2/4: Inca Mummy Girl

[William the Bloody]

Written by Matt Kiene & Joe Reinkemeyer
Directed by Ellen S Pressman
Air date: 10/6/97

A beautiful Inca princess who was buried alive in a tomb 500 years ago is accidentally brought back to life in the Sunnydale Natural History Museum.

[Lola m]

Call me a complete and utter brainless git. (You're a complete and utter . . . . . etc. etc.)

I've seen this episode before. I have. Really.

So how come I never noticed before that Ampata is Buffy. Buffy is Ampata. The writers threw in every single parallel and comparison and metaphor you can think of. And then some.

* Buffy is whining all episode long about all the "normal, real girl" stuff she wants to do and Ampata says: "I want to fit in Buffy, just like you. A normal life".

* Xander falls instantly for Ampata, just like he fell instantly for Buffy.

* Bodyguard/killer guy says to Ampata "You are the chosen one. You must die."

* Ampata says to Buffy: "You are always thinking of others before yourself. You remind me of someone from very long ago: the Inca Princess." Also: "They told her that she was the only one. That only she could defend her people from the nether world. Out of all the girls in her generation... ...she was the only one... " And Buffy finishes up with ". . . chosen".

* Ampata talks about the Princess some more and says: "She was sixteen, like us. She was offered as a sacrifice and went to her death. Who knows what she had to give up to fulfill her duty to others?"

* Ampata almost discovers Buffy's hidden slayer stuff like Buffy almost finds (and then does find) Ampata's hidden sucked dry body husk thing.

* Buffy comparing Ampata's behavior with hers after she heard about the prophesy that the Master would kill her.

* Etc. etc. etc.

I mean, this isn't even subtext here people. This is text. Right in front of my blinkin' nose. Have I just never watched this ep and paid attention? Have I just been, I don't know, unconscious or asleep or just deeply dim?

Oh well.

Other random things:

The early stuff in the museum is the least good part. It's all kinda fakey how they're able to touch stuff without someone coming over and smacking them and the mummy holding onto the seal is done very cheesy and not good effects. But the rest of the ep is pretty good, better than I had thought. The Ampata and Xander story is really rather touching.

Oh, that moment when Willow walks in as Xander is explaining that "she's the kind of girl I'm best friends with". Ow. And of course I totally thought of the scene with Spike in The Initiative when she's talking about how she's "not the kind of girl".

Great lines:
Xander: Hey, maybe he awakened the mummy! (snicker)
Willow: Right, and it rose from its tomb! (ha ha!)
Buffy: And attacked him! (giggle giggle, um . . . oops)

Nice comparison between Xander "instant stunned love gaze" when he sees Ampata and Oz's "instant stunned love gaze" when he sees Willow. Plus, Oz sees Willow just as Ampata and Xander seem to be about to have their first kiss.

Plus, we get those very first ever Oz moments. **sigh** Love Oz, just love him.

So why does Ampata actually sort of translate some of the seal? Why not just play totally dumb? Just 'cuz she was surprised and reacted to seeing it and needed to cover for that? Because she thought it might be useful later to have been helpful so she could guide them toward destroying it? Because she actually was trying to be kind of good and helpful?

Oh my, Xander and the Twinkies. That scene is just . . . gah . . . . In a good way. Very much in a good way. Really all the scenes with him and Ampata are kind of sweet and "real" feeling. In the little alcove at the Bronze, when they're talking and kissing and she doesn't want to drain him and stops herself. Or at the end, when he offers himself instead of Willow. **sigh** Love Xander, just love him.

Buffy and Willow talking about Xander and Ampata. (Willow playing with a little stuffed animal frog and I kept thinking "eep! frog fear!" LOL)
Buffy: Ampata's only staying two weeks.
Willow: Yeah. And then Xander can find someone else who's not me to obsess about. At least with you I knew he didn't have a shot. Well, you know, I have a choice. I can spend my life waiting for Xander to go out with every other girl in the world until he notices me, or I can just get on with my life.
Buffy: Good for you.
Willow: Well, I didn't choose yet.
Such perfect writing. So many others would have gone for the classic "I'm suddenly all empowered and in control" bit and stopped it after Buffy says "good for you". This is so much more real. All mixed up good and bad and happy and sad.

