History Recap / BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E10Hush

* StatingTheSimpleSolution: When the Scoobies watch Giles's lecture, Willow picks up a rock band CD and mimes why not play it since that should count as a scream to incapacitate them. The next slide reveals why: recorded voices don't work.

* TheTapeKnewYouWouldSayThat: Giles uses an overhead projector and pre-written transparencies to brief the Scooby Gang on the Gentlemen. At one point, Buffy and Willow mime separate suggestions of how to dispose of the Gentlemen, and Giles immediately displays transparencies explaining why the plans wouldn't work. It's not quite a straight example, though, since Giles is visibly annoyed that they interrupted him to ask the obvious questions instead of just letting him go to his next slide.

* EveryoneHatesMimes: Meta-Example. In the commentary, Whedon says that thanks to the skilled, expressive silent acting of the people playing The Gentlemen, he no longer [[NightmareFuel takes mimes lightly.]]

** Xander calls Buffy, and she picks up the phone. Simultaneously, they realize it was a stupid idea since they're both mute and incapable of communicating through the line.

** Xander calls Buffy, and she picks up the phone. Simultaneously, they realize it was a stupid idea since they're both mute and incapable of communicating that way.

** Xander calls Buffy, and she picks up the phone. Simultaneously, they realize it was a stupid idea since they're mute and all.

* ThePowerOfRock: Averted; only a human voice will kill the Gentlemen, who have taken away everyone's voices to prevent this. Willow offers to play a CD, but Giles informs her it won't do the trick

* OpportunisticVendors: After everyone has first lost their voice, a vendor is selling whiteboards and pens. Buffy and Willow frown at this, but they each end up buying some for themselves.

-->'''Spike:''' Sure, you're just a yummy treat.

* GoryDiscretionShot: The frat boy who's had his heart removed.

* TwoLinesNoWaiting: In the second half of the episode, Buffy and Riley play out the A plot and Willow and Tara the B plot. Due to the alternating editing of the scenes together, they seem to take place at the same time when actually the B plot occurs slightly before the A - all the Gentlemen can be seen in the clocktower, meaning the two pursuing Willow and Tara must have given up and returned to base. This appears to be {{Discontinuity}} at first, seemingly the number of the Gentlemen has risen from 6 to 9.

%%* FirstKiss: Buffy/Riley

** "We have a gig that would inevitably cause any girl living to think we are cool upon cool." [[spoiler: When Buffy finds her Mr. Joe Ordinary is a demon hunter like herself, she wants to break off the relationship.]]

* KnuckleCracking: Giles cracks his knuckles before undertaking the task of...[[MundaneMadeAwesome changing the overhead transparencies]].

* LastSecondWordSwap
-->'''Riley:''' So, what have you got going on tonight?
-->'''Buffy:''' Patrolling.
-->'''Riley:''' Patrolling?
-->'''Buffy:''' ... petroleum.
* LectureAsExposition: Giles delivers the exposition through transparencies and mime. In fact, the very beginning of the episode is this with Professor Walsh giving a foreshadowing lecture by saying "It's about communication", explaining that it is *not* the same thing as language.

* LectureAsExposition: Lampshaded and subverted when Giles is forced to this without his ability to speak.

* NoDialogueEpisode: Not quite ''no'' dialogue at all but the Gentleman make sure there is as little as possible.

* UnusualEuphemism
-->'''Giles:''' I have a friend who's coming to town and I'd like us to be alone.
-->'''Anya:''' Oh you mean an orgasm friend?
-->'''Giles:''' Yes that's exactly the most appalling thing you could have said.

* YourHeadASplode: What happens to the Gentlemen when Buffy screams.
* WakeupMakeup: Buffy and Willow after their voices have been stolen. We even see Buffy going to the bathroom to get ready despite the fact that she already looks perfect.