The Initiative

Season 4, Episode 7, Aired
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Episode Summary

Having been captured by the commandos who have been lurking around campus, Spike is being held hostage in a hi-tech prison-like facility. He manages to escape and heads to find Buffy, whom he assumes is responsible. Instead he finds the helpless Willow.
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Fan Episode Reviews (23)

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  • The War on Demons

    8.0
    "Great"
    By joxerlives, Jan 20, 2012 Report Abuse
    The Good;
    So at last the truth! The Initiative set is indeed impressive and Spike's escape is daring, he's almost like Jaws in the Bond films, the audience starts rooting for him even when he's the bad guy. The fights also good and the Harmony/Spike scenes and Harmony/Xander scene is wonderful

    The Bad;
    Not a great deal, strong ep
    Best line;
    Buffy (to Walsh); "For someone who teaches human behaviour you might try showing some"

    Shot;
    Buff uses a flare gun, odd to see her using a firearm of any kind. The Initiative seem to have more guns than NATO.

    Tied up;
    Spike tied up but escapes.

    Knocked out;
    Willow in the struggle with Riley and co.

    Women good/men bad;
    The horrible scene where we think Spike is killing Willow. Of course, she then fights back, You go girl! Contrast that to Harmony who takes Spike back AGAIN after all he's done to her. She asks Xander why men just leave but of course by that stage Xander already has. Buffy is outraged at Riley's seeming chauvanism towards her. Parker's remark about Buffy is unforgiveable although maybe he has a right to be bitter, he did try to apologise to her only for her to bash him over the head with a branch.

    Jeez!;
    Walsh's remark to Willow about Oz is very harsh. For a moment your heart is in your mouth when you think Willow is lying dead behind Spike on the bed.

    Kinky dinky;
    Buffy describes her top as 'slutty' but I don't think it is particularly. Unlike her top on the cafeteria which you can blatantly see down when she trips. Forrest eyes up the women in the cafeteria, the first blonde girl in the floral number in particular is undeniably HOT! Parker describes Buffy as 'Bunny in the sack'. You figure she must have gone easy on him? Forrest figures that Buffy and Xander are on their way to have 'Crazy naked sex'. Harmony comments that she can 'slap Spike around' a little if he likes it. Buffy dancing is also good although she's better with Faith.

    Calling Captain Subtext;
    Doug Petrie describes the Initiative boys as a 'gay calender pin-up' and he's not wrong, you can imagine Jack from Will&Grace having it on his wall. Petrie seems very keen on Marc Blucas in his commentary although he was equally as keen on the Faith/Buffy sapphic subtext.
    The whole Spike/Willow scene is one big impotence gag. Once again a vamp feeding is compared to a sexual act. Harmony comments that Buffy is just going to slap Spike around and that she can do that. Is that why Spike falls in love with the Slayer? When Spike finds Buffy on the computer he says 'Hello gorgeous". Hmmmmm. Will still has some insecurity left over from her wallflower days.

    Guantanamo Bay;
    The whole idea of the Initiative is very 'War on Terror', it resembles Camp X-ray to a T. Of course this all takes place BEFORE 9/11

    Scoobies to the ER;
    Thankfully not this week

    Questions and observations;
    Spike likes the Sex Pistols, big suprise. Buffy likes cheese, a leftover from her day as a rat? Here we have Spike in the opening credits hinting that he's a regular from now on (by contrast it took poor old Tara 3 seasons to get there and she only lasted 1 ep). Giles comments that he should lock his door. Spike refers to the Nazis conducting experiments on vamps which we'll see in 'Why we Fight'. Xander refers to the mobile infantry from Starship Troopers, Riley not unlike Johnny Rico in many ways. Spike is 126 which means he was born in 1873, making him a late Victorian (Angel is over 200 making him a Georgian). Note Doug Petrie named Grahme Miller after a Canadian friend of his and that it's Grahme who suggests that Buffy might be a little off because she's Canadian. Spike seems to use significant violence during his escape but maybe the chip hasn't really kicked in yet? Riley' shirt makes him look like he's from Star Trek.
    Marks out of 10; 8/10
    moreless

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  • Sexist writing, unbelievable plot and a wasted opportunity to kill one of the deadliest vampires in Sunnydale.

    3.5
    "Bad"
    By ElvinJim, Aug 31, 2011 Report Abuse
    The writer of this episode is so sexist. From the camera work in the first scene to the conversation between the College boys and especially what Parker says about Buffy and freshman girls on campus. I would have thought that Parker would have been more careful how he spoke about Buffy after getting knocked out by her twice or possibly had a bit more respect after she saved his life in the last episode. I found it so unrealistic for someone (like Riley) to go to Willows room and close the door behind him and start talking to Willow to find out about Buffy and to ask if she also liked him. Maybe if they were 12 years old you could believe it. Season 4 has really had the sexual references and scenes increased this is probably the first episode from the season that didn't have a sex scene in it so the writer had to replace it with crass humour. Over all the acting and dialog was really bad and I wonder if the actors just didn't really feel like trying after reading the poor script. I know it was just supposed to be funny but I found it stupid how Willow was talking to Spike after he tried to kill her and saying things like ,"maybe try again in half an hour". (another implied sexual reference) she should have picked up a pencil with her magic skills and dusted him. She hates Spike because he has hurt Buffy many times, he has helped torture Giles helped torture Angel he is to blame for Cordelia almost dieing when he kept her prisoner in the old factory. He is a murdering vampire and he was sitting on the bed with his back to her very vulnerable. After all Willow said the reason she was not going to Harvard , Yale or Oxford Uni was to stay in Sunnydale and fight evil.
    There were some good plot developments like explaining the initiative and the chip in Spike's head.moreless

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  • Maybe the best episode that involves The Initiative.

