Buffy The Vampire Slayer, "Doppelgangland" Review (3x16)

Brief Synopsis: "Anya convinces an unsuspecting Willow to assist her with a spell that will return her amulet and her Vengeance Demon powers. Willow, sensing something wrong with the magic, balks at the last minute and disrupts the spell. Instead of returning the amulet, the spell summons the vampire version of Willow from the alternate universe in ‘The Wish’, and sets her loose in Sunnydale.”

"Consequences" (3x15) quick link here                                                                                                                                     "Enemies" (3x17) quick link here


Four quick notes before we get started...

1)    I will be reviewing the episodes in bullet point form. This is because it makes the reviews simple to read and helps break up the text.
2)    This review will almost definitely contain spoilers for episodes after this one.
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With that being said, let’s get started, shall we?



•    This episode is similar to “The Zeppo” in theme. While “The Zeppo” explored Xander’s identity and his perception of himself as a person, and his place within the Scooby Gang, this episode does almost exactly the same thing, but for Willow. It doesn’t explore Willow’s place within the Scoobies, but it does explore her identity, her sense of self-worth and her perception of herself. “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” uses the vampire version of Willow from “The Wish” in order to do this. When you really stop to think about this season, it’s all about identity. Buffy’s identity is constructed and deconstructed in “Helpless”, when she has to face the reality of being powerless for the rest of her life. Her identity is also explored through the use of Faith. Faith represents everything that Buffy isn’t. She’s the polar opposite Slayer to what Buffy is. As mentioned above, Xander’s identity is explored more deeply than we’ve seen thus far in “The Zeppo”. Giles’ identity is deconstructed in “Helpless” as well, after he’s fired from the Watcher’s Council. The profession that Giles has been destined for his whole life has been snatched away from him. Oz has to deal with the wolf inside of him more deeply than he did in season two, Cordelia is facing Sunnydale High significantly less popular than she was before due to being cheated on by Xander...now, it’s Willow’s turn for some character growth. Boy, does it deliver!
•    I absolutely adore this episode. It’s one of my favourite episodes of my favourite season. You can definitely tell that Joss Whedon personally wrote and directed this episode. It has his trademark humour and styling all over it. The placement of this episode is also a treat. “Bad Girls” and “Consequences” were both really heavy. They were highly emotional and very dark in theme. “Enemies” and “Earshot” are also quite heavy and emotional episodes. “Doppelgangland” is wonderfully placed in that it breaks up all the drama with some much needed humour. It’s a feel good episode! It doesn’t start out that way, but the last third of this episode is pee-your-pants funny...I didn’t, I swear.

Has anyone else noticed that episode sixteen is usually a comedic episode that is stand-alone (or relatively stand-alone)? “Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered”, “Doppelgangland”, “Storyteller”…I wonder if that’s a coincidence? It probably boils down to the fact that around this time in the season the audience needs a little interlude before continuing with the dramatic season arc.

•    As mentioned above, “Doppelgangland” acts as a wonderful deconstruction and rebuilding of Willow’s character, self-esteem, and her perception of self-worth. The episode starts with Willow feeling pushed around and unappreciated. Principal Snyder practically forces Willow to tutor Percy, and then Buffy and Xander make things worse by calling Willow “old reliable”, which, sadly, is accurate. Willow is the most consistently dependable person on the show (historically, I would have said Giles, but his reliability has been tarnished since drugging Buffy in “Helpless”). Willow is reliable to a fault sometimes. It’s gotten to the point where people just expect Willow to do what they ask her to, regardless of how Willow feels or if she’s busy. In her final year of high school, Willow is currently studying for final exams, tutoring Percy, being a substitute teacher, and battling the forces of darkness. Case in point...

Willow: “I just hate how he bullies people. He just assumes that everyone’s time is his.”
Giles: “Willow, get on the computer. I want you to take another pass at accessing The Mayor’s files.”
Willow: “Okay.”

I think Willow needs a holiday.

Anya tries to jump on the ‘Willow abusing’ bandwagon by asking Willow to participate in a spell to retrieve her amulet and her Vengeance Demon powers. It goes wrong and vampire Willow from “The Wish” arrives in Sunnydale! What vampire Willow represents is a version of Willow that isn’t a pushover. A version that isn’t too nice or too afraid to say no to people...plus, she’s leather-clad. Big bonus points. After all my poutiness at none of the Scoobies remembering the events of “The Wish”, the Scoobies do find out snippets of information here. It’s still not enough and glosses over the most important parts (what Sunnydale was like without Buffy), but at least they know something now. They know that alternative realities exist, they know that Xander and Willow are vampires in one, and they know that The Bronze is a gimp club in it.

The cute scene between Buffy and Willow by the tree outside Sunnydale High is repeated later in the season. They have another cute conversation by the same tree in “Choices”. This scene is setting up the rest of the episode. Buffy and Willow are talking about how different Buffy could have turned out if certain circumstances had changed. She could have ended up just like Faith. Willow tells Buffy that some people just don’t have that evilness in them. Enter vampire Willow.

