Buffy Challenge Post 61: Season 7: Episodes 1 – 2

Lessons

Well all good things have to come to an end as we start up the final season of Buffy!

Previously on Buffy ….. Tara gets shot…. Willow gets mad….. Buffy promise change …… and Spike gets what he wants in a soul!

 

ISTAMBUL …. got to love the middle eastern music! and we are at an international girl running for her life open to start the season. PARCORE….. Exteme…… What is it with mad monks and their knifes?

Buffy is giving Dawn Slayer training as we see the most incompetent vampire ever in the history of the show!!!! Buffy frees our friend and sicks her on Dawn, not a bad effort for a newbie… however Buffy needed to clean up the mess.

Buffy is forshadowing something horrible returning and she was right with the reopening of the school!

New credit sequence and we open up to cowboy Giles (wearing an Australian dry bone jacket!) who is comforting Willow after her loss from last season.  Willow makes the first Harry Potter reference as Giles drops some serious words of knowledge….

Xander in a suit, Buffy makes cereal as it seems that Xander is in charge of building the new school and it seems the principles office is over the hell mouth…… Arn’t all principles evil? Nice call back to the first season with the hyena people!

“Robin Wood”  the new principle worst teacher name EVER! Buffy takes a look around the new school and I must say it is very nice! Beware the creepy kid with the basketball….. you know there must be something wrong with the basement as it had the creepy music when it passed the sign….

Buffy is freaking out in the bathroom looking at her hair, then seeing the past failures, Just what Dawn needs to establish her popularity by having her sister barge into her room screaming it’s not safe!

Anya is looking like Angela from the Office and Anya is not living up to her reputation as a vengeance demon.  Buffy passes her concerns to Xander as Dawn now is seeing things, not the best start to a new school!

Well this confirms it, the female bathroom is the source of ALL EVIL! as it seems that Dawn and Buffy are not the only ones who have seen things at the school. Principle Woods is letting Buffy know he has a good idea of her activities at school. Dawn and her new friend get sucked into the floor in a really cool scene.

Switch to Willow’s magical detox and there seems to be a link with the things she sees and what has just happen in the school. It seems like it’s attack of the Zombies as Buffy tries to get Dawn suspended as we move to the age of mobile phones with Dawn calling for backup!

Revenge of the dead as the zombies try to stop Buffy from getting to the door….. Spike? he is behind this? or a prisoner? The suttle changes in his character amazing!  So they are not ghosts or zombies but manifested spirits to get revenge.  I think I like soulless Spike better.

What better way to fight Evil than with bricks in a bag! which doesn’t work too well! being a teacher I know what it is like never to leave school. Good thing Buffy arrives and shows Dawn how to swing a brick bag! Xander finds the talismen and breaks the spell! Yay Xander the unsung hero, again!

It seems we have the makings of the junior scooby gang! So Principle Woods is offering Buffy a job at the school, well what a great way to keep the season contained in the school. Spike is hallucinating seeing all of the major villains that Buffy as fought throughout the years……. the final speech was very intriguing, and the punch line makes me wonder about Buffy’s role at the school.

Well not a bad start to the season where it seems that things are going to wrap up to where we began all those years ago…… I quiet enjoyed this episode as a set up for things to come, it wasn’t brilliant but it was serviceable…

6/10

Beneath You

Previously …. Buff y plays with Spike’s emotions and dumps him ….. we get the whole bit about the Xander and Anya wedding that went wrong…… Spike tries to rape Buffy and that spells the end of their relationship and Warren shoots Buffy and kills Tara in the process. Which causes Willow to go mad! Spike gets his soul back as Giles takes Willow to the farm to detox as Anya and her demon friend warn about an upcoming threat…… Oh and they reopen the school, where Buffy gets a job at and finds Spike in a delusional state living under the school ….. Fhew that was a lot…… nothing on the zombies from last episode though!

Franfurt and we get another international girl running for her life scene to some techno music! I wonder if that is her natural hair colour as she is getting beat up and killed by a mad monk! It was all a DREAM…….. “from beneath you it devours!” EARTHQUAKE or Giant Earth worm? I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

I hate rats, a sentiment not shared with delusional Spike, the Earthquake is playing havoc with him. Cut to Dawn and she is just as thrilled to have Buffy and Xander at school with her. Xander is in a real slump in the relationship area.

Buffy is shown the ropes by Principle Wood, not a good thing  to bring up the whole Principle getting eaten thing. Evil Basement time and Buffy is down to check up on Mr. Spike.

Back to England where it seems that Willow is ready to go home according to Giles, however she is not as confident. I am in awe at how great these two are on screen together!

Woman walking dog, dog gets sucked into the ground, woman freaks out and some how ends up with Buffy, Dawn and Xander comforting her when Spike comes in awake and with his famous hair cut!

Nancy stop trying to hit on Spike, Xander still does not like Spike and Dawn is not too happy about the whole situation either. “Something’s coming…..” Spike offers his help to the situation as Xander clumsly explains to Nancy that Buffy is just a friend who happens to be a girl. Dawn threatens to light Spike on fire.

Spike and Buffy go off to investigate the scene of the dog napping, Buffy is still having nightmares of the attempted rape, Spike only response is that he has changed, will he reveal the fact that he is now in possession of his soul? maybe not.

Nancy and Xander have an awkward moment where she makes it clear that she is interested in the big X, only to be interrupted by a giant sand worm type creature (the CGI is not bad considering.) Every girl seems to have a psycho ex boyfriend on this show….. nice segway to Anya trying to get her vengeance demon on!

Only to be interrupted by Anya and it seems that she is responsible for the sand worm who is the ex of Nancy who is confused about who is who and wonders who hasn’t slept with who, with a priceless shot of Spike and Xander looking at each other! (I had to pause here to get back to some semblance of  nomalicy.)

