Becoming, Part 2 Discussion

[William the Bloody]

Let the discussion begin!

[Spaced Out Looney]

Spike knows exactly how to get past Buffy’s initial reluctance to listen: "He’s got your Watcher. Right now, he’s probably torturing him."
Buffy has Spike’s number immediately: "You want my help because your girlfriend’s a big ‘ho’?" They literally pull no punches.
All Buffy has to do is clear her throat, and Spike realizes he shouldn’t kill the cop if he wants Buffy’s help. Later, all she has to do is look at him, and he understands that Kendra’s death was not a good thing "from her perspective."
Spike catches on instantly to what is happening between Buffy and Joyce ("What? Your mother doesn’t know?"), and they lie to Joyce in tandem.
Though they have never fought as a team before, they confront and dispatch Angel’s vampire lackey like a well-oiled machine. Wham, bam - I’ll be damned. They’ve got rhythm.
In a style we’ll see repeated, they quickly negotiate the terms of their agreement, reaching simultaneous satisfaction in no time flat. No need for any fancy pre-show, they just smack each other around a few times, and then get right down to the nuts and bolts.

The Spike-Buffy meeting in this episode plays much like a first date, they're both suspicious but also trusting. Then there’s the awkward unexpected meeting with mother.

With Giles off being tortured, Spike also acts in a Watcher capacity. He, not Giles, is present when Buffy reveals her Slayerness to her mom. Buffy mentions to Willow that she wishes Giles was able to tell her what to do, then she talks to Spike who suggests a plan of attack. Also, Spike saved Giles’s life and I wonder if Giles was ever aware of that.

Incidentally, in the living room scene, Joyce is wearing Spikes colors, red shirt and black cardigan. Not clear if that’s intentional, but now that I’ve noticed it, it’s very striking.

And though Spike makes off with Dru, it’s the beginning of the end of their 100+ year relationship. It is simply too late in the day.

The look Dru gives Spike when he beats up Angel is very telling. You can just tell their relationship is over for good. However, as Spike drives away, the way he hugs her really reminds me of the caricature of the caveman clubbing the cavegirl and dragging her off to his cave. Hence, his constant ranting in Lover’s Walk, “I'm going to get what's mine! She belongs with me!”


Final Note: It occurs to me that forming the temporary alliance with Buffy is the first time in a long time he's really had to think for himself rather than doing what Dru wants. With Dru as his mother/authority figure, his story draws a parallel with the human characters' conflicts with authority figures in the trials of growing up.

[SpringSummers]

Spaced said:

The Spike-Buffy meeting in this episode plays much like a first date, they're both suspicious but also trusting. Then there’s the awkward unexpected meeting with mother.

Oh! I love this observation. And you know, when they actually do have their first "date" in Crush, Buffy is giving him the exact same "suspicious" eye in the car.

With Giles off being tortured, Spike also acts in a Watcher capacity. He, not Giles, is present when Buffy reveals her Slayerness to her mom. Buffy mentions to Willow that she wishes Giles was able to tell her what to do, then she talks to Spike who suggests a plan of attack. Also, Spike saved Giles’s life and I wonder if Giles was ever aware of that.

I've always thought it was no coincidence that Mom gets introduced to Buffy's "dark side," her Slayer-half, only seconds after she meets Spike.

Incidentally, in the living room scene, Joyce is wearing Spikes colors, red shirt and black cardigan. Not clear if that’s intentional, but now that I’ve noticed it, it’s very striking.

The look Dru gives Spike when he beats up Angel is very telling. You can just tell their relationship is over for good. However, as Spike drives away, the way he hugs her really reminds me of the caricature of the caveman clubbing the cavegirl and dragging her off to his cave. Hence, his constant ranting in Lover’s Walk, “I'm going to get what's mine! She belongs with me!”

Final Note: It occurs to me that forming the temporary alliance with Buffy is the first time in a long time he's really had to think for himself rather than doing what Dru wants. With Dru as his mother/authority figure, his story draws a parallel with the human characters' conflicts with authority figures in the trials of growing up.

Agreed on all points, and thanks for the Joyce's colors observation. I had never noticed. That kind of thing in costuming is usually deliberate (I think, from my extremely limited college-drama experience). If so, maybe it speaks to that "watcher" aspect of Spike's role here.

