i never realized that riley wasn’t in the family scene, it’s so telling.

@lacrartezorok4975

4 жыл бұрын

Yet, Spike did.

@greggsenne1268

4 жыл бұрын

Maybe it's to focus on the women. Spike is just a litmus strip. If Riley were present there might be a lot less mouthing off which might diminish the dramatic tension. It's up to the women to make the point and chase off the unwelcome.

@The810kid

4 жыл бұрын

@@defrostedrobot77 Joyce wasn't a scooby

@donnaclayton8644

4 жыл бұрын

But Spike is.

@RyanAston

4 жыл бұрын

Who's riley

"Sacrifice without choice is servitude." Excellent line. I 100% agree.

@kinagrill

4 жыл бұрын

It's actually Slavery. Servitude can be done by choice, and thus you are aware, or should at least be so, of the potential Sacrifices that could happen from going into servitude, willingly.

@timf7413

4 жыл бұрын

IMHO that concept doesn't really seem to fit the philosophy of this show though (to paraphrase Buffy herself that people always have a choice, even if not always a good one) Choosing to sacrifice because of some external factor (like cultural expectations, the fact that other options are worse etc. is still a choice.) Not necessarily saying I agree with that (at least not 100%, but it does seem the fundamental argument of the Buffyverse as a body of work.

@cindytartt4048

2 жыл бұрын

@@kinagrill I like this point of view; it’s interesting that MANY comments that are thoughtful but may disagree with elements of thinking exhibited here are ignored except critical thinking *requires* assessment & occasional polite disagreement without the head butting common on YT. Anywaaay, you’re 100% correct on servitude. 💐🌷

@cindytartt4048

2 жыл бұрын

@@timf7413 there is a distinct feeling that everyone on the show, or in life here, in the Buffverse are distinguishable by CHOICES that we *all* have. There is disagreement though about anything which is 100% one thing or another. Some people don’t have choices at all. We can’t ignore that anymore. The Buffverse tells us that choices exist no matter what but I’d say that’s not fundamental to the non fantasy universe.

Cousin Beth: Well, I hope you'll all be happy hanging out with a disgusting demon. Anya: *Raises hand* Excuse me. What kind? Cousin Beth: What? Anya: What kind of demon is she? There's a lot of different kinds. Some are very very evil, and some have been considered to be useful members of society. Xander: *Goofy and proud smile*

@kinagrill

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah that was just so adorable and it... well, it pulled the rug out from under those institutionalized family members - So you say a Demon aye... what kind? Anya just asked the most important question because that family is just playing on the fears and such to keep their women in line... As Spike very much points out.

@timf7413

4 жыл бұрын

The chilling aspect of that to me is that there's a solid argument to be made that they likely don't even realize demons are real in the Buffyverse. Based on some of the things they say, it's debatable if they even believe/realize Tara's magic is legitimate and not just some made up hokum.

@timf7413

4 жыл бұрын

@@kinagrill The irony is Anya (based on her past and future actions) was mostly likely asking that as a way of defending herself, not necessarily Tara.

@kinagrill

3 жыл бұрын

@@timf7413 Oh and cuz of her total lack of brain-to-mouth filter when it comes to her wanting/needing to say something.

Amber Benson was SO underused. It baffles me that they never revisit her family trauma again. This mess should have been something that stuck with her throughout the show.

@michellezapf-belanger54

4 жыл бұрын

Jenn McIntyre yeah, especially since Xander also clearly has at least one abusive parent and they never deal with that.

@mjtpli

4 жыл бұрын

Michelle Zapf-Belanger The “Everything is really about Buffy” construction Ian talks about helps bring structure to the show, but it does lead to missed opportunities sometimes. Tara gets particularly shortchanged. Xander’s family issues may make a reappearance however...

@jamesjohngarner

4 жыл бұрын

Tara's victimhood never goes away. She has her will taken away from her by Glory, and ends up a victim of misogyny in the form of Warren.

@kamui003

4 жыл бұрын

@@jamesjohngarner Even Willow messed with her mind before.

@alexhyde8820

4 жыл бұрын

I wish that Tara had been used more as a character in her own right and not just for Willow's story. I feel like Tara had so much potential as a character that was ultimately wasted in service to Willow's arc by killing her off. (Plus, Bury Your Gays sucks.)

I really like the moment buffy tells tara's dad, "she's a hair puller" about dawn. Dawn clearly is too old for hair pulling fights, so buffy accepts a memory she knows is fabrcated as fact.

@MsAliciaRL

2 ай бұрын

14 is too old for hair pulling? Clearly you didn't grow up with sisters.

@saraa.4295

2 ай бұрын

@@MsAliciaRL true i didn't...but we never see her use that tactic, and she actually knows some martial art, so i guess she is no longer a hair puller ;) And i think after buffy got her slayer mojo physical fights between sisters weren't common anymore anyway ;)

Nobody cares or even notices that there are two girls just slowly floating and dancing because two girls floating is the most normal thing to happen in Sunnydale that week.

@MatthijsvanDuin

4 жыл бұрын

Most people who live in Sunnydale have simply cultivated the ability to mentally block out anything they don't want to acknowledge exists.

@RykerJones28

4 жыл бұрын

What was it Giles said in the second episode? People tend to rationalise what they can and forget what they can't. Something like that.

@glaucusaoe667

4 жыл бұрын

The intention of the scene seems to be to create a strong atmosphere of love. Everyone in the scene is very calm, peaceful, and in love, they are all lost in the moment. The scene plays on the saying, "I only have eyes for you" or the adage, "Love is Blind." Everyone dancing in the scene seems to be only focused on who they are dancing with. The scene could also be explained by everyone being under some sort of affects of the miraculous or magical, related to the saying, "Being under love's spell." There is definitely a strong undertone of magical and miraculous at play in the scene.

