Discussion Thread - S4E10 - "Hush"

[BBOvenGuy]

Hey, we never got to have one of these the first time around, because before "Hush" there was no W/T, so with the moderators' indulgence I shall say...

After you've seen the episode (again), this is the place to discuss it.

By the way, how many Kittens are seeing this episode for the very first time this week? Was it everything you'd been led to believe?

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Remember the Kitten Board Mantra: "Joss is nuts about Tara, Willow/Tara and Amber!"

"...while i'm here, can I just echo what that other guy said? I think it went something like this: Amber Benson.... Amber Benson..." - Joss Whedon, November 6 2001

"Hannigan..... did you hear that?" - Joss Whedon, November 13 2001

[This message has been edited by BBOvenGuy (edited December 11, 2001).]

[Pixie-Muso]

Ok. Hush was the very first entire eppy of BtVS I had ever watched. Being in Oz - a place where the regular air-time for Buffy is 10:30pm at the earliest - I hadn't really ever been interested in watching (sacreligious - I know). For some reason - that night was the night I decided to watch. Anyway - it got me hooked. There was something extremely special about the episode. Well... it was our beloved Tara's first eppy. I guess that can explain it.

It was repeated again here earlier this year - the week after Forever was aired. The Ch. 7 TV announcer claimed it to be a critically acclaimed episode - I don't care if he was right or not - I thought it was brilliant anyway.

I guess looking at it structurally, this eppy was the first we saw of Tara - our shy, little wiccan - the one who realised there was something special about Willow. Also - seeing that vendor machine fly across the room made Willow feel a power that was stronger than her own - which must have been a very special moment for her indeed.

A funny and favourite line from that episode though:

"Yeah, and then we can all get on our broomsticks and then we can fly off on our broom sticks."

... one of the few lines actually spoken in the the ep. Oh, and:

Willow: "I need vicarious smoochies."

.. gotta love that one.

Ummm... I know I had some more analysese about he ep, but they've just flown out of my head. Oh well, hopefully I'll remember them later.

Oh! Yeah. Seeing the actirs perform in a muted style was also very interesting. It was able to show the audience a different talent and style of their work. Also, the many visual gags (i.e. the scene in the lecture hall with Gile and the over-head projector) made for comical memories.

I think that's all I have to say for now. I may go watch it later. Right now, season 3 is being re-run here. I just bought the box-sets anyway. Hopefully season 6 should be on its way soon!

P.S. I guess looking at the Gentlemen as the enemy - the demons to be defeated was also intersting. Their faces weren't ones you would easily forget. Their characters were also plated rather well. Because they were "Gentlemen" it added a bit more spookiness to them. Not being able to scream out while being cut up leaves you with a weird feeling - well leaving the viewer with quite a sense of disgust - but showing the effectiveness of the plot and evil characters.

Once again, it was the ep. that got me hooked. I loved it!!!

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"...the hardest thing in this world is to live in it..."
~Buffy, The Gift.

edited for lame typos!

[This message has been edited by Pixie-Muso (edited December 11, 2001).]

[Dr.G]

Oh it has been a while since I watched this ep for the first time. I was just a fan the show in general at the time. I think I had subscribed myself to the Buffy newsletter at the time, my first step on the way of spoilerhoness.

Anyway, I was still unaware of the future W/T relationship and Willow was my favourite character. I loved her developing witchy powers. What I remember at the time is that I loved the ep, it was one of the creepiest things I had ever seen (me being a former horror movie fan), it also had some of the funniest moments in the show up to that point. The scene in which Giles explains the gentlemen was hilarious and brilliant.

Then there was of course Willow and Tara, I have said this before, and I shall say it again, to my everlasting shame I missed the chemistry. Totally. I was bummed because Willow needed Tara to move the machine. Willow was my witch and here comes Tara and I did not like it Willow needed her to move it.

It did not take me long to recover from my temporary blindness regarding W/T though, but it did take a while (almost a year I think) before I saw Hush again, and then I did see it: sizzling sparkling scorching chemistry.

