That's All Folks 7.22

The final episode! "The Chosen!" The final blog! To continue with the theme of the last blog, what happens in this episode is the ultimate redefining moment. Through all of Buffy there has not been an episode which has completely changed the idea of 'slayer'. The slayer has always been the one. Even in the very beginning after Buffy's death and revival the idea of 2 slayer was difficult for everyone to fathom. Now there are unlimited supplies of slayers. Every girl who has the potential now has the power. What does this do to the balance between good and evil? It evens the score! There have been since the birth of the first human an undying source of evil beings and forces and only one girl to stop them and protect the human race. Now, thanks to Buffy, Willow, and the entire gang, the force of good might have a chance. With more slayers who not only have the ability but the actual power to stop evil, there is no telling the impact this will have on the world. Also, Spike's place as a sacrifice for the cause of good is so amazing! When looking at Spikes journey from desiring to be the ultimate evil, to the revelation of his true origins, to his desire to fulfil his purpose and be a true force for good is unbelievable and awe inspiring. We've talked about in different episodes how Buffy could be considered a sacrificial lamb as she gives up everything to save the world (especially at the end of season 5) but in the end, Spike is the Christ figure. I think this really shows his development and how far he has always been willing to go for Buffy and for good though, only recently, would he have admitted it. All in all, I think this was a fine way for the Buffy season to end and I must say that I am leaving the season feeling very satisfied with the outcome.

You Are Not What I Thought You Were 7.12 through 7.21

Redefine can easily be the word which summarizes the theme of season 7. Especially throughout the end of the season, realization of what things are and discovery of what they could be have a major effect on the outcome of the season.

"Potential" temporarily redefines Dawn's role in life as she thinks she is a potential slayer. The information is hard for her to accept and, even though in the end she discovers that she is not a potential, the experience allows her to see what her abilities are. She is very capable of being in the action and supporting her sister and the potentials. She can make tough decisions easily and at the end of the day, she realizes with the help of Xander that her role is just as important as any of the slayers'. Though she isn't a slayer, Dawns role is set into place in this episode and from here on we see a more settled, mature young woman rather than a teenager with a lack of direction.

"Lies My Parents Told Me" helps to redefine Principal Wood, not only in the eyes of Buffy and Spike as they realize what he is capable of, but also in Principal Wood's view of what his purpose is. We recognize in this episode that he has every intention of fulfilling his life's quest to kill Spike, but when he fails he has a major decision to make. Though he can't kill Spike, Wood still has the desire to fight evil so he must redefine his perception of what evil is. It's not "the monster that killed [his mother] but the things that are fighting against the slayer and desire to cause pain to the human race. Once he sees that Spike is not what he was and that there are other things out in the world causing harm he, like Dawn, is able to gain a focus which is beneficial for the gang.

Faith comes back in "Dirty Girls." In this case the gang, and the audience, must redefine their perception of Faith. Faith left on exceptionally bad terms and being back at such a time can cause everyone to be a little wary. Faith shows that her personality hasn't really changed but she claims to be back on the side of good rather than evil. This episode also brings us another example of what evil can really be. Caleb appears to be the physical strength behind The First. The mutilation that occurs when Buffy's attack fails lessens the moral of everyone in the Summers home and all seems a loss by the end of the episode as Xander loses an eye. This episode is really the catalyst for the final episodes of the season and what will next occur.

"Empty Places" begins the uprising within the Summers' home. By the end of this episode, what is redefined is leadership and who is capable of leading as well as who deserves the power that comes along with the leadership. Until now, Buffy assumed that because she was the active slayer for all the years and she has been in charge through the years she would be followed without question. However, the Gang, the Potentials, and even Dawn agree that it is time that Buffy stepped down before she made any bad decisions. Buffy's role as slayer has always carried along with it the title of leader but this episode begs the question of "Does being the slayer automatically qualify you for leadership position?" My opinion is that not Buffy's role, but Buffy's natural instinct and abilities qualified her for the role of leader. Through the years she has dealt with stronger evils than she could have ever expected or that was expected of her to defeat. I may be biased but I think Buffy was more than qualified to take on a leadership role, despite the fact that she is the slayer.

"Touched" was such an amazing episode and the part that I remember the most vividly is not when Spike and Andrew find Caleb's parish or when Buffy beats Caleb and gets the weapon but when all of the couples are shown with each other (especially Buffy and Spike). I love the contrast between what Xander/Anya and Willow/Kennedy were experiencing and what Buffy/Spike were experiencing. Buffy and Spike's relationship has been through a great deal and I love that at the end of it all, they can be content laying together and it be the equivalent of what the others are shown experiencing. It's as if their relationship has been taken to a completely different level and their feelings for each other and the experience of simply being together has a more powerful meaning than the experiences they had in season 6.

