Earshot...i loved that ep

[Bangelxx]

i loved the episode, earshot! It was amazing how they created it and i was always wondering what they were going to be thinking next! i especially luv it when Angel comes in with the remedy! i don't really know why! lol. i found Xander's whole thinking trail hilarious! all in all ah-mazing ep! what did you think?

[Keanoite]

One of the best Buffy eps ever. There are so many levels to it, the fact that it all fit into 42 mins boggles the mind. The despair of feeling alone, of being lonely, feeling like you have no one perfectly contrasted with the horror of being surrounded by people and voices to the point where you lose yourself. The humour is some of the shows best

Buffy: Infect?...infect?...GILES! infect!!!

Willow: Was it a boy demon?...lol!

Xander: I think about sex all the time. Sex. Help. 4 times 5 is 30. 5 times 6 is 32. Naked women. Naked girls. Naked Buffy. Oh stop me.

Wesley: I'm a bad baaaD man!

Buffy: You had sex with Giles!

and my personal favourite

What am I? Saint Buffy? he's like three feet tall!

Buffy's speech to Jonathan is something I think every teenager should listen to. It is so easy to get caught up in your own problems and feel abandoned that you forget that every other person on this planet is struggling with something too. I think the topic and the message that the show was putting out were so important and a real comment on society at the time. This was filmed BEFORE Columbine. Which is surprising and a little not too. I really cannot say enough about this ep. 50/10!!!

One question though...if Jonathon was just trying to kill himself, why was he using a rifle? It would be physically impossible!

[Blondie Bear]

One question though...if Jonathon was just trying to kill himself, why was he using a rifle? It would be physically impossible!

That's what they call a diversion. You were supposed to think Jonathan was about to kill everyone to make the whole scene more poignant but leave it open so that they could end on a slightly funnier note and not make Jonathan a raving lunatic.

AND maybe that was the only gun he could get his hands on. It wouldn't be IMPOSSIBLE . . . if he took off his shoes, maybe he could pull the trigger with his toes.

[Keanoite]

That's what they call a diversion. You were supposed to think Jonathan was about to kill everyone to make the whole scene more poignant but leave it open so that they could end on a slightly funnier note and not make Jonathan a raving lunatic.

AND maybe that was the only gun he could get his hands on. It wouldn't be IMPOSSIBLE . . . if he took off his shoes, maybe he could pull the trigger with his toes.

They still could have created that tension with a pistol with all those snazy attchments thingies!...Ok so i don't know guns but I thought it was a bit much with the rifle.

I'm a bit dubious on the toes thing. It's stretching it a little too much, I mean it was Jonathon not Christy Brown!

[Joyce Summers]

Cutting into the Jonathon Suicide debate here which I won't really contribute to (I so don't know guns), I loved this episode. Another one from the genius and brilliantly witty mind of Jane Espenson though, so it's really no surprise I love it.
It had a lot of great moments in it and did excellently balance between the humorous and the serious.
I loved that we kept hearing that girl's voice (was her name Cathy? I don't know why that name comes to mind at all. It's probably wrong, but she had red, curly hair) saying how much she hated Buffy. And just in general hearing people's true thoughts instead of what they say. Willow's 'Buffy did the reading? Buffy *understood* the reading?'.
My favorite scene has to be the one between Joyce and Buffy though. You just see Joyce barely spending two seconds with Buffy and when Buffy makes her stop for like one minute you just get Buffy's shocked face followed by 'You had sex with Giles?!'. Ah yes, what a great and funny follow-up to Band Candy. I mean we all suspected but comshucking *twice* on the hood of the police car? (Anyone else extremely jealous of Joyce at this point? Raise your hand). Also, I liked the way it was done. I mean some thoughts we actually heard said, but others we just saw Buffy's reaction to it. And I think it was important that for this one that we don't actually hear Joyce say it (God knows what she was saying. Though in Season 4 doesn't Buffy mention that her Mother compare Giles to a stevedore during sex?), but only Buffy's reaction to it. I think it made it funnier
Plus, at the very end of the episode where Buffy blurts it out to Giles 'If you aren't too busy having sex with my MOTHER' and he just walks into the tree in shock. Never fails to make me laugh.
But the scene between Jonathon and Buffy is very poignent too. I do love the emotion in it and I think what she says doesn't just refer to teenagers but everybody. I mean think about it, we're all so busy with our worries and fears and concerns and tragedies, that's it's very hard for us to take even one moment to stop and think about what everyone else is going through as well.

