Ragnarok

Since we aren't going to have new episodes to discuss, we're going to have weekly episode discussion threads for old episodes. New threads will, of course, appear each Tuesday. Except when they don't.

Becoming, Part I

Angelus has found a demon called Acathla, who can suck the entire world into hell. We are treated to flashbacks of Angelus being sired by Darla, Angelus siring Drusilla, the curse being carried out by the gypsies, and Angel being inspired to help Buffy by Whistler, a good demon. Buffy finds the disk of Jenny's with the spell to restore Angelus' soul. Kendra returns to Sunnydale, because of a dark power that's rising; she comes bearing a sword from the knight who first defeated Acathla. Angelus tries to awaken Acathla, but he cannot, so Drusilla sends her gang to kidnap Giles to find out the way to do so. Angelus distracts Buffy, so Kendra is left alone to try and defend the gang from Dru; Dru kills Kendra. Willow is knocked into a coma, and Xander has his arm broken. Buffy returns to find Kendra's body. The police arrive, find Buffy standing over her, and arrest her.

(Episode summary on loan from buffyguide.com)

RtS: #10; beat Wrecked in the first round; beat Intervention in the second round; lost to Something Blue in the third round.

A thoroughly brilliant episode. Whistler might be the best "one-off" character in the series' history, outstanding use of flashbacks, great suspense and pacing, outstanding Drusilla scenes and a real kick in the gut at the end. One of the episodes I never, ever get tired of rewatching. The only negative was the creepy Angel leering at Buffy before she was called. If JW had just omitted that one scene, this might be the perfect ep.

Please feel free to post your comments, screencaps, favorite scenes and quotes.

Next week: 2x22, Becoming, Part 2.

Scythe

We're on Becoming already?



Snyder: That's enough of that. And you! Are we having a
chair shortage?
Willow: I didn't read anything about... Oh. I get it.
Snyder: These public displays of affection are not acceptable in my
school. This isn't an orgy, people. It's a classroom.
Buffy: Yeah! Where they teach lunch.
Snyder: Just give me a reason to kick you out, Summers.
Just give me a reason.
Cordelia: How about because you're a tiny, impotent Nazi with a bug up
his butt the size of an emu?
Buffy: Sums it up.
Cordelia: Don't you think?

I really love episodes with any flashback to the past. Fool For Love is one of my favourite episodes for this very reason. I liked that we got to learn more about what happened to Dru and Angel when they got sired and that we got a glimpse of what they used to be like before.



Angelus: What did the Moon tell you? Did you have a
vision? Is something coming?
Drusilla: Oh, yeah. Something terrible. Psst, psst, psst,
psst, psst, psst...
Angelus: Where?
Drusilla: At the museum. A tomb... with a surprise inside.
Angelus: You can see all that in your
head?
Spike: No, you ninny. She read it in the morning paper.
Angelus: Oh, my.

The flashbacks to Buffy's life before she became the Slayer were also good and built up her character more. Unlike the film, the tv series didn't really explain about how Buffy used to be before. There were hints, like in 'Welcome to the hellmouth' where she knew all the answers to the 'cool quiz' Cordelia gave her and in 'The Witch' where Buffy wanted to become a Cheerleader, but it was never brought into the series much before this point.



Kendra's death was very sad and touching. You could really feel how Buffy must feel. She'd been alone for ages in her Slaying, thinking that she was a freak and then someone comes along exactly like her who she can relate to. For the first time she mustn't have felt so alone.

Whistler: Bottom line is, even if you see 'em coming, you're not ready
for the big moments. No one asks for their life to change, not really. But it
does. So what are we, helpless? Puppets? No. The big moments are
gonna come. You can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that
counts. That's when you find out who you are.



I loved Dru in this episode! I think I will always remember the unusual way that Kendra died. My Uncle told me off for showing that scene to my younger cousin

Drusilla: Be... in my eyes. Be... in me.

Yeah I never liked that scene, even when I shipped B/A. He just seems a bit too old there to be thinking about Buffy in that way... At that point.

Bronson

I can't add much to what you have said except that I agree with you esecially inregards to Buffy's preSlayer days, Kendra's death (whch I feel was too easy for Drusilla to kill her. It should have been a battle, and Angel looking at Buffy pre Slayer.)

