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by Frederic Germay
"Hush" is one of the greatest episodes from the greatest show of all time. Ironically, this episode was Emmy-nominated for writing, when the episode featured approximately 27 minutes of no dialogue. Even more ironic was that this episode was the sole nominee in Buffy's seven-season run, when this show was more than Emmy-worthy on innumerable occasions. Prepare for a slightly long post…
Writer, director, and creator, Joss Whedon was directly responsible for delivering one of the funniest, creepiest, and scariest episodes in television history. All throughout this episode, composer Christopher Beck delivers a truly haunting score. For the role of the Gentlemen, Whedon brilliantly decided to cast professional mimes, adding even more emotion to deafening silence that surrounded this episode.
The episode starts out with Professor Walsh talking about ideas, and how the magic of ideas lies in their conception and inspiration. I think her lecture may have been a pointed reference to the 'fairy tale' Gentlemen that come later in the episode. It could easily been entirely part of her dream -- all I could tell was that the dream started when Riley and Buffy got on Professor Walsh's desk. I know she's a little eccentric, but I don't think that she would go that far to teach a communication lesson.
The dream sequence then continued with Buffy watching a little girl singing that creepy (there's that word again) tune about the incoming Gentlemen…
"Can't even shout, Can't even cry,
The Gentlemen are coming by.
Looking in windows, knocking on doors,
They need to take seven, and they might take yours.
Can't say a word, you're gonna die screaming,
And you won't be heard…"
Speaking of this 'seven,' apparently the Gentlemen need seven hearts to complete their evil scheme -- Geez, could these guys get anymore creepier? Apparently so. The Gentlemen are one of the most terrifying incarnations to ever grace the television screen. Dressed in impeccable suits, complete with skeletal faces and shrunken eyes, these floating menaces glide a foot above ground with a metal grin plastered on their faces. The Gentlemen don't necessarily generate an "AHHHHHH, OMG" response, but more of a sense of awe at how creepy cool they are.
Once the Gentlemen steal everyone's voices, this episode starts to heat up. Buffy goes through her daily routine, brushing her teeth, etc., and then she goes to say 'good morning' to Willow, and nothing happens. This is one of the most interesting scenes in the episode. Willow automatically assumes that she's gone deaf, which Buffy quickly denounces. Xander wakes up and then blames Spike, wordlessly accusing him of stealing his voice. Xander gets on the phone to call Buffy, only to realize that phones are now pointless without the ability to talk. Riley and Forest try to get downstairs to the Initiative and nearly lose their lives when they fail to pass the voice recognition test.
Exactly how impacting this episode was going to be finally hit me when Buffy and Willow were walking down the street, while all chaos was breaking loose…
-A businessperson sat dejectedly on the side of the street, clutching his briefcase
-Robberies and looting were happening everywhere
-Priest was reading Revelations 15:1 to passersby in the street.
-A man was successfully profiting from this event by selling 'Mess Age' boards for $10 apiece
The second kiss between Riley and Buffy conveyed more emotion to me than the first, and spoke more than any verbal interaction could. Most importantly, it said what needed to be said, "Be safe, and no matter what, I love you." I loved how each specific group of people in the episode implemented their own rather poor version of communication, such as Buffy and Willow's message boards, and Walsh's Steven Hawkins-esque talking computer.
Then came, in my opinion, the most entertaining part of the episode -- the Gentlemen on the prowl. Gliding about town in their suits with those maniacal smiles still on their faces, wow, I think that their performance was Emmy-worthy by itself! Just the sight of them with their little lackeys skipping about felt like it had really been captured straight out of a fairy tale. I loved when they were gliding down the hallways in Stevenson Hall, deciding which room to enter in and kill. For me, the scariest part of the episode, was when they knocked on the college boy's door, and he opened, was immediately seized by the lackeys, and then they came in, slowly circling the boy's bed. They then proceeded to politely debate over which one would kill the boy, I guess that's why they are called the Gentlemen. I especially loved the bit when they applauded and congratulated themselves for their progress. So evil…
Following that definitely has to be best exposition sequence in Buffy history. Giles made me laugh with his inappropriately gory projections, and his drawing of a slightly plumper Buffy -- which she was quick to point out! I loved when Buffy asked whether the Gents could be staked and she made a staking gesture with her hand, which was hilariously misinterpreted by the Scooby Gang. However, this lovely scene did display one useful tidbit of information, the only way to kill the Gentlemen is by screaming. If only someone could scream…
I loved the way Tara was picking up her books, and you can just barely make out the Gents and their lackeys approaching in the background. Yet another excellent moment was when Olivia looks out the window to see a Gent passing by in the distance -- and one passes RIGHT by the window…tell me you didn't jump out of your seat at that moment!
This episode also marks the introduction of Tara. I wanted to decrease my rating of this episode to 9/10 because it had a lot of Tara in it. I know Whedon loved the Willow/Tara relationship, but I was still stuck on the Season 3 concept of Willow/Xander…and, oh yeah, Oz. I suppose I should forgive the appearance of Tara, because this was a couple of episodes before I started to feel like I would have to endure her breathless demeanor forever.
Despite a strong dislike for Riley, I appreciated the moment in the clock tower between Buffy and Riley when they first discover each other's secret identity, Buffy with crossbow in hand, and Riley in camouflage with stun gun in hand.
But they manage to band together in time to fight the evil lackeys, and Riley smashes the box with the voices in them. Armed with her regained voice, Buffy delivers one of the funniest and worst screams I have ever heard, and the Gentlemen's heads all pop in sick burst of green gloppiness (I know its not a word, just play along -- I'm coming off a Buffy high here!)
One of the funniest scenes in season 4 is when Spike finishes a cup of blood, goes all Vampy, and bends over to pick something up next to where Anya is sleeping. Xander walks in, sees Spike with his Vamp face on bent over Anya motionless body. Taking it the wrong way, Xander tackles Spike to the ground and starts beating him up. Anya, then satisfied that Xander cares, makes a rather suggestive hand gesture [children look away].
I think that the message that this episode conveys is that we all need to take a break from our fast-paced, informal lives, and simply embrace primitive methods of communication. Abandon overused and now meaningless verbal expressions, like "I love you," and replace it with a hug or a kiss.
Props to Sarah Michelle Gellar's flawless performance. I have never seen any actor/actress more talented than her! She deserves legions of Emmys and Academy Awards!
Some worthy-of-mentioning items and quotes…
-Buffy "Just tell me I didn't snore." Willow "Very discreet, minimal drool."
-Riley "So tell me about this dream. As a psych major, I'm qualified to go 'Hmm'"
-Riley "So what have you got going on tonight?" Buffy "Patrolling." Riley "Patrolling?" Buffy "Uh…Petroleum." Riley "Petroleum, tonight you have 'crude oil'?"
-Buffy "So what are you doing?" Riley "oh, grading papers." Buffy "Ah, that would be fun." Riley "Not Petroleum fun, but it passes the time."
-Xander to Spike "I happen to be very biteable pal. I am moist and delicious!"
-Giles "Could be one of your prophetic dreams, or it could just be the eternal mystery that is your mind"
-Anya "All you care about is a lot of [children cover your ears]"
-Giles saying that he has a 'friend' coming over, and Anya "Oh, an [cover your ears again] friend.
-Buffy "I get nervous and I start babbling, and he starts babbling, and it’s a babblefest." How much do you love Whedon right about now?!
This was one of the best episodes of Buffy I have ever seen.
I give this episode a 10/10.
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