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{{Episode
{{buffyepisode
 
| season = 4
+
|season = 4
| number = 20
+
|number = 20
| image = 420_YokoFactor.jpg
+
|image = The Yoko Factor Riley Buffy.jpg
| airdate = May 9, 2000
+
|airdate = May 9, [[2000]]
| writer = [[Doug Petrie]]
+
|writer = [[Doug Petrie]]
| director = [[David Grossman]]
+
|director = [[David Grossman]]
  +
|code = 4ABB120
| previous = "[[New Moon Rising]]"<br>Angel<br>"[[Sanctuary]]"
 
| next = "[[Primeval]]"<br>Angel<br>"[[War Zone]]"
+
|series = ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''
 
|previous = "[[New Moon Rising]]"
| cast = {{CastList
 
  +
|next = "[[Primeval]]"
| starring = {{CastGroup|{{CastActor|name=Sarah Michelle Gellar|character=Buffy Summers|billed=Buffy}}
 
  +
|series2 = ''[[Angel (series)|Angel]]''
| {{CastActor|name=Nicholas Brendon|character=Xander Harris|billed=Xander}}
 
  +
|previous2 = "[[Sanctuary]]"
| {{CastActor|name=Alyson Hannigan|character=Willow Rosenberg|billed=Willow}}
 
  +
|next2 = "[[War Zone]]"
| {{CastActor|name=Marc Blucas|character=Riley Finn|billed=Riley}}
 
  +
|stars = [[Sarah Michelle Gellar]] — [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]]<br />[[Nicholas Brendon]] — [[Alexander Harris|Xander]]<br />[[Alyson Hannigan]] — [[Willow Rosenberg|Willow]]<br />[[Marc Blucas]] — [[Riley Finn|Riley]]<br />[[James Marsters]] — [[Spike]]<br />[[Anthony Stewart Head]] — [[Rupert Giles|Giles]]
| {{CastActor|name=James Marsters|character=Spike}}
 
  +
|gueststars = [[Amber Benson]] — [[Tara Maclay|Tara]]<br />[[Leonard Roberts]] — [[Forrest Gates|Forrest]]<br />[[Conor O'Farrell]] — [[McNamara|Colonel McNamara]]<br />[[George Hertzberg]] — [[Adam]]<br />[[Emma Caulfield]] — [[Anya Jenkins|Anya]]<br />[[David Boreanaz]] — [[Angel]]
| {{CastActor|name=Anthony Stewart Head|character=Rupert Giles|billed=Giles}}}}
 
  +
|costars = [[Bob Fimiani]] — [[Ward|Mr. Ward]]<br />[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1074204 Jade Carter] — Lieutenant
| gueststarring = {{CastGroup|{{CastActor|name=Amber Benson|character=Tara Maclay|billed=Tara}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Leonard Roberts|character=Forrest Gates|billed=Forrest}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Conor O'Farrell|character=Colonel McNamara}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=George Hertzberg|character=Adam}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Emma Caulfield|character=Anya Jenkins|billed=Anya}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=David Boreanaz|character=Angel}}}}
 
| costarring = {{CastGroup|{{CastActor|name=Bob Fimiani|character=Mr. Ward}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Jade Carter|imdb=1074204|billed=Lieutenant}}}}}}
 
 
}}
 
}}
   
"'''The Yoko Factor'''" is the twentieth episode of the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer#Season Four|fourth season]] of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', and is the seventy-sixth episode altogether. It was written by [[Doug Petrie]] and directed by [[David Grossman]]. It originally broadcast on May 9, 2000.
+
"'''{{PAGENAME}}'''" is the twentieth episode of the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 4|fourth season]] of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', and is the seventy-sixth episode altogether. Written by [[Doug Petrie]] and directed by [[David Grossman]], it originally broadcast on May 9, [[2000]] on [[The WB]].
 
[[Adam]] agrees to remove [[Spike]]'s chip if he helps him by isolating [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]] from the rest of the [[Scooby Gang]].
 
   
 
==Synopsis==
 
==Synopsis==
  +
[[David Boreanaz|DAVID BOREANAZ]] GUEST-STARS IN A SHOWDOWN FOR [[Buffy Summers|BUFFY]]'S HEART — Buffy is even more certain of her love for [[Riley Finn|Riley]] when [[Angel]]'s surprise visit to [[Sunnydale]] brings Riley and Angel to blows. Meanwhile, [[Spike]] joins forces with [[Adam]] and devises a plan to tear the [[Slayer]] apart from her gang, leaving her wide open for her enemies to attack.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010331024447/http://www.buffy.com/slow/mortuary/index_anno4.html "The Mortuary"]. ''Buffy The Vampire Slayer''. Archived from [http://www.buffy.com/slow/mortuary/index_anno4.html the original] Mach 31, 2001.</ref>
[[Image:420_YokoFactor1.jpg|thumb|left|Spike: You're not getting it, Mr. Bits. You're gonna be interestingly dead. Little Miss Tiny's got a habit of bollixing up the plans of every would-be, unstoppable bad-ass who sets foot in this town.]]
 
   
  +
==Summary==
[[Colonel McNamara]] talks with [[Mr. Ward]] about plans for [[The Initiative (organization)|The Initiative]], getting [[Riley]] back and dealing with Buffy. Spike tells Adam that Buffy is going to be a difficult challenge to defeat and he shouldn't underestimate her. Spike talks about killing two [[Slayers]] and not being able to kill Buffy, especially because of the chip now in his head. The two plan to separate Buffy from her friends.
 
