There's a big difference between the stand-alone style of "Living Conditions", where there's very little character insight, to this one though. Spike's back, Harmony's a vampire, Buffy and Parker have sex, Xander and Anya have sex, and more. There's a lot to talk about, so let's begin!
While we get some interesting material involving Anya and Harmony, the focus here is squarely on Buffy. She goes through quite the emotional roller coaster and it's all perfectly woven into the main story. The episode begins at the Bronze with Buffy lusting over Parker through his reflection, which in retrospect turns out to be a telling metaphor. Willow gets Buffy to admit that she is "having lusty wrong feelings" towards Parker and adds that it's not wrong to have those feelings because they're both Unfortunately, I think Willow is being a bit too short-sided and aggressive here. Some people have sex just for the sex, like Parker, but to others sex means something more, like Buffy. So jumping into sex based purely on "lusty wrong feelings" isn't a very smart move for Buffy -- it will only set her up for being hurt.
The big problem with Parker is that he doesn't just come out and say he just wants sex. He manipulates Buffy into thinking he's a considerate nice guy who genuinely wants to learn more about her, and not just enough so he can get her into the sack. Normally I'd say that Buffy's too smart to be duped by this routine, but I've got to admit that Parker's got his game down perfectly. When I first watched him talk with her I, like Buffy, thought he was what he seemed. He snags sympathy points from fake stories about his dad dying and says stuff like "I'm not doing the deep, get sympathy Yet he is doing the deep, get sympathy routine and it is really tough to tell whether or not he's geniune. He takes a chance when telling Buffy "It made me think about, you know, living for now," but she buys it and Parker knows he's got a ripe one.
All of that leads to the party where Buffy decides to "make a choice" and have sex with Parker. With Angel gone, life in a dorm, and her strong desire to move past Angel, I do understand where she's coming from. The following morning Parker outright lies to her and says he'll call her later. At this point Buffy feels really good about her decision and is absolutely excited about developing what she shared with him into something more. Gellar acted the hell out of this episode, from the early scenes with Parker to the decision to make "a choice" to the nervous excitement afterwards with Willow to the anticipation, heartbreak, and confusion that follows. Willow keeps pointing out how everything's a discovery. While that is more or less true for what the characters are experiencing, I personally never felt there was much to discover in college aside from how to get my ass kicked by exams in a whole new way. Of course I'm a pretty atypical college student in more ways than one, so maybe imparting my own experiences aren't that useful in this case.
Buffy's personal woes are wonderfully weaved into the search for Spike, which has become a higher priority. While Buffy is searching she is constantly checking her messages, anxiously awaiting Parker's promised call. The call, of course, never comes and Buffy collapses on her bed in pain. She's able to eventually track Parker down and finds him using his sympathy speech on another girl already. Parker says he "had fun," and Buffy replies, "You had fun? Was that all it was?" In Buffy's mind sex is an intimate experience that is indicative of something more. Parker says, "I'm starting to feel like you felt what? Some kind of commitment? Are you sure that's what you want right now?" The truth is, yes, that is what she wants right now. She wants a boyfriend, a lover, and a companion. It pains me tremendously to see Buffy think that Parker's cold reaction is her fault and to see her even apologize to him. I really feel for her and am right there with her. No one likes to be used, and that's what Parker did here.
Back in "Surprise" I proposed the idea that Buffy simply wasn't emotionally mature enough to have sex yet. That isn't a problem anymore though. The mistake she makes here is that she jumped in the sack with a guy she only knew for a week. This is thankfully an experience she learns from. For now she has to deal with the consequences of her hasty rush to move past Angel, and nobody knows how to force Buffy into seeing these consequences better than Spike. In their fight outside he gets some really truthful jabs in and jumps right to the heart of the matter. He says, "So, you let Parker take a poke, eh? Didn't seem like you knew each other that well. ... Did he play the sensitive lad and get you to seduce him? That's a good trick if the girl's thick enough to buy While these comments are blunt and pouring salt in a wound, Spike is completely correct in his analysis of the situation. He also gets her stirred up enough to gain her focus back and snatch the gem from him.
