Doppelgangland • S03E16 • TPN's Buffy Guide
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Passion of the Nerd reviews Doppelgangland From Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 3, Episode 16. Directed by Joss Whedon. Written by Joss Whedon. Starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers. Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris. Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg. Charisma Carpenter as Cordeila Chase. David Boreanaz as Angel. Seth Green as Oz. And Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles. Guest Starring Emma Caulfield as Anya. Eliza Dushku as Faith Lehane. And Alexis Denisof as Wesley Wyndam-Pryce.
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Giles: "She was truly the finest of us all."
Xander: "Way better than me."
Giles: "Much, much better."
+maninredhelm I laugh again when I read it...
+maninredhelm LMAO. I'd forgotten about that. Thanks for reminding me.
I love how Giles uses Willows potentially being dead to put Xander down.
I love the little moment when Willow walks in and Xander gives the cross a little shake when she doesn't react to it.
@@nickknight944 everyone puts zander down at different points cordelia in zeppo giles in doplegangland its funny and honest
Buffy: Giles, you planning on jumping in with an explanation anytime soon?
Giles: Um yes well umm....something...something very strange is happening....
Xander: .....Can you believe The Watchers council let this one go?
I just love it when Xander shakes the cross, as if there is a loose connection inside somewhere and he is trying to get it working again! xD
+naet1983 That entire scene is amazing.
That's one of my favorite little moments in the entire series. Of course that whole scene is incredible, as is the reprise when Angel comes in and also thinks Willow is dead.
Shake the cross, make it fizz!
He totally Orangina'd the cross!
One of my fav parts too!!!
@@timf7413 Angel: "Willow is dead."
Also Angel: "Hi, Willow."
I think this episode has one of the most character defining lines for Willow. "Geez, who died?" *a beat* "Oh God, who died?"
I love that look Oz gave to Willow when he found out it was the the human Willow. so much love was in that one look. extremely cute :)
+LadyOhEvans That little wave gets me every time!
And then they DESTROY it a season later with “gay” Willow
@@REEEE-eq6mx but Tera and Willow is super cute too! altho it might not happen if Seth Green didn't have to leave the show.
@@LadyOhEvans unless it WAS the plan and Oz was gonna leave
@@shady_the_one hmmm but it was not? they had to write Oz out cuz Seth Green decided to part ways with the show
I wish you had mentioned Giles hugging Willow when they realized she was alive. Such a sweet, surprising moment!
Mel, But Willow’s face! Notice her similar expression when she trank darts Dark Willow.
"You all didn't happen to do a bunch of drugs, did ja?"
That line is my favorite in the entire series. The way she delivered it had me in stitches.
+RUclips, All I want to do is watch a video, stop making me update.
Aw. You beat me to it.
Alyson Hannigan's delivery of that line, was THE THING that finally cemented my love of this series. Before Doppelgangland, I was a person who liked BtVS. After Doppelgangland, began a love affair that will go down in history for being as passionate, overwrought, and sentimental as the series itself.
RUclips, All I want to do is watch a video, stop making me update. "Is everyone here very stoned?"
I was watching this episode with a friend of mine and when it got to that line he started laughing so hard, I think we had to rewind it because he was laughing so loud
aww, no mention of Angel trying to tell Buffy and the others that Willow is dead, only for her to wave at him and him forget himself and saying "hey Willow," followed quickly by "wait," and looks at the gang in surprise, then Xander's says "we're right there with you buddy." that has to be my favorite scene in the entire episode.
I agree I also thought he would have brought up the bored now foreshadowing and the hug scene when the scoobies found out Willow was alive. That was the first time Giles showed his love as a fatherly figure to anyone who wasn't Buffy in the group.
I'm a blood sucking fiend -- look at my outfit!
+Dave Wolf Classic.
Could a human do this?
AAAAAAAAA
Did you try looking behind the sofa in HELL?!
+bananawanable I use this quote way too much in conversation.
not behind - inside
Not much I can say about Dopplegangland that hasn't already been said. I love everything about it. This is the episode that really made me fall in love with Alyson Hannigan as an actress. She played 4 different personalities in this episode--Willow, Vamp Willow, Willow pretending to be Vamp Willow, and Vamp Willow pretending to be Willow--and they were all painfully hilarious. Anya had some hilarious moments too. "I'm 1,120 years old, just gimme a fricken beer!" Oh and the scene with Vamp Willow walking through the Bronze with K's Choice playing "Virgin State of Mind" is one of my favorites musical moments of the entire series. I would keep going, but if I commented on everything I love about his episode I would have carpel tunnel by the end of it, so yeahh, uhh bye! :)
@Cindy Tartt Awww you made my day!! 😍❤️🌷Thank you love! A TPN rewatch sounds really good right about now 😉
My favorite bit of this episode is a teeny tiny one where Willow remarks on her new outfit in front of Giles and Xander. She looks down at herself, says, "Hey, look at those!" and Giles is distracted for a second then shakes his head. It makes me giggle. Just one of those tiny details in the show that makes the characters human, because while Giles is known as the stuffy, unfailingly British adult, every once in a while we get something that reminds us he's an imperfect man.
