Murder, attempted rape, brutal violence and ripsaws. This episode has everything in it. It also ends with the upsetting, shocking death of one my favourite Scooby and a nasty cliffhanger in which our heroine's life lies in the balance and the resurgence of another's bad habit could cause big problems. The episode starts off light enough, just Buffy hunting down the trio, only to be trapped in a house full of ripsaws. It then gets darker and darker and darker when Warren becomes somewhat of a threat to Buffy but aided by Jonathan in one of his more heroic moments, defeats him. Warren however, uses his childish, pathetic, intelligent mind to fly away using a jet pack leaving Jonathan and Andrew to take the fall. Dawn decides to get out the house and give Willow and Tara(who got back together!) some time alone. She stops by Spike's to tell him he's as cruel as he ever was, sleeping with Anya. She tells him that it hurt Buffy bad and Spike takes it as an excuse to reconcile. But when he gets there, he becomes the monster he is and the following fight results in the most disturbing in Buffy history. The only happy thing in this episode is the reunion of Willow and Tara. They spend the episode in the bedroom, making up for lost time, only someone else has other plans for their future. This episode is, in my opinion very dark and heavy. The gun that Warren uses to shoot Buffy and Tara is the most brutal weapon ever used in Buffy. All through the season Buffy has been mentioning that guns are never helpful and here it shows that they're more destructive than any deamon or God Buffy could fight. In it's way, the use of a gun is the most frightening thing on the show: buffy deals with the extraordinary and she always wins, but when the evil stems from human power or illness, Buffy is helpless (Joyce's tumour). 'BTVS' is very demonstrative of the problem human corruption poses and it shows the myriad reasons not to own a gun. This episode is extremely dark, serious, upsetting and disturbing, but this is to be expected when it's the climax of many story lines this season that have been adult and dark.
9 Reviews
A Turning Point
Samuel-Shovel21 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
In "Seeing Red", Willow and Tara are back together and everyone's gleeful about the whole thing. The Trio locate some powerful gems that make you practically invincible and ultra-powerful. Warren and Andrew plan to use Jonathan as a scapegoat after pulling off a string of robberies. Xander copes with his recent romance struggles by hitting the bottle. Spike shows up at Buffy's house to apologize for what happened between him and Anya. Something in him takes over and he attempts to assault her. An injured Buffy is barely able to fight him off.
Now she must go deal with the Trio. She destroys the gems but Warren is able to escape. Andrew and Jonathan are arrested. A confused Spike leaves town. Xander and Buffy make up. As they share a tender moment, an irate Warren shows up and shoots Buffy in her backyard. A stray bullet catches Tara inside the house. Both lay dying as the episode ends and Willow angrily begins kicking in her dark magical powers.
This episode seemed very run of the mill... that is until this ending! It seemed like the cliched action episode: the hero foils the villain's plan but he manages to escape to try new schemes and live another day. But Joss is able to turn that cliche on its head when Warren returns with a pistol and a vendetta against Buffy!
This show really hit something on the head years before it was widespread. And that is this idea of these keyboard misogynists upset at the world, upset they can't get girls, money, power. In the modern age, most of this class just whines and laments on the internet and attend "Male Rights" rallies. But Joss introduces these characters in a world where magic and witchcraft exist, where they can harness energies to become powerful. It's scary to think what some of these guys would do in real life with those orbs! But this type of villain was rare back in those days but is something completely believable by the modern scope.
This whole season has been about fragmentation inside the gang. Everyone has been going off in different directions. The last five minute of this episode though, felt like everything was starting to re-approach normalcy. That is until Warren shows up and reintroduces conflict to the plot line. We as viewers know Buffy won't stay dead (after all it is her show) but there is a real chance this might be the last we see of Tara. BtVS has been unafraid to kill supporting cast characters in the past and Tara has never felt exactly indispensable. I enjoy her character and home this isn't the end of her arc but, if it is, we had a good run.
Now she must go deal with the Trio. She destroys the gems but Warren is able to escape. Andrew and Jonathan are arrested. A confused Spike leaves town. Xander and Buffy make up. As they share a tender moment, an irate Warren shows up and shoots Buffy in her backyard. A stray bullet catches Tara inside the house. Both lay dying as the episode ends and Willow angrily begins kicking in her dark magical powers.
