Buffy the Vampire Slayer 7x02 "Beneath You" Full Reaction
Added 2021-05-21 00:15:11 +0000 UTC
Comments
The vast majority of this episode is so meh, but I forget it every time from the second they go into the church. What a brilliant scene--the writing, the acting, the damned <i>lighting</i> is amazing. There's so much in it, so much about who William/Spike is, about what it means to Buffy, about penance, about... well, everything. One of the interesting things about it to me was that it turns out Spike is... religious. He's actually a believer, which makes a really interesting line to look at. I wish it were my own thought, but one of the first analyses I read of this scene is still the best in terms of Buffy: She believes she cost Angel his soul, that she is somehow toxic and caused this (not helped by Riley), but here, love of her has caused Spike to <i>regain</i> his soul, and how does this change the way she sees herself?
FernWithy
2021-05-24 03:18:39 +0000 UTCSpike getting his soul after the events of Seeing Red is one of my favorite explorations in all of Buffy. In Buffy, they were able to use a cheat of "getting a soul" to instantly change a character who'd committed unforgivable acts; but people can, and do, change in real life--it just takes a lot longer. So if someone does terrible things, then spends years of their life becoming a better person, do they still deserve punishment for the things they did before? Do they deserve forgiveness? Important questions which Season 7 of Buffy explores beautifully. β€
Janel Davis
2021-05-22 13:36:36 +0000 UTCOh my god. I did not know Buffy was essentially on the CW. Nowadays, they'd make sure they'd forget the trauma of Spike and have Buffy and Spike bone because (Ohhh cutie). And they'd deBuff(y)
Liam Catterson
2021-05-21 19:57:59 +0000 UTCThanks for sharing. I was aware Joss re-did the last scene but had never read the original version before today. It's very melodramatic and not endearing when Spike literally has to say "it's killing me", "I hate myself" and "I got my soul back for you". The version that made it to air was far far better! Also dislike that the original ended on Spike having a somewhat cheeky zinger in the midst of his mental breakdown and that Buffy has the stake in her hand from the moment she walks in and keeps it drawn the entire time. In the version we got, we are able to connect the dots that Buffy trusts her own instincts that something is different about Spike and genuinely wants to find out what it is rather than trailing him as a threat.
Judson
2021-05-21 18:23:24 +0000 UTCThe final scene was written and directed by Joss Whedon. There was originally completely different dialogue at the end, and it had been filmed, but Joss basically went "nope" and completely redid it. This was also during the brief time that Buffy, Angel, and Firefly were all airing, so things were busy then, but it shows how important it was to get that scene right. You can read the original scene here (no spoilers on the page, I promise): https://buffy-boards.com/threads/beneath-you-church-scene-original-vs-produced-version.50172/
Yesmydog
2021-05-21 15:17:07 +0000 UTCThis is where things get complicated. Although Spike is very different from Angel/Angelus switch do, so we blame Spike for everything he did without a soul? Because of how different, charismtiac and human-like Spike acted without a soul I think a lot of fans choose at moments to forget about it but the fact that Spike becomes the first vampire in history (that we know of) to FIGHT for his soul because of how much he hurt the woman he claims to love in Buffy is one of the biggest things ever especially since Buffy always threw in his face that he doesn't have a soul. That he can't love with a soul. What I loved about Buffy's reaction, she's still very wary of Spike and the trust is a bit out of the window however because of the relationship she had with Angel vs Angelus, she knows how impactful it is for a vampire to have a soul. That last scene was fantastic with amazing acting between JM and SMG! Just wow.
Tia
2021-05-21 15:07:45 +0000 UTCBuffy the series was so blessed to have a whole lineup of world class actors in Sarah Michelle Gellar, James Marsters, Alyson Hannigan and Anthony Stewart Head! James did two complete non sequitur monologues (in the alley, and again at the church) as a character fans were just itching to condemn at this point, with an English accent. And it made us sympathise with his character without a single line of direct vulnerability or self-pity. Also, when Spike says "Angel should have told me..." and the camera is entirely on Buffy's face from shoulders up. Look at how Sarah plays Buffy as going from being ready to fight Spike, to the revelation dawning on her, to puzzling over the implications, to growing emotional as she realises how much torment he must be in... all in a continuous shot without a single word of dialogue from Buffy. Buffy aired on the WB, then UPN. Which is today's CW. Just imagine how much different (cringey) the ending scene would be if any one of the exceptionally good looking leads on any modern day CW show had played Buffy and Spike instead!
