Guys, it’s 2:00 AM and I should be asleep, but instead, I just finished the BEST episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer so far. My reactions to BTVS Season 1, Episode 8: I, Robot… You, Jane under the cut
- I’m PUMPED for the next one, because beloved Buffy mutual @mistyintherivers listed it as one of her fave episodes, so I can look forward to them.
- AND, assuming based on the Disney+ description, it’s a WILLOW-focused episode!! HELL YEAH 🥰
- Also, demon in a computer? That kinda reminds me of The X-Files episode, Ghost in the Machine. However, that featured an evil AI. (Aren’t they all? Lol)
- THE PREMISE EXPLANATION TIME IS BACK AGAIN? I was afraid that it only reappeared last episode because it was a Special Episode. Why was it randomly missing for a few episodes on Disney+?
- Oh, this is the first time that we’ve ever started with a Different Place, Different Year-style opener. Are we getting the demon’s backstory before the main meat of the episode, or is it something like a Show Inside Of A Show thing that we’re opening on?
- There is A demon here…and his boy-toy(?), Carlo. OH, is Willow gonna be the next “Carlo”? That’s where I’m placing my bet right now.
- IT IS THE DEMON’S BACKSTORY! I know Moloch’s name from Disney+ episode description. Interesting, we’ve never opened on the episode’s Big Bad’s backstory before.
- I am intrigued by the idea of a demon that feeds on love/maybe lust, that is also ugly by conventional standards. I say conventional because I know at least one viewer out there must want to fuck him.
- I feel like demons have Italy the same way that vampires have Romania and fairies have Ireland. I can only assume this comes from Latin, and therefore its close descendant Italian, having strong demonic associations in pop cultures.
- Is somebody gonna put the book on the net, and that’s how Willow reads it and unleashes Moloch?
- Nah, Buffy’s just gonna open a box. Giles has got to label dangerous shit better.
- Buffy’s hair is ADORABLE today!
- Oh, Giles hasn’t even went through this stuff yet. Dude, you collect dangerous shit. If you don’t know what it is, don’t leave it laying around the school library.
- Uh, there’s another boy here? I thought it was Xander at a glance, but it is NOT.
- Random Boy’s name is Dave. Why are you helping sort the library, dude? Also, you just don’t hear about boys named Dave anymore. I went to school with Davids, but it’s no longer cool to shorten it.
- There’s multiple boys here to help? And, a LADY! She must know Giles because she called him Rupert, which I had forgotten is his first name.
- Oh, she’s sassing Giles, and she looks fucking cool. OH, is she another watcher? Is that why they seem to be exchanging materials? Is the new boys her troupe?
- Ms. Calendar…Calendar…WAIT, I KNOW HER! That’s one of Buffy Mutual’s blorbos! Cool Lady sticks around!
- She teaches a computer science class? That’s not what I was expecting at all.
- Giles, I wouldn’t call a device that allows you to access every bit of information humanity has available to us instantly an Idiot Box.
- “The only reality is virtual. If you’re not jacked in, you’re not alive.” BAHAHAHA Who is this guy? Why does he talk like a parody?
- Does anyone reading this remember when the computers were big and boxy like this? Because, I’m kinda fascinated by them. I was born in 2005, so they aren’t in my memory.
- I’m happy Ms. Calendar acknowledged that Fritz the Talking Teen Parody just did some horrible PR for the computer people.
- Did Fritz make a good point? When did it become absolutely necessary to familiarize yourself with the internet? Because, I’d argue you do need it now, or at least life is harder if you don’t use computers/smartphones because everything from banking to job applications to ordering a meal is digital (for NO good reason). But, did you REALLY need it in the 90s?
- “Are you kidding?” “Yes, it was a joke I made up.” WILLOW MY DARLING! 🥰 She’s my awkward princess.
- “Willow, I love you, but bye.” and touching her shoulder as he goes by 🥺 My beloved Xander-Willow friendship
- “I’ll be back in the Middle Ages” “Did you ever leave?” And, if I say I kinda ship this dynamic? The banter is doing something for me.
- NO! Willow is reading the freaky demon book!
- Wait, what is this cool scanner thing that puts the stuff on the computer automatically? Where do I get one?
- Are they adding the creepy book in an unknown (I’m assuming) language to the fucking school library catalogue?
- Oh, the demon was in the book, they put the book into the computer, so now the demon is in the computer. That makes sense.
- Seeing Darla in the theme montage reminded me that she’s dead. The Master must be dwindling on minions.
- Buffy’s and Willow’s outfit are both CUTE!
