Willow: "I promise to never steal your boyfriend again." Cordelia: "Like you *could*." Later: Cordelia: *to Wesley* "You free Friday?" Alyson Hannigan:
@@suzanh2813 yep, he is really good actor. He is very good at both slapsticks physical humor and dark drama. Those are opposing skill sets, yet he is very good at both.
@@spamfilter32you would think so, but a lot of the best comedians are EXCELLENT at drama. Probably because in order to understand comedic timing you have to have a really good grasp of human emotions. It's not usually slapstick that you see this with, but then again pure slapstick isn't as strong a form of comedy anymore. It makes sense that the same would be true regardless of the form of comedy though.
Buffy 3x16 : this is not only my fav Buffy episode , but it is my favorite episode of all episodes ever!!! “In my world there are people in chains and you can ride them like ponies!”
It’s a top ten for me, though it makes me slightly sad than an innocent sitting at the bar, Sandy, got killed by evil Willow. Just another message from the show that magic, especially powerful magic, always has consequences. A message Willie doesn’t get as I’m sure Oz would have not told her what her counterpart did so as not to upset her. My fave episode of tv ever is coming up and starts with a 4 letter word starting with a vowel. And I can mathematically that it is the best episode of TV ever. The numbers don’t lie!
Good catch. I never thought about it before, but Buffy being able to stop in the heat of battle shows she has more control of her Slayer powers than Faith does.
Yes control but also the willingness to listen to other people. Faith is like Buffy and has the same power and often shows great skills. It’s not that Buffy can stops it’s that she wants to listen to Willow because of her relationship with her. Faith does not follow the request of a fellow Slayer… the only other person in the world that can truly understand what Faith is about. Faith has shown and is showing her self loathing and its manifestation of hatred of the world.
@@williambowman2326 I 100% agree, but would also add that by that point, Faith would have already, for lack of a better term, darkened Buffy's view on being a Slayer in general. So that exact moment of killing homeboy, we the viewers, are observing the exact moment that, to Faith, being a Slayer is POWER... and to Buffy, being a Slayer is a responsibility (remember Kendra telling Buffy to stop thinking of it as a "job." Brilliant writing across the board. I love people who think about how, the Slayers can have the same power, but present it so different.
“Control” isn’t really the right word. Slayer powers aren’t really something you need to train to control. She has perfect control of her powers, she doesn’t have control of herself. Faith comes from an extremely different background than Buffy - that’s the entire point of her character. Buffy had her first fight when she became a Slayer, Faith has been fighting her whole life; negligent parents, foster homes, etc. She got a brief respite with her Watcher, but then she was killed by Kakistos. Even the Slayer line itself could be said to have been unkind to her if we consider Artemisia. Every time Faith enters a fight she mentally enters survival mode. She’s reacting. It’s different with humans because she knows she’s so much stronger than them, but with vamps and demons where she could possibly die; she’s in the heat of battle. This is a direct consequence of her trauma from childhood and as a newly-activated slayer. Buffy doesn’t have this. And Buffy understands this, which is why she’s always very reluctant to just paint Faith as evil. Willow’s interpretations of Faith aren’t ones anyone should take serious as she feels jealous and threatened by Faith on many levels. I honestly think this episode could’ve been a good way of Faith and Willow actually forging a relationship. Faith could’ve taught Willow how to be more assertive. Even if Willow was only able to do it by emulating Faith to pull of the guise of her No Buffy Dimension counterpart.
@@modernamami5861 The conversations about Faith always run the spectrum… and that’s great. Creating a character that is both dynamic and traumatized…outgoing yet secretive… funny and tragic… and create fact based thoughts that can be countered and supported. That’s why Faith is a fantastic character and a wonderful creation. In the approximately 75 years of televised shows, how many complex characters like Faith have been created and portrayed in a series? Like The Buffalo Springfield sang, How can it be now if everybody’s right and nobody’s wrong? That’s Faith
@@modernamami5861 Great comments and thoughts. This type of discussion is the essence of the greatness in the creation of Faith has a character. The complexity, the actions , dialogue, and acting allow common sense backstories to be created. Faith , in not that much actual screen time , establishes a multi dimensional person that takes most other shows years if not ever . Several people with the same facts can take the same information and can create different well thought out ideas… and their conclusions make sense. Despite being charismatic, outward, assertive, direct talking, and center stage in most every scene…. She is also partly a blank canvass that can be filled in by the audience. Faith is another reason BTVS is a brilliant show.
