It's not often someone else's review of a Buffy episode completely hits the mark for me, but masteroidul's review of this episode is perfect. The climax of this episode is NOT a surprise, but a satisfyingly necessary resolution of tensions that have been building up for years. And watching the episodes immediately before it, many times you have to wonder: how do the other characters put up with Buffy's attitude? And when Xander is sitting there blind in one eye, and she says they have to go back and get a few more people killed (and so presumably Xander can be totally blind) and she says "I know last time wasn't fun". FUN?! She *has* totally lost it, and they are right to throw her out. It has at least partly become about her ego at this point, not just about saving the world. And there *is* another bona fide slayer sitting right there, so it's not quite the simple dictatorship it used to be. In the past, Buffy had all the strength, so the others followed her. That allowed her to behave snottily towards them. So it's no surprise when they kick back (Willow's rampage at the end of season 6 was as much about finally showing Buffy that she's not the only one with power, as it was about grief.)
So those saying that this episode makes no sense clearly haven't been paying attention! :)
For being such a pivotal and devastating episode, this is a 10.
So those saying that this episode makes no sense clearly haven't been paying attention! :)
For being such a pivotal and devastating episode, this is a 10.