- Buffy-Willow bestfriendism 🥺
- So, a week has passed since the past before the theme sequence. That seems important to take note of.
- Was Willow talking to the demon on the phone? Or the computer? Is the demon in all computers now?
- I know the demon’s name is Moloch, but I get tired of rechecking the spelling. Calendar is already fucking me up and that’s just a common word.
- I like that the demon seemed to take on a name that was less “odd” by changing Moloch to Malcom, presumably to fit in. Unique/uncommon names are so popular now. I wouldn’t blink an eye at a 16 year old named Moloch.
- Buffy’s face at Willow answering “I don’t know.” to “What does he look like?” is so funny to me. Because, like, I’m on Tumblr. Buffy would be so confused by me chatting regularly to people I’ve never seen. I literally got the idea to make these posts because Misty wanted detailed reviews of what I thought of her favorite show. I never expected anyone else to read them, really. Was online friendships much of a concept in the 90s? I know there was fandom forums.
- Ms. Calendar looks SO COOL. I’m immediately enamored by her. And….you know….our little team does need an adult woman, just for balance, ya know? We just have Giles to watch 3 kids by himself. I’m a little nervous because it just occurred to me that her being a mutual’s blorbo does not mean she sticks around. How often do I mention Jesse, ya know?
- Girl, I don’t think emailing your online crush is a way to spend lab time, ESPECIALLY when he’s a demon.
- Despite being a teen in the late 2010s-early 2020s, I did have a friend I had regular email correspondences with outside of school because her parents only let her have a limited data plan on her phone in middle school.
- Is the title of this episode a reference to Me Tarzan You Jane from the Tarzan movie? Did that come out yet? Okay, I googled it, but that came out in 1999? Wait, let me Google some more. THERE WAS A LIFE-ACTION TARZAN MOVIE BEFORE THE DISNEY ONE? I didn’t know that.
- Buffy calling Willow “Will” was cute. I do understand her concern about Willow’s new “relationship” as well. I’m not saying online relationships NEVER work (when there’s not demons involved). It’s just when you introduce the factor of Willow’s age, I have safety concerns.
- I think this episode and The X-Files episode I mentioned earlier (that aired in 1993) is an interesting indicator of people’s fears surrounding the rapid growth of technology in the 90s.
- We have a canonical birthdate for Buffy! 10/24/80. She’s a Scorpio!
- Her GPA needs some help, but like, our girl has a lot going on.
- Speaking of a lot going on, I’m impressed Buffy has managed to only have 1 absence since the start of the series.
- Is that Fritz? Is he a demon cohort? I thought he was just weird!
- How did Willow “meet” this guy on the internet though? Besides him being a demon possessing the computer. Like did she just get a random email? Because, baby, you aren’t supposed to click on those.
- I had to sleep last night, but I’m back!
- AWW, Buffy is such a protective friend towards Willow! 🥰
- I realized that Fritz’s lines are so skilled at making me suspicious/on-edge because it reminds me of descriptions of school shooting perpetrators, and then I remembered that audiences when the show aired would likely not have that comparison at the forefront of their minds like I do, and felt sad.
- Ah, remember when hating Nazis wasn’t a controversial opinion to have, and actually, suggesting a different opinion would get your ass kicked?
- If I think about the Willow and Xander bestfriendism too much, I start shaking and gnawing at the bars of my enclosure. I LOVE THEM!
- Xander, I fear you’ve been replaced by a computer demon- two things that are worse than you.
- I do think Xander is very protective of “his girls” in a kinda clumsy, teenage way. I find it sweet, when he doesn’t veer into (unintentional) sexism.
- “Everyone deserts me.” I am curious to know more about Xander’s backstory because he does seem very insecure in a lot of aspects of his life, mainly his relationships (romantic and platonic) and his masculinity, past what is typical even for a teenager.
- I do think it is possible to get friendship-jealous. I know it is, actually; I have a horrible little jealous streak about my friends.
- Is this a subtle Very Special Episode about the dangers of online strangers? It feels like an internet safety PSA wrapped inside of a Buffy episode. I’m so intrigued by media where you can pinpoint what was going on in society when it was created, and you can tell this was made during a time where teenagers were increasingly online but there wasn’t a guidebook for how to handle it yet. I can hear the anxious parents.
- XANDER-BUFFY FRIENDSHIP TOO! 🥰 I’m being fed this episode.
- I don’t blame Buffy’s tendency to get caught up in the worst case scenario, just based on what girly deals with on the regular. Circus freak axe murderer doesn’t seem far-fetched.