  +
Colonel [[McNamara]] talks with Mr. [[Ward]] about plans for the [[Initiative]], getting Riley back and dealing with Buffy.
   
 
Spike tells Adam that Buffy is going to be a difficult challenge to defeat and he shouldn't underestimate her. Spike talks about killing two Slayers and not being able to kill Buffy, especially because of the [[Behavior-Modification Circuitry|chip]] now in his head. The two plan to separate Buffy from her friends. Meanwhile, she returns from Los Angeles to her empty dorm room.
Still upset about [[Angel]], Buffy returns from L.A. to her empty dorm room. Xander brings Riley some rather colorful clothes to wear, and they talk about their mutual distaste for Angel. Not realizing that he didn't know, Xander accidentally tells Riley about how pure happiness with Buffy is the trigger that removed Angel's curse.
 
   
 
[[Alexander Harris|Xander]] brings Riley some rather colorful clothes to wear, and they talk about their mutual distaste for Angel. Not realizing that he didn't know, Xander accidentally tells Riley about how pure happiness with Buffy is the trigger that removed Angel's curse.
[[Rupert Giles|Giles]] is singing Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Freebird", when Spike surprises him by showing up in his apartment. Spike talks with Giles about files inside The Initiative that he might be able to get for a very large price. Spike tells Giles that Buffy doesn't respect her former [[Watcher]] anymore, and that upsets Giles.
 
   
 
[[Rupert Giles|Giles]] is singing and playing guitar, when Spike surprises him by showing up in his apartment. Spike talks with Giles about files inside The Initiative that he might be able to get for a very large price. Spike tells Giles that Buffy doesn't respect her former [[Watcher]] anymore, and that upsets Giles.
[[Image:420_YokoFactor2.jpg|thumb|left|Riley: Xander took my clothes to clean `em and left me these. Does he, uh, hate me in some way I don't know about yet?]]
 
   
[[Willow]] and [[Tara]] play with their [[Miss Kitty Fantastico|new kitten]] while planning their class schedule for next year. They also talk about future housing plans, but Willow hasn't talked with Buffy yet and isn't sure what she wants to do now that things have changed so much.
+
[[Willow Rosenberg|Willow]] and [[Tara Maclay|Tara]] play with their [[Miss Kitty Fantastico|new kitten]] while planning their class schedule for next year. They also talk about future housing plans, but Willow hasn't talked with Buffy yet and isn't sure what she wants to do now that things have changed so much.
   
Riley goes to Buffy in the funny clown pants Xander gave him to wear. Using a radio, he's tapped into The Initiative and is making sure he's aware of everything going on with the operation. She mentions that Angel upset her, but she doesn't want to talk about it and Riley leaves. Xander and Anya bring Spike fatigues to wear and a fake gun. Spike continues to tear apart the Scooby Gang by making Xander feel unwanted by convincing him that the rest of the gang doesn't feel he's useful.
+
Riley goes to Buffy in the funny clown pants Xander gave him to wear. Using a radio, he's tapped into the Initiative and is making sure he's aware of everything going on with the operation. She mentions that Angel upset her, but she doesn't want to talk about it and Riley leaves. Xander and Anya bring Spike fatigues to wear and among them is a gun, which Spike is amused to find and is apparently ready to shoot Xander only for the chip to go off as soon as he aims it. Xander is amused that Spike can't even aim weapons anymore, especially considering the gun is fake. Recovering, Spike continues to tear apart the [[Scooby Gang]] by making Xander feel unwanted by convincing him that the rest of the gang doesn't feel he's useful.
   
 
Buffy goes patrolling and runs into [[Forrest Gates|Forrest]], who is also looking for Adam. They argue as they go into a cave and find Adam. The three of them fight, Adam skewers Forrest and Buffy makes a run for it. Limping, she falls and slides down a hill, hitting her head on a rock. Pretending to have sneaked into The Initiative and retrieved some disks with information, Spike charges into Giles' place. Giles continues to get drunk while Willow tries to decrypt the disks. Spike notices Willow and Tara's behavior towards each other and, realizing they're in a relationship, decides to use it and talks to Willow about her new Wicca interests and how Buffy and Xander don't seem to support it. Willow thinks that means that their friends aren't accepting their romantic relationship.
[[File:Buffy-angel-riley-yoko-tumblr_mbqp5zn1Ap1rcujc9o1_500.jpg|thumb|left|Angel and Riley first meet each other, and have their fight]]
 
   
 
Riley hears that there is trouble on the streets through his radio and goes to check it out. He finds that it is Angel fighting off the commandos, and Riley refuses to let Angel go see Buffy. The two have a brutal fight, of which Angel is clearly the victor. Since the fight is personal for both combatants, no punches are pulled. Angel, who normally refrains from using his superior physical strength against a human and still stinging from Buffy's recent comments in LA, holds nothing back in the fight. Similarly, Riley, having just learned what makes Angel lose his soul, uses every weapon on him.
Buffy goes patrolling and runs into [[Forrest]], who is also looking for Adam. They argue as they go into a cave and find Adam. The three of them fight, Adam skewers Forrest and Buffy makes a run for it. Limping, she falls and slides down a hill, hitting her head on a rock. Pretending to have sneaked into The Initiative and retrieved some disks with information, Spike charges into Giles' place. Giles continues to get drunk while Willow tries to decrypt the disks. Spike talks to Willow and Tara about their Wicca interests and how her friends don't seem to support it. Willow thinks that means that their friends aren't accepting their romantic relationship.
 