Anya sees spike for what he really is and his response is slapping Anya who fights back! Buffy jumps into the action when Nancy runs off hating the fact that she is surrounded by freaks and demons. Bad move with the worm going on the attack! Anya refuses to reverse the spell due to the heart break of the dumping at the alter.

Buffy swings in to save the day when Spike attacks the worm only to stab when the spell is reversed, the old Spike wouldn’t bat an eyelid, but the soul inside burns due to the carnage he caused…… “From beneath he devours” So much is happening and at the same time we are going nowhere.

Spike has lost his mind, he doesn’t know what he is anymore. Is this the moment that Buffy finds out what Spike has done, what will be her reaction to this drastic step taken by Spike?

 

WHAT A SCENE, great effect to end this one off.

this is such a difficult episode to rate, was it better than the first one? not really, but it wasn’t worse either …….

6/10

Buffy Challenge Post 60: Season 6: Episodes 21 – 22

Two to go

It’s a stinking hot night here in Melbourne, Australia…… No sleep for the wicked and If I can’t go out on patrol for Vampires I might as well finish off Season 6 of Buffy and other than a handful of episodes, this has been a brilliant season.

Well lets not dilly dally any further and dive into the appropriately named episode entitled two to go (double meaning warning, see there are two nerds left to face the wrath of Willow and there are two episodes left in the season, ant those folks at mutant enemy clever…..)

Previously on Buffy…… Buffy was dead and Willow brought her back but she was in heaven and was torn away by her friends…… Giles goes home back to England….. Buffy discovers the Nerds are trying to be a pain in her ass….. Tara breaks up with Willow for using too much magic …….. Willow has an addiction to magic …… Spike and Buffy get it on….. Buffy dumps Spike after using him for her own needs ….. Anya and Xander announce they are getting married ……. Xander leaves Anya at the Alter (idiot!) …… Anya returns to becoming an vengeance demon ….. Anya and Spike get it on!!!!! …….. Xander sees the show and at the same time finds out about Spike and Buffy ……  Dawn is a little thief ……. Willow and Tara kiss and make up ……. Spike tries to rape Buffy in what I see as one of the most disturbing scenes I’ve seen in this show to date…. Spike runs off…… Warren wields a gun and fires wildly hitting Buffy …… OH MY GOD THEY JUST KILLED TARA!!! …… Willow tries to resurrect her lover to no avail …… Willow absorbs Black magic and does a little surgery on Buffy to get her back on her feet (and keeps the bullet she took out of her.) …… Willow goes after Warren ….. Spike makes a deal with the devil to get rid of the chip in his head ……. Willow skins Warren alive……. Willow ends the episode with the line “One Down!” which naturally leaves us with TWO TO GO……

FEW I think that is the BIGGEST RECAP EVER!!!

Buffy, Xander and Anya are chasing after Willow as they know that she is after Jonathan and the other guy, what’s his name indeed. Anya teleports out of there, will we see Anya Vs Dark Willow? are Willow’s actions justified? Buffy and Xander discovered that the car has been destroyed, so naturally Buffy leaves Xander and runs off in super pace, leaving the powerless Xander to catch up and feel inadequate.

Down in the holding cells I REALLY DON’T WANT TO BE JOHANTHAN or ANDREW right now. I can’t believe that Andrew is still hoping that Warren will get them out of this jam but you have to give props to anyone who can quote a comic book plot that relates to their situation, even if he has to be corrected by Jonathan. Andrew finally admits that Jonathan is out of the loop. Anya arrives and warns the two clowns that they are in trouble and let them know why, by getting straight to the point! Anya lets them know that Warren is dead and they are next. The warden is surprised that Anya is  in the cell and that he needs to let them out.

Cut to the Jurassic Park water in the cup vibrating scene and the awesome arrival of Dark Willow, Whoah with one word Willow puts the cop to sleep and breaks down the cop shop to get at the boys. I hope Andrew dies, he is so annoying. Anya can’t help them and the police as usual are useless. I don’t think pointing the guns are going to help against the witch. Buffy breaks them out to Willow’s dismay, she takes out the voice of reason in Anya and Xander steals a police car to save the two.  Willow is really scared.

It’s an interesting point, Willow doesn’t kill them straight away because she wants them to suffer. Johanthan remids us that there has been a change from the innocent girl we once knew, now she is a homicidal witch with the power to take over a big rig truck to chase down the car. Great effects and action by the way.  It seems that this had taken too much out of her as she blacks out leaving the car to get away.

Back to Dawn in Spike’s lair and his droopy buddy is rating the chips like I rate these episodes…… I wonder who James Halloway is? (name was on the tombstone behind them.) Dawn convinces Klem to let her out. Cut to a topless Spike for all the ladies watching the show, (he has NO REASON NOT TO WEAR A SHIRT!!) His trials begin as Dawn is trying to find the Magic pusher to find the where about of Willow. Dawn is finally stepping up.

Anya is still not talking to Xander as they retreat back to the Magic Box to find away to stop Willow. Buffy lays down the law to Jonathan, they seem to be in a no win situation as Willow goes to the pusher for a recharge which she takes directly from him. (she has become really blinded by hate and rage.) Dawn has this really bad habit of finding dead bodies this season. As Willow freaks us ALL out!

Willow is now the embodiment of magic and I doubt Dawn can talk her out of this.  Willow is not the same person but she has a point about not wanting to hear the whining anymore, ah man Buffy stops her. Anya and Xander are trying to figure out how to stop Willow and Andrew is talking nonsense to try to get Jonathan to turn on them. Jonathan finally grows a pair and shuts him up. Ah man too many Star wars references to mention in Andrews speech, but I do appreciate each one!

Xander still has faith in Willow, yet Anya doesn’t agree. Xander is wondering if Anya will turn on him, Xander is admits that he feels that the situation is his fault.

