"Choices" REACTION - Buffy 3x19 Commentary (Early Access YouTube)
Added 2025-02-23 10:10:03 +0000 UTC
Comments
One of my favourite and tragically under-explored dynamics in the whole show is Willow and Faith. Always love their interaction in this episode and we know in their own way Willow and Xander were both raised in neglectful and abusive environments respectively. It's not a competition and Faith definitely didn't have the same safeguards or community that they did but it just adds depth to it so it doesn't feel like Willow is coming from a place of ignorance or pure jealousy. It's really nuanced and she does have empathy for her but it's not enough.
Em Alba
2025-02-25 00:56:53 +0000 UTCI'm glad someone made that comment especially for this episode. I said in an earlier episode that Faith is primary used as a reflection for Buffy (even though I also think she has become a character on her own right) and that her relationship with the Mayor mirrors Buffy and Giles relationship. But I like that you described it as a "dark side". The Mayor is IMO as much a father figure for Faith that Giles is for Buffy. Both slayers have a very strong feeling for their respective "father" and seek validation and comfort from them. The main difference is the way their "fathers" treat them in return. Giles is very supportive and proud of Buffy (the same could be said for Wilkins and Faith though) but he specifically encourages her to make her own decisions. He actively helps her to grow up as an independent woman and he is not imposing his views but tries to understand hers (which is a quite recent development in their relationship, or, at least, is more fleshed out during this season). In the other hand, Wilkins only valorizes Faith when she obeys his commands and does not hesitate to raise his voice when she doesn't. He often insists on the fact that he always be here for her but implies (and sometimes even states) that he is the only one that will be, thus isolating her further and making her dependent on him. He also infantilizes her, treating her as a daughter yes, but also treating her as she was 12 and not 17. It is interesting that what he tries (and succeeds) to do with Angel (to guilt him about the way that he is selfish in his love for Buffy) is what he is doing with Faith. I find the parallels between the two Father / Daughter relationships are really fascinating.
Aurelius 19
2025-02-24 20:52:06 +0000 UTCI agree with you here. This episode was really well written thematically around the notion of choice (or the absence of). Everyone tries to make one. Willow realizes that, in spite of all the choices she has, she now knows what she wants to do (and I love her line about fighting evil is not always something you do because you have to). Buffy tries to do the same and realizes that she has not the same options as the others (but manages to make other and equally important choices in the process). Xander does not have a choice at all and doesn't know what to do. Cordelia has a lot of choices at first sight but that last scene with her implies that maybe it is not the case. Faith already made her choice and has to live now with the consequences. And finally Angel and Buffy have a choice to make concerning their future and the last shot on their faces makes clear that they are aware of that despite what they're saying. Another great episode in a great season. The more I watch season 3, the more I love it. Lastly, I think I will never be tired of seeing you dancing (even if it's more air-drumming than dancing in my opinion) during the intro titles ;)
Aurelius 19
2025-02-24 20:31:28 +0000 UTCIt's so interesting seeing all the little moments that you're clocking as evidence of some attraction or bond between Faith and Angel. It's recontextualising some of those moments for me after years and years of seeing them as proof of Faith's bond with Buffy and just using Angel as a tool in furtherance of that. I don't even necessarily mean a romantic or sexual attraction. Rage and jealousy and possessiveness are already such a part of those passionate intense friendships between young people, especially between outsiders. But adding in Angel as an active player rather than just a Sexy Lamp makes the whole dynamic interesting to me again.
Heathen
2025-02-24 14:32:25 +0000 UTCDon’t want to spoil anything but we know from a much further episode that he doesn’t have it indeed.
Mahaut
2025-02-24 06:32:23 +0000 UTCFirst, "soul sales" expert....LMAO! I love that; that made me grin. Second, I like your take on the situation. It's a perspective I hadn't considered, always assuming his soul was actually gone, and you could be right.
RavenLord
2025-02-23 21:44:12 +0000 UTCThis is hilarious! Happy to see you're in this group, too, CeNedra. 😄
RavenLord
2025-02-23 21:40:48 +0000 UTCI'm no "soul sales" expert, but my understanding has been that when you sell your soul (to the devil, let's say), you don't actually lose it- he just gets it when you die. So I've always assumed the Mayor still has his soul.
StephanieB
2025-02-23 20:35:16 +0000 UTCAnother brilliant reaction. I love the way Willow stands up to Faith and is blunt. Sometimes people allow their trauma to dictate their choices and fall into bad spaces. When Faith says it hurt, it's because she knows it's true. I think the Faith and Mayor dynamic shows us that sometimes the people who would seem less likely to get brainwashed (the ones that go against any status quo) are easily brainwashed and manipulated. And Buffy shows that you can still push against rules, but you have think critically and compassionately. Intention is so important. More to say on Faith later. No spoilers. Have a good weekend, Tyler and Flimothy.
Tanya TMS
2025-02-23 19:53:47 +0000 UTCoh very much agree. It's like a mirror held up between the pairs. The shadow side.
Tanya TMS
2025-02-23 19:48:24 +0000 UTCDid you just answer the train question for us? 😱
Tanya TMS
2025-02-23 19:13:50 +0000 UTCIt also wouldn't hurt to pay the slayers! They need to eat and live somewhere. They are expected to give all their time to being a slayer, bloody pay them! 😩
CeNedra
2025-02-23 17:13:29 +0000 UTCWe meet again RavenLord 😱🤣
CeNedra
2025-02-23 17:04:07 +0000 UTCI see the Mayor/Faith relationship as the dark side of the Giles/Buffy relationship, the evil version. There is that support, validation, trust, even what appears to be affection. Which is really fascinating given that we know the Mayor has no soul, according to what he said to Allan about it being "a little late for that" to sell his soul.
RavenLord
2025-02-23 10:49:09 +0000 UTC
