"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" The Yoko Factor (2000)

Director:

David Grossman

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator)
Douglas Petrie (written by)

TV Series:

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997)

Original Air Date:

9 May 2000 (Season 4, Episode 20)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

Spike was chosen by Adam to sow discord among the Scoobies, in exchange for eliminating his chip. He succeeds in stirring Buffy's loneliness, Willow's lesbianism, Xander's ineptitude and Giles's midlife crisis.

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian | Reference To Frankenstein | Heroine | Female Protagonist | Demon

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon	...	Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan	...	Willow Rosenberg
Marc Blucas	...	Riley Finn
James Marsters	...	Spike
Anthony Head	...	Rupert Giles (as Anthony Stewart Head)
Amber Benson	...	Tara Maclay
Leonard Roberts	...	Forrest Gates
Conor O'Farrell	...	Colonel McNamara
George Hertzberg	...	Adam
Emma Caulfield	...	Anya
David Boreanaz	...	Angel
Bob Fimiani	...	Mr. Ward
Jade Carter	...	Lieutenant

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At 20:03, when Buffy rolls down the hill into some rocks, it is obvious from the way they shift under the impact that they are lightweight, flat-bottomed props sitting atop a soft stunt mat. Then, as the camera revolves while looking down on Buffy, you can see a patch of reflected light move across a "rock" and onto her shoulder in time with the camera motion.

Quotes:

Spike: You're not exactly the whiz these days either. God, I'm never gonna get paid.
Willow: I am a whiz.
Tara Maclay: She is a whiz.
Willow: If ever a whiz there was.

Movie Connections:

References The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Soundtrack:

Free Bird

The Destructive Gossiper

Spike associates to Adam and agreed to split the Scooby group, and in return Adam would remove his chip. He intrigues each friend of Buffy as if she had made gossip: Giles and his early retirement as librarian; the lack of culture of Xander; the homosexuality of Willow. He is well succeeded and Buffy is left alone by her friends. Meanwhile, Angel comes to Sunnydale to say to Buffy that he is sorry for their misunderstandings in Los Angeles, and he accidentally meets and fights against Riley.

"The Yoko Factor" is a good episode of Buffy, with a very intriguing last scene to be continued. I was curious about this title, and Spike explains that his attitude was equivalent to Yoko Ono with "The Beatles". Buffy's friends, specially the experienced Giles, accepted the gossips told by Spike very easily, and the mystery about the relationship between Riley Finn and Adam seems to be clarified in the next episode. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Fator Yoko" ("The Yoko Factor")