot Mayor-demon, he screams, "This is simply unacceptable!... This is not orderly. This is not disciplined." To Olvikan, he says, "You're on my campus, buddy, and when I say I want quiet, I mean--" *chomp* Good-bye Principal anti-Quark. "That's the kind of wooly-headed liberal thinking that leads to being eaten" --Principal Snyder, The Puppet Show

Ethical Quandaries in "Graduation"

| Was Buffy's stabbing of Faith justified? | Was Buffy wrong to try to save Angel when the Ascension was at hand? | Did Buffy and the gang have the right to involve the other students in the graduation showdown? | Was Buffy's stabbing of Faith justified? Principles come up against feelings when the Watcher's "laws that have existed longer than civilization" dictate that they shouldn't cure a vampire, even Angel. All Buffy cares about is saving her lover, and she resigns from taking their orders (as if she really ever worked for them at all, considering how often she has taken charge). Wesley is dismayed, pointing out that Faith poisoned Angel to distract Buffy from stopping the Mayor's Ascension. Led by her heart again, the distraction is working. When Buffy learns that a vampire must drain the blood of a slayer to survive the "killer of the dead", she decides she must find Faith and offer her to Angel. Was Buffy's stabbing of Faith justified? It's not OK It doesn't sit well with me, killing a human. In self-defense, okay. In order to prevent imminent harm to others, okay. If Faith had been killed at the Ascension, while she was directly threatening others, I would be fine with that. But not this. Once Slayers start feeling like they have the power to decide which humans live and which ones die, well, you get Faith. "We're better." Buffy was making the decision that Angel's life was worth more than Faith's. I suppose a lot of you would agree with that. But I think that it's a very, very dangerous thing for any one person to take on the role of judge, jury, and executioner for another person (Mircalla, May 18 21:23 1999). Killing Faith is against Kantian strictures because it is using another human as a means (a tool) and not an end in themselves.

It's OK ...if Angel had been poisoned by someone else, it would be impermissable to use Faith to save him [according to Kantian strictures], no matter how evil she is. But since she was the direct agency of his poisoning, it comes under the rule of self-defense (even if it's Buffy doing the defending) (Jim L. Baird - 12:04pm Jun 16, 1999). On the practical side, and Buffy probably wasn't thinking about this, a healthy Angel is a major force on the side of good during this assention. With him, they have a MUCH stronger chance of defeating the mayor, then without him (Arctic Lurker, May 18 20:5 1999) [see Utilitarianism]. A Slayer's job is to fight evil in any manifestation be it preternatural or human (ie. Ethan Rayne, Billy Fordham, Willy). No matter what she is deep down, Faith chose to DO evil. ...Faith is an evildoer (a superhuman one at that). Buffy is an evilfighter. I think it's clear what she had to do (sofrina, 10/28/99 12:12). Vox on Did Buffy have an legal justification for stabbing Faith? Was Buffy wrong to try to save Angel when the Ascension was at hand? NO She has already slain Angel by her own hand to save the world. Remember what that cost her? The paralyzing grief ...? The repeated nightmares? Of course she can't watch Angel die, again. And if Angel dies, her will to fight the Mayor is about gone. She needed her mother out of harms way in order to concentrate on fighting. ...she has to cure him (Margot Le Faye, Weds May 19 1999). YES Did Buffy do the right thing in feeding herself to Angel? ...In order to save one vampire, Angel, she put herself at risk, and by putting herself at risk she put the whole town at risk. If she would have died, everything would have been for naught. I think it was a huge mistake. She risked the lives of everyone for someone who had already died. What she did was understandable, but very selfish. She brought back Angel for herself. He was at peace with it (George Mori, 23 Jun 1999 19:37) Did Buffy and the gang have the right to involve the other students in the graduation showdown? The gang knows that the Mayor has arranged to become the commencement speaker. This means that he will be attacking the Sunnydale High School seniors and their families first. In The Prom, the students openly acknowledged that Sunnydale "isn't like other schools", and they know that Buffy knows a lot more about it than they do. So she is going to be believed, rather than laughed off the campus, when she tells them they'll be in danger on graduation day. Although they choose to stay and help her, shouldn't she and the gang have attempted to get everyone out of town, not just her mother?

1. The students were already involved in the coming melee by the Mayor - he put them in danger, not Buffy. 2. Buffy could not tip her hand before the Mayor ascended and was vulnerable. 3. Buffy & Xander gave the students the means to defend themselves, which the kids of Sunnydale agreed was necessary and right (Liz K, 01 Dec 2000 16:26)

"Guys, take a moment to deal with this. We survived. ...Not the battle. High school." -Oz

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Season 4

The Freshman
The Metaphysics of "The Freshman"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 4 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

The invitation to vampires: The campus vamps cull a few freshman every year by making it appear as if they left school. But how can they enter a college dorm room to steal all the student's stuff and leave "the note"? The invitation to vampires is sensitive to the occupant's rights regarding their living quarters. Dorms are somewhere between hotel rooms (accessible) and apartments (inaccessible) on the resident's rights scale: A dorm room is not a private residence.... The student pays a room fee, but it is no more his or her "home" than a motel room... (Oct 6 14:27 1999) In Dorms your time there is completely dictated by the school, they tell you when you can move in, when you can move out, that you have to be gone by this time at the end of the semester, etc (Lovely Poet, Oct 6 14:14 1999). On the other hand, I was an RA in college and one thing students have is rights regarding their rooms. RA's can't just walk-in when they want to. They can never do that unless it's announced in advance (prebreak inspection) or they have a search warrant of some kind. What's more a dorm room is rented living space just like an apartment or a house.... (sofrina, 12 Oct 1999 13:58)

Good and Evil in "The Freshman"

Sunday and her lackeys: Every school has 'em. You start a new school, you get your desk, some blackboards and some mean kids. In this case, though, the bullies are vamps out for blood. Their predatory evil and the arrogance works for a while against the disoriented Buffy, but she's a freshman college student, not a freshman slayer. In the end, they're dust. Buffy has always been an emotional fighter. Her emotions are what drive her. If she's confused and insecure, that's going to show through in her fighting (horizon, Oct 5 21:40 1999). Xander gets the gang assembled to help Buffy fight Sunday, but not before doing a little slayersupport on his own. His honest and open admission of admiration for Buffy came just when she needed it most (Lovely Poet, Oct 5 19:21 1999)

Moral Ambiguity in "The Freshman"

Giles is a little dismissive to Buffy, but things aren't the way they were before graduation I think the change in the relationship between Giles and Buffy is interesting and very real... the uneasiness and awkwardness and distance between the two works well and rings true for what happens when you "leave home" (DSP, Oct 12 19:34 1999).

Philosophies Represented in "The Freshman"

Freshman angst: In many ways, our environment helps define who we are and who we can be. If we feel comfortable in our surroundings, we are free to thrive and grow. If we are not comfortable, we're constrained by the ever-present need to rebel against or adjust ourselves to something essentially foreign to us. At UC Sunnydale, Buffy can't find herself in the college context and begins to doubt even the part of herself that she has the most confidence in--her slaying. The best thing about this episode was the nature of isolation Buffy felt entering college and how diffrent relationships truely are. ...there was this uncomfortable sense of change and growth. ...in thinking of all the feelings/changes it implied and the difficult task of rebuilding a certain structure for all the characters and thier places in this new enviroment, it succeded extremely well (Ahriman, Oct 6 15:11 1999). Buffy's awkwardness and lack of usually witty repartee was perfect to exemplify the confusion that can strike freshman. ...Do I think something like college jitters could rattle Buffy so much? Perhaps not alone, but combine it with the other things that happened before her first face off with Sunday and crew (Lovely Poet, Oct 5 19:21 1999). When Buffy begins to integrate her new college life with the things that have defined her in the past--her friendships (Xander's pep-talk) and her slayer identity (responding to Sunday breaking her class protector umbrella), she gets her confidence back.

Living Conditions
The Metaphysics of "Living Conditions"
The Mok'Togar are a race of trans-dimensional demons (meaning, they make a habit of passing over from the demon dimension whence they came to the Earthly plane through an interdimensional whirlpool). They pass as human with a little disguise reminiscent of slave-driver Ken or cover their wrinkly skin and glowing green eyes in cloaks. As a race of "regenerating demons", the Mok'Togar can grow back parts of their bodies that are dismembered (e.g., Kathy's "evil toenails". See also the Mohra Demons). While in non-demon disguise, the Mok'Togar can only recognize each other due to their lack of a soul. Kathy, a sort of run-away child of this demon race, intends to fool her elders when they come to bring her back by performing a ritual that will allow her to take possession of a human soul. The ritual of Mok'Togar: Buffy recalls the real-life soul-sucking as a series of bad dreams. In one, a demon like the one who attacked her on campus forces animal blood into her mouth and puts a scorpion on her stomach, then proceeds to draw life energy out from between her lips. In another dream, the demon paints characters and symbols on Buffy's stomach in blood before draining energy from her mouth. What was Kathy trying to steal from Buffy (What is a Buffyverse "soul")? 1. The consciousness and personality? It is hard to see why Kathy doesn't have a soul already on this meaing, albeit a demon soul. Under this meaning, if Kathy were to steal Buffy's human soul, Buffy's mind and consciousness would enter Kathy's body. That does not seem to be what Kathy is after. 2. The "life-force"--the energy that keeps a person alive? If Kathy was after Buffy's human life energy, Buffy would have ended up a lifeless corpse. 3. The moral conscience? Given the equivalence of the word "soul" and the moral conscience in Buffyverse nomenclature, this is the likely candidate for what Kathy was stealing. Buffy began to show signs of losing her conscience--she became homicidally hostile towards Kathy and violent with her friends after Kathy's rituals began. However, if Kathy had succeeded in stealing Buffy's soul, it might have backfired on her. The minute she had it, she'd have felt obligated to give it back. The spell to reverse a soul-transfer: Giles lights three tall candles and recites a supplication while Willow lights a small candle and burns incense. Elders of the upper reaches, Elders of the lower reaches, Elders of the dry land, Elders of the river flats... Ancients, I beseech you. The soul abstracted, let it revert to its true seat. Let the unnatural vessel be emptied, let the essence be returned to its original host. As Kathy tries to finish her soul-sucking, the life energy she has already taken flows back into Buffy's mouth.

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "Living Conditions"

Although literally the roommate from hell, Kathy was not very evil. All she really wanted was to go to college among humans. Siphoning off Buffy's soul was not of the good, but it was a pragmatic need, not a predatory one. If Kathy can be accused of any evil, it is a human evil-selfishness. Trust Buffy's judgment or stage an intervention? When Buffy borders on Cordelia-esque her friends dismiss it at first as an only child's reaction to living in close quarters with a fastidious stranger. But when her hostility towards Kathy escalates to threats of homicide, they decide to restrain her. While the gang normally trusts Buffy's judgment as a slayer, they have good reason to doubt Buffy:

most of the annoying habits Buffy complains about (Kathy's music, jeans-ironing, and toenails) aren't capital crimes; Buffy's dreams indicate a demon is driving her to a murderous rage (Giles suggests she might be possessed); stabbing Faith to save Angel has proven that Buffy can attempt the murder of a human being in cold blood if she is desperate enough (there are other "hot-blooded" examples).

In this case, the gang is wrong and Buffy's spider-sense is working well, although it was fueled by having her soul drained and just a bit of only-child brattiness. The whole point of the ep was that with an insufferable roommate you become equally insufferable -- you become a parody of yourself. And the end was meant to drive that home (joss, Oct 12 22:40 1999). Buffy's spoiled...no doubt in my mind, but... I think that a lot of her "spoiledness" stems ironically from her life as a slayer...a life that is rather giving in many senses of the word. ... [but] a lot of things revolve around her, her friends have sacrified and given up a lot in their friendships with her, and she's rather used to getting her way ...she may be spoiled, but she's not as selfish and/or self-centered as she could possibly be under other circumstances (Charity aka Taygeta, Oct 13 01:42 1999).

The Harsh Light of Day

The Metaphysics of "The Harsh Light of Day"
The Gem of Amara is a green stone set in a ring. It is imbued with a mystic power (via a spell?) that makes the vampire who wears it immune to the things that normally kill or harm them. The ring doesn't make the vampire all-powerful, however. Spike still got a fist full of Buffy before she pulled the ring off his finger and sent him running for the sewers.

Anya's origins

Evil in "The Harsh Light of Day"

Spike is once again the nasty vamp we knew before the organ fell on him in WML. He slams around his minions (including girlfriend VampHarmony), sinks his fangs into a victim behind a dumpster, and doesn't compromise an inch with the slayer. Undefeated evil

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "The Harsh Light of Day"

Making assumptions "Did he play the sensitive lad and get you to seduce him? It's a good trick, if the girl is thick enough to buy it." --Spike They saw each other "moderately incessantly" for a week. Parker asked Buffy about her interests, and talked to her about loss and the choice to live for today. And Buffy made a choice, confident of what she was doing, at least that night. When Parker gave her the cold shoulder afterwards, and Buffy found him giving his dead-dad line to another girl, she felt duped. Was Parker a Poophead? Or were there just mixed signals? One of the greatest contributors to differences of opinion and differences in ethical viewpoints is different starting assumptions. Parker's actions were not wrong. Buffy's assumptions were. She needs to take responsibility for that, but at no point does she say 'I should have gotten to know him better' or 'I should have been clearer about my expectations' or 'I took the whole thing more seriously than I should have'. I'm not saying she shouldn't be disappointed that reality didn't match up with her fantasies. ...Spending time together for a week, even if you mix in coffee and dating nervousness, does not a relationship make. I also find nothing wrong with someone turning on the charm when they pursue me for sex, and don't assume it's anything more than sex when it happens. Sex can be about something more, but that doesn't mean I should expect it to be so. Buffy was a victim of her own romantic fantasies, not a victim of Parker. ...it wasn't Parker that hurt Buffy, it was Buffy that hurt Buffy (Joe Beason - Oct 20, 1999). Buffy hurt herself & Parker helped - a LOT. He was not clear to her in any way that his intention was to have "fun", just once. "You have no idea what it's like to finally find someone who really understands" is not an intro to "I'd like to have sex with you when it suits me without having to be nice to you." It's not his fault that she was so naive. But then, if she wasn't so naive, why bother playing her like that? Maybe because nobody else would buy that line of crap... I don't think that, given the situation, her expectations were utterly in the realm of fantasy, just somewhat unrealistic. And i don't think her reaction was unjustified, considering his approach. If she had only met him at the party, that would have been a different story (tessera Oct 20, 1999).

Parker's defense Buffy Buffy reminds me of child prodigies who can often be overly developed in one area but completely under developed in others. I think her strength as slayer/fighter of demons and vamps and monsters comes out in times of great "end of world" crises, and if the personal crisis overlaps with a world crisis she can deal much better (Angel/Acathla). What happened with Parker OTOH was very much removed from any kind of "end of world" crisis and in the absent of that familiar framework, Buffy showed herself to be naive and vulnerable and woefully insecure when it comes to sex and men. I actually quite like this contradiction (DSP, Feb 7 13:37 2000). Sex in the Buffyverse While Buffy wakes up to find the guy gone again, Anya discovers that sex isn't the ideal method for "getting a guy out of her mind". In fact, the only people who really seem to be enjoying their sex lives these days are the vampires, and it's really only the sex that Spike enjoys with Harmony.

Fear, Itself
The Metaphysics of "Fear, Itself"
The ritual to summon Gachnar: This Gaelic demon (see below) is brought into being in a three-part ritual: 1. the mark of Gachnar is drawn. It is a circle within a circle, with runes spaced within the outer circle (the frat boys paint the circle on the floor). 2. a drop of blood is sprinkled on the symbol (Oz inadvertently flings his blood onto it). At this point, Gachnar has the ability to distort matter and reality in the dwelling where he is being summoned. He turns fake objects into their real counterparts (e.g., spiders, bats, cobwebs) and brings forth the deepest fears of those in the frat house. 3. the mark of Gachnar is destroyed (accomplished when Buffy punches through the symbol), and Gachnar rises out of the broken symbol. Gachnar has little physical power but a lot of psychological power (see also the First Evil). The action-figure-sized "Dark Lord of Nightmares" is much more dangerous in his half-manifested state (2). You know the drill: when you face your fears, they're not as big as you imagined them to be. It is unclear how Gachnar embodies the fears of those he torments. It may be a form of telepathy, or it may simply be an ability to manifest what is in someone else's mind without knowing what it is.

The Guiding Spell: This short incantation conjures an emissary from beyond the Earthly plane to light the way for travelers who have become lost or disoriented: Aradia, Goddess of the lost, the path is murky, the woods are dense, darkness pervades. I beseech thee... bring the light. A green floating dot appears and (ideally) takes the traveler where they asked to be lead. Willow's werewolf scratch Werewolf scratches will not turn the scratchee into a werewolf. Bites, folks. Bites do it. (Need a little wolf saliva mixing in with the blood, you see.) ([BtVS/AtS writer David] Fury, Oct 26 23:24 1999).

Good and Evil in "Fear, Itself"

Gachnar: What the frat boys brought forth is a classic example of evil-as-chaos. Chaotic evil is a relatively weak form of evil that enjoys turning its enemies own deficiencies against them. Gachnar is inadvertently summoned, wackiness ensues, and his victims became the authors of their own demise. For another good example, see Ethan Rayne's visits to Sunnydale. The good of Giles

Moral Ambiguity in "Fear, Itself"

When Buffy is in the land of not dealing, she tends to hide behind her slayer persona in a lonerhero kind of way (e.g., WSWB, The Prom). She aims her angst at beasties that, as Giles points out, she's not likely to encounter on Halloween, instead of the real source of her troubles--boys and college classes. When Buffy does encounter Gachnar, her other telling tendency-impulsiveness--comes out full-blown. Luckily, this time, the repercussions were small. It is interesting how her fear of the futility of finding lasting male love was manifested by her fear of the futility of fighting evil as the slayer. Willow has the witch-basics down--levitation, charms, glamours. She is now contemplating the next level--transmutation and conjuring. Gone are the days when Willow was content to be a "slayerette". Her growing witch powers are making her want to be, and feel she is, Buffy's equal in fighting the supernatural. But when Willow's "simple" incantation goes awry, we see that she both fears and desires these powers at the same time. Oz Oz's sense of isolation was the most poignant part of this ep. ...The show has hinted at Oz's bitterness and a sense bewilderment at his lack of control. But this one went a long way towards showing Oz as more than just sweet and unflappable. The scene in the tub where he's chanting "I'm not gonna change!" was heartbreaking.... (sofrina, 10/27/99 7:46 AM)

The Zeppo: Xander continues to feel left out of the gang now that he's non-college guy. This manifests itself as invisibility. Unlike Marcie's invisibility (IG), Xander is neither heard nor felt, either. This fear isn't new to him. He is still working out his normal-guy role in his supernaturally-talented circle of friends. Anya's big fear isn't snakes or unbeatable foes or losing control of herself. It's bunnies. The things of nightmares and scary Halloween costumes. I think Anya's fear was being separated from Xander and trapped in the person of something cute and fuzzy. I think it's an appropriate fear for Anya to deal with because she ...has lost her demon powers (DeMoriel, Oct 27 15:45 1999).

Beer Bad

The Metaphysics of "Beer Bad"

Sigmund Freud's Psychoanalysis divides our personalities into three parts--the Ego, Id, and Superego. The "Ego" refers to the rational part of our minds, the part that gets information from the world that we need to know and forms logical conclusions based on that information. The "Id" is our infantile, animal-like side, the side that tells us what we want--food, shelter, sex, etc. Like an infant, it only knows that it wants and is incapable of following rules or restraints. This is the job of the Superego, which reminds us of Society's expectations and the rules and goals which individuals have developed for themselves. In short, the Ego tells us what is, the Id tells us what we wish for, and the Superego tells us what we should wish for. In an integrated personality, the three work together to satisfy the individuals' needs and help them get along with others.

A Freudian analysis of Angel's demonic struggle Spike's Oedipal complex Vampires as a symbol ...they're the id -- the ungoverned part of human nature, and yes, certainly, sex is part of that (BtVS/AtS writer Jane Espenson, Feb 5 17:43 2000). Angel's Oedipal complex

Cursed Beer: A variety of colored potions simmer in flasks, then blend and go down a tube into the beer keg. It is likely that this is just an otherwise innocuous chemical mixture that turns beerdrinkers into cavemen when commingled on the good ol' Hellmouth. The other possibility is that

those flasks contain skunk root or eye of newt and the chemistry set was cursed with the appropriate incantation. We are Devo: After the first round, the beer makes Buffy and the frat boys unable to respond to anything but the simplest stimuli--food, beer, music, and other people. Over the course of the next day, they gradually become pure Id (e.g., Buffy stealing the sandwich without guilt). The next round of binge drinking causes them to physically mutate into Cro-Magnon, an early variety of homo sapiens colloquially known as "Cave Men". The Cro Magnon were not gibbering, territorial monkeys like the frat boys, but this is a vengeance spell, after all. Despite their limited mental capacity, the Cro-Mags obviously retain some memory of their current lives; they just can't make sense of most of it. Buffy, for instance, remembers her negative feelings towards Parker. She also remembers her name, and can use at least some of her slayer skills.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Beer Bad"

Jack: It was irresponsible, as Xander pointed out, but you can't totally blame the pub owner for just wanting to bring the pretentious college boys down a peg. They can talk in big, big words, but after a few hours of trickle-down beer economics and pseudo-relativist drivel they end up saying nothing of significance and aren't much different from a group of red-neck guzzlers they would vocally disdain. As long as no one got seriously hurt, why not turn them into grunting cavemen for a day? There's something satisfyingly poetic about it. It is a bit puzzling why Buffy's Id would send her towards the fire, rather than away from it, especially since she declared it "bad". Of course, we know she has slayer instincts deep, deep down, but this is the same girl who has been moping for weeks over a boy her Ego tells her is a jerk. In some ways, Buffy's Id is a lot smarter without her Superego (with all society's expectations for dating and sexual behavior) interfering. Her instincts have it right--save bad boy from fire, but don't let bad boy's swarmy apology get too far past his lips. He meant it tonight, but will claim differently in the morning. Best *Thud* since Tom in Reptile Boy. The image of the cave man with a club in one hand and the hair of the woman he's dragging back to his den in the other is probably a myth reconstructed out of the past by an archeology plagued with an incomplete data record and sexist assumptions. However, a little role reversal could count as poetic justice of a sort. Parker Abrams' behavior certainly fits the stereotype of the male philanderer. A low-brow cave-woman Buffy knocking him a couple times in the noggin', responding to emotions she can only feel but not understand, falls more or less into the "he had it comin'" category.

Ethical Quandaries in "Beer Bad"

He said, She said: Willow vs. Parker on negotiating sex The issue between Willow and Parker really isn't whether or not sex ought to be a recreational activity of two acquaintances sharing one night. Willow readily agrees that consensual casual sex can be O.K. The issue between them is what needs to be said between the two parties involved before doing the deed.

Willow argues that the mutual decision to engage in sex assumes, at minimum, respect between two people. Hence, if someone intends only a one-night stand, the responsibility is on that person to say so, not on the other person to ask if that's true. Parker responds that taking the time to give a sober explanation of one's intentions negates what is most enjoyable about sex--the passion that fuels it. Without prior negotiation, it is wiser for both partners not to assume anything about what the act of sex signifies--certainly, neither should assume it means there is or will be a relationship. To his credit, Parker gives a (less-than-convincing) apology for misleading Buffy. But then he starts giving his smooth "we're connecting" lines to Willow. Willow calls him on the way he uses deception--the promise of longer-term intimacy--to get the one-night stand to happen.

Wild at Heart
Metaphysics and Moral Ambiguity in "Wild at Heart"
The animal within: Oz thought he had a little condition that interfered with his life three nights out of the month, but that was manageable with a cage and a sympathetic girlfriend. But hints of his wolfiness started to surface in his human life. The two states of being (human and werewolf) are not completely unconnected. Oz isn't the type to stray--he is a gentleman who loves and respects Willow. But he is not all Oz these days. Veruca brings the Oz-wolf out in Oz in a way he can't deny. Yet when Buffy asks him about "two wild dogs", Oz claims not to know anything about a second werewolf. Why would he lie? To protect Veruca? This seems unlikely. At worst, Buffy would shoot Veruca with a tranquilizer dart, or lock her up. If Oz had told Buffy the truth, they could have avoided killing Veruca to save an innocent. If Oz had told the truth, any long-term decisions about what to do with the wolf-woman would have involved Veruca's input, and would not have included her death. Oz didn't tell somebody, as Willow pointed out, because there was a much more appealing way to stop Veruca from doing harm--lock her in the cage with him over night. Bad mojo: Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and when Willow discovers Oz and Veruca, naked and entwined on the floor of his cage, she summons the power of the worst minions of hell to feed her vengeance curse--to give the betrayers a life of misery in which they will never know love again. In the chemistry lab of UCS, Willow mixes herbs and powders. She has a flame burning in a bowl nearby: I conjure thee, by Barabas, by Satanas, and the Devil. As thou art burning, let Oz and Veruca's deceitful hearts be broken.

She puts the herb mixture in the bowl, which stokes the flame. I conjure thee by the Saracen Queen, and the name of hell. Let them find no love or solace, let them find no peace as well. At this point, Willow is making nearby beakers float. She prepares to throw a picture of Oz in the fire. Let this image seal his fate, not to love, only hate. When she looks at his photo, however, her hatred isn't enough to finish. But that was a little too close for comfort.

Ethical Quandaries and Philosophies Represented in "Wild at Heart"

Is the morality of the predator a justified way of life?

This morality holds that what is natural is morally correct--it is wrong to impose any external human value systems on animals acting on their instincts. Therefore, Veruca should be allowed to run free as a wolf, even if people get hurt, and killing Willow is justified because it is a natural act when an animal fights their rival to win a mate, regardless of the outcome. We've seen precedents to Veruca's "do what comes naturally" morality:

The Primals, a sect of animal worshipers ("The Pack") who sought the "purer" animal state by bringing the spirit of predatory animals into themselves. Natalie French's rationalization for her deeds--it is simply the way nature designed the praying mantis.

Oz chooses to impose human moral strictures on his werewolf side. No one is forcing him into a cage, no one is telling him, "don't hurt anybody". He is doing and saying these things for himself. Veruca, however, believes Willow is the "reason" Oz does not think as she does--he is giving into human morality because of his hormones. If Oz weren't "Willow-whipped", Veruca concludes, he would share Veruca's animal morality. Veruca goes further than merely letting her werewolf side run free for three nights. She embraces the belief that the wolf side is the real her, present all the time behind a human disguise. If this is true, then according to her predator morality, she should also give in to her animal instincts the rest of the time, too. Reason will not change Veruca's mind, because she already has her reasons. So Oz treats her like an animal--he seduces her to get her inside his cage, and he kills her to protect Willow. It is

interesting that he makes up his mind to incapacitate or kill Veruca while still human. Oz begins his attack on her before the transformation is complete, and so essentially gives his human goals to the werewolf. The werewolf may have helped him make up his mind about Veruca's fate, but Oz did it out of love for Willow. The werewolf neither recognizes nor cares for Willow, as evidenced by how he turned on her just before Buffy arrived and tranquilized him. Sententia on Is Oz responsible for killing Veruca?

The Initiative
The Metaphysics of "The Initiative"
Behavior Modification: for the behaviorist, psychology is the scientific study of observable behavior, rather than mental activity. Behaviorists study "stimulus and response conditioning": observable increases or decreases in the frequency, duration or variety of precisely defined behaviors (responses) due to particular changes in environmental stimuli. The Principles of Operant Conditioning Desirable behavioral responses are strengthened through positive reinforcement--presenting a reward (stimulus) when the desired behavior is displayed, or negative reinforcement--removing an undesirable stimulus when the desired behavior is displayed. Positive reinforcement would be Giles giving Buffy a cookie when she does her slayer job well. Negative reinforcement would be Giles not letting Buffy go out with her friends to the Bronze until Buffy finishes training and patrolling for the evening. Undesirable behavior responses are weakened through punishment--presenting an aversive stimulus or removing a rewarding stimulus when the undesired behavior is displayed. The first kind of punishment is zapping Spike with a painful electric shock when he tries to bite people. The second is refusing to feed a vampire prisoner blood packets until he stops trying to escape. If Spike was "fixed", how did he fight his way out of the Initiative? ...This was one of the great foul ups in Buffy history. ...Spike was hitting everybody -- in the initiative, in the dorm hall, it was insane. ...We couldn't reshoot most of it so we edited it so that all he did was throw people, not punch them, and when he did punch someone he went "Arrgh my head" and whatnot (Joss, Jan 29 17:18 2000).

Vampire physiology If Spike's temperature is room temperature, then how would his image stand-out to an infrared scanner? (wolfguard, Jan 21 17:51 2000). How old is Spike?

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "The Initiative"

The limitations of behavior modification It doesn't make criminals any less "evil"...in Clockwork Orange, Alec still wanted to engage in acts of random violence, he just couldn't. I guess it's the old question of what the criminal justice system is supposed to achieve...are we punishing the criminals for what they've done, or are we protecting society from people who have shown themselves to be a danger to others? Well, probably both, but if it's mostly the latter, one could argue that rendering them harmless, even if it doesn't make them any less "evil" inside, is more humane than locking them up permanently, and it achieves the same goal of protecting the populace. If punishment is the primary goal, than death or imprisonment might still be considered preferable (Mircalla, Nov 17 22:01 1999) Sexual violence: It's another cute Spike and Willow moment until we stop thinking of him as the emotionally sensitive vampire we think we know and look at the situation from another perspective. A man enters a woman's college dorm room, threatens her, and when she tries to run, he throws her on the bed, turns up the stereo to block out the sound of her screams, and then attacks her. The only thing that saves Willow is Spike's Clockwork Orange impotence. From this point of view, Willow's need for reassurance about her desirability is not so funny. A vampire's bite is about predatory violence, and in this case, revenge. To think of it as sexy is to equate all such attacks with the more benevolent moment from Graduation, and to forget how even then Buffy had to coerce Angel to feed on her and that she almost died as a result of it. Wimpy Buffy? ...her real strength lies [i]n helping others. Buffy has been whiny and off balance all season. It now becomes clear why: ...She doesn't have the self confidence to defend herself from verbal or emotional abuse, whether it's a jerk-off teacher kicking her out of class, a &*%$# guy using her and tossing her aside, or her loathed enemy throwing verbal barbs about her love life. Buffy was forced to grow up quickly when she gained her slayer powers, but those powers did not come with emotional and mental maturity built into them. She is still only 18 and uncertain of who and what she is. But she does know one thing well. How to fight for others. When she stood up to Maggie for Willow, I cheered. Buffy's fight is for the underdog, and she was definitely in her element (Sioned, Nov 17 09:15 1999). Giles and Xander: more alike than different? The Initiative: good, evil, or amoral?

The moral ambiguity of Riley

Philosophies Represented in "The Initiative"

Post break-up blues: If anything qualifies as the bona fide "meaning of life", the spice that makes day-to-day existence worthwhile, it's the company of those we love and who love us. People who find such love are, to quote Doyle's clich, the luckiest people of all. But what happens when that love is gone? In an existentialist universe, there are no guarantees beyond the physical laws that bind us, and love, as wonderful as it is, doesn't have a power equal to gravity. So why not, as Willow suggests to Riley, just forget it at the outset? Why put yourself through that kind of pain, becoming a broken, hollow mockery of the human condition? Such reasoning assumes that love will inevitably fail, and that outcome is not guaranteed in an existentialist universe, either. The only good advice is another clich--"take a chance."

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Season 4

Pangs
The Metaphysics of "Pangs"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 4 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

Hus: The Sunnydale Mission was buried in an Earthquake in 1812. Xander breaks through the ground above it on a construction job and soon comes down with malaria, small pox, and syphilis. Later, a green glowing mist escapes from the ruins and floats to the UCS Cultural Center. When it encounters an early 1800's Chumash knife, the mist transforms into a Chumash warrior, who slits the throat of the Curator and cuts off her ear. It is unlikely that the warrior is the ghost of an actual person. Rather, he is the embodiment of the Chumash's desire for vengeance spawned by the proximity of the Hellmouth:

Hus attacks people who are symbols of his enemies--the Catholic Father (religion used as tool of oppression), the Curator (the "grave robber" who pilfers the Chumash's property), and Buffy, the strongest warrior among the conquerors' descendants. And he attacks them in symbolic ways--all of his actions are re-creations of the evils that were done to the Chumash. Hus states outright that he is an agent of the Chumash: "I am vengeance. I am my people's cry. They cry for Hus. For the avenging spirit to carve out justice."

Although Giles calls Hus an "Indian Spirit", this can mean a supernatural being from Native American spiritual beliefs, who often took animal forms. Hus is seen as a flock of ravens, a wolf, and a bear.

The ritual to call forth the warriors of vengeance: Hus takes bones, bows, and arrows, and lays them on the ground, saying: First people who dwell in the Mishupashup, hear me and descend. Walk with me upon the Itiashup again. Hear me also, Nunashush, spirits from below. Creatures of the night. Take human form and join the battle. Bring me my revenge! The incantation appears to call forth both ancestral spirits and demons. The warriors appear in a cloud of green smoke and take up the weapons Hus has gathered from the Cultural Center. Binding the Vengeance Spirit: Buffy stops the warriors by stabbing Hus with the ceremonial knife that originally embodied him. This causes Hus and the other warriors to turn back into the green smoke, which dissipates. It is unclear they have been "killed", they may just be "bound"-powerless to act on the Earthly plane.

Moral Ambiguity in "Pangs"

So, how long have you two been married? Anya, former avenging demon, becomes a nurturing "little woman" doting over a man ripe with some of the most communicable diseases known to humankind. At the height of his sickness and delirium, however, she takes issue with Xander's adamant opinion that "avenging demons should be killed!" "Sometimes vengeance is justified!" she remarks. "You know I didn't mean you," he replies. Harmony vs VampHarmony

Ethical Quandaries in "Pangs"

Is symbolic revenge justified? The Chumash were mistreated and their lands were taken from them. They have a right to revenge. Unfortunately, the Spanish and American settlers that were responsible for their demise are long dead; revenge isn't possible. Or is it? Can the descendants of the conquerors stand in their place? Buffy is disconcerted that Hus is not "black-hat evil"--that he may have a justified reason for what he is doing. But what he's doing, Giles points out, is killing innocent people. Buffy agrees Hus must be stopped, but wants to find a "non-slayee way to do it". She's done this before--Buffy didn't kill most of her human villains, and deliberately let some less human ones escape (e.g., the Go Fish monsters and VampWillow). Willow wants to redress the evils committed against the Chumash. But unless they pay compensatory damages to their descendants and pack up and leave en masse, this solution will

not represent justice to Hus; he will continue his campaign. Giles argues that Willow's sympathy for the Chumash has blinded her to the fact that they must stop Hus. "Stopping" and "killing" are not the same thing, however, and he fails to make it clear that he understands this distinction. Giles also argues that the situation is more volatile than Buffy believes it to be because "vengeance is a cycle"--it never stops. This depends on a big assumption, however. If each side sees any violence against them as calling for vengeance, even violence done in self-defense or in accordance with the other side's code of retribution, then vengeance does turn into an endless cycle; otherwise, it won't. Spike chimes in with a few arguments of his own: (1) "You won. You came in, and you killed them, and you took their land. That's what conquerors do. You don't see Caesar going around saying, 'I came, I conquered, but I feel really bad about it.'" In this argument, he has a point--"White guilt" does nothing for races who were wronged because it doesn't really change anything; the conquerors don't give up their privilege. Hus is out to avenge wrongs committed against his people, and no amount of hand-wringing apologies are going to change what happened in the past (or Buffy's Marie Antoinette-like comment that "you can have casinos now"). Since Hus has picked them as his targets, they had best prepare to defend themselves. (2) On the other hand, his second argument, "The history of the world isn't about people making friends. You had better weapons, and you massacred them, end of story," commits the naturalistic fallacy--"it happened, so it's justified". Facts alone do not decide right and wrong; facts and value systems both are required. Willow can still argue, "it happened, but it was wrong." Vox on Is symbolic revenge justified? and Are the Chumash deserving of the land?

Something Blue
The Metaphysics of "Something Blue"
The "I will it so" spell: Willow sits on the restroom floor in a ring of burning candles. Inside with her are four pans representing the ancient elements. She says, Hearken well ye elements, I summon thee now, and puts some herbs in a bowl. Control the outside, control within. Land and sea, fire and wind. Out of my passions, a web be spun. From this eve forth, my will be done. So mote it be.

She pours liquid from a goblet into the bowl. Energy moves from the bowl and inflames the candles until they brighten the entire room. The spell is successful, but only works when she's emotionally upset and speaking metaphorically or sarcastically. Her eyes shine briefly with a blue light and what she says comes to pass. Breaking the spell: Willow appears in a bolt of light in the crypt where her friends are and says: Let the healing power begin! Let my will be safe again. As these words of peace are spoken, let this harmful spell be broken. The truth spell: To get someone to 'fess up, you wave burning motherwort at them, and say Enemy, enemy be now quiet. Let your deceitful tongue be broken. Let no untruths be spoken. There's probably more involved than that, since Spike didn't spill the whole story about the camouflage guys. The incantation to summon D'Hoffryn: Anya draws a circle around her self in the sand. Kneeling in the circle, she says, Blessed be in the name of D'Hoffryn. Let this space be now a gateway to the world of Arashmaharr, where demons are spawned. We come in supplication. We bend as a reed in the flow of the... we come in the flow of the... She can't remember all the words, and so is not able to summon D'Hoffryn. Anya's Origins

Evil in "Something Blue"

The demon D'Hoffryn abducts Willow to Arashmaharr and makes her the same offer he made to Anya 1120 years ago. He's seen her anger at Oz's departure and the results of the spell she cast and assumes she performed the spell deliberately in her rage. He wants to develop her potential, create a being like Anyanka with incredible powers to unleash havoc on humanity. Since Anya calls his realm, "Arashmaharr, where demons are spawned," one can assume this is a regular habit of his--turning humans into evil demons. As such, he's a prime example of evil-as-corruption.

Moral Ambiguity in "Something Blue"

When Willow finds Oz's things gone from his room, neither drinking nor her friend's unsatisfactory sympathy dull the pain. So Willow turns to a spell to make her bad feelings go "poof". The effects of the spell on her friends gets the attention of the demon D'Hoffryn. But Willow's spell is not one of spite, only of grief, and she doesn't take up his offer. D'Hoffryn gives her an amulet to summon him anyway. Willow is letting her negative feelings guide her actions too much. This was the second time she tried to use magic in a not so friendly way, only to have it blow up in her face. She is still insecure about her place with the Slayerettes, and thinks magic is the equalizer. ...To her credit, she turned down the offer to be a vengeance critter like Anya. ...Could this be how Anya got started? Could Willow, in a heated moment, decide to take up the offer? (NuPhalanx, Dec 10, 1999 5:08 AM) The idea behind this ep was when a perfectly nice person is in a lot of pain, eventually they take it out on the people around them. ...It's not that the gang is insensitive, but when you're in pain you forget everyone else has problems too (joss, Nov 30 20:41 1999). The moral ambiguity of Spike

Hush
The Metaphysics of "Hush"
Psychic dream: Buffy falls asleep in Psychology class and dreams that she is still in class. The dream segues into a kiss with Riley. Then Buffy hears a distant humming and goes out into the hallway, where she sees a young blonde girl (possibly herself as a child) singing: Can't even shout, can't even cry, the Gentlemen are coming by. Looking in windows, knocking on doors, they need to take seven and they might take yours. Can't call to mom, can't say a word, you're gonna die a-screaming, but you won't be heard. Riley touches her shoulder. When she turns around, she briefly glimpses one of the Gentlemen. The Gentlemen's modus operandi, as Giles explains, is to enter a town, steal the voices of its residents, and take seven hearts out of still-living, conscious victims. These ghouls come in two varieties--the deceptively polite morticians, who dress in suits and carry doctor bags that contain their scalpels. They travel by floating above the ground and wear chilling grins on their faces. Aiding them are the straight-jacket wearing rigors, who traipse along like apes. They perform the muscle work--holding down victims and fighting off Buffy and Riley. The voices are not stolen simply to prevent victims from making noise, In the original fairy tale, the Gentlemen were killed when a princess was able to regain her voice and scream.

According to the buffy.com synopsis, the Gentlemen need seven hearts "to survive". However, this isn't made clear in the dialogue. Fan thoughts on "why take seven hearts?": Maybe after a while they needed new hearts for themselves (Ryan, Dec 16 12:43 1999) [see also The Puppet Show]. I rather thought they needed them in the way that demons need to harvest organs - for consumption... (Jan 21 09:49 2000) ...often in fairy tales to make or break an enchantment, hearts had to be eaten (Wicked Queen orders huntsman to take Snow White out to the woods, cut out her heart and bring it to her in a wooden box so that she could eat it, for example. Why she wanted to eat it? Maybe to somehow acquire Snow White's beauty? Envy?) (Closet Buffyholic, Dec 16 10:10 1999). When Buffy and Willow walk through town, they pass a group of worshipers, one who is holding up a sign reading "Revelations 15:1", a passage from the Bible. Revelations, 15:1. "THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES. Then I saw in heaven another sign, great and awe-inspiring: seven angels with the seven plagues, for through them God's Fury is accomplished" (David Fan, Dec 16 10:34 1999). Rev 15:1 ...may have been the "reverend's" interpretation of the 7 demons rather than Joss' point in the 7 hearts (Leather Jacket, Dec 16 11:32 1999). The fact that we don't know why creeps me out all the more! And I'd be willing to be that's what Joss intended (MeeB, Dec 16 11:42 1999).. Stealing the voices: At night after the residents of Sunnydale have gone to sleep, the Gentlemen use some mystical means not clearly specified to remove the "noise-making" properties of everyone's throats. These "voices" travel across the city and enter a distinctive-looking wooden box, which one of the Gentlemen closes so that the voices are trapped there. Killing the ghouls: Buffy recognizes the box where the voices are trapped from her dream. When Riley smashes it at her request, the voices escape the box and snap back into the throats of their original owners. This allows Buffy to scream. The sound of a loud human voices causes the ghoul's heads to explode. The traditional horror image of the victim screaming as she sees the monster for the first time is a weak one. I love the way Joss took this imagery and turned it around, so that even Buffy's scream had unbelievable power, and could kill (Safarigirl, Dec 14 20:53 1999). Willow's emerging witchhood

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Hush"

I thought it was interesting in Hush to see Riley and Buffy confront each other with rifle and crosbow--sort of old world meets new (Suzanne, Jan 19 08:22 2000). Giles finds reference to the Gentlemen in a book on fairy tales. Un-Disneyized fairy tales were (often gruesome) stories of the evils human beings commit upon each other--murder, child abduction, slavery, theft--and the human folly that leads to them--naivete, vanity, envy, or greed. Fairy tale monsters, therefore, are allegories of human monsters, including sociopaths, killers, and psychotics. The Gentlemen's politeness, smiles, and neat clothing are characteristic of some of the most notoriously deceptive human predators. Their lack of apparent motive parallels the puzzlement we humans feel when faced with monsters of our own species. What drives a human being to kill children, or mutilate young women? It is our fear of this very real unknown that inspired many well-known fairy tales. Because of the mayhem they brought about while on their "mission", the Gentlemen are examples of evil-as-chaos. Anya treats Giles' presentation on the ghoulish Gentlemen like a Saturday matinee, munching nonchalantly on popcorn while he puts drawings of people getting their hearts ripped out on the overhead projector.

Doomed

The Metaphysics of "Doomed"

The Vahrall demons are green, three meters (!) tall, and weigh between 100-120 kg. They have spines across the back of their scalps, and clawed hands. They also give off chemical pheromones as they go about their business. The ritual to open the Hellmouth: the apocalypse ritual du jour requires the blood of a man, the bones of a child, and a talisman known as "The Word of Valios". Willow finds the man--a dead student--in a dorm room. His chest has been carved with a symbol--an eye surrounded by emanating rays inscribed in a triangle. His blood has been drained from the wound. Once the demons have assembled the other ingredients, they chant around the Hellmouth, preparing to sacrifice themselves by jumping into it.

The ritual is thwarted when Buffy dives into the chasm where the portal will open (on a rope secured by Riley) and retrieves the third demon. Unanswered question: those pesky laws of physics still apply, most of the time, in the Buffyverse. So how did Buffy catch up to the demon? Maybe Buffy caught the demon when it hit the "ground" (before it could get up and run to the actual portal). That would explain how she could get it knocked out, grab the talisman, and how Riley could know that it was time to pull her back up (jan 19 12:55 2000) ... I remembered the scenes from Season 1, with the Master in the portal... there was a floor of sorts there [under the library] (Leather Jacket, Jan 19 13:49 2000). Science vs. Magic I loved the comparison between the Initiative and the Slayerettes. ...the Slayerettes were way ahead of the game. The members of the Initiative are beginning to remind me of Han Solo..."Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, Kid." (Sioned, Jan 19 12:06 2000) The Scooby Gang is not married to the methods of old. Whatever it takes to get the job done is what the Scooby Gang utilizes. If a rocket launcher is necessary to kill a demon bent on taking over the world, then a rocket launcher will be utilized. However, if a vampire has to be taken down with a special sword, the sword will be located and used. ...In all cases, the nature, goal and ability of the particular opponent will be researched thoroughly. This doesn't mean that the research has to be archaic ('stina, Jan 21 19:30 2000).

Good and Evil in "Doomed"

The Vahrall demons: Because their purpose is to bring about Armageddon--the return of the demons to this reality and hell on Earth, these demons are examples of evil-as-corruption. Is Spike still evil? I don't think Spike is good. I think Spike is a bloodthirsty bully who wants to fight. He's now found out that he can fight, but he can only fight demons. So fight them he will (Leather Jacket, Jan 19 13:49 2000). I don't think Spike is "good" now. ...They didn't restore his soul - they "neutered" him, so to speak. So, he's still a demon himself - he's just an impotent demon in that he can't bite and maim and kill like he used to. I think the scene where he tears into Willow and Xander shows what a cruel-hearted demon he is - he enjoyed destroying their egos - he knows they're at a fragile point in their self-identity, and he knows most (if not all) of what he said is pure crap, but he did it because he wanted to hurt them. Since he couldn't do so physically, verbally would have to do. That malicious smile he gives when he's walking away told the whole story for me (Closet Buffyholic, Jan 20 10:50 2000).

If you looked very carefully and didn't blink, you could see the balloon over Spike's head as he walked away from W&X - you know, the one that said, "There wasn't any part of that that wasn't fun" (Polgara, Jan 20 11:23 2000). The good of Xander

Moral Ambiguity in "Doomed"

Spike's neutered status raises interesting questions about the morality of his actions--is he good simply because he does good acts? Spike's behavior in the final scene [in Doomed] asks the question - which is more important good thoughts or good deeds? Spike may become a rogue demon hunter, but his motives are far from pure. Need they be? (wolfguard, Jan 19 20:55 2000) The experienced and pessimistic Buffy refuses to let commando-Riley help her prevent another apocalypse because his secret identity brings out her Angel issues. Riley's response: "Things fall apart Buffy. The evil--it comes and goes. But the way people manage is, they don't do it alone. They pull each other through." Duh, Buff. The naive but gung-ho Riley: Riley demonstrated a certain amount of Owenosity when it came to Buffy. Which could add to her freakingness. At least Riley has a lot more know-how and street smarts than Owen ever did (MeeB, Jan 19 13:28 2000). She's definitely right about Riley being an amateur. He really has no real clue what he's dealing with and it'll probably take a gut-wrenching emotional loss for it to hit home to him. Right now it's fun and games, not the timeless war b/t good and evil (Miss H. Mouse, Jan 18 20:36 2000).

Ethical Quandaries in "Doomed"

Should Spike be staked now? NO First, let us examine why Spike, or any other demon/vampire should be slain. One, because of the threat they pose to those around them. If Spike has been altered so he can no longer attack or feed off people, then he is no longer a threat to those around him. Two, because of their past crimes & misdeeds. ...a cost/benefits analysis can prove that an unliving Spike is more valuable then a pile of ashes. For example, his occult & supernatural knowledge can still prove a valuable resource which is why Giles consulted him in Hush. Three, because "they're Evil." This season especially has given us many examples of how demons are not solely evil, Spike's assistance with Acathla illustrates that there are definitely degrees of Evil, and that even evil can prove necessary to keep the world intact (Aiglos, Dec 15 21:38 1999).

YES Spike is right that he would drain them both dry if he could. why should anyone be nice to him? he's done horrible things, and he SHOULDN'T be alive. they should've just staked him after he gave them what little info he had on the Initiative. ...he's NOT nice, and deserves no nice treatment from anyone. Xander, as always, WAS CORRECT. spike is an evil vamp, and if he wants to die, then someone should help him (greengirl, Jan 19 11:39 2000).

A New Man
The Metaphysics of "A New Man"
The spell to turn Giles into a demon: we never see Ethan do this curse, but he no doubt bought the ingredients at the magic shop, whipped them up elsewhere, and slipped them into Giles' drink at the pub while he was in the loo. We also don't see Giles' transformation take place. Over night, he turns into a Fyarl demon, a large, hairy species with horns like a bull. They also have a paralyzing mucous that shoots out through the nose, and aren't known for their intelligence or self-initiative. Giles has their size, strength, language, and appearance. At first, he is psychologically human, with his personality and morality in tact. As time goes by, however, he begins to take on the psychological characteristics of the Fyarl demon, feeling rage and wanting to destroy things. Telekinesis: There is no rose "spell", and that's the point. Willow and Tara intend to use their minds alone (no incantations or potions) to float the rose in the air, pluck off its petals one by one, and bring them to the ground. It's a test of "synchronicity"--the ability to work in harmony with each other. The experiment is cut short when the magick from Ethan's curse interferes, sending the rose hurtling chaotically through the room. Written prophecy thwarted: Giles discovers a prophecy that says the demon Barvain will rise at the third new moon after the 900th feast of Delthrox. When he gets there, though, the Initiative soldiers have been and gone. Slayer spider-sense

Evil in "A New Man"

Ethan Rayne: The evil magician and worshiper of chaos is back in Sunnydale to do what he loves best--bringing mayhem into Giles' life. But turning Giles into a demon isn't his only

purpose for being in town; he's here to dig up information on "314". Though he tells Giles about it, it's unlikely he really wants to help Giles and the gang. It's more likely he is digging up information about it for a demon(s).

Good and Moral Ambiguity in A New Man"

Demons and evil: Joss has been blurring the lines between demon and person since the second season--this may be a milestone in that progression. We already know that demons can possess human feelings (Spike, Dru, book-vamp Dalton), some are neutral or fight for good (Whistler, Doyle, the guy with the Books of Ascension) and some demons once were humans (...Anya, for example). All the demons we've seen in the past, however, seem to be accepting of, if not always content with, their demon state. [A New Man], on the other hand, suggests that not all monsters are really monsters (Kiera, Jan 19 20:31 2000). Things have been a bit iffy for Giles since graduation, and being out of the loop on "the commandos" throws him completely. He allows himself to get drunk with long-time adversary Ethan Rayne and spills all to him about the Initiative. Self-doubt from the Ripper? One's 40's are hardly the "has-been" years, and Buffy still needs his guidance and skills. Giles feeling left out and replaced and neglected are all so reflective of what a parent feels when their child has left the nest. It made perfect sense to me that Buffy would ...want to check out the source of the "bad magicks" with Maggie first and not think of Giles. I think you can read the Initiative as a metaphor/allegory for the experience of going to college (or out on your own) and being awed by all the newfangled things out in the Real World as compared to the smaller world of "home" and "family." And your parents can suddenly seem like demons or alien creatures speaking in tongues when you are caught up in the rush of the newness and bigness of the world out there. The parent probably feels frustrated and unable to communicate anymore with his or her child. So when Buffy tried to kill the "demon" and then recognized Giles' eyes looking out at her it was a really effective way of showing the pull between strangeness and intimacy of parent-child relationships when the child is trying to strike out on her own and is coming into her own as an adult (DSP, Jan 25 22:54 2000). The Initiative taps 911 calls for trouble with "non-human" causes, has keys to the businesses in town, can do a "lock down" of dormitory rooms, and arrests Ethan Rayne on the authority of the US military. What exactly did they charge him with (since they don't buy into that magic stuff)? Even though he is probably not a US citizen, big trouble can ensue imprisoning him without giving just cause. No doubt part of the reason they take him to a secret detention facility. The military is forbidden by law from acting as a police force except on a military base and even there they have to turn them over to civilian authorities. Plus what crime did Ethan commit to get him arrested. Last time I checked turning someone into a demon is not a crime (DGH, Jan 30 12:44 2000).

Dr. Walsh I find it fascinating that the character of Maggie has been imbued with what we stereotypically consider "male" traits: aggressive, tough, blunt, no nonsense, unquestionably in charge etc. Certainly Buffy possesses those traits but Maggie doesn't have the pretty pink outfits or silver nailpolish (like our Slayer) to "soften" any of those characteristics (DSP, Jan 25 21:05 2000). Maggie may have authority over the soldiers in the Initiative, but there is a glaring absence of women in the Initiative facilities in anything but white lab coats. What's up with that? Women have been filling all manner of positions in the US Armed Forces, some of which put them in tanks, Humvee's, and ships that can come right in the line of fire. And these women are trained to use the weapons issued to them.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Season 4

The 'I' In Team

The Metaphysics of "The 'I' In Team"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 5 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

The incantation to ionize the atmosphere: Xander deduces that the dart in Spike's back is a tracer put there by the commandos. In order to block its signal while Giles pulls the device out, Willow reads an incantation. In her right palm, she holds Tara's dolls-eye crystal. Tropo, Strato, Meso Aero, Iono, Exo. Then she reads the Latin and English version of the following: Elements are brought to bear. Wind, Earth, and Water, churned amidst the Fire. Let the air be burned. A jolt of static electricity bolts through the room, making everyone's hair stand on end.

Fury: A quick question: since Willow's spells are hit or miss, did her having Tara's crystal help her make the ionizing spell work? (DSP, Feb 8 21:36 2000) Very astute, DSP ([BtVS writer David] Fury, Feb 8 21:47 2000). The metaphysics of Xander: His skills are fading with time, as would an actual soldier who hadn't kept up his training. However, once in a while a spark of memory or talent can provide helpful info (BtVS/ATS writer David Fury, Feb 9 11:59 2000). Demons: we see two different species of demons in this episode. 1. an unnamed species with tentacles growing out of their mouth area. This is the species Buffy sees being operated on in "The Pit", and that later are sent to kill her in the sewer. 2. the Polgara, who Buffy and the commandos are sent to capture. The Polgara don't have high IQ's, need to eat every couple of hours, and can be detected by a "protein marker". They also have keen eyesight and when threatened, produce bony protrusions from their forearms that are used as bayonets. Professor Walsh refers to them as belonging to the "Demon class, Polgara species", implying that either (1) there is more than one taxonomic classification for bad guys besides demons, or (2) demons are considered just another taxonomic class among those that classify the terrestrial animals. Slayer fighting skills

Moral Ambiguity in "The 'I' In Team"

Maggie seemed open to having the slayer on her team at first--key word, "team". Maggie liked having control over her soldiers. She expected them to take orders with little explanation, and even kept tabs on them with a hidden camera. But Buffy's loyalties were "uncertain"--in other words, our rogue slayer questioned and challenged things instead of following orders. When Maggie senses that Buffy knows a lot more than she lets on about the Initiative's behavior modification project, and notices that Buffy has considerable influence on Agent Finn (leading him to take a peak into the classified research area when Buffy asks him what 314 is), she decides to put an end to the slayer threat. She was not evil in the anti-human sense but did have questionable goals in her research. She seemed to have mixed emotions about Buffy's termination, it seems clear from her conversations with my namesake, that it wasn't something either one of them wanted to do, but they felt the security of the project was too important to let the Slayer get in the way. Buffy couldn't be controlled and there was no way to contain her without issues surrounding Riley's involvement (Angle Man, Feb 9 11:28 2000). Buffy sometimes pushes her friends away when she meets other professional "fry-cooks", and it's understandable. Her friends can fight, but Buffy needs someone to share the pains and

pleasures of her special calling with. The importance of this is brought home by the lifeaffirming erotic energy created when she fights side by side with her warrior peers--e.g., making love with Riley after battling the Polgara demon, sharing a passion with Angel for fighting evil as well as for each other, or engaging in a post-slayage dance with Faith. But we know from her break from the authority of the Watcher's Council that she is not going to fade into a camocolored crowd and become just another soldier. This is both a strength and a weakness. It's necessary for her to be quick-thinking and to trust her own judgment; however, she needs to know when she must rely on the knowledge and judgment of others, and a blanket anti-authority stance won't help her do that.

Ethical Quandaries in "The 'I' In Team"

Should the gang trust the Initiative? Xander wonders what the Initiative agenda is. Willow initially defends them by pointing out that they are anti-demon. Being anti-demon ain't what it used to be, though. Ex-demon Anya has problems with an anti-demon stance that can't differentiate the Polgaras from the Anyankas. Later, Willow echoes Xander's concerns to Buffy, asking what the point of neutering vampires and demons is, exactly. Is it to integrate them into human society? Or something else? Buffy is later convinced of their skepticism when Professor Walsh tries to have her killed. This does not prove the evil intentions of the Initiative, however. They are still a morally ambiguous lot. Willow's lies of omission

Goodbye Iowa
The Metaphysics of "Goodbye Iowa"
The spell to detect demons: Willow creates a "map" of Sunnydale by putting string into a square with crystals at each corner. Tara and Willow make a supplication to the goddess Thespia: Tara: Thespia, we walk in shadow. We walk in blindness. You are the protector of the night. Willow: Thespia, goddess. Ruler of all darkness, we implore you. Open a window to the world of the underbeing. At this point, the two witches are supposed to blow some sand into the square. When the sands mix, it creates a mist that will light up in different colors corresponding to the species of demons and their locations in the city. Willow blows her sand into the square, but Tara doesn't. She hides her sand under the bed and pretends to blow it. Willow has her eyes closed and doesn't notice. Willow: With your knowledge may we go in safety. With your grace may we speak of your benevolence.

Willow opens her eyes to see that the spell has failed. The metaphysics of Adam Deep inside the Initiative's facility is a room behind electronic locks. Room 314 is the nursery of a Frankenstein-like creature who is part-man, part-machine, and part demon (well, lots of parts from different demons). In fancy scientist talk, he is a "kinematically redundant biomechanical demonoid" designed to kill demons and stronger than Buffy. Its the military secret weapon lab in developing a super-soldier for multiple purposes (Roel, 12 Feb 2000 01:13). Adam runs on an "autonomic power source" (which means it's part of his involuntary nervous system). It is not biological, but atomic--a small resevoir of Uranium 235 (an element used in nuclear warheads) embedded in his chest near his spine. The power source allows Adam to operate without eating, and, as Jonathan discovers when he anlyzes Adam's design schematics, he cannot be stopped unless it is destroyed. Adam's identity crisis: Adam knows perfectly well what he is--a biomechanical hybrid of demon, human, and machine. Who he is is another question. He has a name and a mission, given to him by a scientist who thought of herself as his "mother". But he also has a "design flaw" that allows him to behave in ways contrary to the mission intended for him--being an obedient demon-hunting soldier. If he isn't who he was designed to be, then who is he? Who were the individuals (demons and human[s]) that went into making him up? Is he one of these individuals? If not, how much weight does each of those carry? Adam comes to a decision, finally, and that decision isn't good for Sunnydale. Does Adam have a human soul? Giles' tattoo: the mark of Eyghon

Moral Ambiguity and Philosophies Represented in "Goodbye Iowa"

Riley meets moral ambiguity: "I thought I knew. But I don't. I don't know anything." Nobody's perfect, not even in Iowa. But when Riley realizes Professor Walsh tried to have Buffy killed, and sees the slayer hanging out with Hostile 17, shooting the breeze with Willy the bartender, and finds his mentor Maggie dead of a stiletto wound, things seem even more gray than usual. Add in Professor Walsh's monsterific secret project, Riley and his buddies on supersoldier drugs, and a rather nasty withdrawal from those drugs, and his world isn't just askew, it's cock-eyed. He begins to wonder who he himself is. He has been the subject of behavioral, psychological, and chemical conditioning. Every one he thought was good is bad. Or is it that the ones he thought were bad might be good? Or maybe he's realizing how one and the same person can both evil and good at the same time.

Buffy meets moral ambiguity--again The Initiative. Buffy was suspicious, but fell for it anyway. she so wanted it to be good. it was attractive, military people with the same goal that she has, protecting people. ... when we are younger, we recognize and run away from certain evils. they are easily identifiable, night and day.... then we encounter people who we want to believe in and are in jobs to protect us -politicians, policemen, etc. -- and we discover that they are in it to ascend to their own personal higher plane, not ours. ...all of this growing up and recognizing badness (chemistry girl, May 10 08:44 2000) Forrest wanted to go out with Buffy when she was just another "mattressable" college coed. He found her tiresome when she was all his buddy Riley could talk about. When she turned out to be a skilled warrior with a mind of her own, questioning orders and putting herself at odds with Dr. Walsh, he called her a "supernatural freak" and questioned her loyalties. It's hard to judge him under the stress of Dr. Walsh's death and drug withdrawal, however. In his eyes, if Prof. Walsh tried to have Buffy killed, she had her reasons.... Plus, he suspected Buffy killed Maggie and of course he's going to be suspicious and hostile around her. He reminds me A LOT of Xander--generally easy going and laid back, but if someone or something threatens the people he cares about or his values he's not afraid to let you know it and is going to come up swinging (Nikki 21 Feb 2000 15:16). It's not just Riley's world that's been turned upside down- it's Forest's world, too (even more so: Riley lost Maggie but Forrest lost Maggie and was losing Riley) ...that would tend to leave someone scared and wanting to re-assert control (Little Bam Bam. Feb 16 13:14 2000). Forrest's fate Why did Tara sabotage Willow's demon-finding spell? The truth about Tara I think we feel uncomfortable with Tara because she is so uncomfortable in her own skin. I think she is afraid of her own power (not just talking wiccan power) just as early Willow was. I'm interested to see what she will be, who she is, underneath the stammering and the intimidation.... But I like her because she sees how special and powerful Willow is ...and validates her Wiccan interests and talents (DSP, Feb 8 21:18 2000). Am I the only one who has noticed that Tara is "a rat" spelled backwards? (MTVA, Feb 15 21:27 2000). The wisdom of Xander: Buffy: Military guys and scientists do not make out! Xander: Well, maybe that's what's wrong with the world.

This Year's Girl/Who Are You

The Metaphysics of "TYG/WAY"
Return of the rogue slayer: While she's been in a coma, a nurse from the Watcher's Council has been keeping an eye on Faith. Who calls Buffy to let her know Faith is awake? My guess was that it was the police. They knew that Buffy and Faith had run together in the past and they might have thought Faith had gone to see her old 'friend' Buffy (mudpuppy, Feb 23 10:27 2000). The meaning of "5 by 5" Body-switching: The Mayor left Faith a keen little device to use in wreaking her revenge on the gang. It is, in Willow's words, "a Draconian Katra", a stone (Willow and Tara's home-made version) or piece of metal (the Mayor's version) with a spell on it. When this talisman is pressed between the palms of two individuals (e.g., Buffy and Faith), a light flashes and the personality and consciousness of the individuals switch bodies. The device can be destroyed by crushing it. Detecting the body-switch: As Tara explains, a person's life energy has a "flow" within their body, one that is normally coherent. Faith's life force is not the particular life force that naturally inhabits Buffy's body. It has been "forced in" and that throws Faith's life energy off--it "grates" and is "fragmented" in a way Tara can notice. The Nether Realm: The demon dimensions are a physical place, as is the realm of the Oracles. The "Nether Realm", however, seems to be a purely spiritual place that one cannot visit in a physical body. As a result, only Willow's spirit can travel there. Going to the Nether Realm will tell her about what has happened to Buffy, although how it will do so is not clearly explained. Tara tells Willow she must enter this realm and "find Buffy there". What does this mean? There is some indication that the Nether Realm might be a spiritual passage way that allows Willow to transport her own consciousness to Buffy's body--not in the way Faith did (a complete spirit-transfer, or transmigration), but in a way where she can keep part of her spirit connected to her own body back in Tara's dorm room, a phenomenon known as astral projection. The passage to the Nether Realm ritual: The ritual involves a ring belonging to Buffy, although the way it is used isn't shown. Tara puts her thumb in a cup of liquid and dots Willow's forehead, lips, and chest (her chakras?)--this will ground Willow's spirit to her body while part of it enters the Nether Realm. Tara and Willow then sit side by side facing different directions and swing their arms in a semi-circle, creating a full circle around them that begins to flow with mystic energy as they recite the incantation of the ritual over and over: The inward eye, The sightless sea, Ayala flows through the river in me.

Once they have a full circle, they begin to sweat and breath heavily and they clasp palms. Willow falls back on a pillow and her spirit enters the Nether Realm. There is evidence that Willow briefly comes into contact with Buffy's body in her journey. At that moment, Faith (in Buffy's body) and Riley have just finished making love. Riley tells her, "I love you." There is no doubt that Faith is confused by this declaration for her own reasons, but in her confusion, she says, "Who are you? What do you want from her?" This is an odd way to put simple mistrust of a man whose identity she knows. It is possible that Faith is not talking to Riley, but to Willow's spiritual presence. On Willow's end of things, we see her enter her journey to the Nether Realm with a cry of ecstasy, an indication she may have contacted Buffy's body at the moment of orgasm. Psychic dream Faith and Buffy are making Buffy's bed at home. Buffy says she has to go. "Little sis coming. I know," Faith replies. "So much to do before she gets here," says Buffy. Faith drips blood onto the bed. They both see Faith's knife protruding from Faith's gut. "Are you ever gonna take this thing out?" Faith asks. Buffy rips it out.

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "TYG/WAY"

Faith's dreams: "You think you matter, you think you're a part of something, and you get dumped." Faith is plagued by dreams in which she is a victim, first of Buffy's insensitivity and later of her murderous intent. Faith awakens from her eight-month coma to find herself alone in a hospital room hooked up to machines. After she discovers what has happened, and observes that life has gone on without her, Faith decides to get revenge against Buffy. In her mind, Buffy is a selfrighteous, self-centered woman who easily forgets those she no longer needs (like Joyce and Angel) and who spurned Faith so she could keep the privileges of being the first-born slayer to herself.

