Buffy the Vampire Slayer has many nice episodes however just some occupy a particular place in my coronary heart. “Amends” from Season 3 is one among them. As we all know, this season is probably the greatest, so there are a lot of nice episodes however “Amends” ranks excessive as one among my favorites. It options great performances by Sarah Michelle Gellar, David Boreanaz, Anthony Head, and visitor star Robia Scott.
“Amends” additionally consists of some pivotal moments for the Scooby Gang, like Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Oz (Seth Inexperienced) reuniting after a quick breakup, and the long-awaited romantic reunion of Buffy (Gellar) and Angel (Boreanaz). It’s additionally Buffy’s solely Christmas episode. As a result of I really like “Amends” a lot, I’ve seen it fairly a number of instances.
However, I solely observed this apparent element throughout my current rewatch. It’s sort of embarrassing that I missed it so many instances, however let’s focus on.
“Amends” Reminds Me Of A Christmas Carol’s Story
Earlier than you choose me, let me defend myself. I started watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer at a fairly younger age. Subsequently, I wasn’t pondering past the simplicity of my enjoyment of an episode. Regardless that I did many rewatches, I haven’t executed full rewatches within the final 5 years at the least, possibly even ten or extra. My mind is now extra educated to seek out movie and TV connections, so sure, clearly, I ought to have seen the Christmas Carol comparability earlier however isn’t it ok that I see it now?
“Amends” has a few of A Christmas Carol’s signature traits, together with ghosts, redemption, and discovering the spirit of Christmas. There are a lot of enthralling A Christmas Carol movie variations however not a lot of them embrace vampires. This robotically offers Buffy a little bit of an edge within the adaptation wars. Additionally, it’s not an easy adaptation. It appears impressed by A Christmas Carol, not an adaptation of it.
Angel Being Confronted By Ghosts From His Previous Is A Intelligent Nod To Scrooge
Naturally, I don’t usually affiliate Scrooge with vampirism but it surely is smart. Many have used vampires and blood lust as a metaphor for habit, greed, and consumerism. A Christmas Carol can also be about letting greed management somebody and the way that turns them right into a monster.
The ghosts should go to Scrooge to get him out of his grasping habits. Angel can also be visited by a number of ghosts, victims of his previous, led by Jenny Calendar (Robia Scott). In A Christmas Carol, The Ghosts of Christmas Previous, Current, and Future present Scrooge how he has grow to be this despicable monster. In Buffy, they’ve the alternative agenda. The ghosts need to set off Angel into changing into the monster once more, the worst model of himself. It’s a intelligent change that separates “Amends” from simply being a duplicate of A Christmas Carol.
The best way the ghosts go to Angel additionally feels very theatrical, with the monologues on how he destroyed their lives. There are many radio and play variations of A Christmas Carol as effectively so this appears like a little bit of homage to that side. “Amends” ends with Angel able to go to his grave and die. Scrooge’s final go to is from the Ghost of Christmas Future who exhibits him his grave. The ghost connection linking these tales is the strongest method “Amends” offers tribute to A Christmas Carol.
That is sensible given how Charles Dickens’s basic helped encourage a love for the vacation and the way folks presently have fun it. When you’re going to make a single Christmas episode of a TV sequence, it’s best to use one of many best Christmas tales as inspiration.
It’s All About Angel’s Redemption
Certainly one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s constant themes is redemption. Somebody evil doesn’t all the time have to remain evil. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2, we witness Angel go to the darkest depths of his soul and grow to be Angelus once more. He returns in Season 3 together with his soul again however doesn’t atone at first for his sins in Season 2. He sort of hides away for the primary few episodes of Season 3. “Amends” begins Angel’s true redemption arc.
In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is a fairly horrible particular person. He solely decides to vary after the ghosts present him the error of his methods. Angel is avoiding his fourth probability at life out of disgrace and guilt. All the things that occurs with The First begins Angel’s journey to changing into energetic once more as a Scooby Gang member. We additionally know that Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 3 is the final one with Boreanaz as a sequence common. He leaves earlier than Season 4 begins to guide the spin-off sequence Angel.
Subsequently, you’ll be able to possibly argue that his demise on the finish of Season 2, then incidents just like the one in “Amends” begin him on his most necessary quest for redemption: the sequence Angel.
The Ending Has All the time Been Hopeful However Now It Feels Hopeful To Me In The Identical Means As A Christmas Carol
I believe one of many explanation why “Amends” is one among my favourite Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes is as a result of it has such a hopeful ending. This matches the Christmas theme, and Buffy is commonly a hopeful present however the sequence actually leans into it with Angel being able to die however as a substitute of the solar rising, it snows. That’s a reasonably large miracle for California —- a state probably not recognized for its snow.
“Amends” has a really hopeful ending for a number of causes. The primary is that Angel doesn’t die, which suggests he has a objective on this world. He’s not simply taking over area however the universe has a plan for him. One other hopeful factor in regards to the ending is that he doesn’t die so he can redeem himself. Scrooge isn’t useless but so he nonetheless has an opportunity to vary and do higher on this world.
Irrespective of your previous, so long as you’re alive, you’ll be able to nonetheless be and do good. You’ll be able to nonetheless change your self and people round you. Scrooge and Angel each get a second probability to vary themselves and the world.
The promise of change is likely one of the most hopeful ideologies.
It’s Not A Excellent One-To-One Match However That’s What Makes It An Fascinating Nod To This Traditional Christmas Story
A Christmas Carol has been executed so many instances so it didn’t want a Buffy direct copy model. The sequence does it in a method that very a lot suits Buffy’s identification, however hits most of the key themes and messages within the unique story. The primary one is that anybody can rework themselves into a greater model in the event that they proceed to battle for goodness in themselves and others. Your previous doesn’t outline your future.
That’s seen in Scrooge and Angel’s Christmas journeys.
“Amends” isn’t a film or TV episode that I watch yearly however this rewatch made me take into account including it to my annual vacation rotation. It’s an excellent Christmas episode that hits all the important thing facets of the that means of beginning over, forgiveness (to oneself and others), and loving somebody unconditionally. It’s one among Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s sappiest episodes however that’s what makes it nice.
Stream Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Hulu.