Upon second viewing, I found the episode better (maybe it�s because I wasn�t as inebriated this time). The acting was still bad, but the episode served to move the series mytharc along by revealing that the First has appeared because of Buffy�s resurrection by the Scoobies. If you read my earlier weblog, you probably know that this is one of the loose ends that has been nagging me. That �thaumogenesis� hitchhiker dispatched early last season seemed a relatively small price to pay in return for calling on the forces that would resurrect the Slayer. Sure, she�s been brought back from death before (she drowned for about a minute), but mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is one thing, and animal sacrifice plus vomiting out a giant snake is another. Buffy�s faced many seemingly impossible foes in the past � a Master vampire, her ex-lover, the Mayor, a god and her best friend (not even going to touch Adam). How will she face the forces behind origin of evil, especially when she is the reason for its manifestation? I can�t wait to see how this plays out.
I would like the writers move Spike�s storyline a bit more. Up til now, he�s been controlled by the First and crazy or tortured, or all three, and not much else. I�d like to see what will happen with his character, i.e. his place with the Scoobies, how his relationship with Buffy will develop (she like, so in love with him) and how he deals with his soul and the consequences of his past. A big part of me misses the evil, snarky Spike, but at the same time, I know that if Mutant Enemy wants to keep his character around, he has to be defanged, so to speak. (quick sidebar: what�s up with the chip? Are they ever going to do anything about it, now that he has a soul? Hmm, another one of those hanging plot threads.) I realize that his character has done a complete 180 from when he was first introduced, but I have faith in Joss� writing and Marsters� acting to keep his storyline compelling. That is, as long as they give us one.
Andrew has now joined Anya in becoming the comedic highlight (�I�m bored. Episode One bored.�) of each episode, since Xander is now a bitter asshole, and Spike has lost his snark. I hope they do more with his character � one note characters can only last so long.
I�m glad that they�re making Dawn less whiny, and more likeable. I don�t know if I can handle �Dawn the Vampire Slayer� though. We�ll just have to see. I�m also glad Willow is using magic again (no more magick crack junky bullshit), especially since they�re making it much more complicated to do so now. I hope she�ll become more confident with it.