OUT OF MY MIND
Oh. The random notes contain a spoiler to the Xena episode Heart of Darkness which, I realize, won't air in much of the US until the weekend.
Previously on Buffy we get reminded about the fact that Riley doesn't think that Buffy loves him, that Riley is an Initiative bio-chem project and that Dawn is now what "they" think she is. Currently on Buffy the Slayer is on patrol. She is honing the use of her Slayer powers by fighting the vamps while wearing a blast helmet... Okay, not a blast helmet but she is relying much more on the Spidey Sense than her normal five. Wow, reference one movie and one comic book in the opening paragraph.
Anyway, Buffy is Slaying and really getting into it when Riley and then Spike show up to help. Buffy verbally attacks Spike for always being in the way but some of her non-verbal looks suggest that she isn't exactly pleased to see Riley at the moment. They take off leaving Spike behind to do one of his patented, over the top, 'I'm the Big Bad' villain monologues. Cut to the credits and theme song.
A little late but school has started. Buff and Will have a history class together and they are, much to Willow's great joy, having an actual academic discussion. Buffy has ambi-feelings towards her new work ethic and is getting a bit stressed. They head off to Giles' shop where everyone in the credits but Spike and Dawn are waiting. There we find that Xander has been putting his new construction skills to use and the guys have built Buffy her dream training area.
Meanwhile, back at the crypt, Harmony throws herself at Spike in exchange for his protection and/or help in getting rid of Buffy, as she is sure Buffy is after her. Buffy isn't after her at the moment as she is currently helping get the "semi gratuitous sex scene" quota back on track.
Next morning Joyce collapses at breakfast. Dawn calls 911 and Buffy and Riley meet her at the hospital. Dawn has the stethoscope from some young intern and is listening to people's chests. Riley's heart is very fast. But, when he's examined, he refuses help telling Buffy later that he's on top of it and that there is nothing the doctors can do because he's an Initiative experiment.
After tucking Joyce onto the couch Buffy, Willow and Dawn retire to Buffy's room to discuss Riley's stubbornness. After batting it around and trying to decide how to get the Initiative's attention Dawn suggests that, if the government is spying on them, then they just have to go somewhere that they would be spying on. Buffy heads to a Riley hangout (looked like an apartment sort of) and tells the double clicking phone that Riley is in trouble.
Way faster than any government agency I've ever seen Graham and two feds have tracked down Riley. Riley doesn't want to go with them, freaks and runs off. Graham goes to Buffy who rally's the Scoobs sending them off to look for Riley but keeping the most likely place -the caves- for herself. Since she doesn't know the caves that well she goes to Spike and tells him that she'll give him money if he gets Riley to the hospital. Spike agrees but immediately goes and kidnaps the doctor to force him to do a chip-ptomy.
ooooooh, time for an establishing scene for future episodes. Willow and Tara are searching a dark and falling down Sunnydale High. Willow sets of a very powerful light spell which basically results in the interior lighting up as if it were day. Tara is very taken aback as she had only taught Willow a tinkerbell light spell and Willow had figured out how to goose it up on her own. Okay, back to the main plot line.
Buffy finally finds Riley in the caves punching a defenseless wall. She tries to talk reason to him but fails. At first he says he doesn't want to go because he doesn't trust the people who turned him into uber Riley in the first place. Then he admits that he's also afraid that they'll "cure" him by making him normal and then Buffy will dump him. Buffy is pissed that Riley still has doubts and that he considers her so shallow. She drags him to the hospital where they discover that the doctor is missing.
Spike and a crossbow wielding Harmony have forced the doctor to perform brain surgery. Buffy and Riley arrive, battle ensues, Spike is still "chipped", Harmony and he escape, Riley collapses, doctor operates and everything is fine in time for Buffy to totally screw up everything she's accomplished and the final commercial break.
After we return for the denouement Graham tries to get Riley to return to the fold by playing on his ego. After all, the argument goes, better to rule in the secret army squad than serve a chick. Riley just walks out but you can see the wheels turning.