See I feel like there aren't shows like this any more where every episode just keeps getting better emotionally, comedically, action, writing, drama. like it's almost better to start with low expectations with a show, like Buffy did and let it constantly surprise you. And of course it's fun to see new people discover the show and experience it vicariously for the first time through their reactions. cuz damn I was watching this as it came out on the WB back in the day when I was 9 years old way before there was social media for kids to share one's love of a show with others so it was pretty lonely to say the least. Not a single one of my friends watched this show or could appreciate at it at that age except my siblings and my mom who is a college professor and when I got her to actually watch the show she was so impressed she showed and taught about the episodes themes and writing and characters to her English students at in a university level class. This was one episode of several that she would show to her class because it actually has a ton of post modern theory in it. Gotta say it has always been a pleasure to share it with people of all ages now cuz it's still good and will likely stay good.
AH plays Human!Willow, AH plays Vamp!Willow, AH plays Human!Willow pretending to be Vamp!Willow and Vamp!Willow pretending to be Human!Willow. Brilliant!
The Giles moment where he hugs willow is so quietly sweet and effective imo. Like if you think about how many kids get killed in Sunnydale (the show glosses over it at points or turns it into slightly macabre jokes but it is a staggering death toll) and how many deaths we know he's had in his own life, someone being reported dead by two people whose opinions he trusts AND then turning out to actually be alive must seem like a genuine miracle. Then they follow it up with like 3 great jokes that don't destroy it somehow. Genuinely everytime I watch season 3 either myself or with a reaction, reminded how much true solid gold tv is in it. As much as I dislike the "oh all the stuff revolves around one family and any power or distinction is solely related to blood relation" in most media, Buffy/Angel is somewhat an exception, my headcanon is that the alternate wishverse versions of Willow and Xander were turned by the Master (or one of them was and turned the other right away) because any of the vampires in his bloodline do seem to be pretty on the ball in terms of being a vampire and Willow pretty immediately becomes a leader of this little gang in short order.
I believe that Alison Hannigan went in to martial arts training for the Wish episode for when they had the close ups of the combat scenes and she had so much fun doing it that she continued to do the training beyond that episode which is part of what brought us this episode. I believe she kept it up even after this episode.
I love Oz. For Buffy, Angel is the love of her life. For Giles, he is the guy who killed his girlfriend and tortured him, but had kinda sorta redeemed himself and proved a useful ally. For Xander, he is a menace. For Willow, close to an authority figure, as any adult. For Oz he is... just a dude. An equal, that he - Oz - in some situations can give orders to.
Some things we know about Faith, she was abused as a child, and she is a runner. She ran when Kakistoes killed her Watcher. And she was going to run again when Kakistoes showed up at Sunnydale. So, when She knew things were going to come out, blaming Buffy, is another way of running.
Now that we're in the back half of season 3, I hope you will consider reacting to Angel when it comes into the Buffy chronology. Great job with these two, as always!
I think Consequences was a brilliant, but disturbing episode. Even though Xander had lost his virginity in The Zeppo, we still see his Innocence here where Faith sexually assaults him, and tries to rape and choke him to death. The juxtaposition here is brilliant writing where Faith is the one with power, and Xander is the helpless innocent, showing that sexual assault, and murder are crimes of power over the vulnerable. Brilliant writing again. She has the power 'I see, I want, I take' Xander proves here his is still somewhat innocent, even though in The Zeppo he became more grown up and adult. An interesting line is drawn here with later episodes, as Faith has a soul and is deliberately acting like this as a human in a fully conscious way. It shows here that sexual assault and murder are crimes of power over the innocent and vulnerable irrespective. Faith is now 'drunk' on power, and just thinks she can do what she wants to anyone, and there will be no Consequences! Teaming up with the Mayor catapults the show into the stratosphere, the build up from now until the two part Finale is totally brilliant.
