Hellmouth Podcast

Here is the long overdue episode of the Hellmouth Podcast for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode: I Robot, You Jane.

Thanks to all of you who have been over to the forums on

www.hellmouthpodcast.com

This episode we discuss:

Tips to avoid the perils of online dating

The doom of relationships in the Buffyverse

Technology’s role in today’s society

My new electronic pet (iphone).

AAC cards are minimal for this episode. Since I was overdue on putting the new episode out I sacrificed the screen-shots for quick delivery of the episode.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:23 — 21.7MB)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1 Episode 8 – “I, Robot…You,jane”

1)  Episode starts in Cortona, Italy 1418

a)  Group of young men standing before a demon. He calls Carlo over and tells him that he can give him anything he wants. All he wants in return is his love.

b)  When Carlo tells the demon that he loves him, the demon snaps his neck.

2)  Elsewhere in Cortona, Italy a group of monks are talking about Moloch. The Corrupter.

a)  Interesting in Milton’s Paradise Lost, Moloch is listed as one of Satan’s Chief Angels in the war against God.

b)  The monks form a circle to bind him

c)   Circle of Kayless

d)  Moloch senses them casting the spell.

i)    Monks command the demon to come!

e)  Moloch is mad, he is being summoned and is trapped in the book.

f)    The book has his picture on the front. The monks lock up the book in a box.

g)  A box which is found by Buffy in the library. It is one of Giles’ new arrivals.

3)  Library

a)  New character this episode – Dave

b)  Hello Jenny Calendar

c)   Jenny and Giles talk about Giles’ aversion to technology, his preference for books instead of computers.

i)    New Character – Fritz starts talking about how information is not bound by the written page anymore, it’s an “entity” (this phrasing is important) the only reality is virtual, if you aren’t jacked in you aren’t alive.

ii)  This is obviously an extreme standpoint.

d)  Ms. Calendar’s computer science class appears to be in the process of scanning library books into the computer.

i)    Class is over, Willow is going to stay behind and finish up the few books that she has left.

e)  The impression we get is that Ms. Calendar and Giles represent to stances or opinions on modern society.

i)    Ms. Calendar is the future. The digital age where people are insulated/isolated from each other as more things happen in virtual environments and through digital communication.

ii)  Giles is more tactile, he likes the feel and smell of a book and the human interaction.

iii)This episode to some extent is a running commentary on that debate.

f)    Willow scans in the book that had the demon Moloch trapped in it using a software called Scan-O-Matique.

i)    As Willow scans the pages, the writing in the book disappears.

ii)  The computer then flashes to black screen and says “Where Am I?”

4)  Opening Credits

5)  School hallway – Willow is walking with a silly grin on her face. (Time has passed)

a)  Buffy catches up to her

b)  Buffy follows Willow to her locker, when she opens her locker we see a framed picture of her and Giles in her locker.

c)   We find out that Willow spent the night talking to a boy. Buffy wants all the details.

d)  Willow knows him as Malcom

e)  He is smart, romantic, they agree about everything… but she doesn’t know what he looks like.

i)    Forums people Internet dating and internet match sites?

6)  Computer Science lab,

a)  Dave tells his computer “Yes, I will, I promise.”

b)  Buffy and Willow walk in, Buffy is asking Willow how she met a guy that she has never seen.

c)   Willow explains that she met him online.

i)    Buffy is instantly concerned and cautionary towards Willow. I think in the context of when the episode aired, this is probably a normal reaction.

d)  Willow was afraid that Buffy would react this way.

e)  The webcam zooms in on Buffy and then in some administrative office, suddenly a computer turns itself on and looks up Buffy in the students school records.

i)    Technological leap of faith here, then again, so is a demon in the computer.

f)    Buffy Wiki from school records

i)    Name: Buffy Summers

ii)  DOB: 10/24/80

iii)Sophomore

iv)GPA 2.8

v)  Absences: 1

vi)Athletics: None

vii)       Weird thing happens here, when the screen pops up in front of Fritz it says that her birthday is 05/06/79?

7)  CS Lab

a)  Fritz is shown Buffy’s info and his computer tells him to “Watch her.”

b)  Malcolm = Malcolm Black

c)   Buffy explains to Willow that she is just trying to make sure that this guy is good enough for Willow.

d)  Ms. Calendar asks Fritz why he and Dave are logging so much computer time. She asks what they are working on and he says it’s a new project. When she asks if she’ll like it, he says, she’ll die.

8)  Xander runs into Willow in the courtyard and asks if they are going to the Bronze, Willow says she is going to call it an early night. Obviously she is going home to talk online with Malcolm.

a)  Xander and Buffy talk, Buffy accuses Xander of being jealous that Willow has a “thang”. Xander says he doesn’t feel like that about Willow he just is a little creeped out by Malcolm.

b)  Buffy and Xander are both a little concerned.

c)   Xander explains to Buffy that this Malcolm could in fact be anybody. He could say that he is whatever he wants to be. Or whatever he thinks Willow wants him to be.

