Today's
Panelists:
Reviews
Adam (Salsa Shark)
Ally
Dan (Se7en)
Danielle (W0W)
Diana (LadyDi)
Juliet (PsychoJuliet)
Little Willow
Natalie (PrincssNat)
Randie (KIDZZ)
Random Comments
Adam
Alex (austerlitz99)
Arianna (AriannaDL)
Celisse (Celisse13)
Diana (LadyDi)
Juliet (PsychoJuliet)
Lauren (FrostNW)
Lindsey (BUFYnANGL)
Kim (SMxPx)
Nick (NHaHa)
Randie
Red
Rikki
Skylar


<< Wakey Wakey Show || Frog City Index page || Episode 3>>

TODAY'S SHOW:
"It's Wednesday...so you know what that means! People from the AOL Hanniganite Message Board and the Hanniganite Mailing List share with you their thoughts on last night's new episode."

Season Six, Episode One & Two: BARGAINING

[Copyrighted by Deborah Gill]
Random Comments:

 "The wild feed finally aired this morning...and might I be the first to say that Anya is now the hottest female on Buffy this year. Very much the eye candy...sorry testosterone is flaring!" -- Rikki

"Ok, out of 4 stars, I'll give it 2 1/2 stars. I thought it could have been better for a season opener. One of the things that I immediately noticed is Anya's new look...IMHO, she's definitely the best looking female on the show." -- Rikki

"I also noticed something else. Shirts with numbers on them are evident in this episode. Dawn wears a shirt with the # 7, Willow wears one with the # 11, and Xander wears one with the #13. Don't know if there is any significance to this though. In general, I realize that the #'s 7 and 11 are "good" numbers and the # 13 is considered unlucky...but like I said, i don't know if it means anything." -- Rikki

"I know that I am watching Buffy on UPN. Do you have to have the logo in the corner? IT'S ANNOYING!!!" -- Rikki

"Have you been watching Angel this season? The WB logo is big and white. Not even translucent. Also, the UPN logo is much smaller. Not fed up with WB. Really." -- Nick

"I began running the episode backwards in my mind, looking for other parallels or symbolism to connect it to 9/11... then I calmed down and remembered they'd filmed this episode before then. But can you imagine the meetings about should the ending be re-shot? Jeez." -- Skylar

"I love the 'Bot and want her back! When Spike threw away her leg or whatever and said she couldn't be fixed anymore, I cried." -- Skylar

"I think I like the Buffy-Bot better than I like Buffy. Buffy-Bot isnt so darn Angst-y." -- Celisse

"Was I the only one disappointed by the premiere? Probably. I was much more intrigued seeing Rufus Wainwright, Sean Lennon, and Robert Schwartzman all singing together. Mmmm John Lennon tribute." -- Kim

"This episode made me way too happy. I mean, in a weird way." -- Red

"Does anyone else have a major problem with the fact that she even had to dig herself out at all? Why the hell didn't they get her coffin out? Yeah, she was kinda icky looking when she was dead, but to wake up that way? I think I'd suffer a heart attack and die again. It's not like they were going for subtelty, bringing back dead." -- Red

"Ok, I was crying when Dawn was asking Buffy not to leave but oh god, I was sobbing when Giles left! I'm going, NOOO, you can't leave! Buffy will need you. And speaking of Buffy, she digs out of the grave, the hearing is distorted, the eyesight is blurry but we can STILL kick demon ass? What's up with that? No muscle atrophy? Now, on to the other thing ;)." -- Arianna

"Was it me, or was the gross-out factor in overdrive for the whole episode? Examples:
1. killing a baby deer (Willow)
2. being slashed several times (Willow)
3. crawly under-the-skin things (Willow)
4. vomiting up a snake (Willow)
5. decaying corpse (Buffy)
6. buried alive (Buffy)
7. screaming & clawing to get out (Buffy)
7. getting torn limb from limb (Buffy-bot) ." -- Skylar

"Two great lines: 'Grr...arrggh.' And of course, the dig at the WB 'She could be in some evil hell deminsion like Angel.' Woo-hoo!" -- Lauren