Dream 1 Dream 2: The snake in Christianity represents evil. ...the snake in the dream scene represents the evil that is within Faith and the Mayor in what is an otherwise Familyvalues type scene. It represents the evil in what appears to be a "good" relationship (Miss H. Mouse, Feb 23 19:14 2000).

While the snake didn't seem to bother the mayor, the initial look on Faiths face was of...confusion? It just seemed to me that the mayor played a major head game with Faith...leading her to believe that he was the only one she could depend on. (He did that last season too). Essentially told her that without him, she would be dead. That Buffy would do her in. Someone like Faith that has so many insecurities, who has already been emotionally and physically abused (by her mom) would be a prime target for that kind of brainwashing. She was desperately looking for someone to want her, need her, love her (Destiny, Feb 23 21:19 2000).

Dream 3: Faith's role reversal in her dream (she the victim, Buffy the aggressor) is that she refuses to take responsibility for her actions and has a tendency to blame others for where she is in life. Like most self-focused, self-pitying people, she has rearranged events of the past to put herself in a better light. She views all of her past interactions with Buffy as her attempts to stand up against Buffy's "oppression" and destruction of her sense of self-worth (Dizzy B, Feb 23 09:05 2000).

Does Faith have a point? Faith justifies her behavior with what logicians call a False Dilemma--there are only two choices A or B. Since B is absurd, A is the way to go--there is no middle ground, no third choice. Either a girl acts like Faith does or she is "proper and joyless" with no sense of fun at all. Either slayers do anything they want or they uphold a rigid goody-goody sense of right and wrong. Either Riley wants to play sex games with her, or he is not interested in having sex with her at all. This logic begins to crumble after a day in Buffy's shoes. Faith is confused when doing a good deed (saving the vampire victim at the Bronze) brings her genuine pleasure. She's confused when Riley rejects her game-playing and makes love to her anyway. We see the root of her evil--her envy of Buffy. All Faith ever really wanted was to be special-having another, more established slayer took that away from her. When she has an opportunity to shine as the slayer, she takes it, going to the church where the vampires are holding the parishioners hostage. She isn't redeemed yet, though. Before Buffy reverses the body switch, Faith picks a fight with her rival--or was she hitting herself? It was her own body she pummeled and cursed at. lurkingb on Deconstructing Faith Both Forrest and Riley are struggling with the disorder resulting from Adam's emergence. Only diff is Riley has the benefit of an experienced warrior's wisdom about heroism in the gray-zone: Buffy followed Council orders that she was "going to do anyway" and ignored the rest. When they asked for her total obedience, she quit. Riley has a choice between fighting demons on his own or making changes from the inside. Spike: Reminding Giles and Xander of his evil nature was an unnecessary ego trip. For his own survival, he's played along with the white hats for months. If they're stupid enough to think he's really changed, why tell them otherwise? It's likely to get him killed. Unless, of course, he can get his implant removed. His truce with the gang is an uneasy one, born of necessity. Faith belittling him in Buffy's body has just reinforced his frustration. Joyce seems to have finally embraced Buffy's propensity for violence. Buffy may not have been around a lot lately, but Joyce doesn't doubt she'll stop in for mom save-age. She tells Faith flat out that she hopes Buffy will kill her. And we learn where Buffy might have gotten the punningunder-pressure gene: "were you planning to slit my throat any time soon?" Joyce asks Faith. The unstoppable killer cyber-demon hybrid thingie strikes again

Ethical Quandaries in "TYG/WAY"

What do we do with Faith? Beating her up, as Willow suggests sounds emotionally satisfying, but Faith would recover, and so would the dilemma. Ignoring her isn't a good idea. While they have Adam to worry about, Faith is a potential danger, too. Giving her to the police is problematic as Buffy points out-though Faith is a human criminal, she is also a super-human girl. The cops could lose her quite easily. Locking her up in the Initiative's facilities, as Giles suggests, may be an effective prison for a slayer, but the Initiative's goals are ambiguous--would Faith become an object of experiment? Giles also suggests the possibility of rehabilitation. Even if were possible, it is not the punishment some would seek. What to tell Riley? Riley's confused as it is--but you can't avoid telling him that Faith is as likely to punch his face in as punch a bad guy on his behalf. Evil slayers--what a concept for a guy whose world's been shaken to its foundations just days before. And talking about Faith's deeds means bringing up Angel. Well, that's a story for another day. Willow's identity outside the Scooby Gang

Philosophies represented in "TYG/WAY"

Is Adam an existentialist character? Existentialism is about how individuals deal with the realization that there is no larger meaning and purpose inherent in being alive. If anyone fails to exemplify that prerequisite, it's Adam. As he says in Who Are You, he has been given a gift few other sentient beings have--he was born with a purpose already laid out for him, in virtue of being a constructed being. He has the freedom to reject that purpose, but he doesn't reject it, only perverts it beyond what his creators intended. His "design flaw"--what Dr. Walsh didn't anticipate--was the inheritance of violent tendencies from his demon parts. In his exercise of his own will, he may be seen as existentialist, or simply an especially nasty demon on a selfjustifying rampage.

Superstar
The Metaphysics of "Superstar"
Altered realities? Despite Buffy and Anya's struggle for an explanation, the events of Superstar did not occur in an alternate universe, nor was reality changed significantly. Only the physical

manifestations of Jonathan's power--the posters, his house--and people's perception of reality were changed, altered by a spell. The augmentation spell made everyone (in the world?) worship the ground Jonathan walked on, it gave Jonathan the skills and social savvy to live up to their worship, and it altered their memories of history; for example, some of Buffy's greatest victories (e.g., the Master, the Mayor) were remembered as having been done by Jonathan (while in fact, they had always been done by Buffy). This means that events that occured in the episode, e.g., Buffy dealing with Riley sleeping with Faith in Buffy's body and the analysis of Adam's design really occured. Jonathan's memories of them might be fuzzy once the spell was removed (since his skills were gone) but they were not "undone" or completely forgotten. Nobody's totally right. Except Johnathan -- that guy's got it WIRED! (joss, Oct 6 21:54 1998) Why wasn't Adam's memory affected? This is never explained clearly (Adam has a vague uninformative story about being "more awake and aware"). Demons were obviously affected as humans were; for instance, the vampires believed in Jonathan's charisma. It might have to do with mechanical augmentation to Adam's brain. Adam's power source Monsters: There's a drawback to Jonathan's spell--in order to balance the new force of good, an equal force of evil must be created. This brings forth the scabby big-armed beastie with a symbol on its forehead, a triangle with three lines criss-crossing within it. If the monster dies, the force of good loses its power, and the spell is broken. Why does Buffy's attitude change? Adam's theorizing is more helpful here. He says Jonathan's spell is "unstable" and will lead to "chaos". The monster is this unstable force. As it makes itself known, those close enough to observe Jonathan's actions begin to question his charisma. Buffy sees Jonathan scared by the monster, Then Tara tells her that the beast that attacked her had the mark of the monster Jonathan said was harmless. Buffy begins to see inconsistencies in the history they believe and facts they can observe, like Jonathan starring in a movie without leaving town. The confounding spell: Sensus confundatur et aer oppleatur. Caligo absorbeat mentem obscuratam. Translation: Let his senses be confounded and the air filled up. Let darkness absorb his darkened mind. Tara raises her hands and a blinding mist comes forth from them, allowing her to escape from the monster.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Superstar"

Jonathan can't be called evil for what he did. His motives are understandable even if his actions--manipulating people's minds and therefore their lives (e.g., the effect his super-hero status had on Buffy's self esteem as the slayer)--are not excusable. He imposed an order on people which, if they had known about it in advance, would have been against their will. He did it out of the moral weakness of pride--no matter how low his self-esteem, he tried to raise it at the expense of others. He redeemed himself at the end by taking Buffy to the cave where the monster was hiding, then pushing the monster in the pit and almost falling down it himself. The Initiative: The new temporary Initiative commanding officer, Colonel Haviland, arrives in Sunnydale (from Washington?) to do the internal investigation of Prof. Walsh's death and take command of the "Adam problem".

Where the Wild Things Are

The Metaphysics of "Where the Wild Things Are"
Apparitions: Between 1949 and 1960 Genevieve Holt ran a home for runaways, delinquents and emotionally disturbed adolescents in Lowell House. She abused the teens when they displayed sexual curiosity and behavior (including grooming themselves in attractive ways). None of the children died, but the energy of their repressed emotions and sexual urges was so powerful, these emotions were "embodied" in spirit form by the Hellmouth's energy and linger in the house even though the teens themselves have long since gone on to adult lives. These apparitions are hence not ghosts--the spirits of dead human beings. However, having spirit form, they can possess humans (e.g., Julie, who cuts off her hair), and objects (e.g., the "G-Spot" in the wall that gives party-goers happies when they touch it). Giles calls the apparitions "poltergeists", but twice we've seen poltergeists equated with ghosts. "Poltergeist" seems to refer to any kind of spirit, whether it is an apparition or a ghost, whose telekinetic tendencies tend to cause mayhem). Bringing forth and binding the apparitions: The traumatic repression of sexual feelings is what created the apparitions in the first place, and what they seek is sexual release. Buffy and Riley's excessive sexual activity hence brings them forth. The couple is then trapped by the same power fueling rampant sexual activity throughout the house. The increased sexual activity stokes the fire that sustains the haunting. Since Buffy and Riley initiated the cycle, it is their activity that must be stopped in order to break the cycle. Note: If rampant hormones are all that is needed to free these apparitions, then surely this has happened before. Lowell House has been a college residence for forty years.

The spell to bind the apparitions: In order for Xander and Anya to stop Buffy and Riley, the apparitions must be kept temporarily at bay. Tara, Willow, and Giles sit down at a table with a candle in the center. They take hands, forming a circle. They do not appear to be performing a pre-written spell. Their words are more like impromptu therapy. Tara: Children of the past. Spirits of Lowell. Be guided by our light. Come forth and be known to us. (The apparitions appear). We implore you. Be still. Giles: Find it in your hearts to leave our friends passage. Willow: Transform your pain. Release your past. And get over it. Tara: Find here the serenity you seek, the peace you-The table blows away as the spirits return to the house to fight Xander and Anya's encroachment on Riley's bedroom. Xander had much ...to be afraid of and still stood tall without any weapons or supernatural power. xander was doing it to protect a friend (greengirl, Apr 25 21:36 2000).

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Where the Wild Things Are"

Sex in the Buffyverse [WTWTA] wasn't really about th' sex, it was about the fallout from ignoring your friends -- i.e. the ignoring of people NOT having sex 24-7 (joss, May 4 18:12 2000). Genevieve Holt: Abuse often masquerades as concern and love, but it is still abuse. Mrs. Holt thought she was "saving" the teens' souls, but she was in fact repressing their natural PTB-given instincts. Her beliefs by themselves are merely misguided. Her methods of enforcing her beliefs on others are not excusable. ...people like that old woman are zealots using their religion for their own personal war on something, but unfortunately, less intelligent people start equating them with Christianity (MeeB, Apr 26 14:30 2000). Anya needs a different perspective on romantic relationships than she's gotten from one thousand years as a vengeance demon, and Xander is her ambivalent teacher, instructing Anya in communication, sensitivity, and relationships. The boy with sex on the brain now has a frequently available, enthusiastic partner, and though she accuses him of insensitivity to her other needs and qualities, Xander is doing an admirable job of dealing with a woman who's coming from further out in left field than other women seem to. Giles the lost boy: Since the gang graduated, Giles has had difficulty deciding what his relationship to the young adult Scoobies is. Is he an authority figure or just one of the gang (the "book guy")? His idea of an entertaining evening is different from theirs, but he seems to wish it wasn't so. Giles not only tells the gang where he is going to be, but his resigned, "it couldn't

possibly be of interest to you" is practically an invitation. Yet he seems surprised when they show up. Maybe it was acoustic-guitar man's choice of songs. Spike and the slayer The Evil of Adam

Ethical Quandaries in "Where the Wild Things Are"

Responding to hurt and betrayal in relationships: what's justified? "First there's the love and the sex, then there's nothing left but vengeance. That's how it works." Would Anya really eviscerate Xander if she had her powers back? If her conversation with Spike in the Bronze is any indication, the answer is no. The thought is probably tempting, but she wants to be with him, and he can't be with her if he's a pile of ashes. The ex-demon is learning that despite everything she's seen women's lovers and husbands do over the centuries, the women may have regretted the extreme actions they took in response to it. This does not mean that women and men should not stand up for themselves in relationships. It is important to deal with hurt and betrayal. However, all relationships have minor bumps as well as the love and the sex, and good relationships try to ride the bumps as smoothly as possible.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Season 4

New Moon Rising

The Metaphysics of "New Moon Rising"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 5 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

The spell to control the werewolf condition: A very human Oz takes Willow out for a walk on a full-moonlit night. He tells her how he traveled the world looking for a cure. Monks in Tibet taught him meditation techniques that combined with herbs, chanting and charms, allow him to control, but not cure, his transformation into a werewolf. It is not a cure because, as the Initiative doctors discover (while torturing Oz with an electric zapper), "negative stimulation" can still elicit the transformation. Later, Oz is standing in a university hallway and thinks he smells Willow, when it is in fact Tara. Tara becomes unhappy

while wishing Oz and Willow well, and Oz puts two and two together--he realizes he has a rival he didn't know about. This upsetting news triggers his complete transformation into a werewolf-in the harsh light of day.

Good and Evil in "New Moon Rising"

Oz: As upsetting as it is to find out about Tara the way that he did, Oz does not want to hurt her. He tells her to run as soon as he realizes he is wolfing out. Tara: The Initiative soldiers find Tara after she has disabled an attacking Oz-wolf with a chair. They hypothesize that Oz-wolf is the hairy demon that killed their comrade, and take him away. Tara tries to tell them that it is Oz, but they don't give her the chance. To Tara's credit, there was no delay in her finding Willow and telling her that Oz had been captured. The thought that Oz being out of the picture might be to her advantage never crossed her mind (T. Warin, May 3, 2000, 08:28 am). She made a heroic and admirable effort to get out of Willow's way when Oz came back into the picture. She was in pain like she was walking on knives. ...we hurt for [Willow], Oz and Tara. We wanted them all to be happy (Frank M, May 3, 2000, 10:16 am). Riley is all for killing the hairy beast the Initiative soldiers have captured until it transforms into Oz while his gun is trained on it. When he realizes what he almost did, Riley tries to defend Oz against the experiments of the lab coats. In the minds of Forrest and Colonel Haviland, Oz is nothing more than a lethal HST. Riley must side with the Initiative or be convicted as a traitor. Later, he sneaks to Oz's cell, where Oz is naked and bruised. Riley is caught trying to help a clothed Oz escape and is thrown into a holding cell of his own.

Moral Ambiguity in "New Moon Rising"

Oz isn't as cured as he hoped. And it's ironic, he says, that the one thing that brings out the wolf in him is the person he most wants to be with in his new non-wolfy life. He transforms completely due to his jealousy of Tara, and later begins to wolf out at the sight of Willow. He controls the transformation, but decides once again not to put Willow in danger by staying in Sunnydale. Buffy intended to tell Riley about Angel, she just wanted to do it when there was plenty of time to deal with the fall out--and that wasn't when Faith was running around town. After Riley is forced to save Oz from the Initiative, he is finally out of that "black and white space" of "humans good, demons bad", and Buffy tells him about Angel.

Ethical Quandaries in "New Moon Rising"

The logic of love

"Don't what? Don't love you? I'm sorry. You know what? I didn't know that I got a choice in that." -- Buffy, The Prom "It wasn't something I looking for. It's just powerful." -- Willow ...NEW MOON RISING ...was Willow, Oz, Tara, Buffy, and Riley's struggles to understand how to love and be loved, that love is illogical, that love cannot be controlled or tamed, that there is nothing black and white when it comes to who we love and desire, that above all honesty and truth must be at the center of love (DSP, May 4 12:06 2000). When Riley argues that Willow should not have been dating a werewolf, his reasons are rational enough--Oz turns into a mindless predator three nights a month. Willow is putting herself in danger by being intimate with him. Add in the fact that the werewolf condition is passed by a bite, even while the werewolf is in human form, and you have a good case. Buffy responds that love isn't logical. She has made this argument before (to Angel, in The Prom)--you don't decide who you fall in love with. It is not a matter of weighing the pros and cons of a person and then "deciding to fall"--it is simply an emotional reaction to a particular person, and is the result of their looks, personality, actions, or some mysterious quality you can't put your finger on. If we can't turn love off and on on the strength of a rational argument, does that make falling for whomever we fall for justified, in and of itself? Is it always right to give in to the feelings and relationships born of them, or should we sometimes act against our feelings when logic dictates another course? Should the gang date vampires, werewolves, and ex-demons just because they have feelings for them? Love is a mystery, not a choice. The only choices are:

to have the courage to embrace love despite the problems that might arise (including other people's negative reaction to it). Each member of the gang has made this choice at one time or another, or to walk away from love, as Angel and Oz did--to listen to the voice of reason that tells you love is doing more harm than good.

Sex in the Buffyverse ...there are things the network will not allow us to show. As for example [same sex] kissing. Restrictions ...force [a writer] to be creative. The spell scene in [Who Are You] was on one level a sex scene, on another level not... Part of what made Buffy and Angel so hot was what they couldn't do, because frustration is sexy and the imagination is sexier than anything (joss, May 4 18:12 2000).

Philosophies Represented in "New Moon Rising"

Anarchism "You're a dead man, Finn," Colonel Haviland threatens when he finds out where Riley's loyalties lay. "No sir," Riley replies, "I'm an anarchist." What exactly is Riley saying?

The term anarchy is often used to mean "chaos." Understood this way, anarchism is the desire for social chaos and a return to "the laws of the jungle." The argument then goes that authority and control of some people over others (whether in families, societies, or the fight against demons) is necessary, or at least inevitable. Colonel Haviland calls the Slayer and her friends "anarchists" to imply that they are rebels whose independent actions will lead to chaos in the human/demon struggle. In reality, anarchists are people who are against government and other hierarchical social relationships: "The philosophy of a new social order based on liberty unrestricted by man-made law; The theory that all forms of government rest on violence, and are therefore wrong and harmful, as well as unnecessary" --Emma Goldman Anarchists advocate a society where individuals freely co-operate together as equals. The debate over anarchism then becomes a debate over human nature and whether it is (1) necessary for some people to control others to protect society as a whole, or (2) inevitable that some people will try to control others (in either case, making an ideal anarchist state implausible). Riley's actions certainly reject the authority of the Initiative, and assert his right to make his own choices about what to believe about "HST"s. His actions are not an acceptance of chaos nor are they a rejection of all the beliefs of the Initiative--he will not take an HST's side in every instance. But are Riley and the gang anarchists? The fight against demons has been a hierarchicallystructured struggle, at least up until the events of Graduation, pt. 2. At that point, Buffy rejected the authority of the Council. One can argue that Buffy's role as decision-maker in slaying activities from Season 1 onward, and Giles' recognition of it, actually makes the slaying game a limited matriarchy. For their own individual reasons, the gang has had some trouble since graduation developing a collective team based on the relative equality of widely varying talents. But it might be where they're headed.Willow's statement in Fear, Itself, "Being the Slayer doesn't automatically make you boss" is evidence of this. Buffy also tried to work cooperatively with the Initiative at first, until she disagreed with their policies. In fact, many of the events of the 1999-2000 season on BtVS and Angel can be seen as signs of the struggle for authority in the demon-slaying biz--conflicts with the Initiative, the attempts of the Watcher's Council to take custody of Faith, even Buffy and Angel's argument over Faith's fate in Sanctuary. It remains to be seen how cooperation and authority will work out between Buffy and other evil fighters. One thing is for sure, though. Buffy and her friends are not working towards a society in which demon interests will be put on a par with human interests. If an individual demon wants to live in harmony with humans, that is another matter; but the Buffyverse continues to be more black and white than gray.

The Yoko Factor

The Metaphysics of "The Yoko Factor"
The Invitation to Vampires: Angel insists on being invited into Buffy's dorm room. Why? Sunday's gang never had any trouble entering rooms occupied by still-living victims (e.g., Buffy) and dead victim's roommates. Maybe Angel was just being polite. Maybe he just assumes he needs to be invited. Either way, invite not necessary for dorm rooms. Angel's cure: For the record, Willow cured Angel, not Buffy. OK, I feel better now.

Evil in "The Yoko Factor"

Spike is motivated by one thing--his vampiric self-interest. He wants his chip out. He wants to kill again. Helping Adam will get that for him, or so Adam says. Adam wants to create a demonhuman hybrid race. He needs dead bodies. He wants Buffy at his planned massacre to even out the kill ratio. Spike can infiltrate the slayer's circle. He sends Spike to entice Buffy to the Initiative with a disk that contains his plans. Spike worries that Buffy will interfere in Adam's plans, and wants to weaken her infamous resolve. Spike is beginning to realize Angelus' sinister wisdom: "To kill this girl, you gotta love her." So said his grand-sire when Spike asked Angelus why he didn't just kill Buffy. The key to defeating Buffy was killing her friends. But he can't kill the slayerettes anymore, so he sets out to use the psychological weapons he's refined in the past year. Old Spike has been observing carefully during his time around the Scooby Gang. What's more, the Gang has relaxed its vigilance entirely too much, having come to regard him as cute (if somewhat irascible) and harmless. Huge mistake (REL, May 10 22:00 2000). Who is the Big Bad of Season 4?

Moral Ambiguity in "The Yoko Factor"

With the Initiative holding cells full to the bursting point, you'd think Colonel Haviland would get a clue. But he tells his superiors it's due to his "exceptional boys'" HST-capture skills. The Initiative's fatal flaw from day one has been its arrogance, and Colonel Haviland's misogynistic underestimation of the slayer is yet another example of this. In his defense, he's been kept in the dark about Dr. Walsh's secret lab by his superiors. But the Colonel should have been doing everything in his power to understand Adam's design, capture him, and subdue him. In the end, Haviland is a predictable victim of his arrogance.

Riley vs. Angel: After a nice chat with Xander about Angel and his de-souled period and a bit of aloofness from the LA-rebounded Buffy, Riley comes upon Angel and four unconscious commandos and assumes the worst. Angel recognizes Riley immediately from being stealth-guy in Pangs. He is irritated by the not-so-nice greeting from the boys in green, especially the one who gets to have the one thing he wants the most in his unnaturally long life and had to give up. And Riley is ready to kill the vamp in black rather than let him find Buffy. Riley confronts him again in Buffy's dorm room. The gun wouldn't have done more than fueled their little testosterone tiff, but Riley's Xanderesque attempt to protect the vampire slayer from him must have been ouchy to Angel's ego. Love to see another cat fight in the future, boys (when Buffy's not around to referee). Meow. Xander's crisis reaches a head when Spike claims to have heard Xander's friends suggesting that he should join the army. Spike is lying, of course, but what Buffy and Willow think doesn't matter anyway--its what Xander thinks of himself that is important. What is the purpose of his life? What does he want to do with it? The fight with the gang helps him realize that he himself is unhappy with the way things have been since graduation. The gang didn't need Spike to divide them. They had already done most of it themselves. A few simple words, i.e., "Spike said that you said--" might have derailed their fight. But everybody was too busy having their buttons pushed to invoke the evil Spike demon.

Primeval
| Metaphysics | Moral ambiguity | Good and Evil | Ethical Quandaries |

The Metaphysics of "Primeval"

| The 314 Project | The limits of behavior modification | Demon hybrids | Zombies | Rituals and Spells | The limits of behavior modification: Let's not give it up for American chipmanship. Riley is summoned to Adam's lair by a chip embedded in his chest. "Your will belongs to us now," Adam says, but that's not true, as Riley points out. Even though he cannot act on his own will (very easily), he still has his own will. A command from Adam to "sit" might cause Riley to sit down, but in typical Initiative fashion, his body is controlled, his mind is not. He is still free to think his own thoughts in his head, as Spike is. Riley's chip (his "behavior modifier") sends signals to his central nervous system via the thoracic nerve. When Riley hears a command, a signal is sent to

the chip from the speech centers of his brain. The chip processes the signal and sends a command to the appropriate muscle group--his vocal chords, legs, etc. What Adam fails to realize is that if he could overcome the Initiative's plans for him, Riley can overcome Adam's plans as well. The signal is strong, but since Riley's thoughts retain their free will, he can attempt to override the signals sent by the chip with increased effort on the part of his normal voluntary muscle system. Demon Hybrids: God has nothing to do with it. Forrest's body is not dead. He has become like Adam. He has been joined with a slain demon, a hybridization which has altered not only his behavior but his mind as well. He now has the morality and aggressive instincts of demons, coupled with the intelligence and memories of the human Forrest. This gives him a completely redefined sense of self. "I'm free of my weaknesses, my doubts," he says. He has the "clarity of evil" Angel envies in Blind Date. There is no human conscience weighing him down. Like a vampire, he has been reborn as a demon-human hybrid. It is likely, therefore, that what is called "the human soul" in the Buffyverse is no longer present in Forrest (or Adam, for that matter). RIP, human Forrest. Zombies: Dr. Walsh and Dr. Angleman are dead. Unlike the dead guys in the Zeppo, though, they do not have free will. They are zombies. Adam is using technology to control their bodies and keep them from deteriorating. Like highly programmed automatons, they can hear instructions and carry out complex scientific tasks without willing to do so. Their "skill knowledge" is still locked in their soulless brains. Rituals and Spells Buffy and the gang know how to destroy Adam--remove his power source. Technology can't subdue him, however. He was built with the best human technology there is; he feeds on the Initiative's taser blasts. But the Initiative ignored one thing in Adam's design, and it is something the Scoobs are experts on. Magic. Adam has no concept of its power because his creators had no concept of it. When Willow suggests a spell, Giles finds a spell that might subdue Adam, but it is difficult. It must be spoken in Sumerian by an experienced witch who can control the primeval magic forces it uses. It must also be performed within earshot of the target (i.e., by someone who can defend herself against Adam if need be). Well, Xander quips, all they need is to put the gang in one body. Giles realizes that's exactly what they need. To possess Buffy with the spirits of Giles, Xander and Willow. The joining spell elicits the transmigration. It calls on the power of the Slayers as if that ancient calling were a mystical entity in and of itself. It beseeches this power to allow Buffy's friends to join with her and unite their talents:

1. 2. 3. 4.

Spirit. Willow's mystical power. Heart. Xander's impetuous courage. Mind. Giles' esoteric knowledge. Body. Buffy's physical strength.

Giles, Xander, and Willow sit down in a circle. Four candles burn within their circle around a magic gourd. Willow incants: The power of the slayer and all who wield it, last to ancient first we invoke thee. Grant us thy domain of primal strength, accept us and the powers we possess. Because mind and heart and spirit join, let the hand encompass us, do thy will. Willow puts Tarot cards in the circle in front of her. Spiritus... spirit She hands one to Xander Xander: Animus... heart She hands one to Giles Giles: Sophus... mind She puts one down representing Buffy, forming a square Willow: And Manus... the hand. We enjoin that we may inhabit the vessel. The hand, daughter of Sineya, first of the ones. We implore thee. Admit us. Bring us to the vessel. The spirits of Willow, Xander, and Giles join Buffy's in her body to perform the paralyzing spell and defeat Adam. Who is "Sineya, first of the ones"? The Uber-Buffy spells: After Buffy is possessed by the spirits of her friends, she rises, eyes glowing, and begins to speak the Sumerian incantation. sha me-en-dan. Gesh-toog me-en-dan. Zee me-en-den. Oo-khush-ta me-ool-lee-a ba-ab-tum-mu-do-en. Translation: We are heart. We are mind. We are spirit. From the raging storm, we bring the power of the Primeval One. Adam has a machine gun trained on her, but she creates a mystical field to block Adam's bullets.

Im-a sheng-ab. Translation: Boil the air. She turns the rocket into doves: Kur. Translation: Change.

ComboBuffy uses her new strength to kick Adam against a wall, then thrusts her hand into his chest and retracts his uranium power source. She makes it float into the air and disintegrates it. Adam collapses. The gang return to their bodies.

Moral Ambiguity in "Primeval"

Adam's identity crisis: Adam clearly recalls things from the life of the human that was part of his make-up. He remembers "scouts honor", but doesn't feel any obligation to it anymore. What he does feel is a sort of perverse attachment to humans he considers his "family." This helps give him a sense of identity as an individual. He called Maggie, the woman who created him, "mother" even though he killed her and now makes disrespectful use of her corpse. And though Riley is not Adam's biological brother, Adam has a psychological need to relate to Riley on that level, since Riley's enhanced abilities came from the tampering of Maggie Walsh as well. After the Scooby-fight, Buffy heads out on her own and encounters Spike, who knows more than he should about the spat. She finds this odd and asks her friends to meet her at the university, which they reluctantly do. Swapping their Spike stories is not going to make them an instant team again, though. The troubles Spike played on are still there--Buffy's absorption in Riley, Giles' feelings of uselessness, Willow's post-Oz secrets, Xander's outsidedness. But they realize they must work together to defeat Adam. Although the whole gang has been self-involved, Buffy is the one person who has been the most ignorant of her role in it. Buffy takes her lumps, and it is a good first step. Nevertheless, Buffy, Giles, Xander and Willow still have work to do to become a family again. Spike's goals are at odds with each other. He can't divide Buffy from her friends and use the disk to entice her to the Initiative, because Willow has the disk. Fouling up Adams's plans for the slayer doesn't make the big cyber-demonoid very happy. And when Spike inadvertently tips off Buffy about his role in dividing the gang, he doesn't make the slayer very happy. When a demon tries to get into magic central, a still-chipped Spike kills it, hoping it will buy him a reprieve from his betrayal of the gang. Seemed to work.

He's calculated the odds and has noticed that Buffy has an uncanny tendency to win. He's also noticed that she kicked his ass a few times. ...Spike will fight on the side that best ensures his own survival, if he can only figure out which side that is. Meantime, he is pretending to be on the side of whomever's company he is in. Kind of like a politician. He has no scruples (B. Kort, May 12, 2000, 8:42 am).

Good and Evil in "Primeval"

The Evil of Adam Riley: When Adam and his cohorts turn on Buffy, a paralyzed Riley wants to help. With concentrated effort, he reaches for some broken glass, stabs himself in the chest (it is likely that he has some knowledge of anatomy, since he has been trained to disable human beings and vampires, who have human anatomy). His success in extracting his chip with a finger he is not entirely in control of--without severing any really important arteries or nerves--is less likely. But his determination is a sign of his true loyalty to the slayer. Riley disables ZombieWalsh and Angleman. and takes over demonForrest slayage, freeing up Buffy to go after Adam. Best kills: UberBuffy vs. Adam The good of Xander and Willow

Ethical Quandaries in "Primeval"

Creating the ultimate defensive weapon Dr. Angleman and Walsh and others seem to be trying to create a perfect or ultimate creature. ...the issue ...of "do the ends justify the means" is implicit in all of these actions (DSP, Feb 9 14:47 2000). Behind room 314 where Adam was born is the laboratory where Maggie Walsh's real work was to have taken place. Her vision was to combine human intelligence with demon strength to create a superior soldier to fight the demon and human menace. This was a questionable goal at best, even assuming that the humans and demons involved in the process gave their consent for this hybridization. The success of the project rested on making sure these "biological weapons" harmed only those the Initiative wanted them to. Dr. Walsh made a critical assumption--that since demons seemed controllable by behavior modification, demon-human hybrids would be controllable as well. This assumption was wrong. The hybrids inherited human adaptability and demonic amorality. It is unclear what special plans Dr. Walsh had for Riley. She was in the process of enhancing him--creating a superior human soldier through drugs (in his food), special training, and a behavior modification chip that could be used to control his movements. It was Adam's claim that she intended to turn him into a hybrid like himself.

The government officials who funded her project wisely give credit to Buffy and her friends for saving them from Maggie's folly and terminated the 314 project, but they also erased all record of it. The old clich' "Those who forget the past are condemned to relive it" applies.

Restless

The Metaphysics of "Restless"

Slayers: For as long as there have been vampires, there's been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One. -- Giles, The Harvest Back when demons lost control of the Earth, a demon fed off the blood of a human and mixed their blood. Vampires were born. Around this time, a warrior was created to fight back against this menace. A girl was endowed with the power of the slayer. After the gang return home from defeating Adam, they fall asleep in the Summers' living room and each have a dream. Among the common elements in each is an attack by a lurking, violent figure that is revealed in Buffy's dream to be the first slayer. The gang used "the power of the slayer" to join together to perform the spell that defeated Adam. Whatever the source of this power is, it took offense at being used this way. The primal source of the slayer's power comes from the fact that she fights alone. The spirit wreaks a little of what she considers poetic justice: Willow was Spirit during the spell and the slayer choked off her breath (i.e., her spirit), and Xander was Heart and the slayer ripped out his heart, while Giles was Mind and the slayer cut off the top of his head (Thoin, May 24 19:59 2000). Did the gang meet the real "first slayer"? The depiction of the first slayer is at least consistent with this theory. We're talking quite possibly pre-homo-sapien development here. The most primal development of humanity the first awakening of consciousness pre-language, hunter, bare survival instincts is not only the precursor to society but to an understanding of what is being protected. The first slayer killed vampires because vampires were bad (Lovely Poet, May 24 11:29 2000).

Spirits--whether they are ghosts, apparitions, or a manifestation of a people's vengeance--have usually been able to take physical form in the Buffyverse. Yet the first slayer only appears in dreams. This is an indication that she may not be the spirit of the girl who was the first slayer: Maybe it all really came out of Buffy. Perhaps when the scoobies called on the power of the first slayer, they didn't release something [external] ...but instead released something from within Buffy. Maybe there's a primal, powerful slayer force that's lain dormant with slayers for centuries until the gang inadvertently unlocked the door. Perhaps the "first slayer" that was haunting the scoobies, was actually something deep within Buffy that was trying to come out. Maybe Buffy vanquishing that "primal force" was not so much defeating her as saying "you may be a part of me, but not a part that I choose to present." Maybe sort of like the id lying buried under the ego and superego? (Suzanne, May 25 11:39 2000). Binding the First Slayer ...the First Slayer was a dream attacker and I think once Buffy realized that (like near the end when she mocked her), the First Slayer had no power over her (Cosmic Bob, 9:52 2000). Racist subtext? It struck me as a surprisingly stereotypical fight ...her ascendancy over this outdated, unevolved figure is a victory of her modern superiority. These are the same images that have been used to argue for the ascendancy of the "civilized, evolved" white race over the "savage" black person for years (zoe, May 24 9:38 2000). ...I think that it coincides perfectly with what we are constantly finding out about the origin of human life. ...the evidence we are finding is leading to life originating in Africa. If mankind was born there then it is concievable that the first slayer was an african (Nightsatyr, 21 Jun 2000 11:08). Psychic dreams: Buffy's dream contains imagery from two dreams we've already seen: (1) The "7-3-0" dream from Graduation, pt. 2. The reference occurs when Buffy is in her bedroom and looks at the clock, which reads 7:30. She says "It's so late." DreamTara replies "Oh, that clock's completely wrong." About 365 days wrong, I think (MeeB, May 24 9:28 2000). (2) The "little sis" dream from This Year's Girl. Indications are that this may have been Buffy's dream in that episode instead of Faith's, or a dream of Faith's that Buffy has a psychic awareness of, at least on a subconscious level. There is good evidence that this is a psychic dream.

Moral Ambiguity in "Restless"

The Dreamtime

I don't think all things were supposed to be made clear.... I think it was intended to be a cerebral cliffhanger where the suspense comes not from action but from the characters' relationships and self-acceptance, which they all need to work on (TC, May 24 08:52 2000).

Willow "I'm very seldom naughty" Willow is having a classic first day of class dream--the kind you have in the summer long before classes start. It is in part about the fear of new endeavors, but the performance anxiety is also a reprise of her Madam Butterfly dream from Nightmares. When Buffy removes her "costume", Willow is dressed in an outfit reminiscent of the mom-bought outfit that Cordelia mocked in WttH. She's changed a lot since meeting Buffy, she seemed to be afraid that other wouldn't accept those changes or that they'd thilnk that they were just a mask. Also seemed worried that they might be right, that the real her is the very shy good at school, does what's expected of her person that she was not the person she's becoming, who is more confident, and powerful, and also more her own person. Also from the conversation between Oz and Tara, she might be afraid of disappointing people (Kizmet, May 24 09:11 2000). Here's the translation of the poem by SAPPHO Willow was writing on Tara's lovely back: Many colored throned immortal Aphrodite, daughter of Zeus, wile-weaver, I beg you with reproaches and harms do not beat down O Lady, my soul. But come here, if ever at another time My voice hearing, from afar You have ear, and your father's home leaving -- golden -- you came. (DSP, May 23 20:12 2000). Xander: "That's not the way out."

Xander's dream seemed to be saying that he used the Scoobies as a substitute family because his real family was abusive (hints of which we've seen before) and now he's afraid of being left behind by his new "family" (BuffyBuff, May 23 22:15 2000). Constantly being left behind by the others. Trying to catch up. Stuck in place, always ends up back in the basement. ... just when he was about to get things explained . . . it became incomprehensible. When he started to question whether that *was* the way out, he was attacked by the first slayer, in the form of his father.... So, getting past what his parents are, his fear of being like them, moving beyond what they are and becoming more is his key to a better future. But how? (MeeB, May 24 09:25 2000) One hint: Giles saying he is training Spike to be a Watcher. Xander replies enigmatically that he used to be into that, but that he has his own thing now. A thing he is clearly unhappy with. Giles: "What am I supposed to do with all this?" Giles worries about his role. During the first part with the watch, he was hypnotizing Buffy, which is what he did during helpless ...the point where he decided to place Buffy's well being over his role as Watcher. ...in the next part he's clearly more of a father to her. Olivia was his girlfriend who wasn't involved in Slaying or monsters, didn't even believe that they were real, so she could be representative of a normal life, have a family, forget about the demons (Kizmet, May 24 09:11 2000). Giles musical "gig" in the Bronze is really depicting him in his watcher role--the life he gave up music for. It is also the life he gave up a family for--Buffy is his "child". His Watcher role has strayed from the conventional model set by the Council and has become more complex and unpredictable. But is it enough? Buffy: "You think you know. What's to come. What you are. You haven't even begun." Buffy's dream is not just about searching for her friends and having those efforts blocked by the First Slayer. It is about confronting what being a slayer means in her own life. The power of the primitive vs. the modern has been a theme in her relationship with the Initiative, and it is by no means clear that she's thoroughly modern Buffy: Remember Riley calling her killer, and being all military guy with the fake technology talk, and then Buffy reaching into her bag and smearing her face with the Primal Goop (nessie, May 23 20:07 2000). Despite her flippant dismissal of the First Slayer, Buffy hasn't worked through this issue at all. She is only just beginning to.

Whether or not what we saw was a separate entity that originated Buffy's "kind," or a representation of a force within Buffy, we have seen this in Buffy before. When she's rejected the Scooby's, either out of concern or out of contempt ("This is Slayer stuff- could we have a little less from the civilians, please."), she was channeling what we saw on Restless. Maybe she was vanquishing it, or maybe she's on the road to accepting it (little bam bam, May 25 12:44 2000). Or was she afraid by what she faced? The spirit's primalness, it's power, may have reminded Buffy of a demon. ...Has she never questioned her power, where it came from? Perhaps the spirit was itself a half breed, one with a soul? One that did not accept a life of pillage and hate? One determined to fight it? ...She's afraid that there's something in her that she cannot control. Tara said that she had no real idea of who or what she was, or what was to come. Saying that to someone who's life has already been spun so out of control is sure to provoke some kind of denial (Eiddileg, May 25 11:34 2000). The cheese man ...is the only thing in the show that means nothing. I needed something like that, something that couldn't be explained, because dreams always have that one element that is just RIDICULOUS (joss, May 23 20:01 2000). For further insights, Masquerade recommends Sententia's Wrestling with Restless

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Season 5

Buffy vs. Dracula

The Metaphysics of "Buffy vs. Dracula"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 5 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

Vampires and magic: Besides the ability to make over-night changes in Sunnydale's real estate, Vlad the Impaler is very adept at

shape-shifting--he has the ability to turn himself into mist, a bat, and a wolf. The mist bit comes in handy when the slayer tries to stake him.

Buffy didn't actually *dust* Drac -- she staked AT him, but before she could hit home, Drac "dusted/misted" himself.... he reforms, they play the gag again, and then she says, "I'm standing RIGHT HERE." and the mist moves elsewhere. ...it would be my *assumption* that Drac, seeing that Buffy is no longer interested in being his Dark Princess (bator), went on his gothy way (mere-, Sep 27 10:30 2000).

mind-control--he is able to convince Xander to become his bug-eating minion and gets Joyce to give him an invite into the slayer's home. Most importantly, he manages to nibble on Buffy's old vamp-bite scar and seduces her to his castle. mind-reading, appearing in dreams--there is no clear evidence of Drac using these powers, mentioned in Willow's research.

Spike calls the Transylvanian Count's magic "showy gypsy stuff", but as we know, Buffyverse gypsies are pretty good with the spells. Vampire stereotypes: In Parting Gifts, Angel says that vampires-in-coffins is a Hollywood-hack stereotype, but Buffyverse Dracula is responsible for that bit of vamplore. This famous vamp is also the origin of other stereotypes--vampires flying, turning into bats, and showing fangs with out vamp-face. Rich people are weird. The thrall is gone: Vlad lures Buffy to his castle and convinces her to put down her stake. But she did bring a stake. Part of her can resist him. Indications are, it is her predatory slayer nature that is doing the resisting. Ironically, this was the part of her the Dark Prince wanted to bring out. He kept alluding to her primal power hoping that it would attract her to him, a fellow predator. But it is also the part of her that will not be his victim. Unlike the dutiful Kendra, who died in the grip of Drusilla's hypnotic powers, Buffy finds the strength of resistance in accepting the killer within herself. Dracula thus defeats his own purpose in the very act of seduction. He should have vamped her in her bedroom when he had the chance. Slayer high-jumping The sire-ing of vampires: When Buffy feeds on Dracula's blood, it gives her a rush of predatory power. But why wasn't Buffy turned into a vampire by their fluid-exchange? She wasn't close enough to death from Dracula's bite for his blood to transform her into a member of the living dead. Vampires: Dracula has three female minions which Giles refers to as "the three sisters" (also called his "brides" in Dracula lore). These women are alluring and prefer male victims whom they seduce, although in a much less subtle way than their Master. They begin an unholy orgy with Giles, but are scared away when Riley shows up to uh, er, save him. The incantation to start a fire: Willow says, simply, "Ignis Incende" and poof, the barbecue flames ignite. Or maybe not so simple. Getting one element to cooperate means preventing the others from doing the same. Willow claims the sudden down-pour at the beach isn't her fault, but if not, who's is it?

...Dracula's arrival caused the storm. In Bram Stoker's version, the ship in which Dracula traveled was enshrouded by Dracula-caused fog and its arrival heralded by a sudden, violent thunderstorm (lmstraat, 30 Nov 2000 16:31). Prophecy transpired: Who is Dawn?

Good and Evil in "Buffy vs. Dracula"

Dracula is very definition of temptation-unto-evil. His goal is not simply to turn his victim into a vampire. He wants her to desire that fate. He uses his hypnotic and shape-shifting powers to wedge his way into her world. She submits to his thrall and he bites her, However, his bite doesn't kill her immediately. By the time his victim is close enough to death to be made into a vampire, she longs for it. Buffy would have been the ultimate prize for Dracula had she followed his little seduction script, because she is already a human predator--imagine if she were vamped! Slayers/Predatory Good: "Do you know what a slayer is?" Buffy asks Drac. His response? "Do you?" Drac's definition goes beyond the "chosen one" concept Buffy is familiar with. He calls Buffy a "killer" (echoing DreamRiley in Restless), and "kindred" and says that her power is "rooted in darkness"--Buffy has the instincts and urges of a predator, even though her natural prey are demons (who are not always evil).

Moral Ambiguity in "Buffy vs. Dracula"

Ever since the gang called on the First Slayer, Buffy has been exploring the primal part of her slayer nature by turning "patrolling" into "the hunt". The difference? A patrol is that thing where she wanders around waiting for trouble to show its demony face. A slow night is a good night when you're patrolling. It means all is well in Sunnyhell. The hunt is an active search and destroy mission--Buffy wants a good slay; she seeks it out and enjoys it. Granted, patrolling has sometimes turned into "the hunt" in the past. And that's sort of very the point--Buffy has a predatory nature in her, always did. But its darkness scares her--it is, after all, the urge to destroy. And while her urge is to destroy evil things, she knows all too well it could be used to serve evil as well After feeling close to useless for a year, Giles decides leave the adult slayer and her researchand magic-capable friends and return to England. However, Buffy's having issues with her slayer nature. She needs someone with a unique understanding of slayers, slayer history, and herself in particular to help her. And there is no one better qualified than him. Drac's thrall turns Xander into a Renfield-like puppet. In Drac lore, Renfield is a madman who devours birds, insects and other animals whole. His goal is to "absorb as many lives as he can." When Renfield meets Dracula, he admires the vampire's blood-sucking lifestyle and becomes his devoted human minion. But Xander doesn't want to be anyone's butt-monkey.

Real Me
The Metaphysics of "Real Me"
Prophecy transpired: The mysterious younger "sister" who appears in this episode is the "little sis" from the first Buffy/Faith dream in TYG (also mentioned in DreamTara's warning to Buffy to "be back before dawn" in Restless). And no, you didn't miss anything, and neither did Joyce and Hank Summers. Buffy has been an only child up until now. Dawn comes from some place else entirely. According to one of the staff writers, everyone will behave as if Dawn has been around since Season One/Episode One. ...When I watched the intro scene [at the end of DvsB], Buffy seemed surprised at finding Dawn, then there was some light effect followed by Joyce's suggestion. Buffy then reacted as many big sisters would (wolfguard, Sep 26 22:16 2000). The only people who question Dawn's presence are Buffy and a Crazy Lunatic Guy that Dawn encounters on the street. He says "I know you. Curds and Whey. I know what you are. You don't belong here." The statement appears in the old children's rhyme: Little Miss Muffet, sat on a tuffet eating her curds and whey Along came a spider who sat down beside her and frightened Miss Muffet away This is a reference to an even older hint of Dawn's arrival given by Faith in Buffy's 7-3-0 dream from G2: [BtVS/AtS writer] David Fury says, 'In a dream sequence, Faith refers to Little Miss Muffet, which is a reference to Dawn. It's one of those bizarre things thrown in there. Joss just knew he wanted Buffy to have this relationship that he wasn't able to have prior to it because [Buffy] was an only child' --Cinescape.com Slayer sense: Buffy is busy finding her new slayer center, and it may be paying off already. She's starting to question Dawn's presence in her life. "I know it's always been this way," she says, referring to Dawn's baby-in-the-family status, "But for some reason, it's really been getting to me lately." No one is paying much attention to Buffy's rants, however, because she's acting like a typical older sibling, annoyed with her sister's behavior. The Invitation to Vampires: Buffy concludes that Xander and Anya could not have invited vampHarmony into her house because "[o]nly someone who lives here can." In addition, Harmony's invite does not extend to her minions who are within earshot of Dawn's inadvertent invitation. However, one of them does get his hands across the kitchen threshold a bit later when they are nabbing Dawn. This just seems to be a blooper.

Moral Ambiguity in "Real Me"

The unintended consequences of Magic-store ownership: In a town where magic is power and demons search for every advantage, magic shop owners have a very short life expectancy. Mr. Bogarty and the shop-keeper in Lover's Walk and the Boogedy-boogedy shop keeper in Passion-all dead as a doornail. Giles takes over the store anyway. The moral ambiguity of Tara Evil for dummies: VampHarmony

The Replacement
The Metaphysics of "The Replacement"
Toth is the last survivor of the Tothic demon Clan. He wears a hooded black robe to hide the skin hanging from his black skull, and can wield powerful magical devices. But in the end Buffy subdues him and impales him with a sword. The forging of the ferula-gemina: We are not told the initial steps of this process, but Toth puts a spell on a rod--a black cylinder inscribed with arcane symbols--to create a weapon. The last step involves dipping the rod and his hand into a bubbling cauldron. His pain is the "price with which I purchase the death of the Slayer." The rod emits a bolt of energy. If the bolt hits a person, it creates two entirely independent versions of them. Each individual inherits different traits from the original. Toth wants to separate the human woman Buffy from her slayer powers and heritage. Although the slayer half would be tough to kill, neither half can live without the other. Thus, if Toth killed the weaker Buffy, the stronger slayer would die as well. Giles speculates that when the bolt hit Xander, it separated him into "his strongest and weakest qualities." Rejoining the Xanders: As Willow explains, the natural state of a person (like Xander) is to be one individual (possibly because the Xanders share the same human soul). Only the spell on the ferula-gemina is keeping them apart. To put them back together, she need only break the spell. The gang light candles and place them on a points of a pentagram which Giles has drawn on the floor. The two Xanders stand side by side in the pentagram. They are each wearing the outfits they had on when the split happened. Willow says Let the spell be ended Only one reintegrated Xander remains. Buffyverse goddesses

Evil in "The Replacement"

Like other warrior demons before him, Toth considers the slayer the ultimate trophy. He is so focused on his mission to find and kill her that he does not bother killing Giles when Giles assaults him.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "The Replacement"

Will the real Xander please stand up? Fans have been divided for a while about who the real Xander is--the

"awkward nerd with a wise cracking kind of charm", or the "hot-headed... fiery stud who's not afraid to speak his mind..." (Joss, Oct 6 1998).

This debate heated up during the 4th season when it seemed that brave Season 2 Xander had disappeared completely. Some fans even charged that the writers didn't understand Xander's character. This charge assumes that zeppoXander is the undesirable non-Xander while suaveXander is the desirable "real" Xander. Xander's friends assume zeppoXander is the real Xander--because he knows things about Xander's past, but also because suaveXander is too "forceful and confident." When zeppoXander sees suaveXander living his life better than he does--getting the promotion, the apartment, the girlfriend, the slayer help--he is tempted to hand his life over to him, even though he thinks suaveXander is a demon hypnotizing people into giving him the goodies. But as Giles points out, they are both the real Xander. Neither half is evil, neither half can exist with out the other, and neither half is less valuable than the other.

suaveXander is "good at stuff." He has Xander's bravery and his ability to support his friends. But he also has Xander's hot-headed impetuousness. suaveXander has no patience for Giles' research. He just wants the gang to "go kill!" the zeppoXander he assumes is a demon. zeppoXander is the part of Xander whose self-esteem has been demoralized by emotionally abusive parents. But he is also the fun Xander with the wacky sense of humor. Up until now Anya hasn't had to really deal with her mortality. When her head was hit and her shoulder dislocated by a vamp in Real Me, though, this changed. She now realizes that she doesn't have forever. She wants to take control of her life rather than wait for the next stages--the car, the kids, the puppy--to simply happen. With a patient Xander helping her, though, she won't be quite so impatient with her personal development.

Riley tells Xander that Buffy doesn't love him. Does Buffy love Riley? No

She's been completely faithful and in all ways a terrific girlfriend, but Riley's said he loves her on several occasions ..but I can't remember her ever replying in kind (Jolly, 11-Oct-00 19:54). I think she loves him as a friend. She'd die to save him. That doesn't mean a vast and great passion like the one she has/had with Angel (Nimrod13, 12-Oct-00 11:16). Yes Although Buffy has never said "I love you" to Riley, it's obvious from her actions that she does. ...What makes us not confess our love?? Fear?? Buffy has every right to be afraid of the lovething. ...in "Sanctuary," Buffy told Angel that she had someone new in her life, "someone I love" (Heather, 11-Oct-00 22:02) The good of Riley

Out of My Mind
The Metaphysics of "Out of My Mind"
Riley: Professor Walsh pumped strength- and aggression-increasing chemicals into all the soldiers. But Riley was her pet project, and he got more of them than anyone else. In April 2000, he quit the Initiative. But his alterations are still there, and are going unmonitored. In October, it finally catches up with him. Riley experiences "hyperadrenal overload." When a human being faces danger or other challenges, adrenaline pushes the body into action. It increases heart rate and muscle strength and decreases awareness of pain and the passage of time. This is fine in small doses, but if it stays at high levels over a prolonged period of time, overworked and strained muscles can wear out. Riley has been experiencing all these symptoms for weeks while in a normal, resting state. Fighting vampHarmony causes him to collapse with a heart attack. The operation to save his life involved (among other things) cutting open his chest where the chip he removed had been implanted. Altered Realities: The gang is living in the same reality they always have. But their memory and perception of it has been altered by a spell. Their behavior towards Dawn is similar to the reaction towards Jonathan in Superstar. The spell loses its grip on Joyce briefly. She gets dizzy, no longer recognizes Dawn, then collapses. When she recovers, everything is back to the new version of normal. Dawn is more concerned about helping Joyce than she is with the fact that Joyce didn't recognize her. Dawn does not know she doesn't belong any more than they do. The Tinkered-With Tinkerbell spell: Willow pulls out a bottle and throws it to the floor. Fiat Lux! Translation: Let there be light!

A flame fills the dilapidated school hallway with light. Willow has taken a small spell to create fire and made it extra-flamey. But we might wonder, as Tara seems to, whether Willow's desire to become a more powerful witch is making her careless. Spike's chip

Moral Ambiguity in "Out of My Mind"

The Initiative is allowing Riley to have his own life despite everything he knows (or maybe because of it), but they are keeping tabs on him by tapping his phone. And while Riley is a civilian now, his life is anything but normal. He's still demon-hunting, helping the slayer. But he feels inadequate being Normal Joe Guy, even though Buffy says that's what she wants. Now she's getting stronger and more skilled, and he is so worried she'll want more from the man in her life that he puts his own life in danger. But does Buffy want more? She argues that if all she wanted was a super-guy, she'd be dating Spike. This argument misses Riley's point however. He's not trying to be simply a super-guy for her, he's trying to be a super good-guy. Like the ex they kept mentioning but never called by name? Although Buffy does not remember it, she was more than willing to be Joe-regular-Angel's girl. And she claims to need Riley. But does she love him? Spike's secret thing for the slayer isn't so secret any more--at least not to Spike. We know a souled vampire can love a slayer. But Spike doesn't have a soul. Is that significant?

He seemed to love Drusilla, so its at least possible that he can "love". But Drusilla embodied everything he values--evil, evil, and oh yeah, evil. Another evil vampire also had feelings for Buffy. But Angelus couldn't handle those emotions. Angel's love became Angelus' obsession became intense world-destroying hatred.

Is Spike's "love" for the slayer more like Angelus' feelings for Buffy, or Spike's feelings for Drusilla?

She's beautiful, intelligent, and sexually desirable. But she's also strong and resilient prey. Spike isn't the first predator to come after Buffy, and for predators, the "longing for conquest" over Buffy means causing her death. What's more, Buffy isn't the first slayer that Spike has focused his attention on. We know he killed two slayers, and found at least one of them attractive. Spike has long been obsessed with the mere idea of the Slayer. How long might Spike have stalked the slayers he killed?

Spike has both an attraction to and a desire to conquer strong, beautiful women. He is a dualnatured creature, at once both man and demon. And like Angelus, he can't always separate these desires from each other. But in the past, the desire to kill was predominant in the pragmatic Spike. Now, the chip prevents him from killing her and his sexual desire and ability to display tender feelings have come to the forefront. Can Spike love Buffy?

Ethical Quandaries in "Out of My Mind"

De-chip a vamp or refuse and face death? Initiative doctors aren't known for their high moral standards, but pretend for a moment that you're Dr. Overheiser. Hostile-17 comes to you demanding to be dechipped. What do you do?

Option 1: If you don't comply, you will undoubtedly face the pointy end of a cross-bow at the hands of vampHarmony. She's not very skilled with this weapon, but you don't know that. You begin to suspect it as you observe her with it, though. You also observe that she's not too bright in general. Option 2: If you do cooperate and succeed, you will turn Hostile-17 back into a killer, and Spike will kill many people, maybe even you. If you fail, you'll turn Hostile-17 into a vegetable. Hopefully one that can't hurt anything, but this is by no means certain.What is certain is that CrossBowHarmony won't be happy.

What do you do? You find a third option. The doctor bets that he can bluff his way through the "operation" without VampHarmony getting suspicious. VampHarmony has been "training and stuff" and could subdue a human being who lacks great physical strength and/or fighting skills, so this choice isn't without risk. When VampHarmony turns to put out her cigarette, he plops a penny in the tissue container and says he removed the chip.

No Place Like Home

The Metaphysics of "No Place Like Home"

The Key: Before August, 2000, this mysterious entity had no form at all, it was only energy. It existed like that for centuries, protected by an order of Czech monks. One of the monks tells Buffy that "the Key" opens a portal (a door to another realm). Now a malevolent Beast ("Glory") wants the Key. If Buffy doesn't protect the Key, many people will die. The Monks possess the ability to bend reality. In August, the Beast tried to get the Key from the monks. To protect it, they transformed this energy into a human girl, a form the Beast would not recognize. Then they put the girl, Dawn, into the Slayer's home and gave Buffy and her mother

false memories and the physical objects required to back up these memories so that they would think Dawn had always been a member of their family. ...compare Dawn (the key which opens the portal) to what Whistler said in B2: Angel's the key. His blood will open the door to Hell. Acathla opens his big mouth, creates a vortex. Then only Angel's blood will close it. One blow will send 'em both back to Hell" (Dianne, Oct 25 19:56 2000). Dawn has the false memories as well, and does not know she isn't Buffy's biological sister. "She still thinks I'm little miss nobody, just her dumb little sister. Boy, is she in for a surprise." ... honestly, what teenager doesn't think that there is more to them then others believe? we all have our secrets, and at least *want* to believe we are special in ways no one knows about (G: Fuzz, Oct 25 14:42 2000) The Ritual to Incarnate the Key: Three monks sit surrounded by burning candles within a sacred circle inside a monastery temple. They hold their hands out in front of them and enter a meditation. A wind starts up, and then energy flashes in the center of their circle and escapes up out of the temple. The Dagon Sphere is a centuries-old protective talisman used to ward off an ancient primordial evil which cannot be named. Giles explains that entities that go unnamed are usually objects of deep worship or great fear--in other words, very powerful. It is probably not a coincidence that the Dagon Sphere fell into the hands of the Slayer. The monk who came to Sunnydale arranged this to help protect Dawn. A Tirer la Courture (pull the curtain back) was developed by a French sorcerer named Cloutier in the 16th century. As Giles explains, when a spell has been cast, it leaves a mystical trace signature (images or other hints of what the spell did) that is not perceptible to the human eye but can be seen while in a special ritual-induced trance. If a person suspects a spell has been cast, they burn incense and sit with a circle of sand meditating until they reach the required state of consciousness. Buffy performs this ritual to find out who is hurting her mother. After she enters the trance, she leaves the circle and physically walks through her house looking at things. She doesn't see any evidence of spells around her mother. However, the photos of her family appear to snap back and forth, first with Dawn and then without Dawn. Dawn's room snaps back and forth from a teenaged girl's room to an extra uninhabited room. All Buffy learns from this trance is that Dawn is not a real member of her family. As far as Dawn causing Joyce's tumor. Didn't the spell Buffy did eliminate that possibility? If there was anything mystical about it wouldn't it have shown up in [Joyce's] "aura"? I thought the whole point of the tumor was to have Buffy up against something over which her Slayer powers are useless. Against which magic is useless (janni, Nov 22 9:49 2000).

The Beast ("Glory") is a malevolent entity trapped on the Earthly plane in the form of super-strong young woman. Her goal is to get out of our existence as soon as possible. The key (Dawn) is the way out ("Until someone's going to sit down on their tuffet and make this birthing stop!"). The monks are trying to prevent this. One is willing to sacrifice his own life to prevent Glory from finding the key. The other distinguishing feature of Glory is her need to feed on the mental energy of humans to preserve her own sanity. Glory assaults two security guards and is responsible for the crazy guy in Real Me. The significance of the night security guard's words, "They get to you through your family," is unclear. What Buffy says is true, though: "Whatever touched this guy, it made him see through what the rest of us are seeing." Slayer super-durability

Good and Evil in "No Place Like Home"

Buffy Buffy is supposed to protect the key so they made her a member of Buffy's family, someone Buffy would naturally protect. Buffy has always been very protective of her mother. I believe that she has it within her to be the "big sister" and protect Dawn with the same passion (JennJoy, 25-Oct-00 12:16) ...Both have been forced with a destiny not of their choosing. Dawn may not know it yet, but she has a purpose bigger than being a girl. How precious these moments of innocence must be for her, although only Buffy, who was forced with a burden herself, can see it. Soon, Dawn is going to have to be something more, prolly at the cost of her own life. She's going to need someone who understands that awesome responsibility to help her deal. Who else other that her big sis, and now really so, on a higher level than mere genetics (Wilder, 03-Nov-00 18:34) The evil of Glory

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "No Place Like Home"

Dawn is a klutz and a momma's girl and has a tendency to say whatever pops in her head without considering the consequences. Just an annoying baby sis? Not exactly. ...knowing that Dawn was previously pure energy can certainly explain some of her oddities in behavior. ...chances are that monks aren't the best at designing 14 year old girls to begin with and there's a chance that all that energy is a little much for that little package, making for rambunction and foot in mouth moments (Lovely Poet, Oct 25 11:21 2000). Whatever age Dawn is supposed to be does not change the fact that she is actually only two months old. A baby in need of a mother to care for her (Comteacher, Oct 25 10:09 2000).

When the Monk tells Buffy the truth about Dawn, she protests, "You put that in my house?" They altered her memories, and her mother's, of the last fourteen years. "This is my life," Buffy argues. Is the slayer just being a whiny cry-Buffy? Or does she have a point? On a purely moral level is it right to manipulate someone's memories in order to protect this energy? I understand the importance and the safety of the key to the degree we have been shown. However was there a better way to have done this. Shouldn't the Slayer have been informed of what her mission was before now? If they could set the key up in her home, messed with everyone's memories, and established physical objects (like a bed for Dawn), why was there no time to give a little background to Buffy? Why wasn't the orb left with the key rather then separated from her? (JennJoy, 26-Oct-00 17:52) In the end, Buffy accepts the job. Dawn's an innocent helpless human, and that Buffy does know how to protect. And perhaps she's learning something her ex-boyfriend already knows, that he and Buffy "...don't belong to ourselves. We belong in the world, fighting." Spike and the Slayer

Family
The Metaphysics of "Family"
Lei Achs are white-skinned, cat-like demons with long tongues, useful for sucking the bone marrow from weak, sickly humans. Natural witches are humans whose extraordinary ability to harness mystical forces has been handed down from parent to child. The only clear examples of natural witches we've seen have been Amy and Catherine Madison, and now Tara, her mother, and grandmother. It is therefore possible that this is gender-specific genetic trait passed down from mothers to daughters, but not to sons (i.e., an X-chromosome trait that does not appear on the male 'Y' sex chromosome). The blind-to-demons spell: Tara incants: Blind Cadria, desolate queen, work my will upon them all Your curse upon them, my obeisance to you. Then she blows a pink powder at the gang. It travels into each of their faces and makes them blind to any physical demonic entities. Tara does not want them to see what she believes is her "demon heritage", but it makes them blind to the Lei Ach demons, and Buffy cannot see Spike when he comes into the magic shop. When they pan Spike and the Lei Ach from Buffy's point of view, right before she goes into the main store, the back room appears empty. Since vampires are

demon hybrids, it's likely it would have made other demon hybrids (such as Doyle) invisible to those under the spell as well. Reversing the blind-to-demons spell: Tara incants: Blind Cadria, lift your veil, Give evil form, and break my spell. Buffy's eyes flash and she can see the demon attack Tara. Spike's chip and Tara's humanity: Spike decides to end the debate about whether or not Tara is fully human by punching Tara in the nose. His chip kicks in and zaps him. Mystery solved? Perhaps: Spike's chip as a "human detector" Spike wasn't faking it, because Tara could still be seen by the Scooby Gang even after the spell was cast. If she was demon, they wouldn't have seen her - or at least I'm assuming her image would have been screwed up a little if the spell had affected hiding her as a demon. Besides why would Spike want to fake it? He has no real connection to Tara (Hollyn, Nov 8 9:43 2000). [Tara] is still no more "ordinary" than Willow. She's a ...powerful Wicca, descended from a lineage of women who are gifted magikally, but her energies have been diverted toward an unnecessary end: stopping her "transformation" into a demon. She can now come into her own fully (Raven Munin, Nov 8 13:47 2000). Sandy the Vampire

Good and Evil in "Family"

Lei Achs are predatory demons, but they have a reputation as warriors as well, which is why Glory recruits them to kill the slayer. One little brotherhood of demons isn't going to stop the Buffster, though. The good of the gang: Giles, Willow, Xander, Anya and Buffy

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "Family"

Tara kept her distance from the gang even after Willow introduced them. At the same time, she worried about not being useful to them. This apparent contradiction comes from Tara's own ambivalence about herself. For years, she's believed that her talent with mystical forces came from the alleged "demon part of her" that she inherited from her mother. Tara's family has controlled the powerful witches in their lineage with this

"family myth". Tara was told that at age twenty her "demon side" would reveal itself (as it did for Doyle at age 21), and that when it did, she would use her magic for evil. Why? Well, because demons are evil, aren't they? ...Picture a young girl (or boy for that matter) being told each and every day that she (or he) ...Will be evil someday. ...She was in a mentally abusive environment growing up, frightened of what she was to become and apparently loving and following her father out of fear and command. Somehow, she found the strength to escape the abuse and run... to college where she could be educated, to a group where she could be accepted, to a place where she could study her hobbies and live her life as she wished. She found herself and was free from the pain and torment that she must have experienced on a daily basis back home (Little Willow, Nov 8 09:32 2000). Now her family has come to take her home where they can "control" her, and she doesn't want to go. There is a part of her that does not believe her family's story. But she still worries that she will transform physically into a demon, and she fears the gang's reaction. So she finds a spell to "hide her demon" side. But it has the unintended consequence of making everything demonic invisible to them, including the Lei Ach assassins who are after the Slayer. As Willow points out, Tara did not intend to hurt them, she was trying only to protect herself. That was the same reason she botched the demon-finding spell with Willow in Goodbye, Iowa. Her only real moral weakness, if it can be called that, was her failure to trust Willow and the gang. ...She was in a panic, and hurried, and didn't think. Like someone who stands on a chair to replace a light bulb and doesn't notice that the chair has rollers.... Maybe the magic is just a tool. But that gives the one who wields it the responsibility to be careful.... Tara was just lucky that no one died. As Willow was in Something Blue. Sometimes you get lucky. Lots of times you don't. ...It's great that Willow and the others would focus on Tara's intentions and her pain and forgive the possible consequences. And that Tara could accept and trust the forgiveness and support, fearful as she was. But if Willow and Tara could (separately) think about it and be more careful of their power, I'd be happier (white wings, Nov 8 20:59 2000). Mental influence or moral ambiguity? Did Buffy's dad really abandon his family, or is that just how they're remembering it because of the spell? Joyce has made it clear on more than one occasion (Nightmares, Lover's Walk) that the Summers' divorce was a mutual decision based on personal differences between Joyce and Hank and that Hank adores his daughter. Did Hank bail? What does Joss have against fathers?