   
 
The fight ends when Riley, having momentarily stunned Angel with his taser, is lifted by Angel and thrown into several trash cans. Angel then picks him up again and throws him once again into the side of a building. Finally, both run off when a military truck comes down the street. Buffy returns to her dorm room and Angel shows up. As Angel tries to talk to Buffy, Riley barges in and points a gun at Angel. Angel taunts Riley and the two come to blows again. Buffy separates them and wants to talk to Angel alone. Riley refuses to leave the room, so Buffy and Angel depart to the hallway, though not before Angel taunts Riley with a superior smirk.
Riley hears that there is trouble on the streets through his radio and goes to check it out. He finds that it is Angel fighting off the commandos, and Riley refuses to let Angel go see Buffy. The two have a brutal fight, of which Angel is clearly the victor. Since the fight is personal for both combatants, no punches are pulled. Angel, who normally refrains from using his superior physical strength against a human and still stinging from Buffy's recent comments in LA, holds nothing back in the fight. Similarly, Riley, having just learned what makes Angel lose his soul, uses every weapon (literally) on him. During the fight, Riley uses his tazer, a bottle, and his baton on Angel.
 
 
[[Image:420_YokoFactor4.jpg|thumb|Buffy: I guess I'm starting to understand why there's no ancient prophecy about a Chosen One and her friends.]]
 
 
The fight violently ends when Riley, having momentarily stunned Angel with his taser, is lifted by Angel and thrown into several trash cans. Angel then picks him up again and throws him once again into the side of a building. Finally, both run off when a military truck comes down the street. Buffy returns to her dorm room and Angel shows up. As Angel tries to talk to Buffy, Riley barges in and points a gun at Angel. Angel taunts Riley and the two come to blows again. Buffy separates them and wants to talk to Angel alone. Riley refuses to leave the room, so Buffy and Angel depart to the hallway, though not before Angel taunts Riley with a superior smirk.
 
   
 
Buffy goes off on Angel and then they laugh when Angel confesses he came to make up. Angel admits that he had no right to talk to Buffy like he had before, and explains that he had been attacked by the Initiative soldiers and Riley only waded into the middle of it and immediately accused him. Accepting, Buffy also admits that Angel was not entirely wrong; the two are no longer a part of the other's worlds, and she had no right to barge in on his. Having concluded his business, Angel leaves, stating that he doesn't like Riley, and Buffy thanks him, amused and grateful towards his jealousy.
 
Buffy goes off on Angel and then they laugh when Angel confesses he came to make up. Angel admits that he had no right to talk to Buffy like he had before, and explains that he had been attacked by the Initiative soldiers and Riley only waded into the middle of it and immediately accused him. Accepting, Buffy also admits that Angel was not entirely wrong; the two are no longer a part of the other's worlds, and she had no right to barge in on his. Having concluded his business, Angel leaves, stating that he doesn't like Riley, and Buffy thanks him, amused and grateful towards his jealousy.
Line 58: Line 46:
 
Spike reports back to Adam, happy to have split up the Scooby Gang. Riley is worried that Buffy has reunited with Angel, and confesses that he already knows about how Angel can lose his soul, which set him off. They profess their love to each other and then Buffy brings him bad news. She tells him that Forrest is dead and he leaves quickly.
 
Spike reports back to Adam, happy to have split up the Scooby Gang. Riley is worried that Buffy has reunited with Angel, and confesses that he already knows about how Angel can lose his soul, which set him off. They profess their love to each other and then Buffy brings him bad news. She tells him that Forrest is dead and he leaves quickly.
   
Everyone meets at Giles's house, and Buffy intends to go back to the cave believing that Adam wouldn't have been there for no reason. As Giles gets more drunk and more bitter about the fact that Buffy doesn't need him anymore, Buffy declares she's going to the cave alone. Both Willow and Xander (with Spike's words ringing in their minds) take exception at this; Xander believing that Buffy only needs him around for menial takes and accuses her of this. Buffy defends herself, and gets angry at Xander for telling Riley the full details about her relationship with Angel. Tara and [[Anya]], feeling very uncomfortable as the quarrel quickly descends into a huge argument, sneak into the bathroom and hide. Soon personal feelings start to come up, as Willow makes her dislike of Xander and Anya's relationship vocal (particularly, the fact she and Xander are hardly apart) and accuses Buffy of not taking her seriously and being uneasy with her since discovering Tara was her girlfriend. Xander begins to argue that Buffy and Willow forgot about him when they went off to college... Then realizes what Willow has just said and is shocked (with a "bloody hell" coming from Giles who has gone upstairs).
+
Everyone meets at Giles's house, and Buffy intends to go back to the cave believing that Adam wouldn't have been there for no reason. As Giles gets more drunk and more bitter about the fact that Buffy doesn't need him anymore, Buffy declares she's going to the cave alone. Both Willow and Xander (with Spike's words ringing in their minds) take exception at this; Xander believing that Buffy only needs him around for menial takes and accuses her of this. Buffy defends herself, and gets angry at Xander for telling Riley the full details about her relationship with Angel. Tara and [[Anya Jenkins|Anya]] sneak into the bathroom and hide. Soon personal feelings start to come up, as Willow makes her dislike of Xander and Anya's relationship vocal (particularly, the fact she and Xander are hardly apart) and accuses Buffy of not taking her seriously and being uneasy with her since discovering Tara was her girlfriend. Xander begins to argue that Buffy and Willow forgot about him when they went off to college, then realizes what Willow has just said and is shocked, with a "bloody hell" coming from Giles who has gone upstairs.
   
