I feel mean just mentioning Christine Willes and Britt McKillip so here’s all the others who made Dead Like Me so amazing.
First, the Americans:
Ellen Muth as George: “but if death sneaks up on you, the only thing you have time to think is… Aw, shit.”
Mandy Patinkin as Rube: “What you’re feeling right now, the rage and frustration all knotted together, binding everything from your head to your digestive tracks? That’s my life with you.”
Jasmine Guy as Roxy: “Sir, I’m going to say this as politely as possible. I will fuck you up.”
Patricia Idlette as Kiffany: “Excuse me. What’s the first thought that enters your head when you finish a job?” “What?” “What is the first thought that enters your head when you finish a job?” “I hope they’re happy.”
Second, the Canadians:
Cynthia Stevenson as Joy: “Where are my effing keys?” “Maybe they’re in your effing purse.” “Reggie! Don’t say effing!”
Laura Harris as Daisy, Daisy Adair: “Why has no one ever loved me?”
Sarah Lind as Stephanie: “It’s going to take over yellow. It doesn’t stand a chance. Poor yellow.”
We have just finished Dead Like Me season two and we are so disappointed that there is no more (except a rumoured DVD film). It had so much still to offer. The cast were magnificent, it was funny, it was sad, it was clever, it was moving, it was off-colour, it was insightful, it was brilliant. And it made cry more times than any TV show I can think of.
A special mention to Christine Willes as Delores who brightened up every scene even when a scene was already going somewhere and Britt McKillip as Reggie.
Ethan Rayne looks like Nathan Fillion as Caleb (at least in the first panel).
My eye while looking at the image of Buffy with Angel and Spike is caught not by the nudity but by the fact that Buffy is in a nurse’s uniform and suspenders which doesn’t strike me as a woman’s fantasy (but what do I know? see later).
Pixellating Willow, Willow has blue eyes, Willow says “bone a thricewise”, say what?
Tara is in the cube on the bottom left and that is Joyce atop Faith (this must sound kinky to the uninitiated).
Any panel with Andrew in it is a wasted panel, rather like season seven when any scene with Andrew in it meant less screen time for characters I actually cared about. There is no offence intended to the actor because it’s the character that sucks. And the strip poker panel is just lame and offensive.
I do have problems that these not particularly bright men (except Giles) are directing the actions of hundreds of women. I’m not exactly getting a feminism vibe yet.
As for the dead Kennedy misdirect I was genuinely shocked when I read that. Firstly because I was made to feel guiltily happy that Kennedy was out of the picture, and secondly, I was appalled that Willow now had two dead girlfriends. It wasn’t funny, it’s baiting Tara fans and Kennedy detractors (not always one and the same thing) and it’s mean Jossing.
Willow fancied Xander (and Malcolm) and actually had sex with a very stubbly guy called Oz. I’m happy that she’s “gay now” but please stop with the suggestions that Willow was only marginally interested in guys.
Oh blimey, this sounds like I hated it but I didn’t, I enjoyed it a lot: it was the best issue so far. However, the dissection that goes on the net makes me rather jealous I couldn’t do the same for the TV series.
Which brings me to this criticism of the cover by Jo Chen which reminds me of my first reaction which was “gosh, look at those”. I am conflicted because yes, Willow’s boobs are bigger than before (maybe she’s pregnant?) but at the same time I love it. I’m not a man and if she is drawn for men then it’s worked on me too. However, I do agree with a commentator (Ravenwing263) who criticises Chen for her portrayal of Gert as far from dumpy.
This is the other candidate from season four for the least liked episode. And like Beer Bad I can defend it or, at least, list good things about it. For one thing, the Buffy and Riley having sex scenes don’t take up that much screen time (though they do seem endless). And surely an episode with Giles singing can’t be a total wash-out? By the way, Giles singing isn’t actually a good thing but it was a great BtVS moment (“Um, could we go back to the haunted house? Cause, this is creeping me out.”)
There is a lot of excellent character interaction between Xander and Anya, Anya and Spike, and Tara and Willow. In fact, reviewing this episode was more fun than doing Superstar.
Anya and Xander argue in front of children and parents: “You want sex? Let’s have sex. Right here. Hot, sweaty, big sex.” (OK, question, why is the ice cream van a right hand drive? Are all ice cream vans right hand drives in the US?)
“They, they’re probably going to…” “Yes, thank you Willow, I did attend university in the Mesozoic era, I do remember what it’s like.”
Anya and Spike begin their relationship with a funny scene: “What are you doing? You made me yell really high.”
“Hey, Buffy, this might be a good time to mention that someone, so not me, spilled something purpley on your new peasant top which I would never borrow without asking. Still love me?”
