That long tracking shot in the school is so good! The best part is it’s not just a filmmaker showing off, it serves the story. Like you said, it gives the school a feeling of being bustling, alive, and gives it an almost fairytale scripted uncanny feel. Kind of like how you remember your first day of school in an idealized way as an adult years later.
This episode really is Buffy processing her trauma. While she had prepared herself to kill Angelus…she was not prepared to kill Angel. She literally sent the man she loved to hell, to save a world that was reflecting her at every turn. She was expelled from school, wanted for murder, and her mother kicked her out. The need to run & hide from everything is very real and her rant at Lily is very much venting her own guilt. It’s a very deep episode and I do love that they don’t just brush past Buffy’s trauma.
It’s always nice to see characters reoccurring in the show, they’re well used and it makes the world feel more real. We got Lilly/Anne and Larry had a brief appearance.
@@TylerAlexanderOne of the things the show rarely shows us to this point is what is the impact that Buffy has on the people who she saves beyond the immediate saving of them. Chantarelle/Lily/Anne gives us a small piece of that.
I'd just like to say that I really appreciate how you'll include the voiceover bits when a thought occurs to you later. It really elevates your analysis and shows the depth in which you think about the show.
I always understood Joyce’s anger at Giles. A grown man had a secret relationship with her teenage daughter. A relationship that threatened her life nightly and even cost her it once. Joyce as a mother should be furious.
As an audience member totally in tune with Buffy, it is hard to see where Joyce is coming from. But if you truly put yourself in Joyce's place, how many of us would have reacted better? And you're absolutely right. This man has been putting her daughter in danger, on purpose, for how long? Imagine it's your child that has to do this. It's not easy, or fair, and Joyce has every right to be upset with Giles.
@@kohlrabi4342 I feel like the next couple of episodes of S3 try to highlight the other characters' view points vs. how the previous seasons mostly focused on Buffy's PoV. That's probably why certain, specific episodes have such a... strong reaction to them. The Watchers method of operation in regards to the slayers vs. how different Buffy's situation is is definitely a topic that needs a little more attention.
I was wondering if Tyler would recognize Chantrelle before Lily revealed herself as said character. Not a lot of people do. When the character reinvents and renames herself there is still something innocent about her, but something different from her _Lie to Me_ apperance, also.
Another solid reaction and thoughtful commentary. I had a very good friend that was a Buffy fan when this aired. Her family had escaped from Hungary and she told me at the time this episode was about the evil of Communism. That is why she thought Buffy killed the monsters with the hammer and sickle. Many see the anti Capitalism allegory’s and the use of the workers for profit. Both are semi right but that’s not the whole point. Remember the show is about the journey for Buffy to become a strong, independent, emotionally intelligent, and loving woman. She has to overcome obstacles and one is a system… any system… that wants to stifle the individual. It’s too easy to think it’s one system… it is the way that societies , almost all eventually, need to deny people to be independent and free thinking. The power of the administrative state is to control by a system that adheres to the rules of the governing not the governed. It can be any system that wants a group and acceptable “ way of doing things” and stopping different thought. That is why an individual must be put down. Buffy is learning that to chose the moral and “right” path is difficult and can be lonely. She is gaining an education to do what is necessary is rarely rewarded or recognized. She can be independent but it is at a great emotional cost and frankly, no one cares. And that’s the difficulty of the journey. Followers are told and don’t think. You will be taken care of, provided for, but your potential for excellence will not be allowed. There will not be thoughts given weight that are counter to the greater good… determined by a faceless group. Buffy can be comfortable, take the accepted position, and conform. She has peer pressure, family relations, social relationships to be a part of, life challenges, and government/ power structure that are in place that are scared of free will. The demons , monsters , and humans ( government, school, religious etc) fight for their selfish interests but Buffy is fighting for her identity and the freedom of others. Look at Buffy trying to tackle universal philosophical principles that transcend economic or political issues. Her journey deals with the questions of Aristotle, Socrates, Kant, Locke, Rand etc… what it means to be a free and independent person and how a society can work to allow freedom with ethical self determination. It’s the definition of Western Culture and the determination of what is a free society. All this with some great humor and a bad ass Buffy that kicks butt. I don’t think Freud could kick a demon or stake a Vampire like Buffy?
