Buffy Reviews

Gingerbread

Character - by Adreenis



Story - by JaKaL

     Gingerbread held true to form to the style of episode story line that we have seen so many times this season. The plot twists and turns a few times; the story line deals with the typical supernatural elements that we have come to know and love. In this case, it also deals with many issues of teenage life and historical elements as well.
     We begin with Buffy on patrol, and see her mother come out to watch and support her. In the course of the patrol, Joyce happens upon the bodies of two young children each branded with some sort of symbol. As the episode progresses, we find this to be the central plot of the episode, though there are more twists than we might at first think.
     As the episode runs its course, we are led to suspect Willow and Amy in the deaths of the children as we see them using the symbol found on the children for some sort of witchcraft. We also see Joyce take an active stance by organising a group against the Occult and witchcraft. It is at this point we see the introduction of the current issues and historical elements to the story line.
     The organisation, "MOO" (Mothers Opposed to the Occult), moves into the school, searching lockers, and confiscating all occult related material they find, including Giles' books! This clearly addresses issues that are important to teenagers today - privacy, being superficially judged on how they look or what their interests are, and parents who seem not to take an interest in their children. After the students have their lockers searched, Amy, Michael and Willow get into trouble simply because of their locker contents. Additionally, we see repeated examples of how Willow's mother takes little or no notice of her, usually in the context of dismissing Willow's words and ideas without a second thought. In addition to these modern issues, we can see, as the episode continues, the parallel between the situation in Sunnydale and the Salem Witch Trials.
     The plot line twists again as we find that Joyce's actions are actually spurred on by the children themselves, or possibly the spirits of them. She sees them constantly, and they continually tell her to help them, to avenge their deaths by eliminating the "bad people". As well, we find Giles and the group going into research mode, to find that these children have never really existed and that they show up every 50 years in exactly the same situation preceding a surge of hatred in the populace. It is Giles who makes the connection: the children aren't really children at all, but a demon that feeds on the hatred and destruction it provokes.
     This revelation comes too late though, for as they go to make Joyce and the rest of MOO understand this fact, the group turns on them, knocking them out. We then see Joyce look to the not quite children on the stairs who counsel her to "make the bad girls go away forever". At the same time, we see Willow's mother take her captive. The episode moves on to show Buffy, Willow, and Amy tied to stakes and surrounded by occult books, with the watching crowd preparing to burn them at the stake (all in the name of love and caring). Amy frees herself using magic to transform herself into a rat, but Buffy and Willow are still trapped. As they try to escape, we see Cordelia revive Giles and explain the situation to him and further aid him in mixing a concoction which, in addition to a spell Giles must cast, should reveal the demon in it's true form and break the spell that has fallen over the adults of Sunnydale.
     This works as planned, and the demon is revealed and moves to finish Buffy once and for all. The resulting battle was one of the more comical points of the episode, as Buffy uproots her stake and bends forward, letting the demon impale itself on the wooden beam. The comedy comes from the look on Buffy's face as she says "Did I get it?", unable to see what it is she has done.
     Overall, this episode was truly high voltage, from beginning to end. In it, we are faced with the historical parallel of previous "witch hunts" including the Salem witch trials and 1950's McCarthyism, together with current issues of teenage life. As well, we are introduced to the type of mob mentality that can be so easily born of hate. The episode was not high on the usual jokes and comedy that can be seen in many episodes, though it is my feeling that the sacrifice of a few laughs for the serious topics and powerfully charged force of this episode's plot lines. I'd have to give this episode 4 out of 5 eh's.

