Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 1, Episode 12: Prophecy Girl Review
Prophecy Girl
Original Airdate: June 2, 1997
Writer: Joss Whedon
Director: Joss Whedon
Had things not gone along, this episode would've been the last episode of Buffy we'd ever see. It's hard to imagine as it is so close to what would make it a classic. There is enough resolution to the episode, but there are clearly hints of bigger places Mutant Enemy had to take the show in season two and beyond.
Xander finally gets the courage to ask Buffy out, but unfortunately for him, she doesn't feel that way about him (I know how that feels, but I never asked any high school crush I had out and I preferred mopey alternative music to country). It's clear that they do love each other, but Xander has to pass that pubescent phase and realize that that love isn't the puppy love teenagers have.
Despite his sour disposition and resentment towards Angel, he has no choice but to call upon him to help stop the Prophecy from happening. While it's always good to see people who don't get along forced to work together, it is the fact that Xander saves Buffy after she drowns that is most interesting aspect of this story. People sometimes wonder what Xander's ultimate role in the group is, but acts like these more than prove his worth. Buffy's arrival made Xander a bit braver and bolder, and here he returns the favor.
Buffy was created in part of Whedon's sympathy for the blonde girl who was always targeted for massacre in countless horror flicks. This episode, featuring Buffy's death, is that blonde getting revenge on the monster who killed her. The Prophecy that states that she is supposed to die could be interpreted as that standard cliché and Buffy defying it serves that this isn't the average horror fare.
Regardless, this news devastates Buffy, in the best scene of the first season. Her anger and sadness are palpable and the change between is seamless. Although she constantly faces death and the worst of the world, she's still sixteen. Like anyone else her age, it fits that she doesn't want to be struck down so early in her life. This is a hint of some of the great insights into life the writers would come up with later.
This also mirrors the premiere, where Buffy hoped to shed her slayer identity and live a normal life. Then she realized she couldn't, but learning of her imminent demise is enough to revive that dormant feeling. This also plays out well when she considers that her friends and family may die in future battles. Sarah Michelle Gellar plays it out so well that we don't see her feelings as selfishness, but as that moment where innocence is lost.
Death also shakes another member of the gang, as Willow discovers the mutilated bodies of kids in the A/V room. This piece is a major factor to what gets Buffy to go back on her resignation, knowing that she can't leave her friends to slaughter.
The Master does kill Buffy, but apparently no one read the fine print that it would only be temporary. Although it may be considered a cop out by some, this moment would prove to be influential for the rest of the series, and play a key role in the series finale. For now, there are hints that Buffy is shaken by her brief death, although The Master killing her somehow gave her strength to kill him (and thankfully they never used the theme music in the show after this episode, since it didn't work here).
There is some cheese, as The Master goes a little over the top during the earthquake, but he does add some humor to show that Whedon isn't taking himself too seriously. Also, they continue to borrow influences, like The Master's Nosferatu-esque walk out of his invisible barrier after drinking Buffy's blood.
How The Master's demise closes up the Hellmouth isn't clear, but it could work. However, why do the remaining vamps disperse after? Unfortunately, they could have The Master's death trigger the death of his army (whose approach resembled "Night of the Living Dead") because they would have to explain how Angel managed to survive since he is no different than them physically.
This is probably one of the weakest apocalypses they face. Although they hint at it with an earthquake and blood coming out of the faucets, the budget restricted them from any major fireworks. Subsequent battles would be handled much better, probably in part because they had more time, a bigger budget and network confidence to tell a realized story.
The Master's dusting is obviously the most sophisticated and slow, but what is worth noting is that despite others who burst into a cloud of dust, leaving nothing behind, The Master leaves behind a skeleton. This could be because of his advanced age, or because it'll be used as a plot device later.
This episode adds to the size of the gang, as Jenny, Angel and even Cordelia help out fighting off the monster that emerges from the Hellmouth and the vampire horde once The Master rises. We knew Jenny had some knowledge of the supernatural; Cordelia had recently been saved and lost her boyfriend (who she seemed to actually care about) to the vamps; Angel has also been helping Buffy with The Master all season. Now they all have a reason to help them. These final episodes of the first season do a decent job of setting up what we can expect in season two.
In retrospect, it wouldn't have been too hard to bunch together the two hour pilot, "Never Kill…", "Angel", "Nightmares" and this one as a six hour miniseries as the start of the series. It would've been a more cohesive narrative. That way The Master's threat would've been more believable than when he shows up every couple episodes. Also, the god-awful "'Manos': the Hands of Fate" has totally ruined "The Master" as a title for a bad guy for me. This first season was more throwing out ideas for the audience to get an idea of what the show would be about. Luckily, future seasons would have an easier time balancing story arcs with the self contained adventures.
As this was the final episode of a mid-season replacement on a fledgling network, this episode would've doubled as a series finale. Renewing the show for season two was pivotal in creating the massive world (Whedon-verse as fans call it) that has become beloved by many viewers. While many shows show greatness on the onset, it would take "Buffy" some time to find its groove. Had that not happened, we wouldn't have classics like "Hush", "Becoming" and "Once More With Feeling". The great characters we'd meet later, like Spike, Drusilla and Anya, would only be figments of Whedon's imagination. Not to mention "Angel" and all its great characters and episodes wouldn't exist. Although WB is still the thorn in the side of many fans for canceling "Angel" (a topic I'll discuss later), they wisely decided to give this show a shot, and they would return the favor by reaching the greatness the show has become known for. This is the best episode of the first season, and sets the stage for the future well.
