Characterization In The Buffyverse — ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Season 4, Episode 10
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 that have a direct relation to either show in this bi-weekly series.
This week: Demons with good manners come to Sunnydale. Also Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) starts a conversation with Riley Finn (Marc Blucas).
(Warning of spoilers from this point on!)
Buffy does not really do anything new in this episode other than severely injuring a regular human. Thus, her characterization is rather rote.
Riley Finn continues to display romantic interest in Buffy up to almost unethically kissing her (because he is still a teacher’s assistant and she is still taking a course under him). This idiotic behavior goes well with the fact that he does two other moronic things. The first: believing Buffy’s horrible cover-up about her patrolling. The second is using an elevator in an emergency — one with deadly safeguards he knows he can’t stop. These three things result in a character who is questionable candidate for a covert group.
Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) gets some odd characterization since she believes that the college Wicca Group would have lots of magic users. Yes, it is in Sunnydale, but there are so many oblivious humans in the town that the lack of probability should have been obvious. Thus, her disappointment with the group is something that should not be so great. Another bit of characterization occurs when she links hands with Tara Maclay (Amber Benson) to boost their powers. The camera focusing on their hands acts as a lesbian subtext after one looks at future episodes (Season 4, Episode 19, ‘New Moon Rising’).
Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon) gets some development when showing the depth of his feelings for Anya (Emma Caulfield Ford) by beating up Spike (James Marsters). Yet, this occurs after making hurtful jokes about her human status, so some of this display may be due to guilt.
Anya exhibits disdain for Xander’s negative comments near Giles’s front door. This is a small moment, but it does help round-out her character and her relationship with Xander.
Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) does not get much to do in this episode. What mainly occurs is a display of his difficulty in experiencing things with people his own age. Case in point: his visit from Olivia (Phina Oruche) goes from being romantic to tragic as she cannot handle the supernatural. Also, his researching in this episode is rather pointless since the answer is in a random book of fairytales. Thus, his intellectual ability sees replacement by a deux ex machina plot point.
Olivia is both Giles’s love interest and the reason he has the epiphany about where to learn about this week’s monsters. But upon discovering that the supernatural is real, she makes her exit from her romance with Giles.
Spike is mostly just an annoying roommate in this episode. Although his liking to mix things in with his blood is a new development for him.
Tara does not get the best introduction in this episode. She is simply a shy outsider who turns out to have magical abilities.
Forrest Gates (Leonard Roberts) gets to appear as Riley’s best friend in this episode by making fun of him about Buffy. He also exists to provide levity in the elevator scene via writing obvious phrases about hurrying up.
Professor Maggie Walsh (Lindsay Crouse)., the little girl (Elizabeth Thuax), and the newscaster (Carlos Amezcua) simply provide exposition—albeit the first two only in dreams. Other than that, they have no reason to be in this episode.
Freshman (Wayne Sable), Cheryl (Jessica Townsend), and Nicole (Brooke Bloom) are all one-note stereotypical characters. The freshman is a victim, and the two women are bullies to Tara and Willow.
The Gentlemen (Don W. Lewis, Camden Toy, Doug Jones, Charlie Brumbly) are pretty much non-characters. They exist only as scary images that float and kill without a clear goal or any actual personalities.
This episode is too reliant on a gimmick to the point that stretching has to occur with characterization. Thus, very little actual development happens. For example, there is no real theorizing about The Gentlemen’s motives, or their goals, by Buffy and the Scoobies. However, a gag does happen involving the group misunderstanding Buffy’s staking motion when she lacks a stake. Even The Initiative’s lack of knowledge about magic is less characterization and more a minor plot point. Therefore, this gimmick episode works only so well.
