Buffy 4x15-4x16, minor spoilers for Buffy S6

[oyceter]

Wow. Really great episodes. I can't believe this is the first time I've seen them! Now I feel a great desire to rewatch all the Faith vids.

Lots of little things, like the multiple dream sequences, especially the ones with the Mayor. The oft vidded making the bed sequence and "little sis is coming." I really liked Riley when he was having sex with Faith-in-Buffy, he came off perfectly as the sweet, normal guy that Buffy probably needed after Angel, the part that I felt ME and company stopped emphasizing with the Initiative arc. See, I like that Riley.

Latent sexual tension between Buffy and Spike and Faith... I wonder how much of this he remembered and kept in mind with S6? He's almost got the same expressions there as he does in Smashed.

Buffy/Faith/Willow tension. I love the Tara and Willow relationship right now, I love the gradual falling in love bit and Tara's "I am, you know. Yours." The spell to go into the netherworld was gorgeously done.

Eliza Dushku was awesome as Buffy (I also loved the credits!), as was SMG! I loved the Buffy in Faith interaction with Giles, and how she was so perfectly Buffy.

The staking scene in the church echoing the one in Bad Girls (I think... you know, Faith at the last minute stakes the vamp about to get Buffy in the cemetary). The beating scene hurts so much, even more with the remembrance that Dead Things is going to come Buffy's way. So much of Faith-in-Buffy I see echoed in S6 Buffy, the unsureness of her own sexuality, the fear and enjoyment of violence, the incredible self-hatred.

And hee, of course Riley was going to church! And Giles: "Tiny, tiny babies!"

Now I really want to watch Five by Five and Sanctuary to see how they'll feel! I've seen those two multiple times, but never seen This Year's Girl and Who Are You, which I think will definitely change some perspective!

Comments

[rahael.livejournal.com]

I absolutely love those four Faith cross over eps. Faith's dream with the murderous Buffy is chilling, and is a sublte set up for the body xchange.

The Buffy that Faith sees vengefully pursuing her, is really Faith herself. Hence her tormented beating of the real Buffy in Faith's body.

[oyceter]

Ooo I like that. Or Faith's projection of Buffy, making Buffy into the only person who has the strength and the will to punish her. Interesting how later how that role gets transferred to Angel.

[katie-m.livejournal.com]

And hee, of course Riley was going to church!

I'm not sure why that moment tickles me so much, but it really does. "Uh, I was just late for church." Hee!

[oyceter]

I really love that moment ^_^. It just makes perfect Riley-sense. And I like him and his church-going dorkiness and how he's confused by wild sexy Faith in Buffy.

Sadly, initiative!Riley irks me =(.

[sophia-helix.livejournal.com]

You know, most people rave about SMG's Faith performance (which is, of course, amazing and stellar), but I really think that Eliza's performance tends to get overlooked in the SMG-raving. That Giles scene you mention is just perfect -- she really gets the confused/unhappy Buffy mewling across (you know, that thing she does with the frown and the baby voice when things are weird and difficult *g*).

.m

[oyceter]

I actually didn't know at first that most people raved about SMG! I've caught one snippet of Who Are You on TV, and that was Buffy-in-Faith pleading with the Watcher's Council. And somehow, ED managed to sound so exactly like Buffy it was amazing.

[onetwomany.livejournal.com]

Really great episodes.

Oh, yes indeedy! These were two of my favourite episodes of season 4. Faith rocks my world, and the body swap - which seemed so cheesy at the time - turned out to be a fabulous way of exploring both characters.

[oyceter]

Guh yes! I've always heard how great they were, and it was particularly nice not being let down by all the fuss before.