Willow: "Oh, Buffy. You really need to have every square inch of your ass kicked."
The Nerds of Doom set the sixth season in motion, but Willow finished it off.
Alyson Hannigan was simply fabulous. She was Willow throughout, but she wasn't. So calm, smiling away, viciously ridiculing Dawn (I actually thought she'd turn her back into a green ball of energy), confronting Buffy about her depression. That, and the understated but highly effective scary makeup she was wearing made the whole thing so personal and real. There was a bit too much zapping and people smashing into different parts of the now totally demolished Magic Box, but wow, it worked for me.
I've never been an Anya fan, but I liked her here more than I ever have. She was so matter-of-fact about her demon powers and its limitations, honest and up front, helpful in any way she could be, and I think she's even softening toward Xander. Speaking of which, Buffy and Xander felt almost like a couple here, didn't they?
Jonathan looked cooler, handsomer, more together, and dare I say it, more Scooby-like, than he ever has. I believe he's always wanted to be a Scooby, anyway. Maybe he's leaving Nerdville and villainy behind.
Having Giles show up at the end of the first hour, too late to help with the ancient Sumerian but still in time to save the day, was just a wonderful surprise, and the perfect bridge to part two.
Bits and pieces:
— Clem was a nice addition to the cast this year, although he was only there as comic relief and to give Spike someone to emote to. I realized during this episode that he reminds me of the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, that is, if he had a big hat and no floppy ears.
— This episode began with a two-minute recap of the entire sixth season.
— Xander's car died in this episode.
Quotes:
Spike: "This is a test. I don't get what I want unless I pass said test. Is that about the size and shape?"
Demon: "Yes."
Spike: "And since your pad is decked out gladiator-style, and no number two pencils have been provided, I guess we're not starting with the written?"
Anya: "I can't do this. I'm in retail."
Andrew: "You saw her. She's a truck-driving magic mama. And we've got maybe seconds before Darth Rosenberg grinds everybody into jawa-burgers, and not one of you bunch has the midiclorians to stop her."
Xander: "You've never had any tiny bit of sex, have you?"
Anya: "The annoying virgin has a point."
Three out of four stakes,
Billie
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Billie Doux reviewed all of Buffy and Angel, so she knows the plural of apocalypse.
"Speaking of which, Buffy and Xander felt almost like a couple here, didn't they?"
ReplyDelete:o They kinda did, yeah. I remember hearing about SMG pushing for something more with Xander (source: my ass for now but I intend to track it down).
Jonathan saying he dabbled in magics and Xander then calling him dabbleboy is one of those quotes that aren't clever or anything but I feel inclined to repost because they always make me snort.
"-- Xander's car died in this episode."
NOOOO!!!! Vehicular deaths are upsetting, I just recently watched that episode of Mr Bean which ends with his car getting crushed by that tank at the celebration thing. But at least that episode treated it like the tragedy it was.
Anya's been really really cool this finale arc. If Guy-les didn't show up at the end I'd say she was the highlight. But alas... GILES!!!! I loved that, it catches me off-guard every time, I never expect it when it happens.
The only thing the writers really failed at was trying to turn us against Dark Willow so far. How am I not supposed to love someone who calls out Dawn's complete nothing of a character arc this season? "I can stand on my own two feet, I'm ready for-- *smash* AHHH BUFFY SAVE ME." I can't believe this girl got a Main Cast spot over Tara... fuck