Buffy the Vampire Slayer (3x08) - Lover's Walk

[fajrdrako]

Buffy 3x08 - Lover's Walk

~ ~ ~

At last: we get Spike again. And I'm very, very glad to see him.

1. 740 verbal? Is that bad? Is it out of a possible score of 1,000? No, Buffy got 1430, so I guess that's not it.
   
   
2. Love this exchange:

   Oz: That was my sarcastic voice.
   Xander: You know, it sounds a lot like your regular voice.
   Oz: I've been told that.

   Exchanges like this are the reason I love Oz.
   
   
3. So Spike returns in the style in which he first came, driving over the Sunnydale sign, only falling flat on his face. Spike is back. I am happy.
   
   
4. Drusilla left Spike. The fool! And he's unhappy about it. The horrible bitch! At least he can take it out on the dolls.
   
   
5. Bowling? I like Willow's confidence.
   
   
6. Of course Oz doing something sweet like giving her a witch Pez dispenser makes Willow feel guilty. She earned this.
   
   
7. Giles seems to have forgiven Buffy for seeing Angel and not telling them. He is reconciled. Cute "rash" conversation.
   
   
8. Wonderful conversation between Xander and Willow:

   Willow: It's a very intimate situation. It's all sexy with the smoke and the sweating and the shoe rental...
   Xander: You're turned on by rented shoes?
   Willow: That's not the issue.

9. Good conversation between Buffy and her mother, too:

   Joyce: That's not it. It's just you belong at a good old-fashioned college with, with keg parties and boys, not here with Hellmouths and vampires.
   Buffy: Not really seeing the distinction.

   Seems to me Joyce should beware what she wishes for.
   
   
10. Angel reads Sartre? Cool.
    
    
11. Spike, keg party of one. Drunk. Tough. Who knew vampires could get drunk? How does that work? ...Probably I shouldn't ask.
    
    
12. The magic shop: Spike ranting about boils and leprosy. The proprietor: "I'm hearing a lot of negative energy." Hmm, yes, vampires do that. It gets better:

    Spike: Leprosy! Alright, a spell that makes his parts fall off. That sounds proper.
    Shopkeeper: We don't carry... leprosy.

13. Willow's spell is a 'de-lusting'. Cute.
    
    
14. The Mayor: "So, we have a Spike problem, do we?" I assume his 'problem' is Spike's presence. I couldn't disagree more. The problem is when Spike isn't around.
    
    
15. Allen says, "Police had a hell of a time covering it up." - meaning Spike's killing in the magic shop. First time we've had direct confirmation that the Police, on the orders of the Mayor, are hushing things up. It comes as no surprise, of course.
    
    
16. Buffy and Angel are having problems dealing with their rather odd relationship.
    
    
17. Spike wants a love spell. Well, it's better than a leprosy-and-parts-fall-off spell.
    
    
18. Poor Spike. A drunken, melancholy vampire is a sad thing to see. "She just left. She didn't even care enough to cut off my head or set me on fire. I mean, is that too much to ask? You know? Some little sign that she cared?" Next he'll be lying on his bed listening to country music, like Xander.
    
    
19. And Spike goes to Joyce. Ooh: chills. And then Spike tells her his troubles. Awww.
    
    
20. "She's out of her mind. That's what I miss most about her."
    
    
21. Spike drinks not only alcohol, but hot chocolate with marshmallows? My goodness. Not very... vampiric.
    
    
22. And then Angel comes along. No love lost between Spike and Angel, and Joyce thinks Angel is a monster.

    Angel: Spike.
    Joyce: Oh, my God. Get out of here!
    Spike: Yeah. You're not invited.

    I love the plotting here, how things that were set up long ago are still coming into play.
    
    
23. Followed by - even better -

    Angel: You touch her, and I'll cut your head off!
    Spike: Yeah? You and what army?
    Buffy: That would be me.

24. This whole scene is just full of great dialogue based on who knows what about which:

    Spike: Willow!
    Buffy: You took Willow.
    Spike: You do me now, you'll never find the little witch.
    Joyce: Willow's a witch?
    Buffy: And Xander?
    Spike: Him, too.
    Joyce: What, Xander's a witch?

25. Love it that Spike calls Angel "your great poof".
    
    
26. Then Oz smells Willow's fear.

    Cordelia: Oh, my God. Is this some sort of residual werewolf thing? This is very disturbing.
    Oz: I really agree.

