RESTLESS
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CAST
Sarah Michelle Gellar............Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon.................Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan...............Willow Rosenberg
Marc Blucas.........................Riley Finn
James Marsters...........................Spike
Anthony Stewart Head.....................Giles
GUEST STARS
Emma Caulfield............................Anya
Amber Benson..............................Tara
Armin Shimerman.........................Snyder
Seth Green..................................Oz
Kristine Sutherland...............Joyce Summers
Four Star Mary....................As Themselves
Christopher Beck.....................As Himself
David Wells..........................Cheese Guy
Mercedes McNab..........................Harmony
Michael Harney.......................Mr. Harris
Phina Oruche.............................Olivia
Sharon Ferguson................The First Slayer
George Hertzberg..........................Adam
RESTLESS
Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
It would be too confusing to write a review on this episode (If you have seen it you will know why.)
This is either a love it / hate it episode, I love it and people can try and deny it all they like but at the end of the
day this is the most important episode to date.
BE WARNED NOW, THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR SEASON 5, SO IF YOU DONT WANT TO KNOW THEN PLEASE DONT READ ON!
As Buffy, Willow, Xander and Giles sit to watch videos for a night after the spell they cast of Buffy (Primeval), they
each fall asleep and have strange dreams in which a odd person is trying to kill them...
WILLOWS DREAM
Willows dream sequence kicks off with her doing her homework on Tara's back. Tara tells Willow that "you dont know
everything about me."
This is very true and we find out the answer in "Family" when Tara has to tell everyone what she is.
Tara also remarks, "they will find out about you", this could be linked to Willow's insecurity about her
sexuality or her origins.
As she goes to class she bumps into Xander and Oz, she asks Oz if he has ever taken drama before. He replies "Oh I have been
here forever."
She goes to her drama class and by what other people say to her, she is not comfortable with others knowing about her
sexuality. Giles is the head of a Drama class as he is talking to the group harmony is trying to bite him. Giles tells them
to have a good show as they are performing "Death of a Salesman."
Tara continues to tell Willow that when they find out the truth about her they will punish her, she cant help her with that.
As Buffy helps Willow escape the primeal that is after her she rips off Willow's clothes to reveal her in the first outfit
we ever saw her in...
XANDERS DREAM
Xander's dream begins when he goes to use Buffy's toilet. En Route he bumps into Joyce who comes onto him. The conversation
tells us that Xander is not a person who looks for a conquest, he is lonely and wants companionship. He tells Joyce he will
return after he has been to the toilet. When he gets in their he is about to do the business when he spots something in the
corner of his eye. He turns to see Soliders and Scientists looking back.
This one is quite simple, all it is saying is that the Initative will always be watching...
As he leaves he searches for another bathroom, but just ends up in his room in the basement.
This next scene is of vital importance. It is a sunny park setting with buffy playing in a Sandbox and Giles and Spike are
on the Swings. Spike tells Xander that he is going to become a Watcher and Giles says that Spike is like a son to him.
This is basically Spike wanting to get closer to Buffy when he falls in love with her in the Season 5
episode "Out of My Mind."
Xander asks Buffy if she is safe playing in such a big sandbox. to which she replies "way ahead of you big brother."
In the next scene Xander asks Giles for help. When he starts to speak however both Giles and Anya are speaking in French and
Xander cannot understand.
This is an ongoing thing with Xander who thinks that he is useless, as he failed in High School, French
was one of those lesson's
In a scene from "Apocylapse Now" (Reference to the events in season 5) Xander is being told
by Snyder that he is going no-where, a whipping boy whose time is running out
as xander tries to escape the beast it poses as his father and rips his heart from his chest.
GILES DREAM
As Buffy and Giles enter a fair there is clearly a "Father and Daughter" relationship going on as
they come in hand in hand.
This is what will happen in Season 5, from the episode "The Body" when Buffy's
mom dies.
As Giles enters Spikes Crypt Olivia is crying over an overturned pram. Spike ask's Giles why
hasn't he figured it out yet? Giles then goes to the Bronze and sings the "Exposition Song"
It's Strange, its not like anything we faced before, seems familar somehow. Of course, the spell
we cast on Buffy must have released, some primeal evil, thats come back seeking, I'm not sure
what, Willow look through chronicles for some reference to a warrior beast. I've got to warn
Buffy there's every chance she might be next. Xander tell Willow, and try not to bleed on my
couch I've just had it steam cleaned. No Wait...
As Giles is cut off from his song he goes to investigate but he is killed when the primeal cuts
open his head.
BUFFY'S DREAM
Buffy looks at the bed that she and Faith made in "This Years Girl." She goes in search of the
others who have gone. Tara tells her to be back before Dawn.
This is a reference to her Sister who gets introduced in Season 5.
As Buffy searches for her friends she meets her mum who is now living in the Walls of U.C.S.D
As Buffy continues her search, she comes across Riley and Adam who are planning World Domination
by using Coffee Machines that think. When Adam makes a reference that the Slayer is not human,
Buffy disagrees and Adam replies with "Is that a Fact." When an announcement comes over the PA
system that the Demons have escaped, Riley and Adam go to make a fort out of pillows. Riley
returns and shouts at her because she lied, Buffy had said she was looking for her friends but
she hasn't moved.
This is a look ahead to the Season 5 episode "Into the Woods" when Riley
leaves Buffy when she becomes pre-occupied with her friends and family.
Buffy soon discovers that the Primeal who has been after them all is the First Slayer. Buffy
realises that if she ignores the Slayer's actions then the dream will end, and so it does.
The whole gang wake up and discuss the first slayer. Buffy goes to take a shower, she jokes that
at least the others didn't dream about the guy with the cheese.
The Season ends with Buffy looking into the Spare Room,
and Tara's voice over saying...
"You think you know, what's to come? What you are? You haven't even begun..."
Yet again another fantastic episode by Joss, he really knoes how to write them. With the Adam
storyline finishing the episode before this was a chance to give up a huge Season 5 preview
and I think it work's really well. With Season 5 billed as the best yet he really got us
thinking with what has to be the most important episode to date (Yeah I know Becoming Part 2 and
The Body are close.)
Whats so good about this is the definition of the Slayer is turned on its head. Buffy is not a
Slayer, she is a killer she goes out to hunt Vampires not to Slay them. It is not until
the first slayer tells her this that she knows it's true. With every dream of vital importance
this is an episode you really have to sit down and watch a couple of times to see what it is
really saying.
out of 5. Five by Five!!!
