"Hush" (4x10) quick link here "A New Man" (4x12) quick link here
Three quick notes before we get started...
1) This review will almost definitely contain spoilers for episodes after this one.
1) This review will almost definitely contain spoilers for episodes after this one.
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With that being said, let’s get started, shall we?
“Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
How can you move on from the past if it keeps returning? Will you make the same mistakes time and time again or will you learn from them? Are you ever truly free of your past? “Doomed” is an exploration of all of these questions. Sunnydale High returns to “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” after being gone for a grand total of eleven episodes, the Hellmouth is back, and there’s yet another apocalypse. Yep, another apocalypse. So many apocalypses!...what’s the plural of apocalypse? Apocalypses? Apocalypsi? Apocalot? Al Pacino? I digress...
“Doomed” does a very good job of exploring Buffy, Xander and Willow’s previous problems and insecurities from when they were at Sunnydale High. Buffy is afraid of entering into a relationship with Riley because she’s now aware that Riley isn’t ‘normal’ and she doesn’t want another relationship with someone who isn’t a regular guy after the heartbreak she suffered with Angel. Since starting college, Willow has worked very hard to create a new identity for herself. At Sunnydale High, Willow was considered a ‘nerd’, she had very few friends, she was bullied, and she was miserable a lot of the time. In college, Willow dresses differently, acts more confidently, has joined a Wicca group, and finally seems comfortable in her own skin. Then Percy comes along, calls Willow an ‘egghead’ and a ‘nerd’, and brings all these insecurities back to the forefront. Xander has always been fearful of his usefulness to the Scoobies. A great deal of the time he feels like he’s unable to contribute a great deal. Giles has all the knowledge, Buffy is a superhero, and Willow can help with technology and magic. What does Xander have? While this is explored in a terrific way in season three’s “The Zeppo”, Spike picks apart these old scabs and exposes Xander to the ugly truth again that Xander is the only powerless Scooby. All of this is handled well. What isn’t handled so well is the apocalypse itself. I’ve noticed a pattern for the first half of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” season four. Most episodes (not all!) do a great job with character development and ticking those emotional boxes, but they leave a lot to be desired with the ‘story-of-the-week’. Taking “Doomed” as an example, why waste an apocalypse on such a subpar plot? It feels like the apocalypse was created as nothing more than a reason to return to Sunnydale High and the Hellmouth, rather than because the story fit together naturally. All it takes to end the world now is some bones, a bit of blood, and falling into a hole? If that was the case, the world would have ended every time I walked home from the pub in my teens.
I’m going to look at this episode in three sections...
1) Buffy & Riley
2) Spike, Willow & Xander
3) The Apocalypse
Buffy & Riley
“Doomed” opens right where “Hush” left off, with Buffy and Riley sat in Buffy’s dorm room, trying to figure out what to say to each other now that they know what each other are. I was pleasantly surprised at the fact we were able to witness this scene, rather than it happening off-camera after the closing credits for “Hush” rolled. As I mentioned in my review of “Hush”, I adore the idea that as soon as these two people are able to verbally communicate again, they stop being able to communicate at all. The uncomfortableness of the awkward silence is broken by Riley’s demand of “what are you?” That’s gonna win her over, Riley. I think it’s totally realistic that a government body would exist that knows about vampires and demons. I think it’s totally realistic that they would wish to capture and experiment on these creatures. However, I cannot buy into the fact that an establishment as large and advanced as The Initiative wouldn’t know about the existence of the Slayer. They thought the Slayer was a myth. For an operation that specialises in research, they should have done their research on the Slayer.
During this conversation, it’s obvious that Buffy is still unwilling to be defined by her Slayerness. Buffy isn’t just the Slayer, she’s a person. Being a Vampire Slayer is just one of Buffy’s identity traits. So, as someone that knows what it’s like to be categorised, why does Buffy refuse to date Riley just because he’s a commando? Sure, she doesn’t want to date someone else who isn’t a regular guy after the trauma she suffered with Angel, but Riley isn’t Angel! Riley isn’t a vampire, he isn’t cursed, he can walk in the daylight, and he has a very different background and personality. I am totally empathetic to Buffy’s plight in this episode, but she can’t have it both ways! She can’t take offence at being labelled as the Slayer and nothing else, yet do the exact same thing to Riley moments later. Luckily, this awkward conversation is interrupted by an earthquake. Riley is far too excited about the earthquake. Give that man a sedative, stat! Buffy, on the other hand, is terrified after the earthquake. The last time Buffy was subjected to an earthquake, she died soon after at the hands of The Master. Due to this, Buffy goes into panic mode. She’s sure that something bad is about to happen. Giles tries to reassure Buffy that it’s nothing but moving land mass, but Buffy remains unconvinced.
