AOQ Review 2-4: "Inca Mummy Girl"
Arbitrar Of Quality
threads.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Season Two, Episode 4: "Inca Mummy Girl"
(or "Potential inspiration for Iron Maiden's next record?")
Writers: Matt Kiene and Joe Reinkemeyer
Director: Ellen S. Pressman
So, stop me if you've heard this one before. A monster is shown in a
vaguely sinister manner, the teaser ends with its eyes opening.
Meanwhile, on BTVS, one of the main characters falls in love with
someone who turns out to be a monster... oh, so you have heard it?
Movie-Of-The-Week Year (1997) continues with a mummy show, a mummy who
dreams about being a real girl. An Inca mummy rather than an Egyptian
one, but that fact really doesn't alter the show one way or the
other. Xander actually mentions his bad luck with women once he
figures out what the deal is with the latest one, although I'd say
that comes more from being a main character on this show than from
anything personal.
I'm not even going to go into the various ways in which Xander's
potential love story here is better than garbage like his part in
"Teacher's Pet," but if you can't figure it out, I'm afraid
we can't be friends. We don't really find out much about the
nature of the relationship, given that it lasts a few days, but it
probably involved a lot of just enjoying each others' company.
Xander isn't about uncontrolled lust here, but he'll jump pretty
hard for a girl who distinguishes herself in some way, such as laughing
at all his jokes and seeming to mean it. Sounds about right. I
don't think such a brief fling is an appropriate thing to throw
one's life away over, but it does make sense that he would, at the
time. One thing I like is how some of the best episodes featuring the
character have him doing courageous or noble things, but without us
knowing whether he's acting out of pure principle or also trying to
look good for his friends or potential lovers. That last museum scene
is really great, actually: Xander wouldn't even fathom letting Willow
die, but he's in melodramatic teenage love so he'd make the
melodramatic offer to sacrifice himself... and the mummy is ready to
take him up on it. Heh.
The show tries valiantly and largely successfully to keep things worth
watching with the actual monster. Unlike BTVS's typical random thing
disguised as a human, it's actually possible to believe that sensible
types would buy her as the real person she wants to be. I was pleased
once I saw where the show was going, right before the bathroom scene
made it explicit. She isn't eeeevil in the demon sense, she's just
a selfish kid who's seen enough injustice that she's ready pay less
attention to morality. In the end, she just loves simply being alive.
Wisely, the episode has her thwarted at the dance not by one of the
good guys arriving in time, but by the fact that she genuinely is
digging on Xander and thus has a little bit of decency left in her. I
mean, she tries to resist acting on her hunger until literally a few
minutes before she crumbles into dust; not so shabby. I don't know
how the idea to add a parallel Chosen One element to the story came
about, but it's a good touch. In the end I don't think the two
girls are as alike as Buffy does, but what matters is that the analogy
be good enough that she could think that.
My biggest episode-specific complaints are both minor things. One is
that we don't actually find out for sure what the conditions are for
this chick to stay alive. If she has to kill someone every few days,
as the end finally seems to tell us, that makes it a different (and
sadly, less interesting) story than someone who only needs to change
bodies once in awhile. I also think that since she had mummies on the
brain, Buffy should've figured things out right away when she saw the
clothes (rather than five minutes later).
In the background, the ongoing non-plot with Xander and Willow
continues. Hannigan pouts so aggressively that it's almost
impossible for even the stony-hearted not to feel at least a little
sorry for her. It seems like Willow might finally have reached an
epiphany when she intentionally steps out of the way, and later admits
that Xander isn't going to turn to her by default (... except that
then there's the beginning of "When She Was Bad," but since the
show has clearly decided to forget about that, maybe I should too).
I'm curious how she'd have reacted to the guy who liked her costume
- since I believe the actor did get an "as Oz" listing for his
four-line part, maybe he'll be back.
One thing it looks like I'm going to have to get used to is that
Buffy's powers will fluctuate from episode to episode according to
the demands of the plot. Sloppy work, guys. Though "demands" is
actually the wrong word, since there was really no reason that IMG
needed to have a fight scene at the end at all. Except for whatever
directive has demanded that a fight scene be shoehorned into every show
of the series.
