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| Writer: | Ashley Gable and Thomas A. Swyden |
| Director: | Stephen Posey |
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| - | Review |
A slow episode that pretty much goes nowhere and makes the boring "Teacher's Pet" (1x04) look like an action extravaganza. The only thing worth noting is Jenny Calendar's introduction. Right away she comes onto Giles and makes it obvious that despite their difference in methods, she still finds him attractive. Their book vs. computer debate is also amusing.
But wow can those few positives not save this from being the worst episode in the entire series. There is so much bad in here I can't even begin to describe it. So I'll try anyway. The biggest problem is simply that the episode is really boring. Nothing of any importance happens and there are very few scenes between the Scooby Gang to make up for the lack of anything that could remotely qualify as interesting. Willow is somehow thrown into an obsessive love with a demon somehow affecting her through the computer. What kind of lunacy is this? What brain trust thought this drivel up? Was Whedon out of the country and in the middle of drowning during the entire process of making this episode?
You want to know what's even more sad than this episode? The fact that this would be considered an average episode by most other genre show's standards. That's truly pathetic. Anyway, all the computer stuff is completely unrealistic and the programmers come off as psycho sex stalkers rather than code geeks. With so much taking place on computers you would think that they would have tried harder. The 'program' that displays instant messages as giant text in the middle of a black screen is a joke for 1997. As I watched this episode I thought it couldn't get any worse. That was until the demon got itself an uber corny robot body to tell them it loves them before snapping their necks. Uh huh. If you're ever introducing someone to the show, for god's sake please skip this episode.
| - | Minor Pros/Cons (+/-) |
| Pros: | |
| + | I like Jenny Calendar. Her purpose in this episode is contrived, but I am glad the character sticks around and is further developed. |
| Cons: | |
| - | The introduction sequence in Italy was lame. The demon also came off as lame. |
| - | I am a computer programmer and have never said, "I'm jacked in!" a dozen times really creepily. Actually, I don't believe I've ever uttered those words. |
| - | Foreshadowing |
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| - | Quotes |
| BUFFY: | (interrupts) Hey, did you forget? The one boy I've had the hots for since I've moved here turned out to be a vampire. |
| XANDER: | Right, and the teacher I had a crush on? Giant praying mantis. |
| - | Score |
| 10/100 | F |
Just plain awful. Completely failed at what it was trying to do. Might be painful to watch. The only points awarded are for tiny bits of humor and/or a character moment or two.
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| - | Awards |
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| - | Screencaps |
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| - | Comments (34) |
| 1. | GroundedAug 4, 2006 (Fri) | |
| "I am a computer programmer and have never said, "I'm jacked in!" a dozen times really creepily. Actually, I don't believe I've ever uttered those words." Have you ever been under a demon's thrall though? ;) "the programmers come off as psycho sex stalkers rather than code geeks." Again: thrall. This episode also has the priceless scene at the end where Buffy, Xander and Willow lament the fact that they're all doomed to date monsters. Besides that, I also thought the Dave 'suicide' scene was pretty well done. |
| 2. | GroundedAug 5, 2006 (Sat) | |
| Oh yeah it also has Willow not taking any crap ;) |
| 3. | AaronJerSep 15, 2006 (Fri) | |
| So... the demon thought to make the programmer say something that only someone who didn't actually know how computer programmers talk would say? Seems iffy. I still think the "I'm jacked in" thing was really stupid. The psychoness was fitting, but nobody under ANY circumstances save maybe someone being forced at gunpoint would ever say "I'm jacked in" unless it was on a TV show. Do you think they forced that actor to say that at gunpoint? We should look into this. |
| 4. | RickDec 17, 2006 (Sun) | |