Of course I was no longer objective at the time, but I do not care. Hush remains one of my favourite episodes, both in general and W/T wise. I cannot praise this ep enough for originality, creepyness, humour, action and for being the start of the most magical relationship I ever have seen.

[This message has been edited by Dr.G (edited December 11, 2001).]

[Jae]

Since I seem to be suffering from insomnia (though my suffering has been considerably lightened by catching up on the fics ) I figured I might as well make a post...

Wow, was all I could say. I saw "Hush" for the first time, and once again "wow" Beautifully done. I mean, how many shows can have... 30 minutes? Maybe more? completely unspoken while keeping up the interest of the audience in addition to making it properly spooky. So many wonderful moments, too: the aforementioned projector scene, Xander's first reaction of blaming Spike (then calling Buffy and Willow), Willow assuming she's gone deaf, the W/T goodness(!!), and the overall acting was phenomenal.

Yes, I definitely could see the sparkage. Interesting, though, considering from what I understand they didn't develop the idea for the relationship til later. I mean, the hand holding longer than neccessary, the compliments Tara pays Willow (The lines themselves escape me at 4am, go figure), all of it shows how the relationship started, yet no one knew... and how was that for a run on sentence? Okies, enough out of me... I'll try and sleep again as my level of coherance has likely dropped beyond anyone understanding what I'm saying. Writing, that is. Yeah.

[tyche]

Re-run info - this thread seeme as good a place as any:
Source: http://tv.zap2it.com/

quote:

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UPN Holds Onto 'Buffy' Classics
Thu, Dec 6, 2001 02:52 PM PDT

by Vanessa Sibbald
Zap2it.com, TV News

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - For those wondering why FX isn't airing classic "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" episodes in syndication -- especially since the episodes are airing in episodic order -- it's because "Buffy's" new home, UPN, plans on airing them itself.

Included in its deal with 20th Century Fox Television for "Buffy," UPN reserved certain episodes from the annals of the show's five seasons, including last season's critically acclaimed "The Body" and the mostly-silent "Hush," a UPN spokeswoman tells Zap2it.com.

As part of the deal, those episodes reserved have been held back from syndication and cable broadcast until they air on UPN.

Wanting to wait a little longer before repeating season six episodes, UPN worked with "Buffy" executive producers Joss Whedon and Marti Noxon on picking which episodes to air during the show's brief three-week hiatus in December.

"Hush" will air Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 8 p.m., followed by "The Body" on Dec. 18 and "Buffy vs. Dracula" on Dec. 25. New episodes will continue airing on New Year's Day.

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Timothy Dalton should get an Oscar and BEAT SEAN CONNERY OVER THE HEAD WITH IT!!quote:

[Web Warlock]

Hush. I know people can go on and on about "The Body", but seriously this best episode of Buffy ever.

On the surface we have the silence. This makes the episode even more tense, and it is used to great effect.

Then we have The Gentlemen. This guys were so creepy. I have been watching horror movies for the better part of 30 years, these guys were great. Easily one of the most exciting villians. While I love to see them again, I hate to cheapen it.

For these reasons alone this ranks it among the best episodes of Buffy. But we also got this other little bit.

My wife and I watched this the first time we saw the fireworks/chemistry between Willow and Tara and we *knew* then that they were going to be something special. It was great to watch.

Really looking forward to seeing it again.

Warlock

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Web Warlock
web.warlock@attbi.com webwarlock@planetadnd.com
Author, the Netbooks of Witches and Warlocks
The Other Side: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/~theotherside/
The DnD Community Council: http://www.dndcommunitycouncil.org/nbownw
--
"If that is all the Gods can do then I'm over to the Dark Side so fast!" - Tom Servo, MST3k

[Eyes Without A Face]

Also in Hush, Xander first shows that he really loves Anya (the really loving kiss he gives her after he jumped on Spike to pummel him). Those brownie points are immediately rewarded by Anya making a little gesture of obvious meaning.

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Wallpapers

[eekiboo]

i can't get enuf of HUSH! watched it last night on the Space channel and am going to watch it again tonight on its Tuesday run. just seeing w/t hold hands just melts me away everytime!

W: i'm definitely nothing special.
T: no, you are!

peace.

