why is it that every time buffy is going through an emotional crisis, xander's first instinct is to assume he knows best, patronise and attack her?

@kelseykrehbiel8500

3 жыл бұрын

Because he’s an a**hole. I’ve heard it said that Xander is the character Joss felt most alike. Considering what we’re now learning about him...it fits.

@sara_sah-raezzat5086

3 жыл бұрын

Maybe he's born with it, maybe it's Patriarchy tm

@deathknight75

3 жыл бұрын

Because he's Joss, and Joss has a noted history of being... not great to women.

@mezzyshivers

3 жыл бұрын

i will never forget that awful fight in 3x02, the one where he described the s2 buffy and angel conflict as "boy troubles"...there were SO many moments where xander should've just kept his thoughts to himself, and most of those moments occurred when he decided to comment upon buffy's romantic relationships.

@SorenFE9

3 жыл бұрын

Because he is a selfish, self-righteous, patronizing, sexist a**hole who rarely gets called out for it. For these reasons, he is by far my least favorite major character in the buffyverse

Top 5 Things the Army Dudes were doing in the dark: 5) Building Pillow Forts 4) Playing Marco Polo 3) Playing Tag with Night Vision Goggles 2) Having a rave with said Night Vision Goggles 1) Rearranging Riley's furniture to make him trip in the dark

@LeshaAnn

3 жыл бұрын

Those are 5 things

@KitsuneRokaku

3 жыл бұрын

@@LeshaAnn I fixed it. I thought I had more ideas but I could only come up with 5. Oops

@m.a.____c.5892

3 жыл бұрын

probably building pillow forts. That's serious business and they looked very serious

@mjtpli

3 жыл бұрын

Designing coffee makers that think.

@spangelicious837

3 жыл бұрын

@@mjtpli And giving things names.

The most irritating thing, for me, about Riley's whole "you don't need me" spiel, is that... she did. She needed him. She asked him to do things for her. Or, rather, a thing. One very, very specific thing. *She asked him to watch Dawn.* You know, her sister, who is, with her mother's illness, her responsibility, and the person she cares about the most in the world. I'll give him a pass on not knowing how big that responsibility was, because she didn't tell him anything about Dawn being the Key. But that doesn't MATTER, she's still Buffy's little sister, and when Buffy said, "Hey, watch Dawn for me," he saw that as being benched instead of taking it as her giving him responsibility for The Most Important Thing. Take care of my family for me, she said. And he got annoyed over it because he wasn't in the action. Buffy did need him, she just didn't need him to do things he WANTED to do, that made him feel all big and manly. That's not her problem in the SLIGHTEST. That's on him.

@Xehanort10

2 жыл бұрын

It's like "You had one job Riley."

@LittleMissDivine

2 жыл бұрын

Wow! Yes

@timmycakes001

2 жыл бұрын

THIS. Ugh Riley was such a tool

@lessismore8533

2 жыл бұрын

Yah part of being a man is supporting your (future) wife

@mcnoneya

2 жыл бұрын

He’s the kinda guy that needs to be the hero. Reminds me of the phrase Gemma Chan’s character says to her husband ( her character comes from money and can afford to shop as much as she wants and buy crazy expensive stuff, he doesn’t) and she says “it’s not my job to make you feel like something you aren’t” basically a it’s not her job to make him feel like a man. Same with Riley and Buffy, Buffy’s strength and power emasculates Riley but it’s not her job to make him feel like a man.

I don't think I ever quite realised how absent Willow is in this ep.

@lelauracolette

3 жыл бұрын

IKR? imagine if the show kept her and paid off the "If you hurt her i will beat you to death with a shovel" threat from The Initiative here. (not that I'm advocating for Willow going all dark revenge-y on a dude who hurt Buffy or anything...)

@CorbCorbin

3 жыл бұрын

@@lelauracolette They just really screwed up by staking the vamp Willow, because she could’ve had a spin-off, or fit right in at Wolfram & Hart…

@StLProgressive

3 жыл бұрын

Me either. That was an excellent point.

@mallisaunders4565

3 жыл бұрын

I hadn't realized that either until now. She could have shown up and threatened with a shovel to remind Riley of their deal. I am not recommending that Willow actually beat Riley to death.

@Meg_intheclouds

3 жыл бұрын

I think it’s because the episode is from Riley’s perspective. All the characters are there to serve his narrative. My interpretation of it is that is what in his head he thinks is happening with Buffy. The romantic music, the Anger and passion, out of character movements, Xanders speech how rom com it feels. Because this is how Riley thinks the scene played out. Remember Riley never sees Buffy so maybe she never actually went there he just thinks she was behind him or that she would have chased after him. The whole. Episode is a manifestion of what Riley expects and wants from Buffy that she never gives him. It’s why willow isn’t present. Maybe she was actually I can imagine she would be, but to Riley he only really sees the male perspective so she’s not in the episode, I think it ‘s supposed to make us angry to highlight how ridiculous the idea of a co-dependent relationship actually is.

The part of Xander that never got over his romantic feelings for Buffy lives vicariously through Riley. Out of Buffy's three main love interests, Riley was the only human one, the most normal one, the one Xander could come the closest to and that's why he sides with him so hard. A lot of the things he says to hype him up are, probably unconsciously, how he wishes Buffy would see him.

@BriaBella

Жыл бұрын

Right...that is why he always disliked Angel and was so disgusted that Buffy was sleeping with Spike...men she would pick over him. Ive always disliked Xander...especially when he felt it was his place to tell Dawn Spike attempted to rape Buffy like uuuumm you think that was your place?

"Buffy would have to have been dead, in hell, or suffering the world's worst depression to go after Spike..."

@locomadman

3 жыл бұрын

@@defrostedrobot77 That’s technically 3 for 3. While she wasn’t strictly dead at that moment, she had in fact died. Twice even. No, it doesn’t matter that she got resurrected. Few know the experience of crawling out of a grave, he was there for her when he washed the dirt & blood off her hands after. Yes, that’s partially personal experience; don’t ask. Way more mundane story than it sounds. (Just saying, he called it.)

@justkarly7768

3 жыл бұрын

I legit had to rewind and watch this part several times, laughing my butt off each time... His delivery is everything

@locomadman

3 жыл бұрын

@@defrostedrobot77 Agreed, not twice, no. Certainly not.

@locomadman

3 жыл бұрын

@@WillsonT011 The man in the monster wants to prove himself so hard he makes a deal with a devil to get his soul back… …That’s not exactly a meaningless gesture; cut a guy some slack, will ya?

@locomadman

3 жыл бұрын

@@abcdefg-wv5nt Well.. I did bring it up, now didn’t I? *sigh* Okay, short version; I was in a grave; not mine thankfully but it bothered me just the same, so I got out. Still bothers me. End of story. (I told you it was mundane.)

The army guys were sitting in the dark gossiping about celebrities

@KitsuneRokaku

3 жыл бұрын

YAS!

@tomswiftyphilo2504

3 жыл бұрын

see? THIS episode I would watch. where the hell was this idea when the writer's room was outlining all this stuff?

@rachaelknudsen8801

2 жыл бұрын

The question is: which ones and why?

The callback to Mr. Platt got me. Of all the innocent side characters who died, his death really, really hurt.

@Cristina5753

3 жыл бұрын

And he was such a good and healthy example of a therapist in media, which there are so few. I wish he would’ve stayed longer, could have been a great arc of dealing with a positive experience of therapy.

@KitsuneRokaku

3 жыл бұрын

@@Cristina5753 not according to Joss. You anything more than one of his white bread toys, you're on the chopping block.

@beniceovna8762

3 жыл бұрын

@@KitsuneRokaku white bread? He prefers matza

@KS-xk2so

2 жыл бұрын

Its a shame he died so soon. They should've killed Xander in that episode instead.

