I, Robot… You, Jane
Reviewed by Christophe | Rating: 6/10

I, Robot… You, Jane
Episode written by Ashley Gable and Thomas A. Swyden
Directed by Stephen Posey

Willow’s life is on the line in “I, Robot… You, Jane” when a demon stirs up chaos in cyberspace, after being scanned into a computer. Moloch the corrupter, is the first demon in a long line of demons to come, faced by Buffy and her friends.

It’s 1418 in Cortono Italy, where we are allowed our first glimpse of Moloch the corrupter. A hideous demon, with bumpy skin, red eyes, and a pair of ram horns (sheepish ancestors!). He has control over a group of human acolytes, as he promises them their dreams, in return for their love. But often, Moloch would end their lives, being the tyrannical and deceitful demon he is. A group of monks band together to magically bind the demon inside a book. Once Moloch is trapped inside the book, only reading it’s words will free him.

Back to present day, where newly arrived books are being catalogued in Sunnydale High’s library, by Giles, Buffy, Xander and Willow. Jenny Calendar is a new character who continues to make reappearances after this episode. She takes computer classes at Sunnydale High, and becomes a friend to Giles despite their conflicting views. She is hip, funny, and charming and isn’t afraid to speak to her mind.
Willow scans text from the book which holds Moloch (unbeknown to her) into her computer while staying back to finish her work. This releases Moloch into the computer, allowing him to travel to any terminal connected to it via a modem. Put simply, Moloch can now access anything on any computer at any time.

He takes on the alias of Malcolm Black, and immediately befriends Willow. He uses kind words, attracting Willow to him with his rare and romantic attention.
Buffy is increasingly alarmed by the situation. She worries for her friend, as she and Xander discuss the very real possibility that Malcolm is not what he seems.
Moloch regains his human acolytes by taking two Sunnydale High computer nerds (Fritz and Dave) under his control. Willow seems more drawn to Malcolm than ever, until he starts talking about Buffy’s permanent record. Willow finds this peculiar, as she has never spoken of this with Malcolm. She quickly leaves her computer.
At this, Malcolm orders Dave and Fritz to kill the troublemaking Buffy. Buffy is almost electrocuted when she is added to a “wet floor with electrical cables” scene! However, Dave warns her, and she is able to jump from danger.
For not carrying out the task of killing Buffy, Dave is hung by Fritz at Moloch’s command, disguising his death as a suicide.

Fritz captures Willow, taking her to a closed down computer lab, where Moloch’s scientists have constructed a robotic body for the demon. Moloch demonstrates his evil when he kills Fritz for no particular reason. Willow realises how blind she had been, as Moloch explains to her how he can control the world.
Meanwhile, back at Sunnydale High, Giles and Jenny have joined to pull Moloch from cyber space. Turns out, Jenny is a technopagan – a mystic and scholar who used the Internet to learn about the occult. Together Giles and Jenny begin to cast the spell online.

Buffy and Xander hurry to find their friend, but are trapped by the security system of the treacherous computer lab. Moloch claps Willow’s head in anticipation of snapping her neck, but as the spell begins to take effect, he draws back.
Buffy and Xander break down the door to Moloch’s chamber, pulling Willow from danger.
Back at Sunnydale High the spell is complete, and Giles and Jenny conclude that Moloch no longer roams the net. This spells danger for Buffy and her pals, as Moloch has fully entered his robotic body. Buffy finds him difficult to combat, as he is constructed of tough metal. But our resourceful slayer ducks a Moloch punch, causing his hand to fly into a circuit box. The massive metal figure short circuits, and then explodes!

“I, Robot… You, Jane” has a very unique and interesting foe, to be fought by Buffy and friends. Moloch the corrupter, easily deceits Willow, and is able to influence others via the modern day Internet. This demonstrates Willow’s vulnerability, and her need for another’s love. Now, each of the three main characters have had supernatural love interests!

Jenny is a much-needed balance for watcher and librarian, Giles. Perhaps a stronger relationship could form between the pair? Both Angel’s and Cordelia’s presence’s are sorely missed yet again in this episode. This episode however is not major or key for season 1. There is no real event here, which has helped shape the series or catalyst things in any way. Perhaps the only real groundbreaker is the addition of Jenny Calendar.

In an age where computers and the Internet are becoming as common as books and paper, “I, Robot… You, Jane” proves to be a relevant and thoughtful episode. Through the cyber-demon Moloch, it metaphorically shows us the dangers of chatting and becoming too involved with strangers on the Internet.
The episode however, remains humorous and is quite good for easy and light entertainment!

6/10

Memorable Quotes

Willow: “Xander, you wanna stay and help me?”
Xander: “ Are you kidding?!”
Willow: “Yes… it was a joke I made up.”

Buffy: “Does he go here, what’s his name, have you kissed him, what’s he like?!”
Willow: “ No, Malcolm, No, and very nice!”

Buffy: “So you’ve been seeing a guy, and you don’t know what he looks like. Ok, this is a puzzle… no wait I’m good at these… does it involve a midget and a block of ice?!”

Buffy: “She certainly looks perky.”
Xander: “Colour in the cheeks, bounce in the step…. It’s not healthy.”
- Buffy and Xander on Willow’s evidential happiness over Malcolm.

“This guy could be anybody, he could be weird, or crazy, or old, he could be a circus frea – he’s probably a circus freak!” – Buffy when she realises Malcolm may not be what he seems.

Buffy: “Well, you’re a computer geek…genius.”

Buffy: “Besides, I can just tell something’s wrong, my spider sense is tingly.”
Giles: “Your… spider sense?”
Buffy: “Pop culture reference, sorry.”

Jenny: “You’re a snob.”
Giles: “I am no such thing!”
Jenny: “Oh, you are a big snob! You think that knowledge should be kept in these carefully guarded repository’s where only a handful of white guys can get at it.”
Giles: “Nonsense! I simply don’t adhere to a knee jerk assumption that cause something is new, it’s better!”

Giles: “Couldn’t you just stop Moloch by entering some computer virus?”
Jenny: “You’ve seen way too many movies.”
Back to Reviews