My FAVOURITE Episode? "The Dark Age" Reaction & ANALYSIS | Buffy the Vampire Slayer 2x8
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- Some deep themes and brave writing as we examine Giles' past. My commentary and review for "The Dark Age".
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This really shows that the character growth we saw in Halloween and Lie to Me are important and not forgotten about. I love that.
Like Willow's newly found confidence and being more assetive and leadery.
@@zenithquasar9623 yep! It’s great to see!
Great reaction. I think a big party of growing up is realizing that the adults in your life are just people with their own faults and issues they're dealing with.
Something else the episode touched upon that I found interesting is the different reactions from Giles and Ethan to this past event. It essentially scared Giles straight while Ethan dug deeper into the dark magics. You see that a lot with kids who are involved in risky behavior. Some come out of it just fine, some don't come out of it at all and others seem to revel in it.
Your outrage over Miss Calendar's "I destroyed your 1st edition with coffee" was hilarious and perfect.
It kept. Getting. BETTER!!! 😂😂😂😂
@@JhadeSagrav I'm still cackling.
I was eager for this one. You're the kind of reactor that I want to watch the ones that brings more moral questions and deal with heavier topics. Buffy is a fun show, but it also knows how to get serious
Giles, Ethan and the others started their own little occult group while they were at University to do magic for 'pleasure and gain' and end up summoning a demonic entity which ends up killing one of the group.
We have already seen a very similar setup earlier this season (and I think that is deliberate) with the college boys summoning demons in the basement of their frat house. We've also seen Billy's friends who were desperate to become vampires, which also has parallels in that teenagers are fascinated with the supernatural mysteries and get more than they bargain for.
So if Buffy now had met Giles back then, he and his group would likely have been the 'villain of the week' or at very least on 'opposite sides' of the story. We're given hints that using magic and dark forces always comes with a cost.
Incidentally, it also created a continuity blip because Giles says in the Witch episode that he's never done any practical magic, but I like to think it fits because he's so ashamed he lies about it.
I think it's even readable in The Witch that he's lying - not necessarily in his delivery of that line, but in his performance of the spell.
@@LadyGreensleeves33 oh, that's a great read too.
This episode is a great continuation of one of the key themes of buffy that was introduced in ‘lie to me’ which is that most of the time good and evil is not black and white but that there is inherent shades of grey in all of us! Great analysis as always
15:55 Zygons were the red alien invaders from Dr.Who.
Yes! God damn, you're right. I got my 'gons' all mixed up 😂
I watched this show when it aired originally. I was about a year younger than Buffy and it resonated strongly. The themes of adolescence and growing up were powerful lessons.
I love Buffy understanding Giles as a person not just an adult. What a relatable revelation she had.
Heey me too..❤❤
He was like a father figure to her..
The _past comes back to haunt you_ storyline can always be fun and/or interesting.
I’m feeling sick, so this was just what I needed! Great analysis as always. I agree - it’s a strong episode!
Thank you! I hope you feel better soon ❤️
Xander: I'm constant in my affections.
Me: Unfortunately.
You: That's the problem!
I'm delighted you're on the Dammit Xander Train.
Me too!
Please make the next two episodes one big video. I love your commentary ❤
this episode is such a banger. p.s. i write on and dog ear my books, but would never do it to someone else's!!
Haha, I actually find a dog-eared, note-scribed book kinda aesthetically pleasing/charming, I'd say it's specifically doing it to someone else's book/a library book or something that was the crime here 😂 so you're good.
I haven't missed a single review of yours on Buffy and thoroughly enjoy your insight. As someone who watched the show "live" as it aired it's so refreshing to see new life breathed into the episodes and to enjoy this new Buffy content, thank you!
Oh boy... if u analyze with such a depth an episode like this one, i can not wait to see u react to "certain" episode in season 4
"Gross Pointe Blanke" is a great John Cusack movie
so unexpectedly good considering the relatively silly premise
I liked his sister in that too, acting as his assistant/office manager. 😊
Coffee!?!? I died laughing
I was right there w u in the visceral anger about Giles book.
