Episode Summary

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9.2
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Superb
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After eight months in a coma after her fight with Buffy, Faith awakens to seek revenge. After Faith is thwarted by both Buffy and the cops, Mayor Wilkins gives her a mysterious gift from beyond the grave. Armed with her secret weapon, Faith confronts Buffy in a climatic slayer-on-slayer battle...moreless
  • Hooray for Faith

    9.0
    "Superb"
    The Good;
    Faith's dream sequences are all excellent, wonderful to see Harry Groener again, love the reveal of Faith at UCSD and great scenes with Joyce/Faith, the fight that follows one of the best in the show's history

    The Bad;
    Are you kidding, Faith is back, how could anything be bad?

    Best line;
    Faith; How do I look?
    Joyce; Psychotic?

    Character death;
    Thankfully not

    Knocked out;
    Buffy-as-Faith in the final scene plus the poor girl at the hospital

    Women good/men bad;
    Nope, female villain this time around

    Jeez!;
    Psycho-Buffy in Faith's dreams is scary indeed, great performance from SMG, love her vacant stare, steady walk and that little tilt of the head, give her a hockey mask and she's the villain in the slasher film. Check out Buffy's expression as she twists the knife in Faith's side. Plus Faith hits Joyce! Oh, that girl deserves SUCH a spanking! Plus Adam's Silence of the Lambs homage.

    Kinky dinky;
    As Petrie comments, 'Cleavage, demons and intrigue'. Faith also tells Buffy she has dreams about 'cigars and tunnels', Bill Clinton and Monica anyone? (a reference that would have been a lot more topical at the time). Willow refers to Faith as a 'cleavagey slutbomb'.

    Calling Captain Subtext;
    The grass snake intruding in the picnic needs no interpretation. It represents the Mayor's evil desires intruding on his and Faith's happiness. Doug Petrie comments on Jaith and I think he's right, actually Joyce and Faith love each other much the same as Buffy/Faith do. I remember reading a great fanfic called 'Forbidden' where Joyce is lying in bed feeling guilty about having sex with the naked Slayer lying beside her who calls her 'mommy'. Of course in the very last word of the story you realise that it's actually Faith rather than Buffy and it all makes perfect sense from both a narrative and character point of view.
    Buffy and Faith in dreams are still making the bed, Faith pleads for Buffy to take the knife out of her, does this signify a yearning for forgiveness?

    Scoobies to the ER;
    Buffy-as-Faith get's a hammering (one could argue that this is actually Faith self-harming?)

    Where's Dawn?
    Taken hostage by Faith alongside Joyce? It would certainly explain Dawn's antipathy towards her in season 7. Faith refers to 'Little sis coming'. Of course Dawn could just as easily have been Faith's sister if things had worked out differently.

    Missing scenes;
    The bit where Tara and Willow search for Faith is quite obviously an add in but is funny, especially Tara's idea of fighting.

    Apocalypses; 5,

    Questions and observations;
    Wonderful to have Faith back. You can't help but feel sorry for her when she's wandering the streets of Sunnydale having lost everything, ecspecially when she sees the happy daughter leading her father by the hand. One question, looking at the Mayor's video he seems to think that there will be a museum dedicated to him in Sunnydale and that he and Faith will bring 'order' to the town? By being a big snake?
    I always wondered what would happen if a Slayer was brainsucked by Glory? Read a fanfic once where that actually happens to Faith but then DarkWillow brainsucks Warren before killing him and uses his mental energy to cure her. Watching this I realise that if Slayer healing can restore Faith from her coma then Glory would be no big deal for her or Buffy. Tara asks what 'Five by five' means, about time someone did. Who calls the police for Faith at UCSD?

    Marks out of 10; 9/10
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  • is Year's Girl (1)

    10
    "Perfect"
    is Year's Girl (1) was a perfectly fun episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In this episode there was a lot going on with everyone! Buffy and Riley are still trying to find their footing after the unexpected death of Dr. Maggie Walsh. Now Adam is on the loose, and with Faith waking up there is surely trouble to follow. This episode did a great job of tying all these stories together, and this episode ended with Faith using a surprise gift from the Mayor. There was lots of action, intrigue, and character development. I like how in Faiths dream world that they used a lot of symbology. The little garden snake crawling across their picnic! This episode left me on the edge of my seat and I can't wait to find out how things play out!!!!!moreless
  • Season 4, Episode 18.

    10
    "Perfect"
    Faith awakens after spending eight months in a coma from Buffy stabbing her. She is seeking revenge on Buffy, and she receives a present from Mayor Wilkins from beyond the grave. After Faith holds Joyce hostage, she and Buffy have a slayer-on-slayer battle that results in the two switching bodies.