27. And Spike gets all sentimental about killing an old man on a bench with Drusilla, even though he's sobering up. Such an emo vampire. And next scene: "I used to bring her rats. With the morning paper." Do vampires need to keep up with the news?
    
    
28. But Spike, drunken loser though he may be, seems to have a better grasp of the reality of relationships than everyone else: "You're *not* friends. You'll never be friends. You'll be in love till it kills you both. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other till it makes you quiver, but you'll never be friends. Love isn't brains, children, it's blood... blood screaming inside you to work its will."
    
    
29. Bit of dialogue between Willow and Xander in the factory:

    Willow: Drusilla broke up with him.
    Xander: Gee, and we had all hoped those crazy kids would make it work.

    Now, why does that just scream Firefly at me? Where does someone say something like that? And Willow has a wonderful turn of phrase:

    Xander: So what are our options?
    Willow: Well, I figure either... I refuse to do the spell and he kills us, or I do the spell and he kills us.
    Xander: Give me a third option.
    Willow: He's so drunk he forgets about us, and we starve to death. That's sort of the best one.

30. So they kiss and inevitable, inevitably, Cordelia and Oz walk in to save their lives. It was bound to happen sooner or later, right? "Sooner", the way they were acting. They're lucky it didn't happen earlier.
    
    
31. So Buffy, Spike and Angel fight Spike's old minions. This is an episode of changed alliances. Good fight dialogue:

    Lenny: Yeah. I heard you'd gone soft. Sad to see it, man.
    Spike: Soft?
    Lenny: Yeah, like baby food.
    Spike: Well, then, let's give baby a taste.

32. Then Spike realizes he doesn't need the love potion after all, and wanders off happy. This is funny, and Spikelike, and I like it - but it's a bit anticlimactic.
    
    
33. And Cordelia tells Xander to get lost. She's really hurt. If she cares... wouldn't forgiving him be wiser?
    
    
34. Buffy realizes Spike was right, and wants out of Angel's life. He can't say he doesn't love her.
    
    
35. Spike speeds off, singing about doing things "My Way" - as if he could ever do anything else. I'm sorry to see him leave. Spike! Come back, the show shines more brightly when you're in it.
    

Comments

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

740 verbal? Is that bad? Is it out of a possible score of 1,000? No, Buffy got 1430, so I guess that's not it.

Possible 800. 800 Verbal, 800 Math.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Okay, good score then.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

This episode has a lot of the cute, clever dialogue I love about Buffy. And Spike moping over Dru, which is gold, and being a loser but an insightful loser, which I love too. The moment he gets his mojo back is, as you said, very Spike.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

This episode has a lot of the cute, clever dialogue I love about Buffy

Yes. In some ways, it comes across as 'the best of Buffy' in style. Witty, and with plot twists.

Spike moping over Dru, which is gold

Yes.

being a loser but an insightful loser, which I love too

Yes. It takes talent.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

We love Spike.

Giles seems to have forgiven Buffy

He is a very forgiving person. With Buffy.

Joyce should beware what she wishes for

*states quietly:* lol.

Who knew vampires could get drunk? How does that work?

Lots and lots, and lots, and lots and lots of booze. Possibly with a little bit of blood in their alcohol stream.

We don't carry... leprosy.

I love this. I love lines like this.

Poor Spike.

Some of this speeches in this ep are memorable and absolutely magnificent. Spike and relationships. It just gets worse.

Spike drinks not only alcohol, but hot chocolate with marshmallows? My goodness. Not very... vampiric.

That's what makes him Spike, and not... dark-brooding-angsty, dramaqueen, cliche.... uh. Some other guy. Cough.

Okay, this ep was really full of good text.

Do vampires need to keep up with the news?

Define "need". Some are stuck in the 17th century, but that's not reason for the rest of us to... Uh, I mean...

Cordelia and Oz walk in

That's what I meant in a previous comment when I said that in *theory*, the Buffy/Angel relationship is more dangerous because Willow/Xander won't get anyone killed. I mean, it didn't, but there was an *almost*. But seriously, unplanned.

Then Spike realizes he doesn't need the love potion

There are bits in that ep that remind me of Methos/Kronos. "I'm gonna do what I shoulda done in the first place: I'll find her, wherever she is, tie her up, torture her, until she likes me again."

wouldn't forgiving him be wiser?