[april]

remember everyone, don't post spoilers for "doomed" or any of those *other* unreliable season 4 spoilers that wanda's got up...

as *if* oz or faith were coming back by the end of the season... pff.

edited to add: this friday (dec 14) will be the two year anniversary of the original airing of "hush", as well as the two year anniversary of willow and tara's first meeting. we've come a long way, kitties.

[This message has been edited by april (edited December 11, 2001).]

[Anakin1218]

Hush was the one ep that cemanted just how much I loved Btvs;I caught the spark between Wilow and Tara righ away Or maybe that was b/c I was so hoping for something like their relationship on tv.

Happy two year anivasary

Reba will be seeing it for the first time tonight

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"My heart doesn't stutter" -Tara

[ellenfan]

Hush first aired here in Germany in February or March of this year, so it hasn´t actually been that long since I´ve seen it. Before Hush, I had only seen a few episodes of BtVS and didn´t really pay much attention to the show. After Hush, I made sure not to miss one episode.

I was so fascinated by that episode, partly because of Willow and Tara. Their chemistry was so obvious to me, I just couldn´t believe it when I read that when they shot Hush, it wasn´t intended yet that Willow and Tara would become a couple.

Unfortunately, I didn´t tape the episode, I´d love to see it again. I really envy you guys

[Web Warlock]

I am such a little slut.

I just downloaded and re-watched Hush from abmbtvs. Best copy I have seen, wide screen, vcd. Gonna have to burn that one.

I forgot about the X/A interaction (well, I did remember Anya's use of sign language).

This one really does get better with multiple watchings. That Joss he's clever one.

Though now I miss Olivia. Whatever happened to her?

Warlock

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Web Warlock
web.warlock@attbi.com webwarlock@planetadnd.com
Author, the Netbooks of Witches and Warlocks
The Other Side: http://www.xtreme-gaming.com/~theotherside/
The DnD Community Council: http://www.dndcommunitycouncil.org/nbownw
--
"If that is all the Gods can do then I'm over to the Dark Side so fast!" - Tom Servo, MST3k

[Scarecrow]

Hush is an all time fave of mine.

You know I reckon the Gentlmen are creepy enough to carry there own film; we have a numbe rof tacky horror these days, i'd love to see Joss to a 'sequel' where they show up in a town of non-super teens. Could definitly be fun!

And of course W/ T / Drinks machine. Need i say anymore? :-)

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"Liberate tutemet ex inferis"

"She's my everything"
- Willow

"For some people small beautiful events are what life is all about"
- 5th Doctor

"We all have a Universe of our own terrors to face"
- 7th Doctor

[tommo]

I'm pretty excited about seeing it to be honest. It's been so long since I've watched this ep and tonight I get to watch it with Deb (on her request) which is always a good thing. Recruit! I say, recruit!

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"You evil bitch troll from hell!" ~ Patsy Stone

[Brynn]

I am very excited to see Hush again. I was a casual Buffy viewer before this ep, but I saw the sparks between Tara and Willow and was hooked. I really wanted to see if a relationship was going to bloom (or if I was seeing things!).

Plus, the Gentleman were excellent bad guys --- so scary and polite all at once. The way they float instead of walking is the best!

They reminded me of the bad guys in the movie "Dark City." Check it out!

[Scarecrow]

The funny thing is that the aliens in dark City, and the city itself, were so blanatantly influenced and based on the Hellraiser Cenobites.
And, i've probably mentioned this before, but the main two female leads in Hellbound: hellraiser II are so obviously attarcted to each other!

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"Liberate tutemet ex inferis"

"She's my everything"
- Willow

"For some people small beautiful events are what life is all about"
- 5th Doctor

"We all have a Universe of our own terrors to face"
- 7th Doctor

[JD Perry]

Being currently 1) sick and 2) bored, I happened to watch my tape of Hush just yesterday and was struck by a few things.

Now the first time around, I'll admit that my partner and I kind of gave each other a fish eye over that last scene with W/T really talking for the first time. We really do that when we see any potential F/F pairing, kind of a 'hey, did you see what I just saw?' thing.

