Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Some Assembly Required (2x02)

[fajrdrako]

Beulah came over this evening and we watched "Some Assembly Required" and "School Hard".

I confess to a certain desire to skip over "Some Assembly Required" and talk about "School Hard", but I will... show a little self-control here. Dignity. Carrying on with the planned and organized procedure. Chronologically. Ignoring the fact that I am now TOTALLY BESOTTED WITH SPIKE.

Ahem. Right. Back to "Some Assembly Required", now that I've skipped to the Grand Reveal about the next episode. (But none of you expected otherwise, right?)

Putting Spike right out of my mind... for a moment...

"Some Assembly Required" - I like the title very much.

1. Once again, Angel and Buffy meet in a graveyard. This scene struck me as ... somewhat artificial. The "are you jealous" thing is sort of fun on the one hand, and sort of specious on the other. What kind of relationship do Angel and Buffy think they have? What do they expect? The obviously aren't going to kill each other, but they can hardly settle down to suburban domesticity together. Do they consider themselves friends? Lovers? What? Is he meeting her because he wants to help her fight vampires, or because he just wants to see her, or both? I'd like to think it was both.



2. This whole scene elucidates the above, somewhat: Angel wishes he could spend time with Buffy, and share her daylight hours. This... seemed psychologically true. I think Angel really doesn't know what to do, or how to handle this. One assumes that this falling in love with a living person thing doesn't happen to him every century.



3. Buffy: "Are you crazy? You don't just sneak up on people in a graveyard. You make noise when you walk. You stomp or... yodel." This made me rather desperately want to hear Angel yodel. He didn't. Spoilsport.



4. Good passage:

   Angel: When you first wake up it's a little disorienting. He'll show.
   Buffy: It's weird to think of you going through that.
   Angel: It's weird to go through.

5. Angel:Buffy: Well, I didn't come here to fight. [Stephan attacks.] Oh, right, I did.
   
   That was funny.



6. Buffy: What do you mean he's just a kid? Does that mean I'm just a kid, too?
   
   Well, yes. She already knows their age difference. She's just waaay too busy trying to pick a fight.



7. Giles asks the chair for a date: that's like Xander 'practising' with Willow. That's... silly. Giles is not at his best in this episode.



8. Buffy: Yeah. You just say, 'Hey, I got a thing, you maybe have a thing, maybe we could have a thing.'
   Giles: Oh, thank you, Cyrano.
   
   I loved that part. And really, given her recent conversation with Angel, Buffy is no one to be telling Giles or anyone else how to handle their relationships!
   
   
9. "Dollsome". Great word.



10. Xander and Buffy are treating Giles as if he's another teen - their contemporary, and not a teacher or an adult. He doesn't seem to mind. Funny interpersonal dynamics going on here that I don't entirely understand. In a way, I like Giles' informality. In a way, I don't know what he is or wants to be in relation to the others.



11. Chris: sort of creepy. Eric: sort of annoying.



12. I liked Chris's speech, though: "You know what the key is? If Dr. Clark doesn't understand your experiment he gives you higher marks so it looks like he understands your experiment. 'The Effects of Sub-Violet Light Spectrum Deprivation on the Development of Fruit Flies'? That should do the trick." That's just the kind of strategy I used to use in high school. It must have worked. I passed.



13. Buffy: "Sorry to interrupt, Willow, but it's the Bat Signal." I love lines like that.
    
    
14. Good line:

    Eric: Cordelia's so fine. Y'know, she'd be just perfect for us.
    Chris: Don't be an idiot. She's alive.

    Cue ominous music. So: who's stealing corpses, then? Bad boys.



15. Willow: "I'm probably the only girl in school who has the coroner's office bookmarked as a favorite place." That's my girl. Gotta love Willow. I also love the look on her face when Xander says, "People want the dream. What they can't have."



16. I liked this bit of dialogue, too:

    Cordelia: Hello! Can we deal with my pain, please?
    Giles: There, there.

    And he pats her shoulder. That is probably Giles' best moment of the episode. I like the way Giles handles Cordelia.



17. Good Xander line: "BYO shovel?"



18. Another good one:

    Cordelia: Darn, I have cheerleader practice tonight. Boy, I wish I knew we were gonna be digging up dead people sooner. I would've canceled.
    Xander: Alright, but if you come across the army of zombies, can you page us before they eat your flesh? [She leaves]
    Giles: Xander?
    Xander: Huh?
    Giles: Zombies don't eat the flesh of the living.
    Xander: Yeah, I knew that. But did you see the look on her face?

