Empty Places.

[elisi]

This is not an easy episode to like. But then I don’t think liking has much to do with it. To be honest I’m rather impressed with the way they have manged to capture such an all-pervading sense of hopelessness, making your heart sink lower and lower as you watch. Buffy is excellent in this - the way she desperately tries to keep her composure, that little half-smile when she says “It’s OK” or “I’m fine” for the umpteenth time and you can see how she curls further and further into a little ball, away from everyone.

I only have a few points. Firstly, when she goes to the High School, we can see a poster on a door in the background. It reads:

People
can
ALTER
their lives by altering their
ATTITUDES

Damn this show is good.

But of course the main thing is the ending - that horrible big confrontation. I’ve read the shooting script, and although there are a few things that might have made things work a little better, the difference isn’t huge (although the original doesn’t have the final scene with Faith).

First, what always strikes me is that Buffy is finally back on track. Until now she’s been reacting to things, because she doesn’t have a clue where to start. Willfully walking into Caleb’s trap in ‘Dirty Girls’ is (at least in part) about trying anything at all, because it’s better than doing nothing. But suddenly she’s had an epiphany - she knows what to do and why. She can take the initiative, finally. There is a certainty to her that’s been lacking for a long time. And then everything comes crashing down around her...

Pondering this scene, I came up with a very strange parallel that yet somehow made sense. Compare please:

1) BUFFY: I—I don't understand this. For 7 years, I've kept us safe by doing this— exactly this, making the hard decisions. And now, what— suddenly you're all acting like you can't trust me?
XANDER: I'm trying to see your point here, Buff... but I guess it must be a little bit to my left... 'cause I just don't.

2) BUFFY: Then what? What else do you want from me, Riley? I've given you everything that I have, I've given you my heart, my body and soul!
RILEY: You say that, but I don't feel it. I just don't feel it.

You can feel the frustration in both scenes, because Buffy feels that she did everything right and suddenly - out of nowhere as far as she can see - it’s all gone wrong. And - oh - oh - it’s ‘Help’ all over again! She did things the way she thought she had to, and now there’s a dead girl (= trust) at her feet. Dead because of heart failure! Wow. This is good. Because in both cases Buffy has been doing the job without engaging her heart:

1) BUFFY: These are girls that I got killed. I cut myself off from them...all of them. I knew I was gonna lose some of them and I didn't— You know what? I'm still making excuses. I've always cut myself off.

2) WILLOW: The pain is not a friend.
BUFFY: But then I can't help thinking, isn't that where the fire comes from? Can a nice safe relationship be that intense? It's nuts, but part of me believes that real love and passion have to go hand in hand with pain and fighting-

And both times, Xander - “The Heart of the Slayer machine” - was a fundamental part of things: In ‘Into The Woods’ he urged Buffy to open her heart, in ‘Empty Places’ he has been injured, and cannot support her anymore.

The problem is of course that she was trying to protect herself from pain, which as we know is the key thing for a Slayer (just to make sure this is the most quoted part of BtVS ever):

BUFFY: I'm full of love? I'm not losing it?
FIRST SLAYER: Only if you reject it. Love is pain, and the Slayer forges strength from pain. Love ... give ... forgive. Risk the pain. It is your nature. Love will bring you to your gift.

Because we know what rejecting love and pain leads to:

Angelus: If we could live without passion, maybe we'd know some kind of peace. But we would be hollow. Empty rooms, shuttered and dank... Without passion, we'd be truly dead.

And so, in ‘Touched’, Buffy will open a door and let Spike enter one of those empty rooms. Risks the pain. And love brings her to her gift.

Comments

[spikeylover.livejournal.com]

OOOH, I am saving this to my memories, that is great...

[elisi]

Thank you! :)

[shapinglight]

Beautifully put. I'm sorry I haven't managed to keep up with these posts. I do enjoy your meta.

Will try to catch up later.

[elisi]

Thank you! :) And I've not got round to reading your Spike/Darla fic yet... what I wouldn't give for more time!

[shapinglight]

I know the feeling but I have far less excuse than you.

[elisi]

People ask me what I want for my birthday - mostly I reply 'More time!' Sadly it's not easy to giftwrap...

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

The problem is of course that she was trying to protect herself from pain, which as we know is the key thing for a Slayer (just to make sure this is the most quoted part of BtVS ever):

BUFFY: I'm full of love? I'm not losing it?
FIRST SLAYER: Only if you reject it. Love is pain, and the Slayer forges strength from pain. Love ... give ... forgive. Risk the pain. It is your nature. Love will bring you to your gift.

Because we know what rejecting love and pain leads to:

Angelus: If we could live without passion, maybe we'd know some kind of peace. But we would be hollow. Empty rooms, shuttered and dank... Without passion, we'd be truly dead.

And so, in ‘Touched’, Buffy will open a door and let Spike enter one of those empty rooms. Risks the pain. And love brings her to her gift.

And, of course, this reverses Season Two when she does let love into her life (Angel) and it brings her nothing but pain; this time around she risks that pain again and it brings her back to love.