Alyson Hannigan is perfect in this episode. She plays regular Willow and vampire Willow so much differently, yet you can still see that they share similar personality traits. Through her doppelganger, Willow finds a certain amount of courage and confidence. She gets to see a different side of herself. A side that is confident and takes charge. This ultimately leads to Willow being able to be these things herself. Not to the same extent that vampire Willow is, but regular Willow is definitely more confident by the end of this episode. Unlike Xander’s character development after “The Zeppo”, Willow’s doesn’t disappear again by the next episode. Willow’s increased confidence and self-esteem remains.

•    Vampire Willow: “Bored now...”

Vampire Willow saying this particular phrase and having lesbian tendencies are both preludes to what the future holds for Willow. I doubt the “bored now” was planned to be used later at this time (it was probably used again in “Villains” because they remembered vampire Willow saying it here), however, vampire Willow having lesbian tendencies was definitely a prelude to Willow becoming a lesbian. Since “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” started, Joss always wanted to either turn Xander gay or turn Willow into a lesbian. He laid the groundwork for Xander in “Phases” (the conversation with Larry), in case he decided to go down that path. In this episode he lays the groundwork for Willow.

Willow: “That’s me as a vampire? I’m so evil and skanky…and I think I’m kinda gay.”
Buffy: “Willow, just remember a vampire’s personality has nothing to do with the person it was.”
Angel: “Well, actually…it’s a good point.”

•    I felt genuine empathy for Oz when he sees vampire Willow at The Bronze. As far as he is aware the love of his life has just been killed. This episode had turned emotional and distressing at this point. Then comes the library scene and my stomach explodes with laughter. Oh God, I can’t! It shouldn’t be funny. The Scoobies are all heartbroken over Willow’s death. However, we know the truth, so it’s absolutely hilarious. Kudos to Joss for being able to switch this episode into a comedic one. It shouldn’t be able to be possible. Not only does Joss manage it, but he manages it so successfully. Hilarious highlights :-

Xander shakes the cross, wondering why it isn’t repelling Willow. I have tears in my eyes.

Willow then looks to Giles, confused as to why Buffy and Xander just randomly hugged her...and then...one of the greatest things in the world happens...Giles lunges at Willow and hugs her! Willow’s look of horror and shock makes me die! I can’t breathe, send help! IT’S THE FUNNIEST PART OF THE EPISODE!

Willow’s face as she says to Xander, “I’m not a vampire!”

Buffy: “Giles, plan on jumping in with an explanation any time soon?”
Giles: “Well, something very strange is happening.”
Xander: “Can you believe the Watcher’s Council let this guy go?”

The library scene is without a doubt one of the funniest scenes in the history of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”. It’s probably good for my health that this scene ended. So damn funny. Then, just moments later, the episode cuts back to the library as Angel storms in declaring that Willow is dead! I’ve got to admit, I was a little touched at Angel’s genuine distress over Willow’s ‘death’. He’s never been overly close to Willow, so it was satisfying to know that he likes her enough to grieve over her death. They’ve never had a real one-on-one conversation except in season two’s “Lie To Me”. I get particular satisfaction out of his double-take at seeing that Willow is alive and well. Even Angel is funny in this episode! I didn’t think that was possible until after he moved to Los Angeles!

I’ve got to admit, it’s a little creepy that vampire Willow is sexually attracted to herself as a human. Does this mean that deep down Willow has body confidence?

I thought that the metaphor of Willow gaining confidence by seeing herself from another point of view was wonderfully handled. Then Joss literally puts Willow in vampire Willow’s shoes (and leather!) and it suddenly gets even better. Willow has to play a character that is strong, powerful, commanding, respected, and confident. Even though Willow is a terribly unconvincing version of vampire Willow (she’s too cute and friendly. I love that she waved at Oz!), some of these traits do stick with her. Seriously, how did Anya and the big vampire not realise that Willow wasn’t a vampire immediately?! Shouldn’t the vampire be able to sense that Willow is a human? Angel can sense these things in Los Angeles! Willow (as vampire Willow) mentions that she killed human Willow. In a roundabout way, this turns out to be true. After this episode, the shy, nervous, pushed-around Willow is dead. What emerges from her ashes is the more confident Willow. Look at how Willow talks to Faith in “Choices”! It’s a whole new world, people! 

Willow stops Buffy from killing the alternate reality version of herself. I think this is because Willow views vampire Willow as an extreme version of what she could be like if she’d made much worse choices in life. Willow can’t stand for Buffy to kill vampire Willow because vampire Willow is her! Regardless of how much of a warped version she is, she’s still Willow. Willow even becomes friends with vampire Willow and gives her a hug (“Hands! Hands!”)!

