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4.7 The Initiative

Spike: "And they are...? The government? Nazis? A major cosmetics company?"

Episodes like this one are the reason I've become such a big fan of this show.

We found out a lot more about the Commando Vampire Testing Lab and who is involved (I knew there was more going on with Professor Walsh than academics) and even though they're doing a lot of what Buffy does, i.e., saving the world from demons and monsters, there's something really off about the "latest in fall fascism." What are their motives? What's really going on?

Riley made some serious points with me when he punched out Parker and even more points when he befriended Willow, but let's face it -- Angel is a tough act to follow. Plus how deep is Riley's involvement with The Initiative, and is he really a not-so-nice guy deep, deep down?

Sarah Michelle Gellar was so cute in this episode. Certainly she's a superhero, but she's also so endearingly vulnerable. "Ballpoints can be tricky." And she so obviously didn't know what "teutonic" meant.

But my absolute favorite bit in this episode was the Spike/Willow scene in the dorm room. It may have been one of the funniest scenes in the entire series. I was wondering how they were going to make Spike more sympathetic without giving him a soul and what a great way to do it -- it's still Spike, but slightly defanged. "This doesn't make you any less terrifying." "Don't patronize me!"

Bits and pieces:

-- James Marsters is finally in the cast! Which was of course a major clue that he wasn't going to die in this episode.

-- The Xander/Harmony fight scene was simply adorable. Xander does put the simper in semper fi in his own Xander-like way.

-- Willow is just a tad bitter, isn't she? At least she's not hiding her feelings.

-- Spike is 126? Wrong.

-- Oz's real name is Daniel Osbourne? Did we know that?

Quotes:

Riley: "There's definitely something off about her."
Graham: "Maybe she's Canadian."
I don't know why I found this one so funny, but I did.

Giles: "Well, based on Buffy's description, I believe the men that we're after look something like this."
Xander: "The latest in fall fascism."

Spike: "I always worried what would happen when that bitch got some funding."

Xander: "Might as well face it. Right now, I don't have the technical skills to join the Swiss army. And all those guys ask you to do is uncork a couple of sassy cabernets."

Willow: "Okay, say that I help, and you start a conversation. It goes great. You like Buffy, she likes you. You spend time together, feelings grow deeper, and one day, without even realizing it, you find you're in love. Time stops. It feels like the whole world's made for you two, and you two alone. Until the day one of you leaves, and rips the still-beating heart from the other, who's now a broken, hollow mockery of the human condition."
Riley: "Yep, that's the plan."
Willow: "I figured it was."

Xander: "Every man faces this moment. Here. Now. Watching. Waiting for an unseen enemy that has no face. Nerve endings screaming in silence. Never knowing which thought might be your last."
Giles: "Oh, shut up."

Riley: "I can't dance."
Willow: "Then talk. Keep eye contact. Funny is good, but don't be glib. And remember, if you hurt her, I will beat you to death with a shovel. A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend. Have fun."

Buffy: "You know, I don't want you taking this the wrong way... It's just, um... I need a little alone time now... Alone."
Riley: "Why?"
Buffy: "I need space."
Riley: "We're outdoors."
Buffy: "Emotionally."

Four out of four stakes, no question about it,

Billie





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