This is an episode that really does have everything. It's funny, dramatic, moving, surprising, it moves along the story arc, it plays on the shows history, it introduces a new "character" and it deepens some existing relationships. All in all, it's one of the best episodes of the season and one of my personal all-time favorites.
"Intervention" revolves around Spike finally getting his Buffy-bot. (Remember how he placed an order with Warren back in, "I was Made to Love You."?) Anyway, Spike is thrilled with his new toy, which he...um... plays with. A lot. Meanwhile, Buffy is worried about losing her ability to love. She needs some reassurance and so Giles takes her on Spirit Quest thing in the desert. There she sees a vision on the First Slayer. She tells Buffy that "death is your gift." Which is not what the Slayer wanted to hear. Xander, Willow, Tara and Anya are watching Dawn and patrolling while Buffy quests. On a sweep of the cemetery, Xander and Anya see Spike and the Buffy-bot. Assuming that it's the real Buffy, they are horrified when the realize that she and Spike are sleeping together.
Meanwhile, Glory is still looking for the key. After learning last episode that the key was in human form, she decides to spy on the Slayer and see which of the Scoobies looks key-ish. While her minions look on, the Buffy-bot saves Spike. Assuming that he must be the key they kidnap him right out of his crypt. The Buffy-bot goes looking for Spike. Starting at the homes of her "friends." The Scoobies still think that she's Buffy. When they realize that Spike is being held captive by Glory, they panic. Spike knows that Dawn is the key and they're sure that he'll tell Glory the truth.
Buffy, (the real, "not so pleasant" Buffy that is) comes home and meets her robot double. Angry at Spike for creating a sex-bot of her, and sure that he's going to sell her out to Glory, she and the Scoobies go looking for him. Glory, meanwhile, has determined that Spike isn't the key. So, she tortures him to try and make him tell her who is. Spike won't talk, though. He finally escapes, just as Buffy shows up and starts fighting Glory's minions. Afterwards, they take Spike back to his crypt. To try and find out if he told Glory anything, Buffy pretends to be the Buffy-bot. Once she discovers that Spike protect Dawn's secret, she carefully kisses him, promising not to forget his help.
There are a lot of good parts to this episode. I love Xander trying to tell Buffy it was okay to open up about sleeping with Spike. "We all understand. Spike is dangerous and mysterious and compact, yet well muscled." Buffy's reply, "I'm not having sex with Spike... But I'm starting to think that you might be." Just cracks me up. Also, Spike's plan to escape Glory by having her punch him so hard she breaks the chains is fun. No one can push people's buttons like Spike and when he starts calling her the "god of bad home perms," you just have to laugh. Really, his whole escape is great. He knows it's daylight outside. He can't possibly get away, but he tries it anyway. When Glory's minions chase after him, Spike is so beaten that he can barely stay conscious. But he still stands up to fight them. THAT'S the Spike that Angel warned Buffy about back in season two's "School Hard." He just doesn't stop. It's not until Buffy comes in that he relaxes enough to pass out. He really believes that Buffy can take Glory. In fact he told Glory as much. Once he sees Buffy, he knows that he's safe. This is the episode that really cements the trust between Buffy and Spike. The Scoobies may have said that they were going to kill Spike, but they didn't. They rescued him from Glory and took him home. After Buffy learns Spike nearly dies protecting Dawn, she looks at him in a new, heroic light. When Buffy kisses Spike it isn't so much romantic, as a seal of healing and friendship and thanks.
One of the interesting part of "Intervention" is how Spike chose to create his Buffy-bot. He could have has Warren make her evil, or Dru- like, or weak. Instead, she's like a happier Buffy. He put some information about her friends in there. He kept her a Slayer. He didn't hurt her when they "fought." He wants Buffy and he doesn't really try to change her personality when he recreates her in the Buffy-bot. I really love the Buffy-bot, who will appear into next season. She's such a cute little thing and her big, shiny, un-Buffy-like smile just cracks me up. And her programming is a riot, especially when you consider that Spike is the one who provided the information on the Scoobies. "Anya: Ex-demon, Likes Money, Dating Xander. Willow: Good with computer, Witch, Gay 1999-present." It's funny to see the bullet point rundowns of their lives through Spike's eyes. Also, the Buffy-bot calls Giles, "Guy-iles" and it's funny to see him get insulted, because "Spike didn't program my name right!"
On the down side, was it really a good idea to put Spike back in his tomb again? Glory just captured him from there. If she comes looking for him again, it'll be the first place she'll check.
My favorite part of the episode: The Buffy-bot's response to the name Angel. "Angel's lame. His hair stands straight up and he's bloody stupid." Spike could've just NOT programmed Angel's name into the Buffy-bot's memory. But, no. He had to have some fun at his poor grandsire's expense. It's hilarious... In that sibling rivalry, twelve-year old kind of way that Angel and Spike always seem to fall back on when they have deal with each other.