    I LOVE this episode. I love Eliza Dushku, and the character of Faith, so I was pretty excited with this episode. I liked the fight that she had with Buffy on the college campus, and then when they had the fight in the Summers home at the end. Great episode and YAY for the return of Faith. :)moreless
  • Got Faith?

    9.2
    "Superb"
    I love this episode. Faith wakes up from her coma to cause some havok. She beats up a woman to take her clothes and heads straight for the scoobs. This episode has great action, great dream sequences, and great humor. Xander being paranoid about Faith coming after him due to their "history" comes to mind.

    Forrest is still getting on my nerves. I'm glad he gets what's coming to him later on in the season. It's also nice to see The Mayor back, if only just for an episode. He is one of those villains that I find likable, even if he is evil. A great character all around.moreless
  • A brilliant episode; Faith wakes up from her coma and provides a much needed distraction from the uninteresting Initiative.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    This Year's Girl is a fantastic episode in all respects; wonderful acting, writing and top-notch action sequences all the way throughout. It has the return of "cleavagey slutbomb" Faith and is a rollercoaster all the way throughout.

    We all knew Faith would return at some point. She's simply too amazing a character to not be brought back. Her return is everthing you could want; shocking, brutal and brilliant. Eliza Dushku is looking hotter than ever and completely steals the show all the way throughout. The opening sequence of the Buffy/Faith dream is a great teaser, one of the best. I so love these Slayer dreams as they contain a lot of hints about the next season and Dawn. It gives me goosebumps to hear Faith say "Little sis coming" as I know what will happen in later episodes. The dreams are brilliant all the way throughout and I love what they reveal on Faith's view of Buffy; menacing, cold blooded killer. Sarah looked positively terrifying as she stalked Faith through the cemeteries. It's interesting that according to Faith, Buffy is the villain and not her. It shows how damaged she is.

    However, when Faith does wake up, it's nothing short of spectacular. Learning everything that has happened while she's been in a coma was shocking for her. The scenes where she watches the Mayor's video is quite touching as you can see how much they truly cared for each other. A real highlight to see Harry Groener back as well; he's a fantastic actor and I'm glad he appeared another two times as The First in Season 7.

    When Buffy and Faith have their long awaited confrontation, it's very satisfactory. We get a taste at the college and it's definitely brilliant; tense is the word. The scenes with Joyce in Buffy's house are excellent as well; the first time Faith really opens up and ironically it's just as she's about to kill someone. Her rant about Buffy moving on and forgetting the people that matter is quite shocking and revealing; what Faith has always wanted is Buffy's acceptance and since she feels she can't have it, she decided she'll take her life. Literally.

    The fight scene at the house was exhilarating; the props used were fantastic and every blow felt important. The stunt work was brilliant all the way throughout and the music made it all the better; pulse-pounding and exciting.

    Willow was so completely hilarious all episode. I love Willow. Her rant about Faith- "She's like this cleavagey slutbomb walking around going 'Oh check me out I'm wicked cool, I'm five by five" is one of the funniest moments ever, thankfully due to Alyson's perfect delivery. She's such an outstanding actress, I'm glad she's getting recognition. Also, great to see her relationship with Tara getting stronger but I'll talk about that more next episode!

    The twist at the end was truly shocking; magnificently played by Sarah who captured Faith's psychotic streak with ease with the chilling line "Five by five". It was classic Buffy moment.

    This Year's Girl is nothing short of exceptional. Everything about it works. It's often overshadowed by it's (admittedly better) second half but is still an excellent episode and not one you will forget.moreless
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  • TRIVIA (12)

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    • When Riley is talking with Forrest and the other guy, his shirt goes back and forth from being lined up straight in the close-ups, to being sloppily apart in the medium shots.

    • In the opening dream scene, Faith tells Buffy that they're preparing because of "little sis coming." This foreshadows the arrival of Dawn in the first episode of the fifth season.

    • When Buffy and Faith are fighting near the front door, it looks like theres a partition of the wall missing where the front door should go.

    • When Buffy is chasing Faith into the living room, Faith opens the door so that Buffy would smash through it. As she does that you can clearly see an elbow from one of the crew holding the boom mic to the left of your screen.

    • After Buffy runs up to look over the wall Faith has just leapt over, Buffy's shirt pulls out from her pants. Look closely and you can see Sarah Michelle Gellar's real life tattoo on her left hip.