Great review! Re. Faith and the Mayor, I think it's also worth observing that in a season full of mirrors and dark halves, they serve as a twisted mirror of Buffy and Giles' relationship. Not a new observation, I know, but one that deserves a mention, I think.
+Andrew Davis That's always how I viewed it.
+Andrew Davis Abso-frakkin'-lutely!!!!!
I love your channel and your insights. please upload seasons 5,6,7!
I am eagerly anticpating those!
Man, I've watched the series a million times and NEVER picked up the parallel of "Faith, no!" leading to the stabbing, and "Buffy, no!" leading to her pulling back at the last possible moment. One more reason to thank you for these videos, Passion of the Nerd Guy! You're doing some amazing stuff.
and I'm eating this banana! Lunch time be damned.
+Whitney Nottage One of my favorite lines in the series!
"I'm eating this now. It's not lunch time I don't even care!"
What a rebel she is xD
i quote this every now and then
and then buffy says something like " remember willow, a vampire has nothing to do with the person " and Angel is like " actually... ahm... forget it"
i love this line so much hahahah
+Livia Andrade I was under the impression that Angel was totally willing to say it but Buffy shot him a look to shut him up for Willow's sake.
+Alex Loren Me, too.
To sum up the episode, its an forecast to future character development..
"I think I'm kinda gay!"
Which is amazing, given how inaccurate that statement was. She was at most bi.
@@REEEE-eq6mx and vampire Willow is 100% a confirmation of that
She's clearly sexual towards women (as stated) but she was clearly sexual (and as far as vamps go emotional) with vamp Xander as well
So, yeah, more evidence for the bi thing (without even talking about Whedon literally saying it)
@@REEEE-eq6mx I mean I think a better descriptive for Willow would be Bi, but according to canon she's an L not a B. Not exactly a fan of that, Bisexual erasure at it's finest, but it's what Joss said. My head canon is she's Bi though.
I think she's bi.
WHAT?????? HOW on earth did I NEVER get that the doppelganger Willow was brought over because the sand went onto Willow's hand??? HOW DID I MISS THAT???
Yeah, I never picked up on that either and thought it was a minor plot hole why the spell brought forth vampire Willow. That's one of the reasons I love TPN's analysis'.
I didn't get that either. Still really like the episode though. Some really funny lines and sceens
@RewindMe I just watched the episode a few minutes ago, and it is pretty easy to miss. The scene keeps cutting back in fort to Willo's face, the alterantive reality, and willow's hand.
Same here! That’s why I love watching these videos and reaction videos.. extra pair of eyes brings it all together!
One of the funniest lines in the entire series, which seems so often forgotten, is "you want us to breed?" And it just wouldn't be as great if it wasn't for Hannigan's quiet, horrified delivery
Great vid again, but for once I disagree with one of your theses. The idea that Willow's “We clearly have nothing in common“ comment suggests us being fundamentally different from our dark halves doesn't really hold I think. To me it's clearly ironic foreshadowing: of course she has lots of things in common with vampire Willow (in terms of sexuality, lust for power, affinity to the dark side), she and the first-time viewer just don't know it yet. What the episodes suggests to me instead, considering the grand scheme of things, is that our 'evil' doppelgängers are closer to ourselves than we'd like to admit.
It's like you read my mind. Couldn't have put it better myself
+Max Well Couldn't agree more.
I agree. There's also this bit of dialogue
Buffy: "Willow, just remember a vampire's personality has nothing to do with the person it was."
Angel: "Well, actually... good point."
+Max Well I don't disagree. It's great foreshadowing (something I can't spoil here.) My point was that having latent dark impulses does not MAKE us our dark selves, the literal manifestations of which (Faith and Vamp Willow) have been shaped by those desires. But a part of growing up is acknowledging that they are a part of us. Denying them ("I'm not using too much magic") increases their explosive potential - which is born out in Season 6. But this bit is much more relevant to Buffy in this season than to Willow.
Admittedly, I don't think the thesis was clear, especially not for anyone who has seen all 7 seasons. Definitely felt contradictory using that quote.
+Max Well Thinking more about your comment. Dark Willow and Willow being gay hadn't actually been conceived of yet (by the writers admission.) So at THIS point in the series, this episode is actually MORE relevant to Buffy than Willow. Which is the perspective from which I write these (mostly.)
Also, and I mean just for funsies devil's advocate here, when I get cut off on the highway I on rare occasions fantasize about punching said motorist in the mouth. I DON'T, but the thought is there. Does that mean I have things in common with someone jailed for assault?
I think you could say we all occasionally have dark thoughts and in that sense we all have something in common with everyone else, but that metric then ceases to be of use given the sample size. In this case I think that the interpretation of Willow's comment could fairly be restricted to the actions she has taken in her life and who she is in that moment, versus those of Vamp Willow.
Again, I'm not defending the clarity of my original edit, which was confusing. Only saying there is room for both interpretations to work here.