This episode seemed very run of the mill... that is until this ending! It seemed like the cliched action episode: the hero foils the villain's plan but he manages to escape to try new schemes and live another day. But Joss is able to turn that cliche on its head when Warren returns with a pistol and a vendetta against Buffy!
This show really hit something on the head years before it was widespread. And that is this idea of these keyboard misogynists upset at the world, upset they can't get girls, money, power. In the modern age, most of this class just whines and laments on the internet and attend "Male Rights" rallies. But Joss introduces these characters in a world where magic and witchcraft exist, where they can harness energies to become powerful. It's scary to think what some of these guys would do in real life with those orbs! But this type of villain was rare back in those days but is something completely believable by the modern scope.
This whole season has been about fragmentation inside the gang. Everyone has been going off in different directions. The last five minute of this episode though, felt like everything was starting to re-approach normalcy. That is until Warren shows up and reintroduces conflict to the plot line. We as viewers know Buffy won't stay dead (after all it is her show) but there is a real chance this might be the last we see of Tara. BtVS has been unafraid to kill supporting cast characters in the past and Tara has never felt exactly indispensable. I enjoy her character and home this isn't the end of her arc but, if it is, we had a good run.
Powerful but tragic
Joxerlives19 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The Good; The Orb theft and the wonderful battle between Buffy and the Troika. Tara and Willow getting back together and Dawn's delighted reaction to it. And Anya still looking for the vengeance.
The Bad; Not so much bad as the ending and the bathroom scene are just shocking. Contrary to common belief you can see the jetpack under Warren's jacket as he's fighting Buffy although you wonder how Jonathon didn't notice? Warren doesn't so much abandon Andrew, he flies off and expects Andrew to follow him.
Best line; Jonathon; (arrested and taken to the police station) "Uh oh. The BIG house"
Women good/men bad; Anya's latest victim had her boyfriend cheat on her with her sister. Spike forcing himself on Buffy on the bathroom floor, rape the crime that subjugates women and demeans men. Waren calls Buffy 'superbitch'.
Jeez!; I find the bathroom scene just unwatchable, Buffy's terrified, tearful pleading is just heartrending. So brutally realistic compared to what we saw between Darla and Angel in 'Reprise'. You also feel sorry for poor Buffy hurting her back. Sure she has Slayer healing but it still HURTS! Andrew actually yells "Kill her! Kill her!". Tara and Buffy shot, Willow soaked in Tara's blood.
Kinky dinky; Spike's awful ravishing Buffy on the floor of the bathroom (if we don't count the Master the 6th time Buffy has been sexually assaulted unless someone can correct me?).
Captain Subtext; Buffy seems quite intrigued by the Vampirella action figure in the Geeks lair. Andrew's desire to get his hands on Warren's orbs. You wonder who the Klingon love poems are written by and dedicated to? "He never really loved...hanging out with us". Willow and Tara give us a good idea of exactly what they got up to after the candle went out in New Moon Rising much to Dawn's delight "I love you guys!". When Willow and Tara say they'll stop kissing Dawn tells them 'Oh you'd better not'. Will says to Tara "Yes mam!". Spike and Buffy have discussion about the nature of love, Spike saying that it burns and consumes, Buffy saying that such fiery love doesn't last. Willow had an inkling something was going on between Spike and Buffy. You rather get the idea that Spike hangs around with Clem because he's lonely, Buffy might have sex with him but she doesn't actually like him, she doesn't want to talk with him or watch Knightrider marathons (Spike seems like a fan, mentioning KITT in a season 5 Angel ep). Buffy emasculates Warren by 'smashing his orbs'.
Scoobies to the ER; Xander get's pretty bloody from Warren's punch and Buffy's nasty backache and bruise. Buffy and Tara shot at the end.
Apocalypses; 6
Scoobies in bondage: astonishingly Tara gets through three years as a Scooby without being tied up even once!