While I feel that Buffy is a little hypocritical in her conversations with Riley in this episode, WHO CAN BLAME HER?! The last time Buffy dated someone that was more than a ‘normal’ human, he turned evil, killed her friend, made her life Hell, then she sent him to Hell...literally. THIS WAS ALL BEFORE HE REGAINED HIS SOUL, BROKE UP WITH HER, AND DISAPPEARED FROM SUNNYDALE IN A HAZE OF SMOKE FROM THE RUINS OF SUNNYDALE HIGH. In Buffy’s eyes, she’s tried it. She tried to date someone else with a tendency to hunt the supernatural forces and it failed. Big time. Buffy is still trying to completely get over the loss of her relationship with Angel and she’s not willing to take a risk with Riley. The conversation where Riley is trying to convince Buffy to be with him is fantastic because I can completely empathise and agree with both sides of the argument. There is so much to dissect and obsess over in that scene! To Riley, hunting vampires and demons is something he enjoys. He takes pride in it, he’s excited by it, and he finds it fun. The last person we saw that enjoyed hunting supernatural beings was Faith, who turned evil and currently vegetates in a coma. To Buffy, being the Slayer is a job. It’s not fun for her! She can’t escape it. Riley made a choice to join The Initiative, whereas Buffy was forced into it. Riley chose this life, Buffy didn’t. Buffy wants nothing more than to be normal. She’s dealing with the same struggles that she has done since day one of arriving in Sunnydale. Buffy was right, Riley does not and cannot understand how hard it’s been for Buffy over the past four years. Buffy’s entire life has been interrupted and in some ways ruined by being the Slayer. She has to constantly hide who she is, she’s never allowed to reveal herself as the Slayer, it’s almost impossible for her to date or go out and have a fun night, and she holds the weight of the world on her shoulders. But surely that means Buffy has no chance of a happy relationship with someone who isn’t a monster hunter? She can’t have a successful relationship with a human civilian as she’d constantly have to lie to them.
So is Buffy doomed to be alone forever? I think that Riley is correct in his assessment that Buffy wants to stay “in the dark place” because it’s safer that way. If you open your heart to someone, you run the risk that they’ll break it. If you keep your heart closed off to the world, it can never be broken...but nor can it ever be truly happy. Love and heartbreak go hand-in-hand. If you love someone and they leave, betray you, or die, it hurts. If you have no friends or relationships, you’ll never get hurt, but you’ll be empty inside. IT’S LIKE ANGEL’S SPEECH IN “PASSION”! Without passion, we’d be truly dead. After much thinking, Buffy finally decides to give things a chance with Riley. By the end of this episode, they share their second kiss and walk happily into the sunset. However, I’ve always felt that Buffy made a compromise with herself in this episode. She never truly opens herself up to Riley and leaves herself vulnerable. She holds him at arm’s length. It’s like she decided that she’s willing to try a relationship with Riley, but she won’t run the risk of getting hurt again to the extent that she did with Angel. The same thing happens with Spike in seasons six and seven. Buffy never truly opens her heart to someone after her relationship with Angel falls apart. This is one of the primary reasons why Riley leaves her in the next season.
Spike, Willow & Xander
I’m not sure if this is a popular opinion, but I feel like this might be Spike’s funniest episode. He’s ridiculously funny in “Lovers Walk”, “Pangs”, “Something Blue”, and many others, but there’s something about depressed, suicidal Spike that I find so funny I could die. It’s a testament to the strength of the writing and James’ acting ability that they’re able to take this generally upsetting plot device of attempted suicide and make it absolutely hilarious. After having a chip put in his head so that he can no longer feed on humans, Spike has lost all semblance of his identity. He’s an artist whose hands have been amputated. What does he do now? Where does he belong now? Before those questions can be answered, we witness Spike fall further and further into depression and directionlessness...
Spike: “Don’t turn around. Don’t look at me.”