9)  CS Lab

a)  Fritz is staring at his computer screen repeating “I’m Jacked in.”

b)  He is carving an M into his arm.

10)      Girls locker room

a)  Willow overslept, Buffy assumes she was talking to Malcolm and has a displeased look on her face.

b)  Malcolm is Willow’s Boyfriend?

c)   Willow doesn’t know why Buffy doesn’t want her to have this.

11)      Buffy shows up in the CS Lab

a)  She want’s to talk to Dave about wether or not it would be possible to trace an email (e-letter) back to the person who sent it and find out the physical location.

b)  When she mentions Willow and Malcolm, Dave becomes defensive and tells Buffy to leave Willow alone.

c)   As Buffy leaves the CS Lab Fritz has a menacing look on his face.

12)      Buffy goes to the Library and tells Giles what is going on.

a)  When are these people going to trust Buffy’s hunches?

b)  Giles advises Buffy to tail dave. – She does

13)      Dave leaves school and goes to…

a)  A big manufacturing/technology looking facility.

b)  Everyone there seems to know who he is.

c)   CRD is the name on the sign.

d)  Buffy is picked up by the security cameras, Fritz sees her.

i)    She’s too close, what do I do?

ii)  Kill Her

14)      Back at School, next day

a)  Buffy is updating the group (minus Willow) in the library on where Dave went.

b)  Xander knows that CRD is Calax Research and Development

i)    It’s a computer research lab.

ii)  Third largest employer in Sunnydale but it closed down last year.

iii)Uncle used to be janitor.

c)   Giles isn’t sure what the next step would be, short of breaking in and looking around… Buffy jumps on suggestion breaking in, sounds like a plan.

d)  Giles stops Buffy and Xander and begins to tell them that he was not suggesting they illegally enter the building.

i)    Ms. Calendar walks into the library.

ii)  Ms. Calendar questions why Buffy and Xander are always in the library.

iii)Favorite Quote of this episode from Xander “To read makes our speaking English good.”

15)      Willow is in the CS Lab chatting with Malcolm

a)  During the conversation Willow mentions how Buffy doesn’t understand their relationship.

b)  Malcolm says Buffy just makes trouble that’s why she got kicked out of her old school.

i)    Willow is confused. She never told Malcolm that…

ii)  He says he found out because it’s on her permanent record.

(1)                 Another reference to the infamous record.

c)   Willow is obviously a little uncomfortable about the turn in the conversation and leaves the lab after telling Malcolm goodbye.

16)      Giles and Ms. Calendar are arguing in the library.

17)    Ms. Calendar:  Oh, you are a *big* snob. You, you think that knowledge  should be kept in these carefully guarded repositories where only a  handful of white guys can get at it.

Giles:  Nonsense! I simply don’t adhere to a, a knee-jerk assumption  that because something is new, it’s better.

Ms. Calendar:  This isn’t a fad, Rupert! We are creating a new society  here.

Giles:  A society in which human interaction is all but obsolete? In  which people can be completely manipulated by technology, well, well…  Thank you, I’ll pass.

Ms. Calendar:  Well, ahem, I think you’ll be very happy here with your  musty, old books. (opens Moloch’s book)

Giles:  These musty old books have a great deal more to say than in any  of your… fabulous web pages.

Ms. Calendar:  Hmm. (pages through the book) This one doesn’t have a  whole lot more to say.

a)  The book is empty and Giles obviously finds that very curious.

b)  He is obviously concerned, especially when he sees the cover of the book.

c)   He walks back to the office to investigate.

18)      Out in the courtyard there is a nurse talking about a student who in the computer didn’t show any info about being allergic to penicillin.

a)  This is another reference to random events like the kid earlier with the laptop report.

b)  Moloch is obviously wreaking havoc with different computer systems.

c)   Dave approaches Buffy and apologizes for the way he acted the day before and tells Buffy that Willow was looking for her and that she was headed for the girl’s locker room.

19)      Girls’ locker room

a)  Creepy moment as Buffy walks through the dark locker room looking for Willow.

b)  Fritz has turned on a shower and pulled some conveniently located electrical wires, stripped them and dropped them on the floor in the shower.

c)   Buffy walks into the shower to turn it off and just before she gets electrocuted, Dave yells and warns her. She narrowly escapes.