 
By now, Buffy has had enough of her supposed friends attacking her, and angrily asks how they could possibly help her? Xander and Willow are stunned into silence by these hurtful words, and Buffy declares she's on her own and can see why the prophecies never mention a Chosen One having friends. As she leaves, she tells everyone she's going to someone she can count on.
 
By now, Buffy has had enough of her supposed friends attacking her, and angrily asks how they could possibly help her? Xander and Willow are stunned into silence by these hurtful words, and Buffy declares she's on her own and can see why the prophecies never mention a Chosen One having friends. As she leaves, she tells everyone she's going to someone she can count on.
   
In Adam's lair, Riley shows up as an expected guest.{{Clear}}
+
In Adam's lair, Riley shows up as an expected guest.
   
 
==Continuity==
 
==Continuity==
  +
*Riley summarizes Buffy and Angel's relationship as him turning evil ("[[Surprise]]"), killing people ("[[Passion]]"), being cured ("[[Becoming, Part Two]]"), then leaving ("[[Graduation Day, Part Two]]"). Xander tells him that Angel's trigger is a moment of happiness, i.e. having sex with Buffy ("[[Innocence]]").
*Angel's visit to [[Sunnydale]] follows directly from the events of "[[Sanctuary]]".
 
 
*Spike opines that what makes Buffy such a successful Slayer is her friends and family supporting her, something unique he noticed in "[[School Hard]]" and will tell her himself in "[[Fool for Love]]".
 
*Buffy returns to Sunnydale directly after the events of "[[Sanctuary]]", discussed with Angel in this episode.
  +
*Spike retrieves a packet of blood from Giles' apartment, as the vampire stayed there from episode "[[Pangs]]" to "[[Hush]]".
 
*Angel needs an invitation to enter Buffy's dorm room; in "[[The Freshman]]", [[Sunday]] and her vampires were implied to have entered the same room at will.
  +
*Xander tells Spike he should have kept his military outfit from the last time they broke into the Initiative, in episode "[[New Moon Rising]]".
 
*Willow refers to Tara as her girlfriend for the first time, only having implied their relationship to Buffy in "[[New Moon Rising]]".
   
  +
==Appearances==
*Spike knows exactly what to say to each member of the Scooby Gang to break them up, foreshadowing each character's personal insecurities that would be explored in "[[Restless]]".
 
  +
===Individuals===
*Willow refers to Tara as her girlfriend for the first time.
 
  +
*[[Adam]]
*Spike opinions that what makes Buffy such a successful Slayer is her friends and family supporting her, a premise that will be revisited in '[[Fool for Love]]'.
 
  +
*[[Angel]]
*Angel needs permission to enter Buffy's dorm room, but in "[[The Freshman]]" Sunday and her vampires can enter dorm rooms at will.
 
  +
*[[Riley Finn]]
*When the argument begins, Anya and Tara retreat to the bathroom together, one of several occasions where the two comparative newcomers to the Scooby Gang pair up apart from the core four of Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles. 
 
  +
*[[Forrest Gates]]
  +
*[[Rupert Giles]]
  +
*[[Alexander Harris]]
  +
*[[Anya Jenkins]]
  +
*[[Tara Maclay]]
  +
*[[McNamara]]
  +
*[[Miss Kitty Fantastico]]
  +
*[[Willow Rosenberg]]
  +
*[[Spike]]
  +
*[[Buffy Summers]]
  +
*[[Maggie Walsh]] {{Om}}
  +
*[[Ward]]
 
===Organizations and titles===
  +
*[[Initiative]]
  +
*[[Scooby Gang]]
  +
*[[Slayer]]
  +
*[[Watcher]] {{Om}}
  +
*[[Witches: Historic Roots to Modern Practice|Witch]]
  +
===Species===
  +
*[[Bio-mechanical demonoid]]
  +
*[[Demon]]
  +
*[[Human]]
  +
*[[Vampire]]
  +
===Locations===
  +
*Los Angeles {{Om}}
  +
*[[Sunnydale]]
  +
**[[Adam's lair]]
  +
**[[Initiative facilities]]
  +
**[[Restfield Cemetery]]
  +
***[[Hawley mausoleum]]
  +
**[[Rupert Giles's apartment]]
  +
**[[Sunnydale High School]]
  +
**[[University of California, Sunnydale]]
  +
***[[Stevenson Hall]]
  +
===Weapons and objects===
  +
*[[Behavior-Modification Circuitry]] {{Om}}
  +
*[[Blood]]
  +
*[[Taser blaster]]
  +
===Rituals and spells===
  +
*[[Ritual of Restoration]] {{Om}}
   
== Body Count ==
+
==Death count==
*Forrest, staked by Adam
+
*Forrest Gates, impaled by Adam.
   
== Behind the Scenes ==
+
==Behind the scenes==
  +
[[File:"The Yoko Factor" promo|thumb|200px]]
===Production===
 
  +
  +
===Deleted scenes===
 
*This line was cut for length:
 
*This line was cut for length:
 
:'''Spike:''' "Now that you've turned Super Wicca and you're damn near Amish. All candles and hand-ground herbs..."
 
