Goodbye Iowa

Season 4, Episode 14, Aired
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Episode Summary

Buffy and Riley get mutually suspicious of each other when Buffy reveals that Professor Walsh tried to have her killed. When Professor Walsh is found dead things get even more out of hand, with the commandos quick to blame Buffy. Riley is even more agitated when he sees Buffy with Spike ("Hostile 17") and then again at Willy's Place. ''Meanwhile the man-demon-machine Adam that Professor Walsh created is roaming Sunnydale and even Buffy can't seem to stop him.moreless
8.3
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Fan Episode Reviews (12)

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  • Here's Adam (BOOOOOOOO!)

    6.0
    "Fair"
    By joxerlives, Jan 20, 2012 Report Abuse
    The Good;
    Some great acting from Marc Blucas as Riley comes apart. Love Buffy's rallying speech in her sushi pyjamas and Riley recognising Spike.

    The Bad;
    A pretty dull episode in many ways, Adam is a stupid enemy. I always said that the more Joyce in an ep the better it is, well, the more Adam in an ep the worse it is. The idea that he had a floppy disc player in 2001, really! Also the little boy he kills is the dumbest kid ever.

    Best line;
    Anya; "He was GI Joe for one night, it wasn't as if he was in The Nam"

    Character death;
    Byebye another Initiative scientist and some poor MP

    Shot;
    No but Riley threatens one of Willy's patrons with his pistol.

    Jeez!;
    Cutting the demons arm off, nice!

    Kinky dinky;
    Trying to remain inconspicuous Xander tried to kiss Buffy.

    Calling Captain Subtext;
    Buffy, Willow and Anya spend the night in bed together. Amazed if the slashficcers didn't make great play of that! Upon seeing the Initiative Xander asks if he can have sex with Riley too. So, why does Tara ruin Will's demon hunting spell? One day we'll find out. Spike comments that Buffy has tragic taste in men, foreshadowing indeed.

    Guantanamo Bay;
    The Initiative are very brazen, charging around in Humvees, guns blazing. Buffy hits Willy but at his own request, the last time he'll be seen in the series.

    Scoobies to the ER;
    Riley goes cold turkey and gets stabbed.

    Apocalypses; 5,

    Questions and observations;
    Giles still has his Mark of Eyghon tattoo, you'd think he'd want rid of it? In the scene where Riley and Buffy meet at the murder site the camera goes very funny in places, going octagonal? Spike says he has a cousin who married a Privlops demon but like most of what Spike says he's probably lying.

    Marks out of 10; 6/10 Adam is going to drag the scores down for the rest of the season.
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  • Goodbye Iowa

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By TrueTvWatcher, Oct 22, 2010 Report Abuse
    Goodbye Iowa was another great episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This episode introduced us to the Sentient and Awake Adam, who is the creation of Dr. Maggie Walsh. We learned a lot more about her and her other side. We also learned more about the intiative and that they were secretly putting stuff into the soldiers food. I thought that Adam was disturbingly brilliant and it was cool to see how the story is unfolding. Willow has been seeing Tara a lot of magic stuff lately, and on their latest spell Tara spoils it on purpose for unknown reasons. It is interesting to see her character being slowly revealed, and I like seeing her and Willow doing magic. There were a lot of good elements to this episode. Great stories, great acting, great directing, and over all great delivery. With Adam on the loose the gang and the initiative both have their hands full.moreless

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  • Season 4, Episode 14.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By Wanted23, Jul 02, 2009 Report Abuse
    Buffy and Riley become suspicious of each other after Buffy tells him that Maggie Walsh tried to have her killed. When the murdered body of Maggie Walsh is discovered, the Initiative automatically thinks Buffy is responsible. Riley also becomes agitated when he sees Buffy with Spike (Hostile 17). Meanwhile, Adam remains on the loose.

    I liked this episode. It was pretty interesting, but I can't believe Riley asked Buffy if she was happy that Maggie was dead. That was just messed up, but I will let it slide because he is sexy. I'm so glad he is shirtless so much. Interesting plot, also. Good episode. :)moreless

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  • What's that for?

    8.0
    "Great"
    By goodridd, Apr 28, 2009 Report Abuse
    Another episode that barely manages to scrape up an 8. I enjoyed the dark tone of this episode. The body of Maggie laying on the floor, and the fact that they were willing to have Adam kill of a child. There was some good humor to offset the more morbid parts of the episode. Like when Buffy makes a speech in Xander's basement, followed by the line "That probably would've sounded more commanding if I wasn't wearing my yummy sushi pajamas".

