Spike (and James Marsters) are fantastic - his moments with Joyce are a series highlight - but throughout he is funny, scary and not a little perceptive.

Willow sets a pattern (why, it's a Willow Pattern) - she turns to magic to help herself out of a problem. I love the way she says "there, there" to Spike - it is almost sincere. The episode is full of nice little moments like this: Buffy checking her make up in one of Giles' gadgets; the Mayor musing on mixed metaphors; Spike getting set alight; Cordelia's fake death - no, scratch that one, it's a bit of a cliche...

I have to agree with Cordy, Oz being able to smell Willow is disturbing, though I am surprised it wasn't just fear he could smell.

Rewind

It is a peculiar feeling when Xander is right but I don't mind because he is still pompous and obnoxious at the same time as not being wrong. There is so much lying going on at the moment, a real Scooby Gang weakness. Poor Giles.

I love Buffy, Faith and their stunt double fights so much. They look awesome together.

Rewind [I wrote a lot about this episode and I clearly cared more back then about the shenanigans going on. Now, I think I just want the soppy, soapy stuff to stop so I can enjoy great episodes like "The Wish" and "Doppelgangland".]

This episode was derailed by shirtless Tai Chi Angel, and by Willow and Xander playing footsie: both events disturbed me more than Buffy was by her elders' behaviour.

In general, this was moderately amusing but I feel it is thoroughly over-rated. So, ironically, after all this time not blogging Buffy, I don't have much to say. Sorry Jane.

Rewind

It's the fluke.

Oh Americans and their strange school rituals.

SlayerFest is a super name for anything really.

Rewind

This article by Ada Conroy was one of the few that I could find quickly that shares my dismay with the message of the episode and there is also this (though I don't know who the author is).

Unfortunately, the funniest moment in the episode is a violent one when a startled Faith gives Buffy a backhander - "Hey, Buffy, don't get hit!" I am pleased to say that there is a gif of this out there and it is a gift - thanks, goodbyepiccadilly!

The second funniest moment is when Giles is downed by a tranquillizer dart - definitely bloody priceless.

I did like Trick's meta-commentary about the whiteness of Sunnydale: it's a pity nothing was really done about it though.

Scott Hope was actually rather cute but so, so, not suitable for Buffy.

And one of my favourite quotes from Buffy:

The girl’s not playing with a full deck, Giles. She has almost no deck. She has a three.

I love what happens to Buffy over the course of the programme: she can't help but do the right thing and when she she does it is magnificent: starting with the offhand reply to the nurse's question  ("Breaking into your office and going through your private files") to wielding that hunga munga in one the best fight sequences so far in Buffy.

However, it is Sister Sunshine/Chanterelle/Lily/Anne who makes me tearful. She is so pathetic but there are glimmers of inner strength notably when she pushes Ken-demon off the ledge and knowing she later administrates a shelter for the homeless (in Angel) it is good to see just how much good Buffy does despite her mistakes.

Rewind

The yearbook thing and the graduation ceremony to the tune of Land of Hope and Glory (I mean, Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1) is all a mystery to us on this side of the Atlantic. We just leave school after we finish our exams and that is it.

Anyway, poor Amy, as much as it sweet that Willow and Oz get it on at last, she hardly deserves to get to watch and listen. And it's typical that Willow gets to spend most of the two episodes in a peach top but we do get to see her on a bike.

Buffy and Faith:

• Faith is now being portrayed as a cold-blooded killer and she does have an awful lot of redeeming to do. We get a glimpse of her past as she recalls her childhood: "You little firecracker".
• "Faith has you at a disadvantage, Buffy." "Cause I'm not crazy or cause I don't kill people?" "Both, actually." "I hear you. I can't kill her, fun as it may sound."
• "No, it's perfect. Angel needs to drain a Slayer, then I'll bring him one." "Buffy, if Angel drains Faith's blood, it'll kill her." "Not if she's already dead." One of the many strengths of BtVS is the moral ambiguity. Is Buffy right to even contemplate killing Faith to save Angel (who is actually a mass murderer rather than one making baby steps)? Do we think at this point that she actually will attempt kill Faith? I have to say I was shocked when she did.
• "Well, look at you. All dressed up in big sister's clothes." "You told me I was just like you. That I was holding it in." "Ready to cut loose?" "Try me." "Okay then. Give us a kiss."
• Buffy kisses Faith: surely, Buffy realises she isn’t so different from Faith? Buffy denied Faith's assertion in Consequences that "You know in your gut we don't need the law. We are the law" but Buffy in the end did take the law into her own hands. Buffy did something that Faith may well have done even when there was an alternative (the one that lead to Buffy being in hospital). I believe that Buffy was guilty of attempted murder.

"Men like sports. I'm sure of it." "Yes. Men like sports. Men watch the action movie, they eat of the beef, and enjoy to look at the bosoms. A thousand years of avenging our wrongs and that's all you've learned?" "I'm trying, okay? You don't need to take my head off." Oh Anya, you have four more seasons of these patronising put-downs to put up with.

It happens a lot in BtVS when characters make decisions for others: in this case, Buffy decides for Joyce. This was probably so the writers didn't have to write anything for Joyce to do.

I don't really like the scene when Buffy mutinies partly because I dislike making somebody who hasn't done anything wrong (except being annoying and pompous) into the bad guy and also have him say the only thing that makes sense. Buffy prevails in spite of all the bad decisions she is constantly makes.

Willow loses her ability to type as Oz plays with her hair. The same doesn't happen with Tara in The Yoko Factor, which is either a very valuable pointer to the difference in their relationships or just the programme makers shying from making the latter relationship too blatant or maybe me trying too hard.

Faith is eating red vines and probably would be smoking too except maybe she isn't as evil as Angelus. The mayor loves Faith. “Well, I'd get set for some weeping if I were you. I'd get set for a world of pain! Misery loves company, young man, and I'm looking to share that with you and your whore!”

Metaphors sometimes work…Buffy makes Angel drink her blood and this scene is way hotter than any soft focus heavy breathing nonsense we’ve had before (and have in the future).

When I don’t like Xander, I hate him: “Well, it’s just good to know that when the chips are down and things look grim you'll feed off the girl who loves you to save your own ass.” – just, shut up, you don’t know anything.

“If I need someone to scream like a woman I'll give you a call.” this sort of line really bugs me – Buffy screams like a woman in Hush.

Sentimental or moving? Well, only one episode of BtVS made me cry and it wasn’t this or Seeing Red.

Anya: “You know, you can laugh, but I have witnessed a millennium of treachery and oppression from the males of the species and I have nothing but contempt for the whole libidinous lot of them.” “Then why you talking to me?” “I don't have a date for the prom.”

What exactly is Wesley doing wandering around Sunnydale High? And, why would he be chaperoning a high school dance?

“It’s Buffy’s world, we just live in it” I do appreciate that sentiment but I care much more about Willow and her relationships and Xander and his than I do about Buffy’s. Maybe it’s the drawn out masochistic nature of them.

“Look! Right there, zoom in on that.” “It's a videotape.” “So? They do it on television all the time.” “Not with a regular VCR they don't.” It’s a bit much making fun of this aspect of tv when BtVS’s computer skills leave a lot to be desired.

Xander buying Cordelia’s dress is a really nice touch. I will be happy to know differently but does he ever mention her again?

Buffy’s lonely fight with the hellhounds with almost no witnesses seems to be a sad moment but the students of SHS are not quite as blind as we thought.