:'''Spike:''' "Now that you've turned Super Wicca and you're damn near Amish. All candles and hand-ground herbs..."
   
===Pop Culture References===
+
===Pop culture references===
  +
*Spike compares Adam with motivational speaker [[wikipedia:Tony Robbins|Tony Robbins]] and the novel [[wikipedia:Frankenstein|''Frankenstein'']] (1818).
*The title of the episode refers to [[Wikipedia:Yoko Ono|Yoko Ono]], blamed by many for [[Wikipedia:The Beatles|The Beatles]]' break up. In this episode, [[Spike]] acts as the "Yoko factor", sowing dissension within the Scooby Gang. Also, when Spike asks Adam if he has ever listened to the Beatles and Adam answers that he likes Helter Skelter. Spike remarks that he is not surprised, which is probably a reference to Charles Manson and his murders (Manson believed that the Beatles had hidden messages directed at him, and named his killing spree ''Helter Skelter'')
 
  +
*Xander refers to Buffy as "[[wikipedia:L.A. Woman (song)|L.A. Woman]]", the title song of an 1971 album by [[wikipedia:The Doors|The Doors]].
*Willow's line: "If ever a wiz there was." is a reference to [[Wikipedia:The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]].
 
  +
*Xander describes Riley in is uniform with [[wikipedia:G.I. Joe|G.I. Joe]] action figures.
*Buffy made a reference to [[Wikipedia:The Godfather|The Godfather]] with this line: "Family. What kind of family are you? Corleones."
 
  +
*Anya drinks from a cup from [[wikipedia:In-N-Out Burger|In-N-Out Burger]] fast food restaurant chain.
*Xander and Giles reference [[Wikipedia:Batman|Batman]] with this exchange:
 
  +
*Spike quotes "[[wikipedia:Slogans of the United States Army#1980 to 2001|Be all you can be]]," the United States Army's recruiting slogan 1980 to 2001.
:'''Xander:''' "You and Willow go do the superpower thing. I'll stay behind and put around the bat cave with crusty old Alfred here."
 
  +
*Anya mentions Xander being fired from [[wikipedia:Starbucks|Starbucks]] coffee shop.
:'''Giles:''' "Ah, no. I am no Alfred, sir. No, you forget. Alfred had a job."
 
  +
*Buffy refers to the Initiative as the Corleone family, from ''[[wikipedia:The Godfather (film series)|The Godfather]]'' film series.
*Spike mentions the "wild rumpus", a reference to the book "Where the Wild Things Are", which also lends its name to [[Where the Wild Things Are|another episode]] in season 4.
 
  +
*Giles drinks [[wikipedia:The Glenlivet distillery|Glenlivet]] single malt scotch.
*When Spike says to Adam "Let's not quibble over who failed who" is reminiscent of The King of Swamp Castle saying in Monty Python and the Holy Grail "Let's not bicker over who killed who."
 
  +
*Xander mentions hypothetically doing sit-ups at [[wikipedia:Fort Dix|Fort Dix]], an United States Army post.
===International titles===
 
 
*Willow's quotes "If ever a wiz there was" from the song "Follow the Yellow Brick Road/You're Off to See the Wizard", from the [[Wikipedia:The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|''The Wizard of Oz'']] (1939).
*'''French: '''Facteur Yoko ''(Yoko factor)''
 
  +
*Spike tells Adam about [[Wikipedia:Yoko Ono|Yoko Ono]], blamed by many for [[Wikipedia:The Beatles|The Beatles]]' break up.
  +
*Adam says that he likes the song "[[wikipedia:Helter Skelter (song)|Helter Skelter]]"; Spike remarks that he is not surprised, a probable reference to [[wikipedia:Charles Manson|Charles Manson]]'s adopting the title of the song to describe an impending apocalyptic race war.
  +
*Xander compares Giles to [[wikipedia:Batman|Batman]]'s butler [[wikipedia:Alfred Pennyworth|Alfred Pennyworth]].
 
*Spike mentions the "wild rumpus", a reference to the book ''[[wikipedia:Where the Wild Things Are|Where the Wild Things Are]]'', which also lends its name to [[Where the Wild Things Are|another episode]] in season 4.
   
 
===Music===
 
===Music===
*[[Wikipedia:Lynyrd Skynyrd|Lynyrd Skynyrd]] - "Freebird" <small>(sung by Giles)</small>
+
*[[Wikipedia:Lynyrd Skynyrd|Lynyrd Skynyrd]] "Freebird" <small>(sung by Giles)</small>
*[[Christophe Beck]] - original score
+
*[[Christophe Beck]] original score
  +
  +
===International titles===
  +
*'''Armenian:''' "Ֆակտոր Յոկո" (Yoko Factor)
  +
*'''Czech:''' "Faktor Yoko" (Yoko Factor)
  +
*'''Finnish:''' "Vaarallista elämää" (Dangerous Life)
 
