Buffy 5.4: "Out of My Mind"

Written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner
Directed by David Grossman

In which Riley suffers from the lingering effects of the biochemical changes forced on him by Professor Walsh’s experiments, giving Spike an opportunity to regain his freedom…


Status Report

Not unlike the fourth season, which took its time to cement the plot arc elements and get the ball rolling, the fifth season begins with a number of character arc elements in play. The first three episodes seemed to dance around the notion of advancing character threads in any major fashion, but this episode takes on the challenge of delivering a strong character-driven story. In fact, this has the feel of a transitional episode in the middle of the season, putting the pieces in place for the plot elements that would come in short order.

The episode starts laying out the character elements from the very beginning. Riley comes across as slightly more aggressive and eager than usual, and Spike is a bit more competitive with Riley than he needs to be. In retrospect, the direction taken by each character is somewhat obvious, but there is a subtlety to the presentation.

Much of the episode is about dropping the seeds into the story, building on what was established (sometimes poorly) in the earlier episodes of the season. Buffy has always been smarter than she lets on, but this episode focuses on how smart she can be, when she puts her mind to it. Also, this is the part of the season where her desire to understand her Chosen legacy is most evident. (Later in the season, it would practically disappear.)

Xander’s newfound confidence in his own skill is immediately evident, based on his assistance with Giles’ rebuilding of the Magic Box. At the same time, his well-worn lack of self-confidence still shines through when it comes to his relationship with Anya. That seed of lingering doubt never goes away, and ultimately becomes important in the sixth season.

Tara continues to show a relative lack of self-esteem, downplaying her own ability and making it clear that she finds Willow’s abilities to be extraordinary. This is particularly subtle because Willow’s growing power is portrayed as something that might be subjective on Tara’s part; in reality, that circumstance makes it easier for Willow and others to dismiss how far Willow is really going. (Also, since Willow’s conversion to the dark side was supposed to take place at the end of the fifth season, this begins that process, which would eventually be extended.)

Spike, as per his usual M.O., is mostly obsessed. In this case, he’s obsessed with two things: the chip in his head and Buffy. This is consistent with the theory that vampires in the Buffyverse are demons that exhibit some defining facet of the human victim, taken to an accentuated and evil degree. Spike was defined for his pitiful and disturbing obsessions as a human (as seen in the final season), and so he is driven by obsessions now, taken in an unusual direction by the restraints provided by the chip in his head.

Riley shows signs of desperation, which is a nice follow-up to the previous episode’s revelation. Part of it is his extreme metabolic condition, which pushes his psychological issues to the surface. But Riley does feel like he needs to be more than human to maintain Buffy’s interest, and that’s the natural progression of his self-realization at the end of the fourth season. Riley has to keep demonstrating his ability to keep up, and in the process, he’s coming across to Buffy as trying too hard.

Dawn continues to act very much as Buffy might have acted at the same age, maintaining the theme of exploring the difference between “Buffy as human” and “Buffy as Slayer”. In this particular episode, she interjects in much the same way that Buffy might have under the same circumstances. She also displays the same devotion to her mother, which only makes sense.

Joyce shows the first signs of the condition that would eventually claim her life. This particular plot point places an external pressure on Buffy’s search for self-definition. Buffy began the road towards adulthood in the fourth season, but she was living a life that afforded her the chance to play with Riley and live in isolation. The fifth season begins the process of forcing Buffy into the real world, slowly but surely becoming less the child and more the “parent”, as the generational wheel spins inexorably.

This also allows for the introduction of Ben, a key figure in the season arc. It’s easy to dismiss Ben and his presence in this episode, because he exists for the purpose of exposition regarding Joyce and to act as a vague indirect threat to Riley. This is one element of the season arc that is particularly effective, since it allows him to become enmeshed in Buffy’s world before the audience realizes that something is amiss.

