Giles tearing into willow was the most satisfying thing EVER. Unbelievably selfish and disgusting behavior from her. Love him or hate him, I’ll be forever glad that she did have Spike there, to have ANYONE she could be honest with and lean on. The things shes going through are heartbreaking and I’m glad she wasn’t 100% alone in her misery. Spike could understand what she was feeling more than anyone else could. Buffy is so selfless that she didn’t want the group to know, she didn’t want to cause them pain just as much as she wasn’t ready to deal with their guilt about the situation if they knew.
It's never brought up that Willow and Tara are living rent free in Buffy's house, but many people have called that out and wonder why Willow and Tara aren't helping pay expenses.
Is it only assumed they live there rent free? Even if Willow and Tara paid rent and helped around the house, it still wouldn’t be enough for the monthly house payments and bills.
I think it was just a writing misstep. Buffy had to deal with those problems and getting through all alone. I'm not talking about willow and tara not been capable of doing that as characters, but the writers didn't go anywhere with it.
Yep, this is an issue I wish was addressed more by reactors, and while the other replies here have made good points about what they have done, I still think they should be doing more to help - eg assuming they've got student loans using that to help pay for house issues instead of accommodation, maybe get a part time job to just help out...
What I like (apart from many other things) is that this series has incredible character development, we can see how Willow gradually gained her power, it wasn't overnight, since season 2 We could see how Willow practiced with magic and how she was gaining experience and more knowledge, now we see how powerful she is and what she can do, but all acts have consequences and in the end if you abuse something too much it will end up against you. .In the discussion he has with Giles we can clearly see that Willow threatens him, she is saying in other words: be careful with me, understood? she doesn't see it, but her overuse of magic is changing her and not for the better.
Andrew is Tucker's brother. You know like when everyone refers to you as someone's little brother that's why no one remembers him until they mention Tucker. Who summons the hell hounds to attack prom. I really love how Johnathan is still pissed about it because he was at that prom. I love how the writers referenced something we didn't get to see ( Andrew summoning the flying monkey's) I love how spike makes Buffy laugh when he offers to off everyone for her. My spuffy heart.
I hate that the watchers council never helped Buffy financially, they’re rich bureaucrats, they could’ve tossed their ONLY weapon fighting their war a couple bucks. Also Spider-Man technically charges, he takes pix of himself saving people and sells them for cash
Giles vs. Willow is amazing, and shows just how much he's no longer their librarian and is speaking to them as the adults they're becoming. I loved it.
The Scoobies chastise Anya for something Angel does, and Willow and Tara are living rent free in Buffy's house when she needs money. For those who always debate that they are going to school, it doesn't natter. Many people both have jobs and go to school. This is a situation where Anya is not wrong _and_ has a good reason to be mad at Xander while Willow and Tara need to either pay rent or move out and back into the dorms. I think Giles had more to "discuss" with Willow than just her magical issues.
******spoiler alert********* They lived for free because that was a writing decidion. If Buffy came back and everybody said they paid all the bills and will help buffy paying the plot of buffy working in awful jobs, be stressed because of that and the fact she face the adult life alone without her parents would not exist. Wheadon needed buffy's life to be flooded, needed a reason why Dawn didn't leave Sunny Dale to live with her father (Willow and Tara took care of her) and save money no using scenarios of University rooms. People just like debat topics are not in the show to enjoy drama that will never be on it.
@@rayearth2040 I understand that aspect of the show, but as a Watsonian, I don't wish to care about the writers when watching a show. It takes me out of the experience. So in these situations the failing of the characters are the flaws of the characters, and therefore make them more human, but no less in a wrong for not helping. It's wasn't about having bills paid before resurrecting Buffy, its about helping pay rent to her once she is back. Just because the writers never wrote they needed to doesn't mean it wasn't a failing for them not to. If you wish to be a Doylist, that is fine, but others prefer not to be taken out of the experience and use head canon to their advantage to create an even more fleshed out story. Another example is the creator (who's name is hard to mention nowadays) has even admitted it was never written that Faith was infatuated with Buffy. But fans still look at it that way, while he admits it is easy to see why they would say it and even believes it once fans pointed it out to him (as he didn't see it until it was pointed out to him years after the show was over).
Willow is looked back on through the lens of nostalgia as the nerdy girl with a heart of gold but episodes like this showcase how truly selfish a person she was. It's frustrating
You can't blame her, everyone make mistakes she is not conscious about danger what is magic stuff. She is proud to managed to come Buffy back and happy but her character is well written this season.
willow isn’t maliciously selfish. she gets in over her head sometimes which is understandable considering how young she is/was and everything she’s had to deal with. ultimately, magic is having an effect on her and has been for a while which causes her to be even more reckless.
Anya's suggestion wasn't too crazy. Buffy could go the Angel route, not to mention that it's insane that Slayers, especially ones that have survived to Buffy's age, do not get paid by the Watchers Council, considering that their Slayer duties prevent them from having any kind of high paying career.
I think it comes off appalling to Buffy bc that’s her destiny, she didn’t have a choice to be a slayer. Angel got to choose to start fighting evil, and she wouldn’t think of it like Angel did.
It's different for Angel though. He lives in L.A. Business would be booming there. I feel like Sunnydale is too small to make a full business out of it, even if it's on a Hellmouth.
@@daniig62 it would be appalling to her and its appalling to me how some people are still suggesting that. The whole concept of the show its growing up and becoming and adult. I understand why people think Buffy should get paid. Like irl, It's unfair that all those men in suits on the Council are getting paid and have vacations in fancy places but they don't care about the slayer college tuition or retirement plan, thats kinda the point. We learned very early in the show that being a slayer is not a job, is who she is.