@deborahblackvideoediting8697

2 жыл бұрын

I remember feeling bad when Buffy's science teacher was murdered, but Mr. Platt's death was even worse. :(

ANYONE who actually LOVES Buffy can immediately see your love of the show and well... your passion. And the length and care you put into these is why we keep coming back. The ONLY downside... the wait. But always worth it.

@Xehanort10

3 жыл бұрын

The people who say he doesn't like the show are obsessed fanboys and fangirls who think you have to like bad episodes of a show to be a fan of the show as a whole. You don't.

@NerdySwede

3 жыл бұрын

another downside.... the episodes aren't like 200 minutes long each ;)

@radhiadeedou8286

2 жыл бұрын

Some people have a very unhealthy conception of what love looks like

I always took Buffy changing her mind about staking the waif as remembering her duty. No matter how fragile the vamp looks, she's still a vamp. Without a soul. Without a chip. What does she eat? As Buffy says, "I'm the slayer. I slay." Letting her go means letting humans die. I can't justify the fire burner now you've pointed it out.

@nocolopa28

2 жыл бұрын

Saaame!

@rileynewman-gatton8549

2 жыл бұрын

I always read it the same way. The whole stabbing in the back thing might have been a tad overzealous a là faith, but I never read it as overt cruelty. It really was just her remembering what she had to do. The fire burner is more out of character but it sort of reminded me of when she was bad when Buffy is faced with the masters skeleton and gets very smashy. She's faced a trauma and has had no time to even start dealing with it, so it makes sense that she threw something and wasn't really thinking of the consequences.

@octo448

11 ай бұрын

I did as well. I agree that the vamp is dressed and styled in order to garner sympathy- but I interpreted the reason why as very different. Buffy sees herself in that vampire- she's feeling defeated and beaten down and broken due to everything with Riley and in that moment, Buffy almost let her go because that vampire had a look in her eyes that reminded Buffy of herself. But then when no longer looking into those eyes, Buffy realizes she ISN'T that vampire and she isn't a victim and she has a job to do. So she stakes her from a distance, and nails it. It's still haunting and sad, but I didn't read it as the kind of outright cruelty described in this review. I mean, she stakes vampires before they even get out of the ground- if we're waiting around to see if vampires are chummy or not, the memo missed Buffy. The fire is much the same IMO. She's taking a stance against the idea of the place, of the notion that vampires 'taking advantage' (there's a lot to unpack in the prostitute/johns/drugs/whatever metaphor this episode is very messily going for) of people 'with consent' is absurd because even when living on the fringes of society, vampires present a danger to society. There's a pattern for this in the Season 2 episode that includes Ford; a bunch of people WANT to associate with vampires and Buffy is having none of it. At least at this point, Buffy doesn't really allow people to opt into their fate when it comes to the supernatural if she can help it.

I can't tell you how often I was actually yelling out "YES OMG" to every point you made. My favorite part of this episode is Buffy's leather coat at the end. Goddamn. That thing is a masterpiece.

While I never held out much hope for Buffy and Riley's relationship(it honestly never seemed like they had a strong, good dynamic in the first place), his making the cheating out to be Buffy's fault and giving a truly childish ultimatum was just low. Neither party was perfect, but Buffy certainly didn't deserve to be emotionally slapped across the face, especially considering the recent health scare with Joyce.

@Trekkie46

2 жыл бұрын

And yet, it felt a little too realistic.

Yes yes yes, to all of this. My 14 year old daughter on her first watch turned to me and said "this is not a healthy situation, is it?". There's hope for that one. Fantastic video, Ian.

@Cristina5753

3 жыл бұрын

Aww, that’s cute

@radhiadeedou8286

2 жыл бұрын

Good job. At her age the only semi coherent thought I could form about this mess was "this feels yucky"

@ninjanibba4259

2 жыл бұрын

14? Dang she’s smarter than me at that age

@Admiralmeriweather

2 жыл бұрын

shit! put the little muffin in a writer's room!

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't take care of you when I thought my mom was D Y I N G !" The ENTIRE argument was over for me after that. NOTHING he could say could possibly get me on his side. My enjoyment of this episode is only exceeded by my infuriation of Riley. Glad someone finally strung together the words why this blemish of a near-perfect season bothered me so much. Excellent work.

@Xehanort10

3 жыл бұрын

Riley acting like he was more important than Joyce having a brain tumour and Glory being after Dawn really made me hate him.

@Xehanort10

2 жыл бұрын

@Skarbie Well Why would she turn to a sexist who couldn't handle her being stronger than him, wanted to satisfy his obsession with feeling needed by having Buffy be a damsel in distress he could play the hero by saving, called her an idiot for not wanting to date him when they first met, saw things in black and white and thought all humans were good and all supernatural creatures were evil just because they weren't human, whined to Xander that Buffy not revolving her entire life around him meant she didn't love him, nearly killed himself getting back on Initiative super soldier drugs to try to be stronger than her, making her hold back during training sessions so he wouldn't get insecure. And going to vampire prostitutes to feel "needed." A guy who thinks he should be the priority when his girlfriend's mother has a brain tumour and a hell god is after her sister isn't comforting.

@Xehanort10

2 жыл бұрын

@Skarbie Well What sort of logic is "If you don't like the character of Riley you hate a real life person like him or you hate yourself." Grow up.

@kirielbranson4843

2 жыл бұрын

@Skarbie Well after going through a number of situations that my husband helped support me or I tried to support him, I agree with you. I healthy relationship does have you turning to the most important person in your life and if don’t even let them know what is going on…I don’t know. Mainly it has been my husband supporting me through the death of my mother, my father, the illnesses they had in the months before they died. If I hadn’t turned to him to help I could see him thinking there was a break in our relationship. But then I have never hated Riley and really liked his character and their relationship. This scene made a lot of sense to me and I feel like those that hate it have not seen the same show as me.

@Xehanort10

2 жыл бұрын

@Дм Го A dumbass who expected her to revolve her life around him and couldn't accept she had more important things going on wasn't part of her family.

I cannot describe the hatred I felt when I watched this episode the first time... this is one of the instances that Buffy takes all the blame (unfairly), ends up more traumatized and is never revisited again so that she could realize that people were wrong. Also, Riley is the only main character that completely fails in being an adult

@truetnt

3 жыл бұрын

I completely understand what you are saying! Have you seen Dead Mans Party from earlier in the series? I can’t even watch it most times because I end up yelling at the screen… THESE are good friends?

@paulafontana4741

3 жыл бұрын

@@truetnt omg YES. The worst one is Empty Places. I wanted Buffy to kick everybody's ass

@joeypotter6051

3 жыл бұрын

@@truetnt Buffy has terrible friends and even worse relationships. That poor girl never catches a break.

@lessismore8533

2 жыл бұрын

@@joeypotter6051 yah Buffy’s suffers a lot

@vannalaws1692

2 жыл бұрын

@@joeypotter6051 I mean, Buffy's no saint. They are all flawed characters, and each of them gets hijacked by the plot so dumb things can happen sometimes.

I'm going to toss in that one of the reasons the Riley-Spike scene is one of Blucas' best has to do with the energy passed between him and Marsters: one of the reasons Marsters was such an asset to the show is that his training seemed to allow him to make his scene partner always better and more dynamic (Terry O'Quinn has that same capbility).

@ClemonCourtney

3 жыл бұрын

This is sooooo true! Wow! Never thought about that!

@palacebeyond

3 жыл бұрын

YES

@tamara4888

3 жыл бұрын

I have always thought this about Marsters, other characters that are meh to me, become more interesting, like the actors just step up. There is something he brings that makes every one else better.!!

@primrosett

3 жыл бұрын

Marsters could literally find chemistry with an on-set trashcan if he had to, he really was such a great asset to the show (or any show for that matter). Such underrated talent tbh.