[Blondie Bear]

My hubby has a similar rifle, and from the end of the barrel to the trigger is only 29 1/2 inches. As he just demonstrated (CAREFULLY, after COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLING the firing mechanism so it COULD NOT FIRE), he has no trouble reaching the trigger with his finger while the barrel is in his mouth. Of course, he's 6'2''. I'm a few inches shy of reaching the trigger in that position, and I'm 5'. I'd say Jonathan is, oh say, about 5'3'', which probably means he could JUST reach the trigger and very easily kill himself with that rifle.

I agree, a pistol makes much more sense, but again, maybe Jonathan couldn't get his hands on one, and, also again, the writers meant for us to think that he was the psycho killer about to take out the entire school.

[Keanoite]

My hubby has a similar rifle, and from the end of the barrel to the trigger is only 29 1/2 inches. As he just demonstrated (CAREFULLY, after COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLING the firing mechanism so it COULD NOT FIRE), he has no trouble reaching the trigger with his finger while the barrel is in his mouth. Of course, he's 6'2''. I'm a few inches shy of reaching the trigger in that position, and I'm 5'. I'd say Jonathan is, oh say, about 5'3'', which probably means he could JUST reach the trigger and very easily kill himself with that rifle.

I agree, a pistol makes much more sense, but again, maybe Jonathan couldn't get his hands on one, and, also again, the writers meant for us to think that he was the psycho killer about to take out the entire school.

Damn. you really went a ways to find that out! Thanks! I know what the writers wanted us to think but I just feel the same thing could have been achieved using a more suitable gun

[LittleMissLikesToFight]

um... does anyone love Oz as much as i do in this episode?

Thinking: I am my thoughts. If they exist in her, Buffy contains everything that is me and she becomes me. I cease to exist.

And then when he just goes "huh" afterwards. i mean, that was awesome. SO an Oz thing.

[Blondie Bear]

The gun laws in CA might have been a hindrance as well; as far as I understand it, it's VERY difficult to get a (legal) pistol there. Of course, Warren (and later Willow/Warren) has no trouble, so. . . . *shrug*

[Keanoite]

The gun laws in CA might have been a hindrance as well; as far as I understand it, it's VERY difficult to get a (legal) pistol there. Of course, Warren (and later Willow/Warren) has no trouble, so. . . . *shrug*

Would it be easier to get a rifle? seems a little strange to me. I'm not up on guns at all. The Garda(police) don't even have em here...well mostly

[Blondie Bear]

In America, rifles and shotguns tend to be easier to find and purchase because they're seen as "hunting" weapons. Pistols and "assault rifles" (a misnomer, but don't get me started here) such as the M16 are harder to find and purchase because they're "only good for killing people." Or so say the critics. California has notoriously strict gun laws, more similar to the British Isles than to the rest of the U.S. So the writers probably bent the rules to get Warren and Willow those pistols, and Jonathan's rifle is more realistic as to what would be readily available in CA.

[Keanoite]

In America, rifles and shotguns tend to be easier to find and purchase because they're seen as "hunting" weapons. Pistols and "assault rifles" (a misnomer, but don't get me started here) such as the M16 are harder to find and purchase because they're "only good for killing people." Or so say the critics. California has notoriously strict gun laws, more similar to the British Isles than to the rest of the U.S. So the writers probably bent the rules to get Warren and Willow those pistols, and Jonathan's rifle is more realistic as to what would be readily available in CA.

It's near impossible to get a gun here...the only people that have guns are the gangs an the I.R.A...LOL...although they apparently have decommissioned. So if a someone wanted a gun thats where they would have to go...really good incentive to not have guns.

