Synchronized Swimming - Complete Mystery to Me.

Episode 7.1: Lessons. Original Airdate 9.24.02

"Sunnydale High is reopened, with a new designed campus and a new principal, Robin Wood. It is Dawn's first day at school there and Buffy accompanies her to class, only to discover evil spirits lurking in the basement."

Daniel's Thoughts:

• Oh man, Season 7 is starting
• Winter is coming? No, wrong show.
• What? We’re in Istanbul?
• Uh oh! Girl running! She’s gonna kick ass, right? That’s where we’re headed? Cause this is Buffy the Vampire Slayer!
• The Istanbul set is kinda cool. They kinda went all out. Or went to a random movie set.
• Oops, She’s dead.
• I love that Buffy followed through on her promise to teach Dawn how to fight. She never actually taught any of the others. Xander still can't throw a punch.
• When Buffy picks the vamp up, his jackets corners are stretched like….he’s on a contraption.
• I love how Buffy is using this vamp as a teaching tool and she really has no fear that he’ll hurt either of them. If Dawn messed up, she’d be there to save her. (And she was.)
• Sunnydale High is back! Where has everyone been going the last few years? Bussing to the nearest other HS, I guess? [When the high school in my hometown collapsed - true story - at first they went on night shift at the middle school, then they bussed to the next town over to share their schools. It took a few years, but they have a new high school now. I wonder if it's evil. - Z]
• England! Giles is on a horse!
• Willow seems better. She has red hair again, so you know, that's a sign. [Sideblog where we analyze Lily's hair color as gauge of evil on How I Met Your Mother - Z]
• And I like this so much. It’s a continuation from last season where Willow realizes that she doesn’t have to quit magic altogether; that there’s good and bad magic.
• See, this is going to be a good season where all our characters grow and thrive, right? RIGHT?
• “I killed people, Giles” Well, only one…
• Dumbledore shout-out!
• Hey, Xander looks all grown up.
• Wow, according the blueprints, the principal’s office is as large as the library was. Pretty big office.
• Marcy shout out!
• Hey Robin Wood!
• Man, he mistook Buffy for Dawn’s mom. Even if he was joking/lying, that’s so mean.
• Class Protector shout out.
• Zombie ghosts!
• Sharing way too much, Dawn. This is not how we introduce ourselves in class.
• Wow, way to embarrass your lil sis on her first day.
• Lol, Anya & Hallie having coffee; Halfrek in her human form, which is rare.
• Man, Anya’s shirt is horrible. Her hair is back to being a brunette now!

That shirt, tho.

• “Is this an intervention? Shouldn’t all my demon friends be here?” “Sweetie, they are.” OMG, Hallie is such a bitch.
• Dawn’s making a friend!
• I remember the first time seeing this thinking how scary the zombie ghosts were…but they’re actually kinda lame.
• The hellmouth’s opening again! Omg!
• Buffy is acting all wiggy about Principal Wood questioning her past – but I feel like she should be questioning him. She needs to find out what he knows.
• "Are you dead?” “Stop saying that.” They…only said it once.
• DB Woodside is funny. He’s got good timing and delivery.
• “I’m the one who dates dead guys”
• I love how Buffy has zero fucks for the dead people’s sob stories.
• Ugh, Spike. And he’s got like weird hair. And he’s crazy…soo… ok. Can we move on?
• What kind of dead zombie ghost uses a metal pipe?
• Ugh, I really don’t have time for Spike’s crazy crazy.
• He tried to cut out his heart? What? Ugh. I just-
• Zombie Ghost: “Why do you think we picked you? The ones no one will miss.” Uh…the sister of the slayer? Really?  That's completely contradictory because it seemed like they picked Dawn because Buffy wasn't there to save them.
• So who made the talisman?
• Dawn has new friends! And Buffy tells them to stick together! I’m sure we’ll see them again! [Right... - Jessie]
• Aww, Principal Wood quoted Alice (in Wonderland) "Curiouser and Curiouser."  
• What? Warren? What? Glory? WOW! And now Adam! What is going on? It’s the big bads from each season! The Mayor!!! DRUSILLA, it just keeps getting better.
• SHENANIGANS, DRUSILLA AS THE FIRST TOUCHED SPIKE.
• THE MASTER! All of the big bads! This is so chilling. This means it’s going to be a good season, right? RIGHT?
• OMG, NOW IT’S BUFFY. EVIL BUFFY? WHAT’S GOING ON? (I know, and it’s not that good.)
• I mean. I really had such high hopes for this season given the first few episodes. It’s such a great set-up. It has the continuity from the last season. It feels like all our Scoobies are growing and changing for the better.
• Oh well.

Zelda's Thoughts:

• Home stretch, you guys! We're in the final season.
• We need to seriously start thinking about what show to do next.
• Oh right. "Istanbul." I forgot about these Potential chase cold opens.
• "It's about power. Who's got it. Who knows how to use it." Willow told us this in the finale, and it's the question of the season, and one Buffy won't figure out the answer to until the finale, when she chooses to share the power.
• Man, Dawn really is like a foot taller than Buffy.
• I do like the sentiment they started this season with, this return to the old familiar, an acknowledgement of where they started. We start (well, after Istanbul) in a graveyard, with a vampire, a girl, and a stake.
• IT'S  GILES. AND HES ON A HORSE.
• I love that they shot this at Tony Head's home. That's just. So cute. And British.
• And here we have a much more zen Willow, using earth-sourced magic, hair not going black. There's a somberness to her. She knows what the dark power is, and she's still carrying the grief of Tara's death, too. And the weight of having killed Warren (even if the comics take that back in a way that throws a shenanigan at the final sequence of this episode but whatever).
• "This isn't a hobby or an addiction. It's inside you now, this magic. You're responsible for it."
• Giles's line, "In the end, we all are who we are, no matter how much we may appear to have changed," over Xander, dapper in a suit and shiny car, looking like a functional adult.
• I do love that his construction job is actually plot relevant here, with his providing the blueprints of Sunnydale High to Buffy.
• The principal's office is freaking huge, you guys. It's the same size as the old library, per the blueprints? Wtf.