“You should ride with me sometime. I guarantee safety and fun.” “Well…if you promise you’ll look after me.” (Subtle)
“Anya, this is crazy. We had a little fight. It just means that we have to work our way through some stuff. It doesn’t mean that we rebound with the evil undead.” (I’d almost feel sorry for Xander except it’s his fault she does rebound.)
“I know I’m not the first choice for heroics…and Buffy’s tried to kill me more than once. And, I don’t fancy a single one of you at all. But…actually, all that sounds pretty convincing. I wonder if Danger Mouse is on.”
Xander is very brave by at least trying to help his friends.
“No. They’re probably dead.” “Unless they’re too busy doing it to answer.” “Doing what?” “You know, for a god of acoustic rock, you’re…kind of naive.” “I didn’t think you meant …in the midst of all that, do you really think they were keeping it up? Oh, for a different phrasing.” “Well, see, that’s the thing. People all over the party were starting to act…weird. Sexually.” “In what way?” “You know…ways.” (Subtext alert!)
Mrs Holt being a child abuser wasn’t a surprise but it’s was nice to see Mrs Landingham being evil.
“What do you feel?” “Sad, afraid of being without you, and a little hungry.” “I meant about the house.” “Oh. Still haunted.”
“We’re just lucky no one got injured.” (Er, what about that thorn through Anya’s hand and that scratch on Xander’s face?)
Totally gratuitous picture of Amber Benson looking gorgeous
I enjoyed this episode a lot except for the last leaden minutes but I haven’t much to say about it.
Jonathan says watch out for southpaws but this may have been the proof the Scoobies needed: he isn’t one. And he may not know how to deal with his own inadequacies but he does give Buffy and Riley sound advice.
Oblivious Buffy
The scenes with Anya being a metaphor-for-autism are classic: “Oh you’re still here. That’s nice.” and later: “Stop with the shrimp I am trying to do something here!”
“Xander, don’t speak Latin in front of the books.”
“Did anyone else feel way too tall? I felt way too tall.”
This is probably my favourite ever episode of BtVS but it isn’t entirely perfect: the actors who play the three Watchers’ Council men may or may not be British but they sure sound awful and it’s distracting. Plus Adam…and the spit that runs down Buffy’s face.
As I write these reviews (notes?) I surf around the Internet for various reasons (in this case to find out the preferred terms for Faith and Buffy which I decided not to bother with) and I come across other websites and blogs that cover the same ground. I am constantly struck by the near hatred that BtVS can provoke. Some people are so angry, proprietorial, and demanding; it’s as if they believe the series and its creators personally owe them something. Season four and six are the targets of the most venom and I wonder why they bother with something that they dislike so much. Then I wonder if my gripes could be conceived the same way so in order to make it clear: I love BtVS and even the problems I have with season six don’t stop the love I have for it and all that came before it. Maybe any hatred I may have is reserved for season seven but I even though I have never seen an episode from that season again I still remember liking a lot of it. I have noticed a bit of the above coming out in reviews of the season eight comics with folk demanding less Andrew, who Amy’s boyfriend’s should be, etc, as if Joss and co should or could please everyone.
Here’s a list of reasons why it’s a favourite:
Sarah Michelle Gellar is outstanding as Faith in Buffy’s body. Eliza Dushku doesn’t come close though she tries hard.
Faith takes a bath and practises “because it’s wrong”
“I am, you know.” “What?” “Yours”
“On her way to the big house. Cops took her off my hands about an hour ago. Poetic justice.” “How’s that?” “ Well, she did all those crimes, and now she’s being arrested…I guess that’s just regular justice.”
Faith stabs Willow and I get all shivery when she stabs Willow where Buffy stabbed Faith.
“Well, I’m glad you called us all here because that information could never be conveyed by telephone.” I love the snark between Anya and Giles.
“You know why I really hate you, Summers?” “Cause I’m a stuck-up tight-ass with no sense of fun?” “Well, yeah, that covers a lot of it.” “Cause I could do anything I want, and instead, I choose to pout and whine and feel the burden of slayerness? I mean, I could be rich, I could be famous, I could have anything. Anyone. Even you, Spike. I could ride you at a gallop until your legs buckled and your eyes rolled up. I’ve got muscles you’ve never even dreamed of. I could squeeze you until you popped like warm Champagne and you’d beg me to hurt you just a little bit more. And you know why I don’t? Because it’s wrong.” This scene is just incredible: just one more example of “how did they get away with that?”
“So Willow’s not driving stick anymore.” Heh, in two minutes Faith sees more than the Scoobies.
Faith walks after the vampire and I just love the swishing sound as she picks up the pool cue.
Faith is conflicted as the woman she has saved says thank you but surely Faith has heard gratitude before?
“Yeah. You give her whatever she needs.” Meow.
“She’s not your friend.” “I may have overestimated the “you liking her” factor.” “No, no. I mean, I don’t…I don’t think she’s…her.” “You lost me.” “Well, a person’s energy has a flow, a unity. Buffy’s was fragmented. It-it grated, like something forced in where it doesn’t belong. Plus, she was, um, she was kind of mean.” In two minutes, Tara sees more than the Scoobies.