    
    Xander is perfecting the art of Cordelia-baiting. It's too easy, but I guess he has to start somewhere.
    
    Was Giles telling the truth? Do Zombies really not eat the living?



19. Buffy: "Sorry, but I'm an old-fashioned gal. I was raised to believe that men dig up the corpses and the women have the babies." Buffy, Buffy, Buffy. You disappoint me, girl. Pick up a shovel.



20. Giles' reluctance to open the coffin is another making-him-one-of-the-teens moments. He's never been this dorky before. Has his crush on Jenny Calendar really discombobulated him to the point of regression?



21. Good moment where Cordelia grabs the severed hand.



22. Cordelia: "Angel saved me from an arm." Heh.



23. Another good Xander moment:

    Cordelia: Why are these terrible things always happening to me?
    Xander: Karma!

    
    
    
24. Funny bit:

    Angel: Well, what I saw didn't add up to three whole girls. I think they kept some parts.
    Buffy: Could this get yuckier?
    Willow: They probably kept the other parts to eat.
    Buffy: Question answered.

    All the funnier because Buffy is the one being uncharacteristically squeamish and Willow isn't.



25. Another good bit:

    Giles: You understand, in my capacity as school official, this search is completely unauthorized, and I cannot condone it.
    Buffy: Fine, your butt's covered. Wanna grab a locker?

    
    
    
26. Xander: "Do I deconstruct your segues?" Y'know, he's getting too good. At this rate I won't be able to complain about any of his lines any more. How long has it been since he made a really lame pun? How long has it been since he was annoying? Nice change.



27. Giles tries to ask Jenny Calendar out. Giles acts like Xander. I don't really understand this. Boy stuff? I really don't much like Giles in this episode; he's too goofy.



28. I liked this:

    Buffy: God! What if it worked? What, what if that poor girl is walking around?
    Xander: Poor girls, technically.

    
    
    
29. So it turns out this is the Frankenstein episode: they've reanimated brother Daryl and he wants his Bride and it's going to be Cordelia.



30. Sometimes Willow seems to know just a little too much about this 'how to reanimate the dead and put them together again' business. I know she's supposed to be expository-research-girl, but it sounds as if she's been practising. Maybe she's just a Mary Shelley fan? And why does she say, "Don't be too hard on Chris. I mean, he's not a vampire." Does she think what he's doing is okay? Does she not realize he's going after Cordelia?



31. Chris's mother reminds me of The Smoking Man from "X-Files". She's good. Creepy in a convincing sort of way.



32. Interesting dialogue where Giles says what he thinks of American football and Jenny Calendar chides him for dissing her country's sports and he tries to get Willow and Xander to go away. (Interesting that they don't.) He's a step better in this scene but still not the Giles I want and love.



33. I wasn't sure I understood the logistics of the 'old lab' being an 'abandoned building' but that's okay. (I pictured abandoned science labs dotting the California countryside.)



34. Great line from Eric to Cordelia: "Don't worry. When you wake up, you'll have the body of a seventeen-year-old. In fact, you'll have the body of several." The fight was boring except for the first moment where Eric threw the knife at Buffy and she stopped it. That was cool.



35. I liked this bit:

    Jenny: It's okay. Although a good rule of thumb for a first date is don't do anything so exciting that it'll be hard to top on the second date.
    Giles: Believe it or not, since I've moved here to live on top of the Hellmouth, the events of this evening actually qualify as a slow night.

36. 
    
37. So Cordelia tries to thank Xander for saving her and he brushes her off rather rudely. I wasn't sure what was going on her; Xander isn't usually so gauche. Does he really dislike her so much? Why? Or is it supposed to be funny? If so, I don't quite get it.



38. Buffy: "He did do it all for his brother." Does that make it better? Doesn't that just make it even creepier?



39. Angel: "He gets to see you in the sunlight." That's really quite moving.

Altogether: this wasn't a great episode, but not a bad one either. Better in is details than its rather predictable and unimpressive situation and plot. I found Eric a much more interesting villain than Chris or Daryl. What happened to Eric, after he escaped the fire?

