The Watcher Diaries - Out Of My Mind - Buffy Episode 5.4

Posted by Jason Chamberlain on 11.12.2009

Spike hatches a plot to remove the chip from his head and kill the Slayer once and for all! Meanwhile, Riley begins to suffer from the Initiative's drug experiments!



5.4 Out Of My Mind
Writer: Rebecca Rand Kirshner
Director: David Grossman

Slayer Speak

Spike: OK. Is it bigger than a breadbox?
Harmony: No. Four left.
Spike: So it's smaller than a breadbox.
Harmony: Heh heh! No, only three.
Spike: Harmony... is it a sodding breadbox?
Harmony: Yes! Oh, my God. Someone's blondy bear is a Twenty Questions genius!

Watcher’s Notes

The name of the town's hospital is Sunnydale General.

Jeremy Thomas has the full review!

Since near the beginning of Season Four, Riley has been a part of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, whether fans liked it or not. Some of them did, most of them didn't, but all of them had to deal with the Initiative member-turned-Slayer's boyfriend. While Riley was very poorly portrayed in his first season on the show, Season Five is a little bit of redemption for him, and in many ways it starts here. In "Out of My Mind," we learn that Dr. Walsh's experimentation on Riley has started to manifest in new ways, such as an inability to feel pain and increased strength. Basically, he's overproducing adrenaline, and while it's offering him a major boost so he can stand next to the Slayer and hold his own…it might just kill him. And we certainly don't want that, do we? (You guys in the back, lower your hands. We don't want that.)

I am one of those who hated Riley in Season Four, and he's still spotty in Season Five but here in "Out of My Mind," Marc Blucas gives one of his best performances as Mr. Finn. It makes complete sense that Riley would find himself obsessed with the notion of being enhanced—even if it kills him—because the idea of taking a backseat to one's girlfriend is pretty much the opposite of the gung-ho military testosterone he's used to. When Buffy finds him in the Initiative caves, punching at the wall until his hands are bloody and casually commenting how it doesn't hurt, there's a moment where you have to respect the actor. Gellar also does a great job in that scene and it actually feels dramatic and serious. It's one of those moments that the series had problems capturing in Seasons Four and thus far through Season Five and it works beautifully. Of course, it doesn't help much that we see this relationship ending a mile away, and the contrivances of Riley's condition stretch credibility. Why haven't we seen this adrenaline boost from Riley before now? And how "lucky" is it that he starts to suffer the consequences at perfect dramatic moments? These are problems that don't kill the episode, but they knock it down half a peg or so.

Meanwhile, we have a lot of other things going on. Joyce has an episode while making breakfast, and she stares at Dawn to ask "Who are you?" before she collapses. This seems like a side thing, but when you look at the season as a whole, it makes complete sense because Joyce's medical problems will allow her to see that Dawn doesn't really belong here. We'll be seeing a lot more of that soon. We also see a little bonding between Giles and Xander at the shop, where the Watcher finally gives the everyman member of the Scoobies a bit of respect for his more mundane skills. It's such a small moment, but for people who have always enjoyed the interplay between Xander and Giles it's nice to see that dynamic grow. And then of course there's the introduction of Ben. Don't worry folks, we'll see him again soon…but this was a wonderful little way to introduce a minor character who will grow to become a major part of the season in ways we couldn't possibly expect.

The last bit that develops here is the beginning of Spike's romantic feelings for Buffy. Opinion is widely split on this among Buffy-ites, and even here among us; I count myself among the fans. There's some great moments that occur, and while I do have problems with the way that Spike looks like a goof sometimes (walking into the open grave), they're pretty funny and you have to give it up to James Marsters for playing it out so well. The end revelation is wonderfully done and gives us a "what the hell?" thing until we realize it's a dream…and then we go "what the HELL?" I loved how that played out. Still, there's one thing I absolutely agree with Ron on, and that is the fact that Buffy doesn't kill Spike here. Don't get me wrong, I obviously don't want him dead based on what I said just above alone. But it was a new level of idiocy for Buffy not to finally off the guy after this one. If they wanted to keep Spike going—and I applaud them for doing so—they shouldn't have taken this play. It bugged the hell out of me when I first saw it, and it still does.