Recurring characters killed: byebye Tara who finally made it into the opening titles only to leave us forever. Watched this first at a convention where people cheered when she showed up in the opening credits and wept openly when she died (oddly the previous week I'd watched Xena's last ep at another convention, I seemed to spend most of that year surrounded by crying lesbians).
Spike; good or bad? Now I was quite amazed how when this came out how many people sought to excuse Spike for the Buffyrape, they actually said things like 'Oh she led him on, she gave out mixed signals' etc and referred to the scene in the Bronze in Dead Things as proof. I actually challenged people on The Bronze by asking them was Buffy 'asking for it'? Spike tries to rape Buffy and had she been anyone but the Slayer he would surely have succeeded. As he says 'I would never..' and she correctly replies "Because I stopped you!" and "Now ask me why I can never love you!". Ultimately I think Spike loves Buffy as much as he's able to,'quite well' as Dru says in Crush and has done many heroic things but without a soul he can never be good, he is the serial killer in prison obeying the rules for his own benefit. Xander is 100% right about him. And Buffy can't truly love him not only because of what he's done but because he has no soul, he's not the full package.
Dawn in peril; 9
Dawn the bashful virgin; 9 plays the TV really loud to drown out the Willow/Tara sex
What the fanficcers thought; Needless to say many sought to bring Tara back through various literary devices (and the same with Joyce and Cordy). Personally I have no problem with that as long as there is some form of price to be paid as there's been this season for bringing back Buffy, not just Willow did a spell and there she was.
Questions and observations; Spike still has his motorcycle from Bargaining. Another numbered t-shirt for Willow. I always thought that the blonde girl Anya chats up in the bar played Tru's best friend in Eliza Dushku's series Tru Calling but she isn't. Warren refers to Jonathon as 'The Shemp' which is a term coined by Sam Rami and Bruce Campbell in The Evil Dead and Clem seems to think that wrapping a wet towel around Spike's head will disable his chip an idea he seems to have garnered from Total Recall.
Marks out of 10; 8/10 fun, powerful but ultimately tragic
The Bad; Not so much bad as the ending and the bathroom scene are just shocking. Contrary to common belief you can see the jetpack under Warren's jacket as he's fighting Buffy although you wonder how Jonathon didn't notice? Warren doesn't so much abandon Andrew, he flies off and expects Andrew to follow him.
Best line; Jonathon; (arrested and taken to the police station) "Uh oh. The BIG house"
Women good/men bad; Anya's latest victim had her boyfriend cheat on her with her sister. Spike forcing himself on Buffy on the bathroom floor, rape the crime that subjugates women and demeans men. Waren calls Buffy 'superbitch'.
Jeez!; I find the bathroom scene just unwatchable, Buffy's terrified, tearful pleading is just heartrending. So brutally realistic compared to what we saw between Darla and Angel in 'Reprise'. You also feel sorry for poor Buffy hurting her back. Sure she has Slayer healing but it still HURTS! Andrew actually yells "Kill her! Kill her!". Tara and Buffy shot, Willow soaked in Tara's blood.
Kinky dinky; Spike's awful ravishing Buffy on the floor of the bathroom (if we don't count the Master the 6th time Buffy has been sexually assaulted unless someone can correct me?).
Captain Subtext; Buffy seems quite intrigued by the Vampirella action figure in the Geeks lair. Andrew's desire to get his hands on Warren's orbs. You wonder who the Klingon love poems are written by and dedicated to? "He never really loved...hanging out with us". Willow and Tara give us a good idea of exactly what they got up to after the candle went out in New Moon Rising much to Dawn's delight "I love you guys!". When Willow and Tara say they'll stop kissing Dawn tells them 'Oh you'd better not'. Will says to Tara "Yes mam!". Spike and Buffy have discussion about the nature of love, Spike saying that it burns and consumes, Buffy saying that such fiery love doesn't last. Willow had an inkling something was going on between Spike and Buffy. You rather get the idea that Spike hangs around with Clem because he's lonely, Buffy might have sex with him but she doesn't actually like him, she doesn't want to talk with him or watch Knightrider marathons (Spike seems like a fan, mentioning KITT in a season 5 Angel ep). Buffy emasculates Warren by 'smashing his orbs'.
