Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Recap/S4/E16 Who Are You

"Faith: I am not a killer! I am the Slayer! And you don't know the first thing about me.

Forrest: You really care what I think?

Faith: No. I don't care. God, I don't care..."

Faith takes Buffy's body for a joyride and then plans to skip town with it. Buffy-in-Faith's body is kidnapped by a Watchers Council wet work team.

"Faith: I'm Buffy. I have to do this."
 * A Day in the Limelight: To drive the point home, Eliza Dushku is credited as "Buffy".
 * Aren't You Going to Ravish Me?: Faith tries to get Riley to do nasty things to Buffy's body, for some sick reason known only to her. The fact he doesn't helps her along her Heel Face Turn.
 * Aura Vision: Tara realises something is wrong with Buffy because her aura is "fragmented," as if someone had forced something into it that didn't belong.
 * Being Evil Sucks
 * Becoming the Mask: On the verge of leaving Sunnydale, Faith returns to deal with a gang of vampires who have taken over a church.

"Weatherby: By order of the Watcher's Council, you are being taken into custody until such time--
 * Blessed with Suck: Adam points out that vampires, being immortal, fear dying even more than those to whom death is inevitable.
 * Book'Em Danno: Averted when the spec ops team are hauling off an injured Buffy.

Collins: Skip the speech."

"I could have anything. Anyone. Even you, Spike. I could ride you at a gallop until your legs buckled and your eyes rolled up. I've got muscles you've never even dreamed of. I could squeeze you until you pop like warm champagne and you'd beg me to hurt you just a little bit more."
 * Call Back: Tara says that Buffy was cruel to her and may be possessed; Willow asks if hyenas are involved, referring to Season 1's "The Pack" where hyena spirits possessed Xander, making him act cruel towards Willow.
 * Car Fu: The spec ops team kidnaps 'Faith' by using a reinforced armoured security truck to ram the police car.
 * Catch Phrase: Faith thinks Buffy's is "Because it's wrong."
 * Character Tics: SMG and ED do a good job of portraying each others' body language.
 * Concealment Equals Cover: For once the 'bulletproof car' cliche is justified as Buffy makes her escape by stealing the armoured truck.
 * Continuity Nod: Buffy's anxiety when trying to start the truck fits in with the poor driving skills she showed in "Band Candy".
 * Dark Messiah: Adam inspires a gang of vampires to confront their fears by seeking victims in a church in daylight. Their leader is even willing to take on a Slayer.
 * Description Cut: Faith says she'll be "out there doing my job" (patrolling). Cut to Faith dancing wildly at the Bronze.
 * At the end of the episode Riley says that Faith won't be back because she's "had her fun". Cut to Faith hiding in the back of a boxcar, an empty look on her face.
 * Does This Remind You of Anything?: Remember, that sweaty panting hand-holding eye-fucking falling-backwards-in-ecstasy scene between Willow and Tara is a spell.
 * Called "The passage to the nether-realm."
 * Double Standard Rape (Sci Fi): Averted; Buffy is furious that Riley slept with Faith, and it certainly fuels her desire for revenge when pursuing Faith in Los Angeles. Might also double as a Continuity Nod if Angel ever mentioned Faith's earlier rape attempt.
 * Dramatic Shattering / Percussive Therapy: Furious over being sexually taunted by 'Buffy', Spike throws his bottle against the wall and shoves aside an Innocent Bystander, causing the chip in his head to jolt him with pain.
 * Even Evil Has Standards: At this point Faith is truly evil. However she finds that she cannot turn her back on those in need, first a vampire victim which profoundly affects her, then when she heard about hostages in a church rather than run off with Buffy's body she chooses to save them.
 * Evil Laugh: A disturbing one echoes over the end of the Faith-practising-being-Buffy-montage. Faith also laughs when she's told that 'Faith' is being taken to England by the Council and it'll be a long time before she'll be coming back -- she has to stop when the Scoobies give her a puzzled look.
 * Expository Hairstyle Change: Faith gives herself the same kind of hairstyle that Buffy did in "Something Blue" where she was also Not Herself.
 * Fade to White: Willow reaching orgasm...I mean the nether-realm.
 * Fetish Fuel: Faith taunting Spike at the Bronze. It's not surprising he still remembers it in Season 7's "Dirty Girls".

