"Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
Storyteller (2003)

Director:

Marita Grabiak

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator)
Jane Espenson (written by)

TV Series:

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997)

Original Air Date:

25 February 2003 (Season 7, Episode 16)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

Andrew creates a documentary called "Buffy, Slayer of the Vampyres", a record of the current situation in Sunnydale to show to future generations...

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian | Heroine | Sister Sister Relationship | Female Protagonist | 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
Danny Strong	...	Jonathan Levinson
Adam Busch	...	Warren Meers
Tom Lenk	...	Andrew Wells
Iyari Limon	...	Kennedy
Sarah Hagan	...	Amanda
Indigo	...	Rona
D.B. Woodside	...	Principal Robin Wood
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sujata Day	...	Shy Girl (as Sujata DeChoudhury)
T.W. Leshner	...	Feral Teen
Alan Loayza	...	Stressed Out Boy
Corin Norton	...	Crying Girl (as Corin Amber Norton)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Trivia:

The seventh season episode, "Storyteller", which focused on the character Andrew, was an experiment to see how the audience would respond to a show centered around Andrew, since the series was ending and they were trying to find a character upon whom they could build another spin-off show.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene when Andrew is talking to The First/Warren in Mexico, he's barefooted or wearing slippers from cut to cut.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Andrew Wells: [to camera] Oh, hello, there, gentle viewers. You caught me catching up on an old favorite. It's wonderful to get lost in a story, isn't it? Adventure and heroics and discovery: don't they just take you away? Come with me now, if you will, gentle viewers. Join me on a new voyage of the mind. A little tale I like to call: Buffy, Slayer of the Vampyrs.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs "Masterpiece Theatre" (1971)

All About Andrew

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Sometimes it seems like Andrew is the best thing about season seven. He just fits right in with everyone. He even makes Dawn more interesting. Andrew consistently adds humor and fun to a season that's often lacking both. I loved Jonathan and I have no idea when I forgave Andrew for killing him. But after seeing "Storyteller," I completely accepted Andrew as part of the Scoobie gang. "Storyteller" is Andrew's episode. It highlights his tendency to live inside his own fantasies and his guilt over his past "super villainy." You could understand the story arc this season without seeing this episode, but "Storyteller" does provide some genuine laughs in an increasingly dark season. I recommend that you see it.

"Storyteller" revolves around Andrew. He's gotten himself a video camera and is determined to film everything happening at the Summers' house. That way future generations will be able to see how they saved the world. Buffy is annoyed with his constant video taping. But most of the Scoobies are willing to let Andrew keep busy with his project... and star in his film. Meanwhile, the Hellmouth is getting more dangerous, infecting the students at Sunnydale High. Buffy needs to close it again, and in order to do that she needs Andrew. He opened the Hellmouth and she thinks that he might be able to close it again.

The Scoobies question Andrew, making him remember his life in Mexico. He recalls how the First as "Warren" came to visit him and made him buy a special knife. "Warren" promised that if Andrew killed Jonathan, they'd all live forever as gods. (The "we are gods!" visions Andrew shares with the others are really funny.) Realizing that the knife must be somehow connected to the Hellomouth seal, Buffy takes Andrew to Sunnydale High. There she threatens to use the knife on him, the way he did with Jonathan. She claims that Andrew is always living in fantasies it's time that he took some responsibility for his actions. Andrew begins to cry and says that he's sorry for killing Jonathan. As his tears hit the Hellmouth it closes. The episode ends with Andrew feeling far more subdued. He thinks that he'll probably die in the coming battle with the First, but he's determined to fight anyway.

There are some great parts to this episode, mostly involving Andrew. I really like Andrew video taping everyone in the kitchen. From his vision of a Buffy and Spike (wind blowing through her hair, while Spike circles around her shirtless), to Andrew walking away during one of Buffy's long winded speeches, to Xander's pleased smile at being called the "heart" of the Scoobies... It's just really fun. And Andrew's "flash backs" are hilarious. He's changed things around so suddenly he bravely fought Dark Willow in season six's "Two to Go." There are real clips from the episode inter-sliced with Andrew's new stilted bravery. It's so nutty that I just have to laugh. I like his interviews with everyone. He questions Xander and Anya about their failed wedding, causing them to grow closer. I especially like how Andrew plays Anya's part when he watches the interview later. He follows Spike around while Spike swears and throws cigarettes at him. The Andrew tells Spike that the lighting was wrong and Spike quick repositions himself and starts is whole "reluctant" routine over again. He films Buffy battling vampires, "How come vampire's show up on camera?" I don't know how valuable a "record" any of this stuff would be for future generations, but I certainly enjoy it. Also, I like Andrew saying that he got that knife from a guy who sold collapsible swords. It's a nice little nod to "Angel," where Wes bought those swords.

I think that there's a certain strength in Andrew. Like Spike, he's done some terrible things, but he's determined to do better. When the First tells him that it's too late to change in "First Date," Andrew refuses to believe that. He wants to be a White Hat and he's trying to prove himself to the Scoobies. He's wants to be accepted Buffy and he won't stop pushing until she sees him as one of the gang. He has no training or real powers, but he's willing to fight with the Scoobies. Andrew might be a nerd-y little follower, but he's growing up and finding himself this season. He's facing his past and reinventing himself as a better person.

On the down side, what happens to Andrew's tapes? I hope that they were on the bus in "Chosen" otherwise all this was just a waste of time...

My favorite part of the episode: The drawn out way Andrew says the word, "vampire." He makes it, "vam-PYRrrr" and usually adds this knowingly little nod. It just cracks me up every time I hear it. (On a side note, when Andrew guest stars on "Angel," in the season five episode "Damage," Angel does a dead on impression of Andrew's ridiculous pronunciation, making it even funnier.)