I love how Tara noticed that a big clue of Buffy not being herself was that she was rude. She knows Willow well enough to know that Willow would never be friends with someone who has a personality such as Faith.
I think the fact that Tara KNOWS there is something wrong with Buffy, even though it's the first time she met her, just because of what she knows through Willow describing her friend is possibly my favourite thing about this entire episode. It's such a great moment.
‘You were inching!’ Is just so wonderfully Buffy, it’s like 5 by 5 being so faith, it’s great to see such recognisable mannerisms coming from the other body. This adventure being a big ‘walk a mile in her shoes’ thing is so beautifully done, giving each of them perspective on the other’s life experience, making Buffy more sympathetic to Faith’s mindset and motivations, and Faith ending up wanting to live up to the person they all think she is, seeing her start this episode practicing‘it’s wrong’ as part of her Buffy act, and ending up saying it because she means it is SO sweet. And you’re absolutely right about her beating herself up at the end. She’s not seeing Buffy, she’s BEEN Buffy and knows what it’s like to be a better person, and she’s looking down at her old body, her old self, and she hates her. This episode is a pretty intense journey of therapy and self-awareness for her.
Faith expressing her self-loathing on her own body at the end always breaks my heart, as we finally get to know what she really thinks of herself in her own words: Murderer. B*tch. Disgusting. Nothing. Faith has made some horrible decisions and committed some unspeakable acts, but if we take a moment to compare her to both Kendra, as well as Buffy from the Dopplegangland timeline, it becomes apparent that she isn't actually that far off from the average Slayer. Kendra was a tightly-wound, by-the-book, solitary killer who saw things in black and white. Dopple-Buffy was a cold, ruthless, jaded, solitary killer too. Slayers are not set up for success. They are living, disposable weapons in the fight against evil. When you look at it, it's actually Buffy who is the anomaly. Buffy has a talented and caring Watcher, a loving mother, supportive friends who know her secret, as well as wealth, popularity, social skills, smarts - basically every advantage you could imagine - on top of her inner strength and character. She has turned out so incredibly well that I wonder if there has ever been another Slayer like her, while I imagine there have been more than a couple Faiths along the way.
@@Henrik_Holst exactly thank you, so many people make the ' Buffy would be Faith without.....in Dopplegangland etc'. Another reactor compared her more to GI Jane and made the distinction that Faith enjoyed the killing and was more bloodthirsty while The Wish Buffy was more lets get this done mode.
@@Henrik_Holstbecause they weren't failed so tragically. Kendra at least had a home and a watcher that didn't see her only as a personal bodyguard for Buffy. Her watcher is killed, she gets used by Gwedolyn due to Giles' ineptitude. She goes to Sunnydale to make a connection with Buffy but just gets used by Gwendolyn and the Scobies. None of them care about her at all except how she can help Buffy. She accidently kills a human and it pushes her over the edge. If she had people that cared about her at all she'd have made different choices after the accidental death.
@@paulinerobertson6836but thats what the council want. They made her like that. They take them out of school and isolate them from everyone. Faith came from an abusive home to begin with so that doesn't help.
@@russellward4624 used by the Scoobies how and where? All they did was make her the center of attention to the degree that Buffy felt left out, and after that she hardly appeared due not being allowed to film since she was a minor. I highly doubt that either Kendra nor Buffy would stoop down to start killing people for fun they way that Faith did regardless of situation. Not even MirrorBuffy did that.
16:07 - Notice how Eliza as Buffy opens her eyes much more than as Faith... I remember a female acquaintance of mine had notice her eyes for the first time in this episode...
When Buffyverse fans see the SMG's tongue screenshot 😜 on a reaction thumbnail, we all know exactly which episode it is! This is such a classic episode. 😍
One of my favorite moments between Sarah Michelle Gellar playing Faith and Eliza Dushku playing Buffy is when Eliza Dushku as Buffy is confronting Giles and trying to convince him it's her. From the moment she walks in the door to Giles saying Willow understands better than he does is such great acting. Faith, once she sees her body, hating on herself is a great character moment. She's not beating up Buffy in that moment. In said moment, Buffy doesn't even exist. I wish Buffy had learned a bit more from walking a mile in Faith's shoes. Faith showed a lot of growth, despite doing horrible things aka sleeping with Riley, when he assumed it was Buffy, being the worst she's ever been. This episode was a turning point for Faith. The line, "You can't do that because it's wrong," starts out as making fun of Buffy and by the end in the church she genuinely means it. I don't quite see Buffy learning as much about Faith as Faith did from Buffy, unfortunately, but perhaps she learned something of the hard life Faith led, if nothing else, even if only through The Watchers Council.
How on earth would she reasonably be expected to learn anything about Faith from this experience? She's in Faiths body, not her mind and the consequences Faith experiences as a result of her actions are all things Buffy knows Faith did, it's not like it'd give her any insight into Faiths life prior to Sunnydale or anything?
@@themediater It's not about Buffy learning about Faith's backstory and/or knowing what's in her mind. It's subtle, but when Buffy in Faith's body tries to explain to the Council that she isn't Faith, and they don't care to the point of breaking council code, she learns how Faith has felt about every time Faith has been wronged or felt she has been wronged. In S3, Buffy made it clear she understood she could at least comprehend Faith not having it easy, even if she didn't identify. Now she can identify. It doesn't mean she and Buffy are good, especially when Buffy learns what Faith did with Riley in her body, but it's not nothing, either. The look on Buffy in Faith's body in the moments The Council goons treat her like crap say more than any dialogue could, just as Faith in Buffy's body hitting her own body does.
Faith was thinking she could wipe away her past life, her past sins, by becoming Buffy. The "Burn it" was leaving Faith behind. She's gone, was the idea. "I'm not a killer" even Faith knew she was a killer before. But now that she's Buffy she's not. She's wanting to wash that all away without any actual redemption. Now she's wanting to leave Sunnydale and start a new life, so she's not actually wanting to be Buffy in Sunnydale, but to start fresh and clean. "I'm Buffy" means she gets what it means, and has to fulfil the obligations of the good. "The one and only (Slayer)" means that despite the Slayer line running through Faith, she still always considered Buffy the true Slayer. The fact that she threw the first punch when she saw Faith's face shows that she actually hates herself even more than Buffy could hate her.
Rewatching this episode with you was like watching it for the first time. This episode was a masterclass in character work. Literally having the characters inhabit different bodies allowed them to see their own lives from a different perspective and literally confront themselves, their own self worth, and their prejudices and assumptions. Expert level writing, acting, and directing. Another great reaction!
I think this is the best episode for Faith's character development. This episode might be the best episode of the season. The name Who Are You has so many meanings. Faith and Buffy switching bodies, Faith seeing a different world and realizing that it could have been different, Tara getting introduced to the group, Faith not knowing who Anya is, and Giles having tiny tiny babies to name a few.
72 pages left in the book of Buffy and this is one of those episodes you can’t wait to watch with Juliette. Having watched this episode with several people I’ve never enjoyed it more. Jules picks up on such nuance and has such a feel for this show. Jules; you are a joy to share time with…thank you. PS: Love your blouse / dress…the colors are brilliant on you.💃
When you get to the end Jules, lets start backwards and do it all over again! (PS: If your missed it...Breaking Bad would be very enjoyable to watch with you.)@@julesreacts
Both Sarah Michelle Gellar and Eliza Dushku are amazing in this episode. I especially loved the scene where Buffy, in Faith's body, went to Gile's place after she escaped. Eliza's acting was so good here, and she got SMG's mannerisms down perfectly. And also when Faith, in Buffy's body, was practicing being good in the mirror. SMG was so good in that scene. I felt really bad for Tara when Buffy (really Faith) was so mean to her when they first met. Seeing as you know so little about Tara at this point its kinda hard to talk about her without whatever I say seeming like a spoiler, so I'll just say that from what we've been shown of her thus far, she seems like one of the sweetest people you could ever hope to meet (and maybe she'll continue to be that way, maybe she won't). Loved the reaction as always, thanks so much and have a great weekend Juliette 💜🥰
POOR TARA 😭😭 Neil, I adore her!! She is so beautiful and sweet. I cannot handle it 😍 I never thought I'd come to like Faith's character, but here we are... I really do want to see a difference with her, a better outcome. I have hope that she is going to be okay 💜
You are one of the few reactors to pick up the changes here. Buffy learned what it was like to live as unvalued trash and Faith learned what it was like to be valued and cared about.