I know people have a lot of favourite lines from this episode, and all the ones people have mentioned are hilarious, but possibly my favourite line in the whole series is Willow's "You want us to breed?" Her delivery is just so shocked and horrified. Somehow it never makes it into humour videos though....
3:45 I never took the sand on the hand part as accidental. It seemed to me like she saw the vision and deliberately wanted to foil the spell. She didn't know what effect it'd have to block the sand other than it would block the spell.
I agree!
+zolikoff
Oooh. Nice interpretation.
+zolikoff same!
+zolikoff That was my impression as well. Which reads very differently - a deliberate action to save the world - than a clumsy goof.
+Janice Janostak I wouldn't go so far as to say she thought she was saving the world - just that it was a bad spell that needed to be interrupted. At least that's how she acted right after the interruption. She just scolded Anya that she shouldn't mess with dark stuff and then she left. If she truly thought this was a world-at-risk thing, she'd have went straight to the gang to tell them.
One of the more memorable lines in this one for me was after Willow and Anya tried the spell and Willow was all freaked out.
‘I’m just trying to find my necklace!’
‘Well, did you try looking in the sofa in hell??’
😅😅
I love this episode all around. Its one of my favorites.
Another great review as usual :)
I read a theory on tv tropes about the scene in this episode when Willow shouts "Buffy, no!" to prevent her from staking vamp!Willow. Willow points out Buffy's excellent reflexes, to which Buffy replies "I've been working out". Someone pointed out that Buffy has probably been working on her reflexes in purpose in order to avoid accidentally staking a human the way that Faith did in 'Bad Girls', since Faith didn't take notice when Buffy shouted "Faith, no!" You mentioned the parallel anyway, but it's interesting to think Buffy took Faith's actions to heart so much that she actively worked to avoid doing the same thing (kind of reflects how she keeps trying to avoid becoming like Faith in general).
hadn't thought of it this way, but that's a great point. it really does feel like she might have worked on them later rather than have better reflexes than Faith in the first place.
:)
Interesting observation.
That's a great point and it makes more sense than Buffy being better than faith in the first place
In regaurds to Faith I feel like she uses sexuality as a wepon or shield. As a comparison Zander use sarcawm to protect himself. I belive Faith uses her sexuality in the same way, to protect herself from becoming close to any one. Sex is something that usually has a deep conection in both body and spirt. I think Faith is overtly sexual in an attempt to cheapen the "connection" she has with people. She gets along so well with the mayor because she conects to him without having to be sexual. She tries and he gently correct her behavior. Where as Buffy responds flirtasiousely, Giles admits she is "zesty".
+McKenna West Yes, spot on. Up above I mentioned that there's a budding father/daughter relationship between Faith and the mayor -one person who sees her like his wayward child. It's an honest relationship
+McKenna West Using sex as a weapon is very symptomatic of a child who has been sexually abused, especially by a family member. And confusing sex with love and intimacy is also symptomatic--and given the hints we've been given about Faith's background, this makes sense.
Yes, it's an absolutely fantastic episode, and I love Angel when he comes in, announced Willow's dead, and then does the whole double-take when he sees Willow standing by. I don't know why, but that *flinch* just cracks me up every time. It's such a nice, subtle bit, and it's one of my favorite Angel moments.
I'd like to comment about Cordelia and the conversation she had with Vamp Willow here. You said before it was weird seeing Cordy and Willow sharing. The thing is, we need to remember that they know each other since kindergarten, so despite the way Cordy treated Will in the past, I can picture them playing together when they were children. When I was a kid, I had other kids treating me like a friend or like an enemy depending on the opinion their parents had that day about my parents.
Something very important to remember about Cordy is that whatever has happened between her and Xander, she never ever has blamed Willow. Xander was her boyfriend, he owed her commitment, but Willow didn't. Cordy didn't blame Willow or Buffy for Xander's lack of focus on her and she didn't blame Willow for Xander's betrayal. She points it out in this conversation. Vamp Willow says "sorry that I stole your boyfriend", and Cordy's answer was "as if you could". Even in this case Cordy's speech is all about sharing her feelings with a friend.
I was wondering if any one else had noticed, the girl vamp willow bites in 4:37 ... isn't that Sandy the vamp from season 5 who bites Riley?
Yesss. Same character!
+KatieBTVS if it's in the wiki, then people noticed :)
+Idanu Boyo Yes, probably. Was just trying to spark a bit of conversation.
+KatieBTVS I didn't realize that till now!
+KatieBTVS I didn't realize it either, thank you for pointing it out Katie!
The worst part about your reviews is waiting for the next one.
A clip in this review made me realize: Did Buffy realize that Alan was human because she threw him? Faith, missing that realization because she didn't have that physical altercation? Of course, the contrast between their reflexes and ability to stop short is brought to light in this episode. Thanks, Ian.
And thank you for the entire series.