Buffy vs her most challenging opponent yet, Dark Willow. Willow is talking in the third person as she descends into madness. Buffy is trying to get through to her about not going down this path, all that does is allow Dark Willow to point out the hypocrite that Buffy has been this season, and while we are doing that let’s just teleport to the magic box while we are there. Willow tries to attack the boys but they are being protected by a shield constructed by Anya. Yeah, the swords are not going to help.

Back to the Spike vs fire fist guy. (how long have these two been fighting for?) Spike gets the win. Back to Willow who is not doing the killing she wants to do. She hasn’t figured out that Anya is protecting them. Plan B, Soup up the power and do it the old fashion way, however she has to get through Buffy first. I never thought I’d see those two fighting…… (in this reality anyway before you harp on about vampire Willow). Oh this is great! Willow Vs Buffy, the witch vs the slayer and the winner is the fans! (get off Super Bitch!! I love that line.)

Xander and Dawn try to get Andrew and Jonathan to safety, only to have Andrew turn on them (man I hope he dies!) Back to the brawl, Willow discovers that Anya is still there and is the reason her magic is not working. Back to the standoff and Jonathan continues to become a man. Willow knocks out Anya as she now has the clear advantage as she blasts Buffy across the room. GILES IS BACK!!!!!

Oh Boy, What an episode!!!! I can’t wait to see how this one ends!!!

10/10

Grave

Previously on Buffy …….. Spike goes on a mystic journey to get the chip removed from his head to get revenge on Buffy, (even though he can kind of hurt her anyway) Warren Kills Tara and shoots Buffy….. Willow hunts down and kills Warren. Anya and Xander spring Andrew and Jonathon from jail. Willow has gone mad with power and blows Buffy away, only to be stopped by a returning Giles!

Anya is happy to see Giles and Willow teases the fact that “Daddy is home.” Giles is not going to get through to her with words and it’s amazing how powerful he is. Dark Willow is cool! Her eyes are not so black but she is not listening to him at all. "BUCKLE UP RUPERT, BECAUSE I'VE TURNED PRO!!!" OH BOY!!!!

Giles hits her with a ring of flubber of some sort (or a binding field) That is so cool that with all this chaos going on he still notices that Buffy cut her hair. GROUP HUG!!!!

What to do with Willow, I doubt he can hold her forever, as she lets him know that. Giles reassures Buffy that this trip is not council sanctioned. That he is hear because of the great disturbance that was felt. Buffy fills Giles in on everything that has been going wrong with everyone and when she mentions that she has been sleeping with Spike, Giles breaks out laughing which makes Buffy laugh, and so do I!

Willow is playing mind games with Anya, SO MANY STAR WARS REFERNCES! and they are still laughing about the whole season. Giles shouldn’t of left but at the same time it wasn’t like he could of done anything to change the situation. These character moments are really well written as Buffy questions why she is back. I think Willow was different from at least season 4 onwards, this was a long time coming. Willow gets free and as the magic battle begins, (it’s kind of funny how this battle is better than anything I’ve seen in all the Harry Potter movies!)

Xander is trying to figure out where they are going to hide, and Dawn once again tries to put things in perspective. Why would Xander tell Dawn that other than to give us a reason to flash to a topless Spike! (again I have to protest the whole objectifying men as sexual objects bit in this show!) EWWW! Bugs.

Dark Willow is getting the upper hand as the battle rages on. Giles is starting to struggle with the fight, but he is playing the “what would Tara say about this” card so Willow tries to send him to her. Buffy saves the day and can’t anyone remember Andrew’s name? Fire ball time and Buffy is about to be toast, nope, it’s for Jonathan and Andrew. “Fly my pretty, Fly” Buffy is off to stop the orb as Dark Willow is ready to finish Giles off. Absolute Power Corrupts absolutely. Dark Willow tries to get a charge out of Giles and the power is too much for even her to handle as she wakes up to the realization of her actions or does she?

The group have run to the cemetry as Buffy dives to save the group from the fire ball, only to have the after shock cause some serious damage knocking out Xander and causing the Summers Girls to fall though the ground into the cave below. What are wanted nerds to do but to run away to Mexico. Anya finds Giles as it seems that he is now connected to Willow in some way.  He sees that Willow is now not after a couple of nerds but the whole world!!!

Buffy is trying to get out of the situation that she finds herself in to no avail. Dawn confronts Buffy about the rape attempt, Dawn has a point  she is not a child anymore and Buffy needs to, oh wait here comes Xander to kind of save the day. Anya lets Buffy know of Willow’s plan as we cut to her resurrecting an old Satanic temple. Anya gives us a quick history lesson and the point is that Willow can not be stopped by magic, oh and Giles is now in real trouble of not making it out of this season alive.

Willow is now letting everyone know the plan as she is about to kill Buffy via lobster roots monsters. Buffy hands a sword to Dawn as they fight together as Willow continues her chant that causes the quakes and Anya lets Giles know how she feels. All that stands between Willow and the end of the world is XANDER????

WE ARE ALL DOOMED!!!!

Dawn has some wicked sword swinging skills! Xander still refuses to lie down, and he lets Willow know that he still wants to be with her. Maybe her destroying the world is because of the crayon braking in kinder garden. Xander is getting the snot beaten out of him but his love is keeping him strong and Love is what saves the world. (I want to get back to this point in a second)

The demons are gone and Giles is fine other than the bump on his head but what is new there? Giles lets Anya know the magic that Willow had taken was engulfed in power of rage and vengeance, where as the power that she took from him was the link to humanity that was needed.

Buffy is overjoyed and finally wakes up to herself, apologizing for how she has treated Dawn and the others since she returned. Now all they have to do is figure a way out, they climb out of the grave to see the sunlight. Xander is comforting Willow and Anya helps Giles out. As for our nerdy friends, they are hitching a ride with a really scary looking truckie. (Prison would be a better option I think.)

We end the season with a beaten and battered Spike, who has gone through what he had to……. to get HIS SOUL BACK!! WHOAH DID NOT SEE THAT COMING…..

