Angel saying "Second best" gives me chills every time. I definitely was NOT expecting that. I was probably too busy freaking out that we just got Angel back and now they're going to take him away again, come on, Joss!?! (Lol) I also think Angel hinted at the ruse slightly just beforehand, because Faith says to Buffy, "They always want to know if I can be more like Buffy. No one asks if Buffy can be more like me." And Angel says, "I know I didn't." Which seems to convey he doesn't want Buffy to ever be like Faith and never asked her to be, lol. In the moment, Faith gets a look on her face like she wasn't sure how to take that but I don't think she fully understood until Angel's "Second best" comment. I love that they played her. Such a great twist.
I don't think Buffy was "punishing" Angel, she was just taking care of herself. She needed space, as she said, but instead of just withdrawing from Angel and putting up emotional walls, she communicated clearly with him, made sure he knew she wasn't angry with him and that it wasn't his fault, and made it clear that it was temporary. Still sucks to be Angel, of course, but I think Buffy was actually very mature and considerate, here.
You are definitely not a fool. I can't remember anyone not falling for this. Love the fact that you replayed the reveal. So deserved. Great reaction, thank you.
The Scooby Gang thing was first introduced by Xander in S2 if I'm recalling it right. It wasn't meant to be more than a pop culture reference, but the fandom appropriates it to named Buffy's circle at the point it influenced the show to actually use it officially.
I'm glad you were fooled by Angel. It makes the episode. Scooby Gang was definitely a thing before this episode, used by the fans for them, but the creators were very aware of it by this point
You're watching stressing out and I'm over here grinning because I know what's going to happen. The key hint for Buffy was in the demon's apartment. Faith reached around the wall to flip on the lights without looking. She knew where the switch was because she'd been there before.
There was absolutely no reason Angel needed to knock out Xander. Faith was buying the ruse, and Xander wasn't suspicious and couldn't have blown Angel's cover. Angel must have done it because he felt like it, which is hilariously petty.
Faith may have been buying it, but would she have if "Angelus" did nothing to Xander? That's the question Angel didn't want Faith asking. Or worse, her deciding to break character and do something to him. The pettiness over Xander's insulting him was definitely Angel's bonus.
@@Buffy8Fan I don't think that was it. Faith didn't know for sure that Buffy was at home, stopping to torture or murder Xander could easily have blown their cover (for no gain) if Buffy had been out patrolling and found them, and Faith does nothing to Joyce, so we know that she's not so impulsively violent that she'll risk shooting her own plan in the foot. I think the worst thing Faith would have done to Xander would also have been to knock him out. And she's never met Angelus in person, so I think him acting evil was enough for her to buy it.
@@Talisguy SPOILERS Angelus doesn't care about breaking cover, and Faith isn't too big a thinker. She wouldn't have been thinking or cared if Buffy was home or not in terms, even if it mattered to the Mayor. Angel wasn't stopping Faith from doing it or torturing herself, but stopping her from asking questions. Angel couldn't guarantee how much Faith knew because neither he, nor The Scoobies, know how much she knows about Angelus, as none of them ever got close enough to her friends-wise. Plus, as both of us said, pettiness on Angel's part was a plus. And technically speaking Angel had already broke Angelus cover. In AtS S4, he tells Wesley while in the cage that he works alone. The Scoobies (and at this point the fans) don't realize this about Angelus because has he been with Drusilla and Spike, but when you see that Drusilla was basically his mystic and sex toy while Spike and Angelus don't get along, Angelus will technically be right in the cage in AtS S4. Even Darla is just used and will be knocked out and/or given up if Angelus feels compromised. It's a small detail, but one Angel knows no one knows. What the group and Angel assume about Faith, is that she will assume Angelus would kill Xander, or at least hurt him, and she isn't smart enough to break down things the way we have been. She'll just say that is something Angelus would do, thus cementing what Angel would worry about if he didn't hit Xander.
