Consequences
Written by Marti Noxon
Directed
Original Airdate: February 1999
Plot: Following the events in Bad
Girl, Buffy is overwhelmed by guilt about her role in killing the
mayorÕs aide. Faith, on the other hand, shows little or no remorse
about the killing. Meanwhile, as evidence mounts implicating the
Slayers in the killing, the Mayor and Trick are eccstatic about the
chance to legally take down one of the Slayers...
Review
Warning: If you've got issues with seeing SPOILERS, I'd suggest your
turn back now. There are major SPOILERS just ahead for
"Consequences..."
In short: An intense episode, but then again, what else would you
expect?
There are some critics in the media who are quick to label
season three as the best Buffy season to date. And while my initial
reaction to this is one of interest, I find myself ready to argue that
season two might have been the best so far.
But then, an episode like "Consequences" comes along and makes
me wonder if perhaps this season isn't the most solid we've had yet.
Certainly on every level, "Consequences" really, really works
for me. Of course, I'm a Marti Noxon fan, as I've admited to time and
again in my reviews. And her ususal habit of putting words into the
mouths of the characters that ring one hundred percent true works well
here. I'm glad to see that she's been given a chance to really flex her
writing muscles this season and produce some of the more enjoyable hours
of Buffy we've yet seen.
Her progression as a writer this year has been amazing and I
only hope we see her continue to get better and better as future seasons
wear on.
But, turning our eyes to "Conseuqences..."
In many ways, I get the feeling that this episode is a major,
major turning point for the show. Some of the plotlines we've seen all
year long bubbling on the back burner are coming to fruition. And some
of them have had major, unexpected twists, that I've got to admit I
like.
First of all, for the first time all season, I actually see the
Mayor being a villain. I'm not sure exactly what's changed about him to
make him suddenly seem a bit more threatening than he did before, but
it's there. I think part of it is that we get to see him actually
taking some direct action to affect the plot rather than being an
observer and commenting on Buffy's exploits. Yes, he's sent people
after her before and tried to pay off debts to demons (such as in Band
Candy) but seeing him as a much more coniving, shadowy figure worked
here. Also, you've got to wonder if he sent Trick off to be killed and
put out of the way.
Speaking of Trick, I've got to say that I'm glad to see him
gone. With the exception of "Faith, Hope and Mr. Trick," Trick has been
the biggest disappointment of the season to date. Part of it may be
that Trick doesn't have the same screen presence Spike does. But I think
part of it is that the character isn't really that interesting. He's not
given enough depth to be of such interest--whereas last year we had the
fully-rounded and at all times highly entertaining figure of Spike and
to a lesser degree, Angelus to make the show interesting. Part of it
may be that Trick had no connection to our heros as a whole and that put
him outside. But I'd heard Trick was going to be a cross of the Master
and Spike which sounded intriguing on paper, but never materialized.
So, seeing him dispensed with here opens up a whole new and interesting
door...
...which is, of course, Faith's going over the Dark Side (sorry,
have to throw in an obvious Star Wars reference or two). Again, as I've
stated in previous reviews, I've found Faith a bit bland at times this
year, but have really found my interest in he charcter growing the past
few weeks. Indeed, if anything, she is supposed to be the dark side of
what Buffy could be if she didn't have restraint, intelligence and the
support of the Scooby gang (again, a point made extremely well in
another Marti Noxon vehicle, The Wish). I see Faith as sort of the
anti-Buffy in many ways and it's been interesting to watch it develop on
screen. Her giving into animal impulses makes her seem on some levels,
no better than the monsters she fights. Angel has said before that
vamps run on instict a great deal as does Faith.
Also, her lack of remorse at killing a human being is nicely
handled. I've got to admit that I disagree with Buffy on this. I don't
think Faith is capable of redemption at this point. I have a feeling
she is meant more to be a tragic figure of power gone wrong. She may
realize when it's too late that she's backed the wrong horse and I
sincerely hope for the show's sake as well as that of it just being good
drama that she does.
Seeing Faith go through her manipulative ways in the episode is
nice. Seeing her attempt to control Buffy by exploiting their
connection is nicely done. Faith is a lot darker than I first gave her
credit for. She has come in and tried to disrupt the Scooby gang on
many levels--and indeed, has succeeded. She seduced Xander, on one
level being the fantasy Buffy would not be, alienated Buffy from Willow
and has tried to steal Angel on many occasions. She's even sucked up to
Giles and tried to appear to be the good Slayer to Buffy's bad Slayer.
I like all of that and I also like the fact that it's all started to
backfire. First seeing Xander's admission that he slept with Faith was
nicely done and interesting. Next, seeing that Giles sees right through
Faith was a fun moment (though I did get chills when Giles ordered Buffy
into his office...once again a nice performance by ASH). And then
seeing Buffy and Willow repair the damaged friendship in the time of
need. I think it was interesting to watch how Buffy tried to reach out
to both Faith and Willow in the story and it was Willow who provided the
role of listening ear when Buffy was struggling.
Seeing the Scooby gang compare notes was nicely done. And it
worked to see them coming together to try and solve the problem such as
it is.
As for Faith's turning to the dark side, well, I am going to
have to see more of it before I decide whether I buy it or not. I think
it might have made more sense had we seen the Mayor give her some kind
of indication of being needed before this happened.
But, an episode of Buffy would be nothing without, well, Buffy.
And once again SMG brought 110% to the role. Seeing Buffy tortured by
what she's done and what she feels must be done about it was
interesting. I got flashbacks of Anne and Dead Man's Party in the
episode as Buffy tries to reconnect with the group but fails to do so.
It's interesting to see Buffy's progression this year. Last year when
life overwhelmed her she had to run away from it. Now, she reaches out
to people until someone listens and then begins trying to put life back
in order. And at every stage, SMG carries it off with flair and utter
believability. Once again, if she doesn't get an Emmy nod....:-)
So, on every level, Consequences was what is needed to be. I
have a feeling that it's going to be a pivotal episode as we build-up to
the end of the year. Only time will tell though...
So, I guess that wraps it up except for a few small things...
--As most of you know, I've been a bit displeased with the use
of Angel as a character this year. He's gotten dull in many ways.
Here, he was used rather well. Seeing him lurking the shadows of the
investigation was nice. The only thing I'd have asked was to see him
being a bit darker and crueller to Faith during the interrogation
sequences.
--Has Buffy yet met the Mayor face-to-face or are we saving
this for a future date? I can't rememember...
--Joyce was in there for one scene and my reaction was the same
as it's been all year--what is with her character? She overreacted so
much in Gingerbread that her almost lack of emotional reaction here
seemed a bit flat.
Well, that's about it for now. Except for a few small things,
Consequences was about as good as Buffy gets. It may end up being to
season three.
My rating: 9.0 (out of 10.0)
Next up: Repeats...
Review Copyright 1998 by Michael
T. Hickerson. All Rights Reserved.
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