Choices - Buffy Episode Review by MikeJer

CHOICES (3x19)

A review by Mikelangelo "MikeJer" Marinaro


Writer(s):	David Fury
Director:	James A. Contner

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I really, really enjoyed this episode. No, there weren't any powerful scenes. No, nothing big really happened. But you know what? There wasn't a moment of the entire thing that left me uninterested. The action was exciting, the drama was interesting, and the penultimate scene with Buffy and Willow warmed my heart. So even though I have no complaints with this one I can only rate it so high because ultimately it's just an arc episode which moves things along and gives characters more interesting things to do and say.

Early on Buffy is talking with Angel about their future together. Both of them at this point, deep down, know this relationship is never going to work. They are both trying their best to hide from that reality though. Buffy is the first to question it when she asks him, while fighting in the cemetary together, "So this is our future? This is how we're going to spend our nights when I'm fifty and you're ... the same age you are now." It's the Mayor, however, who is the one to finally finish off their relationship.

As fundamentally evil as the Mayor is, it doesn't mean everything he says is wrong. He actually says a lot of truthful things. His speech affects Angel a lot even though Angel hides it from Buffy at the end, and she completely ignores it. He says, "You're immortal, she's not. It's not. I married my Edna May in ought-three and I was with her right until the end. Not a pretty picture. Wrinkled and senile and cursing me for my youth. Wasn't our happiest time. And let's not forget the fact that any moment of true happiness will turn you evil. I mean, come on. What kind of a life can you offer her? I don't see a lot of Sunday picnics in the offing. I see skulking in the shadows, hiding from the sun. She's a blossoming young girl and you want to keep her from the life she should have until it has passed her by. My God! I think that's a little selfish. Is that what you came back from Hell for? Is that your greater purpose?" This is the best summary of the problems Buffy and Angel are faced with that I could ever think of.

The middle of the episode has a ton going for it. We get the wonderfully fun break-in scene where Buffy is lifted down into the Mayor's conference room to snag the box. That doesn't work out so well so we get an awesome little fight scene. Then we find out Willow's been captured so discussions begin on trading the box for Willow. I love that the thing that convinces everyone to make the trade is Oz actually getting angry and pushing something over. All they needed to see was that amazing--coming from Oz--show of emotion. Wonderful characterization.

After all that we get treated to Willow staking a vamp using the floating pencil spell she was using back in "Doppelgangland" (3x16). Then we even get to see her stand up to Faith with words like "I know that some people think you had a lot of bad breaks. Well, boo hoo! Poor you. You know, you had a lot more in your life than some people. I mean, you had friends in your life like Buffy. Now you have no one. You were a Slayer and now you're nothing. You're just a big selfish, worthless waste ... I'm not afraid of you." Everyone, a cheer for Willow.

If all of that wasn't enough we also get a very suspenseful trade scene at the high school. The creatures in the box are very creepy and it is fun watching the good guys, the bad guys, and the guys in the middle (Snyder and the police) all working together to kill off the two that get out. This is also the scene where the Mayor imparts his unique wisdom on Angel and even manages to get in a few hilarious lines. This episode really does entertain!

Some nice smaller touches include Xander failing to resist the opportunity to see Cordelia shopping and throwing verbal jabs at her, Cordelia beginning a new part of life now that she has no money, Buffy realizing after the previous night she's going to have to protect the hellmouth her whole life, and Willow deciding she's going to attend UC Sunnydale not because of Buffy but because she likes they way she felt when helping out in the fight against evil. Plus, she hopes to be a bad-ass wicca (S6, wink). Overall this is just a whole lot of entertainment. Once again, nothing huge or powerful happens here, it's just an arc episode that really delivers the stuff, and is wrapped up in a beautiful, balanced package.

+	The Mayor giving Faith a stylish knife wrapped up as a gift.
+	Joyce's reaction to Buffy getting accepted to Northwestern University.
+	The post high school chat between the Scooby Gang. Adorable.
+	Faith still using the longbow she was admiring in "Bad Girls" (3x14).
+	Buffy's hilarious plan to gain information. She breaks the window of a limo and in a peppy tone asks the vamp, "So, what's in the box?"
+	Snyder barging in during the trade scene thinking everyone's doing drugs.
+	Willow wisely having pulled out pages of the Books of Ascension.
+	Buffy and Angel having a picnic at night by a tombstone. Very amusing.