*'''French:''' "Facteur Yoko" (Yoko Factor)
  +
*'''German:''' "Der Yoko-Faktor" (The Yoko Factor)
  +
*'''Hungarian:''' "A Yoko-faktor" (The Yoko Factor)
  +
*'''Italian:''' "Il seme della discordia" (The Seed of Discord)
  +
*'''Japanese:''' "ヨーコ的素因" (Yoko Predisposition)
  +
*'''Polish:''' "Czynnik Yoko" (Yoko Factor)
  +
*'''Portuguese (Brazil):''' "O Fator Yoko" (The Yoko Factor)
  +
*'''Romanian:''' "Factorul Yoko" (Yoko Factor)
  +
*'''Russian:''' "Фактор Йоко" (Yoko Factor)
  +
*'''Spanish (Latin America and Spain):''' "El factor Yoko" (The Yoko Factor)
  +
  +
==Gallery==
  +
===Promotional stills===
  +
<gallery widths="150" spacing="small" orientation="portrait">
  +
Angel the yoko factor episode still.jpg
  +
B4x20 Riley Angel 02.jpg
  +
B4x20 Riley.jpg
  +
B4x20 Riley Angel 03.jpg
  +
B4x20 Riley Angel 01.jpg
  +
B4x20 Angel Buffy Riley 01.jpg
  +
B4x20 Angel Buffy Riley 02.jpg
  +
The Yoko Factor Riley Buffy.jpg
  +
</gallery>
  +
===Behind the scenes===
  +
<gallery widths="150" spacing="small" orientation="portrait">
  +
Buffy-season-4-episode-20-the-yoko-factor-on-the-set-hq-01-0750.jpg
  +
</gallery>
  +
===Advertisement===
  +
<gallery widths="150" spacing="small" captionalign="center">
  +
The Yoko Factor promo.jpg|"What could come between Buffy and her boyfriend? A visit from Angel..."
  +
</gallery>
   
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Buffy|"You wanna tell me who ran your face into that doorknob?"
 
|Angel|"Not really. It's not 'world in peril' stuff."
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Willow|"Hours. Days maybe. Anyone suggesting months would not be accused of crazy talk."
 
|Giles|"Whatever happened to Latin? At least when that made no sense, the church approved."
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Anya|"Xander delivered clothing."
 
|Giles|"Church approved."
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Buffy|"Xander. He is the deadest man in Deadonia."
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Xander|"Try those on. You'll feel like a new man."
 
|Riley|"Would this man have a bright red nose and big, floppy feet?"
 
}}
 
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Willow|"Besides, when is there any us two? You two are the two who are the two. I'm the other one."
 
|Willow|"Besides, when is there any us two? You two are the two who are the two. I'm the other one."
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Spike|"Wow. I mean, yeah. I get why the demons all fall in line with you. You're like Tony Robbins. If he was a big scary ... Frankenstein looking ... You're ''exactly'' like Tony Robbins."
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Riley|"Well, there you go. Even when he's good he's all Mr. Billowy Coat King of Pain."
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
{{QuoteBlock
Line 134: Line 185:
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Xander|"You and Willow go do the superpower thing. I'll stay behind and put around the Batcave with crusty old Alfred here."
|Buffy|"I'm checking out that cave."
 
|Forrest|"My orders exactly."
 
|Buffy|"Alone?"
 
|Forrest|"We're spread a little thin, so yeah. Family's tearing apart."
 
|Buffy|"Family. What kind of family are you? Corleones."
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Xander|"You and Willow go do the superpower thing. I'll stay behind and put around the bat cave with crusty old Alfred here."
 
 
|Giles|"Ah, no. I am no Alfred, sir. No, you forget. Alfred had a job."
 
|Giles|"Ah, no. I am no Alfred, sir. No, you forget. Alfred had a job."
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Adam|"You are sure?"
 
|Adam|"You are sure?"
|Spike|"Oh yeah. I can feel it in my bones. Call it the 'yoko factor'. Don't tell me you've never heard of the Beatles."
+
|Spike|"I feel it in my bones, it's, uh... Call it the 'Yoko factor'. Don't tell me you've never heard of the Beatles."
 
|Adam|"I have. I like Helter Skelter."
 
|Adam|"I have. I like Helter Skelter."
|Spike|"Thought as much. My point is the Beatles were a very powerful group. It's not a strech to say that they pretty much ruled the world. When the group broke up, everybody blamed poor Yoko. The truth is, the group broke itself up. She just happened to be there."
+
|Spike|"What a surprise. The point is, they were once a real powerful group. It's not a stretch to say they ruled the world. When they broke up, everybody blamed Yoko. But the fact is, the group split itself up. She just happened to be there."
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
{{QuoteBlock
|Buffy|"So ... I guess I'm starting to understand why there's no ancient prophecy about a Chosen One ... and her friends."
+
|Buffy|"So, I guess I'm starting to understand why there's no ancient prophecy about a Chosen One and her friends."
 
}}
 
}}
  +
[[Category:Crossover episodes]]
 
  +
==References==
[[Category:Riley-centric episodes]]
 
  +
{{References}}
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  +
[[de:Der Yoko-Faktor]]
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[[fr:Facteur Yoko]]
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[[nl:The Yoko Factor]]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Yoko Factor}}
 
[[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes]]
 
[[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4]]
 
[[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4]]
[[Category:Two-part episodes]]
+
[[Category:Crossover episodes]]

Revision as of 19:06, 20 February 2020

"The Yoko Factor" is the twentieth episode of the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and is the seventy-sixth episode altogether. Written by Doug Petrie and directed by David Grossman, it originally broadcast on May 9, 2000 on The WB.

