Characterization In The Buffyverse — ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Season 4, Episode 22

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) and her friends face a supernatural threat of their own making. Also, dreams of cheese occur.

(Warning of spoilers from this point on!)

Sineya (Sharon Ferguson) is either the first slayer’s ghost or a representation of her and the demonic essence that makes slayers what they are. Whatever the case, she attempts the dream killings via what each person represents in the recent spell (Season 4, Episode 21, “Primeval”).

Tara Maclay (Amber Benson) is not in this episode. However, a dream representation exists mostly as a way for whatever Sineya is to communicate to the dreamers.

Cheese Man (David Wells) could be either a bit of nonsense in the dreams thanks to Buffy’s love of cheese or a running gag with no explanation. Whatever Cheese Man is, he serves no purpose other than being a joke.

Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) leaving the dream versions of Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Oz (Seth Green) behind seems to suggest her erasing the possibility of being bi-sexual. The kitten, meanwhile, seems to be a metaphor for her possibly sensing the mystical development of Dawn Summers (Michelle Trachtenberg). The part about drama is a reference to her fear of acting, and a possible metaphor for a fear of confrontation — though the latter is uncertain (Season 1, Episode 9, ‘The Puppet Show”). The high school aspect of her nightmare could be a fear of going backward in her life. One thing that reoccurs is the suggestion of being an impostor. This could be an element of her change in sexual orientation or just her whole current way of being. In the real world, she, like Xander, makes jokes.

Xander is his usual joking self when he is conscious. The military element of his dreams obviously represents the costume spell (Season 2, Episode 6, “Halloween”) plus his movie choice in this episode. Dream Buffy’s comment about needing help with the bathroom, apparently, represents feelings of emasculation. As for the dream representations of Joyce Summers (Kristine Sutherland), Willow, and Tara — they are just unrealistic fantasies he has. Although the one with Joyce hearkens back to a prior misadventure (Season 2, Episode 16, “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”). Xander also appears to view Anya (Emma Caulfield Ford) as less-than considering how he refers to her while in the dream. The segment with Principal Snyder (Armin Shimerman) suggests some fears about his sidekick status, but they are rather unclear. Lastly, Xander’s nightmare of Mr. Harris (Michael Harney) obviously displays his fear of his abusive father.

Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), by this point, sees Buffy as a surrogate daughter. While Olivia Williams (Phina Oruche) is apparently the significant other that got away. Dream Olivia’s pregnancy and the pram could represent anything from Dawn’s arrival to the biological child he wishes to have. As far as dream Spike’s (James Marsters) presence goes, he is just a distraction in Giles’s nightmare. He also seems to have a grudging respect for the real Anya based on how he views her representation. In his moments of awareness, he tries to warn the group and fight back against Sineya. These moments are also a way for Giles to provide major exposition for the audience about what is trying to kill the Scoobies.

Buffy acts like a girlfriend feeling concern for her boyfriend, Riley Finn (Marc Blucas) when he goes before his military superiors. While with with her mom, Joyce,  she comes off as a realistic offspring via her dismissal of her mother’s remark. Dream Riley and Dream Adam (George Hertzberg) represent Buffy’s new fears about the government after her experiences with The Initiative. Also, dream Adam’s dialogue represents Sineya via metaphorical context. Riley’s departure next season (Season 5, Episode 10, “Into The Woods”) sees foreshadowing with Buffy’s final encounter with the dream version of him. The bed represents Dawn and is a callback to the first mention of her (Season 3, Episode 22, “Graduation Day, Part Two” ). Finally, Buffy’s battle with Sineya and her triumph appears to be a fight to understand about who she is and isn’t.

Joyce and Riley are the only two characters who don’t dream in this episode. While they both actually appear. their respective impacts and characterizations are next to nothing.

Although there are more bits of characterization in this episode, they are all in the dreams. These dream elements are all interpretative or obvious metaphors, and are too numerous and subjective to go into in a concise way. For example: the meaning in Buffy’s dream of Joyce behind the wall has a lot of interpretations, just like the guitar player who resembles Oz does in Giles’s dream. Besides the various bits of characterization, one can argue that after this episode the show becomes more thematic. Obviously, the thematic elements are usually allusions or metaphors one can see clearly upon critically thinking on each episodes’ contents. Yet, the show will never be as metaphorical as it is here.