Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 3, Episode 5 Review: Homecoming

Homecoming
Original Airdate: November 3, 1998
Writer: David Greenwalt
Director: David Greenwalt

As mentioned in previous episodes, Buffy’s life before she was called was similar to Cordelia’s, concerned more with superficial high school socializing than saving the world. However, she had to give up many of those things (or suffice for more chaotic versions of them) because of who she was. So the seasonal theme turns to Buffy wanting to claim some of her old glory by taking the Homecoming crown away from Cordelia, who has been preparing for it since first grade. As Faith represents what Buffy could’ve been as a slayer, Cordelia in this episode represents what Buffy would’ve been had she not been chosen.

Ultimately Cordelia’s puzzled as to why Buffy would care so much about a meaningless title when she slays demons. Cordelia’s questioning of Buffy’s jealousy is analogous to envy everyone’s experienced where we’d like to live someone else’s life (or have a particular element) while we overlook what we have going for ourselves. This may explain some of her behavior towards Buffy: it’s jealousy.

Despite feeling inferior to Buffy when faced with the would be assassins, she is stronger than she gives herself credit, even if it is because the mercenaries are thwarting her attempts at a Homecoming Crown. This transformation would be far more profound on “Angel”, but this season serves as a foundation for her changes and growth on the spin-off.

The threat Buffy and Cordelia (in lieu of Faith) face is an interesting one. Eventually demons, especially those not connected to powerful beings, were going to hire mercenaries to help take out the slayer. Considering Mr. Trick’s willingness to adapt to the times, it fits that he’d try this after his previous boss was dusted. The mayor recruiting him for his operation effectively ends that campaign, but it would’ve been nice to see more of that in future episodes, although modern technology would play a part in several seasonal arcs.

The mercenaries eager to participate in Slayerfest range from human mercenaries (like Mr. Pitt from “Seinfeld”) to their demon counterparts. Why they decided to include Lyle Gorch, from one of season two’s worst episodes, is a mystery. The obvious vampire to return for Slayerfest is Spike, but there was no logical way after “Becoming”. Despite the small pool of undusted vampires, they decided to try it anyway. Unfortunately, no one remembers him but himself, dulling the impact that past connection might’ve had.

Willow’s attraction to Xander has been a big force for her character since the early episodes. Unfortunately for her, Xander was oblivious to her feelings as he pined for Buffy and Cordelia. Only in this episode, when she reveals her third dress choice for Homecoming (which makes me question why she thought the first two were appropriate, and I know nothing about fashion) does he realize what he has been overlooking for so many years. While “the path not taken” is the big theme for Buffy, it also applies to Xander and Willow’s friendship and what could’ve been had Xander been more aware.

Xander’s fears of post-high school life are warranted. Throughout the series he’s joked, often as a self-defense mechanism, about his underachievement and how he’ll wind up working in a low entry job because of it. Now that the end of high school is certain, he’s faced with that reality and it rightfully scares him. Perhaps he subconsciously wants to sabotage his relationship with Cordelia because he wants to make leaving high school as dramatically crushing as he sees it. His motivations are easier to explain than Willow’s, whose behavior is more to make this point happen (although later seasons may explain this Willow’s confusion over who she wants).

No sooner does he establish himself does Scott Hope fall back into the chorus of Sunnydale’s student body. His presence as Buffy’s new boyfriend was to make Angel’s return as uncomfortable as possible. Now that that happened, Scott can leave. His departure also raises her level of angst over what slaying does to her personal life. While they could’ve had him stick around, getting rid of him was probably the better decision. Despite being single, Buffy can’t run back to Angel and have things be the way they were before “Surprise”. Having her available, but unavailable, nails the tragic element of the romance.

At this point Faith is probably at the peak of her closeness with Buffy’s gang. Considering Faith’s references to the losers she’s been around, she’s obviously the first to understand what Buffy’s going through with Scott, offering some advice, albeit questionable, and humiliating him in front of his date. This unity would be short lived as it quickly corrodes as the season progresses.

No discussion of this episode would be complete without the introduction of the season’s big bad, Mayor Richard Wilkins III. Unlike the previous big bads, Wilkins isn’t a vampire, which eliminates the restriction that they had to be one. As far as we know he is human, but considering the past references to him and how even the mentioning of him caused Snyder to coil up in uneasiness, that status is in question.

