As far as character development for Willow and Buffy goes, this is an episode you couldn't miss. Both women are struggling with deep, dark issues within themselves. Willow's addiction to magic is out of control, and Buffy's lust for Spike and the fiery violence that comes with him are filling her with self-loathing. We get to see some great exchanges between the two best friends here, which is something I've sorely missed in previous episodes. It seems pretty clear that Willow and Buffy's friendship still hasn't recovered since the resurrection, but at least it proves that they can and will still be there for each other regardless.
One of the things that really sticks out for me in this episode is dawn's comment right before she and Willow leave to go to see a movie. "I'll leave a note for Buffy on the fridge. It's always the first place she goes after patrolling. She's such a pig after she kills things."
This little line, inconsequential as it may seem, always makes me smile because it reminds me of Faith - the slayer who was always "hungry and horny" after a good slaying. When Faith first told Buffy this, Buffy acted disgusted at the idea, claiming she sometimes craves a low fat yoghurt, but now in Season 6 we see how much she now has in common with her former ally-then-enemy. Not only does she apparently 'pig' out after slaying, but she is now craving other things too as this episode so wonderfully demonstrates, and I just like the parallel it makes. Faith, the dark, troubled slayer was notorious in her using of men, and Buffy seems to be going the same way with Spike.
After all, you certainly feel for Spike in this episode. The poor vampire's devotion to Buffy is pretty damn clear by now, and yet she continues to treat him like crap! Picking him up and then putting him down when it suits her, to make herself feel better. I mean, we know Buffy's going through some stuff these days, but her behaviour towards Spike is pretty inexcusable. In fact, the morning after their night of passion is kind of hard to watch. I do really love Spike and Buffy together though, whether they're enemies, lovers or in that wonderful state of ambiguity, so I have to remind myself that Buffy's bitchiness towards Spike won't last forever...she's definitely a difficult character to empathise with at the moment, though, and ultimately it's Spike who we feel sorry for.
Meanwhile, as Buffy and Spike's relationship spirals out of control, so does Willow's life. After returning Amy to her human form, the witchy pair are soon out of their magical depth, and Will's addiction to sorcery takes a dangerous turn when dawn is put at risk. It's so hard to watch Willow's fall from grace here, but it's been set up so well as we've watched episode after episode of Willow growing more and more dependant on magic for everyday things, this was really inevitable. Tara leaving finally pushes Will over the edge, with a little help from creepy-as-hell Rack and irresponsible Amy (although I guess if I'd been a rat for two/three years I'd probably want to see some of the world too.)
The final scenes are particularly harrowing, with Willow writhing in bed, already suffering terrible withdrawal symptoms, and then Buffy sat on her bed, surrounded by strings of garlic and clutching a cross to her chest. Both characters are clearly terrified of what they are becoming, and so are desperately attempting to regain control of the situation. But it also seems clear that going cold turkey is not going to end well for Buffy or Willow...
Oh yeah, and the evil trio are doing something in a museum and there's a demon and Anya and Xander are clashing over wedding stuff again yaddah yaddah yaddah.
So overall, a thought-provoking episode about the dangers of addiction and indulgence. It's also interesting to consider the disastrous turns Willow and Buffy have taken since Giles and Tara's departures from their lives. Both characters felt they were acting on behalf of their loved ones' best interests, but it seems that without their guidance and support Buffy and Willow really are falling apart. However, it's true what they say - once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up...right?
One of the things that really sticks out for me in this episode is dawn's comment right before she and Willow leave to go to see a movie. "I'll leave a note for Buffy on the fridge. It's always the first place she goes after patrolling. She's such a pig after she kills things."
This little line, inconsequential as it may seem, always makes me smile because it reminds me of Faith - the slayer who was always "hungry and horny" after a good slaying. When Faith first told Buffy this, Buffy acted disgusted at the idea, claiming she sometimes craves a low fat yoghurt, but now in Season 6 we see how much she now has in common with her former ally-then-enemy. Not only does she apparently 'pig' out after slaying, but she is now craving other things too as this episode so wonderfully demonstrates, and I just like the parallel it makes. Faith, the dark, troubled slayer was notorious in her using of men, and Buffy seems to be going the same way with Spike.
After all, you certainly feel for Spike in this episode. The poor vampire's devotion to Buffy is pretty damn clear by now, and yet she continues to treat him like crap! Picking him up and then putting him down when it suits her, to make herself feel better. I mean, we know Buffy's going through some stuff these days, but her behaviour towards Spike is pretty inexcusable. In fact, the morning after their night of passion is kind of hard to watch. I do really love Spike and Buffy together though, whether they're enemies, lovers or in that wonderful state of ambiguity, so I have to remind myself that Buffy's bitchiness towards Spike won't last forever...she's definitely a difficult character to empathise with at the moment, though, and ultimately it's Spike who we feel sorry for.
Meanwhile, as Buffy and Spike's relationship spirals out of control, so does Willow's life. After returning Amy to her human form, the witchy pair are soon out of their magical depth, and Will's addiction to sorcery takes a dangerous turn when dawn is put at risk. It's so hard to watch Willow's fall from grace here, but it's been set up so well as we've watched episode after episode of Willow growing more and more dependant on magic for everyday things, this was really inevitable. Tara leaving finally pushes Will over the edge, with a little help from creepy-as-hell Rack and irresponsible Amy (although I guess if I'd been a rat for two/three years I'd probably want to see some of the world too.)
The final scenes are particularly harrowing, with Willow writhing in bed, already suffering terrible withdrawal symptoms, and then Buffy sat on her bed, surrounded by strings of garlic and clutching a cross to her chest. Both characters are clearly terrified of what they are becoming, and so are desperately attempting to regain control of the situation. But it also seems clear that going cold turkey is not going to end well for Buffy or Willow...
Oh yeah, and the evil trio are doing something in a museum and there's a demon and Anya and Xander are clashing over wedding stuff again yaddah yaddah yaddah.
So overall, a thought-provoking episode about the dangers of addiction and indulgence. It's also interesting to consider the disastrous turns Willow and Buffy have taken since Giles and Tara's departures from their lives. Both characters felt they were acting on behalf of their loved ones' best interests, but it seems that without their guidance and support Buffy and Willow really are falling apart. However, it's true what they say - once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up...right?