You're definitely right about Faith, but I think Buffy was too angry about what Faith did to her to learn anything from this experience, which is understandable.
Buffy didn't learn anything. That could happen as one of the options and sometimes stories do it, they switch bodies for this reason, but here we saw that it influenced Faith but only made Buffy mad at her. That's all. And 'invalued trash' that's really rough. She is not trash.
@@Junejane4 The council guy literally said, You're trash! and spit in Buffy's face. I'd say that's a pretty stark lesson on what people think of Faith. Of course, Buffy was the victim so she was also furious.
A thing that is easily dismissed amongst all the huge things that happen in this episode, is Riley's reaction when he is told about the body swap. That's important not only to understand Riley himself, but the whole Initiative crew and project. They are totally ignorant of the mystical aspect of the underworld. For them, vampires and demons are just animals, like Forrest said to Riley in a former episode. They only approach them by the scientific side, testing on them, and let's face it, as they are a branch of the army, much certainly trying to weaponize them, and not only by making Frankenstein's monsters... that was just Pr. Walsh' project. Cause I can't see any other reason to implant chips in their head to prevent them from killing people, unless those chips could be activated and de-activated at will, like said, after sending them on an enemy territory. Plus, we knew that when Spike broke out, he was able to hurt people in its escape without the chip hurting him.. it was only afterwards, when he tried to kill Willow, that the chip acted... Of course it could be seen as a plot hole, but my take is that they had only activated the chip after his escape, thus that theory they probably also can de-activate it at will.
You can actually see Spike get pain when he strikes people during his escape from the Initiative. So the chip was already activated. But the 2 demon's Prf. Walsh sent to kill Buffy had also been chipped so your theory is strong.
The acting by SMG and Eliza Dushku was on point in this episode. You could really see Faith in SMG and Buffy in Eliza Dushku. They must have really studied each other.
This episode is so good. Faith is so full of self-loathing, which is why the mayor's validation was so impactful on her, but here she gets to actually live another person's life and feel what it's like to live untethered from that self-hate. She's gonna have a lot to think about after this for sure.
That final moment in the fight in the church was a real turning point as Faith finally faces what she thinks of herself. And then we get *her* leaving town image, which mirrored when Buffy left Sunnydale.
Both actresses did a great job playing each other's roles (if that makes sense). The part in the Bronze with Buffy (Faith) and Spike - so much innuendo, and a hint that Spike might have some attraction to Buffy. The scene with Riley and Faith in Buffy's body raises the issue of consent because he didn't know about the body switch. Faith is really a damaged person with low self-esteem, and that's why you have sympathy for her.
This is one of the best episodes of BTVS and the scene near the end where Faith is beating on herself, the things she was saying, revealing her self-hatred, that was one of the best scenes in the entire series, and one of the best turns of dialogue in the whole series. I love it to much. That is epic writing right there. It was stunning the first time I watched it when it first aired, and still is every time I watch it. Thanks for the great reaction. And I loved your reaction to that scene.
The scene near the end was a huge eye opener. I've never been a fan of Faith but now I'm seeing her in such a different light and I am actually excited now to see what happens to her in the future 💜
Man, what a great episode. I love the insights into each other that Faith and Buffy get. The last few seconds of the church fight still get the back of my eyeballs all warm. I hope I never have to hate myself anywhere near that much.
Both actresses did an amazing job. It's also a sign of good writing that even though it was SMG doing the acting, we know enough about Faith to feel Faith's journey this episode, to the point where when I think about her saying those terrible things to herself in the church, I actually picture Dushku delivering those lines.
Another wonderful reaction. With the comments you can now see how the show and its characters are becoming complex with its moral and ethical values. Faith once again does terrible things with the goal of hurting Buffy and her own pleasures. But what other show can have a person sleep with her enemies boyfriend, try to hurt Buffy’s friends, and cause emotional chaos…. And then somehow make her semi sympathetic? People say … wow Faith grew but Buffy did not understand Faith more. Part of the show’s brilliant way to muddle moral values. Comments about how poor Faith is showing her self hate while she beats the tar out of Buffy? and we have sympathy for the brutal attacker? Great story telling. Everyone wants to justify popular characters actions and say Buffy had a better chance. It’s not the environment that makes Buffy it is the moral center. She is a young girl trying to understand but she alone is The Slayer. She may struggle briefly ❤but she will always… always make the difficult but right choice. Buffy has and will lose battles but never the war. So other characters and the viewers will be cleverly swept into comfortable feelings but never Buffy. Has Buffy has told people… you really don’t know what a Slayer is. She is right.
It doesn't often happen that in a TV series two actors actually swap characters, and succeed well in the change of role, but SMG and Eliza Duskul proved up to the task! An artist's touch to credit Duskul as Buffy and not Faith, I really loved it! Talking about the performances specifically, SMG gave us a taste of her skill even in the role of Evil Girl, with highlights when she played Faith imitating Buffy, her character, and taking us on the road to the redemption of the brunette Slayer. Having felt loved by someone, first Joyce and then Riley, having saved someone out of pure altruism, as Buffy always does, really opened Faith's eyes to the mistakes she had made and led her to hate herself in a terrible, and even sad, way. Another master's touch is the fact that Forrest told to "Buffy" that she is an assassin, but actually said it to Faith, who in fact was one and was realizing it. In short, everything is beautiful! Less screentime for Eliza and less way to show off, but the scene where Buffy tries to make Giles recognize her is still adorable! Eliza replicated Buffy's typical attitudes very well, from the rolling of her eyes in exasperation, to the sweetness with which Buffy addresses loved (and saved) people like Giles....... to the smile :D It's a shame that Riley, who should know Buffy and know her to be romantic and kind in love, but doesn't get suspicious of Faith's greater aggressiveness...... Incredible then that Tara, who doesn't yet know Buffy, noticed the situation and Willow, her best friend, didn't!
Awesome episode! The bad Buff didn't disappoint🙂Especially like the interaction between Spike/Faith and also with Giles/Buff..spot on performances🤣😂Love it! I do hope they bring Faith back to redeem herself with a fresh injection of Buffinator❣ Thanks so much Juliette, have a wonderful night!💞and btw how is Mr. Crow doing? Heshe hasn't made a guest appearance in a while.
I soooo hope that Faith does have a redemption arc at some point!! I really think this is a huge turning point for her! Mr Crow only visits here infrequently 😭 I still see him flying around! But he's moved out 🤣
Such a satisfying conclusion to this two-parter with both SMG and Eliza knocking out the park. Giles 'tiny, tiny babies' is nearly as iconic as Faith as Buffy's 'Because it's wrong'. The end where Faith in Buffy's body is pummelling Faith's own body really demonstrates how much self hate she carries. Lovely reaction, Jules and yes, the answer with watching Buffy is to live in the moment. :)
i love this one. its so interesting and sad watching them experience whatits like to be the other. i think its really eye opening and emotional for both of them. also, i love tara. shes amazing.
I am here for the Buffy/Faith and Spike scene. Bright spot in the sea of rest routine. He's got interested at some point but I like that it's still not that easy with him. It's not enough with him to just say smth like that and he is yours. Unlike with the other guys, as we see. Eventually this made him angry because he thought that she is playing with him and with the fact that he can't do anything with the chip.
The credits read "Eliza Dushku as Buffy", instead of "as Faith", reflecting the fact she is playing Buffy in Faith's body for the majority of the episode.
We had so many body swaps/personality swops etc in this show Giles/The Demon in A New Man, Buffy/Faith in this episode and we just know more will probably follow at some time. We of course are seeing Faith have great fun in Buffy's body, sexually teasing Spike, but she does the ultimate betrayal technically raping Riley whilst inheriting Buffy's body we know at this point Faith is amoral having tried to sexually assault and murder Xander is S3 Consequences as well. Tara of course uses her powers to deduce that it isn't the real Buffy. A great conversation with Forest and Faith in Buffy's body. A super ending in the church when the two fight again and everything is restored. Riley feels guilty at the end, but he was totally unaware who it was. Faith of course is a great character in the Buffyverse, but an interesting juxtaposition at this point in that Faith with a soul is as evil as Angel or Spike when they were soulless, even though we see her human side at the end . This episode and the preceding one were a great two-parter.
