Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1, Episode 10: Nightmares Review
Nightmares
Original Airdate: May 12, 1997
Writer: David Greenwalt
Story: Joss Whedon
Director: Bruce Seth Green
The last two episodes were light in character fare, but this episode is immersed in it. Dreams are a very common narrative device, which can be effective, so long as it isn't spelling out what should be clear to an elementary school student ("Six Feet Under", I'm looking at you). "Buffy" uses dreams in context of the show occasionally, but this episode is one of the rare exceptions where dreams are the central point of the episode. The most famous instance of this is "Restless", the fourth season finale. While this one doesn't come near that one in complexity, it adds some needed depth to the show, which meandered through two mediocre episodes.
For starters, The Master returns. As the episode is about fear, it would make sense that he shows up amongst the nightmares. With the demon in the internet and hunter puppets, it could easily be forgotten that the major vampire is still below them trying to break out. One of the bigger weaknesses of season one is that he doesn't pose much of a threat to be mentioned much in the episodes he isn't in. It also doesn't help when his two highest profile minions died some time before this episode. Future seasons would usually do better integrating the "big bad" into the season, even if they didn't play a large role in some episodes.
It’s also worth noting that while she has visions of The Master in her dreams, this is the first time that any of the gang has actually seen The Master. Since he never goes out of game face (but The Anointed One never does for some reason), and his blood stained mouth, it would be safe for her to realize who this is.
Buffy's dad Hank makes a rare appearance. His role in her life in this episode is different from what would eventually become the status quo. Hank is hardly the estranged father figure that he would be regarded as in future episodes, especially his absence during major events in Buffy and Joyce's lives. Makes you wonder whether this change was off camera or if they re-tinkered with his role on the show.
This episode also touches upon Buffy's troubled past, and how she feels that affected her family life. Even if they don't know, being a parent to The Slayer is a tall order. It makes sense that she would believe that these newfound stresses intensified or created the divorce. Thankfully, I'm not a product of divorce, but kids often blame themselves for it, and Buffy has a huge reason to justify that. Maybe I'm going to hell in part for this, but Hank saying that Buffy is why his marriage failed is almost funny.
Unfortunately, Buffy doesn't have any nightmares about her complicated relationship with Angel. In "Angel", we learned of Angel's demonic capabilities, and that he walks a thin line between redemption and his evil past. In hindsight, these would've been good to see knowing what's in store for the show in future seasons.
It's a little thick headed for Giles not to believe that becoming a vampire herself would be among Buffy's biggest fears. It would be like being surprised that a fireman is afraid of being killed in a fire. However, it is true to his character to be slightly aloof on human matters. Also, while his nightmare of illiteracy isn't surprising, it is given an appropriate amount of screen time.
His other one, of Buffy dying, is interwoven seamlessly with Buffy's nightmare of turning into a vampire. Unfortunately because of budget constraints, they couldn't afford some apocalyptic sequence that would represent Buffy's nightmare of failing to save the world, but that is forgivable since they didn't have a lot to work with in this episode. However, this nightmare is still a potent one for a slayer to have.
There is plenty of opportunity for humor in nightmares, as self-absorbed kids are taken down a few pegs and our gang experience several embarrassing moments via the nightmares. Xander's nightmares focus more on embarrassment and lighter issues than his friend. His exposure in front of his peers would've probably been more mortifying if he had my physique, which would probably be more appropriate for his character. Cordelia's nightmare, turning from sexy mean queen to frumpy chess club patron, is easily the funniest bit in the episode.
Of course, as Willow points out, separating when they go look for Buffy isn't a great idea and in many horror movies is the time when the characters are picked off individually by the menace. This time however, it gives us an avenue to see specific fears of Xander and especially Willow. The epilogue in "The Puppet Show", while it could easily be written off as some silliness for laughs, tapped into Willow's stage fright, a characteristic that is revisited occasionally on the show, and is the central point to her "Restless" dream. But what was with all those sheets of plastic in Sunnydale High?
The cause of all this, a comatose boy projecting himself with nightmares to sneak in as well, is essentially a MacGuffin. Billy and his abusive coach beating him aren't important to the story, but what Billy's projections do is important for the characters. The Ugly Man at times comes off as a little corny rather than menacing. Is his hand a club or is he holding one?