Really not.

In my opinion.

But I'm not a romantic, and I hate betrayal.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

We love Spike.

We do.

[Giles] is a very forgiving person. With Buffy.

Yes; one of the many things I love about Giles.

Possibly with a little bit of blood in their alcohol stream.

I suppose they don't specifically need blood as blood, just as sustenance; if I twist my brain a little this makes perfect sense. This should probably scare me.

Spike and relationships.

I smile. He is Just So Good.


That's what makes him Spike, and not... dark-brooding-angsty, dramaqueen, cliche.... uh. Some other guy. Cough.

Yup. Breaks all the cliches, Spike does.

this ep was really full of good text.

It was terrific. A classic.

There are bits in that ep that remind me of Methos/Kronos.

Oh, yes! Good catch.

I'm not a romantic, and I hate betrayal.

I am</> a romantic, and I hate betrayal, but sometimes it makes for good stories. I don't think I interpret Angel's reactions as betrayal any more than I interpret Buffy's action (in killing him) as betrayal.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

...Weren't we talking about Cordelia/Xander, with the betrayal-forgiveness thing?

[judymoe.livejournal.com]

35. Spike speeds off, singing about doing things "My Way" - as if he could ever do anything else. I'm sorry to see him leave. Spike! Come back, the show shines more brightly when you're in it.

It makes me extra happy that it's Gary Oldman's version of Sid Vicious' cover of "My Way" (from "Sid and Nancy"). Hee!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's perfect!

[gillo]

I rather thought you'd like this one. It's one of my all-time top ten. Guess why?

740 verbal? Is that bad? Is it out of a possible score of 1,000? No, Buffy got 1430, so I guess that's not it.

I gather it's a possible score of 800 for verbal, 800 for maths - so Buffy manages 1430 out of 1600. Not bad.

So Spike returns in the style in which he first came, driving over the Sunnydale sign, only falling flat on his face. Spike is back. I am happy.

I love the shot-by-shot recap of his first appearance in

School Hard

. And why I found Captain Jack in KKBB so funny.

Drusilla left Spike. The fool! And he's unhappy about it. The horrible bitch! At least he can take it out on the dolls.

Miss Edith only encourages her.

Spike, keg party of one. Drunk. Tough. Who knew vampires could get drunk? How does that work? ...Probably I shouldn't ask.

He's a very unhappy drunk. Poor boy.

The proprietor: "I'm hearing a lot of negative energy."

I have to say this character is irritating enough that she deserves to be eaten.

The Mayor: "So, we have a Spike problem, do we?" I assume his 'problem' is Spike's presence. I couldn't disagree more. The problem is when Spike isn't around.

You and me both, baby!

Spike drinks not only alcohol, but hot chocolate with marshmallows? My goodness. Not very... vampiric.

I love this scene. I love all Joyce/Spike interaction - there will be more later. And I love the fact that while Angel is ascetic and restricts himself to vampire food, Spike is always after interesting taste sensations and variety.

Love it that Spike calls Angel "your great poof".

Yup. That one stays with you, I find.

But Spike, drunken loser though he may be, seems to have a better grasp of the reality of relationships than everyone else: "You're *not* friends. You'll never be friends. You'll be in love till it kills you both. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other till it makes you quiver, but you'll never be friends. Love isn't brains, children, it's blood... blood screaming inside you to work its will."

You noticed that speech, then? Iconic moment, really. Spike always seems to grasp more about Buffy than she does about herself. And a lovely way of expressing it.

So they kiss and inevitable, inevitably, Cordelia and Oz walk in to save their lives. It was bound to happen sooner or later, right? "Sooner", the way they were acting. They're lucky it didn't happen earlier.

They ran silly risks and had to pay in the end.

Then Spike realizes he doesn't need the love potion after all, and wanders off happy. This is funny, and Spikelike, and I like it - but it's a bit anticlimactic.

An excuse to get rid of him before he dominates the season. He's just too vibrant, that guy.

Spike speeds off, singing about doing things "My Way" - as if he could ever do anything else. I'm sorry to see him leave. Spike! Come back, the show shines more brightly when you're in it.

Oh yes. In every way. There's a reason he's my favourite vampire. Not just because he's so pretty either.

