Digest

The episode begins with a recap of the previous episode and an introduction to "Intervention," a Season 5 episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The hosts discuss the episode's title and themes, including grief, responsibility, and Buffy's internal struggles. They also explore Spike's character development and his pathetic behavior driven by his love for Buffy. The episode focuses on Glory's quest for the key, a magical object that holds the power to defeat her. The hosts discuss Buffy and Giles's relationship, Buffy's decision to quit slaying, and her feelings of guilt about Riley's departure and her mother's death. They also explore Buffy's internal struggle with the idea that being tough enough to slay means being incapable of love. The episode features Spike's obsession with Buffy and his creation of a Buffy bot, a robotic replica designed to fulfill his desires. The hosts discuss the bot's appearance, behavior, and its impact on the episode. The episode culminates in a confrontation between Buffy and her friends, who intervene to address her problematic behavior. Buffy's denial and the gang's concerns highlight the complexities of their relationships. Glory captures Spike, believing him to be the key, and tortures him to reveal its location. Spike, however, manipulates her, delaying her quest and ultimately revealing the true key, Dawn, putting her in danger. Buffy and the gang arrive at Glory's lair to rescue Spike, leading to a fierce battle. Buffy ultimately chooses to protect Dawn, sacrificing her own desires for the greater good. The episode concludes with a discussion about the lack of foreshadowing regarding Glorificus's defeat and theories about the plot's future. The episode also introduces the podcast "Empire City," which explores the origins and transformation of the NYPD, highlighting the challenges of writing about the NYPD without mentioning violence or corruption.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Show Overview, Recap of Previous Episode, Episode 18: Intervention - Introduction

The episode begins with a brief introduction to the podcast, "Rewatcher: Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and its hosts. It also includes advertisements for other Wondery podcasts. A quick recap of the previous episode is provided, highlighting key events and characters. The hosts introduce the episode "Intervention" from Season 5 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

00:03:02

Discussion of Episode Title and Themes, Writer's Intent and Tone of the Episode, Spike's Character Development and Pathetic Behavior

The hosts discuss the episode's title and how it relates to the themes of grief, responsibility, and Buffy's internal struggles. They also discuss the writer's intention to give Sarah Michelle Gellar a break from intense episodes and provide a lighter, goofier tone. The hosts discuss Spike's character development and how his love for Buffy makes him appear pathetic and less badass.

00:07:15

Recap of Previous Events and Glory's Plans, Buffy and Giles's Relationship and Buffy's Decision to Quit, Riley's Character and Buffy's Feelings of Guilt

The hosts recap the previous events, focusing on Glory's quest for the key and her growing concern about Ben's strength. The hosts discuss Buffy and Giles's relationship, highlighting Giles's fatherly role and Buffy's decision to take a break from slaying. The hosts discuss Riley's character and Buffy's feelings of guilt about his departure and her mother's death.

00:17:11

Buffy's Internal Struggle and the Importance of Love, Spike's Obsession with Buffy and the Buffy Bot, The Buffy Bot's Wardrobe and Its Impact on the Episode

The hosts discuss Buffy's internal struggle with the idea that being tough enough to slay means being incapable of love. The hosts discuss Spike's obsession with Buffy and his creation of a Buffy bot, focusing on the bot's appearance and Spike's expectations. The hosts discuss the Buffy bot's wardrobe and how it feels out of character for Buffy, impacting their enjoyment of the episode.

00:28:36

Advertisement for "The Offensive Line" Podcast, Advertisement for "The Great Creators" Podcast, Advertisement for "Even The Royals" Podcast, Discussion of the Buffy Bot's Dialogue and Behavior, Glory's Concerns and the Melty Green Goblins' Mission

An advertisement for the "The Offensive Line" podcast, hosted by Annie Yegar, is presented. An advertisement for the "The Great Creators" podcast, hosted by Guy Roz, is presented. An advertisement for the "Even The Royals" podcast, which explores the darker side of royalty, is presented. The hosts discuss the Buffy bot's dialogue and behavior, questioning why the characters didn't question its robotic nature. The hosts discuss Glory's concerns about Ben's growing strength and the melty green goblins' mission to find the key.

00:32:17

Giles's Ritual and Buffy's Concerns, Spike and the Buffy Bot's Interaction, Buffy's Journey to the Sacred Place

The hosts discuss Giles's ritual to transfer guardianship of Buffy to a guide and Buffy's concerns about the lack of food and water. The hosts discuss Spike and the Buffy bot's interaction, highlighting the bot's attempts to seduce Spike and his eventual realization that he's with a robot. The hosts discuss Buffy's journey to the sacred place, highlighting her encounter with a mountain lion and her arrival at a dark rock in the desert.

00:35:57

Tara's Protective Spell and Don's Kleptomania, Spike and the Buffy Bot's Continued Interaction, Willow's Warning Spell and the Melty Green Goblins' Pursuit

The hosts discuss Tara's protective spell and Don's kleptomania, questioning the significance of the earrings she takes. The hosts discuss Spike and the Buffy bot's continued interaction, highlighting their sexual encounter and Spike's growing discomfort. The hosts discuss Willow's warning spell and the melty green goblins' pursuit of her.

00:40:38

The Buffy Bot's Patrol and Its Operating System, The Buffy Bot's Interaction with the Scoobies, The Buffy Bot's Battle with Vampires

The hosts discuss the Buffy bot's patrol and its operating system, highlighting its folders and its processing of information about Xander and Anya. The hosts discuss the Buffy bot's interaction with the Scoobies, highlighting its robotic behavior and Spike's attempt to retrieve it. The hosts discuss the Buffy bot's battle with vampires, highlighting its badass fighting skills and the melty green goblins' observation.