Super comments and observations. Yes the obvious correlation of sex with violence had been a Vampire theme in Season 2 but expanded into humans with the abusive boyfriend in Beauty and Beasts and Faith when she describes getting horny after slaying. Faith in her first meeting with The Scoobys talked about her need for sex after killing thus establishing her disturbed character. But in typical BTVS we find it amusing and makes Faith appear cool. But the cunning story shows the disturbing mixing of violence and sexual satisfaction , the disturbing mind of Faith, and a warning flag… all overlooked by understanding how charisma mixed with personality can hide the true nature of a person. So Faith was talking about herself when she was walking and talking with Buffy. A magic trick in front of our eyes.
@@williambowman2326 Great analysis. It's strange many Buffy fans give Faith a 'free pass' as she does all this as a conscious human. Yes we know she had problems growing up, but it's still no excuse. As you said the 'red flags' were there.
@@killianlpc Not strange that Faith is a fan favorite. Great actors and actresses can portray really terrible people but with charisma, snappy dialogue, cool fashion, and just likability they become favorites. How many women list Pretty Woman has one of their favorites yet the 2 leads are a street prostitute and her emotionally messed up John. But add Julia Roberts and Richard Gere and it’s a widely popular rom-com. It’s Elizha and her vibrant energy leaping off the screen that makes Faith a popular anti hero . Her smoldering looks, the Uber confidence , the I don’t give a damm attitude , and the opposite of Buffy that makes Faith a big hit with so many. I watched this show with a group of girls since Season 1 and all but 1 thought Faith was great.Learned almost everything I know about women was from those girls and one thing that became clear was to not fight over Faith and agree with them. Faith grabbed the viewers and the bond was tight.
@@williambowman2326 Agree of course she is fan favourite and brilliant character in The Buffyverse. The point I was trying to make is really is the sexual assault on Xander, because it was female on male was never treated as seriously as if it was male on female. That scene if it had been in the later Seasons would possibly have been more graphic and therefore more disturbing. The look on Xander's face in the library when Willow says she hurt Xander is very telling. You can see it has affected him deeply as a victim. Agree Eliza Dushku does a brilliant job in bringing the character of Faith to life showing humans can be every bit as evil as any vampire or demon.
@@killianlpc The times and attitudes change the way people perceive and react. A big story in the late 90’s were the many stories of a young attractive female teacher having sex with a 13-16 year old boy. The way the story was talked about in my world. First, it seemed every one of the teachers were very good looking and in their late 20’s. The girls we knew all thought it was disgusting and of course we nodded and agreed. Now when the boys talked it went… how come none of our teachers are hot and where can we get one? Then, that kid was so lucky! Why would he say something…then we all said or thought wish that it could happen to us. The older sexy woman teaching us about sex was a common fantasy ( look at the incredible popularity of The Graduate 20 years earlier and the whole MILF stories at this time). Like Xander, watch out what you wish for… you might get it. I wonder how teen boys really think about this situation today? We were clueless and never could have imagined any emotional damage could happen. This is an example of the excellent and timeless storytelling about emotions and not superficially subject matter.
I feel Faith's natural reaction to most things is to do the opposite of what people want her to do. So, people asking her to take responsibility makes her push it away more. Note how dressed up Cordy is when she confronts Evil Willow. She was dressed to impress Wes. There is a famous photo of Aly with three other Willows. Willow, stunt Willow, Evil Willow camera double, and Evil Willow stunt double. I love this episode.
To Buffy. Unfortunately for Westley he's actually this really wet behind the ears watcher who probably finished whatever training they have quite recently. He has no idea what he's getting into or how to keep his head above water.