While I’m on the subject, I dislike the continuity in “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” regarding siring. In “The Harvest”, Giles clearly states that after you become a vampire, everything you were is gone. Nothing remains except the monster that killed you. When Buffy tells Willow in this episode that a vampire’s personality has nothing to do with the person they were, Angel disagrees with that statement (or is about to). Vampire Willow’s “bored now” and lesbian tendencies also negate what Giles said in “The Harvest”. I like the fact that vampires keep a little bit of the personality that was there before; I just dislike that it wasn’t that way from the beginning.

Due to vampire Willow, regular Willow realises that she does have a lot to offer to the Scoobies, but she doesn’t have to be a pushover to everyone around her in order to be useful. Sweet mother, growth! Not only does vampire Willow serve this purpose, but she also stops Percy from being such a jackass, so it’s a win-win situation.


Some other thoughts on “Doppelgangland”...

•    This episode is also noteworthy for marking D’Hoffryn’s first appearance in the Buffyverse. The actor behind the make-up, Andy Umberger, goes on to star in Angel season one’s  “I Fall To Pieces” as Dr. Ronald Meltzer (the creepy bastard that can remove his limbs at will), as well as starring in the “Firefly” pilot episode, “Serenity”, as Dortmunder Captain.
•    I have a severe dislike of Percy. He’s lazy, arrogant, obnoxious, and annoying. If only a red-headed vampire would scare him into being less of a douche...
•    There’s a very small moment in this episode that I find significant. After Faith comes back from training with an out-of-breath Wesley, she says “good luck” to Buffy. The way in which Faith says this makes me wonder if she’s feeling guilty about her decision to join The Mayor. It’s a very small moment, but Faith says it with such sympathy in her voice...or is it a clever ruse to throw the Scoobies off of her betrayal trail? Now I’m gonna be stuck with serious thoughts all day...
•    Faith’s apartment is fantastic. It’s such an upgrade from her dingy motel room. To Faith, this is just affirmation that she made the correct choice in joining The Mayor. She’s living the life of luxury for the first time in her life. Also, sometimes I forget just how old this show is...then I see how excited Faith gets over being told that she has a Playstation One in her apartment. Damn, I feel so old!
•    Anya: “Fine, go! Idiot child…”
     Willow: “I believe these chicken feet are mine!”
•    K’s Choice’s song “Virgin State Of Mind” is one of the best songs that was ever played at The Bronze. It works perfectly for the scene and it’s a damn fine tune. It’s another one of those songs that I keep on my iPod at all times.
•    The sound of vampire Willow breaking that vampire’s fingers is so cringe-worthy! Bleaugh! It’s so much worse than the visual.
•    Bar Tender: “I.D.”
     Anya: “I’m 1,120 years old! Just gimme a frickin’ beer!”
     Bar Tender: “I.D.”
     Anya: “…Gimme a coke….”

It must be quite the adjustment for a 1,120-year-old former Vengeance Demon to not even be able to buy an alcoholic beverage anymore. Talk about a fall from grace...

•    Vampire Willow turns a girl named ‘Sandy’ into a vampire in this episode. Keep an eye out for Sandy again in season five. She meets Riley in a bar and he ends up staking her.

•    Willow: “Gosh, look at those.”

I can say with some certainty, Willow, that we already were looking at those...

•    Cordelia finally finds the right moment to talk to Willow about Willow and Xander’s affair, when Willow is a vampire and is locked inside a cage. It goes to show just how clueless and self-involved Cordelia is that she doesn’t even notice that Willow is a vampire with a huge change in personality.
•    Well, Wesley, you almost had a manly moment there. Then you ruined it by shrieking when Cordelia touched your shoulder. Can you believe this is the same guy from season 3-5 of “Angel”? So. Much. Character. Development.
•    As far as character development in a single episode goes, this might be the finest 40 minutes that the Buffyverse ever produced. Not only is it a joy to watch for comedic reasons, but it’s also a wonderfully uplifting story and a very important part of Willow’s character. Go back to “Welcome To The Hellmouth”, and then jump forward to this episode. The change in Willow’s confidence levels by the end of this episode is a thing to be admired.


Quote Of The Episode

Giles: “She was truly the finest of all of us.”

Xander: “Way better than me.”

Giles: “Much, much better.”

That exchange is absolutely hilarious. The entire scene is wonderful. It shouldn’t be, because they are all miserable and think Willow is dead, but as we know she’s not, it’s amusing. On a sadder note, Giles’ reaction to Xander here is a little upsetting. We already know that Xander has a strained relationship with both of his parents (so much so that he sleeps outside on Christmas Eve to avoid their drunken fights). Willow receives a surrogate father in Giles, whereas Xander never does. Giles views Xander as an annoyance and never treats him with love like he does Buffy and Willow.


FINAL SCORE: 9/10

What are your thoughts on "Doppelgangland"? Did you enjoy this episode? Dislike it? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments section below!

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