I love how you judged joyce for blaming Giles but also immediately understood her point when she talked about their relationship. Joyce is a VERY flawed character, but her perspective is something many fans miss. We gotta remember she is a single mother, just find out what the hell was happening and acted poorly on it. Its not ill intent, its mostly misinformation and lack of time to process whats happening. Also, she lashed out cause buffy was treating her horribly in that scene and while we see from buffys perspective cause we as audience know what she is going through, joyce doesnt. And buffy basically tells her to drink some more and shut up. Was Joyce right? Absolutely not. But the circunstances where extreme. I just really appreciate her character. I dont think I have ever seen such a complex mother character before
That sums up so much of Buffy as a show. Even good people do bad things in the moment as they are human and are flawed. It's what you do next that defines you.
She seems okay, not extremely flawed like you said. She actually seems kind of too stereotypical sometimes, like listening to tapes about parenting, although I guess you might if your daughter burned down the school. I don't know what she's expected to be, like a Stepford Wife?
I’ve just found this channel yesterday and I am in an absolute awe by the comentaries on the episodes of Buffy! Amazing! Keep up with the awesome work!❤
Next episode is one I’m VERY excited to hear your commentary on. I love this episode and have strong feelings about the next one, so hearing your take will be interesting.
I always remember not being happy with this first episode of season 3. I wanted back in with the gang, talking about Angel, talks with Giles etc.. instead we get Buffy alone and miserable. Since then this has become one of my favourite episodes, especially when watching someone react to it. The way she introduces herself to the Demon is perfection. There is nothing there I would change. And the Ghandi joke is sublime, just wish the punch line of "Well, you know, if he was really pissed off" had been included as a lot of reactors cut that bit too. Have to confess I never spotted the allegory, and feel really stupid now for never realising it. I just think Sarah's acting is superb in this episode, and Joss' love affair with the one shot begins. Honestly, at this point they're a cliché.
season three is my favorite alongside five (generally regarded as the best). i’m sooo excited for your reactions. already just this episode your commentary was top tier
watching you react to buffy prompted me to rewatch the show (i've almost finished series 4). i'm so so excited to see you react to the rest of series 3 because, alongside series 5, this is buffy at its best. there are no bad episodes this season, just slightly weaker ones. the over arcing plot line is amazing and one of my favourite characters begins her journey. i really hope you enjoy series 3 and i look forward to seeing the rest of your reactions
Hey! I just caught your Buffy First, Middle, Last video this weekend and I've been catching up on your full series reactions. Welcome to season 3. I love that you can tell the shift in the way they are telling the story and filming things because it really is a step up for the series. Generally speaking, season 3 is considered one of the best of the series, though interestingly all of most fans favorite episodes appear in other seasons. But there is so much to love about season 3 and the way it is very well crafted. I really appreciate your deep analysis and understanding of the filmmaking, the themes, and the larger picture. It's really impressive for someone who's watching the show for the first time.
Joyce is VERY valid in her feelings about blaming Giles....it is WILD to learn of an adult man having such a huge, influential relationship with her daughter behind her back. Learning he wasn't "just the Librarian" at her school. That he lied to her about that every time they interacted. By any objective view, it's A LOT for a parent to learn, and makes total sense to feel blame towards that other adult when the nature of the life her daughter was having with him behind her back directly resulted in the state of things now
@@Henrik_Holst You think the trauma of Buffys secret life and hero duties/sacrifices (of which Giles has guided Buffy in, and encouraged Buffy towards) have nothing to do with why Buffy ran away? That was the primary reason dude ....there are other home and school factors, but overwhelmingly it's her secret life with Giles that is responsible
@@spikesecho724 nope, it was not the reason. That was why she distances herself from the others, the sole reason she ran away from home was because Joyce threw her out. Had Joyce never said that then she had never even though of running away.
@@Henrik_Holst nope, a kid that runs away goes to a friend's house. And Buffy had a lot of very close friends. Including ones clued into her slayer life that she can be open with. Buffy, by contrast, wholly isolated herself from everyone in her life to deal with the trauma of her duties as a slayer which had her kill her love. Her duties as a slayer were also responsible for the lying she's had to do with her mother and the rift between them now, and her getting kicked out of school. It's all consequences of her life as a slayer
Not to mention he was actively putting Buffy in danger/encouraging her to put herself in danger. For a year and a half, behind her mother's back. If I was Joyce I would be so much harsher on Giles than she actually is.
