2.18 Killed By Death

[Clare]

2.18 Killed By Death - Episode #030
Buffy is taken into hospital - and meets Dr. Kindestod

Review (also post a score out of 10) and discuss this episode.

[cyclica]

Another great filler story. I actually loved the placing of this story, how after jenny's death, they didn't do a typical 'everythings fine and fun at the start till someone dies' kind of story, nor did they have the characters all start off mourning. Having buffy sick and the others helping her slay was a good way around that. And I appreciate the change of not having half the episode take place in the library.

I loved every single scene with cordelia, especially when she asks buffy if she's not just creating a monster to fight to help her deal with the memories of her dead cousin. Or when she was out of the loop on gifts.

I'm giving this one an 8 for keeping me entertained.

[partcynic]

2x18 “Killed By Death”

Episode Rating = 4

The only real negative about a great episode is that its follow-up is inevitably going to be viewed with high expectations, which are almost always dashed. S2 has several notable cases with this in its second half, with the amazing arc episodes being intermingled with average-quality monster-of-the-week stories that end up looking weaker than they actually are. However, while “Phases” can pass on its character development and “Go Fish” gets a reprieve for its humour, “Killed By Death” stumbles in providing no noteworthy elements beyond its monster. While not being a bad episode, it’s similar to “Reptile Boy” in ranking notably below the show’s usual standard for dialogue, and omits real character or world development for a bland plot that can’t hold up to repeat viewings.

What I Liked about “Killed By Death”:

- I liked the way that the fallout from “Passion” was handled. The episode made it clear that Buffy and Giles had been deeply impacted by Jenny’s murder, but avoided having its story be sidetracked by their grief. I especially liked the insinuation that the emotional stress of the event was one of the things had contributed to Buffy falling ill, and Giles’ comment about Buffy trying to personify death so she could ‘defeat’ it flowed elegantly from what had happened.

- Having the majority of the episode occur inside a hospital gives it a unique tone (well, at least until S5, anyway), and the alien, antiseptic nature of the environment added to the story’s creepiness.

- Der Kindestod is one of the more imaginative monsters the show dreamt up, and one of only three I’d call scary (the others being the Gentlemen and Gnarl, though the Queller is perhaps disgusting enough to qualify). His appearance was appropriately intimidating, and the actor portraying him did a good job of making his stalking movements have a kind of grace. The demon’s method of killing was the highlight for me, with the whole eye thing being perfectly repulsive. After that, I was more than happy to see him die, and the subsequent neck snapping was very satisfying.

- Although most of the characters are off, Cordelia is on-point throughout the episode, having consistently sharp and funny dialogue. Even her dullest material (the chat with the annoying security guard) is amusing, and one of her best lines comes with “tact is just not saying true stuff. I’ll pass”. I also thought her interactions with Xander were interesting – after “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, they’re treating their ‘thing’ more like a real relationship, and her comments about Xander’s behaviour around Buffy (and the fact that she didn’t have a real comeback when he asked if she was jealous) were intriguing.

- While not being anywhere near Cordelia’s level, most of the other characters had good moments (I’d have rather this been extended to entire scenes, but alas, that’s not the case). Giles’ response to meeting Joyce and hearing her condolences regarding Jenny had the right amount of emotion, and he got a couple of great lines in being unhappy about working with Cordelia, and his answer to her constant questioning during their research session. Elsewhere, Willow got a funny instance with her frog fake-out, and it was great to see Xander stand up against Angelus – which regained him some cool points in my eyes, and provided a rare opportunity for the two characters to interact away from a group discussion or fight.

- The final scene with the gang chilling and Joyce acting in servitude (with what seemed like gritted teeth) was humorous, and the story wrapped up well as Buffy received Ryan’s hilarious drawing.

What I Disliked about “Killed By Death”:

- The writers need to be more careful with regard to non-Slayer humans fighting vampires. It’s bad enough when Willow’s staking an anonymous one in “What’s My Line?”, but I can’t buy that she, Cordy and Xander could fend off Angelus. I’m assuming that he deliberately let them ‘win’ there, when he could have just knocked the crosses from their hands and ripped their throats out.