    • When Faith puts her jacket on in Joyce's room, you can clearly see she has no tattoo on her arm.

    • If you watch when Buffy chases Faith on the campus, you can see her running on the path towards Faith, but in the next shot, Buffy is running straight off the path and onto the grass.

    • Willow's legs go from up on the couch, to down on the floor, to her putting them down in the floor in Xander's basement.

    • When Buffy is chasing Faith just after they first meet, Faith jumps over a brick wall, and the whole wall, as well as the bushes besides it wobbles quite visibly.

    • During the scene in which Buffy, Xander, and Willow find the strung-up demon, Buffy unwittingly goes right by it. After she then passes by the tree and before the camera pans back to show it behind her, if you look in the background, you can clearly see a man holding a boom mike just standing out in the open.

    • Faith walks through the streets of Sunnydale after she escapes from the hospital. A woman in a blue coat walks past her in the background. Then they have a close up of Faith and the same woman in the blue coat walks past her in the same direction. Then another close up and the same woman walks her path a third time. Finally, as they pull back for a crowd shot of the entire street, you can see the woman a fourth time, only her partner is now rather suddenly on her other arm.

    • When Buffy and Faith are rolling down the stairs, to the left you can see a camera following them.

  • QUOTES (25)

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    • Willow: Thanks for coming with. Hunting for a psychopathic super-bitch is definitely in the above-and-beyond category. Tara: It's okay, really. So, what do we do if we find her? Willow: Run. Flee. Maybe skedaddle.

    • Faith: Payback's a bitch. Willow: Look who's talking.

    • Joyce: You're sure you're okay? Buffy: Five by five.

    • (Willow behind Faith ready to attack her with her school bag) Faith: Try it, Red, and you'll lose an arm. (Willow backs away frightened)

    • Spike: What do you need? Xander: Her. Dark hair, yea tall, name of Faith, criminally insane. Giles: Have you seen her? Spike: Is this bird after you? Xander: In a bad way, yeah. Spike: Tell you what I'll do, then. I'll head out, find this girl, tell her exactly where all of you are, and then watch as she kills you. (sees the surprised looks on Giles and Xanders faces and sighs) Can any one of your damn little Scooby club at least try to remember that I HATE you all? Just because I can't do the damage myself doesn't stop me from aiming a loose cannon your way. And here I thought the evening would be dull. Xander: Go ahead! You wouldn't even recognize her! Spike: Dark hair, this tall, name of Faith. Criminally insane. I like this girl already. Xander: (to Giles) We're dumb.

    • Faith: Thought I'd got to the clean marine, didn't you? He's a cutie. Looks like he could use a good roll in the sack. Buffy: You're not his type. He's not big on sleaze. Faith: He's probably just never tried it.

    • Joyce: (to Faith) Were you planning to slit my throat any time soon?

    • Faith: You're thinking, "You'll never get away with this!" Warm? Joyce: Actually, I was thinking my daughter is going to kill you soon. Faith: That a fact? Joyce: More like a bet. Faith: Whoa. You got a pair on you, Joyce. I like seeing that in a woman your age.

    • Faith: "Ruby Sunset"... "Burgandy Skyline"... "Harlot." Mmmmmmm, way to go Joyce. Now, normally I wouldn't be going for something this dark. But I read in some magazine that eight months in a coma will damage a girl's natural skin tone. Good thing pale is in this year. Or was it last year? Anyway, for real now, I'm gonna ask you something, and you gotta promise you'll be honest and not spare my feelings just 'cause I could kill you. You promise? Joyce: I promise. Faith: Okay. How do I look? Joyce: Psychotic. Faith: Hmmm, I was shooting for sultry, but hey.

    • Buffy: She's a very dangerous woman. Riley: Okay, I get it, Faith bad. Do I look like I'm arguing? Buffy: Not yet. But you always make that innocent face right before you start. Riley: Figured that out, huh? Damn. Took Mom twelve years to catch that one.

    • Willow: Thanks for coming with. Hunting for a psychopathic super-bitch is definitely in the above-and-beyond category. Tara: It's okay, really. So, what do we do if we find her? Willow: Run. Flee. Maybe skedaddle. We're not here to engage. This is strictly recon. (Tara stares) What? Tara: You said "recon". You're like "Cool Monster Fighter"! Willow: Well, technically, Faith isn't a monster. And as far as fighting, I'd be lucky to bruise her fist with my face. Tara: Oh. Willow: What? Tara: Face punching. I'm not so good with the whole... (gives the air a few punches) Willow: Swimming? Tara: Violence.

    • Buffy: I've been looking for you. Faith: I've been standing still for eight months, B. How hard you look?