Judson
2021-05-21 10:44:23 +0000 UTCThe scene was stripped of lightning effects, & meant to be done in shadows Spikes fears Realized had to be taken into account, as he was litterally baring his soul to Buffy, as James unraveling the mystery that he's been struggling with, & Completely lost & can't understand the multitude of personalities, making appearances within him. James plays the scene with the sincere fright of a young boy, to the need to understand & Cope with all he had done, to his love of another woman that he failed, & now feels ashamed for his past, & his actions. The brilliance of Spike burning over a cross, is truly unexpected, & spectacular. π¨πΌπ€π» ππππ©π»πΆ
Melissa Amato
2021-05-21 06:21:32 +0000 UTCBy far Brava James M. Soo chillingly good. Punk Master mind-no mind, more mind then you think. Ah is that redundantΒΏ Suppose so... James is amazing, & we really get to see his multi talented Range, focused here. He who shall not be named, reshot the scene with Spike in the haunting Chapel, because he knew it was focused on James, & Buffy finding slowly out what Spike had been so afraid to share with her.
Melissa Amato
2021-05-21 06:04:26 +0000 UTCalso s3 she had the dream with faith fortelling dawns coming in s5, s6 i can understand cause prophetic dreams seem wasted on the trio. s4....well do you count the season finale? it was a whole team dream
Glorie Bluestein
2021-05-21 02:54:50 +0000 UTCSometimes I will go to this episode and skip just to this monologue. I also cry every time I listen to it. James is just amazing and I wish he acted in more things. But during that speech he addressed how he didn't want to be the man that was in seeing red. so that gives you the hope for him that yes people with souls do the bad things but since he also has all that guilt built up that he can't go forward with those things. You end up feeling really sorry for him. I think he wanted to originally see how buffy would react to him without knowing why. .......................................with Anya she felt she didn't really have the scoobies, when she tried cursing Xander she felt they all took his side over hers and she was always still the outisder who was only with them because of xander.
Glorie Bluestein
2021-05-21 02:48:49 +0000 UTCAs a huge Spuffy shipper to this day, this scene is absolutely a huge reason why (among dozens of other reasons). It's still breathtaking to watch today - the cinematography, acting and writing is just incredible. I can go into much more detail but I think it's quite something watching Liam's reaction to the scene and seeing how powerful it was, even coming from a non Spuffy perspective.
Land Howard Johnston
2021-05-21 02:21:56 +0000 UTCThat monologue at the end is iconic. It's just glorious. There are a lot of people who wonder how the hell there can still be Spuffy shippers after Seeing Red. You just saw why.
Raven Dark
2021-05-21 01:47:06 +0000 UTCProbably their best scene together in the show for my money. I love watching the penny drop for Buffy... horror and wonder mixed up in a whirl, that Spike did this. My favorite bit is very underrated. I can't remember if it was even in the shooting script, but I remember it was a debate, either in the writing room or on the day, that Spike repeated the question - "it's what you wanted, right?" with the changed emphasis and his eyes lifted on high. The show doesn't much around too much with theology, but even if you don't take it as a literally religious inquiry, just that he asked it again and this way, added *so much weight* to the scene because Spike is clearly examining the soul and its effect on him on much more fundamental grounds than "thing that makes Buffy happy"; he's examining if it's destiny. Or purpose. Or punishment. That having a soul and being torn apart by it is just what The Plan is for him.
Dan H
2021-05-21 01:47:04 +0000 UTCLiam: Do we have another penis monster? Me: ummm if your penis looks like that for more than 4 hours consult your physician.
GaveUp
2021-05-21 01:09:40 +0000 UTC
