It's Buffy's birthday again, but this time it's Giles who gets into trouble. "A New Man" confronts Giles' fears that he no longer has a place in Buffy's life. The episode is an interesting take on Kafka's "The Metamorphaosis." Thanks to Ethan Rayne, Giles wakes up as a huge, lumbering Feural demon. The Scoobies think that he "ate up" Giles and are trying to kill him. He can't communicate with Buffy or Xander and he has no place to go. Only Spike recognizes Giles and understands his grunts. The Scoobies have been falling apart this season, something only Spike seems to see. This episode is gives us a clearer picture of Giles' insecurities, the growing distance between the Scoobies and Spike's increased presence in the group. It also introduces the "314" thing, which will lead into the next part of the season's story arch. You really shouldn't skip this episode if you're watching on DVD.
Basically, "A New Man" is all about Giles' trying adjust to the changes in his life. He's no longer a librarian. He's no longer a Watcher. He's alone and has no real direction in his life. To make matters worse, he thinks that Maggie Walsh is taking his place as Buffy's mentor. When he finds out that Buffy didn't tell him about the Riley and Maggie being part of the Initiative, he's hurt and angry. He meets up with Ethan Rayne, who's back in town, and the two of the sit around chatting about old times. Ethan tells him that there are rumors in the demon ranks about a mysterious "314." After a hard night of drinking a feeling sorry for himself, Giles wakes up the next morning as a Feural demon. He soon finds himself being chased by the Initiative and the Scoobies and winds up at Spike's new tomb. Spike "happens to speak" Feural and he agrees to help Giles for a price. (200 dollars.) The two of them head off to find Ethan, while Buffy and Riley try to track down the "Feural demon" who they're convinced took Giles.
There are some good parts to the episode. Giles bribing Spike to get him to help is hilarious. Being over a century old, Spike has trouble adjusting to the cost of things in the modern world. (Angel has the same problem over on "Angel" where he insists "I'm not cheap, I'm just old.") Spike's used to be evil and just stealing whatever he needs, so it's kind of cute that he has no idea how little 200 dollars will buy. He stunned when Giles promises it to him so quickly. And their scene in the car is also great. You have to smile when Spike lectures Giles on a Feural demon's powers. "Well, you have the mucus thing." Also, I think that Giles chasing Maggie Walsh down the street is just about the highlight of the season.
On the downside, I do think that Buffy could be paying more attention to Giles and her friends. The problems in the Scoobie ranks will continue to grow through out the season. Also, did that monster thing rise from that tomb or not? Giles went there to stop it, but we didn't get a lot of resolution. And, why was Ethan even in the cemetery? Was he just waiting for Giles to show up? If so, how did he know that Giles would be there? Finally, I'm sorry that this is Ethan's last episode. I just love that guy.
My favorite part of the episode: Giles coming face to face with Ethan in the tomb. Giles leaves, thinking that the place is empty. Ethan sneaks out of his hiding place and starts in on an evil monologue. Giles hears him and suddenly opens the door again. "Oh d*mn." Ethan mutters. "I thought you'd gone." It's such a cool way poke fun at the ordinary "talking villain" scene. It makes me laugh every time I see it.
Basically, "A New Man" is all about Giles' trying adjust to the changes in his life. He's no longer a librarian. He's no longer a Watcher. He's alone and has no real direction in his life. To make matters worse, he thinks that Maggie Walsh is taking his place as Buffy's mentor. When he finds out that Buffy didn't tell him about the Riley and Maggie being part of the Initiative, he's hurt and angry. He meets up with Ethan Rayne, who's back in town, and the two of the sit around chatting about old times. Ethan tells him that there are rumors in the demon ranks about a mysterious "314." After a hard night of drinking a feeling sorry for himself, Giles wakes up the next morning as a Feural demon. He soon finds himself being chased by the Initiative and the Scoobies and winds up at Spike's new tomb. Spike "happens to speak" Feural and he agrees to help Giles for a price. (200 dollars.) The two of them head off to find Ethan, while Buffy and Riley try to track down the "Feural demon" who they're convinced took Giles.
There are some good parts to the episode. Giles bribing Spike to get him to help is hilarious. Being over a century old, Spike has trouble adjusting to the cost of things in the modern world. (Angel has the same problem over on "Angel" where he insists "I'm not cheap, I'm just old.") Spike's used to be evil and just stealing whatever he needs, so it's kind of cute that he has no idea how little 200 dollars will buy. He stunned when Giles promises it to him so quickly. And their scene in the car is also great. You have to smile when Spike lectures Giles on a Feural demon's powers. "Well, you have the mucus thing." Also, I think that Giles chasing Maggie Walsh down the street is just about the highlight of the season.
On the downside, I do think that Buffy could be paying more attention to Giles and her friends. The problems in the Scoobie ranks will continue to grow through out the season. Also, did that monster thing rise from that tomb or not? Giles went there to stop it, but we didn't get a lot of resolution. And, why was Ethan even in the cemetery? Was he just waiting for Giles to show up? If so, how did he know that Giles would be there? Finally, I'm sorry that this is Ethan's last episode. I just love that guy.
My favorite part of the episode: Giles coming face to face with Ethan in the tomb. Giles leaves, thinking that the place is empty. Ethan sneaks out of his hiding place and starts in on an evil monologue. Giles hears him and suddenly opens the door again. "Oh d*mn." Ethan mutters. "I thought you'd gone." It's such a cool way poke fun at the ordinary "talking villain" scene. It makes me laugh every time I see it.