Fool For Love

The Metaphysics of "Fool For Love"
Vampires and their human predecessors

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 5 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

"What can I tell you, baby? I've always been bad." When we meet mortalSpike in 1880 London, the bespacled, bookish romantic is composing some of the "bloody awful poetry" that had already earned him the name "William the Bloody". After his unrequited love interest Cecily rejects him, he stalks off into the streets, where he bumps into Drusilla, Angelus, and Darla. The dark-haired beauty Drusilla seduces the awkward young man with his intense desire to be recognized--William saw himself as more sensitive, insightful, and deeper than those around him, but he was an object of fun to his peers. Drusilla seemed to understand him. When she asks if he wants "it", William agrees enthusiastically, but it is likely he thought "it" was an alley-way tryst. "Becoming a vampire is a profound and powerful experience. I could feel this new strength coursing through me. Getting killed made me feel alive for the very first time. I was through living by society's rules. Decided to make a few of my own." --Spike on his siring The vampire Spike tried to distance himself as much as possible from his human predecessor (no wonder he was so mean to his ex-minion, Dalton. Remind you of anyone, William?). But Spike didn't move "up the food chain" just by becoming a vampire. He was low-man in the pecking order in Darla's little clan. But family life was less important to him than building a different reputation for "William the Bloody". Spike's style, mannerisms, and language went from upper class to cockney. He sought out fights and confrontations with humans. And when Angelus taught him about about the slayer, facing one and killing her became his ultimate goal. ...The transformation from Poetry-Boy into Danger-Boy is not unprecedented. Owen, from the first season, was a brooding poet who only felt alive when the adrenaline was coursing through his veins and his life was at risk. Spike is just Owen taken to an extreme. ...Spike wants to get to close to death as he can -- when he tells Buffy that she has a death wish, he could have been talking about himself. This philosophy of killing also helps explain why he didn't kill Buffy at the end of the episode -- there would have been no sport in finishing the broken and helpless slayer (Malandanza, 15-Nov-00 13:06). Slayers we have known: Spike's first slayer-kill was an unnamed Chinese girl he fought in a Buddhist temple during the Boxer Rebellion (c. 1900). She was adept at martial arts and swordsmanship. Her blade split the skin over his left eyebrow, a scar he still wears. Naughty wicked Spike knocked the stake from her hand, and when she bent to retrieve it, he wrenched her arm behind her back and sunk his fangs into her neck. ...During the 19th century, European countries and Japan were carving up niches along China's coast. The Boxer Rebellion was a series of uprisings against them. It's also possible that some of the fighters might have been attacking the Emperor for not being effective in keeping out the barbarians (wolfguard, Nov 15 15:36 2000).

Spike's second slayer-kill was a African-American girl (named "Nikki" in the shooting script) in New York City in 1977. Spike calls her "cunning, resourceful... [and] hot." Despite her deft moves, Spike tells Buffy that Nikki gave into the "death wish" he claims every slayer has. He argues that a slayer lives with non-stop fear and uncertainty. Her job also gives her an intimate acquaintance with death. So she cannot help but wonder what it must be like to be killed, especially since death is the only real escape from her calling. A Sid-Vicious punk Spike managed to get the upper hand with Nikki in a subway car and, he implies, in that moment, she surrendered. He snapped her neck and took her leather duster as a trophy. Does Buffy have a death wish? I've no quarrel with Spike's revealed wisdom on why the Slayers died; however, think "Death Wish," while emotionally laden, misleads. It's a loss of drive caused by a loss of perspective. Why am I doing this, what's the point? The Slayer who has ties to a family knows the point. The challenge is to find a reason to take each night with gusto. Here Buffy's humor might help her. As Sherman is said to have said, "War's hell, but it's a living" (wolfguard, Nov 15 16:47 2000) Slayers and family ties: more on Nikki the vampire slayer Spike's chip Things that kill vamps: Just how did Riley think a grenade would help him make good his escape from the crypt? ...maybe it was an incendiary grenade? ...Just where did Riley get that I wonder? A secret Initiative arsenal hidden somewhere in Sunnydale? (NuPhalanx, Nov 14 22:41 2000) ...explosions tend to dismember and a vamp with his head blown off is dead (LenS, Nov 14 22:16 2000). Vampires and choking The chaos demon is a bar fly with antlers dripping slime. Dru must have been pretty pissed to give up Spike for that dork. Drusilla implies that she took up with the chaos demon and others not just because Spike took sides with the slayer against Angelus, but because Spike has a thing for the slayer. In "Crush" she makes it clear that this knowledge is clairvoyant--she "saw" that Spike would develop romantic feelings for Buffy two years before he did. Slayer healing powers

Good, Evil, and Moral Ambiguity in "Fool For Love"

Riley tackles the vampire who staked Buffy and tries to subdue him with a stun-gun, but the vamp escapes. Instead of giving chase, Riley rushes to the aid of his girlfriend. The next night, he strides to the crypt where he located the vampire, stakes him, and destroys the crypt and the vampire's buddies with a hand grenade. Brave or really, really obsessively stupid? ...The trend with Riley as I've observed it is that he longs for his 'action' days with the Initiative, and would be content to help Buffy with the slaying duties, but she keeps pushing him away. Thus, an ever increasing need to do more and more dangerous things to prove to himself that he's still 'got it' (OnM, 23-Nov-00 00:33). Spike's got a taste for slayer blood but the romantic streak he inherited from human William informs his predatory lust. When Buffy rebuffs Spike's advances with words that echo a rejection William endured 120 years before, Spike decides to do away with this slayer once and for all, chip or no chip. But instead of aiming his double-barreled shotgun at her, he puts it down and comforts Buffy, who is in tears over her mother's uncertain health. Is Spike capable of real love and compassion? Yes Spike/William had deep passions.... When he was rejected by his peers and his inamorata, then turned undead, he reversed most of his passions. Spike rejected his class, his name, his poetry... but he just transferred his capacity for romantic love to two sources. The first is Drusilla, the second is his love/hate obsession with slayers. It seems as though... Spike was a more complete emotional being before he was turned than Angel was. He somehow carried more of that over with him when he turned. We've had plenty of hints of this, going back to second season when the Judge says he and Drusilla share "love and jealousy" (Matthew2, 16-Nov-00 00:09). "Spike's feeling's for Buffy are very real, very sincere," [co-executive producer Marti] Noxon acknowledges. "The whole notion that, because Buffy can kind of beat him up like nobody else, he's madly in love with her, just sort of fit Spike's character," she says. "He needs this kind of abuse from a woman. And after Drusilla (Juliet Landau) left, he couldn't get it from anybody but Buffy" (Michael Ausiello, TV Guide Online, December 19, 2000). No ...let us not mistake obsession and lust with love. The only reason Buffy/Angel could become a couple was because he had a soul, and even then, the inherent conflict between slayer and vampire could never really be resolved. Spike is a demon without a soul and without any remorse for the suffering he's caused. Quite the opposite, Spike revels in informing Buffy about the murder and mayhem of his past . I believe that part of the reason he's so fixated on Buffy is because she represents the true vampire life he is being deprived of because of the chip (Nov 15 12:44 2000) ..The one thing that has been constant in the Buffyverse is that Vampires are killers, demons with traces of their host's prior lives and identities. This accounts for Spike's bouts of sensitivity. ...in order for Spike to love Buffy, he would actually have to renounce who he truly is. And although we have encountered demons who are not evil, there has never

been one case of a vampire renouncing his true nature, except for Angel (dml, Nov 15 13:21 2000). Was Buffy wrong to reject Spike so emphatically? Spike had been regaling her with the deaths of the slayers -- he clearly "got off" on the stories. For Buffy to have done other than reject him as forcibly as possible would have been too perverse (Malandanza, 16-Nov-00 11:06).

Shadow
The Metaphysics of "Shadow"
CT scans (computed axial tomography scans, also called "CAT scans") use a series of X-ray beams passed through the body to create cross-sectional images of the structure of the soft tissue. The images can be put on photographic paper and examined by doctors to make rough diagnoses of brain tumors and other conditions. These images are highly interpretive, however, and only point to the need for other tests, such as the biopsy, a surgical procedure in which a small sample of tissue is taken from the body and examined by a pathologist for disease. Joyce's CAT scan shows a fuzzy anomaly--a "shadow"--on the left hemisphere of her cerebrum (the upper cortex of the brain which controls higher brain function). The biopsy reveals that Joyce has a low grade brain tumor (an oligodendroglioma), cancer of the glial cells (connecting tissues) of the brain.

Dreg and his demonic order are devotees of Glorificus. They give her a gift-an ancient ritual to locate the key, the one thing she wants more than anything.

The unintended consequences of Magic-store ownership: Giles has some pretty dangerous stuff in the Magic Box. He knows this better than anyone. But the point isn't really driven home until he accidentally sells a Khul's amulet and a Sobekian Blood Stone, powerful ingredients in an ancient ritual, to the deceptively sweet-looking Big Bad, Glory. The transmogrification ritual: The temple of Sobek (the "Sobekites") was an ancient Egyptian cult who worshiped the reptile demon, Sobek. Their high priest, Khul, forged an amulet with a "transmogrifying" crystal--a conduit that in the hands of someone with great mystical powers can channel magicks that will change a living creature into some other kind of thing. From the markings on the Blood Stone, Giles deduces that Glory is going to perform a ritual to transform a common cobra into a reptile monster. Though the gang does not realize it until later, the snake monster has special powers of sight that allow it "to see what is unseen, to find what is shrouded in shadow." In other words, to locate the Key for Glory. Dreg chants from an ancient scroll in a demonic tongue:

The form is vessel, rendered new. The base is stone, bathed in blood. The gem is fire, and elements rarefied. Glory holds the cobra in her hands and incants: Sobek, grant the power, that it may mold this wretched creature, that it may be reborn, that it may serve! She puts the cobra in a stone jar. arise, Arise, ARISE! The cobra transforms into a large (though not Mayor-sized) snake monster, breaks the jar, and is ready to do Glory's bidding. When it finally searches the magic shop, it disables Buffy under a table and looms over Dawn, then turns and leaves rather than attacking her. The invitation to vampires: Spike's invitation in B2 was not revoked, even after he entered the house to hang with Joyce in Lover's Walk and tried to kill Buffy in THLOD. Spike did not become harmless until The Initiative. Even after that, he proved to be a nuisance. Still not uninvited from Buffy's, though.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Shadow"

Without waiting for back-up, Riley blows up the nest o' vamps where Buffy's would-be-slayer is hanging out, and Xander suspects that Riley has something to prove. It was Xander whom Riley confided in about Buffy not loving him, and Xander isn't a stranger to a little bravado in the name of impressing the Slayer. But Riley is just a bit more crazed in his Buffy-doesn't-love-me blues. When Spike gives Riley a line about Buffy liking her men "dangerous, rough, and occasionally bumpy in the forehead region," and Dawn tells Riley how Angel could engender passionate feelings in Buffy that Riley never has, Riley's jealousy flares up. We've seen this before--when he met Angel, when Dracula cast his dark, penetrating eyes on Buffy, and when Riley's own Initiative powers started to wane. Riley goes to Willy's pub where he meets up with Sandy the vampire again. Sandy takes him some place private for a bite. Riley allows it for a moment, then stakes her. Riley really is a good boyfriend. He spends time with Dawn while the Summers' handle the details of Joyce's tests, and comforts a worried Buffy before and after she hears about her mother's condition. And Dawn is right that the lack of an emotional roller coaster has probably been good for Buffy, who has been able to put her mind on developing her slayer skills and

getting on with life. But the fact remains that Buffy overlooks what Riley can offer her, and Riley is only too well aware of this. The current Buffy/Riley situation strikes me as the sort of inevitable trainwreck that's nobody's fault. She's preoccupied with Slayerhood and with her mother's illness, he's preoccupied with their relationship, and neither of them has the spare energy to see the other's point of view (B.H Perry, 11:44 am Nov 30, 2000). Buffy goes into point-me-at-something-to-kill mode when her mom's tumor proves to be something she can't fight with slayer powers or magic. But as usually happens when she's in this state of mind, she gets her ass kicked. Buffy can't stop Glory's dark ritual. However, when she realizes that the snake Glory raised knows Dawn's identity, she sets out to slay it before it can get that information back to Glory. She tries to choke the snake with a chain, but when that doesn't kill it, she plunges her fist into its neck repeatedly until she is sure it is dead. [Joyce's tumor] would be the very embodiment of what Buffy fears, what she cannot fight. Think again of "Killed by Death." She is so used to being able to transpose her anger or see her fears manifested into disposable, beatable foes that when something like an illness comes up, she goes crazy sitting there and doing nothing. She cannot bear to feel useless (Little Willow, Nov 22 15:36 2000). Anya's Bunnyphobia

Listening to Fear
The Metaphysics of "Listening to Fear"
The Queller is an insect-like brown demon with a plate covering on its back and no legs. It crawls along the ground with its hands and can also stick upside-down on the ceiling. It does not appear to be of Earthly origin. It comes to Earth via a hurtling meteor. Although ancient beliefs hold that this creature is from the Moon, this is not necessarily the case. It might have its origins anywhere in outer space, or it might be from a demon dimension that enters our reality via a portal in outer space. The gang's research determines that outbreaks of madness in the middle ages were followed by a meteorite strike. In each of these cases, the Queller was summoned to "quell the madmen". The Queller kills by leaping on its victims and spitting a clear substance on their face which they choke on. The substance then becomes a foul-smelling black protein alkaloid in the corpse's mouth that quickly breaks down, effectively erasing any sign of the cause of death. The wisdom of insanity: Crazy people with no history of mental problems are becoming a noticeable trend in the Sunnydale Memorial emergency room. But the insane of Sunnydale are not mere lunatics. They see things that rational human beings do not or cannot see. When the

security guard that Glory assaulted in NPLH sees Dawn in the hospital corridor, he says, "What is that thing? There's no data. There's no pictures on this one.... There's no one in there." Joyce's tumor is pressing on her brain and causing her passing moments of confusion and irrationality. During one of these, she says to Dawn, "You... thing... You're nothing. You're a shadow. I don't know what you are." Later, Joyce tells Buffy that she had a flash of "knowledge" that Dawn was not her daughter. "It came to me as truth," she explains. But she also learned that Dawn belonged to them, that she was important to the world, and that she and Buffy need to take care of her. Buffy confirms all of this, and they both acknowledge that they love Dawn as a member of their family. What are the crazy people seeing? Demon hunters: When the gang invites Riley to investigate the meteor, he becomes the hardjawed ex-Initiative officer we know, and calls in his old ex-Initiative buddies to help him. Riley, Major Ellis and his troops track the Queller's radiation signature (left over from being in space) to Sunnydale Memorial where they find the dead mental patients. They determine that the beast went to the parking lot where it hitched a ride with someone released that day. Riley knows Joyce was released and is a little wacky, so they head to the Summers' home. But by the time they arrive, though, Riley finds the Queller slain and that pesky vamp Spike helping Buffy back up to her feet.

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Listening to Fear"

As a scavenger who stalks and kills insane humans to put an end to the chaos they bring, The Queller is an example of both predatory evil and evil-as-order. Ben: Glory's lackey Dreg is respectful to Ben, but Ben doesn't seem happy with Dreg or Glory. Ben admits to summoning the Queller to kill the crazies that Glory is producing--"I'm cleaning up Glory's mess just like I've done my whole damned life." But he also tells Buffy, Willow, and Dawn about the fact that they exist--that the "mental ward is filled to capacity." Bringing about the deaths of human beings isn't of the good, but Ben is also a compassionate future doctor. What's up with him? ...Maybe Ben is just trying to keep Glory in check. As long as she doesn't have the key, her damage is about average for a Sunnydale baddie. So he's making sure that she doesn't hear about the girl with no data from some crazy person (M. Costello, 3:26 pm Nov 29, 2000). Riley, voluntary vamp victim

Good in "Listening to Fear"

When Dawn sees the Queller attacking Joyce, her first impulse is not to scream for the Slayer, but to take a coat rack and push the beastie off Joyce and shut the doors. Then she must risk opening one again to summon Buffy. Clear-headed and brave!

Buffy struggles with the Queller and stabs it to death with a little help from Spike (?!). But that's just another day on the job. The big challenge for Buffy now a days isn't death, but that "life stuff" as Tara puts it. Willow still holds the prize for most multi-talented Scooby Gang member. She's good with the computer research, gathers the gang for meteorite-investigation, plays tiny Jewish Santa for Joyce, Dawn, and Buffy in the hospital, and when the gang fills in for Buffy, Willow manages to stake two EvilAmazon vamps. Yeah on Will! The good of Xander

Into The Woods

The Metaphysics of "Into The Woods"
Brain surgery: Dr. Keiser reports that the surgery to remove Joyce's tumor was successful. Joyce is still at risk for the usual dangers that follow invasive surgery (e.g., hemorrhaging and infection) and there is a chance that some cancer remains and will continue to grow. Demon hunters: As Major Ellis explains, his Black Ops squad is not the Initiative. The Initiative was a government research project that recruited soldiers, but the Initiative was terminated. Many of the soldiers that survived are still on demon duty under the authority of the military (Army), but their job is to kill demons, not trap them for experimentation. Now their comrades in Belize, South America have found a demon tribe attacking missionaries and breeding more of their kind, and they are heading down there to stop it. Graham suggests recruiting Riley, and Ellis makes Riley a tempting offer. There is only one slayer and she can't be everywhere at once. So there is room for extra help in the supernatural department. ...Reilly is a good man in a bad situation. He should be where he can feel valued (Rufus, 30-Nov-00 09:34). Things that kill vampires: Riley storms into Spike's crypt and stakes him in the heart. But it's plastic wood grain, not wood, and all Spike gets is the severe ouchies.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Into The Woods"

Vampire bite dens: As Anya and Giles explain, for centuries humans have paid vampires to feed off them for thrills. In return the vampires get money, an easy supply of blood, and they don't get hunted because they don't kill the humans. Buffy finds Riley in a seedy vampire nest set up for this purpose, urging on the pointy bitey attentions of a used-up vampire "whore". ...it seems that Riley obviously gets some kind of relief from having vampires suck him... it's like self-mutilation, only not. ...Riley is basically cutting himself with a walking ...blade. is it because

he's so tripped out about Buffy not loving him? ...maybe, he likes vampires sucking him because he's *trying* to see why Buffy is (was?) SO into Angel... either way, it all comes down to him hurting himself because he's oh so depressed (pocky, 29-Nov-00 01:12). Buffy is devastated. Riley is not only venting his hidden feelings with another "woman", he's putting himself in danger in the process. Because, like a drug, being voluntary vamp food can be addictive, and dangerous. Humans have died accidentally and been killed by vampires who didn't play "by the rules". Riley admits that he did it at first as a childish response to Dracula and Angel. But then it became more. He began to feel "needed"--desired, hungered for--in a way he didn't get from Buffy. When Spike reveals Riley's dirty little secret to Buffy, he sets in motion a chain of events that lead to the exit of the rival he envies and loathes. Spike, master of psychological manipulation, plays on the insecurity apparent in Riley's behavior. "You're not the long haul guy and you know it," he taunts. "Girl needs some monster in her man, and it's not in your nature." ... is Spike right? Does Buffy want her men dark? On a surface level she has always said that she wanted a "normal" boyfriend, but now that she has one (well relatively normal - no superpowers or anything like that) she pulls away (Anonymous, 24-Nov-00 14:00). It doesn't matter if Spike's claims are true or not--Riley believes they're the reason for his troubles. Buffy has been doing the loner-hero thing for months, and pushing Riley away in the process.

she let Riley and the gang take over patrol when she was on mom-duty, but she wasn't too eager for Riley's help when she was on patrol, she's treated their sex life less like love-making and more like a convenient relaxing pasttime, and and she's kept most of her worry and fear over her mother's illness to herself, not turning to Riley for emotional support unless he tracked her down and offered it himself.

Riley's poor response to her behavior has left Buffy feeling angry and betrayed. She torches the vamp nest, and when Riley tries to explain himself, offering her a choice--love me or let me go-all she hears is "forgive me tonight, or I'll leave." Later, she wastes the vamp pimp and his stable of blood-suckers in a matter of seconds. All except the junkie vampire girl who bit Riley. Buffy lets her take off down the alley, then hurtles her wood javelin at the retreating vampire, impaling her. ...Buffy let her go at first ...because she was angry at the Vampire. But as she left she did what she had to do as the Slayer. ...someone else ...mentioned a story about a warrior who didn't kill someone who spit at him because he didn't kill when he was angry as then it would be personal and he would consider it an act of murder. So Buffy didn't slay the Vamp while she was looking at it's face because if she had it would have been personal, but as the Vamp was running away it would be more like killing any other Vampire (James, 22-Dec-00 21:33).

Buffy is usually shown actively fighting vamp who are fighting back; she fights them and then kills them. This seemed more like a sacrifice or an execution. ...only Buffy's hurt feelings and hurt pride guided the missile she threw and if I interpret Xander's subsequent reaction correctly, he thought the same thing (Aquitaine, 23-Dec-00 2:35). Xander finds Buffy in the land of not dealing. Although Xander isn't exactly honest about how he knows so much, he uses Riley's confidence to him about Buffy to confront her. Xander reminds Buffy that Riley has been there for her, even though lately Buffy has refused his help. He concludes that Buffy is probably afraid to give anyone too much of her heart after all that happened with Angel. And Xander acknowledges that Buffy is under no obligation to love Riley if she doesn't have those feelings for him. But Riley's ultimatum, he points out, isn't about forgiving Riley for what he did. It's asking her to address the larger issue behind why he did what he did. Does Buffy need Riley enough to ask him to stay? Buffy decides that she does, and goes after Riley. She makes it to the helicopter pad before the helicopter is gone completely, but Riley isn't looking for her anymore. He has shut down his feelings completely. On the up side, the little talk makes Xander realize he needs to tell Anya the same things, and does.

Ethical Quandaries in "Into The Woods"

[Do] vampires who suck on people without the intention of killing them... deserve to meet the sharp end of Mr. Pointy? (spotjon, 20-Dec-00 12:18) Giles tells Buffy that even if he'd known there were voluntary vamp-sucking dens in Sunnydale, he might not have informed her about it because it would divert her energies away from defending unwilling victims of Hellmouthy badness. Anya points out that even if Buffy does shut down the den, she'll only find another one popping up in its place--demand feuls supply. Buffy is determined to destroy the vamp den anyway, but it's not clear that she's concerned about saving the humans from their own stupidity, so much as getting revenge. It's no vicimless crime here as some of the vamps only pretend to play by the rules...people can accidentally die...being stupid doesn't mean we can just shrug our shoulders and walk away (Rufus, 20-Dec-00 13:35). Giles' "Ripper days"

Triangle
The Metaphysics of "Triangle"

Trolls are non-human, non-demon horned creatures whose main concern seems to be drinking, pillaging and raping for fun. There is evidence that Buffyverse trolls have origins outside the Earthly plane. Willow sends Olaf to the "Troll dimension", a reality where trolls presumably frolic and live the troll equivalent of the good life. Olaf is a former human transformed into a troll by a spell. Olaf's hammer: Trolls have that troll-strength going for them, but Olaf's power is enhanced by his Thor-like hammer, a weapon that allows most of the smiting and pillaging he does on his rampage through town. This gives him the upper hand with Buffy until Willow gets the hammer away from him. The spell that releases Olaf (AKA the spell to create sunshine): Willow wants to enhance a spell that creates light so that it will create simulated sunshine. She mixes incense, hellebore, fleabane, salamander eyes and bindweed together, then speaks an incantation over the ingredients: Spirits of the light, I invoke thee. Let the gloom of darkness part before you, let the moonlight be made pale by your presence. Spirits of light, grant my wishes-A green circle of light appears and hovers over the urn. This is as far as Willow gets in this very sensitive spell. When Anya speaks in the middle of the incantation, it angers Willow and they get into a squabble. As the fight heats up, the mystical energy dances, glows red, and gets progressively larger. Eventually, it hits a purple crystal sitting under the counter. At this point, Willow tries to get Anya to state her true feelings and yells, Let it out! The non-ritual words disrupt the spell and alter it. There is a flash and the crystal shatters. As Anya explains later, Olaf was trapped in the crystal and released by the spell's wayward energy. Spell to put Olaf (back) in the crystal: Olaf mentions the original spell, performed by witches after he became a troll. Willow may be doing different spell in the Bronze or perhaps she did the same spell, only wrong. Either way, it didn't work. Willow reads: Let the conjuring be undone, return the beast to native form. Keep it far from us and ours as long as my voice shall sound. Spell to release Olaf's hammer: To help Buffy in her fight against Olaf, Willow incants: Instrumentum ultionis, telum fabuloso, surge, surge, terram pro voca. Vola cum viribus, dominum tuum nega. Vola! Translation: Tool of vengeance, weapon mythic, arise, arise, defy the earth... Fly with force, deny thy master. Fly! The hammer glows in Olaf's hand and flies out of his grasp.

Spell to send Olaf to the Troll dimension: The final solution to the Olaf problem is not to kill him, but to send him to a dimension where trolls live. We don't hear much of this spell, but it ends with the words: ...and let the transposition be complete. Olaf disappears. Disappearing and reappearing the cash register: Willow scatters some powder on the counter in preparation for her spell and poof, the cash register disappears in a puff of smoke. To get it back (a little worse for wear), she does a reversal spell, waving her hand and saying, Recursat! Translation: Revert! The second time she makes this mistake, she is trying to disappear Olaf and she throws the powder towards him saying, E conspectu abeat monstrum Translation: Let the monster disappear. Spell to turn Olaf into a troll: Anya only mentions this spell, but it was the vengeance spell she cast as a human that got the attention of D'Hoffryn, her future demon mentor.

Evil and Philosophies Represented in "Triangle"

On becoming an evil thing Xander: But you seem to enjoy the... being a troll. Olaf: I adjusted. There is ample evidence that Buffyverse humans who are physically transformed into other kinds of creatures (e.g., the sea monsters, Anya[nka], vampHarmony, Giles the Fyarl, demonForest, Olaf the Troll, etc) tend to take on the psychological characteristics of that species of creature, even if they also retain aspects of their human personality and identity. This implies that the moral nature of a particular kind of creature is predisposed in a certain direction. Individuals who mutate from humans into such creatures go through a psychological transformation in which they gradually become comfortable and even happy with those "evil" personality characteristics no matter how repugnant they would have found them as a human. If the human did not choose to become that sort of creature, the human cannot be held morally responsible for their successor's subsequent behavior. And judging other creatures by human moral standards becomes tricky as well. To assume humans or individuals of any other species

have absolute free will to choose in any instance what they will or will not do is a naive position that ignores the physical and psychological constraints on our ability to make choices. Does this excuse Olaf's behavior? He didn't want to become a troll, and was confused and frightened when it first happened. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't kill him; it only means that when we do kill him or banish him to crystals or troll-dimensions, we acknowledge that we are not "punishing" him by some absolute moral standard for his "evil"; we are protecting ourselves from the things he does that clearly go against our own interests.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Triangle"

Xander wisely refuses to take sides in the squabble between his girlfriend and his best friend, he does not allow Olaf's bullying and death threats to force him into choosing which one of these women will be killed, and he throws himself heroically but futilely at the troll again and AGAIN even though he is incredibly over-matched. Classic Xand-man. Anya was a demon for over a thousand years; it stands to reason she forgot the subtleties of human etiquette. But she's been human for two years now. We might wonder, with Willow, when exactly she's going to be a little more... sensitive with people? There's evidence now that she was pretty much just as insensitive the first time she was human. Or so claims her ex, the guy she turned into a troll back in her pre-demon days. It makes sense, though. Anyanka had to be the sort of person who wanted to become a vengeance demon. We're not talking about one spell to get revenge on the guy who cheated on her, we're talking about a millennium of doing it to guys she didn't even know. And this woman still had the crystal where her ex-boyfriend was trapped sitting under the counter where she works! So Willow worries, not unjustifiably, that Anya might hurt Xander, too. Anya claims she would never do that, and maybe she won't. She certainly offered her life in exchange for Xander's when Olaf threatened him. Alternate theory on why the crystal was there: last time she saw [Olaf] he was a free-range troll. A more likely explanation is simple coincidence.... A "magic crystal" would have been kept and passed down through the ages - even after no one knew anymore why the crystal was magic or what it's powers were supposed to be... Giles (or the former shop owner) probably bought the crystal at an estate/garage/rummage sale and put it in the shop thinking to attract New Agers and others who use crystals for focus and meditation, having no idea that said crystal contained a big troll (purplegrrl, 19-Jan-01 15:08). Willow: Anya takes her responsibility for running the store seriously, but Willow doesn't seem big on responsibility these days. Stealing spell ingredients, carelessly performing fun but dangerous spells with the excuse that she's helping people? What's up with Willow? Is Spike going through a moral transformation quite uncharacteristic for a vampire? Well, the jury's still out on this question. So far, nothing we've seen Spike do in the name of love contradicts the basic adage that Spike takes the course of action ("good" or "evil") that he

determines is in his own best interests. Now, it's certainly possible (and Spike himself may very well believe) that Spike loves Buffy and values her happiness above his own. And maybe he's even doing the things he does because he believes they are the right thing to do (like tending to the wounded Bronze patrons). It's also reasonable to believe that Spike desires Buffy and will do whatever it takes to procure the slayer's esteem and affection for himself. Besides tending to the wounded, Spike:

assumes that Buffy is spending time "feeling all betrayed" about Spike revealing Riley's little secret. Newsflash, hairdo, it's not always about you.

Spike's "oh so subtle interrogation" reminds me of Harmony: Spike is convinced that Buffy has an implacable hatred for him because of the Vamphooker/Riley situation. Her reactions to Spike were perfect -- he is not public enemy #1 -- he is barely a nuisance (Malandanza, 10-Jan-01 11:58).

goes into a rage during his practice apology over mannequin-Buffy's "petty" grudge; considers eating an already-dead Xander a "lovely thought"; isn't particularly bothered by Olaf menacing the Bronze patrons, and even tells Olaf where he might find babies to consume; approaches Buffy to make his apology when she is rushing in to deal with the troll; cops a feel when Buffy falls on him while fighting.

On the other hand, there are good demons in the Buffyverse. We'll just have to wait and see what Spike's motives actually are. The Watcher's Council: When Giles goes to the Council to find out what they may know about Glory, Buffy instructs him to leave out the "Dawn is the key" information. She doesn't trust the Council with Dawn's safety. And knowing Dawn is the key isn't necessary to research Glory's identity, origins, and plans, since Glory herself doesn't have this information. Modern-day monks made the key human to hide her from Glory.

Checkpoint
The Metaphysics of "Checkpoint"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 5 BtVS/season 2 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

Gods: We've heard repeated references to "gods" and "goddesses" on the show, e.g., witchcraft spells have called upon the power of goddesses. But who are these beings and how do they fit into the Buffyverse Chain of Being (i.e., human-demon-Oracles-PTB's)? In Shadow, Tara hypothesized that Glory was something much older than demons and sorcerers--something that predated human language, and Willow conjectured that the Dagon's Sphere, which wards off ancient evil, is connected to her. Fan speculation on gods and Glory: In general, pantheon-based religions don't make any single god[dess] omnipotent; one god can undo another's work, and individual gods have limitations. There's also usually at least one

bad seed among them; Loki comes to mind... So maybe the reason Glory's on the mortal plane to begin with is she's the black sheep of her family of gods and pissed off that she's not welcome there. Only to realize that she's not welcome on this plane either -- it would explain her immaturity (PersephoneMoon, 7:51 am Jan 24, 2001). "The Alignment" The Knights of Byzantium are an ancient order of human warriors, recognizable by a symbol tattooed on their foreheads. Three of them attack Buffy, but are no match for the Slayer. Their goal is to destroy the key before Glory ("The Beast") gets it. In "Blood Ties" Glory's minion Jinx likens the Knights to ants. "Their numbers are few, for the moment. But they'll grow... No matter how many we kill, they'll keep coming, wave after wave." Because Buffy is protecting the key, she is also their enemy. Note: The "Byzantium" name suggests a religious affiliation, perhaps Eastern Orthodox Christians. However ...Joss wants to avoid any religious controversies. Hollywood has a tough time writing stories dealing with such matters, so it's easier to stick to imaginary religions or older faiths and gods with relatively few proponents in recent centuries (LenS, Jan 24 13:56 2001).

Evil in "Checkpoint"
Glory decides to intimidate Buffy into telling her where the Key is by paying a visit to her home. Once there, she tries to cajole the information out of Dawn, who is still ignorant of her real identity but determined to figure out Buffy's secrets herself. When Buffy refuses to tell Glory anything, Glory threatens to kill her family and friends until she does. ...At first glance, the Glory/Buffy match-up seems dull in the extreme. Demi-god outstrips superhuman by a long shot. But ...the game of manipulation, the psychological game, is by far the most important. Buffy cannot possibly defeat 1000 Knights of Byzantium and she cannot beat Glory at her own game. Judging from her monologue to the WC, we get a clearer picture of how Buffy may use a different set of tactics and plans to win 'the game' in the future (Aquitaine, 25-Jan-01 11:49).

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Checkpoint"

Buffy vs. The Watchers: Round Two

When Giles went to England to get information on Glory, the Watcher's Council saw a way to regain the leverage they lost. They arrive in Sunnydale, close Giles' shop, and inform Buffy that they won't tell her what they know until they do an exhaustive examination of her methods and skills. They threaten to to deport Giles if Buffy does not cooperate. They intimidate her friends with questions. They test Buffy's jujitsu skills in Japanese. What gives them the right to act this way? "The council fights evil," Quentin Travers states. "The slayer is the tool by which we fight. It's been that way from the beginning." With these words, the Council reduces the Chosen One to an object. In Quentin's rhetoric, the Council is primary, the slayer secondary. The Council is the acknowledged agent of Good, the slayer is their (disposable, replaceable) tool. They have every right to act as they are acting (and as they have acted, e.g., Buffy's Cruciamentum and the attempted assassination of Faith). If this slayer is a good little girl, they will allow her to begin taking their orders again. "She's not your bloody instrument," Giles argues, but his words mean nothing to them. It's Buffy who must "subvert their paradigm". After Buffy is challenged by the Watchers, and her history teacher, and Spike, and Glory, and the Knights of Byzantium she realizes it's no accident that everyone wants to make her feel like she's nothing. They're doing it because the opposite is true. She's the one with the power. The WC has been there since the beginning of what? ...They certainly couldn't be talkin' about slayers because I don't think that a stuffy group of stoic tea-drinkers was hanging around telling a primordial slayer how to kill demons.... Perhaps Buffy caught onto this and knew that the WC was just b.s.ing their way into her life (DeMoriel, Jan 23 22:02 2001). Buffy inverts Quentin's so-called "facts": "You're Watchers. Without a slayer, you're pretty much just watching Masterpiece Theatre." The Slayer fights evil. They want to be a part of it? Fine. The Watchers are a resource for her-they supply the Slayer with the information and training she needs to do her PTB-appointed duty. With Giles as official paid liaison, of course. You go, Buffster! ...kudos to Buffy for realizing a way out of the Council part of it and standing by the Scoobies. She's always been Reaction-Girl, and now ...[s]he is sincerely more focused, more clear, and less naive than she's been in a long time (Dunlin, Jan 24 12:02 2001).

The Knights of Byzantium are on the side of Good like Buffy, but they disagree about methods. They think the way to defeat Glory is to destroy the key. Buffy was entrusted to protect it. This raises a question--why did the monks preserve the key if it is dangerous in Glory's hands? Why not destroy it? What was its value to the forces of good before it became human? ...it's dangerous assuming the Knights are "evil" because they're against Buffy. They are many players in the game and perhaps some false flags. Buffy took the word of a dying [monk] colored by her own recent fight with Glory (wolfguard, Jan 24 14:02 2001). The moral ambiguity of Ben

Blood Ties
The Metaphysics of "Blood Ties"
The struggle for the Key: The Writings of Tarnis and other Watcher Council sources describe the Key as an energy matrix vibrating at a "dimensional" frequency beyond normal human perception. Only those who can perceive outside reality (e.g., psychics, lunatics, and monsters created from dogs or snakes) can see the Key's true nature. This ancient "bright green swirly shimmer" is a source of super-powerful energy. People have killed, died, and summoned armies to control it. Tarnis was a twelfth-century founder of the Order of Dagon, a group of (Christian?) monks whose sole purpose was protecting the Key. Crazy Orlando of he Knight of Byzantium tells Dawn of the Key's destructive capabilities. The Knights call the Key "the link [that] must be severed". They believe destroying the Key is the will of "God". Now Glory has a big girl god Jones for it as well. And both Ben and Orlando know Dawn is the Key. But while Ben wants to hide Dawn from Glory, Orlando will no doubt tell his brethren about Dawn. Orlando and Dawn": Can anyone find a good joke about '70's pop groups in this? The Key as "living energy" Dawn's identity crisis "Is this blood?" When Dawn gets tired of people hiding things from her, she goes to the Magic Box with Spike to read Giles' notebooks. The truth embroils her the corker of all teen-aged identity problems. She hasn't discovered that she's only a "thing"--a blob of energy. She has a human body and a conscious mind. But she didn't come to her human form the way the rest of us have--via genetic inheritance from other humans. She was transformed from another form six short months ago. The majority of her memories are artificial. It can be argued therefore that she's not "a real

human", but she is "real" in the sense that she exists. And she is "human" in the sense that she is currently in the form of a human. Equally important to Dawn is her emotional connection to the people around her. When she overhears Buffy mimicking what she imagines Dawn is thinking, "she's not real. We're not her family," Dawn mistakes this for Buffy's real beliefs. She fears that Joyce and Buffy are merely nurturing and protecting her because of her non-human function. Buffy argues that Dawn has "Summers blood", that the monks' spell gave Dawn the genetic make-up of an offspring of Joyce and Hank Summers. Buffy brings her crowbar-wound up to Dawns' knife-wound and intermingles their blood, an ancient rite in many human cultures for uniting two individuals in a sibling bond. The final part of the identity question is whether the Key's purpose is inherently evil. Glory only tells Dawn, vaguely, "...not really. I guess it depends on your point of view." The Hellgod According to Giles' sources, Glory is a god who ruled with two other gods over one of the nastier demon dimensions (gods are apparently a metaphysically different kind of being than demons). Glory ended up in our reality in a human form that severely limits her powers. She is immortal and invulnerable, but affected mentally by living on Earth. She keeps her mind intact by extracting neural energy from human beings, specifically those energies that function to keep the different parts of the human brain working together. When she taps this energy, it leaves her victims insane. When Ben morphs into Glory, Dawn asks Glory if she "is" Ben. While Ben and Glory share the same physical mass, they have different moral sensibilities, an inability to tap into each other's memories, and animosity towards each other. They talk as if they are siblings, but it's an eensie bit more complicated than that. Ben tries to try to counteract Glory's evil, but neither can harm the other because each would have to harm him/herself in the process. Note: Dawn's failure to tell Buffy about Ben morphing into Glory is due to "something blocking her memory", rather than a lie. The early warning spell: Willow and Tara use powder to draw runic symbols in a circle around the Magic Box and the Summers' house. When all the symbols are drawn, the circle flashes and disappears. If anything Hellgod-ishly powerful comes within a hundred feet, the spell will cause a siren-like noise. The teleportation spell: Willow and Tara position themselves on opposite sides of the room and chant. When Glory steps between them, they throw a sparkling dust at her. It clings to her skin and clothes. Willow says:

Discede! Translation: Be gone! and slams her hands together. Glory disintegrates. Willow is unsure where this will send her. Glory reforms half a mile above the ground and plummets to Earth with a tremendous impact. Giles remarks that the spell was a dangerous one for Willow to perform at her level of magical proficiency.

Good in "Blood Ties"

After Dawn runs off, the gang finds her at the hospital in the clutches of Glory's impending brain-suck. The gang have prepared a fighting plan for their next meeting with the mightier-thanthou god, though. The crux of the plan is Willow and Tara's teleportation spell. Spike attacks Glory and gets swatted away. Giles and Xander distract Glory with a crossbow and a crowbar. After Glory sends Xander sailing into Giles, she hurls the crowbar at Dawn. Buffy leaps in the way and gets pierced in the shoulder. Tara and Willow invoke the spell, and its power knocks Willow over. The spell will leave her with lingering headaches that are noticeable enough to concern her friends.

Ethical Quandaries in "Blood Ties"

Was it right to not tell Dawn she was the key before now? When Dawn learns the truth about herself out of one of Giles' dryly-written notebooks, she is traumatized. Now she knows why crazy people have been calling her a "thing" that "doesn't belong here". Joyce explains that they were going to tell her themselves when she was older. Dawn has enough identity issues as a 14-year old human; it will be tough for her to absorb the profound implications of being an "energy matrix" caught in a struggle between Hell and Earth. When Buffy confronts Spike about his role in Dawn's discovery, he argues that this wouldn't have happened if she'd been honest with Dawn in the first place. Buffy later concedes to this point, but she doesn't have to. There was no certainty that events would unfold as they did, and Buffy had good reason to keep the truth from Dawn. She is not to blame for Dawn's decision to find out what all the adults were making an effort to keep from her.

Crush
The Metaphysics of and Moral Ambiguity in "Crush"
Spike: Kiss or Kill?

Spike's increasingly enamored feelings towards Buffy have sparked a fan debate over whether Buffy should or could ever love Spike. However, a successful argument on either side depends on settling some key questions first, and we don't have definitive answers to them. The issue between the fans is clearly not (1) can Buffy love a vampire? because she's already done that. Rather, it's (2) can/should Buffy love an evil vampire? Buffy ceased her relationship with Angel when he went evil and rekindled the romance when he was returned with his soul in tact. The soul made all the difference in her actions towards him. Assuming for the moment that Spike is still evil, the smart answer to question (2) is no: Spike, boyfriend, it raises a lot of moral questions about our characters, about the kind of people they would date. It would speak volumes about Buffy in a negative way, if she were to reciprocate. She is a strong, moral woman, and for her to suddenly go, 'Hey, he is kind of cute,' that would diminish her character ([BtVS/AtS writer] David Fury, Zap2it.com, Feb 9, 2001). On the other hand, if Spike is becoming genuinely good, Buffy's feelings for him (assuming she has any) would not be much more troublesome than they were with souled Angel. So the issue then becomes (3) is Spike still evil? Spike's apparent capability for love cannot answer this definitively. Back when no one questioned his evil, he seemed deeply in love with Drusilla: "That was the most interesting thing about the character from the very beginning. Whereas he was truly evil, he was also very much in love with the girl" (James Marsters [Spike], Zap2it.com, Feb 9, 2001). Buffy argues that Spike cannot love without a soul, however, on the show we have seen:

vampires expressing love in very "human" ways. Of course, there are as many different "human" ways to "love" as there are meanings to this four-letter word, and those meanings are not well distinguished in the English language (e.g., romantic love, brotherly love, parental love, lust, obsessive/selfish love, etc). that what a vampire is capable of feeling is dependent on the individual vampire (e.g., Angel said he could not love without a soul, but he could have been talking only about himself).

We need more than mere protestations of love. Furthermore, we need more than mere "good" actions. Spike's actions of late have been morally ambiguous--is Spike helping the gang out of altruism or self-interest? In Crush,

he throws Harmony against a door when he dumps her, when Dru snaps the neck of a girl in the Bronze--allowing Spike to feed from her without pain--Spike doesn't stop Dru. He looks uncertain for a moment, then he drinks,

The Buffy shrine got it into definite "Fatal Attraction" territory (Hil R., 7:00 pm). ...after he's fondly recalled killing a family, drained a girl's blood, and threatened to sic Dru on Buffy if she doesn't say there's a chance for them, I'm still intrigued by the character, but I can't bring myself to feel sorry for him anymore (Hil R. - 3:45 pm Feb 15, 2001), can he not see why killing the person who was your love for 100-plus years is not going to be a good recommendation for the person who you want to be your new lover? ...unchaining Buffy rather than allowing Dru to kill her helps - - it would help more if he hadn't put her there in the first place!! (S. Keay, 7:02 am Feb 14, 2001),

Spike hears "No" over and over and still demands a "yes". He blames Buffy for his feelings rather than owning them himself, and he gets angry at her for refusing to behave like an object to be possessed when she exercises her right to choose and rejects him.

None of these actions prove that Spike is as evil as he ever was. We need evidence of his internal, psychological state of mind. "...Most people ...are guided by, 'you should be good, you're good, you feel good.' And most demons are guided simply by the opposite star. ...Spike ...is getting more and more completely conflicted. But basically his natural bent is towards doing the wrong thing. His court's creating chaos where as in most humans, most humans, is the opposite...." (Joss Whedon, 3/30/01 The 18th Annual William S. Paley Television Festival) This leaves open the possibility that Spike is on a very long, rocky road to redemption. But this can happen only if (a) redemption is possible for vampires without souls, or, alternatively, if (b) Spike gets/already has a soul: (4) can an unsouled vampire be redeemed... at all? Spike's ability to redeem himself without the restoration of William's human soul rests on the muddy issues of where vampire personalities come from and whether vampires have free will. Mortal William seemed to be a gentle, romantic person. But how much of William remains in Spike, and can these traits overcome the predatory and gratuitously violent tendencies of the demon without William's soul? This question has not been answered on the show yet. However: ...my conviction [is] that Spike can never be redeemed... [He is] a murderer who would be killing innocent people were he not suffering from chip affliction (BtVS/AtS writer David Fury, Feb 13 9:48 2001). For Fury, a soul makes all the difference in whether or not a vampire can be truly redeemed. Unsouled vampires are inherently incapable of seeing the value of good. On this view, Spike has no choice about being evil; he can delude himself that he's good, but it's just his passion doin' the talking. Spike's "good" deeds are the self-serving acts of a demon in the thrall of obsessive, selfish love. Let's call this viewpoint "Fury's Rule": it is having a soul that gives you a choice about whether to do good or evil.

A vampire with a soul is a very different thing.... It is still a choice for Angel. Yes, he's driven by guilt, but he's also driven by a blood-thirst. ...He's not sure if he can [be redeemed], and, 'If I can't be redeemed, what's the point? Why can't I just go killing people?' That's the interesting dilemma for Angel. To afford that kind of conscious choice on a character like Spike would diminish both of them (David Fury, Zap2it.com, Feb 9, 2001). Some fans agree with this: ..Angel looks on his past actions with a human perspective. He feels a need to atone for what he has done. Spike looks on it with a vampire perspective.... He may not be killing people now, but he hasn't shown a shred of regret over what he has done in the past. That doesn't bode well for the future if he ends up sans-chip (Gudanov, 7:30 am Feb 14, 2001). Joss Whedon on the soul/no soul distinction There is an alternative view. Some fans hold that over time, Spike has noticed the benefits of acting non-violently and is changing his own mind about acting good vs. acting evil. Notice that this assumes free will in contradiction to Fury's Rule. Fans who hold this view argue that unsouled Spike is capable of such a transformation because other demons in the Buffyverse (e.g., the Prio or the Host, not Angel) have shown the ability to do good. However, we do not know much about these demons. Were they born good? Did they go through a transformation later in life? How similar is Spike's vampire demon to these beings? Another alternative view is that Spike already has a soul. (5) does Spike have a soul? Spike is a vampire. We've never seen him cursed by a gypsy ritual, so we can assume he does not have a soul in the way Angel does. However, we can still ask:

does having a chip amount to having a soul, as Dawn contends? or is Spike "developing" a soul because of his post-chip experiences, even though it didn't happen simply in virtue of having the chip implanted?

(1) There is no way to prove or disprove Dawn's statement, because we don't even know what a Buffyverse soul is, metaphysically speaking. All we know is the effect it has--it gives a human or a former human twinges of conscience that they are free to act on or not (this re-opens the debate about whether good demons do what they do because they have souls. This question has also never been answered on the show). (2) It is unlikely that Spike's chip was designed to have the same effect on him that having a soul would. The chip is Initiative technology. The Initiative was not in the business of altering thoughts and desires, only external behavior. Spike could be, as Fury contends, like an unrepentant serial killer in jail.

On the other hand, Spike is an intelligent, self-aware individual. Couldn't he "develop" a soul from his post-chip experiences? If the definition of "soul" is ..."the ability to tell right from wrong," the question becomes whether or not a soul-less vampire can develop a conscience from a chip and the example of a woman he wants to be worthy enough to love. Joss &co. are getting into very muzzy territory with the soul issue. Spike currently has what looks like the rudiments of a soul-- bad is what gives him a headache or what Buffy wouldn't want him to do. What develops from this... is a very interesting question. Can technology plant the seed for a soul? (Magdeleine, 3:18 pm Feb 15, 2001). Spike seems to believe that he is really changing. Drusilla tells him this an illusion. He thinks he is becoming good, but if he were de-chipped, he'd go back to his bad ways: "Little bit of ...plastic, spiderwebbing out nasty blue shocks. And every one is a lie. Electricity lies, Spike. It tells you you're not a bad dog, but you are." The jury remains out on Spike.

Drusilla's vision of Spike and the slayer Is Buffy responsible for Spike's feelings? Spike tells Dawn about how he murdered a family as if he's telling a scary story around the campfire. Dawn hangs on every word. ...When you are younger and more innocent there is most often a desire to become less innocent. You see it as a sign of growing up. You don't want to be shielded. You don't want to be protected from hearing about life's darker aspects. ...Sure they frighten Dawn, but she wants to prove that she isn't a baby. She wants to prove that she can handle it (ben, 16-Feb-01 03:08).

When Spike dumps Harmony the moment Dru slithers into town, Harmony wises up to him--O.K., wises up again. She thought that if she gave him enough vampy love and affection, he'd change his ways and be nicer to her. Now she realizes this isn't going to happen. Spike has been using her while he was waiting for Buffy to come around. ...He didn't like Harmony very much, he was taking revenge out on all women by the way he treated Harmony. But to see him truly in love again, I think, we're getting back to what was originally interesting, for me anyway (J. Marsters [Spike], July 20, 2001). Willow's headaches

Evil in "Crush"
Drusilla returns to Sunnydale, warm from the slaughter of her fellow train passengers, to rekindle her romance with Spike and save him from the little knick-knack in his brain. She starts to bring out the monster in her ex-man, then finds herself tied to a post with a stake aimed at her chest. Spike threatens to dust Dru--"his salvation from mediocrity"--in order to prove his love for Buffy. Drusilla decides that Spike is beyond her "help" and leaves town.

I Was Made To Love You

The Metaphysics of "I Was Made To Love You"
Robots: She may look like an attractive young woman with a perpetual smile, but April is a machine, programmed to give her creator emotional support, sex, and puppy-dog devotion.

Warren also gave her super-strength for fighting off rivals for her affections, like Spike. How can a young man, however brilliant, create such a complex piece of technology? With a little boost from the Hellmouth's energy. It's happened before.

Moral Ambiguity and Philosophies Represented in "I Was Made To Love You"
When April is abandoned by her cowardly creator, she goes into tireless "locate_warren" mode, searching for him all over Sunnydale. April uses her superstrength to attack her rivals, guilelessly choking Katrina unconscious trying to force her to "take back" her "lie" about being Warren's girlfriend. Buffy realizes why: April's primary function is to love Warren. Hence, all her actions serve to preserve her relationship with him above all else. When Warren admits he doesn't love April but loves someone else, April's "make_warren_happy" mode is replaced by "combat_mode". She thinks Warren is pointing to Buffy and attacks her "rival". She only stops when her batteries begin to wind down. April did everything she was programmed to do, and still Warren rejected her. "I'm only supposed to love him," she says. "If I can't do that ...What do I exist for?" Buffy lets April's power run out rather than contemplate this existential question. If April could be programmed once, couldn't she be reprogrammed to serve a different purpose? Perhaps, but the temptation in inventing things that look like people is to start thinking of people as things. April is not a toy, Warren Mears insists; he made her to love him. Well, sure, if love = being a Yes-man. OK, a Yes-woman--a nice little Stepford girlfriend who thinks Warren is infallible and who can never fail to respond to his voice (without suffering painful feedback, that is). Warren may have made her because he couldn't get a real girl (before he met Katrina), but as Willow points out, in some ways it's easier to deal with a made-to-order thing you can control than a real woman with her own beliefs, feelings, and interests completely outside your control. While Warren does find the unpredictable Katrina much less boring, he uses rude bullying tactics to keep her from finding out about April. He still hasn't learned to see his girlfriends as "subjects" rather than "objects". Katrina dumps him when she realizes he's the kind of guy who would build such a creature. [A] philosophy professor ...challenged the males in class saying, "Do you just want a pretty face, or maybe someone with a certain set of qualities, or are you actually willing to open yourself up to the full subjectivity of another person?" ...Someone who meets our specs sounds great, but we will always know it is not real. There is no real love or life there - only an object meeting our needs. It is interesting to note also, that Warren treated his human girlfriend as an object to order around also - like when he told her to go into the kitchen when Buffy showed up at his door. And that whole thing about "crying being blackmail"? Maybe sometimes, but to be so dismissive of genuine feelings and emotions. Wow, that is pretty cold-blooded (Ryuei, 21-Feb-01 12:50) When Spike tries to rely on the good will the Scoobies have shown him in the past, he gets anything but. He's no longer welcome in Giles' shop. And when he tries to claim that Buffy misrepresented the events in Crush, Buffy's friends won't listen to his story. Giles shoves Spike

around and tells him to get over his obsession with the slayer. Spike's method of "moving on", however, is to get Warren to make him a Buffy-bot to replace his Buffy-mannequin. Ben seems to understand his predicament, but he isn't going to let that stop him from having a normal human life (including pursuing Glory's enemy as a love interest). Either that, or he's up to something. Glory hopes he's working to get the location of the key from Buffy, but she fears Ben may in fact be allying himself against his own flesh and blood. Buffy faces a moment of weakness when she finds herself boyfriendless and attracting the attentions of a vampire who gets off on her slayer strength. She wonders if being a slayer is what drove Riley away. She considers down-playing that part of herself if it might help her attract a decent guy who'll stick around for once. April's tragic existence makes her realize the fallacy in this. April did everything her creator wanted her to do, and she still lost him. Buffy decides that rushing into another relationship isn't what she needs. She needs to get in touch with herself and her feelings. That way, when Mr. Right does come along, she'll know--he'll be the guy who loves her for who she is, not who he wants her to be.

Good in "I Was Made To Love You"

When Xander's reaction to Spike getting thrown out a dormitory window is the cost of the repairs, he realizes he's a grown up. He's a bit disconcerted by this. But Xander evidently went and offered his carpentry services to the University to repair it. And he even gives Buffy an enthusiastic lecture on the process while he does it.

Ethical Quandaries in "I Was Made To Love You"

Is Buffy "responsible" for Spike's feelings towards her? Giles argues that Buffy isn't responsible for what Spike thinks or feels. In order to understand what Giles means by this, we need to distinguish between someone being a "cause" of another person's feelings and someone being "responsible". If you trip and fall and inadvertently knock someone down, you are a cause of their falling down, but you didn't intend it to happen. If you forcibly push them and they fall down, you are responsible for their falling down. One person cannot be responsible for another person's feelings--feelings don't work that way. However, your looks, actions, etc, might bring out feelings in another that they are inclined to feel when they see such looks or such actions. This would happen whether you intended it or not. Buffy acknowledges that her behavior attracted Spike, but her behavior would not have had this effect on him if Spike wasn't already the type to respond sexually to violence and to have obsessions with slayers long before Buffy was even born. Buffy was under the assumtion that she and Spike had a working relationship. Spike took all of her dropins and punches as a signal that maybe he had some chance with her. Where she only thought of her dealings with Spike as cash for services, he thought that they were getting close. And to an extent they were. So when Buffy got hit with the idea that Spike loved her she freaked (Rufus, 14-Feb-01 18:45).

This is what Xander means when he says "the problem is not you." Spike must take responsibility for his own feelings. As long as he insists Buffy "brought them out in him", he will believe she owes him something. And every time she says "No, go away", she is simply protesting too much. Is she? Assume for the moment that Buffy doesn't desire Spike, even subconsciously. What could she possibly do to communicate that? Spike has already decided that every "No" she utters means "Yes", and that every punch she throws is foreplay. For now, Buffy must rely on her friends to get her message across.

The Body

The Metaphysics of "The Body"

"Death and disease are things, possibly the only things that Buffy cannot fight." --Giles, KBD The Slayer comes home to find her mother lying across the couch, unmoving. She calls out to her, shakes her, and attempts CPR on her so vigorously that her strength cracks one of Joyce's ribs. She stands by feeling useless as the paramedics attempt to revive her. She fantasizes that they succeed. She fantasizes being there when her mother collapsed. Joyce thanks her profusely. But death is one evil the Slayer can't fight. Buffy is told over and over that there's nothing she could have done--not even if she'd been at her mother's side when it happened. Surgical complications: The doctor reports that Joyce had an aneurism--a sudden hemorrhaging of a ruptured arterial vessel--near where the tumor was removed. The doctor told them that this was a danger after Joyce's surgery. Death "...there's just a body, and I don't understand why she just can't get back in it and not be dead." -Anya When Buffy refers to her mother as "the body", it begins to bring home the reality that the person she called "Mom" isn't going to open her eyes and weakly murmur, "Buffy". Joyce is dead. But hey, so is Angel. And Phantom Dennis. And those wild guys in the Zeppo. Or at least that's what we say. The difference between being "un-dead" and "dead" is evident in the morgue room. The sheet slides off the vampire as he rises, Joyce's is ripped from her body by the struggle. The vampire

stalks Dawn, driven by hunger. The body on the table can't feel its cold limbs, or anything else. The vampire fights vigorously against the Slayer before it is turned to dust. Joyce's body just lies there. And Joyce, for all her faults, was a well-adjusted woman. It's unlikely she'll become a ghost. Furthermore, it would be disrespectful to raise her, like the dead boys in the Zeppo, to stagger about in decomposition. Joyce is simply dead. Still, the fact remains--death doesn't have quite the finality in the Buffyverse it has in our 'verse. In the Buffyverse, there is clear evidence of spirits--of the personality and consciousness being somehow "detachable" from the body it "inhabits". And we've seen evidence of "places" spirits go when the body dies. Angel's soul went to the Ether from 1753 to 1898 and again in 1998, and then returned to his body. The spirits of James and Grace in IOHEFY ascended into a shimmering light after they were released from their Earthly purgatory.We in the Realverse must ultimately accept these things on faith or settle for a pragmatic, depressing naturalism (also known as materialism) which holds that we are physical beings only, "meat machines" whose conscious minds are the cumulative effect of the intricately complex working and networking of billions of brain cells. So we might ask: does knowing that something exists beyond death make death easier for the Scoobies? Or harder? On the one hand, they have more assurance than we do that "Joyce" is, indeed, "somewhere else". On the other hand, wherever that place is, Joyce isn't likely to come back from it. And knowing that humans have some sort of spiritual immortality isn't going to make them feel any less angry about the very physical immortals around them--vampires and gods--some of whom can die, although not easily, others who may not ever die. And both who can live a very, very long time.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "The Body"

"Okay, remember, we're not drawing the object, we're drawing the negative space around the object." Buffy goes into detached automatic pilot, but to her credit, she is able to tell her sister what happened, and she is alert enough to realize Dawn has been in the hospital bathroom too long. When she sees Dawn in the grip of a vampire, the Slayer finally has something to do. She's not in top fighting form, but she saves her sister. When Dawn hears the news, she vascillates between denial and grief. The only way she'll truly believe it is to see the body. Buffy doesn't think she should, so Dawn sneaks into the morgue. Before she can gather the courage to lift the sheet, though, she is attacked. The struggle rips the sheet from Joyce's body. While Buffy dusts the vamp, Dawn gets up and sees the truth. Anya has spoken so casually of death, especially deaths that she caused, and the gang has gotten so used to seeing death that they no longer comment on the horrificness of it. But it is horrific, and nothing brings that home more than the death of a loved one. Death and grief are new lessons for Anya's ever-evolving humanity. She doesn't know what she's "expected" to do as a griever. But she does realize what mortality means in a way that a dislocated shoulder couldn't

teach her: Joyce was not an old woman; her life was only half over. It can happen to anyone! While the others struggle to be in control, Anya freely expresses why they are not. Xander wants someone to blame, something to take his anger out on. "This is ...wrong!" he says, as if Joyce's death is a moral injustice that someone can be punished for, instead of a natural happenstance there was no "larger" meaning to beyond the complications of surgery. He tries to blame Glory, he tries to blame the negligence of the doctors, but none of it works. Glory would have claimed responsibility. The doctors did everything they could to help Joyce. In the end, Xander can only blame the wall. Willow is a wreck. Even the smallest things are a huge burden. She wants to be in control of her emotions so she can support Buffy, but she's hanging on by a thread. That thread almost breaks when Anya starts talking about Joyce's body. Anya's confusion sounds like typical Anya insensitivity to Willow, and she lashes out. Gradually, as Tara comforts her and Xander's wallpunching gives her something else to focus on, Willow gains a semblance of calm. Tara has an interesting perspective on events--she did not know Joyce as well as the others, but her own mother died a few years ago. She can relate to Buffy without stoking Buffy's grief. Tara is also the one whose head is clear enough to concentrate on helpful facts in Willow's dorm room. But she can still soothe Willow's manic despair and sympathize with Xander's anguish.

Forever
The Metaphysics of "Forever"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 5 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

The Ghora is a reptile demon with three heads. Ghora make their nests in caves that flank the sewers near the Hellmouth. Their eggs have life-giving properties, much like Mohra demon blood. The spell to raise the dead: Dawn gets a spell book and some potions from Giles' shop and soil from Joyce's grave. Doc tells Dawn that she needs an image of her mother and an egg from a Ghora demon. The egg will give life to the person in the image. The soil may be necessary to point to the location of the deceased. Dawn draws a sacred circle in blood on a sheet on the floor of Joyce's room. She mixes the spell ingredients in a bowl. Then she places the bowl and the photo in the center of the circle. She repeats an incantation three times: Osiris, giver of darkness, taker of life, God of Gods, accept my offering Bone, flesh, breath, yours, eternally Bone, flesh, breath, I beg of you return to me. To reverse the spell, the spell-caster must destroy the image of the deceased. When a not-sodead Joyce approaches the door of the Summers' house, Dawn rips the picture in half. Buffy opens the door. No one is there.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Forever"

Buffy: Funeral arrangements, a grief-stricken and volatile adolescent sister, unpaid bills--life was easier for Buffy when all she had to do was save the world from unspeakable demons. Hank Summers, a man shown as a concerned father in Seasons 1 and 2, has left his daughters no way to track him down. Buffy decides she must remain stoic while she attends to her duties as the new head of the family. The work allows her to bury her pain and her guilt. But as Angel reminds her, Buffy has friends who can help her, and they don't expect her to remain strong all the time. Dawn, however, does not understand Buffy's cold and distant reaction. Dawn is overwhelmed by emotion. She needs to be comforted and has nothing to take her mind off her pain. She decides to perform a spell to bring back the only person she believes ever cared for her. She breaks into a demon's lair with a single-minded efficiency reminiscent of her big sister, and refuses to believe-until the very last second--that the creature she has raised may not be (entirely) the mother she lost. To her credit, Dawn does stop the spell. Buffy's control finally breaks. Buffy allows herself the grieving she needs, and this gives Dawn the emotional connection that she needs. Willow has always been a softy. She doesn't like seeing people--and other things--in pain. She sympathizes with Spike's attempt to honor Joyce, and is so moved by Dawn's grief that she uses her telekinetic powers to draw Dawn's attention to a book, "The History of Witchcraft", that contains a section explaining the controversy over spells to raise the dead. It is unclear that Willow wants Dawn to raise Joyce. She may simply be trying to make herself feel better by "helping" Dawn, gambling that Dawn will not be able to get a spell to work. In her head, Willow knows that hurting is a necessary part of healing. But it's not an easy thing to accept in her heart. Spike's desire to honor Joyce and alleviate Buffy and Dawn's pain seems sincere. He fights off a vicious Ghora demon not once but twice--the second time unarmed--in his desire to help. He also knows that Buffy would likely stake him if Dawn was hurt in a dangerous activity he helped her get into. But he also threatens Dawn's life to prevent her from telling Buffy about his involvement. Living with a chip has lead Spike to some interesting deeds and emotions, and it's left the already morally ambiguous vamp a bit muddled and confused. He may be on the rocky road to redemption, but does he have the strength to stay on it? Both Xander and Dawn conclude that his actions are an attempt to "get in good" with Buffy, nothing more. And evil still has a strong lure. Spike may just get tired of people assuming the worst of him and conclude that well-intentioned actions don't pay. Ben: Glory's minion Jinx tries to encourage Ben's interest in Buffy as a way to get information about the key. Ben refuses emphatically. He knows that many people will die if Glory uses the Key. Then he accidentally implies that the Key is in human form. Ben stabs Jinx in a panic and

leaves him for dead. Glory's minions find Jinx and take him back to Glory, where he tells her that what Ben said. The moral ambiguity of Giles

Ethical Quandaries in "Forever"

Raising the Dead: Why not? Why is there such a firm stricture against bringing people back from the dead? Tara argues that magic can't be used to alter the natural order of things. But Dawn points out that witches do this all the time. If other alterations--e.g., floating a pencil--are acceptable with good intentions, then bringing someone back must be as well. Willow points out that reviving the dead may not be possible. But, Dawn argues, this is not the reason witches don't do it. Witches have, as Tara points out, taken an oath not to do it, which implies it is possible. Willow then tells Dawn that the spells often backfire--they are possible, but they don't work well. This isn't a particularly dissuasive argument. Magic has its quirks and foibles, and it may be very difficult to reverse death, but it's got to work right sometimes. And if that's true, why not risk it? Maybe, just maybe, it will work in your own case. And if it doesn't, undo the magic. What's the harm? Tara argues that that's not the point. Witches don't refuse to do it because it's difficult, they refuse to do it because it's wrong. That leads us right back where we started. Why is it wrong? Bringing back one woman who died young and who could give love and support to a Key and a world-saving Slayer would seem to do more good than harm. The best arguments against raising the dead appeal to the wide-spread consequences of doing it. Interestingly, two such arguments appear in the shooting script but not in the final episode: When Tara argues that "...witches can't be allowed to alter the fabric of life for selfish reasons," she adds that "We'd manipulate the world until it came unglued." Most witches probably wouldn't do this, and spells like the one Dawn performs probably wouldn't do this. But life-anddeath spells could upset the balance of the natural world in many ways. You just don't know they will until it happens. So when do you say "this time it's too dangerous"? Witches had to draw the line somewhere, and they drew it at forbidding spells that deal with life and death altogether. There is a similar argument in Anya's statement that death is necessary to life. In the shooting script, Xander replies, "True. It would get kind of crowdy and stinky on Earth if nobody vacated." If reversing death was possible and permitted, the world would soon become unlivable. Everyone has someone they'd like to bring back. The death of one being creates room for a new life. What's more, we feed on the death of plants and animals when we eat.