Best thing about the episode: Angel.
Worst thing about the episode: Giles.

Hmm. I guess I've become much more Angel-positive than I started out, haven't I?

Comments

[saffronrose.livejournal.com]

I'm so there with the total besottedness with Spike. I actually like James Marsters in what little I've seen of him in other shows as well.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Marsters is utterly amazing. He just brightens up the screen from the moment he walks in. Stunning! His delivery, his body language, everything - suddenly it all became real in a way it wasn't before.

[sizequeen.livejournal.com]

Was Giles telling the truth? Do Zombies really not eat the living?

We see zombies twice more during the series and neither are of the flesh-eating variety.

Xander and Buffy are treating Giles as if he's another teen - their contemporary, and not a teacher or an adult. He doesn't seem to mind. Funny interpersonal dynamics going on here that I don't entirely understand. In a way, I like Giles' informality. In a way, I don't know what he is or wants to be in relation to the others.

Giles relationship with the gang remains complex throughout the series. There is a theme of failed father figures, (deconstruction of patriarchy) and Giles is firmly in that category. The times when the Scoobies need a 'dad' the most are when Giles is sure to disappoint them.

Xander: "Do I deconstruct your segues?" Y'know, he's getting too good. At this rate I won't be able to complain about any of his lines any more. How long has it been since he made a really lame pun? How long has it been since he was annoying? Nice change.

Told you, you'd end up liking Xander. But again, he's a complex character, and sometimes his impulses are less than nice... None of the characters on Buffy are wholly good or bad (okay, some of the demons are all bad), and the Scoobies are not exempt from that rule.


Giles tries to ask Jenny Calendar out. Giles acts like Xander. I don't really understand this. Boy stuff? I really don't much like Giles in this episode; he's too goofy.

ASH modeled his performance on Hugh Grant's 90s on-screen persona.

So Cordelia tries to thank Xander for saving her and he brushes her off rather rudely. I wasn't sure what was going on her; Xander isn't usually so gauche. Does he really dislike her so much? Why? Or is it supposed to be funny? If so, I don't quite get it.

It was supposed to be a demonstration of why Xander doesn't get women. He sincerely didn't see that moment as an opening.

Nice commentary. Also, Giles is going to surprise you. A lot.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

We see zombies twice more during the series and neither are of the flesh-eating variety.

Oh. Okay. So how are Zombies defined in this mythology? Undead people raised by magic? Or by science? Was Darryl a Zombie?

Giles relationship with the gang remains complex throughout the series.

Good! I like that.

There is a theme of failed father figures, (deconstruction of patriarchy)

Woo! I like that. (Especially considering I have father issues of my own.)

None of the characters on Buffy are wholly good or bad

I like that.

ASH modeled his performance on Hugh Grant's 90s on-screen persona.

Interesting. Yes, I can see that. It works. But I hope there's more to it than than; and expect there will be.

why Xander doesn't get women. He sincerely didn't see that moment as an opening.

That makes sense. And I don't think he wants Cordelia anyway - though I may be wrong, depending on how things go - but there may be some subconscious rejection going on there.

Giles is going to surprise you. A lot.

Good! (That is, I hope you mean: in a good way.)

[ceruleancat.livejournal.com]

"Going back to BUFFY, Head says that when he auditioned for Giles he used a mixture of Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman, for befuddled and "on the metal" respectively."

http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=2854

[jackarono.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see what you think of School Hard. I'm going to watch it tomorrow to join you-- post!

And you do see what happened to "the Annoying One?" You ask, Spike delivers!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see what you think of School Hard.

I can hardly wait to post. But... I'm at work. I shouldn't even be reading and answering comments.

I'm going to watch it tomorrow to join you-- post!

I'll do my best to post when I get home from work - and may even watch the episode again. Just... because I can.

[teaphile.livejournal.com]

Heh. Several episode reactions you've posted have had me trying hard not to comment "But wait until School Hard!"

Xander and Buffy are treating Giles as if he's another teen - their contemporary, and not a teacher or an adult. He doesn't seem to mind.

I like this dynamic a lot. Giles isn't a stand-in parent for any of them, even though each kid could probably use one.
There's a lot of talk in fandom about Giles as a father-figure for Buffy but I think they truly are equals -- not in age or experience, but in the power they have over each other.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Several episode reactions you've posted have had me trying hard not to comment "But wait until School Hard!"