MAYOR:

A package is arriving tomorrow night from Central America. Something, and I can't stress this enough, something crucially important to my Ascension. Without it ... Well! What would Toll House cookies be without the chocolate chips? A pretty darn big disappointment, I can tell you. (giggles)

BUFFY:	You never take me any place new.
ANGEL:	What about that fire demon nest in the cave by the beach? I felt that was a nice change of pace.

XANDER:	Everything in life is foreign territory. Kerouac. He's my teacher. The open road is my school.
BUFFY:	Making the open dumpster your cafeteria?
XANDER:	Go ahead, mock me.
OZ:	I think she just did.

XANDER:	I can't help it. It's my nature.
WILLOW:	Maybe you need a better nature.

MAYOR:

Well, this is exciting, isn't it? (chuckles) Clandestine meetings by dark of night. Exchange of prisoners. I just, I, I feel like we should all be wearing trench coats.

MAYOR:

Raise your hand if you're invulnerable!

BUFFY:	Snyder, you alive in there?
SNYDER:	You. All of you. Why couldn't you be dealing drugs like normal people?

90/100

A-

Everything that an 'A' possesses, but with either a few more mistakes or slightly less power. Generally represents great episodes that are a tiny bit rough around the edges.

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1.	Dingdong May 17 2006
	I've recently seen choices, and I must say that I have to disagree with your review score, although I don't think most of the points are invalid. What bugs me about the episode is how forced the storyline feels. IN any other episode, Buffy and co would have at least tried a few tricks, despite the fact that one of theirs was captured. Its not as if the situations particularly original, and I'm surprised they didn't at least attempt something underhand, even if nothing that would endanger Willow. Another thing that annoys me is the way, like in "Enemies", everyone ignores Wesley. However annoying he may be to the scoobies, he isn't completely incompetent, and there's no reason for their - including Giles' - behaviour towards him at the beginning of the episode. It does redeem itself in the scene where he argues for the greater good, but the episode seems to take the piss out of him too much. It's a pity, as Desinof is one of the best actors in the episode.

2.	Ryan-R.B. May 17 2006
	Consider Wes' character past S3 of Buffy, though. He has his talents, but around intimidating compatriots seems to generally lack confidence. There's plenty of evidence for this in S1 of Angel, as he's seen as a skilled fighter, rather courageous and resourceful, but tends to bumble around Angel and Cordy because he does feel lesser in their presence. And having to prove yourself all the time is jitter-inducing. Also, if Wesley wasn't portrayed as an incompetent failure, if still an entertaining one, in S3 of Buffy, his motivations and emotions wouldn't have been nearly as meaningful in S1 of Angel, nor his gradual ascension to confidence and power as amazing.

3.	Grounded May 17 2006
	You have a point about Enemies, but not about Choices. Wesley royally mucked things up in Enemies - why should they listen to him?

4.	mikejer May 17 2006
	I look at "Choices" as an episode which is more 'fun' than drama. It's just really entertaining while also containing some very memorable moments. For me it is very much a 90 even though I'm sure the episode doesn't have a huge following. It's hard to pinpoint why I like it so much beyond what I have in the review -- I just kind love the ep.

5.	bookworm May 18 2006
	about Wesley: anyone remember Bad Girls, when he started yammering about his kneecaps when him and Giles were held captive by this demon: Wesley wasn't only cut off from the already very organic Scoobie-Gang, but he was also a spineless, uninformed, half-assed decal of Watcher Council's Dearest.

6.	fryrish May 18 2006
	This is a fantastic episode imo. The Willow and Oz stuff is great and makes me wish Seth Green had stayed on the show longer. When Angel is arguing with the Mayor and Oz says "Angel" and how he steps in front of Willow when the trade is made. The whole confrontation at the school is good. Now, I'm not saying Wesley deserved the benefit of the doubt after the way he handled Faith in Enemies, but his hesitance to trade with the Mayor didn't necessarily mean leaving Willow to die.. I think Buffy's "Are you made of human parts?" was a tad harsh. Oz's reaction to it all was priceless.