Scoobies to the ER; Xander get's pretty bloody from Warren's punch and Buffy's nasty backache and bruise. Buffy and Tara shot at the end.
Apocalypses; 6
Scoobies in bondage: astonishingly Tara gets through three years as a Scooby without being tied up even once!
Recurring characters killed: byebye Tara who finally made it into the opening titles only to leave us forever. Watched this first at a convention where people cheered when she showed up in the opening credits and wept openly when she died (oddly the previous week I'd watched Xena's last ep at another convention, I seemed to spend most of that year surrounded by crying lesbians).
Spike; good or bad? Now I was quite amazed how when this came out how many people sought to excuse Spike for the Buffyrape, they actually said things like 'Oh she led him on, she gave out mixed signals' etc and referred to the scene in the Bronze in Dead Things as proof. I actually challenged people on The Bronze by asking them was Buffy 'asking for it'? Spike tries to rape Buffy and had she been anyone but the Slayer he would surely have succeeded. As he says 'I would never..' and she correctly replies "Because I stopped you!" and "Now ask me why I can never love you!". Ultimately I think Spike loves Buffy as much as he's able to,'quite well' as Dru says in Crush and has done many heroic things but without a soul he can never be good, he is the serial killer in prison obeying the rules for his own benefit. Xander is 100% right about him. And Buffy can't truly love him not only because of what he's done but because he has no soul, he's not the full package.
Dawn in peril; 9
Dawn the bashful virgin; 9 plays the TV really loud to drown out the Willow/Tara sex
What the fanficcers thought; Needless to say many sought to bring Tara back through various literary devices (and the same with Joyce and Cordy). Personally I have no problem with that as long as there is some form of price to be paid as there's been this season for bringing back Buffy, not just Willow did a spell and there she was.
Questions and observations; Spike still has his motorcycle from Bargaining. Another numbered t-shirt for Willow. I always thought that the blonde girl Anya chats up in the bar played Tru's best friend in Eliza Dushku's series Tru Calling but she isn't. Warren refers to Jonathon as 'The Shemp' which is a term coined by Sam Rami and Bruce Campbell in The Evil Dead and Clem seems to think that wrapping a wet towel around Spike's head will disable his chip an idea he seems to have garnered from Total Recall.
Marks out of 10; 8/10 fun, powerful but ultimately tragic
Dark and serious Buffy...
Red_Identity6 September 2010
This episode completely proves why Season 6 of Buffy is by far the darkest. Every complex action that the characters make affect them, and I think that this episode shows how tangled up every character is. Both James Marsters are Sarah Michelle Gellar are convincing in the attempted 'rape' scene. Overall, the ending of the episode remains one of the best endings to any Buffy episode, and it proves how shocking and dark a show of a supernatural premise can be. Kudos to everyone involved who worked on this episode, although I know many fans will be at the top of the line and will certainly have problems with how dramatic the show has gotten.
Warren shows he is a threat
ossie8523 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Warren finds a magical orb that causes him to have super strength and he is not sharing. Anya tries to get back into vengeance, Xander and Buffy try to sort out the Spike differences. Spike tries to take his and Buffy's relationship into his own hands, while Willow and Tara have made up. Warren is coming after Buffy and will stop at nothing to he gets his own way.
Why It's So Good - The episode where this season really starts to heat up. Spike has done something unforgivable, as a reminder that he is, in fact, evil. Warren starting to live up to his super villain hopes, but not in the way he intended. The last scene is horrifying.
Watch Out For - Amber Benson's first ever creditation as a regular.
Quote - "'She done' who? Oh! Slayer, huh? Gosh, did she break up with you again?" - Clem.
Why It's So Good - The episode where this season really starts to heat up. Spike has done something unforgivable, as a reminder that he is, in fact, evil. Warren starting to live up to his super villain hopes, but not in the way he intended. The last scene is horrifying.
Watch Out For - Amber Benson's first ever creditation as a regular.
Quote - "'She done' who? Oh! Slayer, huh? Gosh, did she break up with you again?" - Clem.