Faith is a classic self hater, her bravado and persona are all about hiding from the world, being thanked and appreciated are actually pain full to her. and she let everyone know her feelings about herself when she attacked her own body, but if you look closely, she didn't really hurt herself either, she was flailing more than hitting, she doesn't have the strength to actually do something about how she feels, so she ran. so now there are only two things she can do. spiral deeper into darkness, or seek out someone to help her. love your reaction, look forward to the next, and more musings on the plot, of coarse.
I think these are my favorite Faith episodes (the last episode and this one). Like you, I wasn't always a fan. She's rude, she tried to kill characters I care about, and she basically just creates chaos. However... Eliza as Faith injects such energy into the episodes she's in, and it was super interesting to watch her play Buffy and Sarah play Faith. And the character development was fascinating! That repeated line of "Because it's wrong" is said so many times, usually mockingly, but when she says it the final time in the church, you can tell she really means it. I think you said it well when you talked about how she's never really had the kind of love and support that Buffy has, so she's not used to hearing it, and it really rattled her. I never would have expected to feel bad for her after all she's done, but when she was essentially beating herself up, it hurt my heart. They really showed how she feels inside and that struggle came out big time. I really enjoyed seeing her journey in these 2 episodes. Good stuff!! Some of the best episodes of the season, I think.
Ahhh Sherry 💜 our thoughts align! I love that. These two episodes changed how I see Faith. I know she is a favourite with the majority of viewers, but I just couldn't get there. I'm so excited to rewatch season 3 and see what I think about her from the beginning 😀
Faith’s character makes so much sense when you consider she has had very negative relationships with men from a young age. She can’t comprehend them being caring, you see this during S3 too.
Love basically everything about this episode especially the confrontation in the church and the development of the Willow Tara storyline but not a fan of the ending. Faith assaulted Riley but Buffy and the show treat it more as if it's cheating when really he's a victim. Just a product of the time it was made really.
A bit surprising Spike kinda seemed into "Buffy" at the Bronze... no matter how evil they are, Buffy could get whoever she wanted lmao she is just that girl.
In this case, Willow has the stronger connection with Buffy which is why she's more suited to find her. Buffy is one of those shows where the more times I rewatch it, the more I really dislike the Council. They are so pompously inept it's a wonder how any Slayer manages to live longer than a year. Much less past their 18th birthday with that stupid test that all but guarantees the majority of them will die. This episode is yet another example of how the Council uses a hammer to deal with a situation that needed a scalpel. It's not a coincidence both Giles and Wesley become better men AFTER they get fired.
The Watchers has always been a hard hand wave for me. Men just don’t send little girls all alone to fight for them. Especially, at the relatively minor power levels that vampires represent. The Initiative makes so much more sense.
The infamous switch! Love both of the actress' performances. They're brilliant!! Can't wait to see your reactions to how the rest of the season unfolds! See you for Angel!! ❤🧡💛💚💙💜
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Eliza Dushku are both phenomenal in this episode, really capturing the each other's mannerisms. Both of them are underrated actors, and I'd highly recommend checking out Eliza in another Joss Whedon show, Dollhouse, where she really gets to show what she can do. I love that in addition to the typical body-swap hijinks, this episode really acts as a character study for Faith. We learn so much about her from how she reacts to Buffy's life, and it's fascinating to watch. I've always felt that she's a very complex and interesting character, when she could have quite easily been nothing more than a sterorype. Her reaction to Riley and her very obvious self-loathing rage when she's attacking Buffy (in Faith's body) at the end are probably the best examples of this. Here's to the next reaction!
Faith is the most complicated character in the Buffyverse without question. I think that genuine moments of compassion or care are painful for her because of the trauma she has been through. I think she doesn't believe she is worthy or deserving of any gentleness or compassion.
Faith just needs a good friend really. Previous episode when Buffy invites her to the meal living lonely in her bedsit, Christmas was it? And she pretends she has a big party to go to. Then says ok I'll come. Always had the redemption possibility that makes her so appealing. Like everyone does really. Faith could be Hope.
I disagree, someone who does and has done all the terrible things she has done, with all her issues,needs a therapist or a psychiatrist. Painting it like she just needs a friend is so unrealistic to me.
Callisto switched bodies with Xena 😊 You probably meant that, but just thought I'd clarify ^^ Also, Xena inhabitated Autolycus's body for a couple of episodes too. ...Lots of body swapping in Xena 😉
I think, in genetal, Sarah is a better actress, but I preferred Eliza's performance here, though Sarah had to play Faith pretending to be Buffy and Eliza just had to play Buffy.
This is going to be a good episode with Buffy and Faith in each other's bodies and the havoc that will ensue but hopefully things will eventually work out I hope that it will all turn out okay have a great weekend Juliette my friend.😊 🇦🇺😹🙏😸🇦🇺
Eliza Dushku's portrayal of self-hatred is breath-taking, and I hope mostly acting. I worry that as the daughter of Mormon Ivy-league professors, then sexually harassed by Joss on her first major role, there was some internalization. All speculation of course, but we can see this is a very dark point for both role and actress. Numerous bit characters have talked about how SMG went out of her way to make them feel welcome (including a young Pedro Pascal); I hope they were able to support each other.
I love you thinking that Faith as Buffy might get close enough to kill her friends. And you never thought about how "close" to Riley she might get! ;-)
Quite an interesting episode. I.agree.with your take.on it. The ducklings are seriously confused, is Tara good or evil? Obviously she weighs the same as a duck, but she messed up Willow's demon finding spell. So they don't know what to think of her now. Me and the alpacas are just glad they weren't focused.on the body swapping magic, that.would be bad in their wings. Btw the ducks.we have are.muskovy ducks so they are black.and.white. I think I spelled that right. Have.a wonderful day.
Cat 👋 black and white ducklings? Oh wow... looks like they've got their tuxedos on 😜 I bet they are beautiful. You're lucky to have them, as naughty as they are at times. And they are lucky to have you, too 💜
I always enjoy your reactions, and thank you. The actresses (SMG and ED) did an amazing job of portraying the "other character". Tara came through big time in this episode. Also, this might be the first time that Faith was ever thanked by a saved victim, and I agree that it might lead to a change of heart, but we'll have to see. As a guy (an old guy, married 42 years this month!, but a young guy years ago) I see some fans that hold Riley accountable for somehow cheating on Buffy when Faith seduces him in Buffy's body. I don't agree with that point of view. He had no reason to believe this wasn't his girlfriend, and even refused to go beyond a loving relationship when Faith suggested "other activities". It created an uncomfortable situation for the "real" Buffy when this came out, but Riley was acting in good faith (no pun intended) during the episode. But there are at least hints of a possible redemption for Faith by the end of this episode. Gonna be interesting to see if that can actually happen.