Oh man I love this episode so much. Willow's monologue here is really interesting:
"She bothered me. She's so weak, and accommodating. She lets everyone walk all over her and then she gets cranky at her friends for no reason. I just couldn't let her live." It's basically what happened metaphorically in this episode, right? She killed (or tried to kill, thinking of "Restless") her old self (Willow in "Choices" is already s4 Willow) but she couldn't bring herself to kill vamp!Willow. The self deprecating dialogue ironically echoes the one in "Two to go":
"She's a loser. And she always has been. Everyone picked on Willow in junior high, high school, up until college with her stupid mousy ways and now - Willow's a junkie."
There are other little hints about her future: "Thanks. It's all about emotional
control. Plus, obviously, magic" Emotional control, uh? Maybe magic it's not the best hobby for Willow.
Lucia Jam j
This episode is my favourite non-season-finale episode. I'm saying that before watching the critique.
I just marvel at how Hannigan pulls off not just two different versions of her characters, but each pretending to be the other
one of my faves. I think I watch this episode about 5x a year. Willow is one of my fave characters in television and Alyson Hanningan portrayed her to perfection. And to think she was a little unknown actress before this. Her chemistry with SMG & NB is essential too
I watched the series and this episode especially so many times, but I never realised that vampWillow was transfered to this dimension because the sand touched Willows hand. Thanks for that insight!
At 3:04-ish, as you say "Faith's experience with men", the subtitles say "Faith's experience with me". Wishful thinking, Ian? :P
Regarding the episode:
(I wrote this part before watching all the way through. Then I saw you DID address this part at the end, but I already wrote it so I'm just gonna leave that here :D)
Does anyone else feel the whole murder issue was solved too neatly here? I mean, just one episode ago Wesley was gonna take her to the council by force, without even talking to her, but now that she returns to the gang suddenly all is forgiven?
Shouldn't the council send an investigator or something? Question the witnesses, look at the crime scene, that kinda stuff?
I mean, if they told Faith from the start the only consequence is gonna be a psych test, she would never have ran.
I adore Willow's line "Aren't you sort of naturally buff, Buff?" followed by her little giggle. It's one of my favorite Willow lines in the whole show.
Also, this was mentioned before me, but I love the fact Sandy comes back in season 5. It's one of those little things that make the Buffyverse feel alive.
It's nice to compare the fight scene in this episode to the season 1 fight scenes. The action scenes up to this season were mostly rather meh. I didn't really pay too much attention to them, and certainly didn't look forward to them. This season took it up a notch, and it even has my favorite fight scene in the whole series in Graduation Day part 1.
Also this:
Willow: "A human? Oh, yeah? Could a human do this?" *screams in a high pitch*
Anya: "Sure. Yeah. Humans do that, yeah."
Alfonse: "Yeah, I think yeah."
"Say, you all didn't happen to do a bunch of drugs, did ya?" Definitely among my personal top 10 lines of the whole series. Her delivery is perfect.
I love that vampWillow sires Sandy who Riley later allows to bite him in Shadow(?) of season 5. I also love how Willow's hand gets stuck in the girl's hair while she's pretending to be vampWillow in the Bronze. Always cracks me up. Also I can't help notice Buffy's reflexes when Willow shouts at her not to stake vampWillow--oh, I really shouldn't comment before the video finishes. You referenced it. Of course you did. Reason you're my #1.
REALLY??? THAT'S THE SAME VAMP?
***** Yeah! Tis.
+Daniel Young (conchashima) Wow, all the zillions of times I have rewatched BTVS and I NEVER noticed that! Terrific catch!!!
+Daniel Young (conchashima) I have never noticed that. I even fact checked it on the Buffy Wiki and it's legit. The amount of continuity in this show is amazing.
I don't think that is Sandy, just reusing the same actress for smaller parts. The girl never drank camp Willow's blood so couldn't have been sired. But the girl whose hair human Willow touches is totally Amber Benson/Tara's doppelganger. I know it isn't but I like to pretend.
I've watched Doppelgangland probably 20 times. It was really fun to hear and share your enthusiasm for this episode.
It's so funny and such a great exploration of the characters.
We need to have a ginormous celebration when you hit 10,000 subs. There are lots of channels with more subs, but I doubt there are many channels that are as beloved among their subscribers as yours is.
+UTU49 That means a lot. Thank you.
+UTU49 agreed 100%
Cool!
RUclips didn't give me a notice of your message, so I didn't see it until now.
HOW do you not have more subscribers?! This is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels.
Same I have notifications set to this channel so I can know when he uploads. Love the channel!!!
+Bryson Armstrong Ditto! I love these reviews.
+Bryson Armstrong
I TOTALLY understand your perspective. I've gone another way though. I completely forget about Ian for weeks at a time, which makes it so incredibly fun to suddenly notice a new upload, or notice that I've missed 2 or 3 and get to do a mini-binge. It's like ordering something from an online store and forgetting all about it, and then it gets delayed in the mail, and so when it finally comes, it's a surprise.
I've always loved Faith and the Mayor's relationship so much. It's adorable to see two bloodthirsty characters being so relentlessly, humorously wholesome, I guess?
