I have two different and opposite reactions when I watch this episode. One the one hand, I think its incredibly dramatic and takes the show in compelling new directions. The last scene is one of the most unexpected, compelling moments of the entire show. On the other hand, I just don't like watching "Seeing Red." It's dark and uncomfortable, and I don't think that the Spike and Buffy scene works. Still, this is the episode that changes the rest of the show. You really do need to see it, just be prepared to be depressed.
"Seeing Red" revolves around Warren and the Trio. After becoming super powered with little glowy balls, Warren sets out to rob an amusement park and destroy the Slayer. Meanwhile, Willow and Tara have reunited. Inspired by their happiness, Dawn goes to Spike's tomb to talk to him about Buffy. She claims that Buffy cares for Spike and he hurt her deeply when he slept with Anya. Spike heads for the Summers' house to apologize to Buffy and talk to her about their relationship. She tells him that she can never trust him. He insists that she really loves him. Spike tries to rape her and Buffy fights her way free. Horrifed, Spike rushes out. Xander finds Buffy in the bathroom crying.
Buffy soon decides to go after the Trio. She crushes Warren's magical orbs, but he escapes with a jet pack. Andrew and Johnathan are arrested. Back at his tomb Spike unloads his troubles on Clem. He claims that he's caught in the middle. Not quite a human. Not quite a demon. He decides to leave town to try and find an answer to his troubles. Warren, meanwhile, tracks Buffy down in her back yard and pulls out a gun. While Xander watches in horror, Warren starts shooting. He hits Buffy and she falls to the ground. One of the bullets slams through an upstairs window and strikes Tara. Willow's recovery from her magic addiction comes to an abrupt halt as she sees Tara collapse and die on the bedroom floor.
There are some good parts to this episode. I think it's interesting that Spike removes his coat before going upstairs to confront Buffy. (He won't get it back again until next season.) Spike's coat is often used as a symbol of his "real" self and in taking it off, it's almost like the show is telling us that Spike is about to undergo something trans-formative. Also, the idea of Warren just shooting Buffy and Tara is brilliant. After all the heroic battle the Scoobies have fought against vampires and hell gods and giant snakes, its a regular human being who hurts them the most. He's the one who finally kills one of their own. The Scoobies have been dismissing the Trio all season, making fun of their attempts at evilness. But in the end, Warren is the most effective villain they ever face. He breaks all the "rules" of the Buffyverse and only "wins" because he has no respect for playing fair. He doesn't confront Buffy face to face. He doesn't have a grand plan. He doesn't even have a real reason to hate her. He kills her out of human pride and spite. He even uses a human weapon: A revolver. Which defies all of Buffy's pronouncements that guns are useless in battles. He's cheating. In the end, Warren's wild shooting in the Summers' back yard tears the Scoobies apart more effectively than any supernatural Big Bad. "Seeing Red" shows that "human" evil can be even worse than "demonic" evil in its very pointlessness and random destruction.
On the downside, though. I REALLY don't agree with the attempted rape scene. From a story line stand point, Spike had to have a motivation for leaving town and going on his quest for his soul. I get that and I actually think it's a necessary plot for the character and season. But, it's HOW it all plays out that I hate for several reasons: (1) BTVS should never have introduced the idea of acquaintance rape if they were going to present it in such an irresponsible way. We all know that Spike and Buffy's relationship isn't over. Which means that she'll have to forgive her attempted rapist. And by next episode, Buffy will be heading to Spike's house to have him babysit her little sister. That's completely the wrong message to be putting out there about a real and terrible crime that effects so many women. (2) Spike is a vampire. Vampires don't rape people. People rape people. It wasn't Spike "the demon" trying to rape Buffy. (He didn't even have his game face on.) It was the "human" part of Spike who tried to rape her. Why does he need a soul to prove that he'll never try it again? Human's have souls and they rape each other with appalling frequency. If they wanted Spike to attack Buffy, why not have him vamp-out and bite her? That would make more sense. (3) Spike and Buffy's relationships has been violently sexual all season. Both of them had said "no" during their encounters while the other partner proceeded. That allows analysis of the bathroom scene to descend into a gray "did Spike really mean for that to happen or was he just playing their usual game?" sort of speculation which undermines it's entire purpose. All in all, BTVS usually addresses real life situations with more respect and thoroughness.