- Hey, does anyone say “jacked in” anymore when referring to the internet. I’ve never heard it in real life.
- OH, I WASN’T EXPECTING HIM TO BE CARVING THE DEMON’S INTIAL INTO HIS ARM.
- Well, I guess that answers my question about whether he’s working with the demon or not.
- If you oversleep until 5th period, you might as well not go in. Also did Willow’s parents not check if she was up before they went to work?
- Does Moloch have some type of persuasion power? Because, Willow is more level-headed than this usually, even with her crush on Xander (granted, that also might be because he’s more familiar to her). I refuse to believe that a boy liking her (even with her low self-esteem) got to her head this much all by itself.
- Buffy’s outfit is so pretty!
- What could Dave possibly be this locked into on a computer in 1997? Like, did they have games on there yet?
- “Profile” Did emails used to have a bio (or something similar) attached to it? Like, did you write about yourself on your email profile?
- “Leave Willow alone! That’s none of your business.” Well, I’d say it’s more Buffy’s business than your’s, Dave. So, we found another demon cohort.
- These boys are so terrible at not seeming suspicious as hell.
- Giles seems to dismiss a ton of stuff with some type of “teens will be teens” reasoning, but I honestly don’t blame him because like…sometimes teens will be teens. Willow seems to be having a fit of obsession about some random guy? Two dudes are antisocial and obsessed with their computers? Average day in sophomore year.
- Honestly, I’m kinda with Giles about the computers being scary, just because I don’t understand them. I know, I know, I’m chronically online. However, I only use Tumblr on my phone, and sometimes I have to contact my dear friend with questions about my laptop like, “I minimized a screen and now I can’t find it?” “How do I open a file?” “Where are my files?” “Why is the laptop’s fan sounding so loud?” “Why is the sound muted?” “How do I close a game?” “Can I change my mouse cursor’s color?” And many, many more. I took all the required computer classes in school too, I just can’t seem to “get” them.
- “What, in like dark glasses and a trench coat?” and then the cut to Buffy in exactly that is KILLING me. I love my girl. She’s having her super spy moment.
- Why is Dave at a warehouse, with a guy in a lab coat and a guard who I genuinely thought might’ve been a mannequin until he blinked?
- Okay, but WHY are these boys working with Moloch? And, what does that have to do with this warehouse? Is the demon running a smuggling operation?
- I really hate Fritz. He freaks me out more than Dave.
- I love when Xander pops out with a specific little fact and they all seem shocked. Actually, that’s SO specific too. I’m headcanoning that one of his parents worked at C.R.D. until it closed down. Also, we can now infer that Sunnydale has a primarily information technology sector-based economy.
- It was his uncle that worked there! My headcanon was close.
- If Giles doesn’t know about Spider-Man, what did he briefly think tingling spider senses meant?
- Honestly, I think Giles should just be grateful that Buffy & Co don’t do MORE ~technically~ illegal shit.
- Actually, that reminded me of hacker Willow from a few episodes ago. She would be a great asset right now if she wasn’t ensnared by a demon.
- HA, I love how quick Giles can think on his feet when it comes to lying/trying to seem like everything is normal.
- Yeah, I’m shipping Galendar(?). They won me over with some snipping over computers.
- FINALLY, someone lampshades how weird it is for Buffy & Co to spend SO much time in the school library/with the school librarian. I love you, Ms. Calendar.
- “To read makes our speaking English good.” Xander, you’re so fucking stupid, I would die for you.
- LMAO Buffy dragging him off and scolding him about how fucking dumb he sounded quickly just became one of my favorite Buffy-Xander moments.
- Willow does the same thing I do! If I’ve ever made a comment aimed at you, sent you an ask, or messaged you on here- there’s a 99% chance I read it out loud too. I do it when I make posts too usually. A lot of my reactions in these posts were spoken out loud too.
- Last time someone insisted Buffy was a trouble-maker, Willow made her delete all of her work. Will this be what breaks Moloch’s hold on Willow?
- Can’t Willow go back into her chat logs and see she didn’t mention that fact about Buffy? And, a teenager from another school wouldn’t be able to access her permanent record. Ha, Moloch, your web of lies is untangling. And, Willow is a clever girl.
- Ooh, Willow is suspicious of him now. Also, did people used to be say things like “I have to sign off now”? I’m unsure of the customs of old chat logs. Now, we have the little active green dots.
- Ms. Calendar bringing up how the internet has greater availability to the average person than books all the way back in 1997. I LOVE her. Please, I hope she sticks around.
