Episode two: The Harvest

There's lots of things I could say to use the blatheringly impressive cultural criticism-y words I know, but there's really just one thing about this episode that I want to add.

Near the end, after Buffy rescued all the people at the Bronze from the Master's minion, Luke, Xander says "Nothing will ever be the same." Next shot, the high school courtyard the next day, Cordelia suggesting the it was rival gangs or something that invaded the Bronze--it's John Hughes High again, complete with totally un-Buffy-like soundtrack. Giles, Xander, Willow and Buffy walking, and Xander ironically comments about how wrong he was.

But he wasn't wrong. Buffy coming and those two chosing to be in the vortex of vamp chaos has changed everything--for them. Willow, simpering, scared bookworm, stood up to Cordelia in computer class both verbally and by giving "helpful" advice that caused Cordy's homework to be deleted; After trying to do the Luke/Annikan speech to his friend ("I can feel that there's still good in you," Xander claims as his friend is trying to turn Xander), Xander stakes Jesse, albeit by accident when a bypasser bumps into the vampire. Still, Xander was in position and had be specifically admonished by Giles that Jesse was no longer his friend, but rather the thing that killed his friend. Xander and Willow both begin redefining themselves because of their role in saving the humans from the Master. Jesse is the only male friend Xander apparently has; later in the series, he comments on needing some male friends. It's ironic then (and probably worth thinking about) that he ends up in a career that is traditionally male, as a construction worker. Hmmm...will ponder this more.

And Buffy? She was not going to be the Slayer. No way, not her--but outside of the Bronze, she's issuing orders like Patton. She hasn't embraced the role, but instead of focusing on being one of Cordelia's crew, she seeks out Willow and accepts Xander as her friends. She shows from the beginning that her way of being the chosen one is different; she's connected to others--which is the key, according to Spike in season five to why she's lasted so long as a Slayer: Slayers may have a death-wish, as Spike claims, but Buffy's also got a life outside of slaying.

Couple quick notes: we still don't know Angel's a vampire, interestingly enough, and he stays totally out of the fight--we find out later that Darla (the blond vamp) is his "sire," the person who turned him, and it's his vampire family that is in Sunnydale trying to raise the Master. So his reticence at pitching in? Maybe he's just waiting for the right moment to announce his presence.

And that ties in with the other point: yeah, some supernatural traditional lore is used (stakes, Holy Water, etc), but Whedon takes artistic licence with legend and folklore whenever he wants. That doesn't bother me usually, but I'm not a purist!