Hello Jules, 💜 I hope your Saturday finds you a bit hoarse, once again, and Not having to clean any fish and chips off the ceiling!🤣 A new tactic is revealed! The "I didn't think you reacted right so I had compelled to spoil, so you won't feel left behind" technique.🤨 Awesome!🙄 Let's just see what Buffy->Faith and Faith->Buffy get up to here this day.🫣
Fish and chips were intact 🤣 and delicious! I asked for 4 potato scallops, they gave me 6 🥰 so it was a pretty grand Friday and an epic win from my team, too 🎉🙌 they have sort of been the underdogs for so long and it's always so nice to see them on top form! It's almost the end of the season so I don't know what I'll do now 😭 maybe I'll have to follow dart championships! Oh no.... We have had evolving SN?! 😱 There IS no right or wrong way to react to a show, or to play a game. The beauty of humans is that we are all so unique, so different. Even the Doctor would say that! He loves us humans, flawed and perfect as we are 💜
Jules, 💜 I had some things I thought about, as I watched this episode with you, and I found, in the end, that they could all be reduced down to "I agree with you, Jules!"😊 A great episode - one of my favorites so far. At the beginning I was thinking that only Spike, Angel, or, an outside chance, Willow, would be able to know that Buffy wasn't Buffy. Well, I lost the Spike choice very quickly (a great exchange between Spike and F->B however!🤣) and then the new kid comes through - she obviously has some hidden perceptive strengths!😜 The council team... just more thugs. Oh, and 1 I forgot - At 5:41, I thought you might go down for the count!🤣 Everyone who contributed to this episode did a really great job - the 2 leads were wonderful, as were all the supporters. And yes, I agree Faith was having a sort of inner dialogue whilst beating on her own body. She can never be Buffy, nor should she want to be. I think she started seeing how Buffy is accepted and treated by her friends, and it starts to break down the walls she's built, ever since she took the path that led to the Faith we've been introduced to from the beginning. She begins to see the Faith that could have been - not Buffy, but a better version of herself. Anyway, very pleased your team won, and the extra potato scallops! Excellent(!) as was this episode,and your spot-on analysis. Great editing, great commentary, and all around wonderful.🥰 Have a very nice, soothing Saturday, Jules,💜🤗💜 and some good times. I'll see you in your next, and, as always, I'm looking forward to whatever that will be. 🥰
While i buy Eliza as Buffy right from the start, it tooks until the bed scene with Riley that i see Faith in Sarah. The moment when she asks "What do you want from he-her?!" she shows how much she cares about Buffy and is protective. Until then it was more S2 openerer Mean-Buffy. This was also the big flaw of this episode: Faith was much, but never mean, so how she threated Tara was out of charactere, it was just a plot device making Willow and Tara leave. Hate that Counsil guy. Spitting on her neither deserved Buffy, nor Faith. Eliza was outstanding copying Sarahs style, especially in the scene with Giles.❤
Hi Jules! 1. The situation of Riley sleeping with Faith (in Buffy's body) had some very heated words and opinions in the comments of other reactors. A lot were saying Riley basically cheated on Buffy, saying he should have picked up on the clues, while others had different thoughts. 2. The way Faith talked to Riley had me think, that she probably only ever experienced sex from the lust perspective, without ever experiencing an emotional connection with it (which sounds sad to me, but hey, everybody is different). 3. I liked the mayor more than Adam, he was funny and interesting. 4. On another note, gym still going strong (every second day) and I even increased the weights in some exercises. Have a wonderful weekend and don't let your plant overgrow your microphone (although the plant is probably fake).
I don't think Riley cheated on Buffy, HOWEVER, if I were in Buffy's situation, I can understand her being upset about it. She looked like Buffy, talked like Buffy. Riley really wasn't to know. The only thing that was different was that Buffy(faith) was behaving more sexual than usual, and very forward. I personally don't think that is enough for Riley to jump to the VERY WEIRD AND RARE conclusion that someone has taken over Buffy's body. There are explanations for this, such as Buffy might have wanted to roleplay. Maybe she wanted to try something new in the bedroom. Maybe she'd just read a womans magazine (think back to the year this was aired, womens magazines were more prominent than the internet), maybe an article about "spicing up" things with your lover. I'd be interested to see if people debate it here in the comments on this video! You're doing amazing at the gym!! That's incredible! Keep it up 🎉💜
Oh that's just regular Justice. Love how mean Sarah Michelle gets to be. And faith gets to be better. She gets loved. Buffy Driving And Giles the Stevedore. Great example of Joss Whedon with the short circuit so every character doesn't have to hear the exposition over and over again and the audience doesn't Fascinating first and practically only reference to God in this show. The Lord. Riley ran into this because he was late for church. I slept with you. Not his fault.
I am a bit confused at how you still seems to not be sure about Tara amd Willow, she says in this episode that 'I am yours' and then faith sees them interact and comments to Tara that Willow is not driving stick anymore, and Tara does not even attempt to deny it😮
I'm left a little confused by your comment as I know what is happening between Tara and Willow 🤣 Please keep in mind that I haven't seen any further than the episode at hand, so even though Tara and Willow are clearly flirting and there is an interest there, we haven't seen anything else happen between them at this point. For all I know, it could lead into nothing at all. I'm enjoying their developing friendship very much, but that's really all it is between them for now!
Did you see where I talk about Tara and Willow in the outro? The outro is where I generally explain my thoughts and feelings, rather than talk TOO much over the top of the dialogue during the show. I love Tara, but I'm also waiting for a little more before I allow myself to get too excited as I know how quickly happiness gets taken away!
People react how they react. That's the point of a reaction. If you want them to react how you want and expect, just watch yourself reacting in a mirror. LOL
C'mon, MC, grow up. It's a given NOT to give reactors spoilers, or even hints. Extremely rude. (Sorry if that seems mean, community, but most of us, I think, really enjoy jules' fresh, honest commentary. We should all want her to discover things in their own time - as we all did when we first watched BtVS.)
Let's remember our introduction to Faith. Cocky, living for a few kicks... Then we learned she was running from a demon who had killed her female watcher in front of Faith - slowly. The Mayor knew she felt alone (never a real Scoobie), Faith has imposter syndrome, basically. Now she has been the imposter, and everyone knows! In the journey of Faith's life, she is at a crossroad. What will she choose without a friend or guide to consult with?
I love how Tara noticed that a big clue of Buffy not being herself was that she was rude. She knows Willow well enough to know that Willow would never be friends with someone who has a personality such as Faith.
I think the fact that Tara KNOWS there is something wrong with Buffy, even though it's the first time she met her, just because of what she knows through Willow describing her friend is possibly my favourite thing about this entire episode. It's such a great moment.
18:22 "Our families are, are, are in there! Our mothers and, and, uh, tiny, tiny babies!" Yes, don't forget the tiny babies! 👶😆👶
‘You were inching!’ Is just so wonderfully Buffy, it’s like 5 by 5 being so faith, it’s great to see such recognisable mannerisms coming from the other body.
This adventure being a big ‘walk a mile in her shoes’ thing is so beautifully done, giving each of them perspective on the other’s life experience, making Buffy more sympathetic to Faith’s mindset and motivations, and Faith ending up wanting to live up to the person they all think she is, seeing her start this episode practicing‘it’s wrong’ as part of her Buffy act, and ending up saying it because she means it is SO sweet.
And you’re absolutely right about her beating herself up at the end. She’s not seeing Buffy, she’s BEEN Buffy and knows what it’s like to be a better person, and she’s looking down at her old body, her old self, and she hates her. This episode is a pretty intense journey of therapy and self-awareness for her.
I think Joyce most accurately described Faith: terribly unhappy.
Faith expressing her self-loathing on her own body at the end always breaks my heart, as we finally get to know what she really thinks of herself in her own words: Murderer. B*tch. Disgusting. Nothing.
Faith has made some horrible decisions and committed some unspeakable acts, but if we take a moment to compare her to both Kendra, as well as Buffy from the Dopplegangland timeline, it becomes apparent that she isn't actually that far off from the average Slayer. Kendra was a tightly-wound, by-the-book, solitary killer who saw things in black and white. Dopple-Buffy was a cold, ruthless, jaded, solitary killer too.
Slayers are not set up for success. They are living, disposable weapons in the fight against evil. When you look at it, it's actually Buffy who is the anomaly.
Buffy has a talented and caring Watcher, a loving mother, supportive friends who know her secret, as well as wealth, popularity, social skills, smarts - basically every advantage you could imagine - on top of her inner strength and character. She has turned out so incredibly well that I wonder if there has ever been another Slayer like her, while I imagine there have been more than a couple Faiths along the way.
Well neither Kendra nor MirrorBuffy killed humans or strayed from their calling so there are differences.
@@Henrik_Holst exactly thank you, so many people make the ' Buffy would be Faith without.....in Dopplegangland etc'. Another reactor compared her more to GI Jane and made the distinction that Faith enjoyed the killing and was more bloodthirsty while The Wish Buffy was more lets get this done mode.
