I’ve been staying away from spoilers and I was not expecting that quick a progression between Buffy & Spike.
But Yay!!! Speaking as the Future Love Slave[sup]tm[/sup] of Spike I loved this episode.
Strange thing is: I’m such a fan of his that I didn’t realise what it meant when he was able to hit Buffy the first time without pain. When he then couldn’t bite that chick, I still didn’t know. I kept thinking that it was because he cares for her the chip somehow “knows” that he doesn’t mean to hurt her. I’m such a romantic. It wasn’t until Spike said that it was Buffy that I realised it. Sheesh, talk about being blinded by love.
Amy coming back is interesting. She seems a little too well adjusted after having spent all those years as a rat. It also appears (from previews) that we see Willow sliding even more down that slippery slope of Black Magic.
I’ll stop commenting now before this thing runs three pages.
That was Willam DeFoe in the preview, right? Perhaps we’re getting a real villian finally!
I guess I always figured Spike and Buffy would have rough sex, but they’re taking the building down! Finally, something that resembles passion. This is good.
On the bad side, they’re treating Willow and Amy’s magic as if it’s just a simple thing, no big whoop to perform. It’s all just too easy after spending five seasons building up the whole idea of magic.
And the Trio still sucks. Having Spike threaten Boba Fett, while mildly amusing, really sucked the life (pardon the pun) out of Bad Ass Spike. It was hard to take him seriously when he’s threatening an action figure. Like Riley. (sorry, I’ll stop that)
The scenes with Dawn and Tara were good, I liked them.
The ending was a lot more…um, heated than I expected. I liked it though. The thing I wonder though, from randomly watching last week’s episode of Angel (but not this week’s or any other’s) is if Darla’s kid really is Angel’s does that mean Buffy has to worry about getting knocked up too? I don’t care if anyone spoils this week’s Angel to answer the question, since I’ll probably not watch it again.
elfin: Angel and Darla’s baby by all accounts is a special case. Should be no worries because of Buffy getting, um, Spiked.
Telemark: I think that magic has been presented as multi-level. There are simple little spells that can be done pretty much by concentrating on it (levitation of self and objects, party decorations, etc.) and ritual magic that requires the elaborate set-ups and ingredients. What I think we’re seeing with Willow and Amy is that they are so powerful that spells that might otherwise require rituals, they are able to do by concentration.
I’m kinda looking forward to finding out what the Ghastly Trio is up to. I liked the freeze ray and the fact that it iced up Jonathon’s hand, which is how I’d imagine a real freeze ray would work. Agree that threatening Boba Fett was a bit lame, but remember that Spike couldn’t harm the Trio directly (although they didn’t know that) so he went after the things they valued instead.
And, may I just say, I’m already sick to death of the “Spike and Buffy fight, Spike and Buffy kiss, Spike and Buffy fight, Spike and Buffy (fill in the blank)” cycle?
Glad to see Tara’s still around, although I still have a sick feeling she’s going to end up dead by season’s end. I’m glad Dawn doesn’t blame Tara for the break-up and it could be fun watching Dawn try to manipulate things to get tham back together. Most chilling line (besides “get the freeze ray” of course) was Willow’s bit about people leaving “for no good reason.” Illustrating quite nicely that she is in total denial and takes absoultely no responsibility for her actions.
I don’t believe so. I think that pregnancy was a very special circumstance. They made a point of saying that vampires can’t reproduce (in the normal fashion) and that’s why this was so shocking. Who knows, maybe it was the fact that Angel has a soul that enabled him to father a child. There certainly aren’t a lot of those running about ;).
Anyway, I don’t see Buffy getting pregnant. At the very least that would be a copy-cat story line and I can’t see Joss going for it.
I really, really, really like Buffy, but there are 2 things that bug the heck out of me.
I want evil Spike back. Oh don’t doubt me, he will be back. Nothing like unrequited love to turn somebody who is evil, then good, back into evil. This lovey dovey, do I have a soul, angst ridden Spike is nothing but a castration of a really good villian (a.k.a Darla in last nights episode.)