This reputation plays into his first scene, where the deputy displays his hands while a letter opener is prominently displayed in the frame. We expect the mayor to impale the nervous deputy and do who knows what to him afterward. Instead he has a brief monologue about the importance of hygiene! He’s right out of a “Leave It to Beaver” episode (the lost one where Wally and the Beave become Satanists). As far as major antagonists go, this was something we’ve never seen.

This episode’s big contribution to the season is the introduction of the Mayor, who we’ll learn a lot more about as the season progresses. The idea of identity and what Buffy might’ve been is covered well in the episode. Unfortunately, the main threat of the episode should’ve been given more screen time over scenes reinforcing the rivalry Buffy and Cordelia have.

Overall Score: 7/10

Lost: Season 4, Episode 7 Review: Ji Yeon

Ji Yeon
Original Airdate: March 13, 2008
Writer: Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz
Director: Stephen Semel

While the first five episodes were generally well received, the past two have had more problems. Last episode gave us insights that didn’t need to be there. This episode had some more controversial elements that have polarized the fandom. There was the return of Michael, a reveal that has been spoiled so many times that only someone who didn’t follow news or know who the actors were could be surprised. Then there was the gimmick of having us believe on first viewing that Jin’s flashback was a flash forward. Not knowing either would certainly enhance the enjoyment of this episode.

Jin’s subplot actually being a flashback left some viewers cheated. A valid criticism is that its screen time, however many minutes, doesn’t advance the narrative so much as sets up the twist. I saw it coming from about 20 minutes into the episode. The hints are there, from the bad flashback hair, the bulky cell phone and that no one recognized Jin, despite the fact that he should be a major celebrity. If you don’t see this coming, the episode should work a lot more. Such a criticism could be lobbed at Jack’s flash-forwards in “Through the Looking Glass”, but that episode provided the foundation for the Oceanic Six storyline that’s being explored this season.

Although last week’s events were a pile of contrivance, they do help motivate this episode. While Daniel obviously wants to help, the freighties objective wasn’t rescuing the castaways. Now their covert activities at The Tempest, while sparing most of the people on the island, are coming back to haunt them. Sun’s choice to head to Locke’s camp makes sense, and it wouldn’t be hard to conceive of others leaving the camp when word gets out that the freighties have some secrets.

Juliet’s attempt to keep Sun on the beach, breaking doctor-patient confidentiality by telling Jin about the affair, could’ve gone soapy like some of the elements from his last episode, but it’s played out a lot better. Losing nine women due to pregnancy took a huge toll on her and she didn’t want Sun to doom herself to that fate by leaving the main camp.

Jin’s reaction shows how far he’s come as a character. Of course he’s going to be upset, but his conversation with Bernard, however limited Jin’s side was, somehow convinces him to make it work (if Bernard and Rose’s relationship can survive cancer, Jin and Sun’s could survive and affair). The whole episode is a showcase for how he’s changed. His English has come far enough for him to carry conversations and understand those with him. The most important improvement was his character. Should he have known that Sun cheated while an enforcer, he probably would’ve killed Jae. Now, he brings her dinner and forgives her and understands why she did it.

Previously it was believed that only Minkowski was the only one sick on the freighter, but this episode shows that problems among the ship’s crew ran deeper. Regina, no sooner do we meet her does she throw herself overboard (hopefully we’ll see more Zoë Bell in flashbacks because that’d be a waste of a Grindhouse mini reunion between her, Fahey and Andrews). Then there’s the blood stain on the wall of Sayid and Desmond’s new quarters, clearly the result of a self inflicted gunshot wound. Whoever gave Sayid and Desmond the note and left the sick bay door open, almost certainly Michael, is trying to help them navigate the freighter so they don’t wind up like Regina or Minkowski.

