Overall Rating: 6.2
Hilarious dialogue meets ridiculous plot meets REALLY bad cornball acting in a few places.
Plot Synopsis:
BuffyGuide.com has the recap.
The Skinny:
You're gonna watch this episode...and you're gonna laugh a lot...and you're gonna wonder why I didn't give it a higher score...until you hit the moment when Buffy suddenly and inexplicably cries like a 7 year old girl complete with HORRIBLE acting...and then the troll pops out (and is admittedly humorous at times) and he too appears to have graduated from hack university's acting for hams program. It's pure fluff, and a needed diversion before the serious events of the Glory plot unfold, and I'm not going to be overly hard on it...but zany humor aside, it's nothing special and the acting and some poor directorial choices really spoil it.
The good news is that the writers did make some progress fully integrating Anya into the group. We've sensed the tension between Willow and Anya (over their different forms of love for Xander, who neither one wants to see hurt) for quite a while now, and this script does a decent job calling attention to and somewhat resolving that tension...albeit the words themselves are a bit...shall we say...on the nose. Every week, the writers also seem to want to drive Spike further and further into creepville over his obsession with Buffy, and that little journey does provide some laughs. All in all, a forgettable, but entertaining hour.
Writing: 8.5
I'm giving this episode credit for hitting on a few good themes, particularly between Anya and Xander, and for being full of good laughs despite the fact that the plot is genuinely idiotic and their treatment of Buffy's psyche and maturity is laughable at best.
Acting: 4.0
For such a talented cast of actors, this one feels like total cheese. SMG puts in one of her worst performances of all time, excluding the Halloween costume episode and Abraham Benrubi was equally horrible.
Message: 6.0
This is largely fluffernutters and giggles...not a lot to think too deeply about.
Highlights:
BUFFY: Are you alright?
NUN: Yes...what was that? It looked like a...demon!
BUFFY: Yeah, it did, didn't it? Here, let me help you. (helps nun lady stand) So tell me...about the whole abjuring the company of men thing...you know...the whole no sex bit...how's that working out for you?
NUN: Um...good?
BUFFY: Yeah...do you have to be super-religious?
NUN: Well...
BUFFY: How's the food? (LOL!)
BUFFY: So do you really think these watcher's council guys can help us with the whole Glory thing?
GILES: Well I can't be certain, of course, but the resources at their disposal...I mean their central library in London...
BUFFY: Don't...talk about the books again, Giles. You get all...and sometimes there's drool. (BHAHAHAHAAAA!!)
WILLOW: We can come by between classes. Usually I use that time to copy over my class notes with a system of different colored pens. But it's been pointed out to me that that's, you know... insane.
TARA: I said quirky.
BUFFY: I killed something in a convent last night.
XANDER: In any other room, a frightening declaration. Here, a welcome distraction. So...tell us about the slaying, Buff.
BUFFY: Pretty standard stuff, vampire staking. Oh! But I met a nun, and she let me try on her wimple.
XANDER: And now we're back to frightening.
JOYCE: I looked at it (the nightgown) this morning and there it was...all fuzzy and blue. And I just couldn't stand it anymore.
BUFFY: I don't think the rest of us will miss it either.
DAWN: It was getting a little ripe.
BUFFY: Maybe we should burn it.
DAWN: It would keep the bugs away.
JOYCE: It doesn't smell! Fine fine...make your jokes at the expense of the woman with a hole in her skull. (LOL!)
Spike (holding a box of chocolates, talking to a mannequin intended to represent Buffy): Um... there's something I got to tell you. About showing you Riley in that place. I didn't mean to... (long pause) Anyway, I know you're feeling all betrayed — by him, not me. I was trying to help, you know. Not like I made him be there, after all. Actually trying to help you. Best intentions. I mean, you know, pretty state you'd be in, thinking things are all right while he's toddling halfway round the bend. (He stares at the mannequin and starts to get increasingly angry.) Oh, I'll insult him if I want to! I'm the one who's on your side! Me! Doing you a favor! And you, being dead petty about it — me, getting nothing but your hatred and your venom and— you ungrateful bitch! Fuckin' bitch!
(He loses control and smashes the box of chocolates over the mannequin's head. He then sighs, picks up the mannequin and replaces it. He rearranges the wig, picks up the box of chocolate, and tries to stuff the chocolates back in. He composes himself and faces the mannequin again. ) Buffy... there's something I want to tell you.
WILLOW: You're the fish!
ANYA: What?
WILLOW: Th-the fish in the bowl, in The Cat in the Hat. He was always saying that the cat shouldn't be there while the mother was out.
ANYA: What are you talking about?
TARA: It's a book. This cat does all this mischief.
WILLOW: It's so cute! He balances a bunch of stuff, including that fish in the bowl! A-and— but don't try it for real when you're six, because then you're not allowed to have fish for five years. (BBWWWWAAAHAHAHAHAAA!!!)
ANYA: Well, I don't know how to put the top up, I only just figured out what the left pedal does! (She smiles proudly.) It makes us stop! (She demonstrates, slamming on the brakes.)
WILLOW: You don't know how to drive! Why didn't you say you don't know how to drive?
ANYA: Well, I couldn't know if I could until I tried, could I?
WILLOW: I wish Buffy was here!
(Buffy runs in.)
BUFFY: I'm here!
WILLOW: I wish I had a million dollars!
XANDER: But...you seem to so enjoy...the whole...troll thing.
OLAF: I adjusted. (LOL)
OLAF (to Xander): Ha ha! You fight well, although you are a tiny man. (heh)
ANYA: How can I help?
WILLOW: Uh, distract him from Buffy. Uh, piss him off.
ANYA: I don't know how.
WILLOW: Anya, I have faith in you. There is no one you cannot piss off. (heh!!)
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