lembergwatcher

I totally prefer "I've known you for two minutes, and I can't stand you. I don't really feature you livin' forever."-type Spike than the one who fakes righteous anger, while tryin' to shame the Scoobies for "betraying" his precious slayer in Touched. Overall I still don't get what makes Spike that different from, say, Lyle Gorch. Maybe many people are too impressed with his cheesy 'rebellious' type, fueled by some punk rock cliche in image, attitude, and behavior ("rebel without a cause/a brain"). JMHO. As for James Marsters being likable, they could give him another role. Quite a few Buffyverse actors played more than one character.

Here's another thing bothering me: Giles is kinda not that old, quite, you know, good looking and pretty darn smart. Sunnydale isn't totally a shithole of a town. Therefore I find it hard to believe he was unable to find one or two friends of his own age. Because why on earth is he so eager to accept Ethan's invitation and drown his sorrows in the company of a guy who proved to be dangerous and unpredictable on three separate occassions? You don't mind drinking with Ethan 'The Chaosbitch' Rayne, Rupert? Then why are you so shocked after looking at the mirror the next morning? Explicit case of adults being capable of poor choices (and they say Xander is stupid...)

Sometimes I think those vampire-wannabes from Lie to Me were based on Joss himself. That episode was surely prophetic. Only this time the Scooby Gang itself and the viewers for that matter were supposed to be like those customers of the Sunset Club. First mocking the idea of vamps being "cool" or worthy of worship and then promoting it in four consecutive seasons - I sense some major phoniness.

It never ceases to amaze me how gullible all of the Scoobies were when it came to Spike. Accepting anything he said at face value was outright stupid and they continued to fall for that trick time and time again (S.04 - the most obviuos example). Almost making him a member of the gang was even more suicidal. Spike's inability to hurt any of them since getting that chip - quite a lame reason to keep him around. Not being able to bite didn't make the bleached vamp some sort of a harmless puppy or trustworthy companion. The fact that they stayed alive 'til the very last season is pure miracle. Or bad writing.

No, no homicide, of course. She would survive. 1000-year old demons can't be killed like that. And that's the worst part IMO.

She could be as well Buffy's cousin who has never visited Sunnydale prior to 2000.

I can't say I 'hate' this particular character (though I wanted to give her a little smack many times while watchin' S.05 - 07.). I just think there were some other ways to introduce Dawnie into the show other than literally raping the minds of the rest of the characters and therefore altering the plots of the previous four seasons.

With all due respect to Willow/Oz shippers, but this episode IMHO shows why their relationship was doomed from the very beginning. For me it's pretty hard to disagree with the whole "you're a wolf all the time and this human face is just your disguise" statement coming from werewolf groupie's mouth. W/X can be seen one-on-one (onscreen) probably first time since The Zeppo. "Guy friend that knows about girl stuff" meets "a translator from the "y" side of things"... Quite a lovely piece IMO. Then again this moment from Buffy/Oz dialogue. Did it ever occur to Buffy that the wolf # 2 might be a female? Did she ever think 'bout Willow's possible reaction after finding her boyfriend locked up in a cage with another gal the next morning? Nice job, Buffy. Though most in the fandom will find it disputable, what if Buffy's "two wolves - one cage" idea was something that led indirectly to the whole Oz-Veruca deal the way it happened?.. JMO.

Years pass by and I still burn with desire to rewrite one pesky scene: "Still more romantic than Faith" (c) - doesn't look even remotely romantic more than a decade later...

Always wondered who was that creepy old guy in a wheelchair who helped orchestrating the SlayerFest '98? Love this line in particular: Sure, coz getting tortured for hours, injured or nearly killed makes "Giles and the others" too dumb and insensitive to appreciate the depth of Angel's improvement. Sweet-sweet Buffy with her youthful spontaneity and superior knowledge. JMO, of course. And Alyson Hannigan is just adorable the way she says Willow's line in one of the scenes: Long ago, when I first saw early seasons of the show I really believed Willow was played by actual teenage girl, not the woman in her twenties...