I was about to go to bed because I work an early shift tomorrow... Not anymore, it seems. Thanks for keeping me up, Ian!
The Wish (featuring Buffy), The Zeppo (Xander) and Dopplegangland (Willow) is my favorite three episode arc of the Buffy series.
The entire sequence when willow sends the vamps out one by one is one of the best things ever on this show.
0:48
Yeah, those are some serious sit-ups right there.
+whatisabercowich uuuuuuuugh i know it was so distracting. as a person who rarely exercises even i can tell those situps were doing nothing productive
+MAKaplan55 They were crunches not situps
This is one of my fave eps of Buffy ever. The plot and pacing, the humor, the deeper meanings, THE MUSIC....its perfection.
"Wow who died? Oh my god, who died?"
You know, given that they live in Sunnydale, I’m surprised that anyone, particularly one of the Scoobies, would use that phrase.
I suddenly realized something about the scene where they're feeling sad for Willow's supposed death, Giles says that Willow is the best part of them, meaning, the best part of Buffy is her spirit. She always pushes herself to bring the final fight and fight of the baddy, like in Helpless, where she was broken down, but she found something in herself that would help her fight once more.
I'm loving these reviews but I just wanted to leave my favourite bit of this episode (And it's one of many greats). When angel lobbed that snooker ball at the vamps face at full speed I genuinely fell off the sofa laughing
You are a brave brave brave man indeed for addressing Faith and how some fans felt that she should have been her keeper, place the blame on her going evil on Buffy. Nice job.
To me I think some fans took such a shine to Faith, who is a great character, that they are willing to overlook or forgive the evil that she does, or as you pointed out even put blame on others. Could Buffy have handled the issue differently? Perhaps...but it would have been wrong of her to in light of Faith suddenly going into this dark and power hungry phase.
Faith like most all the characters in the show are flawed. Not flawed as in, "Having them be a total jerkass would really make the fans appeal to them," but they are far from being a Mary Sue, the all round perfect and ideal character. Buffy herself can skirt the line, step over the line, but then we get someone who will come into the series later (with as few spoilers as possible, Tara) who has most all of Buffy's good traits and arguably better, but it's not her personality traits that make her flawed like most of the others in the show.
Oh yeah, then there is the thing where Faith sets out to rape Xander to death for want of a better way to describe that scene. Two things here: one is how can Faith fans overlook this? The other as you pointed out is this is a very horrible act that should have come back and been addressed. When Buffy essentially turns into Faith it's treated as horrible. When Spike does something less it's treated as horrible. Faith gets a pass and her actions are swept under the rub because...?
+tsstevensts I never though of Faith as "evil" in the classic sense, but just IMMENSELY fucked up--angry at the world, angry at herself, lost, lonely, etc.
i go into deep withdrawal in between TPN episodes which I cure by rewatching them and calculating how old i will be when we get to Once More With Feeling
Fantastic episode. I absolutely love the Cory/Vamp Willow "conversation"
So we're all agreed that this is the one where the "Lesbian Subtext" loses the sub and becomes just regular text, right? Okay, just checking.
+CitanulsPumpkin I'm sure vamp-Willow wouldn't mind a sub... *wink wink, nudge nudge*.
...I'll let myself out quietly...
I don't know your name, but I've been a Buffy fan since day one. Even the bad 1st season episodes. But I've been dealing with loss myself, and before seeing your videos, this show was always cathartic for me. And then I stumbled upon your reviews, and you vocalized and highlighted everything I was thinking. I just wanted you to know that I appreciate what you do. Be well.
5 by 5
-Allison
I think the real reason of the episode WAC to show how easily one doppelganger could become the other. So many times willow was in vamp related danger she could have become Vamp willow. And Buffy in the other world was much more Faith like. And the parallel of faiths watcher dying and Merrick, Buffy's first watcher, dying shows the only thing that kept them from becoming the other was friends. Faith and Buffy are the same person in different situations and that is what the episode wanted to drive home.
This is my absolute favorite episode.
Once again, your analysis has BLOWN. ME. AWAY. I especially love your views on the dark sides of humanity and how we aren't our darker selves once we embrace who we are. It's apart of us, but doesn't define who we are. That is something I definitely struggle with on a daily basis. Great review! That ending also was PRICELESS! Oh and I believe these chicken feet are mine!
Also, nitpick of the century - I hate the fact that when Angel comes to the library to tell the scoobies about vampire Willow, real Willow isn't in the frame with him when he says "Willow's dead". She was with him in the frame just a second earlier, so, it's a weird choice, editing-wise. It would have been even funnier if he had said that when Willow was literally with him in the frame...
+Guy R
Great idea! If Joss reads that, he might have a sleepless night or 2. lol.
It's very possible that the doppelganger gag in "How I Met Your Mother" stems from the doppelganger trope that is used a few times on Buffy.
+Yosi Berman There's a crapton of references to the show if you look...the glowing eyes and demon voice is a dead giveaway, as well as references to her lesbinism/bisexualism and role in American Pie.