@@Henrik_Holstbecause they weren't failed so tragically. Kendra at least had a home and a watcher that didn't see her only as a personal bodyguard for Buffy. Her watcher is killed, she gets used by Gwedolyn due to Giles' ineptitude. She goes to Sunnydale to make a connection with Buffy but just gets used by Gwendolyn and the Scobies. None of them care about her at all except how she can help Buffy. She accidently kills a human and it pushes her over the edge. If she had people that cared about her at all she'd have made different choices after the accidental death.
@@paulinerobertson6836but thats what the council want. They made her like that. They take them out of school and isolate them from everyone. Faith came from an abusive home to begin with so that doesn't help.
@@russellward4624 used by the Scoobies how and where? All they did was make her the center of attention to the degree that Buffy felt left out, and after that she hardly appeared due not being allowed to film since she was a minor.
I highly doubt that either Kendra nor Buffy would stoop down to start killing people for fun they way that Faith did regardless of situation. Not even MirrorBuffy did that.
16:07 - Notice how Eliza as Buffy opens her eyes much more than as Faith... I remember a female acquaintance of mine had notice her eyes for the first time in this episode...
When Buffyverse fans see the SMG's tongue screenshot 😜 on a reaction thumbnail, we all know exactly which episode it is! This is such a classic episode. 😍
I try to pick screenshots that show what episode it is without giving too much away 🤭
One of my favorite moments between Sarah Michelle Gellar playing Faith and Eliza Dushku playing Buffy is when Eliza Dushku as Buffy is confronting Giles and trying to convince him it's her. From the moment she walks in the door to Giles saying Willow understands better than he does is such great acting.
Faith, once she sees her body, hating on herself is a great character moment. She's not beating up Buffy in that moment. In said moment, Buffy doesn't even exist.
I wish Buffy had learned a bit more from walking a mile in Faith's shoes. Faith showed a lot of growth, despite doing horrible things aka sleeping with Riley, when he assumed it was Buffy, being the worst she's ever been.
This episode was a turning point for Faith. The line, "You can't do that because it's wrong," starts out as making fun of Buffy and by the end in the church she genuinely means it. I don't quite see Buffy learning as much about Faith as Faith did from Buffy, unfortunately, but perhaps she learned something of the hard life Faith led, if nothing else, even if only through The Watchers Council.
How on earth would she reasonably be expected to learn anything about Faith from this experience? She's in Faiths body, not her mind and the consequences Faith experiences as a result of her actions are all things Buffy knows Faith did, it's not like it'd give her any insight into Faiths life prior to Sunnydale or anything?
@@themediater It's not about Buffy learning about Faith's backstory and/or knowing what's in her mind.
It's subtle, but when Buffy in Faith's body tries to explain to the Council that she isn't Faith, and they don't care to the point of breaking council code, she learns how Faith has felt about every time Faith has been wronged or felt she has been wronged.
In S3, Buffy made it clear she understood she could at least comprehend Faith not having it easy, even if she didn't identify. Now she can identify. It doesn't mean she and Buffy are good, especially when Buffy learns what Faith did with Riley in her body, but it's not nothing, either. The look on Buffy in Faith's body in the moments The Council goons treat her like crap say more than any dialogue could, just as Faith in Buffy's body hitting her own body does.
I love how you clocked Buffy’s terrible driving skills. Many people forget that characteristic.
Thank you!! I do try my best to pay attention and remember 😊
9:11 Faith's already bored pretending to be Buffy.
Sarah does a great job of doing all those Faith mannerisms.
Doesn't she! Such an awesome episode!
Eliza did great copying Buffy's too
@@najhoant Yeah, Eliza really kills it! There's a couple moments where she literally sounds like Buffy. She really got Sarah's vocal rhythm down.
Faith was thinking she could wipe away her past life, her past sins, by becoming Buffy. The "Burn it" was leaving Faith behind. She's gone, was the idea. "I'm not a killer" even Faith knew she was a killer before. But now that she's Buffy she's not. She's wanting to wash that all away without any actual redemption. Now she's wanting to leave Sunnydale and start a new life, so she's not actually wanting to be Buffy in Sunnydale, but to start fresh and clean.
"I'm Buffy" means she gets what it means, and has to fulfil the obligations of the good. "The one and only (Slayer)" means that despite the Slayer line running through Faith, she still always considered Buffy the true Slayer. The fact that she threw the first punch when she saw Faith's face shows that she actually hates herself even more than Buffy could hate her.
Rewatching this episode with you was like watching it for the first time. This episode was a masterclass in character work. Literally having the characters inhabit different bodies allowed them to see their own lives from a different perspective and literally confront themselves, their own self worth, and their prejudices and assumptions. Expert level writing, acting, and directing.
Another great reaction!
"Nothing like having your face cut off to disturb your sleep!"
Our Families are in there! Our mothers and our tiny, tiny babies 🤣🤣🤣
Great line!
Nice little call back to Willow pretending to be covered in frogs to distract the orderlies so Buffy can sneak past them.
I always loved how Tara knew before anyone else that there was something wrong with Buffy.
I think this is the best episode for Faith's character development. This episode might be the best episode of the season. The name Who Are You has so many meanings. Faith and Buffy switching bodies, Faith seeing a different world and realizing that it could have been different, Tara getting introduced to the group, Faith not knowing who Anya is, and Giles having tiny tiny babies to name a few.
72 pages left in the book of Buffy and this is one of those episodes you can’t wait to watch with Juliette. Having watched this episode with several people I’ve never enjoyed it more. Jules picks up on such nuance and has such a feel for this show. Jules; you are a joy to share time with…thank you. PS: Love your blouse / dress…the colors are brilliant on you.💃
Thank you!!! You are SO kind and have just put the cherry on top of my Saturday night 💜 only 72 pages? Oh boy... it's going so quick 😭
When you get to the end Jules, lets start backwards and do it all over again! (PS: If your missed it...Breaking Bad would be very enjoyable to watch with you.)@@julesreacts
Both Sarah Michelle Gellar and Eliza Dushku are amazing in this episode. I especially loved the scene where Buffy, in Faith's body, went to Gile's place after she escaped. Eliza's acting was so good here, and she got SMG's mannerisms down perfectly. And also when Faith, in Buffy's body, was practicing being good in the mirror. SMG was so good in that scene.
I felt really bad for Tara when Buffy (really Faith) was so mean to her when they first met. Seeing as you know so little about Tara at this point its kinda hard to talk about her without whatever I say seeming like a spoiler, so I'll just say that from what we've been shown of her thus far, she seems like one of the sweetest people you could ever hope to meet (and maybe she'll continue to be that way, maybe she won't).
Loved the reaction as always, thanks so much and have a great weekend Juliette 💜🥰
Yeah, this let both actresses really show what they're capable of. Episode raises questions.around consent, but also self loathing.
POOR TARA 😭😭 Neil, I adore her!! She is so beautiful and sweet. I cannot handle it 😍
I never thought I'd come to like Faith's character, but here we are... I really do want to see a difference with her, a better outcome. I have hope that she is going to be okay 💜
You are one of the few reactors to pick up the changes here. Buffy learned what it was like to live as unvalued trash and Faith learned what it was like to be valued and cared about.
I think this is a HUGE turning point for Faith!! I hope so, anyway... thank you 😊
@@julesreacts
Five by five!
You're definitely right about Faith, but I think Buffy was too angry about what Faith did to her to learn anything from this experience, which is understandable.
Buffy didn't learn anything. That could happen as one of the options and sometimes stories do it, they switch bodies for this reason, but here we saw that it influenced Faith but only made Buffy mad at her. That's all.
And 'invalued trash' that's really rough. She is not trash.
@@Junejane4 The council guy literally said, You're trash! and spit in Buffy's face. I'd say that's a pretty stark lesson on what people think of Faith. Of course, Buffy was the victim so she was also furious.
Oh, the things I could tell you about Tara, about Spike, about so very much. But I won't.
Because it's wrong.
VERY much appreciated!!! Thank you, Darn! It's always lovely to see you 👋
Ok, remember when last season I said you were at the mid point of BtVS and I was totally wrong?
Congratulations, *NOW* you're halfway through Buffy! 😅
😭😭😭 nooooo!
Feeling hope about Faith, hehe.