    8.6
    "Great"
    By goodridd, May 09, 2011 Report Abuse
    The Initiative is my least favorite "Big Bad". I'm sure most people probably feel the same. This seasons only real fault if you ask me. Don't get me wrong. I don't dislike the the idea of the The Initiative, just the execution. Willows continues to grieve over Oz leaving. Meanwhile, the Buffy and Riley relationship starts to develop. Riley seeks Willows help in courting Buffy, but because of what has just happened to her, Willow is reluctant. Spike, who was captured by The Initiative earlier in the season escapes. He needs a place to stay, so he looks towards Harmony. He wants revenge on Buffy, so he heads over to her dorm and finds Willow instead. In an attempt to feed on her he discovers that something has been done to him in The Initiative that keeps him from being able to harm people.

    Let's also not forget one of the most Epic battles in the history of the show happens in this episode... Xander vs. Harmony...lol.moreless

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  • The Initiative

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By TrueTvWatcher, Oct 21, 2010 Report Abuse
    The Initiative was a superb episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We were introduced to The Initiative and its members who lead double lives, similar to Buffy. It was really cool how every thing was connected. Spike who just escaped The Initiative is now being hunted by them, as he attempts to eat Willow. There was a lot of action, good story flow, and character development. Riley has a thing for Buffy and is trying to get to know her, but Buffy being the Slayer, always seems to be preoccupied when talking with Riley. There was a lot of good things that made this episode so great!moreless

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  • Season 4, Episode 7.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By Wanted23, May 25, 2009 Report Abuse
    Spike is captured by The Initiative. However, he later escapes and hunts for Buffy, but instead only finds Willow. However, things go awry when Spike gets a major headache while trying to feed off Willow. Riley realizes he has feelings for Buffy.

    Not a bad episode, compared to what else we have been given so far this season. I'm not liking the way season 4 is shaping out so far. I like the whole Riley and Professor Walsh in The Initiative thing, though. I like how Spike betrayed the other vampire while escaping too. Riley and Buffy like each other! Woohoo! Decent episode, but Buffy isn't doing well this season so far. Hopefully it improves.moreless

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    1 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • The Initiative beginning when Spike mentions the Nazis is more than likely because in the episode "Why We Fight" on season 5 of Angel during WW2 he was drugged by the SS. Edit
    • After Harmony and Xander have their cat-fight, Harmony lights a match to throw onto Spike's things. While she is talking to Xander the match burns out, but in the next shot the match is still lit, as she throws it onto Spike's things. Edit
    • The vampire that warns Spike about the drugged blood is the vampire that was captured at the end of the episode "The Freshman." Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • It is confirmed that vampires do not generate body heat (the Initiative's heat sensor clocked Spike in at 62.3 degrees Fahrenheit). Edit
    • It seems that all of the names in the list of Stevenson Hall residents which Spike looks at are real — most of them have listings at IMDb, and some of them work for Buffy, including Jeff Pruitt (Stunt Coordinator), David Solomon (Co-Producer), and Lisa Rosenberg (Hair Stylist). Edit
    • The Initiative Headquarters is under Lowell House, which is the house where Riley lives (and probably at least some of the other commando guys); the house is presumably on campus. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Riley: You know... I wanted to ask you something. Buffy: Ask away. (Xander runs in, interrupting them.) Xander: Buffy! I've been looking all over for you. We need... Need to talk, uh, not here. It's sort of... Unfinished business. Buffy: Business? Right. Um, excuse us? Riley: No problem. (Forrest walks up) Forrest: Denied. Riley: It's not like she blew me off. She just left with another guy, that's all. Forrest: We need you downstairs, anyway. You know, I hate to say it, but they're probably on their way to make crazy naked sex. Edit
    • Spike: I don't understand. This sort of thing's never happened to me before. Willow: Maybe you were nervous. Spike: I felt all right when I started. Let's try again. (He tries, but he can't do it.) Spike: Damn it! Willow: Maybe you're trying too hard. Doesn't this happen to every vampire? Spike: Not to me, it doesn't! Willow: It's me, isn't it? Spike: What are you talking about? Willow: Well, you came looking for Buffy, then settled. You didn't want to bite me, I just happened to be around. Spike: Piffle. Willow: I know I'm not the kind of girl vamps like to sink their teeth into. It's always like, "Oh, you're like a sister to me," or, "Oh, you're such a good friend." Spike: Don't be ridiculous. I'd bite you in a heartbeat. Willow: Really? Edit
    • Riley: Did Willow tell you I like cheese? Buffy: You're a little peculiar. Riley: I can live with that. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Spike's treatment is very similar to the 1971 film A Clockwork Orange based on the novel of the same name by Anthony Burgess. The story follows a young man who ruthlessly rapes and assaults strangers until he is given "the Ludovico treatment" which renders him unable to harm anyone without feeling physically ill, just like Spike feeling pain whenever he tries to hurt others. Edit
    • Buffy: Who died and made you John Wayne?
      John Wayne was the stage name of Marion Michael Morrison (1907-1979), who is a genuine icon of 20th century American film. Famed as a star of westerns, he also played cops and soldiers with regularity. Wayne nearly always played the same character: a big, tough but sensitive hero who talked straight and met the bad guys head on. Edit
    • Willow: Loves Ice Capades, without the irony.
      The Ice Capades were a traveling entertainment show featuring theatrical performances involving ice skating. Ice Capades shows were extremely popular for several decades, virtually a household name, although criticized by some as kitsch. Shows would often feature former Olympic figure skaters that had retired from amateur competition. Edit

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