DVD review - Buffy season 7 episodes 1 and 2

Continuing my viewing/reviewing of Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 7 (final season)....


SPOILERS

B7-1 Lessons (written by Joss Whedon, airdate 9/24/02)

Okay, we open with a woman in Istanbul being hunted down and killed by some mystery men. Hmmmmm. What could be more heavier than that? How about Dawn's first day of school at the newly reopened Sunnydale High? Yes, it is back to the beginning of sorts with weirdness in the hallways and basement of the old school atop the Hellmouth. Sometimes you can go home again. While this one was okay, it felt off. Part of it is that the gang isn't all together. Sure, we got Xander (in a suit?) and Buffy - but no Willow in town. And Dawn's new friends don't quite make decent substitutes. Oh, and then there is Spike who seems to be a little crazy. Is he seeing things? It appears so with the array of "big-bads", but is it a side effect of his getting his soul or something more? Hmmm.


B7-2 Beneath You (written by Douglas Petrie, airdate 10/1/02)

Another country (Germany) and another woman hunted and slain. This time, though, Buffy sees it in her dreams (remember when she used to get prophetic dreams? Yup, back to the basics which is good). The drive to school was almost like a little family (Mom-Buffy, Dad-Xander, daughter-Dawn) - how cute. Buffy is to start her new job at the school but instead she goes looking for Spike. No luck. But when Nancy's dog gets snacked on by a giant worm and Xander offers to help her, Spike shows up too. Uh oh. Tension. You know you are in deep when Dawn threatens you, Spike. Turns out the worm is really a worm, of sorts, - Nancy's ex-boyfriend Ronnie whom Anya has done her vengeance mojo on. Man, remind me not to tick Anya off. Liked how all that played out - especially when Nancy realized there was a round-robin of bed-hopping there, and then the big fight in the bar. In the end, Spike drops back into his crazy mode and spouts off "Angel should have warned me". Buffy puts it all together and realizes that Spike now has a soul, and that he did it for her. Wow. Pressure much. I'm hoping for a saner Spike to return - the crazy one seems a little whimpy to me.