A thing that is easily dismissed amongst all the huge things that happen in this episode, is Riley's reaction when he is told about the body swap. That's important not only to understand Riley himself, but the whole Initiative crew and project. They are totally ignorant of the mystical aspect of the underworld. For them, vampires and demons are just animals, like Forrest said to Riley in a former episode. They only approach them by the scientific side, testing on them, and let's face it, as they are a branch of the army, much certainly trying to weaponize them, and not only by making Frankenstein's monsters... that was just Pr. Walsh' project.
Cause I can't see any other reason to implant chips in their head to prevent them from killing people, unless those chips could be activated and de-activated at will, like said, after sending them on an enemy territory. Plus, we knew that when Spike broke out, he was able to hurt people in its escape without the chip hurting him.. it was only afterwards, when he tried to kill Willow, that the chip acted... Of course it could be seen as a plot hole, but my take is that they had only activated the chip after his escape, thus that theory they probably also can de-activate it at will.
You can actually see Spike get pain when he strikes people during his escape from the Initiative. So the chip was already activated. But the 2 demon's Prf. Walsh sent to kill Buffy had also been chipped so your theory is strong.
The acting by SMG and Eliza Dushku was on point in this episode. You could really see Faith in SMG and Buffy in Eliza Dushku. They must have really studied each other.
"Nothing like having your face cut off to disturb your sleep!"
This episode is so good. Faith is so full of self-loathing, which is why the mayor's validation was so impactful on her, but here she gets to actually live another person's life and feel what it's like to live untethered from that self-hate. She's gonna have a lot to think about after this for sure.
That final moment in the fight in the church was a real turning point as Faith finally faces what she thinks of herself. And then we get *her* leaving town image, which mirrored when Buffy left Sunnydale.
This episode changed how I feel about Faith! I like her so much more now!
Both actresses did a great job playing each other's roles (if that makes sense). The part in the Bronze with Buffy (Faith) and Spike - so much innuendo, and a hint that Spike might have some attraction to Buffy. The scene with Riley and Faith in Buffy's body raises the issue of consent because he didn't know about the body switch. Faith is really a damaged person with low self-esteem, and that's why you have sympathy for her.
This is one of the best episodes of BTVS and the scene near the end where Faith is beating on herself, the things she was saying, revealing her self-hatred, that was one of the best scenes in the entire series, and one of the best turns of dialogue in the whole series. I love it to much. That is epic writing right there. It was stunning the first time I watched it when it first aired, and still is every time I watch it. Thanks for the great reaction. And I loved your reaction to that scene.
The scene near the end was a huge eye opener. I've never been a fan of Faith but now I'm seeing her in such a different light and I am actually excited now to see what happens to her in the future 💜
Man, what a great episode. I love the insights into each other that Faith and Buffy get. The last few seconds of the church fight still get the back of my eyeballs all warm. I hope I never have to hate myself anywhere near that much.
I’ve seen this episode before it still shocked me when Faith was daydreaming and she stabbed Willow.
Both actresses did an amazing job. It's also a sign of good writing that even though it was SMG doing the acting, we know enough about Faith to feel Faith's journey this episode, to the point where when I think about her saying those terrible things to herself in the church, I actually picture Dushku delivering those lines.
Another wonderful reaction. With the comments you can now see how the show and its characters are becoming complex with its moral and ethical values. Faith once again does terrible things with the goal of hurting Buffy and her own pleasures. But what other show can have a person sleep with her enemies boyfriend, try to hurt Buffy’s friends, and cause emotional chaos…. And then somehow make her semi sympathetic? People say … wow Faith grew but Buffy did not understand Faith more. Part of the show’s brilliant way to muddle moral values. Comments about how poor Faith is showing her self hate while she beats the tar out of Buffy? and we have sympathy for the brutal attacker? Great story telling. Everyone wants to justify popular characters actions and say Buffy had a better chance. It’s not the environment that makes Buffy it is the moral center. She is a young girl trying to understand but she alone is The Slayer. She may struggle briefly ❤but she will always… always make the difficult but right choice. Buffy has and will lose battles but never the war. So other characters and the viewers will be cleverly swept into comfortable feelings but never Buffy. Has Buffy has told people… you really don’t know what a Slayer is. She is right.
It doesn't often happen that in a TV series two actors actually swap characters, and succeed well in the change of role, but SMG and Eliza Duskul proved up to the task!
An artist's touch to credit Duskul as Buffy and not Faith, I really loved it!
Talking about the performances specifically, SMG gave us a taste of her skill even in the role of Evil Girl, with highlights when she played Faith imitating Buffy, her character, and taking us on the road to the redemption of the brunette Slayer. Having felt loved by someone, first Joyce and then Riley, having saved someone out of pure altruism, as Buffy always does, really opened Faith's eyes to the mistakes she had made and led her to hate herself in a terrible, and even sad, way. Another master's touch is the fact that Forrest told to "Buffy" that she is an assassin, but actually said it to Faith, who in fact was one and was realizing it. In short, everything is beautiful!
Less screentime for Eliza and less way to show off, but the scene where Buffy tries to make Giles recognize her is still adorable! Eliza replicated Buffy's typical attitudes very well, from the rolling of her eyes in exasperation, to the sweetness with which Buffy addresses loved (and saved) people like Giles....... to the smile :D
It's a shame that Riley, who should know Buffy and know her to be romantic and kind in love, but doesn't get suspicious of Faith's greater aggressiveness......
Incredible then that Tara, who doesn't yet know Buffy, noticed the situation and Willow, her best friend, didn't!
Of all the people I've watched reacting to this episode, every single one was surprised that Tara was the first to figure out about Buffy/Faith.
She's clever and very intuitive!
Yes, once again BtVS proves that despite it's wit, humour, and parody, it is a very serious TV show with major characters who never run in place.
Awesome episode! The bad Buff didn't disappoint🙂Especially like the interaction between Spike/Faith and also with Giles/Buff..spot on performances🤣😂Love it! I do hope they bring Faith back to redeem herself with a fresh injection of Buffinator❣
Thanks so much Juliette, have a wonderful night!💞and btw how is Mr. Crow doing? Heshe hasn't made a guest appearance in a while.
I soooo hope that Faith does have a redemption arc at some point!! I really think this is a huge turning point for her!
Mr Crow only visits here infrequently 😭 I still see him flying around! But he's moved out 🤣
TINY, TINY BABIES
Ah the giant “O” spell - very not subtle lol
"Nothing like having your face cut off to disturb your sleep!"
Such a satisfying conclusion to this two-parter with both SMG and Eliza knocking out the park. Giles 'tiny, tiny babies' is nearly as iconic as Faith as Buffy's 'Because it's wrong'. The end where Faith in Buffy's body is pummelling Faith's own body really demonstrates how much self hate she carries. Lovely reaction, Jules and yes, the answer with watching Buffy is to live in the moment. :)
Thank you 💜😊 I hope you've had a lovely weekend so far!
i love this one. its so interesting and sad watching them experience whatits like to be the other. i think its really eye opening and emotional for both of them. also, i love tara. shes amazing.
I am here for the Buffy/Faith and Spike scene. Bright spot in the sea of rest routine. He's got interested at some point but I like that it's still not that easy with him. It's not enough with him to just say smth like that and he is yours. Unlike with the other guys, as we see. Eventually this made him angry because he thought that she is playing with him and with the fact that he can't do anything with the chip.
Mmmhmmm!! That scene was amazing!!
The credits read "Eliza Dushku as Buffy", instead of "as Faith", reflecting the fact she is playing Buffy in Faith's body for the majority of the episode.
Yeah, that was cool!
There's so many things I would like to say, but I'm gona choose "Just keep watching" :D
That's always the best option! Thank you 😊😊
We had so many body swaps/personality swops etc in this show Giles/The Demon in A New Man, Buffy/Faith in this episode and we just know more will probably follow at some time. We of course are seeing Faith have great fun in Buffy's body, sexually teasing Spike, but she does the ultimate betrayal technically raping Riley whilst inheriting Buffy's body we know at this point Faith is amoral having tried to sexually assault and murder Xander is S3 Consequences as well. Tara of course uses her powers to deduce that it isn't the real Buffy. A great conversation with Forest and Faith in Buffy's body. A super ending in the church when the two fight again and everything is restored. Riley feels guilty at the end, but he was totally unaware who it was. Faith of course is a great character in the Buffyverse, but an interesting juxtaposition at this point in that Faith with a soul is as evil as Angel or Spike when they were soulless, even though we see her human side at the end . This episode and the preceding one were a great two-parter.