Intervention
The Metaphysics of "Intervention"
Incantation to invoke the Guide: Giles tells Buffy about a quest described in the Watcher's Diaries that helps slayers regain their focus and learn more about their role. He takes her to a sacred location in a nearby desert (it is close to the Hellmouth, he explains, because it balances the unholy force of that portal with a force of good). Before the slayer's quest, the watcher performs a ritual that temporarily turns over his/her guardianship of the slayer to a Guide. The Guide leads the slayer to a sacred place whose location is unknown even to the watcher. There the slayer seeks the Guide's wisdom. Giles arranges twigs in a circle on the ground. He steps into the circle, jumps out of the circle, then jumps back in and shakes a gourd. Finally, he sits inside the circle and reads an incantation in Swahili: Nilivyoahidi kulinda na kuongoza, nakupokeza. Mpeleke afike mahali pa usalama na ujuzi. Mpe anavyohitaji. Mwonyeshe njia. Translation: That which I am pledged to guard and guide, I hand over to you. Lead her to a place of safety and learning. Give her that which she needs. Show her the path. Buffy's quest: Buffy walks through the desert. A mountain lion appears and leads her to a stretch of desert that appeared in her dream in Restless. Buffy creates a fire and waits. The Guide appears in the form of the First Slayer. Buffy tells the Guide she is afraid she's losing her ability to feel love. The Guide replies that Buffy is full of love, but that since love brings pain, Buffy has pulled away from it. She counsels Buffy to risk the pain because the Slayer's strength comes from pain (presumably, the successful survival of it). She tells Buffy it's the Slayer's nature to risk pain. Then she adds two cryptic messages: "Love will bring you to your gift" and "Death is your gift." Glorificus is a Hellgod who has been exiled on the Earthly plane. She has been trapped in the body of Ben, a "person" who should not ordinarily try to commit murder. But Glory knows she is losing control of him. He is getting away with behavior that interferes with her plans to find and use the Key. The Buffybot: Spike gets Warren to make him a robotic Buffy replica that has Buffy's slayer skills and sense of duty and factual knowledge about Buffy's life and friends. The "Buffybot" spars with Spike, sleeps with him, and is programmed with "scenario responses"--specific ways of responding to Spike in particular situations that are catered to Spike's fantasies. The Buffybot tells Spike that he is evil and that she fears him but that she "can't resist" her attraction to him and his evil ways. She helps save Giles from Jinx and gets slammed into a wall, burning out her wiring. Further deeds of the BuffyBot

Evil in "Intervention"
Glory: Armed with the knowledge that the Key is innocent and newly human, Glory sends her minions to spy on Buffy's friends and family and find out who is new in her life that she protects. The minions see the Buffybot protecting Spike from other vampires and conclude that he must be the Key. They kidnap Spike and take him back to Glory. Glory realizes Spike can't be the key because he is not innocent. She tortures him for information about the Key. After Spike escapes, she takes out her anger on Jinx and Murk.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Intervention"

Buffy is feeling uneasy about her Slayer role. She doesn't like how the killing is making her cold to the people in her life. She worries that if she becomes a better slayer, she will become a worse human being. Buffy goes on a quest to determine how to deal with her feelings. After getting a cryptic response from her guide, she returns home and is startled to find out that her friends couldn't tell her apart from a robot. The Scooby Gang: After Buffy leaves for the desert, Tara puts a warning spell around Xander's apartment and the gang keeps Dawn there. When they see the Buffybot having sex with Spike and worrying about Spike's safety above Dawn's, they are concerned--grief makes people do uncharacteristic things. Xander accuses Spike of taking advantage of Buffy's confusion and grief. He calls Spike a monster and threatens to kill him. After Spike is kidnapped, Xander tells the gang they must find Spike before he tells all to Glory. They need Buffy's help, and begin an "intervention" with the confused real Buffy, confronting her about her strange behavior. Buffy, Xander, and Giles find Glory and help Spike escape from her. Glory throws Spike around like a rag doll and tortures him for information about the Key. He lies about the identity of the key and then insults Glory so that she will use her strength to knock him so hard that his chains will break. Spike lands in the hallway and falls into an elevator shaft. After he escapes, Buffy goes to the crypt masquerading as the Buffybot. Spike informs her that he didn't tell because it would hurt the real Buffy if something happened to Dawn. Buffy kisses Spike and thanks him, then scolds him about the robot. Has Spike changed? Part of him wants to be the Big Bad--he wants the Buffybot to be drawn in by the evil part of his nature. ...whatever we may argue about souls and caring and compassion, Spike's got something going on there that just isn't your run-of-the-mill situation. Maybe the chip does change things, maybe not. Maybe it's not the same as having a conscience, but perhaps it's moot: even remorseless creatures can respect and care for something. In Spike's case, it's the Summers women (Solitude1056, 20:32 4/24/01). ...We know William was capable of a certain type of adolescent love, the kind that is expressed in Bloody Awful Poetry. Perhaps Spike simply never matured beyond that point. The lack of a soul would certainly hinder that sort of personal growth, since he never gets the physioemotional feedback that the soul provides. If we accept that the chip performs the soul's function,

at least to a limited extent, then perhaps Spike is picking up where William left off (Humanitas, 7:55 4/26/01). Dawn the klepto

Tough Love

The Metaphysics of "Tough Love"

The protection spell: When the minion Slook reveals that Glory is going after Tara, Willow races to find her. She comes upon Glory brain-sucking her girlfriend, but can't get through the crowds between them. Willow begins a spell, but doesn't finish it in time: By force of heart, and mindful power, By waning time and waxing hour, I echo Diana, when I decree, That she I love must now be free. Darkest Magick: The Earth quakes; day turns to night. The locks on Glory's door unbolt. Willow, eyes completely black, sails into the room, invoking the power of the gods: Kali, Hera, Kronos, Tonic... Air like nectar thick as Onyx... Cassiel by your second star... Hold mine victim, as in tar! Glory is stopped in her tracks. Willow makes clear what she's there for: "I owe you pain!" She hits Glory with a bolt of energy, causes her mirror to shatter, and sends a dozen knives flying straight at the god, all with simple commands. She then incants: Spirit of serpents now appear. Hissing, writhing, striking near. A snake coils around Glory's ankle. But the magic only annoys Glory and weakens Willow. Knowing she is defeated, Willow spits in Glory's face. Glory grabs her and prepares to stab her.

Ben is fired from his intern job for missing two weeks without explanation. His angry speech afterwards are the words of a human being possessed by a demonic god. He accuses Glory of undermining the "choices" he's made for his "life". But he's also talked about "cleaning up after Glory" his "whole life". Can Ben be blamed for such co-dependency?

Good and Evil in "Tough Love"

Glory listens to the monk's report about Buffy's friends and concludes that Buffy's newest friend, Tara, is the Key. Glory finds Tara at the fair. She squeezes her hand until her bones snap and threatens to kill the fair-goers if Tara screams. Then she licks blood off Tara's hand and realizes that Tara is not the Key, but "just another worthless human being." She threatens to brain-suck Tara if Tara doesn't reveal who the Key really is. When Tara says nothing, Glory attacks her.

When Willow attempts revenge, she ends up in at Glory's mercy. Buffy stops the god from killing her friend and Willow freezes Glory with an invisible barrier. Buffy and Willow escape. After she frees herself, Glory tracks down Willow and her friends at Tara's. Tara, now insane, can see Dawn for who she really is. She points at Dawn. "Look at that... Such a pure green energy." Glory now knows Dawn in the Key.

Moral Ambiguity in "Tough Love"

Return of the Ripper: Giles finds a minion outside the door to his shop. He cracks the door against the minion's skull, pulls him in by his hair, and when Willow and Anya's backs are turned, does something to Slook that causes a loud crunch and makes the minion spill the beans about Tara. As Willow and Tara are getting ready to go to a fair at school, they get in a fight. In the middle of it, Tara reveals that she is frightened by Willow's growing powers. Willow storms off, bitter that Tara doesn't trust her. Before the two of them get a chance to make up again, though, Tara is attacked by Glory. Willow wants revenge. Buffy tries to convince her that she doesn't have a chance against Glory, but Willow believes she might. She heads to the off-limits section of Giles' shop, gathers powders and potions, and breaks open a leather book on "Darkest Magick". Then the mightily pissed-off witch heads out to spill herself a few pints of god-blood. As Spike

explains to Buffy, when it's someone you love, rational considerations like certain death don't matter. The only thing on Willow's mind is pay-back. [in] the last bits of the argument ...Tara was talking about the "witch" thing, and Willow diverted the argument neatly into a discussion about her sexual preference, and by doing so could whallop Tara with self-righteous hurt... whereas if she'd dealt with Tara's actual intent - to speak of Willow's erratic & uncontrolled development as a witch - then Willow wouldn't have had as quick a defense. ...Willow's actions were definitely rash. She unnecessarily provoked Glory at a point when the Scoobies don't have all their defenses aligned yet. Glory coming a'knockin' at the dorm wall can be traced directly to Willow's sudden entrance into Glory's territory (Solitude1056, 18:01 5/06/01). Buffy drops her classes to take care of Dawn. But the responsibility on her is bigger than an older sister caring for a younger one. She is the Slayer protecting the Key. If she fails, they might take Dawn away from her, and if that happens, she can no longer protect Dawn. Buffy's first response is to run to the only parental figure she has--Giles. Giles refuses to take on the responsibility for her; he tells Buffy to be firm with Dawn. Buffy next response is to overdiscipline, ordering Dawn around and regimenting her life. Willow worries that this will make Dawn rebellious, and Dawn is on the verge of doing just that when Buffy finally explains herself.

Philosophies Represented in "Tough Love"

Anya is coming into her own as a human being, and in the process, embracing her own ideals: nationalism, agism, and, most importantly, capitalism: "A free market dependant on the profitable exchange of goods for currency. A system of symbiotic beauty..." Anya sees capitalism not just as the economic system in use by her country, but as a philosophy of life as well. This philosophy is similar to Ayn Rand's Objectivist ethics (thanks to L.D. Beers for pointing this out). In her Objectivist Ethics, Rand states, "The principle of trade is the only rational ethical principle for all human relationships, personal and social, private and public, spiritual and material. It is the principle of justice." Masquerade's note: Of course, this principle only works well where justice already prevails, where one person or group entering a trade does not hold a power advantage over another person or group that they could use to coerce them into an unfair trade. But that's a discussion for another day.

Spiral
The Metaphysics of "Spiral"
Stopping Glory: Willow clenches her hand into a fist. In Russian, she incants, "Air becomes fist!" Glory is blown back from Tara's dorm room.

The barrier spell: Willow's eyes go black with dark energy. She says: Enemies, fly and fall...circling arms, raise a wall! An energy wave explodes out, knocking the Knights off their feet. They are now unable to breach the gang's gas station refuge for at least half a day unless the Knights' clerics use some sort of counter-magic. Dissipating the barrier: We don't hear all of this incantation, but it begins: Hear... hear my plea... circling arms protecting me... When Willow is finished, the barrier is gone. Reconnecting the dead pay phone: Willow utters a brief incantation: Discharge and bring life! Buffy gets a dial tone. For countless generations, Knights of Byzantium have searched for the Key in order to destroy it. No one knows where the Key came from or how it was created, only that it has the power to bring down the walls that separate Earth and the various demon dimensions. If that happened, the order of the universe would tumble into chaos. That is not the Key's sole use, however. The monks of the Order of Dagon believed they could harness its power for the forces of light. They hid the Key from the Knights. But then a new threat came along--the Beast, Glory. She wants to use the Key to return home and seize control of the Hell she was banished from. Two Knights check their comrade Orlando out of the hospital. He tells their general, Gregor, that the Key is a "Pretty little shiny girl." Gregor orders them to advance on the Slayer, the protector of the Key. It is unclear how they know Spike's Winnebago is the Slayer's escape vehicle, but they attack it and spear Giles, who loses control of the camper. The Knights advance on the gang at an abandoned gas station. Gregor manages to get in the Slayer's refuge before Willow puts up her barrier. He is now the Slayer's prisoner. Glory was cast out of her dimension when her fellow hellgods feared she would attempt to seize complete control for herself. They banished her to the Earthly plane by trapping her in the body of a newborn human male. Ben did not come by his life in the normal human way--via genetic inheritance by human parents. He was created 25 years ago by the hellgods themselves to be Glory's prison. Nevertheless, he is a human man, and Glory is destined to die whenever he does. The hellgods hoped that Glory would be unable to take any actions in Ben's body. However, she has proven able to "escape" her prison (when she morphs into female form). Using her powers exhausts her, however, and forces her back inside Ben. The Alignment is a special deadline by/at which Glory needs to use the Key. If she misses it, her opportunity will pass. The minion Gronx draws mystic symbols in blood on Glory's floor and

encircles them in black candles. She casts runes onto the symbols. "The signs are in alignment," she says. Glory must use the Key at the appropriate time, and its power will be hers. The wisdom of insanity: Tara and the other Glory-created crazies have special awareness of supernatural events around them. They sense the coming of the Alignment and its darkness and chaos. Tara becomes agitated. The hospitalized victims break free of their restraints. When Orlando has a similar reaction, his comrade Dante stabs him, apparently out of mercy. In the shooting script for the episode, it says Orlando's face "suddenly becomes sane" before he died.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Spiral"

Buffy recruits Spike for extra muscle in fighting Glory. He stops a sword aimed at Buffy, tries to fight the Knights (making the chip kick in), shows sympathy towards Tara (he had a girlfriend who was a few marbles short, too), and tries to prevent Glory from abducting Dawn. But he also shows up in a stolen camper. What should we make of Spike now? With no soul, Spike's only way to better behavior ...is for him to emulate what he sees. Often, he mirrors whatever he sees from the SG. Notice Dawn. She treats him with respect, and he returns the favor. Willow apologizes for Tara, and Spike softens. Buffy has started talking to him like a person, and he does the same. With Giles and Xander, who still treat him guardedly (with good reason), he is more sarcastic (rowan, 7:56:16 05/09/01). Most [fans] look at Spike as an individual while ignoring his vampiric tribalism. ...In the Buffyverse, vampires are tribal, working together in groups, living together in "nests." ...And most seem obedient to other stronger vamps. Vamp leaders like the Master require absolute obedience. And vamp underlings seem to obey them while grumbling and plotting, just as Spike plots with Xander. ...The Scoobies are his new tribe, the only one he can join with that chip in his head. Just as he loved Dru as his "maker," and reluctantly accepted the authority of Angel[us] as the leader of his vamp group, Buffy is the leader of the only group of cosmological outcasts that he now fits into (darrenK, 8:08:47 05/10/01). The good of Xander, Anya, and Willow Buffy knows she can't fight Glory--strength and magic have both been tried. Both failed. She decides the gang must run. Her frightened friends put pressure on her to come up with a better plan, but she has none. All she knows is she will not lose anyone else like she lost Riley, her mom, and Tara. When she brings in Ben to care for Giles, however, she inadvertently allows Glory to kill Gregor and abduct Dawn. When Buffy is finally able to get through Willow's barrier, she finds all the Knights and Clerics dead. Buffy collapses into catatonia. This season, Buffy has run into a whole bunch of things that she just can't slay. ...She's been trying to deal with these things in typical Slayer fashion: with action. But she's finding out that action won't help her. The 'spiral' of the episode title is her spiral into despair. Attack has failed, defense has failed, even flight has failed. When you've tried everything, and failed, and the stakes are so unimaginably high (the end of the world pales beside the deaths of your friends and

family), What can you do? She can't run away physically, so she runs away mentally. This is not cowardice, it's simply being pushed beyond the breaking point (Humanitas, 15:26 5/09/01). Buffy's human body count Ben has spent his whole life trying to minimize the damage that Glory has done in his body--not an easy task for any mere mortal. But the time has come for him to do more than that. He knows at least two ways to prevent Glory from bringing chaos to the universe--kill himself, or kill Dawn. He refuses to do either. Ben may be an innocent creation of evil Hellgods, but codependency isn't possible this time.

Ethical Quandaries in "Spiral"

Which innocent do you kill to save the universe?

Ben was the innocent human infant created as a vessel for the hellgod Glorificus. He did not ask for this fate; he wants to live a normal life--in particular, become a doctor who saves people's lives. But Glory is fated to die with Ben unless she can escape him. Kill Ben, and you kill Glory. Dawn is the innocent human who resulted when the monks transformed the Key-energy into flesh. If Glory uses the Key, billions will die. If the Key is destroyed, this fate will be averted.

The solution to the problem is simple either kill Ben and Glory dies, or kill Dawn and the key can't be used.... The problem with the simplicity of the solutions is that we then have to deal with conscience, on the part of Ben and Buffy. The Knights seem to have no problem killing a little girl to solve the problem as they see it as a step to save the world. Then you have to consider the fact that they have had no contact with Dawn and have no emotional ties. Ben wants to live, preferably at the expense of Glory. But after meeting and getting to know both Summers girls, can he kill Dawn? Then if you kill Ben to get to Glory can Buffy do the deed when Ben is basically innocent(mostly). ...how do you choose? Who is the sacrifice to save the world? (Rufus, 19:43 5/08/01) Gregor believes that the Key must be destroyed because it is an instrument of chaos. Because it can function as a interdimensional portal/destroyer, nothing else matters--not the fact that it can be used for other purposes, not the fact that it is now human. The Knights back up their position with the claim that "God" has commanded the destruction of the Key, but Buffy has not been given any evidence of the origins of this claim. ...there just has to be some other potential for the Key, one that the Monks envisioned. ...but fear of the universe ending is a pretty good reason to be doing what they are doing, so one can hardly pin [the Knights] down as one of the 'bad guys' in all of this (OnM, 8:30:19 05/09/01). Buffy wants to protect Dawn, an innocent human. It doesn't matter to her that the Key can potentially destroy all order in the universe, including herself and everyone she loves. She tells Gregor that no good "God" would demand that Dawn give up her life for something she has no

control over--her identity as the Key. In Buffy's view, the solution is to destroy Glory. Gregor tells her how: kill Glory's human vessel. Ben wants to live. "...would you die for them?" Gregor asks the intern. Ben replies, "It's my life. I'll do what I please with it." Ben knows that if Glory uses the Key, her "prison"--Ben's body-will be destroyed. If he destroys the Key, he can prevent this. Gregor wants this young doctor to kill Dawn. But Ben doesn't want to kill an innocent girl, and he doesn't do it when he has the chance to in the gas station. Ben is also not willing to kill himself. He hopes that somehow the situation can be resolved without his death or Dawn's.

The Weight of the World

The Metaphysics of "The Weight of the World"
The psychic spell: Willow lights candles and sits down on Xander's bed. Catatonic Buffy sits opposite Willow in a chair. Since Willow is not psychic, she must use advanced witchly powers to accomplish the link. Once inside, she interacts with Buffy in a series of repeating scenes that reveal the nature of Buffy's trauma. Ben and Glory: The walls that keep the psyches of Ben and Glory separate are crumbling. Glory is beginning to feel merciful towards her minions and guilty about harming Dawn. One minute, Ben is traumatized by the deaths of the Knights, the next he is as self-centered as Glory. Glory's High Priest explains that Glory is summoning powerful magicks in preparation to use the Key. The mixing of their psyches is a side effect of these magicks. Glory's summation of the human condition Anointing the Key: Glory's high priest minion marks Dawn's forehead with ash and says in Czech: At je Klic vynat z teto smrtelne podoby, budiz zruseno jeho prokleti ... Translation: Let the Key pour forth from this mortal the Magicks be Undone, and ... The rest must wait until Glory's in the mood. Glory didn't have a lot to do with the Crazies she produced before now, but after Tara inadvertently led her to the Key, perhaps she sees the value in having them around. They are constructing a platform for her ascendency, and are in worshipful awe of her Key. The only reason Tara is not among them is that Willow has been giving her tranquilizers of some kind. The memory mojo: Spike remembers Ben morphing into Glory while the others do not. Either a spell by Glory or some magic inherent in her god-trapped-in-a-mortal state prevents humans who witness the transformation from remembering it, even after they are reminded again and again.

Since Spike is demon, he's immune to this magic. Once the walls between Ben and Glory start to fall, humans begin to remember that Ben and Glory coexist.

Good in "The Weight of the World"

Willow: After Buffy goes catatonic, the gang is unfocused and unsure what to do next. Willow takes charge. She seperates a brawling Xander and Spike with a one-word incantation and gives everyone instructions about what to do next.

Moral Ambiguity in "The Weight of the World"

Buffy is in a catatonic state--unable to sense or respond to the world around her. Willow enters her mind and finds herself in four different settings:

Joyce and Hanks Summers' L.A. home: This is one of Buffy's monk-implanted memories. Buffy's parents bring the new-born Dawn home. At first, six-year-old Buffy is worried that Dawn will steal her parent's attention. Joyce gives her Dawn to hold and Buffy's attitude changes. She wants to help take care of her. The desert: Buffy is told by her Guide that "Death is your gift". The Summers' Sunnydale home: Buffy walks into her mothers room. On the floor is her mother's grave. Buffy tells Willow, "Death is my gift. ...This is all I'm here for. It's what I am." Then Buffy goes into Dawn's room and emotionlessly suffocates Dawn with a pillow. The Magic Box: After a research session, Buffy returns one of Giles' books to the shelf. At that moment, she realizes she can't beat Glory. And she realizes she wants to be defeated. She wants the relief of death. When Glory took Dawn in the gas station, Buffy says, she could have done something to stop her. But she didn't. Hence Dawn's death is her fault.

Willow points out that it's human for Buffy to want her slaying responsibilities (and hence her life) to be over, but that she can't let those feelings defeat her. She still has a chance to save Dawn and the world. Ben's human empathy has made him unable to kill Dawn. But now he is starting to feel Glory's self-centered sociopathy, and Glory realizes this might make him capable of going through with it and trapping her on Earth. Glory offers Ben a bribe: if he lets her go through with the ritual, she will grant him immortality--he won't have to die when she leaves her mortal prison to return to Hell, and he won't have human emotional frailties like guilt when he becomes immortal. Ben, still influenced by Glory's psyche, accepts her offer and takes Dawn to Glory's minions. Doc is a demon and expert on magic--a witch doctor/warlock. He has a reptilian tail, a ten-foot tongue, and eyes that can turn pitch black. Doc tries to make people think he's a helpless, somewhat senile old man. Old he may be, but he is not senile or helpless. He is a follower of Glory and fights valiantly to keep an ornate box out of Spike and Xander's hands. When Xander runs him through with a sword, he doesn't stay dead.

Ethical Quandaries in "The Weight of the World"

Should Buffy kill Dawn? No ...A base line of ...morality is that evil may not be done in pursuit of a good end. "Dawn's life versus the universe" is a child's question about ends and means. ...The answer is always the same when the question is expressed in that basic form: an innocent person may NOT be intentionally sacrificed even to save the universe. ...Now Joss knows all of this.Why, then, does he seem to be insisting on a solution to Season 5 that after WotW is being presented as a practical no-brainer on one hand ("Dawn has to die"), and a moral no-brainer on the other? (DEN, 7:05 5/16/01) Yes ...If it does become necessary to kill either Dawn or Ben AND if Ben is truly an innocent in all this, ...the morality of the issue is clear: Dawn dies, Ben survives. Dawn's nature is the cause of the problem; killing an innocent to keep the key from being used is murder and, as I think we'll see, wouldn't keep the key from being used by someone else anyway (LoriAnn, 4:22 5/14/01).

Buffy Anne Summers 1981-2001 Beloved sister, devoted friend She saved the world a lot

The Gift

The Metaphysics of "The Gift"

The ritual bloodletting: The Key is an energy whose power can break down the walls between dimensions. According to the ancient scrolls found at Doc's (probably the ones that helped Glory understand how to use Dawn as the Key), if the Key is poured into a specific spot at a specific time ("The Alignment"), hell will be unleashed on Earth. When the flow stops, the walls will come back up. The hot-spot Glory chooses as her portal is in mid-air above Sunnydale. The Crazies have built a tower with a plank that extends over the portal. Dawn is bound and standing at the edge of the plank. Her blood is the key to the Key: "The blood flows, the gates will open. The gates will close when it flows no more." Blood is not only key because it is a liquid in the human body that can be "poured", but also because it the human liquid that is most responsible for our living functions. In "Blood Ties" Giles calls the Key "a living energy", which implies that this energy isn't just

physical or mystical, but has properties similar to those that biological beings have. This would explain why it could be transformed into a human. It also means Dawn's power as the Key is contained in her blood. Closing the portal: Once the bloodletting begins, it feeds the portal. The portal can stay open only as long as it has energy--it stops when the blood feeding it stops. Giles assumed this meant that only Dawn's blood could close the portal. But Buffy realizes that she and Dawn share the same "blood". Buffy knows (by her psychic intuition?) that the monks constructed Dawn from a "Buffy blue print". ...Dawn is energy...That energy has to be formed into a pattern: the Summers pattern, DNA. ...Buffy meant Dawn was her in two ways: 1)the same way she meant they had the SAME blood, Summers' blood; they're sisters and their DNA would be very similar and 2) she sees Dawn as the innocent part of herself, the best part, the human--not slayer--part, the part that doesn't have the weight of the world on its shoulders (LoriAnn, 14:28 5/23/01). Buffy believes that if she can substitute her blood for Dawn's--feed the portal her own blood until her death makes her blood flow stop--the portal will close. The First-Slayer Guide's statement, "Death is your gift", confirms this for her. The reverse brain-suck: Willow has researched what Glory did to Tara and has discovered that a reverse brain-suck will restore Tara's sanity and temporarily weaken Glory. Tara enters Glory's construction site while Willow mumbles an incantation. When Glory confronts Tara, Willow appears between them and shoves her fingers into both Glory's and Tara's heads. Energy runs along Willow's arms from Glory to Tara. The force of it sends all three flying back. Glory rises, mumbling like a Crazy. Is Buffy coming back? "...We did it. Feeling good. Killed the girl. Girl comin' back. A good thing? Nothing is simple in this life (joss, May 23 00:33 2001). ...as a general rule, the Hero's "death" is a spiritual rite of passage. It does not necessarily have to mean the physical destruction of the individual so much as the death of the old, immature self to pave the way for a spiritual transformation into something more advanced. ...Jonah spend three days in the belly of the whale... Well, in the Buffyverse all things are possible (Anthony8, 23:25 5/22/01).

Good and Evil in "The Gift"

Since Glory has only a limited time window in which to perform the ritual, the gang's plan is to distract her with every weapon they have. Giles uses the scrolls to calculate when the Alignment will take place. The gang realizes that Tara is feeling an urge to join Glory's Crazy minions. They let her go and follow her to Glory's construction site.

Willow starts the assault by surprising Glory with the reverse brain-suck. A weakened Glory gets back up to find Buffy behind her. Buffy tosses the Dagon's Sphere at her. Glory catches it. Its god-repelling energy weakens her further. She manages to crush it in her hand. She attacks Buffy and knocks her head off, only to discover she's been fighting the BuffyBot. The real Buffy whacks Glory with Olaf's Troll hammer. Then she heads for the tower, fighting off guard-minions, with Glory on her heels. Glory manages to knock Buffy off the tower, but Buffy grabs her and they fall together. When Glory gets up, Xander smacks her with a wrecking ball. Buffy then hits her continually with the Troll hammer until Glory's "nagging pinch of humanity" makes her unable to handle anymore abuse. She morphs into Ben. Buffy knows killing Ben will kill Glory, and that not killing him means Glory will be trapped on Earth until Ben dies. But she doesn't kill him. She gets his promise to stay away from "me and mine" and heads for the tower. Giles approaches Ben after Buffy leaves and suffocates the weakened man until he dies. TVGO: Does Ben's death mean Glory is dead too? Whedon: Yeah, it does (Joss, as told to M. Ausiello, tvguide.com, May 24, 2001). Willow sees Doc on the platform. She uses magic to send Spike a covert telepathic message to go after Doc. Because he is a vampire, Spike must respond to her outloud. Willow and Tara use telekenesis to separate the group of Crazies guarding the tower. Spike reaches the top and battles Doc, but Doc manages to throw him off the platform. Doc then cuts Dawn's skin along her ribs. Her blood flows down to her toes and off the platform onto the portal. Bolts of energy start shooting from the portal, bringing demons in from other dimensions. One bolt sends concrete and metal crashing down on Xander. Anya pushes him out the way and takes the brunt of it. When Buffy gets to the platform, Doc flings his knife at her. She bats it away, knocks him off the tower and unties Dawn. Dawn tries to throw herself off the edge to close the portal. Buffy stops her and dives in instead. The portal flares briefly, electrocuting her, then contracts out of existence. Buffy's dead body hits the ground below the tower. ...Dracula tells Buffy that her power is rooted in darkness, destruction, death. And for a time this seems true. Buffy hunts in the dark. She revels in the kill. And then grows troubled by this hardening of her soul. And yet in the end, her power is rooted in life, love, and light. Death is Buffy's gift. Not because she is a dark hunting slayer in the night. Nor because death a final gift of peace. But because her final gift, her death as a sacrifice, is a gift of love. She dies not in darkness, but as the sun rises for a new day (fresne, 9:03 5/23/01).

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "The Gift"

Giles loves Dawn, but he knows that her death will prevent countless deaths. It is a sacrifice he is willing to make: "I have sworn to protect this sorry world, and sometimes that means saying and doing... what other people can't. What they shouldn't have to." Buffy is determined not to kill Dawn, even if the cost is the death of everyone, including Dawn. She sacrificed Angel to save the world, but Angel had some culpability in his fate; Dawn is a complete innocent. It goes against everything Buffy stands for to kill an innocent in cold blood. But she will kill anyone who tries to sacrifice Dawn--except the one person who actually attempts to do it--Dawn herself. Xander suggests killing Ben to stop Glory, but the same argument holds for him as for Dawn. Ben is not a complete innocent; he is helping Glory in exchange for his own survival. But Buffy and the gang don't know this. Based on what they know, Ben is an innocent victim of fate as well. When the time comes, Buffy does not kill Ben. But Giles knows they must kill Glory to prevent her from finding some other evil way home and to prevent her from taking revenge on Buffy and her friends. ... As much as I don't like the idea of killing someone now because of their potential for evil (as the Knights intended to do to Dawn), in Ben's case, it's a lesser of two evils. To prevent the great risk of later harm, harm must be done now. Giles made that choice. ...he had to be judge, jury, and executioner to relieve Buffy of the responsibility later ...Yeah, it was an ugly choice and an ugly consequence, but in his place? I would've done it, with just as little satisfaction as Giles himself displayed (Solitude1056, 16:19 5/23/01).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Season 6

Bargaining, Part 1 and 2

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 6 BtVS/season 3 AtS. If you're

in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

| Metaphysics | Evil | Moral ambiguity | Ethical Quandaries |

The Metaphysics of "Bargaining"

| Bargaining | The Buffybot | A new slayer? | Raising the dead | The Key | ...Bargaining is the third in [Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross'] theory about the stages of grieving. ...The first is denial (as in being unable to accept the death); the second, anger, is directed at the Powers that Be, the deceased, the survivor, etc. The third is bargaining -- the bereaved bargains with the heavens, "please, I'll be good, just bring him/her back; please, I'll do anything." The fourth stage is depression (pretty much as it sounds like) and the fifth is acceptance (when life slowly begins to go on -- sort of like Angel in "Heartthrob"). ...it was Willow who most painfully refused to accept [Buffy's] death. After she believed the spell to have failed, and howled, "she's really gone" -- it just seemed so clear that until that moment, she had been clinging to the belief that Buffy would come back, had to come back, could not really be dead. And it is Willow, hunched over Buffy's grave in the torment of her "tests," who showed us the literal stage of bargaining: Whatever it takes, whatever I have to endure, I'll do it. Just bring her back (Lunarchickk, 10/04/01, 12:03). The Buffybot: Buffy is dead. There is no Slayer in Sunnydale. The gang is patrolling as a team, like they did in the summer of 1998. The Buffybot helps give the appearance that Buffy's alive. She slays vampires and joins Dawn for Parent-Teacher Day. But she's no Buffy. She is in constant need of maintenance and reprogramming, and she is a painful reminder to Buffy's sister and friends that the real Buffy is gone. When a vampire attacks a girl outside the coffee house, it's the Buffybot to the rescue--until the vamp breaks a bottle on her forehead ad sends sparks flying. He realizes she's a machine and boasts about besting her to a gang of demon bikers, who head in from the desert to invade Sunnydale. Why hasn't a new slayer shown up? Joss Whedon stated a year or so ago that the line now lies with Faith, if Buffy dies there will be no new slayer. In addition, just two days ago, another writer also confirmed that there will be no new slayer (Tensai, 5/27/01 9:41). "No, a new Slayer will only be called up when Faith dies." (BtVS/AtS writer Steven DeKnight, The Bronze, 5/24/01 23:56). Successfully Raising the dead is never an easy thing to do. When Dawn attempted to raise her mother, Joyce's body rose, but it was probably a spiritless reanimated corpse, rather than the mother Dawn had loved. That iffy ritual was a piece of cake compared to the ritual Willow performs to raise Buffy. Willow believes Buffy has a better chance than Joyce because while Joyce died of natural causes, Buffy was killed by a mystical energy.

This makes her a good candidate for the supplication to Osiris. This spell must be performed when Mercury is in retrograde. It also requires an Urn of Osiris. Anya locates the last known urn from a desert gnome in Cairo. ...Osiris isn't an evil god -- he's the Egyptian god of the dead. He controls the comings and goings from the underworld. Therefore, Willow's magick was concentrated on exhorting Osiris to release Buffy's soul (Devon, 05:50:16 10/03/01). They now have all of the ingredients except one, the vino de madre ("wine of the mother"). Willow goes out into a meadow and puts a blanket on the ground. She pours powder from a bottle onto the ground while saying the ritual words to call out a sacrifice: Adonai, Helomi, Pine Adonai, Helomi, Pine Gods do command thee from thy majesty O Mappa Laman, Adonai, Helomi Come forward, blessed one, know your calling. Come forward, blessed one. A fawn appears from behind a tree. Willow stabs it in the heart and takes its blood for the ritual. She then thanks the sacrifice for its offering: Child of Elomina, accept our humble gratitude for your offering In death you give life May you find wings to the kingdom. At midnight, Willow, Xander, Anya and Tara kneel in a circle around Buffy's grave. Willow holds the urn of Osiris. The other have burning candles. Willow incants, Osiris, keeper of the gate, Master of all fate Hear us She pours the vino de madre in the urn and then reaches in the urn and marks her forehead and cheeks with blood. Before time, and after Before knowing and nothing She spreads the rest of the vino de madre on Buffy's grave. Accept our offering, Know our prayer.

After she puts the urn down, knife wounds appear on her outspread arms. Tara tells the others it is a test Willow must endure as the invoker of the ritual. Osiris, here lies a warrior of the people. Let her cross over Several round egg-shaped objects appear under her skin and crawl from her wounds to her neck. Osiris, let her cross over! The objects fuse together and travel up her throat. Willow regurgitates a snake. Red and gold mystical energy starts to swirl around her. Osiris, release her! At this point, a motorcycle charges in and breaks the urn. The mystical energy leaves Willow. She collapses, and Xander carries her to safety. The energy sinks under the ground and into Buffy's grave where it makes contact with her body and reconstitutes her rotting corpse. Buffy wakes up to one of her worst nightmares made real--she is buried alive. Is Dawn still the key? She is in this sense--she is still the human being who was created out of the key energy. She may also still be able to open the portal between dimensions with her blood (even though she says, "I don't open anything anymore"). Who knows this besides her friends? Where was Buffy's spirit? Vampires and fire

Evil in "Bargaining"
The Hellions are a group of violent, pointy-eared, nostril-less demons who live on the open road as a motorcycle gang. When they hear that there is no Slayer in Sunnydale, they decide to have a little fun on the Hellmouth and invade the city--vandalizing property, looting, and setting cars on fire. When the Buffybot appears to stop them, they take her prisoner and chain her to their motorcycles. Driving in different directions, they rip the bot into pieces (technically, the draw and quarter her). The Bikers ...were rapists, thieves, and murderers but the disturbing aspect is that they were able to get away with it and were ENJOYING THEMSELVES. Not many people are ready to face the idea of what it would be like for "evil" to have the upper hand and be able to do whatever it wants to you and leave you without too much trouble (Charlemagne20, 10/02/01, 21:17)

Good and Moral Ambiguity in"Bargaining"

Willow's witchy powers have continued to develop. She can communicate telepathically and perform a ritual to raise Buffy from the dead. In the course of gathering ingredients, she kills a

deer for its blood, then tells her friends she got the ingredient on the black market. After the ritual, Xander confronts her, wanting to know exactly what they were into with that spell. Does he suspect there's dark magic involved? ...Willow's full speed ahead pursuit of power is not the mindset of one is seeks to be in tune with nature and the universe. Her attitude towards magic reminds me of the scientists who are throwing themselves so whole-heartedly into cloning research without waiting to see what the ethical considerations of that technology will be. For Tara, magic is as natural as breathing, it's a part of life and the cycles of life. For Willow, it's knowledge. I can foresee this causing them more problems... What it comes down to is a difference in philosophy (celticross, 10/03/01 7:50) Buffy uses her slayer strength to break out of her wood and earth prison. The world she sees upon rising is dark and full of demons. It looks like Sunnydale, with familiar landmarks and people, but it's a Sunnydale of destruction and fire. Demons chase and attack her. Only her slayer instincts keep Buffy alive. She eventually returns to the top of the tower where her life ended. Dawn finds her there. "Is this hell?" Buffy asks. She stares down as if ready to take the plunge again. Then the tower starts to creak and sway. Dawn screams. This galvanizes Buffy into action again. She gets her sister safely to the ground and out of the way of falling debris. The tower crumbles to the ground in a billow of dust. Buffy finally realizes it's not hell when her sister embraces her. Anya is waiting--in an impatient, rude way--for the day that Giles will leave and she can take over the day-to-day business of the Magic Box. Anya's also eager to tell the gang about her engagement to Xander, news she's convinced will cheer up everyone's somber mood, but Xander thinks they should wait until things get better. "Things getting better" means, for Xander, after they all adjust to Buffy's death. Giles has decided to return to England, but he is lingering in Sunnydale even though he knows that, in the end, most slayer-watcher relationships end in a Slayer's death in the line of duty. It's not that simple for Giles. He had a relationship with Buffy that was closer than most Watchers have with their slayers. He is also feeling guilty for Buffy's death, even though it was her choice, not his. When he finally leaves, he slips off to the airport to avoid an emotional scene. The gang finds him there and say their goodbyes just as he's leaving. Giles heads off to England with an admonishment for them to be careful. Dawn has become emotionally attached to the Buffybot in Buffy's absence, calling it "Buffy" and cuddling with it at night. When Dawn finds the bot torn to pieces, it's almost as if she's lost her sister again. Luckily, she soon finds her real sister, inexplicably alive, if not well. Hank Summers seems willing to let his adult offspring care for his younger child. But what if he discovers his oldest is dead? (The evolution of Hank) The good of Tara and Xander

The moral ambiguity of Spike

Ethical Quandaries in "Bargaining"

Should Buffy's friends raise her from the dead? Willow is adamant about bringing Buffy back, and tells gang the time has come for the ritual. Xander is the first to take the cautious "let's step back and think about this," line. This leads to a short debate between Xander, Willow, Anya, and Tara about the ethics of raising the dead. Tara backs up Xander's "It feels wrong" with Wiccan reasoning. "It is wrong," she says. "It's against all the laws of nature." However, the fact that it's "practically impossible to do" isn't an argument against its morality, just as "we all agreed to do it" isn't an argument for its morality. What is interesting, though, is Tara ever agreeing to this in the first place, given her adamant views against raising the dead in "Forever". And indeed, after it appears that the ritual has failed, Tara points out that perhaps that was what was meant to happen. Since they were invoking forces they had no right to, the "fates" stepped in and stopped them with the chaos of the demon invasion. Willow argues that Buffy's spirit could have ended up in a hell dimension as a result of the way she died (as a result of dying by mystical energy), although she doesn't have much evidence for this. She finally appeals to the emotions of friendship, arguing simply, "it's Buffy". Did Willow cross the line? Yes "An it harm none, do what ye will." - The Wiccan Rede ...Magic continually presents ethical choices. These choices are akin to the ethical principle of the golden rule, which underlies a multitude of philosophies and religions. I see Willow now as having placed herself in opposition to that ethical principle. She has, without Buffy's consent, resurrected her. She has substituted her judgment for Buffy's own. Clearly, she rationalizes this as an act that may save Buffy from torment. It's wrapped in good intentions. ...Willow's motives appear better on the surface. But underneath, it's the same assumption of power over the life and death of another person. ...Willow's path to a darker side seems marked by her desire to be helpful and to make things right when her emotions are touched. But she is also placing herself in the position of judging what is right when she does these things (rowan, 10/03/01 7:15). No Willow is being corrupted by her excessive use of magic and Joss is bringing that out. It's ...a sign of just how twisted and depraved the type of magic that thrives on the Hellmouth in the Buffyverse is.... Think of the world Willow lives in. Think of the horrors that ran amuck even when Buffy -was- alive. Now that she's gone, those horrors have quadrupled. Willow and Tara -

can't- prance around in flowy little robes and sing badly written faux-folk songs about the Great Peaceful and Wise All Caring-Never-Hurts-A-Fly-Even-Though-She-Embodies-TheForces-of-Nature-Which-Aren'tAlways-Pleasant. They have to be edgier. And, in relation to things like raising the dead, they need to do some things that no one should ever have to do. The sacrifice was necessary (Lucifer_Sponge, 10/03/01 6:53)

Afterlife
The Metaphysics of "Afterlife"
"The thing about magic... there's always consequences. Always!" --Spike Thaumogenesis: The spell to bring Buffy back had an unexpected side effect. Willow asked that a human being be brought back from death--no small request. A price must be paid, and so a demon is created by the very magicks Willow invoked. This demon does not have a physical existence in our dimension. It is "out of phase"--its consciousness is here, its body is not. The book Willow consults describes the demon as being "caught in the ether between existence and non-existence." This could very well be the "ether" where Angel's soul was during Angelus' reign. The manifestations: The demon must possess living beings (Anya, Dawn, Xander) to perform any lasting actions in our dimension. This possession is accompanied by the whitening of the person's eyes. The demon also manifests in a number of other ways as well: as a small blob capable of blending with floors and walls and as a ghost-like apparition that can take on forms that look like people (e.g., Buffy). This apparition appears in Willow and Tara's room. It knows the details of Willow's spell, and reminds Willow of the secrets she has been keeping from her friends: "Did you cut the throat? Did you pat it's head? The blood dried on your hands, didn't it? You were stained. You still are. I know what you did!" It appears to throw a heavy object at the picture above the bed, but when Tara checks, the glass that fell is gone. Destroying the demon: The demon was created by the spell, so its existence is linked to the spell. If Willow uses magic to to reverse the forces that brought the demon into existence, the main effects of the spell (i.e., Buffy's resurrection) will reverse as well. Willow then discovers that the demon is a temporary side effect--it will dissipate on its own. The only way the demon can prevent this is by killing the subject of the original spell (i.e., Buffy). The demon, in possession of Xander, hears this and goes to Buffy's house.

The spell to make the demon corporeal: In order for Buffy to fight the demon, it must be made corporeal (see also Ethros demons and the Thesulac). Willow and Tara sit on the floor facing each other holding hands. They chant together, Child of words, hear thy makers, child of words, we entreat. With our actions did we make thee, to our voices wilt thou bend. With our potions, thou took motive, with our motions, came to pass. We rescind no past devotions, give thee substance, give thee mass. Tara repeats the incantation as Willow goes into a trance surrounded by mystical light. Then Willow utters one word, "solid!" The demon is united with its body and Buffy beheads it with an ax. Heaven: Where was Buffy's spirit during the months after her death? Indications are it was in the Buffyverse equivalent of heaven. The existence of such a place has been hinted at before, but this is the first time we have had direct evidence of the place and what it is like. Buffy tells Spike, "Wherever I was, I was happy. At peace. I knew that everyone I cared about was all right. I knew it. Time didn't' mean anything. Nothing had form. But I was still me, you know? And I was warm... and I was loved. And I was finished. Complete." Compared to this place, life on Earth is hell--difficult, bright, and violent. Vampires and sunlight

Good in "Afterlife"
A Buddhist perspective on Buffy's resurrection Buffy's statement that everyone she cared about was OK (in spite of how they themselves felt) reminded me of a passage in the Flower Garland Sutra wherein the Buddha sitting under the Bodhi Tree right after his enlightenment realizes that all beings are already Buddhas but they do not realize it. So from Buffy's "heavenly" perspective everyone is ultimately ok, but from the perspective of people still in the Saha World (the world of endurance i.e. here) things are harsh and violent and they are still making trouble for themselves. In fact, if the Scooby Gang had not been working on bringing Buffy back from heaven, they could have solved their own problems themselves. Willow and the others could have evolved into a crack vampire/demon fighting team on their own instead of overly relying on the erratic Buffybot and their hope of bringing Buffy back. In doing that, the Hellmouth would have remained a non-inviting target for the Hellions. ...the reason the vampire was able to get away was because the SG was where they shouldn't have been doing what they shouldn't have been doing instead of patrolling as they should have been. So instead of being empowered by Buffy's sacrifice, they disempowered themselves and ultimately brought on themselves the necessity for

Buffy's return. If they had taken a more enlightened perspective - they would have realized that they were ok and not created so many problems for themselves and now for Buffy. ...the Buddha knew that all beings are Buddha, [but] he also realized that they need help figuring that out. This is why the Buddha didn't just stay seated under the Bodhi Tree but got up and began teaching so people could realize for themselves what the Buddha knew they were all along. The bodhisattvas of the Flower Garland Sutra go even further and make vows to be reborn in all the realms of suffering in order to save all sentient beings. Though Buffy did not volunteer for this duty on her own initiative, it would seem that she is in the same position. Though she has merited a heavenly reward, she has returned to the Saha World to save her friends. In telling Spike not to tell the SG what they had done, it seems as though she has, albeit after the fact, accepted this mission and volunteered to reenter the fray and take the suffering on herself in order to spare her friends - and ultimately this season she will probably have to save them from themselves - just as the classic bodhisattva does (Ryuei, 10:35 10/10/01). The good of Dawn

Moral Ambiguity in "Afterlife"

Willow: In her need to justify bringing Buffy back, Willow convinces her friends that Buffy was in a hell dimension. She has no evidence for this claim, and unbeknownst to her, it is quite wrong. When the apparition appears in their bedroom and makes reference to aspects of the spell that Willow has kept secret, Willow lies and tells Tara she doesn't know what the apparition is talking about. The Scooby Gang: Everybody wants the best for Buffy--they only want her to be happy. This puts Buffy under enormous pressure to pretend that she is. She tells Spike the truth--that she was in heaven, not hell--then tells him he must never let her friends know the reality of what they did to her. ...Instead of being the light of her life, the Scoobies have become a constant reminder of the darkness that colors a Slayer's daily existence: the dreadful burden of being responsible for so many lives. In these terms, how selfish it was for the Scoobies to bring her back! (Jeff Jensen, Entertainment Weekly, 10/10/01) Spike's joy at Buffy's resurrection is muted when it becomes a painful reminder that he is still an outsider with the gang. His attempts to care for Buffy are interrupted by Buffy's friends. He is angry that Willow and the others didn't tell him what they had planned. When Buffy tells him the truth about where she was, though, he becomes the only insider to her secret pain. The moral ambiguity of Xander

Flooded

Evil and Good in "Flooded"

M'Fashnik demons are a species of "mercenary" demons who exchange their demon strength and lust for chaos for money and other forms of compensation. A trio of super geeks villains hires a M'Fashnik to distract a security guard while they rob a bank. They all get away clean, but not before Buffy shows up and kicks the demon's ass. The M'Fashnik wants revenge. Warren gives him Buffy's address. When the demon finds Dawn and Giles there instead, he is perfectly willing to take his anger out on them while he waits for the Slayer. Poetic justice? How do you piss off the Slayer these days? Well, it involves destroying her property and ruining her costly new plumbing. The M'Fashnik demon attempts his revenge by throttling Buffy with a piece of her newly-repaired pipe. A very brassed-off Buffy wrests the pipe from him and beats him to death with it. Battling the debt demon: Buffy has come back to life to find herself in the red. Her mom's life insurance went to hospital bills and new debts are piling up. Buffy has no income and can't get a loan. Looks like it might be time to pull out a new weapon--gainful employment. Dawn has been kept from the gang's evil-fighting activities up until now, but she thinks fifteen is old enough to join in. The proof? Dawn locates the Buffy's mercenary demon in a book within minutes. And she doesn't even get too freaked out about it, either.

Moral Ambiguity in "Flooded"

Revenge of the nerds: The new "bads" on the block are a trio of human guys who have each used magic or technology in the past for their own benefit. Jonathan Levinson, of course, had his augmentation spell, Warren Mears was the creator of the sexbots (including the Buffybot), and Andrew, the brother of Tucker Wells, trained flying monkey-demons to attack a school play. The geekboys fancy themselves "super villains", and have joined together to use their talents to obtain the power that has been denied to them due to their low social status. They have decided to use magic and crime to take over Sunnydale and obtain worldly pleasures without paying for them. Can they succeed? Well, they have several weaknesses to overcome first:

Morality. Jonathan and Andrew, at least, are unwilling to turn to murder to get what they want. Fear of the forces they are harnessing. The M'Fashnik demon for example. Loyalty. Each seems ready to turn on the others to save his own butt.

[The Trio are] ...all about evading responsibility. ...these guys are steadfastly refusing to grow up. They want to play video games and meet girls and really do little else. They're going to use

their smarts to try to figure out ways to get around regular jobs and regular lives (Marti Noxon 'Dreamwatch', March '02). The continuing repercussions of Buffy's resurrection Since Buffy got back, she's been holding her feelings inside, trying to convince her friends that she's O.K. when she's not. And while she is dedicated to slaying, she is not overly enthusiastic about it. Giles is overjoyed to see Buffy alive and calls her presence among the living "a miracle". However, he can sense that not everything is right with her. The "worst" is supposedly over-she's died and been resurrected--yet Buffy continues to be traumatized by something. Giles blames Willow. She risked "primal and ferocious" magicks to bring Buffy back. His trust in Willow's judgment has been shattered. Xander still hasn't told the gang about he and Anya's engagement. But is Xander waiting until the dust of Buffy's resurrection settles down, or does he have cold feet? Anya believes he is afraid to commit to her, and Xander confesses that the responsibilities of marriage, on top of plain old adulthood, are a bit overwhelming for him. In the meantime, Anya is losing patience with Xander's anxieties. Benevolent power or "stupid" luck? Giles vs. Willow on harnessing powerful magicks "Of everyone here, you were the one I trusted most to respect the forces of nature." When Giles asks Willow about the spell she used to resurrect Buffy, Willow recounts the frightening ordeal with self-congratulatory enthusiasm. Giles responds by calling Willow a "stupid girl" and an "arrogant amateur". In Giles' mind, the spell was successful only because Willow was lucky. She risked her own life, her friend's lives, and perhaps the whole world releasing Buffy from "hell", and Buffy doesn't seem entirely the better for it. As far as Willow is concerned, though, her success is a sign of her talent. Willow believes that she is in control of the powers she harnesses. Furthermore, she used those powers in what she considers a good deed--bringing her friend back from death. But her confidence quickly slips into arrogance. She tells Giles, "I'm incredibly powerful. And maybe it's not such a good idea for you to piss me off." Is that our Willow threatening Giles? Willow quickly backs off from the threat. She wants her friends to be happy as a result of what she has done. But not all is well in the Scooby Gang.

Life Serial

The Metaphysics of "Life Serial" The tests

The nerdly trio decide to test their greatest (potential) adversary, the Slayer, to discover her weaknesses. They install surveillance equipment in a black van. Each of them plans his own test for Buffy. They turn it into a contest between themselves. Time-warp: Warren plants a small silver "inhibitor" bead on Buffy's sweater. The bead causes Buffy to experience time at a speeded-up rate when the "omega pulse sequence" triggers it. Buffy's conversation with Tara jumps ahead a full minute with only an odd ripping sound as warning. She sees the clock hands and then students moving at accelerated pace. Buffy retreats under a table and finds the inhibitor just as it self-destructs in her hand. Demons: Andrew calls forth three demons with eerie pipe music. The green demons, who have tentacles hanging from the backs of their heads, attack Buffy at her construction job. Buffy fights them off using construction tools as weapons. When they die, the demons melt away, leaving no trace of their existence. Time-loop: Jonathan produces a piece of parchment with writing on it and sets it on fire. He puts it in a bowl in the center of a circle consisting of himself, Andrew, and Warren. Andrew and Warren must hold hands. Jonathan waves his magic bone over the bowl and says Opus orbit est Et ea in medio Tempus ad calcum intendet! The burning parchment starts to smoke. Buffy, now working at the Magic Box, begins to experience the same series of events over and over again--Giles gives her advice about retail; a customer has a question about candles; and a woman enters the Magic Box looking for a mummy hand talisman for a prosperity spell. Only pleasing this customer will end Jonathan's spell. The mummy hand resists Buffy, though, and every time she gives up on her task, the loop reverses back to the beginning and starts over. Eventually Buffy tells the customer she'll special order another hand and have it shipped directly to the customer. She makes the sale and the spell ends. Transformation; Later, Buffy sees the trio's van, which she saw earlier at the construction site. Jonathan uses his magic bone to disguise himself in demon form (a spell to disguise or cover up something is known as a "glamor"). Demon-Jonathan tells Buffy that he's been following her and testing her. Buffy kicks him. Since Jonathan only has the strength of his normal human self, he doubles over in pain. He creates a puff of smoke and runs away, faking his own disappearance. Once he is on the other side of the van, he says, "Let the spell be ended" and he is back to human form.

Moral Ambiguity in "Life Serial"

Buffy is having trouble with her new lease on life--specifically, having any actual plans about what to do with it. She joins Willow and Tara in college classes, but finds it over her head. She gets fired from Xander's construction job, and quits Anya's retail job, and heads over to Spike's for a drink or five. Later, she confides to Giles that she's "screwing up"--not facing her duties as Slayer and bread-winner. Giles gives her a check to hold her over. When Buffy tells him she feels safe as long as he is there, though, Giles frowns. He knows she has to learn to take care of herself.

The Trio

None of the three dweebs really think of Buffy as a human being.... Warren is easy to figure out-look at the way he treated April, who was supposed to be his 'perfect' girlfriend. Warren is amoral, and totally self-interested. Therefore, there is no division in his mind between thinking that Buffy is 'hot' and accepting that she should die if necessary to further his own aims. Andrew... constantly confuses fantasy with reality, as evidenced in his references to events in movies, TV shows etc. in such a way that shows that they are not treated differently from events taking place in the realverse. Therefore, if Buffy were to die, it isn't any different than if she were a character in a video game that can be 'killed' over and over without any consequences. Jonathan is insecure, despite Buffy's attempts to help him in the past. He doesn't really want to hurt Buffy, he just wants to prove that he is clever enough to 'compete' with her superiority.... Left to himself, it is unlikely that he would ever harm her, but under the influence of the other two members of the troika, he could be swayed to 'not intervene' should she be truly threatened. In other words, he might passively allow harm to come to her, but not actively (OnM, 10/24/01 16:06). Spike tells Buffy that she will only truly be happy in life when she realizes she is like him--a fighter, a "creature of the darkness." He challenges her to "try on" his world. Does Spike want Buffy to be dark in the way Drac wanted her to be? Maybe, maybe not. Buffy joins Spike at a bar in order to get information about who has been testing her, but the only "action" there is a backroom game of kitten-poker with a group of rather lame demons.

Philosophies represented in "Life Serial"

Social constructivism is a sociological theory about how human beings acquire their beliefs about the world around them. Social constructionists hold that human beings do not perceive the world directly; we perceive it through the lens of a large number of prior assumptions given to us through our social upbringing. "The social construction of reality" is not to be confused with the "individual construction of reality". Each of us as individuals tends to perceive the world in different ways from other individuals. This is not social constructivism (so some of the responses in Mike's class were technically wrong). The social construction of reality means that groups of people--particular cultures, sub-cultures, genders, etc. as a group perceive the world in similar ways to each other but differently from other cultures and groups. Therefore, when people as a group come to agreement and consensus about the "facts" and explanations for events in the world, this should not reassure them that what they believe is true. It may very well be false--since as a group they share the same social assumptions, beliefs, and biases. Even the so-called pinnacle of knowledge, science, is a social endeavor and therefore not immune to social construction. See Thomas Kuhn's "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions" for examples of the social construction of scientific knowledge.

All the Way

The Metaphysics of "All the Way"
Demons and Halloween: It has been established in Halloween and Fear, Itself that October 31st is the one night that demons "give it a rest". They stay in. The memory spell: After a hurtful fight with Tara, Willow does a memory spell to make Tara forget the argument. She picks up a sprig of Lethe's Bramble (a flowering plant used for augmenting spells of forgetting and mind control) from the dresser and places it in her palm. "Forget" she says. Then she crawls into bed beside a now-happy Tara.

Evil in "All the Way"

Justin and Zack are part of a young vampire posse that has "rebelled" against traditional vampire rules like no mayhem on Halloween. Justin sucks an old man dry and Zack steals a car after eating its owner. All the while, the two vamps try to decide whether to kill Dawn and Janice or "go all the way" and turn them into vampires as well.

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "All the Way"

Anya is her usual partying capitalist self after her big Halloween sale. Xander watches her dance and decides the time has come to tell their friends about the engagement. The gang decides to throw a party in their honor. At the party Xander tries to play it cool, but it is obvious he is still overwhelmed by what he's doing--more so when Giles talks about weddings, houses, and how Xander and Anya will spend the rest of their lives together. Dawn is at that age where she wants to be an adult, but still has an authority figure bent on keeping her safe. Dawn meets up with Janice, Zack, and Justin--a boy she's "seen around at parties"--for Halloween mischief. When the boys decide to pick on an old man, Dawn volunteers to smash his pumpkin. She later reveals her stealing habit to Justin and makes out with him in a car. Giles discovers that Dawn has lied about her whereabouts. He searches the graveyard, hears Janice scream and stakes Zack. Then he sees Dawn running from Justin. Dawn is confused because she has come to like Justin and she's known some decent vampires in her day, like Angel and Spike. When Giles tries to save her, he sees that they are surrounded by the vampire posse. Dawn punches Justin in the gut and runs away while Giles, Spike and Buffy take on the vamps. Justin catches up with Dawn and pins her to the ground. He is about to take a bite when she stakes him with her pencil. Buffy: When Dawn heads out for a "sleep-over" at her friend Janice's, Buffy hesitates. She refused to let Dawn get a tattoo, but she looks to Giles to tell Dawn whether or not she can go to Janice's. Giles rightly responds, "it's really not up to me." Later, Giles tells Buffy they need to discipline Dawn for what she did. Buffy agrees and tells him not to be too hard on her when he does it. Then she heads for bed. The old man appears sinister, but in fact, he's just a nice old former toy maker who wants to give kids Rice Krispy treats. When Justin the vamp chows down on the guy, the only result is tragedy.

When does the use of magic cross the line? Willow suggests a cleaning spell for the post-sale Magic Box clutter, pops up decorations for the engagement party with a simple, "kazaritate tame", and wants to send everyone in the Bronze who's not fifteen into an alternate dimension for a second just to see if Dawn is there. Tara stops her. "What if something went wrong?" Tara argues. Willow is convinced it won't. "Willow, you're using too much magic," Tara tells her. "What do you want me to do? Just sit back and keep my mouth shut?" "Well that would be a good start," an angry Willow replies.

"Why use magic when you can do something naturally?" Tara asks her. Willow's response is a bad analogy. "Well, you can fight monsters naturally, with sticks and stones. Don't recommend it, though". This misses Tara's point. Using magic to defend against monsters is a very different thing from using magic for any little problem that comes up. "You're protecting people, keeping them from getting hurt." Willow argues her magic couldn't harm a fly--what's the big deal? The gist of Tara's argument here is that the more Willow uses magic to accomplish everyday things, the greater the chances are that there might be negative consequences. Magic is powerful and has side-effects, even if done correctly. It is something that should be used carefully and reserved for occasions when crucial ends justify the powerful means employed, i.e., to protect people. Rather than thinking about Tara's arguments, Willow performs a spell to make Tara forget she said anything. ...By making Tara forget, she takes away Tara's right to express her opinion, which, as you remember, she (Tara) did because she cares. She's not treating Tara as a person who has a right to speak her mind. Willow thinks that if magic makes things easier, then there's no reason not to use it (the spell she contemplated was risky and they had no inkling that Dawn was in any real danger). She has confidence in her abilities and, after all, she brought someone back from the dead. Now she's venturing into the realm of controlling other people to make her own life more pleasant. Talk about crossing the line; she's way over it (verdantheart, 10/31/01 6:06).

Once More, With Feeling

The Metaphysics of "Once More, With Feeling"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 6 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

Sweet is a devilish-looking demon who wears a flashy zoot suit and has ventriloquist dummy minions. He is summoned with a special talisman and a spell. According to the "rules" that he accepts or rejects at his whim, whoever summoned him must join him in his demon dimension as his queen. He assumes Dawn did the deed because she is wearing his talisman around her neck. When it is revealed that Xander summoned him, Sweet decides to head back to the underworld alone. The musical extravaganza evil: "Songs, dancing around... what's gonna be wrong with that?" --Dawn When everyone in Sunnydale starts bursting into song spontaneously and uncontrollably, the gang's theories range from demons to bunnies to being stuck inside a kid's nightmare. Buffy, on the other hand, doesn't seem worried at all. But when unnatural things go on in Sunnydale, it doesn't usually lead to hugs and puppies. Sure enough, a man in an alley starts tap dancing frenetically and bursts into flame with no external cause--burning up from the inside out. It is likely that people who put the most emotional energy into keeping their highly-charged secrets are the ones who incinerate.

Lethe's Bramble

Evil in "Once More, With Feeling"

Sweet I can bring whole cities to ruin, ...and still have time to get a soft-shoe in. The demon Sweet brings chaos to Sunnydale in the form of dancing and singing that reveals deep, painful secrets and brings death to some. Sweet has his minions capture Dawn, believing that she summoned him. When Dawn tells him her sister is the Slayer, Sweet interrupts his seduction of Dawn in order to witness what most demons in Sunnydale want to see--the Slayer's death.

Moral Ambiguity in "Once More, With Feeling"

When Xander and Anya reveal their secrets to each other in song, it's a mixed bag. Both want to be with each other forever, but they also have pre-wedding jitters they've been keeping secret. Anya the ex-vengeance demon is afraid Xander will betray her. Xander worries that his career as a carpentry foreman won't be enough to satisfy the avaricious Anya. Xander's fears lead him to summon a demon who he hopes will lighten the mood with some happy singing and dancing. Oops. Dawn has her stolen booty stashed in a secret compartment in her jewelry box, including a pendant on a chain she stole from the Magic Box. When she's feeling picked-on for being only fifteen, she puts it on. Almost instantly, she is kidnapped by Sweet's minions. Dawn wakes up in the Bronze and tries to escape to no avail. When Sweet tells Buffy that Dawn summoned him, Dawn truthfully swears that she didn't. But when she tells the gang how she got the pendant, Dawn stretches the truth to hide her stealing. Tara awakens to find an herb under her pillow. Knowing Willow put it there, she pins it to her lapel as a symbol of her love. Later, she sings about how Willow reached into her shy, withdrawn world and brought her out into the light with love and with a shared talent for magic. She was cynical about her chances for love in the past, but Willow changed that. Then Dawn mentions a fight with Willow that Tara can't recall. She looks down at Willow's herb and realizes what it might be for. In the Magic Box, she finds out the truth from a book on magic--Willow cast a spell on her to make her forget. Spike: When Buffy arrives for her nightly visit with Spike, he isn't very welcoming. He believes she has chosen him to reveal her secrets to because in her eyes, he is a not a real person, and that somehow makes her confessions less real. She also comes to him because she longs to "misbehave"--to eschew her responsibilities--and yet she is afraid to give in to that desire. But Spike is in love with her, and this behavior only teases and hurts him. He wants to kill her for doing this, but he also wants to help her. In the end, he stops her before she gives into Sweet's deadly fire.

Giles has stayed in town to help Buffy, but now he is realizing that that was a mistake. Buffy is laying her responsibilities on him instead of facing them herself. When Sweet's minion tells them about Dawn's kidnapping, Giles announces that Buffy will face Sweet alone. Later he starts to fear that Buffy won't face that challenge, either, and Dawn might be in danger. He and the others go to the Bronze to help Buffy, but Giles has already decided he can't stay in Sunnydale much longer. Buffy was dead for months, and now, months after being raised by Willow, she still feels dead. She is sleep-walking through life--going through the motions of slaying, unable to feel the emotional impact of anything. She doesn't want it this way; she longs to feel alive, but she is unable to combat her emotional death. When she goes to the Bronze to save Dawn, she is perfectly willing to join Sweet in hell in Dawn's place. Sweet is curious about her motives. Buffy breaks into ironic song about the happiness of life, then reveals to her friends that she believes she was in heaven and that her new life is hell in comparison. Her song ends in a dancing frenzy--an unleashing of her pent-up emotions. She seems to want the incineration and death that is to come. Spike stops her. Later, he finds her outside the Bronze. Overcome by her desire to feel something, Buffy throws herself at Spike, who sweeps her up into a passionate kiss.