"WILLOW: I'm sorry you're feeling all blechy. But we'll get together with Buffy another time. Sometime soon. I think you'll really like her.
 * Foe Yay: If Spike wasn't sexually obsessed with Slayers before, he certainly would be after Faith's little speech.
 * Foreshadowing: "When they get this chip out, you and me are going to have a confrontation."
 * The next stage in Adam's plan is shown by his gaining followers across the vampire/demon divide.
 * Friend Versus Lover: Subverted; Willow thinks Tara is pulling this, but Tara means it literally.

TARA: She's not your friend.

WILLOW: ...I may have overestimated the 'you liking her' factor.

TARA: No, no. I mean, I don't -- I don't think she's... her."

"Giles: All right. If you really are Buffy, you'll let me tie you up, without killing me, until we can work this out.
 * Funny Background Event: Buffy tries to hold Smith hostage, but the two other spec ops guys just say they're all expendable and walk off. As they discuss what they're going to do with their prisoner if she continues to be troublesome, Smith goes flying out the back of the truck behind them.
 * Getting Crap Past the Radar: Imagine how many Slash Fics were inspired by this line...

Buffy: Giles, Faith has stolen my body and for all I know she has taken it to Mexico by now. We don't have time for bondage fun."

"Anya: We were going to light a bunch of candles and have sex near them.
 * The Glomp: Buffy (in Faith's body) glomps Riley at the church, leaving him rather confused.
 * Good Feels Good
 * Good People Have Good Sex: Faith offers Riley the chance to indulge any dirty fantasy he wants. Instead Riley makes love to her so gently that Faith begins to freak out.
 * Grand Theft Me: Buffy fears her greatest enemy will take her rightful body to Mexico.
 * Heel Realization: Faith begins to come to terms that she had become a monster.
 * Hey, That's My Line!

Faith-in-Buffy's-body: Well, we certainly don't want to cut into that seven minutes.

Anya: Hey!

Xander: (to Anya) I believe that's my "hey". (to Faith) Hey!"

"Riley: You're shaking. What happened?
 * History Repeats: Buffy saving Faith from a vampire; the reverse happened in "Consequences" right down to her saviour being suddenly revealed when the vampire dusts (as we see Eliza Dushku on both occasions the effect is particularly pronounced).
 * Holding Hands: Faith deliberately takes Joyce's hand to taunt Buffy as she's being wheeled out on a gurney. Played straight with Willow and Tara at the Bronze.
 * Indulgent Fantasy Segue: Faith-in-Buffy's-body imagines stabbing Willow to death, after Willow talks about how much she hates her.
 * Ironic Echo: "I'm Buffy" and "Because it's wrong" -- by the time Faith uses it at the church, she's bought into the Buffy role so much she actually means it.
 * It Doesn't Mean Anything: Faith tries to convince herself of this after having sex with Riley, babbling "Who are you? What do you want from her? This is meaningless."

Faith: Nothing... Nothing."

"I have strength you couldn't dream of. (punches Faith hard in the face) Adam has shown me the way, (punches her again) and there is nothing-- (Buffy stakes him from behind)"
 * Kick the Dog: Since Faith is trying to ruin Buffy's life she does this with Xander and Tara. She attempts this on Spike, but he's able to play it cool until she leaves.
 * Killed Mid-Sentence: Vampire Boone.