@melenatorr

3 жыл бұрын

@@primrosett Completely agree. My nephew introduced me to "Buffy" during its first run, saying I'd like the writing. I watched Marsters for about a minute and said to my nephew: "That's a stage actor." You could tell from the concentration he puts into active listening. His scene partner is always more energetic and open in a scene with him (his scene with Riley in the fifth season is a prime example). Terry O'Quinn, Michael Emerson (both feature in "Lost") and Victor Garber also have that capacity to energize their scene partners. O'Quinn and Emerson together was some great fun.

one of my favourite set details is the shopsign saying "shoplifters will be transfigured"

@paulafontana4741

3 жыл бұрын

Never noticed that!

Chuck is now canon to the Buffyverse. Also, that scene would have been so much better if Buffy had found out there was a bomb on the helicopter. That was genuinely enjoyable to watch.

@dragoneyes06

3 жыл бұрын

I swear I never forgive Supernatural when there explaining that there's other universe they didn't say there one world with out Shrimp or Nothing but shrimp.

@paullaing5921

3 жыл бұрын

So Chuck was writing Supernatural and Buffy...so one of those parallel worlds he destroyed was...oh no:(

@cordeliachase601

2 жыл бұрын

@@dragoneyes06 I doubt Dean/Sam watched Buffy. The show exists in their world since it was mentioned a few times, but I just don’t see either of them wanting to watch it.

I see buffy killing the girl vamp as, she doesn't blame the girl vamp over what happened, but as she runs she realised she's not a woman, she's a vamp, she has to do her duty.

@StLProgressive

3 жыл бұрын

I don’t know, I think it’s because she was Riley’s literal affair partner. When that happened in my marriage a few years back I cycled thru wanting to stake both my ex & whatshername and just wanting everything to go back the way it was. She was able to give in to that violent anger because it was a vamp.

@mschrisfrank2420

3 жыл бұрын

Except, Buffy doesn’t kill every demon she runs across just because they’re demons or vamps. She doesn’t set out to prevent future harm or avenge the past. She slays active threats. And that vampire looks like she could barely hurt a kitten. And by the very fact that she was getting blood from willing people, she is implied to not be out killing people.

@Pemb3

3 жыл бұрын

Indeed, firs time i watched this episode i thought "oh damn dont let her just run away she is gonna kill someone for sure later on and you can stop her now" and then she threw the stick and blammo. I wouldnt let the looks of the vamp deceive, still she has vamp strength and fangs. She might also opt for getting blood from willing people but that might not be always available. I think Buffy doesnt always have clear line on her actions, she slays active threats, prevents future harm and shows mercy. None is fully consistent in ones actions, its part of being human. But this situation was slayer duty rather than act of revenge or anger in my scales.

@Meg_intheclouds

3 жыл бұрын

I think the episode is from Riley’s perspective and what he imagines is happening with Buffy from when he gives her that ultimatum. A manifestation of what he wants from Buffy and feels she isn’t giving him. He wants the passion and to be the centre of her world so when he threatens to leave her in his head her world is falling apart. So we see what he thinks is happening. To me that explains Xander, the music, and Buffy’s out of character moments. Because it’s not what actually is happening or at least not exactly. Which is why Buffy’s perspective is so absent from the episode, and why Willow is not there to give advice, it always was odd to me why she didn’t give her perspective. In Riley’s head it’s super super romantic, it highlights how ridiculous it all is.

I was always lukewarm on Riley, but I never hated him. Ultimately, I always chalked it up to Riley was good enough for Buffy because Buffy chose to be with him. She may never have said I love you out loud, or possibly wasn't there yet, but she showed how she felt about him with her actions. She chose to be in a relationship with him, and therefore she wanted to be with him. You are absolutely right that he should have just asked if she loved him. Then, they both could have dealt with the aftermath of that realization honestly and not manipulatively. They probably would not have been end game even if he had been honest and open with her, cuz few people meet and are emotionally healthy enough to maintain an endgame relationship when they are 20. As for Buffy tossing the fire and stalking the other vamp, it could have been her emotionally dealing with things that were out of her control. She felt powerless for much of this season. Her super powers couldn't heal her mother. Glory was a foe that she didn't know how to defeat or how to protect Dawn from her. Now, Riley, a person that she had viewed as a steady and stable force in her life, was suddenly revealed to be cheating on her and gave her a ridiculous ultimatum, thus taking away any power she had in that relationship. But slaying vampires, is something she knows that she can do well. She is uniquely powerful enough to kill a vamp or destroy their nest. Whether or not it was necessary for her to do either of those thigs, the reality is that she has had the weight of the world on her for years, and whatever your feelings about Riley are, his betrayal and ultimatum where the straw that broke her camel's back.

@cindytartt4048

2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant analysis!

Xander is clearly drawing parallels between him and Riley and basically acting like it was his relationship with Buffy that fell apart. Xander is jeallous of any guys with Buffy, but he was willing to let Riley in because he sees a lot of himself in Riley and could experience a relationship with Buffy vicariously through Riley. Xander isn't some wise man. He's just a jealous 19 y/o kid. Xander is also Buffy's heart. He represents her strength, courage, conviction, and righteousness but also her insecurity, anxiety, guilt, and sometimes hypocrisy. In this episode he represents Buffy's insecurity, anxiety, and guilt over yet another failed relationship. He questions Buffy's courage and conviction. She went through real horrors with Angel and was still willing to make their relationship work. So why doesn't she have the courage to fix her relationship with a good human man? Xander is an asshole sometimes, but he says out loud the things that Buffy can't. He challenges her personal decisions because he's her heart, and that's his job, but that doesn't make him always right.

@Xehanort10

3 жыл бұрын

His relationships with Cordelia and Anya were just him "settling" because he couldn't have Buffy. Xander's pathetic.

@franksnow5165

3 жыл бұрын

Disagree. Zander's always been portrayed as the voice of wisdom, if not too bright or charismatic, on the show. And by this time, he's well over Buffy romantically. As well as deeply involved with Anya, shown by his different words to each of them.

@TheMercury-13

3 жыл бұрын

He might still be bitter tho'? - People are strange, especially at 19; I forget how young they are.. I prefer to blame the writers for occasionally messing up with Xander's character, as mostly he's a good person, & I love the humour.

@BTTFMovie

3 жыл бұрын

@@franksnow5165 I wouldn't say Xander ever fully got over Buffy so much as he stopped pursuing her.

@alexjones5964

3 жыл бұрын

Why does everyone think this way about Xander?! If he was so concerned about getting buffy, he wouldn't have rejected her in Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. If it was jealousy, he'd have sabotaged Riley, too. The parallels he draws are him trying to explain Riley's feelings because of the fact that BUFFY AND RILEY HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO COMMUNICATE ALL SEASON. Xander explaining Riley through himself is to give buffy perspective.

The video isn't even done yet but Jesus... you've outdone yourself, here, Ian.

@Demonreached

3 жыл бұрын

Agree!

A bit that annoys me that is glossed over is the fact that Riley based his ultimatum on what Spike said Buffy needed/wanted in the relationship. He also used Spikes logic to justify his cheating on Buffy. It’s the Yoko Factor all over again.

@tcshack701

3 жыл бұрын

@@EmoBearRights I’m not trying to blame Spike, I was trying to point out that though Riley’s way of dealing with the information was wrong, like Spike pointed out in the Yoko Factor, Riley had problems with the relationship that were his own internal issues, Spike is Yoko in this instance and Riley just used what he said as to use as an excuse for his cheating.

@BTTFMovie

3 жыл бұрын

@@defrostedrobot77 Right. Spike definitely tried to orchestrate the breakup, but his subsequent conversation with Riley didn't come across like more conscious manipulation. In spite of his erroneous thinking when it came to who "got the better deal," Spike sounded pretty earnest in what he was saying. But I guess all sociopaths do.

