Hey folks, Harry here... Right now, Hercules is planning a whole series of 'accidents' we'll call them for the various members associated with the Hollywood Foreign Press. You see, Hercules knows that the best thing on television was BUFFY and ANGEL and neither got jack or sh*t last night. Though... it seems he is coping with this. He's eating his figs (keeps the ol chap regular wink wink) and relaxing while watching another of what he feels is an incredible BUFFY.... Tune in....
BUFFY 5.12 FAQ
WHAT’S IT CALLED?
“Checkpoint.”
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?
Teleplay is credited to Team Whedon big guns Douglas
Petrie and Jane Espenson. Petrie wrote this season’s
Spike-centric “Fool For Love." Espenson wrote
“Triangle,” which featured the ill-mannered
Viking-like troll.
WHAT DOES TV GUIDE SAY?
“Buffy and company get a visit from the Council of
Watchers, who possess insight into who (or what) Glory
is. Unfortunately, they’re less than forthcoming with
the crucial information.”
ANY GOOD?
More than good.
ARE THE WATCHERS PROPERLY HUMBLED?
No, they’re more arrogant and bastardly than ever, and
convincingly threaten to have Giles deported back to
England forever if Buffy fails to do their bidding.
HOW MANY WATCHERS COME TO SUNNYDALE?
Seven by my count, including Quentin Travers (Harris
Yulin), whom we haven’t seen since 3.12.
ARE THE FEMALE WATCHERS AS HOT AS THAT FAKE FEMALE
WATCHER FROM SEASON THREE?
Pretty much.
IS THIS A FUNNY ONE?
There’s a sub-plot about Anya trying to hide her demon
background from the watchers. It pays off hilariously
with a throwaway gag in the episode’s final scene.
THE BIG NEWS?
All SORTS of big news this episode. Most of the
really juicy stuff comes out in the episode’s final
minutes.
LIKE WHAT?
We learn what Glory is!
IS SHE SATAN?
No.
IS SHE DEMON?
No.
IS SHE SEEN THIS WEEK?
Yes. And she seems to have acquired a second Dreg.
DO YOU STILL LIKE GLORY?
I love Glory! She’s complex! And makes me laugh!
IS BEN THE EVIL INTERN BACK?
He is.
HAVE YOU FORMED NEW THEORIES ABOUT HIM?
I suspect Ben wants the key also – but where Glory
wants to use it, Ben wants to see it destroyed.
DO WE LEARN WHAT THE KEY OPENS?
No.
IS BUFFY STILL HEARTSICK?
A bit. She can be spotted at one point molesting one
of Riley Finn’s old sweaters.
HOW’S SPIKE?
Almost back to his snotty old self (a great relief
after his trance-like demeanor in the troll episode)!
It looks like he’ll
be playing a more prominent role
during the balance of the season.
LAST WEEK’S TV GUIDE LISTING FOR THE “BUFFY” RERUN
INDICATED THAT GLORY “TRAVELS THROUGH TIME TO LAND ON
THE SLAYER’S DOORSTEP…” IS GLORY A TIME TRAVELER?
I suppose it’s not too hard to infer from Glory’s
behavior that she’s from a different era -- though,
presumably, not a future one.
THERE’S SOMETHING ELSE YOU’RE DYING TO TELL US, ISN’T
THERE, HERC?
Suffice it to say this episode has a GREAT ending
which ties up some longstanding loose ends in a very
entertaining fashion. Summation would NOT do it
justice.
BEST XANDER LINE THIS EPISODE?
“That was excellent!”
TELL US HOW TO SQUANDER OUR TUESDAYS, O HERCULES!
The WB’s “Buffy” at 8:00; the WB’s “Angel” at 9:00;
and MTV’s “Road Rules/Real World Challenge” at 10:00.
Tape ABC’s “The Mole”
at 8:00 and Fox’s “Dark Angel”
at 9:00.
HERC’S RATING FOR “BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER” 5.12?
***1/2
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
I will pillage the lands and dwellings of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association!!!! I will burn their crops and freely remind readers that they’re the same group of cabdrivers, waiters and respectable full-time journalists who gave Pia Zadora a Golden Globe for her work in “Butterfly!”