What a season finally,

10/10

just on Xander’s Final stand. It got me thinking about how much love God has for us and no matter what we do He is still there taking it and saying that He loves us, in the end He does save the day though love!

WHAT AN AMAZING SEASON!!! there will be a short hiatus before we get into the final season (as report writing is coming up for me,) but as soon as I’m done we will be back to wrap up this 2 year journey which has been THE BUFFY CHALLENGE!!!!

Buffy Challenge Post 59: Season 6: Episode 19 – 20

Seeing Red

Previously on Buffy ……. Buffy doesn’t love Spike …. Willow and Tara get back together … Anya and Spike get together …… Xander sees the action …… Xander is upset with Anya oh yeah he tries to kill Spike in the process and now he finds out about Buffy’s secret after Spike spills the beans!

Alright what a start to the show! Tara and Willow, ahem reconnect! Willow the world’s greatest detective! and Tara lets Willow know that there was a relationship between the Slayer and Spike. Buffy is still not home and everyone is panicking. Poor Xander? not sure I agree with that, Dawn is SO happy that Willow and Tara are back together as Buffy finds the lair of the nerds. TOO LATE, as a giant Saw cuts through her favorite jacket! The Nerds are in for a WORLD of hurt!

All is good with Willow and Tara, Buffy lets them know that the house is destroyed. So Xander and Spike are out! Anya is back to her old job and she is a little rusty. The nerds are attacking a monster of some sort. Dawn goes to see Spike who is drowning his sorrows. Spike finds out that his little fling with Anya was seen by EVERYONE, and Dawn asks Spike the tough question and it seems that Spike still loves Buffy. There are real issues when Dawn is making sense. Jonathon has to play dress up again. What is Warren’s obsession with orbs? This can’t be good!

Just what we need, Warren with more power. Buffy meets up with Xander and he is not happy! He can kind of get why Anya was with Spike, but he can’t understand Buffy’s motivation. Pot calling the kettle black here! Xander needs to stop being a whining hypocrite. He brought this on himself.

Willow is getting her tech on, to Tara’s approval. Xander hits the bar and he does wonders in repelling a beautiful woman. Buffy kills a Vampire who gets one last kick in. Spike confronts Buffy and apologizes for sleeping with Anya. Buffy admits she has feelings but there is no trust for love.

Spike can’t force love, that is Rape. That is the reason Buffy doesn’t love Spike. Back at the Bronze and the nerds are pushing their agenda. Warren is testing out his new strength. There is nothing worse than a nerd with power. Xander feels the full force of Warren’s scorn. Xander finds a venerable Buffy after Spike attacked her.

The gang is kind of back together figuring out what is going on with the nerds. Spike is starting to figure out that he has now destroyed any chance he would have with her. Spike has nowhere to go, he is not a man and he can’t be a monster.

You have Super powers so what are you going to do with it? Rob a bank of course. Super Warren vs the Slayer, Warren can’t win this one! Can he? John jumps on Buffy and gives her the information he needs. Now Buffy has the upper hand until Warren flys off! Andrew also has a rocket pack but forgets to look up. WELCOME TO THE BIG HOUSE BOYS!!!

Spike is not a happy vampire as he rides off into the sunset. Xander comes to speak to Buffy as she looks for more cameras. Time for this seasons heart to heart. Buffy and Xander make their peace as Warren comes shooting like mad and both Tara and Buffy get shot ….. What THE HELL……

I AM IN SHOCK!!!

After Spike rode off into the night I was set on giving this episode a solid 7 or 8 but due to the last 15 seconds it is a 9/10

Villains

Previously…… Buffy doesn’t love Spike …… Willow Loves Tara …. Buffy kicks Warren’s Ass …. Spike tries to rape Buffy …. Spike rides off into the darkness …….  Warren shoots like a mad man and hits Buffy and in the biggest Shock Tara as well! …. This brings out the RAGE IN WILLOW!

Mad rush by the paramedics to arrive on the scene, they arrive to Buffy but they have no idea about the disaster that is brewing upstairs. Willow begs for the life of Tara, unfortunately she is NOT coming back!

Buffy is getting rushed to the hospital as Willow finds out that Warren is responsible. Andrew and John are starting to realize the severity of the situation, sort of. Warren is in a happy mood the bastard! He thinks he killed the slayer, so he brags about it with the local demons and vampires. They let them know that a bullet didn’t do the job and we have one ANGRY WITCH! Willow absorbs the dark arts, as Dawn is the first to discover the body of Tara.

Warren is starting to discover that not everyone has heard of what he has done as the magic pusher tells him who he really needs to be worried about. Buffy is being treated for the bullet wound when Dark Willow shows up. Willow extracts the bullet in what can only be described as an awesome effect. Warren tries to run like the weasel that he is. Willow is out for revenge.

Willow is in full control of the situation as she stops the bus and orders Warren to leave the bus, she squeeze out the eye of a Warren Bot. Willow lets Buffy and Xander know that Tara is dead, Willow wants revenge and Buffy is trying to let Willow know that they don’t kill.

Buffy and Xander find Dawn cowering in the room with the deceased Tara. This is the lowest I’ve seen them be. Dawn wants revenge and Xander agrees, unfortunately Buffy reminds them that She can’t kill another human. I think it is too late for Willow though. It’s time also to let Dawn step up to the plate. Why would Buffy trust Spike? Willow makes a map appear from the splattered blood on her shirt.

Buffy and Dawn arrive at Spikes pad to see that he has skipped town. Dawn has to face the torment of watching the wedding planner as Spike ends up on some cave in the middle of nowhere and he seeks a way to return to what he once was. Spike has to face some sort of trials to return to his evil self.

Anya finally lets Xander know that she has returned to her vengeance ways, as the vengeance is strong in Willow. She is hunting Warren and out for revenge, Warren hits an ax to the back and we go to commercial. Unfortunatly for Warren an Ax is not going to stop Dark Willow. Nor a Ball of some sort. Warren is in serious trouble as he buys himself sometime to get a little heads up, yet Willow catches him. Willow brings back the dead that he killed. Warren does need to SHUT UP!!!