While this episode isn't special, it is a step up from the past two installments. Character is key, which is always good. The central menace returns to remind us of what still is at stake. It does stand pale in comparison to later explorations of these characters' minds.
For starters, The Master returns. As the episode is about fear, it would make sense that he shows up amongst the nightmares. With the demon in the internet and hunter puppets, it could easily be forgotten that the major vampire is still below them trying to break out. One of the bigger weaknesses of season one is that he doesn't pose much of a threat to be mentioned much in the episodes he isn't in. It also doesn't help when his two highest profile minions died some time before this episode. Future seasons would usually do better integrating the "big bad" into the season, even if they didn't play a large role in some episodes.
It’s also worth noting that while she has visions of The Master in her dreams, this is the first time that any of the gang has actually seen The Master. Since he never goes out of game face (but The Anointed One never does for some reason), and his blood stained mouth, it would be safe for her to realize who this is.
Buffy's dad Hank makes a rare appearance. His role in her life in this episode is different from what would eventually become the status quo. Hank is hardly the estranged father figure that he would be regarded as in future episodes, especially his absence during major events in Buffy and Joyce's lives. Makes you wonder whether this change was off camera or if they re-tinkered with his role on the show.
This episode also touches upon Buffy's troubled past, and how she feels that affected her family life. Even if they don't know, being a parent to The Slayer is a tall order. It makes sense that she would believe that these newfound stresses intensified or created the divorce. Thankfully, I'm not a product of divorce, but kids often blame themselves for it, and Buffy has a huge reason to justify that. Maybe I'm going to hell in part for this, but Hank saying that Buffy is why his marriage failed is almost funny.
Unfortunately, Buffy doesn't have any nightmares about her complicated relationship with Angel. In "Angel", we learned of Angel's demonic capabilities, and that he walks a thin line between redemption and his evil past. In hindsight, these would've been good to see knowing what's in store for the show in future seasons.
It's a little thick headed for Giles not to believe that becoming a vampire herself would be among Buffy's biggest fears. It would be like being surprised that a fireman is afraid of being killed in a fire. However, it is true to his character to be slightly aloof on human matters. Also, while his nightmare of illiteracy isn't surprising, it is given an appropriate amount of screen time.
His other one, of Buffy dying, is interwoven seamlessly with Buffy's nightmare of turning into a vampire. Unfortunately because of budget constraints, they couldn't afford some apocalyptic sequence that would represent Buffy's nightmare of failing to save the world, but that is forgivable since they didn't have a lot to work with in this episode. However, this nightmare is still a potent one for a slayer to have.
There is plenty of opportunity for humor in nightmares, as self-absorbed kids are taken down a few pegs and our gang experience several embarrassing moments via the nightmares. Xander's nightmares focus more on embarrassment and lighter issues than his friend. His exposure in front of his peers would've probably been more mortifying if he had my physique, which would probably be more appropriate for his character. Cordelia's nightmare, turning from sexy mean queen to frumpy chess club patron, is easily the funniest bit in the episode.
Of course, as Willow points out, separating when they go look for Buffy isn't a great idea and in many horror movies is the time when the characters are picked off individually by the menace. This time however, it gives us an avenue to see specific fears of Xander and especially Willow. The epilogue in "The Puppet Show", while it could easily be written off as some silliness for laughs, tapped into Willow's stage fright, a characteristic that is revisited occasionally on the show, and is the central point to her "Restless" dream. But what was with all those sheets of plastic in Sunnydale High?
The cause of all this, a comatose boy projecting himself with nightmares to sneak in as well, is essentially a MacGuffin. Billy and his abusive coach beating him aren't important to the story, but what Billy's projections do is important for the characters. The Ugly Man at times comes off as a little corny rather than menacing. Is his hand a club or is he holding one?
While this episode isn't special, it is a step up from the past two installments. Character is key, which is always good. The central menace returns to remind us of what still is at stake. It does stand pale in comparison to later explorations of these characters' minds.
Score: 7/10
posted by Matt @ 12:00 AM
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