@lessismore8533

2 жыл бұрын

@@EmoBearRights no conscience without his soul

The two soldiers in the dark had been playing rock-paper-scissors for three hours straight before Riley arrived

@joeypotter6051

3 жыл бұрын

"Rock paper scissors shoot! Ok I'm scissors, what'd you throw?" "Uh...rock." "Damn. Let's go again."

This episode is my favorite. No, not the actual episode, THIS PotN episode. It's so well crafted. Also, I deeply wish James Marsters see these breakdowns. I feel like he would adore them, as we all do.

The first time I watched this episode, I was maybe sixteen, possibly as young as fifteen, and even then, with my dumb teenage self, I distinctly remember feeling that something just wasn't right. I didn't have the words for it, but SOMETHING felt all kinds of wrong. I resonated SO much with this video. You found a way to say everything that was bothering me so much about this episode. Thank you, I now have one less thing preventing me from sleeping at night.

@NinaSelene

3 жыл бұрын

This was exactly what I wanted to say. Thank you!

@Nadiags

3 жыл бұрын

X2

@joiskyhigh

3 жыл бұрын

THIS. I was going to comment exactly this.

Yep. No argument here. And your deconstruction is far more elegant and thoughtful than my WTF.

@rimpasinha7810

3 жыл бұрын

U r voice has got we addicted 😆

Army guy: I'm telling you it's his birthday, we got him the beret, now are we ready to yell surprise?

l don't think l dislike Riley as much as seems common, but his thing of making Buffy responsible for his feelings always got on my nerves. This ep got on my nerves for those reasons. Though, when she runs after him, l think she realizes she loves him more than she thought she did.

@darkthorpocomicknight7891

3 жыл бұрын

Its true to life. I don't read it as Riley being selfish but not understanding Buffy can't care about him all the time.

@darkthorpocomicknight7891

3 жыл бұрын

@peter What's ironic is Noxon apparently hired MB but I don't think they thought through what Riley was meant to be and changed him to much episode to episode he lacks the consistency Spike has

@natf7942

2 жыл бұрын

@@xXLegacy No she wasn't.

@natf7942

2 жыл бұрын

@@xXLegacy lmao ok, quite the extrapolation from three words, but I guess you must think that of a lot of people being that this entire review and most of the comments agree with me. Btw you seem more like a child saying she was a "b". Why don't you act like a grownup and write the actual word if you're going to write/imply that shit, the word you're looking for is BITCH. At least have the guts to write it out.

I wonder if a better ending would have been instead of Xander talking to her, it was Willow and Buffy decided to stay still, walk home with Willow, thus letting Riley go if that's the way he treated her...

@andreab380

3 жыл бұрын

Yup because Willow is so good at managing her own emotions and relationships in a healthy way! 😂

@KS-xk2so

2 жыл бұрын

I would've preferred if after Xanders big stupid speech, Buffy said "Why don't you run to him, you stupid fuck. I'm going home to eat a pizza and watch TV." Then Xander runs to Riley and he sees him in the distance, and Xander/Riley have a huge embrace and make out HARD. Then they have a big talk about how they know what's best for Buffy, and how she thinks/feels about everything. Then the helicopter blows up and they both die. No one cares. Buffy takes a dump on their shared graves. The End.

@cindytartt4048

2 жыл бұрын

Yes! Will could say, “ you’re missing the whole poop head thing.” Riley is being a bit of a poop head…..

@KS-xk2so

2 жыл бұрын

@@_MyNameIsAJ_ Ah good, that was clear... I was afraid my comment made that too subtle.

I found the Buffy guide in my last year of high school. I found that watching the guides and analysis was great to put me in the right head space to write essays as well as the video for Amends proving helpful in an essay about absurdity and existentialism (I did cite the video). I'm now about to graduate from college and I have watched and re-watched the guides as background to a lot of my homework, take home exams, and most recently my final empirical research paper for my degree. I mainly just want to say thank you, I love these videos, and I will continue to watch these on repeat.

@kathyp1754

3 жыл бұрын

As a college English professor, I want to say that this is just too wholesome. Congrats to you and (always) props to Ian.

You know what, there's a more concrete piece of dialogue from Buffy that shows her love of Riley. When Faith gets out of her coma, Buffy and Riley talk a little about her. And Buffy - while cradling Riley's face - says that Faith will come after the people she loves, and so she doesn't want him to be involved. Which indicates very clearly that he *is* included in with the people she loves. It's a casual way to say it, but not any less true. Then Buffy misses Riley saying 'I love you' specifically (as Faith was in her body). Whenever we see him say it after that, it is in a much more casual way, like Buffy's initial statement. "That's why I love you," etc. So from her perspective, they have both been more casual in their expressions of love, and not shown it in the kind of dramatic and intense statements her and Angel used to give each other. Anyway, this is one of your best videos. Highly enjoyed it, you hit on all the right points.

On a run through with my roommate who never saw past season two before I met her, she asked me why I hated Riley so much..."he seems like a good guy" then this episode "oh I get it now, fuck Riley." What I hate most about him is that he took Buffy's situation with her mother and tried to use it against her: "oh I know you are going through something horrible and scary, but you aren't paying enough attention to me and my feelings." Dude, shut up! To quote Buffy (to Wesley originally) "get a job"

Hooray. This is no one’s favorite episode, except that it’s the last even slightly subpar episode of Season 5. Don’t think it’s a spoiler to say that from 5.11 to 5.22 is the peak of the series quality wise. From here on is the stuff I’ve been dying to hear Ian’s take on.

@joeyg.6138

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed good sir

@plentyofmagoes1143

3 жыл бұрын

Same! I’ve been waiting to see an interpretation of “I was made to love you” for years! I’m so excited!

@darkthorpocomicknight7891

3 жыл бұрын

I like it a lot actually but no its not top ten buffy but still some good scenes.

@TheJayden3977

3 жыл бұрын

Honestly I love every episode of Season 5. I think it’s by far the best season

@mjtpli

3 жыл бұрын

@@defrostedrobot77 Don’t want to get too spoilery here, but yes Spiral is a mess (it’s centered around the goofiest element of the season), but it’s a fun, glorious mess (sorry) that propels us toward The Weight and The Gift - not like this mess, which feels more like a necessary chore, clearing the dead weight so the season can take flight.

For those of you who are gonna comment "But into the woods came out in 2014 and this episode aired in 2000." The PLAY into the woods was published in 1986. Your welcome.

@trichiabaird8286

3 жыл бұрын

I was very disappointed that Ian used clips from the horrendous Disney film and not clip from any of the incredible stage productions. I understand that this was probably do to availability, but still disappointing. If anyone is interested here is a link to Sideway's video essay about Into The Woods. kzread.info/dash/bejne/a5ZqsaejdpfZYbA.html

Graham: I spy with my little eye, something...black. General Random Guy: Hmmm...is it the dark chair? No, the dark door? No-- the dark lamp! Graham: Damn, you got it!

"It also might just mean that a pizza hadn't strutted into my life and made sex eyes at me yet." Ian, man, you deserve some sort of award for writing that. 😆

@KS-xk2so

2 жыл бұрын

I got a big chuckle out of that line too, lol

Riley's relationship experience was.limited to everyday girls and damsels in distress. He didn't know how to be with a woman who didn't need him. So he created a situation where Buffy had to prove she needed him. Buffy wanted him, but he was too stuck in his own head to see how much better it is to be wanted instead.of needed.

@yeshv1989

3 жыл бұрын

But that’s the thing....she never truly wanted-WANTED him the way she so passionately craved both Angel and Spike.

@joeypotter6051

3 жыл бұрын

Well said Jason.

@andreab380

3 жыл бұрын

@@yeshv1989 Yup I also don't think she ever wanted him. She did need someone to be emotionally open with though. She just had a lot of emotional walls.