"End Of Days" is another episode like Dirty Girls where a lot is happening and it acts mainly as a shift between everything that has happened thus far and what is destined to occur. However, with the death of Caleb, and the return of Angel as well as Buffy and Angel's reunion kiss which is witnessed by Spike this episode is one that would truly make the audience fall off the edge of their seats in anticipation and the possibilities for what lies next are unlimited at this point.

I Just Want You To Know Who I Am 7.2 through 7.11

The first half of season 7 is about getting back into the swing of things. Spike returns with his soul, Willow returns from her rehabilitation, Buffy returns to Sunnydale High as a counselor in the school. Anya tries adjusting to being a demon but fails and has to reacclimate to human life as the others go through adjustments of their own.

In "Beneath You" Spike has to reacclimate to having a soul. His getting his soul is analogous to people having to readjust their moral compass after realizing that they have done something wrong. At the end of season 6 Spike tried to rape Buffy and he realized how far he had gone. Spike's getting a soul was not just for Buffy, but for himself. Because he realized the severity of his actions, his getting a soul would allow him to fully understand the pain he has caused so that he can repent of it by feeling true remorse. As he reveals to Buffy that he has his soul again, Buffy also has to reacclimate and develop a new understanding of Spike and the depth of his passion for her.

"Help", with Cassie, is one of my favorite episodes of the season. In this episode Buffy has to come to the realization that other factors, including fate, affect her life and the lives of those around her. Buffy saves Cassie, but in the end, she couldn't keep her alive. Buffy has become so used to saving everyone she comes across and defeating every battle that I think she really needed this episode to see that sometimes things are beyond her power to stop. I think this episode and this experience with Cassie has great influence on Buffy and prepares her for later on in the season as she prepares for battle with the First and her acceptance of what may happen to the perspectives.

In "Selfless," Anya kills a house full of frat boys. This act is the best vengeance deed she has done since becoming a demon again, but because of her previous experiences as a human she begins to feel uneasy about her act. She tries to reconcile these two parts of her nature but here she recognizes that she has to make a choice between her demon and her human nature. In effect, she realizes that she doesn't know who she is. Anya has spent all her life relying on roles such as 'demon' or 'wife' but she doesn't know who Anya is. As she walks away from Xander alone she is finally making a decision to discover who she is.

"Him" can be seen as an episode which shows all of the women reaclimating to the dating world. All of the females who fall in love with R.J. are recently single and when they see R.J. in his Letterman jacket they can't help but swoon and go to any depth to win his love. This episode also makes a reference to the superficiality of dating. The things the girls are willing to do (from performing a magical sex change to Dawn trying to kill herself) can be seen as a statement about what girls are willing to do for the men they "love" and how crazy love can make us (and often self-destructive).

"Conversations With Dead People" is the first episode that really introduces us to "The First." The Scoobies, throughout the season have been preparing for an impending evil and here we see what they will be dealing with. We also learn that The First only comes through the presence of deceased people. Again we see the gang dealing with the stress of remembering the loss of a loved one. This is something that the gang will need to overcome because through the rest of the season they will deal with the first this way and his hold on them will only become stronger if they are unable to recognize that the form The First takes is not the person they loved.

"Showtime" gives Buffy the opportunity she needs to prove to the potential slayers and herself that she has the strenght and the ability to conquer her opponents. Buffy has always been a strong character but she often experiences doubt that can be crippling. In this episode however, she uses her weakness and focuses it as a push to find the energy and the skills necessary to defeat a seemingly impenetrable vampire. Buffy has to reacclimate to her powers and prove to herself that she is the Slayer for a reason and that the strength that she must trust the strength that she has been given.

Nobody Knows 6.21, 6.22, 7.1

In the last two episodes of season 6 we see how far Willow's grief has taken her and how her addiction to magic makes it even harder to break through to her. Willow sees Dawn in Rack's again in "Two To Go" but rather than recognizing how her addictions are hurting her closest friends, she appears to feel the need to inflict pain on even those closest to her. Willow is in a deep hole and she can't see what she is doing to herself or those around her. The coupling of Tara's death and her lack of coping through healthy, mourning activities skews her perception and allows her to confuse those who would show her the most compassion and support with people who would cause her harm. In "Grave" Xander realizes that he has to try to break through and tap into the Willow that lies underneath her evil exterior. By reminding her of who she is, Xander reaches the real Willow and Willow finally allows herself to break down and grieve in a healthy way as she cries on Xander's shoulder. This series is based around the experience of death (inflicting death on the bad and protecting good from death). Willow seems to be the one least capable of dealing with death of those she loves. After Tara's death she clung to magic like a security blanket. Overcoming her fear of death and her abuse of magic are two things that Willow works on while she is in England and we see in "Lessons" the great improvement she has made after working with the coven there.

