Buffy Challenge Post 38: Season 4: Episode 22

 

Restless

Ah what a fitting title to end this season as I'm sure that there was a many Buffy fan that would of been very restless throughout this season. Also considering I'm about to fly out to Japan for the first time I'm quite restless also.

What no cold opening? that is strange oh well straight into the credits we go. The end of all that happen seems to see Riley off Scott  free "Blackmailing the Government in a patriotic way!" Xander cooks........ Popcorn! Way to go Xander. And were watching an action show where the main characters are sitting around watching movies. They don't even last through the FBI warning.

First up Willow, into her mind and she is dreaming of Terra and her cat. She is writing a tale on her back in what looks to be Greek. If I had the time I could try to read it sort of (know some of the letters) Oz is still in her mind and it seems like Xander is also on her mind. (I don't wanna know what type of spell Xander will do by himself!) Harmony and Buffy are now in a play, With Giles as a director. Death of a Salesman with a cowboy and Willow has no idea what is going on. OH Creepy Cheese! that can't be good! "All the world is a stage......" I bet that the actors on this show must love getting dressed up and doing wacky overacting! I LOVE THE LION, WITCH AND THE WARDROBE!!!!!! although we don't get to hear her book report as willow is being attacked.

Now we move to Xander, who dreams about being seduced by JOYCE??? Well hello Mrs. Robinson. I find it hard to pee with an audience also, especially when they are taking notes! (I hate it when that happens!) Spike the Watcher, another spin-off that didn't work out huh? Buffy is playing in a sand box which looks like she is in a beach and the weirdness keeps happening. So Watcher 101 "How to go high on a swing" Nothing is worse than really bad blue screen effects but I guess that is what they are going for so it works! (UH, just a little distracted here with Xander's vision of Willow and Terra. Even though it is concidered placid in today's world but back then a lesbian kiss is too edgy to show on t.v) More creepy cheese. The colour is now gone wackey and Giles has gone all french. I can picture Whedon now putting this episode together with an evil grin and thinking how much it's going to trip everyone out. Now we've gone all Apocalypse now! The return of Synder in this dream is cool! I missed him. The creepy monster that haunted Willow is now chasing Xander and he is in a loop of some sort.

Giles turn! He is hypnotizing Buffy and sees her as the daughter that he always wanted. At the carnival and they are going nuts with the effects, heat vision and the black and white Spike poses are cool! More cheese! The continue seamless movement between scenes is awesome and Anya the comedian is so cool! "Silence or you'll miss the humorous conclusion!" Giles is now breaking out a rock beat that is trying to figure out what is going on, it has something to do with composite Buffy from that Awful double episode previously. Whoa he took Giles brain to add to the heart he took from Xander.

Buffy's turn. Close up shot and Buffy is all alone looking for her gang. She finds her Mother living in the wall is it a thing in her subconscious that she has shut out her mum? Now Riley is in charge and looking to take over the world. A bag full of mud and Buffy is all alone again. I wonder if Joss thought to himself I wonder how many different camera angles and effects I can get into this one episode? The constants are Terra, cheese and a demon woman. So it seems she was the first slayer.

That was without the shadow of a doubt the weirdest episode of any show I have ever seen! I have no Idea what was going on but all I know is I LOVED IT!!!!!! I could write a thesis on the different camera angles and effects that were used in each shot and the meaning behind them. This is the first time that it was the cinematography that has won me over as I still don't understand what the episode was about and I don't care it was just wonderful to watch! So quirky and fun!

10/10 - For the sheer pleasure of all the rules being broken and the first episode I want to watch back with the commentary on to see what was going through Joss' mind when he wrote and directed this little Gem! (thankfully this was a wonderful way to end a mediocre season!)

Well SIONARA CHALLENGERS! I'm off to Japan in the morning and I'll see you all in 3 weeks time where we move onto season 5 (where I hope there will be less secret army guys and more of a stronger storyline!)