Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 3, Episode 3 Review: Faith, Hope & Trick

Faith, Hope & Trick

Original Airdate: October 13, 1998
Writer: David Greenwalt
Director: James A. Contner

After a bumpy start to the season, which consisted mainly of throwing things back to where they were before “Becoming”, this episode effectively starts to introduce the major characters in the current season’s storyline. The first third of the show’s title, Faith, would be a major player for the rest of the season and later on “Angel”. They didn’t do much with Kendra as comparison to Buffy, but that’s likely because there wasn’t much story in it. Faith brings a lot to the table and this episode sets the foundation for what they would do with her.

Obviously the episode’s biggest contribution to the series is Faith, called after Kendra’s demise. Like Kendra, Faith serves as another possible avenue Buffy could’ve gone. Kendra was practically raised to be a slayer. Faith, however, came from a troubled background, which is hinted at throughout the episode. As identity is a major facet of this season, Faith is a “dark reflection” (as many have called it) of Buffy: what she would’ve been like had she not had her mother, Giles and friends.

Despite that, Faith is initially a hit with those close to Buffy (except for Cordelia). She is charismatic and outgoing, easily flirting with the guys (including Giles) and hanging out with Xander and Willow while they tour the school (a lot of call backs to past episodes). Xander’s attraction to Faith is obvious and believable as she is alluring and something dangerous compared to his other friends. Joyce likes her because she could possibly replace Buffy, allowing her daughter to have that normal life she desires (why no one said this between Kendra’s arrival and Angelus return is not clear).

While it is rooted in slight jealousy, Buffy’s concern that Faith likes slaying “a little too much” is warranted. As seen when Kakistos’ vamps attack the pair, Faith wails on one long after she would be declared the winner. Slaying is her way of dealing with deep rooted psychological problems and she’s placing that above her duty. Faith’s attitude is also rather cocky, believing that whomever she fights, she will win. She’s likely spent most of her life powerless, and this new calling is what she’s wanted her whole life. However, as this episode begins to show, this attitude is a defense mechanism. At her core she’s afraid. Following Kakistos’ slaughter of her Watcher, she bolted to Sunnydale in hopes that Buffy could do it for her. Like Buffy, she has to face something she’s been afraid to confront for some time and simply can’t do it.

Mr. Trick may have been seen as a potential big bad for the season, from the clear attempt to give him as many noteworthy lines as possible to the tradition of having vampires be the major villain. However, it’s clear this guy was more a follower, siding himself with the ancient, powerful Kakistos. More hints are made to the mayor, but nothing substantial is seen yet.

This episode’s major antagonist Kakistos, with his cloven hands and feet, recalls an early season one concept of old vampires appearing less human. Considering the centurion vampires who frequent the show, it’d be tough to guess when that’d happen, so the concept as a whole was jettisoned again after this episode, only brought back in one episode in the last season of “Angel”.

Scott Hope, the third of the eponymous characters, serves to give Buffy a shot at a relationship post-Angel. Scott’s pretty boring overall, but that’s something that isn’t a bad thing for a relationship, rather than a tragic romance that’s nothing but drama. Some of the things Scott does may cause concern, as he says he wants Buffy to be a part of his life. What 17-year-old, much less anybody, would say that to a crush?

Although Buffy reclaims the parts that made her life before she left, coming to terms with what happened isn’t as easy. Whenever someone, particularly Giles, inquires about what happened to Acathla, she explains as quickly and description free as possible. While some may question Giles’ tactics of lying to Buffy as a way to get her to face what happened, it’s not much different than parents lying to their children for what they perceive to be a greater good.

In the end, Buffy sees Faith’s attitude as a motivator to come clean about what happened, as well as move forward with a new relationship with a guy who is rather boring compared to the high tragedy of her last relationship. Of course, that is way too easy, so Angel is spit back from the hell dimension he was sent to in the finale.

Angel’s return is a point of controversy, one they tried to answer properly on his show a few years later. Considering he wasn’t removed from the man cast, it was unlikely that he’d be stuck doing fantasy/dream sequences for the whole season. While Buffy has said she killed him, technically that isn’t the case, as he didn’t dust like a traditional vamp. Rather, she sent him to the hell dimension Acathla planned to suck the world into last season. So resurrection discussion may not be worthwhile.

Some may think this negates Buffy’s impossible choice at the end of season two. That isn’t the case; complicating Buffy’s relationship with Scott is only the beginning. Since Angelus murdered Jenny, they can’t go back dating like nothing happened. Plus the “pure happiness” clause is still in effect. With Angel still around, he’ll have to deal with the consequences of his evil alter-ego, which also sets up his own show.

Willow’s excursions into magic make some developments as well. At the beginning of the episode she shows enthusiasm whenever spells are mentioned, but is insecure because she didn’t know the result of the restoration spell, believing it went bad because Buffy had to send Angel to hell. When Buffy reveals that she succeeded performing the spell, Willow simultaneously feels sorry for Buffy, but happy that she was able to perform a spell that no one alive has been able to successfully perform.

For Faith’s first episode, this episode does a good job of setting up her character, from her confident exterior to the troubled young girl inside. The parallels between her and Buffy are also well done. Scott Hope may be the dangling subplot of the episode, but it’s forgivable considering the set up we get for the other stories.

Overall Score: 8/10