"Giles: Look, I-I know what you're going to say, and-and, uh--
 * Limited Social Circle: Willow is reluctant to invite Tara into the Scoobies because she wants a friend that's hers alone.
 * Longing Look: Faith realises instantly from the look Tara gives Willow that the two are gay lovers.
 * Male Gaze: Used deliberately with a close-up of Faith-in-Buffy's-body bending over on Riley's bed. In her tight leather pants.
 * Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Faith's little freak out with Riley and subsequent Heel Face Turn appears to be due to Willow and Tara. Or she could just as easily begin to realize what a monster she had become, leading to her trip to LA.
 * Meaningful Echo: Faith starts the episode mocking Buffy in the mirror, including several deliveries of "Because it's wrong!" She eventually says the line seriously when asked why she wants to stop the vampires at the church.
 * Most Definitely Not a Villain: In an effort to avert this, Faith is shown in a Montage practising Buffy's speech patterns in front of the mirror, though a lot of it is how she views Buffy (a stuck-up tightass with no sense of fun) rather than how Buffy actually is. However some fans think Faith nailed it, in particular in the last two seasons some did see Buffy as...well, that, and it might have even been brought up in canon, such as a conversation Faith and Spike later have.
 * Never Heard That One Before: Giles is alarmed when 'Faith' walks in the door.

Buffy: I'm Buffy.

Giles: (Beat) All right, I didn't know what you were going to say."

"Adam: You fear the cross. The sun. Fire. And, oh, yes... (Adam pulls a vampire's head off through sheer strength) I believe decapitation is a problem as well."
 * Not Herself: Faith keeps all her mannerisms, and has to wildly improvise when meeting Buffy's newer friends (like Anya) for the first time.
 * Not Right in the Bed
 * Not-So-Harmless Villain: The Watchers' Council goes from bumbling and inept to badass killers. This is justified by their agents being a special operations team of a kind they didn't send before.
 * Particularly apparent when Buffy tries much the same hostage trick Faith used to escape the Watchers before. They don't care.
 * Off with His Head: Adam is showing Boone's vampire gang who's top dog.

"Buffy-in-Faith's-body: You can't win this.
 * Prison Rape: Buffy!Faith shocks Joyce by laughing over how 'Faith' will be showered with affection by "big ole Bertha" in prison -- she quickly backpedals pretending to be upset over how Joyce was attacked. Ironically Buffy has made similar comments in the past, though of course never in front of her mother.
 * Professional Killers: The Watchers Council Special Operations Team.
 * Punch Clock Villain: While Weatherby truly believes in the Council's mission, Collins' just doing his job.
 * Put on a Bus: Faith doesn't reappear in Sunnydale until three years later. She does however become a recurring character in Angel.
 * Rage Against the Reflection: By the time Fuffy and Baith throw down, Faith sees herself as a Complete Monster. So she wails on Buffy with a number of derogatory remarks...about herself, despite Buffy being in Faith's body Faith is trying to hurt herself.

Faith-in-Buffy's-body: Shut up! Do you think I'm afraid of you? (starts punching Buffy, beating her own face) You're nothing! Disgusting! Murderous bitch! You're nothing! You're disgusting!"

"Boone: It's hard to believe. I've been avoiding this place for so many years, and it's nothing. It's nice, got the pretty windows, the pillars, lots of folks to eat. Where's the thing I was so afraid of? You know, the Lord? He's supposed to be here! He gave us this address. Well, we'll just have to start killing off his people, and see if he shows up."
 * Required Spinoff Crossover: Faith's story continues in the Angel episode "Five by Five"
 * Revealing Hug: Faith grimaces and pulls free of Joyce's embrace, not used to such motherly affection.
 * Romantic Two-Girl Friendship: Why is Willow wearing one of Buffy's rings?
 * Seeking Sanctuary: Inverted - on Adam's encouragement, vampires barge into a church and take everyone hostage to prove they've risen above old superstitions.

"The Watcher's Council used to mean something. You perverted it. You trash. We should have killed you while you were asleep."
 * Sexy Discretion Shot: The Riley/Faith love scene cuts away to Willow/Tara doing their spell with lots of suggestive heavy breathing, which means we have a Sexy Discretion Shot covered by a Getting Crap Past the Radar shot!
 * Sexy Shirt Switch: Faith dresses in Riley's shirt while Not Staying for Breakfast, a sign that their encounter meant something more than usual.
 * Shoot the Hostage: Buffy grabs Smith when he tries to inject her and threatens to break his neck if the spec ops team doesn't let her go. They tell her to go ahead, as they get their affairs in order before every mission.
 * Showing Off the New Body / Bath Kick: Faith's first impulse is to take a bath and grope her new body extensively.
 * Speech Impediment: Tara starts stuttering when Faith talks about how much Willow loved Oz; Faith then mocks her for it. This casual cruelty tips off Tara that Buffy isn't the friend that Willow has described to her.
 * Spiteful Spit: Weatherby spits in 'Faith's' face.