After watching this ep I was kinda shocked to learn they let Faith continue slaying despite the assault and attempted murder of Xander and one of the Watcher Council's team members. I bet Buffy, Giles or Wesley never even asked the Slayer #2 to sort-of apologize to her near-victim. Logically that should have sent Xander a clear message that in the eyes of Scooby Gang leadership his life mattered less than the ones of Buffy's boyfriend or sister slayer.

Btw, I was somehow surprised after learning that this episode was written by the same guy who did the very Season 01-ish "Some Assembly Required"...

Maybe O'Toole was some creep stalking teenage girls for the "party" he was about to have with his evil dead friends. Just a suggestion.

I'm not sympathizing with Xander over the whole "connection" thing and he was a little bit too much of an ass at that particular moment, but... after "all my stuff has to be for [the guy with the SuperNose] only" and attempt to seduce the said guy several episodes earlier... she couldn't really expect Xander to view her "I love you" other than in a pure platonic way. JMO. I do not "blame" her either for her reaction. It's totally OK on emotional level. On the rational level though it was, sadly, none of her business. Because of, you know, Oz.And "a quick roll in the hay at the local hot-sheet motel with disreputable girl they barely know" is not how Xander's first time should have been. But the writers decided it would be too much for Xander to lose his virginity in a normal way, with someone he really loved and cared for.

Yeah, but Willow for some unknown reason reacts as if Xander was cheating on her, though it's totally meaningles since the whole "no-touching rule" and reconciliation with Oz in previous eps. If she really expected Xander to be her first, then it's she who appears in a slightly bad light here. Because this is just another proof that she never really loved Oz with all her heart and the guy was nothing more than a substitute for Xander. Then we have another case of pure possessiveness: if Willow can't sleep with Xander, then no one else can. And why in the world did Xander have to take something like 'I love you, Xander' coming from Willow's mouth seriously if it was the same Willow who continued to date Wolfboy the very next morning as if nothing happened? She was the last person to be mad at Xander for the whole Faith affair. In fact it was Xander who had every right to be mad for his so-called friends treating him the way they did. If Buffy and the others didn't take an "no super powers = stay away" approach, then there most likely would be no cause for Willow to cry in the toilet...

One of my favorite episodes. Still it's kinda very strange (and even careless) that Jenny couldn't find a better place to translate the whole ritual thing than the classroom in place accessible for the likes of Angelus. I mean she wasn't a newbie, she knew about the danger, she knew what Angelus was capable of and - logically - had to be on alert. She could research safe at home, not in public place alone. Either she believed she could deal with Fangboy or she could run (though her clothing on that particular evening wasn't suitable for such a race). One of the most tragic moments in the whole show. It was Jenny Calendar, who deserved the second chance, not Angel(us).

Watching the first half of that episode, I kept wondering and asking myself: "Is this the same character?? Is this the same Xander, who helped saving the day in Prophecy Girl, threatened to kill the Slayer if his best friend got hurt in When She Was Bad, came up with a plan in Innocence, stood alone against Angelus in Killed by Death, assisted saving Giles despite the hand injury in Becoming, Pt. 2, and took active part in vampire slaying at the beginning of S.03??? Donuts??? "Useless" part of the group??? Really? Someone must be kidding..." Two thumbs up. This IMO is the reason why many people prefer the earlier seasons than the later ones. Good old times when there was a group of friends in which each and every one was important, each did the job and each one contributed to the cause in one way or another. Nothing hurt the concept of Buffy more - at least in my eyes - then the claim that there were more important and less important members of the group, the useful and the useless. I hated the whole message that started to emerge since S.03: being human sucks, the everyman sucks. Unless you are vampire, witch or demon of some kind you are totally inferior to the ones with the super-powers. Along with blatant glorification of someone like Spike (and tolerance for someone like Anya) it leaves a really bad taste in the mouth. Another thing that continues to annoy me to this day is that even in this supposedly Xander-centric or "pro-Xander" episode they had to portray him as irresponsible jerk who couldn't resist the temptation and lost his virginity to someone he barely knew. I don't mind since Xander was, well, single and Faith was quite hot, but judging from the subsequent episodes I have a theory that Whedon & Co needed the whole sexfest affair to make Xander look as a douchebag even despite him saving his friends from being blown to kingdom come. I doubt most fans remember that episode as the one where Xander defeated O'Toole's gang and saved many lives, but rather the one where he slept with Faith thus hurting poor Willow's feeling and reinforcing the belief that Wolfboy was a better choice for the redhead...

