Formulating the Plan 19:19-20:19 Buffy Graduation Pt 2

This scene is a prime example of Whedon’s talent of creating ensemble casts and weaving comedy into otherwise serious scenes. Whedon opens with a brief shot of the group in the library with Buffy sitting in a chair across the room while the others conjugate around the table. This second long shot immediately places Buffy in a position of authority, the central figure that the group will rally around. Buffy opens the dialogue, “That’s the basic plan. So…am I crazy?” This question invites each member of the team to express their opinion on Buffy’s plan to overtake the Mayor at the Ascension. Whedon displays his talent for balancing many different personalities in an ensemble as each character’s response showcases their individuality and works to situate their roles in the larger group unit that is essential to Buffy’s success. Willow responds immediately as she attempts to remain optimistic, evidently she is the hopeful one of the group and is sensitive to the feelings of others. Giles provides the first inadvertent support for Buffy’s plan in the sense that he doesn’t rule out to plan completely. His body language, constantly turned away from the group with his head down, suggests he doesn’t like to commit to a plan before he is sure it will be successful. In typical Whedon fashion, Oz’s line “we attack the mayor with hummus” line speaks to his comedic character but also works to break up the severity of or tension in the scene. Cordelia is very opinionated and isn’t afraid to say anything, even if it make might disrupt or complicate the group dynamic. She states “Buffy is slay gal. Little Miss-Likes-To-Fight…” which hints she might have some unresolved issues with Buffy. Xander keeps things light and redirects Cordelia’s rant with “I think there was a yay vote buried in there somewhere.” He is overly excited to be a key role in Buffy’s plan which insinuates that it doesn’t happen often.As evident in this one minute segment from Buffy, Whedon is able to create dynamic, diverse and intriguing ensembles which keeping the audience engaged with unexpected humor.

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