| Worst. episode. ever. in. Buffyverse. Hands down. Not only is it boring and pointless, but its theme rings hollow; it overdoes the risks of online dating to transform an already weak metaphor into an embellished farce. It also portrays Willow as more meek than she really is. There were a couple of good scenes like Jenny asking if Giles had ever left the middle ages, as well as the scene at the end. But all in all, well, um...yuck. I would be embarrassed to show this ep. to anyone. |
| 5. | aliFeb 18, 2007 (Sun) | |
| This ep remind's me a lot of charmed, the plot is sooo charmed like. |
| 6. | DingdongalisticMar 11, 2007 (Sun) | |
Nah... That's Double or Nothing. |
| 7. | mikejerMar 11, 2007 (Sun) | |
| There's actually a few eps in Angel that can give "I, Robot..." a run for its very cheap money. |
| 8. | MrBApr 9, 2007 (Mon) | |
| It's interesting to note that the writers only wrote one more episode. That was the mediocre Out of Mind, Out of Sight. The director was never heard from again. |
| 9. | LatoyaMay 3, 2007 (Thu) | |
| I did like some parts of this episode. Mainly Buffy herself. "Tell me the truth. How's my hair?" after she was electrocuted. Its all frizzy. Xander and Giles try to reassure her that its her best hair ever. "I met him online." "Online for what?" Buffy not hip to computer lingo. The last seen is a BTVS classic. It is Joss's favorite too. "Lets face it. None of us are going to have a healthy, lasting relationship." "We're doomed." They all smile and then get a God-we-are-pathetic look. |
| 10. | LibMaxJul 23, 2007 (Mon) | |
| I dunno. I didn't hate I Robot You Jane as much as some of y'all. I think the premise (demon downloaded into the Internet through a scanned magical text) is quite good, for Season One. Of course, scanning a whole book without turning the pages . . . And if I were a computer person (I'm a librarian, close but not), I might be more sensitive to the plentiful techno-gaffes, but come on - after the She-Mantis in Teacher's Pet, I think we can stop looking for sharp visuals and techno-scientific realism in Buffy Season One. I can't help wondering if the better-looking and more current IM screens were copyrighted and out of reach financially for reproduction on the show. Yes, they could have had something better custom-designed, but time and budget were always in short supply in S1. I do agree that the pace of a lot of the episode is slow, and Dave and Fritz (especially Fritz) are execrably written and performed. Fritz may be the worst job of acting in BTVS, although as a non-recurring character he can never take that worst recurring character prize away from Andrew J. Ferchland. And after they have some pretty good fun with Demon On The Internet and Demon Lover Cyberstalking Willow, they just seem to run out of ideas. And the robot is lame (also how it dies - too Wile E. Coyote). But I like Jenny Calendar and an episode which raises books vs. net arguments is practically necessary to kick-start her romance with Giles (romances start with arguments and/or sex, and this is TV). Also, it's a good character development ep for Willow. It's the first time we get an extended look at a Willow who wants anything more than to bask in the reflected glory of Buffy and to mope after an unavailable Xander. She's trying something new, even if it blows up in her face all hellmouth-style. And I don't think she looks like an utter fool - high school kids often do fall for the blandishments of Internet creeps, plus Moloch is a demon with specific powers to charm and inspire love. I like the moment where Willow attacks the robot Moloch ("Rememeber ME? Your actual GIRLFRIEND?"), almost jealous that he is more interested in killing Buffy than in killing her. Also, anytime Willow swings something heavy (fire extinguisher, bat, battleaxe) is a good time. And others have already mentioned the great "We're doomed" scene at the end, where the laughter fades forlornly as the reality sinks in. As for the after-school-specialness of an episode about cyberdating and cyberstalking, I can think of three more heavy-handed examples off the top of my head - Teacher's Pet (listen to the teacher, you'll learn something), Beauty and the Beasts (abusive relationships), and Go Fish (steroids). Again, YMMV. |
| 11. | DingdongalisticJul 28, 2007 (Sat) | |
| "There's actually a few eps in Angel that can give "I, Robot..." a run for its very cheap money." Especially Double for Nothing. ;) And Gone. Oh, sorry, that was in BTVS. |
| 12. | DingdongalisticJul 28, 2007 (Sat) | |
| "It's interesting to note that the writers only wrote one more episode. That was the mediocre Out of Mind, Out of Sight." Mediocre? |
| 13. | WorldWithoutShrimpJul 28, 2007 (Sat) | |