Oh, and I really like Buffy's dress.
Xander finally gets the courage to ask Buffy out, but unfortunately for him, she doesn't feel that way about him (I know how that feels, but I never asked any high school crush I had out and I preferred mopey alternative music to country). It's clear that they do love each other, but Xander has to pass that pubescent phase and realize that that love isn't the puppy love teenagers have.
Despite his sour disposition and resentment towards Angel, he has no choice but to call upon him to help stop the Prophecy from happening. While it's always good to see people who don't get along forced to work together, it is the fact that Xander saves Buffy after she drowns that is most interesting aspect of this story. People sometimes wonder what Xander's ultimate role in the group is, but acts like these more than prove his worth. Buffy's arrival made Xander a bit braver and bolder, and here he returns the favor.
Buffy was created in part of Whedon's sympathy for the blonde girl who was always targeted for massacre in countless horror flicks. This episode, featuring Buffy's death, is that blonde getting revenge on the monster who killed her. The Prophecy that states that she is supposed to die could be interpreted as that standard cliché and Buffy defying it serves that this isn't the average horror fare.
Regardless, this news devastates Buffy, in the best scene of the first season. Her anger and sadness are palpable and the change between is seamless. Although she constantly faces death and the worst of the world, she's still sixteen. Like anyone else her age, it fits that she doesn't want to be struck down so early in her life. This is a hint of some of the great insights into life the writers would come up with later.
This also mirrors the premiere, where Buffy hoped to shed her slayer identity and live a normal life. Then she realized she couldn't, but learning of her imminent demise is enough to revive that dormant feeling. This also plays out well when she considers that her friends and family may die in future battles. Sarah Michelle Gellar plays it out so well that we don't see her feelings as selfishness, but as that moment where innocence is lost.
Death also shakes another member of the gang, as Willow discovers the mutilated bodies of kids in the A/V room. This piece is a major factor to what gets Buffy to go back on her resignation, knowing that she can't leave her friends to slaughter.
The Master does kill Buffy, but apparently no one read the fine print that it would only be temporary. Although it may be considered a cop out by some, this moment would prove to be influential for the rest of the series, and play a key role in the series finale. For now, there are hints that Buffy is shaken by her brief death, although The Master killing her somehow gave her strength to kill him (and thankfully they never used the theme music in the show after this episode, since it didn't work here).
There is some cheese, as The Master goes a little over the top during the earthquake, but he does add some humor to show that Whedon isn't taking himself too seriously. Also, they continue to borrow influences, like The Master's Nosferatu-esque walk out of his invisible barrier after drinking Buffy's blood.
How The Master's demise closes up the Hellmouth isn't clear, but it could work. However, why do the remaining vamps disperse after? Unfortunately, they could have The Master's death trigger the death of his army (whose approach resembled "Night of the Living Dead") because they would have to explain how Angel managed to survive since he is no different than them physically.
This is probably one of the weakest apocalypses they face. Although they hint at it with an earthquake and blood coming out of the faucets, the budget restricted them from any major fireworks. Subsequent battles would be handled much better, probably in part because they had more time, a bigger budget and network confidence to tell a realized story.
The Master's dusting is obviously the most sophisticated and slow, but what is worth noting is that despite others who burst into a cloud of dust, leaving nothing behind, The Master leaves behind a skeleton. This could be because of his advanced age, or because it'll be used as a plot device later.
This episode adds to the size of the gang, as Jenny, Angel and even Cordelia help out fighting off the monster that emerges from the Hellmouth and the vampire horde once The Master rises. We knew Jenny had some knowledge of the supernatural; Cordelia had recently been saved and lost her boyfriend (who she seemed to actually care about) to the vamps; Angel has also been helping Buffy with The Master all season. Now they all have a reason to help them. These final episodes of the first season do a decent job of setting up what we can expect in season two.
In retrospect, it wouldn't have been too hard to bunch together the two hour pilot, "Never Kill…", "Angel", "Nightmares" and this one as a six hour miniseries as the start of the series. It would've been a more cohesive narrative. That way The Master's threat would've been more believable than when he shows up every couple episodes. Also, the god-awful "'Manos': the Hands of Fate" has totally ruined "The Master" as a title for a bad guy for me. This first season was more throwing out ideas for the audience to get an idea of what the show would be about. Luckily, future seasons would have an easier time balancing story arcs with the self contained adventures.
As this was the final episode of a mid-season replacement on a fledgling network, this episode would've doubled as a series finale. Renewing the show for season two was pivotal in creating the massive world (Whedon-verse as fans call it) that has become beloved by many viewers. While many shows show greatness on the onset, it would take "Buffy" some time to find its groove. Had that not happened, we wouldn't have classics like "Hush", "Becoming" and "Once More With Feeling". The great characters we'd meet later, like Spike, Drusilla and Anya, would only be figments of Whedon's imagination. Not to mention "Angel" and all its great characters and episodes wouldn't exist. Although WB is still the thorn in the side of many fans for canceling "Angel" (a topic I'll discuss later), they wisely decided to give this show a shot, and they would return the favor by reaching the greatness the show has become known for. This is the best episode of the first season, and sets the stage for the future well.
Oh, and I really like Buffy's dress.
Score: 8/10
posted by Matt @ 6:27 PM
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