My big comment was the whole soul cannon/relationship thing is that it is cannon that the loss of one’s soul puts u in an emotional/mental stasis, so yes u have experience but u don’t mature and self reflect in that BUT on that note when it comes to Angel he was a very immature 24(?) yo when he was turned so just that is a bit ick in todays society. Wats truly against this argument for their relationship is that he has had the last 100 years for maturity and self reflection. So while he may be 220+ years old his soul is still 120+ years old. So still ick within the soul cannon.
Lastly….all ur commenting on ms calendar dying this ep made me laugh
The character development in this show is amazing as you’ll see.
Reminds me of Picard's characterization in the episode Tapestry. He became an uptight captain because as a student he picked fights and didn't care about consequences.
I love your parent-child : human being analogy, and I feel that's the point of the episode. When we're younger, we believe the adults in our lives are infallible; as we get older, we realise life and decisions aren't so black and white.
Except the decision to dog ear/highlight books. That's just straight up diabolical 👹
Great reaction, you always make my day with your in-depth commentaries so please keep doing what you're doing! ❤
This one didn't quite work for me, because it didn't really deliver on Ethan's earlier foreshadowing "I know who you are, Rupert, and I know what you're capable of... But they don't, do they?"
in this episode, it just appears that young Giles did something dumb and rebellious, a metaphor for messing with drugs, that had a bad consequence. But we also can't really feel how bad, because we had no emotional connection to the victim. One or two people die at Sunnydale every week after all. Also, it did not seem extreme enough that Giles would withhold information from Buffy, obviously endangering her.
Here is my head canon to fix it: Firstly, we make it clear the three were as close as Buffy, Xander and Willow, and even had a shared dynamic. For example, Giles = Buffy, Xander = Ethan, Willow = the victim.
Secondly, the victim did not just die. Giles destroys them as the only way to expel Eyghon from this world. Giles has to believe this was the correct decision and this drives him back to his studies, in a sense sacrificing his own life for the greater good. Ethan believes Giles murdered their closest friend and now opposes everything Giles stands for.
Giles can't have this conversation with Buffy because he cant face the idea he killed his friend needlessly, but he knows Buffy would not give up, and would inadvertently just keep forcing him to revisit his conclusion over and over (uselessly, he tells himself).
Just found your videos, didn't think I could love you more, and then you go and say you're pro-Palestine. Gorgeous. Loved this analysis, and free Palestine!
It's so satisfying to see you dig in and analyze the episodes. I'm glad your enjoy it and this little 3 episode arc with Halloween, Lie To Me and Dark Age is really excellent trio. We're really getting in to the flow with it!
Great analysis, and spot-on about the writing in this episode (and the whole show, more broadly)!
Yess! So excited to see a new upload.
A Giles and Ethan episode with your thoughts and commentary ❤ multiple treats at once!
Another great breakdown, Tyler 👍
I thoroughly enjoy your analysis and reaction. And silliness. Wonderful. Thanks. :)
Hi, I think you're watching the 'enhanced' episodes.. you miss a lot unless you watch the originals.. sorry I'm not tech minded but no doubt someone will give you the proper info 🤣🤣 literally the most useless comment ever 😮
Comments like yours helped me find the best version of Buffy (the original), so not useless at all! I heard that entire scenes have been cut out of the HD remaster, which is so much worse than the addition of boom mics and crew or weird colors. It's sad that all the streaming services only have the HD remaster version.
@em8066 So happy it wasn't entirely useless 🤣 It was looking at a very weird Giles face that made mention it, he looks like he'd been ironed 🫣🤣
I think this was of the pretty average episodes of S2, but it is interesting that we gradually getting to see that Giles is much more than he seems. Jenny of course is gradually being brought in more in S2 to enhance the storylines. The Xander/Cordelia constant bickering at this point is driving Willow mad, and she unloads in the library. We have the interminable Ethan Rayne back again, one of the nastiest characters in the show, a thorn in The Scoobies side throughout. Funny scene when Xander is asked 'did you find anything' and he produces a pic from the 70s of Giles playing bass in a rock band. Better to come in S2, but not a bad episode overall. We can see how much you are really enjoying the show now, it just engrosses all that come across it, mainly due to such brilliant characters everyone can empathise with.