"Is the flute section seeing anyone?"
Case in point.
This is my favourite Buffy episode, I think. I even named my Wi-Fi "DoppelgangLAN".
“Ole reliable” Ian, I actually think that the break in the dramatic build-up IS the point of this episode. Life goes on-things happen-reality intervenes. The break in the buildup IS part of the point of this episode. Great analysis, as always!
As someone who's both a huge Buffy and Spider-Man fan, after my most recent rewatch of this ep I can't help but notice the many MANY similarities between this and No Way Home and it makes me all kinds of happy. If any superhero is closest to Peter Parker, it's Buffy Summers.
This is one of my top 5 episodes, and I love that contrast between Buffy’s stopping vs Faith can’t is amazing.
Buffy had a practice.... a lot. First time we saw it at the Bronze as she grabbed Cordelia's neck and stopped herself from staking her. Buffy listens more to her slayer instinct. Faith loses herself in the fight.
one thing i always found interesting was when willow says buffy no, showing that buffy wouldnt have made that same mistake because she always worked so hard on her reflexes
i feel like that was the main theme of this ep, the previous, they discuss the morality and Faith tries to tell Buffy shes the same as her, but this episode proves that no, she isnt, she is better.
This is one of my favourites top 5 for sure, it has the right balance of humor, drama and action, just an all around good episode. Nice review as always.
This is my favorite non-Spike episode.
Ahhh yes this one is amazing. This episode is also one of their great technological leaps as they were getting really good at 'morphing' the vamp face on without needing some sort of obstruction between the pre-vamp face and vamp face.
I love that one of the themes in this series is one of fathers and their children -parental love: unconditional. In this season we see Giles as a parental figure to Buffy and the Mayor taking the role of Faith's 'father'.
However TPN said: "we are *not* our dark halves...but those desires demand our acknowledgement" so, in effect, we most certainly *are* our dark halves. To what extent this portion of us takes over, or how we battle this, leads to reflection and the daily questions we ask of ourselves: "what choices will we *make*?"
This is why, to me, this episode IS a fitting part of this series containing Bad Girls and Consequences. Doppelgangland completes that 'trinity'. I think when Buffy says "a vampire doesn't have the personality of the person it once was, Angel steps in with "well, actually.." and then pauses. I think that's the hint that Doppelgangland dovetails with both BG and Consequences.
+cindy tartt Yeah, I loved the relationship between Faith and the Mayor.
I cant wait for circling back to this episode when we get to the Dark Willow Arc because there's SO MUCH foreshadowing in this episode to that part of her (not to mention a very intentional callback in those episodes BACK to this episode)
That little handwave she slips to Oz as she walks in...🤩
You understand why her hair turns white.
Plus the moment when the scales of the Universe balance and Percy does ALL the homework. Twice.
Wow, that's one awesome analysis! Willow, Faith, doppelgangers, season arc, you really nailed this one! I have very little to add... Mostly stuff you couldn't talk about due to spoilers.
First of all - ANYA! Oh, how I love you! I know she was technically first introduced in 'The Wish', but she was a completely different character there. This episode is when Anya really became ANYA, the utilitarian, tactless, humanity-hating, confused former vengeance demon we all know and love. And it's an *awesome* introduction, as Emma Caulfield threatens to steal every scene she's in. And she's flunking math! Also, this episode introduces D'hoffryn, one of the best recurring villains of the series.
Also also - Vampire Willow is rightfully legendary. Every second of screentime she had was absolute gold, and I wish we would have gotten more from her. This world's no fun... Oh, Vamp-Willow, I totally feel your "Oh ffffu..." Such a cruel world.
This episode, as I see it, is about ID versus super-ego, or in other words - personal urges versus society''s restraint. The episode shows the dangers of over-enslavement to society, as well as the dangers of over-enslavement to your urges, and seems to offer the aristotelian solution - the "golden mean", or in other words, *moderation*. One shouldn't follow the wishes of society only, and one shouldn't follow his urges only. Instead, one should find the best middle ground between the two. That's the message the episode leaves us with, as I see it, and it's a nice one. The thing is, though... HOW do you find the correct middle? How do you know when to stop? The episode doesn't provide a guiding principle for that.
Also... The episode seems to say that being a slave to your urges is wrong, and that being a slave to society is also wrong. But in the end, the message of the episode was... That being a slave to BOTH is RIGHT?! This raises a question - Shouldn't one strive to be free of both urges and society? Not necessarily LACKING of urges and society, but free of their control? The way I see it, much of Willow's arc in the future is about answering that question, which hovers over the end of this episode. And let's not forget - Aristotle may have been a genius, but the dude is still just some greek teacher who died over 2000 years ago. Maybe his solutions aren't sophisticated enough for modern life...
The episode ends with Willow receiving an *apple*, from Percy. Symbolically, is this the apple of eden, maybe? The fruit of knowledge (and thus, the fruit of freedom)? That story didn't really end pleasently for the receiver of that apple...
(Also, comics-readers - Willow will one day be a part of another clear reference to the story of eden...)
