Revelations is such a banger. Foundational episode for Faith I gotta say. Faith, Hope and Trick was a great introduction yeah, but for my money this is perhaps the definitive early Faith episode. This is the blueprint for her going forwards, it feels like the entire latter half of s3 plotline of joining up with the Mayor starts here in miniature.
I'm pretty sure Gwendolyn Post is my favourite one episode character and I don't think it's particularly close. I mean I guess partly who else really fits into one episode character who I'm particularly fond of category? Billy Ford is good but he doesn't live rent free in my brain the way Post does. Moloch and April all do to a greater extent than Billy but I can't lie at least half of that is down to my fondness for the inexplicably good robot episodes (ironically Ted is probably objectively better than those two and yet) but still they pale compared to Post.
Gwendolyn Post, she has a lasting impact. Not textually. I think at most she's alluded to once when Wesley shows up as a this guy was actually sent by the council unlike Post. But she's Faith's first evil mentor figure, the Mayor will later take up this baton. She, if not being the one to drive that big wedge in between Faith and Buffy that we'll linger on in the final moments of the episode, is certainly the one to press into with all her might and widen it. Similarly even after her betrayal and tossing Faith aside we see how Faith has still internalised Post's opinion of her with her "Yeah, it's real Spartan." comment she uses to deflect the first of Buffy's overtures to patching things up between them. It's great stuff. Honestly really sad we don't get to see Faith again until they patch things back up in Amends, I'd love to see them on the outs with each other, brief bad breakup style before they get back together for Christmas.
And yet her whole deal is sorta under baked post reveal. She's exiled from the Watcher's Council two years ago. Despite this she knows about Faith by name, that there's two Slayers and that Faith needs a new Watcher. She has all this info and then gives up her head start on finding the artefact she's after that is so poorly hidden that Giles with his meagre library and Angel just inherently knows where its at. At the first chance she gets she drops her ruse and starts handing out concussions at the drop at the hat. All for a glove that gives her a fist fulla loightning that she'll die within maybe a minute of putting on.
It's almost comical how much potential she throws away. But regardless I love her. We were robbed of several episodes of this dynamic. Whether that's have her finish the same way in Revelations and have her show up earlier (I'd probably nominate replacing Beauty and the Beasts with one where she could show up), have her realise wait having a Slayer who'll do whatever I say no questions asked might be better in the long run than a lightning glove and she lasts until Wesley shows up who perhaps did get the memo, manages to get her sent off to Watcher jail and removing Faith's beloved Watcher who doesn't even really care about her but feeds her enough scraps of this is what's best for you that that doesn't matter feeds into her whole turning to the Mayor's side decision.
Some quick not talking about Post I guess. Willow/Xander is still not good but credit where is due it does at least sort of justify itself in being Bangel in miniature with the whole secret relationship know they shouldn't but still can't resist (though with Willow/Xander the reasons they can't resist are ... kinda unclear?). The Angel intervention scene is so much better than the Dead Man's Party everyone gang up on Buffy scene. Everyone has a pretty valid point of view that's not particularly expressed in the best way, it's a fun snarl between them.
I think it's fun that the Glove of Myhnegon is told to us that it can never be removed once put on in the scene with Angel and Buffy a couple who despite their best efforts appear to be locked together forever.
Lagos is kinda nothing, right? Just some guy with an axe. Our first Fork Vampire in a while and he's not even a vampire. For shame. I guess maybe the randoms in Homecoming could be classed as Fork Vampires.
"But I am going out with somebody. Tonight as a matter of fact," Iconic. Faith's reaction to "Really we're just good friends," is also incredibly strong. The level of disappointment on her face.
Oh wow Giles actually in his role as Faith's Watcher here.
Gwendolyn Post, my beloved.
Giles getting buried by Post is a fun dynamic.
Does Angel own a shirt right now?
As always doing a great job of you shouldn't be together guys.
I say that but Bangel are doing a better job controlling themselves than Xander and Willow are.
Giles delegating to Xander is why he needs oversight.
Faith demonstrating her greatest combat ability of taking hits.
Bold move for Xander to try to solo Angel. But he is meant to be weak right no so maybe he could handle it.
Never mind they're not doing a better job than Willow and Xander
If not for Angel that could be Faith making out with Buffy I'm sure.
I am fond of the Glove of Mhnegon. I do find it hard to believe that Angel just happened to know where it was/could figure it out.
"He was way more interested in killing her friends," I dunno if that's true Cordy, he killed Willow's fish and Jenny Calendar. And some random students. Her friends were pretty safe.
"I didn't know why he came back," And you never will
The Angel Intervention is way better than the Dead Man's Party one
I love how easy it is for Post to get Faith on side. She's so susceptible to an evil parental figure to slot into her life.
The double tap on Giles, incredible.
The Baseball Bat (???) with a hook strapped to it is such a choice.
Angel knows how to destroy the glove as well? How?
Nothing but respect for Faith's Watcher. Shovel to Angel's head, he gets up, she takes it completely in stride and just snaps it over her knee for a stake.
"She's blinded by love," Laser targeted by Post here. Doesn't need to know who Angel is, just needs to say exactly what she needs to say to get Faith mad at Buffy.
Of course they went through that window
Post is on a rampage. Three knockout blows on three main cast who does it better?
I'm counting that as a kill for Buffy. Like what was she expecting? Even if she didn't explode she'd have bled out right?
Good booking for Buffy/Faith 1, no decisive winner builds heat for the climactic showdown.
So like Buffy is skipping school to go see Faith right?
"Yeah, it's real Spartan," Yeah! Incorporate that scrap from that evil authority figure into your world view, Faith. This is a foundational episode for her problems!
The last second "Buffy", the eager turn around from Buffy, she so wants things to be okay between them, the "Nothing," Faith can't be open emotionally enough to work through it, Buffy's face falling as she turns. Love it!
Banger episode. 5/5 for Five by Five.
Oh huh I left the DVD on after this and I did not know the menu music ends on an evil Muahahaha before that's incredible.
Gonna be honest I do not particularly have something that I'd have Amy doing in this episode if she was in it. Tragic I know. She does not know that Angel is back I guess.