• The number of shoutouts to early seasons of this show is warming my cynical heart.
• Wow, Wood, way to neg Buffy. You came to Sunnydale knowing who she is, expressly to find her, and you pretend to think she's Dawn's mom. I love Wood (and I LOVE DB WOODSIDE) but that was kind of a dick move, when we find out later how much he already knew.
• Yeah, Buffy strolling around the halls? That wouldn't be permitted even at my small town high school. She'd get caught and hauled out of there so fast. [No one ever checked hall passes in my HS - D]
• omg tho the ghost guy screaming "Get out get out get out!" at Buffy, especially in a Dawn-heavy episode, has me cracking up.
• Buffy, stop ruining Dawn's first day of school.
• Okay but how did Buffy know which room Dawn was in for her class so she could run in screaming and ruin everything?
• I consider the "Mrs. Czolgosz" throwaway line of Halfrek's a nod to the musical theater nerds, as the only ones besides super history buffs likely to recognize that name. Especially considering she pronounces it like they do in the musical and not how it (apparently) is really pronounced. File that distinction under Things I Know Because of My Dad's Book. (I think it's something like Tsolgots, vs Cholgosh)
• I get so excited every time Principal Wood shows up. DB Woodside's just such a good actor and so charismatic.
• Spinning creepy camera work as Buffy talks to Wood. IS HE EVIL. WHAT DOES HE KNOW. CAN WE TRUST HIM.
• Oops the bathroom floor broke. Xander! Cleanup on aisle three!
• "I saw the earth, Giles. I saw its teeth." The hellmouth stuff, even though it's scary, is still a nostalgic callback in a way.
• I remember after this episode aired, the message boards were worried that Kit and Carlos would become the new Willow and Xander, and how much distaste there was for a new cast of children. I even saw a recap that had Kit and Carlos recycling the bitca dialogue. It was kind of cute.
• At least the show finally acknowledged technology by giving our Scoobies working cell phones.
• omg Wood reacting to Buffy's fib about her dead dogs. I'm dying.

Thanks to our buddy Lucas for making these two gifs!

• Buffy: *opens door* *sees giant gaping hole in the floor* *jumps through hole* ... Buffy is not like the rest of us.
• "Again, wrong sister. I'm the one that dates dead guys." BAHAHAHAHA
• "Hello, not making myself clear. I don't care how you died."
• So um ... do we ever find out who placed that talisman that summoned these three random deados? Since they're protecting the door hiding Spike, maybe they're somehow agents of The First, in which case, the Bringers probably placed it. Okay, headcanon accepted.
• JM is really good at playing scattered wits Spike. His laugh when she asks if he's real. That's the question he's been asking of everyone who's been talking to him for months.
• I can see the logic of The First going after Spike now he's got his soul. It went after Angel in the same way, after his soul was reinstated by Willow. They see the souled vampire as a way to weaken or even take out Buffy. And Spike, not being used to his soul, was in a much more vulnerable spot than Angel was. And Angel nearly went mad, too. He had Buffy to pull him back. 
• Cell phones to the rescue! Get Xander to destroy the talisman.
• Meanwhile Dawn is being awesome and proactive and problem-solve-y and I don't hate her this episode!
• I'm impressed with the stitching of Kit's bag. I feel like mine would definitely come apart at the seams after the way Buffy swings it, full of bricks.
• Oh look, Buffy's lying about finding Spike. That will end well.
• "You really weren't kidding about this place. I guess it hasn't changed." // "I dunno. Seems smaller."
• "Curiouser and curiouser." Okay can we get an AU where Robin Wood goes to Wonderland and just pwns everyone?
• BUFFY FINALLY HAS A (less shitty) JOB, YOU GUYS. I'M SO PROUD OF OUR LITTLE SLAYER.
• mmmmph I love this final scene. I remember going through this whole gamut of emotions the first time. Warren shows up and I'm like WTF YOU'RE DEAD. And then he's Glory and then it keeps going through all the Big Bads (well, the dead ones. and the ones who aren't Angelus). And sure, Adam's hair and makeup is all wrong but LOOK IT'S THE MAYOR I LOVE HIM. It's just so epic. But yeah I think we figured out, my sister and I and probably the message boards, that this had to be The First, what with the morphing among dead characters. And at the time, IT WAS SO EXCITING, you guys. We had such high hopes for this season. The Big Bad, revealed in the premiere, is the source of all evil, it can look like people we know, INCLUDING OUR HEROINE, and we have all these throwbacks to earlier seasons, and there's a high school on the hellmouth again, and we knew this was the final season, and it was just so exciting! We were going out with a bang. We didn't know how disappointingly repetitive and impotent The First would be, how the writers would have to keep creating new henchpeople to give it agency (ubervamp, Caleb, etc).
• I apologize for the turn of phrase, but Season Seven suffers from an incredible failure to meet its potential.

Favorite Lines:

Daniel: Halfrek: Waitress downtown wished her husband was a frog? You made him French.  Anya: well, he's smelly and with a little mustache...

Zelda: "Humnu?" - Buffy

Netflix and Zelda disagree about the spelling of Buffy's gibberish.

Arc/Continuity Stuff:

• First appearance: Potentials, Robin Wood.
• Recurring: Bringers, Sunnydale High on ye olde hellmouth, Giles (because he doesn't love us enough to stay the whole season), Halfrek, The First
• Shoutout to Buffy's first slay in that puffy orange coat
• Shoutout to the last two Sunnydale High principals' getting all eaten up
• Shoutouts to hyena people and invisible people.

Stats:

Anya's Hair - brown, sideswept bangs, sloppy bun

Dead Humans - 1

Dead Undeads - 4

Dead Potential - 1 (this is a substat of Dead Humans)

Dead Flashbacks - 0

Giles Unconscious - 0

Giles Cleans His Glasses - 0

Buffy Breaks a Door - 0

Evil Reveal - 0

Unevil Reveal - 0

Shenanigans Called - 1

Apocalypse Called - 1 (it's a season-long call, but Willow said it first)

There's So Much I Want To Show You (Season Six in Review)

Series Stats:

Dead Humans - 155
Dead Undeads - 281
Dead Flashbacks - 9
Giles Unconscious - 17
Giles Cleans His Glasses - 28
Buffy Breaks a Door - 27
Evil Reveal - 46
Unevil Reveal - 18
Shenanigans Called - 129
Apocalypse Called - 8

Season Six Stats (including comparison to previous season):

Dead Humans - 9 (-36)
Dead Undeads - 60 (+18)
Dead Flashbacks - 0 (-2)
Giles Unconscious - 3 (+1)
Giles Cleans His Glasses - 6 (=)
Buffy Breaks a Door - 5 (+2)
Evil Reveal - 4 (+3)
Unevil Reveal - 1 (-2)
Shenanigans Called - 10 (-15)
Apocalypse Called -  1 (=)

The huge drop in our Dead Humans stat was enough to give us pause that we hadn't been counting properly, but it is true that most of what we've battled this season has been either less deadly (the Trio) or more emotionally destroying than the other thing (except when they kill Tara, which is both). Our Dead Undeads count is up in a big way, so go Team Not Evil! We're also impressed that, with Giles's largely absent role this season, he still managed to maintain his clean glasses, and even increased his concussion rate! As for the drop in Shenanigans called, we're inclined to attribute that to apathy about taking it to that degree, considering how much we carped along the way.