I actually might have ended the episode right after our undead guest
re-dies; I like the device of a silent nothing-to-say closing. But the
actual ending scene was a good choice too, without many wasted words.
I'm not sure if Buffy's final comment is really the best thing to
say to a friend-who-wants-benefits who's just had his heart played
with, but I guess even being a TV Hero doesn't mean you always come
up with the right words. (Only most of the time.)
That's about it. IMG is a quieter episode, a "little" show in
the big picture of the series, but the feelings ring true enough to
make it a nice diversion, solid from top from bottom.
So....
One-sentence summary: The in-love-with-a-monster story done right.
AOQ rating: Good
[Season Two so far:
1) "When She Was Bad" - Good
2) "Some Assembly Required" - Weak
3) "School Hard" - Decent
4) "Inca Mummy Girl" - Good]
jil...@hotmail.com
I always wondered if the poor girl was probably someone who could have
been a Slayer, too. However, the... um. Dangit, we're supposed to
avoid future spoilers. And some of the spoilers for Angel run
dangerously close to being spoilers for Buffy.
Espen Schjønberg
> A reminder: Please avoid spoilers for later episodes in these review
> threads.
>
>
> BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
> Season Two, Episode 4: "Inca Mummy Girl"
>
> Buffy's powers will fluctuate from episode to episode according to
> the demands of the plot. Sloppy work, guys.
Actually, as it is mystical, I don't think this is hopeless. I mean, she
gets stronger when she needs to be stronger. This means she is just
strong enough normally. If some monster manages to be stronger than it
looks, she might get in trouble, if some monsters are weaker than they
looks, she will be totally superior. This also gives an explanation to
what happened in the season one finale.
> That's about it. IMG is a quieter episode, a "little" show in
> the big picture of the series, but the feelings ring true enough to
> make it a nice diversion, solid from top from bottom.
I like this one. So many rate it so low, but I liked it from the first
time. Of course, another pretty girl is never bad;-)
Not top top, but very good Buffy.
--
Espen
Carlos Moreno
> So....
>
> One-sentence summary: The in-love-with-a-monster story done right.
>
> AOQ rating: Good
>
> [Season Two so far:
> 1) "When She Was Bad" - Good
> 2) "Some Assembly Required" - Weak
> 3) "School Hard" - Decent
> 4) "Inca Mummy Girl" - Good]
This is inexplicable -- as I said before (during your S1 reviews), it
would be too boring if we *always* agree on everything... But "School
Hard" gets a mere "decent" from someone that rates IMG anything above
the worse or second-worse rating in the scale?? Inexcplicable!! :-(
(at least my newsreader *finally* shows your posts)
Cheers,
Carlos
--
Shuggie
Well I was all geared up to having to fight my corner on this one. As
you'll soon see, those of us who like Inca Mummy Girl seem to be in the
minority. Most people's complaints seem to stem from a dislike of
stories about teenage relationships and unrequited love etc - which I
thought you shared. But hey, I'm glad you liked it.
Arbitrar Of Quality <tsm...@wildmail.com> wrote:
<snip>
> We don't really find out much about the
> nature of the relationship, given that it lasts a few days, but it
> probably involved a lot of just enjoying each others' company.
> Xander isn't about uncontrolled lust here, but he'll jump pretty
> hard for a girl who distinguishes herself in some way, such as laughing
> at all his jokes and seeming to mean it. Sounds about right.
I think it's satisfying seeing Xander happy and also that we can see
that Impata is not so much evil as 'gypped' as Buffy puts it, that we
can sympathise with her. Which of course makes the fact that it all goes
horribly wrong dramatic.
<snip>
> I don't know
> how the idea to add a parallel Chosen One element to the story came
> about, but it's a good touch.
I suspect that that element was always there. I think that any wise
showrunner would want every episode to say something about their lead
character(s) - and of course this does.
> In the end I don't think the two
> girls are as alike as Buffy does, but what matters is that the analogy
> be good enough that she could think that.
I don't even think it has to go that far, it simply has to be enough of
a point of connection to provide a reason for empathy.
<snip>
> In the background, the ongoing non-plot with Xander and Willow
> continues. Hannigan pouts so aggressively that it's almost
> impossible for even the stony-hearted not to feel at least a little
> sorry for her.
