FAMILY
Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer reminds us that Tara is a witch, Tara is with Willow, Tara screwed up a spell and that Tara is still an unknown factor in the Scooby scheme of things. And just for the really short of attention span we get the reminder that Spike has the hots for Buffy and Dawn is the key.
Currently on Buffy the Vampire Buffy brings Giles up to date on the what she finds out about Dawn. They agree that Dawn is probably safer with Buffy than with her jerk of a father and that they can't tell either Dawn or the rest of the Scoobies the truth. Because we all know what wonderful actors the Scoobies are.
The Scoobies are in full research mode trying to find out who this new threat is, a chore hampered by the fact that the demon has no trademark skills, powers, name or horns that allow easy identification. Willow reminds them of the get together at the Bronze the next night for Tara's birthday, a fact that all the Scoobies have clearly forgotten. With only one day they are suddenly under birthday present pressure and realize that they really don't know Tara outside of her relationship with Willow. They do think she's nice though. Really nice. Super nice.
The extent of this is made clear when Tara's father, brother Donny and cousin Beth appear for her twenty birthday. It is quickly made clear to Tara that she is expected to return with them before the evil within manifests; as it did in her mother when she turned twenty. Even cousin Beth brings pressure to bear about how selfish Tara is to let poor dad and Donny fend for themselves when Tara's rightful place is at home, taking over her mother's duties. Tara decides to cast a spell on the Scoobies that will make them unable to see her demon aspect.
Unfortunately the spell works too well. Glory (okay, Glory is the name used for the demon chick in the red dress although it is not quite official) has recruited some demons to kill Buffy for her. They track Buff to the magic shop where they attack. Buffy is aware of them being there (spidey sense after all) but can't fight efficiently as she can't see them. Spike arrives and, much to his disgust, saves Buffy. Tara arrives, realizes what she's done, and cancels the spell in time for Buffy to kill the last demon. Tara's family arrives.
Tara's dad explains that the women in his family are part demon. It's how they do the magic but the men folk know how to control it. It quickly becomes clear that Tara doesn't want to leave but thinks she should - after all, she nearly got Buffy and the rest killed. But once Willow gets Tara to admit that she doesn't want to leave the Scoobies close rank. Spike suddenly has a lightbulb goes off and pops Tara on the nose which causes his chip to flare thereby proving that Tara is human. Their last card played, Tara's family leave.
At the Bronze the Scoobies discover that Wicca parties are much like non-Wicca parties with dancing and presents. Riley shows up late, Dawn gets in an anti-drinking pitch and Willow and Tara put a little more closure on the lies Tara felt forced to tell over the last year.
Random Quotes
Tara's Father: We are her blood kin. What the hell
are you?
Buffy: We're family.
Willow: Do you want to leave?
Tara's Father: That's not your decision, young lady.
Willow: (resolve face) I know that! (my world is ending
face) Tara, do you want to leave?
Willow: Were there dolphins?
Tara: Yes, many dolphins at the pound.
Willow: Was there a camel?
Tara: There was the front of a camel. A half camel.
Giles: You can't be more specific about what she's like?
Buffy: She was kinda like Cordelia actually. <pause>
I'm pretty sure she dyes her hair.
Giles: Ah! that one! Well, our work is done.
Xander: We know she likes Willow but she already has one.
Giles: You're in a magic shop and you can't think what Tara would like. I believe you're both profoundly stupid.
Spike: If you want me Slayer, come get me.
Buffy: Oh, I'm coming. I'm coming right now.
Random Notes:
I umm.. lost my notes on the summary. That's why its short.
I guess it would be redundant to point out who the real demons of the episode where.
This is a Joss show. Really, not much seems to happen but lots did.
What is the drinking age in California, anyway? Because Giles and Riley are the only ones over 21 there.
So far only Buffy and Tara have had birthday's specified. Wonder if they'll make Tara's an annual event as well.
I must say fathers do *not* get a good name this episode or, indeed, the entire show to the point where the amateur shrink wonders about Joss' early life. I mean, Buffy's dad bailed on a wife and kid, Xander's is an abusive alcoholic who doesn't buy toy fire trucks for his son's birthday, Willow's father is always absent Cordy's father is a tax evader and Tara's father is a control freak. That leaves Giles and Riley and Anya as potentially having adequate fathers but I suspect they don't. I bet Anya's father considered daughters to be chattel suitable for marrying off, Giles father was a repressed British middle class disillusioned by the war and that Riley's dad is a hardnosed Marine mortified that his son is an anarchist.
Two weeks in a row Buffy has done me proud, with a hair touch last week and one word this week. It's clear that Buffy is pissed off at Tara over the spell. But she still goes into full protection mode over her when someone threatens Willow's partner. Indeed, how family should be. And it was cute watching Dawn copy cat Buffy's attitude and body language. If only they could get that height thing settled.
I find it rather ominous that for the statement "family" Riley was absent but Spike was present. No matter how much he tried to distance himself.
Willow, through out the show, was reacting much like she was in New Moon Rising. The sudden confusion over how Tara was reacting with her dad was very similar to when Oz was acting strange over the werewolf chick. Must have been a blow of deja vu to think that Tara was thinking of leaving her for the same reasons, something within that was out of Tara's control. This Willow seemed more prepared to fight for Tara than the younger Willow was for Oz.
It really looks like Tara is maintaining her old room. The room where her father confronted her about her "toys" (and believe me, I won't be able to look at large crystals again without blushing) really looked like her room from last season. Mind you she seemed very at home with Willow's double bed.
As to the "camel" bit in the bedtime story. The camel is also a family of spins in figure skating, one of Buffy's pre-Slayage hobbies. http://www.skatejournal.com/spin.html has more info on the different camels, including the Hamill Camel which just makes me smile from the name. Whether the camel reference is a coincidence or a really subtle joke is up to my imagination.
Now we get to the nifty symbolism. First, the overall theme. Most of us have, in our past, our little demons. Things we did or didn't do or that were done to us that we hesitate to tell anyone for fear of the possible reaction. We can intellectualize these (she hangs out with vampire slayers and her previous relationship was with a werewolf so a little demon blood shouldn't make her hate me and try to decapitate me) but they are, after all, emotional baggage so that usually doesn't work (she'll hate me and try to decapitate me). I like it that Willow and the gang made the decision before the nose was popped. They were willing to accept Tara and her demons.
Second, again with the Wicca/Gay analogy. It was very amusing to see Buffy and Xander worried about how they would fit in at a "wicca" party when they weren't "wicca" and if there would be a lot of awkwardness. Good thing there was no spellcasting on the pool table.
Finally, we all saw The Debt Part II. We know what two women floating *really* means, don't we?
Angel Notes:
Well, if you remember the show Remington Steele and have always considered Wesley to be a Pierce Brosnan wannabe then this is the episode for you. Also, some nice mumbo jumbo psycho babble and another nail in the "Joss hates fathers" coffin. The kareoke bar is back but we had only the threat of Angel singing. Best not to overdue a good gag.