“I-I think there’s a way we can, hmm…The passage to the nether realm. There-there’s a ritual. If you can find Buffy there, you should be able to see.” “If it’ll help her. What?” “Well, the nether realm exists beyond the physical world. Accessing it is…It-it’s kind of like astral projection. It’s very intense. I’d have to be your anchor, keep you on this plane. “I trust you.” “It-it’s not like anything that we’ve ever…” “I trust you.”
Riley, Riley, Riley, make a note of this: if your girlfriend comes on to you in a weird and out-there manner and she has never behaved like that before. Ask yourself is she all right? Is her mind where it should be? Is she herself?
Okay, the Nether Realms ritual is just a spell. Oh all right, it isn’t, it’s a metaphor for sex. So magic = sex not magic = addiction, right? Anyway, it’s an outrageous scene that is in truth rather explicit because in most love scenes on TV we don’t usually see a participant actually have a (flaming) o.
Faith is in turmoil after having sex with Riley. What are we to think? Is she amazed by his tenderness? By his profession of love? By how much she enjoyed it? Was her mind invaded by Willow?
“Yeah, you’re a killer.” “I am not a killer! I am the Slayer! And you don’t know the first thing about me.”
“Who’s president?” “We’re checking for Buffy, not a concussion.” …“Giles, you turned into a demon and I knew it was you! I mean, can’t you just look in my eyes and be all … intuitive?” … “How did I turn into a demon?” “Oh! Cause, uh, Ethan Rayne. And-and you have a girlfriend named Olivia. And you haven’t had a job since we blew up the school…which is valid, lifestyle wise. I mean, it’s not like you’re a slacker type, but … Oh, oh! When I had psychic power, I heard my mom think that you were like a stevedore during sex. Do you want me to continue?” “Actually, I beg you to stop.” “What’s a stevedore?”
Riley was on his way to church.
“Damn it, man! We have to get inside! Our, uh, uh, families are-are in there! Our, uh, m-mothers and-and tiny, tiny babies!”
“You’re nothing! Disgusting! Murderous bitch! You’re nothing! You’re disgusting!” I feel it’s a shame that Five by Five and Sanctuary were basically rehashes of This Year’s Girl and Who Are You? because I was looking forward to much more than we did get.
Xander almost fries himself and no one notices and I don’t think it is stretching to say that this reflects the minds of the BtVS creators who didn’t have a clue what to do with the character who didn’t go to college (not that Buffy, Willow or Riley seem to have done much work recently) and Riley fixing it so easily is just another sign of contempt for a character who, although I have a lot of problems with, deserved better than this.
“What did you tell him?” “The truth? That she’s my wacky identical cousin from England, and whenever she visits hi-jinks ensue?” “It’s good you guys have such an honest relationship.” “No, I told him the story. I vagued up a few bits, but no flat-out lies.” Sigh, this so sums up BtVS.
I love the conversation between Willow and Tara about Faith, that is, I love it when I focus on the words and not the clothes. They are not the worst outfit either wear (see Willow’s After Life’s “You’re welcome” red top and Tara’s “that’s my cue to put some clothes on” but-please-not-that-Sam-Browne-belt-blouse in Seeing Red) but it’s the worst duo of outfits. The insane costumer must have said something like this: “Amber dear, you are actually slim but you have a big bottom so, wear this sash to diminish your breasts and make your hips look vast. Oh, and Aly, here’s a tablecloth that’ll look super” (…on a table).
“This is strictly recon. What?” “You said “recon”. You’re like Cool Monster Fighter!”…“Don’t worry, we’re sure to spot Faith first. She’s like this cleavagey slut-bomb walking around “Ooh, check me out, I’m wicked-cool, I’m five-by-five.”” “Five-by-five? Five what by five what?”
Faith vs Joyce: Faith nails the distance between Buffy and Joyce (not seen since Fear, Itself) but Joyce shows a bit of pep: “Were you planning to slit my throat any time soon?”
Buffy coming through the window is silly but a brilliant touch. Cue another great fight (despite the stunt doubles there is something elemental about seeing these two evenly matched people (women) bashing the heck out of each other). I’d love to try my hand at analysing their relationship and the similarities and differences between them but I know someone with more time and talent than me has already done it.
The final twist (”five by five”) is proper cliffhanger material.
And like Beer Bad I can defend it or, at least, list good things about it. For one thing, the Buffy and Riley having sex scenes don’t take up that much screen time (though they do seem endless). And surely an episode with Giles singing can’t be a total wash-out? By the way, Giles singing isn’t actually a good thing but it was a great BtVS moment (“Um, could we go back to the haunted house? Cause, this is creeping me out.”)