You cut the moment when Willow said "And I think I'm kind of gay." And Buffy says, "Vampires are nothing like their human self." And Angel says, "Actually, Vampires are... (Buffy glares at Angel) ... yep."
Good observation by Cody about a Slayer needing connection to the world and people. And all the adults in her life just let her run wild. She's a juvenile, a heavily traumatized and clearly unbalanced one with superpowers. She's also one of the two most priceless assets humanity has. Buffy has averted several apocalypses, and Faith was critical in averting the most recent(and arguably the most desperate-though played for laughs in "The Zeppo"). So Giles and Wesley leave her living on the street and just try to undermine each other's authority.Joyce ignores her. Angel tries his "junkie/killer intervention" schtick, essentially telling her that she's a murderer at heart. Idiot. Not everyone is a worthless sadistic sociopathic serial killer, Liam. Oh well done, lads. Notice the immediate contrast with how the Mayor treats her.Valued, respected...but with clear boundaries. And ANOTHER catch by Cody on the gift basket! I hadn't caught that in 25 YEARS of rewatches!
@@williambowman2326 he really does, like my other half. he has that monk type quality or maybe more like psych. he missed his calling in being a detective, tho i dont mind the ups uniform he wears daily. lol
I love the dynamics between Oz and Angel whenever they interact because Oz is sort of an old soul, who’s wise beyond his years and Angel is literally an old soul so when they interact which is rare it’s always fun.
It’s so much fun watching you guys reacting to my favourite show of all time. I’ve always said that people who are passionate about fantasy / horror should watch Buffy at least once in their lifetime. Buffy is so deeply engraved into my personality now that I genuinely don’t think I’ve gone a single day without thinking about it. It’s just so damn influential and special.
Regarding Faith and the Mayor: The first thing the Mayor does is relocate Faith to an excellent apartment which he's paying for, when the people who were supposed to be in her corner had let her stay in a crappy motel room for months, and she had to pay for it herself. He may be evil - but he isn't inconsiderate, he treats his people fairly well. He is treating her like a valuable asset, not just a secondary tool. What was she doing to be able to afford that? It isn't like the Watchers Council pay her anything, maybe she was stealing, maybe she was having sex for money, or giving the motel manager sex for living there rent free, we don't know, maybe she's just killing demons that have cash...nobody even bothers to ask her. "Want, take, have" - stealing is the most likely answer, but given her "we ARE better than everyone else" attitude, it wouldn't surprise me if she just walked through the bad parts of town figuring someone would try to take advantage of her and that would justify knocking them out and taking their money. The Watchers Council could learn a thing or two about treating their people well from the Mayor.
@@ernesthakey3396 The Watchers Council will only listen to themselves when they are drinking whiskey at their club for their daily pat themselves on the back meeting. We have seen The Council nonchalantly have Buffy nearly killed, fired Giles because he cares if Buffy lives, send Westley to be a Watcher at the Hellmouth ( a first timer is fine but at the Hellmouth?) have a crazed ex-Watcher on the loose and not let Giles, an active Watcher, know this information, know that Faith’s Watcher was killed and again not inform their agent who is in battle on the Hellmouth, not assist in the search for Buffy after she saved the world, and have Buffy’s first Watcher be incompetent in her training ( remember how shocked Buffy is when she learns about the training Kendra received !).
What a great reaction for great episodes. Faith going to the dark side and vamp Willow. Alyson Hannigan definitely deserve her flowers for her work on Doppelgangland. She is always good, but she played the two versions so well, even more after the switch when they need to pretend to be each other...
Oh these episodes dropped so many hints for future seasons (I mean a lot of them do, but Season 3 especially) and I can’t wait to see yall figure them out periodically!
they really do!, and cody seems to pick em up like lint so i think theyll be fun to watch. and Hi you!, heres hoping chucky get a season 4. i saw scifi had cancelled another show so maybe it was to afford chucky.
I love how much you enjoyed and heartily laughed at all the great lines,scenes. I was laughing at your laughter and also how great this ep is, it never gets old. I love when reactors really "get" it, you guys are a joy to watch. And it will only get better.
