Buffy the Vampire Slayer: I, Robot…You, Jane

Warning: Mentions of pedophiles/trafficking (not in episode though).

This episode took me by surprise.  Despite being made in the late 1990s, they go deep into themes of online chat rooms and the dangers of being too much online.  Buffy is able to use knowledge while compassion when Willow is chatting with someone online without ever seeing/meeting them before.  We see a not so subtle message about being cautious about who is really behind the screen, going into scenarios of anyone could be on there.  The most prominent example they use is “circus freak”, however the first thing I thought that could happen to Willow is being kidnapped/trafficked or fall victim to a pedophile.  Is it sad that I thought this when watching an episode when it’s nearly 30 years old?  Yes, but that is the world that we live in unfortunately and wish we had more of a solution on how to prevent this.  

Another highlight for me with this episode is the pacing.  It never felt so fast nor slow.  It allowed for me to really dive into the episode and the themes they were going for.  An insight that this episode dives deeper into  Moloch and his role as the demon of corruption.  David and Willow fall victim to his control but in different ways.  While Willow is able to get out of the relationship with Moloch, David suffers for it severely and his humanity is called into question.  Despite not knowing how Moloch was able to get into David’s head and manipulate him, he was able to gain enough humanity to prevent Buffy from being electrocuted.  The show did a great job of showing remorse from David as he sweats and pleads with Moloch to let him go.  It’s a rare vulnerable moment for a male character that I often don’t see in live action shows and while he dies, we did see his humanity shine at the last minute (unlike Fritz).  This episode challenges us to look at our own personal humanity/desires and how far we’re willing to go in order to achieve those desires.

Only thing I believe that fell flat in this episode was the ending.  It was nice to see Xander and Buffy comfort Willow, it didn’t match the tone of the episode and I wish we got some insight into Willow’s insecurities when it comes to love.  There was an opportunity for the writers to take it and they didn’t.  For me, that was disappointing.  

Overall though, this is a thought-provoking episode and recommend any fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.