The bullet from Buffy? Willow pushes the bullet into him and finally shuts him up by sticking up his lips. The weasel tries to talk himself out of it to no avail as she skins him alive then makes him burn up into flames as she disappears.

an interesting episode to wrap up this arch with Willow descending into the darkness that she was threatening to fall into.

So that was Villains Plural Huh? Spike a Villain, check. Warren a Villain, Check. Willow the Villain, ??????

7.5/10

Well there we go only 2 more episodes in what has been a solid season. So just remember not to accidently kill the girlfriend of a really powerful witch or she WILL skin you alive!!!

Until the Season Finally………

Buffy Challenge Post 58: Season 6: Episode 17 – 18

Normal Again

Previously …… Nothing new on the Nerds….. is this going to be a Dawn episode? …… Dawn wants Willow and Terra together …… Dawn wants Buffy around……. Buffy is using Spike …….  Anya and Xander are getting married…….. Xander leaves Anya at the Alter…..

 

Now I was a little upset that Xander and Anya didn’t tie the knot so what are they going do now….

A late night stroll for Buffy who is house shopping? Warren is the king of the Nerds! I can’t believe they are still hunting the slayer or is Buffy hunting them? A Digiri doo??? when did he learn to play that? Buffy goes on the attack after the demon attacks, then out of no where she is in a mental hospital??? WHAT IS GOING ON?

Back in the car park? At uni Willow is trying muster up the currage to speak to Tara, unforntunatly she see’s Tara kissing another girl. I’m confused, this switching between her nomal life and the psych ward is a little unnerving.

Xander is still missing, and Willow is a little bummed. Xander is back and he is getting a little love from the girls. Xander is looking for Anya and I think that he needs to leave her alone. This is a little too late for him to realise this.

Poor Spike, has to bend to the will of Buffy does he, Oh he didn’t hear the bad news…. Spike and Xander confront each other. Xander nails a punch and Buffy is back in the mad house for the last 6 years????? Buffy’s parents are here to see her, but now we are back to the cemetery. Buffy is expaining what she thinks is going on, Well when you put it that way Xander then she might be really insane.

Back in the mad house the doctor is explaining what is happening on the show for the last 6 years, is it all a figment of her imagination?  The Nerds are back and there is a little dissention in the ranks. Willow figures out who the demon is and Buffy is coming to the realization that her life is not in a good place. Buffy was institutionalized as a child, no wonder she is messed up.

Xander and Spike working together, this is going to be a disaster. The demon comes up and Spike is not happy with who they have to face, the boys take it down, back in the Summers house Buffy is finally confronting Dawn about the kleptomaniac that she is.

In the hospital, Buffy is forced by her parents to admit that Dawn is not real, back to reality? what is going on? EVERYTHING has to be about Dawn.

Spike, Xander and Willow finally get the antidote from the demon, Buffy lets Spike know that he is not welcome and he replies that she is addicted to misery and she needs to face reality. Why won’t she drink the potion, is she choosing the other life?  will she give up her current life for something that may or may not be real?

After 6 years of his annoying jokes Buffy takes out Xander and it seems that Willow was already a victim of her trying to get rid of the things keeping her in this reality.  Dawn is next, as Buffy has gone CRAZY!!!

Thankfully Dawn has been muzzled but to what cost, Evil Buffy is something I never thought I’d see in this show and it is great! Tara comes to save the day only to be tripped up by Buffy who is fighting what seems to be two realities. Joyce in the mad house Buffy asks her to believe in herself which wakes her up  from the nightmare and we get the Buffy we all know and love back, as she kills the demon!

She chooses her Slayer life as we switch back to the mad house where Buffy is non responding. Is the last 6 seasons of this show the figment of on girls imagination? we will never know……

9/10

Entropy

Previously on Buffy …….. Buffy is using Spike ……. The nerds are stalking  Buffy ….. Willow jumps to conclusions ……. Xander leaves Anya at the Alter ……. and tries to justify his actions……. Dawn is a little thief ….. Buffy goes Crazy and attacks her friends …… Buffy says sorry and everything is fine now!

Back to what we are use to, Vampire hunting for sport by the nerds! and as with every sport nerd try to play, they are BAD at it! In comes Buffy to kick some undead ass, as the nerds get what they need. Spike is wondering if he should help? Has Spike lost his leverage? He is still hung up on the slayer just as Xander is hung up on the biggest mistake he has made in this show to date! Hitting the bottle is not the long term answer, sure it will numb the pain but for how long as Anya creepy looks on.

At the campus Willow finally gets the strength to say a word to Tara, and she tries to explain the situation. Willow and Tara are both friendless? they need each other! Dawn stole a tooth brush? and a pocket full of Gold fish? At least Dawn returned everything.

The nerds are at work and Warren is pushing the boundaries of the other three’s patience. HOW DARE HE HIGHLIGHT HIS BABALON 5 NOVELS!!!! Anya has returned to Xander, this can’t be good for Xander as his actions are inexcusable! They should of eloped! Xander puts his foot in his mouth again. MARRY HER YOU MORON!!!

OH BOY THAT CAN’T BE GOOD! For some reason Anya’s wishes are not coming true, she still loves him! And the winner of the most annoying character for the season goes to…….. Anya’s friend. So a vengeance demon has to be a facilitator of the wish not the wisher.  Buffy is trying hard to fix the wrong she did in the last episode with pancakes. Dawn wants to patrol.

OH NO, They are talking about the old lady at the double meat….. Willow fills in Tara on their adventures but cuts her off. Enter Anya as she tries to get a vengeance wish from someone out on Xander. “Penis would explode! OUCH!” This is great scene!