Last scene. Buffy kicks in the crypt door already to dust Spike. He rips his shirt off telling her to finish him off, end his misery. He then kisses her either to spur her on or just give some fodder for the Buffy/Spike 'shippers. She jumps back before pausing and then jumping *him*. As they kiss passionately Spike tells Buffy that he loves her just before waking up and exclaiming, "Oh God, no. Please, no."
Random Quotes
Spike: Oh I will know your blood, Slayer. I will make your neck my chalice. And drink deep. <turns, steps, falls into an open grave> OW!
Spike: Oh Pacey, you blind idiot. Can't you see she doesn't love you?
Xander: Face it. Until you do a blind taste test no one is going
to believe that generic amphibian eyeballs are as good as the name brand.
Willow: I happen to think the newt name means something.
Willow: Here. Do me.
Tara: Hmmmm.
Willow: What do you see?
Tara: Willow hand.
(okay, it wasn't the words that made the above, it was the smile they shared.)
Graham: What are you now? Mission's boyfriend? Mission's true love.
Random Notes:
Written by Rebecca Kirshner, a new writer to the stable, and directed by David Grossman (responsible for Enemies of season 2 and season 3's Living Conditions, Wild at Heart, Superstar, Where the Wild Things Are, The Yoko Factor).
I think they should collect Spikes monologues onto DVD. This one was very nearly as good as the one where the Initiative taser him at the end but not as good as when he guested on Angel last season.
The everything muffled sound effect when Dawn was playing with the stethoscope was a nice touch. So was the squooshy fingers in the brain sound effect. Which they apparently bought from RenPic because I am *sure* they used the same effect when Xena was making out with Lucifer.
A lot of the humour was in cutaways. Willow saying only a doofus uses a flashlight/ cut to Buffy with flashlight. Buffy saying that Spike is probably up to something evil/ cut to Spike and Harmony playing 20 questions.
If I were doing brain surgery on someone with just local anesthetic I'd sure as shooting tie his head so that he didn't move so much. It's amazing Spike's not missing a few centimeters of gray matter.
Xander's expression before Buffy went into the Danger Room. All hopeful and proud and "I'm finally useful".
Here's the big one. When Riley said last episode "But she doesn't love me" I thought it was just his insecurities talking but now I'm not sure. If my significant other had nearly died, undergone open heart surgery and could barely walk I'd take them home, get them comfortable and then camp there until they were better. I would not say "sure you're okay?" and run home to check on your mom who, after all, had just fainted and, in the great scheme of things, was your mom.
Related to that (and this is something courtesy my sister) it seems that the guys (Riley and Xander) have a way better handle on the affairs of the heart than the girls (Buffy and Anya). Xander basically spells out Riley's problem to Buffy and she still doesn't see it. Riley spends the entire first half of the show trying to show Buffy that he can keep up with her as an equal and she ignores it or patronizes him. Buffy may be the kick ass Slayer but she's only talking the talk. I don't think Riley's long for the show if she doesn't clue into the real problem, pay attention to what the boy is and isn't saying and take action, instead of just words, to heal it.
Over all <yawn> a typically good Buffy show but not their best as it lacks a certain tension and chill that makes the really good episodes. Now, having said that
Angel notes: (new feature! aka why you should not turn the TV off for another hour)
The dialogue:
Angel: Do you know how hard it is to think straight with a rebar
through your torso?"
Cordelia: Actually, I do. The benefit of a Sunnydale
education.
(A rebar is one of those steel bars used to reinforce concrete.
Cordelia is referring to season two.)
Team Angel is building up almost as tight and as interesting as the Scoobies. Characters grow; Gunn's street tough loner becoming a team player, Cordy's metamorphosis from Stick Figure Barbie into a real human being and Wesley finding his spine. Occasional players Faith and Kate haven't made much of an appearance yet but at least they're not being wasted like oh say Tara and Anya are right now.
The villains are evil. Buffy doesn't have any evil villains at the moment just Spike and Harmony. Angel has an ancient vampire as well as a whole law firm of lawyers who are quiet willing to make deals with any devil to succeed. When they say their newest client is a monster, chances are he is a monster.