| "Provider" was, for my money, the worst Buffyverse episode. Every other episode at least had SOME redeeming qualities, including IRYJ (re: the ending scene). |
| 14. | LibMaxJul 28, 2007 (Sat) | |
| Bad Angel episodes? How about In the Dark (except for Spike's monologue at the beginning), I Fall to Pieces, Bachelor Party, Somnambulist, I've Got You Under My Skin (except for Wesley), The Ring, War Zone, Judgement, Heartthrob, and That Old Gang of Mine? Oh, and Double or Nothing and Provider also sucked. But I agree, WorldWithoutShrimp, that they all have redeeming qualities if you look hard enough (and I admit that I'm blanking on a redeeming quality in Provider, but I didn't find the badness in it so offensive as, say, Him or The Puppet Show). This is the Jossverse, after all. |
| 15. | DingdongalisticAug 19, 2007 (Sun) | |
| ""Provider" was, for my money, the worst Buffyverse episode. Every other episode at least had SOME redeeming qualities, including IRYJ (re: the ending scene)." I think "Provider" does have some redeeming qualities, mainly in the fact that some of the comedy is genuinely funny. "Couplet", on the other hand, has no such defence, a pointless episode with little of note, with a reliance upon so-called comedy which simply isn't funny. Double or Nothing beats both in terms of sheer awfulness, though. |
| 16. | AustinAug 20, 2007 (Mon) | |
| In reference to he "I invited him in" line, I think what she is saying is that even after they kissed, she didn't do anything to prevent him from coming in again, like hunting him or uninviting him, which she does later in the episode. Anyways thats my take on it based on the context. |
| 17. | LibMaxAug 22, 2007 (Wed) | |
| Dingdongalistic: "I think "Provider" does have some redeeming qualities, mainly in the fact that some of the comedy is genuinely funny. "Couplet", on the other hand, has no such defence, a pointless episode with little of note, with a reliance upon so-called comedy which simply isn't funny." [Smacking head] How could I have forgotten Couplet in my litany of bad Angel episodes?! What was it that TWOP said about it? "An evil force devours the characters' energy, turning them into lifeless hulks who can't take care of themselves. And there's also a demonic tree." |
| 18. | buffyholicAug 30, 2007 (Thu) | |
| Yeah, this episode is really poor for me. Although I say that no Buffy episodes is bad, this one actually is pretty bad. I don´t have the urge to see it very much. For me, the only good thing is Jenny Calendar and the dialogue |
| 19. | TamoraSep 9, 2007 (Sun) | |
| I personally quite liked this episode. Wasn't the best ever by any standards, but I would hardly give it an F. First of all, as someone else already mentioned, there was that pitch-perfect, spot-on, absolutly lovely ending. "Let's face it: none of us are ever gonna have a happy, normal relationship." "We're doomed!" They all laugh at the joke... until they realize that they've only said the truth. Hah. Teenage life, how it sucks. Espcially when one happens to live on a Hellmouth. I also especially liked the Books vs. Computers debates between Giles and Jenny, clearly leading up to their relationship though not quite there yet. Loved his speech about smells and textures... how a computer has no personality or feeligng like a book does. "If it's to last, the getting of knowledge should be tangible, it should be... smelly..." Me at my geekiest: I agree. Love computers, but books own any computer's non-existant ass. And finally, there was the classic metaphor du jour, this one being about romantic relationships, the lack thereof, the desperation for affection and what that can lead to. So many people - especially teenagers, who are all quite emotionally vulnerable (which sucks) - are just about strving for love. Not just in a familial or platonic way, but in a romanitc sense. We can't help it: we're humans. And in many of these cases, people will jump at the first sign of affection, following the person/demon/computer blindly into whatever may come. Willow, of course, is the easiest and simplest character for this to be expressed through. She is extremely vulnerable, especially in season 1, and when she is offered love (which, hey, she barely gets from her parents anyway), she is willing to do almost anything to secure that. Even if it means being a slave to an evil computerized demon with a funny name. This episode could have been executed much better, but all in all, I think it was pretty good. If anything, I must give credit to the fact that this sort of situation HAD to be addressed somehow. It's all too common in life, especially in high school. And ultimately, BtVS is a high-school nightmare story. ...except in seasons 4-7, when it's not. :) Ta. |
| 20. | BillFeb 9, 2008 (Sat) | |
| I personally liked the opening Moloch in Italy sequence, but I'm a sucker for demon stories from that time period. As for a point that I believe Latoya brought up earlier, "I met him online." "Online for what?" Buffy not hip to computer lingo. That is actually not computer lingo at all, it's actually an East Coast dialect reference. Let's say you are at Best Buy, in most parts of America you would say, "I'm in line at Best Buy". But, on the East Coast, and especially New York, you would say "Im online at Best Buy." Why Buffy who as far as we know has spent her entire life in California would be saying this I don't know, but that was a dialect issue. |
| 21. | MrBFeb 9, 2008 (Sat) | |
| The funniest part in this episode is in the credits. The name of the monk who does that awful speech that Giles has to repeat to bind the demon is listed as "Thelonious". Other than that, a waste |
| 22. | JadenJun 11, 2008 (Wed) | |
| call me insane but i dont think this is the worst ep in the series. the worst ep is probably where the wild things are as well...it has a SUCH a lame plot. this has a mediocre plot which wasn't presented very well but still had a mediocre climax and characters where wtwta had lame everything. this definately comes in the top 5 worst but not quite the worst. |
| 23. | wilpy1Jun 14, 2008 (Sat) | |
| I agree, Jaden, I'd say Where The Wild Things Are is the worst. It leaves me more embarrassed than I Robot You Jane, which leaves me suitably red-faced if I watch with someone. It's a shame these awful episodes are a part of the Buffyverse. |
| 24. | AnonDKJul 22, 2008 (Tue) | |
| Gotta say, though, his death is CLASSIC Buffy! With how cheesy he looked, and how she managed to outsmart him, and all that. Flipping hilarious :L Besides that, the ending, and all things Ms. Calender, yeah, this episodes blows. |
| 25. | SamNov 26, 2008 (Wed) | |
| Actually, from a technical standpoint, the worst episode ever might be Killed by Death. That one really scraped the bottom of the barrel. Everyone was acting way out of character, and the dialogue--with the exception of the Angel-Xander face-off--was dreadful. Also, the opening fight scene was poorly choreographed, even worse than most of the fights in S1. |
| 26. | DakotaDec 30, 2008 (Tue) | |
| I'm not going to lie...I realy liked this episode. Okay, it's not the most exciting episode, and I didn't like the robot body (or the fact that *that* was what he got trapped in). But overall, with the exception of "Jacked In" (which you're overplaying) I thought it was a clever episode. The end scene, we've been over, is great. The "reading" done by the computer? That was pretty cool. I think more than anything, you're all forgetting how little we knew about computers in 97 and how much more believable it was back then. Which is why there was the black screen for IMs. Not everyone knew what an IM was, so it was simpler to just create something that at the time would take less away from the episode. In the end, it's a very dated episode, but not necessarily bad. Buffy: I think I kinda capped it off with the whole nuclear war thing. Giles: You're right, yours was better... |
| 27. | NixFeb 18, 2009 (Wed) | |
| Now I know that looking for mistakes in this episode is like looking for fireflies in a supernova explosion, but this one nagged at me:
The demon finds info on Buffy by searching a completely implausible visual database at ludicrously low speeds (perhaps two records a second, come on, my ZX81 could do better than that) --- but then when it finds the record it spontaneously changes between frames. On one frame, her birthdate is 10/24/80 with a GPA of 3.4; a window expands to show the 'same' record, only the GPA seems to have magically changed to 2.8; then it is redisplayed for no obvious reason with a birthdate of 05-06-79! Talk about *shoddy* SFX work. (None of these birthdates seem to be in February, either, but I can understand nobody else wanting to rewatch this episode to establish consistency with it, not least since it can't keep such obscure facts as birthdate consistent between one frame and the next.) |
| 28. | NixFeb 18, 2009 (Wed) | |
| And two eps later we have *another* birthdate, in 1981! Sheesh, how many births can one girl have? (Two birthdates I can understand, I'm in that situation. But three?!)