@holi117

4 жыл бұрын

I saw somebody else on another video wonder if maybe a few of them might be witches - going back to Buffy's Q about there maybe being a wiccan crowd. But since the wicca group was a bunch of 'wanna-blessed-bes' I tend to side on the idea that its Sunnydale. Two girls floating and dancing is WAY better than a horde of demons trying to kill you lol. Chances are, everyone still going to the bronze is somewhat aware of the supernatural and has decided to just keep going out anyways lol.

@glennarnold3667

4 жыл бұрын

Or just the other people in the room accepting them for what they are. Whether they have noticed or not is immaterial

I think Spike helped Tara, at least in part, to show off that he figured it out. He just seems so pleased with himself when he's going over to hit her

@cindytartt4048

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed. I also think, like showy-off demons, they’re attracted to chaos: they’re essentially bored, trapped in time & unchanging so whilst Spike wants to impress Buffy, he needs people to say “wow, Spike, look at how you saved us walking in when you did.” It removes that heavy boredom & creates a space for Spike to DO something where he gets to be the star. He also likes people to owe him. It’s often “how much can you pay me?” That he detests people like Tara’s family is obvious when you think how he’s drawn to a certain type of strength -not just Buffy but Drusilla, who he adored the stronger & wilder she became. Like Billy Idol Spike needs to be noticed. 😁

This episode is another example of how Spike can see through ppl and read a room so well an underrated character trait of his. He called crap on Tara's curse when he himself said he didn't care about any of what was going on.

@examiningkubrickphilosofia1530

4 жыл бұрын

Think Spike is lying. But Spike being a "truth-teller" is an old trope - the outsider sees something the main characters are blind to. Probably Whedon is taking this from William S.

Fans: "Hey, Whedon, now that the Scoobys have officially welcomed Tara as one of their own, how about promoting Amber Benson to the title credits?" Whedon: "All is good time, my friends. I just want to make sure it's a... _special_ occasion."

@Thomas_of_the_forest

3 жыл бұрын

Whedon, the bastard... after Family would have been a perfect part to inluded her. I think Seeing Red would still be effective if her name had been included from after this episode and onwards too

@andreasvogler1875

3 жыл бұрын

@@Thomas_of_the_forest But I think that would also mean that they would have to pay her more, wouldn't it?

@bakaichigo

3 жыл бұрын

@@andreasvogler1875 Yes, actually. It's part of why they DON'T do that. Being in the title screen denotes both importance in the story AND the actual paygrade, which is determined by how much screen time you have, since they have to produce those title screens and they cost money. Can't be swapping them around for chars that are not in the show enough, unless its part of the story telling to include them or that they aren't around a bunch. For ex: Castiel/Misha Collins of Supernatural. His entry into the opening titles happens after S4's entry, as he wasn't going to be returning at all until Kripke bowed to fan demand for Misha's return to screen as Castiel and wrote the character back in as a _recurring_ cast member. He still had relatively few actual appearances, despite that, being used lightly, but was integral to the story so he became part of the title screen credits and was paid more. If I remember correctly from Misha's discussions at the time, its a pretty decent difference to pay rate, but that comes with the territory of doing more scenes and having a more line/plot/visible role. Title credits often get conflated with main-casting or being a series lead too - SMG is the series lead, while the main scoobies are main cast and Tara WAS a recurring character until, I believe, around here. This episode is like, a turning point for Tara's role on the show, which probably elicited the creation of the new title segment to account for it. Considering where Wheadon took that character though, would agree her inclusion as main cast was probably to make it hurt all the more when she's taken later, too.

@andreasvogler1875

3 жыл бұрын

@@bakaichigo Taras role as a recurring character wasn't really changed to main cast by this episode, so I guess the credit appearance was probably to mess with the fans or maybe as a send-off for her.

@bakaichigo

3 жыл бұрын

@@andreasvogler1875 Ohh, that does make sense, and thanks for clarifying! :)

I never noticed that Sandy was in season 3. That’s some really good continuity.

@davidmernick7360

4 жыл бұрын

Though it seems very unlikely that VampWillow would have bothered to turn Sandy while holding the Bronze hostage, just like one of the Mayor's random henchvamps turning Harmony in the middle of the graduation day battle.

@MissEvanescenceFan

3 жыл бұрын

@@davidmernick7360 idk, considering they were already hinting at willows sexuality in that episode it seems likely to me she would turn a woman

@davidbennetts3138

3 жыл бұрын

The whole " when you do or don't become a vampire" is very sketchy throughout the series. For instance Buffy is bitten by Dracula and drinks his blood but doesn't become a vamp.

@notefish328

3 жыл бұрын

@@davidbennetts3138 I'm pretty sure death is a requirement.

@ladyalfhildrforestofvioletmist

3 жыл бұрын

@@davidbennetts3138 Yeah, in Angel when Darla is instructing a vampire on how to turn her, she mentions that you have to drink until you can feel the heart slowing. Also, I believe Dracula explicitly tells Buffy not to worry about getting turned because he hasn't drunken enough from her.

I've watched this series countless times, and I can't believe it's the first time I've ever thought of Dawn's creation as affecting how we perceive characters themselves. I always assumed Hank Summers' character shift, from absentee father to full on deadbeat, was just a tv series tinkering with its characters as tv series are wont to do. Kind of like how Joyce was a sort of ditzy, absentee mother herself in the beginning before eventually closing her time on the series as not just Buffy and Dawn's mother, but a surrogate mother to the entire Scooby Gang. I don't know why it never even occurred to me that Dawn's inclusion in those memories could change how Hank interacted with his family.

@michellezapf-belanger54

4 жыл бұрын

stodd2010 Joyce herself makes a character shift to being a much more “good” and supportive mom in Season 5. Maybe her character changed a bit too since she had an elementary schooler on her hands when she got divorced and struck out on her own.

@rachelranderson

4 жыл бұрын

I thought that too-- just tv writers retconning an off-screen character to make it fit the situation. This makes the whole series seem so much more complex. My mind is kablooey-ed.

