av Mr Chase » mån mar 08, 2004 23:23
Mr Chase låter reptilhjärnan tala:
17. Reptile Boy
For some reason there are a lot of people who hates this episode and I can't really see why, besides the cheesy snake demon outfit. Maybe it is because the characters aren't acting like their normal selves, but hey, we all do that sometimes! And in this piece it is totally defensible, especially for Buffy. The poor slayer has so much pressure on her from Giles, and Angel resisting her is definitely not helping. So it is understandable when she takes up the offer to go to a frat party with Cordelia, even if it requires her lying to Giles about it. Giles line in the end "you were very nearly devoured by a giant demon snake. The words 'let that be a lesson' are a tad redundant at this juncture" was only fitting.
The snake demon was rather disappointing but he wasn't the scary part, that belongs to the fraternity guys. They were smooth talking and charming and it is not hard to see their appeal to Buffy and Cordy. Too bad they turned out to be psychopaths. This episode is also a tale warning of the very real dangers that exist with spiked drinks but normally girls don't risk being fed to a snake demon. The alternative isn't much better though. The morale is a bit heavy handed but it gets through.
Cordelia isn't her normal self here. She's in fact very insecure for all her machiavellian scheming about nailing a rich guy, what with the fake laughs and everything. But please, how many more takes of the screaming damsel in distress can we get? It is getting a bit annoying. Her licence plate reads "Queen C" which is only fitting, as is her (lack of) driving skills.
Angel doesn't know what to make of his relationship with Buffy. But him going all "grrr" when he learns about her being in danger was cool. He's so protective and so into her. I guess he also saw her in that stunning little black dress! Yummy!
Willow was great in this episode, especially when she talked Giles and Angel down about Buffy: (to Giles): "And I know she's the Chosen One, but you're killing her with the pressure! I mean, she's sixteen going on forty! (to Angel) And you! I mean, you're gonna live forever! You don't have time for a cup of coffee?" Absolutely beautiful delivery and the expressions on Giles's and Angel's faces are priceless. Way to go, Will!
Xander is also good here. He gets to deliver his trademark funny lines ("an extra-terrestrial" when Cordy says she's dating a Delta Zeta Kappa and his casual "Angel, Angel, Angel. Does every conversation we have have to come around to that freak? (to Angel when he turns up from behind) Hey, man, how you doin'?" Very cool!) But he suffers through the hazing just because he wants to be near the girls in the frat house and is actually resourceful enough to find the robe he needs to sneak back in. And Giles gets to pull a punch! I knew there was more to this guy besides a stuttering librarian.
And lastly, even if it had absolutely nothing to do with the plot, the teaser with the gang watching a Bollywood movie was very amusing. I still wonder where the water buffalo fit in?
Rupert Giles: "I'll be back in the Middle Ages."
Miss Calendar: "Did you ever leave?"