*Xander turns around and Spike is stood there wearing a Hawaiian shirt and three-quarter length cream-coloured shorts*
Talk about a fall from grace. I laughed for at least two minutes when I first saw Spike standing there wearing those clothes. I’m talking rolling on the floor with stomach pains laughing. The type of laughing that you can’t stop. Remember when Spike used to be a ‘Big Bad’? Remember when he crashed into the ‘Welcome To Sunnydale’ sign, stepped out of the black car in vampire face, and declared “home, sweet home”? Two years in Sunnydale has left Spike in a brightly coloured shirt, living in Xander’s basement, and unable to feed on humans. OUCH. Xander tells Spike that he’s useless and not even worth beating up. Cheap shot and harsh? Yep. Xander’s words are the final trigger that prompts Spike to try to commit suicide. How does he try this, you ask? Does he stake himself in the heart like Darla does in “Angel” season three? Nope. Does he point a crossbow at his heart and pull the trigger? Nope. Spike tries to kill himself in the most ridiculous, absurd, amusing way possible, which I can only assume is because deep down he didn’t really want to kill himself. How did he try to do it, you ask? He propped a stake up against a table and tried to jump onto it heart-first. For those of you keeping score, that would be the second time I laughed hysterically. Spike is genuinely embarrassed that Willow and Xander walked in on him trying to kill himself. His face makes it look like they disturbed him masturbating. All Xander cares about is the fact that Spike was about to dust himself while wearing Xander’s gorgeously disgusting shirt and because Spike didn’t ask Xander to stake him.
Spike: “Am I even remotely scary anymore? Tell me the truth. *Spike lunges at Willow*”
Hysterical laughing moment number three.
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Xander: “Think of the happy. If we don’t find what we’re looking for, we’re facing an apocalypse.”
Spike: “Really?! You’re not just saying that?!”
Hysterical laughing moment number four.
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“Doomed” contains a cameo appearance from Percy at UCSD. I’ve got to admit, I didn’t miss him at all and barely remembered he existed. I would much rather that Devon had come back for this cameo. Willow knows Devon better, Devon has a connection to Oz, and Devon’s a much more interesting character. I doubt that Devon would call Willow a ‘nerd’ though, so I suppose it had to be douchey Percy. He wouldn’t have even graduated from Sunnydale High if it wasn’t for Willow tutoring him! Also, what’s wrong with being called a ‘nerd’ anyway? Nerds are cool! Percy’s comments make Willow regress temporarily back to the person that she was during Sunnydale High. Throughout season four, Willow has been growing as a person. She’s spent a lot of time trying to create a more positive identity for herself now that she’s in a new environment. Overhearing Percy call her a ‘nerd’ and an ‘egghead’ makes Willow question if she’ll ever truly be free of her insecurities and old life. This is explored much more deeply in the season finale, “Restless”, during Willow’s section of the dream sequence. I like to think that Willow questioning who she is here is part of the catalyst for her having the strength to enter a relationship with Tara in just a few episodes time.
The theme of season four of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” is ‘identity’. After leaving the familiar comfort of Sunnydale High, can the Scoobies survive and thrive together in a new setting? They certainly struggle throughout this season. While Willow seems to thrive in a new environment where she can be whoever she wants to be, both Xander and Giles are having a difficult time adjusting to their new lives. Xander is bouncing around from job to job, desperately trying to get some attention from his friends. Giles is completely directionless and questioning whether he belongs in Sunnydale at all after the explosive conclusion to the last season. In typical Spike fashion, he uses Xander and Willow’s insecurities against them. Like Angelus, what makes Spike such an interesting character in this regard is that everything he’s saying is true to a certain extent. Spike’s just enhancing it for dramatic effect. He does this again on a much grander scale later this season in “The Yoko Factor”. Spike has realised that even though he can’t physically hurt people anymore, he can still get his rocks off by emotionally hurting people. He throws in Willow and Xander’s faces that they’re both the same high school losers they always were and that Buffy is just too soft to cut them loose. Double ouch. You can see how this all ties together with the Scoobies having to return to Sunnydale High. If it wasn’t for the stupid demons and stupid apocalypse plot devices, this episode would tie together rather nicely.
During the battle of Sunnydale High, Spike realises that HE CAN HURT DEMONS! It deserves capital lettering AND italics to emphasise just how important this is for Spike’s character development for the rest of his time in the Buffyverse. Suddenly, Spike has a purpose again, he has a reason to live again, he can channel all this bloodlust and aggression into hurting vampires and demons...then Spike “accidentally” throws one of the demons down into the Hellmouth and I’m starting to question if he did this because he secretly wanted to kill himself by ending the world. What about dog racing, Spike?! What about Manchester United, Spike?!
This episode ends on a very positive note for Spike. He’s reinvigorated, he’s feeling motivated again, and he’s back in black!...
Spike: “What’s this? Watching the telly when there’s evil still afoot. It’s not very industrious of you. I say we go out there and kick a little demon ass. What? Can’t go without your Buffy, is that it? Too chicken? Let’s find her! She is the Chosen One after all. Come on! Vampires! Grrrr, nasty! Let’s annihilate them. For justice and for the safety of puppies, and Christmas, right? Let’s fight that evil! Let’s kill something!...Oh, come on!”