And like magic, there I am!

Giles isn't a stand-in parent for any of them

He isn't even a teacher. His role is extremely interesting and I haven't figured it out yet. It's as if he is - as if circumstances have made him appear to be a mentor or teacher or father-figure (just becuase he's older than they are and works at the school) but that's pure illusion. What he is, is more of a Sancho Panza to Buffy's Don Quixote - and I'm not sure that's the right analogy because I'm not trying to say it's a joke, I'm trying to say that it's loyal support and guidance and protection, but not mentorship (in any sense I'd use it) - any if they aren't equals, it's because Buffy as Slayer is his superior.

Very interesting dynamics - I know I'm just getting the tip of the iceberg here.

There's a lot of talk in fandom about Giles as a father-figure for Buffy but I think they truly are equals

So far I can't see it as paternal (though I tried to) but I haven't really come to grips with Buffy's father issues yet.

I think it's clear that Buffy has the stronger will, and Giles will always defer to her as necessary, and adjust accordingly. (Well - so far.)

[luthien.livejournal.com]

This made me rather desperately want to hear Angel yodel.

Don't worry. Eventually you will reach the episode of 'Angel' in which Angel sings. *g*

*waits for your reaction to School Hard, but has a reasonably good idea of what it's going to say about one character, at least*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Eventually you will reach the episode of 'Angel' in which Angel sings. *g*


Erk. Yes.

*waits for your reaction to School Hard, but has a reasonably good idea of what it's going to say about one character, at least*

You will know that if I claim to be indifferent to Spike that I am LYING THROUGH MY TEETH.

What is it about him that makes me want to scream in capital letters?

(It's gotta be the cheekbones.)

[kathyh]

Putting Spike right out of my mind... for a moment...

Difficult isn't it *g*.

This made me rather desperately want to hear Angel yodel.

Believe me when I tell you that once you've heard him sing you won't want to hear him yodel!

Does she think what he's doing is okay?

In the light of later events that's a really interesting observation, but unfortunately I can't say any more because it's spoilery.

Altogether: this wasn't a great episode, but not a bad one either.

I rewatched it a while ago and it was actually better than I remembered. It is, of course, completely over-shadowed by what comes next *g*.

Some Assembly Required

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Difficult isn't it *g*.

Impossible, really. The boy makes a strong impression.

Believe me when I tell you that once you've heard him sing you won't want to hear him yodel!

LOL - more to look forward to.

I rewatched it a while ago and it was actually better than I remembered.

Unimpressive plot, but some really good storytelling moments.

[gillo]

You do see why we all told you you'd like

School Hard

, then? As kathyh says, this isn't a bad episode, but it is totally overshadowed by the glory to come.

I concur with the people who mentioned Angel singing. You so don't want to know.

I adore Giles's opinion of American football and that whole little sequence. Even in so-so episodes there are some wonderful gems.

Does she think what he's doing is okay?

Willow's ethical judgement is not always mine. Cannot say more.

Are you really going to keep us waiting till Friday for your opinions on Spike?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You do see why we all told you you'd like School Hard, then?

Well, yes. Of course. One word: Spike.

I concur with the people who mentioned Angel singing. You so don't want to know.

All I ask is a little yodelling!

Even in so-so episodes there are some wonderful gems.

True. The script was actually very good. The characterization - unclear. The plot - faugh.

Willow's ethical judgement is not always mine. Cannot say more.

Hmm.

Are you really going to keep us waiting till Friday for your opinions on Spike?

No. Hope to have time to write it tonight. Can't guarantee, but I'll try.

[megaloo13.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you've gotten to like Xander more! He does start to become more of his own person in season 2, becoming more fleshed out and less "stereotypical jokey sidekick".

I agree with everyone else that the good points of this episode just seem to pale in comparison with School Hard. I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Spike. :)

Of course, one of MY favorite recurring characters makes his debut in the episode after that, so I have your reaction to him to look forward to as well. *is vague in order to not spoil*

Some Assembly Required

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

He does start to become more of his own person in season 2, becoming more fleshed out and less "stereotypical jokey sidekick".

Two things have happened. One is that the writing has become much better - his jokes aren't so lame, his comments aren't so stereotypical. The other thing is that he's had more and better moments in terms of thinks he has done - he doesn't just stand and make wisecracks while other people make decisions or step into the action.

