R E V I E W S
"The Weight of the World"
(Season 5, Episode 21)
Written by: Eric Teall
This, one of Season Five's weakest episodes, serves mainly to set up the conflicts that need to be resolved in "The Gift". The Buffy's Mind sequences are not handled with the same finesse as such sequences have been in the past ("Restless", 4-22) and Glory and Ben's morphing tirade falls flat, but the episode has its moments, most having to do with Spike.
This episode drags for me, mainly because of the central conflict in Buffy's mind: she's tired and she wants to quit. Read a few interviews with Joss Whedon, Buffy's creator, and you will notice that he discusses the idea of "earning" events in the series. For example, it might be possible (from a writing perspective) to bring Joyce back from the dead, but such a momentous event would have to be meticulously crafted so as not to cheat the viewers. Even then, Whedon notes, doing something as drastic as bringing Joyce back would be extraordinarily difficult.
Looking back on past episodes this season, I can see the writers trying to "earn" Buffy's coma. Spike talks about the Slayer's "death wish"; Buffy becomes increasingly frazzled in "Spiral". But, as Riley said to Buffy, "I just don't feel it." I can see Buffy freaking out over her failure to protect Dawn. I really can. But to have the crux of her guilt be a second of doubt while shelving a book? Come on. Buffy has quit or made clear her desire to quit several times. She even does so in "Prophecy Girl".
There are arguments to be made on that point, and I concede that the situations in "Prophecy Girl" and "Weight" are not exactly the same. I'm just not convinced. The scripting is weak, and while SMG does the best she can, I do not feel sympathy or empathy for Buffy here; I just want her to stop whining.
I like Glory although I haven't enjoyed Claire Kramer's performances that much. I feel the same way about Ms. Kramer as I feel about Julie Benz on Angel: she does excellent work when she is supposed to be a particular flavor of evil, but ask her to display any range and she falls apart. Couple that with more weak scripting about "everyone shooting up or screwing their brains out" and the entire sequence falls apart emotionally. The speech is true enough; it just beats the viewer over the head like a bad high school depression poem. Then, of course, there's Ben's strange flip-flopping between nice guy and Mr. Selfish, but this review has only so much room.
All of this is not to say that the episode is without merit. Spike's singular ability to perceive Ben and Glory being the same person makes for amusing comments. The scene at Doc's apartment is rousing and serves to build up the season finale. Spike is really becoming part of the gang-even Xander doesn't rag on him that much any more. Finally, Michelle Trachtenberg is as enjoyable as always-I can't believe that much talent can be crammed into a fifteen year old!
In the end, though, the enjoyment I felt from this episode came more from the fact that it carried the plot than in any excitement or tension that "Weight" created itself. My excitement and tension for next week was not enhanced by this episode. If an episode this late in the season does not add to the tension for the season's climax, I consider it a let down.
Rating: 4/6 Stakes
| Return to Weekly Media |