@@Talisguy yes Faith does nothing to Joyce but how is Angel going to know that since it happens after the Xander incident, he simply couldn't risk being caught off character or that Faith did something really bad to Xander plus Xander would most likely have wanted to accompany them to Buffy and that would have put even more risk into this game of theirs.
8:32 "If this guy is soulless again and we got angelus, I'd be fuming!" **Angry Pikachu face** by Dakara Well, I am not sure you are capable of looking really angry. 😋😁
lol you're not a fool. the episode is really short on hints. angel doesn't hurt joyce or (seriously) hurt xander, but he definitely carries himself like he's soulless. we don't know until the end that the mayor hired a mage who happened to know giles. i don't really know how you'd guess the twist.
There are clues in hindsight. One of the biggest is that Buffy's reaction to Angelus's supposed return is weirdly flat, given how traumatic that should be for her. Once you know she's in on it, this makes sense: Buffy (the character) isn't as good an actor as Angel. She's a bit wooden. Not wooden enough for Faith to look like an idiot for buying it, but on rewatch, she's the weak link in the deception and it's clear that Angel does most of the heavy lifting.
Only other clue is the fact that Buffy noticed how Faith was acting in the murdered demon's apartment. Faith hit the light switch without looking at it, and is of course bad at lying when questioned about the demon's death. The viewer knows that Faith is acting very guilty, and Buffy noticed as well. And then set up the big deception to trap Faith.
18:49 The problem with envy and deciding somebody else has it's so much easier than you, just because we are suffering, is that we forget other people are suffering in ways we don't even bother to look at. I can't remember who said it but there was a quote along the lines of "be kind for everyone is fighting hard battle." Although my favorite is from this church that occasionally puts up these hilarious signs "sometimes that greener grass is AstroTurf." It doesn't negate the problems you're suffering it's just pretending others aren't because of whatever prejudgment one makes that is my problem. It's something you're supposed to grow out of and they are still teenagers so I can't feel too harsh on that. What she did with it though, messed up. It's amazing the horrible things we're capable of when we think we're justified.
"Faith, we need to get out of here, now!" Considering Faith bringing up the example of Buffy kicking Angelus into next week last time they fought, luckily she didn't pick up on the fact that Buffy suggested an escape when she should be thinking: 2 slayers against 1 vampire, and one of the slayers was enough to beat him last time. If the roles were reversed, surely they could have subdued Angelus without killing him and put another soul on him.
Poor Faith. All this disappointment in her voice when she shouts "You played me!". Once again she was betrayed by one she trusted. Her Parents are worse, then she got her first watcher. She trusted her, then this one get killed, the 2nd was a fake one, she trusted her, but she betrayed her, raising her trust issues and pulled her away from the Scoobies and especially Buffy, then get betrayed by Wesley and the Counsil, so she decided 'when the good guys don't like me, i try the bad ones' and then, when she thought she got something for one single time, it was fake and she was tricked once again. They all failed on her and i really feel bad for her, cause no one deserved those tons of bad luck. You played me - this was frustration and not anger. Eliza did a wonderful job in putting this perfect nuanced tone in that line. And that is how to create a charactere one is still carring about.
Great reaction to yet another great episode! Loved seeing your face of "angry disbelief" during the "return of Angelus"/betrayal by Faith and then the kicker reveal when you said, "I was fooled".. coinciding with Angel's line: "Second best".... and the realization that hit you like a wave...... good stuff.... and now the Scoobz know the goal... just how will the battle play out?... can't wait to see you see..... a big CTU for you today, "D" (channeling my inner Faithspeak... lol) Keep em coming!
19:35 I don't think she thought of it as hitting on her I didn't even see it that way I just thought he was complimenting the mother, you know, showing respect, to throw her off.