Of course the biggest “surprise” of this episode was ruined sometime last summer when they revealed Michael would be back. It didn’t make it easier when they had Harold Perrineau’s name in the credits despite the fact that he hasn’t appeared in a frame all season. This is where the super aware internet following can work against “Lost”, as well as other shows. There was no way to keep Michael’s return a secret from last summer to now because of the spread of information on the internet. Unfortunately, knowing he’ll be back blows the reveal in this episode. If they were to edit out his name from the credits, his return could’ve been somewhat shocking rather than inevitable to those other than the oblivious viewer. However, the tease of him walking to Sayid and Desmond’s new room is not deliberately evasive, which would’ve further annoyed those who saw it coming.

With Michael’s return come several questions. How did he go from being shipped off the island to working on the freighter’s crew? Did they just pick him out of the water and give him a job? Why did he use the alias Kevin Johnson? Where is Walt? Michael’s return, in addition to continuing his still incomplete story, also seeks to illuminate the freighties’ mission and possibly the conditions that lead to the “cabin fever”.

An odd thing was the clanging of the metal that Sayid thought was coming from a person rather than a mechanical error. This is likely two things: either it’s a person who has lost their mind and is hitting something for no good reason or Michael, possibly Walt, trying to give Sayid and Desmond a message, maybe in morse code. Michael may be more likely to deliver messages personally, but Walt can’t.

Captain Gault is an intriguing new element to the freighter saga. Although he is an intimidating character, his crew acting like they’re in a malevolent dictatorship where one false move could lead to grave consequences, he is forthcoming with information as Sayid notes. It’d be like if Ben revealed who he was in great detail when Sayid first encountered him in the net. Perhaps this forthcoming persona is all part of a con to get Sayid and Desmond on his side, but considering their warnings, there is a bit of skepticism.

Gault accuses Ben of coming up with 324 bodies to match those of Oceanic 815. This may be the source of his $3.2 million Miles is trying to extort out of him and the significance of that amount. At $10,000 a body, it comes to $3.24 million, rounded down to 3.2 possibly to mislead us. Last season showed us The Others have a lot of resources off island that could stage a plane crash, so it isn’t hard for them to put this together even when they only have a few hours to do it. However, considering both Ben’s and Gault’s stories are marred by our natural distrust in them, neither side may true, despite that neither side contradicts the other yet.

Despite the promise that it would be clear who the Oceanic Six are by the end of the episode, the episode explains only to five. So if it is true, the likeliest candidate of the two other island characters we’ve seen off is Aaron. The big problem with that is that Jack’s testimony in “Eggtown” says that eight people survived the initial crash and two perished before they could be rescued, and Aaron obviously was in Claire’s womb the day of the crash. However, considering their cover story deviates entirely from what really happened, it wouldn’t be hard for Aaron be already born in their story.

It’s odd that only Hurley would make the trip to see Ji Yeon, as the six all have golden passes to fly anywhere free (the exception would be Kate, who at this point in the timeline would be on trial and kept in custody as a flight risk). However, it points to the bigger problem the Oceanic Six is dealing with and will leave Hurley and Jack succumbing hard to the guilt. Bringing them all together would just remind each other of whatever horrible thing they did that got them off the island. This certainly could be the major problem facing Jack in his flash forward.

Many are ready to call Jin a goner because of the emotionally charged farewell at the end of the episode (including the touching “Life and Death” theme) in addition to Jin seemingly completing his redemptive arc. If he turned out OK, it might cheapen this episode’s ending. However, Sun’s sadness over not having Jin there could be simply because he was left behind on the island which, judging by Jack’s desperate attempts to get back in the finale seems almost impossible to relocate. Sun’s character flaw is her ability to lie to protect herself, so she might’ve lied and cheated her way into one of the Oceanic Six’s slots in a desperate attempt to save herself from what kills pregnant women on the island. Jin’s absence hits her hard when he’s not by her side when it happens, knowing he’d be there giant stuffed panda or not. Also, none of her monologue by the grave is explicit enough to imply anything other than he isn’t there. If anything, I just want to avoid another discussion of how anyone who gets a DWI on “Lost” gets killed off shortly afterward.

Overall this is a good episode marred by elements it couldn’t control. At its heart, this transitional episode does what it’s supposed to do. By reintroducing Michael and removing the safety net for Jin, the stakes are being raised ever higher. One can hope the following six episodes can deliver on the promises of the first half.

