Innocence (Joss Whedon)

Is this the first 10/10 episode of BtVS?

David Boreanaz is a revelation as Angelus (as we must call Angel when he’s bad); he is clearly having a lot of fun in his role: taunting Spike, flirting with Drusilla and being really, really mean to Buffy. The scene at his apartment when she meets him for the first time since that “one moment” is gut wrenching. SMG shows off her undoubted talent as she negotiates Buffy’s path of humiliation, shame, guilt, pain and disappointment that Joss Whedon has laid out for her.

But it may be SMG’s show, but it’s Alyson Hannigan as Willow who has the moments in the episode that are simply sublime: the look on her face as we see her discovering what Xander and Cordelia have been up to:
Willow discovery.jpg
the pain in her voice as she realises the truth about Xander’s platonic feelings for her:
Willow hurt.jpg
the first to realise what had occurred between Buffy and Angel (“Shut up, Giles”), and yet another awesome scene with Oz, Seth Green is marvellous here, but AH’s face says it all: “this boy is the one”:
Willow and Oz in the van.jpgI could quote it all but here’s the best bit “It's like, it's like freeze frame. Willow kissage.”

We discover that Angel is the real deal baddie because he’s smokin’.
Angel smoking.jpg

I’m starting to warm to Spike as he shows his vulnerable side as he watches helplessly as Angel and Dru rekindle their pervy past.

Xander’s eyebrow does an amazing thing when he gets a plan:Xander thought.jpg

Urgh, reviewing the programme as I write this means I have to revise this to a 9/10 – I have just been reminded of the Buffy/Angel sex scene with added heavy breathing by Joss Whedon – it brings back awful memories of Where the Wild Things Are.

I feel sorry for Jenny – she did conceal her real identity from Giles and Buffy but she did that because of her loyalty to her family. It is sad to be made a scapegoat for something you couldn’t have known would happen. Buffy’s inaction at the end of the episode costs Jenny dear. While Andy is forgiving of Buffy’s leniency, the subsequent deaths that occur because of her behaviour anger me, “give me time”, she says, time that others don’t have.

The double ending with Giles in the car and Joyce and the old film are just lovely (“I got older”).

“I knew it! I knew it! Well, not 'knew it' in the sense of having the slightest idea, but I knew there was something I didn't know. You two were fighting way too much. It's not natural!”

“No. It just means that you'd rather be with someone you hate than be with me.”

“One moment of true happiness, of contentment, one moment where the soul that we restored no longer plagues his thoughts, and that soul is taken from him.” – I like sex, love it even but I’m not entirely happy with the idea of coitus as being true happiness – plus it places a terrible burden on Buffy’s loss of her virginity which is unfair (but totally dramatic!)

“But she's so cute and helpless. Really a turn-on.” – oo, evil!

“This is great. There's an unkillable demon in town, Angel's joined his team, the Slayer is a basket case. I'd say we've hit bottom.” “I have a plan.” “Oh, no, here's a lower place.”

“To kill this girl – you have to love her.”