Welcome to the S4 masterpiece: Hush was one of a handful of episodes that became a benchmark for peak TV, then and now. Horror, done incredibly well, but with the added twist of voice being stripped away...leaving dialogue a pantomime session...with the cast using physical/facial language to express themselves, stretching their skills and showcasing how much talent they really had. In many respects, Buffy was the writers/actors training ground of its time, spawning a LOT of careers. This was one of those episodes that turned what you expected on its head and surprised you...pleasantly. You guys really noticed how much it drove home the point that speech almost gets in the way of communication...we take it for granted, and yet self expression is so difficult and confusing. Take it all away, and somehow a greater level of honesty is possible. I always loved this episode because...a long time ago, a lover of mine was deaf and mute. All our communication was by sign, by intimacy, by facial expression and pantomime, I wish we could have seen this episode together...he'd have loved it as much as I do.
In a great majority of polls regarding fan's favorite episode, this is among the top 3. Of course, the only way to find out the other 2 is just to keep watching. 😊
Thanks guys. Such a great episode. Shout out to Doug Jones who played the Lead Gentleman and who might be best known for playing creatures in several Guillermo del Toro movies (including two of the best fish men on film; noted for Mike).
Saru on Star Trek Discovery, Baron Afenas in the What We Do in the Shadows TV show, Billy Butcherson the zombie in Hocus Pocus 1 & 2, and many, many more. Anytime you see a tall skinny guy in a show or movie, especially if there's a lot of creature makeup, it's probably him.
The piece Giles played was Danse Macabre by Saint Saens, a similar story in the music, the oboe solo in major represents the sunrise destroying whatever the evil was, a witch I think, my memory stinks, I’ve played pieces thousands of times and can’t remember composers, plots, etc. There was a guy in our orchestra you could say “hey, that concert in January of like, 2012, what did we play?” And he’d rattle it off..”oh yeah..so and so was the soloist who played this, the overture was X, and after intermission we played Z..”. I’ve never understood ppl who have memories like that..
Back when the show was on TV, there was a strong feeling that it should win Emmys for the actors, the writing, the directing, etc. But it's a genre show, so of course it barely did. There was also, on the "TV critics" side of things a notion that the real value in the show was that it had clever writing. This episode was Joss Whedon's answer to "all it's good for is the witty banter". This episode also won an Emmy for best script. Go figure.
All true, except the Hush script didn't win the Emmy. It was nominated, but The West Wing won that year. It was practically criminal the way Buffy was overlooked year after year, all because it was a genre show.
@@corgiluver9718 True. And my memory of this is a bit fuzzy, so please someone correct me if I get the details wrong...even after the script was nominated, it was accidentally left off the ballot that was sent out to voting members. They had to send out a special notice about it having been left off or something like that. (I don't think they actually reprinted the ballots and sent them out again.) So, yeah, lots of things stacked against the show, even when it finally did get a major nomination.
@@youtert You're absolutely correct. Every show is in some type of genre. It's just that, back in the day, sci-fi/fantasy/horror shows were distinctively different from most types of shows on TV. So the media and general public started using the shortened "genre show" as a blanket term for any show in those specific categories. Similar to how people now say "I need a Kleenex" instead of saying "I need a facial tissue," even if they're not specifically using the Kleenex brand of tissues. I use Puffs, but I never call them that. lol
the song the little girl sings in Buffy's vision is both creepy and relevant, it goes liek this: "can't even shout, can't even cry, the gentlemen are coming by, looking in windows, knocking on doors, they need to take seven and they might take yours. Can't call to mum, can't say a word, you're gonna die screaming but you won't be heard." The Gentlemen are a fairy tale...much like the Gingerbread episode and Killed by Death episode.