Zelda's Thoughts:

Since this is the first season of the show I watched "live" (as opposed to two episodes a day as syndicated on FX), a lot of this is going to be comparing my experience then to my experience now.

I will say that re-watching it this time, particularly with discussions with you all, has helped me better appreciate the ebb and flow of Buffy's depression, as portrayed here. The internet has also educated me that the writers did intend for Buffy to "heal" sooner, then delayed Tara's death and Willow's turn, and that can also explain why they couldn't seem to make up their minds there.

I also remember feeling supremely annoyed with what felt to me like a largely forced plotline of Willow's addiction. Never before this season had we seen magic portrayed as something addicting. We saw it first as a liberation for Willow, and later as a metaphor for her relationship with Tara and her exploration of her sexuality. I know many people felt betrayed by the shift of the metaphor here, and I'll agree it wasn't handled cleanly. They do some backpedaling in the next season, as separating good magic from bad, and recognizing that cold turkey isn't the healthiest approach for Willow. But I'll also say that our rewatch of the whole series has helped me much better appreciate this season's arc for Willow and I actually believe it's very well grounded in how we've seen her develop. Because it's not about magic per se - it's about power. It's about not feeling helpless. It's about an addiction to control and emotional shortcuts. Tara doesn't object to Willow using magic as a rule, but she objects her using it as a crutch - as the first recourse to every problem solve. And Willow's need for control, her fear of being exposed as nothing underneath, is something we've seen as far back as Season One. So I'm cool with that now.

The Trio is such a mixed bag for me - I think the actors are funny, the nerd debates feel very familiar, but they're frustrating as a villain, even if it was a bait-and-switch that we weren't supposed to see coming. And my god the misogyny. I still don't feel Andrew ever truly receives his comeuppance for his actions this season, as he becomes pure comic relief in Season Seven.

As for Dawn ... blah, the inconsistent characterization is so reminiscent to me of Angel in Season One. I blame the writers for not getting it together, but I also kind of want to blame MT, who has only a few colors to paint with, range-wise. Xander's arc is frustrating but consistent. Anya's arc is depressing (and will get more so next season, particularly when the writers just stop writing anything for her at all, wtf), Giles abandoned us, and Tara revealed herself to be the most stable of the Scooby Gang, so of course she must be killed.

Season Six is a hard season to watch, but I'll always be grateful it gave us Once More With Feeling and Tabula Rasa - two gems in the BtVS canon.

Willow Doesn't Live Here Anymore

Episode 6.22: Grave. Original Airdate 5.21.02

"The Scoobies continue to try and stop Dark Willow, who is now intent on destroying the world. After Dark Willow neutralizes Buffy, though, Xander is the only one left who can save the day. Meanwhile, in Africa [never not funny], Spike completes the demon trials and gets his reward."

Zelda's Thoughts:

• GILES GILES GILES
• "Giles?" // "Giles!" // "Uh oh, Daddy's home. I'm in wicked trouble now."
• I love Giles's intense focus as he studies Willow, trains his borrowed magic on her. Tony Head is just so skilly.
• Okay so I adore that the first time Giles looks directly at Buffy, he notices her haircut. And then she hugs him hard. And then Anya points out her hair changed too, which means she also gets a hug.
• I LOVE MY BABIES, OKAY.
• Buffy does a quick summary of each character's arc over S6, and then Giles gives us the salve we didn't know we needed:

• And then he tries to stop laughing and laughs even harder:

• I MISSED YOU, GILES, WHY DID YOU GO AWAY. DON'T LEAVE US AGAIN. Especially because when you come back next season you're going to be suddenly all shitty and frustrating.
• ASH is better at laughing than SMG tho. Smart move to have her be at the point where she's more crying from laughing than anything else.
• "I know you're all stupid. I should never have abandoned you." CORRECT
• "But it was my time, Giles. Someone would have taken my place." ...No? The line of succession is with Faith now. And she's still in prison. There was no one to take your place except for a Buffybot. I get really frustrated when people get confused about this. Buffy died for a whole summer and a third Slayer wasn't called. Faith has the succession line in her, and Buffy's out of that equation. She still has the Slayer powers and she can help maintain the balance between good and evil, but she's stepped outside of the Slayer line at this point. I'm not saying Buffy wasn't entitled to stay dead if that's what she wanted, but the succession has had nothing to do with her since Prophecy Girl.
• Meanwhile, in Africa, blah blah blah Spike fighting randoms
• ewwwwww bugs
• "Nothing can hurt me now." Because she's numbed herself
• Xander, why are you trying to kick in Alpert? That's our staple tomb! Leave Alpert alone!
• "Mexico, huh?" So much for Jonathan's redemption.
• "Silly girl, I'm dying." // "No, you're not!" LISTEN TO ANYA, GILES. NO MORE DYING THIS SEASON.
• gasp! Willow made root demons. Their pincers are rather ungainly but otherwise I like the idea.
• Here's what I do love about what Xander does here. Yes, obviously, he wants her to not end the world. That would be the most convenient option. But I believe him when he says that if this is where and when it ends, he'd rather be with his best friend than anywhere else. Because he loves her, no matter how Dark Willow she's gotten. There's something beautiful there. "Where else am I gonna go? You've been my best friend my whole life. World gonna else, where else would I want to be?" "If you wanna kill the world, well then, start with me. I've earned that."
• I think it's not til she starts striking at him that he realizes that's how to stop her - you see it in his face - just keep telling her she's loved, no matter what she does.
• Alyson Hannigan is really good at making me cry, you guys.
• "Giles, you're not dead!" // "*surprised* No." // *hugs Giles* // "However, I am still in some pain."
• And here's Sarah MacLachlan to take us home. Or Mexico, as applicable.
• Oho they went on location to a real cemetery for this last bit. No parking lots for us!
• Oh right, Spike's soul.
• We survived season six, you guys! [And a movie? - Abed]  [Probably would have been better than season 7 -D]

Daniel's Thoughts:

• GILES!!!
• “Stay down”, with the flick of a wrist. I love it. Giles has gotten so bad-ass.
• “When you were still under the delusion you were still relevant here?” – damn, Willow, that’s cooooldddd.
• Buffy and Anya hugging Giles. Makes me miss him all the more.
• Anya always gives Giles the best hugs:

They're so sincere.

