Out of My Mind (Buffy episode)
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| “Out of My Mind” | |
|---|---|
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode | |
 |
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| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 4 |
| Guest stars | Mercedes McNab (Harmony) Bailey Chase (Graham Miller) Amber Benson (Tara) Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers) Time Winters (Initiative Doctor) Charlie Weber (Ben) |
| Written by | Rebecca Rand Kirshner |
| Directed by | David Grossman |
| Production no. | 5ABB04 |
| Original airdate | October 17, 2000 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "The Replacement" | "No Place Like Home" |
"Out of My Mind" is the fourth episode of season 5 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. See also List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes.
Contents |
[edit] Plot synopsis
[edit] Summary
Buffy's boyfriend Riley Finn was used in super-soldier experiments in Season 4. In this episode we learn that Riley has been becoming progressively more powerful, but that power is having a deteriorating effect on his health, and without medical intervention he will die of a heart attack. We also learn that Riley is afraid to submit to the needed medical treatment because he fears that without the ability to contribute in a fight alongside Buffy, that their relationship will weaken.
Along the way Buffy recruits Spike to help get Riley to the doctor. Spike uses the opportunity to instead abduct the doctor to remove the pacifying chip that the Initiative put into him in Season 4. Though this effort fails, it leads to a fallout between Spike and Buffy that leaves the audience wondering how much longer Buffy will tolerate even the neutered version of Spike, while ironically introducing the "Spike loves Buffy" storyline.
[edit] Expanded overview
At the cemetery, Buffy stalks for her vampire prey, killing several new vampires with a little unwanted help from both Riley and Spike. Riley demonstrates quite a bit of enthusiasm and new strength while fighting. As Buffy and Riley leave, Spike swears to taste Buffy's blood, but as he walks off, he falls into an open grave. Buffy and Willow argue over a topic from class and discuss Buffy's busy schedule.
Buffy arrives at the magic shop to train and is pleasantly surprised to see that the backroom has been transformed into an amazing training room. Harmony seeks Spike and his help because she is frightened that Buffy is out to destroy her. The two conspire to kill the Slayer. While Joyce makes breakfast for Dawn, she briefly wonders who Dawn is before collapsing onto the floor.
At the hospital, an intern informs Buffy and Riley that Joyce will be fine but that doctors aren't sure what caused her to collapse. Dawn is playing with a stethoscope and when she listens to Riley's heart, she finds that it is racing much faster than normal. After listening to Riley's heart, a doctor recommends that he stay in the hospital at the high risk of a heart attack. Buffy tries to think of a way to help Riley and finally resolves to go to Riley's place and contact the Initiative via the bugs in his room.
Still part of the government, Graham tries to force Riley to see a doctor, but Riley is stronger than Graham and the other agents and gets away. After speaking with Graham later that day, Buffy takes it upon herself to get Riley to a doctor before he dies. Buffy gives Spike information about the doctor that can help Riley hoping that the vampire could help find Riley and bring him there. Instead, Spike and Harmony go to the doctor and try to force him to remove the chip.
Buffy finds Riley in the Initiative caves, punching into rock because he can't feel any pain. He tells her that he's afraid he won't be enough for her once he lets the doctors operate on him. After convincing Riley to get medical attention, Buffy brings him to the hospital and finds the doctor gone. Just after the doctor finishes sewing up Spike's skull, Buffy arrives with Riley and a fight ensues. As he tries to bite the Slayer, Spike finds that the doctor only pretended to remove the chip from his head.
The doctor is able to operate successfully on Riley. Later, Graham talks with Riley and tells him he no longer has a purpose in Sunnydale. Without the Initiative, he's nothing. Buffy shows up at Spike's crypt, ready to stake him for good. He's willing to let it happen, even daring her to put him out of the misery of living in a world with her in it, everywhere he turns, ruining everything he plans. She pauses, confused, and raises the stake, and then hesitates. They stare at each other for a moment, and he leans down to kiss her. After they kiss, she pulls back, shocked, but then returns to the embrace. She tells Spike "I want you" and he tells her "I love you Buffy. I love you so much." Spike then awakens in shock beside a still-sleeping Harmony, desperate to deny that the dream was real: "Oh God No. Please, no."
[edit] Writing and acting
[edit] Production details
[edit] Music
- Nickelback - "Breathe"
[edit] Quotes and trivia
- In keeping with one of the themes of the season first raised by Dracula in the first episode of Season 5, "Buffy the Hunter", the show opens with Buffy atop a crypt, laying in wait. She surveys the graveyard, and then 'pounces', killing a vampire before it even rises from the grave.
- In this episode, Riley is told to go meet with a neurologist to fix his problem with his heart. For that, one would think he would need to see a cardiologist. Although, the neurologist would probably be appropriate for getting the chip out of Spike's head.
[edit] Translations
- Italian title: "Fuori di testa" ("Out of mind")
- German title: "Die Initiative lässt grüßen" ("Greetings from the Initiative")
- French title: "Quand Spike s'en mêle" ("When Spike Interferes")
[edit] Continuity
[edit] Arc significance
This episode introduces Spike's new-found love for Buffy, much to his disgust and horror. These emotions that Spike is feeling will continue until the end of the series.
[edit] Timing
- Stories that take place around the same time in the Buffyverse:
| Location, time (if known) |
Buffyverse chronology: Fall 2000 - December 2000 (non-canon = italic) |
|---|---|
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.01 Buffy vs. Dracula |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.01 Judgment |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | Buffy graphic novel: Haunted (by Jane Espenson) |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.02 Real Me |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.02 Are You Now or Have You Ever Been |
| L.A., 2000 | Angel book: Image |
| L.A., 2000 | Angel book: Stranger to the Sun |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.03 The Replacement |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | Buffy graphic novel: False Memories |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | Buffy Graphic novel story: Willow & Tara: Wannablessedbe |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.03 First Impressions |
| L.A., 2000 | Angel graphic novel: Long Night's Journey |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.04 Out of My Mind |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.04 Untouched |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.05 No Place Like Home |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.05 Dear Boy |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.06 Family |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | Buffy graphic novel: Autumnal |
| L.A., 2000 | Angel graphic novel: Autumnal |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.06 Guise Will Be Guise |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.07 Fool for Love |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.07 Darla |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.08 Shadow |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.08 The Shroud of Rahmon |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.09 Listening to Fear |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.09 The Trial |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.10 Into the Woods |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.10 Reunion |
| Sunnydale, 2000 | B5.11 Triangle |
| L.A., 2000 | A2.11 Redefinition |