Best. Ending. Ever. It’s just like “Lovers Walk”! Spike makes everyone else feel miserable and pouty, but in the process feels better about himself. Well, as long as you’re feeling better, eh, Spike?!
The Apocalypse
Giles: “It’s the end of the world.”
Buffy/Xander/Willow: “Again?!”
Yep, it’s apocalypse time again, kiddies! For those of you keeping score, this is the fourth apocalypse in three and a half years. The first of which was the Hellmouth opening in “Prophecy Girl”, the second was Acathla waking up in “Becoming Part Two”, and the third was the ridiculous background apocalypse in “The Zeppo”. I don’t consider The Mayor’s ascension to be an apocalypse, just a lot of mayhem.
Basically, some demons steal the bones of a child, some blood, and the Word of Valios in order to dive down into the Hellmouth and end the world. Why? Who the hell knows! In order to stop the demons, the Scoobies need to go back to the Hellmouth, located in the old library of Sunnydale High. I’ve missed the high school so much this season! The show just isn’t the same without it! It would be like “Friends” without Central Perk! “Supernatural” without the Ampala! “Breaking Bad” without meth! “Dexter” without...a table covered in plastic wrap! Going back to Sunnydale High gets a patented celebratory arm-flail \O/. However, the reasoning for it gets a patented grouchy arm-flail /O\
How did Buffy - after going into the Hellmouth at least 10 seconds after the demon – catch up to the demon during the freefall? Plus, the demon greatly outweighs her! The laws of gravity clearly do not apply at the Hellmouth...I’m willing to suspend my disbelief that vampires are real, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief that a Vampire Slayer exists, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief that Willow would be unpopular at school and not beloved by everyone she ever met ever, but damn it I cannot suspend my disbelief at this ridiculous science! Then, to further annoy me, the cable that Riley uses to bring Buffy back out of the Hellmouth is the thickness of a noodle. HOW DID IT HOLD THE WEIGHT OF BUFFY AND A DEMON? I swear, this episode defies all science!
Spike: “No, sir. I’m just an old pal of Xander’s here.”
Spike’s attempt at an American accent is dire. Amusingly, it’s still better than David Boreanaz’s “Irish” accent. How did Riley not recognise Spike as ‘Hostile 17’? He spent an entire episode hunting him! Worst commando ever!
Quote Of The Episode
Riley: “Buffy, I’m thrown by this. I’m confused. I can feel my skin humming, my hands...my every inch of me. I’ve never been this excited about anybody before. I’m not trying to scare you and I’m not going to force myself on you, but I am by God not going to walk away because I think it might not work. I don’t know what’s happened in your past...”
Buffy: “Pain. Death. Apocalypse. None of it fun. Do you know what a Hellmouth is? Do you have a fancy term for it? Because I went to High School on it. For three years! We do not have that much in common.”
Firstly, if Spike or Xander had given Riley’s speech above, it would get universal praise. Because Riley gave it, it is often forgotten about, which I think is a little unfair. Very memorable scene.
With that being said, let’s get started, shall we?
“Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
How can you move on from the past if it keeps returning? Will you make the same mistakes time and time again or will you learn from them? Are you ever truly free of your past? “Doomed” is an exploration of all of these questions. Sunnydale High returns to “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” after being gone for a grand total of eleven episodes, the Hellmouth is back, and there’s yet another apocalypse. Yep, another apocalypse. So many apocalypses!...what’s the plural of apocalypse? Apocalypses? Apocalypsi? Apocalot? Al Pacino? I digress...
“Doomed” does a very good job of exploring Buffy, Xander and Willow’s previous problems and insecurities from when they were at Sunnydale High. Buffy is afraid of entering into a relationship with Riley because she’s now aware that Riley isn’t ‘normal’ and she doesn’t want another relationship with someone who isn’t a regular guy after the heartbreak she suffered with Angel. Since starting college, Willow has worked very hard to create a new identity for herself. At Sunnydale High, Willow was considered a ‘nerd’, she had very few friends, she was bullied, and she was miserable a lot of the time. In college, Willow dresses differently, acts more confidently, has joined a Wicca group, and finally seems comfortable in her own skin. Then Percy comes along, calls Willow an ‘egghead’ and a ‘nerd’, and brings all these insecurities back to the forefront. Xander has always been fearful of his usefulness to the Scoobies. A great deal of the time he feels like he’s unable to contribute a great deal. Giles has all the knowledge, Buffy is a superhero, and Willow can help with technology and magic. What does Xander have? While this is explored in a terrific way in season three’s “The Zeppo”, Spike picks apart these old scabs and exposes Xander to the ugly truth again that Xander is the only powerless Scooby. All of this is handled well. What isn’t handled so well is the apocalypse itself. I’ve noticed a pattern for the first half of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” season four. Most episodes (not all!) do a great job with character development and ticking those emotional boxes, but they leave a lot to be desired with the ‘story-of-the-week’. Taking “Doomed” as an example, why waste an apocalypse on such a subpar plot? It feels like the apocalypse was created as nothing more than a reason to return to Sunnydale High and the Hellmouth, rather than because the story fit together naturally. All it takes to end the world now is some bones, a bit of blood, and falling into a hole? If that was the case, the world would have ended every time I walked home from the pub in my teens.
