Surprise (Marti Noxon)

From the ridiculous to the sublime (actually not quite the sublime, that’s to come). Surprise is the slow build up to Innocence and it’s a good episode in many ways: though that excludes the comedy strangling by severed arm

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and the Judge’s name (that’s because all I can think of is Rowan and Martin’s “here comes da judge”).

The tension between Buffy and Angel is palpable though my rational mind can’t help thinking – he has no circulation, he’ll be clammy, yuck – while my romantic mind is going ahhhh. The way they escape from Spike and Dru is a bit lame but gives them an excuse to get their clothes off and give Angel that “one minute of happiness”.

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Willow is continuing her remarkable cuteness curve despite:
the big purple hat

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and the jumper with the Scottie dog

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Her exchange with Oz is just adorable and the way she says “I said 'date'” is just wonderful. She has every right to be excited – Oz is so darn cool.

We discover that Jenny Calendar isn’t Jenny Calendar but “Janna, of the Kalderash people! A Gypsy!” – oh boy, there’s going to be trouble ahead – just what is she doing with Buffy and the Beetle? – it’s all so suspicious. It’s a pity Vincent Schiavelli hams this up a bit though the costume department wasn’t doing him any favours with that hat (what is it with the hats??).

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Some random asides: Juliet Landau has incredible arms – all muscle and veins – I bet she has no problem giving blood. Buffy has a lot of rings on her fingers which reminds me of the incongruous collection on Abby Grant’s fingers in Survivors.

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“Fish of the day?”

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“You think he's too old 'cause he's a senior? Please. My boyfriend had a bicentennial”

“I'm gonna ask you to go out with me tomorrow night. And I'm kinda nervous about it, actually. It's interesting.” “Oh. Well, if it helps at all, I'm gonna say yes” “Yeah, it helps. It-it creates a comfort zone. Do you wanna go out with me tomorrow night?” “Oh! I can't!” “Well, see, I like that you're unpredictable.”

“I know it's hard to accept at first”. “Actually, it explains a lot.”

“Hmm, it's sad, granted. But let's look at the upside for a moment. I mean, what kind of a future would she've really had with him? She's got two jobs - Denny's waitress by day, Slayer by night - and Angel's always in front of the TV with a big blood belly, and he's dreaming of the glory days when Buffy still thought this whole creature of the night routine was a big turn on.” “You've thought way too much about this.” “No, no. That's just the beginning. Have I told you the part where I fly into town in my private jet and take Buffy out for prime rib?”

“Do it again! Do it again!”

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