Best episode for reactors… ever. Fun and enthusiastic responses to not just a clever episode by one that uses the gimmick and Monsters to move the relationships and emotions of each main character.,Despite no verbal communication, the status of the main 4 is not only being put into place but set up logically with purpose. Hush receives and deserves the accolades of one of the top tier episodes. Almost every fan will have this definitely in the Top 5 and mostly Top 3. What is overlooked are all of the aspects of Buffy’s dream. Please remember that the first scene in the entire show was Buffy having a prophetic dream. It is one of the main protections provided for a Slayer. All parts of a dream are crucial.( Rewatch Buffy’s first dream and there is most all Season 1). Her dream is more than just The Gentleman. There is information that The Slayer will need for battles and understanding of her environment. No Buffy dream is random. No Buffy dream is frivolous. Whenever Buffy has a dream it’s a warning and clue for Buffy and what’s to come. Without her dreams she would not be prepared for what’s to come .
Iconic episode! And I laughed so hard when you guys were laughing at Buffy's "hand gesture" explaining how she would kill them. 😂 This is also one of my Top 3 fav episodes. FYI: Sarah Michelle Gellar said in an interview that, while she acknowledges the fans' fav episodes from the show, her own fav Buffy episode is The Prom, Ep 20 in Season 3, where everyone recognizes and awards Buffy as the Class Protector of Sunnydale High. I have to admit that it's also up there in my Top 5 episodes of the whole show. 😊
The Prom is a truly amazing episode. It's a total emotional roller coaster ride in a 42 minute episode. From the anticipation of the prom, to the sadness of the breakup then the high of the class protector award and Angel showing up for the final dance. Also, I'm sure SMG loved the wedding scene and getting to wear that beautiful wedding gown.
I think tons of people think this is the best episode of the entire series. I can't really rate episodes much, but it's definitely one of my favorites. It's perfect and very different, and it's pivotal or the whole show. Top 5, at least.
I agree that it's a great episode and one of my favourites. "The Wish", "Hush", and 3 yet to be named episodes. Top 10 I would include the season 1 finale, season 2 finale, season 3 finale... ah, all the finales. I think I have a Top 20. haha
I remember watching this as a kid and I loved it. It was my favorite and it was one of the scariest to me. This show is good at foreshadowing, everything is always intentional in this show which makes you feel like the creators and writers care and love their jobs.
I lost track of when you asked if they were real fairy tale monsters. They're not. They came right from Whedon's head. I read he had a nightmare about them and incorporated them into the show.
Mike and Mikey, Joss Whedon's impetus to create "Hush" was his reaction to hearing that the primary reason behind Buffy's success was the dialogue. He felt that he was stagnating as a director, turning into a "hack" by making formulaic episodes. Whedon tended to concentrate so much on the visual aspects of the series' production that he was chastised by Fox executives in earlier seasons. Thus, writing and producing "Hush" depended almost solely on visuals and not on dialogue, a prospect that Whedon found terrifying, worried that viewers would find the episode boring. Whedon was certain he would fail at attempting to present the show in such a novel way. Initially, this was to be the episode where Riley and Buffy have sex, and Whedon took comfort in that plan because he knew people would not mind the silence, but ultimately he decided it was too early for the characters to sleep together, and he scrapped the idea.
A critic around the time thought quippy dialogue was all this show was. Joss didn't understand why he could think that, so he wrote an episode where he couldn't think it. Slayers having prophectic dreams could easily be a crutch to the show. I love that they are used sparingly, like it doesn't happen often. Not many people guess its voices being stolen as they are being stolen. Most people don't make the realization until Buffy and Willow try speaking to one another. I love that Spike doesn't consider Xander bitable and we've had a past episode with Willow flattered that he would bite her. Everyone but Buffy and Riley learned how to communicate verbally when non-verbal communication was taken away. I liked that Mike understood that was the point as they haven't communicated well even before this episode. Before even the smart classrooms and cell phones. That's a huge reason why shows like this are popular. Its become too easy for a character to whip out a phone and bypass interesting story because of it.
Ive heard, may be wrong, but that this was made because someone criticised the show saying (and how is this even a criticism?) that it was carried by the dialogue...so they did a mainly silent episode which turned out to be one of the best.
@@opheliabelleu8025 Yeah sure good dialogue, but it's really the characters and the story. They created individuals who are complex, unique and feel real. They didn't need "dialogue" which shows the talent of the people behind the show. The creators also make sure that everything fits and makes sense, some other shows throw things at us and forget about them, in this show everything feels intentional which I appreciate.
