Buffy the Vampire Slayer Re-Watch: The Dark Age (Season 2 Episode 8)

The past returns to cause trouble for Giles, as Buffy fights to save her mentor and Ms. Calendar on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2 Episode 8, “The Dark Age.”

I recall very little about this episode from its first airing, so re-watching it is almost like getting to enjoy a new story of my favorite show. Plus, the main plot is all about Giles and, as I am now closer in age to him than Buffy, this focus on one of the adult characters will be a welcome diversion from teen-angst. Sounds promising, right?

Nope. Wrong.

I wish I could say “The Dark Age” made me extremely angry or frustrated – although there is a little of both of those feelings in my reaction. Mostly, it just made me bored and kind of tired.

However, now that I think about it, the main villain IS a demon summoned through sleep . . . Still, viewers nodding off in the middle of the story is probably not what the writers’ intended.

The most pressing issue is that, in an episode centering on the show’s most prominent adult figure, the only character behaving like a grown-up is Buffy. It is understandable that Giles is struggling to face the mistakes he made when he was younger. However, that struggle never resolves through any of his own actions.

I kept waiting for him to snap out of the unshaven pit of despair he wallows in during most of his scenes, but he never really does. In the end, it is the efforts of Buffy, Willow, and Angel that save the day. Once the demon evaporates away Giles limps out the door with Ms. Calendar without even addressing Buffy.

Giles’ relationship with Ms. Calendar takes a hit thanks to her getting possessed, but there is not really any obvious character development for Giles, good or bad. And that fact almost makes this episode totally pointless.

Almost.

Despite Giles not learning any important lessons, this storyline does result in some nice growth for Buffy. One of the most difficult things to learn as you grow up is that the adults in your life can make mistakes. For once, Buffy must come up with the answers and save the day without relying on Giles’ presence.

That she manages to do this without any moments of self-pity or doubt speaks to the strength of her character. Of course, she gets a lot of help from Willow, Xander, Angel, and even Cordelia. So, while this episode may not offer a great showcase for Giles, it does include a nice opportunity to solidify the importance and effectiveness of the Scooby gang to Buffy’s mission as The Slayer.

Things That Seem Problematic Unintentionally Hilarious Now That I’m Older

The entire scene where Buffy, Ms. Calendar, and the Scoobies discuss the fact that Buffy caught Giles *gasp* drinking! Everyone just seems so aghast that an adult might be home alone and having a drink, it’s kind of quaint.

Giles is definitely hitting a rough patch, but the tone of the whole interaction is very Afterschool Special-y. I spent most of this time giggling instead of feeling worried.

There is also a lot of really dated phone usage in this episode that made me both laugh and feel very old. Ms. Calendar mentions she “left her phone off the hook,” to avoid being interrupted. Later on, Buffy speaks with an operator when the gang is trying to get in touch with Giles. I’d forgotten those were things that people (even me) did!

Delightful Moments I’d Forgotten About

The return of Ethan Rayne! He is the perfect example of a love-to-hate villain and is a great foil for Giles. To be honest, of the two, Ethan comes across as a lot more proactive when dealing with his demon problem than Giles. Unfortunately, that leads to a really bad tattoo for Buffy, but at least Ethan lives to cause trouble another day.

Cordelia’s scenes with Giles and the Scooby gang are one of few bright spots of this episode. It’s weird, but I definitely appreciate her honest, if sometimes tactless, approach to things more as an adult than I ever did as a teenager.

 

What did you think of this episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer is available for streaming on Hulu.

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