Overall Score: 8/10

Lost: Season 4, Episode 6 Review: The Other Woman

The Other Woman
Original Airdate: March 6, 2008
Writers: Drew Goddard and Christina M. Kim
Director: Eric Lanueville

Following up an episode that instantly becomes recognized as a classic is never easy for a series. It’s even harder when the season is transitioning to the next phase. Had this been an episode from the first few seasons (this is the first episode this season to have traditional flashbacks from one character) it’d be easier to forgive, but this doesn’t mesh as well with the resolve the writers have had this season. While previous episodes have had major reveals, this one just feels forced and sloppy.

Juliet was the sympathetic doorway into the lives of The Others. Since that society has been largely obliterated, Juliet now needs a new direction. So they branch out her character by introducing Harper, an Other who despite being married to Goodwin hasn’t been seen, heard or referred to before. It also changes the context of her relationship with Goodwin, making it an affair rather than something open (which would’ve been the way to go considering there isn’t much place for privacy in their group). Suddenly The Barracks feel an awful lot like Wisteria Lane.

The decision to add this element of Juliet as “the other woman”, while it has multiple meanings (her affair, her involvement with Jack and being a female Other), is too melodramatic and seeks to define Juliet more by her romances than anything else. This has been a big problem with Kate since her second centric episode. However, Juliet has been well acted and written before, so this may be a bump in the road while the writers craft the next phase for her.

This episode also confirms that Ben had Goodwin killed for getting close to Juliet. Of course that begs the question how did he know that Goodwin would die on such a mission. It could be a good guess, or maybe Ben is far more astute than we give him credit for. Ben might’ve known Goodwin would become Ana-Lucia’s right hand despite Ben’s command not to get involved and leave after they took all people on the list. Many have wondered what Ethan did to have him sent away. It’s possible he was thrown in to deflect suspicion that Goodwin was marked.

Michael Emerson, as many have claimed, steals the episode. We see another side of him, the love sick puppy that can’t handle a crush. Some may think that diminishes Ben’s image as a character, but it’s clear he isn’t about to hoist a boombox blasting Peter Gabriel anytime soon. He’s a control freak, so he’s prone to be jealous. Add his sense of power the island gives him and it’s scary. His declaration “You’re mine” makes the soap opera antics before far more bearable.

Considering how everything not spelled out to viewers becomes a source of speculation, I was rather naïve to believe that Harper’s remark that Juliet looked like a woman from Ben’s past referred to anyone besides Ben’s mother. Some thought it wasn’t because she died when he was born, but that there had to be pictures of her around. It could be Annie, but she had dark hair when Ben first met her. Ben’s flashback showed his mother and her death played a major role in his development. Annie, while a friend for some time, is still a major mystery. His mother’s death caused his alcoholic father to heap years of psychological abuse upon him. Later, seeing her would start the chain of events that lead him to the top of The Others.

Of all the unanswered questions about The Others, another love triangle was the wrong thing to introduce. Why not give us more details on how The Others were between the crash and when they became a bigger presence late in the second season? From that umbrella period they could explore a lot of elements they didn’t get to last season. They could’ve even done more with the chemical burn Goodwin had. Of course, they may be saving the big reveals for the next Ben episode, but there’s still plenty of room for Juliet to answer some long asked questions.

There is the question of how Ben, who has been in the castaways custody for a few days on the island, found out about which freighties were going on the mission and sent one of The Others to get Juliet to kill them. This was likely a back up plan we never saw when Ben left The Others to negotiate with the castaways. If he didn’t return after a certain number of days, they would set off The Tempest’s gas. Perhaps Ben sent his people to The Temple because they can control the gas or be safe from it. There are also the whispers, which may be his method of communicating should he not be able to otherwise.

The big problem of the episode is that the conflict exists entirely from the characters not disclosing things they should. Why would Daniel and Charlotte not disclose to the castaways that they were rendering the gas inert? It’s unlikely anyone, not even Locke, would object to that mission. Also why do they knock out Kate (perhaps the better question would be why would she turn her back on one of them after catching them in a lie)? This may make more sense later as they describe the freighter’s intentions.

Claire’s request to question Miles is another jarring out of character moment. She has never been one of the leaders of the camp, so why is she suddenly being proactive in how they handle the Miles (who as far as we know still has that grenade in his mouth) situation? Perhaps this is representative of the lack of ideas the writers have for her without Charlie.