Season 3 really has so many episodes where it's just firing on ALL cylinders - and both of these are great examples (but in TOTALLY different ways)! :)
i love the mayor. he may be my favorite buffy villian. he has such old fashioned dad energy but then he's also evil. but he's treating faith like a daughter and taking care of her and that must be so nice for her, something she probably never had. its criminal that she was a slayer living alone in a shitty motel. the council or even giles should have stepped up. she is a teenager.
Such great episodes, and super-fun reactions! That Alyson Hannigan didn't get an Emmy nomination for Dopplegangland is completely unjustifiable. Everyone knocked it out of the park, but she really shined. ❤
@@johnmoreland6089 I was totally about to comment this…. Heaven forbid in 1999 they give an Emmy to a teen vampire show on the CW …. Because there is no way in a show like that there are any reputable actors. Also, it seems as though there’s always a need to recognize the next medical drama that wins everything every year anyway doesn’t matter who it is…. “ and the winner is the new medical drama or something based out of Chicago.”
Doppelgangland is one of my favourites of all time. I think what makes Buffy a great show is that it has the drama, but it has episodes like this that make you fall about laughing. Lots more good comedy to come!
2 parts i loved: how when xander first showed good willow the cross and it didnt have the effect he expected, he shook it a little then tried again! and after they all hugged good willow in relief she stops and says "say, you all didnt happen to abunch of drugs did you?" or something to that effect. great reaction boys! me and the hubby love watchen em!
you know as a adult i see faith differently than i did as a kid. as a kid i thought her living on her own and doing whatever she wants sounded awesome. but as a adult i see a poor kid who wants to be loved and respected and needs a home. if id have been joyce or giles i wouldve made sure she had a home in my house and a education along with boundries. things kids need, and want but dont think they do.
@@joshfacio9379 i was late to the party until an obsessed (with all things Buffy) friend of mine sat me down and said “you will not move from this spot unless it is to go to the bathroom.” She brought me food and smoke…. Pretty much everything I needed…. I binged the whole show 144 episodes in just shy of 2 weeks…. But when I met Faith for the first time I kept pausing the show to say or ask things like “why do I feel like Faith is getting a shitty deal….?” I mean I got the impression that, for example Kendra I felt like it was implied that she lived either with her watcher or something like that…. There is a comment made about her going to being completely submerged into slayer life…. Like she didn’t go to school, she studied and trained all the time to be a slayer…. But we all should have know about the double standard jerks that are the council, from the moment we find out Faith’s watcher got killed and Faith (not knowing what to do) has to find her own way to Sunnydale…. Why didn’t the council even life one finger to maybe give Giles a heads up that Faith is on the lamb and a watcher had been killed 🤷🏻♀️ I mean come on even the Elders on charmed are better than that 🙄
Yes technically Buffy does take place in a multiverse, with all these different versions of reality in simultaneous existence we just occupy one reality, that concept is in a few episodes to ask a very deep serious question. "What is reality?"
I think Dopplegangland was another great episode from S3 and always a fan favourite with 'Vampire Willow' back again great incredible foreshadowing from The Wish, and great comedy moments too when Willow puts on the sexy leather outfit and looks so awkward trying to act tough and evil. The fight scenes from S3 onwards improve so much you can see the show getting slicker and more polished. Great reactions again to the last two 'Double Bangers!' I can see how you are really appreciating the quality of writing and storylines as the series progresses. BTW regarding Wesley and Cordelia we have to remember Cordelia is now 18, and Wesley is not a teacher at the school, so all very legal and OK. However it was never explained how Wesley as an unauthorised person was able to just float around the school at will. That being said, even though he was not liked by fans at first, he provides some great comedy moments and I think he will grow on you.
I think the thing with Faith is that her method of dealing with things is to either run away or pretend it's not happening. From what little we know of her background "My dead mother hits harder than that!" this is likely a trauma response that comes from childhood. Turning to the one person she sees has power, and who won't judge her for what she's done, is a natural result of that.
