The Yoko Factor (1)

Season 4, Episode 20, Aired
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Episode Summary

Adam enlists Spike to turn the gang against each other, leaving Buffy alone and helpless. Playing on their fears about how the others perceive them, Spike begins to sow discord among the Scoobies. Meanwhile, into the chaos walks Angel, who has come to apologize to Buffy for the fight they had in L.A., but Riley sees only that there is another vampire in town.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (17)

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  • What has been broken....

    6.0
    "Fair"
    By joxerlives, Jan 20, 2012 Report Abuse
    The Good;
    Love the fact that when the argument starts Tara and Anya head to the bathroom, they have a few scenes like this together through the series, the newcomers to the Scooby gang bonding. Miss Kitty is the cutest ever. Lovely to see Angel and Buffy make up.

    The Bad;
    Spike can't even hold a fake gun without getting pain, so how come he's able to get his shotgun out in season 5?

    Best line;
    Buffy; "Xander? Oh he's the deadest man in deadonia!"

    Women good/men bad;
    Buffy refer to Riley and Angel suffering from 'testosterone poisoning'.

    Jeez!;
    Poor Forrest gets skewered.

    Kinky dinky;
    Anya declares Xander a 'Viking in the sack'. As she is from medieval Sweden that's quite a compliment and once again suggests she enjoys rough/exotic sex (as we'll see later with Spike). Xander used to work at a telephone sex line.

    Calling Captain Subtext;
    Xander used to work at a telephone sex line. You know I've never seen one advertised for straight women, was this a gay sex line? Willow refers to Tara as her girlfriend for the first time. Spike twigs Will/Tara long before Xander/Giles do. Wicca is once more used as a euphanism for lesbianism. Buffy asks Forrest if the Initiative is a 'boys club'. Spike seems to have a high opinion of Buffy. Willow talks of doing 'drama' which foreshadows Restless. Willow refers to the umbilical chord between Xander and Anya, jealousy rising.

    Guantanamo Bay;
    The demons are starting to rip one another apart and the Colonel really doesn't care.

    Apocalypses; 5,

    Scoobies in bondage:
    Buffy: 8
    Giles: 4
    Cordy: 5
    Will: 3
    Jenny: 1
    Angel: 4
    Oz: 1
    Faith: 3
    Joyce: 1
    Wes: 1
    Xander 1

    Scoobies knocked out: Buffy trips and falls like a horror heroine
    Buffy: 16
    Giles: 10
    Cordy: 6
    Xander: 8
    Will: 5
    Jenny: 2
    Angel: 6
    Oz: 5
    Faith: 1
    Joyce: 2
    Wes: 1

    Kills:
    Buffy: 79 vamps, 27 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
    Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
    Cordy: 3 vamps, a demon
    Will: 4 vamps
    Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
    Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
    Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
    Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, a demon, a demon
    Anya: a demon
    Riley; 12 vamps + 6 demons

    Scoobies go evil:
    Giles: 1
    Cordy: 1
    Will: 2
    Jenny: 1
    Angel: 1
    Oz: 1
    Joyce: 1
    Xander: 2

    Alternate scoobies:
    Buffy: 6
    Giles: 3
    Cordy: 1
    Will: 2
    Jenny: 2
    Angel: 3
    Oz: 2
    Joyce: 2
    Xander: 3

    Recurring characters killed:
    Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh

    Total number of scoobies: 7
    Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Riley, Tara

    Xander demon magnet: 5
    Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?)

    Scoobies shot: Riley threatens Angel with his pistol saying it's 'all he's got left'. Forrest zaps Adam but it only makes him stronger.
    Giles: 2
    Angel: 3
    Oz: 4

    Notches on Scooby bedpost:
    Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny
    Buffy: 3; Angel, Parker, Riley
    Angel: 1;Buffy
    Joyce: 1;Giles, possibly Ted
    Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
    Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
    Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
    Willow: 2;Oz and Tara

    Questions and observations;
    Lovely to see Angel back, lovely to see his reconcilliation with Buffy. Sorry Spuffers BuffyandAngel4ever. Angel can defeat Riley in single combat, even with all Riley's hi-tech gear. Xander's famous big mouth makes another appearance. In later seasons this role will be taken over by Dawn. Adam likes 'Helter Skelter' which is the Beatles song Charles Manson cited for the motivation for his infamous massacre. Riley refers to Angel as 'Mr Billowy-Coat King of Pain' and thinks girls like that. More than Gary Cooper in camoflauge actually. Spike is 100% right of course, what makes Buffy different and more successful than all the other Slayers is that she has her friends and family around her.

    Marks out of 10; 6/10
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  • remind me why Angel is the one that has to apologise?

    8.0
    "Great"
    By fermaldehyde, Nov 09, 2010 Report Abuse
    This episode was well writen, and it had a great story line. I loved seeing Angel meet Riley, but I don\'t undertand why Angel had to apologies for Buffy\'s b!tchy behaviour. He had a reason to tell her to leave- she acted like she owned the world because she\'s the slayer, and she could do no wrong. Other than the fact that Angel shouldn\'t have come to apologise, it was a good episode. I really enjoyed seeing Willow come out of the closet. I also liked how it was different, with the characters all going against each other. It was really well thought out.moreless

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  • The Yoko Factor (1)

    10
    "Perfect"
    By TrueTvWatcher, Oct 25, 2010 Report Abuse
    The Yoko Factor (1) was a perfectly great episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This episode was exciting because Spike was working with Adam yet pretending to work with Buffy and the Gang. Spike did a great job of exploiting every one's insecurities. It was interesting to watch that all unfold. This episode also saw an Angel crossover which was cool. Angel and Riley didn't exactly see eye to eye, and got into a fight. When everyone was turning on each other Buffy called them out and left, and I the ending of this episode was shocking. I can't wait to see what happens in the next part of this two episode story!!!!!moreless

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  • Season 4, Episode 20.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Wanted23, Jul 05, 2009 Report Abuse
    Spike teams up with Adam and uses his manipulative ways to turn all the Scoobies against each other, leaving Buffy alone and helpless. Meanwhile, Angel returns to Sunnydale and clashes with Riley.