@stodd2010

4 жыл бұрын

​@@michellezapf-belanger54 Perhaps. I personally think Joyce's shift started around mid/late S2, and fully comes through in S3 after she discovers the truth about Buffy. Even her handful of appearances in S4 emit this nurturing energy. Her talk with Buffy in "Fear Itself" is one of my favorite moments between those two.

@quibily

4 жыл бұрын

I had the same thought! Before, he was distantly supportive because, by the divorce, his daughter was almost grown up, and he didn’t feel pressure to take care of her more-but divorcing while having an elementary school-aged daughter and only sending occasional gifts and having summer visits makes him seem more of a deadbeat. Perhaps Dawn’s existence added more pressure to him where he just decided to give up on being a father since his younger daughter needed more from him than he was willing to give. And it might explain why Dawn seems brattier than Buffy. She felt more abandoned when the divorce happened, maybe. She still needed direct parenting, at that age.

@needlewolf3982

4 жыл бұрын

I'd never considered it before either, but now that I think about it it makes sense. But maybe it's not so much about Dawn's existance changing Hank, but perhaps even the monks tinkering with his personality. Because they sent her to Buffy so that she could be protected, and having Hank as an option to ship her off to would have gone against what they wanted. Removing Hank by changing his character ensures that she stays under Buffy's protection. Perhaps.

I've attributed the change in Hank to the Monks not wanting to risk any custodial interference in Dawn's care, so they made him decide to head for Spain.

@ladyalfhildrforestofvioletmist

3 жыл бұрын

Oooh interesting. It did seem like a big change that he wasn't around at all with Buffy's mom being so sick, but that is a plausible explanation. Although, you'd think the monks would want as many protective influences around Dawn as possible, but I suppose they could've seen the dad as just getting in the way rather than aiding in her protection...

Damn man, watching you talk about The Gift is going to kill me. That episode already makes me cry every time.

@alanhegewisch4486

4 жыл бұрын

I'm dreading The body. So, so much.

@benbrennan4953

4 жыл бұрын

Embrace every second fellow Bufflings

@christopherwatkins3921

4 жыл бұрын

Honestly I can’t wait for those videos - been looking forward to them for quite literally years

@benbrennan4953

4 жыл бұрын

Not the only one ;)

I had never really noticed the foreshadowing of Tara’s father saying “I am taking you out of here before someone does get killed” ... it is a proper tragedy in that if she had gone with her ‘blood kin’ she would have had to kill off her true self and, in doing so, die inside. Is it an argument for it being better to truly live for a day than to die for eternity?

@bsommervold

4 жыл бұрын

I think it’s also interesting to think about the fact that Tara wouldn’t have been mind sucked by Glory if she left. However, her mind would have been broken down by her family and she probably would have become docile in a different way

@r0w5tortion84

4 жыл бұрын

The parallel between tara and the whole "living for a day vs dying forever" is especially interesting when you consider, you know... "your shirt"

@cindytartt4048

2 жыл бұрын

@@r0w5tortion84 god, yes!

The most the series did for Tara's character, with possibly the cutest ending

@Thomas_of_the_forest

3 жыл бұрын

@@defrostedrobot77 agree. She has some great parts in S5, but S6 she really shines. Wish she had been inlcuded for the entirety of the credits in 6 too

Willow's habit of skipping straight over learning anything and on to exorcising guilt is so clear on rewatch. It's the major flaw in her personality and the foundation of the problems in her relationship with Tara. Never connected that before though with either her instinctive compassion for Tara here, or Tara's demonstration here of learning and growing from her own guilt. Really insightful observations.

Mr. Maclay: The girl belongs with her family. I hope that's clear to the rest of you. Buffy: It is. You want her, Mr. Maclay? You can go ahead and take her. You just gotta go through me. Mr. Maclay: What? Buffy: You heard me. You wanna take Tara out of here against her will? You gotta come through me. Dawn: And me. Mr. Maclay: Is this a joke? I'm not going to be threatened by two little girls. Dawn: You don't want to mess with us. Buffy: She's a hair-puller. Giles: And you're not just dealing with two little girls. Xander: You're dealing with all of us. Spike: 'Cept me. Xander: 'Cept Spike. Spike: I don't care what happens. Mr. Maclay: This is insane. You people have no right to interfere with Tara's affairs. We are her blood kin! Who the hell are you? Buffy: We're family.

@The810kid

4 жыл бұрын

This moment sums up the series perfectly drama heartfelt moments and comedy all rolled in one.

"The weaponisation of a victim" -- brilliantly put.

It's been almost 2 years since I first found this channel, eager to find more Buffy content, more people who shared my passion for it. I binged watched your videos and suffered greatly when I finally caught up. But...it's been 2 years since that and now I get to click immediately when you release a new one. Your commentary has become, in a way, part of the Buffyverse for me. I watch the video and get to share with many how I felt about the episode. Parasocial relationships are a funny thing, because we feel like we know you even though you don't know most of the viewers. But this comment section, as temporary as it might be, is my version of getting together with friends to watch a Buffy episode. Thanks for what you've created, Ian. You don't just review each episode, you add to them...sometimes giving me as many or more feelings than I had when I first watched the episode. I want to contribute to your patreon as soon as things stabilize a bit for me.

@bencampbell1675

4 жыл бұрын

I have to agree with you here, there's so much depth to your content that I just really enjoy every time I watch a video

@andervan

4 жыл бұрын

I feel exactly the same way. Thank you Alan for writing this and thank you Ian for making your videos ❤

@KitiaraFlint

4 жыл бұрын

Same for me, I even do rewachtes of the complet season playlists once in a while.

@hmkap118

4 жыл бұрын

I agree. I live for these videos. You take a series that I have loved and watched numerous times (and still do) and given me so much depth and insight that I am considering another rewatch (maybe my 8th or 9th lol)

@flee4342

4 жыл бұрын

When I do a rewatch I watch the episode, then watch Shan’s reaction followed by Ian’s analysis.

