Overall Rating: 6.0
Everyone needs a little corn in their diet. This episode is as corny as a barbeque on the fourth of July (pass the butter!), but it's a fun kind of corny. :) It's nothing special, but it's not insulting either.
Plot Synopsis:
A full summary of the plot may be found here courtesy of BuffyGuide.com
Writing: 7.0
They were kind of going for "Teen Movie meets Mnoster Mash" here...the whole idea of vampires modernizing and holding slayer-killing contests is pretty darned clever and I enjoyed Buffy and Cordy competing. However, I don't think the execution was particularly crisp...there was a lot of needless cliche-ringing...to the point where a lot of the interest kind of evaporated. Part of that is the acting too (more on that below), but suffice to say, I think the plot had the potential to be uproariously funny and we had to settle for "merely corny and amusing." I can't be too negative, however. The heat between Xander and Willow is OVERWHELMING...and so frustrating for a fan of that potential relationship given the lack of hope for it to end well for anyone. Just that scene earns this episode solid marks.
Acting: 5.0
Sorry to say...SMG and Charisma Carpenter really botched this one. Their argument scenes just did not ring true. The villains also managed to take a comedy action plot and turn it into Earnest Goes to Camp...without the charm. I continue to be deeply unimpressed with K. Todd Freeman (Mr. Trick)...his performances sort of remind me of the villains from 1970s superhero pictures (hint...that's bad).
Message: 6.0
Not much of a message to report here...this episode is fluff and fluff it shall remain.
Highlights:
CORDELIA: (confused) What's going on here? Did Scott not ask her to the Homecoming Dance yet?
BUFFY: (embarrassed) Thanks, Cordelia. Humiliation's really good for my color.
SCOTT: (unsure) Oh, um... well, no. I just... I assumed that you would think it was corny or something, but I-I'm in... I mean, you know, if you are, if you want to.
BUFFY: Uh, sure... I do. You know, i-if you want to.
SCOTT: Well, I do if you want to.
OZ: (smiles) The judges will accept that as a 'yes'.
WILKINS: Would you show me your hands, please?
ALLAN: (raises his eyebrows) Sir?
WILKINS: (insistently) Your hands. (He indicates that Allan should put his hands on the desk. Allan holds out his hands and slowly leans over, placing them flat on the desk.) I think they could be cleaner.
ALLAN: Of course, sir. I-I mean, I, I washed them, but...(The Mayor leans back in his chair. Allan looks like he's about to have a
nervous breakdown.)
WILKINS: After every meal and under your fingernails. Dirt gets trapped there... and germs... and mayonnaise. My dear mother said, 'cleanliness is next to godliness', and I believed her. She never caught a cold. (laughs) I'd like these two (points at the warrant) to be put under surveillance, (Allan straightens back up) and I'd like to know if... any other colorful characters have come to town. (creepy intro to the mayor...LOL)
XANDER: Whatcha doin'?
CORDELIA: (startles and faces him) Checking out the I-laughingly-use-the-phrase competition. (She looks over at Holly, playing with her hair and talking to a couple of boys.) Holly Charleston: nice girl, brain dead, doesn't have a prayer. (She shifts her gaze to Michelle, who is handing out campaign flyers.) Michelle Blake: open to all mankind, especially those with a letterman's jacket and a car. (looks at Xander, concerned) She could give me a run. (LOL...wow)
WILLOW: Where's Buffy? (Oz looks around) She's gonna miss the yearbook pictures.
XANDER: Buffy and Faith are in the library getting all sweaty. (giggity!)
CORDELIA: (corrects him) They're training.
XANDER: (gives her a look) I stand by my phrase. (LOL)
TRICK: Competition. Competition is a beautiful thing. It makes us strive. It... makes us accomplish. Occasionally, it makes us kill. We all have the desire to win. (walks through the room) Whether we're human... (gestures to three men) vampire...(nods to the Gorches)...and whatever the hell you are, my brother. You got them spiny-looking head things. I ain't never seen that before.
KULAK: I am Kulak, of the Miquot Clan.
TRICK: Isn't that nice.
XANDER: Yeah, we should face it, Will.
LYRICS: Stay on the outside.
XANDER: You and I are gonna be in neighboring rest homes while I come over so you can adjust my, um...
LYRICS: And now you want to ask me 'why'? (Willow raises her eyebrows at him.)
XANDER: My, uh... Well, I can't think of anything that's not really gross.
LYRICS: It's like / How does your heart beat? (Willow is finished with the tie and smiles at him. She pats the tie and then goes back behind the screen to try on yet another outfit. Xander pulls on his vest.) And how do you cry?
XANDER: So, uh... you and Oz.
LYRICS: How does your heart beat?
XANDER: How do I put this? (buttons the vest) Are we on first, second, or, uh... ye gods?
WILLOW: That's none of your business, Alexander Harris. (Her shadow on the screen shows her adjusting the shoulder straps of the dress she's putting on.)
LYRICS: And there are some things that I like to figure out
XANDER: (smiles) Ooo, rounding second. (reaches for his jacket)
WILLOW: (huffs) You don't know that. What about you and Cordelia?
LYRICS: There are some things that I can do without
XANDER: (pulls on the tuxedo jacket) Oh, a gentleman never talks about his conquests.
WILLOW: Oh, yeah? (steps out from behind the screen) Well, since when did you become a...
LYRICS: You and your letters are gone forever. (They are both struck dumb when they see each other. They don't say anything for a long moment. Willow finally breaks the silence to finish her sentence.)
WILLOW: ...gentleman? (smiles and giggles - She looks down at her dress, then back up at him and shrugs.) Uh, I know. 'Nice.'
XANDER: I was gonna go with 'gorgeous'. (steps toward her)
WILLOW: (smiles) Really? (steps toward him) You, too. I-in a guy way.
LYRICS: With all the things that you could be
XANDER: (smiles back and draws a breath) Oz is very lucky.
WILLOW: (smiling) So is Cordelia... i-in a girl way.
LYRICS: You never could learn how to be me. (Suddenly Willow looks very worried.
WILLOW: I don't know if I can dance in this. I don't know if I can dance!
XANDER: Come on. Piece of cake. (He steps up to her and offers his hands to dance.) Here.
LYRICS: And now you want to ask me 'how'? (They take a few seconds to get positioned for a traditional slow waltz, and then start to dance.)
XANDER: Well, that seems to, um...(He looks down at their feet as they sway back and forth for a little while. Willow looks up at him, but tries not to look like she is.)
LYRICS: It's like / How does your heart beat? / Why do you breathe?
WILLOW: Yeah. This shouldn't be a... problem.
LYRICS: How does your heart beat?
XANDER: No. (They slowly inch closer to each other.)
LYRICS: Why do you breathe?
XANDER: No problem.
LYRICS: How does your heart beat? / Why do you breathe?
(He slowly leans his head down to her, and she responds by angling hers up to him. They are soon very close, and kiss gently. The kiss goes on for several seconds before they realize what they are doing and quickly jump apart. - this is among the most romantic scenes I've ever seen on TV...awesome...and oh so painful)
GILES: Seems like a lot of fuss for... one little title.
BUFFY: Well, you know, it's no fun if you don't try your best. (takes a drink)
GILES: As long as fun is still in the mix.
BUFFY: (smiling) Sure! It's not like anyone takes it that seriously. (The bottle in her hand suddenly shatters under the pressure of her grip. Buffy gives Giles an innocent smile.)
XANDER: Okay, let's not say something we'll, uh, regret later...
CORDELIA: (to Buffy) You crazy freak!
BUFFY: Vapid whore!
XANDER: ...like that!
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