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The Gentlemen murder by cutting chests open and eradicating hearts, penetrative acts. Nosferatu, Pinhead from Hellraiser, and Mr. Burns from The Simpsons all served as bodily models for The Gentlemen. Humorous misperceptions come up from this gesturing when, for instance, Buffy mimes driving in a stake-as if killing a vampire-too near her pelvis, causing the Scoobies to think she is suggesting masturbating to rid the city of The Gentlemen. The clumsiness of the characters' gesturing is in direct distinction to the grace of The Gentlemen, who communicate easily via gestures and other visible alerts. For Buffy studies scholar Rhonda Wilcox, The Gentlemen and their straitjacket-sporting minions, who clumsily flap, gyrate, and crouch as they move, are representative of class disparity and patriarchy: The Gentlemen, with their Victorian fits, transfer effortlessly to accomplish what they set out to do whereas their minions, whom Whedon called "footmen", do the "dirty work". Miranda and Steve transfer in collectively. The writers wished to make the scene in which Tara and Willow move the vending machine by working collectively "sensual and powerful", and "a very empowering statement about love; that two folks collectively can accomplish greater than after they're alone". As newcomers to the Scooby Gang, Tara Maclay and Giles' girlfriend Olivia (Phina Oruche) are inexperienced with monsters, and have been introduced in to specific "actual childlike terror". |
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