Home | About | Wallpapers | Links
Episode 2.19: I Only Have Eyes for You | Episode 2.21: Becoming Pt. 1
Characters:
| Buffy | Angel | Xander |
| Willow | Giles | Cordelia |
Overall (5/10)
Buffy:
It certainly hasn't escaped anybody's attention that Buffy tends to dress rather...er...immodestly in the first several seasons. This point is brought up in this episode where it's used as justification to blame her for an attempted rape. The good old "look what she's wearing" excuse.
Course, Buffy can handle herself against overly-friendly guys, and does. But, in doing so, she gets herself into trouble as she's the one blamed for the entire incident. This is a heavy-handed attempt to illustrate the "blame-the-victim" philosophy that is prevalent in society.
Past that, Buffy reverts to good old Buffy-form in this episode. She's pretty much angst-free as she fights fish-monsters.
Angel:
Angel's recruiting? Huh? I mentioned in the previous episode's review that the arc breaks down at this point. This is just one example. The writers have to include an Angel scene, so they stick him in here. However, before he attacks the guy, he mentions that he's recruiting. Recruiting for what? This never goes anywhere and is left as just kinda a random comment.
Xander:
We get the first hint of Xander-as-Zeppo in this episode. While everybody else gets something to do, Xander is left with nothing. So, upon hearing about an opening on the swim team, he decides to go undercover. Despite what Cordy says, Xander doesn't seem to be doing it to impress her. He just wants to be useful to the group.
And he is. He finds out about the steroids in the steam and ends up rescuing Buffy in the end. Good job, Xander.
We get more teacher!Willow. She also gets a cute scene where she interrogates Jonathon. Besides that, Willow doesn't have a whole lot to do.
Like Willow, Giles is relegated to the research and exposition role in this episode.
Cordelia gets a rather touching scene when she thinks that Xander's turned into a fish-monster. Going back to Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered we know that Cordy has genuine feelings for Xander. She shows that sincerity in that scene where she promises to take care of him regardless of his fishy state.
The plot is lame. Pay it no mind.
The coach is teh evil. He's so obsessed with winning, he'll go to any lengths and ends up creating monsters.
Not an arc episode.
Some people don't like that this episode occurs right before the finale of S2. It seems to break the tension and can feel kinda out of place. I think it's actually a nice "calm before the storm" before we hit the big finish.
It's a little heavy-handed on the anti-steroid message, but it's an amusing episode, nonetheless.
Special performance award goes to Nicholas Brendan. Speedo scene. You knew that was coming.
5 out of 10. Run of the mill Buffy.
Cordelia's scene with the not-quite-Xander fish-monster. It's a touching reminder of her feelings towards Mr. Harris, and ends in a wonderfully comedic moment.
Episode 2.19: I Only Have Eyes for You | Episode 2.21: Becoming Pt. 1
Home | About | Wallpapers | Links