Synopsis

DAVID BOREANAZ GUEST-STARS IN A SHOWDOWN FOR BUFFY'S HEART — Buffy is even more certain of her love for Riley when Angel's surprise visit to Sunnydale brings Riley and Angel to blows. Meanwhile, Spike joins forces with Adam and devises a plan to tear the Slayer apart from her gang, leaving her wide open for her enemies to attack.[1]

Summary

Colonel McNamara talks with Mr. Ward about plans for the Initiative, getting Riley back and dealing with Buffy.

Spike tells Adam that Buffy is going to be a difficult challenge to defeat and he shouldn't underestimate her. Spike talks about killing two Slayers and not being able to kill Buffy, especially because of the chip now in his head. The two plan to separate Buffy from her friends. Meanwhile, she returns from Los Angeles to her empty dorm room.

Xander brings Riley some rather colorful clothes to wear, and they talk about their mutual distaste for Angel. Not realizing that he didn't know, Xander accidentally tells Riley about how pure happiness with Buffy is the trigger that removed Angel's curse.

Giles is singing and playing guitar, when Spike surprises him by showing up in his apartment. Spike talks with Giles about files inside The Initiative that he might be able to get for a very large price. Spike tells Giles that Buffy doesn't respect her former Watcher anymore, and that upsets Giles.

Willow and Tara play with their new kitten while planning their class schedule for next year. They also talk about future housing plans, but Willow hasn't talked with Buffy yet and isn't sure what she wants to do now that things have changed so much.

Riley goes to Buffy in the funny clown pants Xander gave him to wear. Using a radio, he's tapped into the Initiative and is making sure he's aware of everything going on with the operation. She mentions that Angel upset her, but she doesn't want to talk about it and Riley leaves. Xander and Anya bring Spike fatigues to wear and among them is a gun, which Spike is amused to find and is apparently ready to shoot Xander only for the chip to go off as soon as he aims it. Xander is amused that Spike can't even aim weapons anymore, especially considering the gun is fake. Recovering, Spike continues to tear apart the Scooby Gang by making Xander feel unwanted by convincing him that the rest of the gang doesn't feel he's useful.

Buffy goes patrolling and runs into Forrest, who is also looking for Adam. They argue as they go into a cave and find Adam. The three of them fight, Adam skewers Forrest and Buffy makes a run for it. Limping, she falls and slides down a hill, hitting her head on a rock. Pretending to have sneaked into The Initiative and retrieved some disks with information, Spike charges into Giles' place. Giles continues to get drunk while Willow tries to decrypt the disks. Spike notices Willow and Tara's behavior towards each other and, realizing they're in a relationship, decides to use it and talks to Willow about her new Wicca interests and how Buffy and Xander don't seem to support it. Willow thinks that means that their friends aren't accepting their romantic relationship.

Riley hears that there is trouble on the streets through his radio and goes to check it out. He finds that it is Angel fighting off the commandos, and Riley refuses to let Angel go see Buffy. The two have a brutal fight, of which Angel is clearly the victor. Since the fight is personal for both combatants, no punches are pulled. Angel, who normally refrains from using his superior physical strength against a human and still stinging from Buffy's recent comments in LA, holds nothing back in the fight. Similarly, Riley, having just learned what makes Angel lose his soul, uses every weapon on him.

The fight ends when Riley, having momentarily stunned Angel with his taser, is lifted by Angel and thrown into several trash cans. Angel then picks him up again and throws him once again into the side of a building. Finally, both run off when a military truck comes down the street. Buffy returns to her dorm room and Angel shows up. As Angel tries to talk to Buffy, Riley barges in and points a gun at Angel. Angel taunts Riley and the two come to blows again. Buffy separates them and wants to talk to Angel alone. Riley refuses to leave the room, so Buffy and Angel depart to the hallway, though not before Angel taunts Riley with a superior smirk.

Buffy goes off on Angel and then they laugh when Angel confesses he came to make up. Angel admits that he had no right to talk to Buffy like he had before, and explains that he had been attacked by the Initiative soldiers and Riley only waded into the middle of it and immediately accused him. Accepting, Buffy also admits that Angel was not entirely wrong; the two are no longer a part of the other's worlds, and she had no right to barge in on his. Having concluded his business, Angel leaves, stating that he doesn't like Riley, and Buffy thanks him, amused and grateful towards his jealousy.

Spike reports back to Adam, happy to have split up the Scooby Gang. Riley is worried that Buffy has reunited with Angel, and confesses that he already knows about how Angel can lose his soul, which set him off. They profess their love to each other and then Buffy brings him bad news. She tells him that Forrest is dead and he leaves quickly.

Everyone meets at Giles's house, and Buffy intends to go back to the cave believing that Adam wouldn't have been there for no reason. As Giles gets more drunk and more bitter about the fact that Buffy doesn't need him anymore, Buffy declares she's going to the cave alone. Both Willow and Xander (with Spike's words ringing in their minds) take exception at this; Xander believing that Buffy only needs him around for menial takes and accuses her of this. Buffy defends herself, and gets angry at Xander for telling Riley the full details about her relationship with Angel. Tara and Anya sneak into the bathroom and hide. Soon personal feelings start to come up, as Willow makes her dislike of Xander and Anya's relationship vocal (particularly, the fact she and Xander are hardly apart) and accuses Buffy of not taking her seriously and being uneasy with her since discovering Tara was her girlfriend. Xander begins to argue that Buffy and Willow forgot about him when they went off to college, then realizes what Willow has just said and is shocked, with a "bloody hell" coming from Giles who has gone upstairs.

