Characterization In The Buffyverse — ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Season 4, Episode 15
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: Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) plans a rescue of Riley Finn (Marc Blucas). Meanwhile, Faith (Eliza Dushku) wakes from her coma.
(Warning of spoilers from this point on!)
Buffy is wiling to give Faith the benefit of the doubt due to the coma. Nevertheless, she still acts with caution. Although, for some reason, neither she nor the rest of the Scoobies think to use a spell to find Faith. As for keeping Angel (David Boreanaz) a secret from Riley, it demonstrates Buffy is insecure about trusting Riley fully. Finally, Buffy going into Slayer mode when planning to rescue Riley displays the split between an average person and a Slayer.
Riley is, for the most part, a recovering soldier on his way out in this episode. His status in The Initiative is getting shaky — to the point he is worrying about people spying on him. It is a justifiable concern when one looks back at what The Initiative did this season, and its ties to the American government. Also, he spends the majority of this episode healing from a severe injury. Lastly, Riley acts as an audience surrogate by asking questions about Faith.
Spike (James Marsters) only makes a brief appearance here to foreshadow his meeting Faith in the next episode (Season 4, Episode 16, ‘Who Are You?’). Otherwise, he serves no purpose to the plot and sees no growth.
Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon) is in denial about Faith’s lack of feelings regarding their one-night stand (Season 3, Episode 13, ’The Zeppo’). Arguably, this moment is a bit of a regression for his character. It is also in contrast to how he suggests they stop Faith after learning she’s out of the coma. While his conversation with Spike about her reiterates Xander is still a gag character, it is also a way to give exposition. This bit of exposition also provides set-up for how Spike will fail to realize who Faith is in the next episode.
Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) is kind of just in this episode to be in the episode. Yes, he does things like help Xander search for Faith, but he otherwise seems to lack agency.
Faith seems to want a similar sense of normality as Buffy. At least, this is something her coma dreamscape suggests. Yet, upon waking up she almost immediately starts to spiral into familiar anti-social behaviors. Nevertheless, there are still hints of Faith wanting to change, such as how she leaves the the Visitor (Kimberly McRae) alive at the hospital. That said, beating the Visitor up is a bad thing, althought she easily could have killed her instead.
Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) essentially exists here to verbally bash Faith. The only development Willow gets is growing a bit closer to Tara Maclay (Amber Benson) via searching with her for Faith.
Tara mentions she is not a fighter. This bit of characterization will hold true — at least when it comes to the literal concept of being a fighter — throughout her time in the series.
Forrest Gates (Leonard Roberts) continues to act illogically about Buffy. His only real development revolves around his desire to go against the chain of command when it comes to Riley.
Graham Miller’s (Bailey Chase) character progression pretty much stops with this episode. Despite still being a recurring character, he is now just a guy that gives out a few lines.
Joyce Summers (Kristine Sutherland) serves the story both as Buffy’s mom and Faith’s hostage. The only growth she arguably gets comes when Faith points out that Buffy is ignoring Joyce.
Mayor Richard Wilkins (Harry Groener) is just a projection of Faith’s psyche. He apparently represents her desire to have parental love from someone, and, possibly, to have a less hard persona.
Weatherby (Jeff Ricketts), the demon (Mark Gantt), Smith (Kevin Owers), the Detective (Chet Grissom), the Visitor, Collins (Alastair Duncan), the older nurse (Sara Van Horn), the orderly (Brian Hawley), and the doctor (Jack Esformes) respectively either serve the story only a little or not at all. While all of them are stock characters, the one who arguably effects the narrative is the older nurse since her actions alert the Watcher’s Council.
Although there are a lot of characters, only a small amount of them who see any new development. This is simply because most of the characterization this week sets up what will happen in the next episode.