But when I was rewatching it I was really struck by how clear it was that Tara was flirting with Willow there at the end and more importantly that Willow seemed to both realize that and like it. I remembered the intensity of Tara's stares and all that, but in retrospect it's the intensity of Willow's responses that really got to me. I suppose I'd been in the place where I thought of Tara having a serious interest before Willow did, but I'm changing my mind now and thinking that it was very mutual right from the start.

Except of course that Willow had some issues about it all.

And the other thing was that, even though I have a massive crush on Amber, I think I was so caught up in her performance with it's mystery, awkwardness and painful shyness that I didn't really look at how freakin' gorgeous she was. Wow. The color of her eyes when she is staring at Will in that wicca meeting is just amazing.

And also, it's interesting how Will really did lie about Tara from the very beginning. When she was griping to Buffy about no witches being at her witch group, I think it wouldn't have been out of place for her to add something like 'Well, there was this one girl that seemed like she might know something...' And certainly you would think she would have mentioned their laundry room escapade. That also really supports the idea of Will's romantic interest from the beginning, because why hide it if there's nothing to hide?

Having rewatched so much of the first seasons on FX it's also interesting to note what a contrast Will's reaction to Tara is to the first few Oz eps. Which basically consisted of him staring at her and doing the "Who's that girl?" thing, and her walking right past him and not even noticing him there.

JD

[This message has been edited by JD Perry (edited December 11, 2001).]

[Wiccagrrl]

I'm sure I'll have more to say after the ep airs tonight, but I just wanted to chime in and say how much I *love* this ep. The silence is such a perfect way to show the difference between talking and truly communicating. The Gentlemen are the all-time creepiest monsters on Buffy. I really liked Olivia, so it was great to see her. And, of course...TARA!!! The chemistry was obvious right from the start. I actually started watching the show regularly during the fourth season. I was just entranced. I was pretty much hooked even before this ep, but Hush cinched it. I was a Buffy, and especially a W/T, fan

[Dazey]

quote:

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Originally posted by april:
this friday (dec 14) will be the two year anniversary of the original airing of "hush", as well as the two year anniversary of willow and tara's first meeting.

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If I ever become President, Dec. 14 will be a national holiday. We will all drink soda and eat lemon bundt cake and human hearts. Oops, no, forget that last one.

But seriously folks...shouldn't we mark this occasion in some way? Not that I have any suggestions, mind you. I just come up with the big ideas.

Of course I will be watching "Hush" tonight, even though I have it on tape and have seen it many many times. There's just something special about it actually being on TV.quote:

[TaraWannabe]

For me yesterday was a big W/Tday. "Hush" for the first time, finally seeing the beginning of W/T (somehow that UPN exclusive deal does not apply to the Canadian SPACE channel, why that?!).

But they didn't air it until 5 p.m. (Pacific time) and in the afternoon I had some time for shopping. I went to the local comic store to get the newest Buffy comic (this time with quite some more Tara; judging from the preview picture W/T will even be on the cover next time!). Anyway, when I was just about to leave, two familiar faces caught my attention. There was that single W/T card at the front of the box with the Buffy collector cards. Wow, that's so cool! So I asked if I could buy just that one card, but they said it is a promo card that fell out some magazine and they don't sell that...but if I really want it I can just have it!

I love that card. It actually says 'Lovers' on it!

Okay, okay...back to Hush. It was great and I though it was quite obvious that there was more going on when Tara initiated the hand holding and then they didn't stop holding. Even before that, after Tara ran into Willow they both run away with Tara pushing Willow ahead. It's the way she touches Willow when they run, it seems to be more like she is holding on to her partner than to a person she just met. Seems to be kinda protective, the way you protect a loved one. Hm, maybe I am reading too much into that though...

I didn't think the talk on the end was that obvious. The first time I watched it (I watched it again at the late-night screening) I really thought Tara is just talking about Willow's magic powers. The second time I became unsure what she really tried to say. I made a copy for myself with only the W/T moments of Hush following each other. Then it immadiately follows the hand holding and what Tara says seems to continue what they started in the scene before, a touch of romance...

Anyway, quite a different Tara than in season six, hu?