@@romeocastillo316 I already know, slayers aren’t really intended to live to an age where they are expected to financially provide for themselves. I 100% believe this is the true intent of the cruciamentum test. If they live, okay they’re fine with it, but if they die? New younger slayer easier to manipulate and control. In Buffy’s specific situation, i guarantee all the $ Giles got from being paid retroactively in s5 would have been a decent stash to help support her, she can’t hold a job down like regular people. She’d get fired from having to inevitably take off and be the slayer.
This is the episode where the question of why didn’t Willow and Tara have Jobs?? Buffy was dead. Joyce was dead. They were basically living in a house that belonged to no one? Maybe Dawn? I’m sure there’s paper work and stuff.
People didn't know Buffy was dead. Hence why the Buffy bot could still go to Dawn's parent teacher nights etc. So as far as anyone with authority knew (the bank, Dawn's school etc) Buffy was still alive.
@@rotru4977 the scooby gang knew she was dead. The post was about how Willow and Tara didn’t work. They knew Buffy was dead. They still lived in her house for free. Did they not pay any bills until Buffy came back to life? Remember. No one new Buffy was actually coming back.
@@Stuman57 yes sorry I should have been clearer. I was referring to when you said the house belonged to no one, maybe Dawn. I only meant the home would still belong to Buffy because no one outside of her friends knew she was dead. My guess (& I may be wrong and wish this was explored by the writers). Tara and Willow were both living on campus so they may have had scholarships or loans that they were using for student housing, I'm hoping once they moved to Buffys they used some of that money to contribute to the household. We do know where the majority of the money came from though.
I don't care how much Willow and Tara have been watching after Dawn, there's still no excuse for them to be freeloading off of the Summers household. They never talk about it but whether they were living in a dorm or sharing and apartment there had to be some kind of money being paid for wherever they were living before they moved into Joyce's room so where's that money going? As we saw in the first episode, Spike was spending a lot of time looking after Dawn too so it's not like Willow and Tara were on Dawn watch 24 hours a day, and Giles was there for the months we didn't see, it just pisses me off to see all those bills spread out on the table for Buffy to deal with after being dead. If they were so worried about people and demons knowing Buffy was dead that they used the BuffyBot, what did they think would happen as the bills just piled up? And Willow's arrogance with Giles will never stop pissing me off. I know a lot of other reactors are all Willow is a cinnamon roll or whatever, that never sat right with me. I didn't comment on the first few episodes of this season but even when the first night Buffy was back sleeping in her bed Willow's main concern seemed to be the fact that Buffy didn't thank her. That scene in the Magic Box, when Buffy gave her fake thank you speech before telling Spike the truth there was this one line where she said to Willow "So *you* did that" or words to that effect, the way SMG said that line was so revealing if any of the Scoobies were really paying attention to what Buffy was saying and how she said it. Sometimes the Scoobies are so self absorbed it drives me crazy. Willow is all "she sacrificed herself to save us", maybe, but she really sacrificed herself to save Dawn. Would she have jumped if there was no Dawn? Can't really say because of there was no Dawn there would've been no Glory. I don't know, she died before to save the World but this was different. Death was her Gift and the Scoobies destroyed her Gift out of selfishness imo. We can argue forever over the assumption that Buffy was in a Hell dimension, but that fact that Willow lied/kept information to herself makes me wonder how much of her doing the spell was for Buffy or for Willow and her ego. I'm excited to see where this goes (yes, I know where it goes but I try to pretend I don't so I don't get spoilery lol) Another great insightful reaction! 🏹❤️
@Allie K. probably every night I would assume. From the few things he said to Dawn and Buffy in the first 2 episodes he felt so much guilt that he wasn't able to protect Dawn and keep Buffy from jumping I think he probably watched after Dawn every night. Now that I'm thinking about it, who was watching Dawn in the beginning of the 1st episode when they were all out patrolling?
@Allie K. spoilers Exactly! Even though we're down here under spoilers I'm still going to tread easy: Xander and his Spike hate, especially after the Anya thing and the Spuffy reveal infuriates me. Xander had his problems with Angel and Buffy and even more so with Spike and Buffy mostly out of jealousy imo, f*ck Xander after what he did to Anya. The horrible never should have been written episode near the end of the season, well, I have a lot of opinions that I'll wait to discuss but there's so many things wrong with Xander saying and doing things that aren't his business as far back as when he lied to Buffy at the end of Season 2 about Willow's spell. I don't know if you read any of the comics, meaning Season 8 and beyond but Xander's choice of a girlfriend is kind of icky to me. I'm getting way ahead of myself, so I'll end with this, as you said, Spike was an evil souless thing unless he could be used as a convenience for babysitting chores. I know I'm getting into really divisive territory way too early, but I just never loved Xander at all, I'm able to forgive a lot of characters for a lot of things, but Xander has never been on that list of forgivable people.
@Allie K. spoilers Yes! I'll never understand why Buffy apologized to Xander for not telling him! Aside from the fact that it was none of his business, she knew what his reaction would be (even though he described Spike's body in such a way that Buffy said she was beginning to think maybe Xander had a crush on Spike in the 1st BuffyBot episode when Buffy came back from the desert), Xander never approved of anyone but Riley, probably because Riley was never a real threat as far as Buffy feeling passionate about him) and was really really judgemental in general imo. I know some people get annoyed sometimes about the whole Joss Whedon identifies with Xander the most but after all the Joss behind the scenes grossness came out, I can't help but think Joss = Xander = dick. Sorry Xander lovers, just my humble opinion, which became stronger after your spoiled Season 8 Xander and Dawn, which I think is gross for many reasons including Buffy talking about Dawn and the whole Summers blood, Dawn being a part of Buffy, like Dawn was a substitute. I haven't read all the comics, I have them all but haven't finished reading them all yet. I kinda think that even though they're considered canon, they maybe shouldn't exist, which is probably why I still haven't finished them.