Connection? Between Ben and Glory? I don't get it

@austins3399

4 жыл бұрын

Wait, wait, wait. Ben, at Glory’s? You’re saying all this time he’s been subletting from her?!

@AMoniqueOcampo

4 жыл бұрын

OH COME ON. It's totally obvious that Ben and Glory are brother and sister.

@Senad

4 жыл бұрын

Is everyone here very stoned?

@ChakasCave

4 жыл бұрын

Sollertis Maximus I am spike, want some?

@DinaraTengri

4 жыл бұрын

There's obviously a connection. But what kind?

This episode confirms that Tara is family and Riley is not.🙂 It's nice to have this episode right after the one where Buffy finds out Dawn is not her sister. I feel that when Buffy says they're family she (subconsciously or not) confirms that Dawn is part of her chosen family too. You really did a wonderful job on this review of one of my favourite Buffyverse episodes, Ian. Thank you. 🤗🏳️‍🌈💕

@sheltondaal6425

4 жыл бұрын

I think this distinction is so important and why I hate Riley's season 6 appearance. In that season he's supposed to put Buffy on the "right path", but it doesn't acknowledge how shitty Riley is for leaving when he did and how he wasn't there for Joyce's death or the mess with Glory.

Definitely a big moment in the series, this episode. Probably one of the easiest episodes to make you fall for Tara, if you hadn't already come to love her because of who she became to Willow.

Guilt is not the same thing as learning a lesson... I’m gonna have to sit on that one for a while. I feel like i need to internalize that fact to better my own actions and to better judge actions taken towards me. Thank you.

The "cross" weapon is just a spike with a cross guard for hand protection. I don't think it's the shape, it's the religious intent behind the holy cross that makes it burn for vampires. We've seen vampires use swords with cross guards like that before not be affected by them.

@PassionoftheNerd

4 жыл бұрын

Good point about the swords. So intent trumps geometry.

@KitiaraFlint

4 жыл бұрын

@@PassionoftheNerd also the weapon Spike uses is a Hunga Munga ;) Buffy uses one in Anne

@Imaculata

4 жыл бұрын

@@PassionoftheNerd I've always assumed its the fact that it is a religious symbol, that repels vampires, not so much the shape.

@AA-gb7ng

4 жыл бұрын

It kind of has to be the intent. Otherwise why would something like holy water work against vampires. The holy water is no different to normal water except for the fact that it has been prayed on top of. The intention of making it religious is what gives it its anti-vampire power.

@matthewbrandenburg922

4 жыл бұрын

@@AA-gb7ng I agree with the intent. Because of western biases we generally only see crosses being used, but if I were to be writing a story with vampires I would include other religious symbols as well, like the Star of David, Ankh, or Crescent moon. It's the belief behind it that should matter.

The line about Tara's 'toys' was such a clunky metaphor for female self-pleasure. It kind of takes me out every time i hear it. Also, the contrast between the opening scene of Tara looking in at the scooby dynamic and the scene where she is standing with the group is a job. Theposition of everyone in that scene is well staged too. Buffy in a protective stance in front of Dawn, Giles behind her "backing her up," and the couples side by side.

@chuckbatman5

4 жыл бұрын

The toy line is definitely one of those Whedon-y moments where he tries to make some strong feminist commentary and ends up writing something vaguely diminishing of women instead

@mooble1325

3 жыл бұрын

@@chuckbatman5 this!!! oh my god

Once again, you've taken an episode I already adored and thought I understood the subtext of and made me fall in love with it all over again. The way that you unpick and explain all these complex and intertwined layers of metaphor and theme is amazing, but what's truly incredible is how you weave them into an easy to follow guide so that anyone and everyone can appreciate all the meaning in every episode. There is always a story within a story when it comes to Whedon's writing, and I've never seen anyone understand and explain them as well as y'all do on here. Thank you for another amazing video :)

@amber4design

4 жыл бұрын

@AnastasiaGreen You just said exactly what I came down to the comments to say, but you said it better.

@cindytartt4048

2 жыл бұрын

@@amber4design see, I LOVE the TPN Fam! Instead of fighting & pickin’ we come together to share our love for the show, it’s characters & no matter the years that pass, the show, & those who love it equally will always have a special place in my & my son’s heart. This show taught him to seek great television & literature because we can unpack these concepts every day & find even more to explore. It’s a journey as much for Whedon too, & the love & obvious relatability he had for Buffy & the scoobies. Sometimes I think we are ALL scoobies -certainly for Ian & TPN. ❤️❤️💐

I always become existentially irate when I see a dislike on Ian’s carefully constructed video essays. What? Fight me.

@UTU49

4 жыл бұрын

I feel okay about it if I look at the percentage. There are over 1600 ratings, and 11 of them are thumbs down. That's less than one percent. I'm okay with that. If we were to randomly collect 100 people who thumbed this video, the typical result would be that 99 or all 100 of them would be a thumbs up. Actually when you think about how many people are assholes, it's miraculous to have less than 1% thumbs down. This helps me be at peace with things like thumbs going in the wrong direction.

@CarrotFlowers421

4 жыл бұрын

I've never seen videos by this person but I'm hooked. Damn this was good.

@jonathanedward1642

4 жыл бұрын

I don't wanna fight 🥺

@neogenesis7706

4 жыл бұрын

Not everyone likes tara

@tomswiftyphilo2504

4 жыл бұрын

@@neogenesis7706 I assume you must be right but how is that even possible?

Another good example of the end of one scene setting up the joke of the next is Cordelia's disparaging remarks about Sunnydale in season 3. "Getting out of here, that's a good thing. What kind of loser would ever come back here?" *Spike drives through the Sunnydale sign on his "just got dumped" bender*

After dozens of re-watches over the course of twenty years (scary but true, Season 5 was originally aired in 2000), I've just been introduced to a Buffy character I never even knew existed: Sandy. Apparently she's in three episodes but until now I'd never made the connection that any of them were the same actor let alone character with a complete story arc... just random victim and vamps.