- Giles’ point about computers making human interaction obsolete makes me laugh, as I often do when I hear that point, because I interact with way more people with the help of the internet. Right now, I can message my friend across the pond and she can receive that message and respond instantly, well, at least she can respond as soon as she wakes up because our timezones don’t match. Really, I’ve “met” loads of lovely people on this website I wouldn’t be aware of otherwise. You constantly have access to the perspective of another person from a different walk of life on here.
- I like that you can see Giles thinking “Oh, fuck” when Ms. Calendar shows him that a book is blank.
- That would be an odd-looking diary.
- “Well, it’s been so nice talking to you.” “We were fighting.” “Must do it again sometime.” #CilesIsMyNewOTP
- “I checked the computer and there’s nothing in his file about being allergic to penicillin.” This conversation amongst extras is a hint that the computers don’t have all the answers.
- I don’t trust Dave. Buffy, it’s a TRAP!
- Buffy called Willow “Will” again 🥺
- Is Fritz gonna…drown Buffy? Also, killing someone on school grounds seems like a terrible idea. I know they do it all the damn time in this show. But, there’s just too many potential witnesses, and if it’s like most schools, cameras everywhere. There likely isn’t one IN the locker rooms, but there’s like some outside of them to see who’s coming and going.
- Again, I didn’t take traditional gym classes in high school. But, I did in middle school. I actually would get changed in the showers because I’m Private (I never saw anyone actually use them as a shower lol, our middle school did NOT give you enough time to do that). Anyways, all that to say, why do these high school showers not have any fucking curtains?
- Oh, he’s gonna try to ELECTROCUTE Buffy!
- Dave is trustworthy! I KNEW Fritz seemed weirder.
- Minor electrical shocks (like Buffy got up right after) always fucking LAUNCHES people in shows. Does it work like that in real life?
- Yeah, Dave, you ONLY have to kill one person.
- Holy shit! Moloch didn’t even say anything back, he just opened up a document and started writing Dave’s “suicide note”. AND, it was a very insulting note.
- Damn it! Fucking Fritz! Are they gonna find ANOTHER corpse in the school? Will they finally close for the week?
- Protective Xander 🥺 I do think we should let him at one person who hurt Buffy and/or Willow. Do I think he will be a skilled combatant? No. But, he’ll do his best and I’ll find it heartwarming.
- Xander immediately reassuring Buffy that her hair looks great and Giles immediately backing it up, I LOVE THESE DYNAMICS!
- “Seductive demon” I KNEW IT! Willow was being influenced in some other way too, that wasn’t just the idea of a boy liking her.
- “You released Moloch?” Way to go!” HA, love them!
- “That dreadful Calendar woman” Oh, Giles, you wanna kiss her SO bad. It makes you look stupid.
- Okay, but the scanner didn’t read the book out loud.
- Ok, for those of us in our studio audience, who are me, you guys are saying that Moloch is in this computer?” This episode is a really good episode for Xander comedic relief.
- Can’t we just…unplug the computers?
- I GOT FUCKING JUMPSCARED! A pixelated demon face appeared on a computer screen…and it scared the shit out of me. I’m almost embarrassed.
- “So that’s what Malcom looks like.” Buffyspeak I love you Buffyspeak
- Giles’ serious “This is very bad.” was funnier to me than probably intended.
- Buffy and Giles making a competition of who can give this demon the worst idea and stressing Xander out, I’d kill for this trio.
- What if we went to Ms. Calendar for help? I have no ulterior motives for that suggestion.
- I GOT FUCKING JUMPSCARED BY SOME COMPUTERS TURNING ON!
- Oh, that’s horrific. But, Sunnydale must hold a record for most corpses just found in a school from separate events by this point.
- Why would the phone line be busy if the computer is being used? Somebody alive in the 90s? Anyone have an answer? Did they used to be connected?
- Buffy has the right idea. Get Giles and Ms. Calendar working together!
- I feel like Ms. Calendar has Something going on. Her aesthetic is just a little witchy. I bet we could convince her demons are real and in the internet.
- I do love that Buffy will just boss her mentor around with no problem.
- Where was Willow between school ending and now? It’s dark outside.
- First look at Willow’s room! She seems to have some sports pendants and buttons, and a trophy. Willow lore?
- Willow is braver than me, I wouldn’t even get the door. I’d get under my covers and cry.
- A report on the radio is blaming something else on a computer error. Hammering in the same point from the extras’ conversation from earlier.
- Ms. Calendar, you better be reoccurring or I will mourn you forever. Also, her makeup is SO good.
- SHE KNOWS? Is this gonna be a fake-out and she means metaphorically?