A dark and depressing, but important, episode
katierose29531 August 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I have two different and opposite reactions when I watch this episode. One the one hand, I think its incredibly dramatic and takes the show in compelling new directions. The last scene is one of the most unexpected, compelling moments of the entire show. On the other hand, I just don't like watching "Seeing Red." It's dark and uncomfortable, and I don't think that the Spike and Buffy scene works. Still, this is the episode that changes the rest of the show. You really do need to see it, just be prepared to be depressed.
"Seeing Red" revolves around Warren and the Trio. After becoming super powered with little glowy balls, Warren sets out to rob an amusement park and destroy the Slayer. Meanwhile, Willow and Tara have reunited. Inspired by their happiness, Dawn goes to Spike's tomb to talk to him about Buffy. She claims that Buffy cares for Spike and he hurt her deeply when he slept with Anya. Spike heads for the Summers' house to apologize to Buffy and talk to her about their relationship. She tells him that she can never trust him. He insists that she really loves him. Spike tries to rape her and Buffy fights her way free. Horrifed, Spike rushes out. Xander finds Buffy in the bathroom crying.
Buffy soon decides to go after the Trio. She crushes Warren's magical orbs, but he escapes with a jet pack. Andrew and Johnathan are arrested. Back at his tomb Spike unloads his troubles on Clem. He claims that he's caught in the middle. Not quite a human. Not quite a demon. He decides to leave town to try and find an answer to his troubles. Warren, meanwhile, tracks Buffy down in her back yard and pulls out a gun. While Xander watches in horror, Warren starts shooting. He hits Buffy and she falls to the ground. One of the bullets slams through an upstairs window and strikes Tara. Willow's recovery from her magic addiction comes to an abrupt halt as she sees Tara collapse and die on the bedroom floor.
There are some good parts to this episode. I think it's interesting that Spike removes his coat before going upstairs to confront Buffy. (He won't get it back again until next season.) Spike's coat is often used as a symbol of his "real" self and in taking it off, it's almost like the show is telling us that Spike is about to undergo something trans-formative. Also, the idea of Warren just shooting Buffy and Tara is brilliant. After all the heroic battle the Scoobies have fought against vampires and hell gods and giant snakes, its a regular human being who hurts them the most. He's the one who finally kills one of their own. The Scoobies have been dismissing the Trio all season, making fun of their attempts at evilness. But in the end, Warren is the most effective villain they ever face. He breaks all the "rules" of the Buffyverse and only "wins" because he has no respect for playing fair. He doesn't confront Buffy face to face. He doesn't have a grand plan. He doesn't even have a real reason to hate her. He kills her out of human pride and spite. He even uses a human weapon: A revolver. Which defies all of Buffy's pronouncements that guns are useless in battles. He's cheating. In the end, Warren's wild shooting in the Summers' back yard tears the Scoobies apart more effectively than any supernatural Big Bad. "Seeing Red" shows that "human" evil can be even worse than "demonic" evil in its very pointlessness and random destruction.
On the downside, though. I REALLY don't agree with the attempted rape scene. From a story line stand point, Spike had to have a motivation for leaving town and going on his quest for his soul. I get that and I actually think it's a necessary plot for the character and season. But, it's HOW it all plays out that I hate for several reasons: (1) BTVS should never have introduced the idea of acquaintance rape if they were going to present it in such an irresponsible way. We all know that Spike and Buffy's relationship isn't over. Which means that she'll have to forgive her attempted rapist. And by next episode, Buffy will be heading to Spike's house to have him babysit her little sister. That's completely the wrong message to be putting out there about a real and terrible crime that effects so many women. (2) Spike is a vampire. Vampires don't rape people. People rape people. It wasn't Spike "the demon" trying to rape Buffy. (He didn't even have his game face on.) It was the "human" part of Spike who tried to rape her. Why does he need a soul to prove that he'll never try it again? Human's have souls and they rape each other with appalling frequency. If they wanted Spike to attack Buffy, why not have him vamp-out and bite her? That would make more sense. (3) Spike and Buffy's relationships has been violently sexual all season. Both of them had said "no" during their encounters while the other partner proceeded. That allows analysis of the bathroom scene to descend into a gray "did Spike really mean for that to happen or was he just playing their usual game?" sort of speculation which undermines it's entire purpose. All in all, BTVS usually addresses real life situations with more respect and thoroughness.
