| Character - by Siobhan | ||||||
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| "I got older." Buffy says this near the end of Innocence, and it is not only true for her, but also for Willow. But there was also some loss of innocence (as far as Angel is concerned) and growth (for the Watcher and Slayer) for others during this episode.
For Buffy and Willow, their loss of innocence was due to the people they had trusted and loved the most. In Buffy's case it was from giving of herself completely to Angel and then finding out that it was her fault that he had become a 'bad guy' once again. This event was such a major shock to her that she seemed like she was barely going to recover, but she proved that despite losing so much, she came out of it stronger emotionally. Willow as well proved that she, despite feeling betrayed by Xander, could put those feelings aside to be there when she was needed, showing that she was not as much of the young girl she used to be in first season. Although the title of this episode was more apt for what happens with Buffy and Willow, in a sense it works for Angel as well. He loses his soul because in achieving that one moment of pure happiness, in a way loses his own innocence. His soul was his conscience, it kept him innocent because he couldn't bear what he had done before. Now he no longer has that 'impediment', and he's back to his bad ways. Finally, I felt there was a definite strengthening and growth of the Watcher/Slayer relationship by the end of this episode. With the revelation of Jenny Calendar's true purpose in Sunnydale, Giles supported Buffy, something that I felt he had had a difficult time deciding on. Also, near the end of the episode, he supports her again. Insteading of treating her like an errant child, he talks to her as an equal, attempting to give comfort in his own way. This is a great change from when he had a hard time expressing anything but disdain or her lack of discipline (and clothing ;). Overall, a great episode for the characters, and being one of my favourites, I give it 5 out of 5 'Ehs'. |
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| Story - by Wendy | ||||||
This episode, written and directed by the series' creator, should also be known as "Betrayal" as the recurring thread is not only the loss of innocence but the pain of betrayal. The main storyline deals with the unexpected transformation of Angel, the vampire with a soul into the vampire of legend, Angelus. Finally we see the vampire feared by many, respected by Spike and above all, considered a worthy henchman by the Master. It opens as Druscilla experiences Angelus' rebirth in one of her portent fits, similar to Buffy's dreams. The transformation itself is masterfully done both by actor and director as Angelus rises from the ground to feed instantly and savagely on a well-meaning lady of the night. His leisurely exhale of cigarette smoke after the kill was simply a classic touch of irony and pure evil. With the chilling words "I'm back", Angelus' return to the fold is characterized by his continuous mocking of Spike after the Judge proclaims that Angelus is without humanity. Was this the entire reason for the presence of the Judge, as infallible proof that Angelus was legitimate? Revealing his obsession with the Slayer, he promises revenge on Buffy for making him feel human by killing her with love. First betrayal portrayed is Willow's discovery of Xander and Cordelia's relationship. Her outrage and hurt evident, she realizes that he would "rather be with someone he hated" than be with her. One can almost see Willow's shattered dreams as she finally understands that Xander may not be for her. The next betrayal comes as Buffy, having searched frantically for the missing Angel, encounters him in his apartment, their first meeting since making love. The experienced Angelus, knowing exactly how to taunt the uncertain Buffy, brushes off their sexual experience as no "big deal". She, hurt and confused by his casualness, begs for reassurance that she was "good enough". Instead of taking the opportunity to kill her, Angelus prefers the mental torture games for which he is renowned and self-admittedly, played with Dru. Friendship is betrayed when Angelus lures Willow to him in the darkness. Jenny, aware of his transformation from her discussion with her Gypsy uncle, arrives armed with a cross which Xander uses to drive off Angelus as he threatens Buffy with Willow's imminent death, along with all her other friends. Her pleas to the inner Angel are rebuffed and before he leaves, Angelus forces a kiss on the shocked Buffy promising to make things "very interesting". In this entire episode, Gellar in particular portrays Buffy in this cataclysmic aftermath as uncannily true to life. Alone in her room with her memories of their lovemaking, Buffy's heartfelt sobbing simply demands the viewer's pity, understanding and above all, total empathy for her heartbreak. The memory scene itself is done with sensuality and grace, conveying everything with subtle glimpses and imaginative photography. Confronted by Buffy after one of her dreams, Jenny confesses her true identity and betrayal, explaining the reason behind Angel's transformation, which earns her enmity of both Giles and Buffy. Unfortunately, Angelus gets to Uncle first. Xander's Halloween experience has left him with empirical knowledge of modern weaponry, providing the solution to dispatching the Judge. While helping to transport the stolen weapon, Willow and Oz share a moment of truth when he admits to dreaming about her but is willing to wait until she is over Xander. A great beginning for this wonderful couple and an ego boost for Willow. The episode climaxes when the Judge and his entourage invade a local mall only to face Buffy with a rocket launcher. He is summarily destroyed and the anticipated showdown takes place between Buffy and Angelus, at the end of which he realizes that Buffy loves him too much to kill him and sets the stage for future battles. It ends with a touching scene between the Watcher and Slayer sharing,perhaps for the first time, adult communication, as well as a curiously appropriate moment between mother and daughter when Joyce seems to understand the duality of both young woman and child that every mother must overcome. One of the best episodes I've seen and the introduction of a majordevelopmental change in characters and continuing storyline; a chance for Angelus to become an equal character with Buffy and a change in relationships for everyone. Whedon's formidable directing skills control the interaction with subtle touches that encompasses all. |
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| Villian - by Kaboo | ||||||
| In Innocence, the companion episode to last week's Surprise, we find the same assortment of villains, with one notable and terrifying addition. Dru and Spike are still conspiring with the Judge to rid the earth of the plague of humanity. Jenny Calendar is torn between loyalty to her family in wreaking vengeance on Angel, and her loyalty to Giles, Buffy and their friends; her betrayal of Buffy and the gang make her a reluctant villain. However, this episode also see the rise of Buffy's most formidable adversary, the demon Angelus.
