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6.17 Normal Again Xander: "Oh, come on, that's ridiculous. What? You think this isn't real just because of the vampires and demons and ex-vengeance demons and the sister that used to be a big ball of universe-destroying energy?" I really liked this episode. Except for the "Dallas" ending in the last scene (which had better not be how this series ends, you hear me, Joss Whedon?) and the fact that this basic plot device has been done many times before. And the way Buffy and Xander were treating Spike. Wait a minute... So it was flawed, but very interesting just the same. Buffy being institutionalized was a marvelous metaphor for her current life situation, and the evidence that the hospital was real and her life as the Slayer was not, the "intricate latticework of her primary delusion," was compelling. After all, how logical is it, being the Chosen One? Saving the world from the forces of darkness? Having friends with superpowers, an imaginary sister, and a demon lover that she hates? And how about that revelation that Hank and Joyce had Buffy committed when she first started seeing vamps? It all made perfect sense. Buffy's "undifferentiated type of schizophrenia" solved all of her problems. Suddenly, Buffy had her mother back, her parents were a couple again, and all of the problems she had with Dawn were gone. Who can blame her for not wanting to deal any more, for temporarily choosing another path? I noticed that Buffy dumped her antidote in the trash and left reality behind right after Spike gave her that ultimatum, which must have been the last straw. (And isn't that interesting, that Spike has decided to tell all because he thinks the Scoobies will reject her, and then he'll then get her back? Spike still wants Buffy, in spite of everything.) Speaking of which, I'm totally fed up with how Buffy and Xander are treating Spike. Why won't Buffy let Spike just be kind to her? Even after everything she's done to him, he was still ready to take care of her ("put a little ice on the back of her neck, she likes that") and in that cemetery scene, she was ready to confide in him until Willow and Xander came along. At least the cat is pretty much out of the bag now, after Spike's "sodding sex slave" tirade to Xander and what Buffy said to Dawn ("a girl who sleeps with a vampire she hates? Yeah, that makes sense.") I think Xander is going to have some serious difficulty accepting Buffy's affair with Spike, since Buffy has always kept Xander at arm's length. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all hits the fan, hopefully in the next episode. I found it touching that it was Joyce telling Buffy to believe in herself that made Buffy choose her life as the Slayer. And it was cool having Tara show up and save everyone, although I'll admit I was hoping it would be Spike. Bits and pieces: -- Sarah Michelle Gellar was wonderful, as always. She's so on top of her character that she makes it look easy. -- No Anya in this episode. I’ll bet she took D’Hoffryn’s offer. -- On the Nerds of Doom front, it looks like Jonathan is cracking; he's having trouble sleeping and going all Jack Torrance. Jonathan, it's time to go to the D.A. and cut a deal, sweetie. -- Did you notice that the Doublemeat Palace french fries weren't yellow? They started out red and ended up black, which was probably intended to illustrate the unreality of Buffy's life or something metaphorical like that. -- Note the little Buffy and Dawn philosophical exchange: Buffy: "I should be taller than you." Dawn: "Maybe you're not done growing." Quotes: Willow: "So, you left her at the altar, but you still want to..." Buffy: "You still want to date?" Warren: "Andrew's demon pet has done some number on the slayer. Got her tripping like a Ken Russell film festival." Flawed, but intriguing, and extremely well written. Three out of four stakes, Billie |
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