Villian - by Kaboo

     The nature of villainy is questioned in the episode titled Gingerbread. Although the theme of the "demons within" has been explored in BTVS previously, the evils of suspicion and hysteria have never been examined in such detail before this episode. Sunnydale becomes a crucible for the fermenting fears of its residents, leading to a literal and figurative witch-hunt.
     In past episodes, namely The Witch and Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered, the dangers of practising witchcraft have been made explicitly clear. Willow's dabbling in the occult also has been approached ambivalently in Becoming and Faith, Hope and Trick: her spells have worked, but often with unforeseen and tragic outcomes, such as the final restoration of Angel's soul at the moment Buffy must destroy him. The spectre of Giles' "Ripper" past is always lurking as a reminder of the darkness and addiction that magic compels in the Buffyverse.
     Thus, when two children are found murdered, with strange magic glyphs on their hands, suspicion seems to fall immediately on those practising witchcraft in Sunnydale. They are obvious suspects in the crime. Joyce, the force spearheading the "Never Again" movement, seems at first heroic, using the influence she has in town to gain support for Buffy's fight against evil. However, Joyce's enthusiasm turns sinister as she blames "witches" for the crimes, without any real proof, and implicates the "Slayer" as part of the dangerous element within Sunnydale.
     The "Never Again" movement, whose outward intention seems to be the protection of Sunnydale's citizenry, snowballs into hysteria. Instead of protecting people in Sunnydale, it becomes an entity intent on scapegoating: anyone who is different is targeted as a witch, and must be punished. Personal freedoms and privacy are freely violated, as the investigation of students' lockers and the confiscation of Giles' books illustrate. Amy, Willow, and their fellow coven member Michael, are accused of the murders simply by circumstantial evidence (their possession of information on witchcraft). Buffy, too, is targeted simply because she speaks out against the violations of personal liberties and the hysteria of the campaign. The accusations become deadly as Amy, Willow and Buffy are sentenced by a vigilante mob to burn at the stake.
     It soon becomes clear that another force is at work. The seemingly innocent children whose deaths are the catalyst for the "Never Again" movement, have a huge impact on the town but a vague history. An investigation into their identity shows them to have died countless times throughout history, instilling townsfolk around the world with the need for vengeance. The children are possibly the archetypes for the Hansel and Gretel fairytale, whose interactions with the witch in the gingerbread house leave the old women dead, and with a reputation for wickedness. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the modern Hansel and Gretel are in fact the projections of a malevolent force that feeds on the fear, suspicion and hostility generated by unjust persecutions.
     Only the clear-headedness of Giles, with the assistance of Cordelia, reveals the true nature of the demon to the townspeople. (Cordelia's off-handed comments show that she may have been the next target for the witch-hunt.) Once the hysteria and unfounded suspicions of the mob are diffused, Buffy can get back to the business of demon-fighting. Historical "witch hunts", from Salem to McCarthyism, are brought to mind with this episode, a clear warning that inner demons, if left unchecked, can lead to gross injustice. The true villains in this episode are the unfounded fears and suspicions of ordinary people, like Joyce and Sheila Rosenberg (Willow's mother), that can lead people to commit unimaginable crimes.
     I give this episode 3.75 out of 5 Ehs.

Character - by Adreenis


Story - by JaKaL
Gingerbread held true to form to the style of episode story line that we have seen so many times this season. The plot twists and turns a few times; the story line deals with the typical supernatural elements that we have come to know and love. In this case, it also deals with many issues of teenage life and historical elements as well. We begin with Buffy on patrol, and see her mother come out to watch and support her. In the course of the patrol, Joyce happens upon the bodies of two young children each branded with some sort of symbol. As the episode progresses, we find this to be the central plot of the episode, though there are more twists than we might at first think. As the episode runs its course, we are led to suspect Willow and Amy in the deaths of the children as we see them using the symbol found on the children for some sort of witchcraft. We also see Joyce take an active stance by organising a group against the Occult and witchcraft. It is at this point we see the introduction of the current issues and historical elements to the story line. The organisation, "MOO" (Mothers Opposed to the Occult), moves into the school, searching lockers, and confiscating all occult related material they find, including Giles' books! This clearly addresses issues that are important to teenagers today - privacy, being superficially judged on how they look or what their interests are, and parents who seem not to take an interest in their children. After the students have their lockers searched, Amy, Michael and Willow get into trouble simply because of their locker contents. Additionally, we see repeated examples of how Willow's mother takes little or no notice of her, usually in the context of dismissing Willow's words and ideas without a second thought. In addition to these modern issues, we can see, as the episode continues, the parallel between the situation in Sunnydale and the Salem Witch Trials. The plot line twists again as we find that Joyce's actions are actually spurred on by the children themselves, or possibly the spirits of them. She sees them constantly, and they continually tell her to help them, to avenge their deaths by eliminating the "bad people". As well, we find Giles and the group going into research mode, to find that these children have never really existed and that they show up every 50 years in exactly the same situation preceding a surge of hatred in the populace. It is Giles who makes the connection: the children aren't really children at all, but a demon that feeds on the hatred and destruction it provokes. This revelation comes too late though, for as they go to make Joyce and the rest of MOO understand this fact, the group turns on them, knocking them out. We then see Joyce look to the not quite children on the stairs who counsel her to "make the bad girls go away forever". At the same time, we see Willow's mother take her captive. The episode moves on to show Buffy, Willow, and Amy tied to stakes and surrounded by occult books, with the watching crowd preparing to burn them at the stake (all in the name of love and caring). Amy frees herself using magic to transform herself into a rat, but Buffy and Willow are still trapped. As they try to escape, we see Cordelia revive Giles and explain the situation to him and further aid him in mixing a concoction which, in addition to a spell Giles must cast, should reveal the demon in it's true form and break the spell that has fallen over the adults of Sunnydale. This works as planned, and the demon is revealed and moves to finish Buffy once and for all. The resulting battle was one of the more comical points of the episode, as Buffy uproots her stake and bends forward, letting the demon impale itself on the wooden beam. The comedy comes from the look on Buffy's face as she says "Did I get it?", unable to see what it is she has done. Overall, this episode was truly high voltage, from beginning to end. In it, we are faced with the historical parallel of previous "witch hunts" including the Salem witch trials and 1950's McCarthyism, together with current issues of teenage life. As well, we are introduced to the type of mob mentality that can be so easily born of hate. The episode was not high on the usual jokes and comedy that can be seen in many episodes, though it is my feeling that the sacrifice of a few laughs for the serious topics and powerfully charged force of this episode's plot lines. I'd have to give this episode 4 out of 5 eh's.