Don't Fear The Reaper 6.17, 6.19, 6.20

For this blog I want to talk about Death and the impact it has on close friends and family members. In "Normal Again" Buffy is harmed by a demon that makes her see an alternate reality in which she is in a mental hospital, her parents are still together, and everyone is trying to convince her that her life as a vampire slayer is simply a fantastical reality. At one point Buffy decides things would be easier if she let herself drift into the other reality and in so doing she is essentially trying to kill herself, the self that the audience recognizes. In order to do that, though, she has to kill her friends. Committing "slayer suicide" would be an easy out for Buffy, but not so much for the friends who she endangers. Suicide attempts often affect those who the person is close to. In Buffy's case it affected them physically. But, again, the relationship between Buffy's reality and our reality is quite visible in this episode.
At the end of "Seeing Red" we watch as Warren tries to murder Buffy and instead wounds her, though a stray bullet kills Tara. "Villains" allows us to see the effects of an unexpected death on Willow, who is emotionally not ready for a sudden separation so shortly after their reconciliation and whose powers allow her to seek vengeance on Warren. In this situation, mourning would be an acceptable response, but often, those burdened by the loss of a loved one will turn to violence. Willow seeks after Warren for vengeance and kills him but judging by her response, "one down," we can safely assume that what Willow is doing is trying to inflict pain on others in hopes of lessening her own. This is an unfortunate response and because of the power she holds, a dangerous one as well.

Hello My Name is _____ and I am an addict. 6.10, 6.13, 6.14

In "Wrecked," "Dead Things," and "Older and Far Away" we see a lot of addictive behaviors. "Wrecked" deals mostly with Willow's addiction to magic. She is becoming so addicted that she even harms Dawn, which is a common trend among addicts. In "Dead Things" Buffy is realizing her addiction to Spike and the pleasure that comes when they are engaged in sexual pursuits. He makes her feel alive, wanted, and he places her on a pedestal. In "Older and Far Away" Dawn's kleptomania is found out. These addictions range from physical (Willow's need to seek Rack, Dawn's need to steal, and Buffy's need for sexual intercourse) to psychological, which is seen through the needs that motivate the characters to action. What's interesting about these episodes is how these different women recognize their addictions and work towards overcoming them. Especially in "Older and Far Away" when everyone is trapped in the house. Buffy and Willow are both in close proximity of what they are addicted to and so they are physically trapped by the spell that Hallie has cast as well as trapped by their addictions. As they realize the consequences of their behaviors, however, they overcome the temptations.

Also, we see through these episodes relations to addictive in "our reality." Dawn's and Buffy's addictions are easily generalized to society, whereas Willow's addiction can be metaphorically to a drug addiction. It is important for the audience to see easier generalizations to society through Buffy's and Dawn's addictions and then make the leap to metaphorically realizing what Willow's addiction is in "the real world."

"And They Say That A Hero Can Save Us" 6.1, 6.2, 6.7

So, Buffy saved the world again. She jumped into the gaping hole in the world and sacrificed herself so that Dawn would not have to be the sacrifice. In season 6 we see that Willow and the rest of the scoobies are not ready to give Buffy up just yet, not if they can help it. The problem is, their plan wasn't very well thought through because they didn't take Buffy out of her grave before they resurrected her. However, Buffy managed to dig her way out. "Beginning 1 & 2" could be seen as an allusion to Christ's resurrection. Buffy died in order to save the world and then came back, as we later discover, to teach those who will come after how to lead. She made her way out of her grave just like Christ rolled back the stone from his tomb. Also, as we find out in the end of "Beginning," Buffy was taken out of heaven and brought back into the world. This causes a great deal of conflict within Buffy because she feels like the world is hell compared to what she was experiencing when she was dead. The only person she feel she can share this with is Spike. The theme of keeping secrets and not trusting friends with personal information is seen throughout the season and is the cause of much drama. In "Once More With Feeling" Buffy and the gang are forced to express their emotions through song, which opens a lot of doors and leads Buffy to express the fact that she was in heaven, not hell like Willow and the others supposed. The music and tone that the song changes to when Buffy lets them know the truth is very telling of Buffy's feelings. The viewer can sense torture and pain along with guilt for not being more appreciative and a sense of being more lost and alone than before. These thoughts appear through the rest of the season and it remains Buffy's internal conflict for a period of time as well.

