Helpless (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Episode)
From Iwe
| "Helpless" | |||
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode | |||
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 12 | ||
| Directed by | James A. Contner | ||
| Written by | David Fury | ||
| Production code | 3ABB12 | ||
| Original air date | January 19, 1999 | ||
| Guest actors | |||
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| Episode chronology | |||
| ← Previous "Gingerbread" | Next → "The Zeppo" | ||
| List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes | |||
"Helpless" is the twelfth episode of season 3 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Contents |
Plot synopsis
Production details
This story had the working title "18" as it is set around Buffy's eighteenth birthday.
Continuity
- Whilst Buffy and Angel are talking, Buffy mentions Mr. Pointy, the Stake Kendra gave to her in Becoming, Part One, before she is killed by Drusilla.
Arc significance
- Buffy is disappointed by both of her father figures in this episode. Her father breaks their tradition of attending the ice show, and Giles betrays her trust (which he accused her of doing to him, regarding Angel's return to Earth, back in "Revelations").
- Giles reveals his now parental feelings towards Buffy.
- Buffy begins to rebel against the Council, culminating in her decision to operate outside their authority. The separation of Council and Slayer - and Giles' own situation with the Council - will not be resolved until "Checkpoint".
- Quentin Travers, leader of the Watchers Council, is seen for the first time. He will reappear several times, usually in opposition to Buffy's methods and activities.
- This episode marks the beginning of Buffy's father's estrangement.
- The 12th or 13th episode of each season is traditionally when Buffy celebrates her birthday; her birthday takes place in episode 13 of Season Two ("Surprise"), episode 12 of Season Four ("A New Man"), episode 13 of Season Five ("Blood Ties") and episode 14 of Season Six ("Older and Far Away"). Buffy's birthday is not shown celebrated in Season One (it presumably occurred before the beginning of the half-long season) or in Season Seven.
- At the end of the episode Buffy has a huge slash across her forehead, but later she does not have a scar.
Trivia
During this episode, Kralik (played by Jeff Kober) leaves a polaroid of Buffy's mother at her house to lure Buffy into a trap. In an episode of Charmed titled "The Power of Two", Prue and Phoebe leave a polaroid photograph to lure a ghost (also played by Jeff Kober) into a trap. Jeff Kober also plays the warlock Rack in Season Six. In the scene where Buffy is first depicted losing her powers while fighting a vampire he is killed leaping onto her stake. It is nearly identical to her "first" kill, shown in Angel's Los Angeles flashback involving Buffy from "Becoming"
References
External links
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer | ||
|---|---|---|
| Canon • Index • Joss Whedon | ||
| Series | Film • Television • (Episodes • 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7) • Comics (Season Eight • Season Nine) • Buffyverse canon | |
| Main characters | Buffy • Willow • Xander • Cordelia • Giles • Angel • Spike • Oz • Anya • Tara • Dawn • Riley | |
| Major villains | The Master • Drusilla • Angelus • The Mayor • Adam • Glory • The Trio • Dark Willow • The First | |
| Spin-offs | Angel • Fray • Tales of the Slayers • Tales of the Vampires • Buffy the Animated Series | |
| Expanded universe | Novels • Undeveloped productions • Video games | |
| Auxiliary | Academia • CCG • DVDs • Guidebooks • In popular culture • Magazines • Music • RPGs | |
| Universe | Big Bads • Hellmouth • Main characters • Minor characters • Monsters • • Scooby Gang • Sunnydale • Vampire | |