This whole ordeal is succinctly captured by Willow's helpful "he's a poophead" speech. Buffy still wishes that she can make it work with Parker. Even after Parker and Spike's comments she still has trouble believing that someone actually just used her for sex. Buffy still feels that it's her fault he doesn't want anything to do with her beyond that. In time she'll fully realize the only thing she was at fault for was falling for it. I have to say I am extremely impressed with how carefully, naturally, maturely, and in-character all of this was dealt with. Kudos to the writers for having Buffy's second sexual experience be an important event that's not washed over. I also like the ripples we see from this in the next couple episodes.
Buffy's not the only one encountering problems with a second sexual encounter. Anya's back in town and is very confused about how relationships develop. She's spent a thousand years inflicting vengeance on the unfaithful, so she knows how to deal with the end of relationships, but the beginning of them is completely new territory for her. She takes her usual direct approach and succeeds in confusing the hell out of Xander. She comes on strong and he can only respond with "Anya. Slow down there. In fact, come to a screeching halt. See these things kind of have to develop on their She then understandably asks, "Okay. How?" Xander then proves he doesn't have any answers: "I don't know. I just - Later on she stops by his room in the basement and, in a hilarious scene, drops all her clothes and proposes to have "sexual intercourse" with him. His response is to squeeze a juicebox empty and shake. Awesome. To his credit he attempts to resist her nude physical advancement by saying that they aren't ready for this yet, but he quickly gives in. Afterwards they don't look particularly satisfied and appear to be even more confused.
We find out that Spike's new girlfriend is Harmony of all people. At first it seems ludicrous that a vampire like Spike would allow himself to be with someone like her, but once we begin to see how their relationship functions things begin to make more sense. The only way that Harmony can gain Spike's affections is through sex, and we can see that Spike's not satisfied by it at all. He's nice enough to take her out to a party, but after a while his limit is reached and he just stakes her. Fortunately for her she was wearing the invulnerability gem at the time. Spike's noticeably different now that Drusilla isn't in the picture anymore; he's a lot harsher. Listening to Harmony run on about France all day is likely a large part of why he's acting this way, because in "The Initiative" we see his swagger briefly returned to him when he escapes an Initiative holding cell. Even though Harmony is incredibly annoying, I can't help but feel sorry for her when she remains loyal to Spike and doesn't tell the Scoobies where he is.
It all ends on a really fitting note. We have Buffy, Anya, and Harmony all walking outside physically near each other, but emotionally isolated. They all seem to realize that sex isn't the key to lasting happiness and that it often leads to much confusion. All in all this is a superb and probing episode which really focuses on the characters. My only complaint lies with the main plot of Spike trying to retrieve the gem -- it's just not very interesting. Also, we know Spike isn't going to get to keep something that makes him invincible, so no real tension is generated. Although that fact slights the episode a notch, it's still close to top notch. All the characters are in a really new, uncomfortable, and unexplored state. "The Harsh Light of Day" successfully reflects that feeling and does it in vivid style.moreless
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4 Episode 3
The Harsh Light of Day
Aired Tuesday 8:00 PM Oct 19, 1999 on The WB
Spike returns to Sunnydale with his new girlfriend, the now vampire Harmony. Spike is searching for the Gem of Amara - a stone which makes vampires immune to crosses, stakes, and sunlight - and he believes that it is buried somewhere under Sunnydale. Buffy is preoccupied with her budding relationship with Parker and eventually sleeps with him, but she is devastated when he grows distant the next day. Meanwhile Anya returns and throws herself at a flabbergasted Xander.moreless
Who was the Episode MVP ?