You didn't include one of my favorite Willow lines ever. "Say, you all didn't happen to do a bunch of drugs, did ya?" I also loves how she says "I'm not a vampire!" If there is such a thing as being adorably offended, that was it right there.
Seeing the mayor give Faith a normal room is such a juxtaposition to the colonies who left with in the grubby motel (where vampire don’t even need an invite to enter). Faith is in the wrong here but seeing how the evil guy in the show shows more “care” for her than the good guys have so far this season, always makes her actions a little more understandable.
"Buff, I'm storming off. It doesn't really work if you come with me." Call back to Oz in Beauty and the Beasts, when Ox wanted to walk out on an upsetting convo but couldn't because it was near sundown. Oz was wrong, that isn't just a guy thing.
Willow is by far my favorite female character in the show. Also I love that it never feels like the actors are just there for a paycheck and just reading their lines, they are really giving it in every scene. Even though it felt more geared towards teens it still deals with things with consequences such as Faith accidentally killing the Deputy Mayor, sure he was a bad guy but he was still just a guy.
You make a great duo. Besides being entertaining, you have great insight and your reactions are spot on for a first time watching. Most everyone is surprised by Faith going to the dark side and working with the Mayor. It was a step not a journey. She is working with the Mayor to kill Willow. That’s evil. Her first talk with The Scoobys, Faith tells us that sexual and violence are all part of the same experience. It’s only the charisma and great acting of Eliza Dishku ( never can spell) that Faith is a fan favorite. She has been telling and showing she is a violent messed up sexual being and that displays selfish pride that only wants to satisfy her base desires. But like a James Marstens and Julie Landau… chemistry and charisma can make a villain likable . Doppelgänglqnd is a great episode an an exhibit to the greatness of BTVS . It has humor, drama, action, sexual tension, and events moving the overall story all told in an entertaining way. Great from start to finish. It can be a one off Monster of the week, a comedy, part of theSeason arcs , or an examination of duality within the individual. All of that with this also being important to the overall story of the entire series. Just fantastic.
Another favourite episode of season 3 I love willow she’s such a badass! Loving all the shirts you two wear also curious as to where you got them from?
Don't forget, Willow would be dead it it wasn't for Anya's spell; the two vampires who got their asses kicked when they went after VampWillow would have gone after our Willow.
No technically Faith is THE Slayer as in the active Slayer, the line runs through her now. That's why a certain thing doesn't happen when a different certain thing does happen at the end of Season 5.
Consequences is where the fun begins... And by fun I mean OH CRAP! I feel for Faith so much. Even when she puts up her walls so high no one can get through to her. The two surprised Pikachu-faces on the both of you were perfect! 😁🤣 Also poor Buffy who gets blamed and almost think Giles doesn't believe her at first but of course he does! ❤️ Angel trying to talk to Faith is great. He understands what she's going through in a way. Then Wesley is being a little shit because he is feeling pissy about not being in the loop. Dislike him a lot for that... 👀 Faith going to the dark side is interesting and scary..! I still love her though. 😍😅 Doppelgangland is my favorite favorite episode!! VAMP-WILLOW IS EVERYTHING and Willow as Vamp-Willow is so damn hilarious and wonderful! "It's horrible. That's me as a vampire? I'm so evil, and skanky... And I think I'm kinda gay." 🤣 "Gosh, look at those!" 😅😂 Anya is also fricking hilarious as a mortal/student who's funking math... 😂
Happy "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" Friday night with Cody and Sergio! 😊 Episode 3x15: This is a really good episode. Wesley meets Cordy. Love Wesley's reaction when he finds out that Cordy is still a high school student. LOL! RIP Mr. Trick. And Faith begins working with the Mayor. Episode 3x16: This is one of my favorite episodes. The return of Vampire Willow. We need more scenes with Angel and Oz. And everyone's reactions when they thought that their Willow was a vampire and then they realized their Willow was still alive were great. LOL! Looking forward to the next reactions. 😊
Yeah, there are some great episodes this season, but Doppelgangland is my go-to episode (usually with The Wish). Also, are you considering reviewing Angel?