20)      Dave goes to the CS Lab and argues with his computer.

a)  No longer taking the time to type he just talks to it and it responds.

b)  A repeat of the conversation from the beginning of the episode. Moloch can give Dave everything, all he wants is Dave’s love.

c)   As Dave stands there, the computer types out his suicide note.

d)  Fritz is there and attacks/kills Dave

21)      Back in Library

a)  Buffy is worried about her hair.

b)  They are trying to figure out why Dave would do that.

c)   Giles has an idea, gets book of Moloch

 Giles:  (sets it on the table) In the dark ages the souls of demons were  sometimes trapped in certain volumes. They remained locked within the  book, harmless, unless the pages were read aloud. Unless I'm mistaken,  this is Moloch, the Corrupter. A very deadly and seductive demon. He  draws people to him with promises of love, power, knowledge. Preys on  impressionable minds.  

Xander:  Like Dave's.  

Giles:  Dave, and who knows how many others.  

Buffy:  And Moloch is inside that book?  

Giles:  Not anymore. (opens the book)  

Xander:  You released Moloch?  

Buffy:  Way to go!  

Giles:  I didn't read it! That dreadful Calendar woman found it and, and  it was already blank.

d)  They figure out that the book had been scanned into the computer and they all turn to look at the computers as if realizing that Moloch is in the computer.

e)  They decide that perhaps the obvious first step is to delete the file that Willow scanned him into.

f)    When she tries to delete the file, Moloch shows up on the screen and tells Buffy to stay away from Willow.

i)    They realize that Moloch is Malcolm

g)  With access to all the worlds computers he can mess up medical records, traffic signals, nuclear launch codes, the worlds economy.

h)  “I think I pretty much capped it with the nuclear missles thing”

22)      Buffy goes to the CS Lab to look for Willow

a)  She finds Dave having apparently hung himself, although Buffy knows this is not the case.

23)      Buffy returns to library

a)  Willow is not at home either.

b)  Buffy tells them that Dave is dead.

c)   Buffy suggests that Giles get working on how to capture Moloch.

d)  Giles doesn’t know how to deal with digital demons so Buffy suggests that he get Ms. Calendar to help.

24)      Willow’s house

a)  Willow gets to her room and she has mail waiting for her.

b)  Malcolm wants to see Willow

c)   She turns off her computer and it turns itself back on

d)  Doorbell rings – it’s Fritz who knocks her out

25)      Giles is in the library talking with Ms. Calendar

a)  He struggles to explain/convince Ms. Calendar that there is a demon in the internet.

b)  She says she knows.

26)      Xander and Buffy show up at Willows house and find the door open and the house empty.

a)  In Willow’s room they see her email from Malcolm

b)  The decide to go to CRD

27)      Library

a)  Turns out that Ms. Calendar is a Technopagan and is very familiar with Giles world of demons and magik except from a technology standpoint.

b)  Giles and Ms. Calendar begin trying to figure out how to get Moloch back in the book.

c)   Phone rings in the library

i)    Buffy updates Giles that they are at CRD getting ready to go in and look for Willow.

28)      Willow wakes up in CRD

a)  She is in a computer lab of some kind, Fritz is there with some lab employee.

b)  Robotic Moloch is there and Willow freaks out when she realizes he is Malcolm

c)   Moloch kills Fritz

29)      Buffy and Xander break into CRD

30)      Giles and Jenny are trying to form the Circle of Kayless using her online web groups

31)      Moloch wants to give Willow the world because she created him, released him from the book.

a)  Robot Molinator loves Willow

b)  He can give her everthing, the world

c)   Buffy and Xander fight to get to Willow

d)  Moloch has made Willow cry – Super Mega Ultra Alpha protective mode.

e)  When Willow rejects the Molinator he decides to kill her

f)    Meanwhile Giles is reading the spell to capture Molinator to Jenny who is typing it into her computer.

g)  Buffy breaks into save Willow

h)  The spell seems to work

i)    Willow, Buffy and Xander escape

j)    He’s out of the net, he’s bound…but where?

k)  Bound to the form of the Molinator

l)    The Molinator goes after Buffy and the group.

m)                  Fight ensues – Buffy wins

32)      Back at school the next day

a)  Ms. Calendar and Giles speak in the CS Lab

b)  What bothers Giles about computers

i)    The Smell, smell is the most powerful trigger to the memory there is. A certain flower or a whiff of smoke can bring up experiences long forgotten. Books smell must and rich.  The knowledge gained from a computer it has not texture, no context.

ii)  Giles is a romantic

33)      Outside Buffy, Willow and Xander are talking.

a)  They are trying to cheer up Willow

b)  This is the first time that Willow has been the patsy, it is usually Xander falling in love with demons and getting the funny sciphilis.

c)   They joke with Willow about life on the Hellmouth and how all of there recent relationships have turned out to be demons of some sort and how they are all doomed in the relationship arena. By the end of the scene they are all depressed.

34)      End Credits

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