[elisi]

this reverses Season Two
Oh yes! I should probably have mentioned that...

[the-nites-gurl.livejournal.com]

Hi. :)
I enjoy reading your thoughts on these episodes. I've friended you, I hope you don't mind. I don't want to miss anymore of your insight into Buffy eps. Megan

[elisi]

Thank you! :) And new friends are always of the good. Welcome!

[aycheb.livejournal.com]

First, what always strikes me is that Buffy is finally back on track. Until now she’s been reacting to things, because she doesn’t have a clue where to start. Willfully walking into Caleb’s trap in ‘Dirty Girls’ is (at least in part) about trying anything at all, because it’s better than doing nothing. But suddenly she’s had an epiphany - she knows what to do and why. She can take the initiative, finally. There is a certainty to her that’s been lacking for a long time. And then everything comes crashing down around her...

I very much agree with your conclusion that Buffy needs to connect but this is not how I get there. Walking knowingly into Caleb’s trap she seemed not only to be taking the initiative but to have thought out quite clearly the reasons why she was doing it and what the risks and benefits were. In trying to get them to go in again, although she has figured out that Caleb is hiding something and is confident about that, the assault plan is completely unformed. There I think you see her desperate need to do something, to make up for the previous disaster coming in. She won’t be swayed on there being something they need to find at the winery but she does back down about the strategy for getting it. Eventually but by then everyone’s talking at cross purposes. They’re arguing against following her in another full scale attack while she’s defending her theory about there being something there in the first place to be worth attacking for.

I love this episode for its unrelenting bleakness. That final scene when she turns to Faith and tells her to lead them just says it all.

[elisi]

the assault plan is completely unformed
Yes, that's the weak spot! And which is why they're all at cross purposes - Buffy has the right idea, but (at this point) the wrong strategy. In 'Touched' she finds the right one, and succeeds. I still think her motives weren't as clear in 'Dirty Girls', when her plan was good.That attack was all about finding stuff out - who was Caleb, how well could the Potentials fight etc. Now Buffy has a clear goal - get what Caleb is protecting - but their new knowledge is working against her.

I love this episode for its unrelenting bleakness.
Me too. :)

[prophecygirrl.livejournal.com]

Lovely and insightful -- one of my favorite combinations. OK to friend?

[elisi]

Aw thanks! :) And you're more than welcome to friend me - I suck at replying to other people's posts, but try to make up for it by spamming... *g*

[lusciousxander.livejournal.com]

I used to hate Buffy in the last scene of Empty Places. I cheered when the Scoobies stood up to her stupid plan.

Now though, and even after watching the scene, I just don't take sides anymore. I think both sides have a point. I can't hate Buffy for trying desperately, and I can't hate the Scoobies for standing up to their opinions. I think both sides are right and wrong.

This post is so beautiful, especially the last part about letting Spike in. I've always thought that Buffy needed to connect, without connection, she'll always be lost and she'll always lose.

[elisi]

I cheered when the Scoobies stood up to her stupid plan.
Which just goes to show how different people are - most people ended up hating the Scoobies...

I think both sides are right and wrong.
::nods:: Buffy has the right idea, but the wrong plan.

without connection, she'll always be lost and she'll always lose
That's very well put. :)

[thalia-seawood.livejournal.com]

I really love all your essays. Your insight into the episodes is so deep!
I don't have much time to read my LJ or comment at the moment, but whenever I stumble across your essays I smile, nod in agreement and bookmark them. :-)

[elisi]

Your insight into the episodes is so deep!
Thanks! :) My husband just thinks I'm hopelessly obsessed... wich is probably also true!

And here's to you getting more LJ time - it's always nice to see you around! (And read your posts!)

[missmurchison.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this. I think that Buffy starts shutting doors way back in S2 when her romance with Angel leads first to his losing his soul and then to her having to kill him, and she keeps building up the barriers until those last episodes.

[elisi]

she keeps building up the barriers until those last episodes.
::nods:: As I put it in one of my fics:

Spike: But me - I stuck around until I had lit that flame again. I made bloody well sure before we went into that last battle, that she understood that it was OK to let herself be loved, and that if she loved back it wouldn’t end in tragedy!

[avrelia.livejournal.com]

thanks for the thoughts. Empty places is such an important part of the story! It wasn't unexpected - I remember thinking that the story would need a low point like that long before that - but oh so painful nevertheless! I love the B/F scene at the end - so much emotions, unsaid word, understood pain there...

and the scene in the hospital - followed by the Buffy looking at the Scoobiy picture..

what I wasn't expected - and I love - are the spike scenes there. the whole Spike & Andrew expedition is a joy to watch - even in the midst of the dread.

[elisi]

I love the B/F scene at the end - so much emotions, unsaid word, understood pain there...
Oh yes. BtVS really can do angst like nobody else - esp as you mentioned the part with the Scoobies... *sniff*

what I wasn't expected - and I love - are the spike scenes there
They are so adorable together! :)