- The hospital setting allows for some novelty, but it also introduces dreary medical jargon dialogue, and minor characters that aren’t interesting or compelling (the two doctors and the security guard).

- Prior to the hallucinatory scene where Buffy first glimpses Der Kindestod, the clock flicks forward a minute. After her sighting, Buffy gets up, walks along the hallway – and then wakes up in her bed, with the clock flipping forward to exactly the same time. On first viewing, this can be handwaved and forgotten as a product of a fevered dream – but when you know that what Buffy saw was reality, the weird time thing becomes impossible.

- While I understand the writers wanting to break up the S2 arc’s tension (and deciding to do it with a monster-of-the-week story that would feature some of the ongoing themes, but not dwell on them), the plot here needed more work. Unlike the multi-layered, subversive and witty “The Puppet Show” (penned by the same duo that wrote this episode), this edition has little worthwhile to offer for repeat viewings. None of its red herrings were constructed well, I don’t think I ever bought into the early suggestion that Dr Backer was the monster, meaning that watching the characters sitting around and discussing the theory doesn’t hold my interest. Perhaps introducing some further plot twists would help – as is, the narrative is much too linear.

- Unusually for “Buffy”, there are some noteworthy pacing problems here. The entire middle section plods along with a paucity of standout scenes or memorable dialogue.

- Words can’t express how lame and contrived I found Buffy’s backstory with Celia to be. It’s shocking to go from the moving, genuine feeling of “Passion” to such a generic and half-cocked attempt at emotional impact, and the whole thing felt like a cheap device to artificially increase Buffy’s resolve to kill the monster (which she’d have done anyway). It was thankfully kept to a minimum, but that didn’t negate the corniness of stuff like the ‘Power Girl’ flashback (can you say ‘hackneyed’?) Plus, it introduces the over-the-top coincidence of Der Kindestod just happening to be at two hospitals, with Buffy being there on both occasions. I could understand him being at Sunnydale due to the influence of the Hellmouth, but does he cycle through medical centres in different areas for fresh victims?

- Ryan and the other child actors are okay, but they fall dangerously close to the ‘cute kid for ratings’ trap. I found Buffy’s dumbed-down conversation with him about being a ‘monster fighter’ really cheesy, and the mass screaming/squealing at the end when the kids were attacked just made my ears hurt. It’s not a good thing when I’m rooting for the monster to kill them, just so they’ll shut up.

- I’m assuming that Angelus was just trying to torment Buffy and was thus willing to leave the hospital without doing anything, but why would Xander’s threats have been enough to make him go? Even if the police, orderlies etc got involved in an altercation with him, the worst they’d do is shoot him, and it’s not like that would be an issue. So why’s he intimidated?

- Just how does the monster’s invisibility thing work? Is it cloaked in some kind of magic that prevents it from being seen by anyone who’s not seriously ill (kind of like only crazy people being able to see Dawn/the Key in S5)? The concept of only those close to death being able to see death works fine, but I’d have liked a proper, in-universe explanation for this unique ability.

Do I like this episode more or less than the last time I watched it?

Overall, I feel pretty ambivalent about this episode - I don’t dislike it, but it has a hard time sustaining my interest when it isn’t focusing on Cordelia or Der Kindestod. I’d say that almost everything here is below-average for the Buffyverse, and while that still makes for an entertaining hour of TV, it can’t stand up with the majority of its S2 brothers and sisters. Because of this, I’m going to preserve my original rating and score “Killed By Death” a four out of ten.

[cyclica]

I stand by my 8 on this one. It's one of the most underrated eps in my opinion, and one of my favourites in season 2.

The episode starts off with what I beleive is the first time we see the whole gang on patrol. Soon the scene moves to the hospital, and like I said before I appreciate the occasional change of location. I almost wish the research scenes could have taken place at giles' house instead of the library, so we could have a 'school free' episode.

There are loads of good scenes in this ep, in particular xander's verbal sparring with angel in the hospital. I also loved the look of 'der kinderstod', that eye thing was gross and awesome. And buffy had a great line upon meeting him- "you make me sick".

It turns out buffy is a brunette!

