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6.22 Grave Willow: "Is this the master plan? You're going to stop me by telling me you love me?" Xander: "Well, I was going to walk you off a cliff and hand you an anvil, but it seemed kind of cartoony." Anya said at one point that "no magic or supernatural force can stop her," so of course, it had to be Xander. Willow was so detached, even referring to herself in the third person; it was Xander (as well as that magical back-door Giles zapped her with) that made her reconnect, and finally cry for both Tara and herself. I should have known it was coming, since Xander kept referring to what a failure he was throughout the entire two-parter. Can Willow recover from this? Let's face it, Warren and Rack are no great loss to the world (Rack is dead, right?) but it won't be easy for Willow to put something like this behind her. A huge highlight for me was Buffy and Dawn finally connecting, fighting animated corpses back-to-back, and even walking off into the sunrise and the L.A. smog together. Buffy handing her sword to Dawn was a pivotal moment, heralding a major change in their relationship, and it was about time. Dawn has been underutilized and shortchanged as a character this year, and I'm glad they're giving her a chance (probably motivated by Gellar's contract ending next year). And boy, it was way past time for Buffy to shake off her returning-from-the-dead depression; of course, having her do it while crawling out of a hole in the ground in a graveyard was so symbolic it was ridiculous. Speaking of symbolism, when Giles came in and noticed Buffy's haircut, Anya said, "I'm blonde." She didn't say, "Hey, I'm a demon again." I think Anya has decided that she can't help being a demon, but it isn't what defines her any more. Or something like that. Good for her. There were many truly wonderful moments here: the training room scene with Giles and Buffy literally doubled over in hysterical laughter; Xander holding a sobbing Willow as the black drained out of her hair; the previously mentioned Buffy handing her sword to Dawn. But what made this episode for me was the last two minutes. "So you'll give me what I want. Make me what I was so Buffy can get what she deserves." Buffy deserves love, doesn't she? Every single thing Spike said to that demon could be taken two ways, but I honestly think Spike was asking to be dechipped and evil again. How wonderful that he didn't get what he wanted; instead, he got what he needed. It certainly made me happy; I want Spike to complete his journey toward redemption, and now it looks like he might. The test demon said was that he was returning Spike's soul; there were no specifics. Spike could be a vampire with a soul, a human being again, a human/vampire hybrid, or something I haven't even considered. It's going to be a long four months until we find out. Bits and pieces: -- Willow zinged Giles about their fight in the kitchen in the episode, "Flooded." -- Did Giles get contacts? He didn't wear his glasses in this episode. -- Did the tombstone behind Buffy and Dawn say "Rosen"? Hmmm. -- I'm going to give Mutant Enemy the benefit of the doubt and ignore the fact that a carpenter saved a Wicca from her evil magicks. BtVS isn't a show that sneaks in Christian messages, or I wouldn't be watching it. Quotes: Buffy: "Giles, everything's just been so... Xander left Anya at the altar, and Anya's a vengeance demon again. Dawn's a total klepto. Money's been so tight that I've been slinging burgers at the DoubleMeat Palace, and I've been sleeping with Spike." [Giles bursts into uncontrollable laughter] Spike, staggering with exhaustion: "Well, that was a bloody doddle and a piece of piss." Jonathan: "Ow! Son of a bitch!" Andrew: "Buttwipe." Jonathan: "I wasn't talking to you." Andrew: "Oh. Reflex." First hour a bit weaker than the second, but as a whole, this season ender was a four out of four stakes, a zappy capper to a schizophrenic season, Billie |
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