    I enjoyed watching this episode. I liked when Buffy and Forrest went in the cave and found Adam. I knew he was going to die. The Angel and Riley fighting thing was good. Buffy looked really good in this episode too, even with that big gash on her forehead. I liked the scenes in Buffy's dorm. I love whenever they all have a gigantic fight. Haha, Giles was drunk. Haha, Tara and Anya liked the tile in the bathroom. Haha. I loved this episode. Great job on the writers' parts.moreless

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  • An excellent episode; the Scoobies have a big arguement all due to Spike's manipulations.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By TwistedConverse, Oct 23, 2008 Report Abuse
    The Yoko Factor is a fantastic episode; it's not the best or most interesting but has some really memorable scenes and some great acting- especially in the final scene!

    The whole Adam thing really doesn't hold my interest. He's such a shockingly uncharismatic villain, has no presence and is basically just sits around talking in a monotone voice until an enemy visits where he spouts off computerised nonsense and then punches the enemy about lots. He's just so badly written and George Hertzberg is just stripped of all acting when playing him (a shame as I thought he had really good charisma in Restless for those 4 lines he had).

    I'm glad Spike joined Team Adam to inject some life into the arc. Spike is simply a fantastic villain and can get the job done even when he cannot actually do any physical harm. This is the last we really see of Spike the villain as in the next three seasons he's in love with Buffy and so joins the good side.

    Angel coming back was surprisingly good- him and Buffy only had a short scene together where the whole Bangel whinging was practically non-existent (from the only time in the entire verse probably). Also, he smacks Riley around lots! I was so, so, so happy and it was just such fun to watch Angel put the annoying soldier boy in his place. Angel is so much better when he's on his own show. He was actually Angel here rather than just Buffy's boyfriend. By the way, if you haven't seen the show "Angel" watch it! It's almost as good as the original show.

    The arguement scene at the end was really brilliant. We've seen all season how the Scoobies have drifted apart and it all comes to a head in this episode. I thought each one of them had valid points and I wasn't on anyone's side (unlike the dreaded arguement scene in Empty Places where I felt they were all nasty, annoying, evil idiots to Buffy). Giles being drunk was hilarious and I love that he burst out laughing at "Fort Dick's"! I always laugh at silly things like that and it was so funny to see Giles do it.

    The "cliffhanger" at the end was an all round meh. Maybe because I already know it's useless and doesn't result in much but maybe because Riley + Adam = an extreme not caring. Sorry, they're just boring.

    The Yoko Factor is a brilliant episode, the beginning of the end of The Initiative arc. It's very strong in all aspects and one that I really like.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • At 20:31 Just as Spike enters Giles's apartment, his reflection is visible in a mirror, just behind Tara's left shoulder. Edit
    • When Angel leaps onto the loading dock to confront Riley an optical effect is added to give his coat an additional flair. Edit
    • When Riley comes after Angel in Buffy's dorm room the door closes behind him as he points his gun at Angel. The camera angle changes and the door can be seen closing a second time. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • This is the first episode where Willow mentions that Tara is her girlfriend (with the exception of New Moon Rising when she told Buffy). Edit
    • Giles plays a Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Free Bird", a huge hit from the 70's. Edit
    • Willow seems to have gotten over her stage fright (first shown in Season 1's "The Puppet Show" and "Nightmares") a little bit in this period, since in this episode she is heavily considering taking drama classes at UC Sunnydale. Perhaps her relationship with Tara is helping to build her confidence? Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Angel: Oh, and... Riley. Buffy: Yeah? Angel: I don't like him. Buffy: (smiling) Thank you. Edit
    • Xander: It happens that I'm good at a lot of things. I help out with all kinds of... stuff. I have skills and stratagems... I'm very... (to Anya) help me out. Anya: He's a viking in the sack. Edit
    • Buffy:(about Angel) He's... not bad. Riley: Seriously? That's... a good day? Well, there you go. Even when he's good he's all Mister... Billowy Coat King of Pain and girls really- Buffy: Riley, stop. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Xander: L.A. Woman? Haven't heard from her. "L.A. Woman" is the name of the 1971 album by The Doors. Jim Morrison reportedly recorded the lyrics for the title track in the bathroom of the recording studio to get a fuller sound. In the lyrics L.A. gets referred to as the "city of night", which makes perfect sense in the context of the joss-verse. Edit
    • Xander: But maybe that all changes when I'm doing sit-ups over at Fort Dix.
      Fort Dix is an Army base/city in New Jersey. Edit
    • Spike: You're not exactly the whiz these days...
      Willow: I am a whiz.
      Tara: She is a whiz.
      Willow: If ever a whiz there was.
      This is a line from "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" / "We're Off To See the Wizard" in the 1939 classic movie The Wizard of Oz.

      We hear he is a whiz of a wiz, if ever a wiz there was. If ever oh ever a wiz there was, The Wizard of Oz is one because, because, because, because, because, because... Because of the wonderful things he does! Edit

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