I’m going to look at this episode in three sections...
1) Buffy & Riley
2) Spike, Willow & Xander
3) The Apocalypse
Buffy & Riley
“Doomed” opens right where “Hush” left off, with Buffy and Riley sat in Buffy’s dorm room, trying to figure out what to say to each other now that they know what each other are. I was pleasantly surprised at the fact we were able to witness this scene, rather than it happening off-camera after the closing credits for “Hush” rolled. As I mentioned in my review of “Hush”, I adore the idea that as soon as these two people are able to verbally communicate again, they stop being able to communicate at all. The uncomfortableness of the awkward silence is broken by Riley’s demand of “what are you?” That’s gonna win her over, Riley. I think it’s totally realistic that a government body would exist that knows about vampires and demons. I think it’s totally realistic that they would wish to capture and experiment on these creatures. However, I cannot buy into the fact that an establishment as large and advanced as The Initiative wouldn’t know about the existence of the Slayer. They thought the Slayer was a myth. For an operation that specialises in research, they should have done their research on the Slayer.
During this conversation, it’s obvious that Buffy is still unwilling to be defined by her Slayerness. Buffy isn’t just the Slayer, she’s a person. Being a Vampire Slayer is just one of Buffy’s identity traits. So, as someone that knows what it’s like to be categorised, why does Buffy refuse to date Riley just because he’s a commando? Sure, she doesn’t want to date someone else who isn’t a regular guy after the trauma she suffered with Angel, but Riley isn’t Angel! Riley isn’t a vampire, he isn’t cursed, he can walk in the daylight, and he has a very different background and personality. I am totally empathetic to Buffy’s plight in this episode, but she can’t have it both ways! She can’t take offence at being labelled as the Slayer and nothing else, yet do the exact same thing to Riley moments later. Luckily, this awkward conversation is interrupted by an earthquake. Riley is far too excited about the earthquake. Give that man a sedative, stat! Buffy, on the other hand, is terrified after the earthquake. The last time Buffy was subjected to an earthquake, she died soon after at the hands of The Master. Due to this, Buffy goes into panic mode. She’s sure that something bad is about to happen. Giles tries to reassure Buffy that it’s nothing but moving land mass, but Buffy remains unconvinced.
While I feel that Buffy is a little hypocritical in her conversations with Riley in this episode, WHO CAN BLAME HER?! The last time Buffy dated someone that was more than a ‘normal’ human, he turned evil, killed her friend, made her life Hell, then she sent him to Hell...literally. THIS WAS ALL BEFORE HE REGAINED HIS SOUL, BROKE UP WITH HER, AND DISAPPEARED FROM SUNNYDALE IN A HAZE OF SMOKE FROM THE RUINS OF SUNNYDALE HIGH. In Buffy’s eyes, she’s tried it. She tried to date someone else with a tendency to hunt the supernatural forces and it failed. Big time. Buffy is still trying to completely get over the loss of her relationship with Angel and she’s not willing to take a risk with Riley. The conversation where Riley is trying to convince Buffy to be with him is fantastic because I can completely empathise and agree with both sides of the argument. There is so much to dissect and obsess over in that scene! To Riley, hunting vampires and demons is something he enjoys. He takes pride in it, he’s excited by it, and he finds it fun. The last person we saw that enjoyed hunting supernatural beings was Faith, who turned evil and currently vegetates in a coma. To Buffy, being the Slayer is a job. It’s not fun for her! She can’t escape it. Riley made a choice to join The Initiative, whereas Buffy was forced into it. Riley chose this life, Buffy didn’t. Buffy wants nothing more than to be normal. She’s dealing with the same struggles that she has done since day one of arriving in Sunnydale. Buffy was right, Riley does not and cannot understand how hard it’s been for Buffy over the past four years. Buffy’s entire life has been interrupted and in some ways ruined by being the Slayer. She has to constantly hide who she is, she’s never allowed to reveal herself as the Slayer, it’s almost impossible for her to date or go out and have a fun night, and she holds the weight of the world on her shoulders. But surely that means Buffy has no chance of a happy relationship with someone who isn’t a monster hunter? She can’t have a successful relationship with a human civilian as she’d constantly have to lie to them.