Tabula Rasa
The Metaphysics of "Tabula Rasa"
Demons: Welcome to Sunnydale, where loan sharks are literally... sharks. OK, land-shark demons. The metaphor may be a little too literal, but the threat is real for Spike, who finds himself on the pointy end of a stake from the loan-shark's vampire lackeys.

The tabula rasa spell: Willow lays a sprig of Lethe's bramble in Buffy's fireplace and sets it on fire. She incants: For Buffy and Tara, this I char, Let Lethe's bramble do its chore. Purge their minds of memories grim, Of pains from recent slights and sins.

She puts the tip of a small crystal in the flame. As the flame dies, the crystal will grow black, absorbing the power of the spell from the flame.

When the fire burns out, when the crystal turns black, the spell will be cast. Tabula Rasa, Tabula Rasa, Tabula Rasa. Willow pockets the crystal, but in her haste to go to the latest Scooby meeting, leaves a large bag of Lethe's bramble on the hearth of the fireplace. Giles has called the meeting to tell everyone that he's leaving. Back at Buffy's, a spark flies out from the fireplace and sets the entire bag of Lethe's bramble on fire. As Buffy attempts to explain to her friends what she's been going through, the fire burns out and the crystal in Willow's pocket turns black. The spell kicks in. Rather than effecting just Tara and Buffy, the whole gang faints. Memory loss: When they wake up, they no longer remember who they are nor what has happened in their lives. Such memories are called "personal memories". They are specific to an individual's personal identity. The gang still retain their "skill memories", however--the ability to e.g., speak English and to understand and apply everyday concepts such as "girl"; Likewise, Buffy hasn't forgotten her slayer training. The personal memories are really still there as well; the gang just can't tap into them on a conscious level. But they are clearly acting on these memories on an unconscious level. Anya still worries about her cash register; Spike retains his heroic nature of the last year; and Willow and Tara's attraction to each other shines through the unpleasant memories they've forgotten. The reason for this total black-out of personal memory (as opposed to just forgetting one particular incident) can be found in the words "tabula rasa", which mean "blank slate"--the chalkboards of their conscious minds has been erased of all such memories. The gang slowly piece together personal stories based on the evidence they have. Before they can do anything about their situation, however, they are attacked by the loan shark and his lackeys. Giles and Anya remain in the shop while Buffy and Spike (in a suit suspiciously remnant of William the Bloody) head out to fight the vamps. The others flee to the sewers. Breaking the Tabula Rasa spell: A vampire attacks the gang in the sewers, throwing Willow and Tara to the ground. Willow's crystal falls out of her pocket. As Willow and Tara close in for smootchies, Xander steps on the crystal (where the power of the spell resides) and breaks it, ending the spell. The Magic Box spells: Vampires also lay siege to the Magic Box. Anya reads from a magic book: "Bara bara himble gemination" A bunny appears. Every new spell she uses to get rid of it (e.g., "Hible abri, abri voyon") creates a new rabbit. Soon she has a room full of them. Her spell also creates a green cloud and an animated skeleton. Giles finds another book and whispers, "Fata, venga, mata, warel"

In a flash of light, all of Anya's spells are undone and the vampires disappear. More than one heaven? Tara tells Anya that Buffy could have been in "one of a zillion heavenly dimensions." They are all different, but generally speaking, happy places.

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "Tabula Rasa"

Spike is in debt from his late-night kitten-poker games. He owes a loan shark forty Siamese. The shark starts out with intimidation, but soon moves on to elimination. The gang is feeling guilty after Buffy's revelation that she was in heaven and happy when they resurrected her. Willow even admits that she was selfish to bring Buffy back. Tara suggests they stop obsessing about what they did and try to make things better for Buffy. Willow's idea of "helping", however, is to use a spell to make Buffy forget heaven. Tara objects to Willow's use of magic for the same reasons she did before. Willow believes she's simply using magic to help people. Tara points out that while this may have been Willow's intention in the beginning, she is now using magic to help herself--Willow's first memory spell didn't "help" Tara; it violated her mind and free will. Tara tells Willow that she doesn't think their relationship is working. Willow responds by swearing to forego magic for a month. Tara challenges her to try it for a week. Willow doesn't last a day. When everyone gets their memories back, Tara realizes Willow broke her promise and packs up her things and leaves. Is Willow addicted to magic? ...its more than just addiction here, that would be adequate to describe it if say Willow just couldn't resist using the dressing spells, etc.-someone being addicted to cigarettes is different than someone smoking too much and grinding a cigarette out in someone's face, for example. Tara's line, "we are in a relationship, you don't decide what to do, WE decide what to do" ...really described the problem, which is not so much magic (although that makes the possibilities of abuse more extensive and scarier) as narcissism and disrespect. ...a relationship with someone like this is completely destructive and non-existent (briseis, 11/14/01 5:16). When Giles tells Buffy that he is leaving Sunnydale for her own good, Buffy protests. As far as she's concerned, Giles is deserting her when she needs him the most. Giles believes that Buffy has the knowledge and strength to face the challenges of adulthood herself. But he fears that she will keep running to him instead as long as he is there, and he will continue to help her despite himself because he cares. When the spell is over, Giles takes his flight back to England. For the moment, his decision leaves Buffy feeling the angst of her new life all the more.

Buffy takes comfort from her pain with Spike. Even though she was in denial about their secret kiss during the musical extravaganza evil, she can't help herself and initiates another.

Smashed
The Metaphysics of "Smashed"
De-ratting Amy: Willow has been trying for three years to find a spell to de-rat Amy, with no success. Now she is powerful enough to tell the spell to find her instead. "Rivili!" she says. A piece of parchment appears with the spell: Cio che fu non e piu Cio che fu fatto, disfa Passato e il pericolo, Finita e la prova Metti a cose a posto Willow reads the spell outloud. The rat transforms back into the human Amy. In rat form, Amy seems to have had a rat's instincts and level of awareness. She was also unaware of the true passage of time. What is Buffy? Spike's chip prevents him from hurting non-demon life--birds, flowers, people. So when Spike attacks a mugger, he gets a headache. Then later, he hits Buffy and doesn't. A malfunction of his chip? Apparently not. Spike tries feeding off a girl in an alley and gets the ouchies he's come to expect. Spike asks Warren to examine his chip. While Warren doesn't understand what the chip does, he understands how microchips work in general. He tells Spike that the chip's electronic signal is steady. Spike concludes that he hasn't changed; Buffy has. She has "came back wrong". But wrong how? Like many of the Trio's toys, the prototype freeze-ray rifle doesn't work by magic. It shoots out a chemical agent that freezes things (like security guards) on contact. The freezing process doesn't kill the guard. Instead, every system in his body--nervous system, circulatory system, etc.--is slowed down until he is defrosted.

Moral Ambiguity in "Smashed"

The Trio freezes the museum guard to steal a diamond--"Phase One" of their latest plan. While investigating the guard, Buffy points out that the recent bank robberies and jewelry heists in town are rather unusual events for Sunnydale. But she doesn't take the next step in her thinking-that these are quite common crimes for humans. For now, the gang are still looking for demon baddies. When Willow's friends show concern over her nonchalant behavior since the break-up with Tara, Willow passes it off. She calls Tara's worry over her use of magic a "little thing" that "got blown out of proportion". But Xander, Buffy, and Anya agree with Tara--Willow is using too much magic. And the fact that Willow was the gang's "level-headed" member only makes them more concerned. Willow has little experience handling things that are as dangerous and seductive as the power she now has. They fear it will come to control her, rather than the other way around. Willow is easily talked into going out with Amy to the Bronze. Amy isn't ready to face responsibility, either--in her case, dealing with her dad's questions about how the whole rat fiasco happened in the first place (Amy's father may have had troubles with Amy's mother's magic getting out of control just as Tara has with Willow). Willow and Amy have fun making the Bronze more to their liking--but flying patrons, a girl band, and male go-go dancers don't hold their interest for long. Willow wants something "bigger" and more exciting. When Spike hits Buffy without pain, he decides his chip must be malfunctioning. He puts it to the test by cornering a girl in an alley. It takes a minute or two for him to meet his vampire instincts half-way, though. It's been two years since he has attacked and fed on humans--and he's saved the lives of a few in the interim. But the instincts are still there, and he lets them out. Spike's chip prevents him from assaulting the girl--but would he have done it if he could have? His behavior towards Buffy is equally ambivalent. Spike has been someone Buffy has turned to in the aftermath of her resurrection. But when Spike realizes that the balance of power between them is no longer as inequitable as it was, he taunts her--telling her she has come back "a little less human"--and attacks her. Buffy refuses to accept what he says, and taunts him right back with his inability to be fully vampire or human. Their physical blows turn into rough sexual foreplay and finally, sex. Is this a highly-charged start down a healthier road for Buffy and/or Spike or are they slipping further into an unhealthy dependence? I have long said that Spike's "love" for Buffy is mostly obsession. ...Spike has been obsessed with Slayers since he first found out they existed. At first it was to kill them, so he could have one up on Angelus. But over the years Spike's obsession has changed. Is this due to Drusilla's dark, twisted love? Or is it due to the chip in his head? Spike still wants *something* from the Slayer. In season 2 he wanted to kill her. By season 5 he couldn't decide if he wanted to kill her or shag her. And now, halfway through season 6, he claims to love her at every opportunity. Somehow sex and death, and violence and foreplay have gotten all twisted together in Spike's brain. Will he be able to sort them out? Does he even want to?? Honestly, I don't think Spike wants to sort them out. On some level he still sees himself as the Big Bad and he's not

about to go all "Nancy-boy" like Angel. And perhaps due to Drusilla being his first sexual experience (possibly), he *can't* separate sex and violence (purplegrrl, 12/05/01 12:42). As Buffy struggles to learn her origins and what being 'less than human' means, she gets to have a Guide to help her. Spike is her Guide. ...he is a companion for her on the road that can provide wisdom. But Spike is more than the Guide. He's also part of the lesson, because he's some of the dark that Buffy must incorporate. His dark side tempts her. It's because it's what she needs. When she gives into it, she experiences joy and freedom. ...The tension comes from the fact that as Buffy and Spike continue their relationship, she will have to struggle so that she doesn't get too much dark from Spike. ...it's all about the balance. But without accepting the dark, by continuing to deny it, she'll never grow or be truly happy. The relationship also gets more problematic and angsty ...by the fact that Spike is on a journey too, and he needs guidance. He needs to incorporate more light into his nature to balance his dark. His relationship with Buffy helps with that, but I think only in the sense that Buffy creates an opportunity for Spike. ...But he has to do the hard work himself (rowan, 12/04/01 9:17) Stephanie Zacharek on Buffy's Will to Power

Wrecked
The Metaphysics of "Wrecked"
Magic and energy: After an evening's magic at the Bronze, Willow is unable to perform a spell as simple as closing her bedroom curtains. It takes her all day to get her powers back. It seems as if even magical powers--in some cases, anyway--are subject to Newton's pesky law of the conservation of energy. The cloaked house: Amy takes Willow to an apparently empty alleyway. She holds Willow's hand up to a patch air in front of her. It's hot. Amy walks backward into it and disappears. Willow follows. She reappears in a inside a dingy-looking waiting room. Visitors sit on the sofas looking strung out. This is Rack's den of magic--an invisible house that moves to different locations nightly. From here, Rack feeds his visitors with an addictive and dangerous rush of magical power. Rack: Demon or human? Whatever he is, Rack is less of a warlock trading spells than he is a "magic-pusher" putting people under his spell. He is the powerful proprietor of the cloaked house where Amy and Willow go to partake of some strong magic. Sparks of mystical energy fly off his fingers. He can sense Willow's own magickal power emanating off her body. Rack puts his hand near Willow's chest. A bolt of energy enters her body. This allows him to explore Willow's magical abilities (and perhaps her desires and fears), and it likely makes a connection with her that will allow him to cast his black magic spell. It also leaves Willow high on his mystical power.

Spell-tripping: Rack puts both Amy and Willow under the influence of a hallucinatory spell not unlike an LSD trip. He keeps tabs on them, and very likely manipulates their experiences, with a holographical ball he holds in his hands.

Hallucination 1: While Amy spins around at super-human speeds, Willow lolls drunkenly on the ceiling. Below her, the floor appears to transform into a thicket of bushes. A pair of legs travels through the greenery, as if being dragged. Suddenly, a demon appears and roars. Willow falls to the floor. She travels instantaneously from one familiar point to another, her eyes black, and wakes up on the floor of her own bedroom. Hallucination 2: In her second trip, Willow appears to fly through space. She sees the demon again, carrying a woman with long hair. She screams. Rack smiles.

After her second trip, Willow leaves Rack's with Dawn. Unknownst to her, the demon Willow hallucinated has been made flesh. The demon claims to have been raised by Willow's magic. Most likely, Rack manipulated Willow into creating or calling forth this demon during her trip by addling her mind with magic until she lost her judgment.

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Wrecked"

"I may be dirt, but you're the one who likes to roll in it, Slayer." Buffy wakes up naked in the abandoned house where she and Spike had sex the night before. Spike asks her to stay since he's stuck in the house for the day, but Buffy insists in a panic that she has to leave. Spike pulls her into a kiss and she eagerly relents, but Spike is soon gloating about having sex with a Slayer and Buffy backs off. In a role reversal of Buffy's previous morning-after experiences with Angelus and Parker, Buffy tells Spike he's just "convenient", and that she "got hot" for only one vampire, Angel. Angrily, Spike reminds her that he no longer has to put up with her condescending behavior towards him. Later, Buffy takes to heart Willow's decision to put a stop to her use of magic despite the thrills and decides to put an end to her secret trysts with Spike. Where is the Spike/Buffy relationship headed? Willow "if you could be ...plain old Willow or super Willow, who would you be?" After Tara and Dawn discover that neither Buffy or Willow came home the night before, Willow soon arrives with Amy in tow. Amy brags to Tara about Willow's magic abilities and tells Tara about the dangerous and violating spells they did the night before in the Bronze. Tara leaves. She has realized what Xander later points out--that Willow has found a new "playmate" to do magic with, someone who won't monitor her, like Tara did. Buffy defends Willow as a grown-up who can make her own choices. She believes that if Willow crosses the line, she'll realize her mistake and grow from it. But Anya argues that Willow is not herself these days. That night, Amy tempts Willow into visiting Rack, a man who knows powerful spells. Willow is reticent at first, then goes along. Rack surmises that Willow wants help becoming more powerful--she's used every spell she knows, and her powers get depleted too quickly. Rack is

willing to help her, but he wants something in return. After the first spell, Willow feels violated. She finds Dawn at home alone again and offers to spend the evening with her. But the temptation to return to Rack's is too great. Fifteen minutes soon turns into two hours as Dawn waits for Willow to finish her second magic trip. When Willow comes out, it's late, but she insists that Dawn join her for "fun". The demon Willow unwittingly raised soon finds them and goes after Dawn. Willow leads her to a parked car. They speed away using Willow's magic. But Willow is still under the influence of Rack's spell and crashes into a concrete pillar. The demon tracks them down and attacks Dawn again. Meanwhile, Buffy finds Amy upstairs in Willow's bedroom. She has ransacked the room looking for spell ingredients. Amy tells her that Willow is probably at Rack's. Buffy concludes that Dawn is with her and goes out in search of them. She stops by Spike's to enlist him in the hunt. While Buffy fights the demon, Spike attends to Dawn, who has been injured by the demon and the car-crash. The demon goes into sudden convulsions and disintegrates. Willow appears, her eyes black from defeating the demon. She is devastated by what she's done to Dawn. Dawn's only response is to slap her across the face. Then Buffy confronts Willow. Willow admits that she is out of control with her magic. She begs for Buffy's help, and promises her "no more spells". She even suffers the apparent pains of withdrawal. But will it be that easy to step away from magic? Willow comes from a place of very low self-esteem, if you'll pardon the buzz-word. She was always the wall-flower, the geek, the outcast. ...She had very little sense of being able to affect the world around her, so she sought power where she could find it. ...By the time of The Harvest, Willow was already a successful hacker...And for a time, that allowed her to contribute to the SG's efforts... Then she discovered magic, and, now, that was a rush! Suddenly this little girl has the power, or at least the potential, to really affect the world. ...Starting with Bargaining, we have a Willow who is tremendously powerful, but still very afraid. ...look at her reaction when anyone confronts her. Magic is what makes her 'cool,' so any threat to her use of magic is a threat to her sense of self. ... I still have hope that Willow can be redeemed, but there's going to be a hefty price to pay. ...it's clear that there's no going back to the way things were at this point (Humanitas, 10/31/01 9:01).

Gone
The Metaphysics of "Gone"
The Illuminata is a diamond rumored to have "quasi-mystical" quantum properties. In other words, it is able to mix physical (quantum-mechanical) energy with mystical energy, combining their powers. The invisibility ray uses this power to turn things invisible. The gun creates a surge of electromagnetic energy. The diamond then imbues that energy on a quantum-mechanical level with the

mystical power necessary to make visible things (like chairs) invisible, and vice-versa. During a field test, Andrew and Jonathan wrestle over the gun. They hit the controls and put the gun on overload. It shoots out a ray of energy that hits Buffy and several objects around her (e.g., a fire hydrant and a traffic pylon). The circuits burn out. Buffy's invisibility is consistent with Marcie Ross's invisibility, which also involved an interplay of magic (in her case, Hellmouth energy) and quantum physics. For Marcie, the act of being ignored by others initiated this interplay and made Marcie invisible (see also Xander's invisibility). Buffy hasn't felt ignored (although there's a case to be made that her friends have ignored her troubles since her resurrection); instead, she was directly in the line of fire of a ray of physical-mystical energy. Disintegration: Xander takes the invisible traffic pylon back to the Magic Box. Anya touches it. It melts in her hand. Xander points out that whatever happened to the pylon will happen to Buffy as well. He calls Buffy to warn her. So what happened to the pylon? As Warren explains, Buffy got hit with a large dose of radiation when the gun overloaded. And soon, like the pylon, her body will begin to lose its molecular integrity.

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "Gone"

What should the Trio do with an invisible slayer? The gadget-boys built their ray-gun to make themselves invisible so they could go wherever they wanted and do whatever they wanted--e.g., entering a women-only spa. Before that happened, however, they accidentally shot the Slayer. Now the overload of the gun that caused her to disappear is causing her to disintegrate. Only turning invisible again will save her. Jonathan and Andrew cannot stomach letting someone die if they can stop it, even if that someone is Buffy, their "nemesis". Warren argues that they are criminals, implying that they shouldn't care if they kill anyone. Jonathan responds that they are not villains, they are "crime lords". Andrew explains the distinction by drawing an analogy to Lex Luthor, the Metropolis crime lord who considered his deeds less clever if he had to resort to the simple and hackneyed device of killing someone to achieve them. Jonathan demands that they get the ray working and re-visible Buffy. They kidnap Willow and use her to lure Buffy to an arcade. But Warren has no plans to save her. He aims the ray gun at Buffy. Willow points out the gun is set to invisibility, not re-visibility: shooting Buffy will only hasten her demise. An invisible fight ensues. Willow grabs the gun and re-visibles the Trio. Buffy finally meets the occupants of the mystery van that has been stalking her for months: Warren and Jonathan (who she knows) and Andrew. Buffy is unimpressed. When a security guard appears to find out what is going on, the Trio escape.

Dawn is recovering from the car accident, but not well. She feels disoriented as all of Willow's treasures disappear from the house; she isn't eating well; and she's giving the angry-cold shoulder to Buffy. Then a social worker shows up at their door. The house is a mess. There are spell ingredients lying about that look like pot and a guy in leather named "Spike" in the living room talking about how Dawn hangs out in his crypt. Dawn's grades have fallen sharply over the last year and it doesn't seem as if Dawn's unemployed sister is doing anything about it. The social worker decides it's in Dawn's best interest to take Buffy's guardianship away. While Buffy thwarts this decision, it is clear that Dawn needs a mother, someone who can be the ground under her feet. And an invisible, flying-pizza Buffy is not the best candidate. Willow is going cold turkey from magic. Buffy and Dawn clear away all her magic paraphernalia to help her fight temptation. Willow returns to her former research methods to investigate the diamond stolen from the museum. She squashes the urge to float a book over that she needs. Then Xander arrives to tell her about Buffy's invisibility. Xander suspects at first that Willow slipped up on her abstinence and made Buffy invisible as an accidental side-effect of some magic. Willow takes offense at this assumption, and feels like she's being turned into a scapegoat for new problems that arise. But rather than use this as an excuse to fall off the wagon, Willow goes to the corner where Buffy was turned invisible. She spray-paints invisible objects, finds the tread marks of a car and paint on a fire hydrant she assumes was hit by the car. It is the same paint color as the van that has been stalking Buffy. Willow then searches the DMV database. As the internet search drags on, she is tempted to speed it up, but stops herself again. She tracks down the van to the Trio's lair and sees the plans for the ray gun on a tack board. At that point, Warren grabs her and takes her hostage, but Willow ends up uncloaking the identities of the Trio for Buffy. She got through a rough day without magic! Buffy's invisibility follows right on the heels of a bad morning--a social worker has threatened to take Dawn away from her. But when Buffy turns invisible, she's giddy. She's free of rules and reports, free of her old life. She takes a traffic cop cart for a joy ride, haunts the social worker until the woman's colleagues question her sanity, and jumps in the sheets with Spike. The day without adult responsibility does allow her to get a new interview with a different social worker, but was the rest of it just a relaxing "vacation from me"? ...Inviso-Buffy's hijinks with others parallels Willow's and Amy's manipulative actions at the Bronze: power to inflict self on others without accountability.... No one wants an emotional relationship... with someone who isn't all there. Buffy was willing to "play" with Dawn and Spike, but in a way that negated responsibility. For her when invisible, "life is but a song," and we know that is undesirable and dangerous from OMTwF (LoriAnn, 1/09/02 8:30). When Xander calls and tells Buffy that she will dissolve if a way isn't found to reverse her condition, Buffy realizes she's scared. Since her resurrection, she's been mourning the fact that

she is no longer dead. Now she finds herself relieved to be alive. She's still not happy, but she doesn't want to die. When an invisible Buffy jumps Spike, he is receptive at first. But after Buffy teases him in front of Xander, Spike decides that Buffy is only there because she doesn't have to face the fact that she's there. Spike wants all of her, not the "some of her" she's offering, and tells her to go

Double Meat Palace

The Metaphysics of "Double Meat Palace"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 6 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

Halfrek is a vengeance demon much like Anyanka was. She wears a small pendant around her neck, a dark blue stone with red flecks. While Anyanka's raison d'tre was to punish men who wronged women, Halfrek tends more towards bringing bad parents to justice. Anyanka and Halfrek were friends when Anya was a demon`and now Anya is maintaining that friendship in her human life. The "birthday" present: Amy says simply, "Potestas" (Latin for "Power"). Willow's eyes go black and her fingers crackle with electricity. She has been imbued by Amy with a temporary magical power she cannot easily control since it did not come from her. The power makes a lamp disappear and a vase open like a flower. It also fills Willow with the enticing addictive sensation of the magical power she renounced. The wig lady/lamprey monster: Is the wig lady a human with a monster in her head instead of a brain? Well, yes and no. It's probably more accurate to say that a monster is using a human body to camouflage itself as it seeks its prey out in the human world. When the lamprey monster springs free from wig lady's head, the woman's eyes disappear. She continues to talk, most likely under control of the monster. The lamprey monster emits a spray that paralyzes a human victim from the bottom up, then it eats them alive. The double-meat burgers: Willow investigates the Double Meat burger with a chemical solution that reacts to the proteins in human blood. She puts a dab of "meat" in it. The reaction does not occur. It isn't human. But it isn't meat, either. It is made of texturized vegetable product. The "secret ingredient" is meat fat that gives it the flavor of beef.

Evil and Good in "Double Meat Palace"

The Lamprey Monster: Beware of little old ladies with bad wigs. The wig lady may seem innocuous, and even sad, hanging out at a fast-food joint every day where even the employees don't want to be. In truth, though, this predatory monster-in-disguise has found the perfect food source: witless humans on the job at a place where no one questions the high turn-over rate. Buffy: The employees at Double-Meat Palace have a tendency to disappear, but no one questions it because, well, fast food, mindless work, high turnover rate, yada yada. But after Gary--one of

the more lively employees--disappears, Buffy is on the case. She finds a human finger in the meat grinder and assumes that the employees are being turned into meat. She tries to stop the customers from eating their meals. The manager fires her. Buffy returns that night to investigate her theory, only to find herself at the mercy of the true culprit--the lamprey monster. Willow arrives at the restaurant to tell Buffy about her discovery. The lamprey tries to hit Willow with its paralyzing spray, but she dodges it. Willow picks up the chicken-slicer blade and chops the lamprey in half. It's severed head lands on the floor and keeps biting. A semi-paralyzed Buffy stabs at it with a knife. Willow then picks it up and throws it in the meat grinder.

Moral Ambiguity in "Double Meat Palace"

Buffy "Repeat until insane." Buffy gets a job at the local Double Meat Palace restaurant: low pay, long hours and mindless work. Spike tells Buffy she should quit, but she doesn't. Still, something isn't right in Buffy's life. When she joins Spike later for an alley-way rendezvous, she just isn't in the spirit of things. Even Dawn is worried that Buffy won't get anywhere in life with jobs like this one. But for Buffy, it's still a step forward. When she returns her uniform after getting fired, she tells the new manager she knows that the double-meat burger is made out of vegetables. The manager assumes she wants to blackmail the company, and indeed, Buffy could do this to get the money she needs. But she doesn't. She asks for her job back. Willow: Amy visits Willow, ostensibly to get her rat cage back. In reality, she wants to lure Willow back into the magic life. She gives Willow a freebie "gift" of temporary magical power-a taste of temptation. Willow spends the rest of the day struggling to keep the magic at bay. When Amy returns the next day, Willow tells her that what she did was wrong. Amy violated Willow, and though Willow may have gotten a thrill out of the powers, they only made it harder to fight her addiction. Willow tells Amy to go and not come back. Tara, she can use magic and she's okay. But Willow is finding out she's an addict, and what you do about that really defines who you are. If magic takes her to an evil, dark place, it's really of her own making. A lot of times, the bad stuff that happens to a character is really external, and this season most of the characters are making their own problems ([BtVS writer] Marti Noxon, 'Dreamwatch', March '02). Anya is aware of Xander's discomfort with her habits and outlook left over from her demon days, but she doesn't judge him for it--she doesn't much care. But when her old friend Halfrek points out that Xander is judgmental, it gives Anya pause. Should Anya strive to be more human, like Xander wants her to be, or should Xander simply accept her demony outlook without finding fault with it?

Dead Things
The Metaphysics of "Dead Things"
Jaarvlen flesh-eaters aren't a good choice if you want to get rid of a dead body. These demons unpredictable and hard to control. They just might eat you, too. The Rwasundi are tall, skeletal demons who travel by gliding above the ground. They wear robes and hoods and have an odd effect on the linear flow of time. The cerebral dampener is a metallic sphere half the size of a baseball. Like the invisibility ray, it is a Trio gadget powered by both technology and magic. The magical elements in this case are a fresh musk gland of a hombja'moleev demon and a yellow powder that together are enchanted by a spell. In Latin, Jonathan says: Doma voluntatem, libera cupidinem. Erunipe, ignem excita. Translation: Tame the will, release desire. Spring forth, fuel the fire. The gland releases mystical energy that hits the cerebral dampener. The cerebral dampener is online. Warren explains that this device will "make any woman we desire our willing sex slave." But this "willingness" is in behavior only. There is no true mental free will here. The woman's higher mental processes have been submerged. Her words and deeds are as programmed as a 'bot. The Rwasundi's temporal disturbance: When Rwasundi demons appear in our dimension, it creates what Anya refers to as a localized "temporal disturbance"--it screws up the flow of time, making it jump back and then forward and back again. This creates vivid hallucinations in humans, whose perception requires a straightforward linear chronology (time that continually moves forward). While out on patrol, Buffy hears a woman scream and rushes to help. She sees a Rwasundi demon chasing "Katrina". In actuality, it is Jonathan, who has used a glamor spell to disguise himself as Katrina. Suddenly, Buffy is caught up in the Rwasundi's temporal flux. Her fight with the demons becomes chaotic and confused as she jumps forward and backward in time. She accidentally hits Spike who is trying to help her. Then she accidentally hits "Katrina", who tumbles down an embankment. Buffy goes after her. When Spike finds Buffy, she is kneeling over the body of the real Katrina, believing that she has killed her.

What's "wrong" with Buffy: Buffy tells Tara that Spike can now hurt her without pain even though the chip still works. Tara consults The Brekenkrieg Grimore. She tells Buffy that there is nothing wrong with her--Buffy is still human and still herself. What does this mean? When Willow's spell brought Buffy's "essence" back into her body, it effected her body on a molecular level. Exactly how her molecules were "altered" is left vague, but Tara assures her it's an insignificant physical alteration, the equivalent of a sunburn. The alteration is enough to confuse Spike's senses and therefore to confuse the chip that operates based on this information. But the spell didn't change Buffy's soul, spirit, species, or personal identity. She is herself.

Evil and Good in "Dead Things"

For the Trio, the cerebral dampener starts out as another cool toy for getting "chicks, chicks, chicks". Warren discovers his ex-girlfriend Katrina in a bar and decides to use her as their first test subject. Katrina makes it clear that she wants nothing to do with Warren. He uses the device on her anyway. His "anti-whammy" sunglasses protect him from the effect of the device. But Katrina's eyes go blank and she smiles mechanically. She serves the Trio drinks and spouts compliments and "I love you's". When Warren asks her to get down on her knees, however, the dampener starts to wear off. The Trio try to use the dampener on her again, but it is out of power. Katrina is livid. She points out that what they are doing is rape--having sex with a person against her will. She tells them she is going to have them prosecuted and sent to prison. The Trio panic and try to stop her. Katrina fights them off. Then Warren smashes her in the back of the head with a champagne bottle. Attempted rape has become murder. Warren intended only to stop her until they could recharge the cerebral dampener again, but Andrew announces that Katrina is dead. Andrew and Jonathan are in shock. Warren tries to stay calm. He realizes that there is no easy way to get rid of the body. But they have to do something--Katrina was his ex-girlfriend, and Warren can be linked to the crime. Then he hits on a way to kill two birds with one stone: if they frame the Slayer, he can get the blame off himself and get Buffy off their backs. The plan fails, but the Trio still gets away with murder. Warren hacks into the police department computer and reads the Coroner's report: Katrina's death has been ruled a suicide. Warren is pleased and the impressionable Andrew echoes his pleasure. Jonathan also echoes Warren, but he doesn't seem to believe it. Andrew went from considering turning himself in to finding it cool that they weren't caught. Warren crossed that line a long time ago when he equated women with things there for him (Rufus, 2/05/02 22:05). I wouldn't give up on Jonathan, I think we saw his awakening to the fact Warren is a nutcase and this isn't fun and games anymore. ...Jonathan was never "evil" to begin with (Dudley, 2/05/02 23:02). Buffy's reaction when she believes she is guilty of killing Katrina is very different from Warren's. She is quite ready to turn herself in. Luckily, she overhears the desk sergeant getting a

call about the woman's identity: Katrina Silber. She recognizes the name--Warren's ex-girlfriend-and decides this must be Warren's handiwork. She assembles the gang to find out what really happened. Xander, reading the newspaper, tells her that Katrina died almost a full day before Buffy saw her in the woods. Anya theorizes that the Trio raised the Rwasundi demons. Buffy decides she must go after Warren.

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in"Dead Things"

Buffy: "Don't think about the evil bloodsucking fiend." Buffy is not spending much time with her sister or friends anymore. The gang can pass it off as a busy slaying and work schedule, but in truth, Buffy is too involved in her own troubled state of mind and her trysts with Spike to feel a part of her friend's lives. She is drawn to Spike, and doesn't want to analyze the reason why. Then Buffy is tricked into believing she killed Katrina. Buffy not only believes that the best thing to do is to turn herself in, she feels an overwhelming urge to do so. Buffy's state of mind over Katrina's death is more complicated than simple guilt over one girl's life, however. In a dream, sex with Spike and "killing" Katrina become intermingled. One becomes the other. On a subconscious level, Buffy believes that she can resolve all the guilt and confusion she's been feeling about everything--ignoring Dawn and her friends and sleeping with Spike--by going to the police and confessing. Spike finds her on the way to the police station and tries to stop her. There's no crime to confess-it was an accident and he has already dumped the body. Buffy is angry at his attempt to sweep the problem under the rug as if it didn't matter; she killed a girl. Spike responds with the same argument that Faith gave Buffy after the death of the Deputy Mayor--that one accidental death is outweighed by the number of lives she's saved. But Buffy has always held that every individual human life matters. The ethical argument is incidental, though. It isn't going to make a difference in Buffy's behavior. When Spike tells her he loves her and won't let her take the fall for Katrina's death, she beats him to a pulp. She is angry at him refusing to understand her remorse. She is angry that she feels drawn to a soulless vampire. When Tara tells Buffy she didn't come back "wrong", Buffy is devastated. She has clung to the idea that some mystical transformation has been affecting her behavior. She could "let Spike do things to her" because she wasn't really herself. But now she knows it has been the same old her all along choosing to be with Spike. Tara tells her that it's O.K. if she loves Spike and O.K. if she doesn't--Buffy has been going through a hard time and needs someone to turn to. But Buffy doesn't want Tara's solace on this, because she can't reconcile this behavior with herself. ...it does seem that Tara's being a guide in Buffy's dream and then being the light/guide helping to get Xander and Willow out of the woods in 'Bargaining' seems to have significance. The

writers seem to be giving her some role in Buffy's movement. We see this in Tara's deconstruction of opposites: it's okay to love Spike; it's okay not to. She's presenting a more adult perspective (Age, 2/06/02 1:36). Spike: The raging question remains--is Spike an evil demon doing good acts in a selfish attempt to impress the woman he loves, or a soulless "man" genuinely changing his ways? There is no easy resolution to this question based on Spike's behavior alone. One minute he is trying to help Buffy fight demons, the next he is seducing her in the Bronze in an attempt to distance Buffy from her friends. Spike is an evolving character, and [the BtVS writers] obviously do.. not intend a quick evolution. ...My observation is that the writers have made, and are continuing to make this point deliberately ambiguous-- we don't know 100% for sure what is going on in Spike's head, so we end up with just this exact argument going on (OnM, 2/06/02 6:46). Dawn: When Buffy declines an offer to go to the Bronze in favor of an evening with Dawn, Dawn tells her that she already has plans. She has concluded that Buffy wouldn't care what she did since Buffy is never around. Later, Buffy tells Dawn that she is going to turn herself into the police. Dawn rightly worries about what will happen to her after Buffy is gone. She is relieved but still angry when Buffy tells her she's not going away. Buffy seemed way too ready to give up responsibility for her sister. When Willow runs into Tara outside the Magic Box, she tells her that she's doing better. No spells for thirty-two days. Both women miss the other and say so in an indirect way, but then they part company, not ready to deal with the emotions that arose with their break-up.

Older and Far Away

The Metaphysics of "Older and Far Away"
The sword demon has red skin and a spiny crest on its head. It has the ability to disappear and reappear in other places and to enter and occupy solid objects like floors and walls. Releasing the sword demon: Tara mixes herbs together then sets the mixture on fire. Red smoke billows up out of the bowl and drifts into the living room where the sword rests. Tara says, "Release". But instead of opening the front door as Tara intends, the magic of her spell surrounds the sword, creating a silver puddle on the floor. The demon forms from the puddle, then picks up his sword. Trapping the sword demon: The demon's weapon, a sword, appears to be its prison. When Buffy stabs the demon in the graveyard, it transforms into a bolt of silver light and blends into the material of the sword. Buffy takes the sword home. After the demon is released by Tara, it attacks the gang (including slashing Xander and red-shirt Richard), then tries to disappear into a

wall. Buffy thrusts the sword into the wall and traps the demon again. She then breaks the sword in two. Bye-bye demon. Halfrek's curse: When Dawn tells her "guidance counselor" that she wishes she could "make [people] stop... going away," she doesn't realize she is actually talking to the demon Halfrek. During Buffy's birthday party, Halfrek appears on the Summers' porch and says, "Wish granted". Now no one can leave the house. Halfrek's curse isn't on the house itself, but on the wills of the people in it. Although they can chose to do whatever they want inside the house, they cannot chose to leave the house and follow through with their plans. The party games go on for hours. No one is willing to make run to the store for beer. The next morning, Xander and Willow realize they need to go to work and to school, and yet they don't go. Defeating the "justice" demon: There are only two ways to defeat a vengeance spell (that we've seen). Defeat the demon herself by destroying her pendant/power center (as happened in Anyanka's case), or have the demon end the spell herself. Halfrek is unwilling to break her own curse. But when she discovers that she has trapped herself in the house by appearing there at Anya's call, she realizes she has to. "The curse is lifted!" she says. She snaps her fingers and disappears. The door opens for Spike. Killing vengeance demons: Anya summons Halfrek when she finds out about Dawn's wish. Halfrek appears, only to be skewered by the sword demon. But swords don't kill vengeance demons, as everyone trapped in the house realizes after Halfrek recovers, fresh as a daisy.

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "Older and Far Away"

Willow is on the way to recovery with her Spellcasters Anonymous group, but recovery is a rocky road. When the gang realizes they are trapped in Buffy's house, Anya asks Willow why she hasn't attempted a spell to free them. She then tries to make Willow feel guilty about refusing. Willow has a genuine dilemma: should she break her abstinence to help them all? Xander argues that it's just "one little spell", and that they will help Willow regain her control after it's done. But Willow knows better than they do that "one little spell" might be enough to draw her back into behavior that she can't stop. Anya persists. Tara steps in and tells her to back off. Then Tara does the spell instead, using a few ingredients that Willow has stashed away. Willow explains that these herbs were her "safety net"--something to have around in case things "got too bad". Having those ingredients around and choosing not to use them allowed her to focus on getting better. Tara takes them away, telling Willow it's time for her to work "without the net". After Anya fails to talk Willow into doing a spell, she decides to handle the problem herself. She enters Dawn's room and starts going through her things. But instead of finding clues to magics that have trapped them, Anya finds Dawn's secret stolen stash. She recognizes things from The Magic Box and turns on Dawn.

...The usually vibrant and deliberately cheerful young woman is sullen, distracted, and hovering on the edge of hyperventilating. Anya is very freaked out by the fact that they are trapped, reminders of mortality are looming, and the threat is intangible. ...It is notable that as soon as the danger materialized she was a spitfire once more. ...Some of cheery, sunny Anya is entirely natural, some of it a projection of an acceptable persona. She is trying very hard to be human, fit in, and secure Xander's approval. Under so much strain, she can't pull it off anymore. Last night's Anya was a woman who would believably curse her lover and take up a career as a vengeance demon (JM, 2/13/02 13:59). Dawn "...people have a tendency to go away..." Dawn doesn't seem to enjoy being on her own as much as most teenagers would. When Buffy heads out on patrol instead of spending time with her, Dawn heads to the mall for a little shoplifting. When everyone lingers at the party, Dawn is pleased. When they all express the desire to leave, Dawn runs upstairs in a huff. Buffy and the others follow, curious about why Dawn would take such offense to their wanting to go when they are obviously trapped. Dawn didn't intentionally cause the spell to happen, but she enjoyed it while it lasted. Why does Dawn act like such a child? ...look at Dawn last season. She was several meters beyond the forefront of attention. EVERYONE's attention. Gods, demons - mortals, immortals, all in a desperate race to get to her first. What happened to her was going to affect the entire universe. All the Scoobies were looking out for her all the time. People were killing and being killed for her. Her sister died saving her. She was quite literally the center of attention. And then - WHAM. All that - over. Gone. Done with. Just a regular teenage girl. Only she's not. And she knows that. That would be enough to shake anyone up. Not to mention, dealing with her mother's death, of course that would give anyone abandonment issues. And then dealing with her sister's death and rebirth. I would be thinking Dawn would be feeling very insecure right about now. ...she may be wrapped up in a young teenage skin, but in her incarnation as Dawn, she's not even two years old yet. I seriously think the [Mutant Enemy writing] team might be trying to remind us of that (Dedalus, 2/15/02 14:05). Buffy: In the busy-ness of her new grown-up life, Buffy has relegated Dawn to just another chore, something to finish and tick off her list. She's stopped noticing her sister, and odd things like lock-tags on coats escape her attention. When it appears that Dawn might the source of their troubles, though, Buffy starts to pay attention. Then Anya reveals Dawn's compulsive stealing. Buffy doesn't want to believe it. But she sees her gift from Dawn again--the tagged coat--and realizes it's true. Buffy tells Dawn that "the most important job" she has is looking out for her, and that's nice. But deeds are proof of that, not words: will distracted Buffy find more time for Dawn?

Buffy isn't expecting Spike at her very human birthday party, but he shows up anyway and makes awkward, jealous passes at Buffy that threaten to pull back the sheets of their secret affair. Then the sword demon attacks. Now Spike is now more in his element. He tries to pull the demon off Xander and ends up on the floor. Later he distracts the demon until Buffy can do it in once and for all.

As You Were
The Metaphysics of "As You Were"
Suvolte demon are nearly extinct, but they are working hard to reverse that fact. Since they breed exponentially, they have a good chance of reviving their numbers. The vicious Suvolte demon bleeds yellow blood and lays large round eggs.

Evil and Good in "As You Were"

Suvolte demons are violent killers who tear apart the bodies of their victims. They start to kill the minute they're hatched and can be used by unscrupulous human military powers to "cleanse" entire areas of unwanted people. The good guy's plan: Riley and his new wife Sam have tracked the Suvolte through Central America up to the Hellmouth, where the demon has come to lay its eggs. Their plan is to follow the Suvolte to its nest. They need to destroy the eggs before they can be sold on the black market by someone they know only as the "Doctor". Then Buffy kills the Suvolte. Now they need an alternate plan. Destroying the eggs: Sam and Buffy head out to find the eggs while Riley searches the familiar haunts of Sunnydale trying to discover the identity of the Doctor. When Riley arrives at Spike's crypt to confront him, however, he discovers Buffy in Spike's bed and the eggs in Spike's "basement". But Spike hasn't been keeping the eggs on ice in preparation for their journey to foreign lands. The eggs burst open and crab-like baby Suvoltes scramble out. Buffy and Riley climb up into the crypt. Buffy yanks off Riley's belt, which is full of grenades, pulls the pin on one, and drops the belt down into the hole. Fire bursts across the cavern and destroys the eggs. And some of Spike's crypt as well.

Moral Ambiguity in "As You Were"

Riley: I was terrified about seeing you again. Buffy: Well, I'm sure my incredible patheticness softened the

blow for you. This is Buffy's life now: scraping grease at the Doublemeat Palace, lack-luster slaying, shagging with Spike, and being too tired to go out with her friends. She's trying to make things better, but when she reapplies to U.C. Sunnydale, her application is rejected for being late. Then Riley offers her chance to shine as the Slayer, and Buffy grabs it. Hanging around with Riley and his new bride, though, reminds Buffy of the way her life used to be, and it hurts. Buffy goes to Spike for comfort, only to have Riley walk in on them. Riley is surprisingly non-judgmental. He reassures Buffy that no matter how her life is, he's still impressed by her. Seeing Riley again and discovering Spike's duplicity forces Buffy to take a hard look at her life as it is. She needs to regain some self-respect. She goes to Spike and tells him that it's over between them. Buffy had to be strong enough to realize that even though he is a demon he also has feelings and she had been using those feelings to hide from getting on with her life. She wants him but realizes that at this point she can't love him (Rufus, 2/27 15:44). Xander and Anya are a little nervous about their upcoming wedding. They eat their way through planning the reception and picking up guests. Then when the guests get too unruly, they hide out in the bathroom. Xander reassures Anya that his fears about the wedding aren't his fears for the marriage. But he has fears for both all the same. Spike: "You know what I am. You've always known. You come to me all the same." When Riley reveals that Spike is "The Doctor", Buffy protests that he's too incompetent to pull off such a scheme. Riley replies that Spike is "Deadly ... amoral ... opportunistic. Or have you forgotten?" What does it mean to be "amoral"? Technically, "amoral" means "unrelated to morality," but it is also used sometimes to refer to people, like infants, who are unaware of morality. As an intelligent being, Spike knows what the human beings around him consider right and wrong, and he has chosen from time to time to act in ways that humans would consider "good". He also has a long history of acting in ways humans would consider "bad". So linguistically speaking, it is incorrect to refer to Spike as "amoral". What does that make him, then? Immoral? Willing to use evil or good as it suits his self-interest? Or is he struggling against his past and trying to be good? You decide.

Philosophies Represented in "As You Were"

Machiavelli At the Doublemeat Palace, Buffy's coworker tries to relate the politics of the job to the words of Machiavelli. But he doesn't get to tell us anything about this famous Italian statesman and political theorist of the sixteenth century. Machiavelli viewed human nature as corrupt, greedy, and self-serving. In his famous treatise, "The Prince", he argued based on this "reality" that

governments should be cunningly self-serving as well. To maintain his rule, a monarch must be stingy rather than generous (or greedy), harsh rather than merciful, feared rather than loved (or hated). However, to prevent his overthrow, a monarch's subjects should perceive him as ethical, merciful, and humane. The word "Machiavellian" is now often used to mean self-serving and deceitful. Was the reference to Machiavelli in this episode a throw-away comment? Or were there Machiavellian machinations afoot?

Hell's Bells
The Metaphysics of "Hell's Bells"
Stewart Burns, monster: On a Sunnydale street, the outline of a human appears. An elderly man emerges from the outline and heads off to Xander and Anya's wedding. This is a manifestation of a monster--a creature who used to be the human man Stewart Burns until Anyanka transformed him and sent him to a hell dimension to suffer torture. It is not clear how Burns is able to appear in human form in Sunnydale. In monster form, Burns has gray skin, yellow eyes, and short spikes on his head. The orb: Burns approaches Xander at the wedding claiming to be a future version of Xander. He tells Xander not to marry Anya. Then he leads Xander into another room and pulls a small purple orb out of his pocket. He claims that Xander will be able experience the man's past--Xander's future--through it. The old man holds the glowing orb in both hands. Xander stares at it. A beam shoots from the orb into Xander's forehead. Xander experiences visions of a home life with Anya from ten, twenty, and thirty years in the "future". But this future is phony. Did Burns make it up, or did the orb somehow tap into Xander's actual fears? Since the visions include details of Xander's life (e.g., that Buffy is the Slayer), it is likely the orb has psychic properties that make the visions psychologically compelling to the person undergoing the visions. Hence, the visions most probably are Xander's "nightmare vision of his future."

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "Hell's Bells"

The Harris Family: We've been waiting a long time to meet Xander's family. The infamous alcoholic taxidermist, Uncle Rory. The brawling Mr. and Mrs. Harris. All indications have been that Xander's family is the source of his insecurity. And rightly so. Anthony Harris is a selfpitying drunk who verbally abuses his wife. Jessica Harris is a woman who wears her insecurities on her sleeve. Neither is happy, and yet they've stayed together for decades. This could not have provided Xander with the best role models on marriage. Anya

"I, Anya, want to marry you, Xander, because... I love you and I'll always love you. And before I knew you, I was like a completely different person. Not even a person, really... And I had seen what love could do to people, and it was ... hurt and sadness. Alone was better. And then, suddenly there was you, and... you knew me. You saw me, and it was this... thing. You make me feel safe and warm. So, I get it now. I finally get love, Xander. I really do." It should have been Anya's perfect day, the day she fully embraced the joys of humanity. But her inhuman past has caught up with her. A man she cursed ninety years ago has come back to get his revenge. Are Stewart Burns' actions justified? He paid a rather heavy price for a little philandering. And Anya has never really suffered any repercussions from her thousand years of death and mayhem (other than being made human). On the other hand, her work with the Scooby gang over the past three years has changed her. But has it changed her enough? After Xander leaves her at the alter, Anya goes to the dimension of Arashmaharr with her old mentor D'Hoffryn, who comforts her by telling her she used to crush men like Xander. He tells her it's time for her to resume her vengeance demon ways. Is the love and the life that Anya's experienced over the past three years enough to keep her from making this choice? The answer Xander was the one who proposed to Anya, but since popping the question, he's had his doubts (Bargaining, Flooded, All the Way, OMWF, DMP, As You Were) . His experience with the orb only exacerbates his fears. The life he sees himself living with Anya is not so different than the life his parents lead now. Decade after decade, Xander drinks too much, while Anya blames him for her lack-luster life. When it finally becomes too much for him, he goes after Anya with a frying pan. End of vision. But his wedding still looms. Xander paces the Bison Lodge kitchen, conflicted. When Willow comes to get him to start the wedding, he's disappeared. When he returns, he's made his choice. He tells Anya he's not ready for marriage. ...Xander ignored his heart and listened to his fears about his capacity to become his father. Now we will get to see if in this year of growing up, if both Xander and Anya can overcome their fears and reunite. ...[Xander] has had many cards stacked against him. He lived in a home where he found he had to spend Christmas outdoors to get away from the constant fighting. He has been looking to escape a life situation that he feels has made him a victim unable to get away from the family legacy of abuse. We didn't get to see much of Xanders home life but got enough to know that it wasn't a home that could have been a happy place to be. When the "future Xander" showed him that image of attacking Anya with a frypan, he was horrified because he honestly believed himself capable of that type of violence. Just because Xander seems visibly unscarred, doesn't mean that he doesn't carry plenty of anger and helplessness around with him wherever he goes. It was what he faced in The Replacement, his two selves, the one he can be and wants to be, and the results of years of emotional battering, a Xander afraid to trust himself. ...[In Restless,] Xander spends the time in his dream trying to get out of his parents basement only to find himself in a dead end, with his heart torn out of his chest by his father. ...To grow up, Xander is going to have to face that fear of returning to

his roots and reject the worst of his upbringing, to become the type of person he already is but is too insecure to let emerge from the basement of his childhood (Rufus, 3/06/02 00:52). Slaying the Burns-monster: When the Burns-monster attacks Anya, it's the Slayer to the rescue. But Burns gets a hold of Anya and tells Buffy he will kill her if she tries anything. Suddenly, Xander returns from his walk-about, distracting the monster. Buffy kicks Burns and he lets go of Anya. Buffy and the Burns-monster start to brawl. Soon Buffy has the monster on the floor. She grabs a veil off the mounted bison head and starts to choke him. Out of the blue, a white ornamental pedestal hits the monster in the face. Xander hauls back and hits him again. The monster is dead. Buffy hasn't had much luck with romance. Her experiences with Angel, Scott, Parker, and Riley have left her cynical about love. But she saw hope for herself in Xander and Anya's relationship. Now that her "light at the end of the tunnel" has turned out to be a speeding train, will Buffy ever have the courage to try love again?

Normal Again
The Metaphysics of and Good and Evil in "Normal Again"
The Glarghk Guhl Kashma'nik: When Buffy is close to finding the Trio's new lair, Andrew the demon summoner blows through an alphorn. It makes a low, airy sound. Suddenly, Buffy is jumped by a bald waxy demon in a black cape. He stabs her with a giant stinger. The stinger alters Buffy's perceptions, making her alternate between two very different sets of experiences. The asylum: In one set of experiences, Buffy continues her life in Sunnydale. In the other set of experiences, she finds herself in a mental hospital. Her mother and father are there, alive and together. There is no Dawn to deal with, and Buffy's mother never moved to Sunnydale. A doctor tells Buffy she's been institutionalized for six years. Everything Buffy thinks she's experienced in Sunnydale are really symptoms of an undifferentiated form of schizophrenia. Reversing the hallucinations: Willow's research uncovers the demon the Trio sicced on Buffy. The Glarghk G... uh, GGK demon's stinger contains an ingredient that is an antidote to its own poison (no doubt to protect the demon). Willow takes the stinger, some alkanet root and a handful of nettle leaf to the campus chemistry lab to brew up the antidote. Buffy doesn't drink the antidote the first time it is offered to her. Instead, she begins to accept the reality of the asylum experiences and puts her friends at the mercy of the GGK demon. It only after Buffy decides to accept the reality of her Sunnydale existence and saves her friends from the demon that she takes the antidote and the hallucinations end.

Fighting the demon: When Buffy traps her friends in the basement with the GGK demon, they try to fight it off without the use of their hands. Then Tara arrives at Buffy's house and hears a noise in the basement. She runs down and sees what is happening: Eximete!!! Translation: Release!!! The ropes on her friends untie themselves. The demon turns on Tara. Vis Zenobiae! Solvere! Translation: Might of Zenobia! Unleash! Shelves fly and knock the demon over. Buffy trips Tara on the stairs. Xander and Willow struggle against the demon, but they are losing. Only Buffy can save them now.

Moral Ambiguity in "Normal Again"

Buffy "Your sister. Your friends. All the people you created in Sunnydale. They're not as comforting as they were, are they? They're coming apart." Buffy's transitions into the asylum may appear random, but they aren't. They typically correspond with moments of crisis in her Sunnydale experience. She transitions into the asylum after Xander and Spike start fighting with each other. The next time she flips, she is telling her friends about her asylum experiences. They are sensitive at first, but when Buffy gets into the details of the asylum and how real the experiences felt, her friends become uneasy. Willow cuts Buffy off with a suggestion that they go do research. Buffy's hallucinations of a life where she isn't the Slayer and doesn't live in Sunnydale are an important turning point for her. For months--since her return to life, in fact--she has been detached, going through the motions of life (Flooded, OMWF, Gone, DMP, AYW), and even she isn't sure why. She's tried to snap out of it, but she feels unable to do so. Her life and the lives of those around her have been falling apart. So easy to believe none of it ever existed in the first place, that there is another life for her out there where she can be strong and healthy and normal. But it is an illusion, a last-ditch effort to escape the reality of her existence in Sunnydale. Spike, fed up with Buffy pushing him away, tells her to stop with the "martyrdom" and the "hero trip" and "live a little." His words resonate with Buffy in a way he did not intend. She decides to take the advice of the asylum doctor and overcome her Sunnydale "hallucinations". She throws Willow's antidote away and goes after the truly appealing elements of her "life" in Sunnydale-her friends. The idea is not to get rid of the hallucinations once and for all (which would be impossible to do by the will alone in schizophrenia), but to help Buffy finally believe and accept that these things she sees are hallucinations, not real. Then she can learn to ignore them and start coping with real life.

Buffy drags her friends and Dawn down to the basement and ties them up. Then she lets the GGK demon loose on them. In the asylum, Joyce tells Buffy, "I know the world feels like a hard place sometimes, but you've got people that love you.... There's a world of strength in your heart, honey. I know there is. You just have to find it again. Believe in yourself." Joyce wants her to continue what she is doing, but Buffy hears the words differently. The comforting world, the easy world, the world anyone would prefer is the world of the hospital. The [Sunnydale] delusion is not a sweet dream, it's a nightmare. Not because of vampires and demons and thieving sisters. It's a nightmare because that's the world in which her parents divorced. That's the world where her mother died. That's the world where she has a soul destroying job at a fast food restaurant. That's the world where she was forced to drop out of university. Who, in or out of her right mind, would choose that world over the hospital? When Joyce tells Buffy to be strong, to reject the illusion, Buffy realizes that it requires strength to live in the Buffyverse because that's where she's hurting. And pain is one of the signs of reality. So she says goodbye to the dream (Jenoff, 03/16/02). In Sunnydale, she slays the demon who is attacking her friends and takes the antidote. ...the last scene [in the asylum] doesn't have to mean the Asylumverse is real. Remember, Buffy asked Willow to get her the antidote. We see that last scene before she gets the antidote, however. That could have been the final remnants of her hallucination (Rob, 3/13/02 8:55).

Xander returns from his post-no-wedding walk-about to find Anya gone. After he left Anya at the alter, he realized he still wanted her in his life, just not as a wife--yet. But right now he has neither. He picks fights with Spike, who baits him in return. It is easier for Spike to take out his unhappiness on someone who dumped his own lover than on the woman who dumped him.

Jonathan has not forgotten what happened with Katrina. His guilt over her death has increased his ambivalence about being part of the Trio. This ambivalence grows when Warren and Andrew begin putting together a new plan to defeat the Slayer without letting the wary Jonathan in on it.

Philosophies Represented in "Normal Again"

"And then I was like. No, it wasn't 'like'. I was in an institution." Skepticism: In my analysis above, I assume that the Sunnydale experiences are Buffy's reality and the asylum experiences are hallucinations. But we are given no logically compelling reason to chose one or the other in the episode. We only have our firm conviction that the show

wouldn't be nearly as satisfying if Buffy has been delusional the whole time. Buffy has no such luxury. She is faced with a compelling question: Which set of experiences is real, and which is the hallucination? Buffy reveals to Willow that she had been institutionalized when she first told her parents about vampires. She stayed in the hospital for two weeks. Or did she? Now she wonders. Was she ever really released? Is she still in the institution? How can she know what is real? To make it worse, it is possible that neither place--Sunnydale or the asylum--is real. Buffy can't be certain. But what is certain is that all the twists and turns of logic and argument that she (or we) can muster will not prove any of these conclusions. Ultimately, it is an act of faith. The struggle to prove that our experiences actually correspond to an external reality is a question in philosophy called "The problem of the external world". This problem has been around at least since the time of Ren Descartes in the 17th century. If you start your philosophical contemplation from inside your own mind--the sensations and thoughts that you experience--it is impossible to prove without a doubt that these experiences are being caused by a world external to your mind. For all you know, they could be a dream you're having, or a vivid hallucination. Perhaps you are a highly imaginative disembodied mind existing in a void of nothingness. Or a disembodied brain in a scientific lab somewhere being electronically stimulated by a neuroscientist. You don't know. Every experience feels as if it's actually happening. If we stay stuck at this point, we are in a position known as solipsism: I must go on as if it's just me, myself, and I, and I have no way of proving otherwise. But this conclusion could be wrong as well. And it's not very satisfying. Descartes attempted to assure himself of the existence of his own body and a world beyond by first proving the existence of a good, all-powerful God who would not allow him to be fooled about these things. Skeptical philosophers subsequent to Descartes found this a bit overambitious and unworkable. David Hume, who did a thorough study of the things we come to believe based on experience, showed that ultimately, our belief in things beyond mere subjective experience cannot be proved sound by deductive arguments. We believe them, he said, out of "custom" or "habit". In other words, our minds are simply inclined to jump to the conclusion that the things we experience have real external causes. But there are always ways of casting doubt on these conclusions. The English skeptic Bishop Berkeley was once challenged by his colleague Samuel Johnson in a way that might tempt us all at this point. Johnson kicked a rock (or was it Berkeley's ass?) and said, "I refute you, thus!" This of course, proves nothing beyond Hume's conclusions--that we have a stubborn tendency to believe in the reality of our experiences. It is still possible that we are hallucinating kicking something or getting kicked. And we can even feel the ouchies in our hallucinatory asses and toes. But we can grant Johnson a point--real or not, we cannot help but respond to our experiences as if they reflect some reality beyond our minds. And regardless of whether we can have any absolute certainty about them. How does this help Buffy? Well, in her case, she has a choice of which set of experiences to accept as real. From the perspective of skepticism, neither choice is more "correct" than the other. So Buffy must make the choice based on how she wants to perceive herself--her selfesteem and self-identity. And she does

Entropy
The Metaphysics of "Entropy"
Inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society (dictionary.com*)

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 6 BtVS/season 3 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

Entropy

"Things fall apart, they fall so hard. You can't ever put them back the way they were." - Tara

... the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics ...states that a closed system will always tend toward chaos. This can be reversed by introducing energy from an outside source into the system, but the withdrawal of that energy will always cause the system to drift back into chaos (Rattletrap, 5/02/02 8:03). ...Tara's statement in the end - not just the "things fall apart" bit, but the part where she says it will take a lot of work to re-establish their relationship, and that even then things will never be the same as they were. (entropy ALWAYS increases) Her little speech is clearly meant to apply to all the relationships that were examined in this episode - the obvious ones of X/A and B/S, but also Dawn and Buffy who are trying to rebuild trust (lulabel, 5/01/02 23:10). The locator spell: The Trio retrieve a round metal talisman covered with runic icons in concentric circles, an essential ingredient in their latest spell, a spell to locate magic orbs they will need to carry out their new plan. Jonathan lights a candle. The talisman has been placed on top of a wooden pole like a lollipop. Jonathan sprinkles dusty ingredients on the disk and says, "Uncover." Candle light reflects on the disk and is focused and beamed onto a specific spot on a map of Sunnydale. "That's it," says Jonathan. "That's where we have to go." The cameras: Xander finds a hidden camera in Buffy's front yard. Willow hacks into the fiberoptic network to use the feedback relay to see where the camera's signal is being sent to. In the process, she discovers hidden cameras at Buffy's work, the Bronze, Willow's classrooms, Xander's construction site, and the Magic Box. Someone has put the entire Scooby Gang under surveillance. Willow taps into the feed at the Magic Box. The gang are too distracted by what they see to finish tracing the signal, but they conclude the Trio is responsible, and now they have a way to locate their lair. Anyanka: After being left at the alter by Xander, Anya chose to return to her demon form. Unfortunately, vengeance demons can't curse victims on behalf of themselves. Anyanka must find someone else to make a wish about Xander that she can then enact. Unanswered question: Does Anya still have a soul? Anya was human once. Then she was a demon. Then she was human again. Now she's a demon again. Is her soul coming and going as well? I have theorized elsewhere that the best explanation for Anya's 1,100-year situation is that she kept her human soul while she was a demon. She had it during her three years as a human, and she hasn't lost it now.

Evil in "Entropy"

The Trio: Jonathan is nervous around Warren these days. He's wanted out of the Trio since Katrina's death. But he is willing work on one more scheme if it means he can make enough money to go. But Warren has other plans for Jonathan. And Andrew is in cahoots with him.

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "Entropy"

He did, she did: Xander and Anya "What if all you dreamed about was that magical day? The day when the one person you loved with all your soul would promise to cherish and protect your heart for the rest of his life? But instead he shatters it into a million jagged pieces." Anya was so hurt after Xander left her at the alter that she chose to take on her demon powers again. But vengeance demons can't curse on behalf of themselves. She tries to get the women she knows to make a wish about Xander, but all the women she knows are all Xander's friends. Then Spike comes along. Surely she can get Spike to make a wish! Instead, the two of them get drunk and end up having sex--a moment of comfort in the midst of hurt. But the gang witnesses their moment of passion. Xander comes to Magic Box to confront Anya and kill Spike. When Anya sees Xander's devastated reaction to what she's done, she realizes that hurting the one you love isn't as satisfying after all. When Spike begins to make a wish about Xander, Anya tells him not to. Xander's belated self-awareness is too little, too late. As far as Anya is concerned, there is nothing he can do to make up for leaving her at the alter, even if he loves her and wants to marry her some day. In her mind, he is a scared, insecure little boy. That doesn't change Xander's feelings, though. When he sees Spike and Anya together on camera, he goes after Spike with an ax. Buffy stops him. Then Xander confronts Anya. He can't believe she slept "an evil, soulless thing". Then he discovers Buffy has as well. Unable to deal with this wrinkle in his reality, Xander storms away. Xander did Anya wrong. He openly admits that to anyone who will listen, and no one can disagree. He is a bit foolish and naive to believe things can ever revert to the way they were, but that is hardly surprising considering he really has no past experience to draw on in this situation. To his credit, he doesn't try to lie his way out of it or tell her what she wants to hear, he attempts to answer her question honestly, albeit bluntly. Does he fully comprehend the pain he inflicted on her, no, and this is perhaps his most crucial mistake. All that said, the punishment Anya tries to inflict simply does not fit the crime. Being left at the altar caused public embarrassment and will probably result in some lifelong emotional scars-these are not trivial things and should not be taken lightly. These things also do not merit mass murder, which is essentially the punishment Anya tries to inflict. Her initial wish is that Xander had never been born, and the fact that she takes on her vengeance demon visage suggests that she had every intention of following through with it. If Xander's existence had been completely erased, it is unlikely Buffy would have survived her fight with the Master in PG, leading to a rash of other related deaths ....

I am entirely willing to believe that Anya was still deeply hurt and taking action without stopping to evaluate the possible consequences. The same could be said for Xander's treatment of Spike, however. The statement on NB's face as Xander walked to the Magic Box was one of someone motivated only by murderous rage. Both characters behaved in ways understandable given the situation, but neither was morally right (Rattletrap, 5/01/02 21:21). One of the sad things about Xander and Anya is that their problem could have been solved by a little conversation. Xander needn't worry about turning into his father. Anya would never tolerate his father (skeeve, 5/01/02 11:48).

How much humanity is still in Spike? The debate rages on. On the one hand, he has a genuine need to be numbed after Buffy once again rejects his declarations of love. And he has helped the Scoobies many times, although his motives for doing so are never made clear. But he also tells Anya that she's the only one of Buffy's friends he wouldn't bite if he had the chance. Is this just talk? And how can we tell when Spike is "just talking"? Buffy is making progress reconnecting with Dawn, and things seem back to the usual brand of abnormal in her world. She tells Spike she doesn't care if he tells her friends about them. She trusts that her friends will deal. And when Dawn and Willow see Buffy's reaction to Spike sleeping with Anya and figure it out for themselves, things are O.K. But when Spike implies that Buffy slept with him in front of Xander, Xander isn't O.K. Willow and Tara: Tara and Willow's relationship has been on the upswing ever since Tara defended Willow's choice to keep her abstinence. Now they're back in courting mode again. But you can't just expect to have coffee and.... Tara goes to Willow's. She talks about how it will take time to mend the things that broke between them. But she doesn't want to wait. She wants Willow. They kiss passionately. *Rufus, 5/02/02 00:40

Seeing Red
The Metaphysics of "Seeing Red"
Nezzla demons are large muscular demons with skeletal armor. The two Nezzla demons in possession of the Orbs of Nezzla'khan live in an underground chamber carved out of solid rock. The Trio electrocute one of the demons, skin it, and use the skin to create a "demon suit". The Orbs of Nezzla'khan are two red handball-sized crystal orbs etched with the same symbols that tattoo the Nezzla. The orbs will make a human strong and invulnerable, if you can get your hands on them. But to do that, you must get through the mystical barrier that guards the orbs.