It's hard to remember sometimes that these kids, Buffy, Willow, Xander, Cordy and even Faith; they're still only just 17, turning 18. So they're still teenagers with raging hormones X'D
Faith is going way too far now and at first you can say she was just confused on how to feel when she killed that guy but now she is actively trying to hurt Buffy physically and mentally Faith is going full on villain now plus trying to take Angel from Buffy major low blow , also Angel played his role as Angelus a little too well I know Angel enjoyed knocking Xander on his ass like Angel I'm sure Angel was thinking Ayo I get the punch the shit out of Xander and not suffer any consequences Bet ! 😂 and when I first saw this episode I thought Angelus actually returned I was having PTSD flashback I was like oh no not again not Angelus 😳😂
Poor mayor, what are the chances of employing the one soulstealing warlock that owed Giles a favour. And poor Faith, not kissing Buffy where she wanted to...
Fun reaction as always! May I have a few suggestions that I believe may improve the reaction experience for the viewers. 1- Label the episode with both season/episode and episode names. 2- Hide the Fair Use Timer, it's a little bit distracting. Running it hidden would still serve its function.
Looking at it logically (which I didn't do at the time) Faith was never going to be a true friend to Buffy. Buffy is the Hero of the show, having someone else with the same powers as her, working with her, would have diluted her specialness. Faith either had to die, like Kendra, disappear, or go bad. Kendra first disappeared, then died, time for going bad. If you think about it, they kind of telegraghed it. The show's premise is that Buffy is so much better than all the previous Slayers because she kept her friends and family around to help and inspire her, and Faith came to town without anyone, and never tried to really connect with anyone. She was a wild and free soul, where Buffy is someone who values home and connections.
No fan wasn't fooled by Angel's acting, that I am aware of. But the explanation of Buffy figuring Faith out through Faith knowing where the light switch is (most light switches are in doorway vicinities), telling Angel and Giles, Giles telling the sorcerer, everyone coming up with a plan, and for some reason not telling the Scoobies (dangerous considering one of the could have had a stake when Faith threw him at them, instead of the cross), sometimes I wonder if it fits in with the timeline of the episode. I haven't ever put a lot of thought to it, even when talking to others about it. It wasn't a necessity for Angel to knock Xander out. But it added to the ruse. Faith may have been buying it, but would she have if Angelus did nothing to Xander. I wouldn't put it past Angel to be getting his own form of personal revenge for all the comments Xander has been giving him
I unfortunately was one of them fans that wasn’t fooled, it was the just hitting Xander and saying he bugs him part. I don’t think Angelus even considered him enough to be bugged by him where as Angel….. and after a few rewatches I noticed he was more of a muted Angelus in his mannerisms, just a bit less care free. I love seeing other peoples reactions to this episode.
@@sint8880 Good catch. And interesting considering Angel did so because he knew Faith would ask questions if he didn't or perhaps do something to Xander herself if he didn't. Neither Faith nor Angel have known each other long and Faith has never met Angelus, so Angel thinking hitting Xander was a necessity actually tracks. So what didn't fool you, allowed Faith to be fooled and not harm Xander.
about Faith, Buffy already has a lot of trusty and loyal friends. I think Faith was set out to be the "bad" slayer. one that can be corrupted. she already has Xander and Willow and Giles who would do anything for her, Angel also when he's good. Adding one more loyal friend to the gang wouldn't make for a great story, she's supposed to be the only "good" slayer.
Ngl, I always loved Faith more than Buffy, and especially more than Kendra. Especially when she went evil. lol Don't get me wrong, I do love Buffy, but Faith is so much cooler. lol DId hate Kendra though. Found her boring as hell. lol
Angel saying "Second best" gives me chills every time. I definitely was NOT expecting that. I was probably too busy freaking out that we just got Angel back and now they're going to take him away again, come on, Joss!?! (Lol)
I also think Angel hinted at the ruse slightly just beforehand, because Faith says to Buffy, "They always want to know if I can be more like Buffy. No one asks if Buffy can be more like me." And Angel says, "I know I didn't." Which seems to convey he doesn't want Buffy to ever be like Faith and never asked her to be, lol. In the moment, Faith gets a look on her face like she wasn't sure how to take that but I don't think she fully understood until Angel's "Second best" comment. I love that they played her. Such a great twist.