Ben continues to play Locke, but this time he has more than just mind games to back up his argument for freedom. This is executed the way the main plot should have. Ben and Locke’s story comes from their established behaviors and not them behaving in a way solely to move the story. Ben manipulates everyone while Locke, trying to maintain a leadership role, remains susceptible to anyone who is somewhat convincing.

Widmore’s role in the island mythology gets pushed further with the videotape of him pulverizing Ben’s inside man (presumed a different man than the one on the boat). Considering what we know, especially from last week, Ben’s assertion that Widmore desperately wants to get to the island makes sense. Purchasing the journal was the first step. It’s long been theorized that Widmore used Desmond and exploited Penelope’s love for him to find the island as well. Ben, of course, would be a major player to eliminate if he wanted to exploit the island as Ben believes.

With Widmore preparing for “war” with Ben (a “war” Juliet believes Ben will win) Jack prepares to stand by Juliet. This does play into the flashbacks for why she’d be concerned about that choice. However, this may ironically spell doom for her. Jack gets off the island and eventually finds himself in a deep dark depression over leaving the island. Perhaps Juliet’s eventual demise is one of the things he’s guilt-ridden over. It would also explain Ben and Sayid’s crusade against those responsible.

Again we’re teased with the identity of Ben’s inside man, which is further frustrating if it turns out to be Michael as speculated. However, it may be interesting if it’s Walt. Locke has loyalties to Walt, so Ben convincing Locke that he sent Walt to help the island might have been what bought Ben the right to roam freely. Of course, it’s expected to believe that it’s a lie, but maybe whatever he told Locke was right?

Following the string of solid or knock out episodes, this one is a mess. The back story for The Others offered more soapy gossip than major reveals, although the pay off was satisfying. Hopefully when the next stage of the season begins this will even out, and considering the first five episodes, the good will should be far from spent.

Overall Score: 6/10

Lost: Season 4, Episode 5 Review: The Constant

The Constant

Original Airdate: February 28, 2008

Writer: Damon Lindelof & Carlton Cuse
Director: Jack Bender

This episode has all the ingredients for “Lost” at its best: a script by Lindelof and Cuse, direction by Jack Bender and focus on one of the more compelling characters. In a season where even the episodes considered misfires are still really good, this episode shines even more. Although a flash forward with Desmond would’ve been at least interesting, his back story still has plenty of life in it, not to mention his time travels allow the creative team to divert from the standard flashback formula.

Desmond’s story since gaining his power has earned comparisons to the Kurt Vonnegut masterpiece “Slaughterhouse Five”. In that, the protagonist becomes “unstuck in time” (a phrase dropped in this episode), catapulting through various events in his life with no seeming logic or progression. Desmond experiences similar phenomena, although it jumps back and forth from a linear 1996 storyline to the present action. “Lost” also incorporates another level of tension, where the conscience bouncing back and forth needs to find a constant to hang on to or else face deadly consequences.

Desmond’s unstuck travels through time are terrifically put together. The abrupt changes mid-sentence (or mid-word) to dead silence or vice versa really nailed the disorientation Desmond suffered throughout the episode. While the director, writers and cast deserve high marks, the editing deserves it as well (hopefully they’ll get Emmy recognition).

Since Charlie’s death, some have wondered what that meant for Desmond’s flashes. Presumably he would have flashes of other events, but this episode gives Desmond something new and interesting. Assuming the flashes were similar to the unsticking (the flashes were presumably incomplete as the future isn’t written), Desmond avoided major problems because Charlie was his constant through most of them. Although he avoided death in this episode, it’s still possible that this could happen again, maybe when Penny comes close to the island.

Penelope and Desmond’s love story is everything the Kate/Jack/Sawyer triangle wants to be but isn’t. Look no further than that gut wrenching phone call on the boat. None of the love triangle moments even comes close to this one. Even multiple viewings hasn’t diminished how moving this scene is. Unlike the triangle, Desmond and Penny’s love and separation are at the heart of the “Lost” story.