"Her dad didn't know she was dead, for crying out loud. What a ba...a big mean head. ::darkly mutters under her breath, something akin to, 'off in Spain,' 'with his ho girlfriend", "didn't even know his baby was dead..or hell, come up for his exwfies funeral" blar blar blar::" -- Diana

"Also just had to say, the new episode rocked, and my soul aches because Giles is gone. I miss him already. " -- Lindsey

"What, is it so impossible to believe that the gang decided to dye her hair before burying her? Willow could have said, "Well, we're gonna resurrect her anyway, and Buffy did tell me in one of our many heart-to-hearts that she wants to dye her hair darker." It could happen. And, hey, Buffy has her hand back. 'Cause she had no hand when she died." -- Randie

"You'd think the authorities in Sunnydale would have a clue. I mean there's a tombstone w/ Buffy's name on it and everything. Shouldn't Dawn be moving into foster care about now? Sunnydale Repression Syndrome must be working its magic again. Though that doesn't explain why Razor and his gang can motor through CA w/o any problem. I see a cool Buffy/CHIPs crossover in the making..." -- Alex

"If Willow's powerful enough to resurrect people now, you'd think she would've picked up some useful offensive spells by now. Lightning Bolt, Fireball, Finger of Death, Earthquake. I wanna see Willow zap some vamps! " -- Alex

"Anya's become Cordy circa season 3. If they had kept Cordy on the show, she probably would've been at this point, except for the obsession w/ sex and money. And I'd be really happy instead of wanting to throw stuff at the TV at scenes like this. GRRRRR " -- Alex

"oh, I can't believe I forgot to mention this. willow/tara kiss. WOOHOO!!" -- Adam

"Xander has issues over male bonding, as we all do. He really needs a guy guy friend in his life. " -- Alex





Adam's Review:

this was amazing. to heck with the WB. UPN is awesome. they managed to do a "previously on" that described the main events of seasons one-five of buffy, and STILL keep it shorter than any season five "previously on" after "no place like home", when they insisted on describing dawn's heritage as the key in EVERY RECAP.

I loved their resurrection ritual. that was very cool. it was like something out of anita blake: vampire hunter. (warning: I've heard many people want a buffy/anita crossover fic. I get the feeling someone's gonna use this episode to do it. if it's one of you guys, I'll hurt you.)

willow amazes me again with the beginning of her descent into evil. (by the way--I called it. who called it? adam called it. as I said in my review for "tough love": ["Darkest Magick". I predict the repercussions of these events will haunt Willow next season.] I'm good.) maybe she won't be the big bad but she'll have a part in it, I think.

An intriguing possibility: Willow said that she couldn't have raised buffy after the "urn of cirrhosis" (::snerk::)got crushed. It got crushed halfway through the ritual, thus making it impossible for even Willow to raise buffy. maybe she had help from a higher power. I doubt the powers that be (but we never know what they be! nobody ever says!) would do it, so maybe a darker power helped her out. D'Hoffryn wouldn't have done it without telling Willow so she'd feel indebted to him, so he's out. Who's that leave? The First springs to mind. (all right, I get it! you're EVIL.) That would certainly lend credence to my "Willow-goes-evil" theory, and if you saw the commercial for next week's ep where it says buffy brought a hellbeast with her (I originally typed "hellbreast". freudian slip or typo? YOU decide) that also helps my theory.

anya and buffybot are hysterical. buffybot's "pun" had me in stitches. the only one who could have made this funnier would be crazy-tara.

which brings up another point of mine. dawn says that the tower was built by crazies and was fixing to fall. now, honestly, folks. lunatics built this thing. a slayer and a freaking GOD (-dess, whatever) had a massive battle of epic proportions on this thing. a portal to hell and every other dimension opened less than twenty feet away from it. and somehow it stands for three months on its own. it's sunnydale, so there were probably vampires or demons or something swarming on it during the summer. so you're telling me it can stand through all THAT, but when two girls whose combined weight is probably two hundred and forty pounds stand on the top portion, it starts to crumble?!?! these must be super loonies to build such an awesome tower.

buffy's bashing her way through the coffin was creepy as hell. nuff said.