"When Aly makes her big eyes there's just nothing you can do"
- Joss
<snip>
>
> One thing it looks like I'm going to have to get used to is that
> Buffy's powers will fluctuate from episode to episode according to
> the demands of the plot. Sloppy work, guys.
I'm not sure we need to believe it fluctuates all that much. Remember
the well-worn preamble says she's "the one girl with the strength and
*skill* ..." and I think it's reasonable to suppose that, as in all
matters of skill, Buffy has days when things flow better than others.
Sometimes she needs to warm up into a fight, sometimes she's ready to
kick ass straight away. And whilst her skill is as supernatural as her
strength (knife-catching for example) it apparently requires training so
it must be capable of being honed and therefore of varying.
Now of course, the times when she's not performing as well are blatently
when it's convenient. But the point is there's a plausibility to be seen
if you're willing to. It comes back to the thorny issues of differing
thresholds for suspension of disbelief.
> Though "demands" is
> actually the wrong word, since there was really no reason that IMG
> needed to have a fight scene at the end at all. Except for whatever
> directive has demanded that a fight scene be shoehorned into every show
> of the series.
>
Good point. Though I think it's not so much that they need a fight that
they need Buffy being the Slayer. Otherwise it'd be 'The Sunnydale High
School Monster Fighting Club' show. :)
> I actually might have ended the episode right after our undead guest
> re-dies; I like the device of a silent nothing-to-say closing. But the
> actual ending scene was a good choice too, without many wasted words.
> I'm not sure if Buffy's final comment is really the best thing to
> say to a friend-who-wants-benefits who's just had his heart played
> with, but I guess even being a TV Hero doesn't mean you always come
> up with the right words. (Only most of the time.)
>
I think they're good. She's being affirming and kind. To hold back some
needed encouragement because she's afraid he'll see it as a come-on
would be unnecessarily cautious and the fact she doesn't is generous of
her. Besides she probably assumes that he won't be thinking that the day
after his girlfriend died. And despite being a 16 yr-old boy, she may
even be right.
<snip>
> One-sentence summary: The in-love-with-a-monster story done right.
>
> AOQ rating: Good
>
4.25 from me.
--
Shuggie
kenm47
figured that out. That you rated it highter than SH is the surprise.
I mean, puttting everything else aside, warm and snuggle-icious Willow
in a parka is almost wiorth the price of admission by itself.
The ep is not about IMG, as rightly pointed out another homage to the
horror flicks. It's not a great hmoage since the mummy films are all
about eternal love and whatnot, but still.
The ep is this season's The Puppet Show in that Buffy gets to see her
life again as compared to another Chosen One even if this one is not a
demon fighter like Sid but a "demon" herself. This time it's another
teenage girl forced by circumstances not of her choosing to scarifice
all for others, but Ampata comes back to try to insist her own needs
are greater than her duties to stay dead. (BTW, the "bodyguard" makes
little sense, but I forgive a lot for Willow in that Parka)
"Ampata: Out of all the girls in her generation...
Buffy:< looks over at Ampata and sees she's about to open
the top left drawer where she keeps her Slayer stuff. She
rushes over. Ampata pulls open the drawer and looks in
curiously.>
Ampata: ...she was the only one...
Buffy: <quickly pushes the drawer closed.>
Buffy: ...chosen.
Ampata: <looks up at Buffy> Do you know the story?
Buffy: It's fairly familiar."
Secondarily, it's what happens to Xander in a "decent" relationship
that begins with physical attraction and progresses to true romantic
affection between them such that Ampata has a hard time with the idea
of killing Xander. Is it kind of a Xander fantasy? His lust for Buffy
growing into something else? Maybe.
Xander gets to be self-aware in the sense that what has happened before
is not forgotten:
"You're not a praying mantis, are you?"
But mostly we see that whatever Xander feels toward Willow, whatever
his love for her is, it's high enough in quality for him to be willing
to give up everything including his life to save her.
We also see Giles continuing to juggle his duties as Watcher with his
role as pseudo-dad in a very endearing way.
A fav moment:
"Giles: You have responsibilities that other girls do not.
Buffy: Oh! I know this one! Slaying entails certain sacrifices,
blah, blah, bity blah, I'm so stuffy, gimme a scone.