Anne is a terrific opener to a near flawless S3. At the start we can see the haphazard amateurish attempts by The Scoobies to patrol with Oz's awful attempt to throw the stake etc. Once we see Buffy as Anne the waitress, we know she can't continue like this and has to help people as is her vocation. Lily of course was in S2 and recognises Buffy, the two of them have a similar story. The part where Joyce blames Giles for Buffy's disappearance is interesting and very true to life where people blame others for their own actions trying to transfer the blame. Buffy of course comes through at the end freeing all the slaves in the Underworld. Some great little comedy moments with Xander and Cordelia again. A great ending with Buffy back home on the doorstep, where no words are needed just relief that she is back. I think we can see the fight sequences improve immensely in S3 onwards, you can now see the show has a much bigger budget with better cinematography and effects. What a shame you watched the last episode! There are so many brilliant scenes in the Buffyverse between now and then.
I don't know if it's been covered in the show yet, but it is something that ends up being discussed more on the spin off Angel, which is set in the same universe.
@@kohlrabi4342I think the fact the at there's this pocket dimension, and the hell that Angel was sent to, and whatever Giles was talking about in Becoming about Acathla. But I don't remember if they specifically said.
I adore your analogies and perspectives, they're so thought-provoking and entertaining. As others have said, your reactions are unique from anyone else's. I love the voiceovers when you clarify during editing, I love that you pause so you don't miss anything, and I like that you comment during the show so you're engaged, rather than before and afters, so I personally feel like I'm emoting and reacting with you, rather than at you. A great episode, a wonderful season to come, and yet more metaphors about growing up and dealing with the good, the bad and the ugly. Thanks Tyler ❤
S3 is strong overall and fans do rate it in their top 3, S3 is where the show really stretches its creative legs learning from the past 2 seasons on what worked and what didn't. Can't wait to see your reaction and analysis throughout the season :) Enjoy!
The ‘problem’ (lol) with Buffy is that it’s so good, every season, that no one has the same order of faves. I guess mine is: 5, 6, 4, 7, 3, 2, 1 but it used to be: 5, 6, 4, 3, 2, 7, 1 I just had to finally make peace with a certain character. It’s that season 3 is bad in any way at all, it’s just that 5, 6, 4 and even 7 are so spectacular that the AMAZING season 3 keeps getting pushed back.
I noticed your version may be the HD remaster one. The beach scene is not that bright in the non HD version if I remember correctly. There are errors abound in the HD so if you can find the OG version I recommend it, as the show was designed very deliberately with color grade and a the screen ratio.
Actual slavery is alive and well. There are an estimate of over 40 million slaves in the world right now, and those numbers are growing fast in recent years. Children are targeted most often, especially young girls as the biggest industries for human trafficking are sex and labour. I feel like the way they targeted youth with no one to turn to and made slaves out of them may have been a metaphor very on the nose with this one. But I also see the capitalist themes too. They may have been combining the types of "slavery" in the metaphor 👍 I find Buffy deals with a lot of themes that are dangers women think about and deal with on a regular basis (i.e. being targeted for human trafficking, SA), but it keeps things light because Buffy has the power to fight back and win. There are so many situations I find familiar that Buffy deals with, but that dealing with them the way Buffy can is a fantasy.
I loved your points in relation to Joyce blaming Giles. As an adult in my mid-40's now, my perspective has really changed since this first aired. Also I'm less inclined to always agree with the narrator's POV. I feel like as viewers, we are very unfair to Joyce and her choices, because I doubt most adults would repsond the way we expect Joyce too. I also think how Joyce went three years of her life being in way more danger than she could've ever imagined.
On the surface Anne seems like a pretty simple and straightforward season opener, but I like how you’ve delved into the much deeper themes. I think this is one reason Buffy as a show worked so well, great action and fun, but much deeper things beneath if you look. Anne is one of my favorite episodes to rewatch! Also, I love Buffy’s hair too haha
Everyone: Lily/Anne has no sense of selfpreservation whatsoever? 😳 Well. She was in a vampire cult. Vampire. Cult. No, no she has not. Also, great reaction to a great episode! I was looking forward to your reaction of the shot of Buffy after that long shot in the school. And you for sure didn't disappoint! 💜 Oh and the library was full because the people were getting their books for the school year. That's at least what I concluded.
