"Beer Bad"

 

Episode 5 of Season 4

 

“Just how gullible do you think I am?”

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Original US airdate: November 2nd, 1999 (aired directly before the Angel episode "Rm w/a Vu")

Rewatched: May 14th, 2022

 

• Writer: Tracey Forbes

• Director: David Solomon

• Guests: Marc Blucas, Adam Kaufman, Paige Moss, Eric Matheny, Stephen M. Porter, Lindsay Crouse

 

“Beer Bad” is both really really bad and kind of good. In the bad category is the theme of the evils of beer. This is the 2nd time Buffy has drunk alcohol and it doesn’t end well. It ends up with Buffy being a cave person. So yeah. Pretty cheesy. I know that the freshmen drinking is often not pretty. A lot of students end up going a bit overboard. But…

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In the good category, Buffy is still not over Parker. She wants him to want her. She daydreams that she saves him and he wants to get back together. But in the course of the episode, Riley tells her that Parker is a player. Buffy witnesses Parker being a player. And she’s starting to get that he’s not a good guy to want. Willow is able to exact some revenge for Buffy when she runs into Parker at a coffee shop and tells him off. He tries to show Willow his side of things. He works his wiles and Willow plays along, until she finally tells him she’s on to him. That he isn’t sharing or connecting, he only wants sex. Buffy has her moment when she needs to save Willow and Parker from the coffee shop, now on fire thanks to other bad beer cave men. Cave Buffy is still smart enough to find a way for everyone out of a burning building. Parker is last to be saved and it does seem for a minute that Buffy might leave him. Instead, she hits him over the head but saves him anyways.

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In the aftermath, Parker reenacts Buffy’s fantasy, saying he’d like to give them another chance. Cave Buffy bonks him over the head again, finding her closure. Willow and Buffy are not going to put up with manipulative, gaslighting guys.

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In other news, Xander is still trying to find his footing and ends up working in the campus pub as a bartender this episode. He hasn’t found his post high school groove yet and isn’t quite ready to give up on his high school wish to be a macho dude, as his shouting “nothing defeats the penis” indicates. Finally, Oz runs into Veruca again, who plays with her band Shy at the Bronze. Willow notices that Oz seems drawn to her, and is feeling a little unsure in her relationship.

 

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“Wild at Heart”

 

Episode 6 of Season 4

 

“The wolf is inside me all the time.”

 

Original US airdate: November 9th, 1999 (aired directly before the Angel episode "Sense and Sensitvity")

Rewatched: March 21st, 2022

 

• Writer: Marti Noxon

• Director: David Grossman

• Guests: Marc Blucas, Paige Moss, James Marsters, Lindsay Crouse

 

This is Oz’s last episode as a member of the title cast, and an episode focused on finding identity post high school. Oz has been noticing Veruca, and Veruca Oz for several episodes. And Willow’s noticing, too. In this episode, we learn Veruca is a fellow werewolf, much more in tune or comfortable with her wolf self. She remembers what she’s done as a wolf (in contrast to Oz) and may be able to control herself more (since she doesn’t lock herself in a cage and no strange maulings have occurred in Sunnydale). When Oz escapes his cage, he and Veruca have werewolf sex. The next night, Oz locks them both in a cage, knowing what will happen. Willow finds them the next morning and is upset. She later tries to curse Oz and Veruca, but can’t go through with it. Veruca then appears and tries to kill Willow. Oz kills Veruca instead and before he can kill Willow (since he turned into a werewolf during his fight with Veruca), Buffy arrives and knocks him out. The episode ends with Oz leaving to try to figure out and control his werewolf side. He tells Willow he’s never loved anything more in his life, but he still leaves.

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Much like with Buffy and Angel, for Willow and Oz, love is not quite enough to bridge the divide. While they may have been able to return from Oz’s werewolf infidelity (they did after all survive Willow kissing Xander), the open questions of who Oz is – is he a person who turns into a wolf three nights a month, or, as Veruca claims, a wolf disguised as a human. Although Oz has always seemed to be the later, there were moments (like when he and Cordy are trying to find a kidnapped Xander and Willow and he can smell Willow, or his attraction to Veruca) where the werewolf seems to be present in his normal life. This episode seems to reveal that behind Oz’s taciturn façade, he’s been having more difficulty dealing with his werewolf self than he let on. His love of Willow is not enough to keep him in Sunnydale. He needs to leave to find answers, to find himself. Ultimately, Oz is discovering that who he was in high school is not who he is any longer, and he will eventually leave Sunnydale and Willow permanently so he can live in balance with his werewolf side.