Have you moved on to S4 in real time yet? We see a lot more of him in that season.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It's one of my all-time top ten. Guess why?

Hmm, let me think. Because of Spike? Because it's beautifully written? Because it's both funny and moving? Do I need a fourth guess?

so Buffy manages 1430 out of 1600. Not bad.

I am a little surprised that this is enough to get her into good schools, without good marks. I'd have though the marks from High School would be the really significant thing: otherwise a lot is riding on just one test.

I love the shot-by-shot recap of his first appearance in
School Hard. And why I found Captain Jack in KKBB so funny.

Of course.

I have to say this character is irritating enough that she deserves to be eaten.

Spike thought so. I give her bonus points for making me laugh.

I love this scene. I love all Joyce/Spike interaction - there will be more later.

Oooh, good. I rub my hands (metaphorically) in anticipation. I love the Joyce-Spike interaction I've seen so far. Her cluelessness and his canniness; her mundanity and his wildness. It's perfect.

I love the fact that while Angel is ascetic and restricts himself to vampire food, Spike is always after interesting taste sensations and variety.

In many ways Angel and Spike are opposites of each other -a delightful contrast. Angel is brooding and self-contained and ascetic, Spike is emotional and loud and unrestrained. Angel is introverted, Spike extroverted. Spike celebrates undeath; Angel hides from it. Angel leaves Buffy, while it's Dru who left Spike.

Iconic moment, really.

So it should be. Magnificent.

An excuse to get rid of him before he dominates the season.

Spoilsports. Let him dominate the season. I've no problem with that. (Even if the Mayor does!)

He's just too vibrant, that guy.

Oxymoron. I love his vibrancy.

Have you moved on to S4 in real time yet?

Yes, but I haven't got to Spike yet. I was putting off watching season 4 of Buffy because the first few episodes of season 3 weren't so good, and I thought season 4 would be as bad. This morning I saw episodes 1 and 2 and enjoyed them mightily. I was starting episode 3, but two minutes into it I was interrupted and didn't get back to it.

The DVD set features spoiler pictures with the titles before you even see the episode, e.g., Kathy as a demon. The title of episode 3 shows Spike; this gets my hopes up.

But, wait a minute, I'm supposed to be watching Angel season 1, episode 2 next, aren't I?

[teenygozer.livejournal.com]

In many ways Angel and Spike are opposites of each other -a delightful contrast. Angel is brooding and self-contained and ascetic, Spike is emotional and loud and unrestrained.

Also note: a common trope throughout both series is how much Spike LOVES food and drink; Angel at some point actually says food tastes like dust in his mouth. I always think Spike's much more human, really *tied* to humanity, than Angel in so many ways.

[teenygozer.livejournal.com]

740 verbal? Is that bad? Is it out of a possible score of 1,000? No, Buffy got 1430, so I guess that's not it.

It's actually probably a super-rockin' S.A.T. score. The way they figure out where you stand in the SATs is wonky, or at least it used to be (they've been making changes recently) -- I believe they used to mark it on a curve. It wasn't "I got 85 correct answers out of 100, I got a B+!" type scoring. I remember that I got a 700 in Verbal and I was considered to be in the 98th percentile the year I took the test: that meant I got a better score than 98% of the people who took the test that year. I got a 600 in Math and that put me in the 93rd percentile. Not to brag (much) -- but with my scores, a combined total of 1300 out of 1600, I was able to get myself a *way* lot of scholarship money -- I owed not a penny in loans when I graduated. So they are all boggling at Buffy's scores because they're pretty fabulous and they did not expect her to do well at all -- they thought she was just brawn with no brains, but now they think she should go to college, which they did not think before. It's kinda funny, but if she were stupid, her life would be so much easier because they'd expect so much less from her. :)

That said, we'd have to know what percentile the scores put her in that year to be sure just how fabu the scores are. If it was a year when everyone got a great score (perhaps because the test was easier than in previous years), it would pull down her percentile ranking.

Fav part of this episode: Angel desperately trying to warn Joyce about Spike, unable to get into the house unless she invites him in (which ain't gonna happen because she remembers the terrible things he said to her about Buffy when he was Angelus only a few months ago), and Spike behind Joyce, making childish and hilarious faces!

