Characterization In The Buffyverse — ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Season 5, Episode 6

This is part of a bi-weekly series concerning the characterization of Buffyverse characters. 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 direct relation to either show in this bi-weekly series. Although, references that have no direct relation to the show in order to examine metaphors and literary analogues will occur.

This week: Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) tries to research the mysterious Glory (Clare Kramer). Also, Tara Maclay (Amber Benson) unintentionally causes trouble for the Scoobies.

(Warning of spoilers from this point on!)

(Trigger warning for mentions of abuse and gaslighting)

Dawn Summers (Michelle Trachtenberg) is simply Buffy’s sister who is, unknowingly, a magical key. Besides serving to help display Buffy’s change in attitude towards her, there are not a lot of reasons for Dawn to be in this episode.

Riley Finn (Marc Blucas) is apparently a long time regular at Willy’s demon bar. This fact, along with his storming out on Buffy, adds to the toxic picture of insecurity that is Riley.

Buffy lies to her friends and family in a way that is similar to superheroes using secret identities. The intention is to protect them, but in both cases the lie doesn’t necessarily make them safer. Not to mention that her hiding it from Riley causes friction despite also telling him she will need his help. There is also some problematic dialogue from her and Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon) during their discussion of Tara’s gifts. They seem to be equating spell casters like Willow and Tara too much with their sexual orientations. Thus, Buffy and Xander come off a bit homophobic despite wanting to be supportive. Additionally, Buffy is now overprotective of Dawn.

Spike’s (James Marsters) love for Buffy is toxic here because he uses Harmony Kendall (Mercedes McNab) and the mannequin to help his fantasy life. Nevertheless, he does assist Buffy and Tara without asking for compensation.

Anya (Emma Caulfield Ford) serves the story by aiding with exposing Tara’s abusive relatives. Also, her intense love of money sees cementing in this episode.

Xander acts very immature by starting a fight with Riley. Considering Riley actually has military training whereas Xander has only vague memories from a spell (Season 2, Episode 6, “Halloween”), Riley should have easily put an end to it. Standing up to Donny MaClay (Kevin Rankin) seems redundant since Buffy could physically handle the situation alone. Still, it does help with the thematic messages of group unity and making one’s own family. Also, this moment shows that despite his often toxic qualities, such as the homophobia in this episode, he can have good intentions.

Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) is really just Tara’s girlfriend. Still, she aids Tara in finding the emotional fortitude to become free of an abusive situation.

Tara makes a less-than-successful attempt at a joke while helping Buffy move. Her embarrassment afterwards comes off as very similar to how Willow would react when failing socially (Season 1, Episode 1, “Welcome to the Hellmouth”). Meanwhile, her being a survivor of abuse having to suddenly confront her abusers sees evidence with the restructuring of sentences, her stutter becoming more heavy, and other physical mannerisms. Though why the Scoobies — specifically Xander with his own history of abuse — don’t appear to immediately pick up on this and speak up on the matter makes them seem blind to it. Nevertheless, Tara overcomes at least some of the fear of her family by the end of the episode, partly thanks to Spike observing the situation and speaking out. As for her using magic along with some subterfuge instead of communication, one can look at this as a defense mechanism. This history of familial abuse does raise the question of why Tara or her mother do not at least see visitation by Anya prior to Anya losing her powers.

Harmony primarily exists here to provide expositional gossip to Spike. She otherwise is a stand-in for Spike’s desire for Buffy.

Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) defers to Buffy’s leadership on the big issues of Glory and the revelation about the Key. This suggests he is acknowledging her as an adult. Yet, the scene feels very much like something that should be in the prior episode’s ending moments (Season 5, Episode 5 ,“No Place Like Home”). He also shows himself to be a bit lazy on the research front; he does not even mention trying to talk to any contacts he still has, including those in the Watcher’s Council. Overall, his growth from this episode is minimal at best.

Benjamin Wilkinson (Charlie Weber) and Glory share their first scene together in the hospital locker room. This is also the first hint that they have some relation to each other. Yet, the way it is set up is misleading first time viewers to think Glory inadvertently savied a civilian character. As for the theory that Ben and Glory are a metaphor representing transgender individuals — this episode does not provide any real evidence for it. What does exist for evidence is a threadbare argument concerning Ben leaving his place of work as someone else. Lastly, Glory targeting Buffy despite wanting the location of the Key is rather stupid since, as far as Glory is aware, Buffy is the only one who knows it.

Sandy (Megan Gray) is a vampire who hits on Riley, but whether she plans on turning him, or even draining him, is unclear. What is clear: she exists to tempt Riley into having a vampire biting experience.

The Lei-Ach Demon (Torry Pendergrass) and his friends (Unknown) are pretty generic demons. Arguably, they only exist to create an illusion of the seasonal plot having forward momentum.

The intern (Brian Tee), the bartender (Ezra Buzzington) and the crazy person (Peggy Goss) are all stock characters that serve to further populate the universe. That said, the crazy person also serves to remind viewers of the threat Glory poses to the general populace.

Mr. Maclay (Steve Rankin) is a rather standard abusive father type. His using the idea of a family curse to control Tara is just a form of gaslighting and brainwashing.

Beth (Amy Adams) is a cousin of Tara’s who has a bit of a snooty personality. Her only other trait revolves around a belief in the family curse nonsense.

Donny is a very two-dimensional rural bully and abuser. Interestingly, he and his father seem to know about the family curse being a falsehood whereas Beth does not.

Along with resolving Tara’s prior messing with a spell (Season 4, Episode 14, “Goodbye Iowa”), a good amount of growth happens for her here. Yet, the abuse and gaslighting in this episode sees resolution in that “very special episode” way that television often employs. Consequently, there is no real follow-through of the aftermath or exploration of the topic in relation to this character beyond this telling. Also, the respective subplots of Riley starting to stray and Spike’s infatuation do not help this matter since they throw off the episode’s pacing. Additionally, these moments present the more toxic sides of both characters. Finally, the Ben and Glory plot line only helps with hinting a connection between them, but this hint is arguably only fully noticeable in hindsight.