00:48:05

Conclusion and Final Thoughts, Buffy's Love and the Slayer's Gift, Willow's Intervention and Buffy's Denial

The hosts conclude the episode with final thoughts on the Buffy bot and its impact on the episode. Buffy struggles with her feelings for Spike and the cryptic guidance she receives about her gift. The episode explores themes of love, pain, and the Slayer's destiny. Willow confronts Buffy about her relationship with Spike, expressing concern and offering support. Buffy, however, remains fixated on Spike and denies the seriousness of her actions.

01:04:00

Glory's Pursuit of the Key, The Gang's Intervention and Buffy's Return, Confrontation and Revelation

Glory captures Spike, believing him to be the key to her power. She interrogates him, revealing her knowledge of the Slayer and her disdain for vampires. The gang attempts to intervene with Buffy, expressing their concerns about her behavior. Buffy, however, returns from her encounter with the guide, revealing her newfound understanding of her gift. The gang confronts Buffy about her actions, leading to a heated exchange. Buffy's denial and the gang's concerns highlight the complexities of their relationships.

01:11:39

Glory's Cruelty and Spike's Deception, The Battle for Spike and the Key, The Robot's Aftermath and Buffy's Choice

Glory tortures Spike, seeking the key to her power. Spike, however, manipulates her, delaying her quest and ultimately revealing the true key. Buffy and the gang arrive at Glory's lair to rescue Spike. A fierce battle ensues, with Buffy and her allies facing off against Glory's minions. The gang grapples with the aftermath of the robot Buffy incident. Buffy, however, remains focused on rescuing Spike and ultimately makes a decision about his fate.

01:20:34

Spike's Revelation and Buffy's Sacrifice, Analyzing Glorificus's Defeat, Wooden Stake Stab Theories

Spike reveals the true key to Glory's power, putting Dawn in danger. Buffy, however, chooses to protect Dawn, sacrificing her own desires for the greater good. The discussion revolves around the lack of foreshadowing regarding Glorificus's defeat. The speakers ponder potential strategies, including the robot and the earrings, as possible solutions. The speakers share their "wooden stake stab" theories, which are predictions about the plot. One theory involves the earrings, while another suggests a potential apocalyptic event.

01:25:41

Show Credits and Outro, Introduction to Empire City Podcast, The NYPD's Transformation

The episode concludes with credits, acknowledging the production team and thanking listeners. The podcast "Empire City" is introduced, focusing on the origins of the NYPD. The host, Chandra Kumanika, discusses the challenges of writing about the NYPD without mentioning violence or corruption. The podcast delves into the history of the NYPD, exploring how it became one of the most violent and corrupt organizations in the world. The host highlights the power dynamics and the dangers associated with police authority.

01:27:11

Fear and Trust in the Police, Empire City: The Untold Origin Story

The host shares her personal experience of fear and distrust towards the police, emphasizing the need for accountability and change within the system. The podcast "Empire City" is formally introduced, inviting listeners to follow the series and explore the untold history of the NYPD.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is the Buffy bot, and why does Spike create it?

  The Buffy bot is a robotic replica of Buffy Summers created by Warren. Spike commissions it as a way to fulfill his desires for Buffy and have a substitute for the real Buffy, who is unavailable to him.

• What is Glory's main goal in this episode, and how does she plan to achieve it?

  Glory's main goal is to find the key, a magical object that holds the power to defeat her. She believes the key is human and sends her melty green goblins to find it.

• What is Buffy's internal struggle in this episode, and how does it affect her decision-making?

  Buffy struggles with the idea that being tough enough to slay means being incapable of love. This internal conflict leads her to consider quitting as the Slayer and taking a break from her responsibilities.

• What is the significance of the sacred place in the desert, and what does Buffy hope to find there?

  The sacred place is a mystical location that holds ancient knowledge and power. Buffy and Giles journey there to seek answers about Buffy's future and her role as the Slayer.

• How does the Buffy bot's appearance and behavior impact the episode, and what are the hosts' reactions to it?

  The Buffy bot's appearance and behavior feel out of character for Buffy, particularly its wardrobe choices. The hosts find it distracting and question the bot's accuracy as a representation of Buffy.

• What is the significance of the melty green goblins' pursuit of Willow, and what does it reveal about their mission?

  The melty green goblins' pursuit of Willow suggests that they believe she might be the key, or that she has information about the key's whereabouts. This highlights their determination to find the key and their willingness to go to any lengths to achieve Glory's goals.

• How does Spike's interaction with the Buffy bot change his perspective, and what does it reveal about his feelings for Buffy?

  Spike's interaction with the Buffy bot initially fulfills his desires, but he eventually realizes that he's with a robot. This realization makes him uncomfortable and reveals the depth of his feelings for the real Buffy.

• What is Buffy's gift, and how does she come to understand it?

  Buffy's gift is death, a concept she initially struggles with. Through a series of encounters with the guide and her own experiences, she realizes that her gift is not about personal gain but about fulfilling her destiny as the Slayer.

• Why does Willow intervene with Buffy, and what is the outcome of their conversation?

  Willow intervenes with Buffy out of concern for her friend's well-being and the potential consequences of her actions. Buffy, however, remains fixated on Spike and dismisses Willow's concerns, highlighting the complexities of their relationship.

Show Notes