• And I’ve always loved Giles and Anya’s relationship. They annoyed the fuck out of each other but you could tell how much Anya respects Giles and how much Giles cares for Anya. I always wished that that was explored more.
• Buffy: Here’s a list of everything horrible that’s been going on here, Giles: HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA.
• Oh it’s such a brilliant scene.
• See Giles? This is why you’re needed here.
• Giles: I shouldn’t have left. YES, YOU ARE RIGHT.
• Ok, she threw knives at Giles. Not cool. NOT COOL.
• Here’s the two most useless characters, Xander and Dawn, protecting the duo.
• And ok, Xander’s right about not trusting Spike and the Summers’ blind spot about how dangerous he is…but he didn’t really need to tell Dawn that Spike tried to rape Buffy. It wasn’t really his business to tell her.
• And now Spike time: CGI Bugs crawling everywhere.
• “If you lose someone you love ... the other people in your life who care about you...become meaningless. I wonder what Tara would say about that.” Love that line.
• Hey, Willow finally created that fireball. Maybe she can use that in season 7 so that no one else gets killed by vamps or you know, ubervamps. Or maybe not.
• Willow is now monologuing – the final trait of a real supervillain/big bad.
• The veins on Willow’s face are weird. I don’t think they’re accurate… [No, but they're still awesome. - Z]
• How convenient that the weapons fell in the hole with Dawn and Buffy.
• “Willow forced me to help her with her brain!”
• Lots of work for the stunt people lately.
• Dawn’s got a point, boo. She lives in a world where she needs to learn how to fight rather than be protected.
• Yep, that’s a satanic temple alright. Well, just the tip.
  
• Uh oh! Earth demons!
• Now Buffy wants Dawn to help? With absolutely no training?
• Uh oh. Sunnydale is imploding. Sunnydale: Not yet.
• Aww, Anya pleading with Giles not to die.
• Great. Here comes the yellow crayon speech.
• I wonder what this scene would have been like if they cast Xander with a better actor. Would I give it such shit? Probably. But Probably not as much.
• OK, it’s actually kind of a cute speech. I just…don’t believe that this would help. At least it’s coupled with the surprise that Giles’ powers that Willow consumed was also a help.
• And just the part where Willow does that cliché thing where she fake-woman-punches him in the chest without any chance or even inclination of hurting him.

Losing my powers...going back to being weak woman...

• But I really like this idea – that there’s good magic out there that is more powerful than the evil dark magic. – And that that’s the type of magic Willow needs to learn how to use instead of just cutting off the magic completely. (Which, beginning of season 7.)
• And to me, this scene is more memorable than the yellow crayon. I love Buffy and Dawn’s relationship and I love that Buffy finally realizes that she has to stop sheltering Dawn and start teaching her.
• Of course we end the season on Spike. The only thing more annoying than the potentials in season 7.
• Shoulda been more specific, Spike.

Favorite Lines:

Zelda:

Daniel: "Things have really sucked lately, but it's all gonna change. And I wanna be there when it does. I want to see my friends happy again. And I want to see you grow up. The woman you're gonna become. Because she's gonna be beautiful. And she's going to be powerful. I got it so wrong. I don't want to protect you from the world. I want to show it to you. There's so much that I want to show you." - Buffy

Arc/Continuity Stuff:

Recurring: Giles, Jonathan, Andrew, no one remembering Andrew's name

Stats:

Anya's Hair - as she points out, she is blonde after not being blonde; ponytail with sideswept bangs
Dead Humans - 0
Dead Undeads - 2
Giles Unconscious - 1
Giles Cleans His Glasses - 0
Buffy Breaks a Door - 0
Willow and Giles Break the Magic Box - 1
Evil Reveal - 0
Unevil Reveal - 0
Shenanigans Called - 0
Apocalypse Called - 1

Darth Rosenberg

Episode 6.21: Two To Go. Original Airdate 5.21.02

"After killing Warren, Dark Willow tries to track down Andrew and Jonathan. Meanwhile, in Africa [brb, dying of laughter], Spike battles against a numerous amount of foes to try to get his chip removed [this entire summary is a mess]."

Daniel's Thoughts:

• We start right where we left off. Running through the woods.
• Anya: “Jonathan and whats-his-face” Hehe.
• Anya can teleport. Is it sad that, the first thing I thought of if I had teleportation powers is that I could pop over to the store and get some milk for my cereal tomorrow? [Can you grab me some, too? I ran out this morning. - Z]
• Buffy’s gonna run there! Super-cardio!  And Xander, being not special at all, will take the long way.
• Sunnydale police station – a place we don’t really see much, but should.
• It’s such a set-prison.
• Ugh, I don’t get this hero-worshipping of Warren by Andrew.
• I love Anya’s no-nonsense breakdown of what happened to Warren and everyone.
• “So please stop looking at me like it’s your first trip to the circus.”
• Can’t Anya get his key or something?
• See, this is why I don’t think Willow is pure evil now. She hurts/stops the cops but she doesn’t kill them when she easily can.
• I love the way Buffy runs sometimes. It’s so demure.
• OMG, the Willow scream.
• Xander stole a police car!
• Buffy smacking Andrew.
• Oh hey, there’s Willow – on top of a truck.
• Really good action scene that they did not have the budget for in season 1.
• It’s also nice to see a non-set street.
• Hahaha, Clem doing a potato chip taste test.
• Demon: “You understand?” “[Yes, I have to take a test. Shirtless. It has to be shirtless right?]””[Why exactly?”][“It’s uh…part of the ritual.”]
• I wish Buffy remembered that Jonathan helped her defeat Warren. I’m still not sure I understand why that happened, but I wish it would at least come up again.
• Damn, Rack is so damn creepy.
• Now he’s a dead Rack.
• Man, Willow making fun of Dawn is so creepy-funny.
• Jeez, Andrew is so damn pathetic.
• “Darth Rosenberg” – love it.
• Ugh, shut up, Xander.
• “And if it gets really bad-” “Let me guess, you’ll propose?”  Daaaaayyyyummmm Anya. Someone call the burn unit!