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| 29. | GuidoMar 31, 2009 (Tue) | |
| This is the episode that convinced me that techno-science-fiction and mystical-demonic fantasy don't mix well on Buffy. The entire Buffy series had way too much high-tech, and way too many people doing things that no one should be able to do in the Buffyverse (IMO). Ridiculously lifelike robots, high school kids resurrecting the dead by sewing body parts together, ray guns, unexplained PHd-level knowledge (Willow, the Trio). I loved the series, and because I am more than happy to be in the presence of the Scoobies, I forgive even the worst episodes, but I think Buffy the Vampire Slayer could have been just as amazing without co-mingling science fiction with fantasy. This episode at least connects the two, but they don't connect very well. The series premise offers an explanation for the demons and witches—the Hellmouth—but no backstory (that I can recall) explains how any of the ridiculously high-tech knowledge (and the resulting gadgets) in the series just crop up out of nowhere. This stuff is incongruous in the Buffyverse, and Joss should have saved it for Firefly. |
| 30. | NixSep 10, 2009 (Thu) | |
| I place the ridiculously high-tech knowledge as being, well, hell, it's a fantasy. It's just a fantasy with implausible tech. Note that this implausible tech is produced only by psycho loners. Fans of _Girl Genius_ already know what I'm driving at: these mad scientist types, they're Sparks! And that is surely fantasy, or at least the fantastic side of SF. It surely isn't realism. (The Canonical Birthdate, btw, appears to be the 1981 one. At least that's the year we see on her gravestone in _The Gift_, and anything that appears in *that* is as canonical as anything gets.) |
| 31. | RandyDec 30, 2009 (Wed) @ 9:07pm | |
| I think this episode is almost redeemed by the fact that it's so bad it's funny. I got a friend hooked on the show (starting with some season 2 goodness) and then we started watching from the beginning. I found this episode pretty hilarious the second time around, and given the disclaimer: "brace yourself for the worst episode EVER" she had a pretty good time with it, too. :) |
| 32. | Mr. ValentineFeb 5, 2010 (Fri) @ 4:26pm | |
| I liked this episode, even though it was boring, hehe.
I didn't like the ''I'm jacked in'' thing too. It was said too many times indeed. Were the creators trying to create some new slang word or something? It was nice, seeing Willow in love. Do you know where I can find the plot? I really want to see it, I wonder why people call it the Fat Willow episode >.> |
| 33. | Pippa HallMar 5, 2010 (Fri) @ 3:41am | |
| This was actually the first episode of BTVS that I ever saw, flicked into the middle of it when it was on TV [years ago] and I didn't know who any of the characters were. Still I watched it to find out who the creepy Internet guy was and cos I had missed the beginning, I was surprised when it was a demon but I enjoyed it!
Anyhow I carried on watching the show after seeing this ep, so it didn't put me off, lol! |
| 34. | Nathan.TaurusMar 5, 2010 (Fri) @ 6:52pm | |
| I cannot believe you gave this episode a 10.
No episode of 'BtVS' deserves a score under 50. There are so many other shows with worse episodes, ie: almost every episode of 'Seinfeld', 'Frasier' and every single episode of reality shows like "---- Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing with the Stars". Okay, the "I'm jacked in" line was really, really, really bad, but we got the great ending with the gang realising their love life will always be doomed. And hot Buffy. Now my mind goes back to Sarah just after she was nearly electrocuted, lying on the floor still looking hot. |
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