passthepopcorn

(Ack! Back from ANOTHER unexpected illness. More soon. In the meantime, here’s a review I wrote for a forum I visit. Spoilers if you haven’t seen Buffy Season 3 yet.)

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Season 3 is amazing. I love not only the way the overall mythology of the show is expanded (other slayers, the Council, etc.) and the new characters (the Mayor, Faith), but also the way our core group gets redefined by them. We learn so much about who Buffy is, and isn’t, by her interactions with Faith (and Kendra last year). And Giles used to seem like a (loveable) stick in the mud, but Wesley shows just how awesome Giles is (and perhaps how far he’s come).

Outstanding moments of Season 3:

Lovers Walk - Everything with Spike is great in this, but especially his “I may be love’s b—–, but at least I’m man enough to admit it” speech. Also, by the end of the episode, Cordelia has the audience’s sympathy more than anyone. Cordelia! What a fantastic character evolution (and heartbreakingly played in this ep by Charisma Carpenter).

The Wish - Who knew the writers could create their own best alt-universe fanfic?

Amends - “Am I righteous man, Buffy? Am I a thing worth saving?” The tears flow every time by the end of this ep.

Dopplegangland - Despite the fact that sending Evil Willow back to her own dimension remains the single worst decision that the Scooby Gang has ever made*, this ep is hilarious from beginning to end. Kudos to Alyson Hannigan for playing both sides of Willow so skillfully - especially when the costumes are reversed!

* Yeah, I know she got killed anyway. But they didn’t know that would happen!

Earshot - “It looks quiet down there. It isn’t. It’s deafening.”

Graduation Day - The battle royale between Buffy and Faith. The mayor actually doing the whole graduation speech. (”Just ascend already!” “Evil.”) The ENTIRE GRADUATIING CLASS mounting up weapons against the Mayor. And: “Angel kissed my hand.” “Oh, you too?”

Truly a phenomenal season.

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