You Can't Keep Running Away From What You're Trying To Find: 5.20-5.22

Since I talked in class about the episodes 15 through 18, I'm not going to write about them here and I'm going to skip ahead to the end of Season 5.

These last three episodes begin with Buffy running from her problems because she thinks it is the only possible way to get out of the mess. In "Spiral" Buffy is literally running away with the gang in an RV when they are stopped by the Byzantium knights and Giles is badly wounded. In "The Weight of the World" Buffy is mentally running away as she become catatonic after Ben transforms into Glory and she takes Dawn to serve her purpose as the key. Buffy appears to finally be doing what she has wanted from the beginning. She has talked about what it would be like to give up her powers from the beginning and now she is not using the powers that she has. This is a very stressful period because now we can see what would happen if she didn't have her powers or if there was no slayer. In just the few hours that Buffy is unresponsive Time is wasted and all hell literally breaks loose in "The Gift" when the gates are opened. If Buffy had been using her powers from the beginning rather than running away, it is unlikely Glory would have gotten that far. However, this experience appears to have given Buffy enough of a boost to realize for herself why she is truly necessary and to come to grasp with the fact that she can make a difference in the world that no one but she can make. She is the slayer, the one chosen to protect the world. In the end she realizes that if she wants to protect the world, the best way she can live up to her calling is to sacrifice herself. This act, and the reasoning behind it gives new definition to "the slayer". She is not only 'one who slays' or 'one who protects', but she is 'a sacrifice made in order to protect mankind'. As spike said, "Every slayer has a death wish." The end of season 5 shows us the importance of that to the human race.

Be Prepared- Episodes 5.1 through 5.13

The beginning of season 5 marks the beginning of what was supposedly the end of the Buffy series. I asked myself before watching these episodes "Why is she just now meeting Dracula?" Thinking further on it, though, I realize that possibly, Buffy needed to be ready to meet the legendary Dracula. Though Spike claims his disappearances and shape-shifting are all simply magic tricks, you've got to admit that it takes a lot to kill him. It took Buffy three times and I'm still not certain that she killed him.
Just like Buffy had to prepare to meet Dracula, these episodes share a great deal of Buffy becoming prepared for what lies next. (I know the entire show is about Buffy preparing.) However, the difference is that in these she really seems to have matured and be prepared. In the others she spent a majority of the time wondering if she was ready or trying to get out of it or she seemed to not quite have things in perspective. In these episodes we're introduced to Dawn who Buffy discovers was intrusted to her care. She was chosen to protect Dawn from the evil powers which are present now. We also watched the episode where Buffy asks Spike to explain how he killed the other Slayers (what they did wrong). Buffy is taking a lot more responsibility for her position at this point and is beginning to realize the important role she plays in the lives of others.
Unfortunately, Buffy is still learning in these episodes that follow. In "Into the Woods," Buffy and Riley's relationship turn to a pivotal point. We have seen Riley's feelings for Buffy being taken for granted (at least according to his perspective) and now Buffy is having to make a choice that will determine the course of each of their lives. At the end of this episode, when Xander is talking to Buffy we can really see how vulnerable she truly is. Though she appears to be decided in her decision that Riley is being unreasonable, it takes Xander breaking her for her to realize that she has to make a choice and it has to be the right one. I can see this experience as leading prepping Buffy for the decision that is coming at the end of this season. She is learning to make, smart, quick decisions that will undoubtedly influence the entire world.
"Checkpoint" gives Buffy another opportunity to practice making smart, practical decisons on the spot. With the council there the entire episode, Buffy is put under a lot of stress and she realizes that the council has her being tested when she should be doing something about Glory. Though the Council doesn't trust her, Buffy realizes that she needs to trust herself and the power that is inately hers and allows her to be a strong, bright woman.
"Blood Ties" is the episode where Dawn and the Scoobies discover that Dawn is the key. The key point (no pun intended) of this episode is when Buffy lets Dawn know that they are Summer's women. They have the same blood flowing through their vains. This fact gives Dawn a connection to Buffy as well as helps the audience realize that Dawn and Buffy share a common strength and purpose to bring about good.

"Help! I Need Somebody!"

