Tonight's Buffy

[zebralittle52]

My initial reaction, aside from lots of Xander-woobies, was that everything felt forced. While it may have read well, and everything that had to get done was done (in that "past point A, half way to B, but can't get there without XYZ" formula), the execution and delivery was sans-fizz. Flat.

Andrew is unwelcome, unappreciated, and ignored. We got it.
There's bad blood between Buffy and Giles. She won't even talk to the man. We got it.
Caleb kicks ass and is a manipulative fuck. We got it, and may we please have some more?

Oh, and more Xander-woobies. (I swear, that "I'm sure you have a point, but maybe it's to the left of me 'cause I can't see it." HURT)

But the scene on Spike's bike? Or them with the monk? The timing and delivery felt off. Again, it would have read better.

The bar and Faith getting beat up? Gratuitous, but I could live with it. The Hellmouth's controlling people, girl power, yada yada yada. (Though I did like Dawn jumping on the cop's back like a little hellcat.)

*sigh* Faith and Wood. Again, flat. No spark. Nothing near her and Spike in the basement. (Will this stop me from enjoying the idea of her riding him like a pony next week? Hell no.)

And finally, the big blowup. While a hugehugeHUGE part of me's been saying the exact same thing everyone said in the show, about how Buffy isn't thinking, isn't planning, and really can't be trusted for their safety... it felt like the show's setting me up. Making it so I'm supposed to feel that way, just so they can turn around and go "Ha! See?" in the next few weeks.

I don't like being set up. Almost makes me glad it'll be over soon.