[judymoe.livejournal.com]

LOL, I *love* Spike's faces behind Joyce. Particularly the "grr!" face. I love the "grr!" face. :)

And I just remembered that I forgot to say: one of my favorite (and really so very self-aware) lines of Spike's during this episode is "I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it!"

Sigh.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I *love* Spike's faces behind Joyce. Particularly the "grr!" face. I love the "grr!" face.

It's a great Spike moment.

one of my favorite (and really so very self-aware) lines of Spike's during this episode is "I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it!"

I loved that too. And I loved the way he said it with pride.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I remember that I got a 700 in Verbal and I was considered to be in the 98th percentile the year I took the test: that meant I got a better score than 98% of the people who took the test that year.

I took a test something like that; I don't remember getting numbers on it at all, it was all percentiles.

I did well, but just got a very mundane scholarship. Still. I was proud.

Sounds like a complicated system.

Angel desperately trying to warn Joyce about Spike,

Loved that whole scene.

part 1

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

Funnily enough, Lover's Walk is one of my favourite S3 episodes. Odd, that.

So Spike returns in the style in which he first came, driving over the Sunnydale sign, only falling flat on his face.

It's a toss up whether I like this entrance better than his original or not! I find it cool that they gave him such an iconic moment on the first appearance and then riffed on it later.

At least he can take it out on the dolls.

I like his range of emotion all in that one bit - hysteria, grief and fury. Spike with a broken heart is not exactly Mr Stability.

Oz doing something sweet like giving her a witch Pez dispenser makes Willow feel guilty

Interesting that a similar sweet thing from Cordelia of the picture of her and Xander in her locker does not seem to prompt a similar guilty reaction from him.

Cute "rash" conversation.

I love Giles' line about "I've been on this Hellmouth for too long. That was metaphorical, yes?" when Buffy talks about her mother's head exploding.

One of the things about all the future talking re Buffy's scores that I like is she isn't all gung-ho to get out of Sunnydale. Okay, admittedly Angel is a factor, but I think she does take being the Slayer seriously and maybe isn't that enthused about Faith taking over the duties. I think there is a bit of fear of change in the reluctance as well, mind, or maybe a fear of counting too hard on a future that bright given past experience. It's also kind of sweet that Giles is encouraging her to get a really good education instead of playing the duties line.

Spike: Leprosy! Alright, a spell that makes his parts fall off. That sounds proper.

I always wonder which parts Spike is imagining falling off there!

Oh, the best bit in the scene with the Mayor is:

Mayor: I swear, I would sell my soul for a decent short game. (chuckles) Of course, it's a little late for that... Don't suppose I could offer YOUR soul? Really help me on the green... I'm just funnin'.

because (a) he's already sold his soul and (b) Alan really isn't sure that he's 'funnin' about selling his until the Mayor says so. Also, the Mayor uses the word shenanigans and I like it.

And a bit of the anti-lust spell scene you should remember:
Willow: You SAID you wished these feelings could just go away.

Poor Spike. A drunken, melancholy vampire is a sad thing to see

And really, really dangerous to be around. I think the bit where he's threatening Willow was really well played by both of them. Her terror is good, and then the move to trying to placate him (the knee patting! 'there there'!) and then her trying to lay down the law when he starts nuzzling - marvellous. Though not quite as marvellous as the monologue from Spike about Dru dumping him - I can't even decide which line from it I like best because they are all so great, but "and she said... she said we could still be friends!" is fantastic.

I also can't quite decide if Willow telling him there isn't enough ingredients is a ruse and she sends him to Buffy's house, or if she was too panicked and Spike just wanders there on his own on the way to the shop. I think maybe the latter because Willow doesn't seem to have any anticipation of being rescued later.

Spike tells her his troubles. Awww

I know! He just wants sympathy and comforting drinks - though for a vampire that may have ended badly for Joyce. I don't know though - Spike is unpredictable like that. I tend to think he was just taunting Angel and enjoying being thought of as the good guy and that he wasn't seriously threatening Joyce.

This whole scene is just full of great dialogue based on who knows what about which

Great isn't it? Though I feel bad for Joyce. Buffy really should keep her better informed!

Re: part 1

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Lover's Walk is one of my favourite S3 episodes. Odd, that.

We're all demented. Or... show good taste.

It's a toss up whether I like this entrance better than his original or not!

I like the original entrance better, but this was delightful for it's echoing/parodying character of the first arrival.

