This isn't a vital episode to understanding the season. Basically, it reinforces some of the things that we already know. (1) Riley is growing apart form the Scoobie and Buffy. He's spending a lot of time down at Willy's place picking up vampire "hookers" (I guess that's what to call them.) He's becoming more and more convinced that Buffy is shutting him out of her life. (2) Joyce is sick. She has brain tumor and for once all Buffy's Slayer powers are useless. If you were in a hurry to get through the season on DVD, you could probably skip this episode and not miss much. But it does have some good moments and the snake monster thing will tie into the later episodes "Blood Ties" and "Intervention."
The episode revolves around Buffy's worry about her mother and sister. Joyce's CAT scan reveals that she has a "shadow," a tumor, in her brain. Buffy immediately wants to use magic to cure her mother. Tara and Giles tell her that magic can't be used like that. Human medicine and illnesses, life and death, can't be influenced by supernatural forces without risks. Meanwhile, Riley is babysitting Dawn and is discouraged to learn that Buffy doesn't seems to feel any real passion for him. With Angel she cried and acted like she was on an emotional roller coaster. Her feelings for Riley are much less intense.
Meanwhile Glory is still trying to find the key. She conjures up a big necromanced snake demon to track it down. Buffy arrives at the Sunnydale zoo to stop her, but Glory sets the cobra loose. It heads for the Magic Box, where it crashes through the window and heads for Dawn. Dawn screams and the snake retreats, going back to Glory to tell her that Dawn was the key. Buffy and Giles chase it. Buffy finally catches up with the snake and kills it before it can get to Glory.
There are some good parts to this episode. The scene between Spike and Riley is actually pretty fun. Spike is shocked to learn that Buffy hasn't told Riley about her mom's illness. And Riley begins to see the connection between Spike and Buffy for the first time. It also reinforces Spike's pride that Buffy allows him free access to her house, which will play into later episodes. I do sort of agree with Riley, though. I doubt that Buffy would want Spike going through her things and hanging out in her bedroom when no one was home. The idea that medicine shouldn't mix with magic is also an important indicator for things to come. As Willow, especially, starts edging away from the traditional wicca rules and delving into darker waters.
On the down side, that snake monster looks really rubber-y and fake.
My favorite part of the episode: Spike stealing Buffy's clothes. "It's a predator thing."
The episode revolves around Buffy's worry about her mother and sister. Joyce's CAT scan reveals that she has a "shadow," a tumor, in her brain. Buffy immediately wants to use magic to cure her mother. Tara and Giles tell her that magic can't be used like that. Human medicine and illnesses, life and death, can't be influenced by supernatural forces without risks. Meanwhile, Riley is babysitting Dawn and is discouraged to learn that Buffy doesn't seems to feel any real passion for him. With Angel she cried and acted like she was on an emotional roller coaster. Her feelings for Riley are much less intense.
Meanwhile Glory is still trying to find the key. She conjures up a big necromanced snake demon to track it down. Buffy arrives at the Sunnydale zoo to stop her, but Glory sets the cobra loose. It heads for the Magic Box, where it crashes through the window and heads for Dawn. Dawn screams and the snake retreats, going back to Glory to tell her that Dawn was the key. Buffy and Giles chase it. Buffy finally catches up with the snake and kills it before it can get to Glory.
There are some good parts to this episode. The scene between Spike and Riley is actually pretty fun. Spike is shocked to learn that Buffy hasn't told Riley about her mom's illness. And Riley begins to see the connection between Spike and Buffy for the first time. It also reinforces Spike's pride that Buffy allows him free access to her house, which will play into later episodes. I do sort of agree with Riley, though. I doubt that Buffy would want Spike going through her things and hanging out in her bedroom when no one was home. The idea that medicine shouldn't mix with magic is also an important indicator for things to come. As Willow, especially, starts edging away from the traditional wicca rules and delving into darker waters.
On the down side, that snake monster looks really rubber-y and fake.
My favorite part of the episode: Spike stealing Buffy's clothes. "It's a predator thing."