Progress all the way.

I agree with everyone else that the good points of this episode just seem to pale in comparison with School Hard.

Well, yes. School Hard just eclipses everything else we've seen. Everything. A supernova compared to a candle. Suddenly they get it RIGHT - oops, those Spike-inspired capitals again - suddenly they get it right after a season and a bit of clever bumbling.

I can't wait to hear your thoughts on Spike. :)

A heartflet "gaaaah!" might sum it up, but I will try to be less visceral, more eloquent.

one of MY favorite recurring characters makes his debut in the episode after that, so I have your reaction to him to look forward to as well. *is vague in order to not spoil*

Curious - but I'll get there very, very soon. I take it that when I see the episode, it will be obvious who you are talking about?

[monsieureden.livejournal.com]

"Ignoring the fact that I am now TOTALLY BESOTTED WITH SPIKE."

HEE.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well.

Was there any question?

[katkim.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see what you made of "School Hard". Spike is one of my favourite Buffyverse characters, and he's one of the most interesting.

This made me rather desperately want to hear Angel yodel. He didn't. Spoilsport. - Are you planning on watching Angel? *g*

Giles tries to ask Jenny Calendar out. Giles acts like Xander. I don't really understand this. Boy stuff? I really don't much like Giles in this episode; he's too goofy. - I think Joss imbues Buffy with his real life experiences, and since dating was an horrendously awkward experience for him I think this carries through into a lot of his characters (no matter who they are) and into a lot of scenarios.

And why does she say, "Don't be too hard on Chris. I mean, he's not a vampire." Does she think what he's doing is okay? Does she not realize he's going after Cordelia? - There's a lot of discussion around about the morals of Willow and other members of the gang. They're the good guys, but a bit like the Potterverse, it's not too clear or consistent on the moral 'message' (if there is one!).

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to see what you made of "School Hard".

Eee. Soon.

I think Joss imbues Buffy with his real life experiences, and since dating was an horrendously awkward experience for him

I think also that he finds the 'awkward social bumbler who can't cope with the opposite sex' a lot more interesting than I do. For me, a little of that is too much. With Joss we get it over and over, with variations for gender diversity, but not much. He gets away with it (almost) because of the high school setting and everyone is socially awkward at 15 or 16. I still don't like it much.

I'm so glad he had it mostly out of his system for Firefly.

They're the good guys, but a bit like the Potterverse, it's not too clear or consistent on the moral 'message' (if there is one!).

In principal, I like that. In practice... well, it takes a really, really subtle and clever writer to pull that off without looking clumsy or simply arbitrary. Or to pull it off at all. I don't think Rowling does it very well, not from a literary standpoint - though of course she is so phenomenally popular that it seems crass (or snotty) of me to say so. Joss? We shall see.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

I am now TOTALLY BESOTTED WITH SPIKE

Result! You realise that if you hadn't become besotted, we'd probably have had to burn you as a heretic? ;-)

What kind of relationship do Angel and Buffy think they have? What do they expect?

I think at this point they are both just confused and don't really know what to do about the whole thing.

Giles asks the chair for a date: that's like Xander 'practising' with Willow. That's... silly. Giles is not at his best in this episode

I've always thought it was kind of cute how off-balance he is about asking for a date - I figure he's just out of practise. The Cyrano line is great.

why does she say, "Don't be too hard on Chris. I mean, he's not a vampire." Does she think what he's doing is okay? Does she not realize he's going after Cordelia?

I think at that point they don't know they are going after Cordelia - that's only after Buffy has seen the photos. Here they don't even know for sure that Chris and Eric are thinking of killing anyone, they just know that they'll need a fresh head and that it's a possibility. Anyway, I think what Willow means is simply that Chris is human and so more fragile than Buffy's usual opponents. I always got the feeling she was a bit worried about what Buffy would do to him. And I think Willow feels sympathy for Chris over Darryl.

Giles says what he thinks of American football and Jenny Calendar chides him for dissing her country's sports

I love that bit. Every British fan I know goes "Go Giles!" at that bit.

So Cordelia tries to thank Xander for saving her and he brushes her off rather rudely. I wasn't sure what was going on her; Xander isn't usually so gauche. Does he really dislike her so much? Why? Or is it supposed to be funny?

