lovers walk

Lover's Walk
11/24/98
guest stars: Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Harry Groener (Mayor Wilkins), James Marsters (Spike)
Writen by Dan Vebber
Directed by David Semel

Synopsis: not yet written.

    review:   Something has been lacking this season on BtVS. A decent villian. The Mayor hasn't lived up to the hype, and after Band Candy, it seems that while Snyder is a mean little rodent man, he isn't evil. Trick has been hot and cold, although his major problem seems to be more that he's not being given enough to do.
     With Lover's Walk, that problem is remedied. The return of Spike, one of the most anticipated events of the season, was pulled off triumphantly. Also, the fact that he arrived sans Drusilla actually added to the episode. Because this is the first episode James Marsters appeared in without Juliet Landau, and because much of their humor comes from the interplay between the two of them, I was a little anxious at first. However, Landau's presence in the episode would actually have detracted from it.
     Spike's second entrance into Sunnydale is almost exactly like his first in School Hard. Except instead of the bad ass Spike of season 2, we see a drunken Spike falling out of his car with a bunch with a bunch of empty bottles. "Home, sweet home."
     Marsters does a terrific job of being both evil and sympathetic at the same time. His scene with Willow was terrifically frightening, showing a side of Spike we saw too little of towards the end of last season, that is the nasty evil villain we all love so much. He was pitiful also, though, and Willow's comforting him was a highlight. Also, his scene with Joyce nearly rivaled their scene in B2. "She sounds very unreasonable." "Yeah, she's out of her mind...that's what I miss most about her. Do you have any of those mini-marshmellows? Also, the way he was taunting Angel by making scary faces at Joyce's neck was comic genius. His best scene, however, was his speech to Buffy and Angel on the nature of love. This is one of the most important and poetic passages of the season, and one of the most moving. For the first time, someone actually realizes and confront Buffy and Angel with the fact that they are playing with fire.
     David Boreanaz actually got some decent air time for a change, and was given the chance to show his more sarcastic side. If Angel was more like that instead of the Buffy-whipped Angel from most of season two, I might like his character more. Hopefully, this is the Angel we'll see in his own series.
     I am continually liking Buffy more and more. She has returned to the take-charge, take no prisoners kick ass Buffy who makes everything better instead of the emotional wuss she'd kinda become. Also, the fact that she is starting to think about her future is somewhat welcome. Although I do take issue with the SAT thing. Seriously, with grades, a record, and a reputation like Buffy's there is no way she could get into those terrific school. (Brown? Carnegie Mellon? As if!) SMG continues to rock, though. And those gratuitous cleavage shots didn't hurt either. I think they need to show more of that. I mean, come on, they showed David Boreanaz's butt.
     The subplot, regarding the discovery of Willow and Xander's secret tryst was remarkably well handled by all involved. Alyson Hannigan, especially, gave a performance of Emmy caliber, in her interactions with Spike, Xander, and Oz. I really could feel for her and didn't blame her all that much. After all, she is just a senior in High School and really doesn't know what she wants: her current boyfriend who treats her like gold, or the boy who's been the object of her most hidden fantasies since she was 5. And thinking she was about to die, can you really blame her for getting a little irresponsible?
     Not that you can blame Xander much more. After all, he had a severe head wound. So bad he couldn't stand up. They were really trying hard to do the right thing, it's just circumstances that prevented it. Really bad circumstances. Nick Brendon did a good job also. You did have to feel for the guy. I mean, if Willow, the voice of maturity, can't make up her mind, what about a 18 year old guy whose hormones are racing through him?
     Both Cordelia and Oz acted exactly as I expected. Cordelia had been showing for the last several episodes how she was falling in love with Xander, and she had, after all, given up quite a bit for him. She took a major risk for love and got burned for it, big time. Oz, ever the voice of reason, remained decidedly level-headed despite his obvious pain.
     The Cordelia thing really threw me for a loop. When she fell, my buddy Max said she's gonna die, and I'm like, no way. Then, her head tilted to the side and the scene cut to a funeral. We both just sat there with our mouths open, incredulous at what had happened. I couldn't believe it! I was sure Cordelia had died. Then, of course, Buffy and Willow walked passed. It took a few minutes for my heart rate to return to normal! It was a great trick, totally toying with the audience. I was actually a little disappointed that it wasn't real since that would have been such a shocking twist, not to mention setting off a whole string of events and emotions. All the more so, actually, because I wasn't expecting it. A lot of the punch in B2 was because of the surprise, and likewise a lot of the punch of Passion was lost because I knew Calendar's fate. Still, Charisma Carpenter would be a great loss to the show if Cordelia died.
     I knew this episode would be good since it had James Marsters, but I didn't know that it would be the caliber that it was. 10/10

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