Episode 8: I Robot, You Jane

Finally, a Willow-centric episode. Her computer-geekiness is highlighted, and she gets to play "infatuated girl" very cutely. The show's take on technology is interesting. Willow is the uber-techie, and her skills are often the deus ex machina of the plot. She's essential in that capacity. However, she and Jenny Calendar are just about the only people who touch computers in the show. I can't remember very many times that Xander or Buffy do, and Giles is blatantly anti-tech, although he's willing to have Willow use them.

For all Willow's savvy, though, it's Xander who understands that anyone can be anything on the internet. While Buffy is worrying that Willow's online boyfriend might "have a hairy back," Xander points out that Malcolm could be creepy and dangerous. Makes me wonder what Xander spent his evenings doing...

Even though he's definitely not interested in Willow romantically, Xander's speed at discounting Malcolm leads Buffy to conclude he's jealous, or at least missing his status as "belle of the ball." That's an interesting phrase; as the male of the triad, he's less masculine than the jocks and typical boys; he apparently has no male friends at this point--except possibly Giles. As we find out later, Xander's home life sucks and he's terrified of turning into his father, an overbearing boor, possibly abusive, possibly alcoholic. Just as Giles becomes Buffy's father figure, he may be Xander's model of manhood--and at this point, Giles is slight effete, bookish, and, well....old-maidish. That evolves, too. Calling Xander the "belle of the ball" because he's the male of the trio underlines his less-than-studly position in the group.

Giles gets a few moments to shine, finally having an adult to verbally spar with. Jenny Calendar is apparently his intellectual equal, but with a different enough viewpoint that sparks fly. He's incredulous about neo-paganism, she believes he's stuck in the Middle Ages.

And Willow, well, I'd like to say that she's at risk to turn into the female stereotype that Whedon wanted to overthrow by having Buffy fight back--Willow's needed rescuing a couple times now. However, this time she grabs the fire extinguisher and whales on Malcolm/Moloch as she banters--"I think we need to break up, but I hope we can still be friends..."

Thus far, her low self-esteem and puppy dog gratefullness at being chosen as Buffy's BBF have been defining characteristics (Hyena-Xander even commented on this: "You're doing what you're told," not thinking for yourself, he tells her). I suspect the writers struggled more with finding Willow's voice; she's the girl they had as a friend as they looked longingly at the Buffy-type girls in the school. I need to check, but I think the writers for the first season are almost entirely male. They understand Xander--maybe, like Whedon, some of them were Xander; Buffy is their linchpin, and they know what she wants and how she thinks. Joyce is still a fairly typical, clueless mom, and Giles has barely grown past the stereotype of stuffy British teacher--the evolution of Willow is perhaps one of the most compelling parts of the series. They don't know her yet...but they will!