I was raised in a cult and, yeah, the lack of self preservation is something I'm still dealing with in therapy 🤦🏾 I'm doing a lot better now! It's actually quite common for people who have been in one cult to end up in another or even multiple cults in their lives. Lily's line about needing someone else to take care of her is very reminiscent of how a lot of people with support needs (I'm autistic) end up in cults because there's a promise of the community taking care of you whilst making all of your decisions for you.
@@Scarygothgirl I'm sorry you had to go through that and thank you for sharing. 💜 Cults prey on vulnerable people. And I think Lily/Anne portraits that beautifully. The episode makes us feel for her, wish better for her, and simultaneously identify with her. Because to be real, in her situation everyone would be in over their heads and overwhelmed. Which makes Buffy lending her a hand, and her taking it, inspirational. We can probably not be Buffy, lacking the superpower, but we can be Anne and get ourselves out of bad situations. At least I feel that way about her.
Love this episode, season, & commentary! I well remember the, ‘Capitalism is a hellscape that will take your life, whilst working you to death’ message from when it originally aired. But then I’m a Gen X utopian commie, so obviously it stuck with me! Wonderful reaction! 💜🌈🦇
I never thought that much about consent for Buffy to Answer her calling. Taken out of a supernatural context I suppose the metaphor would be a person of high political power or influence. It would be reasonable for a mother to be considered about a 17yr to be worried about taking on that kind of responsibility. But then you know...the older we get the more autonomy we really should have a right to, like Buffy. However, given this supernatural context, the consquences of Buffy rejecting her calling effects the greater good, and where exactly do we stand considering that? It is essentially a theme that we come up with again given Buffy's power, privilege, and burdens as a result.
A lot of great lines and shots. This season is more consistent and so great. Better fights too and funny moments with great storylines and narrative arc. Enjoy it :) just ashame to see HD version
Great little episode exploring how to figure out who you are in the world again after your world changes due to major trauma and death. And great reaction content yet again! Keep up the awesome videos, you'll hit 10K in no time!
I had a really rough night, my illness is kicking my ass. I am so glad you uploaded this today, and that it was an absolute banquet for you. I hope you love the rest of season 3, it’s my favorite.
I could wax poetical about your in-depth analysis and your, frankly, outstanding grasp on the human psyche - why and how people do what they do, for what reasons and what that might stem from, but honestly? I just find your Buffy reactions so delightful that you're by far my favourite reactor on the platform. I don't have a lot of disposable income, but I subbed to your Patreon just because I couldn't wait for your Becoming 1&2 stuff, and I'm so glad I did. Another banger, fella! Keep 'em coming! I wonder if you might be interested in one day, perhaps after you've finished all the seasons, reviewing a book I once bought and giving your thoughts on it. It's called 'What Would Buffy Do?: The Vampire Slayer as Spiritual Guide' and while it isn't, perhaps, a Bible-level manual, it is quite interesting and I'd love your perspective on it. Pretty niche though. Anyway, keep up the great work, as always!
The first scene in the school was showing us all the kids growing up normally starting up the new school year as kids are supposed to being excited being confused being childish and then the juxtaposition of that is Buffy that had to grow up way too fast and is now alone and dealing with everything on her own repressing her id her emotions and most important not getting to be a normal kid starting up the school year. And having to deal with all of that on her own.
There is a huge white statue in the background of the fighting scene. A muscled man with angel wings. Its obviously suppose to refer to Angel but I never got the exact point.
I’m 36 now but when I watched this episode live the night it aired I was a 10 year old kid lol so I personally never thought too much about what the episode was trying to say about capitalism or anything else. Obviously since I’ve gotten older I’ve been able to look at it with new eyes but I was just offering a perspective for how some people may not initially think of the things you talk about here.
SMG's hair is different because she was coming off the back of filming Cruel Intentions between seasons and had darker hair for Katherine in it. But it does tie into the themes of the episode and a Buffy that has been on the lamb from everyone.
Senior year begins and Buffy still has a lot of growth to do as she prepares to become an adult. This is in my opinion the strongest season opener, not only does it show growth from last season for all the characters, but does an amazing job establishing themes and plot lines for the season as a whole. Plus we get that sick power shot after she beats up all the demons. Also it was said in a quick line by Giles I think in season one, but their is more than one "hell" dimension.