I don't think Buffy was "punishing" Angel, she was just taking care of herself. She needed space, as she said, but instead of just withdrawing from Angel and putting up emotional walls, she communicated clearly with him, made sure he knew she wasn't angry with him and that it wasn't his fault, and made it clear that it was temporary. Still sucks to be Angel, of course, but I think Buffy was actually very mature and considerate, here.
Don't worry, we all fell for it, the genius of Joss.
You are definitely not a fool. I can't remember anyone not falling for this. Love the fact that you replayed the reveal. So deserved. Great reaction, thank you.
David Boreanaz acting is awesome in this episode and your reaction is priceless
Xander coined the Scooby Gang in season 2 in the two parter with Kendra.
Second Best... One of my favorite lines in the whole series.
The Scooby Gang thing was first introduced by Xander in S2 if I'm recalling it right. It wasn't meant to be more than a pop culture reference, but the fandom appropriates it to named Buffy's circle at the point it influenced the show to actually use it officially.
Fortunately, Scoobies rhymes with "tight embrace".
😂🤣 Never gets old Me seeing Xander getting hit by Angel lol loved it as a kid Loved it as a adult 🤘
I'm glad you were fooled by Angel. It makes the episode. Scooby Gang was definitely a thing before this episode, used by the fans for them, but the creators were very aware of it by this point
David acting As Angélus was so good here. Angel twist At the end was so unexpected
You're watching stressing out and I'm over here grinning because I know what's going to happen.
The key hint for Buffy was in the demon's apartment. Faith reached around the wall to flip on the lights without looking. She knew where the switch was because she'd been there before.
There was absolutely no reason Angel needed to knock out Xander. Faith was buying the ruse, and Xander wasn't suspicious and couldn't have blown Angel's cover. Angel must have done it because he felt like it, which is hilariously petty.
Faith may have been buying it, but would she have if "Angelus" did nothing to Xander? That's the question Angel didn't want Faith asking. Or worse, her deciding to break character and do something to him. The pettiness over Xander's insulting him was definitely Angel's bonus.
@@Buffy8Fan I don't think that was it. Faith didn't know for sure that Buffy was at home, stopping to torture or murder Xander could easily have blown their cover (for no gain) if Buffy had been out patrolling and found them, and Faith does nothing to Joyce, so we know that she's not so impulsively violent that she'll risk shooting her own plan in the foot. I think the worst thing Faith would have done to Xander would also have been to knock him out. And she's never met Angelus in person, so I think him acting evil was enough for her to buy it.
@@Talisguy SPOILERS
Angelus doesn't care about breaking cover, and Faith isn't too big a thinker. She wouldn't have been thinking or cared if Buffy was home or not in terms, even if it mattered to the Mayor. Angel wasn't stopping Faith from doing it or torturing herself, but stopping her from asking questions. Angel couldn't guarantee how much Faith knew because neither he, nor The Scoobies, know how much she knows about Angelus, as none of them ever got close enough to her friends-wise. Plus, as both of us said, pettiness on Angel's part was a plus.
And technically speaking Angel had already broke Angelus cover. In AtS S4, he tells Wesley while in the cage that he works alone. The Scoobies (and at this point the fans) don't realize this about Angelus because has he been with Drusilla and Spike, but when you see that Drusilla was basically his mystic and sex toy while Spike and Angelus don't get along, Angelus will technically be right in the cage in AtS S4. Even Darla is just used and will be knocked out and/or given up if Angelus feels compromised. It's a small detail, but one Angel knows no one knows.
What the group and Angel assume about Faith, is that she will assume Angelus would kill Xander, or at least hurt him, and she isn't smart enough to break down things the way we have been. She'll just say that is something Angelus would do, thus cementing what Angel would worry about if he didn't hit Xander.
@@Talisguy yes Faith does nothing to Joyce but how is Angel going to know that since it happens after the Xander incident, he simply couldn't risk being caught off character or that Faith did something really bad to Xander plus Xander would most likely have wanted to accompany them to Buffy and that would have put even more risk into this game of theirs.