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Sunday
No results found.
|
 Sarah Michelle Gellar |
Buffy Anne Summers |
 Nicholas Brendon |
Alexander 'Xander' Harris |
 Alyson Hannigan |
Willow Rosenberg |
 Anthony Stewart Head |
Rupert Giles |
 Seth Green |
Daniel 'Oz' Osbourne |
 Melik |
Brian |
Guest Star |
 Jason Hall |
Devon |
Recurring Role |
 Emma Caulfield |
Anya |
Recurring Role |
 Mercedes McNab |
Harmony |
Recurring Role |
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (9)
ADD TRIVIA-
The Greek word "amara" means "eternal" so the "Gem of Amara" means "The Gem of Eternity".
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We see in Buffy's yearbook that Harmony's last name is Kendall. Interestingly, the character Sarah Michelle Gellar played on All My Children was named Kendall — perhaps this is an inside joke.
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Buffy and Willow's dorm room is number 214. We have seen glimpses of the number in previous episodes, but this is the first time that we have seen it clearly.
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We see that Buffy has a scar from when Angel fed from her. But before this there has never been any mention of The Master feeding from her and as far as we can tell she has no scar from that encounter.
The scar that Parker is looking at is also where The Master bit her. The Master, Angel, and the third person to bite her all bite on the same side and acoording to the scar in the same spots.
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Parker's comment about casual sex mirrors Angel's comments to Buffy when he lost his soul after they made love.
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When Spike shows Buffy the Gem of Amara at the end when they fight, it appears that he is showing her a silver skull ring.
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Nitpick: When Buffy is talking to Parker on the college campus, there are students everywhere. All of a sudden, Spike shows up to fight Buffy and there are no more students in sight.
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Goof: While Spike has on the Gem of Amara, Buffy stakes him, but a few scenes later we see a full body shot of Spike and he doesn't have any hole in his shirt.
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Goof: The necklace that Spike thinks is the Gem of Amara reappears around his neck after he throws it off.
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QUOTES (26)
ADD QUOTES-
Parker: I mean, everybody says they get it. "Oh man, me too. Live for today." But what they really want is an excuse to goof off and not study for finals.
Buffy: Also a valid life choice. -
Spike: Listen to me, you stupid bint. This gem is everything. I came back to Sunnydale for it, a place which has witnessed some truly spectacular kickings of my ass.
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Xander: I'm not enjoying this.
Giles: Well, shelve them correctly and we can finish.
Xander: I just don't get your crazy system.
Giles: My system? It's called the alphabet. -
Xander: So, the crux of this plan is...
Anya: Sexual intercourse. I've said it, like, a dozen times.
Xander: Uh huh. Just working through a little hysterical deafness here.
Anya: I think it's the secret to getting you out of my mind. Putting you behind me. Behind me figuratively. I'm thinking face to face for the event itself. -
Anya: So, where's our relationship going?
Xander: Our what? Our who? -
Spike: So, you let Parker take a poke, eh? Didn't seem like you knew each other that well. What did it take to pry apart the Slayer's dimpled knees?
Buffy: You're a pig, Spike.
Spike: Did he play the sensitive lad and get you to seduce him? That's a good trick if the girl's thick enough to buy it. I wonder what went wrong. Were you too strong? Did you bruise the boy? I guess it doesn't matter. You were never worth a second go. Come to think of it, someone told me as much. Who was that? Oh yeah... Angel. -
Willow: Did it happen with Parker?
Buffy: Yeah, it happened.
Willow: Well, and? Details! I mean, not details, I don't need a diagram. But, you know, like maybe a blurry watercolor. -
Willow: He's a poop head.
Buffy: You're right. He's manipulative and shallow... and why doesn't he want me? Am I so repulsive? If there was something repulsive about me, you'd tell me, right?
Willow: I'm your friend. I would call you repulsive in a second.
Buffy: Maybe Parker and I could still work it out. Do you think we could still work it out?
Willow: I think you're missing something about this whole "poop head" principal. -
Oz: Okay, either I'm borrowing all your albums, or I'm moving in.
Giles: Oz, there are more important things than records right now.
Oz: More important than this one?
Giles: Um, I suppose an argument could be made for...
Xander: Whoa, Giles has a TV. Everybody, Giles has a TV! He's shallow like us.