First of all, "Restless" is one of my most favorite episodes thus far! Therefore, I want to focus most of this blog on that episode and relate it briefly to the previous episodes. In each member of the gang's dream, the individual was face first with his or her insecurity. In Willow's dream the first slayer choked her, thus cutting off her breath, or her spirit. In Xander's dream, the first slayer removes his heart. And in Giles' dream his head is sliced open, thus suggesting the removal of his brain, or mind. Each element romoved from the individual was what the individuals had contributed to Buffy so that she could defeat Adam. It is interesting that the "insecurity" each member had was also their biggest asset to the group in "Primeval". I'm not sure if this suggests that each person was unsure about his or her contribution in the sense they believed they were not strong enough in their individual areas or if they believed it didn't matter how strong they were because they still will not be able to help when Buffy needs it. It's possible that there is a mixture of both types of insecurities and the episode and series as a whole could definitely support either one.

Buffy also had a dream, but hers was a little different from the others'. Buffy came face to face with what was killing her friends, and, in doing so, she faced her own insecurity. That is, her insecurities about living up to (and even exceeding) her slayer potential. In the end Buffy overcame the spirit of the first slayer, thus saving her friends as well.

One of the reasons I like this episode so much is because it leaves room for so many more questions. The main one I have right now is; because Buffy had to save her friends from the first slayer and they couldn't save themselves, doesn't this cradle the conception of Willow, Xander, and Giles' contributions not being enough? The only answer I can think of is that Buffy is the slayer and thus has inate powers the others will never be able to use. Am I missing something, though, because I feel like there's a bigger picture.

"Who Do Ya Love?"

For this blog I wanted to talk about the increasingly intense instances of trust versus mistrust. "The I in Team", "Goodbye Iowa", and "New Moon Rising" all deal with the chaos that comes from not knowing who you can trust and whether or not you can trust your own senses.

In "The I in Team" the struggle is between Buffy/Slayer and Prof. Walsh/The Initiative. Buffy puts a great deal of faith into the initiative but ultimately her questioning of their methods roused some fears of discovery. It was obvious that the Initiative had a secret. Buffy lost trust in the Initiative when Maggie Walsh tried to have Buffy murdered and then lied to Buffy. However, Maggie soon discovered that she could not trust the Initiative herself. Her own creation turned against her. Adam exemplifies for the audience that things are not what they exactly as they appear.

Adam also is the cause of the mistrust that is present in the next episode, "Goodbye Iowa". In this episode, Riley is beginning to lose faith in himself, the Initiative, and Buffy. Adam tells Riley of his purpose in Prof. Walsh's plan. Though Riley verbalizes that he is not the kind of monster Adam is, the audience can sense doubt in his character and a kind of uncertainty appears to be present. Riley's connection with Prof. Walsh and her recent death coupled with the fact that Riley had not been taking his medicine has created a great deal of confusion for Riley. On top of that, though Buffy is the one person Riley should trust, he saw her helping spike and so now he is confused to whether or not Buffy has been lying to him as well.

"New Moon Rising" deals with a different kind of trust and mistrust. It is not based on lies or deception but misunderstanding and confusion of the mind and senses. Willow faces the confusion within herself as she is put in a situation where she is joined once more by Oz. She feels a connection with him again but is also made unsure because of Oz's betrayal as well as her new feeling for Tara. Oz deals with trust or mistrust of Willow because he is expecting her to have waited for him as well as his own issue with trusting himself and his new power to contain his animal instincts.

Mommy Dearest

In class Dr. Rose asked us to think about the role of mothers in the show. A reflection on the episodes viewed so far reveal what appears to be a lack of maternal influence in the lives of the character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The initial person we think of in relation to mothers is Buffy's own mother, Joyce. Joyce has played a minor role throughout most of the series with only a few highlighting moments and seems even more removed from the show since Buffy has gone to college. The second hope for maternal influence was Faith's watcher who obviously had no intent on fulfilling the motherly role. The latest attempt at a mother that the show has given the audience is Proffessor Maggie Walsh. Prof. Walsh has played a more influential role in the lives of a few of the characters than the other two matriarchs. Buffy often quotes her, she thinks of Riley as one of her sons, but she also 'gave birth to' Adam. Adam was the creation that led to her downfall. Though Adam called her mother, he treated her more like she was the experiment and he, the creator. Maggie Walsh was just another dissapointment in terms of a mother figure.

There are fraternal influences on Buffy's life and the life of the gang which is presented through Giles' character. So, where is the maternal influence that completes the family circle of the show? It could be stated that Buffy, herself, is the maternal figure in many instances throughout the series. In all of the shows she is a protector of the human race. She cares for her friends and family. She provides them with security and often a certain depth of knowledge that she is beginning to obtain.