- It’s never good when you get to an empty house with a door wide open.
- MS. CALENDAR IS A WITCH! I knew it! Or, maybe witch isn’t the right word, but she’s casting bones.
- Technopagan is apparently the right word. I’m choosing to believe this means she sticks around, because that’s cool as fuck. And, I did some quick googling- it’s a real thing! Very interesting.
- Was Giles…flustered by that? My shipping agenda grows stronger. You want that badass technopagan lady SO bad, man.
- Giles pulled out Ms. Calendar’s chair for her 🥺
- Ms. Calendar doesn’t seem too surprised by Giles knowing all about this magic stuff, but is Buffy being The Slayer gonna throw her for a loop?
- Ooh, Moloch looks more robotic now. That’s a cool choice.
- I can’t say I feel bad about him killing Fritz.
- Xander falling off the fence, that’s my boyfailure.
- Buffy did not try to make a sneaky entrance at ALL. Love that for her.
- “You want to throw in praying, be my guest.” Ms. Calendar for main cast! Her quips are off the charts.
- Nah, Willow, he wants to kill you. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you not to listen to the demon.
- Buffy just casually walking up and punching that guy in the face made me laugh so hard. I rewinded to watch it again.
- Moloch’s “good for him” after revealing someone is paying a hitman in the internet to kill his mom made me giggle. I won’t lie.
- “Couldn’t you just stop Moloch by entering some computer virus?” “You’ve seen way too many movies.” I’m sipping on the Galendar bants like a fine wine.
- Remember, kids, love is never entrapment. Love requires that you can leave.
- “It’s Kayless with a K.” was a nice giggle amongst some serious moments.
- What is this gas that Xander and Buffy are breathing?
- Buffy trying to kick a metal guy like a normal person was so funny. This is actually a great episode for the little jokes.
- I’m actually so impressed by Xander getting free and punching someone by himself, AND I love that he immediately ran to tell his girls.
- They lost the demon?? Guys, c’mon. I knew that binding ritual seemed suspiciously easy.
- Oh, Xander is fucking concussed for sure, and I’ll be surprised if his nose is completely intact. Damn, right after he got to do his first punch too.
- Buffy herding Willow to get behind her 🥺
- Willow attacking Moloch while reciting The Stereotypical Breakup speech was SUCH a good moment for Willow. It would’ve been really easy to make her character archetype be timid, but she’s constantly so BRAVE.
- Xander getting up just to catch Willow falling and letting her land on his body even though the tumble probably wouldn’t have seriously hurt her anyways was SO SWEET! It reminds me of him waking up, disoriented, in The Pack and IMMEDIATELY going over to untie her hands, before he even had a chance to get his bearings. Childhood best friends 🥺
- Buffy is SO clever. I really love that she’s a bit of a scrappy fighter.
- Xander and Willow continuing to huddle together 🥺
- BUFFY GOING TO HUDDLE WITH THEM 🥺 Guys, what if I love this trio so much that I explode?
- Giles going to Ms. Calendar’s classroom just to give her something and then nervously trying to leave immediately. OOH, someone has a CRUSH!
- Giles’ rant about book smell was a nice look into his character. He’s a sensory-based person, and maybe a little sentimental.
- “That’s not where I dangle it.” HUH? Okay, can someone explain that to me? Nipple piercing? But it looks way too big for that? Like you would see it under her shirt too easily for a teacher.
- Xander and Buffy trying to cheer up Willow 🥺
- People not really crushing on you in your youth does do weird shit to your self-esteem. I’m with Willow here.
- Buffy and Xander bringing up Angel and the she-mantis to make Willow feel better 🥺 What if I wept?
- “We’re Doomed!” and then all of their laughter fading out was so fucking funny, also….real.
Final Thoughts: THIS IS MY FAVORITE EPISODE SO FAR, managing to overtake The Pack. It’s FULL of my two favorite aspects of BTVS, the more comedic moments and the relationships between the main trio + Giles. There were so many sweet friendship moments, evident by me overusing the 🥺 emoji. And, speaking of Giles, we got to meet a cool as hell character named Ms. Calendar, who better stick around. I loved her and Giles’ subplot, and I finally have a ship I’m crazy about in this show. Surely, other people must ship Calendar/Giles, right? I also loved getting to get a peek into a society’s nerves surrounding rapidly advancing technology via the big bad. I wish I had more succinct and intelligent thoughts about this episode, but it’s 2:00 AM and I’m too busy spinning Willow-Xander-Buffy in my brain microwave at 554 mph.
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