• “That wasn’t vengeance. That was solace.” How could Xander not understand that?
• “You don’t get to play the martyr.” YES. YES. EVERYTHING ANYA IS SAYING. YES. ALL OF IT.
• What is with the self-hating in this episode? First Xander and now Willow.
• Ooh, Willow’s laying down the truth-bombs.
• Oh, so Willow can teleport now…when she couldn’t just last episode? I’m assuming it was the Rack-iness – so I won’t shenanigan that.
• Ooh Buffy vs. Willow smack-down.
• Breaking the magic shop!
• GILES!!!!

Zelda's Thoughts:

• Another chilling moment - Villains ends with Willow saying "One down ..." and this episode is titled "Two To Go"
• So this originally aired back to back with Grave, so this is sort of the finale part one.
• As Buffy goes charging off, we begin the arc of Xander Feels Useless and Human, in preparation for Xander Saves the Day with Crayons
• "Laugh it up, fuzzball!" It was in this horrifying moment that I realized Andrew might be me.
• "You were out of the Trio a long time ago ... *tries to resist making the reference. fails* ... in a galaxy far, far away." Actually it was this moment. They're really playing up the humor of our clowns here. I guess it's because 1 - we know they're no longer the Big Bad, and 2 - Villains ended pretty heavily, and we could use some comic relief.
• "Oh my god, Warren." // "Oh my god, me."
• "Don't move, you'll be safe here," the guard says as bricks from their prison are magically ripped out. He certainly fits the criterion of deeply stupid required for the Sunnydale police force.

I don't have a comment, I just love this moment.

• Oooh Wlllow's rocking the banshee scream.
• "Boys, if you don't knock it off, I will pull this car over and you can just walk to your painful deaths from here."
• "But we didn't do anything." // *Buffy punches Andrew in the face* // *Zelda cheers*
• I like the nod here that Jonathan's also known the Scoobies for ages. He remembers old Willow too.
• Clem is ranking his snacks. I love how this has grown into his primary character note, his affection for snacks. No wonder this red-eyed, creepy-looking sweetheart became a fan favorite. He's just so endearing.
• Back to Africa! Full of vaguely-phrased allusions to Spike's soul/chip.
• I can't help but laughing, though. "Here we are now, entertain us." // *suddenly fire fists* // "SON OF A -" *is facepunched*
• "No, I can't [sense Willow], which means whatever she's feeling, it's gone way beyond simple vengeance." It's true. She already got her vengeance on the actual direct cause of Tara's death. It didn't fix it. It didn't fix the hole in her. But she has to keep going anyway.
• Rack is such a gross presence. I mean, way to commit to the dealer parasitical thing, from the writers and actor. But. "You still taste like strawberries, only now you're ripe." Ugh. Can't wait for Willow to dead him.
• Digging the black veins Willow's sporting now.
• "You don't have to talk. Just think real loud. I can hear you." So creepy. So detached.
• "Wanna go back? End the pain? You'll be happier." That's definitely the trajectory Willow's heading for, for herself.
• "I can't do this. I'm in retail. Stupid ancient Sumerian."
• Xander, you don't get to go all self-pitying and being butt hurt if Anya's mean to you. You fucked up, Xander. As Anya says, you don't get to play the martyr.
• Though I do have sympathy for the survivor's guilt he has right now, having two of his friends get shot.
• BUFFY VERSUS WILLOW TIME.
• "Let me tell you something about Willow. She's a loser and she always has been. People picked on Willow in junior high school, high school, up until college. With her stupid mousy ways. And now? Willow's a junkie ... The only thing Willow was ever good for ... the only thing I had going for me were the moments, just moments, when Tara would look at me and I was wonderful." It kills me. It's the first time she's admitting to pain, and it's when she shifts from third person trashing of Willow to using "I." But it's also ... it's heartbreaking that she considers the only good thing about herself was the love reflected back at her by Tara. We know her self-worth wasn't always so warped like that.
• That spinning move to get them to the Magic Box is so cool.
• Anya's amazing. She's terrified, speaking a language she doesn't understand, but she's there and she's chanting and she doesn't stop. And she's the only thing holding Willow's power at bay.
• Gosh, it's lucky Spike is the least flammable vampire ever. He just held the fist of Fire Hands for like 10 seconds and the fire magically didn't spread to engulf him.*cough* SHENANIGANS.

• And then Anya stays when the rest evacuate. Anya's awesome.
• I can't believe they actually end up following Andrew's half-baked Mexico plan. Especially after Jonathan agreed to stay in Sunnydale and face prison for his crimes.
• "The Slayer thing really isn't about the violence. It's about the power." We'll return to that theme next season.
• GILES IT'S GILES IT'S GILES YOU GUYS GILES IS HERE GILES IS BACK I'M CRYING A LITTLE BIT
• I'm so glad they didn't telegraph his presence in the guest star credits at the top of the episode

Favorite Lines:

Daniel: Xander: "And if it gets really bad ..." Anya: "Let me guess, you'll propose?"

Zelda: "I'd like to test that theory." - Giles

Arc/Continuity Stuff:

• Recurring: Jonathan, Andrew, and the joke about no one remembering Andrew's name, Clem, Rack, GILES
• Dawn knows to look for Rack because of that one time Willow dragged her to his lair

LOOK EVERYONE, IT'S GILES, HE  CAME BACK FOR US.

Stats:

Anya's Hair - blonde, ponytail, sideswept bangs

Dead Humans - 1

Dead Undeads - 1

Dead Flashbacks - 0

Giles Unconscious - 0

Giles Cleans His Glasses - 0

GILES IS A BAMF - 1

Buffy Breaks a Door - 3

Willow Breaks a Prison - 1

Evil Reveal - 0

Unevil Reveal - 0

Shenanigans Called - 1

Apocalypse Called - 0

One Down

Episode 6.20: Villains. Original Airdate 5.14.02

"Enraged after Tara's death at the hands of Warren, Willow turns to the Black Magics to exact her revenge."

