Let's Fold Scarves

The werewolf hunter wasn't exactly a nuanced villain but otherwise this was a fine episode.

"He-he said he was going through all these changes. Then he went through all these...changes."

Willow is getting more and more confident: when Giles asks if she's sure about Oz, her reply is an exasperated "Can't you just trust me on this?"

Buffy is upset about people dying because of her though she seems a little more put out by the thought of a werewolf doing the killing than she was by it actually being Angel.

Larry's coming out and Xander's reaction is hilarious.

This episode has one of my all time favourite Buffy lines: "I didn’t jump. I took a tiny step, and there conclusions were."

Willow has a fawn on her t-shirt! Foreshadowing!

Rewind

What is bad about this episode? Erm, either the line "and wear something trashy...er" or the costuming that doesn't match the line (she's wearing a twin-set for heaven's sake) or the continual characterisation of Cordelia as slutty (or at least being slutty in appearance) when, if we must sling mud, Buffy's outfits are much much worse - witness the spaghetti strap top she wears when she attacks Jenny in the classroom for a start. Actually, it is clearly all three points, it's nasty and not a little misogynistic which seems a weird thing to write.

Otherwise, brilliant. Even Buffy's inability to kill Angel which makes her answerable for many deaths (notably Jenny's) is interesting.

Rewind

So, thank goodness things are coming to a head. I am not much of a romantic so I find it hard to watch (or maybe even care) about soppy Buffy and Angel (I'm clearly no Willow on that front). I am also fed up with Xander and Cordelia's hate-love relationship.

I don't think I have ever been convinced that even a newly re-assembled, and not at full strength, Judge would be fazed by some TVs falling on him. Still, any old reason for Buffy and Angel to get caught in the rain.

Rewind

The Gorches! They burn!

This isn't really that bad. It's just not that good.

Highlights include the immortal words: "You boiled your young?" and the exchange: "Can I just say gyughhh!" "I see your 'gyughhh!' and raise you a nyaghhh!"

It also suffers in retrospect because when you know it precedes "Surprise/"Innocence", I'm sure many people can't help thinking something along the lines of "from the ridiculous to the sublime."

Rewind (and I was less generous then, same image though!)

I don't know why this provokes such negativity with a lot of fans. I totally agree that it ends abruptly and unsatisfactorily - I mean where do people think Ted has gone to? - shouldn't Joyce be scared he might come back?

I do understand that it may not deal with the full implications of what Buffy did: she lost her temper and killed a man: it makes no difference that it transpires that he was not one: she did not know this. I, nevertheless, think it does a damn fine job bearing in mind that Buffy - the series - is not in full swing yet. Neither "Lie To Me" or "The Dark Age" or anything before "Innocence"  dealt adequately with the issues they raised.

The killing of a human and the subsequent effect it has on the character is fully realised in Faith and that took the rest of Buffy from S3 and some of Angel.

However, John Ritter is fantastic as the eponymous character - he nails all aspects of his personality and does a great head jerk.

Watch out for that frying pan, Ted!

Rewind

 I like Kendra, her accent is broad but doesn't sound unbelievable to me, and, I don't care, I love the "it's me only shirt" line.

I don't like her shyness around Xander because its doesn't suit her persona as represented by her make-up and revealing clothes.

I think her closing words to Buffy are lovely ("You talk about slaying like it's a job. It's not. It's who you are." and I don't hug either.

Xander and Cordelia coming together is certainly an interesting development. And Oz and Willow are chatting and they are so cute.

Poor Jenny, she thought she was the only one with a big secret. No wonder, she's having problems coping after the revelations about Rupert and a spot of being possessed by a murderous demon.

Jenny is sweet teasing Giles but their romance playing out in the hallways of the high school is most unprofessional.

Cordelia taking Ethan down is a highlight: as is her presence in many scenes.

I guess they made the library cage gate a little stronger for when Oz took refuge in there.

Heh, Ethan, you are droll: "Now, this may sting a little just at first. But don't worry, that'll go away once the searing pain kicks in."

Willow's plan to kick out the demon is a very clever one: Willow really is very smart.

The Bay City Rollers! I really, really don't think so. For on, Giles is too old and for another, he is the wrong sex.