This barrier vaporizes anything that is not a Nezzla demon on contact. Jonathan puts on a suit made from the skin of a Nezzla demon. Warren pushes him into the barrier. Jonathan passes through safely. He gets the orbs and gives them to Warren. Warren holds the orbs in his fists. Their power courses up his body. He tests his new power by killing the second Nezzla demon. Glamor spells Slayer skills: Willow traces the camera feeds to the Trio's lair. But all Buffy finds there are abandoned papers and a lot of moving buzz saws. Buffy ducks one blade and dives between two perpendicular blades spinning in mid-air. Then she takes what papers she can grab and runs.

Good and Evil in "Seeing Red"

Tara and Willow are back together and happy, making love all night and spending all day in bed doing Trio research with the papers Buffy found at the Trio's lair. Included in the papers is a data CD. On it, Willow finds blueprints and schematics for the Trio's latest plans. They are going on a robbery spree, and the first job is holding up an armored car with receipts from an amusement park, scheduled for that night. Warren leads Andrew and Jonathan in the armored car hold-up, but he doesn't get far before Buffy arrives. Still, no matter how hard Buffy hits him, Warren recovers. The man who refuses to let a woman get the best of him has found the key to beating the strongest woman alive. Andrew cheers on Warren's destruction of the Slayer, but Jonathan is horrified. He leaps onto Buffy's back, pretending to attack her, and tells Buffy to smash the Nezzla'kahn orbs. Warren hits Buffy in the stomach, throwing her to the ground. He looms over her. Buffy sees the orb pouch, rips it off, and smashes it on the asphalt. But Warren's life of crime isn't over. He is wearing a jet-pack and escapes up into the air. Andrew tries to escape the same way, but hits an overhanging roof and falls to the ground. Jonathan realizes that Andrew and Warren were going to let him take the fall for their crimes. The police arrive and lead Andrew and Jonathan away in handcuffs.

The next day, a humiliated Warren shows up at Buffy's house with a gun. He opens fire and then runs, shooting back at the house again haphazardly. He hits Buffy in the chest. Another bullet flies through an upstairs window where it pierces Tara through the heart. Willow kneels down beside Tara and pulls her lover into her arms. Tara is dead. Willow raises her head. Her eyes go black.

I killed Tara. Some of you may have been hurt by that. It very unlikely it was more painful to you than it was to me. I couldn't even discuss it in story meetings without getting upset, physically. Which is why I knew it was the right thing to do. Because stories, as I have so often said, are not about what we WANT. And I knew some people would be angry with me for destroying the only gay couple on the show, but the idea that I COULDN'T kill Tara because she was gay is as offensive to me as the idea that I DID kill her because she was gay. Willow's story was not about being gay. It was about weakness, addiction, loss... the way life hits you in the gut right when you think you're back on your feet. The course of true love never did run smooth, not on my show. ... I love Amber and she knows it. Eventually, this story will end for all of them. Hers ended sooner (Joss, May 22, 2002, 2:27). ...we've known ... From the beginning of this season. ...it's a Joss decision. ...[if Willow] had never turned gay or realized that she was gay her boyfriend would have gotten killed. It's about Willow. And to be completely honest it worked better as a story that the one good, sweet, level-headed person on the show gets it. Willow is still gay, at some point I assume she may want to, I don't know, go out with another girl. I mean, you know, obviously, I don't want to offend anyone that thinks she should mourn Tara forever but it's not like you're going to turn back in and oh my god, she's gone back to being straight (Steven DeKnight [episode writer], The Succubus Club, May 9th, 2002). Counter-point: The Kitten board's Evil-dead lesbian cliche' FAQ

RIP, Tara

Moral Ambiguity in "Seeing Red"

Anya is doing her vengeance demon thing--talking up scorned women--but she's not doing the job very well. She'd rather dwell on her her own heart break than carry out other women's wishes. Buffy goes to see Xander, who stormed away after he found out that Buffy was sleeping with Spike. But Xander isn't very communicative. He has come to understand why Anya did what she did, but he still can't understand why Buffy did it. Buffy tells Xander about the difficulties she had adjusting to life after she was brought back from the dead. Her friends, embroiled in their own problems, weren't there for her the way she needed them to be. So she turned to Spike. Later, Xander tells her that while Buffy's dishonesty hurt him, he wants to keep her friendship. And he apologizes for the judgmentalness about Spike that made Buffy keep silent--mostly. Dawn has grown attached to Spike, and when she finds out that Buffy no longer considers Spike part of the group, she goes to see him. She scolds him for sleeping with Anya. Then she tells him that what he did he hurt Buffy. A regretful, hopeful Spike heads to Buffy's. Spike's identity crisis "It's the chip.... It won't let me be a monster. And I can't be a man." Buffy returns to her house after some vamp-slayage, hurting where her back hit a tombstone. She runs a bath. Spike appears in the bathroom, apologetic about what happened with Anya and hoping for the confession of love from Buffy that he's longed to hear. But Buffy only tells him that she doesn't trust him enough to love him. Spike is unconvinced. He moves in on her, desperate to bring out the feelings in her he wants her to have, if not verbally, then with her answering passion. Buffy struggles against him, weakened and in pain. She manages to shove Spike across the room. Spike is aghast at what happened--he almost raped the woman he loves. Then his own regret stops him cold: the vampire who still fancies himself the "Big Bad" is feeling human guilt! Why did he try to do it? Why didn't he go through it? He knows he's not acting like a demon, but he

also knows he's not human. Anger, humiliation, and regret war within him. There seems to be only one way to resolve the identity crisis, as far as he can see. Spike blames the chip. He heads off down the highway to take care of some business that he hopes will change things between him and the Slayer--and bury his regret forever.

Villains
The Metaphysics of "Villains"
Demons: Willow calls upon Osiris, trying unsuccessfully to bring Tara back from death. Suddenly, the room is filled with the enormous projection of a man's head. Is it the god Osiris? Or just his spokes-demon? This is unclear. The demon (and it is a demon, according to the shooting script) tells Willow that unlike Buffy, Tara died a natural death--"a human death, by human means". Buffy could be brought back because she was killed by mystical forces. Tara cannot. Willow engulfs the demon in the energy of her rage and pain. Dark magicks: Willow goes to the Magic Box to get the power she needs for her revenge. She paralyzes Anya in her tracks and levitates the books on dark magicks down to a table. Then she thrusts her hands inside the books and absorbs all the knowledge and power the books contain. Healing Buffy: Willow enters the operating room where a medical team is working to save Buffy's life. Willow tells them to leave. Then she focuses mystical energy on Buffy's chest. The bullet from Warren's gun slowly rises out of Buffy's chest and the wound closes. The spell to locate Warren: Willow goes to Tara's dorm room with the shirt that is covered with Tara's blood. She lays it on the floor and says, Blood of the slain, hear me. Guide me to Tara's killer. Mystical energy gathers around Willow and the shirt. The blood on the shirt shifts to form a map of Sunnydale. The point on the map where Warren is starts to glow.

Good, Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Villains"

When Buffy comes home to find Dawn holding vigil over Tara's body, she gathers her sister into her arms and they comfort each other. But Buffy has resolved not to lose Willow to the rage that is possessing her, and she wants Dawn out of the way. Buffy takes Dawn to Spike's over Xander's protest, but they only find Clem the demon there. Clem agrees to do the sitting in Spike's stead. Although Anya couldn't stop Willow from absorbing black magics, she does have the power to find her without a locator spell. Xander and Buffy realize that Anya is once again a vengeance demon, and therefore someone who might be perfectly willing to let Willow have her way.

Xander tells Anya she has a choice: let Willow have her vengeance, or help them stop her. Anya says she will help, but only for Willow's sake. Warren thinks he's pretty hot stuff for shooting the Slayer, but when a group of demons inform him Buffy isn't dead, he runs to Rack the hard magic supplier to get some extra protection. Rack tells him that it is Willow he should fear, not Buffy. Rack helps Warren imbue a Warren-bot with his "essence" to throw Willow off the trail, but Willow isn't thrown for long. She finds Warren in the woods. Warren keeps her at bay for a while with an ax and and a bomb and an ectoplastic trap, but soon Willow has Warren tied spread-eagle between two trees. She tries to torment him with an appearance by Katrina--his other victim--but Warren's capacity for remorse (if he ever had one) has long been buried under bravado and arrogance. Killing has made him feel a power with women he never had before. All he cares about now is saving his own life. "Bored now," Willow replies. She rips open his shirt and sends the bullet from Buffy's body into his chest... slowly. When he cries out in pain, she seals his mouth shut. She lets him speak again for a moment, but his pleas to be sent to jail fall on deaf ears. Willow sends a bolt of energy towards him. Warren is flayed alive. "One down," she tells her friends before she disappears. Has Willow gone "evil"? If we construct our self image around the idea that we are 'sweet' and 'good', as Willow used to 'I'm very seldom naughty' - we will forever confuse actions as a substitute for who we are. Yes, we should be judged by our actions. But we all contain the volatile possibility within ourselves both for greater, and baser actions. ...Willow's anger at Warren is all the more cutting because she treated Tara badly. She comes face to face with someone else who tried to use magic to control their partner. She comes face to face with someone else who thinks they ought to have untrammeled agency in this world. We hate most in other people, what we fear we ourselves contain within. And her anger grows all the more because of her guilt. Because she's sweet Willow, kind Willow. If she can't be good, then she'll be evil, thoroughly evil. If she has one evil thought, one awful action, what does it say about her? She might be no better than anyone else! Her self -identity, (her weakest point) shatters. She traverses the moral spectrum because * she * has such a strong investment in the construction of her identity. ...No more altar egos. No more dichotomies between good and evil. ...The Willow who tortured another human being is the same Willow who was so loyal and supportive and sweet to her for years and years (Rahael, 5/15/02 3:39). Spike travels to a remote African village to find a demon who lives in a cave there. He tells the demon about how the chip in his head has changed everything in his unlife for the worse. The

demon mocks him and his wish to "return to what he used to be". He tells Spike that must endure a series of trials to have his request granted.

Ethical Quandaries in "Villains"

Should Willow carry out her own brand of justice or let the law do it for her? When Buffy and Xander confront Willow about using magic to bring Warren to justice, Willow tells them she doesn't have a choice--Warren killed Tara. Buffy and Xander are devastated by the news, but they argue that if Willow kills Warren, it will destroy her. She won't come back from the power of the magic she is using. Willow doesn't disagree, but she still wants to punish Warren herself, and she forcibly stops Xander and Buffy from getting in her way. Buffy argues that the human world has rules for dealing with human criminals. This isn't the kind of situation where the Scoobies can take the authority for punishment into their own hands. Xander counters that Warren is as bad as any vampire Buffy's slain. Does that mean they have a right to kill him? Buffy brings the argument around full circle. She points out that Willow is using magic to try to control the events around her. But magic won't change things the way Willow wants it to--it won't bring back Tara. It will only change Willow for the worse.

Two To Go/Grave
Evil in and the Metaphysics of "Two To Go/Grave" Sources of magic
Giles': A powerful coven in Devonshire, England senses the rise of a dangerous magical force in Sunnydale, California--a force fueled by grief. Then a seer in the coven tells Giles about Tara's death. Giles suspects the dark force is Willow. The coven instills him with their powers, powers whose source is the Earth itself. Giles calls this the "true essence of magic". The source of Willow's magic, on the other hand, is her emotional state and her need for power. Giles now has the ability to cast spells with a single word and hold a witch as powerful as Willow in restraints. He can also teleport and sense events at a distance. This latter ability apparently doesn't fade after Willow absorbs his powers. This was no doubt part of the coven's plan, because it allows Giles to continue to monitor Willow's activities. Giles's powers cannot counter-act Willow's darkness, however. All it can do is reconnect her to her human emotions enough to allow her friends to finally get through to her. When Willow takes Giles' powers, it leaves him weak and dying. His only hope for survival is tied to Willow's own restoration to emotional humanity.

Unanswered question: Is Buffyverse magic innately good, bad, or neutral? It would seem to be a neutral power, one that can be used for good or ill, depending on the motivation of the person using it. Giles' claim that his Earth-centered power is the "true essence of magic", however, would seem to contradict this view. Regardless, there does seem to be at least two sources that magic power can be drawn from: (1) The Earth. This source of magic appears to be associated with Earth-centered values of nurturing and ecology. This is the type of magic that Tara espoused and presumably followed. (2) Emotion. In particular, the emotions of pain, desire, and need. This is an easily corruptible source of magic, since it represents an individual's quest for increased levels of agency over the world and others. This is the type of magic Willow pursued (see also Catherine Madison). Willow's: "This is still Willow we're dealing with, right?" --Xander In her grief and rage over Tara's death, Willow heads over to the Magic Box and absorbs the power and knowledge she believes she needs in order to get vengeance on Warren. Willow's emotional state and her need for power over others determine the effect the magics she absorbs has on her. It sends her into a tailspin of ever decreasing humanity. At first, she is focused on her goal of avenging Tara's death. But the act of killing Warren fuels the negative source of her magics, and she soon turns her sights on Jonathan and Andrew. When she goes after them with 18-wheeler truck, her power drains quickly. She loses control of the truck, allowing the truck driver to throw it into a jack knife. Willow then heads to the dark magician Rack and rapes him of his powers, leaving him dead. At this point, Willow has gone way beyond simple vengeance. She has lost her emotional connection to her closest friends. She threatens Dawn. She no longer seems moved by the mention of Tara. And she takes on Buffy by giving herself Slayer-like strength and fighting skills with a simple Latin incantation: Translation: Give me Strength. Then she takes on Giles and ends the fight by absorbing his power. Unlike the other magic she absorbed, this power has its source in the Earth. It makes her aware of the thoughts and feelings of everyone in the world, and the enormity of their pain. But it cannot counter-act her dark path. On the contrary; Giles' magics get perverted by Willow's statement of power into a need to get rid of the world to stop its pain.

Teleporting: A witch at Willow's level cannot, apparently, teleport--move from one place to another instantaneously. But Anya can with her vengeance demon powers. Later, however, Willow teleports herself, Buffy, and Dawn to the Magic Box simultaneously. Must be that extra power she took from Rack.

The protection spell: Anya has a book of protection spells in a locked box behind the counter at the Magic Box. She protects Jonathan and Andrew, and later Buffy, from Willow by chanting low in Sumerian out of eye-shot from Willow: Translation: Shield around us, never broken, shield surrounds us, keep us from harm. The binding field: When Willow starts up a spell to attack Giles, he raises his arm and says, "Vincire!". A green energy field leaves his hand and wraps itself around Willow like an innertube. The force field holds her frozen in the air, and also puts her in a semi-conscious state. In this condition, she cannot use her powers. Nevertheless, she is able to get enough clarity of mind to contact Anya telepathically and influence her mentally. How Anya frees Willow from Giles' spell isn't clear, although she likely used magic.

Proserpexa is a powerful female demon devoted, like many other demons, to the destruction of the Earthly plane. Her effigy depicts her as having two mouths with forked tongues and snakes for hair. The ritual to burn the world: The followers of Proserpexa tried to end the world by funneling the Earth's life force into the effigy of Proserpexa and then using that force to turn the Earth into a cinder. Before they could succeed, however, they were killed in an earthquake (1932 - not the same one that trapped the Master, which was in 1937). Willow raises the temple of Proserpexa out of the ground and begins an incantation: From the pit of forgotten shadows... Awaken, Sister of the Dark... Awaken and-Buffy's determination to stop her brings Willow to a halt, but as soon as she has Buffy busy with other things, she continues: Proserpexa... Let the cleansing fires from the depths burn away the suffering souls... And bring sweet death. Willow funnels the energy of the Earth into herself and then out towards the the effigy of Proserpexa. The effigy glows red and the Earth shakes. The ground around the temple starts to scorch in an ever-widening circle. The earth monsters Willow creates to fight Buffy are made up of dirt, rocks and roots and have two sharp bone blades at the ends of their arms. They attack Buffy and Dawn in a pit beneath the graveyard. Both sisters fight valiantly, but new monsters are created for each one they defeat. In the end, the monsters only return to lumps of dirt when Willow's power fades.

Spike is in a cave in a remote African village, the lair of a demon capable of effecting changes in Spike if he passes the required tests. After he passes the tests, Spike demands that the demon

"Make me what I was... so Buffy can get what she deserves." With that, the demon puts his hand on Spike's chest and says, "Your soul is returned to you." What is Spike now? J: He's a vampire with a soul, not human. Q: Will he lose his soul if they have sex? J: That was a specific gypsy curse. That isn't the slightest factor here (Jane Espenson, The Succubus Club, 5/22/02).

Good in "Two To Go/Grave"

Anya the vengeance demon helps two men escape a woman's vengeance, first by warning them that Willow is coming, and later by performing a protection spell and continuing to do so even while her friends and charges make their escape. And Anya gets some lumps from Willow for her trouble. Guess that humanity thing she's been working in the past three years isn't that easy to get rid of. Buffy helps Jonathan and Andrew escape from jail and then keeps them out of Willow's line of fire. But she's not protecting them from Willow. She's protecting Willow from herself. Willow has already killed the human who murdered Tara. But Buffy doesn't want Willow to cross the line and kill two humans who had nothing to do with Tara's death. Giles has come to Sunnydale to stop a dark force rising there--Willow. But the strong benevolent magic he has been imbued with is not enough to completely neutralize Willow's dark power, and therein lies the danger. Giles tricks Willow into absorbing his magic by telling her that she is burning herself out with all the energy she is expending fighting him. This leaves him weak and vulnerable, as he knew it would. His only hope for recovery lies in Willow's recovery. But that was the choice he made in taking responsibility for stopping Willow.

Xander: When your friends are all slayers and witches and vengeance demons, what's a Zeppo to do? Angst about your inability to stop Warren from hurting your friends. Help a couple of guys who've been causing trouble hide from your best friend's wrath. Get sick to your stomach at the thought that Willow could ever do the things she's doing. But Xander wasn't given the role of the heart of the Scoobies for nothing. When he hears that Willow has gone up to Kingman's Bluff to try to end the world, he heads after her. He's not sure what he can do, but he's got to try something--it's Willow. It's the world. Willow gives him a cracked rib and scratches, but that doesn't stop Xander from trying to get through to her. According to Giles, no magic or supernatural force can stop Willow. Giles' dose of benevolent magic only makes it possible to reawaken the human emotions within her. Now someone must reach in and pull them out. Xander puts himself between Willow and the effigy of Proserpexa.

He tells her repeatedly that he loves her, even as she cuts him down. Willow weakens. Finally Xander walks right up to her. Willow can no longer fight him off with magic. She falls to her knees and breaks into human tears of grief. Her friend the carpenter is there to comfort her and start her healing. Xander stops Willow by declaring his powerlessness. This declaration and the possibility of his identification with Jesus Christ is something I didn't go into fully. The son of God saves humanity not by, like Satan and Adam and Eve and Willow, being as if a god, but by being powerless. He accepts the inevitability of his mortality. I'm not arguing here anything about Jesus's resurrection; one can see it as real and literal, and part of a religion offering hope and structure for ones life; or as a metaphor written into the story, symbolizing Jesus's teachings about rebirth into a spiritual way, a way of taking responsibility and growing up. But Jesus the man died as every human being does. Jesus saves humanity by not giving into his divinity, not being as if a god and using his supernatural power, but by being simply the human who dies. Xander is the Scoobie who is simply the human being, the one without any supernatural power. There is then this coincidence between the two, one having supernatural power and not using it, and the other declaring his powerlessness. Power will not save humanity, but being human will (Age, 5/29/02 21:49).

Moral Ambiguity in "Two To Go/Grave"

It looks like Jonathan is ready to accept responsibility for where the Trio's actions have taken them when Willow comes after Andrew and himself. He won't allow Willow to kill the two of them, of course, but he also seems willing to help the Scoobies stop Willow rather trying to escape the whole mess as Andrew suggests. When Andrew aims a sword at Xander, Jonathan aims a sword at Andrew. "We're not leaving Sunnydale," he tells him. "[Y]ou and me are going back to jail and do our time." But when Xander is knocked unconscious after Willow's fire ball hits the cemetery, Jonathan has a change of heart. He and Andrew take off to parts unknown. Buffy tries to get through to Willow, but Willow isn't listening. The magic Willow has absorbed is clouding her mind. But it's not even clear that Buffy could get through to Willow if it wasn't. Buffy's struggle to come to terms with her return to life on Earth is not exactly a convincing reason for Willow to hear Buffy out on why she should embrace a normal life again. It sure hasn't persuaded Buffy herself. But after Buffy and Dawn defeat the Earth monsters and Buffy realizes the world has not come to an end, she collapses into tears. Life will go on, and she no longer wants to sleep-walk through it like she's been doing. Dawn: Buffy has spent the past two years (and in her memory, many more) protecting Dawn and keeping her out of harm's way. And rightly so. Dawn was a momma's girl, first clinging to Joyce, then to Buffy, and perpetually getting into trouble just for the attention. Even with the best intentions, Dawn still finds trouble. She gets Clem to help her find Racks', but her attempt to help Willow falls flat when she underestimates how dark Willow has become. Luckily Buffy is there to help her--as usual.

But, Dawn points out, Buffy can't protect her from everything. So Buffy gives Dawn a sword and a chance to prove herself when she realizes she can't fight the Earth monsters alone. The moment of truth arrives when Dawn is cut. She drops her sword and is menaced by a monster. Before Buffy can come to her aid, though, Dawn dives past the monster, retrieves her sword, stabs the monster, and then beheads it. Dawn has gone from annoying younger sister to kleptomaniac "daughter" to sister again--this time one Buffy can respect. Spike "...I need to take care of the Slayer, give her what's coming to her...." Spike faces many grueling tests--from a fight with a flaming muscle-bound gladiator to a bodily invasion of skittering insects--to get what he wants. But what exactly does Spike want? His bitter anger would indicate he wants to be returned to the vampire he was, sans chip and ready to create mayhem. But that's not what he gets. ...Spike looked into his ["]soul["] at that moment and saw the demon in him, and that's what made him want to go get a soul ...And when he says "I want Buffy to have what she deserves" -give the Slayer what she deserves -- he means a lover with a soul (Jane Espenson, The Succubus Club, 5/22/02). Joss on Season 6: "We wanted to go to the dark place," Whedon said. "A lot of people got pretty scared when we did, but we just wanted to explore the dark side of power and of growing up and responsibility (Joss Whedon, 17-May-02 )

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Season 7

Lessons
The Metaphysics of "Lessons"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 7 BtVS/season 2 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

Manifest spirits are another form that dead people can take in the Buffyverse. Like a ghost, a manifest spirit is the surviving personality of the dead person trapped in an emotionally stunted state. Unlike ghosts, however, manifest spirits take physical form as rotting dead bodies. Manifest spirits are raised from the grave using a talisman--a small bone fastened to twigs and feathers with string. It is unclear who raised these manifest spirits, but they are ex-students and

employees of Sunnydale High, intent on scaring the Slayer away from the Hellmouth. But their presence only makes Buffy more determined to stick around. And that might be exactly what Buffy's new adversary wants. Thwarting the manifest spirits: Based on long experience, Buffy hypothesizes that destroying the talisman will send the manifest spirits back where they came from. She calls Xander on her cell phone and sends him to find the talisman. In the girl's restroom, Xander is attacked by one of the spirits. He doesn't let that stop him though. He snaps the talisman in half and the spirits disappear. The Hellmouth: Someone, either through ignorance or on purpose, has commissioned the construction of a new Sunnydale High on the very ground it once stood upon--the Hellmouth. And, as Xander points out, this gateway to hell is right below the principal's office. A third of the way around the planet, Willow senses the malevolent energy of the Hellmouth and collapses where she stands. "It's going to open," she tells Giles. "It's going to swallow us all." Buffy finds Spike living in the basement of Sunnydale High, and he is clearly not himself. He mumbles incoherently, laughs inappropriately, and he has mutilated his own chest--and it wasn't to rip out his unbeating heart. Spike is being tormented by the presence of his soul, by the evil deeds of the demon and the memories of the human William. More on the morality and metaphysics of souls.

Evil and Good in "Lessons"

The robed assassins: Someone is killing teenaged girls throughout the world. In Istanbul, Turkey, a girl desperately tries to escape several robed men, but they catch her and stab her to death with a curved knife. The Shape-shifting Evil: In the basement of Sunnydale High, Spike is taunted by a presence that takes the form, successively, of the many evils that have plagued Sunnydale since Buffy's arrival--Warren, Glory, Adam, Mayor Wilkins, Spike's sire Drusilla, and The Master. This entity has plans for both Buffy and Spike. It is also the "something older than the Old Ones" that the vengeance demon Halfrek says "is rising", and quite possibly also the danger from the Hellmouth that Willow senses.

Unanswered question: What does Robin Wood, the new principal, know about any of this? Is he a collusive insider? Or will he get eaten? Or both? The mystery of Principal Wood revealed.

Buffy and Dawn "The stake is not the power." Buffy proves she has the goods to fight the shape-shifting evil when she trains Dawn in selfdefense. Buffy wants to empower her sister so that Dawn can take care of herself. But "empowering" her doesn't mean just teaching her how to fight. It also means teaching her about the realities of her situation. Being on the side of Good doesn't guarantee that you will vanquish Evil. Most of the time, the winner is whomever has more power. Dawn is for all intents and purposes an ordinary teen-aged girl. She can employ various fighting techniques and weapons, and might even vanquish vampires and other adversaries, but in the end, these adversaries are stronger than she is. She has to know when it's smarter to avoid a fight or run. When Dawn and her new friends Kit and Carlos find themselves at the mercy of the manifest spirits in the Sunnydale High basement, Dawn rises to the occasion. She calls the Slayer to the scene, then constructs a weapon to hold off the spirits until Buffy arrives.

Moral Ambiguity in "Lessons"

Buffy: Is it slayer caution or post-traumatic stress that has Buffy running around the new Sunnydale High looking for problems on Dawn's first day of high school? At first, Dawn is annoyed, but then Buffy's fears prove to be well-founded. Principal Wood is impressed by the effect Buffy has on troubled students Kit and Carlos and offers her a part-time job as a counselor at Sunnydale High. Buffy, who wants to keep an eye on the Hellmouth, accepts. Anyanka isn't the demon she used to be, and it isn't just her old buddy Halfrek that has noticed. "The single most hard-core vengeance demon on the roster" hasn't been dishing out the death and

creative torment she used to before her three human years in Sunnydale. Anya's underworld colleagues are keeping an eye on her.

Philosophies Represented in "Lessons"

Beyond good and evil: Most moral philosophy is predicated on the idea that some actions are "right" while others are "wrong". A "good person" is someone who tries to do what's right and who struggles against doing what is wrong, no matter how tempting it might be. The principles that decide what is right and wrong might differ between different moral philosophies, but the idea that the concepts of "right" and "wrong" and "good" and "bad" have meaning is held in common. The shape-shifting evil taunts Spike for buying into this assumption. Even before he got his soul back, Spike had rudimentary concepts of "good" and "evil". "Good" could be identified with "those actions Buffy approves of" or "those actions that don't set the chip off" and "Evil" as "those actions Buffy doesn't approve of" or "those actions that set the chip off". Now that he has his soul back, Spike has an emotional compass that causes him torment when he remembers particular deeds done in his soulless state. Like any souled being, he can learn to ignore these feelings or he can let them motivate his actions. Spike wants to do the latter. The shape-shifting evil, however, takes the Nietzschean line that the concepts of "good" and "evil" are mere fabrications of the powerless. The self-possessed man, the Superman, doesn't buy into these concepts; he does what is in his own best interests and takes what he wants. "It's not about right. Not about wrong," the evil says. "It's about power." Ecophilosophy and Gaia In contemporary Western society, the principle "everything is connected" came to prominence through various Ecology movements of the twentieth century. The Deep Ecology of Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess, the ecological principles of Barry Commoner, the Gaia Hypothesis of James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis, and the ecofeminist movement have each given expression to the idea that human beings are not separate from the natural world, but a part of it. The Earth is not merely a ball of dirt with various creatures living and feeding on it, nature is an interconnected, self-sustaining system (even, perhaps, a single living entity), and we are merely a part of that system. It follows from this that everything we do to the Earth will effect us in some way eventually. We cannot, therefore, treat the Earth as a "resource" created for us to exploit for our own purposes--not without repercussions. This we know. The earth does not belong to man; Man belongs to the earth... All things are connected, Like the blood which unites one family... Man did not weave the web of life; He is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, He does to himself.

--Chief Seattle, Suquamish Tribe, 1854 Willow has spent her summer at the Westbury coven rehabilitating from the darkness she descended into after Tara's death. The witches cannot take away Willow's magical powers--they are a part of her--so Willow has to learn to think about those powers in a different way than she did before. Willow's attitude towards magic has always been very utilitarian. I want A; magic spell B will get me A; therefore I will perform magic spell B. The philosophy that Willow has learned at the coven, a philosophy that Tara already knew and tried to convince Willow of many times, is that magical power is connected to things beyond the specific outcome you are trying to accomplish. This is a well-established reality in the Buffyverse. Magic has consequences that will impact everything around you to some degree or another--those you care about, your environment, and you as well. Willow couldn't destroy the man who caused Tara's death without harming her town, her friends, and herself. She is now learning to take responsibility for her gift.

Beneath You
The Metaphysics of "Beneath You"
Sluggoth demons are large, predatory worm-like creatures that burrow beneath solid ground. And one is tearing up the asphalt in Sunnydale. Which is odd, because Sluggoth demons haven't been around since the Crusades. And this Sluggoth seems to only attack the same woman, Nancy, over and over. Xander wonders if perhaps Nancy's abusive ex-boyfriend, Ronnie, raised the demon. But when Nancy mentions "wishing" that her ex-boyfriend's stalking would end, Xander realizes there is another explanation--the demon is Ronnie, and someone with the power to grant wishes made him that way. Xander asks Anya(nka) to reverse her spell. Psychic dream: The robed assassins take a second victim in Frankfurt Germany, and this time, the Slayer sees the girl's death in her dreams. Before she dies, the girl says, "From beneath you it devours." Buffy wakes up screaming. She tells a concerned Dawn that there are more girls out there who will die as well. Later, Buffy wonders if the Sluggoth demon might be what the girl in her dream was referring to. But (the admittedly crazed) Spike tells her that the Sluggoth is just "a warm-up act". "From beneath you, it devours," refers to something else entirely. Spike's identity crisis "...everybody's in here, talking. Everything I did, everyone I... and him... and it... the other. The thing beneath... beneath you. It's here, too. Everybody. They all just tell me go." "So what'd you think? You'd get your soul back and everything would be Jim Dandy? A soul's slipperier than a greased weasel. ...Well, you probably thought that you'd be your own man and I respect that. But you never will." --the Shape-shifting Evil

Who is Spike now? That's something he hasn't figured out for himself yet. One moment he's a tormented soul, babbling nonsense and random bits from the life of the human William; the next minute, he's the prudent, swaggering demon Spike we've come to know; then he's a malicious monster taunting Anya and Buffy with Angelus-like cruelty. Spike's demon and his soul are at war within him. He wants to be the "Big Bad"--the demon unfettered seemed to be truly "his own man" in a way William never was. But Buffy rejected the demon over and over. So Spike sought to be the man she "deserves". He wanted to be a man with a soul. But he is both--a demon with a soul. Spike must find the balance between them. And as grandsire Angel could tell him, that's not easy. It may not even be possible. Angel was hardly coherent, either, after his soul was returned to him. And when Angel finally made the choice two years later to let the demon within him hold sway, he realized quickly he couldn't live that way. Even then, it took him years to make peace with his urge to do good in the world. Today, doing good is a choice Angel makes on a daily basis, and sometimes fails to make, as many nondemons with souls do as well. Spike has more support in making his choice than Angel did when he was cursed. Will Spike find his balance sooner?

Moral Ambiguity in "Beneath You"

The still-so-very-human Anya(nka) isn't comfortable with being a vengeance demon, and she tries to blame this turn of events on Xander. Xander is willing to take responsibility for dumping her at the alter, but he won't accept fault for Anya's own choices. In the meantime, Anya is feeling the heat from her demon bosses. She has to impress the lower beings with her commitment to vengeance, or else. So when a woman wishes that her boyfriend was a worm, Anya embellishes and makes him a Sluggoth demon. That's sure to win points. But then Xander asks her to reverse the spell, and Anya loses every brownie point she's gained by complying. There will be hell to pay for that. Xander is trying to get back into the dating scene and is having a bit of trouble. Then he meets Nancy, a victim of a demon attack who takes an interest in him. They bond over exes that won't go away. But there's a reason the gang always ends up dating vampires, demons, werewolves and witches. All the death, mayhem, and bad mojo that comes with being a Scooby doesn'impress the normal folks. When Nancy gets enough of what for Xander is a tame evening, she's gone. When Spike comes to Buffy's door to offer his help with the latest Bad, he seems his old lucid self again. Buffy accepts his offer, but she's not letting him off the hook for trying to rape her. She'll let him help only as long as he behaves. Spike explains that his insanity the week before was a temporary thing, brought on by the manifest spirits. But he's hiding the truth from her about the pesky little parasite inside him, also known as his soul. The demon Anyanka isn't fooled. She senses Spike's soul almost immediately and confronts him. Spike grows violent, beating on Anya to keep her from revealing his secret. Anya returns his blows, and when Buffy

tries to break up the fight, Spike taunts the Slayer about the rape and their sexual relationship. Then he follows Buffy to find Ronnie the Sluggoth and attacks the creature himself with a rebar. At that moment, Anya reverses her spell. Ronnie reverts to human form. The rebar goes through his shoulder. Spike cringes from the pain of the chip, then looks in horror at what he's done. His brief period of lucidity crumbles. He is once again mumbling, out of his mind. He runs away and Buffy follows. She finds him lurking in a church, muttering about how Buffy used him for his flesh and rejected him for having no "spark". Buffy doesn't understand. Then Spike mentions Angel's name. Suddenly his talk of a "spark" has a whole new context. Buffy realizes that Spike got his soul back. He tells her he did it for her, then rests his arms and cheek on a cross, letting it singe his flesh. The moral ambiguity of Dawn

Same Time, Same Place

The Metaphysics of "Same Time, Same Place"
The not-seeing magick: When Willow returns to Sunnydale, she doesn't see Buffy, Xander and Dawn at the airport gate waiting for her. Likewise, Buffy, Xander and Dawn don't see Willow exit the plane. Willow and Buffy/Xander/Dawn both search Buffy's house and Xander's construction site for each other to no avail. In actuality, they are both in the same place at exactly the same time. But they are invisible to each other and can stand or sit in each other's space without bumping into each other. Oddly enough, however, they can still hear evidence of each other's presence, such as shutting doors and squeaking ladders. Spike and Anya, who are unaffected by this magick, are able to see both parties at the same time. Undoing the not-seeing magick: The power behind the magick is psychological--Willow's fear of seeing her friends and being seen by them manifests itself in reality without her intending it to happen. She does not do any kind of deliberate magic--that is, a spell. When Willow gets into a desperate enough situation with Gnarl and longs to be seen by Buffy and the others, the magick undoes itself. Is this spell part of a hex on Willow? Gnarl is a parasitic demon who looks something like an bony, gnarled elf. He is unaffected by spells, as Willow quickly discovers when she tries a protection spell against him: "Protect me, goddess. In thy name, I supplicate myself. Take the powers from my enemy and lay him lower than the lowest field..."

Gnarl may also be able to prevent Willow from removing the rocks from the entrance to the cave by magic. The paralysis Gnarl uses to disable his victims is permanent until he dies. When Buffy kills Gnarl, both Willow and Dawn can move again. The spell to detect demons: Willow and Anya do a non-incantatory version of the spell to detect demons in Sunnydale that Willow once tried with Tara. Willow spreads a map of Sunnydale on the floor. She and Anya throw enchanted powder on it simultaneously. This time the spell is more successful. The sand lights up where there are demons. Anya(nka) sees herself on the map. Willow sees Gnarl in a wooded section of town near where a flayed body was found. The spell to find Buffy, Xander and Dawn: We don't see this spell, but apparently it went all kaflooey and didn't work. It told Willow that Buffy, Xander and Dawn don't exist. Well, of course it would say that, after she created the not-seeing magick and all.

Evil and Good in "Same Time, Same Place"

Gnarl is a demon who preys on humans for their skin. He secrets a substance through his long sharp fingernails that paralyzes his victims. Then he cuts strips of their skin while they're still alive and eats them, taking the time to lick the wounds dry of blood. Gnarl is a classic example of predatory evil. Not to mention... ewww. He also disables his victims by playing on their insecurities--he taunts Willow with the fact that her friends were there and left, trapping her with him. Dawn is becoming quite the Scooby these days, doing demon research and filling Willow's shoes in the computer skills department. But being a hero has its dangers. When the gang enters the cave, Dawn separates herself from the group and is attacked by Gnarl. Buffy and Xander take her home, inadvertently sealing Willow alone in the cave. Buffy calls Anya to look after the paralyzed Dawn, but as it turns out, Anya knows how to kill Gnarl and believes it is likely that Willow is in his cave. Anya returns with them to the cave, where Buffy stabs Gnarl in the foot and pokes out his eyes. Again with the ewww. Poetic Justice?

Moral Ambiguity in "Same Time, Same Place"

When the gang finds a flayed body on Xander's construction site, they fear that Willow might be responsible. It's not fun thinking the worst of a friend, and Buffy feels guilty about it when it proves not to be true. But it's certainly not an implausible hypothesis. And they did entertain alternative theories. Are Anya and Willow on their way to actually maybe liking each other? Or perhaps just getting along? The two have a lot in common now--powerful magical abilities, a scary dark side, and they're no longer in a rivalry over Xander's affections. But the most telling thing they have in common is their mutual fear of their own dark powers.

Anya admits to Willow that she doesn't feel the same way about being a vengeance demon as she used to. She used to enjoy her work; now it is actually upsetting to her. Willow can relate. She fears once again crossing that line where she no longer listens to the pangs of conscience when using her powers. Once she crosses that line, she knows, she is no longer in control of herself. Anya fears crossing the same line if she lets herself get swept up in her power. She hasn't been letting that happen. She's been going about her vengeance demon gig half-heartedly, not letting herself go too far. Both women want to feel good about themselves. Willow certainly does when she sets out to discover the true cause of the boy's flaying and to kill the demon that did it. And Anya desired this when she reversed a vengeance spell at Xander's request. Both women want to control their power as well. But that is another challenge entirely. When Willow finds out that she was the one that made her and her friends invisible to each other, she realizes she has a way to go in that respect. Xander's analogy of the hammer (from "Help"): ...there are two ways to use a hammer: You hold it way at the end, and you have lots of power but little control--you're bound to smash your finger some of the time. So you "choke up," hold it near the head, and you have lots of control, but no power--and it takes ten strokes to hammer in a nail. ...Anyone who has used a hammer will recognize that neither of the ways that Xander describes is the proper way to use a hammer. ...Missing from his analogy is of course what is really most important: the third way--the "right" way--to use a hammer. A hammer is designed to be held at the point that provides the best balance of power and control. So used, it augments one, without the loss of the other. ...This is, of course, also what Willow needs to do with her magic. ...Willow is just at the starting point of her journey toward finding this balance (Dyna, 10/20/0 18:22).

Help
The Metaphysics of "Help"
Psychic powers: Cassie Newton wants to live. Desperately. But there are some things she just knows, and she knows she's going to die on Friday night. Cassie has special knowledge of the future. She warns Buffy to cover her shirt and Buffy subsequently spills coffee on it. Cassie tells Buffy her own short future will involve lots of coins and coins end up giving Buffy a vital clue in investigating the events that lead to Cassie's death. After Buffy saves Cassie from a group of boys that are out to murder her, the two girls head outside, setting off a booby-trapped door. Buffy catches a cross-bow's arrow before it hits Cassie. But it doesn't matter. Cassie collapses and dies. Her family has a history of heart irregularities that she was never told about. www.cassienewton.com

If ever we had an example of the concept of fate in the Buffyverse--that an event will happen no matter what you do or fail to do--this is it. The concept of fate is a troubling one because of its implications for human action. Humans like to believe that outcomes in our lives are at least partially, if not substantially, controlled by our conduct and choices. Of course, we realize that not everything is under our control, but we hope that events in the world are at least predictable in ways that we can understand and overcome, or that they are random and therefore as likely to work in our favor as not. The idea that events in the world are set up to have one and only one outcome regardless of human action is troubling, because it makes us insignificant and even laughable creatures, thrashing in vain to have any effect on anything. Buffy certainly doesn't like this idea, and so it is ironic and little bit twisted when the pre-cognitive Cassie assures her "you will make a difference"--as if Buffy is fated to make a difference in the world no matter what she does. But that's just absurd, right? The sacrifice to Avilas: A group of boys wearing red robes and holding white candles form a circle. Their leader holds a meat cleaver at Cassie's throat. "Extinguish" he says. The boys pinch out their candles. The leader incants: Almighty Avilas, please accept our sacrifice Please appear before us, oh mighty soldier of the dark Please appear before us, and grant us with infinite riches And we will pay you with our sacrifice We kneel before you with the gift of flesh At this point in the ritual, the demon Avilas is supposed to appear, but he takes a few minutes to show up.

Good and Evil in "Help"

Buffy: When Cassie comes to counselor Buffy claiming she is going to die, Buffy wants to help. She and her friends go into familiar research mode. But except for a melancholy obsession with death, Cassie seems like a pretty normal kid. Buffy confronts the girl's father, who is an alcoholic and prone to violence. But Cassie assures them her father isn't the one who will kill her. Buffy then confronts Cassie's friend, but he is an easy-going guy who can accept the fact that Cassie won't go to a dance with him. Then Buffy sees the principal going through some lockers. A collection of coins tumbles to the floor, just as Cassie mentioned. Buffy confronts the owner of the locker. He tells her that he knows some guys who want to kill Cassie because her disappearance will be passed off as a suicide. They are a "cult" of arrogant boys out to sacrifice a girl to a demon in exchange for material riches (kind of a Sunnydale tradition). Buffy infiltrates the boys' ritual circle and fights off the ring leader. Then a lumpy, spiny-looking demon appears behind her. She engages the demon with the meat cleaver. The boys go after Cassie. Just then, Spike appears with a torch (the fiery kind). Buffy uses the torch to attack the

demon. Spike hits the boys holding Cassie, even though it sets off his chip. Then he cuts Cassie's bonds with the meat cleaver. The demon rises from its ashy remains briefly and bites the ringleader of the boys, then explodes.

Moral Ambiguity in "Help"

Buffy is now a counselor at Sunnydale High. But she isn't a licensed professional. Her job is to listen to the students, not evaluate them or be their friend. But Buffy's not exactly the type of person who can hear about people in trouble and not take action. And she has a lot of experience tracking down the guilty and defending the innocent. "Sunnydale High counselor" might prove the right job for Buffy after all. But Buffy's self-image is tied up in her ability to help. She has a hard time dealing with fate, with the notion that no matter what she does to help someone, that person will die anyway. Her tireless efforts in this episode are not just evidence of a dedicated Slayer and counselor, but a woman desperate to disprove the very concept of fate itself. Willow worries that she will not be able to help Buffy the way she used to. Her healthy concern over controlling her own powers borders on paralyzing fear. Xander offers her some perspective on her anxiety over losing control: "Figuring out how to control your magic seems a lot like hammering a nail. ...If you hold the end of the hammer, you have the power, but no control. It takes, like, two strokes to hit the nail in. Or you could hit your thumb. So you choke up. Control, but no power. It takes, like, ten strokes to knock the nail in. Power. Control. It's a trade-off." Fan thoughts on Xander's analogy Spike has hurt a few girls in his time, and now he is wallowing in the memory of it, injuring himself and moaning that "William is a bad man". It seems his unlife is defined now by the throbbing pain from his scorching soul. But when Spike gets a chance to redeem himself by saving a girl from being hurt, he takes it.

Selfless
The Metaphysics of "Selfless"
The wish: When Anya comes out of a UC Sunnydale fraternity with blood on her hand, Willow's curiosity is piqued. She goes into the fraternity and sees the bodies of a dozen boys, their hearts ripped out. Then Willow finds a girl in the closet, rocking back and forth and moaning, "I take it back" over and over. The girl was duped into coming to a fraternity party by her boyfriend. She thought everyone would have dates, but she was the only woman there. Her boyfriend chose that night to break up with her, and his friends were there to taunt the girl in her pain. Anya(nka) appeared and heard her wish, "Just once, I wish you could all feel what it's like to have your hearts ripped out!"

And then it came. The spider. Grimslaw demons are large spider-like demons who rip out people's hearts. They leave a black sticky webbing on the trees where they nest. The Grimslaw that killed the boys is still in the fraternity house. Willow stops its attack with a magical force field. She throws the demon out a window. Later, it attacks Buffy, who has come to kill it, then escapes to the trees. Buffy throws her ax into the branches and impales it. It falls to the ground. The spell to summon D'Hoffryn: Willow has an amulet to summon D'Hoffryn, It was given to her to use if she ever decided to take him up on his offer to become a vengeance demon. But Willow has no such desire. She just wants to talk to him about Anya. In the bathroom, she pours red sand on the floor in a circle and says, beatum sit in nomina D'Hoffrynis She picks up the amulet fiat hoc spatium porta ad mundum Arashmaharris Light blazes. D'Hoffryn appears and says, "Behold D'Hoffryn. Lord of Arashmaharr." He recognizes Willow immediately. He is well aware of her recent vengeance against Warren and assumes she wants to be part of his fold. Undoing the vengeance magick: Anya wants to take back what she did in response to the girl's wish. She wants the boys back alive. D'Hoffryn is willing to do this for her. But the scales must balance, he says. In order to restore the lives of the victims, "the fates" require a sacrifice--the life and soul of a vengeance demon. He summons Halfrek, and incinerates her. "The soul of a vengeance demon": Do vengeance demons have souls? D'Hoffryn makes it sound like they do. And given that he recruits his demons from among human women, it is in the realm of possibility that they retain their souls while working for him. Corrupting souls is always so much more fun than simply removing them, if you're evil. Making trolls: Aud performs a Thorton's Hope spell, which shouldn't turn someone in a troll normally, but Aud used eelsbane. Impressive. The time when everyone spontaneously burst into song

Moral Ambiguity in "Selfless"

Anya is struggling to be the demon she once was, even as she fears it. When she gets creative with a girl's wish again and creates a demon to literally "rip out people's hearts", she is devastated with the resulting slaughter. Anya's demon friends are pleased with her work, though. They see it as a sign she is back in the fold. Not Anya. She wants to die. She defends herself against Buffy, but it seems that she is only trying to provoke Buffy into kill her. When that

doesn't happen, Anya tells D'Hoffryn to take back the wish she granted. Anya believes this will mean her own death, and she is willing. But D'Hoffryn won't show that kind of mercy to her when he can go for the hurt. He kills Halfrek instead. Aud is a Swedish housewife in the year 880, living with Olaf when he was pre-troll. She is generous and good, but a little jealous. Olaf defines her world, and she doesn't like his sojourns to the local tavern, where he spends too much time with the "bar matrons". When he crosses the line, Aud grows cold. She turns him into a troll, to Olaf's confusion and consternation. Aud's vengeance spell attracts the attention of the demon D'Hoffryn, the patron (or is that pimp?) of a family of vengeance demons. He tells her that she is "Anyanka", that she should "help" wronged women punish men.... Only those that deserve it, of course. But then, according to his ruthless logic, they all deserve it. The next time we see Anyanka is during the Russian revolution of 1905. This revolution predated the revolution of 1917, but Anya(nka) has always been good at smelling what's in the wind, and of sensing opportunities around her. "The worker will overthrow absolutism and lead the proletariat to a victorious communist revolution resulting in socio-economic paradise on Earth", she quips. This from our favorite capitalist? Well, Anya herself admits that she clings to whatever comes along--Olaf, vengeance demonhood, communism, capitalism, Xander. Maybe now she'll have the chance to find out who she really is. Xander still loves Anya, and doesn't want to believe that she is happy in her revived vengeancedemon career. When Willow tells him that Anya helped bring about the deaths of a dozen men, Xander is still determined to help Anya in any way he can. He finds Anya in the fraternity house brooding over what she has done. He has come to warn her about Buffy's intention to kill her. But Anya is still trying to believe in duty--the duty of vengeance demons, of Slayers. When Anya and Buffy begin to fight, Xander tries to intervene, even though he is outmatched. Later, he tries to stop Anya from sacrificing her life and soul to turn back the wish she granted. When Willow has to use her powers to stop the demon spider, her eyes go black. She snaps at the girl who sits, emotionally shattered, in the closet. But Willow has more control over her magic than she fears. She goes to Anya's and commands the demon Halfrek to leave. She wants to help Anya deal with her own darkness. But not by undoing the deaths Anya caused--a spell like that would require more power than Willow is willing to risk. Instead, Willow chooses a spell that will allow her to plead Anya's case to D'Hoffryn. A very human way to deal with the problem, unlike reversing deaths. Willow is learning that maintaining moral control is all in the reason you use magic. When Buffy goes after Anyanka, she takes a sword. But she should know better; swords don't kill vengeance demons. Buffy puts the sword through Anyanka's heart, just as she did Angel. When Anya recovers, Buffy only tries to spear her again. It is possible Xander's argument got through and she decided to give Anya(nka) something to think about, rather than trying to really kill her. Spike spends time in the basement with an illusory version of Buffy who listens to him and supports his struggle for sanity. This Buffy sees what he desperately wants the real Buffy to

believe--that he is different, that he is not the same man who tried to rape her. Then the real Buffy appears, less sensitive, but still concerned for his well-being. She tells him to get out of the Sunnydale High basement, where evil lurks. "Don't have anywhere else to go," he replies.

Ethical Quandaries in "Selfless"

Should Anya be slain? When Anya(nka) appears to be back with a vengeance, it is Xander who argues the ethics of the care-taker while Buffy takes the side of the warrior. Xander has made the argument more than once (Angel, Revelations) that Angel needed to be killed to save the lives of his potential victims. But this time, it is Xander's demon beloved whose life is at stake and whose future actions are up for debate. Xander argues that Anya is their friend, and that when their friends "go crazy and start killing people", they help them; they don't kill them. Buffy replies that the situation is different than it was with Willow. Anya is a demon now; she is not the same person as the human being they knew. Willow, on the other hand, remained human when she went on her spree. The same Willow was still under there, if only they could get to her. Xander takes the care-taker position when he points out that what's different in this case is that Buffy doesn't care for Anya the same way she does for Willow. He believes it is easier for Buffy to detach herself emotionally and think "like a Slayer" because of this, when what Buffy should be doing is paying attention to friendship and emotional ties, even if she doesn't feel them as strongly in this case as Xander does. Buffy responds that she has made the warrior's choice before. When push came to shove, she harmed the person she loved the most. She was willing to send her demon boyfriend to hell when he crossed the line. That time, as this time, she set aside her feelings to do what was required to save a much larger group of people she didn't even know. She tells Xander that Anya made the choice to be a demon. Anya's feelings about her choice are irrelevant in the decision about how to deal with her. In actuality, of course, Buffy hoped that Angel could be reformed rather than killed, just as Xander now hopes for Anya. And the likelihood that Anya might be reformed is relevant in the Utilitarian decision about whether or not to kill her "in order to prevent the deaths she will cause in the future". If Anya is capable of being reformed, those deaths will never occur. But Buffy seems determined to kill Anyanka. "There has to be another way," Xander pleads. "Then please find it", Buffy replies. After Xander leaves, Buffy goes to her weapons chest, pauses only for a second, then picks up a sword. Was Angel "killed" when Buffy sent him to hell?

Philosophies Represented in "Selfless"

The ethics of the care-taker vs. the ethics of the warrior "It is always different. It's always complicated. And at some point, someone has to draw the line. And that is always going to be me. You get down on me for cutting myself off. But in the end, the Slayer is always cut off. There's no mystical guidebook, no all-knowing council. Human rules don't apply. There's only me. I am the law." --Buffy "And the young man. He sees with the eyeballs of love," --D'Hoffryn, on Xander Buffy is the kind of slayer who usually chooses the morality of emotional connection in her work. She defends the innocent and chooses the individual she is emotionally connected to, even over the good of the majority (Choices, The Gift). But this time, Buffy appears to chose the morality of the warrior, the morality that eschews emotional connection and friendship, and uses the death of the few or one to save the lives of the many (the morality, incidentally, of the Watcher's Council). Buffy doesn't like having to make this choice, however. It goes against her grain. She still lives in the moment she sent Angel to hell, even though that eventually came out O.K. In the end, Buffy doesn't kill Anya to save all of Anya's potential future victims. Would she have, if D'Hoffryn hadn't intervened? The jury is out on that one.

Him
The Metaphysics of "Him"
R.J.'s lettermans jacket has an odd effect on women. It makes them infatuated with the man who wears it, eager to do whatever they can to please him, whether it is doing R.J.'s homework for him, or shoving a rival football player down a flight of stairs to move R.J. back up to quarterback. Men do not seem to be affected by the jacket, as we see with R.J.'s continuing problems with his coach and Principal Wood. The most likely explanation for the jacket's effect is that someone in the past put a spell on it, although it is not clear who. Now the jacket is a talisman--an object imbued with mystical properties. Destroying the jacket is therefore the key to breaking the spell. An individual girl's response to the jacket depends on her personality. Generally speaking, though, it makes the girls lose their strongest inhibitions; it makes them do things that it might occur to them to do in an uninfluenced state of mind, but that they would never ordinarily do-not unlike what happens when vamped humans lose their soul. Dawn, queen of teenaged drama, becomes the stereotype of an infatuated teenaged girl. She throws herself at R.J., gets in fights over him, and attempts to kill herself to "prove her love". Likewise, Willow tries to use magic to solve her problem--that nagging little gender issue that stands between her and romance with R.J. Anya steals from a number of Sunnydale businesses. And Buffy-the-high-school-counselor makes a sexual pass at underaged student R.J., who, while not a vampire, is still "forbidden fruit" she's not supposed to take a carnal interest in. When that is thwarted, she tries to use her Slayer skills to rid R.J. of his "principal" problem.

The women can't be held accountable for their actions while under the influence of the spell, but it does shed an interesting light on the kind of people that they are, spell or no spell. The gender-reassignment spell Willow sits down next to a small rug. The rug has four candles surrounding a bowl with crystals in it. She incants: Oh Hecate, I call on you, I humbly ask your will be done. Mystical energy swirls out of the bowl of crystals. Hear my request: a simple change Create a daughter from a s-This is as far as she gets. Xander interrupts the spell.

Evil and Good in "Him"

D'Hoffryn is the department head of vengeance, so when his best employee decides to give up her demony ways, he wants pay-back. He sends a demon after the now human Anya. Buffy slays the demon, but she knows that isn't the only danger Anya's in. Anya wants to be on her own to figure out who she is separately from the Scooby Gang, but it's dangerous around the hellmouth lately--well, more dangerous than usual--and Buffy wants her friends where she can keep an eye on them. When Xander sees the effect R.J. is having on the Summers women, he concludes they are under a spell. He and Spike head to the Brooks' house where they meet Lance, R.J.'s older brother. Lance, a football god in high school, is a loser now, gaining weight and working at the Pizza Barn. Spike points out a picture of Lance wearing the jacket in high school. The new roomies also hear about R.J. and Lance's father, who had the jacket when he was in high school as well, and won the heart of a beauty queen. Xander realizes the jacket is the common denominator in the Brooks men's success. He returns to Buffy's house just in time to stop Willow from turning R.J. into a woman. Then Spike stops Buffy from killing Principal Wood. Willow performs a locator spell to find Dawn, who is lying on a set of railroad tracks, waiting for the train. Buffy pulls her to safety in the nick of time. Xander and Spike rip the jacket off R.J. and set it aflame.

Moral Ambiguity in "Him"

Spike is moving in with Xander, and Xander isn't happy about it. Buffy argues that being down in the basement of the school is contributing to Spike's craziness, and they can't just leave him there. Spike has a soul now, and she cares about what happens to him. Having a soul is a difference that has always made a difference to Buffy. She goes out nightly and kills vampires and other dangerous creatures without souls. And she protects any creature who is capable of

change and conscience, even if they aren't human (e.g., Clem) or are humans who have gone over the edge with evil (although she usually has a lot of attitude for the latter). Buffy: When Dawn turns into the pushy queen of slut-town, Buffy has to step in and play mom. But trying to get Dawn to see the impulsive wildness of her ways isn't working--Dawn is under the influence of a spell that is making the teenager, well, more teenaged than usual. Later, Buffy falls under the spell as well, but is frightened right out of it (temporarily, anyway) when Dawn tries to kill herself "for R.J." Not a spell so strong that sisterly love can't break it. R.J., his brother and father don't appear to know the power they carry around on their backs. As far as Lance Brooks is concerned, his fleeting popularity in high school is gone, and brother R.J. simply "blossomed" naturally from a poetry-writing nerd into a campus jock. So you can't claim that the Brooks men are knowingly using the jacket to their duplicitous personal advantage. They see their good luck with women as charm and charisma, even if it's not. That doesn't mean they aren't using their influence deliberately to get whatever they want. So while R.J. may not understand the real reason why he can get girls to do his homework or get the principal off his back, he's still guilty of using that advantage purposefully. Ah, the temptations of lust, greed, and power.

Conversations with Dead People

The Metaphysics of and Moral Ambiguity in "Conversations with Dead People"
Willow | Dawn | Spike | Andrew | Jonathan | Buffy

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 7 BtVS/season 2 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

On November 12, 2002, in Sunnydale, California, the dead spoke. So what else is new, right? Well, this time, it wasn't the dead at all. The visitation: Willow is studying in the college library when she is approached by an apparition of Cassie Newton. "Cassie" claims to speak for the spirit of Tara. She knows many details of Willow and Tara's private life and tells Willow how Tara misses her and sympathizes with the pain she went through after Tara's death. Willow is moved, drawn in by Cassie's words. Then "Tara" warns her that if she continues to use magic, Willow will lose control and kill everybody; she must stop. This confuses Willow. Her experience at the coven taught her that she could not ignore her power, only make peace with it. She fears that she doesn't have the strength to give up magic without rebounding again, horribly. So "Tara" takes another tack. She tells Willow that there is one thing she can do to prevent losing control again--she must kill herself. Willow suddenly realizes this advice is not coming from Tara. She confronts the apparition in front of her and concludes it is a manifestation of the evil she and her friends have known is coming: Willow: "From beneath you, it devours." Cassie: "Oh, not it. Me." "Cassie" opens her mouth, turns her body inside out, and disappears.

Poltergeists? Dawn is home alone when she hears thumping at the door. The stereo and television start to play, and she can't shut them off. Then she hears her mother's voice through a boom-box. The lights go on and off. Blood spatters on the wall. The furniture stacks itself. Dawn sees visions of a dark entity pinning her mother to the couch where Joyce died. It is as if a poltergeist is haunting the house. Dawn hears the knocking again. She asks the spirit to knock once for yes, twice for no. The spirit communicates that it is her mother and that she is not alone. Dawn concludes her mother wants to speak to her, but is being prevented from doing so by an evil spirit. The house shakes. Dawn opens the door to run away, then decides to stay. She performs a spell to bind the spirit. When the spell is complete, a glowing apparition of Joyce appears near the couch. She tells Dawn that things are coming, and that when they get bad, Buffy will be against her. Joyce fades, leaving Dawn in tears. Dawn believes that the spirit of Joyce actually appeared to her. And she would, because she needs her mother, and because she worked so hard to talk to her. But the apparition's words sound very wrong for Joyce Summers. They are meant to make Dawn distrust Buffy. ...Although, that's not an especially difficult thing to achieve. The spell to cast out a ghost: Dawn sits on the living room floor with white candles in front of her. She sprinkles ingredients from a bowl onto the ground. A force slams her back against the wall. She continues the spell: I cast you from this place. It is your poison and your bane. A gash appears on her face. It is the skin that is cut from your flesh! A strong wind blows out all the candles. The living room window shatters. Dawn stands up. I cast you out with every prayer from every god that walked the Earth and crawled beneath. She is thrown again. Her mouth is bleeding. I cast you out with the strength of those who love me. She stands. I cast you out with the strength I have inside me! I cast you out into the void! The wind stops. More blood spatters on the walls, then fades. Dawn appears to perform this spell successfully. However, since it is not clear that an actual poltergeist has invaded the house, her "success" may have been staged by the real evil, who then appears to her in the form of Joyce.

Spike, soul and chip: In the Bronze, a woman approaches Spike. He invites her to sit down. Later, he walks her to her apartment, and she asks him to come upstairs, but he declines. Instead, he digs his fangs into her neck right there on the porch, drinks her blood, and lets her drop. Meanwhile, across town in the graveyard, the new vampire Holden tells Buffy that Spike is his sire. Spike still has the chip in his head, as far as we know. But he feels no apparent pain as he bites the woman. How is this possible? Andrew and Jonathan are back in Sunnydale. They have been having nightmares about an evil that will devour the city from below. They've returned to the high school to get evidence of the evil, bring it to Buffy, and help save Sunnydale. At least, Jonathan has. When Andrew and Jonathan separate, an apparition of Warren appears to Andrew. Andrew believes it is Warren-dead Warren, who "planned" his death as part of a new nefarious scheme. "Warren" promises Andrew nothing short of godhood in return for his participation. Andrew and Jonathan go down to an area of the basement below the principal's office--the location of the Hellmouth. The apparition of Warren is with them, but Jonathan can't see it. Jonathan reminisces about high school. It doesn't seem as bad to him now as it felt then. And though Andrew tells him that no one from high school thinks about him they way he is thinking of them, Jonathan replies that he cares about them anyway, and that's why he's trying to help now. The two of them dig up the earth and uncover a large round metal disk with the shape of a pentagram molded onto it. On the pentagram is a goat's head with its tongue sticking out. Andrew stabs Jonathan. He falls on the disk. His blood seeps across it. The disk glows. Although Xander is supposed to be the everyman in the show, the representative of the audience we all can identify with, perhaps Jonathan filled that role even more closely than we realise -- the perpetual outsider, hoping for a seat at the table, a chance to hang out with the Scoobies, much as we do every Tuesday night. ...It was Jonathan's curse that every time he reached out to to try to find a connection [with] another human being, it blew up in his face. Inca girl. Bossy Cordy. Superstar. The Geek Trio. The Geek Duo. The return to the high school itself. So perhaps it was appropriate that Jonathan died as he lived, alone and unremarked, but no the less the brave or decent than any Scoobie. ...though [he was] as flawed as any human, [he] always did the right thing in the end (Steve, 11/12/02 21:29). Buffy Faith: You're still not seeing the big picture, B. Something made us different. We're warriors. We're built to kill. Buffy: To kill demons! But it does not mean that we get to pass judgment on people like we're better than everybody else! Faith: We are better! While out on patrol, Buffy comes upon an acquaintance of hers from high school, Holden Webster. Holden went on to become a psychology major and did a one-year internship at the Sunnydale Mental Hospital. Now he's a vampire. It's Buffy's job to slay him. But Holden latches onto her statement that she feels "not so much connected". He begins to psychoanalyze her. And despite Buffy's annoyance with it, she confesses all to her vampire shrink.

She tells him how her relationships with men don't last. Holden suggests that it's not because Buffy is afraid to commit; heck, she's only 21. There's no rush. So why does Buffy feel her relationships with men are doomed? Some of this goes back to her parents, of course. Buffy blames her father for their divorce. But Holden doesn't believe that explains it all. He submits that the real culprit may be Buffy's attitude towards the men she's been with--she believes that they are not worthy of her. And why not? She's the Slayer. Chosen by some powerful force to slay vampires, which, incidentally, she also tends to date. Why wouldn't she feel superior? Buffy is aghast at this. She knows she is a flawed individual. She knows she's treated people badly--her friends, Spike. But that's sort of the point. She's treated them badly because she felt superior to them. And because she hurt them in the process, she feels bad about herself. She feels she is the one who needs to be hurt, who isn't worthy of love. She has an inferiority complex about her superiority complex. As this realization sinks in, the session comes to an end. Buffy raises her stake and kills her therapist. "OK. But are you killing me because I'm evil or because you opened up?" --Holden The existence of God: Does God exist in the Buffyverse? The jury's still out on that question. The Powers that Be that guide Angel's mission to help the helpless have never claimed to be gods, or, more to the point, God. Neither has anything else. So although supernatural beings of benevolence abound--Slayers, warriors, oracles, PTB's, spirit guides, and good demons-evidence for a single, all-encompassing force of Good is still slim. Buffy certainly isn't sure what to conclude. Her belief in the good fight comes from within.

Evil in "Conversations with Dead People"

From beneath you, it devours: The Evil that is haunting Sunnydale can take many forms, and It does--Cassie Newton, a frightening poltergeist, Warren, and perhaps Joyce Summers as well. But It is none of these beings. Whatever It is, It holds deep resentments, and wants to lash out at the Scoobies and destroy everything they hold dear. And though It seems to be giving them fair warning, It is really only deceiving them to soften them up for the kill. Vampires and the clarity of evil: The birth of a vampire is a painful and disorienting experience for the vampire. But it does not take long for the confusion to go away, and to be replaced by a clarity about their nature, an assuredness that seems to come from a connection to something greater than themselves. Some vampires rise from the grave with this clarity, others require the taste of human blood before they achieve it. And each vampire understand this clarity in ways that are unique to the person that they were. But they achieve it. Jesse: "Sorry? I feel good, Xander! I feel strong! I'm connected, man, to everything! I can hear the worms in the earth!" Andrew Borba: "He is risen in me! He fills my head with song! You're the chaff, unblessed. I'll suck the blood from your hearts, he says I may!"

Alonna, to her brother: "Don't be sad. I'm not... on this side there is no guilt, no grief ...I got the greatest guilt cure ever. I can free you!" Spike: "Becoming a vampire is a profound and powerful experience. I could feel this new strength coursing through me. Getting killed made me feel alive for the very first time. I was through living by society's rules. Decided to make a few of my own." Darla: "It all makes sense now, doesn't it?" Angelus: "Perfect sense." What is this thing they are connected to? This is unclear. But the effect it has on the vampire is clarity itself. The vampire ...is not frightened of its condition. It has become something to fear, rather than something that fears. Without a human soul, it is now "connected to a powerful all-consuming evil that's gonna suck the world into a fiery oblivion." Most humans go through life completely unconnected and alone, so to suddenly be embraced by this powerful entity which is wired mystically to so many others, it must be incredibly seductive and alluring, not to mention secure and welcoming, especially for a psyche that just endured the trauma of certain death and yet still retains some resemblance of self-consciousness. ...After a bit of disorientation, a newly sired vampire soon grasps its place in the world on an intrinsic level (ZachsMind, 11/15/02 14:21).