The scene with Willow and Tara floating/dancing still gives me chills and brings a tear to my eye. Buffy was so well done. I doubt I’ll ever experience such a revolutionary show in my life again.

I’ll be honest, I always saw Spike’s decision to step in as impromptu demon detector at the end as less him trying to consciously ingratiate with the good guys and more a spur of the moment “I’ll have plenty of opportunities to screw with the Scooby gang, this is my only opportunity to *really* mess up this family” kind of thing.

FOOL FOR LOVE IS NEXT!!!!!!!!! Woo-hoo!!! Arguably the best episode of the entire series. I can’t wait.

@quibily

4 жыл бұрын

Josh Miller Get ready for a deep dive into Spike’s messy psyche! Can’t wait!

@The810kid

4 жыл бұрын

Season 5 has atleast 3 episode I consider arguably the best episode of both Buffy and Angel.

@slashandbones13

4 жыл бұрын

It's my personal favorite episode.

@lovecraftianleviathan8918

4 жыл бұрын

The810kid Fool For Love, The Body and The Gift

@HHHBFResurrected

4 жыл бұрын

Yep. Been waiting for that one for years. Not an exaggeration.

I was raised to believe I was genuinely evil and possessed by demons. I wished I'd understood this episode as a child, but it means a great deal to me as an adult.

@missnaomi613

4 жыл бұрын

Someone convinced me that same thing about myself for a time. 🙄 Thank Gd we've broken free. ❤️❤️❤️

@lesmarzipan1166

4 жыл бұрын

Wow. What in the world. That's wild

@maggiekoch9348

4 жыл бұрын

The insanity that is life with a religious, abusive parent....glad we survived.

@cordeliachase601

2 жыл бұрын

That’s really creepy and disturbing. Anyone telling you that you’re evil or possessed is ironically the evil one themselves. Narcissistic or sociopathic individuals who would do good to see a professional on their own behalf. SMH. There’s an episode of Supernatural that is like this too. Sam and Dean come across a girl who has psychic abilities and is being punished by her religious family, forcing her to whip herself in the back because she’s “evil”. Even though she’s not. Sam helps her understand that she’s not evil, it wasn’t her fault and helps her escape before punishing her own family for their behavior of her mistreatment.

I always thought part of Spike's decision to fight the Leiach demon was that if anyone was going to kill Buffy, it was going to be him.

@examiningkubrickphilosofia1530

4 жыл бұрын

Baelish: One's choice of companions is a curious thing. LOL

@anotherlemontree

3 жыл бұрын

This.

this is definitely a massively underrated episode so I'm really glad you gave it a deserving longer review! Buffy referring to Tara as her 'family' gets me every time. I think the misogyny / homophobia allegory in this episode works brilliantly and feels so authentically portrayed, if a little on the nose at times. I'm glad we finally got a Tara-centric episode as she's one of my favourite characters and this story feels like a realistic background for her. the theme of found family is one that I love both in Buffy and Angel, it's so heartwarming! I think Buffy witnessing Tara's family issues and standing up for her in that moment is probably what leads to *SPOILERS* their heart to heart in 'The Body' about their mothers' deaths. I love Tara and Dawn's friendship but Buffy and Tara's connection is something I find especially tender and wholesome.

@klaramu6070

2 жыл бұрын

It's an oft overlooked fact that all Buffy/Tara scenes - of which there are very few - are amazing.

@cindytartt4048

2 жыл бұрын

@GiRayne I think it’s on the nose primarily as Whedon found certain topics like Will’s & Tara’s relationship difficult to write for. At times it’s clunky. We already had the “it’s fine Will, it’s good Will. Good for you, Will” scene in S4 & it’s time, by 5, for less awkwardness. In the DVD commentary, Whedon admits to certain elements -such as the sex scene with Angel & Buffy to be embarrassing for him to watch because it was so new for him to write. There’s a comment, too, about Tara & how difficult it was to write the Scoobies reaction to T & Will. It needed fluidity & better exploration. Over on HBO (?) the West Wing in 2000 fared much better with this topic

"Wonder if there is some kind of connection between Ben and Glory?" Maaaan it was hilarious lol Love your videos! Keep going :D

@matthewbrandenburg922

4 жыл бұрын

Wait...are you saying there's some sort of relationship between Ben and Glory?

@chelsjones

4 жыл бұрын

Ben... and glory? How the hell would they be connected?

@examiningkubrickphilosofia1530

4 жыл бұрын

Ben ... Glory?

@Meg_intheclouds

2 жыл бұрын

Is everyone here very stoned

@klaramu6070

2 жыл бұрын

"Wonder if there is some kind of connection between Ben and Glory" is up there with "At the very least, after seasons of being on the backburner, we can hope that Dawn will finally get some development".

2:27 A-are you implying that Ben and Glory have...some kind of connection?

@Commanber

3 жыл бұрын

I think there might be a connection but what kind?

@NoThankUBeQuiet

3 жыл бұрын

@@Commanber Ben's at glorys?

I’ve got to say that I do appreciate all of the insistence on Joss’ behalf of showing Tara and Willow’s relationship. I also love the cameos by these fantastic actors.

This. This is the episode that turns Willow's memory spell so incredibly ugly, and nearly unforgivable, in season 6. I know people debate Seeing Red and Spike to no end, but the absolute and conscious choice Willow makes to ignore consent and freedom, directly going for the mind of someone who spent 20 years thinking she was a literal demon, and in such an abusive family (not to mention the Glory of it all)? That's the one thing that stuck the most with me. I still like Season 7 Willow, but it's so hard to look at her and not see this...

One of the reasons I really love all of your videos is because I feel like they help me understand life and people better. That wrap up at the end made me think about the people I love and how much I've been given in life without having so much as ask by those that look out for me and it just put a smile on my face. Thank you.