So is Buffy doomed to be alone forever? I think that Riley is correct in his assessment that Buffy wants to stay “in the dark place” because it’s safer that way. If you open your heart to someone, you run the risk that they’ll break it. If you keep your heart closed off to the world, it can never be broken...but nor can it ever be truly happy. Love and heartbreak go hand-in-hand. If you love someone and they leave, betray you, or die, it hurts. If you have no friends or relationships, you’ll never get hurt, but you’ll be empty inside. IT’S LIKE ANGEL’S SPEECH IN “PASSION”! Without passion, we’d be truly dead. After much thinking, Buffy finally decides to give things a chance with Riley. By the end of this episode, they share their second kiss and walk happily into the sunset. However, I’ve always felt that Buffy made a compromise with herself in this episode. She never truly opens herself up to Riley and leaves herself vulnerable. She holds him at arm’s length. It’s like she decided that she’s willing to try a relationship with Riley, but she won’t run the risk of getting hurt again to the extent that she did with Angel. The same thing happens with Spike in seasons six and seven. Buffy never truly opens her heart to someone after her relationship with Angel falls apart. This is one of the primary reasons why Riley leaves her in the next season.
Spike, Willow & Xander
I’m not sure if this is a popular opinion, but I feel like this might be Spike’s funniest episode. He’s ridiculously funny in “Lovers Walk”, “Pangs”, “Something Blue”, and many others, but there’s something about depressed, suicidal Spike that I find so funny I could die. It’s a testament to the strength of the writing and James’ acting ability that they’re able to take this generally upsetting plot device of attempted suicide and make it absolutely hilarious. After having a chip put in his head so that he can no longer feed on humans, Spike has lost all semblance of his identity. He’s an artist whose hands have been amputated. What does he do now? Where does he belong now? Before those questions can be answered, we witness Spike fall further and further into depression and directionlessness...
Spike: “Don’t turn around. Don’t look at me.”
*Xander turns around and Spike is stood there wearing a Hawaiian shirt and three-quarter length cream-coloured shorts*
Talk about a fall from grace. I laughed for at least two minutes when I first saw Spike standing there wearing those clothes. I’m talking rolling on the floor with stomach pains laughing. The type of laughing that you can’t stop. Remember when Spike used to be a ‘Big Bad’? Remember when he crashed into the ‘Welcome To Sunnydale’ sign, stepped out of the black car in vampire face, and declared “home, sweet home”? Two years in Sunnydale has left Spike in a brightly coloured shirt, living in Xander’s basement, and unable to feed on humans. OUCH. Xander tells Spike that he’s useless and not even worth beating up. Cheap shot and harsh? Yep. Xander’s words are the final trigger that prompts Spike to try to commit suicide. How does he try this, you ask? Does he stake himself in the heart like Darla does in “Angel” season three? Nope. Does he point a crossbow at his heart and pull the trigger? Nope. Spike tries to kill himself in the most ridiculous, absurd, amusing way possible, which I can only assume is because deep down he didn’t really want to kill himself. How did he try to do it, you ask? He propped a stake up against a table and tried to jump onto it heart-first. For those of you keeping score, that would be the second time I laughed hysterically. Spike is genuinely embarrassed that Willow and Xander walked in on him trying to kill himself. His face makes it look like they disturbed him masturbating. All Xander cares about is the fact that Spike was about to dust himself while wearing Xander’s gorgeously disgusting shirt and because Spike didn’t ask Xander to stake him.
Spike: “Am I even remotely scary anymore? Tell me the truth. *Spike lunges at Willow*”
Hysterical laughing moment number three.
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Xander: “Think of the happy. If we don’t find what we’re looking for, we’re facing an apocalypse.”
Spike: “Really?! You’re not just saying that?!”
Hysterical laughing moment number four.