Sleeper
The Metaphysics of "Sleeper"
Brainwashing: Spike heads out for a night on the town and feeds on a woman without any apparent pain. Before Spike ran into his victim, he passed a man playing the folk song "Early one morning" on a harmonica. Spike started humming along. Then he chatted up the woman, lead her into an alley, fed on her and sired her--a series of complex actions he had no memory of later. Spike's actions are entirely consistent with being under the influence of brainwashing. The sound of "Early One Morning" puts him in an altered state of consciousness, a state in which he is capable of acting and reacting in ways consistent with his personality and nature, but in which all the layers of self-reflection that would normally be there are repressed. The Shape-shifting Evil (SSE) is clearly behind this new pointy-biteyness. And yet, if his ouchy response to hitting Xander was genuine, the chip is still functioning like it always has. How is the SSE overcoming the influence of the chip?

Evil and Moral Ambiguity in "Sleeper"

The robed assassins: Robson, a Watcher in England, comes back to his office to find Nora, a teen-aged girl he knows, murdered on the floor. Figures in black hooded robes leap up behind

him and stab him. Later, Giles appears at the door and sees the dead girl and the wounded man. The man says, "Gather them. It's started." Giles understands. Before he can do anything to help, however, the robed assassins appear again and swing an ax at Giles. The Shape-shifting evil (SSE) can take the form of all manner of people, and does so in order to torment Spike. In the guise of Buffy, It goads Spike on as he feeds on a woman. In the guise of Spike himself, It reminds Spike of how the Slayer fits into Its larger plan. Which is what, exactly? The SSE has Spike turning people into vampires. Is there a purpose for these vampires, or is the purpose just to corrupt Spike, to bring him back into the fold of evil? And what about Buffy? The SSE's plans for Buffy are a ways off yet--there is an "order" in which these plans are to play out. Nevertheless, It is willing to let Spike and his vampire offspring "play" with Buffy a little to fuel Spike's vampire lusts. The SSE clearly tries to deceive people by taking on its various forms. Does it try to deceive them by lying as well? Dawn ties herself in knots trying to determine if she really saw her mother or not. This is important to her because of what the image of her mother said to her about Buffy. Dawn believes that if the ghostly image was her mother, then it was telling the truth, because her mother would never lie to her. Conversely, Dawn also believes that if the ghostly figure was the SSE, It must have been lying to her because, well, "evil things lie". Willow points out that they cannot assume that everything the SSE says is a lie--it really depends on whether It stands to win more from telling the truth or from lying. Spike: When Buffy finds the woman she saw Spike talking to dead of a vampire bite, she confronts Spike. But Spike claims only to have talked to the girl. Later, he pulls a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. They belong to the woman he met in the Bronze two nights before. He flashes back to meeting her, and then to burying her dead body. He begins to suspect that some of what Buffy says is true. In the Bronze, Spike is approached by a vampire who claims that he sired her. Spike dusts the vampire. He calls Buffy and confesses to "doing bad things", then takes her down into the basement of the house where he buried the bodies. The Shape-shifting Evil (SSE) uses the brainwashing musical trigger to encourage Spike to drink from Buffy and weaken her. When Spike tastes Buffy's blood, however, he snaps out of his trance, and remembers all his kills. He is shocked about the deaths that he's caused. The SSE then tells Spike that Buffy will kill him for what he's done. When Buffy sees Spike interacting with something she can't see, she no longer assumes he is crazy. She realizes Spike is her best shot to get more information about the Evil that's been threatening her and her friends.

Ethical Quandaries in "Sleeper"

Is Spike responsible for the death of his victims? I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul --William Ernest Henley Invictus

Through experiences with his chip and with the Scooby Gang, and now, due to the presence of a soul, Spike has learned alternative ways to respond to human beings beyond biting, violence, and general snarkiness. And yet there is no doubt that Spike bit ten people and turned them into vampires. So the issue here isn't whether Spike did the killing, but why he did it. Was it a deliberate act that he can be held responsible for? Or was he merely a puppet carrying out the commands of the Shape-shifting Evil? Chiming in on the "mere puppet" side is the fact that Spike was manipulated into doing these killings by the Shape-shifting Evil (SSE) via brainwashing. He wasn't even aware of doing them. However, the SSE was not a total puppet-master guiding Spike's actions. The SSE simply created a situation in which the vampire instincts that are integral to Spike's nature were able to manifest themselves. The SSE didn't need to guide Spike's actions like a remote-control toy. Spike's had a century of practice killing human beings and siring them; he knows how. On the other hand, Spike makes it clear, and Buffy is inclined to agree, that he would not have made the choice to kill these people if he'd been given one. It is no longer simply a matter of overcoming the chip; Spike has a soul now, and, he says, he can't live with the crimes he committed in the past, much less commit any new ones. No matter how practiced the actions are, they went against what he would have chosen to do if he were in his right mind. He therefore isn't responsible for doing them. It's ironic. Ideally, the presence of a soul should empower Spike; it should give him the freedom to chose between good and evil, to become his own man, the "master of his fate." However, since Spike got his soul back, he has become less his own man than ever. Not due to the presence of a soul, but simply due to the bad luck of catching the attention of the manipulative SSE, who sees the potential of the demon still inside of him. Does Spike's lack of culpability mean the Scoobies have no right to lock him up and prevent him from going out and killing others? Of course not. It simply means that locking him up cannot be construed as "punishing" Spike for his "actions". Locking him up is simply prudent; they need to prevent the SSE from manipulating Spike's instincts again.

Never Leave Me
The Metaphysics of "Never Leave Me"
The First Evil is an incorporeal entity--it can't take physical form. It must therefore work through intermediaries (like the Harbingers, or Andrew). It also does its dirty work through psychological manipulation, as when it tormented Angel, trying to get him to kill Buffy, or when it brainwashed Spike into killing people.

The Hellmouth is not a portal, it is a region where the wall between our world and the demon dimensions is thinner than usual. An unusual amount of mystical energy is concentrated in this area, which accounts for the inordinate number of odd happenings at Sunnydale High. The Hellmouth is also an ideal location for opening up a gateway to the demon dimensions, which is why so many Bads have tried to do so over the years. It is not clear whether these various openings all lead to the same demon dimension or to different demon dimensions. The Seal of Danthazar a large metal disk that serves as a seal to a portal created at the Hellmouth. It connects the high school to one of the demon dimensions. Indications are that the Seal has been there a very long time, although it is not clear who put it there. Were they good guys, trying to keep something from entering our world? Or were they bad guys, trying to control the power of the Hellmouth for their own purposes? The necessity of death and blood to activate the Seal and a blood ritual to open the Seal seems to indicate the latter. Spike is tied to a wooden wheel, his limbs pulled in four directions. A Harbinger cuts mystical symbols into Spike's chest, then hoists him up in the air. The blood from Spike's wounds drips onto the Seal and is absorbed into the metal. The pointed tips of the pentagram on the Seal rise up one by one, forming a pyramid. The Seal sinks into the ground. Out of the hole it creates climbs a demon with vampirelike features. Brainwashing is a non-magical form of mind control in which the victim is continuously conditioned over a period of time into certain beliefs or actions through the use of drugs, torture, psychological abuse, sleep deprivation, or the withholding of food or water. When Buffy found Spike in the basement in Lessons, he was behaving very much like a recent victim of torture. Once Buffy discovered that Spike had his soul back, she attributed his insane behavior to that, and likely, that was a contributing factor. Spike was probably not in the most coherent state of mind when he returned to Sunnydale. Regaining one's soul is a disorienting experience. The First Evil played on this weakness, turning Spike into something not unlike what is known in military intelligence idiom as a "sleeper agent": someone It can control for brief periods of time who will return to normal when the deed is done. When Buffy leaves the room where Spike is tied up, she

hears singing through the door. The First Evil is playing Its tune again. Buffy goes back into the room. When her back is turned, Spike vamps out and snaps his restraints. He crashes through the wall and bites Andrew. Buffy is forced to knock him out and chain him up in the basement. Is Principal Wood a "sleeper", too? When Principal Wood heads out of his office late after work, he doesn't go directly to his car. Instead, he stops, gets a blank look on his face, and heads down into the basement, directly into the room where Jonathan lies dead on the Seal of Danthazar. He takes Jonathan's body out to an empty lot and buries it. Is our nice Principal Wood cleaning up after the First Evil voluntarily? Or has sitting above the Hellmouth done brainwashy things to his mind, too?

Evil in "Never Leave Me"

The First Evil has declared war on the Slayer and her friends and on the Watcher's Council. The Harbingers wipe out Council records, kills Watchers, and destroys Watcher Headquarters. The Watcher's Council blew up. They all died (Drew Goddard [Episode writer], Dec 5 5:26 2002). Before his death, Watcher leader Quentin Travers states that the Watchers will be heading for the Hellmouth (Sunnydale), which is an important front in the First Evil's battle against the forces of Good. It is likely that the few Watcher operatives that remain will go there. Back in Sunnydale, the Harbingers break into Buffy's house. The gang fights them off and manages to kill one of them, but the First Evil's hench-demons achieve their aim--they kidnap Spike. Buffy looks at the dead demon that remains and recognizes it for what it is. She now knows they are up against the First Evil.

Ethical Quandaries and Moral Ambiguity in "Never Leave Me"

Should Spike be staked now? When Spike comes to after almost killing Andrew, he begs Buffy to slay him. Anya has already voiced a similar argument; if Spike is capable of, and actually is killing people, shouldn't he be slain like any vampire? (And lest you think Anya is being a tad bit hypocritical here, recall that she didn't object too loudly when Buffy came after her, either). Buffy, however, has already concluded that Spike is being manipulated by some external force, and now she suspects who it is--The First Evil. She points out he is not responsible for the deaths he caused while under the influence of the First's mind control. But Spike is not only worried about what he might be manipulated into doing against his will, he is worried about the demon still inside him doing as it pleases. He is worried about behaving the way he did before the chip was implanted, before his soul was returned. He tells Buffy about some of the torment he put his victims through back in the day.

Buffy insists that even before he got his soul back, Spike was capable of fighting his demonic urges. He fought at her side for a year or more. And then, she points out, he went seeking his soul--he chose to fight the monster inside of him. She believes he can overcome whatever temptations haunt him now. Buffy: the abuser and the abused? Spike tells Buffy that she falls for vampires who will end up hurting her (like himself or Angel) because she needs the fuel of that hatred to be the Slayer-to do her job and kill vampires. Buffy denies this. Is there any truth to Spike's claim? Buffy certainly had trouble killing both Spike and Angelus. Was it lingering feeling for them, or was it the continued need for the hatred they inspired in her? Certainly, Buffy showed something resembling hatred in her abuse of Spike during their short-lived affair. But Spike believes that came from Buffy's own self-loathing. She took the hatred she felt for herself out on Spike because it was easier to hate an unsouled demon than herself. Whatever the truth is, being a Slayer is a morally complicated position to be in. Killing sentient beings on a nightly basis requires finding some justification, some motivation, lest you think of yourself as a monster. And if a Slayer starts to see demons as people, justification and motivation become that much more difficult to find. The Moral Ambiguity of Xander and Anya

Bring on the Night

The Metaphysics of "Bring on the Night"
The Turok-han, also known as the "Ubervamp", is an animalistic "killing machine" that, according to Giles, is "to the vampire what the Neanderthal is to humans". Neanderthals are widely believed to be an evolutionary "cousin" of human beings. They used tools and had some linguistic capacity (how much is a matter of debate). Neanderthals and homo sapiens (humans) descended from a common ancestor (our

common evolutionary "grandparent"). However, while human beings continued to reproduce and evolve, the Neanderthal line died out thousands of years ago. The creatures we know as "vampires" are human-demon hybrids. The original "vampire" was created when a demon bit a human thousands of years ago, mixing their blood. If the Neanderthal-human analogy holds true, then this demon who created the original vampire was not a Turok-han, but a closely related demon species to the Turok-han. The Turok-han is similar to the vampire in that it must avoid sunlight and appears to drink blood. Unlike vampires, however, the Turok-han does not die by a stake to the heart. The First Evil: The last time we saw Giles, his neck was at the business end of a Harbinger's ax. Now, suddenly, he is at Buffy's door in one piece bearing proto-slayers. Or is he? "Giles" tells Buffy what he knows about the First: It rarely shows Its "true face". Instead, It appears in the guise of people who have died (this is why It can appear as Buffy. She isn't dead, but she has died). In those forms, this incorporeal creature manipulates Its victims and uses intermediaries to bring about Its goals. For example, the First Evil appears to Spike in the form of the undead Drusilla and uses the Turok-han to torment him in the hope of crushing Spike's spirit and destroying his willingness to help Buffy. Could The First be manipulating the gang as well? Presuming "Giles" is telling the truth about the First (and there is past evidence to support the picture he paints), it is possible that the real Giles died at the hands of the Harbingers, and that the First is now taking his form to manipulate Buffy towards some as-yet unknown purpose. Psychic dreams: Buffy has two dreams of her mother. In the first dream, Joyce tells Buffy that she can't defeat the First Evil if she doesn't get some rest. Then she tells Buffy she needs to wake up. In the second dream, Joyce makes a complex argument about the nature of evil. Is this The First Evil in the guise of the departed Joyce trying to discourage Buffy, or is this Buffy's own psychic-dream wisdom telling her something vital about how to defeat the First? In the end, Buffy is not discouraged. She tells the others that they are more powerful than evil, and that they will continue to confront the First Evil until it "shows Its true face". Then she will destroy it. Proto-slayers: Around the world at any given time, there are dozens of girls who have the potential to become the next Slayer. The death of the active Slayer triggers the activation of Slayer powers in one of these Potentials, making her the new active Slayer. Now the Potentials are being killed off by the Harbingers. It is part of the First Evil's plan to destroy the forces of Good. If all the living proto-slayers are killed, followed finally by the death of the active Slayer, it will not matter if new potential Slayers are subsequently born. There will be no one to trigger these girl's powers. Buffy realizes that she has witnessed the death of several of the proto-slayers in her dreams. Now the few remaining girls are being gathered in Sunnydale where Buffy can protect them.

The locator spell: Willow lays a map on the dining room table. Anya sets candles on it. Willow intends to locate the First Evil. She prepares a bowl of special sand and sprinkles some on the map. The map explodes in a swirl of mystical energy. Anya is thrown against the wall. The energy enters Willow's body through her nostrils. A large apparition looms out of Willow's head, then goes back inside her. Willow collapses. Buffy is zapped by a bolt of electricity when she tries to help. The entity brought forth by the spell is the First Evil. The First appeared as a looming apparition once before--to Buffy in the Harbinger's cave in Amends (see also End of Days). However, the First does not normally have the ability to zap Buffy directly. Willow's spell might have given It a limited capacity to affect physical objects. Xander ends the spell by smashing the bowl of glowing sand against a wall. Vampires and drowning: If vampires don't breath, why is The First Evil trying to torment Spike by having his head held under water? Apparently, the original intention for this scene that Spike was having his head dunked in holy water. So just imagine the smoke and blisters. Ouch.

Evil and Good in "Bring on the Night"

The First Evil "Fact is, the whole "good vs. evil, balancing the scales" thing? I'm over it. I'm done with the mortal coil. But, believe me, I'm going for a big finish." --The First Evil The First Evil is killing off proto-slayers. It has destroyed the Watcher's Council. And now It is coming after Buffy and her allies, one person at a time. It is already working to win Spike to Its side by wearing down his faith in himself. And It has brought out the fear and insecurities of two formidable foes--the powerful witch Willow and the resolute proto-slayer Annabelle. In the past, the raison d'tre of the First was to spread evil through manipulation and torment--to beat the forces of Good in a game of one-upmanship. Now it wants to obliterate them once and for all.

Moral Ambiguity in "Bring on the Night"

Willow wants to help Buffy fight the First, but she is afraid to use her witch powers to do so. Her "dark side" has already re-emerged once since her rampage last Spring, and she doesn't want to risk it getting out again to be manipulated by the First Evil. Annabelle: When the fight against the First Evil begins to look hopeless, proto-slayer Annabelle flees Buffy's house. The girl who instructed her fellow Potentials to trust in the Slayer doesn't trust Buffy in the end and falls into the clutches of the Turok-han. Buffy pursues, only to find Annabelle dead. She fights the Turok-han. It defeats her, but doesn't kill her. The First wants Buffy alive, for the time being. Principal Wood finds Buffy and Dawn in the basement of Sunnydale High carrying shovels. He has a shovel as well. But while Buffy and the gang were burying the Seal of Danthazar, Buffy finds Principal Wood's explanation for why he has a shovel a little puzzling. Later, he tells Buffy (rather mysteriously) about his own experience with evil: "Once you see true evil, it can have a serious after-burn. And then you can't unsee what you saw." The motives behind Principal

Wood's actions remain as mysterious as always, but we can add another theory to our list: posttraumatic stress disorder.

Philosophies Represented in "Bring on the Night"

The nature of evil "Evil isn't coming. It's already here. It's always been here." Buffy is about to take on an entity that claims to be the origin of Evil, the thing that invented Evil. If this is true, one might think that if Buffy could find a way to defeat this creature, Evil might be vanquished from the universe once and for all. But it isn't quite that simple, as the image of her mother points out to her in a dream. Dream-Joyce argues that evil is inherent in all of us. It is part of nature. The First may very well be the starting point of all the evil in the world, and It may well encourage evil whenever possible, but it doesn't follow from this that destroying the First will destroy all evil. Evil has taken on a life of its own independent of its maker, and could very well survive the defeat of the First Evil. Why? Because evil is self-perpetuating. It brings benefits to the individuals who chose to commit evil actions. But what is an evil action, anyway? Elsewhere, I define evil as "the willingness to destroy good or valuable things". This definition is entirely dependent on what counts as "good" or "valuable". In other words, it doesn't tell us much until we define these other terms. And the definition of these terms will change depending on who is doing the defining. What harms one being benefits another. For example, we call predatory vampires "evil" and kill them, but the human blood they feed on gives them an advantage--it helps them live. For vampires, draining a human being of blood is a good thing. Therefore, they will continue to do it. Not for the sake of the First Evil, but for themselves. What about a less ambiguous case--harmful actions that seem to serve no beneficial purpose for the evil-doer, for example, vampires who maim or kill without feeding? Even when there is no apparent purpose, this behavior is not the random, unthinking act of a robot. These acts have a purpose. Some vampires maim and kill humans purely for the pleasure of doing so. And they will continue to do so as long as it gives them pleasure. But there are also cases where harm is brought about by purely mechanical, random causes, such as natural disasters. Many people call earthquakes, tornadoes and other acts of nature "evil" because of the wide-spread suffering and loss of life they bring. The destruction of the First Evil isn't going to change the laws of nature that bring about these disasters. If these events are indeed "evil", then this form of evil will survive the death of the First. Why bother trying to kill the First Evil, then? If it won't defeat the things that humans consider "evil" once and for all, what's the point? Buffy is fighting the First in order to restore the balance between good and evil. What the First intends to do is wipe out the champions of Good--those who fight evil on behalf of humans. Buffy must make sure that these Champions remain to counter the evil that confronts humankind.

Showtime
The Metaphysics of "Showtime"
Beljoxa's Eye is a demonic oracle that exists in a dark, windy dimension. It cannot see the future, but it can impart wisdom about the past and present. Only demons can pass through the gateway to Beljoxa's dimension. Because Anya is an ex-demon once again, she cannot gain entrance by herself. She uses her contacts in the demon world to help her and Giles get in. Her old acquaintance Torg produces a small sharp talisman from under the skin of his hand and raises it towards the back of the alley where they are standing. He incants: Ek'vola mok't Beljoxa do'kar A portal opens in a bloom of mystical energy. Giles and Anya pass through it. There, they encounter a large, grotesque demonic eye that is covered in other, smaller eyes. Beljoxa's Eye floats in small spheroid cage suspended on chains. Torg has no heart, six spleens, two stomachs and a weird growth on his face. Like many demons, he lives something resembling an ordinary human life in the city on the Hellmouth. Three generations ago, he and Anya spent one night together, and now Anya offers him another roll in the hay if he will open the gateway to Beljoxa's Eye for them. Torg balks at the idea of sleeping with a human, so Giles threatens to sic the Slayer on Torg's clients and his place of business if Torg does not comply. The First Evil: Beljoxa's Eye tells Giles and Anya that the First Evil has been around since before the universe was born and cannot be killed. But it has never attacked the Slayer line until now. The "mystical forces" surrounding the Chosen line have been irrevocably weakened by Buffy's death. Was this Buffy's first death, or her second? Her first death was the death that created a second Slayer. However, if her first death had weakened the line, the First Evil would have attacked it before now. Buffy had an encounter with the First before her second death and sent the First scampering away. It seems that Buffy's second death is the problem. Anya blames the Scoobies and herself for what happened, because they brought Buffy back.

Potential slayers continue to arrive in Sunnydale seeking safety from the Harbingers. Rona is greeted by Buffy at the bus station, but when Eve arrives, she is not as lucky. Her Watcher was supposed to inform Buffy about her arrival, but the Watcher was killed. A member of the Westbury coven, who have been helping the gang locate Potentials, tells Willow that the new proto-slayer is waiting for them in a Sunnydale motel. Buffy and Xander go to get her and discover a dead girl with a familiar face. The person they think is Eve isn't the real Eve. The protective barrier: When the Turok-han forces its way into the Summers' house, Willow incants: Caerimonia, Minerva Saepio, Saepire, Saepsi, Saepio Impedimentum! A force field goes up. Willow's eyes are black. Telepathy: Over a year ago, Willow developed the ability to project her thoughts into the minds of others and to read their thoughts. While the proto-slayers discuss their doom, Buffy gets Willow's attention with a covert telepathic message. Willow calls out to Xander the same way. The three of them leave the dining room and meet in the living room. There, using Willow as the telepathic intermediary, the three silently develop a plan for defeating the Turok-han.

Evil and Good in "Showtime"

The First Evil: The proto-slayers are staying at Buffy's house. The most cynical of them is Eve, who incites the other girls' fears about Buffy's ability to protect them from the Turok-han, about Spike's loyalty to Good, and about their own abilities. Later, when the proto-slayers are training

together in the basement (or is it fighting each other?), Buffy comes down and confronts Eve. She reveals that "Eve" is really the First Evil, masquerading as the dead proto-slayer. It has been in their midst for days. The First threatens to sic the Turok-han on them, then disappears. The proto-slayers are frightened and demoralized, just as the First intended. They gather up in the dining room with Buffy, Willow and Xander. They don't see anyway that they can be protected. As they fight, Willow silently leaves the room, followed by Buffy and Xander. The Turok-han: After dark, the Harbingers surround Buffy's house to prevent those inside from escaping. The Turok-han arrives and forces its way inside. It does not need an invitation to come in. Willow puts up a mystical barrier. But it won't last long. Buffy instructs everyone to escape out the back. The gang and the proto-Slayers fight off the Harbingers and head out into town. The Turok-han soon finds them. Buffy tells the proto-slayers to go with Xander and Willow while she leads the ubervamp away from them. Xander takes them to a basement construction site that is lined with scaffolding and flood lights. There, the group discovers that Buffy has lead the Turok-han right to them. Buffy lights up the arena. Willow gets the others to climb the scaffolding. Buffy faces the Turok-han. "I'm the thing that monsters have nightmares about," she says. She and the Turok-han fight. This is all part of a plan that Buffy, Willow and Xander developed telepathically. They wanted to bring the proto-Slayers and the Turok-han to a place where the proto-Slayers could witness Buffy defeating the ubervamp once and for all. They want to restore the girls' faith in Buffy and in themselves. Buffy grabs a length of wire and yanks it around the Turok-han's neck. She pulls hard until the wire goes through its neck and beheads it.

Moral Ambiguity in "Showtime"

Willow: When Buffy asks Willow to put up a magical barrier between her household and the Turok-han, Willow is anxious. She disappears into the front hallway to test her fears against her powers. Suddenly the proto-slayer Kennedy appears. Willow has been sleeping on the floor to avoid being in the same bed as this beautiful and persistently friendly young woman. Methinks I smell a slight case of attraction here! Kennedy observes Willow's powers and tries to make light of Willow's fear of her own darkside. Willow sets her straight on this--the First knows Willow's dark potential, and since It could not talk her out of using her powers, It has been trying to get her back in touch with that darkness. Willow is afraid that if she uses magic, the First will somehow twist it to Its own ends. Spike is still tied up in the Harbinger's cave with the First taunting him. He dreams of escaping, of encountering the real Buffy, but when he opens his eyes the only Buffy in sight is the First. The First wants him to lose faith in himself and in Buffy, and therefore in any belief he has in Goodness. Later, an image of Buffy comes towards him, carrying a knife. Spike defies It because the incorpreal First cannot hurt him. Buffy cuts his restraints. It is the real Slayer, who has saved him just as he hoped.

Potential
The Metaphysics of "Potential"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 7 BtVS/season 1 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

Proto-slayers may not have full slayer strength, but they are born with strength, speed and instincts greater than those of their peers. This comes in handy while training them for their potential role as the Slayer. Slayer training: Buffy and Spike take the proto-slayers to the cemetery. Buffy gives them lessons in understanding vampire instincts and learning to listen to their own instincts. In a demon bar, she tells them about wringing information out of patrons. And in a crypt, she instructs them in the importance of fighting with a plan and recognizing weapons in the most ordinary objects. Then comes the big test. Spike and Buffy lock the girls in the crypt with a vampire. The protoslayers live to tell the tale, and bond over the mutual rush of slayage. The potential locator spell: Willow's wiccan source Althanea tells her that there is another potential slayer, and that she lives in Sunnydale. Willow does a spell to identify this girl. The spell is designed to conjure up a brilliant light that will find the new potential and illuminate her with a glowing aura. Willow sits down in front of the fire place and throws various ingredients into the fire as she says their names: To light the aura of the new: skin of snake and chrysalis too. To indicate the fresh reborn: tumbleweed and rosebush thorn. An egg that means the life to come Take this, oh Spirits, and my spell is done. A shimmering ball of light floats up from the fire place and hovers in the middle of the living room, reeking of burnt egg. When Dawn goes to open the front door to release the sulfery smell, the light gathers strength and rushes towards her, leaving a lingering glow on her chest. But Dawn is not the new potential. Unbeknownst to the gang, Dawn's school mate Amanda is standing on the other side of the door. She has encountered a vampire at the high school and, knowing Buffy's reputation, has come to her for help. Willow's ball of light in fact passed through Dawn and through the door to illuminate her. But the gang has other reasons for believing that Dawn is a potential. They believe that the monks "made" Dawn from Buffy. Dawn got Summers genes, Summers "blood" from her. It stands to reason that she might have got Buffy's slayer essence as well. Whose death will activate the next Slayer? Buffy tells the potentials that her death could make one of them the next Slayer. But Buffy has died twice, and as far as we know, only her first death resulted in a new Slayer, Kendra. And Kendra's death activated Faith. So unless there is a third

active slayer running around that we don't know about, Faith is the only Slayer whose death will activate one of the potentials. So why does Buffy say otherwise? Is she just trying to get the proto-slayers' attention by pointing out one very personal way in which "a slayers life is all about death"? Telling them that they will be called when some distant girl they don't know dies is less vivid, less real to them then telling them they will be called when she, Buffy, the person standing before them, dies. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that Buffy's (third!) death will activate one of the proto-slayers. I think the fact that the line is with Faith now isn't being ignored and won't be written away -- I think it's probably going to be important to the story and will resurface at a crucial point. IMHO, the Scoobies do understand that the line isn't with Buffy, and at some point, even one of the SITs indicates at least being vaguely aware of the existence of another slayer ("Isn't there another slayer?" or similar); and what with all the succession talk, they're bound to put two-andtwo together at some point. The fact that Buffy actually says things to the SITs that implies that the line is with Buffy is worrisome, but I think it's supposed to be worrisome. For example, maybe Buffy is becoming corrupted by the power of being the acting slayer. On the other hand, it could just be that she's keeping it simple for her students right now, and that she sees using the "if I die it could be YOU" tactic as helping her students get serious with their studies (yez, 1/22/03 11:26).

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Potential"

Amanda met Buffy when she came in on Buffy's first day of counseling and told her that she was being picked on. But this spastic bean-pole of a girl didn't get sent to the counselor's office to get a pep talk on sticking up for herself. She got sent there for sticking up for herself, in a manner of speaking. She waited for her tormentor in the parking lot after school, jumped him, and slammed his face into the pavement. Now she's back to talk to Buffy about the relative perversion of being attracted to someone who picks on her--someone she picks on right back. Buffy identifies with this particular situation a little too closely, for obvious reasons. Her past intimacies with Spike are no secret to her proto-slayer gang, and it looks like Amanda is already following in her footsteps. Dawn sees the potential slayers getting Buffy's attention, bonding like sisters, and being handed a special purpose in life even though some of them are just fifteen. It's a tough thing to watch when you've gone from being the Key that unlocks the dimensional walls to an ordinary girl in less than two years. Now she's just a spectator sitting on the sidelines, and she is naturally envious. The reality of being one of these girls, however, is much different than the fantasy. When Dawn is lead to believe that she is a proto-slayer, the implications are almost too much to take in. All of a sudden, she has a destiny. She's part of something larger, greater. And she'll likely face a short brutal life with sharp, sharp knives. If she's lucky. Likelier still, she will face her death in the next few months at the point of a Harbinger's blade. So what does the newest "proto-slayer" do? She pulls a classic Dawn and sneaks out of her bedroom window and away from the safety of the Slayer's home.

Out on the street, she runs into Amanda, who has left a vampire locked in a classroom back at the high school. Full of her new-found purpose, Dawn decides that she'll "take this one". And she does pretty good, for a while. When the vampire jumps the two of them, Dawn takes charge. She hits the vampire with a fire extinguisher and leads Amanda to the science lab where they barricade the door. But the vampire soon breaks in. Dawn innovatingly uses the items in the lab as weapons, but finally she is pinned by the vamp. Amanda is too afraid to help. Then Harbingers break in through the windows. And they go after Amanda. Dawn is stunned, even jealous as they surround Amanda to kill her. But Amanda hasn't been trained. Not like Dawn has. Dawn creates a fire ball with the lab equipment and they escape, Harbingers and the vampire hot on their heels. It's time, Dawn realizes, for Amanda to step up to her destiny. She tells Amanda that she is special, that she must face their pursuers, and hands her a flag-pole stake. Just then, Xander, Buffy, and the others arrive searching for Dawn. Xander sees Dawn give Amanda her weapon. And while the others fight the Bringers, Amanda slays the vamp. Another proto-slayer has been yanked out of her ordinary life, and Dawn heads back to research land without a pause. There's only one person around who can truly appreciate the significance of that small gesture, and that's the Zeppo himself. Xander applauds Dawn for the way she gave up the spotlight to Amanda, and for having the courage it takes to be just an ordinary human being in the Slayer's world. No one around them knows that that is perhaps the toughest job of all. It requires extraordinary bravery, the ability to think on your feet, and a willingness to do the job and rarely get the glory. And those are qualities Dawn has in abundance.

The Killer in Me
The Metaphysics of "The Killer in Me"
The penance malediction: Curses, also known as hexes and whammies, are spells that remain in effect long after the first time they manifest themselves. And their effects are often triggered over and over again by a specific set of circumstances. In the case of Amy's hex on Willow, the trigger is guilt. When Willow has intense feelings of guilt, her unconscious mind creates a "punishment" for whatever action she feels guilty about. When Kennedy kisses Willow, Willow feels as if she has betrayed Tara. She instantly takes on Warren Mear's appearance, and gradually begins to take on his personality as well. It is highly likely that Willow's I-can't-see-you/you-can't-see-me spell was another manifestation of Amy's hex. So it is possible that there might be other incidences of the hex in the future.

Undoing the manifestation of Warren isn't as simple as a fairy-tale kiss. In Same Time, Same Place, Willow was only able to see the physical presence of her friends when she got over her fear of facing them again--facing her own feelings of guilt and her fear of rejection. Likewise, Willow turns into Warren because of her guilt over "betraying" Tara. When Willow gets past her guilt, the vestiges of Warren's appearance and personality disappear. Kennedy's second kiss helps Willow realize that she wants to move on, that it's O.K. for her to move on. But it is Willow's realization that reverses the manifestation (although it probably does not remove Amy's hex itself). The First Evil? After Giles takes the proto-slayers on the vision quest that Buffy took two years ago, the gang gets a call from the Watcher Robson. Robson tells them that he was attacked by the Harbingers, and that the last thing he remembers before passing out was Giles at the end of a Harbinger's ax. It is possible that Giles was killed. And if that is the case, then the "Giles" the Scoobs have been interacting with for weeks isn't the real Giles. They head up to the desert to find out for sure. The very corporeal Giles is easily tackled onto the sand. Well, at least they know he's not the First. Spike's chip is acting wonky these days. It sends searing jolts of pain through his head when he's doing nothing more violent than sitting chained to a wall. So what's the deal? Is the chip malfunctioning as a result of the First's manipulation, or was the First Evil able to manipulate Spike in the first place because the chip was malfunctioning? Perhaps neither of these is the case, but the second is a distinct possibility. When Spike and Buffy break into the abandoned Initiative facility to find a drug that will help take Spike's pain away, they encounter a group of special ops soldiers. The medical experts in this group determine that Spike's chip has degraded. The Initiative never meant for their chips to be in operation as long as this one has been. Very likely, the chips were a temporary measure to control vampires in the facility while they were experimented on. But since the vampires were dusted after they lost their value as lab-rats, the chips in their heads weren't built to last. Riley, who sent the special ops to Sunnydale at Buffy's request, instructs the commander to give Buffy a choice about what to do next. Fix the chip, or remove it from ass-face Spike's brain for good.

Moral Ambiguity in "The Killer in Me"

Kennedy: When the other proto-slayers head out on their vision quest, wily Kennedy remains behind to pursue her own mission--she's out to get the girl she's had her eye on. She pretends to have the flu, then rises out of bed fresh as a daisy and drags Willow to the Bronze for drinks and the direct approach. Willow has been trying to fly low and avoid Kennedy's gay-dar, but she hasn't succeeded. While Kennedy describes how she is able to pick another lesbian out of the crowd, Willow becomes exhibit A. But this proto-slayer mission isn't as simple as Kennedy hopes it will be. The first kiss that should have produced a sweet Willowy smile instead turns Willow into the angry murderer Warren Mears. The terms of Amy's hex dictate that Willow's unconscious pick her own

punishment. Becoming Warren is therefore, first of all, a manifestation of Willow's guilt. Willow has never let Tara go. And then for a moment, during the kiss, she did. She feels like she "killed" Tara--the Tara who is alive in her mind. So what is figurative in her head becomes literal in her body--she becomes Tara's killer. Becoming Warren is also a manifestation of Willow's fear of her own capacity for evil, of the killer within. The longer she stays in Warren's form, the more like him she becomes. Frustration becomes anger. Tears become violence. And she blames her emotions on other people. She blames her transformation on Kennedy. She blames Kennedy for making her "kill" Tara. When she goes after Kennedy with a gun, she is in serious danger of avenging Tara's death with violence all over again. But the forthright persistent Kennedy hasn't let Willow go through this alone up to this point, and she doesn't give up on her now. It isn't the power of magic Kennedy puts her trust in when she kisses Willow again, it's the power of Willow herself. She believes Willow can overcome her pain and guilt. Kissing Kennedy is accepting that Tara really is dead. And it isn't easy (the... er, getting past Tara's death part, anyway), but Willow manages to take the first step. When the gang sees the very dead Warren in their living room, they not unreasonably assume it is the First Evil. Andrew confronts It, angry (perhaps at his own weaknesses?) at being manipulated into killing Jonathan. And Buffy is fists-first, questions later. But when she is able to knock "Warren" over, they realize "he" is not the First. And just in case they don't buy "Warren's" claim that "he" is Willow, Willow has plenty of Xander-stories from kindergarten to prove who she is. Amy claims to be in recovery from her out-of-control days, but she is either lying, or doesn't really get the spirit-healing Wiccan ways of her friends. Because she's all about resentment--the exercise of power over another in the name of petty envy. Willow is a more powerful witch than either Amy or Tara--two women whose powers were their family birthright. But in Amy's eyes, Willow is weak--she gave into the dark side of witchcraft to a degree Amy herself never did. And what happens? Willow's friends forgive her and take her back into their hearts. Anyone who has experienced the loneliness Amy probably felt after three years as a rat would be envious and confused. But they might not all be tempted to use their own formidable witch powers on someone they once called a friend. And to brag about it afterwards.

First Date
Evil and Good in "First Date"
Andrew is approached by the First Evil, who is manifesting as Jonathan. It tries to convince Andrew to find the gun Willow bought and use it against the potential slayers. Andrew protests that he follows Buffy's orders now. But the First Evil's arguments for joining Its side are compelling--It will win against the Slayer(s), It will always exist in some form in the world. Best

to join Its side and end up on the winning team. And Andrew seems to go along with the First's plans. But in actuality, he's told Willow and the others what the First wants him to do, and they have him wired while he tries to get information out of the First. It doesn't take long for the First to figure that out. But the result is the same. Andrew refuses to be manipulated. Back to the drawing board for the First Evil.

Moral Ambiguity in "First Date"

Xander's bad luck lust list Willow: "How about yours, Xander. Is she evil?" Xander: "Well, she's interested in me, so there's a good chance." Xander has been trying to get back into the dating scene and finally gets lucky with an attractive woman, Lissa. He meets her while she's buying rope, and she wants the rope for a very specific purpose. His demon date takes him to the basement of Sunnydale High and hoists him over the Seal of Danthazar. She intends to raise another Turok-han in order to show solidarity with the First Evil. Xander manages to send Willow a text message on her cell phone, but he gets a stab wound before he is saved. Xander might not have had a successful date with Lissa, but he was successful at one thing--making Anya jealous. Principal Wood: For months, he's been sitting above the Hellmouth's bidet of evil. On occasion, Buffy has found him skulking around the Sunnydale High campus doing un-principal-ed things. Buffy decides it's time to investigate the mysterious yet charming Principal Wood. But before Buffy can do any hands-on recon, Principal Wood decides to come clean with her. He asks her to dinner. When they reach the alley-way entrance of the restaurant, Wood and Buffy are attacked by vampires. Wood fights off his fair share with skill. Over dinner, he tells her that he knows she's the Slayer. He maneuvered himself into the principal's office at Sunnydale High, and he maneuvered Buffy there, too. He wants to help fight the evil that's come to Sunnydale. Fighting evil is something of a family tradition for him. His mother was a Slayer who was killed by a vampire when he was four. He's been searching for that vampire ever since and has killed a lot of vampires in the process. Later, Wood is approached by the First Evil in the guise of his mother. At first he ignores her. He will not be manipulated by Evil. But then the First gives him the one thing he's wanted all his life--the identity of his mother's killer: Spike. The First may not be his real mother, but It manages to wrestle a "thank you" out of him anyway. Spike assures Buffy that he's OK with her "date" with Principal Wood, but when the gang needs to fetch Buffy to deal with the latest insurgency by the First, Spike's eager to interrupt. Buffy, Spike, and Principal Wood head to the school to rescue Xander. Wood quickly discovers that Buffy's friend is a vampire. And he sees the familiarity with which Buffy and Spike touch each other after the fight.

[T]here is definitely something Oedipal in Wood's interest in Buffy--using her as a substitute/replacement for his mother, one Slayer = another Slayer. And in this light, I suddenly think that his mistaking Buffy for Dawn's mother as his very first act on the show is significant. Now that we know his mother was a Slayer and he knew that Buffy was the Slayer before he came to Sunnydale, we can see that his instinctive equation is Slayer = Mother. ...Holtz's pursuit of Angelus is grounded in a parent's feeling for his children--and perhaps a projection of his own guilt at having been so focused on slaying vampires "out there" that he was not home to protect his own family--Wood's feelings about Spike are going to result from a son's feelings about his mother. Seeing Buffy as a mother-substitute makes her apparent preference for Spike--she goes first to Spike after the demon is slain, notice, not to Xander, the object of the rescue--a perfect Oedipal set-up--Spike is the father standing in the way of the son's fantasized union with the mother. It will also make killing Spike seem even more important since, as he was not able to save his real mother from Spike, he may well see killing Spike as an opportunity to "save" Buffy in the way he was not able to save his mother. Wood was 4 when his mother was killed--the Oedipus complex is supposed to emerge in boys between the ages of 3 and 5. Smack in the danger zone (leslie, 2/12/03 12:48).

Ethical Quandaries in "First Date"

To chip or not to chip? When Spike's chip began to malfunction, the Special Ops commander gave Buffy a choice--have the chip repaired or have it removed. It is worth noting that in giving this decision to Buffy, these representatives of the military/government did not recognize Spike as a person with the right to make his own decisions about something that significantly effects his freedom. Spike is a demon, and demons have few rights among humans in the Buffyverse. It is unclear what Spike would have decided to do had he been given the choice. But Buffy chooses to have it removed. Giles is concerned with her decision. The issue for him is how much of a danger Spike poses without the chip. Buffy points out that Spike was a danger even when he had the chip. The First Evil was able to manipulate him into killing and siring people. Giles replies that Spike may have been able to do this because the chip was not working properly then. A new or repaired chip might act as a restraint if the First were to try to activate Spike again. Buffy, however, believes that Spike's soul will stop him. The logical reply to this is that Spike had a soul when he was being manipulated by the First, too. But Buffy's response would not change--she wants to put her faith in Spike's ability to fight this thing. And he would now be able to look for the signs of being manipulated if it were to happen again. Giles believes that Buffy's amorous feelings for Spike are coloring her judgment. Things are dangerous enough as it is right now, and Buffy and the gang don't seem to be taking that seriously. By removing Spike's chip, Buffy is gambling with people's lives. And, indeed, Buffy is doing what she often does--putting the welfare of someone she is close to above the welfare of the many, and gambling that it will pay off. She wants to support Spike's right to selfdetermination. As long as he is "muzzled" by a chip, he doesn't have the ability to make choices

about whether to fight or to give into his vampire instincts. Spike may be a demon, but he also has a soul, and in Buffy's mind, that gives him the right to chose.

Get It Done
The Metaphysics of and Good in "Get It Done"
The legend of the first Slayer Ampata: They told her that she was the only one. That only she could defend her people from the nether world. Out of all the girls in her generation... she was the only one... Buffy: ...chosen. Ampata: She was offered as a sacrifice and went to her death. Who knows what she had to give up to fulfill her duty to others? Back in the womb of time, the Old Ones walked the Earth. It was their home, their Hell. Then humans came. They spread across the deserts, the mountains, the plains. Their children made the Earth their home. So the demons killed them, or transformed them into demons with their blood. The humans seemed too small, too weak to survive. Then a group of men created a warrior to fight the demons. They took a girl and chained her to the Earth. They beat their staffs against the ground. They set the Spirit of the Demon upon her. Its black energy writhed through the air like a snake. It became one with the girl. The girl didn't ask for this, but it became her sacred duty--she had the strength to slay the demons and protect her home. When the girl died, the Spirit within her entered another girl, and then after her, another. In each generation, many girls were born with the capacity to hold the Spirit inside them; but only one girl was chosen to wield that Spirit and defend the humans in her village or her tribe. And sometimes, it was up to her to prevent the Earth itself from once again becoming Hell. Psychic dream: Buffy has a dream in which she walks through her house, making a final nightly check of all the inhabitants there. She sees the potential, Chloe, huddled in the hallway, crying. But before she can talk to her, the First Slayer attacks Buffy. They tumble down the stairs. "It's not enough!" the spirit says. The Hellmouth, like many things, has its cycles. Buffy's observed this portal to hell long enough to know that the energy it radiates tends to rise in the Spring and peak in May. Many Bads in Sunnydale have used this to their advantage. The Master was destined to rise in 1997, but when he tried to escape the Hellmouth in March, he didn't succeed. He tried again in May and escaped, killing Buffy in the process. The Mayor timed his one hundred days of invulnerability so that his Ascension would occur in May. The Alignment that would allow Glory to use the Key and return

to her home dimension occurred in May. The First Evil may also be planning Its most focused attack on the Slayer in May. The emergency kit: Principal Wood gives Buffy a bag that belonged to his mother, the Slayer Nikki. Buffy opens a metal box inside the bag. Within the box are metal "shadow casters". Xander sets a pedestal on the coffee table and lights a candle in its center. He puts the shadowcasters on the pedestal and turns it, throwing the shadow of each metal character against the wall as Dawn reads its part of a tale. The tale is the "myth" of the first Slayer. As the story unfolds, the shadows on the wall get bigger and animated. The pedestal starts moving on its own. The flame in its center grows into a large blue portal in the middle of the room. The Sumerian words Dawn struggles to translate turn to English. "You cannot just watch, you must see," she reads. "If you're willing to make the exchange." Buffy decides she must enter the portal against her friends' protests. She feels justified in leaving them to deal with the consequences. She jumps inside. The portal disappears. A large demon appears in the room. The gang tries to fight it, but the demon escapes. The Shadowmen: At the other end of the portal is a desert much like the one Buffy walked in her dream in Restless. There, she encounters three men, guides who speak to her in Swahili. They explain to her that they have been waiting there since the time of the first Slayer. They tell Buffy that she is the last guardian of the Hellmouth. Buffy wants information from them about how to defeat the First Evil. But what they have to offer is power. They hit Buffy over the head with a staff, knocking her out. When she awakens, she is in a cave, chained to the ground. The Shadowmen reenact of the creation of the first Slayer, intending to give Buffy the power they promised. If the text in the comic book Fray is accepted as canon, then the council of watchers evolved out of the original shamans who created the first slayer. Thus, Buffy turning the table of power on the shamans is a retelling of what she did in the episode Checkpoint (Robert, 2/20/03 11:50). But Buffy doesn't want to get "knocked up" by their "demon dust". She demands that the men stop. When they don't, she breaks her chains and subdues them. She breaks one of their staffs. The demon energy they tried to give her disappears, along with two of the men. "Tell me something I don't know" she says to the man who remains. He touches her temple and gives her a vision. Later, Buffy questions her decision not to take the Shadowmen's power. She knows she needs something more than she has to defeat the First Evil, and the vision the Shadowman gave her convinces her of this more than ever. He showed her a vast army of Turok-han. If this army comes from the same place as the single Turok-han they fought, then indeed, something is coming from beneath them to devour. The ritual of the reverse exchange: Buffy has disappeared through a portal that promptly vanished. It is the gang's job to get that portal, and then Buffy, back. Willow has to make up most of the ritual to do this based on the metaphysical principles of magic. She pours sand in a circle to create a barrier for the portal. Then she sits down in the center of the circle. She incants:

Via temporis iam clamo ad te. Via spatti, te jubeo aperaha. Aperi!

Nothing happens. Willow turns to make a comment to her friends. Then power suddenly bursts from her, throwing Kennedy and Dawn back. Willow's eyes go black. She screams. She continues: Via concursus tempus, spatium Audi me ut imperio And still, nothing happens. Willow is holding back, afraid to risk the darkness that can come with the use of strong magic. Finally, in frustration, she relents. She reaches out and takes power from the two strongest people nearby her--Anya and Kennedy--and opens the portal.

Xander pulls Willow out of the circle.

Then they reverse what happened when Buffy disappeared through the portal. Spike throws the demon in, and Buffy returns. The portal disappears.

Moral Ambiguity in "Get It Done"

Spike: Anya is attacked by a demon sent by D'Hoffryn. Spike hits it, then gets Anya the hell out of there. Anya is not impressed by Spike's choice to flee rather than fight. And neither is Buffy. Spike admits that he hasn't been "relishing the kill" the way he did before he got his soul back. He wants to disassociate himself from "the old me", much as Angel does Angelus. When Buffy tells him she prefers the old Spike--the dangerous killer--Spike feels betrayed. He went out and got his soul for her. He is trying to become a better man for her. Spike is still trying to be what he thinks Buffy wants. And when Buffy disappears into the portal, he continues to do this. He will become the Big Bad again if it will bring Buffy back. He goes to the basement of the high school and dons his leather duster. Then he tracks down the demon that took Buffy's place and relishes the kill. Buffy shows Principal Wood her operation--the compound for bunking, protecting and training potential slayers and her demon-fighting friends--a little place formerly known as "home". But Wood wants to meet "the vampire", so Buffy introduces them. Later, Wood follows Spike to the school. He sees Spike head out for his fight against the demon with a leather duster on. He asks Spike where he got it. "New York", Spike replies. Wood seems to know the significance of this. He also knows that Spike has a soul. Will this be a consideration in his decision about what to do about Spike? Buffy knows the First Evil is coming, and she doesn't feel prepared. The potentials seem an inadequate army to her. Willow is unwilling to use more powerful magicks. And Buffy isn't happy with Spike's attempts to be a kinder, gentler vampire. She's feeling the strain of trying to protect all these people. And when one of the potentials, Chloe, kills herself, Buffy snaps under the pressure. She calls Chloe an "idiot" and "weak". She demands that everybody start using their strengths to help her. Willow insists that everybody is already doing that. But in Buffy's mind, it doesn't seem that way. Is Buffy's dressing-down of the others justified?

Buffy is dealing with a group of people who have a lot of growing to do and no time to do it. Spike needs to learn to balance his demon and his soul; Willow needs to find the limits of her control over her magic; all the potentials need to learn, not only to fight, but to deal with the stress of their situation. And here's 22-year-old Buffy having to worry about them all. That said, Buffy was still too hard on everyone. The potentials can't be blamed for their failure to do anything constructive because they haven't been given anything constructive to do, other than training. Willow's fear of losing control is a very rational one. And neither we nor Spike know what could happen if he really lets himself go (Gyrus, 2/19/03 8:39). Were Buffy's words and actions hypocritical? The issue is whether [Willow and Spike's] situations are symmetrical to Buffy's. After much thought, I don't believe so. Buffy did not ask them to gain more power. She didn't ask Willow to go drain another Rack, she didn't ask Spike to become an UberVamp. What she did was demand that they use the power they already have. This was no different than what Buffy demands of herself. Yes, Willow and Spike have powers rooted in darkness; we now know that Buffy does too. She controls that power in order to use it for good. She demanded that Willow and Spike do the same. Whether she was wise to do so is a different question. I see Willow and Spike as both barely in control. Whether they are ready to use their power remains to be seen. OTOH, Buffy doesn't have much choice -- if they don't or won't use it, the battle may be over before it even begins. ...I have no doubt that we were meant to see [Buffy's] rejection of additional demonic power as the right choice. The metaphorical attempted rape was barely metaphor. No larger purpose could justify this. ...For this reason, I can't agree with [Shiraz'] suggestion that "it was the slayer's job to bring back the strength from the source of the slayer, the strength they all need to beat the First; without that there was no point to this little exercise." Her obligation ended when they chained her to the rock. Moreover, I doubt that the supercharging would have been effective. I don't see the FE as being defeated by Buffy having SuperSlayer strength (Sophist, 2/19/03 17:16). Willow has told Kennedy more than once that Kennedy doesn't know what it means for Willow to use magic now--that magic of great power takes Willow dangerously close to her dark side, the side that is willing to use whatever means necessary to get what she wants. When the gang decides magic is the key to getting Buffy back, Kennedy joins them in pressuring Willow to do the honors. So Willow does. And Kennedy finds out exactly what this means. Willow borrows Kennedy's power to finish the spell. The experience isn't "cool". It just hurts. Kennedy decides to shy away from Willow for the time being.

Storyteller
Evil in and the Metaphysics of "Storyteller"

Hell's a-busting out all over: Wackiness is ensuing at Sunnydale High. Shy girls are becoming invisible, stressed-out boys are exploding, and the on-going battle of the high school's peckingorder has become a literal war. Buffy explains to Principal Wood that the Hellmouth is just doing its thing--only more so. The Hellmouth is a region where the the wall between Earth and the demon dimensions is thinner than usual. It regularly radiates mystical energy. This energy has a tendency to transform the intense feelings of people in proximity to into reality. Buffy's seen it many times before--steroid-using jocks becoming monsters, high-school dates coming literally from hell. But these things don't usually happen all at once. So what makes now special? Well, there's a hole in the Hellmouth. As sometimes happens, someone used this mystical region to create a portal to the demon dimensions. The Seal of Danthazar is the cork in the bottle of this portal, and it's leaking. Activating the Seal of Danthazar: Although Jonathan's blood didn't open the Seal of Danthazar like Spike's blood did, it wasn't an example of Andrew's incompetence. When Jonathan died, his blood seeped over the entire Seal, causing it to glow. What his blood did, in essence, was activate the Seal, making it ready for the ritual with Spike that brought forth the Turok-han. The First Evil brought Andrew and Jonathan out of Mexico specifically for the purpose of activating the Seal. In the form of Warren, it promised Andrew a future as a god if he would procure a special knife and "drive the words" on that knife deep into his friend over the Seal of Danthazar. The words, which are in the ancient demonic language of Proto-Tawarick, say, "The blood which I spill I consecrate to the oldest evil." This talismanic knife may have amplified the magic which activated the Seal, but why bring Andrew all the way up from Mexico to perform this ritual murder? It is possible that the First used the corruption of Andrew to make Its magic even more powerful. Andrew is someone who would ordinarily never kill anyone, much less a friend. But he is also easy to manipulate--which is the First Evil's most powerful weapon. Getting someone like Andrew to voluntarily commit murder may have been just the ticket to releasing the power of the Seal. Deactivating the Seal of Danthazar: The blood of Jonathan spilled by Andrew's hand activated the Seal of Danthazar. The tears of Andrew deactivate it again. It's not clear that tears (as opposed to other bodily fluids) are metaphysically required to deactivate the Seal, but on a moral and symbolic level, there is a symmetry to this magic: an act of evil that spilled blood activated the Seal, and an act of contrition that spilled tears deactivates it again. To get genuine tears and genuine contrition, however, Buffy needs a little subterfuge. She lures Andrew down into the high school basement by claiming that his knowledge of ProtoTawarick is required to deactivate the Seal. But that's not what Willow's research revealed. Once down in the basement, Buffy tells Andrew that only his blood can deactivate the Seal--and that she might, in the process, end up killing him, if that's what it takes. Again, not the truth. Frightened that he is near the end, Andrew starts crying. He confesses that he killed Jonathan and that some part of him knew reality from fantasy when he did it. His tears fall on the Seal. It stops glowing. Above ground, things go back to normal at Sunnydale High. Vampires and video tape

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "Storyteller"

Andrew: "I document, I don't participate." Andrew doesn't want to face up to the role he played in the First Evil's plans. He fancies himself the story-teller, not the story, an outsider to the events going on around him. But his camera is a shield. He is a murderer, and he became one because of his tendency to slip easily from reality to fantasy. He turns the people in Buffy's house into characters in a story. He rewrites the death of Jonathan more than once as if the past were mere words on a page. If life is just a story, then he can't be held responsible; he's just following a script. But underneath it all, he knows the truth. So Buffy tells him a couple stories of her own to bring him face to face with reality. Buffy asked Andrew if his blood and his death would redeem him, to which he tearfully answer no. The message is that Andrew cannot redeem himself. None of us can redeem ourselves. If we get any redemption, it is from God (or whatever passes for God in Joss' mind). ...Once we have reached the conclusion that we cannot redeem (or save) ourselves, all that is left is to admit (or confess) to our sins, ask for forgiveness, and then move on to do good works (Robert, 2/25/03 20:30). It's been a year since Xander left Anya at the alter, and the ex-couple's feelings are a little confused. Xander still believes that stopping the wedding was the right thing to do, but he didn't want that to end their relationship at the time. Anya ended their relationship, but she still gets jealous when Xander dates someone else. They still love each other--that hasn't changed. But neither of them is sure that that love means they have a future together. The round of true confessions leads them right back where they started three and a half years ago--in bed. And this time, it would appear that Anya's original plan to "put Xander behind her" actually works. Figuratively speaking, of course. One imagines they were face to face for the actual event itself. When Principal Wood stands on the Seal of Danthazar, his eyes go white. He turns to Buffy and angrily tells her that he knows that she's "screwing that vampire" and calls her a "filthy whore". It's the Hellmouth's energy effecting him of course, but if it's effecting him like it has everyone else, then it's turning his feelings into reality. Is Wood "possessed" by a distrust of Buffy and a desire for vengeance? He's working with Buffy to save the world, but he's aware of the Slayer's connection to the vampire that killed his mother. And though he's fought at Spike's side, the temptation to stake him can't be too far below the surface. Rioting students block Wood's wood until the influence of the Hellmouth is damned up, but that only puts off Wood's confrontation with Spike for another day. Principal Wood seems undecided, in his cooler moments, about whether to take vengeance on Spike. Should he do it? This question hinges on several issues: (1) Is Souled Spike responsible for the actions of the soulless demon Spike?

(2) If (1) is so, is Spike entitled to the chance that Buffy gives Andrew--to confess his sins and go and sin no more? Or does he deserve to die for what he did to Nikki and others? (3) If Spike is entitled to a second chance like Andrew, will he take it? Will he recognize his culpability in his crimes (assuming he has any)? Will he continue to fight for good? (4) And regardless of whether he is entitled or not, might it be prudent to keep Spike alive so that he can help Buffy fight, if he is willing to?

Lies My Parents Told Me

The Metaphysics of "Lies My Parents Told Me"
The First Evil: Deactivating the Seal of Danthazar has made things quiet again at Sunnydale High, but it's the calm before the storm. The seers of the Westbury coven tell Giles that the First Evil is gathering Its forces. War is coming. The Prokaryote Stone is a talisman that performs a "magical" form of psychotherapy. It enters the cerebral cortex through the optic nerve and unleashes memories that are subconsciously effecting a person's behavior. The First Evil brainwashed Spike to kill on command. Giles hopes this talisman will reveal the trigger that sets Spike off, and then disarm it. The gang chains Spike to the wall in the basement. Willow approaches him, incanting: Kun'ati belek sup'sion Bok'vata im kele'beshus Ek'vota mor'osh boota'ke The stone grows soft and worm-like. It crawls into Spike's brain. There, it triggers three successive visions of the past, but not all at once. The first vision occurs while the stone is still inside Spike. The other two happen after the stone drops out. During the visions, Spike is essentially disabled and unaware of the outside world. Uncovering Spike's trigger Memory 1: Spike sees himself as the mortal William reading a poem to his sickly mother, Anne. Anne praises his poem. She tells him he needs a woman in his life. He replies that he has a woman in his life, meaning her. He wants a wife, but he swears to always look after her. She sings "Early One Morning" to him. This song is the trigger. Back in the present, Spike vamps out. He grabs Buffy's neck, then hits Dawn. The chains hold him back from doing anything else. The stone comes out of his eye. He

tells them his mother used to sing the trigger song to him as a child. He is reluctant to tell them more than that. The stone has focused in on the starting point of his trauma. Memory 2: While still in the basement, Spike remembers bringing Drusilla home after she made him into a vampire. VampWilliam tells Dru of the havoc the three of them will wreak--"you, me and mother." He tells his mother that he is a vampire. He tells her they will be together forever, then embraces her and turns her into a vampire, too. Later, Principal Wood takes Spike to a shed at his home where the walls are lined with crosses. He goes over to a computer and calls up the song "Early One Morning". Spike vamps out. Wood attacks him. Spike has his third memory. Memory 3: VampAnne cruelly mocks her son, saying all the things she wouldn't say in life. She tries to stake him. VampWilliam ends up staking her instead. While Spike is having this memory, he is helpless against Wood. But the after-effects of the stone have done their job. Spike has relived the trauma that allowed the First to trigger violence in him. He has carried VampAnne's words inside him for over a century. They are probably what motivated the upper class VampWilliam to become the cockney Spike in the first place--a rebel who didn't care about anything but "fists and fangs". But Spike now believes that these were the words of the demon his mother became. He believes his human mother loved him with all her heart. Spike plays "Early One Morning", but the song no longer has the power to trigger him. The Invitation to vampires [J]ust how did William get back into his house after his vamping? He'd still need an invitation. See Angel needing his little sister to invite him into the house in "The Prodigal", for instance. I got the impression Mrs. the Bloody hadn't seen her sweet little boy since he died, so she couldn't have invited them in. Perhaps a servant? That would have explained the smell of viscera about the place, come to think of it (Honorificus, 3/26/03 12:48).

Evil, Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "Lies My Parents Told Me"
Vampires and their human predecessors In life, Anne doted over her son William. But vampire Anne does not carry that love into demonhood the way her son manages to. William's mortal devotion to his mother becomes a vampiric devotion. Demonhood brings another side out of Anne. Anne's son was something of a shy mama's boy who enjoyed his mother's company sometimes to the exclusion of the girls he was supposed to be courting. It took an aggressive vampire like Drusilla to get this boy a mate. And even then, William wanted his mother at his side. Anne's fear of being cruel in life made her bury any unkind feelings she had towards her son. But as a vampire, she is free to feel them. VampAnne mocks his poetry, taunts him for hanging on

her apron strings, and implies that his devotion to her is really sexual desire. She rejects him as a companion in death. Dancing with the Slayer "You know I love you... but I got a job to do. The mission is what matters." In 1977 New York, Spike finds himself a Slayer to stalk, fight and kill. He and Nikki battle while her four-year-old son Robin hides behind a bench and watches. Just when it looks like Spike is about to take a bite of his mother, a trash can falls down beside Robin. Nikki butts Spike with her head and throws a stake at him and misses. Spike gets away. Nikki praises Robin for staying low just like she asked him to. But they can't go home--it isn't safe there anymore. She takes him to her Watcher Crowley's house and then goes after Spike. When she finds him on a subway, he gets the advantage and kills her. Back in the present, Spike tells Wood that he was not the center of Nikki's world. Wood insists his mother loved him, but Spike's words feed his fear that Nikki cared more about "the mission" than she did him. Did she? "Could Nikki have quit and survived?" I'd say no -- she'd be dead (and probably by Crowley's hand) if she ever did try to quit. I'd also say she either was pregnant or already a mother when she was called -- the WC would have probably whisked her off for an abortion (was it legal in NY in the 70's? Not that that would matter to the WC) (Malandanza, 3/26/03 9:44). Nikki was a dedicated Slayer. Nikki loved Robin. I think she went after Spike because she imagined Spike feeding off a young couple in Central Park, or a passenger waiting for the Lexington Avenue subway line at 59th Street. ...Tired and heartsick as she was, she could do no less. She was killed in the line of duty. She should not be judged a failure as a Slayer or a mother or a human being for this (cjl, 3/31/03 8:19). Should souled Spike feel guilty about Nikki's death? In his argument with Wood , Spike dismisses Nikki's death as just the "game" between vampires and slayers. Both of them went into the game knowing the rules; she lost, everyone else's life goes on. Cold vampire logic. But later, Spike stops himself from killing Wood "because he killed Wood's mother". In doing so, he acknowledges that his victim's life meant something more than the kill. Both Buffy and Spike seem to separate the souled being (whether human or vamp) from the unsouled being (pure vamp). Spike isn't willing to see that Vamp!Anne's resentment and cruelty came from Anne herself, and not the demon. Of course, Anne with a soul was a kind, gentle woman who would never say any of those things -- but without a soul, she had no constraints. She could be cruel with impunity. Same with Spike. Just because he has a soul now doesn't mean the killer within is gone. As wrong as his vendetta is, Robin is correct in saying the man who

murdered his mother, despite having a shiny new soul, "that man still exists". Like Angelus tells Faith, he's always in Angel. Deep in. Same goes for Spike (Scroll 3/26/03 00:32). Yes, all the elements of Killer!Spike still reside within him. Yes, he has William's soul. The corporate being, however, is now something different from either Soulless!Spike and William. Just as Angel is different from Angelus or Liam, though he has elements of each. In a very real way, the Spike who killed Nikki ceased to exist when he regained his soul. So Buffy was right, if you take it that way. But Wood was also right, from another pov--what Spike was continues to inform what he's become, and always will (HonorH, 3/26/03 2:18). Should Spike die Now? In First Date, Giles told Buffy that Spike was still at the whim of the First's trigger--that he could still kill. Buffy insisted that Spike has a soul, and should be treated with respect. So when Giles demonstrates that the trigger is still active, Buffy unchains Spike anyway, and Giles continues to wonder whether Buffy can think straight when it comes to Spike. Later, Wood pulls Giles aside. He points out that the First Evil is only waiting for the right time to use Spike's trigger against them. Something needs to be done, and Buffy doesn't seem willing to do it. Giles soon realizes that Wood has a personal vendetta against Spike. But Wood believes that's irrelevant to the larger issue. He knows that Buffy sees Spike as an asset in their fight, but he believes just the opposite will prove true. He asks Giles to keep Buffy away for a few hours while he "takes care of" the "problem" of Spike. Giles takes Buffy out on patrol. He tells her that as a general, she needs to learn to make the hard decisions. Buffy replies that she's already been doing that. And she has. She tells Giles that she would let Dawn die now if it was necessary to save the world. She agrees that anyone could be expendable in this war. But Giles isn't convinced she's willing to extend this to Spike. In the meantime, Wood is carrying out his vengeance. He tells Spike that he doesn't want to kill him, that he wants to kill "the monster who took my mother away from me". But just like Daniel Holtz, he doesn't have the monster in front of him. He has the monster with a soul. And while Holtz chose to torment Angel on just those very grounds--taking his son away from him, an act that Angelus would never have cared about--Wood wants to fight the demon clean and pure. So he pulls the trigger. He plays the song that will bring out Spike's monster. When Buffy realizes that Giles is stalling her, she runs to Spike's defense. And though Spike doesn't need a defender, Buffy isn't happy with Giles or Wood. She sees Wood's actions as motivated purely by revenge. In her mind, Spike is not the danger Wood believes him to be. She tells Giles that Spike is vital to the success of her mission. And "the mission is what matters." [T]he instant the Council is destroyed, Giles appears to--perhaps almost unconsciously--adopt some of their worst traits, chief among them being the tendency to value their own, abstract opinions over the experiences of the persons actually doing the work. ...Maybe Buffy was wrong to stop Spike's "cure" where she did and trust that it would all turn out okay; maybe she should have been willing to push him further when he refused to get into the source of the trigger. ...but

Giles is [getting] carried away by ...the feeling that now he can get it done the way it should be done. ...the relationship between Buffy and Giles has changed ...Now Buffy is the General, and she outranks him, but he does not seem to realize this; for all his insistence that Buffy needs to stand on her own two feet, now that she is actually doing it, he can't adjust to the change in their relationship; he may not even realize (until this episode) that there has been a change (leslie, 3/27/03 10:31).