7.	Dingdong May 18 2006
	In what way in "Enemies" does Wesley muck things up? If I remember right, he's kept completely out of the plan, so he doesn't have a chance to. Or are you thinking of "Concequences, where he unleashes the CoW dicipline on Faith, after learning of the killing? IMO, Wesley had a point in "Choices, and the episode would have stood better if they had had some of the characters in sympathy with him.

8.	Dingdong May 18 2006
	Good point, but I think that his character arc in "Buffy" should have been handled better. I don't have a problem with the fact that Buffy and co. tend to intimidate him, just that the story seems to paint him as a complete idiot, whereas he's clearly not (although he isn't exactly supposed to be competant). I should say, that so far into Angel - I'm on episode 3-04 at the moment, Wesley's character has been one of the best developed ones in either season, and probably the most consistantly good. I love the way he's changed from a slightly pathetic and grovelling "Rogue Demon Hunter" to a calm and intelligent leader.

9.	Ryan-R.B. May 18 2006
	You haven't seen AtS all the way through yet? Well, if you like Wes' character you're going to appreciate S3. They do some amazing and shocking things that change him forever. Wesley is easily my favorite part of that particular season.

10.	Dingdong May 19 2006
	If the use of his character only gets better, then I'll be very pleased. Wesley is a great combination at the moment - a great actor playing a wonderful character.

11.	Grounded May 19 2006
	Ah sorry DD - I got the eps mixed up.

12.	jun May 13 2007
	Re: this bit: "I love that the thing that convinces everyone to make the trade is Oz actually getting angry and pushing something over." In watching it today, I noticed that the scene goes something like: Wes: We have the means to destroy this box... Oz: gets up and knocks over said means Now the only plan left is the trade.

13.	buffyholic Jul 29 2007
	This is an awesome episode. Totally deserves the score. It has action and comedy. For me, my favorite scenes are the library scene, it`s just awesome. Go Oz. The trade scene where the Mayor gives out his speech and the scene Buffy/Willow is just so sweet. Buffy doesn`t want to admit it but she too believes in what the Mayor says.

14.	Test Aug 24 2007
	do colors work?

15.	wakingsleep Dec 24 2007
	In response to jun, i'm not sure whether you're implying that the trade was the only choice left after Oz pushed over the basin or not, but that's the impression i'm getting from your post. I, personally, don't think thats what the point of it was. To quote Giles: "Giles: I think the Breath of the Atropyx is standard for this sort of thing. Fairly simple recipe..." So it was stated that what Oz destroyed could be easily attained again. I believe it was really more of the emotions he displayed(which, in itself spoke louder than if anyone else had done the same) that convinced the other Scoobies making the trade was the right thing to do. Thats how I thought it was meant to mean, would love to hear reasoning behind anyother view points.

16.	Nix Jan 24 2008
	As an aside, wakingsleep, most of the transcripts available online say `Atropyx', but with my mystic native-South-East-English RP mojo I can clearly hear Giles saying `Entropics', which is a pretty good name for a dissolving/destroying ritual (I guess it channels entropy into the target until it disintegrates of sheer decrepitude).

17.	CWGN Sep 23 2008
	The way the 'choice' was handled was weak in my opinion. For one, Wesley's points are entirely correct, if destroying the box would stop the ascension then Willow's sacrifice was worth it, however, there's no real debate: Oz destroys the ingredients for the spell. More importantly, I always wondered why they didn't investigate the content's of the box, destroy it and then find a substitute to trick the mayor with.

18.	bigmoneygrip Oct 26 2008
	Willow looks as cute as she's ever looked in that long dress. Xander: "Where did it go?" "I still want to know where it went." I'd be freaking out if this happened to me. That was a GREAT scene in the school. Having Snyder come in on his "drug quest" was wonderful.

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