On the nitpicking side of things, I didn't much like giles' theory that the kids were seeing dr backer and thinking he's death. That whole 'children see our true selves' thing may be true but it doesn't mean kids look at a doctor and see someone who looks totally different. And I didn't much like buffy going up to the boy saying 'I already got what you got', not knowing for certain what the boy may have. But these are just minor complaints.

And now for a special feature!
My top ten most hilarious cordy moments!

10. Trying to distract the secrity guard-

"You know, you have the most... perfect nose I've ever seen. You must work out."

9. When helping out-

Cordy- "This is what happens when you're compassionate towards sick people. They take advantage of you."
Xander- "Uh-huh. Buffy almost died just to put you out."
Cordy- "I didn't wanna be the first one to say it."

8. When joyce walks in on scooby-talk-

Joyce- "Ooo, looks like I interrupted a secret meeting."
Cordy- "You sure didn't!"

7. Researching with giles-

Cordy- "What does this do?"
Giles- "Uh, it, uh, extracts vital organs to replenish its own mutating cells."
Cordy- "Wow! What does this one do?"
Giles- "Um, it elongates its mouth to, uh, engulf it's victim's head with its incisors."
Cordy- "Ouch. Wait, what does this one do?"
Giles- "It asks endless questions of those with whom it's supposed to be working so that nothing is getting done."
Cordy- "Boy, there's a demon for everything!"

6. After buffy first gets taken to hopsital-

Willow- "Buffy's not here for cosmetic surgery."
Cordy- "No, but while she's in here, she might as well get that thing done. You know, that thing on her face? You know that thing."
Willow- "Do you think angel will attack buffy in here?"
Xander- "He can come in, it's a public building."
Willow- "That's true."
Cordy- "Am I the only one that's noticed that thing?"

5. Follow-up from an earlier conversation-

Xander- "Finding out who this thing is takes priority. Cordy, you should go with Giles."
Giles- "Why do I have to have... Uh, good thinking. I... I could do with a research assistant."
Cordy- "Let's go, tact-guy."

4. Calling buffy-

Cordy- "It's called Der Kindestod."
Buffy- "Who is this?"
Cordy- "It's me. I've got your monster."
Buffy- "Where's giles?"
Cordy- "Looking up stuff."
Buffy- "Well, can you put him on?"

3. Still on the phone-

Giles- "I found a picture of how it kills. Let me talk to her.
Cordy- "Oh ew!"
Buffy- "What?"
Cordy- "Oh! Uh, you should see this thing! The way it does its thing, I mean, eww! Why do I let you guys drag me into this stuff?"
Giles- "Uh, uh, Buffy? Are you, are you still there?"
Buffy- "Hanging on every eww."

2. After the gang give buffy gifts-

Cordy- "Nobody told me I was supposed to bring a gift. I was out of the loop on gifts."
Giles- "It's traditional among, um... people."

And the number one best cordelia line ever!

1. After buffy says she might have seen death.

Cordy- "So this isn't about you being afraid of hospitals 'cause your friend died and you wanna conjure up a monster that you can fight so you can save everybody and not feel so helpless?"
Giles- "Cordelia, have you actually ever heard of tact?"
Cordy- "Tact is just not saying true stuff. I'll pass."

;D

[cyclica]

Nov 12, 2009 17:59:37 GMT -5 partcynic said:

- Having the majority of the episode occur inside a hospital gives it a unique tone (well, at least until S5, anyway), and the alien, antiseptic nature of the environment added to the story’s creepiness.

I thought so too.

And yes the novelty of hospital scenes certainly did wear off in season 5.

Nov 12, 2009 17:59:37 GMT -5 partcynic said:

- Der Kindestod is one of the more imaginative monsters the show dreamt up, and one of only three I’d call scary (the others being the Gentlemen and Gnarl, though the Queller is perhaps disgusting enough to qualify).

Speaking of gnarl, during the fight at the end with der kinderstod, I keep expecting buffy to push her thumbs in his eyes.

