Characterization In The Buffyverse — ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ Season 5, Episode 8

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, this series will reference incidents and ideas that have no direct relation to the show in order to examine the metaphors and literary analogues.

This week: Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) has concerns about the well-being of two family members for very different reasons. Also, her boyfriend, Riley Finn (Marc Blucas), begins to technically cheat on her.

(Warning of spoilers from this point on!)

(Trigger warning for mentions of stalking)

Joyce Summers (Kristine Sutherland) is barely in this episode despite it starting out with a focus on her having a type of cancer. What screen time she gets mostly has her emotionally holding back her feelings in an attempt to protect her daughters.

Dawn Summers (Michelle Trachtenberg) comes across as just a regular teen and sibling. Other than being part of the seasonal plot that this episode goes with, she also exists to reassure Riley about his romance.

Buffy displays both competence and incompetence with how she lives her life. She competently tries to prioritize matters despite failing at several. Also, she acts mature by not letting her concern about her mom lead to a verbal spat with her sister. While she arguably demonstrates a slight ineptitude with relationships by not communicating to Riley about her mother’s illness, or her plan to cure Joyce with magic. It is also worth mentioning that she goes after Glory (Clare Kramer) with very little preparation. When pummeling the giant snake to death, Buffy seems to be releasing her overwhelming frustrations regarding these various matters.

Riley is constantly insecure about his relationship with Buffy and fails at every chance to talk to her about it. His stepping out on her with vampires begins with this episode, but during a montage that lacks dialogue. Thus, there is no explanation as to what he is attempting to do by letting the bite take place. What is clear is that he takes Dawn’s reassurance that Buffy cries less with him to mean that she truly doesn’t love him. His toxic-masculine desire to be the stronger of the two is becoming more apparent.

Spike (James Marsters) apparently begins his breaking-and-entering of Buffy’s house to steal her stuff phase in this episode. While he definitely has love for her, this stalking behavior is a toxic part of it. Yet, if one considers that his past romantic relationship with Drusilla has a lot of toxic elements to it, then one can say this is all he remembers how to do. Throw in the lack of a working moral compass and it becomes obvious that his predatory actions have a logic to them — at least for him. His embellishing of his evening with Buffy is partly an attempt to verbally cut Riley down (Season 5, Episode 7, “Fool for Love”). The other reason to embellish: an attempt to justify his actions to himself. Nevertheless, he does have a point that it is odd how he still has an invite to Buffy’s home from the first visit.

Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon), and Tara MaClay (Amber Benson) act a bit like one person while suggesting theories to Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head). While this is not unusual for how they research things, it does limit their individuality.

Anya (Emma Caulfield Ford) displays growth with her exclamation about not wanting more death in her life. For a character who does not display remorse for past actions, this is significant. She also indicates her vast knowledge regarding magical items when she sees Glory’s (Clare Kramer) receipt. While her way of addressing this matter to Giles is not socially appropriate, it is reasonable once she provides context. It is also worth mentioning that Anya figures out the rest of the group is trying not to worry Buffy about Glory. This demonstrates a developing social awareness. Lastly, Anya does the right thing by admitting the truth to Buffy about the imminent danger of Glory’s spell.

Giles seems to purposefully ignore Anya’s declaration of personal growth. This occurs in a rather rude manner since he is also praising Riley’s inane lone wolf actions to some extent. He is lacking mystical knowledge in this episode since Anya, Willow, and Tara know more about the Sobek ritual than he does. His failure to recognize that he is selling to Glory is stupid, but it is more a massive plot contrivance than characterization. Although, one could say that his dismissing a cure for cancer via magical means is a plot contrivance, it make some sense. It aligns, at least, with the head canon argument that everyone in Buffy’s world would be going to “magical” healers to do so. Still, the reasoning he gives creates the debatable explanation that Joyce’s cancer might be a consequence from the disruption to the monks’ memory and humanity spell.

Ben Wilkinson (Charlie Weber) and Glory/Glorificus come across as two completely separate characters instead of a duo that will share a connection. The sequencing of this episode makes it seem impossible for them to have one. To put it another way, the time it takes to get around Sunnydale and each do what they are doing — in particular, Ben — is too long on Glory’s part. Arguably, this means that Ben should be absent from work for too long a time by the end of this episode and see firing or a warning in the next. As for Glory, she comes off as rather human by buying the magical items herself along with preferring her nickname over her full name.

Dreg (Kevin Weisman) is one of Glory’s main worshippers who directly serve her. He is able to do magic which suggests he may not be as dumb as the rest of his kind that viewers will see throughout this season.

Sandy (Megan Gray) is a vampire that hit on Riley previously (Season 5, Episode 6, “Family”). She dusts with an apparent look of betrayal on her face after Riley gets a taste of what a vampire bite can feel like.

Dr. Isaacs (William Forward) is apparently lousy at his job since he asks Buffy insurance questions while ignoring her emotional reaction of shock. One also might wonder if he ever gives Joyce proper care since Ben is able to get him to go away so quickly.

The plotting of this episode appears random in terms of sequencing. This leads to certain bits of characterization seeming to be out of place. One example: as mentioned above, Ben and Glory’s locations and the timing of events do not appear to match up. Meanwhile, Joyce just vanishes completely after receiving no substantial development except a diagnosis. There are other examples, but the point is that certain details are going in and out of the season too fast to allow characters to grow or react properly.