Glory: A Slayer? Oh God please don't tell me I was fighting a Vampire Slayer. How unbelievably common.

@examiningkubrickphilosofia1530

4 жыл бұрын

How does Glory even know Slayers? Do the minions do research?? LOL

This episode has always been a favorite. I didn’t think I could enjoy it even more than I already did, but here I am looking on it with brand new eyes. I love the bedtime story framing you pointed out. Makes me wish we could have had an episode with Sunnydale in the medieval era and Buffy as the quintessential knight in shining armor.

Thank you for commenting on how good Amber Benson is in this- she is so underrated and underused as Tara, people say the character is one note, but I so disagree, there is so much complexity to her, it's in the words but so much more in the performance,. She just didn't have much of her story told to us directly, and a quiet person does not mean a boring person. I love your take on this being a fairytale, a bedtime story, What I love most of all is that Tara, in the end, saves herself. It is all about choice, and Tara chooses when she tells her dad to "just go" She isn't alone, and that's what gives her the strength, it's the strength that true family can give.

Well...I certainly needed that cry on a Wednesday evening. This was very poignant to what I am going through between who I'm related to and who are family to me. Thank you for posting this

@missnaomi613

4 жыл бұрын

It's not just you. I'm sure there are lots of us.

@everuby1438

4 жыл бұрын

❤❤❤

I... how did I never realize Buffy didn't see Spike during the demon fighting scene? I always thought she was just ignoring him and too worried about other stuff going on. But wow, yet ANOTHER layer Joss threw out there. Spike, since his revelation to himself that he is in love with Buffy, has wanted her to see HIM. The man who can and DOES love and wants to be with her (lust yes, but also love) but she doesn't. She doesn't see him. Literally in this case, but as with Joss it also serves metaphorically as well. Holy shit.

I had always wondered if anyone else had caught that Sandy was Vamp Willows spawn.

Dang it, you may have included it and I just missed it, but Tara's smile at the end of this episode was just brilliant.

@Leafsdude_

4 жыл бұрын

He did. If you watch closely, there's about one frame of it at 5:49...although it might have been accidental.

You ask "Where are the parents?" Well, Joyce is still healing, her dad is absent, Xander's family is awful and always absent, Willow's mom is not involved in her life, hiding in a cloud of theories and academia. So the Scoobies would understand having a bad family. The only positive parental role models are Giles and Joyce.

To be 200% shallow here, I really like Xander in that blue shirt.

@McBenjiii

3 жыл бұрын

I like Xander in everything.

The scoobies fighting for Tara makes me cry every time I love so much that they make the distinction between blood and family, too many shows make characters forgive toxic behaviours because 'family'

"A bedtime story." An interesting take. I like it. I loved this episode before this review and love it even more now. I look at this episode as the episode where most of, if not all, the original fanbase warmed up to the uncertain and unfamiliar character of Tara who was viewed as the girl who had taken fan favorite Oz's place. This all happens in a way that has the fans and the Scoobies naturally going through the same emotions concerning their feelings for Tara. Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner are only strange appearances to those who join the Buffyverse after they're famous. They weren't at the point of these guest appearances. At this point Amy Adams was just guest starring as a job on many different shows. "It not your decision young lady," says Mr. McClay. I can never fight the shout that I say of, "It's not yours either." Personally, Willow saying, "I know that" doesn't pack the punch I think Ian thinks it does. At least not for me. Which is why I think I shout my phrase out. Amy Adams character confuses me as now that she knows the truth at the end, why does she still blame Tara and why isn't she leaving as well? I am grateful Ian brought up Cousin Beth internalizing everything. When I brought up my questions in another video's comment, the thread was all about how Cousin Beth wanted Tara to save her and that made little sense to me. With Cordelia, she was just starting to be a more decent person at a much slower pace than on AtS, as on BtVS she was on the outside fringes of the tight-knit original four when Xander cheated, so Buffy probably wouldn't know the nicer version of Cordelia even if she was still in Sunnydale. I always noticed and loved the fact that Riley wasn't there when Buffy announced, "We're family." Although Spike was there. And even if the Scoobies don't see him that way, he is at this point closer to them than Riley. It's just not anything any character will ever admit. I think the best way to look at anything Spike does while soulless is through a line Angel says in _Amends._ The line is, "It's not the demon that needs killing in me, Buffy. It's the man." Translating that into Spike's actions by saying how Spike acts as a demon is because the demon in him remembers and is using his memories as William. Spike perhaps even believes a lot of what he tells himself about love etc. even if it isn't or cannot be true without a soul. Which is why certain later moments in the series are so profound, and heartbreaking and earth-shattering and devastating and horrifying, etc. all rolled into one. There is two ways to look at the Hank Summers storyline. Either moving to Spain was just the next step downward in his separation of family since the divorce (and if you take the comics into account where he ends up married to said secretary, I'm not sure I would go with the fact that it is a midlife crisis) or the memories because of Dawn's involvement and what the monks knew of Hank had them restructuring Hank's life. But I don't think the memories work that way so I tend to go with the first one. I think The Mayor speaking to Faith as a child was due more to him seeing her his daughter and being soulless more than misogyny. Whether that is any better or not I don't know, but I would believe The Mayor's belief in his feelings for Faith over Mr. McClay's belief in his feelings over Tara. I love how there was a clip of Buffy and Angel when Ian said being incomplete without someone being a tired romantic cliché. There are many problems I have with the Buffy and Angel romance, not the writing of it, but the way the characters handle it and deal with it, so I love that it isn't considered as romantic as people use to consider it anymore. The parents only truly matter in the first three seasons as of the meaning of "where are they" because the kids are legal starting in S4. Also the moments you do see them explain, in generalities, why they aren't around.

