Title: The I In Team
Description: Episode 69
laughitupfuzzball - September 23, 2006 03:45 PM (GMT)
When Riley tells his superiors about Buffy, they invite her to join the Initiative. It soon becomes apparent, however, that her independent attitude and need to question orders may not be what the Initiative is looking for...
prophecy girl - September 26, 2006 07:01 PM (GMT)
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An ok episode where the initiative plot finally get interesting, kind of, well we finally discover what lies behind 314. The death of prof walsh is a big loss, she was a great character and the could have more to add to her character and/or the second half of season four would have been a mile better than with just adam.
Mix Buffy/riley on patrol/catching a demon – Buffy/riley sleeping together with the creepy last image of Walsh watching (I do remember the early BBC showing badly cut and being very confusing) was a good idea. We finally see the true face of Walsh: jealous, a “little” mad scientist, ready to do anything to protect her secret and lying to riley.
Buffy vs the demons: excellent, Buffy speech to Walsh about her not knowing what a slayer really is and that she is gonna show her soon (was that a real threat or just a way to have time to protect her friends? )
An other good scene showing the difference between the initiative and Buffy: the explanation of the mission and everyone but Buffy ready to follow them without asking any question (an initiative faux-pas)
I like the scene where riley tell Buffy that Walsh like her before he did and Buffy reaction. And then we have Riley and his acting face number 3: kicked puppy dog: his face hardly change between the moment Walsh told him Buffy is dead and when he learn that Walsh is one of the bad guy. Still a smart moment when he realised quite quickly that someone flushed spike’s tag.
It’s also interesting to see the relationship between the scoobies breaking down due to buffy being a little too friendly with the initiative (anya issue with the initiative approach to demons, willow seeing less and less buffy, willow not telling about her friendship with tara, ….) and also the issue within the initiative: forrest issue about buffy, walsh trying to protect her project, ….
Willow spell to hide spike tracer has one of the funniest effect in the serie.
Not one of my favourite episode: buffy/riley couple development is not the most interesting but there is a few good scenes.
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John Brawn - September 29, 2006 10:24 PM (GMT)
I am really not sure what to make of The I In Team. I guess the name of the episode could be about both Riley and Buffy but it mainly seems to be suggesting that Buffy stands out from any team and cannot be contained within it so she would never have found a home in The Initiative notwithstanding Maggie's actions. Riley also seems to be individuated here so it could be about him too.
The teaser nicely hints that the scoobies are marginalised while Buffy and Riley are enjoying all the fun. Even though Buffy seems to go along with her new role as subordinate to Maggie I suppose it all had to end in tears or the show would have been unbalanced. We want to see Buffy making decisions not taking orders.
The rather remarkable scene with the music where Buffy and Riley are shown in action interposed with seducing each other leading to the reveal with Maggie voyeuristically watching is all in all a bit baffling. I am not sure what David Fury is trying to achieve. Maybe he is trying to show that Buffy and Riley are totally at one with each other ready to face up to Adam. Maggie's voyeurism is psychologically intriguing and it is a shame her time on Buffy came to an end. 5/10. sk
Hovis - October 17, 2006 09:24 AM (GMT)
Season 4 moves up a gear in this episode, both in terms of the character dynamics and the story arc. Again, John and Claire have been thorough, so there isn't much to say.
Another fun comedy moment as Xander spills the cards after Anya's spanking comment!
It was a shame that Maggie was killed off so soon. She was horrible, but she was a great adversary and it was a shock to see her go, especially the way it happened. And as with most big bads, she was beautifully played.
The plot to do away with Buffy was inevitable, but I wonder if it happened an episode or two too soon. But having said that, it was good stuff.
A very apt title too, as John points out. I think it applies to Riley in particular as he steps out from the Initiative pack, to begin questionning what is going on. It could also apply to the Scoobies as a whole though... there is a lot going on now that can be seen to be fracturing the group... Buffy has Riley, Xander has Anya, Willow has lost Oz and is in the process of hooking up with Tara. Giles is mid-life crisis guy, and of course there is Spike there to pour petrol on an already smouldering fire. All good stuff.
Maybe the season 4 arc isn't as bad as I remember it.
Andrew :yahoo:
John Brawn - October 17, 2006 03:20 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Hovis @ Oct 17 2006, 10:24 AM) |
Maybe the season 4 arc isn't as bad as I remember it.
Andrew :yahoo: |
I kinda agree. It all seems charming compared to the dour self-reflection of S6 and the convoluted metaphysics of S7. sk
Mehitabel - November 4, 2006 10:52 AM (GMT)
Just got this far in my spontaneous season 4 rewatch- 2 things have been intriguing me as I hurtle through them at speed- the weekly blondening of Anya (much less noticeable when a watcher goes more slowly...) and Forest as a character. I'd forgotten how entirely pro-Buffy he was (with actual drooling I think) right till the point when she beat up the entire team without breaking a sweat... considering how entirely nasty he gets (BEFORE zombiehod kicks in) it's a much more interesting piece of sustained teamwork writing, and detailed performance than I'd t hought.
The other thing is, statistically, how little screen time Maggie gets to be so entirely ghastly - she's dead so quickly I'm amazed they managed to fit in so much sarcasm and pomposity...