My favorite part of the episode: Willow and Tara. I'm glad they got one more day together. And that cliffhanger has got to be one of the most "Woah!" moments in BTVS history.
"Seeing Red" revolves around Warren and the Trio. After becoming super powered with little glowy balls, Warren sets out to rob an amusement park and destroy the Slayer. Meanwhile, Willow and Tara have reunited. Inspired by their happiness, Dawn goes to Spike's tomb to talk to him about Buffy. She claims that Buffy cares for Spike and he hurt her deeply when he slept with Anya. Spike heads for the Summers' house to apologize to Buffy and talk to her about their relationship. She tells him that she can never trust him. He insists that she really loves him. Spike tries to rape her and Buffy fights her way free. Horrifed, Spike rushes out. Xander finds Buffy in the bathroom crying.
Buffy soon decides to go after the Trio. She crushes Warren's magical orbs, but he escapes with a jet pack. Andrew and Johnathan are arrested. Back at his tomb Spike unloads his troubles on Clem. He claims that he's caught in the middle. Not quite a human. Not quite a demon. He decides to leave town to try and find an answer to his troubles. Warren, meanwhile, tracks Buffy down in her back yard and pulls out a gun. While Xander watches in horror, Warren starts shooting. He hits Buffy and she falls to the ground. One of the bullets slams through an upstairs window and strikes Tara. Willow's recovery from her magic addiction comes to an abrupt halt as she sees Tara collapse and die on the bedroom floor.
There are some good parts to this episode. I think it's interesting that Spike removes his coat before going upstairs to confront Buffy. (He won't get it back again until next season.) Spike's coat is often used as a symbol of his "real" self and in taking it off, it's almost like the show is telling us that Spike is about to undergo something trans-formative. Also, the idea of Warren just shooting Buffy and Tara is brilliant. After all the heroic battle the Scoobies have fought against vampires and hell gods and giant snakes, its a regular human being who hurts them the most. He's the one who finally kills one of their own. The Scoobies have been dismissing the Trio all season, making fun of their attempts at evilness. But in the end, Warren is the most effective villain they ever face. He breaks all the "rules" of the Buffyverse and only "wins" because he has no respect for playing fair. He doesn't confront Buffy face to face. He doesn't have a grand plan. He doesn't even have a real reason to hate her. He kills her out of human pride and spite. He even uses a human weapon: A revolver. Which defies all of Buffy's pronouncements that guns are useless in battles. He's cheating. In the end, Warren's wild shooting in the Summers' back yard tears the Scoobies apart more effectively than any supernatural Big Bad. "Seeing Red" shows that "human" evil can be even worse than "demonic" evil in its very pointlessness and random destruction.
On the downside, though. I REALLY don't agree with the attempted rape scene. From a story line stand point, Spike had to have a motivation for leaving town and going on his quest for his soul. I get that and I actually think it's a necessary plot for the character and season. But, it's HOW it all plays out that I hate for several reasons: (1) BTVS should never have introduced the idea of acquaintance rape if they were going to present it in such an irresponsible way. We all know that Spike and Buffy's relationship isn't over. Which means that she'll have to forgive her attempted rapist. And by next episode, Buffy will be heading to Spike's house to have him babysit her little sister. That's completely the wrong message to be putting out there about a real and terrible crime that effects so many women. (2) Spike is a vampire. Vampires don't rape people. People rape people. It wasn't Spike "the demon" trying to rape Buffy. (He didn't even have his game face on.) It was the "human" part of Spike who tried to rape her. Why does he need a soul to prove that he'll never try it again? Human's have souls and they rape each other with appalling frequency. If they wanted Spike to attack Buffy, why not have him vamp-out and bite her? That would make more sense. (3) Spike and Buffy's relationships has been violently sexual all season. Both of them had said "no" during their encounters while the other partner proceeded. That allows analysis of the bathroom scene to descend into a gray "did Spike really mean for that to happen or was he just playing their usual game?" sort of speculation which undermines it's entire purpose. All in all, BTVS usually addresses real life situations with more respect and thoroughness.
My favorite part of the episode: Willow and Tara. I'm glad they got one more day together. And that cliffhanger has got to be one of the most "Woah!" moments in BTVS history.