@davidmernick7360

4 жыл бұрын

"With Cordelia, she was just starting to be a more decent person at a much slower pace than on AtS, as on BtVS she was on the outside fringes of the tightnit original four when Xander cheated, so Buffy probably wouldn't know the nicer version of Cordelia even if she was still in Sunnydale." More importantly, Buffy doesn't remember seeing Cordy in L.A. the first time she visits because the day was reset and Cordy had already hightailed it out of the situation by the time Buffy came back to L.A. to confront Faith. From her perspective, she never saw any change in Cordelia because she never SAW Cordelia post-season three.

This is a little sappy but, oh well. I haven’t been keeping up with these videos over the last few months. Time and life and general whatever got in the way and suddenly it just wasn’t on my radar as much. Life, ya know? But this video popped up in my subscription feed today and I decided, with all my new found free time, to watch it and, as weird and dumb as it may seem, it felt like coming home. I live alone and having to spend time in isolation during quarantine has made it hard to maintain any sort of normalcy and real human connections have been few and far between and catching up on this series has been wonderful in a way I didn’t really expect. Remembering old episodes and seeing them in a new light with your analysis. Getting back into the rhythm of the video formula. Just hearing a friendly voice. It’s just nice. So I just wanted to say thank you for that.

Looking up the lyrics for a song playing in the background... such excellent work.

I love this episode. Tara is one of my favorite characters.

You really got me with those last three minutes. You always dig a little deeper than I expect and say what my heart feels in ways my brain just can’t find words for... and these videos always come exactly when I need them to. Thanks for being part of my interweb family.

@PassionoftheNerd

4 жыл бұрын

You are welcome. Thank you for the kind word.

@examiningkubrickphilosofia1530

4 жыл бұрын

@@PassionoftheNerd Ian is being the Internuts one less nutty with each inter. Continued good luck.

My pa-pa always said blood is thicker than water, to which my mom would reply you can do a hell of a lot more with water tho. Blood makes you related, not family.

@tqh6067

4 жыл бұрын

The full thing is the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb meaning the people you choose are more important than family

@laurenfrey873

3 жыл бұрын

Blood is thicker than water, but love is thicker than blood.

Fantastic work, as usual. On the matter of Spike and holding a "cross", it's not just two crossed sticks that repels vamps, it's a *crucifix*, the liturgical focus of worship. I don't have any problem with a cross-guard on some kind of sickle not causing the kind of burns and dread that a proper cross would do. On the other hand, I *love* your observation of how Mayor Wilkins talks around Buffy, this is why I look forward to your material, it's so insightful, it's mind-blowing.

I hope you know how truly and deeply I love these episodes. I know it takes SO much work on your end to put them out, but your thoughtful and brilliant analysis of each one makes a show so dear to my heart mean that much more. Thank you. Thank you so much.

“I wonder if there’s some kind of connection between Ben and Glory.” Well played, sir.

Also I think Buffy's dad going to spain is the same reason that you pointed out as to why Dawn acts like sucha stereotypical teenager. The monks not knowing anybetter when changing the past and as buffy put it creating "the cliché".

Thank you!! We cherish new content (especially Buffy content) in these strange and troubling times!!

Will have to rewatch this episode now. Putting it into the context of it being a bedtime story/fairy tale might help correct the issue I always has with it. As much as I liked it I always felt that Tara's family was a bit too on the nose and lacking any subtlety in their presentation; seeing them as close to fable archetypes might help solve that for me, thanks!

@corvus1970

4 жыл бұрын

Being raised as a Pentecostal Christian, I saw more than a few families that strongly resembled the McClay clan.

You quoted Giles from “Ted”! The subtle rapidly becomes text! I’m so proud of myself for catching that, but someone else probably did haha

I am LGBTQ+ and … thank you. Thank you for not only aknowledge us, but understand us. Tara and Willow were so important to me (us) when growing up, your words regarding Tarabbeing an allegory : perfect. Thank you 🙏🏻

How am I supposed to continue with the rest of my day now that I can't stop crying?

Very, very needed right now.

Beautiful video. I never thought of this episode as being a fairytale. Cool, makes me like it even more

You sir, are just amazing. I've watched Buffy so many times but you just make me love every episode in a whole new way. Thank you for that.

This is beautiful. Your distinction between chosen self-sacrifice and unchosen sacrifice - servitude - brought to mind a shift in Buffy's mentality that Season 6 will bring. Thank you so, so, so much for your reviews. This one, like so many of them, brought me to (good) tears.

Mr The Bloody🩸 a glorious video on my all time favorite episode. Thank you so very much.

Perfect thing I need for isolation 🥰

I discovered this channel a couple months ago and I recently finished watching the series finale, I'm waiting a couple months to do my first rewatch on Buffy (and eventually my first watch on Angel). I love the way you analyze the deep meaning, metaphors, subtext, and allegories of all these episodes, it makes me see them from a whole new perspective. This episode, in particular, is probably my third favorite in this season and is in my top 10 of the entire show, mostly because it touches me on personal levels and also 'cause it Is the only Tara centric episode, who's one of my favorite characters as well. The demon allegory to queerness and the concept of "chosen family" are the easiest things to notice but as always there's lots of stuff I missed and now I can appreciate this episode even more.

@examiningkubrickphilosofia1530

4 жыл бұрын

Feel jealous you're gonna do Angel as if brand new - some missteps - but a LOT of great stuff.

Ian this is one of my favorites in your oeuvre, which is saying something... I thought it was apparent, though, that Tara intends her spell to conceal only the demon within her, and no others. It goes wrong in almost exactly the same way as Amy’s spell in Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered, and Willow’s spell in Something Blue. In the Wheedonverse, it seems, casting a spell and aiming/focusing/limiting its effects Ae two separate skills, and the second is often the real challenge. This would be doubly true with Tara’s spell since the intended object doesn’t actually exist.

I swear every time I watch one of these videos I feel like my brain expands like 10 times

Tillow and Ruffy? 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

Just rewatched this episode and Mr McClay is really like "I'm not gonna be threatened by two little girls" after watching Buffy straight break that demons neck on a step

I’m surprised there was no mention of the visual metaphor at the beginning of the episode. Two lesbians, in a bed together...playing with a *cat*...come onnnnnn.