giles broke my heart when he talked about the slayer/watcher relationship, he did. and when they met him at the airport--jesus. "grr. argh." lmao. xander's not sure to hug him bit, that was a nice touch. it was this episode that I realized that willow is jean grey and giles is professor x. they have the same dynamic--willow started as a student but eventually became a peer. she knew him longer than any other member of the scooby gang, even buffy. she can move things with her mind. and she's a redhead. what more do you want??

then again, there was the opening battle, where she became professor x. (directing the gang telepathically, not in the action herself, now the leader)

the hanson vamp is the scariest demonic being EVER. the master is third--all he could really do is bring a big tentacle-thing crawling out of the library. the mayor is second--he didn't do anything really terrifying on the show, but he did get the season finale postponed. angelus was funnier than he was scary. glory made me horny, not horrified. as for adam--otheradam, that is--bah. to frell with him. hanson vamp, however, pantomines punching (with those same "boom! boom! boom!" sound effects you got on the power rangers, no less), says 411 (where did casting find this guy, on the set of clueless?), says beeswax (oh my GOD) and is so naive, he expects a buncha bad-arse demons to just say, "hey, the little punk DID help us out. let's let him ride along, even though all he can do is punch the air and go 'boom! boom! boom!' "

I honestly expected buffy to come out of the grave with nothing but violence. as the first slayer said, "death is your gift," and that was on a primal level, beyond even death. maybe that would be all she'd know. xander would deserve it if buffy beat him up a bit. "hey, guys, thanks for bringing me back to life and then leaving me IN THE FRAKKING COFFIN!" but I find it interesting that buffy died a blonde and was resurrected as a brunette.

when the hellions drew and quartered buffybot, all I could think of was the flesh fair in A.I. (there were other similarities between the two--they both started out great and had crappy endings.)

spike's determination to protect dawn at all costs was cool. I heard that line from 'the gift'--"I made a promise to a lady."--all through his scenes. he's redeeemed himself for his actions in "fool for love". (I still woulda shot buffy and gone home and shagged harmony. preferably in the buffy outfit.) speaking of spike--who else loved the "your life pass before your eyes? cup of tea, cup of tea, almost got shagged, cup of tea." line?

and I ramble. I'm done now.



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Ally's Review:

It was a great new episode, in true Buffy tradition, funny as hell and heartwrenching as well....(ha that rhymed go figure) the writers and cast still astound me!!! I felt like the show stayed true to Buffyverse, and think the weeks ahead with the reprecussions of bringing Buffy back is going to be very intersting and dramatic.

No Giles in the credits was very very disturbing!!!!! Im still in denial that my favorite character is going away....and what was with taking out every clip of him, that was just truly wrong!!!! On the upside Aly getting end credit was very deserving!

SPIKE! SPIKE! SPIKE!!!! How cool is he? and James MArsters is just too good in that role. Man the way he conveyed his guilt and sadness with a couple looks was amazing! He and Michelle/Dawn are great together!! He still calls Dawn bit!!!! Cant wait to see his reaction to buffy back.

Xander/Nick...wow!!!!! Im back in the drooling game, but this time its over Nick! HE looks great! Great hair and Buff....woowheeeee!

Still sad over Giles. His last scene was gutwrenching!!!, I teared up when he said goodbye to Dawn and Willow... Dont GO!!! He'll be back though!!!

SMG was so jipped by the Emmy voters. She did an amazing job as perky Buffybot and then seriously disturbed Buffy Alive. Did anyone else think of the 1st season when she had to claw her way out of grave. Being buried alive was one of her biggest fears in Nightmares. Then seeing trashed Sunnydale, demons, and tower....god with 3 words, I was floored...."Is this Hell?" Kudos to writers for making a very unreal situation as realistic as possible.

