Ted

Ted
Written by David Greenwalt and Joss Whedon
Directed by Bruce Seth Green

Original Airdate:

Plot: Buffy is shocked to discover her mom has started dating again. The object of her mom's affections is Ted, a computer salesman who seems too good to be true....

Review

Warning: If SPOILERS make you want to run for the nearest utility closet, I'd advise that you please consider turning back now. There are major SPOILERS ahead for the latest episode of BtVS, "Ted."

In short: A solid episode.

Some of you out there may be scratching your heads and wondering just how this guy is and why he's posting a review of "Ted." Well, before we jump into the heart of my comments about this episode, let me take a few minutes to introduce myself.

Some of you may already know who I am--I have been on this list for since School Hard aired and have enjoyed reading your comments, opinions, praises, and rants about this show. And, at times, I have jumped in and joined a few discussions. But a lot of times, I prefer to lurk around a group before I jump into too deep and, well, make a fool of myself.

So, why start now, you may ask? :-)

Well, I'll be honest. Because I really enjoy Buffy and it's gone beyond just being a show I watch on Monday nights. It's got my complete and utter devotion now. I've begun taping episodes so I can catalogue and watch them over and over again. It has a sense of style that I enjoy a great deal and is truly one of the most unique and enjoyable shows I've seen in quite a while and I just want to share my thoughts on it with all of you.

Now, before I get started, I'd like to say a few things about these review. Please don't take them as anything more than one guy's opinion about the show. And please feel free to disagree with me on any or all of the points I raise. That is my main reason for posting them is to raise discussion and maybe try and look at the show in a new light. Also, if I make a mistake (and I will at times do that!) please know that it is done out of ignorance and not to slight anyone on the show. I am human and beg your forgiveness now and also ask that you please point out my error. Finally, I will let you know that if I am reviewing an episode, I will stay away from any and all group discussion of the show until after I've posted my comments. That way, the comments are mine and I don't plagerize anyone else's thoughts, comments, or opinions.

OK, that said, let's move to the real reason we're here--the latest episode of Buffy, "Ted."

I'll be the first to admit that I am a preview person. I always enjoy seeing previews and running over possible scenarios in my mind of what might or might not happen in an episode. And that's why I did with "Ted."

Now some of you may be wondering what took me so long to get to commenting on this episode--unfortunately my office holiday party was Monday night so I had to tape Buffy and didn't have time to get to it until last night. And let me just say that avoiding my e-mail all day yesterday really wasn't much fun. But it was worth the wait.

I have to admit that when I saw the preview I wasn't sure if John Ritter would be a good choice of guest star or if Buffy was going ot suffer the dreaded disease Lois and Clark had of casting guest stars based on name, not on whether or not they were actually suited for the role. And I've got to admit that in retropsect, Ritter was an ideal choice for the role of Ted. Having seen Sling Blade, I knew he had the range to carry off a part other than Jack Tripper, but I didn't quite know he would be this menacing. And he was.

Boy, was he ever. One of my favorite X-Files episodes is Irrestible because it shows us a human monster that is every bit as terrfiying or more so than that usual monsters Mulder and Scully investiage each week. And as I watched Ted, I was reminded of that episode. And, for me at least, that's a good thing. Ritter was so controlled and deadly that I loved him. His scene with Buffy on the mini-golf course was chilling and had ice water running through my veins. Coupled by his startling return at the end of act three, and it was a chilling performance all around. The way Ritter was able to shift from being the loving, kind family man Ted, to dark, disturbed Ted was well done.

And I've got to admit that the direction of some of the scenes with Ted was very striking. (Usually the direction on this show is always striking!) The scene with Buffy sneaking back in and Ted sitting in the chair with his covered by shadows was particularily effective and brought to mind some sequences from Citizen Kane (and here I thought that cinema studies class was just for fun! ;-) ). It added an extra chill to an already chilling sequence.

I also like the fact that Ted brought up a lot of personal issus for Buffy. I find it interesting that last week we saw a rerun of WSWB in which Buffy is acting extremely out of character and reacting to her "death." This week, we get to see her acting in pretty much the same manner toward Ted, but we feel more sympathy for her. I think part of this is that we are given an inside track on what she is thinking and feeling. We see her as she struggles with the feelings and conflicts Ted has brought. It all comes out so well in that scene with Giles in the park and later when she calls for the vampires. Buffy is used to being in control of a situation and of being able to fight evil that is pure evil. Here she has to face a threat to her and her mother that is evil, but is not pure evil in the sense that Spike and Druscilla, for example, are. And her scene where she beats the tar out of the vampire (and Giles' classic line, "I think it's time for the stake") shows this so well.

And to see the process she goes through after she "kills" Ted is nice. From her sitting in shock, to her admitting it, to her defensive posture with the detective, to her questioning of why she killed Ted and used her Slayer powers in this manner, all of the issues raised here were particularily effective. Sarah Michelle Gellar handled them all well and gave us a Buffy that was sympathetic without being powerless and determined yet not bitchy. It was quite a stellar performance.

Of course, with such a strong script, it's easy to see why.

At least it was strong up until the final fifteen minutes or so. Form Ted's reappareance onward, the show lost the momentum. I guess finding out that Ted was a killer robot who prayed on women was interesting but not particularily. It almost seemed as if the writers didn't really know where to go so they made Ted a robot. I am not sure I liked that. I wish they hadn't thrown in that line about the price on Buffy's head being declared off and he'd been some kind of demon sent by the Order of Tenakra. That would have been interesting.

However, we did get to see some mother/daughter bonding with Buffy and her mom so it wasn't too bad, I guess.

Another reason the whole story in "Ted" worked so well for me was the two contrasting plot threads running. On one hand, we had Buffy's mom and Ted who have a solid relationship in the beginning that goes downhill over the course of the episode, strongly coutnerpointed by the Giles/Ms. Calendar relationship which starts off rocky but ends well. I found the way the episode ended with Buffy encountering the adults in her life kissing was a nice touch.

So, that pretty much wraps it up for me, except for a few small points....

--Buffy's shoes while mini-golfing! That had to be uncomfortable! I can't imagine wearing high heels to mini-golf! :-)

--Xander and Cordy. I am not sure I am 100% behind this pairing just yet. But it seems interested so far. I like the whole, "Want to go to the utility closet and make out," line.

--On the same note, I think it's funny that Xander thinks he's got the whole thing swept under the rug and no one knows what's going on, while Buffy and Willow have caught on to what is happening.

Well, that's about it for now. Ted was entertaining and chilling and a good departure from the usual vampire/demon of the week. However, a weak ending really let me down a bit.

My Rating: 7.5 (out of 10.0)

Next up: A repeat. Someone wants Cordy's body...literally.