"Willow is NEVER the same again after this episode". YES! As entertaining as this episode may be, my favorite thing about it is the way its influence is both immediate and lasting. Starting with the very next episode, Willow will be much more confident and brave. Joss Whedon puts character development above all else, which is how he managed to create the most realistic-feeling characters I've ever seen. And Willow is definitely one of his top 5 characters, IMO.
And finally, congratz on putting out 2 episodes in 2 weeks! We all deeply thank you.
+Guy R I love D'hoffryn, too!!! Love how later in Season 7 he compliments her on her ******** (don't want to S*P*O*I*L for those here who are first watching BTVS) and offers her a job.
+Guy R Also love D'hoffryn's "Who do you think you're dealing with?"
Mindy Newell Oh, totally, D'hoffryn's an amazing villain! I wish we'd have gotten more from him.
"BEHOLD D'HOFFRYN! LORD OF
ARASHMAHARR, HE THAT TURNS THE AIR TO
BLOOD AND RAINS DEATH UPON --
(looking around)
Ms. Rosenberg! How lovely to see you
again. Have you done something with
your hair?"
+Guy R TOTALLY!!!!! I love that!!!!!
How can I say anything other than ... yes! Your review is on point, and this episode is just fantastic.
This is MY favorite Buffy episode of all time…Anya being my favorite character.
Fun note this is the ONLY time willow wears the pink sweater.
In the fourth season, when Chipped Spike and Willow are talking about his "performance" issues, he says he wanted to bite her way back when, when he saw her in the pink sweater... so my question is this... which willow was it.
JR_The_Ferret LetsPlay Does she not wear it in Lovers Walk, when Spike captures her?
I think this episode may be the earlier form of the episode Tabula Rasa. Especially with the connecting lines "I think I'm kinda gay"
I don't love this episode as much as everybody else seems to but I will admit it is solid; VERY solid. And that stinger was just perfect. :)
Amazing episode. Really can't wait until you get to season 4
One small issue bother me; after Willow have reached this level of "pencil control" there is no reason for her not to stake vampires from a distance. She coul SO easily stake a fighting vampire from a distance if the script told her to :-)
it's easier said than done remember she lost control of that pencil and then their is a whole issue of having aim it's risky to put will in that position. Maybe by season 4 she had the skill definitely season 5
+The810kid Sure. She would be both IN danger and A danger before later seasons. But she could theorethically use "pencil magic" if she found an opportunity. Because she would have wanted to help :-)
With her increasing skill she`d be quite helpful after she got more experience, and it`s something I suppose Willow would insist on doing.
TheTiDman I do believe she stacked a vampire In a later episode this season in the way we're talking about however when she gets abducted
+The810kid Yes she do that. Perfect proof of the concept :-)
This episode is in the top 3 for me of the series. Willow and Anya make this so amazing and the writing is flawless
Doppelgang land was one of the most fun episodes this season and the series along with Zeppo
did you guys know Buffy has killed a human before?I am not talking about ted he is a robot.I was talking about Amy's mom in "the witch" she tried to use a spell on buffy to place her inside of a cheerleader trophy but Buffy deflected it with a mirror so the mom got turned into the trophy which I am assuming she died in graduation day when Buffy and Giles blew up the school
Thanks again, as always, for doing this entire series of reviews. Always a happy day when I get the RUclips alert that you've posted a new one!
Thanks for the lots of useful insight into this greatly beloved episode that was my number 1 favourite for years.
I got into Buffy with 3.13 The Zeppo, and with 3.16 my love of the show exploded off the scale! I still recall roaring with laughter at, "Gosh, look at those!"
I was disappointed you spent a lot of time on the Faith/Mayor relationship and then clumsily rushed through the rest of main plot.
I love these episode guides! But a) I weirdly kinda wish that I didn't know about them until much later so I could binge more than 2 seasons (like I did with Buffy! All of it in like 2 weeks!) , and b)it makes me immediately need to watch the episodes again even if I have them memorized. keep it up!
I was linked here by reddit, and then promptly marathoned all of your videos. They are amazing!! I've been a Buffy fan for a LONG time, but feel like I'm enjoying the series for the first time again thanks to your insight. Please upload more soon!
+Bee Bab Target is always Tuesday. I rarely hit the target. Welcome.
I feel the same way
I love Faith and the mayor together. Wilkins was my introduction to the Affably Evil Trope, which has since become one of my favorite tropes of all time (when decently done, at least. Any trope can be done poorly) There's something I just love about the juxtaposition between someone who is always warm and friendly who is also bent on world domination, and will, with little remorse, do what needs to be done to get it.
The "I think I'm kinda gay" loop at the end had me in stitches.
Episode like this make later episodes a joy to watch. How can you not watch this episode and know about Dark Willow. The capacity for darkness for this character?
Thank you for your reviews of the Buffy-Angel episodes. They are a college-type course about These shows, and I wish Fox would realize this and leave you alone.
