Hush

Hush
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon

Original Airdate: December 14, 1999

Plot: A group of demons known as the Gentlemen arrive in Sunnydale and steal everyone's voices to keep them from screaming in terror as they carry our their gruesome business....

Review

Warning: Just in case you've lost your voice and can't speak up to indicate you haven't seen the latest episode of Buffy, "Hush," the large white space you are about to encounter is SPOILER space....If you haven't yet seen the episode and want to go into it unaware of the events that occur, please turn back now....

In short: Joss does it again...

I have to admit I was a bit worried going into Hush.

See, I'm a big fan of the X-Files and while the show is, for the most part, enjoyable enough and worth the time I spend watching it, lately the series has gotten a case of every year having to have one or two episodes that are "experimental." (the black and white episode, the episode filmed in long takes, etc.). While these episodes have been interesting and I have, for the most part, enjoyed them, they have, at times, taken away from the central premise of what the X-Files should be--an entertaining and scary show.

So, I was worried about Hush.

Namely because so much was being made of the premise--29 minutes with no dialogue and the actors, thus forced to convey the sense of drama in other ways--that I worried the episode, as a whole, might suffer.

I needed have really worried...

Joss once agan came through in the pinch and delivered what has been the best episode of the season and may be the best Buffy episode in the past two years.

How did he do this?

Basically, Hush stuck to the things Buffy does so well and did them superlatively.

Starting with the basic fundamental of all things Buffy--and that is to keep your attention and have you on the edge of your seat.

For the first time in quite some time I found the monsters of the week to be highly effective. The Gentlemen were, simply put, unnerving. To see them glide up and down the streets of Sunnydale, hovering just a scant few inches off the ground, never speeding up or slowing down, but remaining utterly relentless in their goal, was truely one of the more memorable sights I've seen on television this year.

One part that was utterly terrifying about them was the evil grin plastered on their faces. Heavens that make-up was good. I also liked the body language they had, with the exaggerated gestures, especially in the scene where they find the first male victim. Boy that was just chilling and still sends shivers up and down my spine.

Another part of the other-worldiness of the Gentlemen was the choice of the incidental music. To have the music feature a single voice singing one note for a long period of time as the rest of the regular cast and crew couldn't use their voices just added to the blood chilling effect of the Gentlemen. I didn't catch who the incidental music was composed by last night, but they need a major pat on the back for such an unnerving score. And one I'd love to see released on CD...:-)

But again, as we've seen before on Buffy, a good monster plotline does not an episode make.

And again, we are left to not just be contest with a superlative monster of the week.

It's how the characters react to it that works so well.

Each of the characters had a part to play in this episode and I liked that. For the first time this year, I felt as if the Scooby gang was really coming together as they should and haven't done all year. Giles had a nice part, Xander played his part, Willow had hers and Buffy had hers. The group dynamics had the feel of a late season two episode when the Scooby gang was humming in high gear. I loved that and it made me realize just how much that had been missing of late.

There were a few character moments that raised questions in mind, though. And they're not really major, but they were things I thought about...

--Because of the amount of screen time devoted to Willow's new witch friend and the look on her face early on after everyone has lost their voices, I wondered if Willow's new friend would blame herself for a spell gone awry? And that's why she needed to find Willow--to get Willow to help her "undo" what had been done....

--Anya and Xander's dating dilemmia, while cute and while delivering one of the best laugh out lines of the year, was a bit too telegraphed for how it would be resolves. Maybe that's just cynical, jaded TV viewer me, but it sort of bugged me. Not enough to really mar an otherwise outstanding effort, but enough for me to bring up in discussion.

What also worked were the Buffy/Riley moments. I've stated that I thought this relationship was going nowhere fast in the past few weeks, but here it seemd to have some slow built momentum. I thought the scene where they find each other in the battle was nicely done and well conveyed by both actors. Body language is everything at times. Also, the final scene at the end with the deafening silence between them was extremely well done. But it also made me scream that this will be the only new Buffy until January....as the little guy at the end says, grrrrr! argh!!!!! :-)

And once again, when all the pieces need to come together, we find that the master of Buffy, Joss delivers.

Joss's direction was again sure handed and well done. I loved his choices and the angle he took in us seeing the Gentlemen. Also, his story worked so well that there wasn't one moment I wasn't totally wrapped up in the events unfolding on screen. In fact, I am eager to go back and rewatch for things I might have missed the first time around.

I'm suddenly very excited again about Buffy and here we are facing reruns...:-(

Well, I guess that about wraps it up except for a few small things...

--Spike and Xander as roommates....look out! Spike got in some great one-liners last night. Esp. during Anya and Xander's fight.

--The sequence with Giles and the overhead projector was a classic. Anya's eating popcorn during the entertainment was nicely done as well.

--OK, I've read several messages today from fans who assumed that when Spike gave Xander the V symbol with his hand, that it was a V for victory or somethign else...it's not. It's the British equivalent of giving someone the finger...I loved it.

--I loved Buffy's dream in the beginning. Interesting.

--I also like the fact that Buffy's college career is moving along...and the she's facing finals now.

--With Sunnydale under the dome of silence, why didn't Buffy go home to check on her mom?

Well, that's it for now. I've got to say Hush has restored my faith in Buffy. It's going to be a long month until the next new episode....

My rating: 10.0 (out of 10.0)

Next up: Repeats until January....