While I initially was puzzled over Desmond’s decision to stay behind, his reasoning is obvious: he wants to know their connection to Penny. Naomi had their photo when she parachuted on island and used that to gain the trust of the survivors, but what exactly was their reasoning for this strategy unless they knew they had contact with Ben and assuming he is their target? Minkowski explains that Penelope contacted the freighter. This could imply that the freighter was originally sent by her after all, but Abaddon’s people changed the agenda. That could explain why she didn’t know Naomi.

The freighter’s a lot smaller than it was made out to be. It was probably unrealistic to have a big freighter on a TV budget. The crew, therefore, must be small. Originally there were at least 11 people (the freighties on island, the doctor, Minkoswki, Omar, Keamy, the Captain & Regina), but there are likely more.

It’s been theorized for weeks that Michael and presumably Walt are on the boat as well, with Michael being Ben’s inside man. If that’s the case, it wouldn’t be a far stretch to presume that Michael is Sayid and Desmond’s “friend”, unlocking the sick bay door so they can go to the communication center. It would also make sense that Walt sabotaged the equipment. This ties in with him setting the original raft on fire. He never wanted to get off the island, so now that he is he’s going to do everything in his power to keep the freighter from going forward.

Between Minkowski and Desmond, this episode may begin to explain the “sickness” Rousseau alluded to back in the eighth episode. It should also be noted that the substance Minkowski was injected with looks like the vaccine Desmond took while in The Swan. Since The Swan was on top of all the electromagnetic activity, it would make sense to protect the inhabitants from “side effects”. There is also the question of whether the rest of the crew will be subject to it, since Brendan and Minkowski went on a solo mission to see the island. Frank make it there and back and he appears fine.

There’s also the question of how it’ll affect Locke. He’s the only other person who was close to The Swan when it im/exploded who is still alive, but the only effects he’s had was a renewed sense that the island’s power was real. It’ll be interesting to see if he becomes “sick” should he leave, perhaps as a reluctant member of the Oceanic Six.

Daniel’s character gets some major development, explaining some of his odd behavior. Considering his exposure to radiation and electromagnetism, they are setting him up as a possible counter to Desmond. This may explain Charlotte’s card game and his inexplicable crying when learning of 815’s “fate” in his flashback. He may be in an upcoming event that was upsetting (not hard to believe with all the harbingers of doom) and hurled back with no memory. This may ultimately be what motivated him to join the freighter crew.

It seems that Widmore may know a bit about the island’s mythology. At the point where Desmond jumped back his journey may be getting started, as he’s first obtaining a potential piece of island mythology: a journal, owned by a member of the Hanso family, by the first mate of the Black Rock (some of whom theorized was forever young Richard). Buying it for such a high price shows he’ll go far to learn about the island. He may also know the truth about what’s happening to Desmond and that, combined with his distaste for those lower in class than he is, fuels his animosity. That could be why he left the water running, which was a pretty odd behavior.

The time discrepancy between on-island and off-island is revealed and it turns out that it wasn’t too far off. The island is only a few days ahead according to Lostpedia, although official sources appear to be retconning that unfortunately. However, it should be noted that the bearing Frank followed was 305, 20 less than Michael’s. Veering slightly off was likely that catalyst for Desmond’s problems. It’s possible that going at the bearing Ben advised will ultimately explain Walt’s aging.

Otherwise, the show’s focus is only on a few other characters. Sayid proves to be a strong support for Desmond, likely because he’s in a similar situation with his long lost love Nadia (not explaining her in Sayid’s flash forward may be telling). It’s interesting to see him as compassionate compared to the cold blooded killer he’ll become at Ben’s service. Frank also has some good scenes as the castaways ally (possibly the “friend”) on the boat. It’s certainly interesting to see that the freighties on island, besides Miles, have been sympathetic, considering what happens to the Oceanic Six.

Overall, this was the best episode yet from a season that has been hitting all the right marks. The A-Team (as TV Guide calls them) of Bender, Lindelof and Cuse crank out another superb episode and Henry Ian Cusick (one of the many gifted performers on “Lost”) knocks it out of the park. While it was a self-contained episode, no Oceanic Six reveals, it still moved the story forward with some great character development between Desmond and Daniel. The stage is certainly set for even more amazing stuff down the road.

Overall Score: 10/10