@@Henrik_Holst Didn't think about the possibility that Xander would want to accompany them. Adds to my thoughts.
8:32 "If this guy is soulless again and we got angelus, I'd be fuming!"
**Angry Pikachu face** by Dakara
Well, I am not sure you are capable of looking really angry. 😋😁
lol you're not a fool. the episode is really short on hints. angel doesn't hurt joyce or (seriously) hurt xander, but he definitely carries himself like he's soulless. we don't know until the end that the mayor hired a mage who happened to know giles. i don't really know how you'd guess the twist.
There are clues in hindsight. One of the biggest is that Buffy's reaction to Angelus's supposed return is weirdly flat, given how traumatic that should be for her. Once you know she's in on it, this makes sense: Buffy (the character) isn't as good an actor as Angel. She's a bit wooden. Not wooden enough for Faith to look like an idiot for buying it, but on rewatch, she's the weak link in the deception and it's clear that Angel does most of the heavy lifting.
Only other clue is the fact that Buffy noticed how Faith was acting in the murdered demon's apartment. Faith hit the light switch without looking at it, and is of course bad at lying when questioned about the demon's death. The viewer knows that Faith is acting very guilty, and Buffy noticed as well. And then set up the big deception to trap Faith.
18:49 The problem with envy and deciding somebody else has it's so much easier than you, just because we are suffering, is that we forget other people are suffering in ways we don't even bother to look at. I can't remember who said it but there was a quote along the lines of "be kind for everyone is fighting hard battle." Although my favorite is from this church that occasionally puts up these hilarious signs "sometimes that greener grass is AstroTurf." It doesn't negate the problems you're suffering it's just pretending others aren't because of whatever prejudgment one makes that is my problem. It's something you're supposed to grow out of and they are still teenagers so I can't feel too harsh on that. What she did with it though, messed up. It's amazing the horrible things we're capable of when we think we're justified.
"Faith, we need to get out of here, now!"
Considering Faith bringing up the example of Buffy kicking Angelus into next week last time they fought, luckily she didn't pick up on the fact that Buffy suggested an escape when she should be thinking: 2 slayers against 1 vampire, and one of the slayers was enough to beat him last time. If the roles were reversed, surely they could have subdued Angelus without killing him and put another soul on him.
You need a T-Shirt that says, "Bored Now."
Your face when you're stressed and resting it in your hands 😂
Poor Faith. All this disappointment in her voice when she shouts "You played me!". Once again she was betrayed by one she trusted. Her Parents are worse, then she got her first watcher. She trusted her, then this one get killed, the 2nd was a fake one, she trusted her, but she betrayed her, raising her trust issues and pulled her away from the Scoobies and especially Buffy, then get betrayed by Wesley and the Counsil, so she decided 'when the good guys don't like me, i try the bad ones' and then, when she thought she got something for one single time, it was fake and she was tricked once again. They all failed on her and i really feel bad for her, cause no one deserved those tons of bad luck.
You played me - this was frustration and not anger. Eliza did a wonderful job in putting this perfect nuanced tone in that line.
And that is how to create a charactere one is still carring about.
This is a great episode as a whole and it is one I seen many times
A reactor buys it hook, line, and sinker? Come on, that's what we're here for! I'd have been disappointed if you weren't fooled. 👍
Great reaction to yet another great episode! Loved seeing your face of "angry disbelief" during the "return of Angelus"/betrayal by Faith and then the kicker reveal when you said, "I was fooled".. coinciding with Angel's line: "Second best".... and the realization that hit you like a wave...... good stuff.... and now the Scoobz know the goal... just how will the battle play out?... can't wait to see you see..... a big CTU for you today, "D" (channeling my inner Faithspeak... lol) Keep em coming!
Gosh I missed reactors. Can't watch as many or as frequently but it's always nice to see how enthralled you guys get.
19:35 I don't think she thought of it as hitting on her I didn't even see it that way I just thought he was complimenting the mother, you know, showing respect, to throw her off.