Some of these predictions are gold, both those that end up true and those that don’t. This episode has become SUCH a classic. Still an favorite of mine!
Whedon fashioned The Gentlemen as something from a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, intending them to be frightening to children - monsters who carve out people's hearts, smiling as they do so. Nosferatu, Pinhead from Hellraiser, and Mr. Burns from The Simpsons all served as physical models for The Gentlemen.
I think The best episode of S4 by far. Brilliant innovative writing, The Gentlemen were among the scariest of BTVS monsters. The cast recalled it was actually exhausting to film with the effort that had to be put in talk but stay silent. The nightmare of being cut into and not being able to scream shown when the student is being held down while The Gentlemen extract his heart, really frightening. The comedy between Xander and Spike brings a little light relief, and also our introduction to Tara. A great stand alone episode. This is a brilliant episode but, I feel there are more in S5 and and in S6 that even eclipse this. This was a fantastic stand alone episode and fan favourite.
Fun fact: This episode was made in response to a review that said the best thing about the show was the dialogue. The writers went ahead and challenged themselves by writing an episode that was mostly dialogue-free.
We're finally here! One of the best and most unique episodes of the show and TV in general. You'll get one per season. The one in season 5 is the most devastating ever and the one in season 6 is the counterpart to this one. And always keep in mind: Even though they seem like entertaining fillers at first they reveal more secrets and push the plot forward further than any other episodes... Introducing Tara! ❤🎉
Ah, my favourite Buffy episode! Wonderfully written and directed, actors did great, the music is great, and the Gentlemen are super creepy! Plus, Xander beats up Spike! Extra points! Also, you say Willow is never gonna be evil, what about Xander? Could he be evil?
Top rated Buffy episode of all time but you won't recognise its' TRUE significance until later. Also Forrest's finest moment, "C'mon, c'mon!" makes me laugh every time.
18:31 Spikes body language and facial expressions are on point and this is just the beginning of Spikes ark. Buffy only gets better from here yall in for some grand episodes
Not a spoiler, but you were probably picking up hints of Willow potentially being bi from earlier seasons. The episode with Willow's doppleganger that is a vampire, she comments on the clothing and she also makes a passing comment "I might be a little gay". Little moments like this are hidden throughout earlier seasons.
I love this episode, but it's also creepy as hell. To have your heart cut out and you're screaming for help but no one can hear you?? Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying.
yea this is one of the memorable ones of the series, i def will never forget the monster faces lol the "terrifier" kinda stole his look from them i think
Giles, Xander, Anya and Spike never saw the Gentlemen, just Olivia's drawing. For some reason that always creeped me out. Like, imagine knowing those things are out there killing people but never seeing them.. I dunno how to explain why that creeps me out so much lol
The Gentlemen are such great monsters in design, but also an interesting metaphor for some of the worst villains of real life, usually old rich white men. Well-dressed and smiling, they float by untouchably and then delicately cut your heart out (white collar crime, many kinds of exploitation, racism, harassment, r*pe), while their minions do their grunt work. The Gentlemen thrive when the whole society is silent, and the only way to defeat them is to find your voice.
I think Tara went to Willow's old room from before she moved in with Buffy. That means Willow's former roommate probably got murdered. Just another example of how everything in this episode is about miscommunication!
Willow's new room, which is Buffy's room, is just next door from the one where someone was just murdered. I don't think Willow's old room and Buffy's room were that close. If so, then a) Buffy would hear the sounds of a huge party in Willow's room, and b) they won't call each other on the phone, they would just make a few steps and talk face to face.
I don't believe Willow's old room was even in the same dorm as Buffy's. Also, the sticky note Tara grabbed on the way out had Willow's correct room number (214) on it. She just knocked on #219 because it was one of the first rooms by the stairway when she was running from the Gentlemen.
A fantastic episode, but also the most overhyped/overrated episode imo. There are better ones to come in seasons 4-7 but this one gets a lot of the hype through osmosis
I can't believe you completely forgot about season 3 when will had a vampire version of herself and she was totally bisexual and very horny for normal willow.