I think it is supposed to be funny - a comment on what he was just saying about why he can't get a date. Not a great moment though, it does come off a little oddly.

"He did do it all for his brother." Does that make it better? Doesn't that just make it even creepier?

That makes it less evil and more misguided and not thought through. Chris didn't set out to hurt anyone, he just wanted to help someone he loved and it spiralled because he went about it all wrong.

What happened to Eric, after he escaped the fire?

One of those annoying loose ends, that. I wouldn't want him running around after that - he was far creepier than Chris because Chris really didn't want to kill anyone and it was only Darryl guilt-tripping him that made him agree. Whereas Eric didn't even consider it a slight drawback. If I were the Sccobs, I'd be keeping a close watch on Eric. Or maybe he got arrested for arson? That would be good.

I guess I've become much more Angel-positive than I started out

Excellent.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

You realise that if you hadn't become besotted, we'd probably have had to burn you as a heretic? ;-)

You realize that the chances of that were very, very small?

I think at this point they are both just confused and don't really know what to do about the whole thing.

Despite my initial reaction to their scene, this rings true. They know it's hopeless. They can't stay away from each other. In frustration and need, they lash out at each other, knowing that no one but each other will understand - but that they will understand. And they do.

Every British fan I know goes "Go Giles!" at that bit.


I did, too, and I'm not even British! (But I do like British sports and I don't like American football at all. So I share his bias.)

Or maybe he got arrested for arson?

Good thought!

[ceruleancat.livejournal.com]

Do they consider themselves friends? Lovers?

Cat: I wonder if everyone reading this had the same LOLZ reaction as Adam and I did.

This made me rather desperately want to hear Angel yodel. He didn't.

Adam: Oh, you will live to regret this.

I don't know what he is or wants to be in relation to the others
Has his crush on Jenny Calendar really discombobulated him to the point of regression?

Adam: Thanks. That made me think an angle I never did before.

Cat: I think partly it's the writers not sure how to handle an adult in love in a high school show.

Question answered.

Cat: pointing that Buffy is used to handle vampires who explode into dust, not decomposing edible flesh.

Y'know, he's getting too good.

Adam: Like Joss, he blossoms.

Boy stuff?

Cat: This is a whole discussion that we can't have with you yet.

Sometimes Willow seems to know just a little too

Adam: Willow being freaky is also something we can't talk about.

Xander isn't usually so gauche.

Cat: Xander isn't usually so gauche?! Two-three episodes after you cried about just how gauche he is? I like the reversal.

Cat: I don't think the relationship with Jenny does Rupert any good, personally. But can't really discuss it much with you.

Cat: My favourite quote of this episode:

Giles: Grave robbing? That's new. Interesting.
Buffy:I *know* you meant to say gross and disturbing.
Giles:Yes, yes, yes of course. Uh, terrible thing. Must, must put a stop to it. Damn it.

We actually use this one, often.

Cat: Whatever happened to #36?



Cat: unrelated: Highlander ep titles in French, and the English (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander_(s%C3%A9rie_t%C3%A9l%C3%A9vis%C3%A9e)#.C3.89pisodes), and also, same, but with summaries (http://www.highlander1592.net/dossiers/dossiers.php?id_dossier=106).

Some Assembly Required

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

you will live to regret this.

And much else, I am sure.

Adam: That made me think an angle I never did before.

Interesting. Intriguing.

Cat: I think partly it's the writers not sure how to handle an adult in love in a high school show.

My current theory is that she is casting a spell on him. And we're seeing the 16-year-old Giles in the adult man's body.

Adam: Willow being freaky is also something we can't talk about.

It's sort of subtle but she's going from "normal girl" to "really strange" by tiny, slow increments.

Cat: Xander isn't usually so gauche?! Two-three episodes after you cried about just how gauche he is? I like the reversal.

Hee. True. I like it too. But it's really that I used the wrong word... Xander is still, and always, gauche. We've never seen him quite to dismissive before, and he did seem to pay attention to Cordelia, however mixed his reactions. To outright diss her to her face seems out of character, especially since it doesn't look deliberate. Or maybe it is. ...Something to think about.

yes of course. Uh, terrible thing. Must, must put a stop to it. Damn it.

Reminds me how very much I love Giles.

Cat: Whatever happened to #36?

Someone stole it?

I accidentally wrote it in invisible ink?

No idea!

Thanks for the links - !