On a side note, I was so reminded of WTC when they showed trashed town and tower collapsing. The burnt out cars looked just like ground zero the day after. Im surprised the episode wasnt pulled, if it had been WB, I bet it would have!! Another reason to be glad its not on WB anymore.

ok ramble done...i think that more than makes up for a month of no posts from me ;)

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Dan's Review:

First of all, I agree with Aria about James Marsters acting ability. I think he's second only to Aly when it comes to conveying an entire range of feeling with one little facial expression. Like when Spike looked at the Buffybot, and you could see, all at once, sadness Buffy was gone, despair that he couldnt save her, and even shame at having had the Buffybot built to begin with. Great stuff.

Also, Michelle Trachtenberg is beginning to show why Joss was so high on her ability. She seems so natural, that sometimes it's easy to forget that she isnt REALLY Dawn.

Ten bucks says Willow is the big bad this year. I can just feel it.

Giles.... DONT LEAVE! NO! Giles has been like, the BACKBONE of the show since the first season! DONT LEEEEEEAVE! Aw hell. And when he hugged Willow, I cried. Shuddup.

Call me sick, but I feel a lil' bit of Spike/Dawn shippiness building up here...

Anya abso-friggin-lutely rules. "Want to look at the money? It always cheers ME up..." , or, "Buffy? Me and Xander have an announcement to make..." and whoever said Anya is the new hottest chick on Buffy was VERY right.

And ewww. Did Willow HAVE to vomit a snake?

"Is this hell?" Ohmygod. That was the most heartwrenching thing I've EVER heard.

Great premiere, great show, great acting, oh God I'm gonna cry again...

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Danielle's Review:

AH! XANDER HAIRCUT! AH! I can't even begin to express how much better that boy's hair looks. He's like a completely different person. A completely different, beautiful person. Every time I see him I like, physically want him. Uhhh, yeah. So, it looks nice.

Willow's hair looks better than it does in the pictures. I think I actually kind of like it better than last season. It's old school and its not as blond as I expected it to be.

Anya's hair looked good (you realize that the most important part of the episode is the hair). I like it. I like the color, I like the cut, I like Anya.

Wait, no, the most important part of the entire season is the theme song. Oh, it was so good. I nearly cried (the me actually crying part comes later). First of all, subway Spike. That scene will be the end of me. He's looks too damb good, its unhealthy. I'm not really remembering anything else, just that it was really cool. Oh yeah, NO GILES! That will definitely be the end of me, its just unnatural! We now only have three (count 'em, three) original cast members! This whole "and Alyson Hannigan as Willow" is disturbing, I have to get used to it. It has a nice ring to it though.

Marti Noxon is an executive producer. That's cool, she's a cool girl. However, if Joss decides that he's too good to work on Buffy because he's working on 101 Buffy side projects and the show begins to lack...goodness, then I will personally kick his behind.

Did I mention I loved the episode? Because I did. It was pure brilliance. Liked it better than "Buffy vs. Dracula".

It now says the name of the episodes at the beginning of the show, I like that a whole lot. You know, I haven't read what everyone else has said about the ep so if I'm just reiterating what's been said then...deal with it. I'm back.

My favorite line has to be Spike's "Cup of tea. Cup of tea. Almost got shagged. Cup of tea." That may be inaccurate but you get the idea. I laughed, out loud.

I also remember laughing when Xander asked who made Willow boss and Tara and Anya began informing him that he had. Quality programming I tell you.

If my parents buried me in what Buffy was buried in, I think I would will myself alive just to personally not thank them. Her hair got darker too.

OK, Giles leaving. I sobbed. I couldn't stop. Nevermind Buffy dying, this was the saddest part of the entire series for me. He's GILES! He can't leave! I knew he was going to wait and hug Willow last and I just couldn't bear it. Oh my God. I love this show.

What do you get when you cross "Beer Bad" cave girl Buffy with "Halloween" 17th century girl Buffy? Resurrected Buffy. Yeah.

Willow's really cool. She had her wrists slit and she threw up a snake and she still rocks. There was some W/X angst in there...they're so going to get together this season!! Yeah!

There had to be more, it lasted two hours. This is what happens when I don't write things down.

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Diana's Review:

Is anyone DISGUSTINGLY annoyed with the fact that the four brought Buffy back? Sick, twisted, selfish..PEOPLE! I was so hurt! She looked so sad! "Why didnt you leave me dead? You brought me back to be your fighting dog." OMG.