13:27 Agreed, just another selfish thing they did making Buffy worry about money problems alone while living in her house, using her water and electricity etc etc.
Do I think Willow has gone too far? Yes, but every one of the Scoobies enabled her when it was convenient for them. If she is a monster, they helped create her. That being said, the tension makes for great TV. 🙂
This is accurate, and not something often addressed even while Willow's gradual build-up of magic use is - most of the Scoobies have gotten Willow to use magic for their own ends at some point, and even when it's not done for selfish reasons (baso Giles and Tara) they still let her down by not taking action or speaking out earlier when they first noticed the problem.
First I'll address the money issues: think particularly Willow and Tara could be helping out more - while it's never said that they aren't, given we don't see it and the issues Buffy has both here and down the road are shown it's a reasonable assumption, do think Buffy could've gone into a much more security oriented kind of career too. Also loved the "steps" line from Xander. Right, the elephant in the room: the Willow v Giles scene in this episode is fantastic, defo something I wish we got more of and sets up that story arc very nicely for the show -- agree with Giles, similar to what Spike said they never really understood the risks and lines crossed, plus the ego boost it gives Willow.
Buffy didn't crossover on Angel cuz at that point Buffy moved from the WB to UPN. So crossovers stopped happening cuz they were two different networks.
Yes, the Giles/Willow conversation was great. I'm not sure if Willow got the message, but Giles made sure she knew the consequences of her magic. Willow: "Giles, I did what I had to do. I did what nobody else could do." Giles: "There are others in this world who can do what you did. You just don't want to meet them." Willow: "No, probably not, but... Well, they're the bad guys. I'm not a bad guy. I brought Buffy back into this world, and maybe the word you should be looking for is congratulations." Giles: "Having Buffy back in this world makes me feel indescribably wonderful, but I wouldn't congratulate you if you jumped off a cliff and happened to survive." Willow: "That's not what I did, Giles." Giles: "You were lucky." Willow: "I wasn't lucky. I was amazing. And how would you know? You weren't even there." Giles: "If I had been, I'd have bloody well stopped you. The magics you channeled are more ferocious and primal than anything you can hope to understand, and you are lucky to be alive, you rank, arrogant amateur."
She knows the consequences and the risks. She just didn’t care. Why do you think she hid it from Giles and Dawn? She even lied to Anya Tara and Xander about the full reality of the spell she was using.
@@daniig62 it’s the same as in ‘Forever’ when they had to try to explain to Dawn why they couldn’t resurrect Joyce. Notice how Tara took over the conversation because Willow wasn’t making the right points. Willow knew it was dangerous. She just didn’t understand why it was wrong. And as you said - she didn’t care if it was.
@@Girl4Music I was disgusted by her at this point, and honestly had been annoyed by her for a while before this interaction. And then THREATENING Giles!? She’s such an arrogant asshole. Despite seeing her as a mousey shy person in the first few episodes of s1, if you look at all her behavior…she’s always been a bit of an arrogant and self centered asshole 😂 it just got progressively worse.
I know Im really late, but it always pissed me off that the Watcher's Counsel pays the watchers but doesnt pay the slayer. Obviously she will be able to slay more if she is financially stable and doesnt have to work fast food
giles can try to chastise willow all he wants but the truth is that without her use of magic they’d often be in over their heads. also, he was literally going to leave them. essentially throwing his hands up and choosing to go on with his life while they’re forced to keep things running and the minute he did all hell broke lose so if he wants to point fingers he can start with himself. yes, willow can be reckless with her use of magic and that should he discussed but he went about it completely wrong and made things worse.
“I’m sensing a bit of a split personality with Willow here.” Nope. This is Willow. Just Willow. Nothing out of the ordinary for her other than that she’s now defending herself. She’s never really done that before. Especially not to Giles. Now that Willow is powerful enough to, she’s arguing back. It’s power corruption. This is Willow at her most flawed - entitlement, arrogance and selfishness as power corruption takes over her whole personality.
You are right about one of the themes of this season. Now the Scoobies have to deal with real adult situations: Buffy's death, bills, adult relationships with marriage..... They are learning the hard way that adulting sucks. The two shows Buffy/Angel were on different networks by now and so, there was red tape to get through, which is why you didn't get to see them meet up on Angel like you thought. I was just curious. Do you, by chance have ADHD? My niece has it and I am noticing some similarities in you. Anyways, this is my favorite season. For me, the order of favorites to least are: 6, 5, 3, 7, 4, 2 and 1.