How many guys Buffy? Why are they talking about girl on girl? Why am I complaining? I think Buffy might of figured out that Anya is back to being a demon, and through Xander’s clumsiness he finds a camera and straight away Xander thinks it’s Spike.

I really feel for Spike, it is a horrible feeling to love someone who doesn’t feel the same way. Who doesn’t love Xander I wonder? In walks Spike! Anya wants to turn Spike into a woman??? Now that is a potion that Spike can relate to! Willow the tech wiz is the Willow I love!

The nerds are still working on some kind of finding potion! Anya and Spike getting drunk together is AWESOME!! I could watch these two together for the whole episode. Spike has a sexy dance?

Willow is still going all Oracle …. which rules. Anya and Spike are getting along like a house on fire and with the booze I think there might be a spark happening. Willow finds cameras in all the Buffy haunts, as the last of the Whiskey is drunk.  Two broken hearts coming together to find support and understanding, also what better way for Anya to gain vengeance on Xander than by making out with the one guy he cant stand! If only Xander can see this! The nerds are watching, that is SO WRONG! That shattering sound is Xander’s heart breaking! (apparently also Buffy is not immune to the pain of watching Spike go at it with Anya)

Xander with the Ax and Buffy comes clean to Dawn about her and Spike. Two different reactions I guess. Xander takes out his frustrations on a helpless Spike, and just as he was about to stake him, Anya stops him. She got her vengeance, and tells it how it is, Xander is discussed with Anya and now Buffy. Friendships are fractured now, thanks to actions that have been taken. Tara once again is the voice of reason as her and Willow get back together.

one word for that episode……..

WOW!!!

9/10

I can’t believe that the last two episodes that I have seen were both SO different however both brilliantly done!!!! So I guess until next time if you have to choose a reality to live in, make sure it’s the one where your not in a straight jacket!!

Buffy Challenge: Post 57: Season 6 Episodes 15 – 16

Oh I hope these two episodes return the season back on track as the last two left a lot to be desired!!!!!!

As you were

Previouslly on Buffy ……. Riley is going I thought we saw the last of him last season …… Buffy and Spike are intimate ……. Anya and Xander announce their engagement ……. Buffy is working at Double Meat is Double Sweet …..

 

At the Double meat ……. Oh the politics of the burger buisness! Buffy is scraping grease and the smell is repulsing the vampires and he dies for his troubles! Another tough night at the two jobs and the last thing she needs is Spike to show up, So he takes Buffyand she falls for his charms.

Burgers for dinner again, good thing it’s a Buffy special! It’s a shame that Burgers are the only thing they have been eating…. Dawn and Willow are off to the Bronze, not that Buffy will join them.

Anya and Xander are working on the wedding seating plan, which is not going so well. Willow is in a good mood. Vampire dust is so hard to get out of wool! Buffy Vs the Garbage man! One point to the Garbage man! Buffy can’t get a break as she is rejected for entry in uni.

Man I hate people who think they know everything. RILEY??? What is he doing here? New Scar and all! Buffy goes off to fight a demon with Riley, I don’t think Buffy is take this serious as they let the demon get away. The thing got shot with a trank and they I don’t think Riley can top Buffy in what has happen in the last year!

Boys do like their toys, Anya and Xander are discussing the wedding, (monsters and demons!) Loving the Anya and Xander moments. Back to Riley and Buffy as they are coming down the damn. The demon attacks and it looks resonable in the Shadows. Riley is MARRIED, and she is kicking demon butt! So Riley has moved on with a super hot super soldier and Buffy has Spike!

Riley has told his wife EVERYTING!!!! and they are trying to recuit her?  Dawn is giving Riley the 3rd degree. The demon is here to spawn, The trouble meat palace? Buffy needs to leave the puns to Spider-man. Are demons big on the Black Market? Willow can’t let the whole magic thing go.

Just what Buffy needs, hanging out with her ex’s wife! She is really making things for Buffy uncomfortable. The solution, Spike! SPIKE IS THE DOCTOR???? The guy selling thing s on the black market? of course Spike denies it. The old, I’m holding it for a friend excuse, as they find the eggs, Buffy should leave shooting the gun for someone else.

Anya and Xander is coming to understand that the Wedding is just a show and the Marrage is forever! Time to rap this one up as Buffy and Riley finally have the talk they should of had a year ago. Riley does a great job to build up Buffy’s self esteem. They leave and even Dawn give them a hug.

I think that they should of made a spin off of those two and their adventures, it would of been really cool. Willow chipped in at the end nicely.

I wonder what Buffy wil say to Spike now? She lets Spike know that their really weird relationship is over and that she got what she wanted from him and it’s no longer going to work out between the two.

What a cool episode!!!! I really enjoyed it.

8/10

Hell’s Bells

Previously ….. Buffy uses Spike …. Xander and Anya are getting Married……. Willow and Tara are breaking up……. Buffy breaks up with Spike …….. Dawn confides in a demon.

Willow and Buffy are in shock and horror, it is not a demon but it’s the brides maid dresses! Buffy the brides maid another spin off that didn’t take off! Anya of course is going to cry! Anya and Xander’s family  getting together this can’t go well!

“Nothing on earth will stop this wedding now” except the fire guy coming down in the rain. Xander is having difficulty with the cumber bun, This is a big deal for the gang as they are finally moving on to the next stage in their life.

Anya’s vows are hilarious, but she looks great in her dress even with the face mask on. She is marring her best friend! that is fantastic! This is going to be one of the weirdest tv weddings ever! Spike the wedding crasher, with his skanky date. Xander’s Dad doesn’t seem to appove of the wedding. “CREEPY OLD MAN TIME!”

Xander is nervous and Dawn confirms my Skank call! Xander from the future comes to warn him! Oh boy the old man got to the bar and he is about to start a riot! Good thing Buffy ran interference.  Future Xander shows him his Future. It’s not so great…… but the acting and the scene was wonderfully done!

