GO FISH-thoughts and reviews

[Saturn 5]

Go Fish

The Good;
Good analogy of the competiveness of sports, the dangers of cheating and sports stars being feted and misbehaving as a result (does a week go by without that happening?). Very nice transformation scenes and a great mislead. Some great humour surrounding Xander and his relationship with Cordy, Snyder and of course the Angel subplot isn't forgotten (Why Miss Summers, you're beautiful). Love her Diana Prince moment and her stalking Gage. Plus Jonathon!

The Bad;
Terrible monster outfits! Also isn't it a bit much to let the swimteam just go at the end? They've already killed 2 humans in addition to gangraping Buffy, what if they decide to start attacking yachts full of tasty bimbos etc?

Best line;
Xander; I'm undercover
Buffy (leering); Not under much!

Wheldon cliches;
Knocked out;
Character death; the coach and the school nurse at the 5th and 6th members of the SDH faculty to die in 2 years
Shot;
Tied up;
Women good/men bad; Buffy gets sexually assaulted twice, making it the 4th and 5th time for her (if we don't count the Master mauling her) Cam deservedly getting his nose broken in reply to his forcing himself upon her and Buffy's already doubtful reputation ("I heard someone say she was fast") taking a further blow by 'being had' by the entire swimteam. Nice role reversal though in the girls ogling Xander rather than the other way around for once.
Subtext; Xander seem nervous at the thought of being in the steam room with a bunch of near naked guys. By contrast the girls all seem to be very taken by the sight of him in his speedos, even Willow which seems to once again suggest she's bi rather than gay

Questions and observations;
I always thought the guy from Prison Break looked familar, rewatching this I now know why (although he doesn't have the tats yet). It's a shame he gets transformed, I love the little hints of a relationship developing between him and Buffy, especially a terrified Gage asking Buffy to walk him home after she saves him from Angelus (talk about gender roles reversal, the strapping athlete asking the petite blonde to protect him). Cam reminds me of Buffy's old boyfriend from LA and the type of guys she used to go out with. Now of course she rapidly get's bored of him as he's nothing compared to Angel and the steroids have made him a jerk. Presumably either the coach added magic to the steroid mix or he's another recipient of the Hellmouth Genius effect.
7/10 I think, a pretty slight tale but funny nonetheless

[buffyfan21]

I actually think Go Fish was one of the weaker eps of S2, but that being said, I actually think the swim team monsters looked pretty good for so early on in the series. There was definitely a terrifying element to them, imo. Especially when the boys started ripping out of their own skin and were transformed into the monster beneath. Yuck anyone?

My favorite part of the ep was definitely the Xander speedo and all the girls oggoling at him. That alone makes this ep worth watching.

[snizapman6294]

This episode is very sentimental to me because it was the first episode i watched... when i was 6... Not a great episode, but not a terrible one either.

[hedgehogvampire]

I think this might be one of my favorite episodes of season 2. It was funny and a light hearted episode, Xander and Cordelia were funny in it.

[buffyfan21]

I love the part where Cordy thinks that Xand has turned into one of the fish guys and *cue sentimental music* "I'll do whatever I can to make your quality of life better, whether that means little bath toys or whatever...but I understand if you wanna see other fish."



Really shows just how much Cordy has grown to care for Xander at this point.

Shame she only ends up getting hurt in the end.

[loveisabird]

Not the my best episode ever but its pretty funny. I have love for it though, one reason being Buffy wearing my favourite shade of Blue haha. And also for the when Buffy pulls the ''stake'' out her hair. And how can I forget Xander in the speedo . . . . .and Buffy, Willow and Cordy's reaction!

Xander: Im under cover.
Buffy: Not under much.
Cordelia: Get out of here before someone sees you impersonating a member of the swim team!
Xander: I don't do impersonations. I tried out for the team last night.
I made it.
Cordelia: Really?
Xander: Yeah. I figured I can keep an eye on Gage and the others when Buffy can't.
Willow: When you're nude? .. I meant to say 'changing'.

[Saturn 5]

Yeah, love Buffy's Diana Prince moment, do we ever see her in glasses?

[Reika]

Hello, Joxerlives. First time watchin'? LOL!