Joyce saying "and who exactly is she" is really amazing....it's Joyce, as Buffys mom, declaring that you (Giles) do not get to define who Buffy is, defending her daughter's right to shape her own identity and define it for herself
@@jdb101585 ehhh I don't get that from her tone at all, she just sounds defiant of this man trying to say who her child/daughter, when Buffy is just a kid still figuring it out
@@spikesecho724 From a woman who knows literally nothing about her daughter and hasn't for years. Teens aren't *that* good at hiding things, unless they're already used to hiding things from you because they view you as someone they can't go to for help or you are literally paying *no* attention.
This was the first ep of buffy I ever saw. I watched it late one night when my brother was ment to be babysitting me but was to busy on his computer games to care what I was doing. It crept me out so much when he pulls his face off, but I was obsessed with buying the vhs tapes so I could watch more lol
I loved your discussion on identity in this episode, it helped me see it in a new light. The political and institutional themes and the role they play in adulthood are a big part of this season, and in this episode, the show makes the mission statement that if you don't assert your identity - something that is more difficult to do the more you isolate yourself from the positive influence of other people - then you easily become lost in a potentially corrupt and malevolent institution.
This episode has what I believe is the longest one-take shot in the entire series. Also, "Anne" has long remained in my personal top-five episodes. At the end of S2, she had been accused of murder, expelled from high school, had to murder her boyfriend, and finally, been kicked out of her home by an inebriated mother. She might indeed need some time to decompress. She is trying to deny who she is, but by the end of the episode we have Buffy back into full Slayer goodness.
when i was younger i hated joyce reaction but i now i kinda see how everything happened to fast for her to process and she had a really (meabe to real)human reaction
It's also I think important to take into account, while what she did is wrong any context, she wasn't reacting to the much more normal thing her bad reaction was an allegory for, she was reacting to hearing her daughter kills things and is about to put herself in danger.
@@omalleycaboose5937one of the first things I got when I came out to my parents was a fear for my safety due to HIV/AIDS. This was about the same time this show was airing. I think the metaphor can be extended into this fear response too.
This really is such a great episode and arguably the best season premiere of the whole series. I don’t think I’m really spoiling anything by saying this but I think it’s pretty clear this is the last season of the high school era and as much as I absolutely love season 2 I think this is probably overall the strongest season of this era of the show.
Thing is, although I get what you were saying with your allegorical meaning of slavery, you weren't so wrong about it still happening. It's not necessarily happening in our part of the world (we hope), or in Buffy's, but it is still happening, right now, in some places. There are still far flung factories where people are chained to machines, and beaten if they don't reach targets.
It's horrific. We don't want to devalue the horrors people from the past have gone through, but sometimes focusing on the past makes us oblivious to the fact it's still all happening. The wording is different, but it's still very much like slavery. Or just straight up is.
This is one of my all-time-favorite episodes of BTVS. I wish it lasted longer, I wish it was a two-parter or something. The hell dimension they were in was so interesting to me and pity the poor souls left trapped there for the rest of their youths. The next episode enrages me, you'll see why.
Its a long way off but i can't wait to here your thoughts on Angel S02E2 'are you now or have you ever been' that & this are my 2 favourite (sort of) stand alone episodes of the 2 shows. So much to unpack in both episodes and you are the only one doing this.
You are watching the remastered edition and it’s riddled with mistakes. The show was meant to be viewed in 4:3 dimension, not 16:9. Additionally, you won’t get the best experience with lighting, and you’ll be able to see cameras, microphones, camera crew. Please consider getting the dvds or find a way to watch in 4:3 dimension for the best experience!
@@matthewquinn6172 I knew about this, forgot, and thought that scene looked so weird. Sadly, this is an easy way to watch, so I don't fault Tyler for not running out and buying the DVDs...and a DVD player. Shout out to Passion of the Nerd for an excellent breakdown of the different versions.
Notice with the theme of "who are you," Lilly/Chanterelle/Sunshine girl, the first human name she takes is "Anne." Just as when Buffy says "I'm Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" is her accepting who she is, L-C-S taking the name Anne, is her accepting that she is a human, living in the human world instead of the fantasy worlds she had constructed for herself. And sorry to break it to some people, but Lilly is not a human name, it is a flower.