[Bangelxx]

Keanoite and Blondie Bear- wow, you guys realllly want to know about that rifle eh?! lol

[DarklyDreamingDrusilla]

I love this episode and I think that the Xander moment is one of my favs. I actually made a banner about that part.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/2113007291_ffb471e4f2.jpg?v=0

[white avenger]

Keanoite and Blondie Bear- wow, you guys realllly want to know about that rifle eh?! lol

For those interested, the rifle Jonathan used wasn't a regular hunting rifle. Regular hunting rifles don't assemble the way that one does, with th barrel section separate from the action (the bolt, chamber area, trigger, etc.). The only reason anyone would have such a piece is for sniper work, and even then, only the sort of application in which the weapon has to be stored in an area or case not obviously a firearms case. Such rifles aren't available to the general public, but a Hollywood prop man could get one, and it looks very impressive and dramatic to assemble your weapon the way Jonathan did.

As for the handguns Warren bought, the impression given by the story was that all one has to do to get one is just walk into a gun shop, lay your cash down, and walk out with your weapon of choice. Every state in the United States has a mandatory waiting period, ranging from anywhere from a couple of days to two weeks or more before the purchase of a handgun can be completed during which the Federal BATF investigates the potential buyer to assure that he may indeed legally buy and own a handgun. Warren/Willow should have seen shown buying a gun from an illegal dealer out of the trunk of a car in a dark alley somewhere, or breaking into a private residence and stealing one, but Hollywood proves again and again that they have no concept of what legally buying a firearm entails and just how stupid it would be to get one that way with the intent of committing a crime with it.

As I have said before, when such a blatant screw up occurres and is recognized, the only thing possible for the "spotter" to do is just cringe and ignore it, otherwise you'll wind up brooding as much as Angel does.

[Keanoite]

Keanoite and Blondie Bear- wow, you guys realllly want to know about that rifle eh?! lol

It was the only flaw in an otherwise perfect ep...it has been bugging me for years.

[Blondie Bear]

Every state in the United States has a mandatory waiting period, ranging from anywhere from a couple of days to two weeks or more before the purchase of a handgun can be completed during which the Federal BATF investigates the potential buyer to assure that he may indeed legally buy and own a handgun.

Actually not. I own a Glock, as does my hubby, and we waited for a total of 1 hour for them to run our info through the National Instant Criminal Background Check thingy. Now, in California, where Warren and Willow got that pistol, there probably is a waiting period and a TON of background checking, but not every state in the Union has that. In fact, I believe its against a LOT of laws to do so (but who listens to the pro-gun laws anymore?).

[Keanoite]

Can I ask all those gun owners a question? I don't mean it to be smart or snarky or anything like that, I am just genuinely interested. Why do you have guns? is it protection? hunting? there nice and shinny? just curious coming from a place where gun ownership is absolutely minimal at best. Why do you need them?

[Blondie Bear]

There are a few reasons. First and foremost, the Constitution of the U.S. states that we have the right to defend ourselves and our property and to own weapons to do so. Second, it is about defense--there are too many crazy people running around who have guns. I'm a tiny little woman--there's no way that if some guy jumped me I'd be able to fight him off with my hands or even my pocketknife. I don't know if you guys are hearing about the sheer number of shootings we've had in the past few weeks and months, but ALL of them took place in "gun-free" zones (places where guns are "not allowed"), so the law-abiding citizens (like me) were disarmed and unable to defend themselves. When it comes to defense, the only way to protect yourself against a crazy person with a gun is to have a gun. Guns are tools; each one has a different purpose. Hunting rifles and shotguns are great for taking down game; shotguns and small caliber rifles are great for defending your home; and pistols are for protecting yourself outside the home.

My hubby likes them for all the above reasons and because they're shiny and make a big noise. :)

[Keanoite]

Would you concider it a necessity? if gun ownership was made illegal across the board, how would that effect you? oh and how old do you have to be to buy a gun?

[Kemy]

I own a small collection of Airsoft "soft pellet" guns for my own display. You have to be over 18 and they have to be somewhat sure you're of good character when you walk in.

With me its an aesthetic appreciation and curiosity about the design or just the function of the weapon itself, thats all.

What does annoy me though is the gun inconsistency in "The Killer in Me" but thats a topic for another day.

[Blondie Bear]

I own a small collection of Airsoft "soft pellet" guns for my own display. You have to be over 18 and they have to be somewhat sure you're of good character when you walk in.

We can just walk into a Wal-Mart and buy an Airsoft gun here. They're toys. Like paintball guns. I think you have to be 16.