Spike is seeing if his plan is working, which it isn’t he is misrable without the Slayer.Xander is pacing up and down, like a mad man. he has a lot to ponder with the glimps of the future. Anya is still working on the speach and Tara is right, the term “sex poodle” should never be used in public.

Xander has run off and Buffy is running interference again and we hear Anya’s touching vowls as Xander is walking in the rain. The minister is delivering a baby?  Wedding sharades? and Buffy can juggle? Dawn spills the beans and Anya finds out! as the two families go to war! literally. It wasn’t Xander from the future, it was a demon that Anya has punished. Just in time Xander comes to save the day, sort of as Buffy does the fighting and killing! Although Xander does get the fatal blow! Anya lays down the law and the wedding guests settle down. Xander WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Xander doesn’t want to become his father, and he breaks Anya’s heart in the process.

The Girls are conflicted with their feelings as Xander runs off. While Anya is trying to understand what has happen and has been given an option to return to what she once was…….

Another fantastic two episodes to scrubs out the memory of the last two episodes.

9/10

Folks remember, when planning a wedding make sure that the two families are separated by security or it could get messy!

Buffy Challenge Post 56: Season 6: Episodes 13 – 14

Dead Things

Previously……. Willow is feeling sorry for Buffy …… who is not a demon even though Spike is able to smack her around without a headache……..The nerds are reveled as her nemesis’ for the season….Dawn is angry …… Tara leaves Willow …….. Willow is addicted to Magic ……. Spike and Buffy do the nasty…..

Lots of crashing and moaning, it’s just Buffy and Spike getting down to business. Buffy doesn’t look too disgusted, and she is using Spike who is feeling a little unloved.

The nerds have had to relocate ….. NERD FIGHT! They made a magic ball? Buffy is finishing off at the burger place, Tara and Buffy are catching up and it seems that Buffy is confiding with her. Buffy lets Tara know what Spike can do to her.

I want one of those camera ties ….. what are the nerds up to? Warren meets up with his Ex who is kind of upset with the whole he built a robot to kill her thing from last season! It seems that the boys have made a slave spell! Buffy comes home to more wedding planning, while Dawn is going over for sleepover. I do love mexican food!

The boys toast crime and their new acquisition.  This is really creepy and wrong. Thankfully the spell has worn off just in time, DID I JUST SEE WHAT I SAW? This has gone way too far as Warren KILLS his EX. Warren has gone mad, man I hope he hangs for this one.

Anya and Xander are burning up the dance floor, while Buffy mopes around. Enter Spike to play mind games with the slayer trying to convince her that she doesn’t belong. Willow and Tara run into each other and this is awkward. Willow has been magically sober for 31 days.

Buffy on patrol, cue the depressing music and montage as she descends into Spike’s arms. However before that can happen She falls into a trap being attacked by demons or is she just going crazy? What is going on? Did Warren find a way to solve both of his problems in the one hit? They have convinced Buffy that she murdered the woman. Is it me or is this one of the dirtier episodes in a while?

It looks like Buffy is saying her goodbyes as she wakes Dawn and lets her know what she has perceived has happen.  Not surprisingly Dawn doesn’t take this news too well, Spike tries to stop Buffy from making a mistake. Just as Spike tells Buffy that they won’t find the body, the police find the body. Spike confesses his love which doesn’t go well for him. WHAT A POWERFUL SCENE!!!!

After beating out the snottings out of Spike, Buffy goes to confess a crime she didn’t do, The hearing of the name of the girl she figures out who was behind it.  I can’t figure out teenage girls now Dawn is upset that Buffy is not going. The boys think they have gotten away with murder. Tara lets Buffy know that there is nothing wrong with Buffy. She doesn’t believe her. Finally Buffy lets Tara know what is really going on between her and Spike.

The best thing about this episode is that Tara is the voice of reason.

I think at this point of the season I really didn’t like this episode and the way it was executed. The summary gammed 7 plot points into 40 seconds and it overall the episode tried to do TOO much!!!

4/10

Older and Faraway

Previously on Buffy ….. Dawn is a delinquent kleptomaniac…… Spike is playing cards…….. one of Anya’s girlfriends appear…….. Willow and Tara run into each other……… Buffy is feeling depressed about what is going on.

Buffy is off to work (her night job) and Dawn is putting on a brave face. Buffy vs. a disappearing then reappearing demon. Short fight and she stabs him with his own sword. Cool effect with the monster going into the sword that way. Which leaves Buffy with a cool souvenir.

It’s Buffy’s Birthday and Xander is wondering if Willow would mind if Tara can come. Anya is hoping someone will go shopping with her and she is by herself. Dawn is not happy with the situation that has come about.  TV clique number 27, if you want to let the audience know that the jacket is stolen leave the tag on it and make it HUGE!!! Dawn is so removed from everything, the Guidance councilor has a lot to work with when it comes to this one.

Dawn is not showing any emotions to the situations that have arisen, not really healthy. Xander and Anya are trying to hook Buffy up, to form a relationship and make babies and stuff so that they can have another couple to talk to.

Willow is saying she is fine but she is anything but. Spike who still has a shiner from last episode comes in and brings a guest. Tara thinks the hook up is cute? Anya is treating Dawn as a kid and Spike is trying to get some sugar on the side. Buffy is opening presents and Dawn’s little stolen jacket gets little to no reaction, she loved the chest Xander made and Sophie is just weird, Worst Birthday EVER. This episode is boring me to no end!!!!!

Richard is trying to hook up with Buffy, and Spike give her a hard time and is still trying to get some sugar to no avail. Pants muscle cramps is a real thing. Wow Birthday Monopoly! This is really sad. (Tara has the best lines.) 

  So far we are half way through the episode and NOTHING HAS HAPPEN! “This can’t be good”" you bet.

Dawn is upset that everyone wants to leave and can’t. Xander even a call back to “once more with feeling” can’t save this episode. Is Tara cooking or is she working a magic spell? I should of seen that coming, Richard is wearing a RED shirt and red shirts get killed off by the demon stuck in the sword. Day 2, and I’m still bored.