Re: Willow's possible orientation -- Remember in Dopplegangland? Willow's reaction to her evil double's behavior is "I think I'm kinda gay." And Buffy tries to reassure her it doesn't mean anything and Angel says something like "Actually, a vampire's characteristics are based on the human whose body they inhabit."
Angel cut himself off before completing that sentence, it was "Actually..." Looks at Willow and Buffy ".... that's a good point." But the implication was that there was some influence.
“That was a little dramatic” Oh sorry your lordship that it didn’t come up to your high standards. I’m sure whedon will do better next time....Jesus.....
@@itsjezzer exactly. Every reaction channel has their own style, if people don't like a given channel's style, they could just move on to another channel. 🤷♂️ But no, they gotta complain, or suggest doing things differently. That's maybe cool if a reactor is still starting out and trying to see what works for them, but these guys have doing it their way for a long time, so if someone doesn't like it, they could just not watch.
Joss wrote this episode in response to a comment that people only watched Buffy for the quips and "teen dialogue."
Came here to say this.
There are about 1000 reasons this one is always listed in the top 3.
I would totally watch a Xander/Spike spinoff as wacky roommates in a sitcom.
Featuring Giles the Landlord?
At the beginning, Professor Walsh: “So this is what it is.. talking about communication, talking about language... not the same thing.”
Joss Whedon went on record that he has no idea how Anya's gesture got past the censors.
the kind of person who takes a job as a censor simply does not understand what the gesture means.
I love the original score for this episode. It has to do a lot of work and Christophe Beck crushed it.
“That person just stinks at driving” - well, given that the liquor store is the only one still open...
😂😂
The episode that spawned my favourite t-shirt 😂 'Buffy will patrol tonight' ❤
One of the best episodes of Buffy...... Of any season!
Welcome to the S4 masterpiece: Hush was one of a handful of episodes that became a benchmark for peak TV, then and now. Horror, done incredibly well, but with the added twist of voice being stripped away...leaving dialogue a pantomime session...with the cast using physical/facial language to express themselves, stretching their skills and showcasing how much talent they really had. In many respects, Buffy was the writers/actors training ground of its time, spawning a LOT of careers. This was one of those episodes that turned what you expected on its head and surprised you...pleasantly. You guys really noticed how much it drove home the point that speech almost gets in the way of communication...we take it for granted, and yet self expression is so difficult and confusing. Take it all away, and somehow a greater level of honesty is possible. I always loved this episode because...a long time ago, a lover of mine was deaf and mute. All our communication was by sign, by intimacy, by facial expression and pantomime, I wish we could have seen this episode together...he'd have loved it as much as I do.
One of two S4 masterpieces, imo. ❤
@@johnmoreland6089 completely agree...can't wait to see what they make of the other!
S-tier Buffy episode.
The gentlemen were played by professional mimes, so they knew how to be extra creepy just with hand motions and body language.
That's actually amazing
The best double entendre ever - and it's delivered completely without words.
Such a great episode. Hilarious and yet absolutely terrifying.
In a great majority of polls regarding fan's favorite episode, this is among the top 3. Of course, the only way to find out the other 2 is just to keep watching. 😊
What could they be? 🤔
👀👀👀👀
Wait. you're saying Go Fish and Beer Bad aren't the other two? 🤨
Right? Not too many shows have their best episodes in later seasons. This is a show that never jumped the shark for me.
@@jamesjeremyno S and WtWTA hahaha
I had to wait for this episode to say that sometimes when you guys clap 👏 it reminds me of The Gentlemen 😂😂
😂
“What’s this?”
“A clock a tower”
I laughed way too hard at that 😂😂😂
Thanks guys. Such a great episode. Shout out to Doug Jones who played the Lead Gentleman and who might be best known for playing creatures in several Guillermo del Toro movies (including two of the best fish men on film; noted for Mike).
I love that film.
Also shout out to Camden Toy who died last year and a fan favourite at Buffy conventions.
Saru on Star Trek Discovery, Baron Afenas in the What We Do in the Shadows TV show, Billy Butcherson the zombie in Hocus Pocus 1 & 2, and many, many more. Anytime you see a tall skinny guy in a show or movie, especially if there's a lot of creature makeup, it's probably him.