Giles <sarcastically>: It's as if you know me."
The episode is also about Willow, better recognized in retrospect after
watching the rest of the season. I'm resisting any hint at a spoiler.
So! I'll go with "Good." That's OK with me. Better than SH? No, but
each to their own.
Ken (Brooklyn)
One Bit Shy
news:1139061551.1...@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
<snip>
> One-sentence summary: The in-love-with-a-monster story done right.
>
> AOQ rating: Good
Question. Thus far, which has made a greater impression on you - the
individual episode stories or the over arching multi-episode story line? To
me you appear to be more engaged in the individual episodes, though I might
misread it. That's not a criticism. But it might help understand how you
got to some of your ratings.
I like this episode. For many of the same reasons as you. Especially as to
what an improvement over Teacher's Pet this is for a Xander love interest.
"...but it probably involved a lot of just enjoying each others' company."
Good observation. Honest affection. It's good for Xander's character too.
He really is a nice guy.
OBS
Apteryx
news:1139080774.2...@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> Funny. This ep seems, IIRC, to be one often reviled but I've never
> figured that out. That you rated it highter than SH is the surprise.
>
> I mean, puttting everything else aside, warm and snuggle-icious Willow
> in a parka is almost wiorth the price of admission by itself.
I'd go along with that. Not the greatest story in the Buffyverse, even given
the points you make about the mirror Ampata offers Buffy regarding her own
role. But it does contain both my all-time favourite 2 Willow moments -
Eskimo Will
("Sigh!") &
Willow's Choice
("Willow: "Well, you know, I have a choice. I can spend my life waiting for
Xander to go out with every other girl in the world until he notices me, or
I can just get on with my life."
Buffy: "Good for you."
Willow: "Well, I didn't choose yet.")
On that basis alone, I'd agree with AOQ's rating of "Good". It's my 66th
favourite BtVS episode, and 12th best in Season 2 (actually a little ahead
of SH).
--
Apteryx
kenm47
of the cheese "house."
Ken (Brooklyn)
Mike Zeares
Arbitrar Of Quality wrote:
>
> That's about it. IMG is a quieter episode, a "little" show in
> the big picture of the series, but the feelings ring true enough to
> make it a nice diversion, solid from top from bottom.
>
>
> So....
>
> One-sentence summary: The in-love-with-a-monster story done right.
>
> AOQ rating: Good
I've never liked this episode. In fact, it was my "Worst Ever" for a
long time. I'm not sure why. It's not actually bad. It just bores
me. It has a few moments that I like, but I usually fast-forward
through large chunks of it (mostly the chunks involving Ampata, i.e.
the main plot).
It does have some lovely photography, particularly the close-ups of
Ampata and Xander dancing, and the scene where she almost kills Danny
Strong's character (I believe he was just credited as "student" in this
ep).
I'm actually glad you liked it. I think some of these smaller eps
don't get enough credit sometimes. This one just wasn't one of my
favorites. There are others that I love that most people hate, so it
balances out.
-- Mike Zeares
Arbitrar Of Quality
> I think it's not so much that they need a fight that
> they need Buffy being the Slayer. Otherwise it'd be 'The Sunnydale High
> School Monster Fighting Club' show. :)
Heh.
I still don't think it's required in every episode. Make your action
sequences really count. If there are actually many people who hate the
idea of a show without some of the punchin' and slayin', they would've
hated IMG with or without the feeble little coffin fight.
> > I actually might have ended the episode right after our undead guest
> > re-dies; I like the device of a silent nothing-to-say closing. But the
> > actual ending scene was a good choice too, without many wasted words.
> > I'm not sure if Buffy's final comment is really the best thing to
> > say to a friend-who-wants-benefits who's just had his heart played
> > with, but I guess even being a TV Hero doesn't mean you always come
> > up with the right words. (Only most of the time.)
> >
> I think they're good. She's being affirming and kind. To hold back some
> needed encouragement because she's afraid he'll see it as a come-on
> would be unnecessarily cautious and the fact she doesn't is generous of
> her. Besides she probably assumes that he won't be thinking that the day
> after his girlfriend died. And despite being a 16 yr-old boy, she may
> even be right.
That makes sense.