Zelda's Thoughts:

• Last episode and now this episode have these scenes that feel unnervingly realistic, and not our accustomed heightened reality - the attempted rape scene, and here the EMTs running to Buffy, prone on the grass and bleeding. Banally utilitarian in soundscape.
• And then we have Willow conjuring Osiris. This will end well.
• And Buffy's completely in shock, blinking with a slightly confused expression. Not even crying in pain.
• "How is this natural?" That line kills me.
• Oh look now Tara's NOT in the credits. *growls*
• "Think they'll let my aunt bring me my discman?" 2002, LADIES AND GENTS!
• "Sure, he's a nice murderer who keeps his word."
• Oh the demon bar. I'd forgotten all about it.
• "I was gonna eat you myself during the commercial." I love this. It's just so ... the humor of the mundane.
• I love that Anya , with her vengeance demonsense, knows something has happened. She knows Willow's a live wire.
• I love this image of Willow absorbing the text into her skin. One of my favorite effects on the show. 

So cool.

• Oh god, poor Dawn. Why didn't Xander try to call her at school, get her to the hospital? She has to find Tara like that.
• Ugh a scene of Rack and Warren. Everyone here sucks.
• Warren's vanity knows no bounds. He assumes the demon world gives a shit about his little heists, would even have heard of the Trio (great name there, bub), and they just don't care. They recognize real power, and they know what danger looks like, and it doesn't look like Warren in a popped collar.
• Buffy's flatlining. Does this count as a third death?
• "It's so small." Such good acting from AH. I think other people would want to infuse it with vulnerability, but she's completely detached. It's surprise, a scientific curiosity. But the only space she has left for emotions is the cold fury reserved for Warren.
• Here's how you know Willow's full to the brim with dark magic: even her eyebrows are black.
• So. It's a well done trick of Warren's, infusing his bot with his essence to trick Willow. But it does lead me to ask - did he have Warrenbot just lying around, just in case? I don't believe he had time to build one that quickly, so it had to already exist. And if he had a robot self lying around, why didn't he use his double for any of his heists? [Maybe it's reserved for sexytime? -D] [Now I want that "threw up in my mouth" gif again ...-Z]
• "I didn't want to leave her alone." God, poor Dawn. She's just been sitting here with her. "I don't understand."
• "Being a Slayer doesn't give me a license to kill. Warren's human." // "So?" // "So the human world has its own rules for dealing with people like him." // "Yeah, we all know how well those rules work." // "Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don't. We can't control the universe." It's helpful when Buffy - and the show - reminds us of the lines of morality here, the difference between fighting supernatural evil and vigilantism.
• Did Clem really just yell "suffering cats!" as an expletive! Isn't that like humans yelling "spaghetti"?
• Clem has a point. How many crypts are wired for electricity? Smart to squat in Spike's place.
• Look you guys, Spike drove his motorcycle to AFRICA. THE COUNTRY OF AFRICA. (Update: apparently he's in Uganda)
• Willow coming back up from the axing, so terrifying and awesome. 

Wheeeeeee!
(Thanks Lucas for making the gif!)

• "It wasn't personal, that's all." // "Well, this is."
• "You are really asking for it, you know that?" wow his shitbaggery knows no bounds.
• "Because you deserved it, bitch!" Seriously, why does comics Amy hook up with this sexist piece of shit? I get that she's gone evil, but he's evil AND a misogynist.
• Also I'm pissed he gets saved in the comics. Fuck that shit.
• Oh god, so two things from when I first watched this episode. When she said "Bored now," I gasped. I got chills. I may have screamed. It's such an amazing and horrifying callback to VampWillow from The Wish. So concise and horrifying (and rewarding for fans with a good memory - and even a nod to when Angel hinted that our evil selves aren't so far away from our human selves as we'd like to think). Thing 2 - Actually seeing Warren getting flayed traumatized me.
• But this episode was awesome, you guys. Such an amazing and unexpected move to make with her character, and yet completely grounded because the writers did the prep for this years in the making.

Daniel's Thoughts:

• Ambulance at the Summers house brings back memories of Joyce. But they’re here for Buffy, not Tara. Because Xander called 911 and Willow did not.
• Except…I don’t exactly blame Willow. Tara isn’t dying, she’s already dead.
• But…here’s the beginning of dark Willow.
• Annnnnd Tara is gone from the credits.  Remember that one time she was in the credits. Fuck you, Joss.
• Discman! 90s/2000s reference.
• Ugh, everything about the trio makes me sick.
• Why exactly does Warren think he’s so indestructible walking into a demon bar?
• “I was gonna eat you myself during the commercial, but now I think it'll be more fun to let the Slayer de-gut you.” – Random vamp because he's 100 times smarter than Warren.
• Anya’s outfit is adorable.
• The effects here – the words draining into Willow’s hands and body – so awesome.
• And apparently all the magic makes her voice deeper?
• Dawn finding Tara dead…
• UGH, Rack. Although Rack>Warren any day. [It's a slim margin, but ... yes, 100% - Z]
• Xander is watching the surgery? Is that a thing that can happen? Meredith Grey tells me it cannot.
• It sounds like Buffy flat lined – even for a moment before Willow took the bullet out.  I know that wouldn't call another Slayer but it should be addressed.
• OK, so Warren made a Warren-robot. Sure. So I guess Rack put his ‘essence’ in the robot? Eh, ok. Sorry, just figuring all that out.
• Ha. Meanwhile, through all this – the bus and all its passengers are just hanging out.
• This looks like the road at the end of Chosen.
• Dawn didn’t call 911 either…Poor Dawn.  Another mother-figure gone.
• And finally someone called the coroner.
• They do mention that the police were there but we don’t see them. There’s a lot missing. I mean, did they tell them that Buffy was shot too…and there and ok? Did the police put an APB out on Warren?  Did they question Buffy and Xander as suspects?
• Buffy keeps arguing for not killing Warren – since he’s human – but it’s interesting that everyone else is arguing against her.
• Maybe we should go to the magic shop for a spell. (also maybe we should check in on Anya? You know – the one you say is your friend?)
• Creepy finding-spell with the blood on the shirt and all.
• Mmm. Bugles. I wonder if those still exist.

You know you guys did this, too.

