BtVS Episode Review: Something Blue
The short? A largely fun episode, with just enough substance to keep it from being written off as fluff. It has some ominous signs as to what's ahead for Willow's character. Plus, you know, Buffy spending most of the episode in Spike's lap. Full review below the cut.
Characters:
Buffy Xander Willow Giles Spike Anya Riley
Plot
Bad Guy
Arc
Overall (6/10)
Best Moment
Buffy:
Buffy gets tired of playing the supportive best friend in this episode. I think we're seeing a bit of the All About Buffy-syndrome in Buffy's lack of patience for Willow's drama. Considering all the Angel-angst the Scoobies have had to deal with, I think they can allow Willow her wallowing.
But Buffy does have her Slayer duties, which include Spike.
Then she gets hit with Willow's spell and hilarity ensues.
Her relationship with Riley is heating up in that lovely, non-chemistry way they have. I do like the Buffy/Riley dynamic, though. I think it's good for Buffy to have a relationship that starts out normally. She never had that with Angel. I think it's great that she's having picnics and flirty conversations at school without any drama.
Though Buffy, having been trained that love is pain by Angel, is worried that that will lead to a lack of passion in a relationship. Ironically, this is part of the reason Riley leaves Buffy in S5.
But for now, they're still sweet on each other. And Buffy has any doubts cast aside after her brief engagement to Spike where she realizes that she's over the "bad boy" thing.
Truthfully, I think it's more that she's taking a break from the vampire thing.
Angel left her primarily because he's a vampire. He urged her to find a normal guy to be in a relationship with. Well, a normal guy has found Buffy, so she's going for it. It's a very different dynamic than she had with Angel (She and Riley actually, ya know, talk about life and stuff).
Riley's leaving her in S5, though, will drive home the point that the Slayer can't have a normal relationship, and this will eventually lead her to Spike in S6.
But for now, she's with Riley, completely oblivious to his Solider Guy act.
Xander:
Xander actually gets little to do in this episode. His status as a demon magnet is highlighted by Willow. And he's right alongside Buffy in the lack of support for Willow. But, then again, Xander's never been the supportive best friend guy.
Willow:
Willow is hit with the reality of Oz being gone when Oz sends for his stuff. She's left completely devastated. After turning to alcohol, she turns to magic.
This is classic Willow. In the face of great emotional pain and a stressful social situation that she can't handle, she turns to the easy way out.
Her argument with Giles is also interesting. He brings up valid points about her doing magic while in the emotional state she is in. Willow manages to turn the argument into something else entirely, sidestepping the magic issue and accusing Giles of not being sympathetic to her feelings. Giles is noticeably taken aback and confused as to how the confrontation got derailed.
We'll see in S5's Tough Love where Willow will do something similar in an argument over magic with Tara.
Also note Willow asking Giles why she should get "punished" by not doing magic now. To Willow, doing magic is something she's entitled to do. It's not a privilege or a responsibility. It's a right. This arrogance will lead her to trouble later on.
I'm unclear as to how the spell actually ended up working. It seems that whenever Willow cops an attitude, the spell kicks in. I'm gonna put it down to "whenever the writer's felt like it" as far was what actually gets the mojo-touch.
Her powers have become pretty noteworthy, though. Even D'Hoffryn notices her and offers her Anya's old job as a vengeance demon. At the end, Willow decides she likes being a human.
Giles:
Giles tries to get Willow to listen to him, but he gets a little distracted by his blindness.
Besides the wonderful comedy of his inability to see, Giles doesn't get a whole lot to do besides argue with Willow.
Spike:
Spike is now chained up in Giles' bathroom, which is not as kinky as it sounds.
It seems that Spike had expectations of being treated a bit more nicely by the Scoobies when he went to them for help in the previous episode. Now that he's with them, he's starting to regret it, and even takes the first opportunity to escape. He's reluctant to tell them anything about the Initiative in the fear that they'll kill him once he does.
They won't, though. As Giles says, they won't kill a defenseless creature. Spike must come to that realization between this episode and the next, as he's a free range-vamp in the next episode (Until he gets sent to Xander's, that is).
Spike also gets to show his perceptiveness. He's the only one who notices how close to the edge emotionally Willow is. And he's barely seen her. And barely knows her. Spike has always proven himself to be a good judge of character and very aware of others' feelings. He just doesn't always use his powers for good.
Note to Spike: For the sake of your Big Bad reputation, don't let it get out that you like Passions.
Anya:
We get a bit more about Anya's history in this episode. She talks of D'Hoffryn coming to her when she was doing vengeance spells for the women in her town. This doesn't quite mesh with what we see in S7's Selfless, though.
Riley:
Nice Guy Riley shows his continued charming dorkiness in his courtship of Buffy. He's very sweet at the beginning while inviting her out to a picnic. And the picnic, itself, is very nice.
And special kudos to Riley for taking the engagement thing in stride. Good man.
Plot:
A mopey Willow mucks up with some magic.
Bad Guy:
Technically, Willow's the antagonist.
Arc:
Not an arc episode.
Overall:
It has a bit too much substance to be a fluff episode. It is just fun, though, and closes out the Willow/Oz chapter (Until New Moon Rising). Notable for the Buffy/Spike engagement with the sizzling chemistry between James Marsters and Sarah Michelle Gellar, and for the advancement of the Buffy/Riley romance with the not-quite-there chemistry between Marc Blucas and Sarah Michelle Gellar. But Buffy/Riley is still very sweet.
Special performance award goes to Sarah Michelle Gellar for the bride-to-be acting. She makes me laugh in this episode. Even if her hair is funky.
6 out of 10.
( About my scoring system)
Best Moment:
The argument between Giles and Willow. Signs of what's to come.