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“Doomed” contains a cameo appearance from Percy at UCSD. I’ve got to admit, I didn’t miss him at all and barely remembered he existed. I would much rather that Devon had come back for this cameo. Willow knows Devon better, Devon has a connection to Oz, and Devon’s a much more interesting character. I doubt that Devon would call Willow a ‘nerd’ though, so I suppose it had to be douchey Percy. He wouldn’t have even graduated from Sunnydale High if it wasn’t for Willow tutoring him! Also, what’s wrong with being called a ‘nerd’ anyway? Nerds are cool! Percy’s comments make Willow regress temporarily back to the person that she was during Sunnydale High. Throughout season four, Willow has been growing as a person. She’s spent a lot of time trying to create a more positive identity for herself now that she’s in a new environment. Overhearing Percy call her a ‘nerd’ and an ‘egghead’ makes Willow question if she’ll ever truly be free of her insecurities and old life. This is explored much more deeply in the season finale, “Restless”, during Willow’s section of the dream sequence. I like to think that Willow questioning who she is here is part of the catalyst for her having the strength to enter a relationship with Tara in just a few episodes time.
The theme of season four of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” is ‘identity’. After leaving the familiar comfort of Sunnydale High, can the Scoobies survive and thrive together in a new setting? They certainly struggle throughout this season. While Willow seems to thrive in a new environment where she can be whoever she wants to be, both Xander and Giles are having a difficult time adjusting to their new lives. Xander is bouncing around from job to job, desperately trying to get some attention from his friends. Giles is completely directionless and questioning whether he belongs in Sunnydale at all after the explosive conclusion to the last season. In typical Spike fashion, he uses Xander and Willow’s insecurities against them. Like Angelus, what makes Spike such an interesting character in this regard is that everything he’s saying is true to a certain extent. Spike’s just enhancing it for dramatic effect. He does this again on a much grander scale later this season in “The Yoko Factor”. Spike has realised that even though he can’t physically hurt people anymore, he can still get his rocks off by emotionally hurting people. He throws in Willow and Xander’s faces that they’re both the same high school losers they always were and that Buffy is just too soft to cut them loose. Double ouch. You can see how this all ties together with the Scoobies having to return to Sunnydale High. If it wasn’t for the stupid demons and stupid apocalypse plot devices, this episode would tie together rather nicely.
During the battle of Sunnydale High, Spike realises that HE CAN HURT DEMONS! It deserves capital lettering AND italics to emphasise just how important this is for Spike’s character development for the rest of his time in the Buffyverse. Suddenly, Spike has a purpose again, he has a reason to live again, he can channel all this bloodlust and aggression into hurting vampires and demons...then Spike “accidentally” throws one of the demons down into the Hellmouth and I’m starting to question if he did this because he secretly wanted to kill himself by ending the world. What about dog racing, Spike?! What about Manchester United, Spike?!
This episode ends on a very positive note for Spike. He’s reinvigorated, he’s feeling motivated again, and he’s back in black!...
Spike: “What’s this? Watching the telly when there’s evil still afoot. It’s not very industrious of you. I say we go out there and kick a little demon ass. What? Can’t go without your Buffy, is that it? Too chicken? Let’s find her! She is the Chosen One after all. Come on! Vampires! Grrrr, nasty! Let’s annihilate them. For justice and for the safety of puppies, and Christmas, right? Let’s fight that evil! Let’s kill something!...Oh, come on!”
Best. Ending. Ever. It’s just like “Lovers Walk”! Spike makes everyone else feel miserable and pouty, but in the process feels better about himself. Well, as long as you’re feeling better, eh, Spike?!
The Apocalypse
Giles: “It’s the end of the world.”
Buffy/Xander/Willow: “Again?!”
Yep, it’s apocalypse time again, kiddies! For those of you keeping score, this is the fourth apocalypse in three and a half years. The first of which was the Hellmouth opening in “Prophecy Girl”, the second was Acathla waking up in “Becoming Part Two”, and the third was the ridiculous background apocalypse in “The Zeppo”. I don’t consider The Mayor’s ascension to be an apocalypse, just a lot of mayhem.
Basically, some demons steal the bones of a child, some blood, and the Word of Valios in order to dive down into the Hellmouth and end the world. Why? Who the hell knows! In order to stop the demons, the Scoobies need to go back to the Hellmouth, located in the old library of Sunnydale High. I’ve missed the high school so much this season! The show just isn’t the same without it! It would be like “Friends” without Central Perk! “Supernatural” without the Ampala! “Breaking Bad” without meth! “Dexter” without...a table covered in plastic wrap! Going back to Sunnydale High gets a patented celebratory arm-flail \O/. However, the reasoning for it gets a patented grouchy arm-flail /O\
How did Buffy - after going into the Hellmouth at least 10 seconds after the demon – catch up to the demon during the freefall? Plus, the demon greatly outweighs her! The laws of gravity clearly do not apply at the Hellmouth...I’m willing to suspend my disbelief that vampires are real, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief that a Vampire Slayer exists, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief that Willow would be unpopular at school and not beloved by everyone she ever met ever, but damn it I cannot suspend my disbelief at this ridiculous science! Then, to further annoy me, the cable that Riley uses to bring Buffy back out of the Hellmouth is the thickness of a noodle. HOW DID IT HOLD THE WEIGHT OF BUFFY AND A DEMON? I swear, this episode defies all science!