"Gets easier, takes practice". We need to remember Buffy is just 17! when she says this. I'm in my 30s and taking care of myself is still hard for me, tbh. xD
23:05 23:17 That's totally false. Joyce said once "don't bother coming back." To most kids that statement would be completely meaningless. Sure, it's hurtful and having a fight is always hurtful, but Joyce never kicked Buffy out of the house and I'm pretty sure Buffy knows that. She's just using a slip of the tongue to justify running away, which is Buffy's response to what happened. But Joyce never made their home inhospitable to Buffy, although it's understandable if Buffy felt that way after her mom finding out.
To a certain extent lily is embedding Buffy's id and Buffy has to play the role of the ego and superego, having to be the adult having to be the one taking care of everything. Buffy has been playing this role for a long time having to grow up way too fast and really kind of grounds Buffy back into her id and listening to that voice of the child that very much needs someone to take care of them.
I like that she actually ends up keeping that name without changing identities again and actually turning her life around in Angel. Buffy really changed Lily/Anne's life as an inspiration after helping her in a huge significant way both times.
I like to think that the "A" storyline of Buffy and Lily in the seedy part of L.A. took place two or three months earlier than the "B" storyline of the Scoobies in Sunnydale on the first day of school. If time really went as fast in their hellish pocket dimension as the demon claimed, then the few minutes/hours that Buffy and Lily spent there before escaping could have lasted 2-3 months (all summer) in the real world.
You start praising the long tracking one shot, and I'm like "oh I didn't realize Joss directed this episode." But I should have known since I knew the "grrrl with a scythe/axe thing in a kickass pose for a title sequence" pose was in this one at the end. "Maybe this guy is good." As he describes the plot of the episode of aging quickly and sucking your soul out.
Yes, they got more budget and probably want the show to look better (and the school populated), but there is a specific reason the producers decided to give the side cast more screen time. :) No spoilers, though.
Where I live, we have a *lot* of homeless people with severe trauma and/or drug abuse issues. One of the biggest issues is treatment. You can't do anything medically/therapeutically without their consent (except arrest them, ironically) and many aren't in any sort of headspace to be able to give/understand that consent. People who say, "Oh, they just need someone to talk to!" don't get it; I'm talking about the people who are violent, extremely erratic, disconnected from reality, operating at the level of a child, and/or under the influence of potent mind-altering substances. We've been down the slippery slope of committing individuals for treatment regardless, but the current "alternative" is essentially us doing nothing until someone dies on the streets, which, to most people; "resolves the problem" #sadface. *smh*
To begin with, Giles should have stood up to the Watcher’s council. They’re the ones who decided to keep the Slayer secret, even when the Slayer is a minor and her calling should have been explained and talked about with the parents. Buffy made the choice, Joyce doesn’t understand and was left out of what was going on. Giles risking Buffy and the gang. The enough blame to go around. Fortunately, this is only a TV show, but these things do happen in the real world. Every person is not only responsible for their thought and actions, but we need to be certain not to leave a trail of bodies behind us.
I always feel so bad for Aaron. He gets knocked out so he doesn't get to escape with the rest of them. Everything's i hear the "Who are you?" "Aaron" i cringe. Poor guy.
Very interesting points about the identity thing with Buffy, it’s definitely one of the most recurring aspects of the show Also, I wonder now that we are getting closer, if you’re planning on rewatching Gingerbread? Or are you going to just skip it since you’ve already reacted to it? I’m ok with either way, it’s not a very popular episode and I tend to prefer first time reactions, but your perspectives are always welcome
Ah, this is when the re-orchestrated theme starts? Personally I don't like the emphasis on the snaredrum, it slows down the tempo. "If we can focus, keep discipline... and maybe not have so many mysterious deaths" is possibly my favourite joke in Buffy. The demons all seem to be wearing knart-sea uniforms and the wooden bed-frames and general atmosphere scream Internment/Concentration camp, but I guess modern slavery is kind of like this too. Or, yes, ultimately unchecked capitalism. ...have you seen Andor?
It’s a really strong opener, and I’m childish for this but I can’t help giggling over the fact that Buffy’s middle name is Anne, given that her surname is Summers. For those that don’t know, Anne Summers is a chain store that sells sex toys!
