Shadow
Written by David Fury
Directed by Dan Attias
Original Airdate: November 21, 2000
Plot: Joyce goes into the hospital for tests, dividing Buffy's attentions
between caring for her mom and Dawn and battling the new evil in town,
Glory. Meanwhile, Giles accidentally sells Glory the ingredients to create a
monster to hunt down the location of the Key.
Review
Warning: If you're hoping to read this review and then use a spell to forget
all the SPOILER information contained in it, I strongly suggest you turn
back now. There are major SPOILERS just ahead for the latest episode of
Buffy The Vampire Slayer, "Shadow,"
In short: Emotional, gripping and dark.
After last week's slam-dunk episode, "Fool For Love" I was, in the back
of my mind, prepared for a bit of a letdown this week from our favorite
Slayer. It's not that I don't have faith in Buffy and Joss, it's just that
the track record of the show hasn't always been great when it comes to
following up an "instant classic" episode. If you'll remember, "Killed by
Death" followed "Passion" and "Doomed" followed "Hush."
So, it was that I entered into "Shadow" with some background
reservations. Following up "Fool For Love" I was worried it would be
another just so-so entry into the Buffyverse.
I couldn't have been more wrong. "Shadow" bucked the odds and jumped up
as a superb, strong and painful at times to watch episode. After seeing a
tour deforce performance last week from James Marsters, I got the sense that
this week the rest of the Buffy cast wanted a chance to step up and show
their stuff as well. And with a few exceptions, they all delivered.
And it all started with the center of the show--Sarah Michelle Gellar's
superlative performance as Buffy. I know I've raved about her before, but
I'm going to have to do so again here. Each week it seems she gets better
and better. To see Buffy go through the emotional gamut in this episode and
to do it as well as Gellar did was a wonder to watch. The scene that really
summed this up best was outside Joyce's hospital room with Buffy talking to
Riley. In one moment, Gellar goes from being at the bring of letting loose
with the grief and pain that is obviously overwhelming Buffy to pulling back
and then sucking it up to be the strong one in the family--to hold the
Summers' women together. I loved that scene as it spoke volumes and it
showed off just what Gellar can do. Again, I'll start the campaign now for
her Emmy. (I think I start a new one each week, but oh well!) She really
delivered this week. And this was after she gave such a strong performance
last week.
The entire episode really focused on the character of Buffy and I found
it very interesting. Three years ago, Angel took away everything that Buffy
valued and left her with virtually no where to turn--except for running away
from Sunnydale and everything in it. This year, we found out that the one
thing that's kept Buffy alive this long is the Scooby gang and her other
connections to the world Last year, we found out what can happen when the
Scooby gang splinters and the affects that can have on Buffy. This year, it
seems as if slowly, all the things Buffy has come to value as normal and
connections to the world are slowly being taken away from her. Her mother
is being slowly taken from her and by something Buffy has no power to stop.
(I loved the scene where she tries in desperation to find a spell that might
help her mother only to be told that it's too dangerous and that medicine
may be Joyce's only hope). Also, to see her slowly but surely lose Riley
has been an interesting arc. I still fully buy that Buffy doesn't love
Riley, but I think she doesn't realize in how many ways she's come to be
dependent on him as a friend, shoulder to cry on and a listening ear. If
this plotline continues the way it's developing it should be interesting to
see just how Buffy deals with losing Riley when she eventually does. But
while she's losing two major support structures and ties, one is still
strong--the Scooby gang. It will be interesting to see if a rift of some
kind develops there. Personally, after last year, I hope not. We've just
gone through all that and it would seem a bit forced if they did it here.
The other strong performance of the week came from a character I usually
don't dwell on too much in my reviews--Joyce. I've enjoyed Kristine
Sutherland's appearances over the years as Joyce and while she's done a good
job, she's never really been given a lot of strong material. (The exception
to this being season three's arc when Buffy ran away). Sutherland hit all
the right notes in her performance. From seeing her worry lines and fear
while undergoing the CAT scan to seeing her get ready to break the news to
Dawn to the reluctant face of strength she showed Buffy and Dawn, Sutherland
turned in the strongest performance as Joyce I can remember in some time.
In every scene, she pegged the internal worry that must be going on inside
her--not only for her health but also for her girls--and what if something
happened to her. Based on what we've heard about her condition, it sounds
as if Joss is setting up some strong moments for Joyce as the season
progresses.
I will come right out and say this right now--the way this storyline is
progressing has been strong. And I only hope that if Buffy continues with it
that there isn't some magic reset button at the end of it. I don't want to
sound cold, but I think that if the producers are willing to make a choice
to put Joyce through all of this, there can't be some magic ending unless
it's believable. There are still lots of options that can be used to save
Joyce. But there are lots of options that involve her not surviving. I
only hope that if they pick one, the follow through with it and don't
cheapen it. Remember that Jenny Calendar died, but she's been on the show
several times. I think it's been good that Jenny hasn't come back as a
"live" person. That would cheapen the power of "Passions" and the horror of
what Angel did. Same situation with Joyce.
And if you've got SPOILERS on how this plot progresses, I will politely
say I prefer to not know. I have suspicions and I think that's all I'll
need for now.
And while Buffy and Joyce's storyline was at the center of the show and
both actresses were superb, I'd be remiss if I didn't at least mention the
rest of the cast.
The cast as a whole came up exceptionally strong this week as well.
After last week's episode that focused on Spike and Buffy, it was nice to
see the rest of the Scooby gang get their day in the sun as it were.