SPOILERS AHEAD as I post my BUFFY REWATCH episode recap for ‘Flooded’. Moving on from the whole event of Buffy’s resurrection, ‘Flooded’ has our hero becoming aware of and having to deal with the overwhelming problems that have occurred in the Summers household since her death. Namely money problems. Turns out that she’s almost broke and down in the basement the plumbing system is all out of whack and as soon as she gets down there to sort it with her own two hands - the pipes break and water bursts out everywhere, thoroughly flooding the basement. I interpret this as a metaphor for not knowing her own strength, similar to when she was driving a car with the parking break on in ‘Band Candy’. And in not knowing her own strength - inevitably breaks something she was trying to fix. It is an effective metaphor for the episode and season - there’s just some problems a Slayer can’t resolve. The every day, mundane, adult problems of living life… unless they force themselves to confront them. While all that’s going on with Buffy, Giles returns and sees his recently resurrected Slayer with his own two eyes. I don’t think he quite believed it until then. Until he was able to directly see her for himself. And with all that Buffy tells him (as well as all that she doesn’t, of which he picks up on most), he is seriously worried. This concern for her culminates in the kitchen where he finds Willow and asks her to explain what happened when she performed the spell that resurrected Buffy. The scene we get between them is the most memorable part of the whole episode and, as far as I’m concerned, one of the most memorable scenes in the whole show. We have never really seen Willow and Giles argue thus far. I mean… there’s been times when Giles has warned Willow about using magic and has explained that were she to, to do so responsibly and take it very seriously. But Willow has never been brave or bold enough to argue back at Giles. Not until now. Not until this conversation. Willow is so proud of herself for what she has achieved in successfully bringing Buffy back to life that her pride makes her arrogant and entitled. Not only does she believe that she’s in the right for what she’s done… but she is absolutely adamant that she should be praised for it too. The fact Giles isn’t impressed by her actions throws her for a loop. Because she thought he would be. Hence her excitement in him asking her about performing the spell. She feels no shame whatsoever and has no hesitancy in explaining just how dark and dangerous it was to perform. As if she completely forgot that Giles is well… Giles. The oldest Scooby member. The retired librarian she once considered her mentor and her his protégée. The man she used to have a crush on. And the teacher who always reminded her to be careful and responsible in dealing with the mystical and supernatural forces. Willow is so consumed and in over-her-head with her magical power that she is completely oblivious to how other people feel about her constant use of it. She proceeds to defend herself from Giles and threatens him. In her mind, he no longer has the power to tell her what to do or how to think. With her growing power, her belief is that the student has surpassed the teacher… so the teacher is no longer relevant or needed. Which is in stark contrast to the way Buffy regards Giles going forward in the season. He is so relevant and needed to her because she can’t face up to life’s trials and tribulations. So long as he is around to be the adult, she doesn’t have to be. This means she can wallow in her deepening depression at being forcibly pulled out of heaven by Willow and ignore everything else going on in her unwanted experience. The bleak and dark themes of depression and addiction are starting to become known to us as the audience. In order to tolerate watching Season 6, you have to be willing to acknowledge the most honest and real thing of all about living the human experience. It’s not a TV show. So it will not always look or feel good from an observer’s perspective on it. I know all the complaints fans have with Season 6. Most of all the complaint that it doesn’t look or feel like ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. But I want to reiterate the metaphor of ‘flooding the basement’. It’s not meant to look or feel like Buffy. That’s the point. You’re meant to be overwhelmed by the bleakness and the darkness episode to episode. I understand that it’s difficult to watch. But if you can’t face the difficulty in merely only watching Season 6 happen… how will you ever be able to deal with the difficulty of your own? This season forces you to learn lessons. And whereas you might have the belief that TV art/entertainment shouldn’t do that because you’re supposed to be entertained by it, I am very grateful that I can learn from it as hard as it is to watch it. I for one appreciate Season 6 so much for being honest and real and raw to the point where Buffy does not look or feel like Buffy. Again, that’s the artistic point!
I’m one of the few who like antagonists or protagonists with antagonistic behavior. Giles may have ripped on Willow but I loved it when she threatened him back. My repressed ego/antiauthority in me.
I was 12 when this season aired ya I know I'm old now (34) lol it was my favorite season then and will always be my favorite season I can relate to it depression anxiety ect.. Also Peter Parker sells his photos of Spiderman so he does take money.
I think you need to think about the Trio as a comedic relief (you said yourself you liked some of the references in their scenes). They are not like a real threat, planning to kill Buffy.
My first time I watched season 6 I didn’t love it. Especially the concentration on the “real life” problems that Buffy was facing like her money problems. My thought process was that I wanted to see Buffy face monsters and demons not balance her checkbook. I’ve come around to the season on an overall level but I still don’t love the episodes that put such a big emphasis on money. This episode is still not great overall to me. But by far the best scene is the one between Willow and Giles. That’s an amazing scene by two great actors.
I could never understand how the watches council can pay the watchers but not pay the slayers. I was already an adult 28 years old when Season 6 aired. I already knew how hard, dark and cruel life can be abd still disliked the themes they tackled that season. Especially Buffy. I'll talk more about it when we get to it Buffy opening up to Spike is because she isn't close to them like she is with the Scoobies. Remember her "They could never know" where she actually was As the season goes it just goes to hell. Not in a good way though. There's character assassination on one character that never made sense to me There's a few other things but I won't spoil it. It was just not a Season I wanted to watch
The Giles and Willow scene powerful! But episode gets ruined and watered down by the worst 3 villains in the show. Not funny, just cringey. Also you commented on the demon not being threatening, i think for season 6 demon designs take a nose dive and often look like something from power rangers.
Giles tearing into willow was the most satisfying thing EVER. Unbelievably selfish and disgusting behavior from her.
Love him or hate him, I’ll be forever glad that she did have Spike there, to have ANYONE she could be honest with and lean on. The things shes going through are heartbreaking and I’m glad she wasn’t 100% alone in her misery. Spike could understand what she was feeling more than anyone else could. Buffy is so selfless that she didn’t want the group to know, she didn’t want to cause them pain just as much as she wasn’t ready to deal with their guilt about the situation if they knew.
That Giles vs Willow scene is chilling!
It's never brought up that Willow and Tara are living rent free in Buffy's house, but many people have called that out and wonder why Willow and Tara aren't helping pay expenses.
They are all taking care of dawn even if they don't pay. That's how I think of it. Plus willow and Tara take dawn out for did and movies
Is it only assumed they live there rent free? Even if Willow and Tara paid rent and helped around the house, it still wouldn’t be enough for the monthly house payments and bills.
