Buffy: Out of My Mind (5.4)

While I never thought Marc Blucas' acting was as terrible as so many other folks insisted it was, Riley's presence really dragged the show down, especially whenever he was positioned center stage. He feels redundant and is far too petulant to work, while by proxy Buffy as a character has been suffering since the back-end of season four. At the same time, Riley's presence means the continuation of the Initiative, one of the few story misfires this show ever presented. I love that season five is exploring that very fact that Riley doesn't have a place anymore, but I'm really at that point where I want him to go away.

So far this year, there's been that sense that Buffy is becoming more animalistic and in touch with her slayer nature. She's hunting vamps instead of merely patrolling, just look at how she's perched on top of the crypt at the beginning. Buffy is beginning to understand the darkness within her, and that coincides with her dampening feelings for the dull, regular Riley Finn. There's no passion between them, no chemistry, and it's an interesting subject to explore. It's certainly not particularly exciting to watch right now, but I'm appreciating the fact that it's there.

What raises the bar of Out of My Mind is Spike's subplot. It's a genius and inevitable plot twist to have Spike becoming romantically infatuated with Buffy. His intense hatred for her has crossed into deep-seated obsession, and I love that he's fallen for her. They always did have a connection, right from that great scene in School Hard where he was watching her on the dance floor at the Bronze.

Harmony continues to be one of the season's greatest assets, and I adore how the writers are using her character. It brings to mind a quote I read once about the insufferable recurring guest star Janice on Friends, and the fact that in her own little mind she always thought she was the seventh 'Friend', when in reality nobody gave a damn about her. Harmony fits into that same bubble, believing she's a hugely integral part of the Sunnydale mythology when, in fact, she's easily forgotten. Mercedes McNab is particularly hilarious this week, giving another on-point performance.

Parts of Out of My Mind work really well, but the more Riley-centric stuff felt underwhelming. Was Marc Blucas under contract for a specific amount of episodes and they had to keep him around for longer than really necessary? It feels that way. With a cast this big, too, there are obviously people that have been underutilized of late. Giles and Willow, in particular, deserve some stronger material to work with. Blah. Generally fine. B-

Credits
Guest stars Mercedes McNab (Harmony Kendall); Bailey Chase (Graham Miller); Charlie Weber (Ben); Time Winters (Dr. Overheiser); Amber Benson (Tara Maclay); Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers)
Writer Rebecca Rand Kirshner Director David Grossman