Edit:

Would you concider it a necessity? if gun ownership was made illegal across the board, how would that effect you? oh and how old do you have to be to buy a gun?

Sorry, just caught that you'd asked this question.

I think that when it comes to defense against people (criminals) who have guns, yes, it's a necessity. If nobody was committing crimes with them, then, no, I wouldn't see a need for people to own them (though I certainly wouldn't deny them the right if they wanted one). If gun ownership in America was banned, I think there would be a hue and cry and several people killed by government agents when they attempted to defend their collections against the people sent to confiscate them. After that, though, our crime rate would shoot through the farking ROOF because criminals would still own guns (because they don't care about the law--concept!). The major debate is over whether the Second Amendment (the one that says we can have guns) applies to individual people or "the militia"--meaning the people as a whole. This should hopefully be cleared up here soon when the Supreme Court hears a case on it.

As for the age thing, you have to be 18 to buy rifles and shotguns, 21 to buy pistols.

[Kemy]

American brands are, because they're cheap, more poorly made, less realistic and have that orange thing on the tip.

I get mine imported from Tokyo Mauri, pretty much the most realistic Airsoft brand there is, I have a Herstal FN P-90 thats the same dimensions, colouring, weight, nearly identical mechanism, RoF and construction to the real thing.

Ok yeah spends all its time in a display unit but still.

[Keanoite]

We can just walk into a Wal-Mart and buy an Airsoft gun here. They're toys. Like paintball guns. I think you have to be 16.

Edit:



Sorry, just caught that you'd asked this question.

I think that when it comes to defense against people (criminals) who have guns, yes, it's a necessity. If nobody was committing crimes with them, then, no, I wouldn't see a need for people to own them (though I certainly wouldn't deny them the right if they wanted one). If gun ownership in America was banned, I think there would be a hue and cry and several people killed by government agents when they attempted to defend their collections against the people sent to confiscate them. After that, though, our crime rate would shoot through the farking ROOF because criminals would still own guns (because they don't care about the law--concept!). The major debate is over whether the Second Amendment (the one that says we can have guns) applies to individual people or "the militia"--meaning the people as a whole. This should hopefully be cleared up here soon when the Supreme Court hears a case on it.

As for the age thing, you have to be 18 to buy rifles and shotguns, 21 to buy pistols.

That's unbelievable, your not concidered responsible enough to drink but mature enough to own a rifle or shotgun? Amazing.

I know what you mean about trying to ban them after they have been legal for so long. There is just something about owning a gun that gives me a wiggins...can't put my finger on it.

[Blondie Bear]

That's unbelievable, your not concidered responsible enough to drink but mature enough to own a rifle or shotgun? Amazing.

Yeah, isn't it funny? Not funny ha-ha, either.

I know what you mean about trying to ban them after they have been legal for so long. There is just something about owning a gun that gives me a wiggins...can't put my finger on it.

A lot of people feel that way until they actually get their hands on one and fire it a couple of times (I did--my hubby's pistol freaked the HECK out of me until I saw it in action at the firing range). As soon as you realize how safe they actually are (and that they won't force you to do their evil bidding), it's really not a big deal. I wish more Americans would have the chance to handle a firearm even just once so they'd see that it's just a tool, not a corrupting influence.

[Kemy]

Even my Airosft replicas have amazing safety catches, the P90 has an internal bolt system that locks the trigger completely, put the catch on any of them and you'd literally break your finger before you'd break the catch.

Anyway I think maybe he just stole it from his Dad or something, sneaked it out of the house, it might have been the only one he could get at.

[Werewolf]

Ok earshot is probably one of my favorite episodes.. Xander get's the best lines as always!

[Jules]

I love the earshot episode. Aside from the rifle being used as a suicide weapon, which like Keanoite I thought was a little extreme, I didn't get how Angel knew Buffy was trying to read his thoughts. He new she would get an aspect of the demon, but as far as I can remember he didn't know what the demon's could do. Maybe he felt her in his mind, but that seems way to weird.

I love how Buffy finds out about Giles and her mum and how she tells Giles she knows at the end. Its a very laugh out loud kind of episode :)

[Blondie Bear]

She was asking leading questions and staring at the side of his head. Probably a dead giveaway for mind-reading attempts.