And Okay, could they have been LESS loving??? Buffy all...clawy out of her grave and all they can say is, "It's me, Xander."??????? GRRRRRRRR! I'm glad she's back. But dude. She shouldn't have come back that way. What, with Willow barfing snakes and and and and the Buffybot pulling a William Wallace. That was wrong! And wrong some more! And then, what with her hair all Buffy cavewoman and her dress, dude, and her hands and the clawing out of her coffin, how scary was that? And when suddenly her decomposing body goes WHOOSH and she turns human and breaths? I nearly pissed my pants. Oh man.

GILES LEFT! ::cries::

GILES LEFT THE MAGIC BOX TO ANYA! ::wails::

Xander was all femaley and GAY! ::sobs::

Oh my god. This episode rocked my very argyle-y socks. DUDE. Im so indescribably blar. And happy! And blar.

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Juliet's Review:

Wow, I know a lot of people are dissapointed with the premiere, but I thought it rocked.

This is a good night of Buffy. Angel was the FX ep, and now the premiere.

Had I not been a little spoiled, I would have been very surprised to find that was robobuffy.

She's making sandwiches, how cute.

Ooh, parent teacher day. Scariest of the scary.

Dear. God. Vampire in a Hanson shirt.

Oh yummy, Spike with messy hair. Do me please.

Mad Spike. Do me please.

::Giggles:: Glittery plaque.

::Has seriously toiled with the idea of Buffy in hell::

"You know I admire your brain almost as much as your washboard abs" I want lick water off Spike's washboard abs.

::Sniff:: Dawn laying down with robo buffy.

::Giggles:: Breath Buffy bot.

LOL! "You're high."

Dusted Hanson vamp.

Oh damn that's wrong. Biker demons from hell.

I wish my cable would behave.

Willow looks very pretty. I'm glad her hair is back to red.

Awee! Bambi!

SHE KILLED BAMBI! OMG! AHH! Who's next, Thumper?

"You wanna look at the money?"

::Gags:: Willow is very huggy and touchy. But they're cute.

"Like we'd make a scene."

Anya's hair looks wonderful.

Grr! Argh! She said Grr Argh!

Dawn looks so pretty.

"I'll take really good care of your money."

Aweee, awkward hug. Xander and Giles awkward hug. =)

"Be careful. Please."

::Whole airport scene:: Sadness.

Biker Demons! Cool music.

...Since when is Sunnydale in the desert?

Deer blood. Ew. Willow wearing deer blood. Ew.

Owie. Willow Owie.

"Oh god, what is that noise?"

...She vomited a snake. How disgusting.

Demon rampage, yey?

Ew, he has some gross piercings.

I like her top. (Buffy bot's)

"You're nothing but a toy." "Don't you get it Sebastion? You're just a toy. A little toy I like to play with."

Buffy! No! Don't go to Willow.

Willow sounds like she's...er...I'm not sure if I can say this on the board.

Nono, they broke the vase.

Eww, rotted B.

Oh my god, that is so my worst nightmare -- being buried alive.

...Is her hair brown? Or is it just the light.

Oh, they so have better buried her in her leather jacket, claddagh, and cross. I will flip some serious s....shipment ::Glances at Aerin:: if they didn't.

::In reference to the Slimfast commercial on right now:: Men should not wear tight white jeans with clunky grey sneakers and tucked in blue vnecks. Ever.

Oooh...chains. [EG]

"Less talk, more running away."

Poor Buffy. That must be so scary to be locked in a grave.

Poor Willow.

I hate overuse of dramatic irony. I really really do.

"You got a bug up your crack?" Right. Redneck demons, we really needed this. I promise.

I like their mailbox. It's cute.

Oh, that's cool. Let's burn down houses. It's what all the cool kids are doing.

I think Spike and Dawn would be cute. When she grows up.

Oh sure. After being dead three months, her hair and makeup is still perfect. I hate her. I really, really do.

Well, she has something black on. Is it her jacket?

::Random:: I want to see Riding in Cars With Boys.

And YEY! My cable is behaving. :-D

I like Buffy's less blonde hair though. It suits her. Makes her look more like Kathryn.

