Very smooth cheek you have there. Do you exfoliate?

Where the Wild Things Are (Tracey Forbes)

This is the other candidate from season four for the least liked episode. And like Beer Bad I can defend it or, at least, list good things about it. For one thing, the Buffy and Riley having sex scenes don’t take up that much screen time (though they do seem endless). And surely an episode with Giles singing can’t be a total wash-out? By the way, Giles singing isn’t actually a good thing but it was a great BtVS moment (“Um, could we go back to the haunted house? Cause, this is creeping me out.”)

There is a lot of excellent character interaction between Xander and Anya, Anya and Spike, and Tara and Willow. In fact, reviewing this episode was more fun than doing Superstar.

• Anya and Xander argue in front of children and parents: “You want sex? Let's have sex. Right here. Hot, sweaty, big sex.” (OK, question, why is the ice cream van a right hand drive? Are all ice cream vans right hand drives in the US?)

• “They, they're probably going to…” “Yes, thank you Willow, I did attend university in the Mesozoic era, I do remember what it's like.”
• Anya and Spike begin their relationship with a funny scene: “What are you doing? You made me yell really high.”

• “Hey, Buffy, this might be a good time to mention that someone, so not me, spilled something purpley on your new peasant top which I would never borrow without asking. Still love me?”
• “You should ride with me sometime. I guarantee safety and fun.” “Well...if you promise you'll look after me.” (Subtle)
• “Anya, this is crazy. We had a little fight. It just means that we have to work our way through some stuff. It doesn't mean that we rebound with the evil undead.” (I’d almost feel sorry for Xander except it’s his fault she does rebound.)
• “I know I'm not the first choice for heroics...and Buffy's tried to kill me more than once. And, I don't fancy a single one of you at all. But...actually, all that sounds pretty convincing. I wonder if Danger Mouse is on.”
• Xander is very brave by at least trying to help his friends.
• “No. They're probably dead.” “Unless they're too busy doing it to answer.” “Doing what?” “You know, for a god of acoustic rock, you're...kind of naive.” “I didn't think you meant ...in the midst of all that, do you really think they were keeping it up? Oh, for a different phrasing.” “Well, see, that's the thing. People all over the party were starting to act…weird. Sexually.” “In what way?” “You know…ways.” (Subtext alert!)



• Mrs Holt being a child abuser wasn’t a surprise but it’s was nice to see Mrs Landingham being evil.
• “What do you feel?” “Sad, afraid of being without you, and a little hungry.” “I meant about the house.” “Oh. Still haunted.”
• “We're just lucky no one got injured.” (Er, what about that thorn through Anya’s hand and that scratch on Xander's face?)

Totally gratuitous picture of Amber Benson looking gorgeous