My favorite part of the episode: Willow and Tara. I'm glad they got one more day together. And that cliffhanger has got to be one of the most "Woah!" moments in BTVS history.
"Seeing Red" revolves around Warren and the Trio. After becoming super powered with little glowy balls, Warren sets out to rob an amusement park and destroy the Slayer. Meanwhile, Willow and Tara have reunited. Inspired by their happiness, Dawn goes to Spike's tomb to talk to him about Buffy. She claims that Buffy cares for Spike and he hurt her deeply when he slept with Anya. Spike heads for the Summers' house to apologize to Buffy and talk to her about their relationship. She tells him that she can never trust him. He insists that she really loves him. Spike tries to rape her and Buffy fights her way free. Horrifed, Spike rushes out. Xander finds Buffy in the bathroom crying.
Buffy soon decides to go after the Trio. She crushes Warren's magical orbs, but he escapes with a jet pack. Andrew and Johnathan are arrested. Back at his tomb Spike unloads his troubles on Clem. He claims that he's caught in the middle. Not quite a human. Not quite a demon. He decides to leave town to try and find an answer to his troubles. Warren, meanwhile, tracks Buffy down in her back yard and pulls out a gun. While Xander watches in horror, Warren starts shooting. He hits Buffy and she falls to the ground. One of the bullets slams through an upstairs window and strikes Tara. Willow's recovery from her magic addiction comes to an abrupt halt as she sees Tara collapse and die on the bedroom floor.
There are some good parts to this episode. I think it's interesting that Spike removes his coat before going upstairs to confront Buffy. (He won't get it back again until next season.) Spike's coat is often used as a symbol of his "real" self and in taking it off, it's almost like the show is telling us that Spike is about to undergo something trans-formative. Also, the idea of Warren just shooting Buffy and Tara is brilliant. After all the heroic battle the Scoobies have fought against vampires and hell gods and giant snakes, its a regular human being who hurts them the most. He's the one who finally kills one of their own. The Scoobies have been dismissing the Trio all season, making fun of their attempts at evilness. But in the end, Warren is the most effective villain they ever face. He breaks all the "rules" of the Buffyverse and only "wins" because he has no respect for playing fair. He doesn't confront Buffy face to face. He doesn't have a grand plan. He doesn't even have a real reason to hate her. He kills her out of human pride and spite. He even uses a human weapon: A revolver. Which defies all of Buffy's pronouncements that guns are useless in battles. He's cheating. In the end, Warren's wild shooting in the Summers' back yard tears the Scoobies apart more effectively than any supernatural Big Bad. "Seeing Red" shows that "human" evil can be even worse than "demonic" evil in its very pointlessness and random destruction.
On the downside, though. I REALLY don't agree with the attempted rape scene. From a story line stand point, Spike had to have a motivation for leaving town and going on his quest for his soul. I get that and I actually think it's a necessary plot for the character and season. But, it's HOW it all plays out that I hate for several reasons: (1) BTVS should never have introduced the idea of acquaintance rape if they were going to present it in such an irresponsible way. We all know that Spike and Buffy's relationship isn't over. Which means that she'll have to forgive her attempted rapist. And by next episode, Buffy will be heading to Spike's house to have him babysit her little sister. That's completely the wrong message to be putting out there about a real and terrible crime that effects so many women. (2) Spike is a vampire. Vampires don't rape people. People rape people. It wasn't Spike "the demon" trying to rape Buffy. (He didn't even have his game face on.) It was the "human" part of Spike who tried to rape her. Why does he need a soul to prove that he'll never try it again? Human's have souls and they rape each other with appalling frequency. If they wanted Spike to attack Buffy, why not have him vamp-out and bite her? That would make more sense. (3) Spike and Buffy's relationships has been violently sexual all season. Both of them had said "no" during their encounters while the other partner proceeded. That allows analysis of the bathroom scene to descend into a gray "did Spike really mean for that to happen or was he just playing their usual game?" sort of speculation which undermines it's entire purpose. All in all, BTVS usually addresses real life situations with more respect and thoroughness.