These two episodes are very fun to watch reactors react to. Enjoyed the reaction!
Thank you!! I'm so glad you enjoyed!
This little Faith arc is amazing ❤ it does so much justice to her character. Its a complex, tragic character
Faith is a classic self hater, her bravado and persona are all about hiding from the world, being thanked and appreciated are actually pain full to her. and she let everyone know her feelings about herself when she attacked her own body, but if you look closely, she didn't really hurt herself either, she was flailing more than hitting, she doesn't have the strength to actually do something about how she feels, so she ran. so now there are only two things she can do. spiral deeper into darkness, or seek out someone to help her. love your reaction, look forward to the next, and more musings on the plot, of coarse.
Thank you, Charlie 💜 have a lovely weekend!
I think these are my favorite Faith episodes (the last episode and this one). Like you, I wasn't always a fan. She's rude, she tried to kill characters I care about, and she basically just creates chaos. However... Eliza as Faith injects such energy into the episodes she's in, and it was super interesting to watch her play Buffy and Sarah play Faith. And the character development was fascinating! That repeated line of "Because it's wrong" is said so many times, usually mockingly, but when she says it the final time in the church, you can tell she really means it.
I think you said it well when you talked about how she's never really had the kind of love and support that Buffy has, so she's not used to hearing it, and it really rattled her. I never would have expected to feel bad for her after all she's done, but when she was essentially beating herself up, it hurt my heart. They really showed how she feels inside and that struggle came out big time. I really enjoyed seeing her journey in these 2 episodes. Good stuff!! Some of the best episodes of the season, I think.
Ahhh Sherry 💜 our thoughts align! I love that. These two episodes changed how I see Faith. I know she is a favourite with the majority of viewers, but I just couldn't get there. I'm so excited to rewatch season 3 and see what I think about her from the beginning 😀
"*IT'S* awake." Not, "She's awake." reminds me when Giles said, "IT stole my book."
IT stole my book! I remember that haha
Faith’s character makes so much sense when you consider she has had very negative relationships with men from a young age. She can’t comprehend them being caring, you see this during S3 too.
Love basically everything about this episode especially the confrontation in the church and the development of the Willow Tara storyline but not a fan of the ending. Faith assaulted Riley but Buffy and the show treat it more as if it's cheating when really he's a victim. Just a product of the time it was made really.
A bit surprising Spike kinda seemed into "Buffy" at the Bronze... no matter how evil they are, Buffy could get whoever she wanted lmao she is just that girl.
YES!! Spike and Buffy together make me feel weirdly happy! I'm still waiting for that wedding HAHA
In this case, Willow has the stronger connection with Buffy which is why she's more suited to find her.
Buffy is one of those shows where the more times I rewatch it, the more I really dislike the Council. They are so pompously inept it's a wonder how any Slayer manages to live longer than a year. Much less past their 18th birthday with that stupid test that all but guarantees the majority of them will die. This episode is yet another example of how the Council uses a hammer to deal with a situation that needed a scalpel. It's not a coincidence both Giles and Wesley become better men AFTER they get fired.
"Pompously inept" is a great phrase for describing the Council! They are always so sure of themselves for a group that always seems to get it wrong.
The Watchers has always been a hard hand wave for me. Men just don’t send little girls all alone to fight for them. Especially, at the relatively minor power levels that vampires represent. The Initiative makes so much more sense.
The infamous switch! Love both of the actress' performances. They're brilliant!!
Can't wait to see your reactions to how the rest of the season unfolds! See you for Angel!! ❤🧡💛💚💙💜
16:06 The stevedore comment took me out! Like hell yeah Giles, you stud you! 😜
I love him so much 🤣🤣
Sarah Michelle Gellar and Eliza Dushku are both phenomenal in this episode, really capturing the each other's mannerisms. Both of them are underrated actors, and I'd highly recommend checking out Eliza in another Joss Whedon show, Dollhouse, where she really gets to show what she can do.
I love that in addition to the typical body-swap hijinks, this episode really acts as a character study for Faith. We learn so much about her from how she reacts to Buffy's life, and it's fascinating to watch. I've always felt that she's a very complex and interesting character, when she could have quite easily been nothing more than a sterorype. Her reaction to Riley and her very obvious self-loathing rage when she's attacking Buffy (in Faith's body) at the end are probably the best examples of this.
Here's to the next reaction!
They were both incredible! A stand out performance by two talented actors 🥰
"I feel really hopeful [about Faith]." could we say you have *faith* in her?
Faith is the most complicated character in the Buffyverse without question. I think that genuine moments of compassion or care are painful for her because of the trauma she has been through. I think she doesn't believe she is worthy or deserving of any gentleness or compassion.
This is a great episode a+
This is one of those episodes you can analyze for days.
Faith just needs a good friend really. Previous episode when Buffy invites her to the meal living lonely in her bedsit, Christmas was it? And she pretends she has a big party to go to. Then says ok I'll come. Always had the redemption possibility that makes her so appealing. Like everyone does really. Faith could be Hope.
I disagree, someone who does and has done all the terrible things she has done, with all her issues,needs a therapist or a psychiatrist. Painting it like she just needs a friend is so unrealistic to me.
Loving all the reactions Jules! ❤
Thank you!!
Looks real amazing, Juliette 💜 I like those collections you got on your back 💯.
Thank you! 🤗
Great episode! Reminds of when Xena switched bodies with Garbielle.
Callisto switched bodies with Xena 😊 You probably meant that, but just thought I'd clarify ^^
Also, Xena inhabitated Autolycus's body for a couple of episodes too.
...Lots of body swapping in Xena 😉
Lovely reaction!❤
Thank you 😊
I think, in genetal, Sarah is a better actress, but I preferred Eliza's performance here, though Sarah had to play Faith pretending to be Buffy and Eliza just had to play Buffy.
This is going to be a good episode with Buffy and Faith in each other's bodies
and the havoc that will ensue but hopefully things will eventually work out
I hope that it will all turn out okay have a great weekend Juliette my friend.😊
🇦🇺😹🙏😸🇦🇺
Hey Roger, thank you! Have a lovely weekend!
Last episode of Buffy was crazy, but good. Looking forward to it!
Eliza Dushku's portrayal of self-hatred is breath-taking, and I hope mostly acting. I worry that as the daughter of Mormon Ivy-league professors, then sexually harassed by Joss on her first major role, there was some internalization. All speculation of course, but we can see this is a very dark point for both role and actress. Numerous bit characters have talked about how SMG went out of her way to make them feel welcome (including a young Pedro Pascal); I hope they were able to support each other.
Amazing episode. I feel really bad for Faith at the end.
I love you thinking that Faith as Buffy might get close enough to kill her friends. And you never thought about how "close" to Riley she might get! ;-)
Oh I mentioned Riley in the outro of the last episode haha. It was like a "..... OH MY GOODNESS" moment!
Cant wait for the next Angel reaction.
It's out right now!
@@julesreactsforgot the episode Im exciting for isn't the next one. Lol
Despite what all Faith did i still can't help but to feel bad for her.
She's definitely changing the way I feel about her, that's for sure!
Quite an interesting episode. I.agree.with your take.on it.
The ducklings are seriously confused, is Tara good or evil? Obviously she weighs the same as a duck, but she messed up Willow's demon finding spell. So they don't know what to think of her now.
Me and the alpacas are just glad they weren't focused.on the body swapping magic, that.would be bad in their wings.
Btw the ducks.we have are.muskovy ducks so they are black.and.white. I think I spelled that right.
Have.a wonderful day.
Cat 👋 black and white ducklings? Oh wow... looks like they've got their tuxedos on 😜 I bet they are beautiful. You're lucky to have them, as naughty as they are at times. And they are lucky to have you, too 💜
I always enjoy your reactions, and thank you.