People are angry here in the States about the unhoused. Unfortunately it's for the wrong reason. They don't like seeing and smelling homeless people in their neighborhoods. So local governments have been putting up barriers to homeless folks to make it harder for them to find a warm comfortable place to exist and sleep. Some States in the US have now criminalized homelessness. It's a complete lack of empathy and it enrages me. The problem in a Capitalist society is that there's no money in helping homeless people so we just pretend they don't exist. 🤦🙄🤬
I've been a server for years and just once in a movie where they do the "can you cover my section" trope that the other server responds "WHAT?! F$#k you, there are 200 rollups in the back for you, you have to fill up all the salt and pepper, I have 10 tables right now and they all want refills, I swear to god if you walk out of her... aaaand she's gone." then she turns to face the diners and tightens her apron "Well Margaret, today's the day." or something, I dunno. The thought definitely doesn't keep me up at night.
You hit on a small note thats more relevant in the next episode but it is important to recognize that, regardless of how understandable and sympathetic Buffy's actions were, she did still abandon all her friends and family in a place she knows is lethally dangerous. It's unfair to put that all on her, but the world isn't fair and it was still a selfish choice she made.
I see so many manke this as part of their valid point. But my thing is, after she defeated The Master in season 1 finale, the end of the school year. She was gone for the whole summer visiting her dad in L.A. and came back in time to start junior year, and the Scoobies were never upset about it and good with it. She literally did the exact same thing she spent the whole summer in L.A. and came back at the start of senior year, except this time she just didn't tell anyone on where she was going or visit her dad, lol. The reason why she left for both summers was to get away and try to process the traumas. Giles definitely understood that with Buffy better than anyone, especially this time around. This time around, he was the ONLY one who wasn't putting her down for taking some time for herself. The funny thing is, if anything, he should be the one who was the most upset due to being her watcher and the responsibilities that they both have. But he wasn't he was the one who truly understood how she needed some time to process. He knew no matter where she was, she was capable of protecting herself if any dangers were to come up, and when she was ready to come back to resume her role as the slayer on her own terms he was just happy to see her and welcomed her back home with warm open arms. He knew she had to go on some kind of journey that she needed to go on. Not to mention, she was also expelled from school AND had the cops looking for her after thinking she killed Kendra.
I get Joyce being angry at Giles but I feel like the way the "Watchers" work in general is shit. Like situations happen, shouldn't there be some sort of government plants to make things go away, like her being "wanted". Pretty BS its her birth right, shes a teenage girl, but its like lol here juggle the life of a double agent with no help legally or financially. Also when we learn about Kendra her parents GAVE HER to her watcher, why didn't anyone bother to inform Joyce? It got left up to Buffy to hide.
I can’t agree with you on your defence of Joyce. Her reaction is explicable and understandable, but not justified. On multiple occasions Joyce made it clear that she was not a “safe” person with whom to discuss Buffy’s identity as a “slayer”. I am particularly thinking of her constant abandoning of Buffy in the face of animosity and threat from external authority figures whenever Buffy’s identity leaked into public visibilty. Consider her reaction in “School Hard”, betraying Buffy to principal Snyder; in “Ted”, to the police; again to the police in “Becoming Part 2”. Also consider the implications of her comments about leaving LA at various points, and what we learn of it in “Nightmares”. At every point Joyce has demonstrated that while her love is unconditional, her support is predicated on Buffy maintaining a socially normative identity. Unfortunately, Buffy has a socially transgressive identity, and there is nothing Buffy can do to change that - “Slayer” is who she is. Parents are not owed honesty and openness by their children. Children are entitled to evaluate who can and who cannot be trusted to learn “who they are”. They do not have a veto right on found-family, and they do not have a right even to know who that family is - let alone the relationship, or what the child reveals to those people. Joyce is right to be upset, but the person she should be upset at is her self. She betrayed Buffy at every opportunity she had to establish herself as trustworthy in this matter. Her immediate reaction to learning of Buffy’s identity was anger, denial, rejection, and violence. Ultimately this vindicates Buffy and Giles’ decision not to trust her. Far from having a responsibility to inform Joyce of Buffy’s identity, he had a strict obligation to keep it from her as long as Buffy remained unwilling for her to know.
How did she betray Buffy to Snyder or to the police? She covered for her during Ted, and was interrogated in Becoming Pt 2. Sure she wasn't a safe person to talk to about slaying, but how could she be, she didn't know about it. Buffy had Giles for that. The Watcher's Council keeping magick a secret from muggles has nothing to do with some "responsibility" to tell Joyce about slayers or a "responsibility" to not. It was about the masquerade, and about Buffy wanting to keep Joyce safe. She also wanted to keep some part of a normal life, away from being the slayer. If she told her mom, she would have to own up to it.