When Angel said Faith had a taste for it, he was projecting a little. Faith wasn't strangling Xander because she wanted to taste killing again, she did that because she was punishing herself. Like she deserved to be hated, so she was doing something that would only result in others hating her. Self-hatred is extremely destructive. Faith feels like she deserves to be hated, so she joined the Mayor's side so that she can be hated by those who's opinion matters to her. Namely Buffy's. Faith has never had control over her life, from being abused as a child, to being chosen as a Slayer. Her choice in sexual partners are people who are inappropriate for her. Not just inappropriate because they are too old for her, but because they are men. Men whom she has no sexually attraction to because they are the wrong gender for her. She has chooses to have sex with inappropriate partners because it is a way of reliving her childhood abuse but in a way that she is now in control of. She chooses sexual partners as a way of punishing herself, because she feels bad, dirty even. She These inappropriate sexual partners also serve the purpose of justifying those feelings of shame.
3x15 From Faith's perspective, this is how I think she decides The Mayor was a better option than the Scoobies (whether wrong or right isn't the point. Her reasoning is how I see she sees it): Neither Giles or Wesley bother trying to find Faith a decent place to live. Plus Joyce only invites her for dinner in _Faith, Hope and Trick_ to see if she can take over for Buffy. In _Faith, Hope and Trick,_ Xander and Willow only pretend to be friends with Faith because their friendship with Buffy is still rocky until the end of that episode. It is why they only treat Faith professionally in _Beauty and the Beasts_ and onward. In _Homecoming,_ Xander and Willow ignore Faith during the dance. By doing so, Faith realizes they aren't her friends anymore, making sure to put Cordelia in the car Faith was supposed to be in, so they don't have to deal too much with their own guilt, leaving Faith alone and friendless at a school dance of a school she doesn't go to. Faith realizing during said Homecoming dance, mentioned above, that Xander and Willow don't see her as friends, makes her upset, and therefore that is why she is away from the group during _Band Candy._ In _Revelations,_ Xander attempted to use Faith as an assassin to kill Angel. Whether it was Faith's idea or not means little in terms of Xander not correcting her misconception as he asked, "Can I come?" (only after Giles is knocked out does he acknowledge [Willow and Buffy also chastise him for it] he should have tried to correct Faith's misconceptions when he had the chance as it is too late once Giles is unconscious and Faith sees it as confirmation of what she needs to do). Buffy is forced to step in the middle of Faith and Angel. Faith sees this as a betrayal and emotionally distances herself from Buffy's friendship, which stepped up after Willow and Xander cut themselves off at the end of _Faith, Hope, and Trick._ Gwendolyn Post only stirred an already brewing pot of trouble. She didn't cause it. But her betrayal made things worse. After that, Faith's distrust in the Scoobies as a whole is why she is absent for the episodes _Lovers Walk_ and _The Wish._ In _Amends,_ Faith attempts to give Buffy another chance and she views Buffy as blowing said chance when she assumed Buffy abandoned her and her Christmas invite for babysitting Joyce duty to help Angel. Buffy not explaining and/or not allowing Faith to come along (Joyce should know not to step outside her home after dark or invite anyone in at this point) took a larger toll on the second chance Buffy didn't even realize Faith was giving her. The hurt Faith feels over this misunderstanding and miscommunication is why Faith is absent during _Gingerbread_ and _Helpless._ In _The Zeppo,_ Faith's revenge against Xander for using her as an assassin is kicking him out while also getting her "itch" scratched. And the friendship in the last episode ( _Bad Girls_ ) is her revenge against Buffy for her real and perceived slights up to this point. In other words, she pretends to be Buffy's friend. Xander and Willow most likely giving her the idea. When _Consequences_ happens, Faith ends up needing real friendship, help, and support, and the Scooby Gang cannot offer much, if any, which is why Buffy turns to Angel. The Scoobies have pushed her away enough to, from Faith's POV, not want to help her let alone be able to. When Buffy turns to Angel to help Faith (which was also a risk as Buffy was dating him and therefore Faith wouldn't be of a mind to trust him), it seemed to be a start until Wesley screws it up by trying to capture her for/with a wetworks team. All trust from Faith's perspective is now 100% gone and Faith decides The Mayor is the better option, through being in denial and not trusting The Scoobies because of real issues and misconceptions. Going to The Mayor definitely isn't right, but Faith views it as her only option. 