This week on the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story: The Dark Age (Season 2 Episode 8 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer):

This episode covers (1) external conflict that causes Buffy and Giles to grow; (2) whether The Dark Age is a Coming of Age story; and (3) what makes a character the protagonist.

As always, the discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

Next Up: What's My Line Part 1

Last Week: Lie to Me S2 E7

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In addition to hosting the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries, as well as numerous short stories. She also writes non-fiction, including books on writing craft, under L.M. Lilly. She is the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Episode Transcript for The Dark Age

Hello and welcome to Buffy and the Art of Story Season Two. If you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you love creating stories – or just taking them apart to see how they work – you’re in the right place.

I am Lisa M Lilly, author of the Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries and founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

This Monday we're talking about The Dark Age, Season Two episode Eight.

I'll cover:

external conflict that tells the personal story between Buffy and Giles;

whether this is a coming-of-age story; and

what goes into a protagonist, because we have key stories happening for both Buffy and Giles.

As always, there will be no Spoilers except at the end to talk about foreshadowing, but I'll give you plenty of warning.

Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.

The Dark Age was written by Rob des Hotel and Dean Batali and directed by Bruce Seth Green.

Opening Conflict In The Dark Age

We start, as we should, with conflict. A man in a suit hurries across the darkened schoolyard. He asks a custodian where to find Rupert Giles. The custodian tells the man that Giles is the librarian and directs him to the library.

This is a nice way to establish through conflict for new audience members who Giles is.

Why do I see it as being through conflict? Because the man is clearly distressed as he is hurrying across the schoolyard. He's very anxious to reach Giles.

A woman appears and shuffles toward the man. Her eyes flash and her face is decaying and he says, “Diedre?” And she says, “Philip.” This, too, is a good way to get names in through conflict.

Philip bangs on the door as Diedre moves closer.

Loud Music Blocks A Cry For Help

But inside the library, music is blasting. Buffy, in workout clothes, is doing step aerobics. Something as best I recall was fairly popular at the time. I have to agree with Giles, who is holding his ears, that the music is just noise. Specifically, he says it's not music because it has no notes.

Buffy says she needs a beat to aerobicize.