I seriously think Sarah Michelle Gellar's performance as the Buffybot is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. She completely embodies this silicone android with the most basic of emotions, and I love her unrestrained glee over Spike and all of Buffy's friends. At the same time, she makes her really sweet. Sure, she's a porno sex robot, but she seems genuinely nice to be around, and looks adorable walking so forcefully in that floaty pink skirt. Aww.Literally all the Buffybot scenes are hilarious, Jane Espenson creating some genius interaction between the 'bot and Buffy's friends. There's her offer to draw Willow sketches of her lovemaking with Spike; the Spike-written dialogue about Angel ("He's bloody stupid"); Buffybot's adorable smile when Anya compliments her; how she pronounces 'Guy-ills'. But I've always thought the funniest part was when she asks Anya how her money is. Anya's expression of joy, as if it's the nicest thing anybody has ever asked her, is ridiculously awesome.
Buffy finally recognized Spike's heroism, which was really moving. You knew what was happening in that final scene from the get-go, but it was undeniably sweet. Buffy isn't totally cold, and can see that he did a good thing and protected both her and Dawn. These kids just might have a future...
Buffy's vision quest was a little 'blah', but it did give us that immortal phrase. While it was entirely eclipsed by the Buffybot hijinks, I liked Buffy's determination to be a real person again, and not this killing machine 'slayer' like the first one of her kind. Now that I just put that down into words, it hits me that there's an interesting metaphor there with the Buffybot, the contrast between a machine with one unique focus, and the humanity that gives Buffy her true strength. Damn this show and its levels!
Intervention is hilarious, and it's interesting to see the show still getting mileage out of a 'double of a lead character' story the third time around. It's not as genius as Doppelgangland, but Sarah's performance is spectacular. A-
Credits
Guest stars Clare Kramer (Glory); Adam Busch (Warren Meers); Troy T. Blendell (Jinx); Amber Benson (Tara Maclay)
Writer Jane Espenson Director Michael Gershman
I;m so glad you pointed out Buffy-bots interaction with Anya, The "How is your money?" part literally has me in stitches every time. It's been 2 or 3 years since I last watched it, but I still replay that part in my head, so friggin hilarious.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting that they did follow through with the creation but I didn't really enjoy Buffybot, I found the whole thing to be quite sad. Although the small moments that you mentioned were funny, I liked it how thinly veiled the Spike input was.
ReplyDeleteSpike is such a strange character, (I thought aiding Dawn to 'bring back' Joyce was awful and the buffybot- thing not nice), I suppose that's the 'soulless' element, so maybe slide-able. BUT. it's nice to see that when he loves he loves deeply and knows what it means.
Hearing Buffy's feelings about becoming hard were exactly what I needed her as a character to say, it's like I let out a deep breath as soon as she said it! Although I liked her, I could feel myself distancing and now I feel all supportive again haha.
I think what didn't work with the dreamwalker scene was how unimpressed Buffy seemed to take it, if she had been more emotional (okay now I feel horrible remembering what she said about her mother) okay, not emotional, but a bit more mystified and eager, it would have felt more dramatic, perhaps if The Slayer had done more! Actually, Giles himself, at the beginning was a bit day at the office-blasé wasn't he? He could've been more enthusiastic- I loved the tentative hokey pokey and gourd rattle though, that was funny =)
I though Glory was good this time round or perhaps I'm just getting used to the utter weirdness her scenes usually involve with all minions and everything else.
density alert! Hope that's not too difficult to read, I'm terrible with spacing, no finesse for it- sorry!
ReplyDeleteSpike is interesting like that, in that you understand his emotions but disagree with how he projects them most of the time. But he's challenging, and I've always loved that about him. Prepare for season six, though, because he gets a whole lot more difficult there, too.
ReplyDeleteAbout Buffy's distance, that's actually a great point. This is around the time when characters do become a little distant and somewhat unlikable. Re-watching the show again, it's hard seeing people that were once so endearing become so much colder. Willow and Giles, in particular, are victims of that. At the same time, I think it's only so affecting and obvious because of how strong the writing is. We actually care about these people, so much so that it's bothersome when they begin to change in ugly ways.
The spacing is fine, too. It's only the weird comment errors that are making everything kind of mashed-up and difficult to read. I haven't investigated it for a couple of days, but I remember reading on the help forums that it's affecting a ton of Bloggers.
'Spike is interesting like that, in that you understand his emotions but disagree with how he projects them most of the time.'
ReplyDeletePerfectly put! You've lodged a lozenge of understanding into my messy opinions towards Spike, the flowering onion that he his.
Heh! He did love those onion blossoms!
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