My favorite part of the episode: Willow and Tara. I'm glad they got one more day together. And that cliffhanger has got to be one of the most "Woah!" moments in BTVS history.
Yeah...I'm seeing red alright (my eyes are bloodshot after watching this monstrosity)
skay_baltimore5 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
If there's anything worse in this universe than Buffy the Vampire Slayer giving love advice I've never found it. And I never want to find it. Ever. This is bad enough for Eternity. Why the writers insist on crippling the series with garbage like that is beyond me. Frankly...I think it's beyond them as well. If it weren't they would have stopped doing it a long time ago.
As it is, this is yet another snoozer -- complete with 1-dimensional, lackluster performances by just about everyone. It's funny...there's an April fool's thread in the forum section that mockingly criticizes just about everything related to BtVS. The poster meant it as a big joke. The sad thing is...virtually everything he said in it was true. This series really does suck. It's not even as good as a bad soap opera any more. Or a bad Batman episode. It's more like some shriveled up junkie -- just dying for his next fix.
Even the music, which had been one of the strongest points of the show is totally out of sync in this one. While the lyrics of Displaced, by Azure Ray, could fit Xander's situation with either Buffy or Anya -- the song itself is totally out of place the way it's used in the scene where he leaves Buffy and watches Anya in the Magic Box. It merely serves to punctuate what a mess this show and this series is/has become.
It's so bad, in fact, that even a cheesy cliff hanger ending doesn't help. Tara gets shot...blah...blah...blah...Buffy gets shot...blah...blah...blah...Willow gets enraged...blah...blah...blah...So what else is new in Buffyverse?
(And not that it even matters at this point...but those tombstones in BtVS must be made out of Styrofoam. They split in half every time someone falls against one.)
As it is, this is yet another snoozer -- complete with 1-dimensional, lackluster performances by just about everyone. It's funny...there's an April fool's thread in the forum section that mockingly criticizes just about everything related to BtVS. The poster meant it as a big joke. The sad thing is...virtually everything he said in it was true. This series really does suck. It's not even as good as a bad soap opera any more. Or a bad Batman episode. It's more like some shriveled up junkie -- just dying for his next fix.
Even the music, which had been one of the strongest points of the show is totally out of sync in this one. While the lyrics of Displaced, by Azure Ray, could fit Xander's situation with either Buffy or Anya -- the song itself is totally out of place the way it's used in the scene where he leaves Buffy and watches Anya in the Magic Box. It merely serves to punctuate what a mess this show and this series is/has become.
It's so bad, in fact, that even a cheesy cliff hanger ending doesn't help. Tara gets shot...blah...blah...blah...Buffy gets shot...blah...blah...blah...Willow gets enraged...blah...blah...blah...So what else is new in Buffyverse?
(And not that it even matters at this point...but those tombstones in BtVS must be made out of Styrofoam. They split in half every time someone falls against one.)
Spike attacks
Realrockerhalloween5 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Spike can't handle not having Buffy and attacks her at her home. Its one of the most shocking moments on the show very disturbing to find she has been almost assaulted by a monster. As I've said this coupling has bored me to tears yet instead of letting it die they throw any drama they can into the mix no matter how disgusting or awful it seems. I'm glad Spike finally leaves down to find himself instead of being degraded any further as I find it tedious and a lack of creative energy.
Also Warren finds two stones granting him power to take on the slayer and finds her every thing he hates in a strong woman. He berates her, starting yet another fight and explodes with anger at her refusal to back down from him. I found it symbolic that she grabs his stones and smashes them knocking him down a few pegs. It shows her confidence has finally come back with her ready to take on the world again.
Also Warren finds two stones granting him power to take on the slayer and finds her every thing he hates in a strong woman. He berates her, starting yet another fight and explodes with anger at her refusal to back down from him. I found it symbolic that she grabs his stones and smashes them knocking him down a few pegs. It shows her confidence has finally come back with her ready to take on the world again.
