Characterization In The Buffyverse-‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Season 2, Episode 20
by Benjamin Hall
This is part of a bi-weekly series concerning the characterization of Buffyverse characters. The first installment in this series can be found here. Arguably the best place to begin reading this series is at the beginning, but that is up to each reader. As a reminder this column will cover major and some minor characters from the shows Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) and Angel (1999-2004). Other Buffyverse media, such as the graphic novel Spike: Into The Light (2014) are not pertinent to this series. Also there will be no referencing real world events in this bi-weekly series.
A winning team at the Slayer’s school faces strange danger. Meanwhile, Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon) tries out for a sport.
(Warning of spoilers from this point on!)
(Trigger warning for mentions of non-consensual acts.)
Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) displays melancholy at the beginning of this episode. She also indicates a slight interest in romance again. Although both possible romantic interests go nowhere, it at least shows that she could move on from Angel/Angelus (David Boreanaz). She also demonstrates some good restraint with the use of her powers. Unfortunately, she acts out of character when she makes a rape joke about Coach Carl Marin’s (Charles Cyphers) fate.
Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) has no character growth in this episode. On the plus side, though, there is no character regression, either. In fact, he really only exhibits bemusement and anxiety. The bemusement occurs most obviously after Buffy gets done with her apparent rant. The latter occurs around the time he locks the remainder of the swim team (minus Xander) in the book cage.
Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) gets some character development when she questions — and tries to entrap — Principal Snyder. There is also a sense that she feels a rush from being an authority figure in her role as a temporary teacher. Her renewed interest in Xander is somewhat odd due to how she is still dating Oz, but it is still logical for her character. Yet, this also raises further evidence to suggest that she is actually bisexual rather than a lesbian. Though that, and her rush from the power, will get further examination in future installments of this column…
Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter) displays very clear artistic ability with how well her drawing of the first fish man sighting turns out. Besides that, she also displays a real devotion and love for Xander when she thinks he is a fish man.
Xander Harris, meanwhile, displays some back bone with his back-talk to Cameron’s rudeness. Not to mention that he shows some nobility by attempting to save Cameron from danger. He also demonstrates some intelligence with his idea to go undercover on the swim team. Despite this growth, Xander still has two negative traits in this episode. The first is the childish manner in which notifies Cordelia that the fish man in the pool isn’t him. The latter trait is some possible homophobia with how uncomfortable he acts in the sauna with the swim team.
Jonathan Levinson (Danny Strong) and Angelus are, at best, red herrings to the origins of the monsters in this episode. At worst, they serve to pad out the episode and act as gag characters.
Coach Carl Marin and Principal Snyder (Armin Shimerman) are essentially the villains of this episode. Yes, Nurse Greenliegh (Conchata Ferrell) assists to some extent in covering up their crime of “juicing” the swim team, but Marin and Snyder don’t act like they feel guilty. Whereas just before her death, Greenliegh does. Also, Snyder and Marin essentially condoning Cameron Walker’s (Jeremy Garrett) attempt to rape Buffy might be part of why Greenliegh tries to stop things. Allowing such actions for the sake of a winning sports team makes Snyder a bigger villain than one might expect.
Gage Petronzi (Wentworth Miller) and Cameron are the only members of the swim team who have any real character traits. Yes, their teammates Dodd McAlvy (Jake Patellis) and Sean (Shane West) have some as well, but unlike Gage and Cameron, they only have one trait each. Thus, like the rest of the swim team, Dodd and Sean are merely stock characters. While Gage and Cameron are both misogynists, Cameron is the worse of the two. Gage, at least, comes across as someone willing to change while Cameron simply acts self-serving and smug. In the end, Gage is more of an unwilling victim in comparison to the rest of the swim team (minus Xander).
The characterization of each of the main characters in this episode is more consistent than in other episodes. Yet, in comparison to future episodes, this one is arguably forgettable when it comes to positive developments.
