Reptile Boy

This episode is...ok. That's really the best I can say about it. As I watched, I realized that frat boys are consistently portrayed stereotypically. The BtVS writers have no empathy for frat boys, not ever. Even Riley, who's as close to a frat boy as anyone, they quickly make into military/grad student; if he had an undergrad frat history, it's long over. Wonder if Joss and his merry band of pensmiths were shunned (or worse) by frats? Could the vividness of Xander's humiliating dance at the frat party could stem from personal experience? Gotta wonder...

They don't have the same bias against sorority girls. I can't remember Greek females being mentioned ever, but Cordelia--and Buffy, too--would be prime pledge material. As hard as it is to imagine right now, Cordelia does evolve as a character into a sensitive, smart, capable friend, so potential sorority girls can morph into real people. Frat boys aren't so lucky in the Buffyverse.

The difference between archetype and stereotype is exemplified in this series. Archetypes are evoke primal, universal imagery, adding a layer of meaning to the story or character. Giles is an archetype--the Wise Teacher. The Gandalf, the Yoda, the Master. He is also a stereotype, the prissy librarian, anti-tech, lives with his nose in a book, seemingly uptight and nerdy. As an archetype, we trust that Giles will act certain ways: he will give good advice; he will have special knowledge; he will let Buffy make mistakes, but make sure she learns from them. As a stereotype, we expect Giles to act certain ways: he follows rules; he values knowledge; he trusts books; he likes organization and predictability.

Introducing a character as a stereotype is a shortcut, making it easy for the audience to recognize and relate to it at first. Adding a few quirks or unexpected twists may personalize the character somewhat--Willow was smart nerd girl, but her unfailingly positive disposition and sunny, odd speech patterns differentiated her; now, she's still nerd girl, but she's also smitten, loyal best friend. Her evolution into a person as opposed to a stereotype has begun. Thus far, Giles' is still stereotype; that begins changing soon, I think, but he always has a distance due to age and status as the Wise Teacher that renders him less rounded.

Quick things to notice:

• Buffy lies to Giles. That shocks and upsets Willow, who later slightly reams Giles for pushing Buffy hard enough that Buffy feels that she has to lie. Giles concedes Willow is right, but Buffy and Giles do still have a bit of a discussion about her lying. (Contrast that with times that Willow, Buffy and/or Xander need to clear the air about something and just imply it...the dance, for instance.)
• Buffy drinks alcohol. And it's drugged and she's nearly sacrificed to the snake/boy demon. I think that every time they drink the first four seasons, something bad happens. Beer bad, you know! Gotta watch to see when that shifts--she gets drunk with Spike in season 6, I remember, and nothing bad happens...I think.
• Again, Xander follows Buffy into danger. This time, though, he gets hazed by the frat boys, reminding us that Xander is supposed to be comic--even his entrance into the frat, falling headfirst into the window--is humorous. He does help save her and Cordy, though. Again.
• Gotta think about this: Giles and Angel talk to each other like peers, more than Giles does to anyone else (except maybe Jenny, when he's able to form sentences around her??) It's not just age, either--he's not like that with Spike ever; it's not just the soul, because Giles tries to kill Spike agter Spike earns his soul. I'm watching closely to see what I'm basing this on.

Overall, though--this isn't an episode I'm engaged by. The next one, though, is one I think I liked. We'll see,...