Adam is not the best Big Bad on BTVS. He's not as dark as Angelus or as fun as the Mayor. He doesn't have the ultimate bad-ass-ness of Glory or the easy-to-underestimate human rottenness of the Trio. He's just not that interesting. Still he'll be the antagonist for the rest of season four and "The I in Team" is where he is first introduced. This episode also shows Buffy's break with the Intiative, the end of Maggie, and it's the first time Buffy and Riley sleep together. If you're watching the season on DVD you can't skip this episode.
The episode revolves around Buffy joining the Initative. She's faster, stronger and more experienced than any of them, so at first they're pleased to have her on board. But soon Buffy begins asking a lot of questions about the missions and about 314. She's used to discussing the reasons behind the demon fights with Giles and the Scoobies and she doesn't like how secretive Maggie seems. Maggie doesn't like Buffy's prying or the influence Buffy seems to have over Riley. After Buffy and Riely sleep together, Maggie is determined to get rid of Buffy once and for all. Meanwhile, Tara and Willow are growing closer and the Initative is chasing Spike. He runs to the Scoobies for help. While, Riley and his team look for Spike, Maggie sends Buffy into a trap that's designed to kill her. Buffy survives, but realizes that the Initative is out to get her. She heads to Giles to warn the others. Riley finally begins questioning Maggie's motivations. The episode ends with Maggie entering room 314 and getting skewed by her own Frankenstein-like creation... Adam.
There are some good parts to this episode. I love Anya and her relationship with Xander is hilarious. When he explains that he's selling those power-bars so he can "buy Anya pretty things," and she responds "Yes, that does make sense," it just cracks me up every time. And, I think it's really sweet that Giles buys some of the power bars from Xander. Especially after the "Band Candy" mess that resulted from Buffy selling him chocolate bars last season. Also, I love Buffy speech to Maggie at the end of the episode. It's about time that she started seeing that the Inaitive was bad news. Personally, I'm not real sorry to see Maggie go.
Spike is my favorite character, so it's probably not surprising that the parts of this episode that I like best revolve around him. This episode really does explore a lot of the problems and contradictions that Spike is facing thanks to the chip in his head. First of all, Spike has been spending a lot of time with the Scoobies and it's beginning to confuse him. He still wants to be evil. Fighting on the "good" side is just further proof that he can never go back to his old way of life. He doesn't want to grow any closer to the Scoobies. He's moved out of Xander's house and he wants money, not thanks, for his help. He insists that Giles pay him for assisting with the Feural demon mess and, when Giles suggests that Spike become a regular member of the White Hats, Spike reacts with disdain. But when Spike is shot by the Intiative, he goes to the Scoobies for help. Whether he likes it or not, they're his new group/family. And when Giles demands his money back before helping Spike, he's not just trying to get even with Spike for his earlier attitude... He's trying to teach Spike a lesson. Show him how people behave in the non-evil world. They don't extort money from their "friends." Spike has a long road ahead of him before he becomes a champion, but he's reluctantly beginning his journey.
Also, I think it's interesting that even though Buffy is dating Riely and working for the Initative, the Scoobies automatically try to hide Spike from them. He's a vampire. He's done some pretty terrible things. And the Iniataive are supposed to be the "good" guys, right? But, when it comes down to the line, the Scoobies side with Spike. Not even Buffy turns him over to Riley. On some level, the Scoobies have chosen to side with the "demons" over the "humans". Their instinctive desire to protect Spike not only shows the growing menace of the Intiative, but it's also an indication of Spike's emerging pseudo-Scoobie status.
On the downside, I don't like the Initative and I don't understand why Buffy is so eager to join up with them. She's a better fighter than all of them combined and has a lot more knowledge and experience. What is she getting out of this, except a chance to impress Riley? Maybe that's enough for her.
My favorite part of the episode: Anya playing poker with Willow and Xander. "Hurry up and bet already. I have three 'K' cards."
The episode revolves around Buffy joining the Initative. She's faster, stronger and more experienced than any of them, so at first they're pleased to have her on board. But soon Buffy begins asking a lot of questions about the missions and about 314. She's used to discussing the reasons behind the demon fights with Giles and the Scoobies and she doesn't like how secretive Maggie seems. Maggie doesn't like Buffy's prying or the influence Buffy seems to have over Riley. After Buffy and Riely sleep together, Maggie is determined to get rid of Buffy once and for all. Meanwhile, Tara and Willow are growing closer and the Initative is chasing Spike. He runs to the Scoobies for help. While, Riley and his team look for Spike, Maggie sends Buffy into a trap that's designed to kill her. Buffy survives, but realizes that the Initative is out to get her. She heads to Giles to warn the others. Riley finally begins questioning Maggie's motivations. The episode ends with Maggie entering room 314 and getting skewed by her own Frankenstein-like creation... Adam.
There are some good parts to this episode. I love Anya and her relationship with Xander is hilarious. When he explains that he's selling those power-bars so he can "buy Anya pretty things," and she responds "Yes, that does make sense," it just cracks me up every time. And, I think it's really sweet that Giles buys some of the power bars from Xander. Especially after the "Band Candy" mess that resulted from Buffy selling him chocolate bars last season. Also, I love Buffy speech to Maggie at the end of the episode. It's about time that she started seeing that the Inaitive was bad news. Personally, I'm not real sorry to see Maggie go.
Spike is my favorite character, so it's probably not surprising that the parts of this episode that I like best revolve around him. This episode really does explore a lot of the problems and contradictions that Spike is facing thanks to the chip in his head. First of all, Spike has been spending a lot of time with the Scoobies and it's beginning to confuse him. He still wants to be evil. Fighting on the "good" side is just further proof that he can never go back to his old way of life. He doesn't want to grow any closer to the Scoobies. He's moved out of Xander's house and he wants money, not thanks, for his help. He insists that Giles pay him for assisting with the Feural demon mess and, when Giles suggests that Spike become a regular member of the White Hats, Spike reacts with disdain. But when Spike is shot by the Intiative, he goes to the Scoobies for help. Whether he likes it or not, they're his new group/family. And when Giles demands his money back before helping Spike, he's not just trying to get even with Spike for his earlier attitude... He's trying to teach Spike a lesson. Show him how people behave in the non-evil world. They don't extort money from their "friends." Spike has a long road ahead of him before he becomes a champion, but he's reluctantly beginning his journey.
Also, I think it's interesting that even though Buffy is dating Riely and working for the Initative, the Scoobies automatically try to hide Spike from them. He's a vampire. He's done some pretty terrible things. And the Iniataive are supposed to be the "good" guys, right? But, when it comes down to the line, the Scoobies side with Spike. Not even Buffy turns him over to Riley. On some level, the Scoobies have chosen to side with the "demons" over the "humans". Their instinctive desire to protect Spike not only shows the growing menace of the Intiative, but it's also an indication of Spike's emerging pseudo-Scoobie status.
On the downside, I don't like the Initative and I don't understand why Buffy is so eager to join up with them. She's a better fighter than all of them combined and has a lot more knowledge and experience. What is she getting out of this, except a chance to impress Riley? Maybe that's enough for her.
My favorite part of the episode: Anya playing poker with Willow and Xander. "Hurry up and bet already. I have three 'K' cards."