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This episode also brings up the Initiative. Spike is taken at the beginning of the episode and Buffy runs into a commando while trying to save Willow. Also, Giles, still at loose ends, shows up at the Bronze to hang out, much more down with the scene than in “Welcome to the Hellmouth”. Finally, Willow has her Wicca group orientation.

 

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“The Initiative”

 

Episode 7 of Season 4

 

“Gotta go see a girl.”

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Original US airdate: November 16th, 1999 (aired directly before the Angel episode "The Bachelor Party")

Rewatched: May 28th, 2022

 

• Writer: Douglas Petrie

• Director: James A. Contner

• Guests: Marc Blucas, Mercedes McNab, Adam Kaufman, Bailey Chase, Leonard Roberts, Lindsay Crouse

 

Season 4’s main theme is science vs. magic, with the Initiative, who we are fully introduced to this episode, representing science (with lots of bright, sterile shots of their headquarters) and the Slayer and Scoobies representing magic. This is Buffy’s foray into Sci Fi and it well not end well for the science faction.

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In this episode, viewers learn that Riley (and his friends Graham and Forrest), along with Psych Professor Maggie Walsh, is actually a member of the Initiative, a governmental organization fighting and experimenting on demons. Spike (called Hostile 17 by the Initiative) is captured and detained in a cell next to Tom, who was captured in episode 1 of this season. Spike heroically escapes the Initiative, and decides to kill Buffy, as despite his asking whether the government, Nazis (see the Angel episode “Why We Fight” for the relevance of this comment), or a cosmetics manufacturer, Spike soon comes to believe that Buffy might be behind his capture. However, despite being able to fight his way out of the Initiative, he soon finds he can no longer hurt people (raising the question how he could fight the Initiative guys). In his search for Buffy, he finds Willow and tries to kill her (in a scene reminiscent of rape) but cannot go through with it (they then have a conversation reminiscent of lovers talking about erectile dysfunction before Willow realizes she needs to run). The Initiative track Spike down at Willow and Buffy’s dorm room, but fail to capture him (in part due to Buffy) and Spike escapes.

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In other themes, Riley decides he likes Buffy. He starts the episode telling his friends and Professor Walsh she is peculiar, then decks Parker when he talks badly about Buffy, tracks down Willow to find out how to woo Buffy (and Willow, projecting her own heart break, comments to Riley about his plans to date her, fall in love and break her heart, basically foreshadowing Buffy and Riley’s relationship). Riley then tries to talk to her at a party… but fails. His second attempt looks promising, but Xander pulls Buffy away to deal with Spike. Later, while both are patrolling for Spike, Riley tries to take Buffy back to her room and Buffy tries to get Riley to leave, which is funny as both don’t realize their secret identities, but it also underlines typical sexism – the man is considered able to take care of himself while the woman is not. While Riley is okay with strong women overall (Professor Walsh and his later wife are two examples), the paternalism towards Buffy he shows here may indicate the ultimate reason his relationship with Buffy was doomed – he likes to be powerful and in command. Buffy is more powerful and more in command than he is.

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So how can this episode be summed up? Both Spike and Riley want to see a girl. Spike manages yet again to not kill Buffy, but escapes to… join the fight for good and later fall in love with Buffy. Riley has a couple strikes this episode, but by the end is making progress. However, Riley’s own issues will cause the relationship to be short lived.

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In fun facts, Giles and Xander patrol together in this episode. It is clear both are feeling a bit at loose ends and being able to help is something they enjoy. It is also revealed that Xander has lost his military knowledge gained in season 2. We learn the Oz’s name is actually Daniel Osbourne. We also learn of Harmony’s love of unicorns and that Spike is 126 years old (which is not quite in line with later events, but I’m 41 and can hardly remember how old I am, so I’ll give immortal vampires a pass at keeping track).

 

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“Pangs”

 

Episode 8 of Season 4

 

“It’s a yam sham.”

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Original US airdate: November 23rd, 1999 (aired directly before the Angel episode "I Will Remember You")

Rewatched: June 4th, 2022

 

• Writer: Jane Espenson

• Director: Michael Lange

• Guests: Marc Blucas, Mercedes McNab, Emma Caulfield, Bailey Chase, Leonard Roberts, Tod Thawley, David Boreanaz

 

It’s a very Buffy Thanksgiving, filled with themes of guilt, vengeance and cavalry. This week’s big bad is a Chumash vengeance spirit, released when Xander is digging a hole for the new Cultural Center and accidentally finds the Sunnydale Mission, missing since the 1812 earthquake. This spirit gives Xander various illnesses, kills a professor and priest, and comes after Buffy, as she is the strongest warrior. The spirit attacks Buffy while she is trying to make Thanksgiving dinner at Giles’s house, and while Xander, Willow and Anya are mistakenly trying to save the dean. The three ride back to Giles’s house on bikes, mimicking cavalry, and help Buff save the day.

