Summary: Here is the Hellmouth Podcast for the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series Season 3, Episode 18 - Earshot. Things got a little weird in this episode of the podcast but hopefully if nothing else it will be thought provoking. Speaking of thought provoking, be sure to check out the latest Buffy podcast, Buffy Thoughts (http://www.virtueandjoy.net/buffy/) from the Midwestern Watcher. I think that in a day or two there may be some special content associated with this episode that was recommended by Bob. HMPC 0318 “Earshot” - Buffy The Vampire Slayer * Hello Sunnydale and welcome to the Hellmouth Podcast for the Buffy The Vampire Slayer Series, Season 3 Episode 18 titled “Earshot” * Buffy thoughts o A new Buffy podcast which is quite different. o Not an episode review, it is taking one ‘thought’ about the Buffyverse and taking a closer look at that particular theme or event. o It’s different from the other Buffy podcasts out there and I think all of you will enjoy it, heres a promo for Buffy Thoughts. o Play promo o Link to website in the show notes for this episode. * 2-Minute Buffy o Two demons chasing Buffy fall for the old run and stumble. o She dispatches one of them but not until in ‘infects’ her with it’s blood. o Turns out Buffy has been infected with an aspect of the demon. She worries that she’ll get horns, a tail, or wait… was it a boy demon. o The rest of Sunnydale high is consumed with the basketball team being in the state championships. o Turns out the aspect she gets is the ability to read minds. It starts out as being a handy ability but quickly becomes a nuisance as Buffy is subjected to every student’s thoughts in the school. o One particular thought spells out the death of many of the students at lunch tomorrow. o The onslaught of inner monologues overwhelms Buffy and she goes home to try and recuperate. o The scoobies do their own investigation trying to find out who the potential murderer is. o Meanwhile Giles, Wesley and Angel work to remove this ability from Buffy before it drives her insane. o The scoobies narrow it down to the newspaper writer Freddy but when confronted he has no idea what they are talking about. o Buffy freed from everyone’s thoughts shows up to try and stop the murder. Freddy has provided them with a lead that Jonathan is going to do something. o Buffy finds Jonathan in the tower about to shoot himself, not anyone else. She talks him out of suicide but still has to find the murderer. o Unbeknownst to Buffy, but knownst to us, Xander has already found her, the lunch lady that girl is poison o Buffy shows up in the cafeteria, hijinks ensue and the lunch lady is stopped. o Unfortunately, the damage has already been done, Buffy now knows that her mom and Giles got it on, on the hood of a police car… twice. * So let’s get to the disussion o This episode is largely about communication or peoples failure to communicate. § In an episode about failure to communicate, what does buffy fight but these demons with no mouths, appropriate. § After gaining the ability to read peoples minds, Buffy finds out just how much is being left unsaid at the high-school. § This relates to Buffy and Angel’s relationship as well as every high-school student everywhere. § I think it is important that this episode emphasizes that the pain and frustration are present in all of the students. § When Buffy talks to Jonathan it’s the popular kids, the jocks, the beautiful people. § I think that it is difficult in high school to look around and realize the in-crowd many times is just as pained as you. § If these students were able to talk to each other they might be able to help each other. But that would be seen as weakness and they must maintain pretences. o The scene in the library when Buffy tells the scoobies that she can read minds is priceless,