I Want Your Sex

The presence of sexual innuendo and sexual practices has escalated since the gang has gone to college. The Harsh Light of Day was a particularly intense episode in that area because of, not only the amount of sex that occurred in that episode, but the portrayal of the act of sex. There has always been a question of how much sex should be shown on national television, if any. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is definitely a series that puts a lot of emphasis on sexual acts and notes how these acts affect the characters in the show. However, what makes sex in this show perhaps more acceptable in some eyes is the way sex is portrayed. Sex is not seen by the main characters as something that should be done recklessly. In fact, those minor characters who take these views are shunned by the others. Sex is portrayed as a natural occurrence in teenage and young adult years but also as something that should be thought through.

Sex is an important part of the show, also because it enables the writers to delve deeper into the characters than by what is particularly shown. It's interesting that the characters seem sheepish about discussing their sexual lives with each other (with the exception of Anya) while the audience is allowed a great deal of insight into the sexual feelings of the characters. Another thing I found interesting is that though sex is an important part of the lives of all of these characters, and often is something that young adults worry about (as is seen in the way Buffy reacts after her first 2 sexual experiences) in the episode Fear, Itself everyone in the house apparently had something that they feared more than sex.

Half The Man I Used To Be

For this blog I wanted to look at Xander. What is his role thus far in the series and what is he moving towards. Xander has been struggling throughout the show with expressing his manliness as well as marking his usefulness in the Slayer's life and his purpose in the scooby gang. There is only one other male who remains in Buffy's life consistently and that is Giles who takes on a father figure for Buffy. When looking at the gang as a family unit, Xander could be considered the brother. Perhaps even the little brother. He seems to be maturing and growing and at times even expresses the need to prove himself to Buffy by taking charge of some situations. The military background was essential to Xander's role in the show because it gives him something to contribute. In Graduation Xander has a key role in arming the graduating class so they could be a distraction to the mayor and the vampires who kept guard. In the Freshman, Xander was the only one who didn't go to college. He seems to be fulfilling the little brother role of staying home while big sister (Buffy) goes to college.

To go along with this idea of little brother following big sister's footsteps, Xander's progression appears to mimick Buffy's but at a slower pace. Xander has gone through the period of realization just as Buffy did. He's trying to discover who he is and what his role is in relation to that of his friends and his relationship (or lack thereof) with Faith. Finally he's gone away for a while after a traumatic experience. Xander's lack of understanding when Faith showed her true colors mimicks Buffy's lack of control when Angel turned into Angelous. And just as Buffy left in Anne and came back to a changed world, Xander has gone and come back where things are not as he remembers them.

Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall

Doppelgangland, Enemies, and Earshot all showed different versions of the theme of "having a double" and "people not being as they appear." At this point in the series, these ideas fall right into place with Buffy's continuing struggle to discover her self amongst the various roles she plays. Now, she is also faced with the confusion of deciding who her friends are and the truth about the people she associates with on a regular basis.

In Doppelgangland Buffy and the gang discover that Willow has a 'vampire self' in an alternate version of reality. In this episode, the viewers get a second chance to really examine vampire Willow and compare her to the Willow we have grown to know throughout the first 3 seasons. One of the most interesting parts of this video is when the living Willow puts on Vampire Willow's outfit. Putting on the clothes did not change who Willow was. It was very hard for her to play a different role even when she dressed the part.

Faith, however, revealed that she didn't need a new outfit to play two different roles. Faith has done a great job of fooling Buffy, Giles, and the Gang by pretending to still be on their side while she is in cahoots with the Mayor. While Buffy and the audience could trust Willow to remain true to her self no matter what, Faith seems to have gone astray. At this point we can make an interesting comparison between Faith and Buffy. Both are slayers. It is apparent that slayers (or at least American slayers because it seems Kendra can be excluded) struggle a great deal with discovering themselves. While Buffy is coming to grips with her purpose and duty, Faith seems to be confused and made some bad decisions in trying to find her self. Now that her charade has been discovered, Faith will have many more decisions to make that will ultimately decide her fate.

In Earshot, Buffy acquires the power to hear other people’s thoughts. What she discovers is a whirlwind of teenagers' insecurities, inappropriate thoughts, and intimate ideas. She sees that the people who surround her in school and even at home have secrets that they build walls to hide. She finds that her perceptions of others are not entirely correct, but are based upon what those people would have us believe rather than the complete truth. The one exception in this case is Cordelia. Cordelia, with her confidence, doesn't feel the need to hinder her thoughts or her opinions. In effect, she speaks her mind. This can be seen in direct contrast with Willow who could be considered an insecure character. When speaking with Buffy about her new gift, she verbally expresses her excitement, but her thoughts express concern. Buffy, of course, can hear her thought and does not hesitate to correct her.