[jacko96]

the only part that i like is when xander is wearing only swimmers

[gumgnome]

Aug 17, 2009 17:15:22 GMT -5 Saturn 5 said:

Yeah, love Buffy's Diana Prince moment, do we ever see her in glasses?

For a brief period in "Goodbye Iowa" when she and Xander break into the Initiative to get Riley out.

On the subject of "Go Fish", I am of the opinion that this is a pretty average one. I like the monsters only really from the point of view that they represent potential danger for Xander - otherwise they don't really have much of a game-plan or represent a threat.

The coach is just a moron - how the hell is he gonna win the state championships with a bunch of mutated freaks?

Cameron is a jerk, and a boring jerk at that. I like the gang's brief irritation with Buffy after she's done being a "swim-team perk".

The thing that irks me most is the end, when the swim-team-monsters swim away in the ocean. I'm sure it's very difficult swimming in those outfits, but they make such pitiful progress in that last scene. I mean, they're meant to be kick-ass swimmers, but they just sort of dive into the water, then bob back up in exactly the same spot. It looks pathetic.

Best line:
COACH MARIN: Boy, when they were handin' out school spirit, you didn't even stand in line, did you?
BUFFY: No. I was in the line for shred of sanity.
*coach pulls a pistol out*
BUFFY: Which you obviosuly skipped.

[buffyfan21]

Buffy also wore glasses briefly in "I Robot You Jane" when she is following Dave.

To Giles: "What am I gonna do wear dark glasses and a trench coat?"



I think there are a few times when we see Buffy wearing glasses (sunglasses that is).

[Saturn 5]

Yes, that's right, she adopts the cliched sexy scientist look. I think the other times she wore them were sunglasses

[buffyfan21]

Yeah. We saw her with shades on a few times outside the school I believe.

I should mention that my favorite part of this ep (besides the Xander Speedo of course, that's a given!) was when Cameron gets his nose busted. He so deserved that. What a jerk!

Go Buffy!

[Smashed]

Aug 16, 2009 15:50:41 GMT -5 Saturn 5 said:

The Bad;
Terrible monster outfits! Also isn't it a bit much to let the swimteam just go at the end? They've already killed 2 humans in addition to gangraping Buffy,

Women good/men bad; Buffy gets sexually assaulted twice, making it the 4th and 5th time for her (if we don't count the Master mauling her)

...I feel like I'm missing something.

The boys didn't "gangrape" Buffy.
She fell in, but didn't end up getting sexually assaulted by the fish guys.
She even said something about what her reputation would have been if she did it with the whole swim team.

And when were the other four times?

Considering that she wasn't assaulted [as I remember] except the time in 'Seeing Red'...right?

And if she were raped...at all, they wouldn't just have her walk away. It would definitely be a moment.

:\

[Reika]

Sexual assault is something very specific. It includes rape, forced vaginal, anal or oral penetration, forced sexual intercourse, inappropriate touching, forced kissing, child molestation, torture of the victim in a sexual manner, et cetera. I assume when you say Buffy was 'sexually assaulted', you mean the 'inappropriate touching', yes? Then first time, I believe, you'd say Buffy was sexually assaulted was in The Pack, as even Buffy mentioned that's what it felt to her. And pretty much that's what it looked like, as well.

I don't think we should count the Master hauling her as a properly said sexual assault, though. Metaphorical sexual assault? Sure. But not in its strictest sense. Same could go for Some Assembly Required, I guess. As well as for Ted -- more-so standing like the abusive step-father than actual predator. And plenty more that I could be forgetting.

Oh, and of course, there's Reptile Boy, the near-attempted sexual assault by the frat boy, when Buffy's unconscious on the bed. But I assume that doesn't count.

Now that I think of it, a lot of scenes could stand out as possible metaphors for sexual assault. Such as Helpless, besides when Buffy's lost her powers and basically the sexual harassment that ensued by those dudes, I believe Kralik could stand out as a sexual predator.

There's also Phases when Larry grabs her ass without her consent. And that would also bring Anne, when that vulgar man slaps Buffy on the ass. Man, that scene -- I alwasy pictured Buffy slowly turning around and punching him out on the nose good and porper.

There's Halloween as well, but it did seem more like it would've been more than the sexaul assault we're referring to here that could've happened there.

I probably missed out on a few, and I'm just talking pre-S4.

