Adam’s plan gets underway and to make sure the Slayer is kept off-balance, he sends Spike to add to the increasing rift among her friends.
For the first part of a two-part story, this episode has a lot to set up. Although all the players, essentially now pawns in Adam’s plan, have been set up throughout the season, it’s not until now that things need to pull together. And they do. Sort of.
One of the aspects of the latest season that fans have most commented upon is the increasing uselessness of many of the supporting players. While this is only natural when you have to bring in new cast members to replace those who have left, it’s served a useful function in splitting the Scooby Gang to Adam’s gain.
With everything finally stated outright (and many arguments have been simmering since the first season), you get the impression that we haven’t just been imagining the problems between the friends. Getting Spike to exacerbate the problem is a neat touch and gives him more to do once again, showing he can be malicious without the need for violence.
On the down side, it renders what should be an exciting opening episode very talky indeed, as has been a problem for much of the season. Towards the start the show gets too bogged down in dialogue. The pay-off comes at the end, however, when the explosions begin and a new surprise alliance is apparently formed.
There are some wonderful aspects. The drunk Giles is hilarious, Adam is becoming increasingly creepily threatening, Spike is back to what he does best and there are some brilliantly-played scenes between Sarah Michelle Gellar and the visiting David Boreanaz which show what a strong chemistry they still have onscreen. There are several things that needed to be done (although I picked the wrong Initiative member to get killed); it just takes a little too long to get there.
Having said all this, I have no idea where the story is going from here which leads me to believe there’s some serious excitement in the offing. I don’t know what Adam’s plan is and how Buffy can beat him, but I’m waiting with anticipation to find out.
***
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