Faith Is The Substance of Things Hoped For, The Evidence Of Things Not Seen

A prominent character in the past few episodes we have watched is Faith. She is a very intriguing character and her presence on the show raises a lot of questions about what a slayer is and what her capabilities are, both for good and for evil. Faith has been through a lot during her presence on the show. The audience has seen her battle some very fierce demons (both internal and external). However, by the end of consequences, the audience is left without much faith in this character. She has coincided with the evil mayor. This begs the question "Is the slayer strong enough to handle the pressures that come with her job?" If Buffy had remained dead, Faith would be the last hope for the world. Since the rule says that when a slayer dies, only then is a new one called, does this mean the world would have just been out of luck? Her betrayal also requires that one reconsider the wisdom of The Council. Faith obviously has some mental instability and to think they would call someone who would crack so easily under these circumstances is questionable. A slayers strength, mind, and heart, is meant to be continually concerned with the protection of mankind.

What should also be considered is Faith's influence on Buffy. In Bad Girls the audience really sees a connection between Buffy and Faith. Faith can relate to Buffy in a way that none of Buffy's other friends can because she is a slayer. Buffy feels the same exhilaration when fighting demons and vampires that Faith can easily put into words and often expresses with grunting noises. However, Faith has confused the exhilaration and power the slayer feels when hunting demons with the thrill and desire to kill that can be compared to a vampire's thirst for blood. A slayer-turned-killer is a very dangerous force. Is Faith a Darth Vader in the making, or will her road to recovery soon be discovered?

"One Is The Loneliest Number"

Generally speaking, a popular belief is that there is strength in numbers. The Buffy series depicts how well this idea works. Throughout the show it is beneficial to Buffy and the salvation of the world that Buffy is accompanied by Giles, her friends, and other slayers. The last episode of season 2 and the first few episodes of season 3 do a wonderful job of contrasting the idea of an army verses an individual. In Buffy's case, in particular, she struggles a great deal with handling things on her own. In the beginning of the series she values the help of her friends both in her teenage life and her slaying life. When Kendra comes along she learns to accept the help of another slayer though she realizes this does not relieve her of her own slaying duties. Things change for Buffy in the season 2 finale as she kills Angel and leaves town without a word to anyone. This sets up the stage for the premier of season 3. In "Anne" Buffy is happy with her solitude. But by the end of the episode she realizes she can not function properly without her friends and family. This is a bit uncanny for a slayer. As Kendra pointed out, the slayer must maintain a secret identity and, thus, remove her self from the distractions of friends and family. Buffy truly is an exceptional case, though. Her friends and family seem to be her source of power and strength. They appear to give Buffy a purpose for her duties. When she was without them she was not fulfilling her calling. Unlike other slayers, Buffy does not kill vampires because she enjoys it or because she realizes it as her duty. It seems as though she has a more personal reason for slaying. Like a mother protecting her young or a shepherd protecting his flock, Buffy slays to protect those whom she loves. When Buffy allows her friends to stand behind her and empower her, she is a stronger individual.

"Because, I'm A Lady"

In the episodes "Surprise" and "Innocence" Buffy is turning 17 and these episodes are based around her surprise 17th birthday party. These two episodes show a lot of scenes where the viewer knows that Buffy is growing up and becoming a woman who is capable of overcoming trials as she chooses the path that will benefit humankind. In the beginning of the episode, Buffy asks her mom about getting her licence. She lists reasons as to why she is more mature and responsible. Throughout the season, the viewers have seen Buffy take on more responsibility for her actions and therefore, the viewers have a better realization of Buffy's becoming a woman than her own mother does.
During, "Innocence" we truly see Buffy taking responsibility for her actions. She has not only "become a woman" in the physical and sexual sense, but emotionally she is dealing with a traumatic experience the way any grown woman would. This is one of the better portrayals of her being a feminine hero. We see her reaction to the realization that she has turned Angel back into Angelous bring about a flurry of emotions that are difficult for her to control as a woman, but as a hero she must make a firm and sound decision that will change her life: the decision to kill Angelous. By the end of the season, we can see that Buffy's decision is solidified. She has taken the time to deal with her feelings and has made, what she knows to be, the best decision. Buffy is no longer a girl who is trying to deal with the fact that her fate is sealed. She is a woman, making decisions that determine her destiny, and she is understanding and dealing with the consequences.