[This message has been edited by TaraWannabe (edited December 11, 2001).]

[swimcap]

Can someone tell me where I can download this episode? I'm new to Buffy and missed this one (evidently twice).

Thanks, cap

[Dazey]

swimcap, I see from your profile that you are in the US..."Hush" is airing tonight, Tuesday the 11th, on UPN at 8:00 PM. Don't miss it! Tape it!

And TaraWannabe, exactly what magazine did this card fall out of?

[TaraWannabe]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dazey:

And TaraWannabe, exactly what magazine did this card fall out of?[/B]

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They didn't mention it and I didn't ask (didn't even think about asking). I was just too excited that I found this card without having to buy countless sets of these cards before finally finding the real one in there somewhere.

(They didn't have any newer Buffy -related magazine in the store though. Maybe the falling out part already happened a while ago.)

Sorryyyy....
quote:

[swimcap]

Thanks Dazey

I thought it was the episode that was on last week.

[Saena]

Personally this will be my fourth time watching the episode (if they air the season 4 finale someday it will be my third? fourth? time seeing that) and it is one of my favorites. I especially enjoyed that there were still comic elements, like the two characters speaking into the phone even though they couldn't speak, and the look Spike gives Xander when he tries to do aforementioned act, and Gile's overly comic drawing of Buffy on the overhead. Gotta love it.
I have to admit that I was younger when this ep first aired and I was scared beyond belief by the Gentlemen, but now that I have seen it more times I am more connected to it. Since it's been at least a year since I've seen Hush, this will be a very new experience in a way. Hope I don't sound crazy.
Well, enjoy. I know the words "Joss Rules!" will be running through my head.

[Eyes Without A Face]

Hehe. Buffy showing that her hips aren't that wide.

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Wallpapers

[Incarnadine]

Even better, Buffy showing how she'll kill them (without the actual stake). The looks from the group then Buffy are priceless.

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"Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love... the clarity of hatred... and the ecstasy of grief."
-Angelus

[Roxton]

quote:

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Originally posted by Web Warlock:
but seriously this best episode of Buffy ever.

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I totally agree with you Web Warlock, Hush has to be considered the best of the best. It's a brilliant combination of horror and humor that keeps you riveted to your seat.

It was also great to see the stunt work of Jeff Pruitt and Sophia Crawford again. In my view they were the best.

quote:

[Scout]

Just watched it for the first time on TV (as opposed to tape). I can't believe that Joss didn't have those two in mind as a couple from the start. When they're holding hands after they've moved the machine, you get chills just from watching their reactions. And the way they smiled at each other when they were talking in the end - if that isn't "a love meant to be" I don't know what is!

Great ep!!

[This message has been edited by Scout (edited December 11, 2001).]

[Fenriss]

A tour de force, no matter how many times you watch it! I’m definitely in the “saw it from the beginning” camp as far as the chemistry. I had a group of friends over when it aired for the first time, and as soon as it was over, and we had command of our voices again (!!!) we were saying “Whoa! Willow’s got a girlfriend!”

Let me point out that I always loved Oz. I identified with him, and loved him with Willow and I was crushed by his infidelity with Veruca. But I was NEVER a “shipper” for any couple until we met Tara. Gods, I forgot how gorgeous she struck me in that first shot, looking up from under her hair. Yowza.

A couple other things: Isn’t Olivia fabulous? I totally hope she shows up on Ripper. She seems to be the only survivor of what one angry young fan charmingly termed the “Buffy Black Death.” (Hasn’t that been discussed here before? How we can’t seem to keep a recurring African-American character alive?) Still, she disappeared without an explanation after her (seemingly) significant cameo in “Restless”.

Also, how about the “Flaming Trash Barrel of the Apocalypse”? Like, how many eps where all Hell breaks loose are also punctuated with burning 55 gallon drums? Hush, Bargaining and Once More with Feeling have all had them. Can anyone think of other appearances of the FTBA?

Finally, my obscure literary reference (I do that too much); who else looks at the Gentlemen and thinks of Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar from Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere? They don’t really look like the descriptions of the characters, but the feel is just the same. IMHO.