Quite funny episode to watch I must say. Among my favorite moments: Giles "interrogating" Xander and Willow in the crypt after accidentaly finding out who the mysterious demon hunters were and that scene where Demon!Giles chases Professor Walsh down the street, scaring her shitless. For a woman whose nom-de-guerre supposed to be Merciless Bitch of Death, her reaction is... weird...

Missed opportunity to get rid of Spike actually. Due to Willow's and Xander's excessive kindness the blonde vamp survived and the gang paid a price for their shortsightedness in subsequent seasons Since first watching this episode over 15 years ago one particular scene continues to bug me to this day. I mean, the conversation between W, X and Spike after leaving historical museum searching for the word of Valios: I mean, since when do they take ANYTHING the smug bastard says seriously? They surely know the history of the Scooby Gang way better - including the obvious fact that Buffy wouldn't win a single major battle without little help from her friends. Therefore, no matter how insecure, immature or shy the are, they can easily laugh out loud in response to Spikey's BS. Or stake him. Or turn into frog by some of Willow's spells. It's amazing that those two try to argue with Spike and persuade the SOB that what he says is wrong... Tell him to STFU and that's it. Overall I like some nostalgic feeling from the earlier high school days and the attempt to recreate the spirit of pre-Graduation Scooby Gang - the good old days, when there were just Buffy and her two slayerettes (and Giles, of course).

Thanx :-) I agree with the whole bisexuality thing. It's just many in the fandom strongly believe something like that can't exist in the Buffyverse. Because Willow's sexuality is one of the reasons mostly mentioned as a a point against any W/X arc post-Chosen. By the way, the whole "leaving town" concept could be quite an entertaining alternative. Overall the show lacked some X/W-centric episode as well as some flashbacks into pre-Buffy years. Their history together was one of the most amazing things in the Buffyverse and the writers could give this one episode about Xander, Willow, their friendship and other issues regarding both Slayerettes a try. Truly the show won't lose a thing with one (just one) X/W-centric and one less Spike-centric episode... Unfortunately first it was "impossible" because of Cordy and Oz, and later the writers were scared to somehow tarnish Willow's lesbian street cred...

1) I can see your point here, but the thing is I actually dislike Oz or Cordelia. Cordelia - well... for many reasons, but mostly for constantly humiliating Xander, bringing his home situation into public domain and calling him "useless part of the group" ("The Zeppo") fit only for bringing donuts... Yes, she had lots of reasons to be mad at him, but at least she should have decency to give him credit for saving her life ("Some Assembly Required"). As for Oz he always annoyed me with his pseudo-cool demeanor and the way writers did everything to make him look better and cooler than Xander no matter what. He could do literally nothing, say one or two sentences for the whole episode or just play the guitar and everyone around would swoon in delight and consider him a better choice for Willow. The truth is that Xander had never been less determined to save/protect Willow - despite all the "no-touching rules", "Xander is in the past" and Willow's other attempts to throw her friendship with Xander under the bus in order to please Mr. Perfect Gentleman. Oz's of the world will always have the upper hand over Xanders. I just thought that in Buffyverse it could be otherwise. 3) You are totally right about Willow, but given what she's been throuhg, sense of guilt and Buffy's shitty attitude... it's hardly a surprise she was that way; 4) Yes, Spike was a stronger fighter, but W & X supposed to be Buffy's best friends, the ones she had history with and some sort of emotional attachment. It had to be a much more devastating blow for the Slayer if both of them got killed, went insane or commited suicide. But because by the end of the series Buffy's emotional connection with her two original slayerettes was dead and gone, the First decided to go for Spike. Though facing the incorporeal entity like the First made many of the blonde vamp's fighting skills less significant. Plus Turok-Han could easily beat the shit out of Spike considering their encounters in the series...; 5) Same with me :-)