Nov 12, 2009 17:59:37 GMT -5 partcynic said:

- Although most of the characters are off, Cordelia is on-point throughout the episode, having consistently sharp and funny dialogue. Even her dullest material (the chat with the annoying security guard) is amusing, and one of her best lines comes with “tact is just not saying true stuff. I’ll pass”.

Cordy was so good in this ep I felt I had to give a little tribute to her best lines.

That 'tact' conversation is one of my all time favourite cordelia scenes, on both btvs and angel.

Nov 12, 2009 17:59:37 GMT -5 partcynic said:

- The writers need to be more careful with regard to non-Slayer humans fighting vampires. It’s bad enough when Willow’s staking an anonymous one in “What’s My Line?”, but I can’t buy that she, Cordy and Xander could fend off Angelus. I’m assuming that he deliberately let them ‘win’ there, when he could have just knocked the crosses from their hands and ripped their throats out.

I guess the combined power of three crusifixes is enough to repel even the baddest vampire.

Not that they ever explained why a vampire would be repelled by a cross in the first place.

Nov 12, 2009 17:59:37 GMT -5 partcynic said:

- Prior to the hallucinatory scene where Buffy first glimpses Der Kindestod, the clock flicks forward a minute. After her sighting, Buffy gets up, walks along the hallway – and then wakes up in her bed, with the clock flipping forward to exactly the same time. On first viewing, this can be handwaved and forgotten as a product of a fevered dream – but when you know that what Buffy saw was reality, the weird time thing becomes impossible.

Good catch, I missed that one.

Nov 12, 2009 17:59:37 GMT -5 partcynic said:

Plus, it introduces the over-the-top coincidence of Der Kindestod just happening to be at two hospitals, with Buffy being there on both occasions. I could understand him being at Sunnydale due to the influence of the Hellmouth, but does he cycle through medical centres in different areas for fresh victims?

Perhaps there's more than one of him? A whole race of kinderstods.

Nov 12, 2009 17:59:37 GMT -5 partcynic said:

- Just how does the monster’s invisibility thing work? Is it cloaked in some kind of magic that prevents it from being seen by anyone who’s not seriously ill (kind of like only crazy people being able to see Dawn/the Key in S5)? The concept of only those close to death being able to see death works fine, but I’d have liked a proper, in-universe explanation for this unique ability.

He's a demon, demons have powers, I didn't think we needed much more of an explanation.

[partcynic]

I stand by my 8 on this one. It's one of the most underrated eps in my opinion, and one of my favourites in season 2.

That's interesting to see. But you're rating by how much you're enjoying them, right? Because while I don't dislike this one, I can't imagine it being better than Passion and Innocence, or equal to Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. In fact, I think Go Fish outstrips it as a filler episode.

It turns out buffy is a brunette!

I liked that bit about the flashback - it was a cute touch.

My top ten most hilarious cordy moments!

Very nice! I agree, those are all good. Cordy was by far the best thing about this ep.

Perhaps there's more than one of him? A whole race of kinderstods.

I guess that's possible. Though I'd personally prefer it if there was just one - it makes him scarier that way.

He's a demon, demons have powers, I didn't think we needed much more of an explanation.

Fair enough, but since his power is kind of finicky, I've have liked some elaboration regarding it.

[cyclica]

Nov 19, 2009 8:57:30 GMT -5 partcynic said:

That's interesting to see. But you're rating by how much you're enjoying them, right? Because while I don't dislike this one, I can't imagine it being better than Passion and Innocence, or equal to Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. In fact, I think Go Fish outstrips it as a filler episode.

Maybe 8 was a bit much. I just wanted to show I liked it more than the previous episodes I had given a 7 to.

When I'm done reviewing season 2 I'm going to go back and double-check my ratings, but for now let's say it's a low 8.

Nov 19, 2009 8:57:30 GMT -5 partcynic said:

I guess that's possible. Though I'd personally prefer it if there was just one - it makes him scarier that way.

It's funny to think about whether or not demons are 'unique'. I mean, if there's just one, how did it evolve? Who created it?

But if there's more than one, does that mean there are female kinderstods? And baby kinderstods? Do they all dress alike? How would their society work?

I think basil exposition said it best- it's best not to think about these things, and just enjoy yourself.