Bad Eggs
Original
Airdate: January 12, 1998
Writer:
Marti Noxon
Director: David Greenwalt
Considering Marti Noxon just came
off writing a two part episode and had to write this one to fill the gap
between major points in the season, this episode feels rushed from exhaustion. Spike’s reprieve meant some changes had to be
made to the arc, and unfortunately it was too late to dramatically modify what
was leftover. They had to do what they
could with the existing pieces to put them aside, but it doesn’t quite work. The episode is slapped together, but there is
some set up for the second half of the season.
The main storyline relies too heavily on the audience
forgetting certain plot holes and errors (never mind the self-fixing egg). While Mr. Whitmore is responsible for
unleashing the eggs on the students, it isn’t clear why he did it. Does he worship Bezoar
or is he another person wrapped around its finger? If the latter’s the case, who or what caused
him to be a host? And when the demon is
killed and its victims regain their bearings, what happens to him?
The body snatcher plot line also feels like another wasted
opportunity. Such a storyline is perfect
for “Buffy”, especially analogous for the group think common in high
school. It might’ve been more compelling
to have students disappear throughout the episode to work in the basement or
roaming campus in a trance while the last non possessed try to figure out and foil
the plan before they’re turned as well.
The Gorches are the odd ball story
in this episode. They could’ve been
meant to be a major piece of the season’s story, but as they realized Spike
would be a better adversary added with the short amount of time they had to
rethink their plan, they rewrote their role.
Because of that, they are a tacked on side show to the main event, apparent
in the irrelevant scene where they fight in the sewer tunnel. Perhaps their knowledge of Angel and his
history could’ve been setting up something from their Plan A for the season
arc, but the game changed.
Joyce’s anger over Buffy feels forced, especially after
their reconciliation at the end of “Ted”.
This story more to sets up future episodes as Buffy’s destiny strains
her relationship with her mother. All of
their fights in this episode spring from Buffy’s slayer duties, from saving the
girl at the mall to the late night patrolling to being angry that Buffy wasn’t where she said she would be, the area of the “gas
leak”.
Giles and Joyce’s scene is interesting, despite Giles not
being completely himself. Seeing Buffy’s
parental figures shows an interesting juxtaposition between those who know
Buffy’s secret and those who don’t and how that affects their attitude. Joyce thinks Buffy’s irresponsible and Giles
thinks she is the opposite. During this
scene there are also hints of a possible romance between the two, which is a
bit more subtle than other relationships on the show.
Considering their behavior, the fact that no one in the gang
has realized that Cordelia and Xander
have started a romantic relationship makes them look dumb. Between the not so subtle fight in sex ed to Cordelia’s insistence on
checking closets for Mr. Whitmore, anyone can see that there’s more to it than
them just acting weird.
There is a lot of emphasis on the physical nature of Buffy
and Angel’s relationship. Through most
of the episode they’re making out, even when they’re supposed to be patrolling
for bad guys. Clearly the camera panning
to the headstone engraving “In Loving Memory” is a not so subtle visual of
what’s to come in this relationship, and the frequent kissing is a farewell to
viewers.
There are also some big moments that could’ve been dealt with, but are
underplayed or ignored. Giles at one
point in the climax rushes towards Buffy to attack and Joyce almost swings a pickaxe into Buffy’s skull. Demon/other supernatural entity possession
served “Buffy” and “Angel” very well, but they don’t utilize it. This might’ve been because they just did it
in “The Dark Age” and future episodes in the season would deal with it, but no
real follow up feels out of character.
Overall, this episode is all over the place. The three main stories have little to hold
them together, which makes the presumed theme of responsibility obscured. Their decision to retool the season with Spike
living might’ve influenced that, but only too late for them to do much about
the remaining pieces of the original plan.
It is a disappointing episode, but by the next episode, the show would
start to hit its stride.
Overall
Score: 5/10