Buffy's only Emmy nomination for writing. The episode is in a three-way tie as the top rated episode on the IMDB. The other two are in later seasons.
It didn't win because the Emmys wouldn't know quality if it bit them in their collective butts
The piece Giles played was Danse Macabre by Saint Saens, a similar story in the music, the oboe solo in major represents the sunrise destroying whatever the evil was, a witch I think, my memory stinks, I’ve played pieces thousands of times and can’t remember composers, plots, etc. There was a guy in our orchestra you could say “hey, that concert in January of like, 2012, what did we play?” And he’d rattle it off..”oh yeah..so and so was the soloist who played this, the overture was X, and after intermission we played Z..”. I’ve never understood ppl who have memories like that..
I love Willow's description of the Wicca group as "a bunch of Blessed-Wannabees."
Back when the show was on TV, there was a strong feeling that it should win Emmys for the actors, the writing, the directing, etc. But it's a genre show, so of course it barely did. There was also, on the "TV critics" side of things a notion that the real value in the show was that it had clever writing. This episode was Joss Whedon's answer to "all it's good for is the witty banter".
This episode also won an Emmy for best script. Go figure.
All true, except the Hush script didn't win the Emmy. It was nominated, but The West Wing won that year. It was practically criminal the way Buffy was overlooked year after year, all because it was a genre show.
Also being on the CW didn't help with award recognition. And as annapurna writes, it didn't win but it was probably a miracle it was nominated.
@@corgiluver9718 True. And my memory of this is a bit fuzzy, so please someone correct me if I get the details wrong...even after the script was nominated, it was accidentally left off the ballot that was sent out to voting members. They had to send out a special notice about it having been left off or something like that. (I don't think they actually reprinted the ballots and sent them out again.) So, yeah, lots of things stacked against the show, even when it finally did get a major nomination.
I've never understood the term "genre show". Isn't every show in some genre?
@@youtert You're absolutely correct. Every show is in some type of genre. It's just that, back in the day, sci-fi/fantasy/horror shows were distinctively different from most types of shows on TV. So the media and general public started using the shortened "genre show" as a blanket term for any show in those specific categories. Similar to how people now say "I need a Kleenex" instead of saying "I need a facial tissue," even if they're not specifically using the Kleenex brand of tissues. I use Puffs, but I never call them that. lol
“Patrolling” to ‘petroleum’ is one of my favourite jokes! And him saying “tonight you will have crude oil?”
gentlemen are truly unique monsters!they deserve their own movie.too bad it will never happen!.. 💔
I love this episode because it’s the introduction of Tara. Xander and Spike being the comic relief is always a bonus. Highly entertaining episode.
I love that Mike still brings up the fish people. 😆🤣 Classic.
🐟🐟🐟
The lead gentleman is played by Doug Jones - Billy in Hocus Pocus; Abe in Hellboy; a whole bunch of stuff and is usually in a bunch of prosthetics.
He's the Baron in What We Do in the Shadows. Hilarious .. which is great for someone who is most known for physical roles/appearance.
the song the little girl sings in Buffy's vision is both creepy and relevant, it goes liek this: "can't even shout, can't even cry, the gentlemen are coming by, looking in windows, knocking on doors, they need to take seven and they might take yours. Can't call to mum, can't say a word, you're gonna die screaming but you won't be heard."
The Gentlemen are a fairy tale...much like the Gingerbread episode and Killed by Death episode.
Best episode for reactors… ever. Fun and enthusiastic responses to not just a clever episode by one that uses the gimmick and Monsters to move the relationships and emotions of each main character.,Despite no verbal communication, the status of the main 4 is not only being put into place but set up logically with purpose.
Hush receives and deserves the accolades of one of the top tier episodes. Almost every fan will have this definitely in the Top 5 and mostly Top 3. What is overlooked are all of the aspects of Buffy’s dream. Please remember that the first scene in the entire show was Buffy having a prophetic dream. It is one of the main protections provided for a Slayer. All parts of a dream are crucial.( Rewatch Buffy’s first dream and there is most all Season 1). Her dream is more than just The Gentleman. There is information that The Slayer will need for battles and understanding of her environment. No Buffy dream is random. No Buffy dream is frivolous. Whenever Buffy has a dream it’s a warning and clue for Buffy and what’s to come. Without her dreams she would not be prepared for what’s to come .