Xander saying, "you're not a preying mantis, are you?". Oh my. Poor Xander. 'Cuz, she kinda is.

Willow in the Eskimo outfit. Just. So. Perfect. With the harpoon and everything. That's our Willow. Of course Oz fell for her right then.

Dingoes Ate My Baby playing and Devon singing the lines "we'll be born again" right as Ampata and Xander enter the Bronze. Ampata, who's been "born again" into the life she was cheated out of. Nice touch.

Lola

Like I said. A lot better ep than I had thought.

[Spaced Out Looney]

Lola said:

Like I said. A lot better ep than I had thought.

This is one of those episodes that I don't really care for overall, but it has an awful lot of nice bits in it, like you mention. The other thing that sticks out in my mind about this episode is (I think) the first mention of Buffy's penchant for violence (and an early glimpse of Denial!Buffy.)

When they're in the museum in the beginning talking about finding a non-violent solution to a classmate messing with the exhibit:

Buffy: "I wasn't gonna use violence. I don't always use violence. Do I?"

Xander: "The important thing is _you_ believe that."

[Lissa]

Spaced said:

This is one of those episodes that I don't really care for overall, but it has an awful lot of nice bits in it, like you mention. The other thing that sticks out in my mind about this episode is (I think) the first mention of Buffy's penchant for violence (and an early glimpse of Denial!Buffy.)

When they're in the museum in the beginning talking about finding a non-violent solution to a classmate messing with the exhibit:

Buffy: "I wasn't gonna use violence. I don't always use violence. Do I?"

Xander: "The important thing is _you_ believe that."

I always saw Ampatha as being a Slayer, or she was a Slayer. She needed to 'sacrify' herself for her people without having a choice in it, much like Buffy needed to do in Prophecy Girl. Remember how Buffy felt when she heard she'd die from Angel and Giles. Ampatha also had superstrenght. And Ampatha used violence too.

But, the important thing is that Buffy really looks at Ampatha in that way. She looks at herself, especially when Ampatha could go out with Xander and she needed to stay home for her secret duty. It's one of the strongest Xander/Buffy vibes I ever had. During the whole episode. You can see Buffy thinking to maybe go for Xander, but in the end her crush and hots for Angel won Of course Xander's love for Willow won too, only he still didn't realize it

[Onjel]

Lola said:

Call me a complete and utter brainless git. (You're a complete and utter . . . . . etc. etc.)

I've seen this episode before. I have. Really.

So how come I never noticed before that Ampata is Buffy. Buffy is Ampata. The writers threw in every single parallel and comparison and metaphor you can think of. And then some.

* Buffy is whining all episode long about all the "normal, real girl" stuff she wants to do and Ampata says: "I want to fit in Buffy, just like you. A normal life".

* Xander falls instantly for Ampata, just like he fell instantly for Buffy.

* Bodyguard/killer guy says to Ampata "You are the chosen one. You must die."

* Ampata says to Buffy: "You are always thinking of others before yourself. You remind me of someone from very long ago: the Inca Princess." Also: "They told her that she was the only one. That only she could defend her people from the nether world. Out of all the girls in her generation... ...she was the only one... " And Buffy finishes up with ". . . chosen".

* Ampata talks about the Princess some more and says: "She was sixteen, like us. She was offered as a sacrifice and went to her death. Who knows what she had to give up to fulfill her duty to others?"

* Ampata almost discovers Buffy's hidden slayer stuff like Buffy almost finds (and then does find) Ampata's hidden sucked dry body husk thing.

* Buffy comparing Ampata's behavior with hers after she heard about the prophesy that the Master would kill her.

* Etc. etc. etc.

I mean, this isn't even subtext here people. This is text. Right in front of my blinkin' nose. Have I just never watched this ep and paid attention? Have I just been, I don't know, unconscious or asleep or just deeply dim?

Oh well.