Dirty Girls
The Metaphysics of "Dirty Girls"

Warning: this page contains info about episodes up through season 7 BtVS/season 5 AtS. If you're in danger of being spoiled, proceed with caution.

What is Caleb? Caleb is a disciple of the First Evil, and he is responsible for coordinating the actions of the Bringers and blowing up the Watcher's Council. He's even killed a few potential Slayers himself. Caleb implies that he is human, but then takes on Buffy, Spike, and Faith and sends each of them flying across the room. Plus, he's still standing after a direct kick in the groin from the Slayer. There's more to this bad guy than meets the eye. Caleb's mark: Caleb wears a ring with a tiny raised cross on it. He heats up his ring with a cigarette lighter and burns a Potential in the neck just to let the Slayer know he's been there.

Evil in "Dirty Girls"

Caleb "All these girls. They followed you willingly. You tricked them." If you were an incorporeal evil bent on wiping out the long line of teen-aged female warriors who defend humankind against malevolent demons and other Bads, who would you get to lead your team? How about a misogynistic psychopath who blames his victims for his own homicidal urges? According to Caleb's pseudo-religious diatribe, women have no souls. Their primary desire is to tempt men to iniquity. Caleb uses masculine charm and a priest's collar to lure them to their deaths, and like the serial killer that he is, later reenacts the deeds to recapture the "high" of the kill. The latest Potential to come to Sunnydale survives an encounter with him, but only because he wants to use her to send the Slayer a message: "I have something of yours." Caleb ...is a perversion of what "good" is about. He is the ultimate teachers pet in that he doesn't need any teaching, any seduction from the First, he is a more or less completed work. He represents a fallen angel of sorts in that his dress indicates that he was a cleric.... His fall from

good, how ever it happened, is an ultimate feather in the First's cap. What better to represent the First but a fallen preacher, who has become a most favored, degenerate, son (Rufus 4/19/03 2:17). The FE is amused by Caleb because he is so easily manipulated into accomplishing the FE's goals - destroying the slayer (and potentials), who also happen to be girls. The FE is not a misogynist, but is happy to have one available to do its bidding (crgn, 4/16/03 10:56).

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Dirty Girls"

Though Xander has changed a lot in the past few years, some things about him haven't changed. Xander still has sex on the brain, and he's still loyal to Buffy. When the Potentials question Buffy's plan to lead them in an attack on Caleb's vineyard, Xander reminds them that Buffy has defeated every foe she's met since he's known her. Later, Xander proves his own bravery when he saves Rona from a Harbinger's knife, and runs back into the fray to rescue Kennedy. But his deeds catch the attention of Caleb. "You're the one who sees everything, aren't you?" Caleb says. He gouges Xander's left eye. Faith is back in Sunnydale, and she's a little miffed that the others neglected to inform her about the First's attack on the Slayer line. But she learned long ago that Sunnydale is Buffy's town-Faith is not their priority. She will always be the "other" Slayer here. Still, she's had a long while to consider her own priorities, and she's willing to join Buffy's team and do her duty. But Faith's past isn't that easy to shake. While Buffy accepts Faith's help, Dawn is wary of her. And Andrew weaves a story for the Potentials about how Faith "the tragic hero" went evil. He warns them that she is a killer not to be taken lightly (over-identify much, Andrew?) The part about Faith's reformation in Los Angeles and prison is conspicuously missing. But by her deeds you shall know her, and Faith is fighting for the good guys now--as a soldier, not the leader she became in L.A. When Spike asks Faith why she isn't imparting Slayer wisdom to the very green Potentials, she replies: "That's Buffy's thing." Buffy: Things have been quiet in Sunnydale for a while now. The gang knows that war is coming, but so far, The First Evil has done little more than try to scare them or make aggravatingly isolated plays for members of Buffy's team (e.g., Spike, Chloe, Andrew). Everyone wants something to be done about their situation, but the First Evil isn't the kind of enemy you can just "take the battle to". The pressure of the wait has caused dissension amongst Buffy's strongest fighters. Then there are the Potentials, girls who might someday be called to be the Slayer, but who are today really only teen-aged girls with a little more speed and strength than their peers. Most of them are still untrained. Most of them are still more in need of protection than protectors. Naturally, Buffy has taken the entire situation as her personal responsibility. She feels the pressure of everyone looking to her for answers. Enter Caleb. The First has sent an enemy that Buffy can hurl her fists at. So of course she takes the bait. Xander and the others point out the many ways in which Caleb's lure could be a trap-but it's the sort of trap Buffy has fallen for more than once. Giles tries to argue that they are unprepared, but Buffy isn't taking his advice anymore. Despite the fact that Buffy knows very little about the enemy she is fighting, she takes her strongest soldiers into a direct assault on

Caleb's lair. She's hoping that Caleb won't be expecting an attack so soon. But he is ready for her. The Potentials hold their own against the Harbingers, but no one has the strength to defeat Caleb. Caleb kills two Potentials and wounds Xander and Rona before Buffy's army manages to retreat. The finest moments of Spike and Willow

Philosophies Represented in "Dirty Girls"

Misogyny = hatred/fear of women, but more so of the power that women seem to have over men because sex/connection can break men out of their rational self-interest. Sex/connection can make a man do what his rational self tells him is not in his personal interest - care for another beyond caring for himself. Xander doesn't fear sex/connection with women - he wants it, he values it. He knows it doesn't diminish him but empowers him. Connection to other people enhances his own humanity, his heart. Caleb's anger and fear of women is that of the man who thinks the sexual climax is the ultimate loss of power.... He thinks the girls who come to him, influenced by the power of his words, are there to take his power through sexual temptation (crgn, 4/16/03 10:56).

Empty Places
The Metaphysics of "Empty Places"
The Hellmouth's increased activity is being felt all over town. Demonic activity is on the rise. People are leaving the city in droves. The citizens of Sunnydale have finally gotten over their chronic denial--but that's because the evil that's come to town is more powerful than it's ever been. Caleb: Giles and Dawn look through police reports of incidents of violence and vandalism committed against California religious institutions over the past ten years, trying to find information on Caleb. Dawn finds a particular incident where there was no vandalism, only a monastery mysteriously abandoned. In one of the police photos, Giles sees Caleb's "mark" embedded in the wood of a wall. He sends Spike and Andrew to investigate. A monk shows them a secret room inside the monastery. He tells Spike and Andrew that upon discovering the room, Caleb was excited, talking about his destiny. But then he read an ancient inscription in the wall, written in Latin. He grew angry and killed all the other monks. The one remaining only lived because he hid. Spike reads the inscription: "It is not for thee. It is for her alone to wield." The Turok-han

Anya's information on the Turok-Han seems dubious. Buffy's stake penetrated its chest in Bring on the Night and didn't kill it, and her bottle of holy water burned it in Showtime (dsample, 8 May 2003 21:35).

Evil in "Empty Places"

Caleb: Buffy encounters Caleb in the empty halls of Sunnydale High School. He overpowers her like before, but he doesn't kill her. He is there to "lay the groundwork"--to lure her, and the potential slayers who follow her, into a trap. But what exactly is the trap? He talks to Buffy about the "great things" that are to come at the Hellmouth and the Seal of Danthazar. It gives Buffy pause. If the final battle is to happen there, why are Caleb and the Harbingers spending all their time at the vineyard? Buffy suspects that the source of Caleb's power isn't at the school at all. She tells the others that they are returning to Caleb's vineyard to find it and take it away from them.

Moral Ambiguity and Ethical Quandaries in "Empty Places"

Challenging the Slayer For years now, Buffy has been the leader of the forces for good in Sunnydale. She made the plans, she lead the missions. And she saved the world. A lot. Long before she rejected the authority of the Watcher's Council, Giles deferred to her judgment. But even Buffy isn't immune to the pressures of life under the threat of the First Evil. In fact, if anyone feels it the most, it is her. She has tried to stay strong against it. She has tried to do her job. But the burden has lead her to make mistakes, and the others are no longer willing to follow where she leads them simply out of loyalty. Buffy's friends have always felt free to question her, to suggest alternatives, and to make decisions in her absence. And even now, Buffy says she is willing to listen to what they have to say. Faith and Giles tell her they are not willing to return to the vineyard with out some proof that it is the source of Caleb's power. There's too much to lose going in without knowing they'll get something out of it. Rona accuses Buffy of being reckless, of seizing upon any plan she finds in her desperation to defeat the bad guy. But Buffy is resolved in her plan. She tells them the final decision rests with her. She is the Slayer. Rona points out that Faith is a Slayer, too. Kennedy suggests they take a vote over which Slayer they will follow. Buffy's friends and the Potentials fall in line behind Faith. Buffy believes in her plan, and fears that if they follow Faith, Faith will lead them into disaster. But she steps aside. "Don't be afraid to lead them, whether you wanted it or not" she tells Faith. "Their lives are yours. It's only going to get harder." Fan speculation on the motivations being the gang's "mutiny": The First Evil has been trying to split up the good guys from the beginning. It appeared to Willow and tried to get her to kill herself, thereby removing a very powerful potential adversary.

It did the same thing with the potential Chloe, with better success. There is some question as to whether the "Joyce" that Dawn saw in "Conversations With Dead People" was a friendly spirit or a manifestation of the First. I believe it was the latter. By telling Dawn that Buffy would not "choose her," she was sowing the seeds for Dawn to distrust Buffy. Later, the First appeared as Eve to the Potentials and tried to stir up a sense of hopelessness and distrust for Buffy. There was, of course, Spike's trigger, which was designed to use another very powerful potential adversary for its own nefarious purposes. When that wasn't working out to well, it appeared to Wood as his mother and gave him the identity of his mother's killer, who just happened to be that same potential adversary. ...Then Caleb, the First's chief agent, lures Buffy and the others into a trap and does some major damage to them. ...Xander and Willow won't trust Buffy because of the horrible injury that Xander sustained. The potentials won't trust Buffy because they are scared to death of Caleb and don't want to fight him again. ...The First's plans came to fruition and the heroes are divided (That Which Devours From Beneath, 6 May 2003 13:32) [W]e have seen the First Evil manipulate individuals in the past (Angel, Spike, Andrew, the bringers, and maybe others). The characteristics of such manipulation has been different in each case, but the end result of getting each to do the bidding of the First Evil was achieved. I think that the First Evil has been pulling Buffy's string for some time now. Caleb's message to Buffy two weeks ago and his message to her last night are strong indications of such. ...What Buffy has learned in the past 6-1/2 years is to trust her instincts, her intuition. These have always served her well. Now however, they are failing her. I believe that the First Evil has done its research very well and knows how to turn Buffy's strengths into her weaknesses. [Buffy] is caught between irreconcilable forces. Her instincts tell her that only she can keep her charges safe. Her morals and ethics require that she do everything within her power to keep them safe. Her instincts are, however, putting her charges in the danger she desperately is trying to keep them safe from. I do not see the actions of the Scooby Gang and Potentials as mutiny, rather as relieving Buffy of her command, due to incapacity. They can do this and still love her at the same time. Buffy is not a stupid or hateful person. She knows that she cannot lead her people at this time. She does not yet understand why this is the case. But, she is still able to think past her fear, frustration and (most importantly) [her] hatred of Faith to empower Faith with the authority and responsibility for leading the troops (Robert 4/30/03 10:03). Faith Wood: "Why didn't you fight back?" Faith: "Other things matter more." When Faith takes the potential slayers to the Bronze to blow off a little steam, she has to face the music, both with a group of apocalypse-crazed Sunnydale cops and with Buffy. Buffy is angry with Faith for undermining the discipline she has been trying to instill in the Potentials; the Potentials are her soldiers. Faith reminds Buffy that she got two of those "soldiers" killed in the vineyard. Buffy hits her. Faith is angry. She has long resented Buffy's superior attitude towards her. But she isn't going to fight Buffy over this. There is a much more important battle to be won,

and Faith is content to be another soldier in the war against the biggest evil they have ever faced. Then the Potentials and Buffy's friends put the responsibility for leading them into Faith's hands. Faith once complained that Buffy stole her birthright, that she made her feel like an outsider in what should have been "her town". Well, here's your chance, girlfriend. Be the Slayer. Willow the witchy hacker

Touched
The Metaphysics of "Touched"
The Turkish conjuration was a spell used by the ancient Turks used to communicate with the dying. It allows people who can no longer talk to speak through another. Dawn suggests using the spell on the mute Bringer, and Willow reads the incantation: Kendinizi ok uykulu hissetmeye bashliyorsunuz. ok uykulu, ok uykulu. Gzlerinizin nnde sallamak iin cep saatim yok ama, sizin de gzleriniz yok. Konusun bizimle. Andrew serves as the conduit for the Bringer. The Bringers are not only eyeless and tongueless, their individual identities and wills are part of a larger corporate mind that serves the First Evil (think the Borg and the Borg Queen, or the body Jasmine). Through the Turkish Conjuration spell, Andrew is briefly brought into this group mind. He tells the gang about an arsenal of weapons the Bringers are building "at the edge of town". Since the other Bringers are surely aware of the capture of this Bringer, it is likely the First uses this Bringer to lure Faith and the Potentials into a trap. The First Evil doesn't just take on the appearance of people who have died. It takes on their personality traits as well. It knows intimate secrets about the lives of the people It mimics. It becomes, in essence, the dead person It is depicting, but with the motives of the First in tact. This not only makes it easier for the First to manipulate people, it makes the First very dangerous, because Buffy's death in Prophecy Girl allowed the First to take the form of the living Slayer, to know what she knows, and to understand her vulnerabilities. The Scythe: According to stone tablets found in the Gilroy monastery, the First has a weapon It is trying to keep out of the hands of the Slayers. The weapon is buried in rock in the sub-

basement of Caleb's vineyard. The Bringers work to remove it. When Buffy returns to the vineyard, she discovers the sub-basement and the weapon. It's Fray's SCYTHE... it's the scythe Fray will find in the Fray Comic books in the future. For people who are not aware of it... Joss Whedon created a comic book character named Fray, who is a Slayer in the future, who finds this weapon which is odd because we never saw Buffy wield it... and now we have (Jane Espenson, BtVS Writer, May 6th, 2003). The invitation to vampires: Buffy enters a Sunnydale house to find a place to rest. A man still lives there. She tells him to leave town like everyone else. He does. But he will never be able to return to that house. He will never be able to return to this town. The First Evil has claimed Sunnydale. So although the man is still alive, Spike is able to enter what used to be the man's house without an invitation.

Evil in "Touched"
The First Evil has been equated with "the evil that lies in everyone's hearts", as if this pervasive evil was able to take the form of a single being. Regardless of whether this is true or even makes sense, the First Evil is an ancient entity of great malevolence, one whose incorporeal state has relegated It to manipulating the hearts and minds of living beings. The First Evil gave Caleb his extraordinary strength so that Caleb could be Its "vessel", Its means operating in the world of physical beings. What does it hope to achieve through Its vessel? It wants to destroy the Slayer line. It wants Power. And it wants destruction.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "Touched"

The Scoobies/Potentials: After Buffy leaves, the gang is in chaos. Everyone wants a say, but not everyone agrees what to do. Faith realizes that Buffy is right. They need one voice giving the orders. She steps up to be that voice. She formulates a plan to capture a Bringer. The Bringer tells them about an arsenal the Bringers are building for "the coming war". Andrew informs the gang that the First is hiding a weapon from the Slayers and suggests an arsenal might be a place to find such a weapon. Giles and Xander locate a subterranean space large enough to house an armory. Faith leads some of the Potentials to the sewers. The Bringers attack. They fight them off. Kennedy finds a locked metal box. Faith opens it. A bomb is inside. Buffy: If there is one thing that defines Buffy as a human being, it is her intense belief in the value of individual lives. She has never been able to reconcile herself with inevitable human cost of battle--"casualties". She cut herself off emotionally from her friends and the Potentials, she tells Spike, because she knew that some of them would die. In another leader, this might be necessary to help them focus them on their responsibilities. For Buffy, however, it disconnected her from the very thing that made her a good Slayer--the mutual support she shares with those she cares about. Handing the responsibility of leadership over to Faith--even temporarily--frees Buffy to focus on the task of uncovering Caleb's secrets. Buffy returns to the vineyard by herself and does not let Caleb bait her into a fight. The new tactic makes Caleb careless. He accidentally reveals a trap door that leads to the very thing that Buffy seeks.

When Spike returns to Sunnydale to discover that Buffy has been removed from command, he concludes that the gang are traitors. He accuses Giles of jealousy because Buffy has surpassed his wisdom. He accuses Faith of stealing the mantle of Slayer. He tracks Buffy and finds her wallowing in her perceived mistakes. Spike tells her how much he admires her strength and caring, then holds her while she finds the courage to face another day. Buffy admitted that she had been doing things wrong, that her "GeneralBuffy" attitude was off the mark. And Willow and Faith both admitted that they weren't sure that they did the right thing in sending her away ...it's an "enough blame for everyone" sort of situation. Buffy couldn't lead in the way she was trying to. And Willow and Faith were right - she needed sleep. Once Buffy got a good night's sleep, she was able to re-arrange her tactics. And I think Faith did a decent enough job of leading. She was given the assignment; she didn't ask for it (any more than Buffy did). She worked out, with some input from the others, a reasonable enough plan. Yes, it was a trap, but I don't know that, if, say, I were in that situation, I would have considered it a trap. "Here, Slayer - I've got something of yours!" screams trap. Catching a Bringer, finding a spell that allows them to communicate with a mute, using the information gained from that spell, and planning a well-armed daytime attack - doesn't scream trap. In hindsight - sure it's a trap. But I don't think the situations are exactly equivalent. ...Buffy IS right about the winery. But if she had attacked before she had time to work out the evasive-action approach to Caleb, it probably would have been disastrous. Everyone's a little right; everyone's a little wrong (dream, 5/07/03 11:26). Faith: The First appears to Faith to play on her insecurities. But It does not try to make Faith doubt herself as a leader. It tries to make her doubt Buffy. It tells her that Buffy will never respect her, that to Buffy she will always be a murderer. Why try to erode Faith's trust in someone who is no longer the leader of the team? Why try to divide the Slayers if they are already divided? Willow: When Kennedy arranges for her and Willow to finally be alone in a busy, bustling household, Willow is hesitant. She has been keeping herself restrained whenever possible. She fears that "losing control" will lead her down the path of darkness again. This fear is not merely about the use of magic. She is afraid that sexual activity will have the same result. Kennedy assures Willow that she will be safe with her. Willow lets herself trust that, and they make love.

End of Days/Chosen
| Metaphysics | Good | Moral ambiguity | Philosophies Represented |

The Metaphysics of "End of Days/Chosen"

| The First Evil | The Guardians | The Scythe | The crystal amulet |

The vehicle: When Caleb's super-human strength begins to wane, it is time for the First Evil to fill him with power again. Caleb and the First stand with their arms out. The First takes on Its horned skeleton "true form" (also seen in Amends and Bring on the Night) and "dives" into Caleb's body. Caleb's eyes go black. He once again has the strength required to carry out the First's wishes. Caleb kills the Guardian who is instructing Buffy on the Scythe, then goes after the Slayer. She guts Caleb with the Scythe, but he gets back up. They fight. Buffy buries the blade between Caleb's legs and cuts him in two with an upward swing of the Scythe. The First Evil has amassed an army of Turok-han that It hopes will soon outnumber human beings and tip the scales on Earth from good to evil. At this point, the First believes one or both of two things will happen. (1) It will be made flesh. (2) It will be able to enter "every man, woman and child" on Earth the way it now enters Caleb. We are not given the metaphysical details about how (or why) these outcomes might happen. But in the end they are moot. When the Slayers and Spike obliterate the army of Turok-han, they destroy any hope of the First reaching Its goals. [T]he First has lost its army and its power, and further, now, there is not only one girl preventing the evil in all of us taking over the world, but ...an entire army of Slayers who will stand up and fight. ...the First Evil will never be destroyed, but it will never win, either (Rob 5/21/03 11:45).

The Guardians: Willow and Giles discover a non-indigenous pagan tomb in Sunnydale that may be connected to the Scythe. In the tomb, Buffy encounters a woman who calls herself a "Guardian". The Guardians are an ancient group of women who made it their job to help and protect the Slayers. Long ago, they forged the Scythe and buried it in a rock. Over the millennia they have kept an eye on the Shadowmen, who eventually became the Watchers Council, and did not let them know about the weapon. Now only one Guardian remains. She implies that she is very old. She has been waiting for the time when the Scythe would once again be wielded by the Slayer. She appears to be human, so it is not clear how she has survived to see this time.

The Scythe is a weapon with a mystical connection to the Slayers. Both Buffy and Faith get a strong feeling when they hold the Scythe. Each knows it belongs to them. The weapon was forged by the Guardians halfway around the world then brought to the land that would one day be called Sunnydale. There, it was used only once, to kill the last pure demon that walked upon the Earth. Then the Scythe was buried in rock. The land where it was hidden eventually became a monastery and then Caleb's vineyard. The Guardian tells Buffy that the re-emergence of the Scythe is a sign that "an end is truly near." An end to what, exactly? The Scythe's importance goes beyond its use as a weapon. Its mystical connection to the Slayers allows it to be used as a talisman. Buffy asks Willow to use the mystical aspects of the Scythe to alter the magicks put into effect by the Shadowmen. She wants to end to the rule which dictates that a new Slayer can only called when the previous one dies.

She wants all the Potentials to have the power of the Slayer now. This also means that, from now on, girls with the potential to be Slayers will have the power of the Slayer, likely from birth. Altering the Calling of Slayers: The essential step in Buffy's plan is Willow's ability to tap into the primal mystical forces of nature and of talismans like the Scythe. Willow sits on the floor in a circle of candles and ritualistic totems. She places her hands on the Scythe and chants. The Scythe flares bright white. Its power flows into Willow's hands until she glows as well and her hair turns white. Potentials of all ages all over the world become Slayers. Soon, the glow fades. Willow's hair returns to normal. However, according to the shooting script, Willow has been altered by the spell as well, in ways that are not yet clear. Kennedy the Vampire Slayer takes the Scythe down into the depths of Hell.

The Hellmouth: The gang goes to the abandoned high school. Buffy slashes her palm with Andrew's Tawarick knife and bleeds on the Seal of Danthazar. It absorbs her blood. Faith and the Potentials do the same. The Seal glows and opens. Spike and the women descend into a Hell dimension, leaving the Seal of Danthazar open for their escape. This dimension is full of Turokhan, waiting to ascend to Earth to battle for the First Evil. The crystal amulet: It is unclear what Lilah Morgan of Wolfram and Hart intended by giving Angel this amulet, but it proves to be the decisive weapon in the war against the First Evil. This powerful and dangerous talisman has the ability to cleanse an area of vampires (or possibly, most beings) when worn by a supernaturally strong champion with a soul. The talisman seems to be fueled by the energy of the soul of whomever wields it. When Spike first puts the amulet on, it doesn't do anything. But in the middle of the fight against the Turok-han, it begins to glow with the power of (according to the shooting script) "pure solar energy". This energy surges through the dimensional cavern, destroying Turok-han by the thousands. It then rockets upward and brings the ceiling and walls of the cavern crashing down. Some of the energy enters the Earthly plane through the Seal of Danthazar. The school and the surrounding buildings and streets collapse. The opening in the Hellmouth widens and the city of Sunnydale is sucked down into Hell. In the chaos below, the energy of the amulet consumes Spike from within. Spike disintegrates. The remaining power of the amulet then seals the Hellmouth shut, possibly obliterating this wall between the Earth and the demon dimensions forever.

Good and Moral Ambiguity in "End of Days/Chosen"

| Buffy | Willow | The Slayers | The Scooby Gang | Spike | Faith | After Buffy escapes Caleb and saves the Potentials from the Turok-han in the sewers, she returns to the fold. Not all the girls are glad that Buffy is back, but none of them questions her return. Defeating the First is once again Buffy's responsibility. With the information Angel brought her about the First Evil, Buffy tries to come up with a plan. When the First appears and taunts her about the Potential Slayer's powerlessness, Buffy realizes what she has to do.

She asks the Potentials to chose to become real Slayers. Her plan is to use the girls as an army to make a preemptive strike at the Hellmouth. The Potentials say "yes". Buffy and Faith lead the Slayers into battle wielding the Scythe. In the heat of battle, a Turok-han stabs Buffy through the abdomen with a sword. She falls. The First appears to taunt her again, but Buffy just turns the First's taunts on Its incorporeal ear again. She stands up and returns to the fight despite her wound. Willow's magic skills are essential to Buffy's plan to defeat the forces of the First Evil. But Willow is not sure that she is emotionally stable enough to do the job. Tapping into the essence of a talisman as powerful as the Scythe will require a total loss of control. Willow is afraid she'll revert to the dark place she went to the last time she experimented with such powerful magicks. But Buffy believes in her, and so does Kennedy. Willow puts her faith in the power of their love and takes the risk.

"No matter how smart you are, or how ready, war is about death." -Buffy The Slayers When Buffy's army first engages the horde of Turok-han, most do so as brave, but (almost) normal girls. Then Willow's spell kicks in. Suddenly they are Slayers, fighting with the strength and skill of Buffy and Faith. Vi, Amanda, Rona, Kennedy and the others kill Turok-han with fists, feet, and weapons, including the Scythe. They are powerful, but not powerful enough to evade injury and death. Buffy watches as Amanda falls before her, and Chao-Ahn is attacked by a Turok-han. A few of the girls are able to escape back up out of the Seal of Danthazar before Spike's amulet brings the hell-cavern crashing down on them. But some, like Rona, are severely injured. Willow's spell has awakened women warriors all over the world, but the power and responsibility that comes with being a Slayer is always a mixed blessing. The gang: The battle between the Slayers and the Turok-han drives dozens of the powerful vampires up through the Seal of Danthazar and into the basement of Sunnydale High School. But the gang is ready for them. They have blocked off sewer access, forcing the vampires above ground. Dawn, who refused to let Buffy send her away from Sunnydale, joins Xander in the fight in the school atrium. Xander drives the Turok-han under the covered skylight. Dawn removes the tarp, flooding the atrium with light and incinerating the vampires. The Turok-han are joined by the Bringers. Anya and Andrew take up positions in the abandoned hallways of the school, swords at the ready. Andrew has been ready to die for the cause since he helped Buffy deactivate the Seal of Danthazar. Anya, on the other hand, is unsure whether to join the fight. For the most part, she is unimpressed with "screwed up and selfish" human behavior. But she has noticed that they fight hard when things are important, so she will fight, too. Anya kills several Turok-han, saving Andrew, then stabs a Bringer. Another Bringer slips up behind her and slices her in two. She dies instantly. Andrew survives.

Wood and Giles also fight in the hallways of the school. Wood gets wounded by a sword. Giles guides the ex-Principal and other survivors to the get-away bus when the school starts to collapse. Spike watches when Angel gives Buffy the crystal amulet and explains how it is to be used. Spike knows Buffy will need someone to wield this weapon against the First. But he doesn't claim the amulet and the job of using it to impress Buffy or to make her love him. Spike is already convinced that Buffy will never love him in the way he wants her to. In claiming the amulet, Spike is making a choice to do good for the sake of doing good. He isn't sure if he has what it takes to be a champion, but he's ready to find out. Spike descends into the caverns of the Hellmouth wearing the amulet. When it starts its destructive glow, he realizes what the amulet does, and what wielding it will likely do to him. Buffy doesn't want him to die, but Spike insists on seeing the job through. He proves himself worthy. A champion is one that is willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good of everyone else. Hero, champion... each Scooby and each member of Angel Investigations is in their own way a champion, a hero. ...We may watch a show about heroes and champions, but we get them warts, amulets, souls and all (Rufus, 5/21/03 3:09). More on what the amulet does After Faith recovers from the explosion in the sewers, she blames herself for leading the girls into the trap. But Buffy defends Faith's choice. Faith had to make a difficult decision about how to battle the First Evil. Faith has now learned the loneliness of being the Chosen One, the one everyone looks to for leadership. But Faith already knows something about loneliness. All her life, she has kept people, especially men, at arm's length. Robin Wood would like to get to know her better. He believes her dismissive attitude comes from being a Slayer--she shares the tendency he's seen in Buffy and his own mother to emotionally isolate themselves from others. He asks Faith to give him a chance if they survive the coming battle. There are many nice men, like him, that would surprise her. After the battle, Wood pretends to die from his injuries. Faith realizes she cares for him. Wood opens his eyes. Surprise! The moral ambiguity of Angel and Spike

Philosophies Represented in "End of Days/Chosen"

Feminism and Power Buffy has tried to combat the First by cutting herself off from everybody else, stifling her emotions, making herself cold and hard. ...she is preparing herself for the deaths of her friends and the Potentials. ...How will Buffy get over these feelings of separation and loneliness? The answer ends up being so pure and beautiful in its simplicity: Buffy will share her power with others. She doesn't need to be the only one bearing the weight of the world on her shoulders. ...This idea ...makes perfect sense with the mythology of the series, allows Buffy to finally reach the peace she's always longed for, and speaks to the themes of female empowerment that have always run through the series. ...Buffy has never been one for prophecy and has never been

willing to play by the ancient rules. She is the first slayer to fire the Council, ...and now completely overthrows any patriarchal hold and control the Watchers and Shadowmen ever had on the Slayers. She uses the Slayer power that the female Guardians had harnessed to protect the Slayer and shatters the old rule that a bunch of old men made up, that there could only be one Slayer in the world (Rob 5/21/03 11:45). Buffy has decided to find a way to give the potentials the choice she never had....the choice to fight but on a more equal footing that their potential status has never allowed a girl to fight before. I've seen posts on other boards arguing that Buffy was being just as bad as the Shadow Men but I disagree....one thing Buffy can't change is the fact that all over the world certain girls have already been chosen to be a potential slayer. Earlier in the season we saw that each girl was being murdered as they had no chance to fight back. Buffy wants to change that. It's all about power, and power is something that people can feel protective of, want to keep to themselves. Part of the problem between Buffy and Faith was not the fact that they were Slayers but just girls who allowed jealousy and fear keep them isolated from each other. Faith said that perhaps the reason they couldn't get along was that there was only to be one Slayer....but Buffy finally figured out that sometimes to be powerful you have to be willing to give away some power to become better than you were before (Rufus, 5/21/03 3:09). More thoughts on Feminism in "Chosen" Buffy: identity and destiny Buffy has long tried to create a stable relationship with a man, but so far hasn't succeeded. It was tempting to conclude that there was something wrong with her--but now she believes that isn't so. She simply isn't ready for that kind of relationship yet, and there's nothing wrong with not being ready. Buffy is still trying to find out who she is as an individual. Defining herself in relation to an ever-present somebody else--Angel, Riley, Spike--only complicates that personal discovery. Buffy believes she will be ready for a long-term relationship when she's done her journey of self-discovery. And the journey has only just begun. Willow's spell has changed the realities of Buffy's life. Now Potential Slayers are born with their slayer powers already activated. Buffy is no longer the Chosen "One". She has the freedom to discover who she is beyond her responsibilities as "The Slayer". And she's looking forward to this new adventure. Are you ready to make choices, rather than having your destiny thrust upon you? ...it's pretty much the same old question Buffy has been tormented with since Prophecy Girl. Sacrificial lamb, Iphigenia, Andromeda.the sacrificed girls. ...the theme of Buffy's constant loneliness was taken away. Finally, it's not just one girl in all the world. The world doesn't revolve around her anymore (literally, BtVS is finished) and what a relief it is. It finally relieves both Buffy's superiority complex, and her inferiority one (Rahael 05-29-2003 16:11).

Thanks to Joss Whedon for seven wonderful seasons!

Orpheus
The Metaphysics of "Orpheus"
The ritual to remove Angel's soul: Wesley arrives with Wo-Pang, a shaman from the Order of the Kun-Sun-Dai. They are dark mystics who have the power to extract souls and restore them again. Wesley's plan is to turn Angel into Angelus long enough to convince him to tell them what he knows about the Beast, and then turn him back. Connor and Gunn prepare the steel cage that they will keep Angelus locked up in. Wesley straps Angel's arms and legs to a table inside the cage. Wo-Pang brings out the muo-ping, a glass container with a cork stopper at the top. It is the receptacle that will house Angel's soul in the interim and allow them to restore it. The shaman enters the cage and it is double locked behind him. Angel is instructed to close his eyes and not speak. The shaman touches Angel's forehead with his fingertips. In Mandarin he incants: wo qing qui wu xin zi li. kun, zhen, xun, kan, li ci wo tong ling ji fao muo li The shaman opens his eyes. His irises are blood red. wo hao zhoe juo xin ze wan cheng ta de zi yuan

Wo-Pang removes his hands. Angel falls into a hallucination so vivid and consistent with his real life that it becomes reality for him. "Restoring" Angel's Soul: Angel's soul is missing. The gang return to the shaman for help. WoPang casts bones and tells them that it is still within the muo-ping. However, he cannot return Angel's soul without knowing where the container is. Later, Cordelia's eyes go white with a vision. She sends the others out to collect ingredients for a spell to restore Angel's soul. Lorne lays twigs in a circle on the basement floor. The skull of the soul-eater is set in the center. They light candles. Cordelia drips the contents of a vial on the skull. Each of Angel's friends holds a talisman made out of animal bones and talons. Cordelia walks over to the cage where Angelus is desperately taunting them. She touches him with her talisman. It sends him flying into the far wall. Wesley incants: In degera fortis murus The candles flare up. Kesta sartuum mundi ethericon chimera nihilo Smoke rises from the skull and follows a line along each of the talismans until it reaches Angelus. It lifts him into the air. The skull explodes. Angelus falls to the ground. "Angel" looks up and apologizes for all that he's done. But Angel's soul isn't restored. The minute Angelus realizes it, he plays the part in order to escape. So did the spell do anything besides put on a convincing light show? Well, it may have done something to Lorne to make him believe he was sensing Angel's soul when in fact he was not. WILLOW Look, it's working. WESLEY I thought Delothrian's Arrow was used to protect good magicks. WILLOW It is. WESLEY So, how can you use it to break the jar? The Muo-Ping is a sacred object. It's holy. WILLOW It's glass, therefore crunchable. The sacred's what's inside. "All life a container..." WESLEY "...For the heart of all life." You've studied the Daharim. WILLOW It had to be something specific. There's lots of jars in the worldcan't shatter them all. I mean,

you could, but good things come in jars. Peanut butter, jelly, those two-headed fetal pigs at the natural history museum. (Wes doesn't respond) Come on, everybody loves fetal pigs. Fred walks around the lobby in a circle carrying a lit white candle and ringing a bell. WILLOW (touches Fred's chin, lifting it higher, smiling) You're good. Good bells. (walks up to the front desk; to Gunn) OK, now all I gotta do is contact the spirit world, harness the Delothrian ebb, and focus it through my little marble of doom here. (holds out a small metal ball) And we'll restore the Muo-Ping's entropic equilibrium. GUNN The jar goes smash? WILLOW Smash-o-crash. GUNN All I need to know. I'll be downstairs in case the Prince of Darkness wakes up. (leaves the room) WILLOW OK. WESLEY (walks up to Willow) You ready? WILLOW (nods) Should be a snap. A bolt of orange energy hits Willow and sends her sliding across the floor. BEASTMASTER (V.O.) Stay your hand, witch! (show Cordelia is holding the crystal again, saying the words of the Beastmaster) You will not interfere with what must come to pass. WILLOW (stands, covers her head with her hands and weakly mumbles) Invadoria disparu! BEASTMASTER (V.O.) You think to banish me?

WILLOW (to Wesley) There's somebody in my head.

CORDELIA (as Beastmaster) As long as the soul is under my protection, it will never be freed. WILLOW (to the sky) Vetsche invadoria disparu! CORDELIA (as Beastmaster) I'th bid my thongue. WESLEY He's enormously powerful. It's the dead Beast's master. He contacted Angelus the same way. FRED He wants to stop us from getting the soul. WILLOW (black-eyed, holding her hand out, the marble in it floats and starts to glow) Open the window. Fill this stone. Inside, outside. Two made one. CORDELIA (as Beastmaster) You wanna go, Glinda? We'll go. Willow's knocked down by another bolt of energy from the Beastmaster. CONNOR Are you sure she can handle it? WILLOW (black-eyed, focused on the glowing ball in front of her) Alesh ashtoreth! The ground starts shaking. WESLEY I think she can hold her own. An apparition of a huge demonic head floats above the gang in the lobby, growling and shrieking. CONNOR What the hell is that? WILLOW (to Connor) Ignore it. (to the glowing ball in front of her) Find your target. Leave my side. CORDELIA OK, then. Huge floaty head not enough to scare you? Then why don't we try (the glowing ball

Willow sent comes straight toward the Muo-Ping; Cordelia puts up a hand to stop it, concentrating hard) And now she is on my last nerve!

Delothrian's Arrow: Fred has tried to discover a way to restore Angel's soul without any luck. The muo-ping containing Angel's soul is missing, and as long as its location remains unknown, the shaman Wo-Pang can't work his counter-spell. If Angel's soul were in the Ether, it could be restored via the Ritual of the Undead. But Angel's soul is somewhere on Earth. So Fred decides to bring in the closest thing Angel Investigations has to an expert on restoring Angel's soul. Willow has tried standard locator spells to find the muo-ping, but the container and its contents are impervious to them. Then she gets an idea. A talisman called "Delothrian's Arrow" is attracted to sacred objects (like a human soul), but it will not harm them. It can, however, be used to break the glass around the soul. Once freed, the soul will retreat into the Ether. Willow pours ingredients into a jar. They form a red liquid that emits a smoky mist. From out of this she creates the enchanted stone. Fred walks around the room with a lit candle, ringing a bell. Willow holds the stone in her palm. She incants: Open the window Fill the stone Inside, outside Two made one The stone rises into the air and glows. Willow is briefly distracted by "Cordelia"'s magicks, but finally says: Find your target, leave my side! The "Arrow" enters "Cordelia"'s room. She stops it with her hand. Willow pushes the Arrow towards the muo-ping, "Cordelia" pushes back. Then Connor distracts "Cordelia" briefly. She loses control of the Arrow, and it breaks the muo-ping. Angel's soul rises into the air. Fighting the Beast's Master: Just as Willow is about to start the Delothrian's Arrow spell, she is thrown across the room. It is the Beast's Master, trying to prevent them from restoring Angel's soul. A voice in her head warns Willow against what she is trying to do. "Vetsche invadoria disparu!" Willow cries out. "Cordelia"'s communication talisman is destroyed. "Cordelia" sends out another bolt that knocks Willow down. "Ahlesh ashtorath!" Willow shouts. Her eyes go black with the power of the magicks she is harnessing. The hotel shakes. "Semsa nahl erash a'lahm!" "Cordelia"'s eyes go white. She incants, "Seiza jah n'hast engai. Seiza jah n'hast engai." A ghostly image of a demon's head appears in the air above Willow and the others. Willow tells them to ignore it. It is merely an illusion to frighten them. She sends the Arrow out to break the muo-ping. "Geth na haroth castellum tol!" "Cordelia" fears she doesn't have the strength to stop Willow. "If only this were a few weeks later!" she despairs.

Restoring Angel's soul: Willow and Fred recite the Gypsy curse in the original Romanian, complete with an orb of Thessela, the spirit vault for rituals of the undead. Yes, boys and girls, that means the happiness clause is probably still in effect for our broody-boy. Poltergeists are violent ghosts trapped on the Earthly plane by unresolved issues from their human lives. When she died in 1946, Maude Pearson was a mentally disturbed 57-year old woman who disapproved of her son Dennis' fiancee because she came from "wrong side of the tracks". To keep him away from her, Maude bound Dennis and sealed him up in a wall. Her intent might have been to free him after an hour or two, but she dropped dead of a heart attack. She is now trapped in a purgatory of the insanity she suffered in life, fueled by an inability to face the consequences of her final actions. On at least three occasions, Maude has been able to put female residents of her apartment into a "thrall"--a state of mind in which the women become susceptible to suggestion (see Buffy in IOHEFY). They allow themselves to be verbally humiliated and their "suicides" are staged. Cordelia succumbs to the spirit's thrall as well. It is likely that this emotional powerlessness cannot be induced unless the woman is already susceptible to the ghost's degrading words. Dennis' traumatic suffocation at the hands of his own mother explains why he remains on Earth as well. His spirit is trapped in the wall with his corpse, and is freed when the wall is broken. Prior to that, Dennis can only stick his phantasmal face into the wall. The spell to bind a ghost: To send a ghost to its final resting place, it is necessary to find a ghost's "center"--to uncover the traumatic events that led to it being trapped on Earth. Doyle places Hawthorn Berries, Lungwort, and stones in a "binding circle". The spell also requires bile, though it is not clear how it is used. Angel reads the incantation: Adduce veritatem in lucem. Accipiat larua suam requietem. Reposcant animae suum regnum. Translation: Bring forth the truth into the light. Let the ghost take his rest. The spirits reclaim their authority. Doyle: Vinci laruam in orbem. Vindicent exterus mundus suam incolam At this point, Cordelia--the human being that the ghost is in contact with--is supposed to stand in the circle and strike at its center. This ritual action will reveal the ghost's "center". It is not, however, the only way this trauma can be revealed. When Cordelia regains her selfconfidence in the bedroom, this weakens the ghost of Maude Pearson and completes the spell. The spell's effect is to momentarily put the other ghost in the apartment, the son, Dennis Pearson, into Cordelia. A possessed Cordelia hacks into the wall with a metal lamp, revealing where Dennis' corpse was sealed into the wall by his mother. The revelation of Maude's deeds sends her to her final resting place, but not before she experiences the spiritual wrath of Dennis. Dennis, interestingly, remains trapped on the Earthly plane after this. Perhaps he still has other issues to work out.

The time of an invitation to a vampire isn't a factor in its gaining entrance to a private residence. Cordelia invites Angel over to a place she doesn't even have yet (or know about) with a casual "when I get my new place, you're totally invited over." When Angel arrives at "the new place", he walks right in. The Exorcism of a demon: Wesley prepares the binding powder, a yellow mixture that Cordelia spreads in a line around Angel's bed, where DemonRyan is lying. This prevents the demon from moving past the bed, but doesn't prevent him from talking. He says whatever he can to entice the others to cross the line so he can harm them (e.g., feigning fear and then choking Paige). Crosses, holy water and a Latin supplication to the Christian God ("Omnis spiritus immunde in nomine Dei! In odorem suavitatus. Tu autem effugare diabole. Appropinquabit enum judicum Dei!") keep the demon at bay until the actual exorcism. Angel performs the successful expulsion, holding a cloth-covered cross in his hands and taking DemonRyan through the Latin liturgy: Angel: Abrenunius Satanae. (Do you renounce Satan?) DemonRyan: Abrenuntio! (I renounce!) Angel: Et omnibus operibus ejus? (And all his works?) DemonRyan: Abrenuntio! (I renounce!) Angel: Et Omnibus pompis ejus? (And all his pomps?) DemonRyan: Abrenuntio! (I renounce!) Angel: Exorcizo te. Omnis spiritus immunde, adaperire! More on the exorcism: The book was not the Bible but, I suppose, the Roman Ritual, which would include the Rite of Exorcism [which is why Angel could hold the book]. The words, insofar as they are taken from anything, seem to come from the [Catholic] baptismal rite and its renunciation of Satan. It is certainly not from the exorcism rite in the Roman Ritual, which is both much longer, has far more interesting prayers and a richer and more suggestive vocabulary. ...In the real rite it would use explicitly trinitarian language (Fidelis, Feb 15 20:04 2000). Who is speaking when the boy denounces evil? Indications are it is the demon, not Ryan. The ritual to raise Vocah: Two evil monks throw a powdery substance in a circle marked on a patch of grass: This hallowed ground is made ready. His time is at hand, for as it is written, he of pure darkness shall come into the light. The ground shakes, The circle flames. A demon rises from it in a hood and mask that hides a face in decay. The revivification ritual (AKA The Raising): Most vamps don't leave their bones behind when they pass on. Darla ended up on the business end of a janitor's broom and dust pan after Angel

staked her. Bringing her back requires lots of chanting and five vampire sacrifices in chains. Wolfram and Hart's evil monks place a wooden cage in the middle of a mausoleum (consecrated ground) and anoint it with oil and human blood. Vocah reads from the Prophecies of Aberjian: As it was written, they shall prepare the way, and the very gates of hell shall open. That which is above shall tremble, for that which is below shall arise. And the world shall know the beast, and the beast shall know the world. Vocah: Five are without breath. Monks: Yet they live. Vocah: Five are without time. Monks: Yet they live. Vocah: Five are without soul. Monks: Yet they live. Vocah: Five are without sun. Monks: Yet they live. Vocah senses Angel. Lindsey continues the ritual: Five are dead. Monks: Yet they live. He continues in Latin: Et illi quinque sacrificium est. Et ille qui mortuus vivet. Translation: And the five shall be a sacrifice. And the one who is dead shall live. Dum vita et mors non duas res sed una sunt. In tenebris lux est. In luce tenebrae sunt. Surge! Surge! Surge! Surge! Surge! Surge! Surge! Translation: Even as life and death are not two things but one. In darkness is the light, In light is the darkness. Arise! Arise! Arise! Arise! Arise! Arise! A wind starts up that dusts the vampire sacrifices. Ashes and vampire bones whirl around the cage and enter it. A light explodes out from inside the cage. ...there were five vampires chained to the box. They vanished when the spell was complete. Raw materials for making a new body (BH Perry, May 25, 2000, 3:47 pm). The ritual to raise the Thesulac Demon: The demon can only be killed in its corporeal form. It takes physical form after a huge meal of paranoia (this happens after Angel's lynching) or when it is "raised". Cordelia tosses sacred herbs and divining powder on the staircase landing. Wesley reads an incantation: We call thee forth, Thesulac of the netherworld. We command you, leave our minds and join us on this, the physical plane Gunn tosses Wesley an Orb of Ramjarin which he holds up with his other hand. We invoke thee by the power of all the priests of Ramjarin What was once in our thoughts be now in our midst.

Reality bends and the demon appears. Gunn shoots an electrical cord at him with a cross bow and Angel turns on the juice, zapping the Thesulac into oblivion. Yeska: Bryce plans to sacrifice Virginia to Yeska, a Davric demon who grants huge power to the person that offers a live virgin girl to her on their 50th birthday. Yeska is a large female demon with really bad hair and teeth. The supplication to Yeska: An altar inscribed with symbols is set up in the center of a room in Bryce's house. Bryce lights a black candle, and says: Yeska, of razor eyes and stone heart, take this offering. I cast my most precious emerald into the ocean on the moment of my birth plus fifty years. His thugs chain Virginia to the altar. Take my gift and let her death return ten-fold unto me my power. Bryce dips his fingers in a bowl of water. He anoints Virginia's forehead. He continues his supplication even after Angel and the others burst into the house. The hour approaches, Yeska. Do not be blind to my plea... The demon Yeska materializes behind the altar and annouces, "The sacrifice... is impure!" and disappears without granting Bryce the power. The weaking spell: Lanier's thugs wait for Virginia outside her bedroom door. When Wesley and Virginia arrive, one of them tries to stop Wesley with a spell: Let your flesh be weakened, your spirit melted by the heat of-The deoculation charm: Wesley pulls the pouch of deoculation powder (made from mandrake) from his pocket, sprinkles it on the back of Cordelia's head, and rubs it in. He incants in Latin: Come clean, be new, release the grip, return to nothingness. The eye in the back of Cordy's head vanishes. You can kill an adult Skilosh any number of ways, although the most prudent method is to hack it to pieces. Dimensional portals: Transporting between Earth and the dimension of Pylea requires a special incantation. Five years ago, a librarian named Fred read aloud from a book in the foreign language section of the public library. A portal opened behind her and swept her away. Cordy finds the book, entitled "Shrsqwrn" and reads aloud from it at random: "Krv Drpglr pwlz chkwrt strplmt dwghzn prqlrzn lffrmtplzt."

A portal opens up behind her and out pops Landokmar of the Deathwok Clan. Later, Cordelia deduces that if Landok reads from the book near a portal, he will be sent back. In Caritas, Landok reads: "Klmprkthr pwlznth wrv blrpnkntr vrbqwptl spgr drpvln." A portal opens and a light flashes. Landok is gone, and so is Cordelia. Question: How did the Drokken get to Earth, the Stevie Wonder incantation? More on the metaphysics of portal-jumping. Demons of the Deathwok Clan are green with red horns. By tradition, Deathwok demons are fierce warriors who engage in hunting and gathering and jousting. They have a strict code of honor. Upon death, certain rituals must be followed to ensure the dead warrior receives glory. The Algurian body-switching spell: To enact the transmigration spell, Marcus recites an incantation: Alii permutat anima kimota. Alii permutat anima kimota. The incantation ignites the power a small Algurian conjuring orb. As the orb begins to glow. Marcus' essence (in the form of a stream of energy) leaves his body and enters his victim's body. The reverse also happens. The Sanctorium spell, part 2: The Transuding Furies are at Caritas recasting their spell to make the club a sanctuary against violence. Only this time, they have two incantations, one that guards against human violence, and one that guards against demon violence. One spell begins: Violence abounds, violence restrained, This space a sanctuary was and shall be again.... The raising ritual: In a temple below the streets of LA, a demon, Sahjhan, approaches a clay statue and says. The weight of time is heavy on the world, and all men born must die. But there are worlds unknown, where dreamers dream and sleepers sleep and patiently await. He throws a special powder on the statue throughout what follows: As pledged in Caladan by Cod-She, one shall awaken in the first year of the final century, That one who lived before, and joined Cod-She in the great sleep, arise! As was promised and foretold, arise. Arise! The temple starts to tremble and the statue cracks. Inside is Holtz, back to get vengeance on his vampire foes.

The Furies' protection spell on the Hyperion protects its occupants from attack by preventing anyone from getting in or out of the hotel. Only an emergency exit in the sewers--a mystical barrier that can be opened and closed with a password (the Pylean word for "hedgehog")--allows access. Then the Lilliad demons come calling. These demons have pasty white faces and wear hooded robes. Their counter-spell allows them to break the force-field surrounding the hotel: Vodis cocedite nostris, Vires mitte per unum totosque, Mystical energy jumps from their fingers et sine peona. The force field shimmers and breaks open. The Burger Loa: Wesley asks a wizard to put him in touch with an oracle that can help him interpret the prophecy he's translated: "The father will kill the son". The wizard sends him to the outdoor speaker of a fast-food restaurant. It is in the shape of a giant hamburger. Wesley sprinkles powder from a bag over the hamburger statue, then holds his palms up in front of him. Mange sec loa, Alegba. Accept this offering and open the gates of truth. Loa Kalfu, make your crossroads here. A red light flashes and the hamburger comes to life. Loa are spirits in Voodun cosmology. They're kind of like gods. Look them up on the About.com religions section for better info (Apophis, 2/25/02 21:11). ...I think it is not insignificant that the loa Wesley consults is Legba--he's the master of the crossroads, yes, but he's also a trickster, and you just can't trust them tricksters--they're tricky! (leslie, 2/26/02 10:21) The portal to Quortoth: Sahjhan raises his hands: "Lekko Najine Forkahdio!!" His words rip open a hole between dimensions. The ground shakes, the edge of the passageway crackles. On the other side is a dimension of storms and lightening with a blood-red sky. This is Quortoth, "the darkest of the dark worlds". Holtz carries Connor through the passageway. Then Sahjhan closes it: "Forkahdio Najine Lekko." The fissure to Quortoth disappears.

The ritual to raise Sahjahn: Angel draws a pentagram in a circle on the floor of the hotel in red paint. Candles sit at the points of the pentagram. Lilah drips some of her human blood in the center. Angel lowers the lights. He reads: "Corpus granok Sahjhan demonicus" Mystical energy swirls up from the pentagram. It appears to start forming into a being, then dissipates. A bioplasmic disturbance occurs at the same time miles away. Sahjhan materializes on a city street. The spell to close the dimensional rift: Mistress Meerna is an expert in dimensional magic. She routinely skips right through other dimensions, appearing to go from one place to another without crossing the space in between. She takes psychic readings of the tear in reality above the Hyperion lobby. Then Lorne brings her a metal bowl with some ingredients. She waves her hand over the bowl and incants: Forras A ka ul do In tempor lyta She pulls out a few ingredients and flings them towards the crack. They rise into the air and seal the fissures. Voynok demons are gray, scaley and have nine lives. Which means that if you want to kill them and have them stay dead, you have to kill them nine times. Time-consuming. Professor Seidel summons the demon with a short spell: Barathrum copeo lacero Increptio imanis barathrum copeo lacero The demon keeps Angel occupied just long enough to, well, be totally unable to prevent Professor Seidel's death. A bit of poetic justice in that one. The ritual to blot out the sun: The Beast goes to Connor and Cordelia's to use their living space as the location of his ritual. He attaches the two metal wings retrieved from the Totems together and places the glass globe at the top between them. Then he expels the black energy from Mesektet out of his mouth and into the orb. He chants: Ket sahv Ma'at Ket sahv Mesektet Finally, he drips blood from the heart of Ma'at onto the orb. Amun Samkhet Vesh ra'at Manjet...

The sky starts to dim. Connor and Cordelia look up to see streams of black streaking across the sun and blotting out its light. The sun has not been destroyed. Its mass remains for the Earth to circle around. Its combustion continues. But visible rays of light no longer reach Los Angeles. This is similar to what happens during a solar eclipse, when the moon passes in front of the sun. This analogy to an eclipse gives us an idea of how people in Los Angeles can see the sun "disappear" while people in other regions do not. The moon passes in front of the sun from only one vantage point on Earth at a time, not all of them. In the case of this spell, however, the blackness blocking the rays of the sun will eventually cover the entire solar sphere, and the sun will not be visible from any spot on Earth. The sanctuary spell: It may not be possible to de-invite a vampire from his own home, so the gang finds an alternative. They sprinkle burnt clove dust around the perimeter of the Hyperion. Lorne lights candles and incants: Violence restrained, demons disarmed. For mortals within these walls, no harm. Protection and safety, this charm doth endow. To make this shelter a sanctuary now! There is no noise, no flashes of light. Connor makes a snide remark about the worthlessness of magic. Annoyed, the demon Lorne tries to hit him over the head with a candlestick. Before it can make contact, it bounces off a mystical barrier with a loud boom. No demon violence--towards humans or demons--can now happen within the walls of the hotel. The birth of the vessel: The entity inside Cordelia isn't ready to be born, but it must birth itself before Angel finds "Cordelia". "Cordelia" performs a ritual to induce mystical labor. She draws a circle and sets candles in it. She sits in the center, closes her eyes, and chants: Vanu'esh katahn dahr'im vajrah ha'esh She lays down in the circle. She continues to chant. The earth starts shaking. Connor dips his hand in the spilled blood of the virgin and presses his hand to "Cordelia"'s stomach. The blood soaks in. A green light shoots out of "Cordelia"'s abdomen. It writhes like an octopus, then coalesces into a beautiful full-grown woman who, interestingly, resembles neither Cordelia nor Connor. Mediums are psychics with the ability to communicate with and call up the presence of the dead. A Wolfram and Hart medium is brought in to locate Spike after he disappears. The gang sits in a circle at a table. The medium closes her eyes and says, I call upon the guardian of souls, the keeper of the passage. Let our breath flow from what is to what has passed. Bless us with the presence of the lost. Grant us communion with the world

beyond our reach. Give voice to those who can no longer be heard. I beseech you, open your gates... reveal your secrets. Removing the glyphs: Wesley and Fred gather ingredients into a bowl, including Woodbury lichen and a Danbeetle skeleton. Lorne burns incense. They sprinkle the ingredients in the bowl with the arterial blood of "an unclean" (a demon, in this case, Lorne). Wesley incants, Fabula mundi, Sanguis incesti, Vincula solve, Invisa revela while Fred sprinkles more ingredients into the bowl.

While Angel and Gunn fight the puppets, Wesley and Fred go after the nest egg. Wesley incants: Aperi, rumpe, solve, reveni The nest egg starts to open. Aperi, rumpe, solve, reveni. Refer quod furatum-A puppet-demon attacks Wesley. Fred reads the the spell: Aperi, rumpe, solve, reveni. Fractae, omnia vin-Fred stops the spell and shoots the puppet. This allows Wesley to get the upper hand. He pulls out the puppet's horn, killing him. Meanwhile, Fred returns to the spell: Omnia incantamenta fracta. Omnia incantamenta fracta. Aperi, rumpe, solve, reveni. The egg explodes.

Not Fade Away

The Metaphysics of "Not Fade Away"
The war for humanity: Millions of years ago, before recorded human history, great beings walked the Earth, among them those beings now known as the Powers that Be. Gradually, the malevolent among these beings grew stronger and claimed the Earth as their own, driving the more benevolent into other realms. Thus began the era of "The Old Ones", when the Earth was ruled by pure demons. Among these demons were beings known as the Wolf, Ram, and Hart. At that time, they were weak by demon standards.

Over time, non-demon species, including humans, appeared on the Earth. Human beings, through their own resources (e.g., the creation of Slayers), general sneakiness, and the otherworldy aid of the PTBs, killed the pure demons and drove the remainder into the demon dimensions. The demons that remained on Earth were human hybrids, like vampires. From their place in another realm, the Wolf, Ram, and Hart began to develop a base of power on Earth (as well as other dimensions) using a variety of emissaries (The Conduit, The Circle of the Black Thorn). They grew in strength and power and control over human society. The Powers that Be did what they could from their own realm to fight the on-going manipulation of humanity, but it was important to them to do so without interfering with human choice and free will. Destiny: The Circle of the Black Thorn present Angel with the original scroll of Aberjian on which the Shanshu Prophecy was written. The prophecy says, among other things, that the Vampire with a Soul will play a pivotal role in the apocalypse, and as a result, will earn back his lost humanity. They ask Angel to sign away any claim he has to this destiny, in his own blood. His signature on that document, they claim, will "undo" the prophecy. Is it possible to to sign away your destiny? "Destiny", by definition, seems to be the kind of thing you can't avoid. Perhaps it is unimportant whether or not Angel can sign away his own destiny. In signing the document, he makes it clear he is willing to live or die without ever becoming human again. Hamilton is strong, but he isn't invulnerable. He throws Angel around, destroying the pillars and walls in the lobby of Wolfram and Hart in the process. He tells Angel that his blood has been imbued with the power of the Wolf, Ram, and Hart. So Angel sinks his teeth into the liaison's neck, infusing himself with that same strength. Then Angel hits Hamilton until he falls dead.

Good and Evil in "Not Fade Away"

All is bound by the Circle and its thorns, invisible, inviolate. We, the seeds of the storm, at the center of the world's woe, now convene. The Circle of the Black Thorn want to eliminate the possibility that Angel has joined their group in order to manipulate or destroy them. To that end, they demand that Angel sign away any claim he has to the Shanshu--the prophecy that says Angel will earn his humanity by stopping the Apocalypse. But people who don't care about anything will never understand the people who do. Angel does not need a reward to fight the good fight. It's what he believes in, and what he is willing to die for. The destruction of the Circle

Angel's plan is to wait until each member of the Circle is isolated. Then he and the gang will take them out one by one. He tells his friends to spend the intervening time living the day as if it were their last. Lorne goes out and sings. Lindsey spends time with Eve. Spike finds a bar where there is a live mike for poetry readings. He lubes himself up with some drinks and deftly reads his "bad poetry" to an appreciative crowd. Gunn visits friends from his old neighborhood. Wesley treats Illyria's wounds. Angel visits his son. When night falls, each member of the gang carries out their assigned task. Angel has already paved the way for Archduke Sebassis' death. When Sebassis' servant became entangled in Cyvus Vail's tubes at the meeting of the Circle, Angel pushed the servant back. In the process, he stabbed the servant with a ring containing a slow-acting poison. When Sebassis drinks his servant's blood, he dies of the poison. Gunn throws an ax into Senator Brucker's forehead, then takes on all her vampire body guards. Spike sneaks into the Fell Brethren's monastery. He takes on the demons with Amanda's baby in one hand and a sword in the other. Lindsey takes out the Sahrvin Clan with the help of Lorne. Illyria goes after Izzerial the devil and three other members of the Circle. She makes trophies of their spines. Then she goes to find Wesley. Wesley, the expert on magic and demons, is assigned to Cyvus Vail. His job is to trick Vail into thinking that he wants what Angel has--his seat on the Circle. Angel is gambling that Vail will believe this because the Circle sees Wesley as dangerously unstable. Wesley gets himself invited into Vail's home where he attacks the old demon with a ball of mystical energy. But although Vail is frail, his magic is still strong. He takes Wesley's spell into his own hand and freezes Wesley in mid-air. Wesley pulls a knife on him. Vail stabs Wesley in the gut with a kukri, then turns the blade. Wesley smacks him down with the ball of magic. Angel's plan also includes taking out the liaison to the Senior Partners, but Hamilton's strength proves almost too much for him. Just as Hamilton is about to stake Angel, Connor intervenes. He's come to Wolfram and Hart suspecting that Angel's sentimental visit was more than it seemed. Connor and Angel take on Hamilton together. Hamilton butts Connor in the head and tosses him away. After Connor recovers, he tells Angel he wants to help him fight. Angel sends him home. As long as his son is still alive, the Senior Partners have not succeeded in destroying Angel. After Angel kills Hamilton, the earth below the Wolfram and Hart building starts to shake. It seems the Senior Partners want to fire their CEO. Angel leaves to rendezvous with his friends in the alley just north of the Hyperion hotel. Spike is there already. Then Gunn shows up, bleeding badly. Finally Illyria arrives. She tells them Wesley is dead. They hear distant shouts. An army of demons enters the alley. A dragon flies overhead. Angel prepares to slay the dragon. "Let's go to work!" he tells his friends. Joss ended "Angel" the way he did because "fighting the good fight" and how "there is no big win" was always the mission statement of "Angel." The fight goes on. It's a series of battles, small and large (Tim Minear, 6/3/2004 4:19 pm).

Moral Ambiguity in "Not Fade Away"

Connor regained his memories when Wesley broke the Orlon Window. Those memories are now mixed in with the manufactured ones, coming back to him like a bad dream. He doesn't want to dwell on that past, however. He understands what Angel did for him, and he's grateful for it. Connor wants to concentrate on the future, on the new life his biological father gave him. At the same time, he accepts that that new life may sometimes include using the abilities he was born with, and the training he learned in the nightmare called Quortoth. Harmony suspects something is going down, and tells Angel she wants to be part of his plans. Angel fully expects Harmony to betray him, however. She doesn't have a soul, a moral compass that guides her towards right over wrong. And she is already working in secret with Hamilton, her lover, to uncover what Angel might be up to. Angel tells Harmony to keep Hamilton distracted so he can visit Archduke Sebassis, which is exactly the kind of move Hamilton would expect from an Angel trying to pull one over on him. When Angel finally exposes Harmony's betrayal, she tells him that it is his fault--that she could have changed if only he'd "had confidence in her". And while Angel may have been an insensitive boss, it was never his job to give Harmony what only she could give herself. Instead, Angel gives her a letter of recommendation for another job. And Harmony leaves happily, the good fight be damned. Lindsey is all for bringing down the Circle of the Black Thorn, and he believes that Angel will treat him fairly as long as Angel needs his help with the fight. Afterwards, though, is another matter. Angel tells Lindsey he needs someone to step in and take over the reins at Wolfram and Hart when the battle is done. Lindsey knows Angel may not actually let this happen. In his mind, it is just as likely that Angel will turn against him, and Angel does, but not in the way that Lindsey expects. After he defeats the Sahrvin, it is Lorne who pulls a gun on him. Lindsey is shocked that this is the way it ends--that though Lindsey considered Angel his "best enemy", Angel didn't even care enough to kill Lindsey himself. Lorne is given the task of "backing up" Lindsey against the Sahrvin. And the task of killing him. Lorne does as Angel asks, because he has read Lindsey's soul. He knows Lindsey's motives can't be trusted. But it is too much for Lorne. Between Fred's death and the lines that Angel has crossed to fight evil, he has seen and done too much he can't abide. When the others gather in the alley to battle the Senior Partner's forces, Lorne is not there to fight beside them. Illyria's loyalties are uncertain, but after Hamilton beats her, Illyria is willing to fight against the forces of the Wolf, Ram, and Hart to avenge her humiliation. And Wesley's willingness to help her moves her, making her feel concern for him in return. After she kills four members of the Circle, she seeks Wesley out and finds him dying. She changes her appearance for him, letting him spend one last moment with "Fred". Then she kills Vail by throwing her fist through his skull. When she joins the others in the alley, she is experiencing grief. She wishes to do more violence.

Philosophies Represented in "Not Fade Away"

Angel and his friends have spent the last year at Wolfram and Hart, trying to do the "work" of the good fight using the resources of this powerful law firm. Meanwhile, out on the street, Gunn's friend Anne is still gathering what odds and ends she can find to help the homeless,

indigent, and neglected people of her neighborhood. Gunn's experience at Wolfram and Hart has made him wonder if there is any way to win against the Senior Partners, even with all the resources and power he had. Their evil seems heartless, intractable, eternal. He asks Anne what she would do if she knew all her efforts would never make things better. "I'd get this truck packed before the new stuff gets here," she says. Gunn understands. You don't stop fighting. You don't stop trying to help. You keep doing the work of good. He gives Anne a hand. Anne has carved a place for herself in the hellish world of LA, strives each day to make it less of a hell for those around her. Anne also symbolizes in some ways Angel's and Spike's journeys she was inspired by Buffy to help others and has fallen down at times - relying on WR&H for money and support in Blood Money, but broken free of that in Thin Dead Line (shadowkat, 4/17/04 8:30). "The thing about a hero, is even when it doesn't look like there's a light at the end of the tunnel, he's going to keep digging, he's going to keep trying to do right and make up for what's gone before, just because that's who he is." (joss, November 4, 2003).

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the road less traveled by and they CANCELLED MY FRIKKIN' SHOW. I totally shoulda took the road that had all those people on it. Damn." (joss, Feb 14 22:31 2004)