@RPG_Angie

3 жыл бұрын

@@yeshv1989 Of course she didn't, because her relationship with Angel was an unhealthy first-love obsession and her relationship with Spike was an unhealthy expression of self-hate. It's stupid to want your GF to be obsessed with you. But sadly, lots of people who've been in unhealthy or abusive relationships think like that: this relationship isn't intense enough, true love means being obsessive and controlling and jealous, right?

@lessismore8533

2 жыл бұрын

@@yeshv1989 good point

The female vamp wasn't harmless though, and that's the main thing. Buffy feels sorry for her, but she's still a vampire, who could very easily decide to be more vampy. Her circumstances are incidental and could change whenever.

The Mary Sue has an excellent article about this scene and just how awful this whole relationship is. SPOILERS: I can't help but wonder if what we know about how Riley ends up by Season 6 makes it better or worse. I feel worse because he gets everything he always wanted after being a backsliding, spineless jerk. At the same time, it is a somewhat realistic portrayal of how the military can almost intentionally fashion itself into the "escape" for troubled people who want to just leave real world issues behind. Can't pay for college? Join the military! Have abusive family or live in a small town / rural state you want to escape? Join the military! Get caught cheating by your GF and feeling emasculated and without purpose? Join the military! The one good thing about this episode is that it got Riley out of there so we could get to the real good scooby gang dynamics of the rest of the season!

@mjtpli

3 жыл бұрын

(SPOILERY) that’s funny, since there’s a characteristic in that S6 return that I think of as the definition of a Mary Sue. I can only think of that situation as a bit of unreliable narrator: the Riley we meet is Buffy’s perception of him as the complete opposite of what she’s become.

@Cristina5753

3 жыл бұрын

I think the season 6 makes it worse, because it goes out of its way to say that Riley was the one that got away, instead of acknowledging that he cheated and left. And then he led her on when he comes back, which no one in the show calls out. Riley is treated like Jesus returning from death, except Riley did wrong things.

@jongon0848

2 жыл бұрын

Riley getting married fast is actually pretty realistic considering his military background. If u know anything about the military, it's that a lot of soldiers (not all) get married super fast to the first girl they see.

@jesusdelcanto9715

2 жыл бұрын

In defense of Riley, I see strong problems in his characterization in S5. I know I am in the minority here, but I really liked this couple in S4 and possibly see it as the most realistic for Buffy in the whole series. In S5 seems the writers didn't know what to do with him after the Initiative went away. That could have been an oportunity to continue the challenge against status quo started in S4, but I think it was planned to finished it off.

@lessismore8533

2 жыл бұрын

@@jesusdelcanto9715 agree it was better in S4

Oh, I love this. I love when you break down why an episode fundamentally doesn't work and articulate it in a way I never could. Your point about, Willow! That is so true.

I was just thinking to myself: “sometimes ‘character-breaking’ is okay, sometimes we have those moments”...until I remembered: oh it’s over Riley

@DigiDestined13

3 жыл бұрын

I interpret this more as Buffy is still reeling from what she's just been through with Joyce, and the situation with Riley was the final nail in the coffin.

I don't usually double post, but I also had to add - it's not outside the realm of possibility that Buffy acting a bit OOC here is partly due to the stress she's been under with Joyce's illness. Finding out her boyfriend was essentially cheating on her when she needed him the most could easily have pushed her to the breaking point. And I think this would have come across much better had the following conversation been with Willow or Giles rather than Xander.

Riley: "I'm leaving, Buffy. Unless you give me a reason to stay." Buffy: "MY BEDROOM NEEDS REPAINTING!" Riley Finn, get in the bin.

I still love Riley's recycling line though.

@PassionoftheNerd

3 жыл бұрын

Yeeeeeah, me too.

@mjtpli

3 жыл бұрын

That scene with Willow was pretty excellent as well.

It took me over an hour to watch this because I kept laughing too hard and needing to rewind

It really annoyed me when Riley was upset that Buffy wasn’t crying in his presence. I’m not one to cry in front of people either, so when he said that, it really got under my skin.

@Beacuzz

3 жыл бұрын

I don't cry in front of people I haven't known and been close with for years! To see that used against her feels almost cruel

@jongon0848

10 ай бұрын

I actually empathize with Riley in that situation. (Let me elaborate) A couple of years back, me and my now wife were doing a long distance relationship after she got a good job 9 hours away. One week I was visiting her, and she told me casually that my presence meant the world to her, and that she hadn't cried once since I got there. We're usually great with our communication, but she never told me before that she had cried on a daily basis for the past couple of months. I broke down crying and told her I was sorry I wasn't there for her in those moments. She told me not to be sorry because I didn't know, and I responded "I want to though..." The key difference though is that I don't ask or expect her to cry to me or express her emotions for my sake. I merely offer her a safe space she can express herself in (if she feels comfortable enough to share with me) Something Riley definitely didn't do with Buffy.

I was angry at what Riley had done, but I think I came out of the episode more angry at the things Xander said to Buffy. As if she was at fault and responsible for Riley's own actions. It's a hard watch, because it feels like the good old classic: blame and punish the woman for the man's own damn actions and emotions. 🤮

@KS-xk2so

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah its another great example of Xander giving his completely uninformed and incorrect opinion, when no one asked for it. Stupid Zeppo.

I think most of Xander's speech is actually him projecting his own fears about his relationship with Anya on to Buffy and Riley.

I spent the whole video going "yes! You're right! Exactly!!" But now I have nothing I can do about. So much directionless anger. Need a cleanse. The thing I find maybe most frustrating in this episode is so much of it just feels out of character. Xander tbh might say that shit, but probably not with that eloquence, and his big romantic speech to Anya feels unfounded considering he basically continues to treat her the same as before after this episode. Willow is out of character in her absence, why aren't U here supporting your best friend!! Buffy feels out of character in her lack of agency, she ain't this helpless. Anyway, all very frustrating and forced. And SPOILERS even more delusional in As You Were, where everyone remembers Riley with fondness as the one who got away rather than the guy who cheated on her and then abandoned her. Even dawn, who is capable of holding a grudge forever and being deeply spiteful, especially where abandonment is concerned, forgives him by the end of the episode. It makes me think, I don't think buffy ever told the gang about the vampire cheating.

@sheltondaal6425

3 жыл бұрын

SPOILER YUP! As You Were is just an excuse to shame and degrade Buffy because *gasp* she's depressed and having kinky sex. Riley abandoned her and soon after Joyce died and then SHE died. He has no place to give her any advice about her life and he had no place showing back up in it narratively.

@anonymous-dirigible

3 жыл бұрын

@@jamie7398 Eh, personally it strikes me as utterly in-character for Riley to immediately turn around and get married TBH. His entire identity has been 'Buffy's Boyfriend' for so long that I don't find it at all far-fetched that he'd find a girl who reminded him of Buffy and immediately slot himself into her life so he didn't have to go out and find a new identity of his own. Especially given how quickly a lot of military couples get married IRL, I have no issues whatsoever with that plot point.

Jeez 40 mins long, I remember when these were 8 mins for a chunky episode like Lie To Me and it was GOOD. Now they're 40 minutes and still GOOD :)

@kroitaaa

3 жыл бұрын

I didn't even realize ot was 40 min.... Damn, really pointes crrtain things i hadn't considered 👌

"their relationship before Hush could be summarised as boredom and confusion" 😂😂😂

@joeypotter6051

3 жыл бұрын

It's so true and you know what else always bothers me is the fact they cast a giant to play opposite SMG, like why? Why do that to her? Why make her stand on boxes all the time? It's a small thing but it's so annoying to me.