Spike: “No, sir. I’m just an old pal of Xander’s here.”
Spike’s attempt at an American accent is dire. Amusingly, it’s still better than David Boreanaz’s “Irish” accent. How did Riley not recognise Spike as ‘Hostile 17’? He spent an entire episode hunting him! Worst commando ever!
Quote Of The Episode
Riley: “Buffy, I’m thrown by this. I’m confused. I can feel my skin humming, my hands...my every inch of me. I’ve never been this excited about anybody before. I’m not trying to scare you and I’m not going to force myself on you, but I am by God not going to walk away because I think it might not work. I don’t know what’s happened in your past...”
Buffy: “Pain. Death. Apocalypse. None of it fun. Do you know what a Hellmouth is? Do you have a fancy term for it? Because I went to High School on it. For three years! We do not have that much in common.”
Firstly, if Spike or Xander had given Riley’s speech above, it would get universal praise. Because Riley gave it, it is often forgotten about, which I think is a little unfair. Very memorable scene.
FINAL SCORE: 6.5/10
What are your thoughts on "Doomed"? Did you enjoy this episode? Dislike it? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments section below!
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Some may criticize but I thought this was a great ep to follow "Hush". Riley and Buffy starting to come to terms about their secret extra curricular activities. Riley dissected- Is Owen on crack (as we learn later is more literal than figurative) true he enjoys hunting demons but it is also part of his job as well and he has a sort of creepy desire to please boss Walsh in the mother/son kind of way. Spike is hilarious in this ep since he finds out he can hurt a demon and gets all super Scoobie on us. So much so that Xander and Willow look at him like he is crazy at the end of the ep. For those Biley fans out there this cements the two because not only are they attracted to each other but they NOW have something in common with the knowledge of and hunting of demons. Speaking of Spike he was beyond hilarious here. Obviously he wanted the Scoobies to stop him from trying to kill himself, otherwise he would have chosen a more effective method. In a sense the title was foreshadowing. Buffy and Riley decide to get together (their relationship is doomed) Willow is still deep down plagued with insecurities which go on to "doom" her in a sense. Giles is doomed in his role as a watcher eventually. Spike is doomed as the big bad since he can't hurt another person physically again. You see where this is going.
ReplyDeleteWell, a non-adventuring romantic partner is possible, if they are still hip to what is goign on and what Buffy has to face every night. someone who'd happily wait at home, have a trukey sandwich and soem sugar-free cocoa waiting, listen if Buffy needs to tlak about it, accept silence if not, massage the kinks out of heer super-strong back and shoulder muscles, etc.
ReplyDeleteThing is, I can't see Buffy accepting that. (Although if Faiht eve r decided to try long-term monogamy, I think *she'd* go for it.) Buffy has itnernalized soem very tradtional gender roles, Ithink. She can't be with a guy who isn't , in some fashion or another, in the lead. I think what we're shown of her sexual habits is relevant. It's always either man on top or soem kind of standing thing. Heck, even with satsu, who's not built that way, Buffy is on the bottom. (I only noticed this afetr I had my idea of Buffy's view of relationships, it's not primary evidence.)
I'm sure, Riley doesn't recognize Spike as Hostile 17 here, because of Xander's clothes :D
ReplyDeleteAfterall, later in the season, he sees him wearing his trademark black shirt and coat and immediately recognizes him, so Spike was saved by that glorious shirt :D
This! I was just about to comment this :D
DeleteAnd Hawaiian-Shirt-Spike is definitely one of the funniest things I have ever seen on TV. And Riley scores a lot of points (even though he didn't really need to with me - never liked Angel, so I was never all that upset about him leaving) with his "Hi, Paintball" :D
Great points, love the blogs, but just gotta comment on your number of... apocalypses/i/etc.
ReplyDelete1. the Harvest - I do think this is kinda optional to include, since it is basically just an earlier attempt at the events of Prophecy Girl.
2. Nightmares. If the Scoobies hadn't stopped it, reality would've folded completely into the realm of nightmares. That's apocalyptic, in my books.
3. Surprise/Innocence. The Judge was "brought forth to rid the Earth of the plague of humanity" and "bring forth Armageddon".