The story quickly turns back to the character evolution for Riley and Spike. One evolves out of the other, so the writers quickly define Riley’s problem and his inability to think clearly. He flees back to the Initiative (despite the fact that it’s supposed to be filled with concrete), which means that Spike is only one with the knowledge of how to get into the caves. Buffy is thus forced to go to him for help, which only feeds into his obsessions.

That Spike would use the situation to his own advantage is hardly surprising. That Buffy wouldn’t consider the possibility that Spike would abduct the doctor for his own devices is. Why wouldn’t she send Spike to go retrieve Riley and bring him to where the doctor is waiting? Sure, the situation is dire, but that is one major miscalculation. Of course, it’s also necessary for the story to go where it needs to go for Spike’s evolution.

In terms of Riley’s evolution, he faces a terrible moment in this episode. Buffy rips into him for assuming that she sees him differently because of his humanity, but he knows it to be true. Even though Riley is reacting badly to the situation, fueled by his altered metabolism, he hits the nail on the head. Buffy does need something more than the average man, even if she doesn’t realize it. Part of the problem is her own lack of self-awareness. Buffy wants to believe that there’s a normal girl underneath the layers of Chosen destiny, but in reality, the two are intertwined. And the whole Buffy needs something more than normal to counter her unique qualities and needs.

The situation ends as it must, since both Riley and Spike have to survive to come to their necessary personal realizations. Both them, however, only take a single step in this episode. Graham puts things into perspective for Riley, which begins the slow but inevitable process of Riley’s exit from Sunnydale. Riley needs to recognize that he needs to define himself on his own terms before he can be an equal partner to anyone else. Being with Buffy simply isn’t enough.

Spike comes to the first true realization that his obsession over Buffy is transforming from pure hatred to sexual lust (mixed with violent hatred). There’s the slight sense of connection between Buffy’s growing power and Spike’s growing interest, but the bottom line is that Spike has fallen into that familiar obsessive trap. The writers do a nice job of glossing over how disturbing it is by pointing out the more comic aspects of the situation.

This episode starts the process of ramping up the season, and though it still takes longer than it should to get the story moving, the groundwork for a substantial arc is being laid out in more consistent fashion than the fourth season. There’s still the evidence of Joss’ distraction, given how much of his attention was being given to “Angel” and its second season revamp. Given how the season started, it was a miracle that the season managed to get back on track at all.


Memorable Quotes

XANDER: “I’m telling you, Giles. You gotta set up a blind taste test and prove once and for all that generic amphibian eyeballs are just as good.”
WILLOW: “I don’t know…if you ask me, the newt name still means something.”

DAWN: “Did you know that one time the CIA tried to kill Fidel Castro with poisonous aspirin?”
BUFFY: “Dawn, please. I know I have to do something. I just don’t know what.”
DAWN: “Another time, the CIA-”
BUFFY: “Dawn!”
DAWN: “It’s important! Tried to make Castro go crazy by putting itching powder in his beard! It’s about the government…”

BUFFY: “I’ve got a proposition for you.”
SPIKE: “Funny…I’ve got a proposition for you. What about knocking? Seems only fair since we vamps can’t enter your flat without an invite, you could at least…say, look at those pretty pieces of paper…”

SPIKE: “Buffy, Buffy, Buffy! Everywhere I turn, she’s there! That nasty little face, bouncing shampoo-commercial hair, that whole sodding holier-than-thou attitude…”
HARMONY: “Well, aren’t we kinda unholy?”

GRAHAM: “Come on, man. You know it’s true. There’s nothing for you here.”
RILEY: “There’s her.”
GRAHAM: “OK, right, there’s her. And? You used to have a mission, and now you’re what? Mission’s boyfriend? Mission’s true love?”


Final Analysis

Overall, this episode begins to ramp up the action for the season by laying down some important character elements. While Riley’s purpose as a character is questionable at best in the fifth season, this episode helps underscore his psychological issues leading into his subsequent departure. A solid enough episode, with enough nuggets for future development to stand up to repeated viewing.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4

Final Rating: 7/10