BtVS Episode Review: Something Blue

[gabrielleabelle]

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.

Comments

[moscow_watcher]

Oh, I agree about your Special Performance Award - Sarah is stellar in this episode. She shines. Interestingly, the script doesn't have a single remark - only dialogs - in the scene where Buffy cuddles with Spike. Obviously it was left to the actors to find the comfortable level of intimacy. Buffy biting Spike's ear, Buffy's roaming hands - it's all Sarah's contributions.

[gabrielleabelle]

lol. There's no denying that the chemistry between Buffy and Spike is overwhelming. It helps that both JM and SMG are wonderfully charismatic actors with excellent screen presence.

My favorite part is Spike openly ogling Buffy's chest, though. And getting distracted by it. Brilliant. :)

[kudagirl]

I often wonder why Giles didn't try to work more with Willow in teaching or leading her about magic. In episode, Checkpoint, Nigal from the Council, questions Tara and Willow about their Magical proficiency level. So the Council is interested in the use of magic. Giles has had issues with black magic in his youth which lead to dangerous moments and even death. Giles should have been more aware of how Willow's mistakes could set her on a bad path. I understand this is part of Willow's arc set over many seasons. Just always wondered why Giles wouldn't have said more to her.

I loved watching this episode because of it's humor. The planning of the wedding was so girly for Buffy. She seldom gets to act this way.

[gabrielleabelle]

Yeah, I think Giles surely had ample opportunity to take Willow under his wing, so to speak, and help her learn to use magic in a more positive way. The only reason I can think of that he wouldn't is that he's intentionally trying to distance himself from his own past, and the thought of working with magic that extensively makes him uncomfortable.

The planning of the wedding was so girly for Buffy. She seldom gets to act this way.

Indeed. I love her meeting with Riley where she's in full "happy bride" mode.

[sarian71]

"Spike also gets to show his perceptiveness.i>

::nods:: I love that character trait of Spike.

I also find it interesting how easily Spike starts trying to help Giles after he became completely blind. He walks to the bookshelf, picks up a book and starts to research the reverse spell, just like that. He seems to think it's perfectly natural and normal behavior. And this is *only* because he thinks he's in love with Buffy.

[gabrielleabelle]

Hadn't thought about that. You have a point. We'll see in S5 that Spike will help out Buffy's friends once he realizes he's in love with her.

I must say, there is one small thing that weirds me out about this episode: Spike smiles a lot. He generally doesn't smile. At least, not like he does here. It looks odd.

[sarian71]

"Spike smiles a lot."

So does Buffy. I think it could be because people that are in love and just got engaged are supposed to be blissfully happy. And JM and SMG went over the top with it. The most interesting thing about this is that Willow didn't mention anything about being in love...

[gabrielleabelle]

Well, yes, they played it up for laughs. :)

The most interesting thing about this is that Willow didn't mention anything about being in love...

Eh, I'm not actually gonna read too much into that given the general ambiguity of the spell. It does whatever the writers wanted it to.

[rowynnecrowley]

My take on Giles, re: Willow's magic. He never helped her develop it, because he didn't want her to use it. Period. He was afraid of her getting out of control with it (which she eventually did) and his solution was for her not to use it. The rationale being, if you never fly, you can't get into a plane crash.

[gabrielleabelle]

Interesting. He did ask for her to do spells, though, at times. Course, that's why I didn't like Willow's "cold turkey" approach to magic in mid-S6, because I don't see why she had to abstain from magic completely. Her magic-use had saved their lives on more than one occasion, after all.

[mabus101]

This was, oddly enough, one of the episodes I saw last. (I think "Amends" was the very last.)

I thought it was great fun and didn't give it much attention...magical power stuff is wacky.

[gabrielleabelle]

? How on earth did you manage to see the series in such a completely wrong order?

I thought it was great fun and didn't give it much attention...

Er...I forgot about this episode after I'd first watched the series. I kept hearing Spuffy fans talk about Buffy and Spike making out in S4 and I was like "Huh? No, they didn't!"

[mabus101]

I didn't begin watching in earnest until the show was over, or nearly so. Then I began watching on FX when it came on early in the morning. But after a while the show was moved an hour earlier, so that I was still at work during the first episode; sometimes I worked late and missed both. So I saw the show piecemeal in no particular order. For whatever reason, I saw most of S6 first, but it matched the mood I was in (and, indeed, have been in most of the decade; it's a long story).

[gabrielleabelle]

That must have been very confusing. Have you watched the series in the correct order now? Cause it makes more sense that way. :)

For whatever reason, I saw most of S6 first, but it matched the mood I was in (and, indeed, have been in most of the decade; it's a long story).

S6 hit close to home for me quite a bit, to the point of making me incredibly upset at a lot of what was going on (I tend to watch TV for escapist purposes. S6 kinda didn't work with that). But now that I'm past the initial reaction, it's my second favorite season just because of the risks it took and the depiction of Buffy's problems.