Iconic episode! And I laughed so hard when you guys were laughing at Buffy's "hand gesture" explaining how she would kill them. 😂 This is also one of my Top 3 fav episodes. FYI: Sarah Michelle Gellar said in an interview that, while she acknowledges the fans' fav episodes from the show, her own fav Buffy episode is The Prom, Ep 20 in Season 3, where everyone recognizes and awards Buffy as the Class Protector of Sunnydale High. I have to admit that it's also up there in my Top 5 episodes of the whole show. 😊
The prom is just a whole different style! Its hard to pick but that one is amazing
@@732ReviewCrewagreed!
The Prom is a truly amazing episode. It's a total emotional roller coaster ride in a 42 minute episode. From the anticipation of the prom, to the sadness of the breakup then the high of the class protector award and Angel showing up for the final dance. Also, I'm sure SMG loved the wedding scene and getting to wear that beautiful wedding gown.
This is my very favorite Buffy episode. It comes close to episodes in Seasons 5, 6 & 7, but it takes the #1 spot for me ❤
The monsters are right up there with the Doctor Who angels, IMO.
I think tons of people think this is the best episode of the entire series. I can't really rate episodes much, but it's definitely one of my favorites. It's perfect and very different, and it's pivotal or the whole show. Top 5, at least.
I agree that it's a great episode and one of my favourites. "The Wish", "Hush", and 3 yet to be named episodes. Top 10 I would include the season 1 finale, season 2 finale, season 3 finale... ah, all the finales. I think I have a Top 20. haha
Worried that it'll take the next 5 episodes to kiss and find out about each other. Well, you're in luck...
I remember watching this as a kid and I loved it. It was my favorite and it was one of the scariest to me. This show is good at foreshadowing, everything is always intentional in this show which makes you feel like the creators and writers care and love their jobs.
I lost track of when you asked if they were real fairy tale monsters. They're not. They came right from Whedon's head. I read he had a nightmare about them and incorporated them into the show.
this episode was nominated for an emmy
Mike and Mikey, Joss Whedon's impetus to create "Hush" was his reaction to hearing that the primary reason behind Buffy's success was the dialogue. He felt that he was stagnating as a director, turning into a "hack" by making formulaic episodes. Whedon tended to concentrate so much on the visual aspects of the series' production that he was chastised by Fox executives in earlier seasons.
Thus, writing and producing "Hush" depended almost solely on visuals and not on dialogue, a prospect that Whedon found terrifying, worried that viewers would find the episode boring.
Whedon was certain he would fail at attempting to present the show in such a novel way. Initially, this was to be the episode where Riley and Buffy have sex, and Whedon took comfort in that plan because he knew people would not mind the silence, but ultimately he decided it was too early for the characters to sleep together, and he scrapped the idea.
Oh my sweet summer children....
A critic around the time thought quippy dialogue was all this show was. Joss didn't understand why he could think that, so he wrote an episode where he couldn't think it.
Slayers having prophectic dreams could easily be a crutch to the show. I love that they are used sparingly, like it doesn't happen often.
Not many people guess its voices being stolen as they are being stolen. Most people don't make the realization until Buffy and Willow try speaking to one another.
I love that Spike doesn't consider Xander bitable and we've had a past episode with Willow flattered that he would bite her.
Everyone but Buffy and Riley learned how to communicate verbally when non-verbal communication was taken away. I liked that Mike understood that was the point as they haven't communicated well even before this episode.
Before even the smart classrooms and cell phones. That's a huge reason why shows like this are popular. Its become too easy for a character to whip out a phone and bypass interesting story because of it.
Ive heard, may be wrong, but that this was made because someone criticised the show saying (and how is this even a criticism?) that it was carried by the dialogue...so they did a mainly silent episode which turned out to be one of the best.
I've also heard that. It's a very Whedon response.
Actually, it was the opposite. It was frequently lauded for the clever dialogue, and Whedon took it as a challenge to write a dialogue free episode.