I think it was just a writing misstep. Buffy had to deal with those problems and getting through all alone.
I'm not talking about willow and tara not been capable of doing that as characters, but the writers didn't go anywhere with it.
Dinner* sorry for the error
Yep, this is an issue I wish was addressed more by reactors, and while the other replies here have made good points about what they have done, I still think they should be doing more to help - eg assuming they've got student loans using that to help pay for house issues instead of accommodation, maybe get a part time job to just help out...
What I like (apart from many other things) is that this series has incredible character development, we can see how Willow gradually gained her power, it wasn't overnight, since season 2 We could see how Willow practiced with magic and how she was gaining experience and more knowledge, now we see how powerful she is and what she can do, but all acts have consequences and in the end if you abuse something too much it will end up against you. .In the discussion he has with Giles we can clearly see that Willow threatens him, she is saying in other words: be careful with me, understood? she doesn't see it, but her overuse of magic is changing her and not for the better.
Andrew is Tucker's brother. You know like when everyone refers to you as someone's little brother that's why no one remembers him until they mention Tucker. Who summons the hell hounds to attack prom. I really love how Johnathan is still pissed about it because he was at that prom. I love how the writers referenced something we didn't get to see ( Andrew summoning the flying monkey's) I love how spike makes Buffy laugh when he offers to off everyone for her. My spuffy heart.
I hate that the watchers council never helped Buffy financially, they’re rich bureaucrats, they could’ve tossed their ONLY weapon fighting their war a couple bucks. Also Spider-Man technically charges, he takes pix of himself saving people and sells them for cash
Giles vs. Willow is amazing, and shows just how much he's no longer their librarian and is speaking to them as the adults they're becoming. I loved it.
The Scoobies chastise Anya for something Angel does, and Willow and Tara are living rent free in Buffy's house when she needs money. For those who always debate that they are going to school, it doesn't natter. Many people both have jobs and go to school. This is a situation where Anya is not wrong _and_ has a good reason to be mad at Xander while Willow and Tara need to either pay rent or move out and back into the dorms. I think Giles had more to "discuss" with Willow than just her magical issues.
******spoiler alert*********
They lived for free because that was a writing decidion. If Buffy came back and everybody said they paid all the bills and will help buffy paying the plot of buffy working in awful jobs, be stressed because of that and the fact she face the adult life alone without her parents would not exist. Wheadon needed buffy's life to be flooded, needed a reason why Dawn didn't leave Sunny Dale to live with her father (Willow and Tara took care of her) and save money no using scenarios of University rooms. People just like debat topics are not in the show to enjoy drama that will never be on it.
@@rayearth2040 I understand that aspect of the show, but as a Watsonian, I don't wish to care about the writers when watching a show. It takes me out of the experience. So in these situations the failing of the characters are the flaws of the characters, and therefore make them more human, but no less in a wrong for not helping. It's wasn't about having bills paid before resurrecting Buffy, its about helping pay rent to her once she is back. Just because the writers never wrote they needed to doesn't mean it wasn't a failing for them not to. If you wish to be a Doylist, that is fine, but others prefer not to be taken out of the experience and use head canon to their advantage to create an even more fleshed out story. Another example is the creator (who's name is hard to mention nowadays) has even admitted it was never written that Faith was infatuated with Buffy. But fans still look at it that way, while he admits it is easy to see why they would say it and even believes it once fans pointed it out to him (as he didn't see it until it was pointed out to him years after the show was over).
Willow is looked back on through the lens of nostalgia as the nerdy girl with a heart of gold but episodes like this showcase how truly selfish a person she was. It's frustrating
You can't blame her, everyone make mistakes she is not conscious about danger what is magic stuff. She is proud to managed to come Buffy back and happy but her character is well written this season.
willow isn’t maliciously selfish. she gets in over her head sometimes which is understandable considering how young she is/was and everything she’s had to deal with. ultimately, magic is having an effect on her and has been for a while which causes her to be even more reckless.
"Stuff like plumbing, buffy *probably* didn't hafta deal with that in heaven" 🤣
Anya's suggestion wasn't too crazy. Buffy could go the Angel route, not to mention that it's insane that Slayers, especially ones that have survived to Buffy's age, do not get paid by the Watchers Council, considering that their Slayer duties prevent them from having any kind of high paying career.
I think it comes off appalling to Buffy bc that’s her destiny, she didn’t have a choice to be a slayer. Angel got to choose to start fighting evil, and she wouldn’t think of it like Angel did.
It's different for Angel though. He lives in L.A. Business would be booming there. I feel like Sunnydale is too small to make a full business out of it, even if it's on a Hellmouth.
@@daniig62 it would be appalling to her and its appalling to me how some people are still suggesting that. The whole concept of the show its growing up and becoming and adult.
I understand why people think Buffy should get paid. Like irl, It's unfair that all those men in suits on the Council are getting paid and have vacations in fancy places but they don't care about the slayer college tuition or retirement plan, thats kinda the point.
We learned very early in the show that being a slayer is not a job, is who she is.
@@romeocastillo316 I already know, slayers aren’t really intended to live to an age where they are expected to financially provide for themselves. I 100% believe this is the true intent of the cruciamentum test. If they live, okay they’re fine with it, but if they die? New younger slayer easier to manipulate and control.
In Buffy’s specific situation, i guarantee all the $ Giles got from being paid retroactively in s5 would have been a decent stash to help support her, she can’t hold a job down like regular people. She’d get fired from having to inevitably take off and be the slayer.
In heaven they have special angels to do the plumbing.