I am finding this difficult to sit through. Dawn is gelous of Buffy and is feeling alone, (I can relate to that!) Anya is wanting Willow to break out her magic.  Tara stands up for her girl.It’s Willow’s guidance councilor and Dawn is BUSTED!

What a really disappointing series of episodes, Willow is kind of  making grounds on this whole magic thing as the spell is broken finally. Richard is taken to the hospital and we are put out of our misery.

2/10

Lets see, we’ve covered rape, murder, theft, addiction, lust and viloence, and none of it was entertaining ……. here is hoping for some sort of improvement in the future episodes.

Buffy Challenge Post 55: Season 6: Episodes 11 –12

Gone

We are Back kids for another installment of the challenge, we left off last time things were not looking great for the gang…..

Previously on Buffy Buffy and Spike get it ON ….. Willow is reckless with her duties of taking care of Dawn …….. Willow needs to go to magic anonymous ……….. The nerds seal a diamonds……

Buffy is clearing out all magic artifacts from the house, Dawn is protesting the candles andduring the whole scavenge somehow Spikes lighter apears….  The nerds have developed an invisibility ray of some sort.

Willow is making breakfast but it seems that the whole magic embargo is getting to her and also Dawn is not talking to her, and angry with Buffy. Spike “takes a stroll” in the middle of the day to see where his lighter is, or to see Buffy. Spike is a smooth mover, Xander walks in and Buffy awekardlly takes Xander out of the room only to have another disaster in the form of Social service arriving. Spike should really stop helping…..

This is NOT GOING WELL!!! This week’s villian, social services! So “Goldylocks” couldn’t throw the lighter away, When things go bad they really go bad!

Wel I guess that is what I would use an invisible ray for, great, just what Buffy needs, just to be invisible….. now there is so much fun for Buffy to have to be invisible. SO RIGHT! It’s up to Anya and Xander to figure it out…… so they blame Willow.

Xander decides to confront Willow about this. I was wondering how much Apple payed to get the gang to use their computers? Willow is offended seeing that Xander jumped to conclusions.

I think the nerds are AWESOME!!! Buffy is doing her bit to annoy and help the community…… and spy on the villain of the episode, social services lady. Buffy gets into Dawn’s file and goes all SHINING on her behind. That was a huge win for the Slayer.

Willow is on the case of the missing Buffy, with some really great detective work and figures out it was the van. Next on Buffy’s hit list……. Spike.

Anya still has wedding on the brain, but inadvertently discovers that Buffy will disintegrate. So some nerds are more evil than others! So Spike is “Exercising???” That was weird…… Buffy thinks she is free by being invisible. Willow is still struggling  to hold off using magic but she is getting through it. Buffy comes home and Dawn freaks out.  Buffy gets the message that she is in some trouble as Willow tracks down the owners of the Van and discovers the plans for the invisibility gun, only to be taken hostage by the invisible nerds.

The invisible nerds get Buffy to meet them at the arcade, one of them wanted to kill her. We get the greatest fight scene that we will never see as the combatants are invisible……. Willow saves the day by zapping the 4 of them and Buffy is less than impressed by her new ARCH NEMISIS!

Willow and Buffy are wrapping the episode up nicely as they both realise they are both on the right path……….

8/10

Doublemeat Palace

What a DUMB name for an episode……

Previously on Buffy……. Spike and Buffy get it on …….. the nerds are revieled……. Amy is back ……. and Willow nearly kills Dawn …… Buffy is Broke……..

The nerd natural habitat, sounds like home! The nerds have had to clear out Anya gives us her opinion why demons are better than super villian nerds when Buffy walks in looking rediculous in her getup for work.

Buffy is watching the workers motivation video which is as tedious as it sounds. Double meat palace where YOU are a part of the double meat experience, they look like a happy bunch! The meat is mesmerizing, dehydrated pickles? Buffy needs to taste the food she is selling. Humor is not allowed in the work force.

Buffy is trying to figure out the idiot proof cash register. I think the talk of the high volume of staff is not a good sign, Buffy is the cat in this episode. The gang arrives to support the Buffster at work. Buffy thinks there is something wrong with the workplace.

Xander scores a free meal off Buffy and Anya is still in wedding mode. NEXT PLEASE…… What do you want Spike? Other than warn Buffy about the doom ahead. First person view always freaks me out! Buffy gets promoted to Grill!

People don’t like variation, I’m not sure that Buffy should ask about the secret ingredients. Buffy gets a double shift. Xander meets one of Anya’s old demon buddy who doesn't seem convinced.

I officially will not eat at a fast food restaurant ever again, it seems the more depressed Buffy gets the more deeper she gets in with Spike. Amy comes back to get her old home back. Amy is not the best person for Willow to talk to, what has she done to Willow?

GROSSE!!!! THIS IS DISCUSTING!!! It’s people, it’s people!!!!

Anya and her demon friend are chatting away and she is not helping the situation. Buffy brings over a burger and lets them know that it is people AFTER Xander eats the burger. Buffy returns to the former place of employment to look for clues. This is one creepy episode, YUCK!!!!

Dawn is wondering about her future, and Xander doesn’t help the situation. Willow figures out what the meat is using chemistry. It’s not human meat so what is it?

This is just creepy, the old lady snake head is the cause of all the problems as we get the twist that this show is known for delivering. Willow stop talking and get in there. Willow saves the day.

Amy arrives and Willow asks her to leave as she is an evil influence. Willow lets Amy know that she better stay away! So the secret ingredient is beef! Buffy gets her job back……

4/10

 

Well that ends another mixed bag of a challenge where we learned that being invisible is not what it is all cracked up to be and you should never trust old ladies who work at fast food restaurants, for you never know if she will eat her fellow employees using the giant snake coming out of her head. Until next time folks.