Ronny Sarnecky	This episode is a great show in terms of setting up storylines for the future. For the second episode in a row, Joyce suffered another health scare. Like in the previous episode, the viewer didn’t think much of Joyce’s health issue. In “Out of My Mind,” when Joyce collapsed, it just appeared to be a storyline reason to advance the Riley storyline. Unfortunately, we would soon find out that something was very wrong with Buffy’s mom. Riley’s heart problem forced him to get help from the Initiative. Riley has been questioning Buffy’s devotion to him lately, and his place in her life. With the Initiative back in the picture, Riley now has an “out” in their relationship to go back where he fits in best. That being an underground soldier. Willow’s witchcraft skills continued to progress, as she cast a quick spell to give Tara and herself a light to see through the darkness of the abandoned school. What was telling about this scene is that you can see that Tara wasn’t comfortable in Willow’s newfound skills. One of the most shocking storylines during this show was the very end. Spike had a dream where he was making out with Buffy. He awoke from the dream realizing, in terror, that he had feelings for Buffy. While this episode didn’t feature a big baddie, or a huge threat to the Buffyverse that Buffy was barely able to defeat, this was a pivotal episode to the season. Aside from the aforementioned storylines advancing, this episode introduced the hospital intern named Ben, who will play a pivotal role as the season progresses. Not to mention that before Joyce passed out, she acted like she didn’t know who Dawn was. Her reaction to Dawn was similar to the stranger’s reaction to Dawn in the episode “Real Me.” It’s obvious that Dawn is more then just Buffy’s little sister.	8
Jason Chamberlain	I know, it's a Riley episode, but it's really not that bad. And it does set the wheels in motion for his exit, for you true haters. As usual, Spike is the highlight, and this is the first real step on his journey to becoming the man/vampire he is by the end of the series.	7
Ron Martin	I truly have mixed feelings on this episode. One storyline is great, another is still developing and yet a third would grate me for the rest of the series. Readers who hate me because I harp on the Spike thing might want to move on to the next Scooby Gang member. First, let's take a look at the Joyce situation. This chapter in the storyline is beautifully written as not only does it introduce us to intern Ben, but they way it's handled makes the viewer think it could be tied in with the "Dawn is the key" storyline. It's scary and effective. The second storyline is also done extremely well. This is the next chapter in the Buffy/Riley storyline. Love him or hate him, this part of the story makes so much sense for Riley. The lasting effects of drugging and experiments by the Initiative has given Riley superman-like abilities. Knowing both Buffy's infactuation with men that have superhero like qualities (vampires) and that she is not as into him as he is into her, Riley doesn't want to give up the powers in a last attempt to woo Buffy for good. Buffy is totally into one of her ultra-selfish modes here refusing to let Riley in on any of her or her family's feelings. The seeds are sewn for Riley's eventual departure. The last storyline deals with Spike and Harmony doing their best to get the chip removed from Spike's head and even attempt to kill Buffy. You all know what I am going to say here -- leaving Spike alive after proving that he will go out of his way to still try and kill Buffy is not only insulting to the viewers intelligence, but it makes the Scooby Gang look incredibly stupid for letting a threat to them (which he just proved that he was) live. Terrible, terrible writing. As I've said before, I like the character of Spike; I like the actor but on a show that it's strength is it's writing -- if you want to keep him alive, then find ways to do so that makes sense and doesn't attack the integrity of your main character. The onus is on you if you want him to live. I won't get into "Spike loving Buffy" just yet other to say that it did provide some funny moments, but is the turning point of the series from a horror/action drama to a soap opera.	7
Mike Gorman	The good thing I can say about the Riley-centric nature of "Out of my Mind" is that it really is the beginning of the end of the Finn era. In this episode he comes off as whiney, self-centered, and as usual quite annoying. I think my problems with Riley are summed up in the moment he expresses his belief that he would rather face death than lose his "super powers" because he believes that is the only thing keeping Buffy interested in him. If anything it was his normality that drew her in and his inability to see this just proves to me how poorly developed of a character he really is. However, Riley's dilemma stands in sharp contrast to the one that starts to come into focus for Joyce this week. Her previously mentioned headaches are turning out to be more than just a simple migraine and we know where this will lead. Here we see the season's plot truly move forward as several important elements get introduced, including intern Ben. He seems poised to turn out to be a new potential love interest for Buffy but we all know how much the Whedonites like to pull those carpets out from underneath us. What does redeem this episode in my opinion, lifting it out of a simply mediocre box is the Spike/Harmony subplot. James Marsters continues to show us the depth of a character initially meant to be a one shot villain and Harmony is as hilarious as ever. Spike's chip will serve as an interesting device as the season progresses as it poses questions of choice and compulsion when it comes to evil.	8

GRR!!! ARGH!!!

The 411: This is a good episode overall, but certainly not without its flaws. Good performances by Sarah Michelle Gellar, James Marsters and (yes, I'm saying it) Marc Blucas does this episode a world of good and overcomes some poor plot contrivances. All in all the episodes works in more places that it falls down, and it's certainly not one worth skipping. It simply could have been so much more, and while the rating is good, it bothers me that it couldn't have been higher.

Final Score:  7.0   [ Good ]