It's hard to remember sometimes that these kids, Buffy, Willow, Xander, Cordy and even Faith; they're still only just 17, turning 18. So they're still teenagers with raging hormones X'D
Faith is going way too far now and at first you can say she was just confused on how to feel when she killed that guy but now she is actively trying to hurt Buffy physically and mentally Faith is going full on villain now plus trying to take Angel from Buffy major low blow , also Angel played his role as Angelus a little too well I know Angel enjoyed knocking Xander on his ass like Angel I'm sure Angel was thinking Ayo I get the punch the shit out of Xander and not suffer any consequences Bet ! 😂 and when I first saw this episode I thought Angelus actually returned I was having PTSD flashback I was like oh no not again not Angelus 😳😂
Nice to see you liked the twist, D :)
That was a very fun reaction! You were so done, that the twist made you extra happy!
Poor mayor, what are the chances of employing the one soulstealing warlock that owed Giles a favour. And poor Faith, not kissing Buffy where she wanted to...
Everyone buys it.
Now the real Buffy begins
Great reaction! cant wait for rest of season reaction:)
13:53 I was waiting for your reaction to this part Dakara.😃🤗
Yes 3-16 was my favourite episode too. Note the "was".
Fun reaction as always! May I have a few suggestions that I believe may improve the reaction experience for the viewers.
1- Label the episode with both season/episode and episode names.
2- Hide the Fair Use Timer, it's a little bit distracting. Running it hidden would still serve its function.
Looking at it logically (which I didn't do at the time) Faith was never going to be a true friend to Buffy. Buffy is the Hero of the show, having someone else with the same powers as her, working with her, would have diluted her specialness. Faith either had to die, like Kendra, disappear, or go bad. Kendra first disappeared, then died, time for going bad. If you think about it, they kind of telegraghed it. The show's premise is that Buffy is so much better than all the previous Slayers because she kept her friends and family around to help and inspire her, and Faith came to town without anyone, and never tried to really connect with anyone. She was a wild and free soul, where Buffy is someone who values home and connections.
No fan wasn't fooled by Angel's acting, that I am aware of. But the explanation of Buffy figuring Faith out through Faith knowing where the light switch is (most light switches are in doorway vicinities), telling Angel and Giles, Giles telling the sorcerer, everyone coming up with a plan, and for some reason not telling the Scoobies (dangerous considering one of the could have had a stake when Faith threw him at them, instead of the cross), sometimes I wonder if it fits in with the timeline of the episode. I haven't ever put a lot of thought to it, even when talking to others about it.
It wasn't a necessity for Angel to knock Xander out. But it added to the ruse. Faith may have been buying it, but would she have if Angelus did nothing to Xander. I wouldn't put it past Angel to be getting his own form of personal revenge for all the comments Xander has been giving him
I unfortunately was one of them fans that wasn’t fooled, it was the just hitting Xander and saying he bugs him part. I don’t think Angelus even considered him enough to be bugged by him where as Angel….. and after a few rewatches I noticed he was more of a muted Angelus in his mannerisms, just a bit less care free. I love seeing other peoples reactions to this episode.
@@sint8880 Good catch. And interesting considering Angel did so because he knew Faith would ask questions if he didn't or perhaps do something to Xander herself if he didn't. Neither Faith nor Angel have known each other long and Faith has never met Angelus, so Angel thinking hitting Xander was a necessity actually tracks. So what didn't fool you, allowed Faith to be fooled and not harm Xander.
about Faith, Buffy already has a lot of trusty and loyal friends. I think Faith was set out to be the "bad" slayer. one that can be corrupted. she already has Xander and Willow and Giles who would do anything for her, Angel also when he's good. Adding one more loyal friend to the gang wouldn't make for a great story, she's supposed to be the only "good" slayer.
8:30 Really? Because Angelus is the best villain they've got.
Ngl, I always loved Faith more than Buffy, and especially more than Kendra. Especially when she went evil. lol Don't get me wrong, I do love Buffy, but Faith is so much cooler. lol DId hate Kendra though. Found her boring as hell. lol