An unexpected, uninspiring and unsettling episode, with a dash of character truth
Elewis119522 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I was younger when Buffy aired. I loved the tough girl sexiness of it and I loved the inspiration. The show had heartbreak and bleak moments, and occasionally real scary parts and emotion and moments of true inspiration . . . And, lets talk about Spike. Spike went from amusing villain to amusing chipped/defanged villain, to heroic ally. Standing up to Glory was inspiring and completely heroic, even if he had selfish intentions. The Buffy bot was funny, and a little perverted, but fun TV. Spike was, briefly a hero and a season earlier, in once more with feeling, he saved Buffy's life. A hero twice, who fought alongside them several times.
Over a first watch, it was easy to like spike, which is why I didn't like the episode "as you were"; (6.7 rating). The return of Riley is fine and it works. Spike being the villain, in the way he was in that episode, felt misplaced and out of character. But I digress.
I liked spike. The anti-hero, tragic in some ways, heroic at times and now he tries to rape buffy. Ick. That's one way to make a character we've been made to like, dislikable, in 5 minutes. Why do that Josh?
It also opened up the unanswered question later in the season (spoiler for future episode ahead), when spike asked the being of great power to "make me the man I was", was Spike wanting the chip removed or was Spike asking for his soul. Viewers were left confused.
But now I have a bit more introspection. Spike was never good. He was helpful when he wanted to be. When he thought it would serve him. He loved a good fight. He was so happy when he learned he could punch demons, but he wasn't a hero and he was never good, he just sometimes fought on their side. And that becomes clear in this episode, where he gives into his urges, and only after an unpleasent to watch struggle, he realizes that his actions make it impossible for Buffy to love him, and he does love, or at least, intensely crave, Buffy.
Drusila said episodes earlier that Vampires can love, they just love selfishly . . . Or something to that effect. Spike was selfish and in a moment of self-serving-interest, he tried to rape Buffy. Then, knowing she'd never want to see him again after that, and still loving her - wanting her in his selfish way, he made the only choice he could, to get back his soul.
It's all very clear upon 2nd or 3rd watch and analysis. I understand this episode. I still don't care for it, but it it was a turning point for Spike, who I think, realized he would always be incomplete in that moment, so he was willing to face the trials, face death to get his soul back. Something a selfish vampire might want. It was all in character.
In character episodes might not always make the best storytelling, but they hold up better on rewatch. I still don't like this episode, but I understand it.
Over a first watch, it was easy to like spike, which is why I didn't like the episode "as you were"; (6.7 rating). The return of Riley is fine and it works. Spike being the villain, in the way he was in that episode, felt misplaced and out of character. But I digress.
I liked spike. The anti-hero, tragic in some ways, heroic at times and now he tries to rape buffy. Ick. That's one way to make a character we've been made to like, dislikable, in 5 minutes. Why do that Josh?
It also opened up the unanswered question later in the season (spoiler for future episode ahead), when spike asked the being of great power to "make me the man I was", was Spike wanting the chip removed or was Spike asking for his soul. Viewers were left confused.
But now I have a bit more introspection. Spike was never good. He was helpful when he wanted to be. When he thought it would serve him. He loved a good fight. He was so happy when he learned he could punch demons, but he wasn't a hero and he was never good, he just sometimes fought on their side. And that becomes clear in this episode, where he gives into his urges, and only after an unpleasent to watch struggle, he realizes that his actions make it impossible for Buffy to love him, and he does love, or at least, intensely crave, Buffy.
Drusila said episodes earlier that Vampires can love, they just love selfishly . . . Or something to that effect. Spike was selfish and in a moment of self-serving-interest, he tried to rape Buffy. Then, knowing she'd never want to see him again after that, and still loving her - wanting her in his selfish way, he made the only choice he could, to get back his soul.
It's all very clear upon 2nd or 3rd watch and analysis. I understand this episode. I still don't care for it, but it it was a turning point for Spike, who I think, realized he would always be incomplete in that moment, so he was willing to face the trials, face death to get his soul back. Something a selfish vampire might want. It was all in character.
In character episodes might not always make the best storytelling, but they hold up better on rewatch. I still don't like this episode, but I understand it.
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