Once More with Repossession

Phil made me watch "Repo: A Genetic Opera" last Thursday night, Buffy's musical episode fresh in our minds. This may seem like I'm comparing apples and oranges, but like Phil, I think a connection is worth finding and a comparison worth making between the depiction of fathers in both musicals. As Phil has mentioned, these two musicals share a cast member: Anthony Head, who plays Giles. Unfortunately, "Repo" far under-utilizes Head's skill as a singer, most of his songs being rhythmic talk-singing numbers with growling undertones. Also, his sex appeal is diminished. Despite Giles being a quasi-father figure, he is portrayed as a man who is sexually and emotionally complex, and is often uncomfortable fully embracing his paternal role. In "Once More with Feeling" he sees that Buffy is relying on him too much, and decides to make the difficult decision to step away, which is something fathers sometimes have trouble doing, especially the father he plays in "Repo." His character, Nathan, shields his daughter Shilo from the world outside, going to great lengths to keep her close and sequestered, suffocating her with "love." Giles demonstrates love better by doing something that is painful for both him and Buffy by leaving, but that is ultimately more for Buffy's benefit than his own. "I'm just standing in the way," he sings. Head's character Nathan in "Repo" comes off as shallow (but then, most of the characters in "Repo" do) and lives in the past so much that he is unable to accept a different kind of future because of its unpredictable nature. He shelters his daughter more for his own comfort than for hers. "It's me she must escape," he sings, referring to Shilo's desperate attempt to throw off his choking control. He has to allow Shilo to live, just like Giles is trying to help Buffy live. Whedon brings another dimension to the father-figure type and is able to create a passionate, conflicted character using (in this particular episode) music. Alas, "Repo" is unable to do the same thing.