The actresses (SMG and ED) did an amazing job of portraying the "other character".
Tara came through big time in this episode. Also, this might be the first time that Faith was ever thanked by a saved victim, and I agree that it might lead to a change of heart, but we'll have to see.
As a guy (an old guy, married 42 years this month!, but a young guy years ago) I see some fans that hold Riley accountable for somehow cheating on Buffy when Faith seduces him in Buffy's body. I don't agree with that point of view. He had no reason to believe this wasn't his girlfriend, and even refused to go beyond a loving relationship when Faith suggested "other activities". It created an uncomfortable situation for the "real" Buffy when this came out, but Riley was acting in good faith (no pun intended) during the episode.
But there are at least hints of a possible redemption for Faith by the end of this episode. Gonna be interesting to see if that can actually happen.
Ken, thank you so much 💜 have a lovely weekend!
Hello Jules, 💜 I hope your Saturday finds you a bit hoarse, once again, and Not having to clean any fish and chips off the ceiling!🤣
A new tactic is revealed! The "I didn't think you reacted right so I had compelled to spoil, so you won't feel left behind" technique.🤨
Awesome!🙄
Let's just see what Buffy->Faith and Faith->Buffy get up to here this day.🫣
Fish and chips were intact 🤣 and delicious! I asked for 4 potato scallops, they gave me 6 🥰 so it was a pretty grand Friday and an epic win from my team, too 🎉🙌 they have sort of been the underdogs for so long and it's always so nice to see them on top form! It's almost the end of the season so I don't know what I'll do now 😭 maybe I'll have to follow dart championships!
Oh no.... We have had evolving SN?! 😱 There IS no right or wrong way to react to a show, or to play a game. The beauty of humans is that we are all so unique, so different. Even the Doctor would say that! He loves us humans, flawed and perfect as we are 💜
Jules, 💜 I had some things I thought about, as I watched this episode with you, and I found, in the end, that they could all be reduced down to "I agree with you, Jules!"😊
A great episode - one of my favorites so far. At the beginning I was thinking that only Spike, Angel, or, an outside chance, Willow, would be able to know that Buffy wasn't Buffy. Well, I lost the Spike choice very quickly (a great exchange between Spike and F->B however!🤣) and then the new kid comes through - she obviously has some hidden perceptive strengths!😜
The council team... just more thugs.
Oh, and 1 I forgot - At 5:41, I thought you might go down for the count!🤣
Everyone who contributed to this episode did a really great job - the 2 leads were wonderful, as were all the supporters.
And yes, I agree Faith was having a sort of inner dialogue whilst beating on her own body. She can never be Buffy, nor should she want to be. I think she started seeing how Buffy is accepted and treated by her friends, and it starts to break down the walls she's built, ever since she took the path that led to the Faith we've been introduced to from the beginning. She begins to see the Faith that could have been - not Buffy, but a better version of herself.
Anyway, very pleased your team won, and the extra potato scallops! Excellent(!) as was this episode,and your spot-on analysis. Great editing, great commentary, and all around wonderful.🥰
Have a very nice, soothing Saturday, Jules,💜🤗💜 and some good times. I'll see you in your next, and, as always, I'm looking forward to whatever that will be. 🥰
Love this episode!
I was so stupid the first time watching this. It took way too long before I realized that Buffy and Faith switched.
Aww that is okay 😊 The first time watching we can't really pick up on everything as there's so much going on 💜
While i buy Eliza as Buffy right from the start, it tooks until the bed scene with Riley that i see Faith in Sarah. The moment when she asks "What do you want from he-her?!" she shows how much she cares about Buffy and is protective. Until then it was more S2 openerer Mean-Buffy. This was also the big flaw of this episode: Faith was much, but never mean, so how she threated Tara was out of charactere, it was just a plot device making Willow and Tara leave.
Hate that Counsil guy. Spitting on her neither deserved Buffy, nor Faith.
Eliza was outstanding copying Sarahs style, especially in the scene with Giles.❤
Good reaction who are you is a great episode 👍
Thanks 😁
We all love Tara, What do you think of her bond with Willow? Do you have some future predictions?
I don't know if I can guess much beyond them having a relationship together, and there's that weird thing with Tara hiding the demon dust!
Hi Jules!
1. The situation of Riley sleeping with Faith (in Buffy's body) had some very heated words and opinions in the comments of other reactors. A lot were saying Riley basically cheated on Buffy, saying he should have picked up on the clues, while others had different thoughts.
2. The way Faith talked to Riley had me think, that she probably only ever experienced sex from the lust perspective, without ever experiencing an emotional connection with it (which sounds sad to me, but hey, everybody is different).
3. I liked the mayor more than Adam, he was funny and interesting.
4. On another note, gym still going strong (every second day) and I even increased the weights in some exercises.
Have a wonderful weekend and don't let your plant overgrow your microphone (although the plant is probably fake).
I don't think Riley cheated on Buffy, HOWEVER, if I were in Buffy's situation, I can understand her being upset about it. She looked like Buffy, talked like Buffy. Riley really wasn't to know. The only thing that was different was that Buffy(faith) was behaving more sexual than usual, and very forward. I personally don't think that is enough for Riley to jump to the VERY WEIRD AND RARE conclusion that someone has taken over Buffy's body. There are explanations for this, such as Buffy might have wanted to roleplay. Maybe she wanted to try something new in the bedroom. Maybe she'd just read a womans magazine (think back to the year this was aired, womens magazines were more prominent than the internet), maybe an article about "spicing up" things with your lover.
I'd be interested to see if people debate it here in the comments on this video!
You're doing amazing at the gym!! That's incredible! Keep it up 🎉💜
@@julesreacts I agree. Given the time period, that Buffy had recently read a Cosmopolitan article wouldn't be even remotely surprising. ❤🧡💛💚💙💜
@@julesreacts I mean, Faith basically assaulted both, it was in no way Riley's fault.
I was thinking of Cosmo when writing my comment 🤣 those articles were all the rage back then!
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Oh that's just regular Justice.
Love how mean Sarah Michelle gets to be. And faith gets to be better. She gets loved.
Buffy Driving And Giles the Stevedore. Great example of Joss Whedon with the short circuit so every character doesn't have to hear the exposition over and over again and the audience doesn't
Fascinating first and practically only reference to God in this show. The Lord.
Riley ran into this because he was late for church. I slept with you. Not his fault.
I am a bit confused at how you still seems to not be sure about Tara amd Willow, she says in this episode that 'I am yours' and then faith sees them interact and comments to Tara that Willow is not driving stick anymore, and Tara does not even attempt to deny it😮
I'm left a little confused by your comment as I know what is happening between Tara and Willow 🤣 Please keep in mind that I haven't seen any further than the episode at hand, so even though Tara and Willow are clearly flirting and there is an interest there, we haven't seen anything else happen between them at this point. For all I know, it could lead into nothing at all. I'm enjoying their developing friendship very much, but that's really all it is between them for now!
@julesreacts You just didn't seem to react to them much, I was watching and you just seemed a bit muted is all.
Did you see where I talk about Tara and Willow in the outro? The outro is where I generally explain my thoughts and feelings, rather than talk TOO much over the top of the dialogue during the show.
I love Tara, but I'm also waiting for a little more before I allow myself to get too excited as I know how quickly happiness gets taken away!
People react how they react. That's the point of a reaction. If you want them to react how you want and expect, just watch yourself reacting in a mirror. LOL
C'mon, MC, grow up. It's a given NOT to give reactors spoilers, or even hints. Extremely rude. (Sorry if that seems mean, community, but most of us, I think, really enjoy jules' fresh, honest commentary. We should all want her to discover things in their own time - as we all did when we first watched BtVS.)
Let's remember our introduction to Faith. Cocky, living for a few kicks... Then we learned she was running from a demon who had killed her female watcher in front of Faith - slowly.
The Mayor knew she felt alone (never a real Scoobie), Faith has imposter syndrome, basically. Now she has been the imposter, and everyone knows! In the journey of Faith's life, she is at a crossroad. What will she choose without a friend or guide to consult with?