Remember Willow read Darkest Magic Book to fight against Glory and that was the first time her eyes became black I think it's not just arrogance.
@Allie K. Nah, her eyes didn't turn black back then, she entered a trance state like
There’s a lot of arrogance there.
@Allie K. yes they did
@Allie K. ah yeah shit thanks for reminding me
@Allie K. Reply to spoiler
I think she was using more power that second time because someone powerful was fighting her
This is the episode where the question of why didn’t Willow and Tara have Jobs?? Buffy was dead. Joyce was dead. They were basically living in a house that belonged to no one? Maybe Dawn? I’m sure there’s paper work and stuff.
People didn't know Buffy was dead. Hence why the Buffy bot could still go to Dawn's parent teacher nights etc. So as far as anyone with authority knew (the bank, Dawn's school etc) Buffy was still alive.
@@rotru4977 the scooby gang knew she was dead. The post was about how Willow and Tara didn’t work. They knew Buffy was dead. They still lived in her house for free. Did they not pay any bills until Buffy came back to life? Remember. No one new Buffy was actually coming back.
@@Stuman57 yes sorry I should have been clearer. I was referring to when you said the house belonged to no one, maybe Dawn. I only meant the home would still belong to Buffy because no one outside of her friends knew she was dead.
My guess (& I may be wrong and wish this was explored by the writers). Tara and Willow were both living on campus so they may have had scholarships or loans that they were using for student housing, I'm hoping once they moved to Buffys they used some of that money to contribute to the household. We do know where the majority of the money came from though.
I don't care how much Willow and Tara have been watching after Dawn, there's still no excuse for them to be freeloading off of the Summers household. They never talk about it but whether they were living in a dorm or sharing and apartment there had to be some kind of money being paid for wherever they were living before they moved into Joyce's room so where's that money going? As we saw in the first episode, Spike was spending a lot of time looking after Dawn too so it's not like Willow and Tara were on Dawn watch 24 hours a day, and Giles was there for the months we didn't see, it just pisses me off to see all those bills spread out on the table for Buffy to deal with after being dead. If they were so worried about people and demons knowing Buffy was dead that they used the BuffyBot, what did they think would happen as the bills just piled up?
And Willow's arrogance with Giles will never stop pissing me off. I know a lot of other reactors are all Willow is a cinnamon roll or whatever, that never sat right with me. I didn't comment on the first few episodes of this season but even when the first night Buffy was back sleeping in her bed Willow's main concern seemed to be the fact that Buffy didn't thank her.
That scene in the Magic Box, when Buffy gave her fake thank you speech before telling Spike the truth there was this one line where she said to Willow "So *you* did that" or words to that effect, the way SMG said that line was so revealing if any of the Scoobies were really paying attention to what Buffy was saying and how she said it.
Sometimes the Scoobies are so self absorbed it drives me crazy. Willow is all "she sacrificed herself to save us", maybe, but she really sacrificed herself to save Dawn. Would she have jumped if there was no Dawn? Can't really say because of there was no Dawn there would've been no Glory. I don't know, she died before to save the World but this was different. Death was her Gift and the Scoobies destroyed her Gift out of selfishness imo. We can argue forever over the assumption that Buffy was in a Hell dimension, but that fact that Willow lied/kept information to herself makes me wonder how much of her doing the spell was for Buffy or for Willow and her ego.
I'm excited to see where this goes (yes, I know where it goes but I try to pretend I don't so I don't get spoilery lol)
Another great insightful reaction! 🏹❤️
@Allie K. probably every night I would assume. From the few things he said to Dawn and Buffy in the first 2 episodes he felt so much guilt that he wasn't able to protect Dawn and keep Buffy from jumping I think he probably watched after Dawn every night. Now that I'm thinking about it, who was watching Dawn in the beginning of the 1st episode when they were all out patrolling?
@Allie K. I agree with you 100% and I look forward to being able to talk about it when it's not spoilery 😊
@Allie K. spoilers
Exactly! Even though we're down here under spoilers I'm still going to tread easy: Xander and his Spike hate, especially after the Anya thing and the Spuffy reveal infuriates me. Xander had his problems with Angel and Buffy and even more so with Spike and Buffy mostly out of jealousy imo, f*ck Xander after what he did to Anya. The horrible never should have been written episode near the end of the season, well, I have a lot of opinions that I'll wait to discuss but there's so many things wrong with Xander saying and doing things that aren't his business as far back as when he lied to Buffy at the end of Season 2 about Willow's spell. I don't know if you read any of the comics, meaning Season 8 and beyond but Xander's choice of a girlfriend is kind of icky to me.
I'm getting way ahead of myself, so I'll end with this, as you said, Spike was an evil souless thing unless he could be used as a convenience for babysitting chores.
I know I'm getting into really divisive territory way too early, but I just never loved Xander at all, I'm able to forgive a lot of characters for a lot of things, but Xander has never been on that list of forgivable people.
@Allie K. Excellent point!!!
@Allie K. spoilers
Yes! I'll never understand why Buffy apologized to Xander for not telling him! Aside from the fact that it was none of his business, she knew what his reaction would be (even though he described Spike's body in such a way that Buffy said she was beginning to think maybe Xander had a crush on Spike in the 1st BuffyBot episode when Buffy came back from the desert), Xander never approved of anyone but Riley, probably because Riley was never a real threat as far as Buffy feeling passionate about him) and was really really judgemental in general imo. I know some people get annoyed sometimes about the whole Joss Whedon identifies with Xander the most but after all the Joss behind the scenes grossness came out, I can't help but think Joss = Xander = dick. Sorry Xander lovers, just my humble opinion, which became stronger after your spoiled Season 8 Xander and Dawn, which I think is gross for many reasons including Buffy talking about Dawn and the whole Summers blood, Dawn being a part of Buffy, like Dawn was a substitute.
