Continuing my viewing and reviewing of Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 5 and Angel season 2...
*** SPOILERS ***
B5-10: Into the Woods (written by Marti Noxon, airdate 12/19/00)
Marti excels at writing stories that are lower key and more on a personal level, and this episode qualifies. We have Joyce recovering from surgery, Xander and Anya watching over Dawn for a night while Buffy and Riley celebrate their own way (all the while lovesick Spike waits outside her house). Spike, however, discovers Riley's little secret of sneaking out and getting his kicks by paying vampire women to suck his blood; and Spike can't resist letting Buffy know the truth. His logic comes forth when Riley threatens Spike: Riley just doesn't have enough monster in him for Buffy. Of course, Buffy is hurt by Riley's betrayal and takes it out on the vamps' hangout and then them as well (nice javelin throw dusting!). Of course, it takes Xander's words to help Buffy realize that if Riley leaves with his army buddies that it is her choice. She choses to forgive but is too late. Xander, meanwhile, makes sure Anya knows how much he really loves her. Nice character bits all the way around.
A2-10: Reunion (written by Minear & Ryan, airdate 12/19/00)
This was another awesome episode. Angel realizes that now that Darla has been bit, the only way to save her is to dust her when she rises. But how to find her? Drusilla is her usual trippy best - love the whole references to Darla as both grandmother and daughter (as Gunn put it, that's one messed up family tree). Gunn shows how to think out of the box by realizing the "nursery" Dru wants to prepare is a true plant nursery. But Angel arrives too late and a great three-way fight ensues with Angel, Dru and Darla. The ladies escape only to end up at Wolfram and Hart, and Holland is foolish enough to let them both walk out. The girls have another fight and then make up once Darla has fed. Then, they do what girls do best - go shopping! In the end, karma comes back to bite the special projects team at Holland's little wine tasting party. Turns out, Dru and Darla have other tasting in mind - and Angel facilitates by locking them all into the converted bunker and letting the girls feast!!! Naturally, Gunn, Wesley and Cordelia are shocked by his behavior and point out that they are the only ones keeping him morally ground. So he fires them! Wow. Just wow. Great stuff here and a nice twist. So glad I don't have to wait a month between episodes like the folks in 2000/2001 did. I would have gone crazy wondering what would happen next.
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