This is more for my benefit than yours‏

Ok, so let me start with my insanity. Monday night, I had nightmares that I hated this episode of Buffy and I was going to have to go for a month and a half with a bad Buffy taste in my mouth. I seriously had two different dreams about the episode ending with Willow laying on a bed, shaking. I'm disturbed. Made me all the more glad that I wasn't disappointed. So, on to my thoughts. I'll address a couple problems I had with the ep first. ~ The name of the ep was "Never Leave Me." Any idea why? Maybe it was supposed to be "Never Leave ME" (as in Mutant Enemy) and was a reference to Drew Goddard who is now my hero and is challenging the almighty Joss for favorite Buffy writer. Never thought I'd say that.~ Despite the genius of Mr. Goddard, I hereby request that no one ever use the word "withdrawal" on Buffy again. Both times Buffy said it, I cringed. (Especially after my dreams) It's like the word "champion" on Angel. I vote it off the show forever.~ The Buffy/Spike scenes, while they did have their good parts, seemed a bit drawn out to me. It's the same way I felt about the Buffy/Holden scenes in "Conversations With Dead People." I can't help but think that it's because of Buffy. I don't know if it is necessarily SMG's acting or what, but I cannot seem to care about Buffy at all. She is particularly uninteresting this season. Don't know why. ALl the more reason for her to be the Big Bad. Maybe I'll care about her. I found James to be quite effective the past two weeks and have been much more intrigued by Spike than I had previously this season. If it ain't him, it's gotta be her, right? Ok, so on to some more interesting observations:~ Camden Toy, who played Gnarl in "Same Time, Same Place" is the fellow who played the vampire that came out of the Seal of Danzathar. He also played on of the Gentlemen in Hush. Thought that was interesting. I think I'll call his vamp Danzathar, since he doesn't have a name yet. My first thought was that it was the Master though. That would have been fuckin cooooooooooool.~ It figures that it's the First Evil. That was my first thought and the easiest explanation. That's how they do it in the Buffyverse all the time anyway, easiest is usually best. I wonder if Tony Head misspoke in that TV Guide interview when he said the show would go back to season 2 and he meant 3. Easy mistake since Jenny was in the episode with the First. But also easy mistake not to make cuz it was after Angel came back. Just a thought.~ Poor Jonathan is useless, even in death. It figures, though.~ Andrew was so totally hilarious this week. I still hate him and think he'll eventually die, but he was rather good this week, I thought.~ I like that Warren is still around too. I hate him as well, but I think Adam Busch and Tom Lenk work well together.~ It was a riot when Andrew showed up looking like Spike (or maybe Angel cuz of the whole gay thing?~ "Or Patrick Swayze" with that loving look in his eyes. In a sub par episode that would be my favorite quote, but this one is chock full of nominees:When he tries to kill the pig: "That'll do pig!" What a brilliant and hilarious reference to Babe. So cool.Immediately following, from Warren, "That's the worst attempt at pig slaughtering I've ever seen."When Andrew arrives at the Summers house: "You'll get nothing outta me, carpenter!"Two from the brilliant Emma Caulfield, "The weasel wants to sing. He just needs a tune!" and "A crappy musical"Surprisingly Xander even makes the cut this week: "He's primed. I'll be pumping him in no time."~ Loved the Matrix reference in the Butcher shop when the Butcher called Andrew Neo.~ Man, even when she is criminally underused, Alyson still impresses me. That look of recognition, pain, hatred, confusion, etc. in her eyes when she saw Andrew was nothing short of perfect. And, is it me, or does she look exceptionally beautiful this season? Not sure what it is, but this whole year she's looked really good.~ Speaking of being criminally underused, just as they have me loving Dawn, she's barely around. Loved her scene with Principal Wood though. And good for her for kicking some ass. Seems she really pays attention to her sister though - taking for granted that that one guy was dead or unconscious was a very Buffy act.~ And what's up with our favorite principal? I assume he was possessed, but I guess we don't really know. I'm just assuming because of that far off look in his eyes, but maybe he is a baddie.~ How awesome was it that there were at least 3 watchers in addition to Quentin that were from "Checkpoint"? (Including the chick that did her thesis on William the Bloody)~ How unexpected was it that they went boom? That totally caught me off guard. At least stupid Quentin got what he deserved. (Not that they couldn't eventually prove useful, but right down to the end he was an idiot.) And it's a damn good thing they didn't find Giles.~ My favorite stuff for the episode though was the Xander/Anya good cop/bad cop with Andrew. Especially the Anya stuff. I like Xander and Anya working together and it makes me appreciate Nick Brendon some more. (I don't need that to appreciate Emma, she's always appreciated.) Loved the look on Xander's face when Andrew mentioned the Spike/Anyanka sex. Loved Anya punching Xander and her quick apology. Loved "You lying son of a bitch!" Give me an episode with Emma, Aly, Michelle, Tony, James, Juliet back from wherever Dru is, and Amber and Robia back from the dead and I could die a happy man. Throw in some Alexis over from L.A. too.~ I can't believe that Xander attempted to blame Anya for his empty, black heart. Doofus. Interesting though, I read something that mentioned that he is "the heart" of the group. ("Restless" and the first slayer and all.)~ Interesting parallels to "The Gift." Dawn's blood opening/Buffy's closing the portal. Now Spike's opens the seal. Incidentally, I think Spike's next role will be a big pile of dust. And I think he'll do it by sacrificing himself for Buffy.~ I've mentioned the Buffy/Angel parallels this season. Saw another. Spike trying to persuade Buffy to kill him because of all the bad he has done in the past. Didn't Cordy just say that she couldn't be with Angel because of his past? Coincidence?