Amends

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Not to be confused with Amends (Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode).
"Amends"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 10
Directed byJoss Whedon
Written byJoss Whedon
Production code3ABB10
Original air dateDecember 15, 1998 (1998-12-15)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Amends" is episode ten of season three of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was written and directed by series creator Joss Whedon. Advertised as a Christmas episode, it was first broadcast on December 15, 1998.[1]

Plot[]

It is Christmas in Sunnydale and Angel is haunted with dreams of the people he murdered over the years as Angelus. Visions of his past victims, including Jenny Calendar, appear to him. When Buffy starts getting dragged into his memory-nightmares, experiencing Angel's dreams also, they realize something unnatural is happening. Angel's visions develop and try to get him to kill Buffy, saying that he will be released from the pain if he does so.

Angel cannot bring himself to do this, so instead he opts to kill himself by standing on a hill and waiting for the sun to come up. Meanwhile, Oz tells Willow that he is willing to give their relationship another chance while Cordelia is not as forgiving and resumes her previously hostile ways towards the Scooby gang.

Buffy and Giles figure out that the First Evil has been driving Angel insane. Buffy finds the Bringers and pummels them. After the First appears to her, informing her that she cannot possibly fight it, and that Angel is about to be destroyed by the dawn's light, she runs to his mansion to stop him.

Oz goes to Willow's house to watch videos only to find her dressed up and playing Barry White's music, intending to sleep with him. Oz appreciates the gesture, but explains to Willow that he wants their first time to be special rather than just a way for her to try to make things up to him.

Buffy, who invited and ordered Faith to watch Joyce, finds Angel atop the hill behind the mansion, awaiting sunrise. However, the heatwave from which Sunnydale has been suffering abruptly ends and the first flakes of snow start to fall. With the weather report saying the sun should not be expected to be seen at all that day, Buffy and Angel take a walk through the town.

Interpretation[]

Humans’ sinful nature[]

According to Susannah Clements the episode "provides a rich perceptive exploration of humanity's sinful nature. Humans are not only "not strong enough to fight evil in general", but are also not able to "fight their own sinful nature". The good that can be done is not enough and it can not be done all time. The First Evil sends Angel back from hell to kill Buffy. As Angel has a soul he is struggling with his evil nature. The First Evil is something that Buffy isn't able to fight off or kill. Angel is convinced by the First Evil, that either he has to either kill Buffy or himself. There is no way for humans to fight this purest form of evil. Angel realizes that, even though Buffy tries to save him. She tells him that there is a weakness in everyone, but everyone has "the power to do real good" and to "make amends". Angel replies, that it is not the demon that needs to kill, but the man. The evil is too strong and it can not be fought alone. So within the series "salvation comes without of humanity", the sun in which Angel tries to kill himself, can not be seen for the whole day. Angel is saved.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ Rhonda V. Wilcox (August 26, 2005). Why Buffy Matters: The Art of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I.B.Tauris. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-85773-038-1.
  2. ^ Susannah Clements (2011): Vampire Defanged, The: How the Embodiment of Evil Became a Romantic Hero. Brazos Press. P.72-74 ISBN 9781587432897

External links[]

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