-AOQ
Arbitrar Of Quality
> Question. Thus far, which has made a greater impression on you - the
> individual episode stories or the over arching multi-episode story line? To
> me you appear to be more engaged in the individual episodes, though I might
> misread it. That's not a criticism. But it might help understand how you
> got to some of your ratings.
It's not something I've really thought about. Generally, I really like
ongoing stories that build from what's come before. One of the fun yet
frustrating things about this show, particularly during S1, was that
even the lame episodes contributed something to the big picture, so
there's nothing "skippable." I think that quite frankly, BTVS's
ongoing _plots_ per se aren't all that good, which is why sometimes the
individual stories grab me more. But the fact that some shows where
long-term threads come together (i.e. "Angel" and "Prophecy Girl") have
been strong must mean that something's being done right.
-AOQ
Arbitrar Of Quality
> This is inexplicable -- as I said before (during your S1 reviews), it
> would be too boring if we *always* agree on everything... But "School
> Hard" gets a mere "decent" from someone that rates IMG anything above
> the worse or second-worse rating in the scale?? Inexcplicable!! :-(
Well, it makes more sense once you realize that IMG is a better episode
than SH... ;-)
-AOQ
~should I point out that since I explain my opinions, by definition
they're not "inexplicable?"~
~~nah, that'd just be silly~~
Clairel
--I have to point out that when you say BtVS's ongoing plots (or, as
they're often called, seasonal arcs) aren't very good, you're judging
only by season 1. Which, I agree, did not have a very good seasonal
arc. But you're nowhere near far enough into season 2 to begin to
judge what its seasonal arc will be like.
And judging *anything* about BtVS on the basis of only season 1 is like
judging a book by its front cover.
Clairel
jil...@hotmail.com
So, we have actually seen evidence that other people all over the place
have special powers and fight. Granted, Sid spent most of HIS
existence as a dummy, but that's the way life is in the Buffyverse
sometimes. Snyder knows about the supernatural and acts to keep it a
secret. The government knows that kids sometimes turn invisible in
high school and keeps an eye out for reports in order to collect them
and train them to be assassins and suchlike. So somewhere, Apata's
rulers decided because of her unfortunate timing in being born, that
she was the one to be sacrificed. Perhaps she was going to be the
Slayer, perhaps not.
Shuggie
It's interesting that you say that the ongoing plots aren't that great.
I think that one of the big things I've loved about BtVS is that there
is an ongoing continuity in which the characters can change and grow.
However if you put it in terms of ongoing stories, some of the plots
aren't that great (though some are). So when asked about individual
episodes versus 'arc' (as it came to be known) I often feel like people
have missed an option.
KenM47
That view really comes from only 16 episodes in the memory bank. Let's
see what his opinion is once he makes it all the way through Season 2.
I'm just saying.
Ken (Brooklyn)
Shuggie
> That view really comes from only 16 episodes in the memory bank. Let's
> see what his opinion is once he makes it all the way through Season 2.
>
> I'm just saying.
>
Oh sure, I was just taking the opportunity to point out that "episode vs
arc" is a false dichotomy. It's possible to not enjoy the arc story but
enjoy other stuff about the ongoing continuity.
One Bit Shy
Thank you. The distinction between focusing on individual shows and
focusing on the broader arc is something I've seen people talk about. One
of the web sites (don't ask me which) tries to show the difference in
preferences between those types of people. I hadn't thought about it much
myself, but it occurred to me that it might partially explain your ratings
of these last two episodes - why you got less out of School Hard than some
and more out of this.
School Hard continued the monster part of the ongoing story (Master to
Anointed One to Spike) and so is one of the "continuity" stories. But there
actually hasn't been that much to that story yet. And the rest of the
ongoing story has mainly been general character development and constructing
the Sunnydale reality. So I suppose there really isn't much reason to get
that much from it now. Though I still think it's a shame you didn't get
more out of the Spike and Dru characters. <g>
No matter. IMG is good. You liked it. Onwards and forwards.
OBS
One Bit Shy
news:hllhb3...@ID-256697.user.uni-berlin.de...
> KenM47 <Ken...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>> That view really comes from only 16 episodes in the memory bank. Let's
>> see what his opinion is once he makes it all the way through Season 2.
>>
>> I'm just saying.
