The Trio use their stolen diamond to create an invisibility gun. Unfortunately, when Buffy is inadvertently hit with the ray while out and about, the group must find a way to turn her visible again before she undoes all her plans. Or, as Xander discovers, before she dissolves forever.

I'm not going to beat about the bush here: I loved this episode. My problem is that with no super powers, the Trio are in constant danger of being caught every time they try anything. I thought they'd had it this time when Buffy discovers who has been plaguing her, but thankfully they lived to fight another day.

The invisibility thing has been done innumerable times, but thankfully has enough different ways to be used that it always seems fresh. Here Buffy uses it to do whatever she likes, sharing some heavy duty passion with Spike (particularly funny when Xander comes in and finds him in the middle of having sex with her and Buffy starts to play with him while he's talking), messing with the mind of Dawn's social worker and generally having a giggle. It's only when Dawn freaks out that she realizes the gravity of the situation, not to mention the discovery that she will disappear imminently.

The Trio are at their geeky best too, and there are hints that things aren't quite right as Warren starts to have no problem with killing Buffy to make their lives easier, so it may not be plain sailing from here on. Jonathan's attempts not to be revealed on the phone or while invisible ("Who is this?" "No-one you know.") are pretty funny, and the climactic invisible fight sequence is incredible, especially the way the camera keeps panning back and forth as if there are people actually there, which only makes it funnier.

The best point about this episode, however, is the way it is written, very much in the style of a season one or two episode. Willow is trying not to use magic and is therefore back to basics, hacking computers and playing detective, a job she does exceptionally well. Xander is more heavily involved and interacts more with Buffy and Willow than usual and the newer cast members play more of a background role. The downbeat ending, with a perfect piece of cutting, is exactly like something from one of those earlier seasons as well, and it's partly the sense of nostalgia this evokes that helps the episode work so well. With this kind of intimate character drama, it seems this season Buffy is getting back to basics, and it's all the better for it.

****

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