I never understand how people get the impression the Mayor is just using Faith. That's never the vibe we're given. He literally just spent his time encouraging her and boosting her self esteem
While he acts like he's her proud father, he also never lets her forget that he's her *boss.* His affection is not unconditional - he muses at one point about the difficult job he'll have "replacing" her if she doesn't follow his orders. Whether "replacing" her entails having her killed or not, that's a clear statement that Faith has his protection and support...but only as long as she toes the line, and she's burned her bridges with the Scoobies, so without him, she has nothing. So as genuine as it is, there's this air of mild sinisterness to the whole thing beneath the weirdly sweet face-value wholesomeness. He is effectively taking advantage of a troubled, broke, homeless teenager with nowhere else to turn, intentionally or otherwise.
That's easy to say having seen the entire season. Anybody who was a 100 percent sure of the Mayor's motives either way as the season unfolded is painfully naive. It really could have gone either way.
I think they expect that to be the case but they miss where the major generally cares for the humans in his group. He was pissed as hell when his deputy was killed and this time he spoke of a wife he had really loved. And I think he's genuinely taken to Faith as the daughter he could never have.
This episode an example of amazing writing and directing, since "we" were still routing and keeping "our" faith for Faith. There so many high end secenes and talks: Faith and Mayor Faith and Willow The Mayor and Bangel Xander and Cordy And the scene under the tree, when Buffy hugs Willow and both rolling over the gras - so damn good, funny, heart warming🥰. This small natural feeling moments are what sets Buffy far ahead of other shows.
I think S3 is definitely one of the best seasons from the whole show. The arc of the show building up to Graduation Day is brilliantly handled. The part where they try to break in to steal The Box Of Gavrok is obviously a parody/homage to The Mission Impossible movie and adds some comedic relief to the episode. Willow is now really gaining real power, and this is great foreshadowing here. It was interesting to see Oz who is normally calm and collected in human form absolutely flip when Wesley was saying there should be no swap. Faith leaving the knife behind also very symbolic for the future. Graduation Day is a brilliant finale to come.
Right now, Wesley is getting the combo of our gang's hate towards the Watchers Council for almost getting Buffy killed in a stupid test (that we all know was really to show they had the control) and because he has no battle experience so his ideas are mostly stupid, plus he treats them all like his subordinates. I'm sure that Wesley could do better after he has more experience and learns to work as a part of a group instead of thinking he's the boss - and if he survives to learn all that, I'm sure our gang will treat him differently. When Angel became Angelus it was a heartbreaking wake-up call to Buffy that their relationship had serious, gigantic red flags, the kind that did not lead to getting married and adopting a pet. The problem is that since Angel was sent back from Hell, Buffy has been ignoring every problem because she wants to believe that his return was an answer to her prayers or a reward for everything she's gone through... and there's no evidence to think that's true. So she and Angel both have been living in the now and ignoring the future, and that's an easy thing to do when you know you could die tomorrow. But the Mayor just gave them a harsh but true dose of what the future could be if they do live long enough to be ready for a relationship where you buy a home and think about marriage and kids. And thats a reality that will dwell in their minds now, no matter how much they try to ignore it. I think I have more empathy for Faith than most people because my partner grew up in a crappy, abusive home like Faith where the only person she could rely on was herself, but deep inside she desperately craved for someone, anyone, to care about her. We know Faith had a watcher for a while so she at least had a teacher/student relationship, but her watcher was brutally murdered and Faith barely escaped with her life. She ended up in Sunnydale, became safe, and was on the outskirts of the Scoobies - which both helped and deeply hurt her at the same time. She saw that a slayer didn't have to be alone except for her watcher because Buffy had a strong group of friends who helped her however they could, even Cordelia who didn't like Buffy still helped. She also had another slayer to fight side by side with and who could share the burden of being a slayer because she understood it in a way no one else could. But as time went on she was still on the outside of everything except slaying - the Scoobies were Buffy's group and she was the shining star they orbited around. In fact, even Giles and Joyce never bothered to make sure she had a safe place to sleep and food to eat. It's no wonder she became resentful, and after she mistakenly killed the assistant to the Mayor and Wesley sold her out, she convinced herself that if she opposed Buffy and won, it would prove who was the best slayer. So she went to the Mayor and joined the Bad Guys. The Mayor wanted information about what the good guys were doing, Faith could do that. The Mayor wanted deaths, Faith was great at that. But then the Mayor started giving her attention, and gifts, and treating her like his daughter in a lot of ways. Sure, he quietly threatened her sometimes, but he also took her out for ice cream and to play miniature golf, and most of all he made sure she had an apartment, food, and clothes. The saddest part of all is that he was probably the first adult who took care of her like this without expecting sex (note the "sugar daddy" comment the Mayor shut down). None of this makes Faith a bad person, just a kid who was never taught right from wrong and who has been led into evil because they treated her well. And yes, I believe the Mayor has come to care for Faith as much as a person like him is capable of. Finally, yay for Willow for gaining them an advantage and for choosing to fight evil in Sunnydale with Buffy!
