Bad Girls

Helpless used to be one of my favorite episodes, for being an homage to the actress's slasher victim's legacy. It was good for the horror and the drama. But a little dull around the edge. It also pales in comparison to last year « Surprise ». The Zeppo was the show mastering its ability at self mockery. And is very enjoyable. Only like Amends was, it's too at odds with the rest. And a bit silly too. Bad Girls finally introduced Wesley Wyndam-Price, and revealed parts of the Mayor's plan. This is also the one that marks the beginning of the Buffy/Faith feud. And shows what happens when slayers let their power go to their heads. And the two heroines way, of following a different path, from this moment on. I liked seeing them bound for real, and their sexy dance at the Bronze. But BTVS remains a teen drama, about life lessons. So all of this had to end badly, to have the plot go an even more exciting way. And pursuing its ultimate goal.

It bothered me a bit that Buffy was being led down a road of destruction. Without Faith, she would never have broken into a store and stolen all kinds of things. Of course, they needed things to face off against their antagonists. We have the arrival of Wesley as the new watcher and Buffy and Faith immediately resent him. They go rogue. It always amazes me that there is a kind association of vampire slayers that oversees the actions of it's field officers. The thing that happens that is going to be on the backs of Buffy and Faith is Faith killing the mayor's aide. She could be excused because he came walking into a deadly situation. The girls had just confronted a bunch of vampires and she turned around and he was there. Without thinking, she staked him. Buffy put a guilt trip on her, but under the circumstances it was an accidental killing. One needs to consider what these girls' job is. In war the guy would have been collateral damage, like an innocent person walking into a battle. It will be interesting to see what happens to Faith now.

As Buffy and Faith slay vampires together the latter tries to get Buffy to enjoy herself a bit more; if they are to risk their lives they may as well enjoy themselves. During this fight one of the vampires they slay is wielding two swords; these identify him as a member of 'El Eliminati' a vampire cult dedicated to the apparently dead demon Balthazar. New watcher Wesley Wyndam-Pryce believes that they are looking for an amulet which belonged Balthazar so tasks the slayers to retrieve it. While this is going on the Mayor prepares for the final hundred days before his 'ascension'.

This was an impressive episode; it opens really well with Faith and Buffy's chat while slaying vampires. We then get Wesley's introduction; at this stage he doesn't come across as the most dynamic of characters but no doubt living on the Hellmouth should toughen him quickly. The scenes between Sarah Michelle Gellar and Eliza Dushku, as Buffy and Faith, were some of their best; firstly as Buffy becomes a bit of a bad girl then when things turn much darker in tone after an innocent bystander is killed as they slay a group of vampires. No doubt this will affect the slayers in upcoming episodes. Similarly the scenes with the mayor hint at things to come. If there was a fault in the episode it was that when we finally see Balthazar his blubbery body stops he looking menacing. Overall this episode did a fine job introducing a new main character, developed established characters and provided some impressive action.

I'm rewatching Buffy and I never caught this before and almost missed it again. I caught a glimpse of the actor playing the boyscout troop leader and went back. That actor looks very similar to Harry Groener(the mayor). Is it just me?

IMDB doesn't list the cameos for this episode.