Spike with a broken heart is not exactly Mr Stability.

Spike at the best of times isn't quite Mr Stability. But it's fun to see the way he explodes all over the place when upset.

Interesting that a similar sweet thing from Cordelia of the picture of her and Xander in her locker does not seem to prompt a similar guilty reaction from him.

I don't think Xander cares about Cordelia in the least. He doesn't feel sentimental about her in any way.... I think he's still in love with Buffy and (so far at least) can't connect with anyone else. What really stands out for me in this episode and the next few - the theme of his messing around with Willow and being caught and losing Cordelia because of it - is how little he really wants Willow. He enjoyed the sexual excitement of illicit kissing with her but it was all a kind of game - just as dating Cordelia was a bit gamelike for him.

I love Giles' line about "I've been on this Hellmouth for too long. That was metaphorical, yes?" when Buffy talks about her mother's head exploding.


Beautiful. And so right of Giles, to make sure.

I think she does take being the Slayer seriously and maybe isn't that enthused about Faith taking over the duties.

So reason she should be. She's put her life on the line for this; it would take a lot of flexibilty to reconfigure her life otherwise. And yes, there's Angel. But there's also a responsibility, and a hub of activity she'd be cut off from.

Also, if she has any brains at all (and she does, that's that point), she'd see that Faith doesn't good sense and reliability.

It's also kind of sweet that Giles is encouraging her to get a really good education instead of playing the duties line.

I think Giles believes strongly that she is already a first-class slayer, but knows her book-learning isn't the best. He wants her to work on her weaknesses.

the Mayor uses the word shenanigans and I like it.

Yes. I find myself a little less enchanted with the Mayor than most people are; he's great with Faith, but he's s little too... cute. Still. Miles better as a villain than the Master and the Anointed one!

I think the bit where he's threatening Willow was really well played by both of them.

It was wonderful.

I can't even decide which line from it I like best because they are all so great, but "and she said... she said we could still be friends!" is fantastic.

I was torn between heartbreak for Spike and fury at Drusilla - and incredulity that anyone would want to dump Spike!

I think maybe the latter because Willow doesn't seem to have any anticipation of being rescued later.

I agree. And Spike didn't seem to have suspicions of any possible trick, as he might if it had been set up by Willow.

He just wants sympathy and comforting drinks - though for a vampire that may have ended badly for Joyce.

Which just adds a little something to the level of tension and humour in the scene. The fact that we don't know whether Spike might attack Joyce, or not.

I tend to think he was just taunting Angel and enjoying being thought of as the good guy and that he wasn't seriously threatening Joyce.

My interpretation is that Spike was enjoying her sympathy too much to just want to end it. He didn't need to eat her, he didn't even need to eat her to play with Angel's head, just had to pretend he might. And they (Angel and Buffy) couldn't be sure he wouldn't.

There's a line in this episode that I didn't understand: Buffy says to Spike, "You're not famous for keeping your promises, Spike." Why does she say that? What promises has he broken?

Re: part 1

[liliaeth]

Well he didn't kill her on saturday, as he promised in School Hard.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

A line that bugs me a little is:
Buffy: You're not famous for keeping promises

because that's not really what we've seen. Spike keeps his promise to turn Ford and he stuck to the deal he made with Buffy, which she should know. She said 'keep Giles alive and back me up when I make my move', and he did.

I like this one:
Buffy: "Need him." He's probably just got 'em locked up in the factory

because she gets it right! Good instincts. I also like Angel taunting Spike about Dru being fickle - coming from him, that has extra bite.

Spike, drunken loser though he may be, seems to have a better grasp of the reality of relationships than everyone else

Spike is very emotionally aware, maybe because he's so free and open with his own. This will not be the last instance of him picking up an emotion that other's haven't (or don't want to acknowledge).

The line "I may be love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it" is what I had in mind when I was watching Beauty and the Beasts and Mr Platt talked about love being your master and being just its dog if you lose yourself in love. It's an interesting link because I think it shows very different views of love. Mr Platt's is the more modern where people should be complete in themselves and not too dependent on a lover, not need them too much, but Spike's seems more traditional (I want to say medieval, but I'm no history student so that's probably wrong) where he is nothing without Drusilla and love is overmastering, and has to be something that you lose yourself in to be real love.

inevitably, Cordelia and Oz walk in to save their lives

The one quibble I have with this episode is the way it tries to make you think Cordelia died. I think it was cheap.