What was your opinion of Snyder? Can you imagine having a principal like him when you were in high school? Did you feel that he knew that she was the Slayer or just did not like her and the others for no reason. I did like how Buffy correctly mentioned that he never had a date in school.

Scythe

I don't think anyone with a soul could be like Snyder... Except maybe my English teacher I think he knew she was the Slayer. He knew about Vampires and The Mayor etc. I also liked the date comment but that's not until the next episode

Fortyseven

This is definitely one of my favorite episodes!

I used this quote in my english essay and I got an A.


I was just going to say that!!

I think Synder knew about Vampires and Hellmouth and that Mayor wanted Buffy out of his way for some reason. ("Tell the Mayor I have good news" ~Becoming pt2, after expelling Buffy). However, I doubt he knew Mayor was going to become a demon because he was bragging about meeting him all the time and he was shocked when Mayor turned into snake. He wouldn't have appeared at the graduation ceremony otherwise. He probably knew that Mayor was shady or something but not really *evil*.

I knew Kendra was going to die in this episode but it was still a big shocker for me. I really liked her. But hey, Faith was called after her death so I guess everything happens for a reason. (sorry, Faith haters, I know you don't really feel that way )

I loved the flashbacks although I wasn't too thrilled about the B/A part. Still, seeing young Buffy was awesome. And the Angelus/Drusilla part was great and pretty creepy.

I loved Dru in this eppie btw. She had some great lines. "This is sooo d-d-disappointing...!!!"
But I still hated her at the end for killing Kendra.

One of my fave lines goes to Angelus: "This was never about you... But you fall for it Every! Single! Time!" I was as shocked as Buffy when I realised it was a tramp.

Scythe

OMJ!!! You just reminded me! A few of my favourite quotes are in this episode! I can't believe I forgot!

Spike: It's a big rock, can't wait to tell my friends. They don't have a rock this big.

&

Spike: Someone wasn't wooooorthy!
- Which is said in the same way as he says "Someone's in the ceeeeeiling" in School Hard!

Fortyseven

I knew you'd mention those. They're great.

a new hope

Angel was just creepy stalking Buffy like that. That flashback scene was GROSS. Watching her suck on a lollipop..just wrong...

Fortyseven

I've never thought about that.

sum1

Angel leering at underage 15 year old Buffy was gross-out and really shows the roots of B/A. But the ep was quality. Whistler was great. AND DRU KILLS KENDRA!!!!! Marvellous Dru secene and a satisfactory culling of a hyper-annoying character. I loved how easily Dru polished her off, testament to Kendra being a paper tiger and Dru being cool and fearsome.
Good old Spike, always knows how to take Angel down a peg or two!

Sassy Daydream Believer

Okay, I feel like a minority here with my B/A loving status... lucky I think that's kinda fun. Hey all btw

So, I this episode! Everything about it... every single scene was entertaining, and intriguing. Thank you, Joss Whedon!

Best part of the ep:

My sis and I laughed for like, minutes over that one!!

I was so sad when Kendra died, she was such a fabulous character. It's a shame that she was so underdeveloped, because I found her to be very interesting. It was okay. because when Faith came everything seemed right again! I love that girl!!

I loved that scene, I found it touching that Angel was willing to change his stinky existence for one of substance for the slayer, and her cause. I suppose that's to be expected from me, though.

peace,
Ann

Bkrstar

I love them too.

I love, love, love this episode. When Buffy runs in slow motion at the end, and discovers Kendra on the floor... oh, man that kills me every time. I bawled my eyes out the first time I saw this ep. Of course, I should save most of my tears for part 2...

sum1

Old bum salivating over a scantily-clad 15 year old girl who's sucking a lollipop (sexual connotations, in case anybody didn't realize) on her high school steps. And then that becomes the basis of an obsession that causes him to follow her to another town, endlessly lurk around her and eventually have sex with her while she's still a minor. Yeah, real touching.

a new hope

word touching and very, very healthy

Jaime Bee

I always get So emotional when I see that scene too. I love the voice over about the big moments. That is a great speech.

I liked Buffy and Angel back then and I hated that scene with the lolipop even then. lol I will never understand why Joss put the lolipop in because that is what makes the scene So creepy.

But it is nice that Angel wanted to help Buffy. I can see that he knew that she had a rough road a head of her. But when you think about it why did TPTB not send The Whistleler or somebody else to get Angel out of the sewers alot sooner?