The amount of times that I've made the argument of "movie/show not necessarily bad because bad things happen; it's bad because movie/show framed it as good" or some variant thereof...gosh, I'm feeling so validated. This is how I've always felt about this episode. Not great. I don't really like what happens because I tend to be on Buffy's side, and Riley's a bit meh (don't hate him; don't love him)...but I could deal with their human actions as long as the episode didn't frame Riley's ultimatum and Xander's little Ode to Riley as right...but unfortunately, the score cannot be denied. It does just that. Side note: this reminds me of the first time I watched Saturday Night Fever. Not a great movie...a classic sure. And it was a fun time. Until the r*pe scene near the end where after attempting to assault his partner, another girl is gang r*ped in the back of the car... And the movie treated it like nothing noteworthy happened. I can tell because when I talked to the people I watched it with afterward, they barely knew what I was talking about... And it took ages for me to explain that I don't think it was bad that something so horrendous was included in the film; it was the way it was framed within the film as guys being guys...further confirmed by the protagonist and his partner somewhat reuniting in the end.

I never get people harking on Spikes Lovers Walk monologue....he's clearly not describing all love and ways of loving, because there is no such thing as one definition of love. He's clearly describing what it feels like to be in love with someone, in a poetic way. Buffy and Angel confirm in that episode that he is right, and that's how they feel about each other, "blood screaming inside them to work it's will", and that they can't be mere friends. Their love, the more rational part of it, also guides the decision to stay away from each other. No matter if its the rational kind or the blood screaming inside you kind, its all just different sides of the same love. So why be so judgemental on that speech? Love is selfless. Love is also very selfish. Even a parents love is selfish, and countless other things as well. Love is wildly complex, and I hate when people try to say "this" is love and "that" is not.

The biggest problem this Episode has is that we are supposed to like or care about Riley , but i dont think anyone really does.

@n2nother

3 жыл бұрын

I do and did. That doesn’t mean I think his behavior is okay. I just understand how flawed he is and how he let his insecurities get way too much in the way of himself. He’s wrong here and needed to be told so. Him leaving was ultimately best for both of them because it would have ended either way.

I think you've just spawned a new channel idea, because Backwards Buffy Run With Cheese Man Low Fi Beats to Get High To is an absolute vibe.

Both Riley's and Xander's speeches in this episode are infuriating, but I come out of this episode with mainly just hatred for Riley. Riley's shittiness in this episode feels deeply in character for him. His insistence on blaming Buffy for his own insecurities are set up by previous behaviour (e.g. "I love you so much I can't think straight"). It's unpleasant in the exact way Riley is always unpleasant. Xander's speech, while having some connection to his fondness for Riley, feels more like the writers speaking through him, using him as a mouthpiece to shill for Riley, and encourage the viewers to feel a certain way about the relationship going into the "helicopter chase" scene. It was so clunky, and seemed to exist solely to pivot Buffy from righteous indignance into romantic desperation. It felt so unreal in this way that I can't even get mad at Xander - I'm only mad at the writing.

@KS-xk2so

2 жыл бұрын

Nah Xander was an asshole, who sucked often in this show. This felt right on target for him.

So, this was a rough one for me. I'm a bit of a recovering chauvinist who only a few years ago recognized the toxicity of my philosophy and behavior. When this episode came out, I felt exactly the way the writers wanted me to feel. I fell strongly on the side of Riley. At the time this episode spoke to me on a deep level for a number of personal reasons. But going through these reviews (and after multiple Buffy rewatches) I recognize the very problematic nature of Riley's character. Now, that that's out of the way, I have something to say. Something that I'm a little nervous to admit. (Takes a deep breath.) I...kind of like Scott Hope and don't understand all the hate he gets. (Cringes.) PLEASE DON'T HIT ME!!!!

@Commanber

3 жыл бұрын

As long as you don't like Parker, we're good lol.

@athena450

3 жыл бұрын

Hey, I hope this isn't too intrusive a question to ask and totally fine if not (feel free to ignore this!), but I've never heard anyone refer to themselves as a "recovering chauvinist" before. What changed your perspective?

@Kareemmason

3 жыл бұрын

@@athena450 I am a black, bi-sexual man. I had a friend who would make these racist and/or homophobic statements but he never saw them that way. After all, he didn't HATE any minorities or consciously think they should "know their place." He was just angry and selfish. One day, he and I were talking and he made a statement that was exactly like one I had made the night before, just switch out black people for women. And it hit me. "My God! This is what I sound like!" The change wasn't immediate. I tried to convince myself that I was more reasonable and compassionate but the more I looked at myself, the less I could deny what I was. But deprogramming your negative behavior doesn't happen over night. Hence the "recovering".

@LeshaAnn

3 жыл бұрын

@@Kareemmason You give me hope. Thank you.

@Liz-pc3dc

3 жыл бұрын

@@Kareemmason Congrats on your recovery. You're right, no drastic change like that is going to be easy and it'll take time, but you're on the way, that's what counts. And watching Ian's analysis(es?) is a good help, I'm always amazed by his deapth and accuracy. Keep going !

I love The Good Place! I can't wait for your analysis of it. You really captured my mixed feelings towards the episode, Riley, and Riley & Buffy's relationship. To the people asking, 'Do you even like the show?' You can enjoy and cherish a piece of media, but also recognise the flawed and problematic aspects of a show.

Is it just me? I didn't ever read that music as romantic, I always read it as sad, saying that because Riley is leaving they don't have a chance to see if they can work things out/have to end things on such a painful note. I guess that maybe sounds close to romance to some, but I guess because I didn't really feel like it was romantic, I never felt like they were trying to get me to think Riley was right or justified. He was wrong, but maybe with time and a real conversation with Buffy, they could have fixed their relationship problems. I do dislike the vampire lady spearing and many things said in the Xander intrervention though.

@2010hassi

3 жыл бұрын

I agree, I never interpretted it as romantic either. In fact, I understood it as a red herring because it starts off sounding kind of ‘Hopeful’ but then turns ‘Tragic’ because things are left on a painful, note like you say. And that, I believe, is the point if it - that this is yet another blow to Buffy at this point, since she has been through the ringer, thus far on the show (and continues to be).

Okay, Ian. you can stop now. I've been half convinced we should be besties since "School Hard", but the first two-ish minutes solidify our friendship as one of epic proportions. (Friendship bracelets incoming... once I figure out how to actually make them.) You are the essence of cool. Never, ever stop. I think it was very telling that the writer's used Xander for that faux "realization" moment. Had it been Giles or Willow or even Dawn, I would have believed that Buffy really loved Riley. But with it being Xander? I hear Hell's bells ringing.

I've always felt the character discontinuity in this episode was caused by the writers being told to get rid of Riley, for whatever reason, in one episode, without killing him, and creating a reason, however ill thought out, for Buffy to feel bad because that's the premise of the entire series. I love it, but it's intentionally painful at times.

THIS! I want more of this. As someone who has rewatched all of Buffy numerous times, I have enjoyed your deep dives and critical analysis. Please don’t listen to the haters and continue the great job. Every time one of your new videos pop up in my subscription brightens my day. Thank you.

BOOM! This episode NEVER sat right with me and you have put into words the things that have ALWAYS bothered me! WELL DONE, SIR!

Wouldn't it make more sense during that fight for Buffy to be the one making an ultimatum? I mean, it solves the problem of her not having agency, shows how she's grown since people like Parker, and it also allows Riley to finally grow to be self-aware about himself and Buffy, and decide that the best thing he can do for himself and her is walk away and make his own life, because he can't do what she's asking (it would be a simple ultimatum, like talk to her first about his concerns for example) and THAT'S his wake up call. You could even have Buffy deciding she didn't want things to end on such a sour note and run to the helicopter (without Xander's input because he's the worst part of this whole episode), only for them to miss each other anyways. Regardless, the break-up would end the same, but at least Buffy and Riley would have both grown in some small way.

@andreab380

3 жыл бұрын

To me that's the whole point: Buffy hasn't grown up. She is still the kind of person that pushes her loved ones away when she feels too many burdens on her shoulders. That's basically her whole character arc, emotionally speaking.