[SpoonsAreCool]

Earshot, in my opinion, is one of the best episodes of BtVS. There's so many memorable scenes. It's funny, it's gripping, and it even touches on the poignant subject of gun violence, with the whole student gunman scenario.

Xander: "I'm still having trouble with the fact that one of us is just gonna gun everybody down for no reason."
Cordelia: "Yeah, because that never happens in American high schools."
Oz: "It's bordering on trendy at this point."


It touches (why do I keep saying touches?) on every character, an insight into every characters mind. I loved the inner thoughts of Oz, Xander and Cordelia (she's so superficial haha), HILARIOUS.

Danny Strong is amazing in it, totally portrays the outcast high school type perfectly.

I'd say this is Buffy the Vampire Slayer at it's peak. I'd give it a 10/10.

Kthanxhai5bai

:)

[BASBritt]

I LOVE Earshot. It's one of my favorite out of the whole series. It was so smartly done, and I agree; Danny Strong was perfect for Jonathan. :)

[Billy Fordham]

Great ep! I love it, too. The real crazy thing - the day this was originally supposed to air, the Columbine shootings happened. The parallel was to uncomfortable for the network so they ran a rerun instead. This episode did not show until the end of summer! It did air in Canada, so I managed to download it on my 56k computer (took about a day LOL).
Also at this time the WB stores in the mall ran a promotion, 'buy any Buffy merchandise and get a free poster". The day "Earshot" was supposed to air I bought a buffy shirt and got a nifty 18x24 season 3 poster.
You remember stuff when it ties into a tragedy...

[Veyron]

I watched Earshot again last night and have to admit that this is one of my all time favourite episodes.

The debate about Johnathan and the sniper's rifle is one that's going to rumble on and on and it should. Guns, whether you have one because it's your 'constitutional' right or for your job or home protection or what-ever are stupid things in the hands of the wrong people - no brainer statement there!

Johnathan going up into the tower to commit suicide is rubbish - the only reason someone goes into a tower at a school or anywhere else with a high calibre weapon is to kill people not themselves. I was amazed that Buffy 'fell' for the suicide line personally and although it's a touchy subject now considering what's happened since the episode was made, I think the producers/writers should have shown that scene earlier in the episode so that they could have given the kids and the viewing public in general a message regarding how bad guns in general are.

[sk73]

I also love this episode!

Mostly because of the hilarious first half. Before the voices is getting a bit too much for poor Buffy.

Could make a long, long list of my favorite funny bits from this episode.
But I'll just include one of the badest jokes ever :)

Angel: Buffy, be careful with this gift. A lot of things that seem strong and good and powerful, they can be painful.
Buffy: Like say, immortality?
Angel: Exactly, I'm dying to get rid of that.

/SK

[BASBritt]

Great ep! I love it, too. The real crazy thing - the day this was originally supposed to air, the Columbine shootings happened. The parallel was to uncomfortable for the network so they ran a rerun instead. This episode did not show until the end of summer!
I remember that, 'cause I had to wait 3 months to see it!! :( But it was sooooo good! Still one of my faves of Season 3. After I got the season on DVD, I rewatched them all in order and then in "The Prom" when Jonathan presented Buffy with the Class Protector award I got all misty eyed. :)

[Fusions2]

I've just finished watching Earshot again and I had almost completely forgotton how powerful this episode is. I know its to supposed to have a humour about it with Buffy hearing everyones thoughts and Xander constantly thinking about sex but the message about it is so powerful and true.

Everyone is so busy ignoring everyones pain because they are too busy dealing with their own. Its so true to not only teenagers but everyone in life and their jobs. This episode should have been given an Emmy nomination (not unless it was). Another of my favourite episodes plus seeing Buffy run up the wall and jump on to the roof like that was awesome!

[atticus]

Fantastic episode, it's great to see Buffy saving the day a different way, by talking to Jonathan, instead of just taking the gun from him. I know it was delayed, after Columbine, I understand the choice to do that, but I think it had an important message and should have been seen. I wrote an essay in college about TV's influence on teen's. And personally i think if you choose to do something so horrific as take a life, that's you're choice. Blaming a TV show, is just a way of trying to justify it. Everyone feels pain, they need someone to help them, talk to them, before they lose themselves, that's the message of earshot. One of the best.