Love your indepth analysis on these
This is such a satisfying episode with so much character development. I love seeing so much more of Giles as a man and not just as a Watcher and the juxtaposition of the early flirty scenes between Giles and Jenny and the scenes at the end where there's so much distance between them just hurts so much and is such great storytelling. Super insightful commentary as always Tyler. Your reactions bring so much more to the table than just watching the episode and I really appreciate it.
I don’t think they’re capable long term without Giles. That’s my gut take on it right now.
Great reaction. Always liked this episode. More Giles is never a bad thing.
"That can't be good goo." 😂 Is there good goo?
I wonder how much of Giles backstory is inspired by Constantine.
I feel like this is a little bit of an underrated episode and I’m really happy you enjoyed it as much as you did. I love Willow so much. She really takes charge this episode and it most definitely will not be the last time we see that happen.
Go tea. Yes, coffee withdrawal symptoms are a bitca, but for the love of England, go full British, please!
I love how you already know Ethan's gonna come back. You're not wrong. That episode is another fan favorite.❤
Happy to see Pullman on the bookshelf, but, as much as I squint, I can't find any Pratchett.
I could've sworn I saw your reaction for the episode after this one come up on my feed, but when I came back to my computer with snacks I couldn't find it anywhere! Did I hallucinate that???
This isn't meant to pressure you to do more BTVS eps faster or anything by the way, if I'm wrong, maybe I just saw an old video and got confused, but I'm just genuinely feeling like I'm crazy right now and wondering if anyone else knows what I'm talking about lol
The next two are up on early access. I've no idea if that means they can come up on your feed. I don't THINK that's the case but 🤷♂️ sorry that happened though 😅
No worries! I appreciate the response, and I'm just glad I understand the situation better now lol@@TylerAlexander
It’s so funny you love this episode, not because it’s bad, but i think it’s largely un-memorable in the show’s canon. One time I forgot it existed during a rewatch and I thought I was watching a whole new episode of Buffy that I had never seen before.
Pretty much the show won't let up from now on...like 2-3 episodes here and there but yeah. This is Buffy finding its groove, deepening its characters.
That’s the beauty of great art: how it can bring people of different philosophies together. You would be hard pressed to find the social / political issue we agree upon and yet I find your take on Buffy & Breaking Bad very interesting. Thank you for sharing your time Tyler.
Thanks for such thorough and awesome recaps! More of your cat, please. :)
Going through a stressful move.. i'm totally late to the party here, but sooo glad to see a new vid. Just what I needed.
You *know* Giles is bigger. 😏
Amy Yip !
I have said this so many times, but I'm going to say it again: I love hearing your writer's perspective on my favorite show. It's like you're explaining to me why I love this show so much 😄 Great reaction as always! Thanks for sharing!
I knew you'd dig this one.
Hey look at me, I'm finally a member of your channel 😁😎
Welcome! ❤️
If Miss Calendar hadn't held class on a Saturday she wouldn't have gotten possessed. Really her own fault if you think about it
9:56 🎶 lean on meeee🎶 haha I laughed out loud at the little camera jiggle
Too many great episodes on a row!
Always been on the same raft as you with the angel thing. The ONLY thing that really helps me is the fact that Angel is like… 19 years old or something. Eternally. So definitely he is experienced and old but does old = aged?
Spoilers ..
Sorry to have to tell you this, but he was actually 26 when he was turned! We see his gravestone in an episode of Angel the Series.
So even if he was human, it would still be very creepy for him to be involved with 16 year old Buffy!
@@amandabaker4678 26?! Oh thank god. I can handle creepy but not s5 Boreanaz as 19 😂
I thought I was the only person who calls coffee "nectar of the gods."
Really enjoy your buffy reactions. Can't wait for season 6 in 2028
Bro, if it takes that long, I'm here for the ride. Stop rushing content creators. You don't rush art, buddy.
Perfect. Lots of time for more Buffy
Willow is JEWISH I'm sure her stance would be more about freeing the hostages.
Zionists don't understand that rational and sane jews are calling for a ceasefire and support Palestine. We know Willow's character and her intelligence and empathy. To suggest she wouldn't understand the historical context and identify where to place her empathy is absurd and shows you not only don't understand Willow's character, but your ignorance on current world events as well.
We live in an age of information, stop being this lazy and degenerate in your critical examination of a situation.