So, here are some unpopular opinions from me. 1. I was always two thumbs up for Xander and Willow ending up together. I know I belong to a tiny minority on this issue, but IMO they could be really good as a couple - in ordinary, human way. Futhermore I prefer two of my favorite characters getting together post-high school and even post-Sunnydale, when they're more mature, less naive and have learned the hard way. Their long history of being in each other's lives and deep knowledge of each other's stronger and weaker sides, their ability to overcome odds and to forgive could lay some solid foundation for lasting relationship. Of course, this relationship wouldn't be as fluffy as Willow's romances with Oz and Tara were, or as hilarious as Xander's affairs with Cordy and Anya, but I dare say Willow/Xander arc had some sort of potential which unfortunatelly was wasted due to Whedon's infinite wisdom. Both the Witch and the Carpenter screwed up their chances with one another and it did neither of them good. Say what you will, but NONE of their relationships lasted too long or ended well. I hated the way things turned out between the two of them in S.03. First and foremost I'm not THAT dumb to believe their small affair (why couldn't 'fluke' last for more than four episodes???) was all because of formal wear. As if there were no signs of Willow's crush on her best male friend in earlier seasons, no signs that W & X really did care for one another and no Xander's admission in "Becoming Pt. 2". Even Willow's coming-out in the later seasons was not really an obstacle for W/X. After all, it's Buffyverse, where literally EVERYTHING, every freaking thing is possible. If it was possible (and perfectly OK) for quite straight Willow to end up gay, why couldn't it be vice versa later? It was pretty much OK for most of the fandom when the Slayer literally ended up sleeping with the enemy, what's so odd 'bout lesbian girl once again falling for her male best friend? And why LOVE always should be about sexuality first and foremost? The problems with consummating their love didn't stop Buffy and Angel from starting an affair in S.03, why should it be the issue between gay Willow and non-gay Xander? At least their physical intimacy would never lead to deadly consequences, in a way Bangel's 'perfect happiness' did. Relationships have to be built on love, not the lust. IMO, the ending of S.06's 'Grave' continues to be the strongest manifestation of love (not in "I'm-in-love-with-you-way"), but in the broader sense of word. LOVE, pure and unconditional, the reminder of what TRUE love should be... Xander on the Bluff, knowing full well he'd never stand a chance against Uber-Wicca, having no superpowers and special abilities, yet still being there for his best friend and succeeding in bringing her back... After Xander's willingness to sacrifice himself for Willow, all those later cheesy attempts of making Kennedy look like redhead's real soulmate are nothing but a joke. Therefore I really do not understand the reason why despite everything we know about Buffyverse and its thin line between life and fantasy, possible and impossible, pairing Willow and Xander is still fiercely regarded as the 'no-go zone'... 2. I have a firm belief that Giles and Anya could be really interesting and entertaining couple instead of Anya and Xander. Anya, who was much-much older than her male partner, deserved someone more mature and experienced - therefore Giles might be quite a good choice in this regard. At least he won't screw up that bad with ex-demon. There could be some chemistry between two of them. 'Tabula Rasa' only cemented my opinion on the issue. 3. There are times I wish Willow and Xander both ended up dead on Kingman's Bluff (Xander dying in an attempt to stop his best friend from making the worst mistake ever and Willow following him, because she couldn't live with herself knowing she was responsible for taking carpenter's life). Remembering S.07, there are moments I prefer Buffy's two slayerettes leaving this world on a higher note, averting apocalypse, instead of being treated like shit in series' final season, watching Buffy choosing her former nemesis and attempted rapist over people who stood by her side for seven years. Also Xander's and Willow's demise in the S.06 finale could be viewed as a payback for violating the rules and crossing the lines while bringing Buffy back and thus unleashing the First Evil. 4. In S.07 Willow, Xander and Anya should have been the primary targets of First's cunning attacks, since it was THEIR combined effort at the beginning of the previous season that shattered the balance in the mystical world and enabled the First's killing spree. What did the First Evil have to do with Spikey, who wasn't even there when the Scoobies resurrected the Slayer, I still can't understand... The issue of their responsibility for the wrongdoing ("blood on the hands") was brought up briefly first in S.06's 'After Life' and then in S.07's 'Showtime' with no further consequences for the threesome.