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3.3 Faith, Hope and Trick Buffy: "The girl's not playing with a full deck, Giles. She has almost no deck. She has a three." This episode introduces three characters: Faith the vampire slayer, who was "called" to replace Kendra; Scott Hope, who is briefly Buffy's boyfriend; and Mr.Trick, a vampire villain who is around during much of season three. Even at this early point, Faith appears to be a darker version of Buffy. A high school dropout, she's sexy and promiscuous, tattooed and white trashy, macks on Xander and Giles, and has a serious attitude. Faith calls Buffy "B" and annoys the crap out of her, while simultaneously moving in on Buffy's life. While Buffy again finds herself considering the possibility of a normal life, with Faith around to take over (just as she did with Kendra), Buffy finds Faith a lot more threatening. Since the Council assigns Faith to Giles until a new Watcher can be assigned, Buffy and Faith will have to find a way to work together. Mr. Trick is a hoot; especially in the drive-through scene and the pizza delivery scene. He's a modern, practical vampire with computer skills; no vengeance gigs for him. Scott Hope, a "normal guy," makes several attempts here to get Buffy to go out with him, and finally succeeds. The cladagh ring is a big plot point, symbolic of her relationship with Angel. We see it fall off in the Angel dream sequence; Scott freaks her out by giving her the same ring (he is "replacing" Angel); and Buffy finally leaves it on the floor in the mansion, on the spot where Angel died. The best part of this episode is the way Giles subtly maneuvers Buffy into talking about what happened with Angel. The scene in which Buffy finally tells Giles and Willow that Angel did get his soul back but she had to kill him anyway is particularly well done. At the end of the episode, a stark naked, battered Angel is literally dropped back into the series, like an exclamation point at the end of a sentence. Bits and pieces: -- Mr. Trick points out the lack of black people in Sunnydale, which also draws attention to the lack of black actors in the series. -- It is established that vamps do not need an invitation to enter motel rooms. -- I miss Kendra. I liked Kendra. She had a cool accent and neat hair and she named her stake. -- Speaking of missing people, I am definitely missing Spike and Drusilla. -- The Angel dream sequence in this episode has Buffy and Angel dancing in the Bronze, with Angel wearing an out-of-character white shirt so that the blood will show on it. (Angel tends to only wear white when he bleeds.) -- Faith says her mother is dead. Although it isn't stated specifically, Faith appears to be from Boston. -- Joyce learns that Buffy died in "Prophecy Girl." -- The Mayor is mentioned, but still not seen. ("It's the Mayor on line one.") -- The vampire that Faith picks up at the Bronze is wearing dated clothes. This isn't done often, or vamps would be very easy to pick out of a crowd. -- There is a Watcher's retreat every year in the Costwalds, and Giles is not invited. Why wouldn't Giles be invited? He is watching one of the two active Slayers, isn't he? Doesn't this make him important? -- Canine report: Willow: "Maybe we shouldn't be too couple-y around Buffy." Cordelia: "Oh, you mean 'cause of how the only guy that ever liked her turned into a vicious killer and had to be put down like a dog?" Xander: "Can she cram complex issues into a nutshell, or what?" Inconsistencies: -- At one point, Buffy and Faith have an entire conversation without noticing bodies on the ground. -- Kakistos is said to be such an old vampire that his hands and feet are cloven. These characteristics are inconsistent with those of the Master. Quotes: Xander: "Oh, you wanna date. I saw that half-smile, you little slut." Buffy: "All right, yes, date and shop and hang out and go to school and save the world from unspeakable demons. You know, I want to do girlie stuff." Buffy: "So let me get this straight. I'm really back in school because the school board overruled you. Wow. That's like having your whole ability to do this job called into question, when you think about it." Joyce: "I think what my daughter's trying to say is nyah, nyah-nyah-nyah, nyah." Faith: "God, I could eat a horse. Isn't it crazy how slaying just always makes you hungry and horny?" (everyone looks at Buffy) Buffy: "Well, sometimes I crave a nonfat yogurt afterwards." Buffy: "Giles, there are two things that I don't believe in: coincidence and leprechauns." Giles: "Well, Buffy, it's entirely possible that they both arrived here by chance simultaneously." Buffy: "Okay, but I was right about the leprechauns, right?" This was another good one; well balanced and a lot of fun, and I was pleased and surprised by the ending. How about another three out of four? This show is still one of the major high points of my week. I need to get a life, Billie |
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