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Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Forever

Angel: "I can stay in town as long as you want me."
Buffy: "How's forever? Does forever work for you?"

Pet SemataryThe Monkey's Paw – this episode really had to happen. If the writers didn't address the question of resurrecting Joyce, on a show where the dead run around in pretty much every episode, it would be... well... strange.

There's nothing like planning your mother's funeral to throw you into instant adulthood. Poor Buffy. Fortunately, Buffy does still have a loving and supportive parent. (Giles, of course, not Hank.) And she still has Angel. I'm still convinced that Buffy and Angel are meant for each other, and the Buffy/Angel scenes back me up. He's still the one she can talk to, and that's what counts.

Spike really does have a heart, doesn't he? No chip would make him the way he is now. I mean, he's still so perverse, but we all knew he really liked Joyce ("she never treated me like a freak"), and that he really cares about Dawn ("Well, whattaya know. Bitty Buffy.") In a way, the Spike character has developed the kind of dimension that the Angel character has.


So when will Daddy show up? Doesn't the other parent automatically get custody when one of them dies? Won't Dawn go to her father?

Bits and pieces:

— On the Glory-plot front, Glory now knows, unfortunately, that the key is a person.

— Michelle Tractenberg's Dawn has really grown on me, and I think she and Sarah Michelle Gellar play extremely well off each other. That last scene in particular made me cry.

— Xander looked really good in an all black suit. I liked the Xander/Anya discussion about life, death, sex, and babies, too.

— When Giles was alone and drinking, he was playing the same record that was playing when he and Joyce were alone in his apartment in the episode "Band Candy." That was appropriate. It got to me.

Quotes:

Willow: "I'm going to stop by my mom's first. Been doing that a lot lately."
Xander: "Yeah. I actually might stop by your mom's too. (she looks at him) Well, I'm not going to my place. Those people are scary."

Anya: "I just think I understand sex more now. It's not just about two bodies smooshing together. It's about life. It's about making life."
Xander: "Right, when two people are much older, and way richer, and far less stupid."
Anya: "Breathe. You're turning colors."

Anya: "But of course, it's wonderful that you find doing my job so distracting. I am unthreatened. Proceed."


Willow: "What did I have for breakfast this morning? Do you remember?"
Tara: "Hmm?"
Willow: "I wanna say bagel, but I think that was yesterday. You had two eggs sunny-side-up. I remember 'cause they were wiggling at me like little boobs."
Tara: (grins) "Sassy eggs."

Three out of four stakes,

Billie
---
Billie Doux reviewed all of Buffy and Angel, so she knows the plural of apocalypse.

8 comments:

  1. (Whew that previous comment was typo-city. I need to start double-checking so late at night.. I corrected it and posted it again bellow. Feel free to delete the previous poorly written one Josie or Billie! Thanks.)

    That last scene between Dawn and Buffy made my eyes well up. Sarah Michelle Gellar is so damn good, and you're right Billie that she and Michelle Trachtenberg play off each other well.

    I remember the first time I watched this episode, I was secretly hoping Joyce would be resurrected, even if there were dire consequences, because I missed her and wanted Buffy to have her mom back and the pain to go away. It's so sad seeing Buffy instantly catapulted into the confusing world of adulthood while dealing with traumatic emotions. It was sweet that at least Angel came down to see her. That scene between the two of them making smoochies and cuddling was touching, It reminded me of the great chemistry SMG and DB share.

    And I found it interesting that Willow helped Dawn find the book and then lied to Tara about it. Considering where willows journey with witchfcraft goes next season, I found it notable this time around the risks she was willing to let Dawn take in fooling around with dark magic,

    Great episode. It's been so hard rewatching this season, watching Joyce's illness progress and get worse, then momentarily get better while knowing that she was ultimately going to die anyway. I think it says a lot about my attachment to Buffy as a character that even though I've seen it all before, watching her loose her mom and the aftermath was just as painful this time around, This along with the glory arc are probably why season five is one of my favorites.

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  2. Interesting how our perspective of Angel has changed since he left Sunnydale. If we're honest, he was always a one-note character before he got his own show. In the pilot he was stalking Buffy and saying things like "I'm a friend", which turned into that teenage kind of "I love you" without much in the way of substance. Before his own show, what did we really know about his character? Two years of prophecies and flashbacks later, Angel still reverts to his one-note beginnings whenever he's on Buffy. (heh) Frankly, I can't see why they would still be so in love. A "remember when we were in love" angle would be more appropriate I think.

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  3. When Giles was alone and drinking, he was playing the same record that was playing when he and Joyce were alone in his apartment in the episode "Band Candy." That was appropriate. It got to me.

    Yes, that's always when I start to break down in this episode.

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  4. I like this one a lot - and boy, Zombie Joyce was creepy, even (because of ) the little we saw of her.

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  5. I'm with Remco regarding Angel's appearance in Buffy, he's infinitely more likable and complex on Angel.

    I never can buy into that he gives her any strength, he just appears to drain it from her.

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  6. Like Remco and Annie, I was struck this time through by how much I have moved on from the Angel/Buffy romance. He is such a different being now than he was two years ago that bringing them back together feels odd. I understand why he would come to support her the day of her mother's funeral, but I could have done without the longing looks.

    The scene with Giles gets me every time.

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  7. Why didn't Spike need to be invited to the doc's house?

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    Replies
    1. Hugo, could it be because Doc wasn't human? Perhaps vampires can enter other demons'/non-humans' homes without the same need for an invitation?

      -Michael

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