3x16 "Can you believe The Watchers Council let this guy go?" is an interesting question because in terms of research, I can. Giles almost always has to do research and has chosen a favorite (When before Wesley [and even before Gwendolyn Post] showed up) he was supposed to be both their Watchers. Weasley has shown he sometimes knows answers off the top of his head without thinking too hard and can just go to the book. Giles stregnth that Weasley both hasn't been given a chance by the group to do, and hasn't really tried to do yet either, is in bonding with the group. It is why Giles is more successful in that reguard and why Wesley made such a huge mess concerning Faith in _Consequences (previous episode)._ I feel disappointed that the well-deserved talk Cordelia had a right to give to Willow wasn't even given to Willow. Vampire Willow may be evil, but Willow was the one who deserved listening to that. As great a slayer as Buffy is, I love that she can admit Faith stabbing Alan Finch could have just as easily have happened to her because she also shows she learned from Faith's mistake when she stopped herself from staking Vampire Willow at Willow shouting, "Buffy, no!" My favorite part of this episode is Willow and Vampire Willow rolling their eyes the same way at the same time.
Excellent comments and connections to Faith and her actions. The only thing I disagree with is that the actions in Sunnydale were critical to the direction that Faith chooses. I believe Faith was a violent , messed up person, with self hatred driving her thoughts and selfish desires. The very cunning writers used the charisma and built in audience likability of Elizah Disku ( never can spell her name) to hide the disturbed sociopath that is Faith. Look how she arrives in Sunnydale. Not going to meet Buffy and introduce herself. She goes to The Bronze, dances with a Vampire, beats him up before killing him , and then going inside to tell stories about herself and great victories . However the key is how Faith finds the best part is killing , feeling horny, and finding anyone to satisfy her desires. Violence leading to sexual conquest and giving her fulfillment. No accident that Beauty and The Beasts came after to show us the evil that is equating violence with sex. How different is this than Darla with Angel in Becoming and Spike and Drusilla? The Scoobys did not help but they are 17 year olds! Joyce is an average Mother with a daughter like Buffy. No way Joyce could help Faith… she really has not shown much in any guidance to a teen girl… ever. Giles has no bond with Faith ( he doesn’t trust her) and Wesley is a typical order following Watcher. We want to justify Faith but she is messed up. Buffy came from a broken home, an absent Father, isolation at school, but she sought out help. But Buffy has ethics and a moral center. Remember that Buffy had a similar situation in Ted. She believes that she killed Ted and so does everyone. Joyce shows her lack of real moral compass by saying she will lie for Buffy to the police. But Buffy takes the lesson learned in Lie To Me and takes the hard but morally correct stance and admits she hit Ted and knocked him down the stairs to his death. That’s involuntary manslaughter but it’s the truth. Faith is in the same place but like Buffys dying friend, she makes the dark and easy choice. Buffy has been with 3 people in very difficult circumstances and they all took the easy way and immoral decision. Only Buffy had the courage to make the difficult choice that will lead to hardship and loss. But right and wrong is more important than comfortable outcomes. Buffy had sex out of love. Faith has sex for satisfying her desire to punish others and herself.
Not a spoiler but there is one call back to Doppelgangland in a future ep that almost no one seems to catch. I'll see if you guys catch it when it comes.
"they cant trust Faith like that" - do you guys think Faith might have gotten dealt a bad hand? they excluded her for almost the whole season and then this big thing happens and theres no trust built up between Faith and the group. kind of inevitable with the way they treated her, no?