"Faith: How'd you get here so fast?
 * Stating the Simple Solution: Faith turns up at the church and finds Riley already taking charge of the crisis.

Riley: I didn't, I'm just late for church."

"Riley: Man, would I like to get my hands on her. (quickly) Not in a sex way."
 * Take That: When Giles asks Faith who's President to see if it's really Buffy; she replies they're not checking for a concussion. Subtle.
 * That Came Out Wrong: Riley has just found out the woman he slept with was Faith.

"Faith: So, Willow's not driving stick anymore."
 * Token Good Teammate: Smith seems to be this, being the only one to question the need for Faith's execution.
 * To Make a Long Story Short: Willow already knowing what happened to Buffy.
 * Transparent Closet: Faith figures out Willow and Tara's relationship in about eight seconds.

"Willow: What's wetworks?
 * Two Part Episode
 * Unusual Euphemism

Xander: Scuba-type stuff.

Anya: I thought it was murder?

Xander: Well, yeah. (lamely) But there could be underwater murder, with snorkels."

"Damn it, man! We have to get inside! Our, uh, uh, families are-are in there! Our, uh, m-mothers and-and tiny, tiny babies!"
 * Victoria's Secret Compartment: Faith steals money from Joyce's purse and tucks it inside her blouse.
 * We Need a Distraction: Giles pretends to be a distraught family member to allow Buffy a chance to slip past the police line into the church. Unfortunately his acting needs some work.

"Willow: I just want something that's mine.
 * Wham! Line / Relationship Reveal: Not that some fans still didn't get it.

Tara: I am, you know. Yours."

""I've been fighting demons since before you could shave.""
 * While You Were in Diapers: Faith to Forrest.

"Buffy-in-Faith: Giles, you turned into a demon and I knew it was you! I mean, can't you just look in my eyes and be all intuitive?
 * Who Are You?: The Title Drop -- Faith asks it of Riley (after being freaked out by his gentleness) and later Riley asks the question of Buffy (being puzzled as to why a strange girl is addressing him in a familiar manner).
 * With My Hands Tied: Collins goes to execute Buffy-in-Faith's body; Buffy grabs his pistol between her feet and pulls his head into the bars, then uses the gun to shoot out the various locks.
 * You Have to Believe Me / Spot the Imposter: Buffy is quite able to convince Giles that it's her by rattling off a string of rather embarrassing facts about their relationship that Faith couldn't know.

Giles: (suddenly interested) How did I turn into a demon?

Buffy-in-Faith: Oh! 'cause, uh... Ethan Rayne! And-and you have a girlfriend named Olivia, and you haven't had a job since we blew up the school... (beat) ... which is valid, lifestyle-wise. (Giles is abashed) I mean, it's not like you're a slacker type or - Oh, oh! When I had psychic power, I heard my mom think that you were like a stevedore during sex. Wh- Do you want me to continue?

Giles: Actually, I beg you to stop.

Buffy-in-Faith: What's a stevedore?"


 * You Just Told Me: Subverted; Buffy is apprehended by the police and Faith-in-Buffy's-body remains alone with Joyce. The first thing Joyce says is "Faith", and the changeling indeed reacts involuntarily, so it does looks like Joyce deducted her true identity. However, it turns out she didn't and is just wanting to ask "Buffy" about Faith.
 * You Must Be Cold: Joyce wraps her coat around Faith, which she doesn't really notice as she's too busy smirking over Buffy being hauled away by the police. She does notice when Riley wraps a blanket around her later because she's shivering.