Lie to Me
Original
Airdate: November 3, 1997
Writer:
Joss Whedon
Director: Joss Whedon
Continuing the theme of Buffy wanting to be normal, Whedon gives us some information about what Buffy’s life
was like before she was chosen by way of Ford.
Because the story needed to be advanced, not much time is given to this
past, but it is nice to see that Buffy did have a life before coming to Sunnydale. It
reflects an easier, pre-Slayer time for her, but the reveal of Ford’s true
intentions symbolizes how much things change and how Buffy needs to face that
reality. It’s hard to fault her: like
she would think one of her old friends would trade her life for a guaranteed
shot at immortality.
Buffy is also having a hard time adjusting to the increased
complexity of her relationships. Things
with Angel hit a snag as both deal with jealousy. In a twisted way, they both learn that there
were other people in their lives.
However, the fact that one is an evil vampire and the other is willing
to let a dozen kids be slaughtered so he can become one makes the resolution of
said jealousies easy. Considering what’s
in store, this easy out is forgivable.
Soon after Ford arrives, he tells Buffy that he knows she’s
The Slayer, and that he found out just before she left her old school. Considering how much he seems to know about
the topic, Buffy’s lack of concern reflects someone who wants to believe he
just happens to know because of their history. As far as we know, the only people who were
brought into the circle, beside Buffy and Giles, were people who inadvertently
experience some supernatural phenomena, reveal that they know something about
it or are evil. This should make Buffy a
little bit more suspicious as Angel was.
Like in many of our lives, a friend we haven’t seen in a long time
returns only to reveal himself as someone different than the person we
befriended. Only this episode goes to
the farthest extreme.
As we’ve been told, many who experience the supernatural on
“Buffy” tend to dismiss it using “real world” logic. This episode introduces a new subculture: one
that is aware, not picking a side in the big fight, but using their talents for
their own needs. For Ford, it is
achieving salvation from dying. For the
rest of his cult, they distort the idea of vampires into some grand, romantic
creature, dubbing them “the lonely ones” as a way of associating them to their
lives as alienated teens.
Ford engulfs himself in fantasy to cope with his cancer. He prefers to see his actions not as reality,
but as scenes from a movie or TV show that play out in his head. He has to believe that becoming a demon is
better than a slow, painful death. He
even has the audacity to make Spike play into his movie (why he didn’t rip
Ford’s head off is beyond me). While it
is understandable to have some denial about having a major illness like this,
Ford goes too far, bringing impressionable outcasts along, including “Chantarelle” (AKA Hot Goth Girl) and “Diego” (who looks
like a kid’s birthday party magician).
As far as Ford’s concerned, they’re just players in his movie instead of
human beings.
In between the planned basement slaughter, Spike has some
other plans that fit into one of Giles’ ancient texts. What it is unknown, but likely connected to
Drusilla’s well being or some plans they have for when she recovers. She’s the only person who can get him to tone
down his aggressive nature and Buffy knows The more important
question is why Giles hasn’t looked through his inventory to figure out what
the vampire took.
While Ford is a “One-off” character, the reveal that Angel
is responsible for Drusilla’s madness and evil adds a new layer to the existing
dynamic. We knew there was some history
there in “School Hard”, but it goes far deeper than that. Throughout Angel’s tenure, he is constantly
looking for a way to make up for his sins, and Spike and Dru
are the personification of that. One of
his problems atoning is his handiwork living.
A big moment at the end of the episode foreshadows the dark
turns this season will take. Until this
point, Buffy hasn’t killed anyone to whom she was close. Considering what lies ahead for the rest of
the season, this moment doesn’t quite get the emphasis it should. Even by the end of this season, Buffy will go
into some dark territory. Unlike Ford,
she can’t use a cushion of fantasy to protect herself, which is what this
episode warns against.
That final moment says a lot about this episode in
general. Elements like that final
foreshadowing and the back story between Buffy and Ford never quite gel. Plus, there are moments of sloppy story
telling, like Buffy’s magic leap and her unexplained sparing of Drusilla when
she could’ve killed her. Not a complete misfire, but could’ve been a lot better.
Overall
Score: 7/10