Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
I had a great conversation the other night at one of the season's many parties, a BUFFY fanatic as manic as me, and we talked spoilers for the rest of the year based on what we're hearing from people working on the show. In Herc's excellent review for this week's show, he asks why Joyce had cancer, based on the outcome of this week's episode. From what I've heard, the outcome was supposed to be different, with only last minute discussions tipping the scales in this particular direction. There's seismic shifts ahead in 2001, and one of the big moments of the season is on this week's show, an episode I'm positively hysterical to see right now. Can't wait for Tuesday, can't wait for Tuesday, can't wait for Tuesday...
BUFFY 5.10 FAQ
WHAT’S IT CALLED?
“Into the Woods.”
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?
“Written and directed by Marti Noxon,” reads the credit. Noxon’s last “Buffy” teleplay was for the hilarious season opener, “Buffy vs. Dracula.”
THE BIG NEWS?
“Buffy” loses a member of its regular cast. Look for a re-edited title sequence for 5.11.
HOW’S 5.10?
Kinda talky. Late in the episode, a long, laugh-free dialogue scene with Buffy and Riley is followed by a long, laugh-free dialogue scene with Buffy and Xander. On the plus side, there’s some funny Anya stuff early on (some of which hints upon friction in the Anya/Xander household).
HOW DOES TV GUIDE DESCRIBE 5.10?
“Just as Joyce’s successful surgery relieves some of Buffy’s stress, a doting Spike reveals that Riley’s been secretly paying vamps to drink from him.”
SUCCESSFUL SURGERY?
“It was possible to visualize the tumor completely, which means I was able to get all of it,” explains Joyce’s surgeon in the opening minute of act one. “So barring complications in recovery, your mother’s going to be fine. Of course, we’re still going to have to watch your mother carefully and have her back in here for some follow-up testing, but overall I’d consider the procedure a complete success.” A healthy-looking Joyce is seen soon thereafter, then the focus of the episode shifts to other matters.
WAIT A SECOND. IF IT LOOKS LIKE JOYCE IS GOING TO BE OKAY, WHY DID TEAM WHEDON PUT BUFFY THROUGH THIS HORRIFIC CANCER SCARE?
I guessing because Ben the Intern wouldn’t be in Buffy’s life otherwise.
IS BEN SOMEHOW RESPONSIBLE FOR JOYCE’S ILLNESS?
I don’t know.
ARE YOU AWARE THAT JOYCE BEGAN EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OF HER ILLNESS IN 5.4, BUT GLORY DIDN’T EVEN LEARN THERE WAS A SLAYER IN SUNNYDALE UNTIL 5.5?
I am. But maybe Ben knows more than Glory.
WHAT IS BEN UP TO THIS EPISODE?
Nothing. He sits this week out.
WHAT'S UP WITH GLORY?
AWOL this week as well.
DREG?
This episode focuses on other things. For example, a doting Spike reveals that Riley’s been secretly paying vamps to drink from him.
OH YEAH! TO WHOM DOES SPIKE REVEAL THIS?
Buffy.
WHEN DOES THE SLAYER GET THAT PIECE OF NEWS?
About 15 minutes in.
THEN WHAT HAPPENS?
Well, for one thing, Riley stakes Spike through the heart!
WHAT THE ... DOES HERC THINK HE’S KNOWS WHERE THINGS ARE GOING THIS SEASON?
He does. And will share these theories after Tuesday’s episode has aired.
WHAT’S HERC’s FAVORITE LINE THIS EPISODE?
“The ice is so slippery! And monkeys are all irrational!!”
ANY OTHER SCRAPS OF INFO, O HERCULES?
The 1Oth issue of the quarterly Buffy The Vampire Slayer Magazine (on sale now) contains what I believe is the periodical’s first interview with “Buffy” mastermind Joss Whedon. It’s not the longest interview, but it does fascinate. Check out Whedon’s answer to “Do you have an ending for the show?”
HERC’S RATING FOR “BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER” 5.10?
***
The Hercules T. Strong Rating System:
**** better than most motion pictures
*** actually worth your valuable time
** as horrible as most stuff on TV
* makes you quietly pray for bulletins
IWYNTDM!