• If this were a few years later, Spike would totally have Netflix.
• The demon that Spike seeks has cool glow-in-the-dark eyes. I so want my eyes to be glow-in-the-dark. (for science...)
• It’s really weird that Anya’s been a vengeance demon for a while now and Xander’s just now realizing it.
• “When?” “When do you think?”
• “I’ll help. But I’m helping Willow.” BECAUSE THAT’S WHO ANYA IS. LET’S SEE HOW MANY TIMES WILLOW RETURNS THAT MAGNANIMITY LATER.
• Wow, axe in the back.
• “Axe not gonna cut it.” Oh, Willow. Now that you’ve gone all dark-super-villain, you have to be with the puns. [I ... actually didn't catch that that was a pun. I'll show myself out. - Z]
• Hey it’s Katrina! Dead Katrina!
• Damn, all the men in this episode are having fun with the B-word.
• Wow, Warren has a really hairy chest. It’s like a sweater.
• Man. What happens to Warren? From the bullet torture to the lips sewing to the skinning…Probably the grossest death in Buffy-verse history. This is like horror movie death. And yet? No one has deserved it more.

It's like something out of Hellraiser

• Oh man, it’s just so horrific.
• One down.

Crossfire!

Z: Did the screen actually say where they are?
D: No. Where are they?
Z: Africa.
D: How'd he get to Africa?
Z: MOTORCYCLE.
D: I always assumed that it was some tribe in southern California or New Mexico or something.
Z: Yes, Sunnydale - in addition to its airport, train station, bus depot, amusement park, docks - has an African village.

Favorite Lines:

Zelda: "I miss Ferris Matthew. Broadway Matthew, I find him cold." - Andrew. It's funny because it's true.
Daniel: Xander: When? Anya: When do you think? 

Arc/Continuity Stuff:

• Recurring: Final appearance of Tara (in corpse form) ;(, The disintegrated Trio, the demon bar, Rack, Clem, Katrina, DARK WILLOW
• Xander and Buffy know Anya's a vengeance demon now 

Stats:

Anya's Hair - blonde, ponytail, sideswept bangs
Dead Humans - 1 (even if this gets undone by the comics)
Dead Undeads - 1 (Warrenbot)
Dead Flashbacks - 0
Buffy Breaks a Door - 0
Evil Reveal - 0 (We're not counting Willow because it wasn't a surprise reveal so much as a plot development)
Unevil Reveal - 0
Shenanigans Called - 0
Apocalypse Called - 0

Metaphor Balls of Misogyny

Episode 6.19: Seeing Red. Original Airdate 5.7.02


"Willow and Tara wallow in their togetherness [wtf is that phrasing? - Z], but things aren't as happy everywhere else. Buffy has to face both Xander and Spike, whilst tracking Warren and Company to foil their next move."

Daniel's Thoughts:

• Aww, look how happy Tara and Willow are! THIS WILL LAST
• Pretty risqué for 2001, showing Willow and Tara in bed together post-coital and kissing. They came a long way from just a couple of years ago when they couldn’t even kiss.
• I like Tara being all wise.
• It’s sad knowing Tara will never leave that house…
• Ha. Even Dawn knew about Buffy/Spike before Willow.
• Poor Xander? No. No, Dawn.
• Oh man, I love this Indiana Jones – Last Crusadeness of this scene with the buzzsaws. Nice reference for the nerds. And what great visual effects for the time.
• “We need to get Warren and the others before anyone else gets hurt.” You know, like someone in this room being shot and killed.
• Yay! “He’s a man, look no further.” Heh.
• Oh man, Anya is so bitter. It’s so sad. But it’s also so funny. And the show cuts her off…because that was gonna continue for a while.
• Scary looking cockroach demon. Gross.
• Vodka-Blood, the brunch drink of vamps. I dig it. But really, why is Dawn there?
• You know, for once I’m on Spike’s side. I think everyone’s mad at him because of their own dumb reasons.
• Why is everyone all, “how could you do that to her?” Nothing? They were just sleeping together. And Buffy was the one who broke it off.
• Spike assumed Buffy didn’t care. He wasn’t doing it to hurt Buffy. He was doing it to feel better. Why on Earth can’t he sleep with someone else when Buffy rejected him? And it’s not like Anya is Buffy’s best friend or anything. It’s not like he slept with Willow. Or Xander – (I’ve read slash on that last one.)
• They’re all so gross – the trio. Such tiny annoying little boys. They can’t even trust each other.
• Xander opens door, says nothing. Me: Shut up, Xander.
• Buffy: “She loves you….you know that.” I think on my first watch, at this point, I really thought Anya and Xander would get back together. Even though I hate Xander (and my hate grew upon rewatch after rewatch), I just wanted Anya to be happy.
• But also, again, Xander seems more upset about Buffy than Anya. Which, another reason why I hate him so much.
• Buffy: “Xander, what I do with my personal life is none of your business.” DAMN RIGHT.
• Ugh, Now Xander is walking alone to a sad song. You don’t deserve the montage of sad song walking, Xander.
• Xander: It’s a good thing I’m part fish. YOU WERE AT ONE POINT!
• Warren gains ultimate power and…he uses it to hit on chicks… And also somehow thinks that’ll help.
• Oh no, I actually forgot this part happens in this episode. Damn it, Spike.
• And this, retro-actively is why I can never root for Spike. This, among other things. But this is just way too upsetting to watch.
• Andrew’s drink. Tell me again how he’s …ahem, heterosexual?
• Ok, I guess it’s not about hitting on chicks….and more about getting even with bullies. Sad but kinda reasonable. But also really sad.
• Who barges into someone's bathroom with accusations? (Xander does.)
• Yeah, blame it on the chip, Spike.
• “You really have a problem with strong women, don’t you?” Yeah, you nailed it, Buffy. That’s exactly who Warren is.
• That roller coaster looks awesome. I wonder where that is.
• So this is an interesting turn of events. Why is Jonathan helping Buffy?
• The sight of Andrew jetpacking into a ceiling and falling to the ground is amazing.

• Aww, Tara’s shirt is cute. I hope it doesn’t get stained with something.
• Oh geez. That’s good aim. Right through the heart.