    The only thing I didn;t really care for was the rift between Riley and Buffy over Professor Walsh's death. Also, I didn't like Forrest's attitude.moreless

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  • A solid episode but one that unfortunately doesn't do much for me.

    7.5
    "Good"
    By TwistedConverse, Oct 20, 2008 Report Abuse
    Goodbye Iowa is a good episode but it's just not one of my favourites. I don't find Riley entertaining at all and The Initiative scenes were pretty yawn worthy also. Aside from some good scenes, this episode doesn't have a lot to offer.

    The Riley storyline is one that I just don't care for. It's not bad but I find myself zoning out and daydreaming when it's on. Riley himself is a pretty dull character so his scenes don't appeal to me. His torn loyalties drama was pretty yawn-worthy in my opinion and I just can't connect to the storyline.

    Marc Blucas put in a decent effort here. He's a bit wooden most of the time and doesn't have good delivery but he was pretty good here. He played the confused man coming off drugs quite well but seeing as Alyson played a similar storyline so much better in Season 6, it's hard to really appreciate it. Nevertheless, he was pretty good here and it's likely his best performance.

    The Iniative storyline of Adam isn't my favourite either. Adam lacks charisma as a villain- he doesn't inspire fear and just seems to be there to hit Buffy lots. The master plan thing was just uninteresting. The fight scene near the end was really cool though, just what the episode needed,

    Forrest was so annoying all the way through here; I hate that he was so against Buffy for no reason. He's such an idiot. Definitely my least favourite of the commandoes! That's not saying much though.

    Goodbye Iowa is an episode I don't have a lot to say about. It's decent but not great. Still worth a watch though, as with any Buffy episode!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • When Adam is reviewing the "files" Walsh left for him he inserts MiniDiscs into a floppy drive in his chest. Clearly incompatible with each other. Edit
    • The scene of the Initiative complex that Buffy and Xander see from the elevator walkway is reused from "The Initiative". Look closely and Professor Walsh can be seen at her desk with Riley, Forrest, and Graham walking towards her. Edit
    • When Buffy gives Riley her bandanna, you should watch her hair while it is going on. It just so happens that her bandanna is still in her hair in one shot and disappears the next, even after she's given it to him. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • The TV seen in Xander's basement is exactly the same set that was seen in Giles' apartment in The Harsh Light of Day. It looks like either the prop was shared, or Giles brought that TV with him when he stayed the night with all the Scoobies. Edit
    • After waking up in Xander's basement, Giles' tattoo on his left arm is clearly seen when turning off the TV. This tattoo was significant as the "Mark of Eyghon" from Season 2's "The Dark Age". Edit
    • When Adam approaches the little boy, the boy appears to be playing with a toy that is part robot & part something else, much like Adam himself. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Willy: We got new rules here. No killing! Edit
    • Buffy: This is the Initiative, Xander. Military guys and scientists do NOT make out with each other. Xander: Well, maybe that's what's wrong with the world. Ever think about that? Edit
    • Willy: Look, if they see me dealing with you, then I'm just the same old Willy, working both sides of the street. Buffy: I'm gonna have to punch you, aren't I? Willy: Just once, and it doesn't have to hurt. Just make it look good. (draws her fist back) Ow! Oh! Buffy: Not yet - I haven't touched you! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS

    • The name Adam

      In the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly, "Adam" is the name of Frankenstein's monster. Also, the scene in which Adam meets the boy parallels the scene in the original movie version of the novel where the monster meets a little girl.

      This could also be a reference to the Biblical Adam, from Genesis, the first of his kind ever created.

      Edit
    • Buffy: ...and the next thing I know, it's raining monsters.
      Xander: Hallelujah
      A reference to the 1983 song, "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls which was recently covered by ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell. Edit
    • Buffy: Everything's screwed up enough without you two doing Scenes from my Parents' Marriage. Scenes from a Marriage is a quite famous 3 hour film, turned 5 hour mini-series by three time Swedish Oscar-winner Ingmar Bergman with very powerful scenes (a lot of emotional shouting and accusations) of a woman (Liv Ullman)and a man (Erland Josephson) breaking up. Edit

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