On a completely different level, I’m a little pissed at the whole Sex=Violence Spike/Buffy crap. Putting aside the whole “Wuthering Heights” mad passion baloney, I also hate it on a whole separate level. It may sound a little cheezy, but I think it is socially/psychologically irresponsible writing to so closely link sex and violence, especially when your demographic are preteen and teenage girls. I see enough girls and women who seem to think that abuse makes their love more special that to see it on T.V. that way really gets under my skin.
I was so pleasently surprised by the wonderful musical episode, that this was kinda a letdown. But hey, they get it right 90% of the time, so I can live with that.
In parting:
Buffy: So, howya been?
Amy: Rat, and you?
Buffy: Dead.
Hahahahahahhaahaha. It’s still the best thing on T.V.
In a couple of places magic of the little physical trick (ie party favor) sort has been considered to be something one can just pop out. Things with minds are a little harder, especially if one wants them done right. Finally there are things with souls which are nearly impossible.
Remember Jonathan managed a spell that altered reality profoundly, but as Adam pointed out it was entirely fake. I think that the Bronze tricks were on par with that.
A final bit about magic, is this the first time they talk about a limited supply of magic in a day? I think they’ve presented it as draining before but not as draining from a special store.
I liked Xander looking through a D&D manual for information about the monster they might be dealing with.
I think that Amy’s perception of her time as a rat as only a few weeks might be related to her relative OKness.
On preview I notice mauvaise’s post and I’ve always figured that Slayers were sterile. Here’s why: I don’t think that Faith’s reaction to Slaying/fighting is atypical for Slayers (it also ties into the Spike/Buffy violence-sex-violence cylce). The powers that be are most likely aware of this. So eliminate the potential for Slayers to hinder their effectivity.
I really don’t think that Joss is aiming the show at preteen girls. There have been a fair deal of rape references (the swim team to fish and the right when Buffy returns) as well as other things that aren’t particularly appropriate for that demographic. Plus the geek trio seems to be a bit of a jab at the actual demographic. Let’s face it there is a show filled with good looking girls, references to other geek shows (and the Simpsons) and ass kicking a plenty from a very hot female lead. This is a fanboy show.
That said Buffy is severely emotionally messed up. So is Faith. I don’t think Slayers are well adjusted beings. Two of the ones who have had significant screen time follow sex = violence.
Is that it? they didn’t give any further explainations? I did see that part, but thought there was more that I missed.
As to the episode itself, pretty good. I’m still not a fan of the idea of the geek trio being the “big bad.” The Boba Fett was some good stuff, but I still cringe when they do the really nerdy things like caress their Boba Fett action figures. They’re funny, but not “big bad.”
I’m liking the Willow storyline, and the fact Tara and Dawn seem to be keeping on good terms.
So Buffy and Spike? Did anyone think that there were…um…logistical problems with what happened? I mean can Spike use his vampire powers to just do Buffy through his pants? or did I miss something?
Best line ever is still:
Buffy: So, howya been?
Amy: Rat, and you?
Buffy: Dead.
I missed the reference to a specific amount of magic per day. We have seen Willow drained before after big spells (teleporting Glory tired her out for a couple of days, the multi-spell volley on Glory wore her out, etc.) but I don’t recall anything from last night along the above lines.
I thought the unzipping was a little odd, seeing as how in the next shot she was still wearing those tight leather pants.
I’m suspecting a big surprise twist at some time this season, because it seems as tho too many things are hapening too quickly and too blatantly. Buffy and Spike, Willow going grrr. For some reason I’m not thrilled by what I see developing as an overt comparison of witchcraft to drug use. Just a little less subtle than I am used to from Joss.
Still, a good show. I laughed when they were unable to find a frezing diamond eating monster and Buffy simply said, “We suck!”
I think the only mention of it was during the previews for next week. Willow mentions something to Amy about it being a full day before she was ‘recharged’ or somesuch.
Actually, Buffy was conveniently wearing a leather skirt. I’m still a little confused about the logistics of the whole “act” When she was pushed up against the wall their naughty bits seemed a bit far from one another…or maybe Spike had enough to compensate…oh my.
It wasn’t until Spike said that it was Buffy that I realised it. Sheesh, talk about being blinded by love.