Zelda's Thoughts:

• Ugh. Must we?
• Oh but look how sweetly it starts, with Willow and Tara all snuggly
• Ah, Willow finally noticed the Spuffiness of S6
• So um. I get that it's funny when Tara just tells Willow bluntly "they've been sleeping together," but she chases it with "I promised her I wouldn't [tell]" but ... it's okay to tell now? Way to keep the secret, Tara.
• "She probably really needs someone to talk to." Yeah friendshipness!
• Awwww Dawn ships Tara and Willow more than the internet even. It's really cute and sweet.
• It's also heartbreaking, of course, because we know Tara's become one of Dawn's mother figures and she's already had two of those die on her and number three is coming soon to a television near you.
• Buffy's leather jacket is way looser than I believe she'd wear, if not for the upcoming stunt action with the buzz saws. It needs to be believably far enough away from her skin when it gets sliced across the front.
• "We'll stop." // "Oh you better not!" Dawn's ship is sailing!
• Aw Anya. So mad she can't even hear her mark start wishes.
• Sometimes I wonder if it was scenes like Jonathan in the giant demon skin suit that drove Danny Strong to become an award-winning screenwriter.
• JM's acting the hell out of this scene. His voice is so small and controlled, knowing if he were to try to speak at full volume he might break.
• Hey Dawn, what you're doing right now? It's not fixing things. Also hey Spike, what you're now thinking about doing right now? It will really not fix things.
• Look, you guys. The Orbs of Nezzla'khan aka METAPHOR BALLS OF MISOGYNY.
• Xander needs to stop being a shit and start being supportive of his friend, and not slut shame her.
• "You could have told me." // "You didn't want to know." EXACTLY. "What I do with my personal life is none of your business." ALSO EXACTLY. I'm so impressed with how gently she's handling this conversation, considering how shitty her "friend" is being to her.
• Man, this shot of Sad Anya dusting the shop is reminding me just how pretty the Magic Box set is. Just in time for the show to demolish it, just to hurt me.
• I'm impressed Tara actually seems to have bedhead in this scene. I thought that was anathema to TV women unless they're making a deliberate joke about it.
• Warren's motivations are always so transparent. He sees a guy who made him feel emasculated years ago, and that's who he zeroes in on.
• Fuck. It's the bathroom scene. I don't want it.
• So, most of the fans know now that this plotline came out of a story one of the female writers of the show told the others, of trying to force her soon-to-be-ex into sex in order to save the relationship, and ... it just doesn't work in the translation. It's just. I can barely watch this. Buffy struggling. Spike spidering over her, all in black. The weird, wide, far away shot alternating with these intense weird close ups. She's weeping, he's tearing at her robe, THIS IS NOT OKAY. It's not a sad desperate last attempt at reconciliation, especially not how it's played here. It's attempted rape.
• At the time this aired I felt incredibly betrayed - though not by Spike, by the writers. This felt so far out of left field, so out of character with what we'd been dealing with, even with his consent issues we've seen earlier. It's obv on a different level than the out of character stuff that happened for the sake of the joke in The Zeppo, but it makes me distrust the story, when I see the characters behaving differently than I think they should.
• And then of course we'll see that the writers mostly used that moment to further Spike's story and his redemption, and give nearly no time or space to Buffy, who is not only our protagonist, but the victim of the attack and the one who more deserves our sympathy. It was a misstep in every possible way, this plot development. There are other ways to drive Spike off to "Africa" to get his spoiler.
• I don't know if there's any good way to discuss this scene/plot. It's one of the biggest mistakes the series made, and it's revealed a lot of toxic rape apologist bullshit and victim blaming in the fandom. Love Spike and Spuffy though I do, there's not a way to make this scene okay. I barely know how to begin to talk about it, and I don't really feel like I'm even close to the person who should try.
• It should also be noted that Buffy's being victimized by Spike is what will lead Xander to "forgive" her for her relationship with Spike. So yeah he's doing GREAT this episode.
• Oh look, Spike's the one having traumatic flashbacks of that time he attacked someone. I mean, what even?
• Clem is here to attempt to rescue this episode. He's got hot wings!
• "It isn't supposed to be this way. It's the chip! Steel and wires and silicon. It won't let me be a monster, and I can't be a man." Gosh, no wonder JM thought Spike was going to get his chip taken out instead of his soul installed. I get the writers wanting to red herring us for the finale reveal, but it's a disservice to mislead the actor too. I think JM could have handled the ambiguity but instead he's playing the chip stuff pretty hamfistedly.
• "What's the matter, baby? You never fight a real man before?"

• I like how this scene really snaps Jonathan out of it (took him long enough, but still). It's Andrew screaming "Kill her!" that finally wakes him up to what they're doing.
• The fact that Warren thinks he's smarter than Buffy is also hella laughable.
• BAHAHA ANDREW JETPACKING INTO THE OVERHANG IT'S SO GOOD.
• Not a big fan of the queerbaiting with Andrew's crush on Warren. Just commit to it, writers. Gayness isn't a punchline.
• Spike's on his motorcycle trip to AFRICA.
• Man. We're approaching magic bullet time. THIS WOULD BE SO EASY TO FIX, YOU GUYS. Either move Tara closer to the window and fix the bullet hole trajectory, or move Willow and Tara to the kitchen before Warren's gun goes off. It's just such bad physics. I just don't get why NO ONE CAUGHT THIS during production. Put them in the damn kitchen. Problem solved.
• Much like S4, S6 has seen our Scoobies not communicating. We're reconciling just in time for Willow to go dark.
• We just remembered that Tara finally made it into the opening credits for this ep (neither of us were paying attention at the time), as one final troll from the writers before they killed Tara. Fuck you, writers.

• I remember a lot of rumors about Tara's demise were circulating, and I think the episode itself even leaked early online. Then Steven DeKnight, the author this ep, went on the message boards, all "Guys, come on, we wouldn't kill Tara!" He's a lying liar who lies.

Crossfire!

Warren: Oh, Relax. All right, you'll each get a whirl, soon as I'm done playing with them.

Daniel: With his balls.

[Daniel and Zelda giggle like middle school boys]

Favorite Lines:

Daniel: "And then you get all excited with the tingly anticipation, but wait! Not so fast! There's the apocalypse, and the back from the grave, and the blah blah blah blah blah, and by the time you're finally standing there in that beautiful expensive white dress you've dreamed about ever since you became human, he's gets all heebie-jeebie and decides, "you know, I'd rather just go steady."" - Anya

Zelda: "I got hot wings!" - Clem

Arc/Continuity Stuff:

• Recurring: the Trio, Clem
• TARA IS A REGULAR FOR ONE EPISODE ONLY BECAUSE JOSS IS A MONSTER
• Sunnydale has an amusement park

Stats:

Anya's Hair - pin straight, blonde, shoulder-length

Dead Humans - 1

Dead Undeads - 3

Dead Leather Jackets - 1

Dead Flashbacks - 0

Buffy Breaks a Door - 1

Evil Reveal - 0

Unevil Reveal - 0 

Shenanigans Called - 0

Apocalypse Called - 0