@@opheliabelleu8025 Yeah sure good dialogue, but it's really the characters and the story. They created individuals who are complex, unique and feel real. They didn't need "dialogue" which shows the talent of the people behind the show. The creators also make sure that everything fits and makes sense, some other shows throw things at us and forget about them, in this show everything feels intentional which I appreciate.
Some of these predictions are gold, both those that end up true and those that don’t.
This episode has become SUCH a classic. Still an favorite of mine!
Whedon fashioned The Gentlemen as something from a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, intending them to be frightening to children - monsters who carve out people's hearts, smiling as they do so. Nosferatu, Pinhead from Hellraiser, and Mr. Burns from The Simpsons all served as physical models for The Gentlemen.
Remember that this was before texting
Probably the most engaging pantomime we've ever seen.
I think The best episode of S4 by far. Brilliant innovative writing, The Gentlemen were among the scariest of BTVS monsters. The cast recalled it was actually exhausting to film with the effort that had to be put in talk but stay silent. The nightmare of being cut into and not being able to scream shown when the student is being held down while The Gentlemen extract his heart, really frightening. The comedy between Xander and Spike brings a little light relief, and also our introduction to Tara. A great stand alone episode. This is a brilliant episode but, I feel there are more in S5 and and in S6 that even eclipse this. This was a fantastic stand alone episode and fan favourite.
It's a top 3 for me!!
I think there's one more S4 episode that's a true masterpiece on par with Hush.
@@johnmoreland6089 Yes, I thinks I know which one you mean.
Fun fact: This episode was made in response to a review that said the best thing about the show was the dialogue. The writers went ahead and challenged themselves by writing an episode that was mostly dialogue-free.
And they did amazing
FWIW Willow does wonder if her alter ego is "a little gay" in Doppelgangland.
She literally said “I think I'm kinda gay” back then.
And when Buffy said “vampires are nothing like their hosts” Angel started to say “well actually…” but Buffy glared at him so he stopped.
And tbf vampire Willow was bi/pan.
@@higglety230 Yeah, but gays are edgy and bisexuals are just gross, according to network execs.
@@higglety230I wondered if they would remember that when this episode arrived. But seemingly not.
27:00 You might even say that once they get the talking out of the way, they can start to communicate
We're finally here! One of the best and most unique episodes of the show and TV in general. You'll get one per season. The one in season 5 is the most devastating ever and the one in season 6 is the counterpart to this one. And always keep in mind: Even though they seem like entertaining fillers at first they reveal more secrets and push the plot forward further than any other episodes...
Introducing Tara! ❤🎉
Ah, my favourite Buffy episode! Wonderfully written and directed, actors did great, the music is great, and the Gentlemen are super creepy! Plus, Xander beats up Spike! Extra points!
Also, you say Willow is never gonna be evil, what about Xander? Could he be evil?
Top rated Buffy episode of all time but you won't recognise its' TRUE significance until later. Also Forrest's finest moment, "C'mon, c'mon!" makes me laugh every time.
18:31 Spikes body language and facial expressions are on point and this is just the beginning of Spikes ark. Buffy only gets better from here yall in for some grand episodes
Loved Mike's commentary about Willow!! We love Willow!
Not a spoiler, but you were probably picking up hints of Willow potentially being bi from earlier seasons. The episode with Willow's doppleganger that is a vampire, she comments on the clothing and she also makes a passing comment "I might be a little gay". Little moments like this are hidden throughout earlier seasons.
I love this episode, but it's also creepy as hell. To have your heart cut out and you're screaming for help but no one can hear you?? Horrifying. Absolutely horrifying.
12:42 remember Willow moved in with Buffy. She went to Willow's old room.
yea this is one of the memorable ones of the series, i def will never forget the monster faces lol the "terrifier" kinda stole his look from them i think
Giles, Xander, Anya and Spike never saw the Gentlemen, just Olivia's drawing. For some reason that always creeped me out. Like, imagine knowing those things are out there killing people but never seeing them.. I dunno how to explain why that creeps me out so much lol
The Gentlemen are such great monsters in design, but also an interesting metaphor for some of the worst villains of real life, usually old rich white men. Well-dressed and smiling, they float by untouchably and then delicately cut your heart out (white collar crime, many kinds of exploitation, racism, harassment, r*pe), while their minions do their grunt work.
