Episode Report Card Sep: B+ | 10 USERS: A+ YOU GRADE IT I wonder what the return policy is?
By Sep | Season 5 | Episode 22 | Aired on 05.21.2001
Back in Der Zauber Kasten, Buffy and Willow are still discussing the comparatively sane prospect of letting every creature in every dimension experience indescribable torment in order to extend Dawn's life by a measly few minutes, instead of the crazy and far more disturbing prospect of impending Xander and Anya nuptials. Buffy asks Willow what she's come up with. Willow says she has some "notions. Theories. Wild speculation," and reminds us that she's not good under pressure. Buffy calmly tells Willow how much she needs Willow, as she's the "big gun." Willow doesn't like the sound of that, preferring to be a "cudgel" or maybe a "sharp stick" Willow tells Buffy of the spell she's been working, a spell to restore Tara's brain, and how that might weaken Glory. Unfortunately my humor handicap prevents me from making the obvious joke. Giles, who is in the corner conferring with Xander and Anya, calls Buffy over. Willow promises to work on the spell some more, but goes to give Tara a kind word, reassuring her that "it won't be long." Smack! "Bitch!" spits Tara. "I'm supposed to work on the factors!" Tara's look softens, and Willow stoically tries not to cry.
Over by the tacky beaded curtain in the shop, Buffy tells Xander and Anya that something or other they've mentioned "could be pivotal." The next stop is the Summers home, for weapons. Xander asks for something "in a broadsword," and Spike warns him not to swing it anywhere near him, referring to Xander as a "glorified bricklayer." Xander retorts that he's "also a swell bowler." "The gods themselves do tremble," snorts Spike. Heh. Buffy tells Spike to cram it and to come with her.
Buffy enters her home, telling Spike where to find the weapons chest and starts upstairs. "Uh, Buffy," begins Spike, and points to the doorframe. She looks at him blankly, which he takes as evidence that she doesn't want him inside. He gamely asks her to hand the goods over the threshold, but she stops him with a simple invitation. He savors the moment before stepping slowly inside. ["Awwwww." --Ace] "Presto. No barrier." I have to say, James Marsters is an incredible actor. In those three seconds, he made me forgive all of the Spike-related dribble I have to read on the boards every single day. Spike gathers himself and goes to fetch the trunk. Buffy tells Spike that the evening is not going to end without casualties. "I always knew I'd go down fighting," says Spike. Buffy extracts a promise from him to keep Dawn safe, then tells him that she'll be just a moment. When she's halfway up the stairs, Spike stops her with, "I know you'll never love me." She turns. "I know that I'm a monster. But you treat me like a man. And that's…" That's a case of saying more than necessary. We got it the first time.