Other random things:

The early stuff in the museum is the least good part. It's all kinda fakey how they're able to touch stuff without someone coming over and smacking them and the mummy holding onto the seal is done very cheesy and not good effects. But the rest of the ep is pretty good, better than I had thought. The Ampata and Xander story is really rather touching.

Oh, that moment when Willow walks in as Xander is explaining that "she's the kind of girl I'm best friends with". Ow. And of course I totally thought of the scene with Spike in The Initiative when she's talking about how she's "not the kind of girl".

Great lines:
Xander: Hey, maybe he awakened the mummy! (snicker)
Willow: Right, and it rose from its tomb! (ha ha!)
Buffy: And attacked him! (giggle giggle, um . . . oops)

Nice comparison between Xander "instant stunned love gaze" when he sees Ampata and Oz's "instant stunned love gaze" when he sees Willow. Plus, Oz sees Willow just as Ampata and Xander seem to be about to have their first kiss.

Plus, we get those very first ever Oz moments. **sigh** Love Oz, just love him.

So why does Ampata actually sort of translate some of the seal? Why not just play totally dumb? Just 'cuz she was surprised and reacted to seeing it and needed to cover for that? Because she thought it might be useful later to have been helpful so she could guide them toward destroying it? Because she actually was trying to be kind of good and helpful?

Oh my, Xander and the Twinkies. That scene is just . . . gah . . . . In a good way. Very much in a good way. Really all the scenes with him and Ampata are kind of sweet and "real" feeling. In the little alcove at the Bronze, when they're talking and kissing and she doesn't want to drain him and stops herself. Or at the end, when he offers himself instead of Willow. **sigh** Love Xander, just love him.

Buffy and Willow talking about Xander and Ampata. (Willow playing with a little stuffed animal frog and I kept thinking "eep! frog fear!" LOL)
Buffy: Ampata's only staying two weeks.
Willow: Yeah. And then Xander can find someone else who's not me to obsess about. At least with you I knew he didn't have a shot. Well, you know, I have a choice. I can spend my life waiting for Xander to go out with every other girl in the world until he notices me, or I can just get on with my life.
Buffy: Good for you.
Willow: Well, I didn't choose yet.
Such perfect writing. So many others would have gone for the classic "I'm suddenly all empowered and in control" bit and stopped it after Buffy says "good for you". This is so much more real. All mixed up good and bad and happy and sad.

Xander saying, "you're not a preying mantis, are you?". Oh my. Poor Xander. 'Cuz, she kinda is.

Willow in the Eskimo outfit. Just. So. Perfect. With the harpoon and everything. That's our Willow. Of course Oz fell for her right then.

Dingoes Ate My Baby playing and Devon singing the lines "we'll be born again" right as Ampata and Xander enter the Bronze. Ampata, who's been "born again" into the life she was cheated out of. Nice touch.

Lola

Like I said. A lot better ep than I had thought.

Same observation here! I always wondered if Ampata was a slayer, and the sacrifice was the Incan way of using her to defeat the demons. The days before an organized watchers council, perhaps, or before the wonders of modern transportation. I thought I was alone in this.

[jeff]

The beginning of this episode you really see Xander's feelings for Buffy are still there. How he is not happy about a guy staying with Buffy. He still throw's his feelings out in the open. Although they are more protective of Buffy feelings not pining over Buffy feelings, they are still there. I also noticed the way Buffy just sort of let the comments slide, without saying something along the lines of "Xander, are we still good with the whole friends only thing." She could have anytime took his remarks as an I am still pining over you and this just being friends thing is not going to be an easy thing for me. I always thought this was an interesting way to proceed with the 2 of them. Not good or bad just interesting. They could have played off the turmoil of Xander's feelings for Buffy and being shot down more, But they didn't. She just takes the comments in stride and continues to be friends and this was before Ampata showed up.

Then Xander jumps his feelings for Buffy over to her. Other than the fact he finds her gorgeous, I believe most of the reason he did is so he would not continue pining over Buffy, or at least have a break from pining over Buffy.