Villian - by Kaboo
The nature of villainy is questioned in the episode titled Gingerbread. Although the theme of the "demons within" has been explored in BTVS previously, the evils of suspicion and hysteria have never been examined in such detail before this episode. Sunnydale becomes a crucible for the fermenting fears of its residents, leading to a literal and figurative witch-hunt. In past episodes, namely The Witch and Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered, the dangers of practising witchcraft have been made explicitly clear. Willow's dabbling in the occult also has been approached ambivalently in Becoming and Faith, Hope and Trick: her spells have worked, but often with unforeseen and tragic outcomes, such as the final restoration of Angel's soul at the moment Buffy must destroy him. The spectre of Giles' "Ripper" past is always lurking as a reminder of the darkness and addiction that magic compels in the Buffyverse. Thus, when two children are found murdered, with strange magic glyphs on their hands, suspicion seems to fall immediately on those practising witchcraft in Sunnydale. They are obvious suspects in the crime. Joyce, the force spearheading the "Never Again" movement, seems at first heroic, using the influence she has in town to gain support for Buffy's fight against evil. However, Joyce's enthusiasm turns sinister as she blames "witches" for the crimes, without any real proof, and implicates the "Slayer" as part of the dangerous element within Sunnydale. The "Never Again" movement, whose outward intention seems to be the protection of Sunnydale's citizenry, snowballs into hysteria. Instead of protecting people in Sunnydale, it becomes an entity intent on scapegoating: anyone who is different is targeted as a witch, and must be punished. Personal freedoms and privacy are freely violated, as the investigation of students' lockers and the confiscation of Giles' books illustrate. Amy, Willow, and their fellow coven member Michael, are accused of the murders simply by circumstantial evidence (their possession of information on witchcraft). Buffy, too, is targeted simply because she speaks out against the violations of personal liberties and the hysteria of the campaign. The accusations become deadly as Amy, Willow and Buffy are sentenced by a vigilante mob to burn at the stake. It soon becomes clear that another force is at work. The seemingly innocent children whose deaths are the catalyst for the "Never Again" movement, have a huge impact on the town but a vague history. An investigation into their identity shows them to have died countless times throughout history, instilling townsfolk around the world with the need for vengeance. The children are possibly the archetypes for the Hansel and Gretel fairytale, whose interactions with the witch in the gingerbread house leave the old women dead, and with a reputation for wickedness. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the modern Hansel and Gretel are in fact the projections of a malevolent force that feeds on the fear, suspicion and hostility generated by unjust persecutions. Only the clear-headedness of Giles, with the assistance of Cordelia, reveals the true nature of the demon to the townspeople. (Cordelia's off-handed comments show that she may have been the next target for the witch-hunt.) Once the hysteria and unfounded suspicions of the mob are diffused, Buffy can get back to the business of demon-fighting. Historical "witch hunts", from Salem to McCarthyism, are brought to mind with this episode, a clear warning that inner demons, if left unchecked, can lead to gross injustice. The true villains in this episode are the unfounded fears and suspicions of ordinary people, like Joyce and Sheila Rosenberg (Willow's mother), that can lead people to commit unimaginable crimes. I give this episode 3.75 out of 5 Ehs.

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