>>
>
> Oh sure, I was just taking the opportunity to point out that "episode vs
> arc" is a false dichotomy. It's possible to not enjoy the arc story but
> enjoy other stuff about the ongoing continuity.
Well, I'm the one who framed the question that way, but I don't disagree
with you. I deliberately tried to extract ongoing character development
from the question because he had already shown interest in that and I was
exploring possible reasons why School Hard made such a weak impression while
Inca Mummy Girl came out pretty good. But you're right that story line
alone is inadequate for describing the impact of the arc or ongoing aspect.
I think it's more valuable in letting you fully appreciate the state of mind
and emotions of the characters at the time in question. Provides depth.
Still, many of the shows in the series are substantially stand alone stories
while others - as stories - are more built into the ongoing one. It's a
real distinction, even though incomplete. And I think I can understand how
some of the continuity episodes might come across weaker when seen
individually - especially if one is not particularly engaged in the ongoing
story. That's what I was probing for - not that the story line was the full
representation of the ongoing continuity.
OBS
KenM47
>KenM47 <Ken...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
>
>> That view really comes from only 16 episodes in the memory bank. Let's
>> see what his opinion is once he makes it all the way through Season 2.
>>
>> I'm just saying.
>>
>
>Oh sure, I was just taking the opportunity to point out that "episode vs
>arc" is a false dichotomy. It's possible to not enjoy the arc story but
>enjoy other stuff about the ongoing continuity.
I can't respond to that. I can't separate the two. When I go back and
rewatch, I'm always stuck by the early continuity of character.
I've said it before, the presentation allowed me to suspend disbelief
to the point of accepting that these actors had so inhabited their
characters then (well, maybe not DB always) that the actors
disappeared into them. Maybe a little glitch, maybe a false line to
deliver now and then (nobody yet knows what "the dode patrol" meant in
The Pack), but overall living breathing characters we learned about
and learned to care about to one extent or another.
Ken (Brooklyn)
Eric Hunter
>
> So, we have actually seen evidence that other people all over the
> place have special powers and fight. Granted, Sid spent most of HIS
> existence as a dummy, but that's the way life is in the Buffyverse
> sometimes.
Just look at Cordy.... ;-)
Eric.
--
James Craine
KenM47 wrote:
> I can't respond to that. I can't separate the two. When I go back and
> rewatch, I'm always stuck by the early continuity of character.
>
> I've said it before, the presentation allowed me to suspend disbelief
> to the point of accepting that these actors had so inhabited their
> characters then (well, maybe not DB always) that the actors
> disappeared into them. Maybe a little glitch, maybe a false line to
> deliver now and then (nobody yet knows what "the dode patrol" meant in
> The Pack), but overall living breathing characters we learned about
> and learned to care about to one extent or another.
>
> Ken (Brooklyn)
From:
http://www.tv.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/the-pack/episode/6/summary.html
Buffy: No. That still doesn't explain why he's hanging out
with the dode patrol.
Play of words on the "Dome Patrol", a nickname for the
fast-moving, hard-hitting New Orleans Saints linebacking
corps made up of Rickey Jackson, Vaughan Johnson, Sam Mills
and Pat Swilling (late 80s/early 90s).
BTR1701
James Craine <James...@Hotmail.com> wrote:
> KenM47 wrote:
>
> > I can't respond to that. I can't separate the two. When I go back and
> > rewatch, I'm always stuck by the early continuity of character.
> >
> > I've said it before, the presentation allowed me to suspend disbelief
> > to the point of accepting that these actors had so inhabited their
> > characters then (well, maybe not DB always) that the actors
> > disappeared into them. Maybe a little glitch, maybe a false line to
> > deliver now and then (nobody yet knows what "the dode patrol" meant in
> > The Pack), but overall living breathing characters we learned about
> > and learned to care about to one extent or another.
> From:
> http://www.tv.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/the-pack/episode/6/summary.html
>
> Buffy: No. That still doesn't explain why he's hanging out
> with the dode patrol.
>
> Play of words on the "Dome Patrol",
A play on words still requires the use of actual words. What exactly
does "dode" mean?
Shuggie
According to various online slang dictionaries it means (or meant) a
penis, or an idiot.
--
Shuggie
my blog - http://shuggie.livejournal.com/