Overall Rating: 7.7
Betrayal is always fascinating TV. :) Seriously, though; the way the writers have chosen to give Faith EXACTLY what she needed (a really...really strict watcher who appeared to actually care for her) and then take it away was pretty brutal. Whedon must kick puppies with steel tipped boots in his spare time. :)
Plot Synopsis:
A full summary may be found here, courtesy of BuffyGuide.com.
The Skinny:
There's quite a myriad of VERY interesting plots in the mix in an episode that, as a consequence of the overloading of so many good plots being carried forward at once, feels a bit rushed. We've got Faith being handed another unfortunate example of why her loner lifestyle feels safer to her when Mrs. Post turns out to be a fraud seeking power. We've got Xander and Willow beginning to give in to temptation and falling for each other in ways that neither of them expected. We've got Angel and Buffy feeling unable to resist the urge to do the wild thing and getting caught in the act (finally) - with all the well-deserved repercussions amidst her slayerette family. And there's still time for a monster-of-the-week threat that is actually really neat to watch.
The message is a bit muddled too...this episode moves a lot of things forward all at once, so it's hard to convey a single theme. On the one hand, we've got Faith putting her trust in a combination of her own prejudices and the hands of a strict overseer (which would seem to be an argument against authoritative parenting - this I would soundly disagree with)...and on the other, you've got Buffy admitting she's glad her clandestine relationship with the recumbent Angel is out in the open and becoming a better person after Giles' stern lecturing, which would seem to contradict the first point. The key difference between Buffy and Faith (maturity of spirit) is on display here...I want the readers to keep their eye on this as we go forward...because it's the arrangement that makes this season so appealing.
Writing: 7.5
A bit jumbled, but not altogether overwhelming - this one's strength lies with a few very poignant scenes...namely, one in which Giles reminds Buffy of the abuse he suffered at the hands of Angelus, and the final scene in which we see Faith's isolation growing to dangerous levels. The rest of the episode is standard action fare.
Acting: 8.0
Serena Scott Thomas was not all that convincing as the wicked watcher (Mrs. Post)...but otherwise, I have few complaints about this episode. I was particularly wowed by Tony Head (I call his name a LOT), but Alyson Hannigan and Nicholas Brendan were fantastic in their scenes together as well...the chemistry between them is so incredibly strong...why...why couldn't they have been an item?!
Message: 7.5
I'll choose to interpret the message of this episode as: strict, structured parenting is not enough to ensure well-adjusted kids...the parents must have a strong moral compass too. Giles has that...Mrs. Post did not...nor has anyone been able to give that to Faith in all of her life...and it's going to ruin her.
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