"Intervention" revolves around Spike finally getting his Buffy-bot. (Remember how he placed an order with Warren back in, "I was Made to Love You."?) Anyway, Spike is thrilled with his new toy, which he...um... plays with. A lot. Meanwhile, Buffy is worried about losing her ability to love. She needs some reassurance and so Giles takes her on Spirit Quest thing in the desert. There she sees a vision on the First Slayer. She tells Buffy that "death is your gift." Which is not what the Slayer wanted to hear. Xander, Willow, Tara and Anya are watching Dawn and patrolling while Buffy quests. On a sweep of the cemetery, Xander and Anya see Spike and the Buffy-bot. Assuming that it's the real Buffy, they are horrified when the realize that she and Spike are sleeping together.
Meanwhile, Glory is still looking for the key. After learning last episode that the key was in human form, she decides to spy on the Slayer and see which of the Scoobies looks key-ish. While her minions look on, the Buffy-bot saves Spike. Assuming that he must be the key they kidnap him right out of his crypt. The Buffy-bot goes looking for Spike. Starting at the homes of her "friends." The Scoobies still think that she's Buffy. When they realize that Spike is being held captive by Glory, they panic. Spike knows that Dawn is the key and they're sure that he'll tell Glory the truth.
Buffy, (the real, "not so pleasant" Buffy that is) comes home and meets her robot double. Angry at Spike for creating a sex-bot of her, and sure that he's going to sell her out to Glory, she and the Scoobies go looking for him. Glory, meanwhile, has determined that Spike isn't the key. So, she tortures him to try and make him tell her who is. Spike won't talk, though. He finally escapes, just as Buffy shows up and starts fighting Glory's minions. Afterwards, they take Spike back to his crypt. To try and find out if he told Glory anything, Buffy pretends to be the Buffy-bot. Once she discovers that Spike protect Dawn's secret, she carefully kisses him, promising not to forget his help.
There are a lot of good parts to this episode. I love Xander trying to tell Buffy it was okay to open up about sleeping with Spike. "We all understand. Spike is dangerous and mysterious and compact, yet well muscled." Buffy's reply, "I'm not having sex with Spike... But I'm starting to think that you might be." Just cracks me up. Also, Spike's plan to escape Glory by having her punch him so hard she breaks the chains is fun. No one can push people's buttons like Spike and when he starts calling her the "god of bad home perms," you just have to laugh. Really, his whole escape is great. He knows it's daylight outside. He can't possibly get away, but he tries it anyway. When Glory's minions chase after him, Spike is so beaten that he can barely stay conscious. But he still stands up to fight them. THAT'S the Spike that Angel warned Buffy about back in season two's "School Hard." He just doesn't stop. It's not until Buffy comes in that he relaxes enough to pass out. He really believes that Buffy can take Glory. In fact he told Glory as much. Once he sees Buffy, he knows that he's safe. This is the episode that really cements the trust between Buffy and Spike. The Scoobies may have said that they were going to kill Spike, but they didn't. They rescued him from Glory and took him home. After Buffy learns Spike nearly dies protecting Dawn, she looks at him in a new, heroic light. When Buffy kisses Spike it isn't so much romantic, as a seal of healing and friendship and thanks.
One of the interesting part of "Intervention" is how Spike chose to create his Buffy-bot. He could have has Warren make her evil, or Dru- like, or weak. Instead, she's like a happier Buffy. He put some information about her friends in there. He kept her a Slayer. He didn't hurt her when they "fought." He wants Buffy and he doesn't really try to change her personality when he recreates her in the Buffy-bot. I really love the Buffy-bot, who will appear into next season. She's such a cute little thing and her big, shiny, un-Buffy-like smile just cracks me up. And her programming is a riot, especially when you consider that Spike is the one who provided the information on the Scoobies. "Anya: Ex-demon, Likes Money, Dating Xander. Willow: Good with computer, Witch, Gay 1999-present." It's funny to see the bullet point rundowns of their lives through Spike's eyes. Also, the Buffy-bot calls Giles, "Guy-iles" and it's funny to see him get insulted, because "Spike didn't program my name right!"
On the down side, was it really a good idea to put Spike back in his tomb again? Glory just captured him from there. If she comes looking for him again, it'll be the first place she'll check.
My favorite part of the episode: The Buffy-bot's response to the name Angel. "Angel's lame. His hair stands straight up and he's bloody stupid." Spike could've just NOT programmed Angel's name into the Buffy-bot's memory. But, no. He had to have some fun at his poor grandsire's expense. It's hilarious... In that sibling rivalry, twelve-year old kind of way that Angel and Spike always seem to fall back on when they have deal with each other.