@MrSupertallblackman He doesnt have a personal connection to them. This is his job. And, of course, he wint be a friend to people who attempt to bully him and treat him like trash.
Some where. Buffy tried at times and Xender really tried. Willow however barely even spoke to her and spoke ill of her whenever she wasn't around. Willow is far form a Saint.
Agreed. And her Watcher is ineffectual and Giles clearly favours Buffy. Faith needs support and guidance from someone who puts her high on their list of priorities. The only one around is the Mayor.
Willow and Buffy's friendship is my favorite of the entire series because they have been friends since day 1 and Willow's decision and Buffy's reaction to the college news makes me smile everytime. Everyone deserves a friend like they have in each other.
It is a knife from Kit Rae that make fantasy styled blades and other things, the blade Faith got is called "Jackal" if interested getting for fan purpose. I actually own 2 blades from this show, but I bought before knowing they were in the show, but do not own the Jackal
great reaction to a good set up ep that dangled things that were obvious (the pesky immortality thing of Angel, and Buffy can't have a life beyond her duties) but had yet to be discussed and might come into play as we go along... great stuff as always, D. a CTU for you today and keep em coming!
The kids are growing up and dealing with everything that is going to mean for them moving forward. So many changes in their lives, but they still have that family they've built with one another as they lean on each other and grow together. Regarding Faith and the mayor, though, I think the mayor genuinely does care about her. And he gives her the attention and validation that she has been lacking in her life, I think, and he is to her sort of what Giles is to Buffy. He's also evil and completely insane, but he does care about her.
It's interesting how some people don't realize how much the Mayor loves faith like a daughter and Faith loves him like a parent. Both seem to be lacking in those relationships and found something in each other. Not everything is black and white with bad people. I think it makes evil characters much more interesting. But it's also fun seeing other people view it differently and hearing a different point of view.
When I first watched this episode I was like Mayor shut up you know nothing about Buffy and Angel relationship but The Mayor even though he is a evil bastard he just confirmed what I'm sure Angel had thought about for a while now he and Buffy relationship is extremely abnormal , she's a slayer and he's a vampire their relationship is already off for the mortal and supernatural community but also unlike most couples who might be older than each other by a few years , a couple years or even a decade or two Angel is a 245 year old vampire he's older than Buffy by centuries he's got way more life experience than she will ever get so there is always be a power imbalance between them with that ( oh plus that whole pesky curse thing too Lol ) so yeah all The Mayor did was just tell Angel this so he'll see , sometimes you have to hear the hard truths even from your enemies
Yep as evil as the Mayor is, his words were accurate to Angel and their reactions showed this for sure. Hope you’re enjoying the reaction’s Roderick, appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment 🤍
7:45 Why? Most of the Scoobies were neglectful of Faith but Willow was the only one who was actually intentionally trying to keep her out of the group. One would think that Willow who used to be bullied would know better than to do it to others but unfortunately a lot of people who have been bullied turn around and do it to others. 9:30 Willow was never Faith's friend. Willow whispered behind Faith's back from the moment she arrived in Sunnydale.
I love the dichotomy of Buffy almost never going to class or doing schoolwork (that we see), her being seemingly clueless when she is in class, and getting accepted into a top school. SMH. ;-)
