Willow and Tara are back together, but Xander and Buffy are having trouble putting their lives back to normal. As Spike tries to fight for Buffy in the only way he knows how, the Trio plan a bank raid using orbs that confer strength and invulnerability on Warren.

It's a slow burn, but boy, does this episode have an impressive climax. Proving that the characters alone really are enough to hold together a story, the Trio themselves aren't particularly major players until the end, staying out of sight and in the background prior to their raid. The rest shows the difficulties the main group of friends is having after recent revelations. Xander is hurt that Buffy didn't tell him about Spike, as is Willow, but for slightly differing reasons. A lot of nasty things are said, yet all of them true, as the people we've come to love over the last few years find themselves being pulled in all directions. I was starting to be concerned that there was nowhere else to take these characters, but this episode demonstrates the growing up that each of the main characters have done and the changes they have gone through.

The early scenes aren't so much touching as painful, with only Willow sure that she wants to be with Tara. Xander and Buffy are still horribly confused about everything, and even Spike seems unable to work out whether he is in love or not. Dawn encourages him to fight for Buffy, while Xander explains that all the time the gang has been working alongside him, he never lost sight of Spike's nature. In the end it seems Xander is right, as Spike's inherent demonic desire to hurt humans is released in a powerful and traumatic scene where he almost rapes Buffy in her own bathroom. It's the very personal nature of his attack that is most affecting, standing out as one of the nastiest things he's ever done. His final determination to rid himself of the chip and reclaim his life and the person he really is is sure to cause trouble down the line, and I can't wait to see him make his presence felt again.

Meanwhile, the Trio storyline goes along much as you'd expect, with Jonathan helping bring about their downfall but Warren seeing it coming and keeping a step ahead. Andrew's reaction to it all is sad but effective as we get hints of why he's stayed on Warren's side for so long. It's been clear that Warren has always been the danger, and his fight with Buffy is bone-crunchingly painful (even though it does include some obvious stunt doubling). It's never been quite clear just how close to the edge he's been until he gets the power to do what he wants, and the previously useless geek becomes a real force to be reckoned with. Oh, and the opening scene in the guys' former lair is incredible and a superb teaser sequence when Buffy discovers the buzzsaw surprise they've left behind for her.

And then there's the ending. While losing some of its dramatic impact because it's been known for a while, and the end result was a little obvious anyway, Tara's shooting is still so sudden and unexpected that it pulls a good dramatic punch. Warren's dangerously manic new attitude shows that sometimes it doesn't take magic or machines, and the end of the episode showing Buffy and Tara dead or dying is a powerful cliffhanger to leave things on. Great acting from all involved, and things are only going to get worse from here on in.

****

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