Oz: I got to admit, I'm a little disappointed.
Giles: I-I-I...
Willow: Well, maybe it doesn't work. It's like art. -
Spike: The Gem of Amara. Official sponsor of my killing you.
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Parker: You think I could get a dance with the prettiest girl at the party?
Buffy: And what do I do, just stand here and watch? -
Xander: But sexual interc- What you're talking about, well- and I'm actually turning into a woman as I say this -- but it's about expressing something. And accepting consequences.
Anya: Oh, I have condoms. Some are black.
Xander: That's... that's very considerate.
Anya: I like you. You're funny, and you're nicely shaped. And frankly, it's ludicrous to have these interlocking bodies and not... interlock. Please remove your clothing now.
Xander: And the amazing thing... still more romantic than Faith. -
Spike: We've got an extra set of chains.
Harmony: Ew. Just because Dorkus went in for that...
Spike: Drusilla.
Harmony: Whatever.
Spike: Say her name.
Harmony: Dorkus.
Spike: Bite your tongue.
Harmony: Do it for me. -
Harmony: Hey, I don't have a pulse. Cool! Can we eat a doctor so I can get a stethoscope and hear my heart not beating?
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Harmony: Is Antonio Bandaras a vampire?
Spike: No.
Harmony: Oh. Can I make him a vampire?
Spike: No. Wait. On second thought, yeah. Go do that. Take your time. Do Melanie and the kids as well. -
Bufffy: What's the matter, Spike? Dru dump you again?
Spike: Maybe I dumped her!
Harmony: She left him for a fungus demon. That's all he talks about most days. -
Buffy: This is it. My door. Wood. Maybe some kind of wood veneer.
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Oz: Devon dated her for a while, but she was too flaky for him, which, stop and marvel at the concept.
Buffy: Guy dating Harmony dead. Must be, like, the most tolerant guy in the world. -
Anya: I can't stop thinking about you. Sometimes, in my dreams, you're all naked.
Xander: Really? You know, if I'm in the check-out line at Wal-Mart, I've had that same one.
Anya: So I can assume a standing Friday night date, and a mutual recognition of prom night as our dating anniversary?
Xander: Anya, slow down. In fact, come to a screeching halt. -
Parker: I'm not doing the deep "get sympathy" routine. I mean, don't you just hate guys who are all, "I'm dark and brooding, so give me love."
Buffy: I don't think I've ever met that type. -
Devon: That was, like, the best set ever. We'll do great in LA. We're gonna have them glued to their seats.
Willow: Uh, Devon? Aren't they supposed to dance?
Oz: Well, we can glue them to the dance floor.
Devon: I don't mean with real glue. You got that, right?
Oz: I got that. -
Willow: Buffy's looking at Parker, who, it turns out, has a reflection, so big plus there. Buffy's having lusty wrong feelings.
Buffy: No, I'm not.
Willow: No, you're not.
Buffy: Oh, I so am. -
Harmony: Being a vampire sucks!
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Anya: You should lock your door.
Giles: Believe me, I am kicking myself. -
Harmony: You love that tunnel more than me.
Spike: I love syphilis more than you. -
Buffy: Harmony is a vampire? She must be dying without a reflection.
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NOTES (9)
ADD NOTES-
The song "It's Over, It's Under" by Dollshead plays while Buffy searches for Harmony, Spike breaks through to the crypt, and Buffy waits for Parker to call.
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The album that Giles and Oz bond over is "Loaded" by The Velvet Underground.
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Intentional or not, this episode begins a tradition of Jane Espenson writing the third episode of each season ("The Harsh Light of Day" (4x03), "The Replacement" (5x03), "After Life" (6x03), and "Same Time, Same Place" (7x03).)
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This episode opens with a Bronze performance of Dingoes Ate My Baby. The previous episode closed with their song "Pain" playing in the background.
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Bif Naked performs "Moment of Weakness" and "Lucky" at the campus party where Buffy runs into Spike and Harmony.
