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5.13 Blood Ties

Spike: "Brown robe types are always protecting something. It's the only way they can justify giving up girls."

Very good episode. Buffy got through another horrendous birthday, but this time without a boyfriend. Unless you count Spike.

I was way impressed with Michelle Trachtenberg; she could easily have overacted or underacted ("What am I? Am I real? Am I anything?") but instead she hit just the right note in each and every one of her difficult scenes. And I really liked seeing her keep her cool and take advantage of her opportunity to pump Glory about the Key. I've been semi-apprehensive up until now about Dawn's addition to the cast, but I'm not any more.

I got a big charge out of Dawn's breaking-and-entering sojourn with Spike, particularly with their quip-trading. And speaking of Spike, as I love to do, isn't it interesting the way the Buffy/Spike relationship is changing? Instead of continuing with "another round of kick the Spike," Buffy actually said to Spike "You were right"; Spike comforted Buffy by telling her that she'd find Dawn in the nick of time like she always did; and Spike even joined the Slayerettes on a mission and was helpful. Wow. This certainly wouldn't have worked last year, but the change has been so gradual.

The Glory/Key/Brotherhood plot is getting more interesting, too. Is Ben Glory's brother? Is he one of the other two hell-gods that rule the Bitch dimension? I'm still confused about his role with the brain-suck victims, but he was definitely trying to protect Dawn from Glory, which makes him possibly a good guy. (And hey, if Glory and Ben are two of the hell-gods, who is the third?)

At the end of the episode, Dawn pointedly did not tell Buffy that Ben is related to Glory. Why?

Bits and pieces:

-- The X-rays on the wall behind Dawn and Glory as they talked in the hospital were really weird.

-- Xander's arm is still in a cast.

-- I liked Anya saying that she wanted Buffy's presents.

-- Loved Spike's bent box of chocolates for Buffy. And being caught doing his nails.

Quotes:

Giles: "I'm not sure our regular workout is challenging you any more. Perhaps we should make it harder."
Buffy: "You always think harder is better. Maybe next time I patrol I should carry a load of bricks and use a stake made of butter."

Buffy: "How was school today?"
Dawn: "The usual. Big square building filled with boredom and despair."

Buffy: "It's beautiful. Thank you, guys."
Tara: "Well, we thought you'd get lots of crossbows, other killy stuff."
Willow: "Yeah, so we figured, less killy, more frilly."

Dawn: "Geez! Lurk much?"
Spike: "I wasn't lurking. I was standing about. It's a whole different vibe."

Dawn: "Sorry, it's just ... come on. I'm badder than you."
Spike: "(insulted) Are not!"
Dawn: "Am too. You're standing in the bushes hugging a bent box of chocolates, and I'm..."
Spike: "What? Sneaking out to braid hair and watch Teletubbies with your mates?"

Willow: "Not even a card, huh?"
Buffy: "I wasn't really expecting one. No contact with civilians. There's probably a code name for it. You know, like radio silence. It's greeting card silence."

Willow: "Teleportation spell. Still working out the kinks."
Buffy: "Where'd you send her?"
Willow: "Don't know. That's one of the kinks."

Three out of four stakes for this one. And next week a Buffy/Spike valentine episode? Be still my heart,

Billie





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