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Date Posted: 19:41:40 02/28/04 Sat
Author: firechiLd
Author Host/IP: 203.48.107.226
Subject: The Essence of ...

One of the first things that drew me to watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was the large number of strong female characters, when TV at the time was a desert wasteland of female role models ('cepting that other Warrior Princess, Xena). The other thing that made this show stand out (especially in the early seasons), was that "sins were punished", and not in the wrapped up neatly in 45 minutes sense, but in the sometime, somehow, during the future of the show, the chickens would come home to roost. One of the first of these strong women, that would be punished for a transgression was ...

Jenny Calendar/Janna Kalderash

S1.08 I Robot, You Jane
Jenny's first episode, and the first I'd put in her collection. A nice introduction episode. She's new age and embracing technology, the antithesis of Giles and his "book learnin'". For the introductory episode I was looking at both Prophecy Girl, being the first time her life was in mortal danger and Some Assembly Required, being their first date, but decided on this episode for the final exchange between Giles and Jenny. Giles speech about the tangible qualities of books, and Jenny saying that the earring he returns is not "dangled" from her ear. They're so different, and yet they appreciate those differences. You just know they're gonna hook up.

Of course in retrospect, Jenny was planted by her family, thinking the best way to keep an eye on Angel, was to be the Love Interest of his Girlfriend's Watcher. (I'll give you a second to untangle that sentence.) Knowing this in retrospect, doesn't take away from her charm, or make me like her any less. I think it's because she is not really the bad guy. She's not being malicious, just doing a job she has been trained to her whole life. Watching Angel (which is ironic, don't you think?)

S 2.08 The Dark Age
JENNY : Did anyone ever tell you you're kind of a fuddy duddy?
GILES : Nobody ever seems to tell me anything else.
JENNY: Did anyone ever tell you you're kind of a sexy fuddy duddy?
GILES: Well, no, actually, that part usually gets left out. I can't imagine why.

The second episode to be included is where Giles and Jenny take their relationship to the next level. Not physically, but in the sense that the emotional baggage we carry around with us, effects new relationships. In the Buffyverse, this takes on a physical and menacing presence as Giles past comes back to haunt him. In this show, sins that you committed even before the first eipsode aired will come back to bite you on the arse. Giles past is not as everyone believed, and 'secrets' come out, threatening his relationship with Jenny. Jenny's past will also come to light shortly, with even more disastrous consequences.

GILES: I never meant for you to be involved in, uh, in any of this.
JENNY: So I got involved. It's what happens when two people ... get involved.

S 21.14 Innocence
And the Truth comes out. We learn what Jenny has been doing, and her Uncle explains why. Nobody harbors a grudge like a Gypsy, and nothing in the Buffyverse will ever be the same.

JENNY: (in the doorway) Do you, uh... Is there something I can do?
BUFFY: Get out.
JENNY: I-I just want to help.
GILES: She just said get out.

S2.17 Passion
JENNY: Rupert... I was raised by the people that Angel hurt the most. My duty to them was the first thing I was ever taught. I didn't come here to hurt anyone, a-and I lied to you because I thought it was the right thing to do. I... I didn't know what would happen. I didn't know I was gonna fall in love with you.

Whilst trying to atone (which I guess she does eventually in "Becoming") Jenny's story is ended in one of the shows first/best 'Holy Crap' moments (paraphrasing wwolfe) as a show regular is killed. She is given the chance to 'reconcile' with Giles and Buffy, and then is taken away. Appearing in just 12 episodes (plus 2 more after her death) she was a deeply loved character, and her death was as shocking as the show has seen.

BUFFY : Look... I know you feel badly about what happened, and I just wanted to say... Good. Keep it up.
JENNY: Don't worry, I will.
BUFFY: Oh, wait. Um... He misses you. He doesn't say anything, I mean, but I know he does. And I don't want him to be lonely. I don't want anyone to.
JENNY: Buffy, you know that if I have a chance to make this up...
BUFFY: (interrupts) We're... good here. Let's just leave it.

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Replies:

[> Very nice selection -- Pouncer, 13:59:11 03/01/04 Mon (199.114.61.82)

You could also consider Amends, for GhostJenny's appearance to fill Angel with guilt.

That visual of Giles collapsing in Passion, to the beautiful operatic selection, is gloriously painful.


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[> Hey, I got paraphrased! -- wwolfe, 14:40:22 03/01/04 Mon (161.149.63.100)

Jenny's death was, for me, the most shocking in the show's history. And not just because it was first. More than any of the others, even Joyce's, it was the one that really carried the surprise - the sense of overturning, of violating, what was believed to be the natural order of things - that comes with real death.

I wonder what would have happened with this character if Robia LaMorte hadn't decided she wanted to leave the show. As much as I liked the actress and the character, I can't imagine any future developments that would have meant more than what actually did happen.


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