Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Lies My Parents Told Me

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Giles returns with a device that may be able to deactivate Spike's trigger. To rob the song of its power, Spike must step into his own past and relive one of the most traumatic experiences of his unnaturally long life. Meanwhile Robin makes plans to deal with Spike in case the device doesn't work. Or possibly even if it does. Read full recap »

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Writers:: David Fury Drew Goddard

Director:: David Fury

Stars:: Emma Caulfield (Anya); James Marsters (Spike); Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Anne Summers); Nicholas Brendon (Alexander 'Xander' Harris); Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg); Michelle Trachtenberg (Dawn Summers)

Recurring Role:: Tom Lenk (Andrew); Iyari Limon (Kennedy); Indigo (Rona); Juliet Landau (Drusilla); Anthony Stewart Head (Rupert Giles); DB Woodside (Principal Robin Wood)

Guest Star:: Caroline Lagerfelt (Anne); Damani Roberts (Young Robin Wood); Ira Steck (New Vamp); K. D. Aubert (Nikki Wood)

When Wood is talking to Spike with his back to him, preparing to fight Spike, as he is putting on his hand and arm weapons, the bandage around his left hand disappears and reappears from scene to scene. edit »
At 34:05 wire visible on Wood's back. edit »
When Spike was about to bite his mother, you can tell that he is wearing his dental appliques already, before he "transformed." edit »
Spike's flashback hair in this episode is very different from his flashback hair in "Fool For Love". edit »
Giles says the magical stone/worm will enter Spike's brain through the optic nerve. It enters his eye but then moves up his forehead - the optic nerve goes straight back into the brain, not up and over. edit »

David Fury says in the DVD commentary that the original title of this episode was "Mother and Son". But Drew Goddard, the co-author, made him realize it was not only about the Woods, but Spike and his mother, Buffy and her father, Giles and the lies each parent told his/her son/daughter: Nicky said she loved Robin, but she didn't leave the slaying (as Spike mentions); Spike's mother was always the loving one, but when she was turned into a vamp she said all those things to him. Spike thinks it was the demon inside talking, but he couldn't be sure; and Giles, of course, the conspiracy to kill Spike edit »
Drew Goddard was asked by David Fury to co-write the episode since David was short on time to write the whole episode and prep for directing it. edit »
Buffy tells Wood "The mission is what matters," which is what Wood's mother told him before being killed by Spike. edit »
Wood tries to reclaim his mother's jacket, taking it from Spike so it won't be consumed when he dusts him. Spike gets the upper hand and steals it back. He has therefore stolen the jacket from two generations of Woods. edit »
Watch the scenes between Giles and Buffy in the cemetary. In most of the shots they do not appear together. This is because the scenes with Buffy were shot separately from the scenes with Giles because Anthony Stewart Head was unavailable. His scenes were shot 10 days later. edit »

Buffy: It was boring, old and English, just like you...ul Brynner. Yul Brynner. A British Yul Brynner. edit »
Buffy: Spike? What happened?
(Spike opens the garage door, revealing an unconscious Robin Wood)
Buffy: Oh my god!
Spike: I gave him a pass... let him live... on account of the fact that I killed his mother, but that's all he gets. He even so much as looks at me funny again, I'll kill him! edit »
William:
Yet his smell, it duth linger
Painting pictures in my mind.
Her eyes; bowls of honey
Angel's heart's shall laugh.
Oh lark, grant a sign
If crooked be cupids shaft.
Hark! The lark!
Her name it hath spake.
Cecily, it discharges
From twixt it's wee beak edit »
Anya: He could slaughter 100 frat boys (everyone stares at her)... forgiveness makes us human. Blahdy, blah, blah, blah. edit »
Buffy: You try anything again, and he'll kill you. And more importantly... I'll let him. edit »

Title: Lies My Parents Told Me
This title is a twist on the 1960 movie Lies My Father Told Me, remade in 1975. Coincidentally, there is also an episode of Roseanne called Lies My Father Told Me (6x21). This is interesting because Joss Whedon was a writer for Roseanne (though he left the show some time before this episode aired). edit »
The Lost Boys:
In the flashback at the beginning of the episode, when Spike jumps off the bridge and seems to disappear, it's reminiscent of a scene in The Lost Boys in which the gang of vampires jump off a railway bridge into the mist below. edit »
Buffy: It was boring, old, and British... like you... le Brynner.
Yul Brynner (1915-1985) was a Russian/American actor most famous for his bald head and his role as the King in 1956's The King and I. edit »
Giles: Knowledge comes from crafted bindings and pages, Buffy; not 1's and 0's!" 1) Another reference to Binary Code, which is used in computer technology... ultimately referencing Giles's total dislike for computers as done in "I Robot- You Jane" in season 1. 2) Another interesting thing: In Episode 5x01 "Buffy vs Dracula", in the very beginning, we see Willow setting up a computer for Giles and starting to scan - presumably - all of Giles books. Even though the intention is to save the knowledge for the group because Giles wants to leave (but doesn't do in the end) he now seems pretty OK with the idea of having a PC. Suddenly, over 2 years later, he's back into hating anything involving binary code!? edit »
Spike: By the way, love the coat.
Possibly an homage to Silence of the Lambs, the tone and delivery echoes Hannibal Lecter's "Oh, and Senator... Love the suit." Beyond that, of course, Spike takes the coat in question as a trophy, which he's kept for over 25 years. edit »

9.5
00
GotalSaiyajin
member since: Jan 27, 2007
Lies My Parents Told Me
The Bottom Line: "Exactly why I watch this series"
Spike's history ...Continue »
11/06/08 05:51am | report abuse
9
20
raluka87
member since: Apr 22, 2008
Lies My Parents Told Me
The Bottom Line: "Revealing"
"So he has a trigger, a soul and a chip?" ...Continue »
05/20/08 06:35am | report abuse
9.5
00
Angel2408
member since: Dec 23, 2006
Lies My Parents Told Me
The Bottom Line: "Revealing"
One more chapter in the life of William the Bloody ...Continue »
09/09/07 03:02am | report abuse
10
00
chismo16
member since: Jun 23, 2007
Lies My Parents Told Me
The Bottom Line: "Exactly why I watch this series"
Not really into Wood but Spike is my favorite character and I have like all the ones where we see his past so I particullarly liked this episode quite a bit. ...Continue »
06/23/07 02:23am | report abuse
8.7
00
dmarex
member since: Apr 26, 2005
Lies My Parents Told Me
The Bottom Line: "Revealing"
Wood steps in. Finally. ...Continue »
05/03/07 01:04am | report abuse