I haven't read all the comics, I have them all but haven't finished reading them all yet. I kinda think that even though they're considered canon, they maybe shouldn't exist, which is probably why I still haven't finished them.
13:27 Agreed, just another selfish thing they did making Buffy worry about money problems alone while living in her house, using her water and electricity etc etc.
Do I think Willow has gone too far? Yes, but every one of the Scoobies enabled her when it was convenient for them. If she is a monster, they helped create her. That being said, the tension makes for great TV. 🙂
This is accurate, and not something often addressed even while Willow's gradual build-up of magic use is - most of the Scoobies have gotten Willow to use magic for their own ends at some point, and even when it's not done for selfish reasons (baso Giles and Tara) they still let her down by not taking action or speaking out earlier when they first noticed the problem.
First I'll address the money issues: think particularly Willow and Tara could be helping out more - while it's never said that they aren't, given we don't see it and the issues Buffy has both here and down the road are shown it's a reasonable assumption, do think Buffy could've gone into a much more security oriented kind of career too. Also loved the "steps" line from Xander.
Right, the elephant in the room: the Willow v Giles scene in this episode is fantastic, defo something I wish we got more of and sets up that story arc very nicely for the show -- agree with Giles, similar to what Spike said they never really understood the risks and lines crossed, plus the ego boost it gives Willow.
Buffy didn't crossover on Angel cuz at that point Buffy moved from the WB to UPN. So crossovers stopped happening cuz they were two different networks.
Yes, the Giles/Willow conversation was great. I'm not sure if Willow got the message, but Giles made sure she knew the consequences of her magic.
Willow: "Giles, I did what I had to do. I did what nobody else could do."
Giles: "There are others in this world who can do what you did. You just don't want to meet them."
Willow: "No, probably not, but... Well, they're the bad guys. I'm not a bad guy. I brought Buffy back into this world, and maybe the word you should be looking for is congratulations."
Giles: "Having Buffy back in this world makes me feel indescribably wonderful, but I wouldn't congratulate you if you jumped off a cliff and happened to survive."
Willow: "That's not what I did, Giles."
Giles: "You were lucky."
Willow: "I wasn't lucky. I was amazing. And how would you know? You weren't even there."
Giles: "If I had been, I'd have bloody well stopped you. The magics you channeled are more ferocious and primal than anything you can hope to understand, and you are lucky to be alive, you rank, arrogant amateur."
She knows the consequences and the risks. She just didn’t care. Why do you think she hid it from Giles and Dawn? She even lied to Anya Tara and Xander about the full reality of the spell she was using.
@@daniig62 it’s the same as in ‘Forever’ when they had to try to explain to Dawn why they couldn’t resurrect Joyce. Notice how Tara took over the conversation because Willow wasn’t making the right points.
Willow knew it was dangerous. She just didn’t understand why it was wrong.
And as you said - she didn’t care if it was.
@@Girl4Music I was disgusted by her at this point, and honestly had been annoyed by her for a while before this interaction. And then THREATENING Giles!? She’s such an arrogant asshole. Despite seeing her as a mousey shy person in the first few episodes of s1, if you look at all her behavior…she’s always been a bit of an arrogant and self centered asshole 😂 it just got progressively worse.
I know Im really late, but it always pissed me off that the Watcher's Counsel pays the watchers but doesnt pay the slayer. Obviously she will be able to slay more if she is financially stable and doesnt have to work fast food
Warren, Jonathan, I forget the other guy. Hahahaha. That made me laugh. Twice.
giles can try to chastise willow all he wants but the truth is that without her use of magic they’d often be in over their heads.
also, he was literally going to leave them. essentially throwing his hands up and choosing to go on with his life while they’re forced to keep things running and the minute he did all hell broke lose so if he wants to point fingers he can start with himself. yes, willow can be reckless with her use of magic and that should he discussed but he went about it completely wrong and made things worse.
Preach Giles!
“I’m sensing a bit of a split personality with Willow here.”
Nope. This is Willow. Just Willow. Nothing out of the ordinary for her other than that she’s now defending herself. She’s never really done that before. Especially not to Giles. Now that Willow is powerful enough to, she’s arguing back. It’s power corruption. This is Willow at her most flawed - entitlement, arrogance and selfishness as power corruption takes over her whole personality.
You are right about one of the themes of this season. Now the Scoobies have to deal with real adult situations: Buffy's death, bills, adult relationships with marriage.....
They are learning the hard way that adulting sucks.
The two shows Buffy/Angel were on different networks by now and so, there was red tape to get through, which is why you didn't get to see them meet up on Angel like you thought.
I was just curious. Do you, by chance have ADHD?
My niece has it and I am noticing some similarities in you.
Anyways, this is my favorite season. For me, the order of favorites to least are: 6, 5, 3, 7, 4, 2 and 1.
SPOILERS AHEAD as I post my BUFFY REWATCH episode recap for ‘Flooded’.
Moving on from the whole event of Buffy’s resurrection, ‘Flooded’ has our hero becoming aware of and having to deal with the overwhelming problems that have occurred in the Summers household since her death. Namely money problems. Turns out that she’s almost broke and down in the basement the plumbing system is all out of whack and as soon as she gets down there to sort it with her own two hands - the pipes break and water bursts out everywhere, thoroughly flooding the basement. I interpret this as a metaphor for not knowing her own strength, similar to when she was driving a car with the parking break on in ‘Band Candy’. And in not knowing her own strength - inevitably breaks something she was trying to fix. It is an effective metaphor for the episode and season - there’s just some problems a Slayer can’t resolve. The every day, mundane, adult problems of living life… unless they force themselves to confront them.