@NinaSelene

4 жыл бұрын

There was! 1:11 with CC on, you can see it was part of the script. it was taken off, but since it says it's continuing the same as in restless, this has already been said.

Thank you for including "how come Xander didn't laugh?" Holding his hands on waist in satisfaction is the inspired topper.

Beautiful as always. I’ve learned so much from this series. Also, Ian’s voice helps me feel calm in these times of anxiety and panic, which I deeply appreciate.

Tara's awkward moment and the others not understanding her? Me in my everyday life. This is one of my favourite episodes as it brings Tara into the fold instead of her being on the sidelines. That and it tackles a fair few normal 'issues' at the same time as tackling some supernatural elements. I love your insights and how you detect certain details. Great video as always!

What I think is interesting is that Mr. McClay says "the women in OUR family have demon in them" when he's refering to Tara's mother. It sounds like he and Tara's mother were related by blood.

This was actually the first Buffy episode to make me cry. It's really something to revisit that feeling through seeing this video and remember why Tara's character first resonated with me so much. Thank you, Ian. (Also I've never heard anyone say "Tillow" and "Ruffy" and I don't know why that's so funny to me, but it does make me giggle. So does "Mr. The Bloody." Petition to refer to Spike exclusively as Mr. The Bloody.)

2:27 Oh it's totally clear that Ben and Glory are brother and sister. 5:44 This was when I did a chef finger kiss. I could seriously KISS Amber for her performance! (Btw: she is super nice in real life and it is totally worth going to any con to meet her whenever this pandemic is over.) 9:21 STUPID SEXY SPIKE! *drink* 11:13 Joss Whedon did that in Avengers for the opening introduction to most of the main cast (minus Thor). Beautiful analysis as always, Ian. I raise my glass to you! 🍷🍺🥂🍻

@hciapetus1251

3 жыл бұрын

I couldn’t agree more with your statement about Amber Benson bring nice in person. The best experience I had at a comic convention was because of her. Story time... lol... I share a similar last name as Amber. After my friend and I checked into the hotel before starting the fun, I received a text. It was a text from Twitter and it was from Amber Benson. (I saved the texts with some screencaps but they are on my old computer and not my phone). She basically stated that my room wasn’t ready and that the hotel and people running the con thought she used my name to make the reservations. I reacted like a fangirl and showed my friend as to make sure I wasn’t seeing things. Of course I replied and made sure to let her know I was a fan. Lol. She replied so kindly about it and mentioned she couldn’t wait to meet me. Well, I gotten dressed up as Bernard from Maniac Mansion that day (mostly for the geek prom that night), made some con rounds, bought a book of Amber’s to get signed, and spotted my two sisters looking for me. They told me they saw and met Amber when she was on her way to the Dark Horse booth (for signing autographs), and said she was so kind to them and lit up when they said I was their sister. When I got to met her, it wasn’t overwhelming in a good way. I usually feel overly anxious when meeting with an actor whose work influenced the kind of person I want to be. Not with her though, she just has this presence that welcoming in these situations. I got to have my pic taken with her and she personalized the autograph for me as her “almost roommate”. She even made sure that my friend and sisters were treated equally as well as she treated me. Tara and Giles are my favorite characters from the Buffyverse, and I’m beyond thrilled to have a geek story to tell about meeting Amber.

I’ve been doing a slow Buffy rewatch over the past couple of months, just finished season 5. You: “I wonder if there’s any connection between Ben and Glory?” Me: Chef’s kiss, that’s glorious! Hope you are doing ok in these crazy times. Keep safe and take good care of your amazing self!

This is exactly what I needed today!!! Thank you, Ian!!

What I find interesting is that Willow had multiple interactions with Cordelia post high school. She's the only one who knows she's not the same person she was in high school. Willow is the only person to tell Cordy that Harmony was a vampire and Willow was probably the one who called Cordy to tell her Buffy was alive. Those two seemed on much better terms after high school

@shady_the_one

3 жыл бұрын

Hmm... Interesting

If I were to create a top ten list of Buffy episodes, Family would be on it. Yes, it's whimsical and has arguably the happiest ending of any Buffy episode. It also in a sneaky fashion develops the characters, particularly Tara and Spike. Spike is the epitome of evil when we meet him, a vampire, a sucker of life. But as the show goes on, we see that he isn't completely evil... and the question rises: is anyone? Is anyone completely good, either? Why is it that Spike - even without his soul - grows to a point that he kind of overcomes his inherently evil nature? I think when Spike falls in love with Buffy, his feelings for her defeat his inner demon. Love conquers all, or so I've heard. This is such a rich, dense episode, and yet not a bit heavy. I really love it.

"Guilt is not the same thing as learning a lesson" beautiful

How extraordinary. Much like ‘Buffy’ you’ve taken the episode and used it to comment on our understanding of family and self. Thank you

Yet another home run.

i quote a saying from another show, that i feel particularly fitting for this episode "Family don't end with blood"

I'm already ready to rewatch this 👏👏👏

Very good Video with a lot of valid points but I wanna highlight the „spell gone wrong“ section because damn that opened my eyes. Never realised that Willow and Tara both cast a spell gone wrong but learn different lessons out of it which bites them back in the ass in season 6. Makes me appreciate the whole season 6 storyline more with this subtle set up. Thanks for pointing out!

Keep them coming! Love watching all these!!

Well heck, it's fine, I didn't need to openly weep on a Wednesday night but hey, let's go for it! Great episode, great commentary. Thank you for making these!

Excellent work, as always! Thank you, Ian!

Dang...you oughtta be a pro baseball player cause you shot this one out of the park baby! I dunno if its quarantine or your just getting better but you had me tearing up a bit!

Thank you for another beautiful video

One of your best, Ian. Wow.

Love how you end these in such an inspirational way. You're very good at this.