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While overall, the discussion of whether Thanksgiving should be celebrated (Anya calling it a ritual sacrifice is kind of spot on) is a valid point in this episode, that in the end the only solution was to kill the spirit is kind of disappointing. While this is pointed out by Willow and Buffy over dinner, it still is a bit of a bummer. Is there no other way to revisit the past, besides violently putting it down? Is there no value in confronting the wrongs of the past and working to make them right? While Giles does note that vengeance is never sated and hatred is a cycle, is it only violence that can break this cycle? I’d like to believe differently.

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This is also technically a cross-over with Angel, as Doyle had a vision of grave danger that sent Angel to Sunnydale. Angel chooses not to tell Buffy he is there, although she senses him. Giles and Willow, and later Xander and Anya learn he is there, but he chooses to remain hidden from Buffy. Giles criticizes this as unfair, but Angel is not to be swayed. He claims he is not getting a better half of the deal. But really, what was the grave danger? Angel talks to Giles and Willow. Calls Giles to confirm the warriors have laid siege to Buffy. Breaks the locks on the bikes so Willow, Xander and Anya can ride to the rescue. And throws something at a spirit attacking Buffy from behind. This was seriously not grave danger for Buffy and very much like things she had faced before. A bit of a specious reason for a cross-over, really. 

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In fun facts, Xander calls Anya his girlfriend. Xander’s string of jobs is mentioned, including Hot Dog on a Stick, but this is his first foray into construction which is where he will land. Harmony has been reading and is in control (and kicks Spike out). Spike ends up seeking refuge at Giles’s place, getting in by promising inside knowledge of the Initiative. As Buffy says, the whole point of Thanksgiving is having a place to go, which is proven by Spike joining the Scoobies for dinner. Finally, Riley and Buffy seem to be getting closer.

 

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“Something Blue”

 

Episode 9 of Season 4

 

“Everybody cares, nobody wants to be inconvenienced.”

 

Original US airdate: November 30th, 1999 (aired diretly before the Angel episode "Hero")

Rewatched: June 11th, 2022

 

• Writer: Tracey Forbes

• Director: Nick Marck

• Guests: Marc Blucas, Emma Caulfield, Elizabeth Anne Allen

 

It’s another Buffy episode about relationships. A central theme is Willow and Oz’s break up. Oz had his bandmates pack up his stuff and send it to him. Willow is once again devastated and it’s affecting her (she forgets to go to Giles’s to help with a spell and she drinks beer at the Bronze). She decides to do a spell to have her will done, so she can will her heart to be mended. When she tells Giles she did the spell and it didn’t work, he is rightly concerned. He doesn’t think she’s in a good state to be doing solo magic spells, but Willow blows him off, saying he’s trying to punish her for being in pain. Note, this blowing off of concerns around magic is an overall theme for Willow and it does foreshadow the events in season 6.

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However, Willow’s spell did actually work. She can’t will her heart to mend, but she ends up willing a lot of things. Giles goes blind, Amy becomes a human (and then a rat again), Buffy finds Spike right aways after he runs away, Buffy and Spike decide to get married, and Xander becomes a demon magnet. All this draws D’Hoffryn, the demon who made Anya a vengeance demon, to Sunnydale to make Willow an offer. She turns him down, which he accepts (and he gives her his talisman in case she ever needs it). Willow is able to break her spell before too much damage is done. The moral is there are no easy ways out of emotional pain. We have to experience the pain ourselves.

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In the Buffy category, she and Riley are getting closer. They go on a picnic. They get along. But Buffy feels something is missing. He’s not Angel, basically. Their relationship is nearly derailed when Buffy tells Riley she’s marrying Spike, but Buffy able to get in back on track at the end of the episode by claiming she was joking.

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A minor, related theme in this episode is family. Willow is in so much pain, she can’t see how much her chosen family is there for her. Buffy asks Giles to walk her down the aisle, because her wedding day is about her real family. Spike is without family and has no one to turn to but the Scoobies.

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After turning to the Scoobies in the last episode, Spike is now staying (tied up in the bathtub) at Giles’s apartment, yelling that he wants to watch Passions (the first time his love of this soap opera is mentioned) and generally being a pain. The Scoobies are hoping to milk him for information about the Initiative, but he can’t remember much. However, he is perceptive about Willow’s emotional state (more than the Scoobies are) and he is slowly on the way to becoming a Scooby himself, although he doesn’t seem impressed by them so far, quipping “This is the crack team that foils my every plan?” when he witnesses their sleuthing.

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So, relationships. They’re not easy, but Buffy once again underlines how important they are.

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A final note, Willow wears a shirt which reads “speak no evil”, which may foreshadow the next episode.

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