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In this same year [1999] Terminal Reality released the horror computer game Nocturne in which one of the missions of "The Stranger" is to recover the "Yathfoe-Gyuole stone" a.k.a. "the vampire holy grail" which bestows upon vampires great power including immunity to the things that normally kill them. The Yathfoe-Gyuole seems to be the same thing as the Gem of Amara. A quick check did not reveal anyone in common between the two productions.
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This episode begins the first plot crossover with Angel. The story continues in the Angel episode "In The Dark" (A1x03) which aired immediately after this episode of Buffy.
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James Marsters was uncredited in the original airing of this episode, so not to spoil the surprise of Spike returning to Sunnydale. The reruns include him in the guest cast list.
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In the following episode, set around Halloween 1999, Willow
mentions the party last Friday; this sets the party on the night of October 22, 1999.
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ALLUSIONS (5)
ADD ALLUSIONS-
Spike: I love Syphilis more than you.
Syphilis is a cronic infectious disease that is transmitted primarily by sexual intercourse.
The disease is generally characterized by skin lesions and ulcerous skin eruptions. If untreated it can cause widespread damage to the heart, brain, eyes, nervous system, bones, and joints. Late stages of syphilis can result in mental illness, blindness, severe damage to the heart and aorta, and death. -
Xander: Really? You know, if I'm in the checkout lane at the Wal-Mart I've had the same one.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is a worldwide chain of retail stores founded by Sam Walton in 1962. Based on revenue, Wal-Mart is the largest retailer and largest company in the world. It is also the largest private employer in the United States, Mexico and Canada. $8.90 out of every $100 spent in U.S. retail stores is spent at Wal-Mart. -
Harmony: Is Antonio Banderas a vampire?
Antonio Banderas is a Spanish born actor who is considered to be quite the hunk. He also played the vampire Armand in the 1994 film Interview with the Vampire. Presumably this is why Harmony is asking the question. -
Spike: Do Melanie and the kids too.
Continuing with the idea of turning Antonio Banderas into a vampire, Spike is suggesting that Harmony also bite Melanie Griffith (Antonio's wife) and their children. -
Giles: It's the vampire equivalent of the Holy Grail.
Legend has it that the Holy Grail is the cup that Jesus drank from during the Last Supper, and that it was also used to catch some of his blood when he was dying on the cross. This cup became an object of great reverence, but was lost in the very early days of the Christian Church. For centuries people have spent lifetimes searching for the Grail including, most famously, the knights of King Arthur's round table. The term "Grail" or "Holy Grail" are now used to mean something that is searched for but is not real or, at least, is never found.
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Does the show get more serialized?
02/06/144
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SMG Uses Award Speech (for another show) to Thank Buffy Publicly
01/13/143
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Worst characters on Buffy
12/29/1345
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Did Buffy really love Spike?
12/24/13173
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Wow, long time!!
10/04/134
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Chosen
S 7 : Ep 22
Aired 5/20/03 (43:43)
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End of Days
S 7 : Ep 21
Aired 5/13/03 (42:39)
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Touched
S 7 : Ep 20
Aired 5/6/03 (42:40)
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Empty Places
S 7 : Ep 19
Aired 4/29/03 (42:41)
Season 4 Episodes
See AllEp 22
Restless
Ep 21
Primeval (2)
Ep 20
The Yoko Factor (1)
Ep 19
New Moon Rising
Ep 18
Where the Wild Things Are
Ep 17
Superstar
Ep 16
Who Are You? (2)
Ep 15
This Year's Girl (1)
Ep 14
Goodbye Iowa
Ep 13
The I In Team
Ep 12
A New Man
Ep 11
Doomed
Ep 10
Hush
Ep 9
Something Blue
Ep 8
Pangs
Ep 7
The Initiative
Ep 6
Wild At Heart
Ep 5
Beer Bad
Ep 4
Fear, Itself
Ep 3
The Harsh Light of Day
Ep 2
Living Conditions
Ep 1
The Freshman
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