First of all, I liked the fact that Riley's little trip back to the
crypt hasn't gone unnoticed. I liked the confrontation between Riley and
Xander at the Magic Box. It was interesting to see how this friendship has
developed into something more since Riley confessed to Xander that Buffy
doesn't love him. To see Xander be able to dig at Riley and get to the core
of what is bothering Riley was nicely done. Also, I admit that I liked the
arc Riley's character had.
After a few weeks ago, when he was left out of the long shot in "Family"
we've slowly seen Riley be set apart from the Scooby gang. It was
definitely apparent here. Riley is outside the gang so much that he doesn't
have a clue that Joyce is in the hospital--and has to find out from Spike.
Also to see him never be in on the research committee or part of the plot to
help stop Glory is nicely done. Add to it his almost desperate attempts to
connect to anyone--from trying to comfort Buffy at the hospital to taking
Dawn out for ice cream to the vampire girl in the bar, I liked the arc his
character has been on the past few weeks. Indeed, it's interesting that his
role and Tara's have reversed. Tara felt alienated the past few weeks but
has been integrated while Riley has gone from integrated to being alienated
from the gang. Whether or not it's by his own choice or being done by the
Scooby gang remains to be seen.
There were a couple of scenes that really summed this all up. The first
was Riley's conversation with Dawn near the merry-go-round. First of all, I
liked the way Dawn continued to say things she shouldn't say and not have
any clue of the harm she's caused. I liked the way that Dawn compared Riley
to Angel and stated how Buffy seemed to be not as involved with the
relationship. It was nice to see Riley go from happiness at being told that
Dawn was happy he was there to quiet desperation as Dawn compared him to
Angel. This lead into the other strong scene where Riley goes out drinking
again and this time takes the female vampire up on her offer. Certainly I
assumed Riley was looking for some type of a sexual encounter with her which
is why when she began to drink from him, I was surprised. For one fleeting
moment, I wondered if Riley had lost and decided to get vamped because he
thought it might make Buffy love him. It was interesting to see him slay
the vampire and the look of dark determination his face. There's a thin
line between love and hate and I think Riley crosses it on a regular basis.
It's amazing that with all of these other plot threads going on, that
there was time for an interesting, A-plot.
But they managed to put it in there as well. I have to admit I've had
some reservations about Glory. And while they're still there, they are
getting less and less each week. First of all, credit has to be given to
Clare Kramer who has grown on me as the new villain. I find it interesting
that Glory is being played a bit as a spoiled child. She is used to getting
her own way and to having things occur on her schedule. This could be a
weakness that Buffy can use to her advantage as their battle continues over
the course of the season. Certainly Buffy has shown in two battles that she
can't really stand toe-to-toe and battle Glory based on pure strength alone.
She will have to come up with some other way to defeat Glory.
As for Glory's plan to find the key, it was interesting enough at times.
I found myself being a bit more interested in what was going on with Joyce
and the Scooby gang's research efforts than with Glory and her plan. I
admit that the snake effects have gotten a bit better since "Reptile Boy" in
season two. But there were still a bit hokey at times. There were times
when it was a bit too obvious that anytime the snake-creature was moving
quickly that it was digitally done.
The one thing that can come of this plotline is that it will be
interesting to see how Glory deals with disappointment. She is obviously
used to getting her own way and having plans go according to plan. This one
hasn't. It will only be a matter of time before she loses it or becomes
even more deadly. Or that she puts two and two together to figure out that
Buffy is in some way connected with the Key since she keeps thwarting
Glory's attempts to find it or get close to it.
But again, I must say that where the episode really hit home was the
emotional core. The final two acts were so strong and so powerful--I had a
lump in my throat for most of it. Probably the biggest was when Joyce gets
ready to tell Dawn and then calls Dawn in. When they hugged I teared up.
One other scene that really got me was the quick edits with the music in
act three--flipping from Buffy and Joyce to Riley and his actions. This was
very effective and all of the participants carried it off with flare. That
sequence really stuck with me long after the episode was over--very
haunting.
So, that's about it for now, except a few small things...
--I liked Tara's new self-confidence now that she feels more accepted by
the Scooby gang.
--Anya's "things you should say to the boss and things you shouldn't"
was nicely done. Also to have Anya help in discovering a nugget of
information about Glory and her plan was nicely done. I loved her in-line
about how much she's grown.
--Anthony Stewart Head was understated and superb as always. I
sometimes forget to give him the credit he so rich deserves. But he earned
high marks this week. Especially his quiet desperation at having sold the
goods to Glory to create the monster. (Also his weak attempt to make it
better by saying he probably overcharged her was nicely done).
--One thing that sticks out to me. When we first met Glory, she fed on
two human beings to keep her sanity. My impression was these were feedings
were fairly close together. Why hasn't she fed on anyone since then?
--I liked the scene when the doctor gave Buffy the news. I liked the
way the music swelled and drown out the doctor's speech. Having been in a
situation where you're given news like that, I can say it rang true. To
hear Buffy slowly tuning out as the implications hit her was nicely done.
--Spike in Buffy's room. Interesting. And it was interesting that
Spike was the one who had to tell Riley that Joyce was undergoing tests. I
have a feeling this fact will come up again.
So, all in all, a great effort. Not quite the instant classic "Fool for
Love" was, but still a superb and emotional episode. Definitely a keeper.
My rating: 9.0 (out of 10.0)
Next up: A strange meteorite crashes to Earth..bringing with it a creature
that infiltrates the Summer's house. (Could go either way based on the
preview)
Review Copyright 2000 by Michael T. Hickerson. All Rights Reserved.
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