    • Buffy: (about Faith) We don't know what she's thinking, what she's feeling... Xander: Who she's doing.

    • Buffy: It's Faith. She's awake. She beat someone up, took her clothing and disappeared out of the hospital. No-one knows where she is. Xander: I'd say this qualifies for a worst-timing-ever award.

    • Buffy: You seem a little... somewhere else. Is there anything I can do? Riley: Give me an order. That's what I do isn't it? Follow orders. Buffy: You don't have to. Riley: Don't I? All my life that's what I've been groomed to do. They say jump, I ask "How high?", I get the job done. Just don't know if it's the right job anymore. Buffy: I know how you feel. Giles used to be part of this Council. And for years all they ever did was give me orders. Riley: Ever obey them? Buffy: Sure. The ones I was going to do anyway. The point is, I quit the Council. And I was scared. But it's okay now. Riley: Now, see, that's where you and I are different. I just suck at the whole gray area thing. Buffy: It's a choice. Go back in there and make some changes from the inside. Or you can quit the team, fight demons in your own way. Riley: You make it sound so simple. I don't even know what my way is. Buffy: Well, it's time to find out. Riley: I'm a soldier. Take that away, what's left? Buffy: A good man.

    • Buffy: He's studying biology - human, demon, whatever he can get his hands on and tear apart. Willow: Learning what makes things work. Xander: I really don't want to be around for the final exam.

    • Buffy: (about Adam) There's a demonoid killing machine out there, Giles. It doesn't only work the night shift.

    • Willow: Don't worry, we're sure to spot Faith first. She's like this cleavagey slutbomb walking around going, "Ooh, check me out. I'm wicked cool. I'm five-by-five." Tara: Five what by five what? Willow: See thats the thing, no one knows. Buffy can handle Faith and you're plenty safe with me. Tara: So, um... we recon till nightfall? Willow: Then the ritual hiding begins.

    • Giles: Perhaps there's some form of rehabilitation we just haven't thought about. Willow: And if not, ass-kicking makes a solid Plan B.

    • Buffy: Faith, these are innocent people. Faith: No such animal.

    • Willow: As far as fighting goes, I'd be lucky to bruise her fist with my face.

    • Xander: Second. It's called a blaster, Will, a word that tends to discourage experimentation. Now, if it were called the Orgazminater, I'd be the first to try your basic button press approach.

    • Buffy: There's no way around it. Faith is back, and whether I like it or not, she's my responsibility. Willow: Yeah, too bad. That was the funnest coma ever.

    • Faith: You took my life, B. Payback's a bitch.

    • Xander: I'd hate to see the pursuit of a homicidal lunatic get in the way of pursuing a homicidal lunatic.

  • NOTES (9)

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    • The running time of this episode was originally 9 minutes short. Scenes of Willow/Tara and Xander/Giles looking for Faith were added. Spike was not originally supposed to appear in this episode, but was included into the Giles and Xander scene.

    • Christophe Beck (the composer) uses the same score from the inital fight between Buffy and Faith in Graduation Day Part I, as he does in this episode during the final fight scene. Additionally, the music from the dream sequences in both of these episodes are the same as well.

    • The woman Faith meets in the hospital says that it is Feb 25th, meaning that it has been one month and six days since the beginning of episode 12, 'A New Man' (Buffy's birthday).

    • The working title for this episode was "Rise and Shine".

    • Amber Benson (Tara) previously worked with Eliza Dushku (Faith) in the 1995 movie Bye Bye Love.

    • Tara and Willow don't know what Faith's "5 by 5" expression means but readers of this webpage have known since the episode "Faith, Hope, and Trick."

    • Riley speculated that Adam is "charging his batteries" for some upcoming event.

    • The Watcher's Council had a spy in place at the hospital, watching for Faith to awaken. After she alerted the hospital staff, the "nurse" calls the council and waits for their special retrieval team, which arrived via helicopter.

    • Faith running from Buffy in her dream sequence is highly reminiscent of the scene in the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer where Sarah Michelle Gellar's character runs from a killer.

  • ALLUSIONS (2)

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    • Faith: So that's my dream. That and some stuff about cigars and a tunnel.
      Faith makes a Freudian kind of joke. Freud believed that things in our dreams where symbolic. Cigars and tunnels would be symbolic of sex.

    • Buffy: Well, you haven't seen this Adam thing. He's the Terminator without the bashful charm.
      The title character from the movie The Terminator was far from being bashful or charming. Buffy uses the hyperbole to express just how dangerous Adam is.

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