@leepaneris5607

3 жыл бұрын

@@andreab380 That's fair to say, but the episode still never worked for me. Much of it for the reasons stated in the video, so I was trying to find some way of hitting the same story beats, but making it feel more natural of a progression to their break-up. I'm sure there's a way to have it where Buffy doesn't grow and learn something, but still something worthwhile character-wise happens (even if it's negative). If you have suggestions how those scenes could be fixed to better fit the point and characters, I would like to hear it. I find this kind of thing fun.

@andreab380

3 жыл бұрын

@@leepaneris5607 I didn't particularly like the episode either. That's because I always found Riley a bit annoying and Buffy's feelings for him (which were real, albeit confused) unimpressive. But I still think that the episode made sense given the (unimpressive) premises. I don't usually linger on how scenes and episodes of a show could have been made better, unless they are a glaring subversion of character developments and/or plot point (***cough*** Daenerys ***cough***).

I always took the run along with romantic music as an analogy for their relationship: Buffy doing all the work and shouting her perspective at him but he just refuses to look back. He's a reverse Orpheus who emerges from death (with the vampires) but because he's still so caught up in his training and worldview, he moves forward without looking back despite asking her for a reason/sign and so loses the woman he loves. But I really appreciate your reading.

I think when you consider where S5 leads, isolating Buffy was the point.

@NinaSelene

3 жыл бұрын

the end doesn't justify the means, and the means wheren't justified on their own in this case. But in any case, why do you think that? Her last decision is grounded on her being isolated?

@andreab380

3 жыл бұрын

@@NinaSelene The end is linked to Buffy self-isolating, in my view. She really feels she has to carry all her burdens "alone" and she repeatedly pushes people away for this reason.

@NinaSelene

3 жыл бұрын

@@andreab380 Oh I see it's a big part of it as well! I think feeling isolated is with her always, and I feel it's adressed more in S7 but I don't see it as being the point, or the main reason she chooses that in this finale, otherwise it kind of undermines how it was a sacrifice, instead of Spike being right and it being kind of a suicide. But maybe it is, or it's a little bit of everything.

@andreab380

3 жыл бұрын

@@NinaSelene I feel the "little bit of everything" is probably the right answer. Whedon and the creative team explicitly endeavoured to leave many interpretations open. (He mentioned something like this about religion and philosophy, in an interview or speech. I think it applies to the characters' moral and development too.) That's what makes it such a hood show, to me.

@askarsfan2011

2 жыл бұрын

@@NinaSelene The Gift is both a metaphorical sacrifice and a literal suicide.

This is a fascinating analysis because It's the first where I see many of your critiques as features and not bugs. I'd never really made the connection between Riley and Xander (even tho once you say it, it makes complete sense), but I think Xander projecting his own failures (and honestly still a lot of his love for Buffy) on the potential of Riley with Buffy is a really character illuminating moment. I think it's bad in terms of being a friend in Xander's case, but I think it's actually a really fascinating bit of character development. Xander shows he's that person up until his worst moment of doubt in S6. He's always felt inadequate and Riley not being a monster made him see his own potential to be that kind of hero. Seeing Buffy (from his POV) reject that natural, human type of masculinity feels like a rebuke on him. I still believe that if Buffy at any point post S3 had told Xander she loved him and wanted to be with him forever, he'd probably take that deal. He's come to terms with his relationship with her, but he's always been head over heels for her. Even his pep talks for her show an admiration that one would reserve for the loves of their life. And the music bit, I think is meant to reflect BUFFY's mind in that gesture, not necessarily the show's POV. The episode IS Buffy's POV. So the music, the camera, they're all her taking in the ppl outside of her, and the more subtle choices reflect her own interiority. Or at least, that's how I always took it. But either way, great analysis. Loved the video and your channel. Keep up the good work.

I am in the camp that believes Riley didn't really love Buffy and Buffy definitely never loved Riley. They both loved the IDEA of each other. I was not at all surprised on my first watch when Riley left. I never saw their relationship lasting that long as the show put such a strong emphasis on their physical relationship and nothing with depth. Buffy always referred to Riley as "the boyfriend." She cast him in a role in her life and that's what he always was. "MY boyfriend, THE boyfriend" she boxed him up and put him in the corner. Same with Riley, he never saw Buffy as anything more than THE Slayer and that's what captivated him so much. Not Buffy as a person. Look at who he decides to marry, a woman that has many similarities, not to Buffy as a person, but Buffy as The Slayer. This episode also solidified my complete disdain for the character of Xander, completely selfish.

You know what would have made the helicopter scene better? If Buffy had gotten there before Riley gets on the helicopter so he thinks she's there to fight for him, so he walks up to her expecting her to throw her arms around him but instead she just says to him "Have a nice life", then turns around & walks away 😁

@RachL87

3 жыл бұрын

@@jamie7398 I think it is. Make us all think that she's running after him because she wants to be with him, only for her to do the exact opposite of what it looks like she's going to do 😊

@kelseykrehbiel8500

3 жыл бұрын

Or...punches him in the face

Love your analysis! You always put everything I felt when I watched the episode but couldn't express in words. Thanks

Absolutely one of the best reviews. Loved it.

This video was spectacular as always, Ian!

Oh good, I really needed this today. Can’t wait!

I’m so glad you’re back! I’ve been missing your episode dissections 😊

I feel like I’ve been waiting ages for the next episode, and this did not disappoint, yay long episode!!!

I don't know why you were so worried about the time. Once you hit play, you really don't notice how long the video is. Great job on the video Ian

For some reason Riley garners more sympathy than ever before on my current re-watch. I fully accept him has part of the show and not an outsider. It’s possible to excuse Buffy for having other things on her mind and feel for the final shot of “Shadow”. You’re the significant other and the other person doesn’t go to you for support. I defy any of your early 20s selves to handle that maturely- “well, she is asking me to look after Dawn…” Yeah, totally wouldn’t feel like a babysitter. Would totally be able to handle my lover not confiding in me. Keep in mind we have the benefit of 20 years of adulthood. (Assuming many of us are mid 30s or later.) We’re mad at him for not being as mature as we are half our lives later, when the main criticism can be boiled down to, “he should’ve made his feelings known.” Which is the same criticism as Dead Mans Party. It’s a frustrating trope but I think people excoriate Riley excessively. Getting mad at someone for being a hopeful uncommunicative dumb kid seems harsh. At least he didn’t weasel his way out of it. He explained himself more than defended himself re: the vamp stuff. Not to mention it’s just an ordinary breakup. One person isn’t getting what they want out of the relationship is how all relationships end. It’s no one’s place to judge anyone else’s calculus for ending things. Yet even if Riley opens up episodes earlier I can easily see Buffy saying, “not now.” When She Was Bad, Dead Mans Party, After Life, the “I am the law” attitude in S7, anyone? Buffy has a tendency to assume the burden and assume no one can possibly understand which she explicitly does during the fight. Riley says she shouldn’t have to shoulder all the burden and she says yes she does, that’s part of being the slayer. EXCEPT HE’S TALKING ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP, NOT SLAYING. Remember “how about we take care of each other?” in Fool For Love? She’s retreating to “you wouldn’t understand” mode. As was said in the review for DMP, Willow reached out and Buffy still said “you wouldn’t understand.” She even assumes a little responsibility when she tells Giles she’s afraid being the slayer is closing her off. She wants to be alone in it. As rushed and flawed as S7 is one of the things I like about the potential arc is Buffy learning to share responsibility, that the future slayers have a kind of sisterhood. They don’t have to go through stuff alone, which Buffy always assumed. I’m not white knighting for him but I’ve never been comfortable with how much people savage Riley, even when I first saw him and myself felt he was out of place in the show. Perhaps it was sympathy for the underdog crashing the tight-knit core. While his behavior is not the best it’s hardly criminal. It’s a weird change for me cause I’m usually in Buffy defense mode. But it doesn’t seem fair to hang him for being a young guy who might not know what he wants and actually being up front about his confusion. I mean, Joyce had to remind Angel he’s no good for her. Riley might not be perfect but he’s somewhat self-aware. When he says “I don’t feel it” he’s simply stating how he feels rather than blaming Buffy. Even though it sounds like it. I have no idea where all this new empathy for Riley comes from. It’s never happened on any past re-watch.