Slayer Syndrome

For this blog, since we weren't given a particular topic to write about, I decided to focus on Giles and his relationship with Buffy as the Slayer and his relationship with Buffy as a person. We've already seen Giles growing attachment for Buffy as he tries to understand her thoughts and desires. He describes her as very complex and sees immediately that she is truly and extraordinary individual. He often seems to lose faith in her powers. This is exemplified in the numerous times that he makes the decision to go fight in Buffy's stead when she loses faith in herself and decides to "quit" the slaying "business". Of the episodes that we have watched, however, the Halloween is the only one in which Giles actually gets to show the audience what he is capable of. He is able to take charge only when Buffy, herself, is unable to complete her task (being stuck in the body of a colonial woman), and when the spell was broken Buffy lived up to her calling. So, it is evident that, though Giles often feels the need to protect Buffy from her daunting fate, he maintains a great deal of confidence in his slayer.

What's My Line? Part 1 and 2 also show Giles' care for Buffy as his slayer as well as Buffy's desire to achieve and maintain Giles' partiality. When Kendra comes along, Buffy is jealous because of the things that Kendra and Giles can share, such as stories about the codes, rules, and histories of previous slayers that they both have studied intently. Buffy's jealousy is voiced to Willow who responds by reassuring Buffy that "[she] will always be [Giles'] slayer", insinuating that Kendra would never take Buffy's place. Based upon the ever-growing connection between Giles and Buffy, I'd venture to say Willow is right on the mark.

Angel-o and Buffy-et: Contradictions and Plain, Old Addictions

For this blog Dr. Rose has asked us to describe the possibility of an "embodied metaphor" that was present in the first season. I was very interested in the character of Angel. His dark, mysterious presence is overshadowed by his caring concern for the slayer. The fact that he is, in reality, a vampire who has romantic feelings for the slayer is unimaginable. A vampire can not feel for anyone because vampires do not have souls and, thus do not feel. But Angel is an exception. Angel embodies contradiction and internal conflict in every sense of the term. He does not behave as he should--or, rather, as he is expected to. He also can easily be representative of retribution or repentance. He is hindering his own abilities by not feeding and destroying as is expected of vampires. By helping the slayer he contributes to the death of his own kind. All this he does in hopes of easing the burden and guilt he feels for the murders that he has committed.

Another interesting correlation which begins to evolve during the first season of Buffy is the allusion of Buffy and Angel's relationship to the forbidden, yet unchangeable love found in the tale of Romeo and Juliet. In both cases, rules and ideas which have been passed down for centuries lead to a separation of these lovers which can not be overcome. However, this is only the first season of seven and the feelings that Angel and Buffy have for each other are just being realized. Perhaps the episode "Angel" is "the party scene". Buffy has just realized the Angel is a vampire as Juliet realizes Romeo is a Montague. They are sworn enemies who feel an immediate connection which soon develops into a deep passion. It will be interesting to see how this love interest continues in comparison with the play.

Becoming the Slayer

The first three episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer focus a great deal on the idea the Buffy is a young girl who is slowly coming to grips with the fact that she is "the chosen one". The very first episode, "Welcome to the Hellmouth", begins with her first day at school and it contains many instances which show her expressing her desire to be "normal". She reassures her principal that she will not cause any trouble. Thus, suggesting that she believes that since she has moved she can leave behind her calling and lead a life that is not frequented with danger. This desire to be normal is further shown in her meetings with Giles in this first episode. Giles, as a watcher, tries to explain to Buffy that being the slayer is not something she can run from. However, Buffy struggles to reach that level of realization. It appears as though she fights the vampires because she is compelled to and not necessarily because it is her desire.

The most important scene that expresses Buffy's struggle between leading a normal life and discovering her calling as the slayer in "The Harvest" is shown when Buffy pulls out a chest and opens to display objects of a typical, normal childhood that a teenager might keep. When Buffy removes the upper part of the chest, though, the viewer sees the objects of a slayer. Not only is Buffy hiding her identity under a mask of normalcy, she is struggling to find closure between the two.

The third episode, "Witch", involves the viewer more directly with Buffy's crisis of a torn identity between slayer and teenager. Giles tries to warn Buffy that cheerleading should be the furthest thing from a slayer's mind. Somehow the typical teenage universe meshes with her call to be a slayer and Buffy is pushed one step closer into the reality that her life as a slayer will take control over her life as a typical teen.

Buffy must soon realize that she can not dismiss her powers or her calling as was her desire in the first episode. As the season progresses, she becomes more acceptable of her destiny and with the close of each episode she comes to the realization of the important role that she plays in the safety of humanity, therefore sacrificing her own "normal life" for the preservation of humankind.