[jeff]

The first time we get to see Oz! Oz is by far one of my favorite characters. He is not a jock, he is not a nerd, he is not a geek, he does not hang out with the cool click. He is just OZ!
His Oz speak. His love for Willow, his dealing with his little full moon problem. Just one of my favorite characters in the Jossverse.

[jeff]

The scene where he notice Willow for the first time, it is so perfect of a scene. It was like he saw straight through to what was inside of her. Not just a girl dressed as an eskimo but what she was. I think he saw himself in her. Two kindred spirits.

[jeff]

And so the woes of Xanders luck with the ladies continue. A theme to come throughout the show. In this sense I always felt really bad for Xander. Even when he found someone great for him in Anya (another of my favorite characters ever). It did not work out for him. I so wish he would have found happiness in a partner. And I know he did for a while with Anya, but I do find it curious the comparisons between Buffy's love life and Xanders. No matter what happnes neither can be happy in a relationsip for long.

[jeff]

Xander's "you want life, then your going to have to take mine." speech to Ampata just gave me a small flash foward too his larger speech with Willow in season 6. "You want to destroy the world start with me, I have earned it."

[jeff]

Ok, the final 30 seconds of this episode. With Buffy and Xander walking through school talking , when Buffy says this:

Buffy: I remember when I found out about the prophecy that I was going to die, I wasn't exactly obsessed with doing the right thing."

Xander: "But you did, you gave up your life."

Buffy: "I had you to bring me back."

right there I noticed the look between the two of them. In that instant Buffy loves Xander. It only lasts for about 3 seconds, then they look away from each other and smile and walk away.

That instant I am convinced she loved him. I think it turned into a big brother, I know he will always be there for me love. But to me she gave him a look of love there. I think if he, in that moment, would have leaned over and kissed her, they could have been more than friends. Of course this is all IMO.

But go back and watch the last 30 seconds and see the look she gave him and tell me what you think.

[Spaced Out Looney]

jeff said:

Ok, the final 30 seconds of this episode. With Buffy and Xander walking through school talking , when Buffy says this:

Buffy: I remember when I found out about the prophecy that I was going to die, I wasn't exactly obsessed with doing the right thing."

Xander: "But you did, you gave up your life."

Buffy: "I had you to bring me back."

right there I noticed the look between the two of them. In that instant Buffy loves Xander. It only lasts for about 3 seconds, then they look away from each other and smile and walk away.

That instant I am convinced she loved him. I think it turned into a big brother, I know he will always be there for me love. But to me she gave him a look of love there. I think if he, in that moment, would have leaned over and kissed her, they could have been more than friends. Of course this is all IMO.

But go back and watch the last 30 seconds and see the look she gave him and tell me what you think.

Sorry, I don't see it. That moment seems more like gratitude than romantic love. To me, Buffy's complete indifference to Xander's feelings for her (as you talk about in one of your posts above) indicates to me that she has no feelings for him whatsoever.

[jeff]

ehills said:

jeff said:

Ok, the final 30 seconds of this episode. With Buffy and Xander walking through school talking , when Buffy says this:

Buffy: I remember when I found out about the prophecy that I was going to die, I wasn't exactly obsessed with doing the right thing."

Xander: "But you did, you gave up your life."

Buffy: "I had you to bring me back."

right there I noticed the look between the two of them. In that instant Buffy loves Xander. It only lasts for about 3 seconds, then they look away from each other and smile and walk away.

That instant I am convinced she loved him. I think it turned into a big brother, I know he will always be there for me love. But to me she gave him a look of love there. I think if he, in that moment, would have leaned over and kissed her, they could have been more than friends. Of course this is all IMO.

But go back and watch the last 30 seconds and see the look she gave him and tell me what you think.

Sorry, I don't see it. That moment seems more like gratitude than romantic love. To me, Buffy's complete indifference to Xander's feelings for her (as you talk about in one of your posts above) indicates to me that she has no feelings for him whatsoever.

it could be that I was reading too much into it. Maybe it was just a look of gratitude, but when she looked at him, and with the hesitation, it seemed to be there. Now when she looked away she sort of smiled and rolled her eyes a little, kinda like she was shaking the thought from her head. IMO