Buffy 5.21 FAQ
What’s the new “Buffy” called?
“The Weight of the World.”
Who’s responsible?
Teleplay is credited to Doug Petrie (author of the Spike-centric “Fool For Love,” the Glory-introducing “No Place Like Home” and the watcher-heavy “Checkpoint”).
“Willow psychically enters Buffy's troubled subconscious in an effort to somehow reach the Slayer, who has been rendered catatonic by Glory's abduction of Dawn. Meanwhile, Glory vents her frustrations on the limitations of being part human to a frightened Dawn; and Spike, Xander and Giles work on undermining the hell god's nefarious plans.”
Why did Buffy go all catatonic at the end of last episode?
We learn that Buffy came to believe (at some point earlier in the season) that there was no way she could save Dawn from Glory. Now that Glory actually has Dawn, Buffy has collapsed into a coma of shame, wracked with guilt about having given up on her kid sister.
Is Buffy catatonic the whole hour?
She snaps out of it just before episode's end.
The big news?
Willow has turned into Marvel Girl! When Xander and Spike start to tussel, the telekinetic redhead flings them violently into opposite corners of the derelict gas station without lifting a finger! And her telepathic ability (while perhaps not on Professor Xavier’s level, I will point out here as nerdily as possible) is sufficient to coax the slayer back from the abyss!
Cool!
Not only that, but with Buffy and Giles on the injury list, former nerd/wallflower Will steps up to lead the Scoobs! By the end of the first act, she’s handing out marching orders: Xander, take Giles to hospital; Anya, look after Tara; Spike, find Glory; I’ll deal with Buffy.
What’s good?
The Mr. Short-Term Memory stuff provokes many a guffaw.
Mr. Short-Term Memory stuff?
Remember how, many episodes ago, Dawn witnessed Ben turning into Glory, then immediately forgot all about it?
We do...
All of the scoobies who witnessed Ben turning into Glory last week have completely forgotten about it!
What? All the scoobies?
All of them. Unless you consider Spike part of the slayer circle!
So Spike remembers?
Witness this exchange:
SPIKE: Will, don’t turn me into a horned toad for asking, but what if we come across Ben?
WILLOW: I don’t think a doctor is what Buffy needs right now.
SPIKE: Well, yeah. Especially not one who also happens to be Glory.
GILES: What do you mean?
SPIKE: You know. Ben is Glory.
WILLOW: You mean Ben’s with Glory?
XANDER: “With” in what sense?
ANYA: They’re working together?
SPIKE: No… Ben is Glory, Glory’s Ben. They’re one and the same.
ANYA: Well, when did all this happen?
SPIKE: Not one hour ago! Right here, before your very eyes. Ben came, turned into Glory, snatched the kid and vanished, remember? You do remember? (The scoobs just stare at Spike like he’s nuts.) Is everyone in here very stoned? Ben! Glory! He’s a doctor, she’s the beast! Two entirely separate entities sharing one body! It’s like a bloody sitcom. Surely you remember!
XANDER: So you’re saying Ben and Glory…
ANYA: Have a connection?
GILES: Yes, obviously, but what kind?
(Spike is getting so frustrated he begins to laugh.)
SPIKE: Oh, I get it! Very crafty. Glory’s worked the kind of mojo where anyone who’s seen her little presto-chango instantly forgets. And yours truly, being something other than human, stands immune.
WILLOW: So Ben and Glory are the same person?
XANDER: Glory can turn into Ben, and Ben turns back into Glory.
ANYA: And anyone who sees it instantly forgets!
SPIKE (touching his own nose) Kewpie doll for the lady!
GILES: Excellent. Now -- do we suspect there might be some kind of connection between Ben and Glory?
(Spike clenches his eyes shut in frustration.)
Do we finally see the under-contruction Sunnydale highrise that will serve as the site of the season finale?
We do. Well, at least its interiors.
What’s doing with Glory?
Glory’s human body seems to be exerting an influence on the hellgod. She says she’s feeling guilt about all the horror she’s planning, and whinily protests that she doesn’t understand why. “I’m not supposed to feel guilty. I’m not supposed to feel anything. I’m a god. I’m supposed to be above it all!”
So there’s hope for Dawn?
Yes, but not a lot. There’s considerably more hope when Ben reappears and helps Dawn escape.
So Ben is still a good guy?
We learn this week that Spike is officially a better boyfriend than Ben. After Ben and Dawn escape Glory’s lair, there’s a marathon morphing session wherein Glory and Ben converse for the first time. Glory offers Ben immortality if he climbs aboard for the big win. Ben, realizing cooperating with Glory is the only possible way he can survive, agrees. When we last see him, he’s dragging Dawn back toward Glory’s lair.
What’s the inside of Buffy’s head look like?
It’s busy replaying two moments: the best and the worst of Buffy’s life. The best, featuring a five-year-old Buffy, was when Buffy met her newborn sister for the first time. The worst, featuring a 20-year-old Buffy, was when Buffy realized she couldn’t save her sister from Glory.
We see Hank and Joyce?
Dean Butler and Kristine Sutherland guest-star, however fleetingly.
What else lurks in Buffy’s tortured brain?
Willow witnesses a replay of the First Slayer informing Buffy that “Death is your gift.” Dawn’s pillow and Joyce’s grave put in surreal appearances.
What’s up with Doc?
Xander and Spike pay him a visit hoping to find Glory. (Note that Spike is aware that Doc is a demon even before this week’s visit.) Doc advises against any dealings with the hellgod: “Glory. Glory. Oh! You don’t mean Glorificus? Why do you want to get mixed up with her for, that’s a sure way to get yourselves killed!” But before the scene ends, Doc will be revealed to be a Glory worshipper, he will exhibit a surprising physical attribute, and Xander will ram a sword through Doc’s demon heart.
How does it end?
Giles reveals the awful truth.
Herc’s rating for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” 5.21?
****
The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins
I may be love’s bitch, but at least I’m man enough to admit it!
I am – Hercules!!
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