[otherpaul]

I don't disagree with Spring that David's expression adds little to our appreciation of the episode, but to me he looks simply stunned; actually a fairly apt reaction to what's happening. I have watched this sequence many times, starting with Willow's spell and Buffy's entrance, and what holds my eye is the changing expression on SMG's face, which transparently shows me what is going on within Buffy: shock and pain, ending with "I have lost everything"! Hooray for Sarah!

otherpaul

[Onjel]

Welcome to the S³ otherpaul! If you've a mind, we have a general discussion board on the main thread, a political discussion thread where we talk about controversial subjects of the day, and of course, there are tons of other shows we gab about throughout the site. We love fresh blood new members here. ;D

[SpringSummers]

Jun 8, 2010 17:12:16 GMT -5 otherpaul said:

I don't disagree with Spring that David's expression adds little to our appreciation of the episode, but to me he looks simply stunned; actually a fairly apt reaction to what's happening. I have watched this sequence many times, starting with Willow's spell and Buffy's entrance, and what holds my eye is the changing expression on SMG's face, which transparently shows me what is going on within Buffy: shock and pain, ending with "I have lost everything"! Hooray for Sarah!

otherpaul

SMG does a fantastic job, all the way through the series. Yes, hooray!

Please feel free to comment on any and all of the analyses. I love hearing people's thoughts and viewpoints on the eps.

[myhathasacow]

I do like Spring Summers' reviews - always smart and insightful.

I watched this episode again today and noticed this moment:

Angelus: No weapons, no friends, no hope. Take all that away, and what's left?
Buffy: Me.

And she stops his sword with her eyes closed.

When Liam/Angel closes his eyes in the "Becoming" episodes, it's at the request of a beautiful blonde woman, and he gets bitten/stabbed and sired/sent to hell. When Buffy does so, it's her own idea, and even with her eyes closed she can still protect herself. Interesting.

Loved the analysis of all the Spike/Buffy dialogue as well. It does make me wonder how far in advance Joss/the writers planned the major arcs. I mean, from what I understand, "The Gift" was originally intended to be the Series Finale, so nothing after that would have been envisioned when this episode was written. But still: "I hate you" "And I'm all you've got" = Buffy/Spike in Season Six!

[SpringSummers]

Jun 13, 2010 16:59:32 GMT -5 myhathasacow said:

I do like Spring Summers' reviews - always smart and insightful.

Thanks, and thanks for taking the time to comment.

I watched this episode again today and noticed this moment:

Angelus: No weapons, no friends, no hope. Take all that away, and what's left?
Buffy: Me.

And she stops his sword with her eyes closed.

When Liam/Angel closes his eyes in the "Becoming" episodes, it's at the request of a beautiful blonde woman, and he gets bitten/stabbed and sired/sent to hell. When Buffy does so, it's her own idea, and even with her eyes closed she can still protect herself. Interesting.

That is interesting . . . had never noticed this. Seems to be about the difference between relinquishing and taking control.

Loved the analysis of all the Spike/Buffy dialogue as well. It does make me wonder how far in advance Joss/the writers planned the major arcs. I mean, from what I understand, "The Gift" was originally intended to be the Series Finale, so nothing after that would have been envisioned when this episode was written.

It's not my understanding that The Gift was definitely The Series Finale so much as "able to serve as Series Finale if called upon to do so."

I think, from the beginning, Joss had hopes of taking Buffy through her full journey - confronting her darkness and coming out the other side. But he knew he might not get the opportunity.

So I do think that "Buffy eventually dancing with and coming to terms with her darkside" was part of the plan, even when this was written - and Spike represents that dark side.

Now, I don't think Joss had the details planned out - at this point, he probably didn't specifically envision Spike himself returning as the dark character who lures Buffy into, and leads her out of, the darkness - but still, I do think that Spike represents that dark character here.

It turned out that the Buffy-Spike chemistry was good, and Marsters was available, and the show didn't get cancelled until S7 . . . so they had some continuity there. S2 Spike didn't just represent the dark character who would eventually seduce the Slayer into the dark, he WAS that character.

But me? I think that yes, the "Buffy's dalliance in the dark" was always part of Joss's plan, if he could make it that far.

But still: "I hate you" "And I'm all you've got" = Buffy/Spike in Season Six!

Yes, great continuity.

Thanks again for commenting - feel free to comment on any of the reviews, or join us for the general gabfest on the main thread.