The latest object of my analytical obsession is Dead Things.It's a pivotal ep in a lot of ways. It's effectively the turning point for both B/S and W/T for the season, in that when Buffy confided in, and bonded with, Tara she set in motion the events which would lead to W/T's eventual reunion and her own choice to end things with Spike.
It's also when Buffy realizes she no longer has the excuse of being 'wrong' to blame all her bad decisions on. This is the beginning of Buffy's real healing process, I think.
I like the way they set the scene between Buffy and Tara in the beginning, with the poster entitled "cooperation" in the shot right there in between them.
There's an interesting set up to the Willow/Tara scene also. When Tara starts to walk away, they framed the shot with Willow on the left side of the screen and the right side empty with the word "Open" in the Magic Box window on the right side of the screen.
I don't believe there's any coincidence to the way they framed that shot. They could have easily done a close up instead. I think it helps set up the idea that Willow's incomplete, and out of balance, without Tara.
I also thought it was interesting that Jonathon pulls out a record that's titled "Frampton Comes Alive!" at the beginning. Seems like an odd choice.
But what really got me thinking was the big fight between Buffy and Spike. I certainly think Katrina's death is meant to parallel Tara's upcoming murder. Which fits in with the double pattern for the season.
So with that in mind, here's an interesting quote (and the reason all this is in the spoiler thread *G*):
Buffy: A girl is dead because of me.
Spike: And how many people are alive because of you? How many have you saved? One dead girl doesn't tip the scale.
I think Spike is wrong. One dead girl can tip the scale.
One girl who represents things such as fairness, reason and so forth. Who in a lot of ways, represents balance.
But it ain't Katrina.
And when she dies, the scales are tipped and as a result everything goes out of balance and spins further and further out of control until it all crashes into a firey heap.
And if this girl's death represents the loss of balance, then there aren't a lot of things other than a return of her life, one way or the other, that could signify the scales being righted again.
I've thought there were a lot of interesting parallels between Tara and Katrina pretty much since they first showed her in IWMTLY. I even wondered at the time if they had cast the girl because she bore a resemblence to Amber. The way they dressed her, her hair, and of course, the fact that there are also parallels between Warren and Willow.
It's also interesting that in the flashback, he calls her "Trina".
I'm wonder now if Buffy's dream doesn't have some significance also. In the way Katrina opened her eyes and they were blue.
The other notable element of Dead Things was of course the issue of time.
"Oh, time has no meaning here."
"Never's a long time, baby."
"I can even go to the magic shop now. As long as someone's with me at all times."
"What time is it?"
"It's late. I just wanted..."
"Demons in the woods? Time going wonky? They won't believe you."
"So that's why time went all David Lynch?"
"He's everything I hate. He's everything that ... I'm supposed to be against. But
the only time that I ever feel anything is when ... Don't tell anyone, please."
"I-It's okay if you do. He's done a lot of good, and, and he does love you. A-and
Buffy, it's okay if you don't. You're going through a really hard time, and you're..."
DeKnight went to a bit of trouble to throw that word in there so many times.
Heh.
Anyway, just some more thoughts.
[This message has been edited by Ari (edited March 29, 2002).]