"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Bargaining: Part 1 (2001)

Director:

David Grossman

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator)
Marti Noxon (written by)

TV Series:

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997)

Original Air Date:

2 October 2001 (Season 6, Episode 1)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

Buffy is dead, and the Scooby Gang must do the best they can without her. But concern about the way...

Plot Keywords:

Back From The Dead | Lesbian | Female Protagonist | Heroine | Lesbian Kiss

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon	...	Xander Harris
Emma Caulfield	...	Anya
Michelle Trachtenberg	...	Dawn Summers
James Marsters	...	Spike
Alyson Hannigan	...	Willow Rosenberg
Anthony Head	...	Rupert Giles (as Anthony Stewart Head)
Franc Ross	...	Razor
Amber Benson	...	Tara Maclay
Geoff Meed	...	Mag
Mike Grief	...	Klyed
Paul Greenberg	...	Shempy Vamp
Joy Demichelle Moore	...	Ms. Lefcourt (as Joy DeMichelle Moore)
Bru Muller	...	Mr. Davis
Robert Vito	...	Cute Boy (as Robert D. Vito)

Runtime:

87 min (two parts)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

We see Willow wearing a shirt with a number on it. We then see Xander come in wearing what looks like a football jersey with a number on it. Later when they gang is saying goodbye to Giles, Dawn is wearing a shirt with 07 on it. The crew got many letters asking what the numbers were supposed to mean, but there was no connection. Executive Producer Marti Noxon said that this was completely unintentional and was just a wardrobe coincidence.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the beginning of the episode when the gang is hunting the heavyset vampire, the camera pushes in to Willow on top of a mausoleum, and as it does you can clearly see a pair of camera flags being moved along with it on the right of the screen.

Quotes:

Anya: Discovery Channel has monkeys. And our tape machine's all wonky.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Angel: Carpe Noctem (#3.4)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Permanence

Buffy's Back

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

What happens after the story ends? After the battle is over? After the hero is gone? Where do you go next? This season is all about confronting these questions. It deals with some of the shows most disturbing and dark story lines. Develing into grittier plots and more adult themes. In fact, it's too dark in places. Really, this isn't my favorite season. BTVS has always spanned genres. A little bit of comedy, a little bit of drama, a little action, a little sci-fi, a little romance... It works because it all blends together so well. But, in season six, there isn't much sign of the light hearted comedic/romantic side of the show. It's pretty much 22 episodes of crying and misery. That said, season six has some of the show's deepest story lines and best episodes. ("Once More With Feeling" alone is worth giving the season a chance.) Season six is about the problems that the Scoobies bring on themselves, and a lot of the troubles they'll have later start here in "Bargaining Part One." If you're going to watch season six, you have to see this episode.

"Bargaining Part One" deals with Willow attempts to bring Buffy back to life. Since Buffy died through supernatural means, Willow has convinced herself that she might be stuck in a hell dimension somewhere. She's desperate to get Buffy back and she's willing to defy nature to do it. Meanwhile, the Scoobies have been trying to convince the residents of the Hellmouth that the Slayer is still alive. They have the Buffy-bot patrolling with them, and going to Dawn's school functions so everyone sees "Buffy." Unfortunately the demons are catching on to the ruse. Giles decides leave Sunnydale and go back to England. The Scoobies wave him off, scared to tell him (Or Dawn and Spike) that they plan to raise Buffy that very night. At first things seem to be going well, but then demon bikers interrupt the ritual. The Scoobies have to retreat, but they have no idea that the spell worked. Buffy is alive and well again... Only she's still in her coffin.

There are some great parts to this episode. The Scoobies going on their own vampire hunt is pretty fun. Spike is swearing at them to keep up. The Buffy-bot is telling knock-knock jokes. Willow is giving them instructions via telepathy. Anya is nagging Xander about announcing their engagement. Yet, amazingly they really seem to be getting along without Buffy. Kidding around and fighting evil on their own... They just don't realize it. I also really like Willow, Xander, Anya and Tara's short-staffed Scoobie meeting. Willow tells them that they'll be raising Buffy the next night and Xander balks. Who voted Willow the boss? Tara and Anya look at him like he's crazy. "You did. You said, Willow should be boss. Then we voted on it and it was unanimous. You made a little sign that said 'Boss of Us.' You put sparkles on it." Really funny stuff. Plus, they bough the mystical Urn of Osisris on e-Bay, which is just brilliant. Giles good-bye scene at the airport is sweet and heartbreaking all at the same time. Especially when he hugs Willow. And I feel so sorry for Spike when the Buffy-bot starts telling him how attractive he is. He doesn't want to be reminded of how he had Warren make her for him. A look of shame and sadness and longing for the real Buffy crosses his face and he quickly has to get away from her.

Of the all them, though, Spike surprisingly enough is dealing with Buffy's death in the most mature fashion. Giles is leaving the country, which seems more like running away from his memories in Sunnydale than a desire to go back to England. Willow is obsessed with getting Buffy back no matter how many rules she has to break or lines she has to cross. Tara knows that Willow's wrong, but she's going along with the plan anyway. Anya and Xander have reservations, too, but they don't want to be the ones to back out. Dawn is acting like the Buffy-bot is really Buffy, even sleeping next to it for comfort. Only Spike is really confronting Buffy's death head on. Caring for Dawn like her promised her he would back in "The Gift" and silently keeping count of the days since she died. Without Buffy he really has no reason to stay in Sunnydale. He could go back to Dru, or to LA, or move on to someplace else. But he's too committed to the Scoobies to just walk away.

On the down side, I sometime think that it would have been better if Buffy had stayed gone. We have the Buffy-bot and the Scoobies. We could have just had season six without her and I would be spared all her angst.

My favorite part of the episode: The Buffy-bot goes to parent/teacher day at Sunnydale High. "School is where you learn."