Potential - make that MAJOR - Problems‏

Luckily, the family did tape Buffy last nite, so I got to watch it when I came home from the movies. The episode was entitled "Potential," which I think was rather appropriate, because the episode had great potential, but also had some big, BIG holes and problems. I'll start with the bad before I get to the really good. ~ Buffy's "My death could make one of you the slayer." Since fucking when? I literally yelled at my TV at 11:00pm "No, it can't!" Somebody obviously missed something because it was mentioned more than once. If this is true, then there is another slayer running around somewhere and she has been since May 2001. I seriously hope that this is Buffy simply attempting to assert her importance, cuz it's a BIG ol' problem. If there is another slayer out there, why haven't they found her and why did they never care to look for her? Did everyone suddenly forget that Buffy died twice? I can maybe accept that Joss was fucking with us after "The Gift" when he said there would be no new slayer, but why has this not been addressed until a year and a half later. God, especially now! Royally pissed off about this one...~ The Spuffy (Spike-Buffy) shit has to stop. It is such a dead weight and makes me groan every time it is made reference to. I hate it, I hate them, it's over and done with. This is no time for romance! No time!~ In relation to that, I've decided that Principal Wood is in fact evil, because only an evil man would make Buffy a counselor. I'm surprised they haven't mentioned that suicides among Sunnydale teens have gone up since Buffy took over as counselor. How many times has she taken someone else's problem and made it hers? I thought the guilt from the frequent Spike fucking last season was going to remain in last season. Make it go away. And those writers are getting really repetitive with their no-so-subtle metaphors about Buffy and Spike. Everything else is in some way symblematic of the two of them, isn't it? A poor awkward girl looks for counseling and Buffy makes it about herself. Grrr Argh. (I really don't think that Wood is evil tho)~ No I have to talk about the SiT's who become worse as the weeks go on. I want Rona dead now. Kill her soon. I can't even look at her anymore. I HATE HER MORE THAN I HAVE EVER HATED ANY CHARACTER ON BUFFY EVER. More than stupid Riley, more than Veruca, more than sappy-whiny Angel, more than pussy-whipped Spike. Maybe they could have her go into a counseling session with Buffy and have her realize that she's just gonna die, so she might as well commit suicide. I would stand up and clap at my TV if they did that.~ Does stupid redhead with a hat have a name? I never caught it. I hate her hat. I hate her too. Spike should have broken her arm.~ Rona's "I like the way wood feels in my hand" and then her comment about being 15 and in a bar. Ew, yuck, kill her now!~ And Widget could do a better cockney accent than the other dimwit Molly.~ Yeah, so I figure Kennedy is totally dead. I mean Buffy says "Some of us will die in this battle," and the camera is right on Kennedy's face. It's a damn shame cuz I like her.~ More bad stuff...Why has Andrew seemingly become a Scooby? Kick the little whining bastard out on his ass and make him answer for his actions. He is not threatening! Not at all. He does make me laugh now and then, but that's Xander's role, not his. Rid us of his whines.~ Back to the SiT's...I can't deal with Buffy's speeches. I find her very unconvincing and irritating. Not to mention pretentious and conceited...~ Why doesn't Buffy seem to know about last week's revelation that the First's appearance is tied to the slayer? That really bugged me. Anya better have told her, or someone else, or she needs a good smacking.~ Unfortunate not to see Giles, especially after he's hardly been there when he actually is there, you know?~ By the way, I hate UPN again. I got their email about upcoming eps when they mention, something about Will and Kennedy and something about Giles maybe being the First. What the fuck is wrong with this station? Ok, so onto the good stuff:~ Very interesting that slayers-to-be aren't exactly normal humans. That doesn't really account for Amanda's incredible fighting skills, but still, it's interesting.~ Clem! It was great to see Clem! I was hoping he would pop up. His name wasn't in the opening credits, which made it even better.~ Although I do get quite irritated by the Spuffy nonsense, I do still appreciate James Marsters as an actor. When Buffy made that statement about all vamps being the same inside, the look on his face was absolutely perfect.~ The best stuff was with Dawn though. I was convinced that she was the new potential and I was rather surprised how heavy-handed they were with the foreshadowing, especially considering the rumors that are floating around about Dawn getting a spin-off. I still wonder though what they have planned for her. I wouldn't be surprised if she was the savior of the season, a la Xander last year.~ Anya's summation of Dawn's life was great.~ Xander's "You are important - now," really hurt. God, have some compassion Xand-man. Why on earth would he ever say that, especially considering the end of the ep.~ Just as I'm starting to have hope for Dawn when she kinda tells the guys about Joyce's warning, she goes and pulls a Buffy. It is absolutely incredible how alike they are. What was she thinking going into the school alone? That was the Dawn of last season, I thought she had progressed beyond that.~ I thought the stuff with Amanda was really well done. When she met her on the street, I was convinced she was a vampire and was bringing Dawn back to her sire for a late night treat. And then, they pull the rug out from under me and Amanda's the potential. That was pretty cool.~ She does have a couple of screws loose tho, doesn't she? With the whole I want to sic the vamp on the marching band" and all. She's got a bit of awkward Willow in her, doesn't she? That didn't turn out so well last year.~ Amanda runs funny.~ Her fighting, like I said before, was pretty silly. I can accept the extra strength as a pre-slayer, but fighting ability and tactics do not come pre-programmed.~ Well, my favorite part of the episode was Xander's talk with Dawn. That is the Xander I love. That's the one that could be one of my favorite characters. He had the best line of the night, but it was too long for me to jot down. I'll have to get back to you on that one. Nick Brendon did a great job and that one scene made the whole episode for me. I loved it. Oh, and he fuckin mentioned Oz! How awesomely cool was that??