I've watched this particular guide multiple times. Your breakdown of this episode is top notch!!

These videos are always the best part of my day

I LOVE your Buffy Guides! I've probably watched all of the episode guides at least 10 times by now and I am always looking forward to the next one. ❤❤❤

Ian, your Buffy guide is awesome and motivated me to get on my friends' nerves about why they should watch Buffy and I got two of them. That's on you and that's high praise!

This video perfectly articulated all the problems I have with this episode but could never quite express. Thank you for your analysis!

What an exceptional video. This may be the best video you've done yet. The deconstruction, the attention to detail, the attention you've paid to past and present character is just beautiful. An absolute joy.

The dedication required to give such in depth analysis on such a frustrating episode...hats off to you, thank you!

Great analysis. You touched on a lot of what I have issues with about the episode. I’m also a big Supernatural fan so the Chuck analogy was a wonderful surprise!

I appreciate your unique perspective and take on the themes and nuances of the show so keep at it, my friend.

Ian,infinite thanks for all the amazing work you're doing and for being able to transmit your passion through these great videos. Just wanted to say that I've been talking about how cool it would be to hear your take on 'The Good Place' for close to 3 years now so I got really excited when you mentioned it at the beginning of this video. Now that I've got something almost tangible to pin my hopes on I'll start keeping my fingers crossed. Yay!

I love those little bits of foreshadowing you add to these thing

From intro to breakdown, one of your best essays; definitely going in my top 3. Also, kudos on the great Chuck analogy and the universe crossover we've been waiting for👍🏾

Everything about this episode was amazing. Editing, humor, insight, length...just perfect! 👏👏👏 Thank you for sharing your talents, hard work, and passion with us!

Wow, I can’t believe I finally caught up to where you are in your videos!! I’ve been showing Buffy to my friend and I’ve loved watching these to help guide our watch parties so we can skip most of the worse episodes. I’ve also learned sooo much from them, and it’s just renewed my love for Buffy. Thanks for all the hard work and time you’ve put into these :)

This was my favourite video you've done so far! For me the issue with Riley as a suiter for Buffy was never that he wasn't enough of a 'monster'. It's always been his complete dependence on her coupled with his flawed value system. A solid relationship isn't necessarily 'love at first sight', it can be based upon a mutual respect that is bolstered by shared experiences, it can be a shared passion. However Rileys 'love tunnel vision' simply doesn't provide enough room for them to learn to love each other, he needs her to feel how he does right and that's unrealistic, because he has deified her. You've echoed my feeling in a way I could have never articulated. Great work, can't wait for the next one!

Xander can be such a good guy sometimes...... but its overshadowed but just how much he can be an absolutely selfish and patronizing bastard whenever it has anything to do with Buffy's love life. I get that self interest in the affairs of love is a strong motivator, but if you love someone you tell them the truth, and if they ask for advice you give them your best advice for THEIR best interest, your own feelings should not overwrite that.

@PassionoftheNerd

3 жыл бұрын

I don't hate Xander. In fact he may be one of the characters I identify with the most. I hate Xander in particular episodes, and his lack of self-awareness that bleeds into the writing.

@fangsabre

3 жыл бұрын

@@PassionoftheNerd I identify with Xander a lot as well, but as I've grown up and encountered situations like Xander has with Buffy, I chose to put their best interests first (most of the time, nobody's perfect) and seeing Xander walk up to these situations where he could show us that he is a great guy at heart (like he does with a certain scene about crayons) and then actively chooses to be selfish makes me want to punch him so very hard. Honestly I think the fact that I identify with him so much makes me even more frustrated with him because I was that un self aware when I was 14, but Xander at this point is in his 20s, and as a mid 20 something myself it's frustrating to see him make decisions 14 year old me would've made. Sorry for the rambling sentences, ADHD and proper punctuation dont always mesh

@fangsabre

3 жыл бұрын

@@PassionoftheNerd love your channel by the way, been a fan since before Season 2 of the Buffy Guide started

@Liz-pc3dc

3 жыл бұрын

@@PassionoftheNerd Thanks a lot for your always profound analysis that gives so much to think about 👍 I don't hate Xander either, even in those instances, because : 1, nobody's perfect and 2, he clearly can't deal with her love life because of his feelings for her. I don't think he moved on despite being with Cordelia then Anya, not really anyway, so it feels like he can't help but be selfish and everything you said about him. It just makes him human, even if it makes me want to slap his face in those moments 😁

@KS-xk2so

2 жыл бұрын

What makes me hate Xander is how often the show seems to support him and consider him justified/right, even when he's being a complete douche nozzle. Which in turn makes so much of the fanbase, which identify with him, defend everything he does. Stupid Zeppo.

These are wonderful. They are erudite in their writing, they communicate enthusiasm and thus share it, and they are genuinely entertaining. I love watching these, and you should be proud you make them.

Amazing video & perspectives, as always. I especially loved the crossover take on Chuck XD

As a teenager, when I first watched the show, I absolutely loved Xander as a character. But watching the show back as an adult, I see how immature, bitter, and resentful he could be. I HATE how he put the onus on Buffy in this ep-blaming her for not realising how wonderful and indispensable Riley was, when Riley (and GOD he pissed me off here with his refusal to even extend Buffy the common courtesy of apologising to her for his infidelity.) was, to me at least, boring, ineffectual and in this instance particularly, unbelievably selfish and stupid.

@andreab380

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah maybe it's because it's a show about teenagers and very young adults? Their flaws are meant to be relatable at that age. Of course an adult will look back at them and think: what a douche!

@BTTFMovie

3 жыл бұрын

As a teen, I always got annoyed with his jealousy of Buffy's boyfriends, but still felt that generally Xander was a good guy. On my recent rewatch, I noticed what a PIG he was and was even more bothered by his casual and unchecked misogyny. I still think he's good-natured, just way more flawed than I remembered. But it works for me, because if I don't get frustrated with characters from time to time, they don't feel like real people.

@natf7942

2 жыл бұрын

@@andreab380 Doesn't make Xander's misogyny any easier to deal with. Yes he's flawed and young but it's still something that can be unforgivably shitty.

@natf7942

2 жыл бұрын

I was in my early teens when Buffy started airing and I liked Xander and thought he was cute lol. Now I'm in my mid-30s and his misogyny is unbelievably obnoxious. I'm fine with flaws and appreciate them for sure, but geez, I wanna lay him the fuck out when he's misogynistic. The way he shames Buffy and tries to control her, the way he criticises the female characters when they do things and are with men who aren't him and he's jealous, it makes my skin crawl. I like him at other points but man, that controlling misogyny of his hits far too close to home when you have life experience and have gone through that shit yourself.

@andreab380

2 жыл бұрын

@@natf7942 I never saw any "unforgivably shitty" act by Xander, and I don't consider minor personal flaws re/ the conception of women as misoginy.

Yay! I’m always so excited to see when you post a new episode guide!! I feel the same way about this episode. This ultimatum is totally bogus, and Riley is a jerk for giving it. Xander is a jerk for trying to tell Buffy how she should feel about his alternate self. For my perspective, I don’t know if Buffy truly loved Riley, but she certainly cared about him. And all his insecurities should have been his to deal with. Buffy deserves better.

I love re living the episodes through these videos! Done so well!

I for one am happy you make these videos.