By now, Buffy has had enough of her supposed friends attacking her, and angrily asks how they could possibly help her? Xander and Willow are stunned into silence by these hurtful words, and Buffy declares she's on her own and can see why the prophecies never mention a Chosen One having friends. As she leaves, she tells everyone she's going to someone she can count on.

In Adam's lair, Riley shows up as an expected guest.

Continuity

  • Riley summarizes Buffy and Angel's relationship as him turning evil ("Surprise"), killing people ("Passion"), being cured ("Becoming, Part Two"), then leaving ("Graduation Day, Part Two"). Xander tells him that Angel's trigger is a moment of happiness, i.e. having sex with Buffy ("Innocence").
  • Spike opines that what makes Buffy such a successful Slayer is her friends and family supporting her, something unique he noticed in "School Hard" and will tell her himself in "Fool for Love".
  • Buffy returns to Sunnydale directly after the events of "Sanctuary", discussed with Angel in this episode.
  • Spike retrieves a packet of blood from Giles' apartment, as the vampire stayed there from episode "Pangs" to "Hush".
  • Angel needs an invitation to enter Buffy's dorm room; in "The Freshman", Sunday and her vampires were implied to have entered the same room at will.
  • Xander tells Spike he should have kept his military outfit from the last time they broke into the Initiative, in episode "New Moon Rising".
  • Willow refers to Tara as her girlfriend for the first time, only having implied their relationship to Buffy in "New Moon Rising".

Appearances

Individuals

Organizations and titles

Species

Locations

Weapons and objects

Rituals and spells

Death count

  • Forrest Gates, impaled by Adam.

Behind the scenes

"The_Yoko_Factor"_promo

"The Yoko Factor" promo

Deleted scenes

  • This line was cut for length:
Spike: "Now that you've turned Super Wicca and you're damn near Amish. All candles and hand-ground herbs..."

Pop culture references

  • Spike compares Adam with motivational speaker Tony Robbins and the novel Frankenstein (1818).
  • Xander refers to Buffy as "L.A. Woman", the title song of an 1971 album by The Doors.
  • Xander describes Riley in is uniform with G.I. Joe action figures.
  • Anya drinks from a cup from In-N-Out Burger fast food restaurant chain.
  • Spike quotes "Be all you can be," the United States Army's recruiting slogan 1980 to 2001.
  • Anya mentions Xander being fired from Starbucks coffee shop.
  • Buffy refers to the Initiative as the Corleone family, from The Godfather film series.
  • Giles drinks Glenlivet single malt scotch.
  • Xander mentions hypothetically doing sit-ups at Fort Dix, an United States Army post.
  • Willow's quotes "If ever a wiz there was" from the song "Follow the Yellow Brick Road/You're Off to See the Wizard", from the The Wizard of Oz (1939).
  • Spike tells Adam about Yoko Ono, blamed by many for The Beatles' break up.
  • Adam says that he likes the song "Helter Skelter"; Spike remarks that he is not surprised, a probable reference to Charles Manson's adopting the title of the song to describe an impending apocalyptic race war.
  • Xander compares Giles to Batman's butler Alfred Pennyworth.
  • Spike mentions the "wild rumpus", a reference to the book Where the Wild Things Are, which also lends its name to another episode in season 4.

Music

International titles

  • Armenian: "Ֆակտոր Յոկո" (Yoko Factor)
  • Czech: "Faktor Yoko" (Yoko Factor)
  • Finnish: "Vaarallista elämää" (Dangerous Life)
  • French: "Facteur Yoko" (Yoko Factor)
  • German: "Der Yoko-Faktor" (The Yoko Factor)
  • Hungarian: "A Yoko-faktor" (The Yoko Factor)
  • Italian: "Il seme della discordia" (The Seed of Discord)
  • Japanese: "ヨーコ的素因" (Yoko Predisposition)
  • Polish: "Czynnik Yoko" (Yoko Factor)
  • Portuguese (Brazil): "O Fator Yoko" (The Yoko Factor)
  • Romanian: "Factorul Yoko" (Yoko Factor)
  • Russian: "Фактор Йоко" (Yoko Factor)
  • Spanish (Latin America and Spain): "El factor Yoko" (The Yoko Factor)

Gallery

Promotional stills

Behind the scenes

Quotes

Willow: "Besides, when is there any us two? You two are the two who are the two. I'm the other one."
Willow: "Crack a government encrypted code on my laptop? Easy as really difficult pie."
Spike: "You're not exactly the wiz these days either. God, I'm never going to get paid."
Willow: "I am a wiz."
Tara: "She is a wiz."
Willow: "If ever a wiz there was."
Xander: "You and Willow go do the superpower thing. I'll stay behind and put around the Batcave with crusty old Alfred here."
Giles: "Ah, no. I am no Alfred, sir. No, you forget. Alfred had a job."
Adam: "You are sure?"
Spike: "I feel it in my bones, it's, uh... Call it the 'Yoko factor'. Don't tell me you've never heard of the Beatles."
Adam: "I have. I like Helter Skelter."
Spike: "What a surprise. The point is, they were once a real powerful group. It's not a stretch to say they ruled the world. When they broke up, everybody blamed Yoko. But the fact is, the group split itself up. She just happened to be there."
Buffy: "So, I guess I'm starting to understand why there's no ancient prophecy about a Chosen One and her friends."

References

  1. "The Mortuary". Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Archived from the original Mach 31, 2001.