The "previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer" montage dealt mostly with Adam, Prof. Walsh trying to kill Buffy and stuff like that. We then segue to almost exactly where we left off - Buffy telling everyone that the Initiative is after her and therefore after them. Spike raises the doubt about Riley and only Willow jumps to his defense and even Buffy has a few momentary doubts. We then break to credits where the comment "Is Riley still in the credits?" gets me pelted with popcorn.
This was very much a talking heads episode. There was, ummmmmm, one minor scuffle and two isolated punches. I'm going to be quoting more than my wont and it's all from my memory so apologies if I mess them up slightly.
Buffy starts arming everyone as they have to move now before the Commando Boys catch up. Giles scoffs at the notion that the Commandos have any idea where they are so, of course, Riley walks in. a) Giles should lock his door. b) Giles should knock wood more often. Riley is very confused about what happened, having a hard time accepting that Prof. Walsh tried to kill Buffy. He is also very confused about why Spike is hanging with the Gang. The best Anya line of the show is here...
BUFFY:Maggie tried to kill me.
ANYA: It didn't work but they're all upset anyway.
We cut to the park. Anyone who has seen the Lon Chaney Frankenstein knows what's going to happen when he sees the little boy.
ADAM: What am I?
BOY: You're a monster.
ADAM: (pleased with himself) I thought so. How do you work?
BOY: I don't know, I just do. (points to spikeything) What's
that for?
ADAM: (smiles and nods as if a light bulb just went off)
Needless to say, this scene bothered me and I'm glad they when for the subtle and not the gross.
Meanwhile, back at the lab Dr. Frankenstein finds the body of Prof. Walsh.
The Scooby gang has relocated to Xander's basement; the three girls
in the pullout, Xander on the floor and Giles in an inflatable chair; his
beach ball. The girls are watching the Coyote and Roadrunner where
the coyote swings this huge ball on a rope that does a complete 360 degrees
and smacks him flat.
BUFFY: But that wouldn't work.
WILLOW: That's why they call them cartoons and not documentaries.
ANYA: (raises the 'good one' eyebrow and does a semi-smirk)
After a little bickering Xander comes down and tells them to turn on the TV where they all find out that the kid had been killed. Buffy jumps up and promises great bodily harm and lingering painful death on the Polgara demon. The effect, as she herself notes, looses something as she's dressed in her Yummi Sushi pjs.
Meanwhile back at the dorm Riley confides that Maggie tried to kill Buffy to his second in command. Who, good soldier that he is, says that maybe then Buffy needed to be deaded. Before a fight can break out between them they are interrupted with news of Prof. Walsh's death. They go to the scene where the XO points (pun here) out that the killing blow was awful stake like. Riley pegs the murderer as the Polgara demon. Before a fight can break out between them they are interrupted by Dr. Frankenstein to say that the Initiative is locked down until the Washington boys can come down to do the investigation. Riley ignores this and deploys his Alpha Team to kill the Polgara.
I have determined that there is no sadder image than a corner's gurney where the body is so small you can't tell it's there.
Anyway, Buffy and then Riley arrive to look over the crime scene. Riley tells Buffy that Maggie is dead and asks if she's happy. Buffy is, rightfully, pissed at Riley, vows to get the demon responsible and Riley can *then* ask her if all this death makes her happy.
And now (violins) are somewhat nebulous favourite couple. Willow goes to Tara's. Willow assures Tara that she likes being and talking and hanging with Tara regardless if they do spells or not. I know. But, Tara says, you want to do a spell. Willow explains the spell (demon locating via goddess Thespia...
oh fuck I am so stupid. If they're followers of Thespia that would make them Thespians.
anyway. <smack> Tara expresses doubts <idiot> but Willow reassures her that they're ready for this <such an idiot I am, missing that pun> They do the spell but instead of blowing smoke at the exact same time as Willow does Tara fakes the ummm. Sorry, Freud took over again.
<degress> Okay, Tara blew the spell, no doubts. I'm giving her the benefit of the doubt here. I can think of many reasons why she'd do what she did and most of them are to either protect Willow or herself. So I'm not too concerned. </degress>
We break away to Willy's bar. (For you newcomers to the show Willy
is a human who runs a bar. He use to sell information to whoever
could intimidate him the most. Luckily TPTB know they have newbies
and established that quite well). Anyway, Riley interrupts Buffy's
questioning. He is very confused as Buffy is supposed to be the Slayer
but she a) harbours Hostile 17 and b) seemingly socializes in bars with
demons. Buffy grows concerned as Riley is shaking, sweating and acting
nutso. Riley threatens to kill someone but regains enough control
for Buffy to take him to Xander's. At Xander's Riley is scratching
and shaking. Buffy binds his hand with her scarf and convinces him
to sleep. Then Buffy leaves Anya and Giles doing research while she
and Xander head off to break into the Initiative on the hope that Buffy's
security codes and clearances are still good. Willow arrives
at Xander's to tell them that the spell failed, nay never happened and
she's confused. Riley overhears that Buffy has gone to the compound
and, pushing Willow to the floor, rushes after her.
The writers have been saving Xander's lines until now. Buffy stands in front of the fake mirror.
XANDER: This isn't the time to be checking the look.
BUFFY: I'm the only one who can pass the retinal scan.
XANDER: Retinal scan. Ewww.
BUFFY: Xander. Retinal.
and, upon seeing the facility for the first time.
XANDER:I totally get it now. Can I have sex with Riley too?
While poking around they overhear Dr. Frankenstein talking about the Commando Boy's meds and how they're all in withdrawals. Buffy follows Dr. Frankenstein until he's alone and then confronts him...
BUFFY: Usually I don't kill humans but I've learned to be flexible in this job.
She gets some info from him but not much when Riley walks in. He's still confused and sick and then Adam arrives.
Rather than doing a he said/she said/he said I'll just summarize...
Adam is a part demon, part human, part machine killing machine created by Dr. Frankenstein and Professor Walsh. Riley and the Commando Boys have been drugged and conditioned to be stronger and more loyal to Prof. Walsh and the Initiative. Adam has Prof. Walsh's notes and knows all about Prof. Walsh's plans and thoughts about Adam and Riley whom she considers her "art". Riley is having a hard time buying all this but you can see it making sense to Buffy and Xander.
Adam is tabla rosa; he exists and he knows his function. But he doesn't understand why he has emotions and feelings. He killed the boy to find out how humans worked but that didn't teach him anything. He is curious to why Riley feels pain at the revelation that they are "brothers". Riley snaps and attacks, Buffy and Xander back him up and all three are beaten down. Adam kills Dr. Frankenstein, wounds Riley and escapes. The Commando Boys burst in and take Riley away because "they look after their own" and Buffy is *not* one of them.
Meanwhile, back at Willy's Spike goes for a drink (Bloody Mary, O Positive)
(sorry watched Bug's Life about a zillion times) and is waylaid.
He's dragged out to the alley where he's told that demons
don't like demons who work with the Slayer against demons so he'd better
watch his step.
Next day Willow and Buffy are talking. Buffy is worried about Riley, how his hold world has exploded and she's not there for him. And that there's nothing for him to hold on to. We close the show in Riley's hospital room, with him staring at his fist clenched around Buffy's scarf like it was a lifeline.
Random thoughts: