One of the stigmas associated with Buffy is, for lack of a better word, the cheesiness of the show. On a superficial level, the show can appear to be silly and overly dramatized, with somewhat fake looking vampires and ridiculous special effects. Although, for those that actually watch the show, the plot is incredibly complex and extremely well planned and only gets deeper and darker as the show progresses. What I did come to realize in this episode, however, is just how meticulous Joss Whedon is. He is completely conscious of every subtle element of the show and purposefully has created characters and a setting to fit this theme. Although I have always been aware that Joss Whedon never does anything without a reason, I never thought about it in terms of mockery of the Gothic period, never having had very much to do with it before. This episode, however, brought to light the full extent of Joss Whedon’s understanding of the Gothic and the humor that he finds in it. Despite the debate in class over the term ‘meta-commentary’, I think that it is an apt way of describing the way in which Joss Whedon has decided to confront the Gothic tradition. He takes the stereotypes that have been developed and uses them, but in a way that the audience is fully aware of their ridiculousness, but at the same time they still work and apply. For example, the way that Dracula enthralls Buffy is so over the top and overplayed that even Buffy mocks the way that Dracula has gone about it, but at the same time, she does fall under his thrall. This is the same way that Joss Whedon mocks the Gothic, but in the same breath, acknowledges its importance and influence to our contemporary culture. The entire structure of the show is based on the same formula as Dracula and this episode brings that relationship into light. The roles of Xander as Renfield, Buffy as Lucy/Mina, and Giles as the van Helsing character haven’t changed in order to fit the Buffy vs. Dracula episode, so much as acknowledged their origins. At the same time as Joss Whedon pays tribute to Buffy’s origins, he also highlights their differences. The combination of Lucy and Mina in a single character demonstrates the dramatic difference in women’s rights between the two periods, as well as the change in attitude toward gender roles. Although Buffy is caught under Dracula’s thrall and Riley and Giles go to save her, she ultimately saves herself. In addition, the character of Giles/van Helsing is weakened, because he is no longer the ultimate source of infallible information. Although Buffy’s character acknowledges his use and knowledge at the end of the episode, he doesn’t have the power of van Helsing’s character and is more easily seduced and tricked. In Dracula, Van Helsing represents the ultimate source of knowledge, always providing the correct answer to any situation or problem. In the case of Buffy, however, Joss Whedon makes the point to the viewers that the Giles/Van Helsing character only has the power of information if we choose to accept it. Van Helsing was unable to save Lucy because the others weren’t ready to hear his explanation, it is only when they decide to listen to him are they able to pursue the proper course of action. In the case of Giles, his role as Watcher gives him power, but as Buffy grows, she uses him less and less. This episode demonstrates his realization of this and decision to leave because Buffy no longer values his knowledge. In addition, he is weakened by the way he falls under the power of the three vampire sisters and requires saving. His role and power as Watcher, however, are restored when Buffy acknowledges his importance and asks for his help and aid again.
I think you made some very good points in your post. However, I would like to add to your position on the similarities and differences between Giles and Van Helsing. I agree completely that they both serve as a source of ancient and perhaps superstitious knowledge (learned from local customs and rumors in the case of Van Helsing and important books in the case of Giles), which serve to aid those who are fighting Dracula and other vampires. But, I do disagree with your statement that Giles is “more easily seduced and tricked”, to an extent. Yes, Giles is under the spell of the three sisters and can’t (or doesn’t want to) escape them. However, when Van Helsing is inside the Castle of Dracula, ready to stake and decapitate, thus freeing the souls of the three sisters, he pauses for a moment, demonstrating, even for a second, his human weakness. He mentions in his memorandum that if he looked upon the three sisters’ beauty any longer, it would have been nearly impossible to kill them. I think this shows that although Van Helsing is focused 98% of the time, he is still susceptible to human flaw.
ReplyDeleteWhen I watched this episode for fun (granted, I hadn't read Dracula) I didn't realize how planned out Whedon made this episode—or the whole series. Granted I knew it was planned... but I didn't see the extent. He's subtle about things things, and he knows it: on one hand it just looks like he's cheesily thrown in a castle for the plot of the episode, but he mentions that he did that, and then uses it so we're a little less shocked when he throws in a sister...
ReplyDeleteAlso, in the same way that you explained Giles/Helsing is only knowledge if we except it as such, so does the episode say Dracula is only power if we accept it as such... once Buffy stops, she becomes the power. And then, of course... knowledge is power too. So the power of power becomes subverted, to the power of the mind—perhaps this is again playing with the necessity of accepting things with our mind, like we need to shortly thereafter with Dawn's existence.