[buffyfan21]

Aug 18, 2009 21:33:14 GMT -5 Reika said:

And that would also bring Anne, when that vulgar man slaps Buffy on the ass. Man, that scene -- I alwasy pictured Buffy slowly turning around and punching him out on the nose good and porper.

This moment always makes me cringe. I find myself wishing that Buffy would just turn around and knock the s*** out of him. It is clear from the scene, that it is very hard for Buffy to refrain from doing so as well. Same with Helpless. Scenes like this just make me angry. I hate to see Buffy deny her inherent strength and abilities. Thankfully, at the end of both Helpless and Anne, we see that the balance is put right, as Buffy is once again being true to herself and who she is (the only diff being that in Helpless, Buffy's denial of power was done out of her control, whereas in Anne, she was the one who did the denying). Bottom line, I love to see Buffy proud and kicking ass, which is why I cheer when she breaks Cam's nose, as well as when she defeats Kralik, and in Anne, reclaims what is rightfully hers by proudly saying, "I'm Buffy, the vampire slayer, and you are?"

[Saturn 5]

I think the consensus is Buffy get's sexually assaulted 7 times in the course of the series;

1. By possessed Xander in The Pack (amazed she never brought that up when they argue over Spike attacking her in season 6/7)

2. Pirate Larry trying to force himself on her in Halloween (shiver me timber?)

3. By Larry again copping a feel in Phases (although we now know it's all a show)

4. Steroid pumped Cam trying to force himself upon her in Go Fish so she breaks his nose (good for her!)

5. And the rest of the swimteam are in the process of gangraping her at the end of the same episode before Xander rescues her. The coach says 'Boys have other needs' and Buffy remarks that her already doubtful reputation will be further sullied when it's revealed that she's 'done it with the entire swimteam'.

6. Spike and Buffy in Seeing Red

7. Buffy getting 'knocked up' by the Shadowman's pet demon in Get It Done

You could also argue that The Master does sexually assault Buffy, he overpowers her and gains pleasure from penetrating her body (with his fangs). People have said Giles drugging Buffy in Halloween is tantamount to child abuse, her father figure drugs her and penetrates her body with the needle. What do Buffy and Dracula get up to after the fadeout and is it her choice or thrall or a combination of the two? And Spike feels Buffy up at the Bronze during Triangle.
As for other characters Faith-as-Buffy essentially rapes Riley in Who are you? If Willow and Tara have sex in OMWF after Willow does the forgetting spell on her in the previous episode that could be construed as rape? And Cordy get's knocked up three seperate times by demons?
And let's not even start with the age of consent, Buffy/Angel, Buffy/RJ etc
Weird that a show that prides itself on it's feminist credentials features so much of this but maybe that's the point, the girls always overcome, like The Accused?

[gumgnome]

I suppose you could go nuts with the sexual metaphor of vampires and say that she gets sexually assaulted every time a vampire attacks her, but let's not.

I've always thought of Reptile Boy as the clearest example of the sexual assault metaphor earlier on. Frat guys drug teenage girls, then introduce them to the big snake they worship in their basement...

saturn5 - I think it would be slightly unfair to compair possessed Xander's attempted assault on Buffy with Spike's perfectly lucid attack. Xander effectively was an animal, Spike had a choice.

[Alexandra]

Aug 19, 2009 5:13:34 GMT -5 Saturn 5 said:

If Willow and Tara have sex in OMWF after Willow does the forgetting spell on her in the previous episode that could be construed as rape?

Good point. I've never thought of it this way: the scene is actually very beautiful but at the same time it feels wrong because of Willow's spell. I think it can be definetely construed as rape! Your observation about Faith/Riley is also valid.

On the other hand, I agree with gumgnome that we cannot compair Spike's and Xander's rape attempts.

Btw, if anyone is interested in feminist issues in Buffy, Angel etc, I higly recommend this web. The author is a huge fan of Joss' work, however, is rather critical to certain aspects of his shows; all written from a feminist perspective. Anyway, there's lots of good stuff to read.

[Saturn 5]

Maybe we should also add Willow and DarkWillow in Dopplegangland? Hands in new places!

As for Xander and Spike attempting to rape Buffy I think neither is culpable, Xander is possessed by the Hyena spirit, Spike can't know it's wrong because he doesn't have a soul