While all that’s going on with Buffy, Giles returns and sees his recently resurrected Slayer with his own two eyes. I don’t think he quite believed it until then. Until he was able to directly see her for himself. And with all that Buffy tells him (as well as all that she doesn’t, of which he picks up on most), he is seriously worried. This concern for her culminates in the kitchen where he finds Willow and asks her to explain what happened when she performed the spell that resurrected Buffy. The scene we get between them is the most memorable part of the whole episode and, as far as I’m concerned, one of the most memorable scenes in the whole show. We have never really seen Willow and Giles argue thus far. I mean… there’s been times when Giles has warned Willow about using magic and has explained that were she to, to do so responsibly and take it very seriously. But Willow has never been brave or bold enough to argue back at Giles. Not until now. Not until this conversation.
Willow is so proud of herself for what she has achieved in successfully bringing Buffy back to life that her pride makes her arrogant and entitled. Not only does she believe that she’s in the right for what she’s done… but she is absolutely adamant that she should be praised for it too. The fact Giles isn’t impressed by her actions throws her for a loop. Because she thought he would be. Hence her excitement in him asking her about performing the spell. She feels no shame whatsoever and has no hesitancy in explaining just how dark and dangerous it was to perform. As if she completely forgot that Giles is well… Giles. The oldest Scooby member. The retired librarian she once considered her mentor and her his protégée. The man she used to have a crush on. And the teacher who always reminded her to be careful and responsible in dealing with the mystical and supernatural forces.
Willow is so consumed and in over-her-head with her magical power that she is completely oblivious to how other people feel about her constant use of it. She proceeds to defend herself from Giles and threatens him. In her mind, he no longer has the power to tell her what to do or how to think. With her growing power, her belief is that the student has surpassed the teacher… so the teacher is no longer relevant or needed. Which is in stark contrast to the way Buffy regards Giles going forward in the season. He is so relevant and needed to her because she can’t face up to life’s trials and tribulations. So long as he is around to be the adult, she doesn’t have to be. This means she can wallow in her deepening depression at being forcibly pulled out of heaven by Willow and ignore everything else going on in her unwanted experience.
The bleak and dark themes of depression and addiction are starting to become known to us as the audience. In order to tolerate watching Season 6, you have to be willing to acknowledge the most honest and real thing of all about living the human experience. It’s not a TV show. So it will not always look or feel good from an observer’s perspective on it. I know all the complaints fans have with Season 6. Most of all the complaint that it doesn’t look or feel like ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. But I want to reiterate the metaphor of ‘flooding the basement’. It’s not meant to look or feel like Buffy. That’s the point. You’re meant to be overwhelmed by the bleakness and the darkness episode to episode. I understand that it’s difficult to watch. But if you can’t face the difficulty in merely only watching Season 6 happen… how will you ever be able to deal with the difficulty of your own? This season forces you to learn lessons. And whereas you might have the belief that TV art/entertainment shouldn’t do that because you’re supposed to be entertained by it, I am very grateful that I can learn from it as hard as it is to watch it. I for one appreciate Season 6 so much for being honest and real and raw to the point where Buffy does not look or feel like Buffy. Again, that’s the artistic point!
I’m one of the few who like antagonists or protagonists with antagonistic behavior. Giles may have ripped on Willow but I loved it when she threatened him back. My repressed ego/antiauthority in me.
I've seen some people slightly pitch shift the audio on the video and it seems to work. It sounds kinda weird, but no biggie if it works
Dude you have no idea how psychic you are ..
I was 12 when this season aired ya I know I'm old now (34) lol it was my favorite season then and will always be my favorite season I can relate to it depression anxiety ect.. Also Peter Parker sells his photos of Spiderman so he does take money.
Terrific reaction🥰
How about The Watchers Council pay the slayers? They have to eat so pay them 🤷♀️
I think you need to think about the Trio as a comedic relief (you said yourself you liked some of the references in their scenes). They are not like a real threat, planning to kill Buffy.
Why willow and tara don’t contribute to the house? They living there too
Honestly, this is why patreon is way better platform, no blockages! (Jus sayin hehe)
My first time I watched season 6 I didn’t love it. Especially the concentration on the “real life” problems that Buffy was facing like her money problems. My thought process was that I wanted to see Buffy face monsters and demons not balance her checkbook. I’ve come around to the season on an overall level but I still don’t love the episodes that put such a big emphasis on money. This episode is still not great overall to me. But by far the best scene is the one between Willow and Giles. That’s an amazing scene by two great actors.
I could never understand how the watches council can pay the watchers but not pay the slayers.
I was already an adult 28 years old when Season 6 aired. I already knew how hard, dark and cruel life can be abd still disliked the themes they tackled that season. Especially Buffy. I'll talk more about it when we get to it
Buffy opening up to Spike is because she isn't close to them like she is with the Scoobies. Remember her "They could never know" where she actually was
As the season goes it just goes to hell. Not in a good way though. There's character assassination on one character that never made sense to me
There's a few other things but I won't spoil it. It was just not a Season I wanted to watch
YOU MIGHT BE THE BOY VERSION OF ME..
The Giles and Willow scene powerful! But episode gets ruined and watered down by the worst 3 villains in the show. Not funny, just cringey. Also you commented on the demon not being threatening, i think for season 6 demon designs take a nose dive and often look like something from power rangers.
oh willow gets Annoying this season you're in for a real ride the season that made me start hating her
You do realize that you are giving spoilers, right?