The Gentlemen thrive when the whole society is silent, and the only way to defeat them is to find your voice.
They cast actors who were also mimes to play the Gentlemen.
27:52 dude turned into a motorcycle engine for a moment there
21:03 cant believe Mickey picked up on that, good one!
Great episode. So funny. So terrifying. Now the season will pick up. About time as we are about halfway. Always fun watching with you all.
We don't know if Willow is a lesbian.
But Riley definitely is.
Yes! Yes! Yes! Been waiting for this reaction!!!
If we're going by Terry Prachett rules, a coven needs to be at least three.
TERRA!!!! ❤❤❤❤
I think Tara went to Willow's old room from before she moved in with Buffy. That means Willow's former roommate probably got murdered.
Just another example of how everything in this episode is about miscommunication!
oh snap!! Didn't even out that together
Willow's new room, which is Buffy's room, is just next door from the one where someone was just murdered. I don't think Willow's old room and Buffy's room were that close. If so, then a) Buffy would hear the sounds of a huge party in Willow's room, and b) they won't call each other on the phone, they would just make a few steps and talk face to face.
I don't believe Willow's old room was even in the same dorm as Buffy's. Also, the sticky note Tara grabbed on the way out had Willow's correct room number (214) on it. She just knocked on #219 because it was one of the first rooms by the stairway when she was running from the Gentlemen.
@@itsjezzerand if you're in a rush and don't look closely, 4 and 9 have similar shapes, so you could confuse them.
This episode is one of my fav's
my fav episode of buffy!
Creepy and funny = iconic episode 😊
When you stop talking you start communicating.
The "new girl" is named Tara.
Pronounced Tara, not Tara.
Evil vampire Willow was kinda gay...
I love your post-episode dialogues, but it is frustratingly hard to comment on it withiout tiptoeing into spoiler territory
So....do we think Willow is gonna turn evil?😅
Naw, no way...
28:15...😬
Vampire Willow was kind of gay.
Do you remember the episode "Dopplegangland" when Willow commented that her vampire doppelganger was "a little gay"?
Yes 👀
Spoilers dude. Why?
@@youtert, I'm sorry if I mentioned something that has already been seen.
A fantastic episode, but also the most overhyped/overrated episode imo. There are better ones to come in seasons 4-7 but this one gets a lot of the hype through osmosis
❤🧡💛💚💙💜
I can't believe you completely forgot about season 3 when will had a vampire version of herself and she was totally bisexual and very horny for normal willow.
In the doppelganger episode willow literally says " I'm pretty sure I'm gay" lol 😂
“I think I'm kinda gay”
The widescreen format ruined the timing of the stairway joke. You weren't supposed to see the sign until they walked off to the left.
Ever notice how Mikey talks ans talks and talks and goes so far in the wrong direction????
😂😂😂
❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍
Re: Willow's possible orientation -- Remember in Dopplegangland? Willow's reaction to her evil double's behavior is "I think I'm kinda gay." And Buffy tries to reassure her it doesn't mean anything and Angel says something like "Actually, a vampire's characteristics are based on the human whose body they inhabit."
Angel cut himself off before completing that sentence, it was "Actually..." Looks at Willow and Buffy ".... that's a good point." But the implication was that there was some influence.
“That was a little dramatic” Oh sorry your lordship that it didn’t come up to your high standards. I’m sure whedon will do better next time....Jesus.....
Calm down. If you don't like their reaction, then don't watch it.
Mikey spends every episode asking endless questions. Geez.
Yes, that's why they're called "reactions" and not "watch-alongs."
@@itsjezzer exactly. Every reaction channel has their own style, if people don't like a given channel's style, they could just move on to another channel. 🤷♂️
But no, they gotta complain, or suggest doing things differently. That's maybe cool if a reactor is still starting out and trying to see what works for them, but these guys have doing it their way for a long time, so if someone doesn't like it, they could just not watch.