Characters
You don't understand, I'm good at things. That's what I do. I work hard, apply myself, get it done.
— Riley · Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
Riley describes competence as an important part of his identity. Working hard, applying himself and finishing the task form a familiar sequence on which he relies. The insistence suggests how unsettling it can be when being capable is no longer enough to explain or resolve a situation.
Context reviewed