Original Skin

This is one of my favorite episodes of any show. I routinely quote this episode and it's one of the few that I go back and re-watch even when I'm not going through and re-watching the whole show. The actors do such an amazing job of being body switched that it feels like they've actually inhabited each other's bodies.

This is the "once more with feeling" episode where the actoooorz get to flex their acting chops.

While not a musical, the piper plays a wonderful tune and leads us astray in what is ostensibly a frivolous tale, but in fact, like the aforementioned OMWF, turns out to be a heavy lifter, moving the series arc along very nicely indeed, with multiple reveals.

The acting is a little mottled, but Ried is standout in his depiction of the now testosterone laden, alcohol tolerant Kenzi and Silk does a rather camp, but effective melodramatic rendition of the power-tripping, chi-hungry southern Woods.

Wonderful, playful breath of fresh air after a prolonged series of rather brood-some storylines.

Honestly, anyone who has been watching this shown until now has probably realized that this episode is special. Without giving too much away there's a little hook that is played out very well in this 45 minutes of awesome. I love how the creative team, cast, and last but not least the crew work this angle out. Basically it goes down like this. The "Team" find themselves trying to find a killer all while in the Dal where they have had their bodies switched. Sounds simple right? Well of course it isn't. I can tell that the cast took their time getting into character because it's not just the tone or the mannerisms but the entire package of trying to act like another member we have all gotten to know and love. While there are many memorable moments of laughter there's also a few where we get the first bits of understanding for some characters and their relationships with others. Bonus, we even get a nice reveal of new information on some members of the Team. It doesn't quite hit yet but it doesn't need to, you remember what happens when it matters. This one stands on it's own though, it can be watched repeatedly and it still feels fresh. I appreciate it even though it can come off as a bit of fans service. Trust me. I am completely OK with that. Overall I like it because it stands out. Anyone who's a fan can tell you about this episode without confusion. Some of the finer points may get fuzzy but overall it's an impressive addition to the series.

A Fae makes the majority of the main crew switch bodies and we get to see some fun acting. While all the actors are great in this show, one in particular stands out in this episode. Kris Holden-Reid (Dyson) did an outstanding job as Kenzi and deserves to be recognized for it. He's laughable, relatable, and stays true to adorable Kenzi's character. This episode also helps in moving some of the sub plots along so they can get to bigger ones which is nice to do in a quick manner.