Buffy, Spike and Angel fight Spike's old minions

I love the shot of them all lined up holding stakes! And the exchange of:
Spike: This should be a kick.
Buffy: I violently dislike you.

Cordelia tells Xander to get lost. She's really hurt. If she cares... wouldn't forgiving him be wiser?

Yeah, but... she's 17. How wise is anyone about that stuff at 17? (And Oz is totally an exception of zen-like wisdom). I don't know if I could forgive someone for that, and if I did it certainly wouldn't happen that close to the incident. Besides, she's not just hurt, she's humiliated. Remember, from Cordelia's POV she risked a lot in being with Xander and he's gone and chosen someone else over her.

Buffy realizes Spike was right

I'm not sure she was right that she was fooling Giles.

Spike speeds off, singing about doing things "My Way"

And a punk version. Love it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

A line that bugs me a little is:
Buffy: You're not famous for keeping promises

Ah - you were thinking about this, too.

Spike keeps his promise to turn Ford and he stuck to the deal he made with Buffy, which she should know.

The only thing I can think of is that he said he's leave Sunnydale for good, and now he's come back. From "Becoming", part 2: "I'll take her out of the country. You'll never hear from us again, I *bloody* well hope." That doesn't sound like much of a promise to me - more like an intention. The promise part was to help fight Angel, and he kept his word there.

Not that I see any reason for Buffy to believe the word of any vampire, but Spike really isn't known for breaking promises.

I also like Angel taunting Spike about Dru being fickle - coming from him, that has extra bite.

That was great. And I loved it when Joyce called Dru "unreasonable". Heh. Some might call it "batshit".

Spike is very emotionally aware, maybe because he's so free and open with his own.

It's not by accident that he's such a wonderful character. And it isn't just his gorgeous cheekbones that create his appeal, either.

Spike's seems more traditional (I want to say medieval, but I'm no history student so that's probably wrong) where he is nothing without Drusilla and love is overmastering, and has to be something that you lose yourself in to be real love.

Good points all the way. Both emphasize how love can be overpowering. (As Buffy knows, with Angel.) But Spike acknowledges this as both a reality and something to be accepted; Mr Pratt thinks it should be resisted. Spike knows that it can't be resisted if it is to be experienced at its fullest - and it's worth doing, but the price is pain.

How wise is anyone about that stuff at 17?

Not very. And she's proud. And Xander really was treating her badly.

I'm not sure she was right that she was fooling Giles.

I think Giles is difficult to fool. But he does occasionally have his blind spots.

a punk version

I love Spike.

[star-momma.livejournal.com]

Best episode of the season... and, honestly, one of my favorites overall despite the fact that I HATE seeing Oz hurt. I loves me some Oz. I can't deny the coolness that is Spike, though, especially cute, funny, drunken Spike.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Best episode of the season...

Yup.

one of my favorites overall despite the fact that I HATE seeing Oz hurt

Me too. Oz is wonderful, and didn't deserve that.

I can't deny the coolness that is Spike, though, especially cute, funny, drunken Spike.

I like him better sober, but the episode was just genrally brilliant. And funny. And smart.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I've loved this one since I first saw it, on the weekday-afternoon reruns along with Xena and Angel....

Favorite bits: when Spike's in the kitchen with Joyce, pouring out his heart, and Angel comes to the door and freaks. Joyce steps forward towards Angel and starts "go away!"ing him. Okay, Spike in the background: points at her neck, then puts his hands up like ooo-scary-monster and bares his teeth at it, all the while looking right at Angel out of Joyce's vision. Gad, that was a hoot.

Just as much fun was when Buffy, Angel, and Spike were walking along (either to or from the magic shop, forget which) and Spike suddenly leans forward and holds his head and says ow. What's wrong? asks Buffy. Aw, damn, I think I'sobering up, mutters Spike. What a guy -- stay drunk all the time, or at least try to.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Spike in the background: points at her neck, then puts his hands up like ooo-scary-monster and bares his teeth at it, all the while looking right at Angel out of Joyce's vision. Gad, that was a hoot.

It was totally wonderful, and very funny, and clever. Spike is so bad and so good!

damn, I think I'm sobering up, mutters Spike

That was great. Poor Spike! Heartbreak and a hangover.