I, Robot... You, Jane (28 Apr. 1997)

Willow unwittingly unleashes a powerful demon that takes refuge on the Internet.

Director:

Stephen L. Posey

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator), Ashley Gable,

Stars:

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon	...	Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan	...	Willow Rosenberg
Charisma Carpenter	...	Cordelia Chase (credit only)
Anthony Head	...	Rupert Giles (as Anthony Stewart Head)
Robia LaMorte	...	Jenny Calendar
Chad Lindberg	...	Dave
Jamison Ryan	...	Fritz
Pierrino Mascarino	...	Thelonius
Edith Fields	...	School Nurse
Damon Sharpe	...	Male Student (as Damon Sharp)
Mark Deakins	...	Moloch / Malcolm (voice)

Storyline

In the twelfth century, the Italian friar Thelonious used the circle of Kayless ritual to capture the demon Moloch the Corruptor into a book, hoping it would never be read. However it arrives in Sunnydale High Library; before Giles could examine it properly it's scanned into the school computer by Willow, and possesses it. Virtual evil is now able to spread trough the school network, starting with schoolboy Malcolm, Willow's brand new chat pall, for whom she even gives Xander's Bronze invitation a miss. Soon Buffy notices other normally nice students, like Dave and Fritz in her computer class, behave strangely, and start up the abandoned computer services firm CRD again. By the time Giles realizes about Moloch, the demon is very deep, powerful enough to make his minions kill Dave and abduct Willow, his unknowing deliverer to whom he declares his love. Computer-illiterate erudite Giles turns for help to his cultural rival, computer science teacher Jenny Calendar, who reveals herself as...

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Plot Keywords:

library | female protagonist | heroine | character name in title

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

28 April 1997 (USA)

Filming Locations:

1800 Stewart St., Santa Monica, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mutant Enemy, Kuzui Enterprises, Sandollar Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jenny Calendar was originally going to be named Nicki, but it was later changed in order to avoid on-set confusion with Nicholas Brendon who was called Nicky.

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Goofs

When the demon is looking through the computer for Buffy's file, her name on the list of students says she is a senior with a 3.4 GPA, and that her birthday is 10/24/80. The file opens with her correct status (Sophomore) and birthday (10/24/80), and lists her GPA as 2.8. The camera goes off the computer screen and when it comes back, the file lists Buffy as being a senior with the birthday 5/6/79, with a GPA of 2.8. Later the series established Buffy's birth year as 1981, conflicting with both sets of information in "I Robot, You Jane".

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Quotes

Malcolm: Right now, a man in Beijing is transferring money to a Swiss bank account for a contract on his mother's life. Good for him.

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Connections

References Tarzan the Ape Man (1932)

User Reviews

Buffy the Vampire Slayer:I, Robot...You Jane

This time, Buffy must contend with a demon named Moloch the Corrupter which has been released from a book that had him captured thanks to Willow who scanned the words binding him into a computer. Moloch pretends to be Malcolm, communicating with Willow and others in her computer class, manipulatively possessing them(..well, Willow herself is able to sense that something's not right about Malcolm, although she has fallen for him as they chat endlessly over hours). Fritz, a dedicated computer supporter, falls under Moloch's spell, willing to kill for him if necessary, gladly with honor to his master. Dave, another computer geek, but a kind and more innocent tech-head, also becomes loyal to Malcolm, only to see the error of his ways(..although, he does contribute in Moloch's finding a cybernetic body, similar to his demonic humanoid form centuries prior), paying the price for saving Buffy's life when she nearly is electrocuted in a shower. Giles, who doesn't adhere to the philosophy that computers and the Information SuperHighway are exceptional tools for the betterment of mankind in contributing literature to those who need it, must confide in Computer teacher, Ms Calender, if they are to remove Moloch from his new home. Meanwhile, Moloch is causing chaos and anarchy thanks to his power, demonic mischief running rampant as he wreaks havoc, using the Internet as a tool at his disposal. Buffy and Xander will have to face Moloch who has Willow prisoner at a recently closed Computer research facility, and it won't be easy since his new robotic body is equipped with strong steel. This episode honestly questions the harm(..and help)of computers and the Internet. Through the intense, heated(..but intellectually stimulating, and witty)exchanges between librarian and literary scholar Giles and computer specialist Calender(..we can see that potential fireworks might be present between these two), the clash between the use of books and the computer. Will books become obsolete because of the advent of the computer/Internet? There's some good food-for-thought in such a silly premise as a demon running roughshod throughout the Internet SuperHighway, falling in love with Willow, and her becoming enamored with him, realizing sadly the kind of monster he really is.

Jamison Ryan(..as Fritz), Chad Lindberg(..as Dave) and Robin LaMorte(Jenny Calender, the teacher butting heads with Giles, revealing herself to be a "technopagan" who has knowledge of the occult to his surprise)all co-star in this episode. Gellar is awfully cute in her little outfits and skirts in this episode. Funny epiphany at the end as our trio discuss the idea that none of them may ever have a reasonable relationship.