The beginning of the episode sees the second death of Buffy's Angel. Having run from his apartment, and a sleeping Buffy, Angel seems to recognize the danger to his beloved, despite his own pain. His last words before the resurgence of Angelus are, "Buffy. . . Oh no." As we discover later through Jenny's Uncle Enyos, "One moment of true happiness, of contentment, one moment where the soul that we restored no longer plagues his thoughts, and that soul is taken from him." It's ironic that in their innocence, Angel and Buffy, in attempting to preserve love amidst the horrors they must confront, have let loose the greatest evil. The departure of Angel's human soul releases Angelus in full fury. Moments after the soul is gone, Angelus tells a concerned streetwalker "The pain is gone," then promptly kills her in a feeding frenzy. The horror of Angelus' return is emphasized when he blows out the smoke he's just inhaled from his victim during the attack. Angelus' rise is sensed psychically by Dru. The pain she senses brings on one of her unique trances. When Spike tries to question a rambling Dru further regarding her vision, Angelus arrives at their warehouse to supply smart-aleck answers himself. Playing coy at first, Angelus' true nature is finally revealed when The Judge proclaims his innocence. "He's clean. . . There's no humanity in him." Dru and Spike are ecstatic over the return of their lost sheep. Spike likes the improved odds against The Slayer, while Dru is happy about the reunion of their odd little family and the prospect of the evil they can accomplish together. Even at this point, the signs of contention within the family can be seen. Clearly, Spike's agenda (ie. destroying the world) is not Angelus'. Angelus is more concerned with destroying Buffy, both in spirit and physically. Partly revenge, ("She made me feel like a human being. That's not something you just forgive," and partly his own fetish for cat and mouse games, ("You want to hurt her, just like you hurt me"), Angel is obsessed with tormenting Buffy, not immediately killing her. The danger to Buffy is clear. Angelus has the power no other foe has had because he knows her secrets and vulnerabilities, and has no qualms about using them . His first attack on Buffy is a psychological one. Callously he criticizes her love-making abilities, at once admonishing her for her innocence or ignorance of men's sexual tastes, while also calling her "a pro," the suggestion of promiscuity undercutting the significance of Buffy's first sexual experience. Angelus uses words to pierce Buffy's confidence, hence weakening her ability to act as The Slayer. As he says to Spike, "I guarantee you by the time you go public she won't be anything resembling a threat." His second attack is more straightforward. He attempts to kill Willow, knowing that Buffy would be distraught over the death of her friend "in her honour." It is Jenny, through her knowledge of the curse, who brings the crucifix to save Willow. Angel's "reversion his former self" astounds all of Buffy and her friends, except Jenny. Despite her disagreement with her uncle over the necessity of vengeance, it is apparent that Jenny's adherence to her family's vendetta has contributed greatly to the disappearance of Angel's soul. Although she did not have prior knowledge of how the curse could be broken, her failure to investigate this when she had the chance ensured that the knowledge could not be passed on to Buffy and Angel. Although Jenny does try to make amends for her guilty secret by trying to rescue Willow and aiding in research, it is not enough. When the truth becomes known to Buffy, The Slayer does not accept Jenny's plea of innocence for not knowing the details of the curse. Jenny and her uncle both pay for their loyalty to the vendetta. Angels kills Uncle Enyos in a grisly murder, to both ensure that his soul is not restored, and to torment Buffy. Jenny is condemned by both Buffy and Giles for placing secrets and vengeance above love and friendship. Jenny is excluded from the final confrontation with The Judge, Angelus, and Dru. Even though The Judge could not be destroyed by any "weapon forged," the teamwork of the scooby gang, including Oz, ensure that The Judge is prevented from destroying humanity. Buffy uses a rocket launcher to dismember him, thus stopping him from his mission, if not completely destroying him. Although it was the Judge who was supposed to be invincible, it is Angelus that Buffy cannot destroy. Although his evil actions make it gradually easier for her to consider destroying him, Buffy cannot kill Angelus when she has the chance. He still looks like the Angel she loved, and so Buffy can only leave him writhing in pain after their fight. Innocence ends with the loss of innocence for Buffy, as both a friend and a lover have been transformed into villains. In resurrecting Angelus, Innocence changes the game for Buffy significantly. At once, she loses one of her greatest allies and gains a formidable, potentially indestructible foe. In addition to setting up an enormous challenge for Buffy, this episode also sets up new dynamics for our resident villains, Spike and Dru, as they deal with the return of their sire/mentor, Angelus. I give this episode 5 out of 5 'Ehs'. |
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