Reviewed By: Adam Bardwell
Rating: 8/10
This episode is all about plot development. It has its villain of the week in Balthazar and his El Eliminati vamps, but this episode really serves to set up both Faith and the Mayors story arcs from here to the season finale. Faith kills Deputy Mayor Allan Finch and seems not care while the Mayor's ascension is mentioned for the first time and, thanks to a dedication he performs, until that time nothing can kill him. These are really meaty developments but the episode still holds up by itself although, probably due to the huge amount of ground it had to cover, it is by no means perfect.
This episode also induces us to Buffy and Faith's new Watcher, Wesley, who of course proves to be a very important character joining Angel in the middle of its first season as a replacement for Doyle. The growth of the character by the end of Angel's first year is tremendous and I had forgotten just how different he was here having not watched his season 3 episodes for a while. He is basically a Giles junior although far more wimpy and cowardly and far more annoying than Giles ever has been. Like Giles at the beginning of the series he sees his job as the boss of the slayers activities and although has slain two vamps in controlled conditions isn't really up to getting involved himself. This idea of him being a Giles clone is exacerbated by a classic subtly moment when they both take of there glasses and start cleaning them - the timing is brilliant. Giles really doesn't like Wes. probably because he resents being replaced but also because he has so much to learn that Giles feels he could do the job far better. Buffy and particularly Faith are underwelmed by Wesley's arrival.
This episode opens with Buffy seemingly resuming there close fighting partnership which seemed to have been destroyed by the events of "Revelations". Faith finally seems to have made a connection and have a true friend. She still think that Buffy needs to find the fun a little and not think so much so she sets out to show Buffy here philosophy about being the Slayer - they can do what ever they like. This results in them becoming bad girls with Buffy skipping a chemistry class to take out a vamps nest then stealing weapons and escaping custody. I kind of take issue at this - Buffy has a high moral code and she doesn't even seem reluctant to smash a cabinet to get a knife. Not only is this a bad example to the viewer but it doesn't really seem true to the character. It seems like Buffy is seeking acceptance from Faith while in all proceeding episodes it has been the other way round and there seemingly no reason for the change.
The Deputy Mayors death was accidental - no question. Buffy and Faith were taking on El Eliminati vamps one by one as they approached Balthazar's factory hideout. Buffy did realise that Faith was attacking a human just before she staked him. Slayer's are ment to have lightning fast reactions so whose to say whether Faith could have stopped herself from staking him or not. She has sown that she doesn't respond well to instructions - she can do what she wants, she thinks, but there are no real rounds to think she followed though on her staking because Buffy told her not too. She appeared to be shaken up and upset when she realised what she had done. Her problem was she didn't know how to deal with the situation. She decides to do what she has done all her lift shrug it off, dumping the body, saying that there is no problem and that she doesn't care about what has happened. She can not trust anyone so she can not confide in them her feelings so she decides that she'd best not show her feelings. As we see in subsequent episodes if she doesn't deal with what has happened she can easily convince herself that she could kill again and it wouldn't matter as of course she does.
There two very funny references to the previous episode, "The Zeepo", concerning Faith and Xander's intimate liaison shall we call it. The first is at the start when Faith asks Buffy if she has ever done it with Xander, which is pretty funny. Even better is the way Xander twitches his eye when Buffy says Faith's name later on which she notices. This makes it easier for her to figure out what had happened in "Consequences".
I didn't think much of Balthazar. It was a good idea to use a demon who the Mayor had crippled for it lead to some intriguing last words for the gang to ponder but he did look a bit silly. Being a pile of flesh is a good way to show you've been crippled but the costume did not look at all convincing. The fact he could not fight also made him appear a bit useless. Yes he could draw people to him and tear off the heads but static characters are never that interesting. The fact that he has this power could be interesting for it is the same as The Master. This could signify that it is some form of demonic gift which is perhaps gained with age by worthy demons. This is pure speculation it may just be natural to he's species but that doesn't explain what The Master also had this power. While on the subject of Balthazar I always find dropping a light or similar electrical equipment onto a villain is a cheap way to defeat them. They always have a few last words and then dye - the last words might of been intriguing but it must be said Hollywood is too predictable.
Great Buffy Moment: Faith saying "screw you" to Wesley! Oh and for a pivotal moment it has to be the Deputy Mayor's death.
In a Nutshell: Could easily be described as the beginning of the end of season this is a very important episode for story development. It suffers mainly from slightly uninspiring villains.