We watched this last night. It's one of my favorites.
omg thanks for uploading this review it's perfect, really. Doppelgangland is one of my favourite episodes of season 3 along with earshot and the wish :D
Doppelgangland is absolutely in my top 5 favourites in the whole series. I've been waiting for this moment since you started the ep guide, and it was so worth it. Thank you as usual
The emotionally light weight aspect of the arc and the refusal to fully commit to its arc is one of the reasons I slightly prefer season two over three. But this is one of the show's best episodes.
Good episode.
Not bothered by its placement either. I think one of the greatest strengths of the show ends up being having the guts to veer off the main arcs for some side stuff, or monster of the week episodes. This one was a side show, not necessarily a monster of the week episode. The show always could come back to the main arcs without feeling too rushed.
+JasonLives666 I don't mind funny following serious. I just felt like the consequences of their actions in the previous episodes shown here, undercut a lot of the drama.
Maybe the underwhelming consequences that is the exams are a commentary on the council, it's what we'd expect from them. Some complex, messy, life event happens in the form of a murder, and their response is just an objective test. Fitting I think.
The relationship with the mayor and Faith i always tell my wife that he provided a father figure she desperately needed. A fatherly love that also let her indulge in her unhealthy impulses. He did love and care for faith in a twisted fatherly way but it was genuine. At least in my opinion. It was honestly so sad because i couldnt be mad at it i could only empathize with Faith who felt she finally found somsone who could love accept and nurture her.
You say that Willow accident poured the sand over her hand. I always interpreted it as Willow seeing this horrible world and realizing Anya isn't quite as innocent as she pretends. I had always saw this as Willow's last ditch effort to abort the spell.
I laughed my ass off this episode. I loved Angel having the same reaction as the others when he sees vamp Willow. I like your thesis this time and as always this was a great vid. I have a question for this whole Dopleganger thing. Is it possible to dream about our dark halfs?
Great video, as always. :) Don´t have much to say about Buffy as a show, so, I would like to just add something to those psychological/psychoterapeutical terms, like individuation or shadow (I think it wasn´t mention in this vid literally but it´s a lot about it), maybe somebody will be interested in this...
Today, as with many things, terms can and will get different meanings. But individuation itself, it´s something that Jung came with. This idea is core of his "psychoteraphy school", even if it was criticized by some of his later followers as it should be, since this is how we learn things. :-D
But basically, the best and simplest explanation of what is individuation (at least from jungian perspective) is that individuation is basicaly your way, how to became what you already are. Sounds easy, doesn´t it? :) But that´s quite an issue. Lot of things Jung teached and used seems quite easy and like something you would like to attache to some beach picture and post it on facebook. But for Jung individuation was very complex and complicated process that he only tryied to understand... Also I think it is essential to say, that it is process, because Jung believed nobody will ever get at the "end" of this road. It is therefore much more metaphorical thing.
Shadow is part of it. Again, it´s more complex term than it looks but basically yes, shadow, this is our dark desires, things that we would like to be but we are not, things we try to hide, our opposite side, things we didn´t even know that live inside us...
Integration of shadow is part of individuation process. But as far as I do remember, Jung considered this huge or maybe even the most difficult part of the process. That´s simply nothing you could do during your lunch break. :)
So, basically all I am trying to do is to warn people from using those terms to loosely. It doesn´t matter so much, since they can be also used like this, just keep in mind, that if you really want to know something about individuation or shadow or anima/animus and so on and on, than read Jung or his pupils or his critics, don´t let everything to pop-psychology. Because I am little affraid those are one of most wrongly overused terms in posh easy-psychology magazines. Simply bear in mind, those terms are more complicated than it seems, that´s all I am basically trying to say. :-D
Also, funny thing (ehem :) ). Wheadon likes existencionalism, it was even mentioned many times and Buffy was also explained using existencionalism. That´s not an issue. Funny thing is, that Buffy is also rutinely explained using those jungian terms. Which again, is not an issue itself. What is more interesting is, that even if existencionalism and analytical psychology (Jung) seems like they can easily cooexist with each other and be used as we pleased (well, they can) at the same time, they are basically exact opposites in their core idea. You can play with both, but the core thing, that´s either right or left, you have to choose. They goes against each other. Which is ironic, cause I like both of those approaches but also we do have another opposite pair in Buffywerse.
But let´s just say it´s more of a coincidence. Not even Buffy is deep as this. :)
PS: sorry for long post in english, that does not resemble your earth english. :)
personally, I think that willow practising magic in the open is the fact that she is comfortable with her magic and she is happy with who she is
+BuffyRocks 1997 I get that. And yet Buffy keeps slaying a secret? Does that mean she's uncomfortable about it? Maybe. But I like believing that the magic in the open foreshadows the students acknowledgment in The Prom of the supernatural world, and that Willow doesn't have to keep it a secret. They all know.
I just think the pencil thing was small enough pretty much nobody would notice. You would have to be at a close enough, looking at them and at the correct angle to even see it. But yeah that scene could have just been set in the library or something.
Man I'm slowly getting hooked to this channel.