Gack, that outfit makes her look like a school teacher.

Awwww! "If something happened, I'd know. And so would you."

Oh! She's gonna conjure the green dot!

Green dot!! It's green dot!! Only it's blue.

"And how long have you known that your girlfriend's Tinkerbell?"

And suddenly the theme from Grease 2 pops into my head. "I need a cooooooooool rider, a coooooooool rider, if he's cool enough he can burn me through and through..."

Wow...go Spike. I love you. I want you.

"Let's fly, pidgeon!"

"OK, I so need male friends."

I really like Anya's belt.

Ooh, I've always wanted to spit alky into fire. It looks so cool.

Oh how terrible, The ripping apart thing.

::Aleve Cold & Sinus commercial:: I want them. Please for the love of god, someone buy them for me. I think I'm going to suffocate.

Run faster sweetie .

"Buffy?"

Oh no, she's all psycho like Angel. Nooo. ::Sigh:: Chain her up, bring back her one true love, she'll be better.

Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire...

Go Buffy! Yey!!

She remembers how to fight at least.

She's very grunty when she fights.

"Where did I go? I was here, here. But then I ran away -- No, not me, the other Buffy. Yes, the other Buffy. I don't, I don't know where she ran off to. Maybe..."

She's still psycho, Xander.

How's that for a clensing mask?

Ohh...Buffy...Going back to the tower...=*(

Wow, Willow, working the magick.

AWEEE! "Nobody messes with my girl."

Oh wow..."Buffy...Buffy...Buffy...How? Is it you? I mean, really? What are you doing?"

"Is this hell? Is this hell?"

"It was so clear on this spot. I remember how everything was so shiny and clear on this spot. Now...now..."

"Dawn, Dawn!"

"Buffy? Buffy, you're, you're, you're really here. You're alive, and you're home. You're home."

...Where's the preview for next week? I feel cheated.

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Little Willow's Review:

I'll be writing out various reactions to Bargaining, I'm certain. One will be my more typical episode analysis - another, on the JossBtVS list, my listmom 13 topics per episode bit - but this one, just for Buffy. The Slayer. The Girl. The Woman. No rants or raves about the episode in general. Just... Buffy's journey.

Here and there, I'm adding in lyrics from "Black Cat Bone" by Laika marked with triple dots "..." as such. As I initially typed this email, I popped in my brand spankin' new CD (thank you, Amberholics - you know who you are) and the lyrics kept singing out RIGHT as I was typing about each topic. You'll see what I mean.

...must have been the devil who changed my mind
...must have been the wind blowing not me crying
...half the joy of leaving was the space I left behind


Buffy's sacrifice was called selfless by many, it is true - but other viewers found it to be a bit selfish. She had just confided in Willow in the episode prior that she wanted everything to be over. That if Dawn was dead, people would mourn for Dawn, people would feel sorry for Buffy, but at least it would be over. Part of Buffy wanted this done. Finished. Part of Buffy wanted the pain to end. Stop. Half of the joy of leaving was that she sacrificed herself to save the others, her loved ones, her friends, the innocent people of the whole world...but half of the joy of leaving was the space (she) left behind.

...now I'm back, angelheaded holloweyed
...placed myself at the eye of the storm
...just didn't see the signpost to scorn


So now she's back. From outer space? No. From...where? We don't know yet. Will we know? Do we have to? What is more concerning is Buffy's reaction. She was right back where she left things. She died, so she awoke in her grave. She died with the town in chaos, so she awoke to the town in chaos.

...the blue sky wrinkled through my tears
...then darkness grounded all my fears


She looked around and things were blurry, but had things changed? Had they gotten worse? Did she think her sacrifice meant anything? Wasn't it supposed to make the townsfolk safe?

...I gave him my sugar; he switched it for salt
...should have seen him coming that's always my fault


She jumped off of that tower, so she went back to that tower. She left Dawn behind, so she had to have Dawn there again. She died for Dawn. To save Dawn. Wanted Dawn to be brave. To live for her. But she also left Dawn without any family. I know, Buffy left Dawn with the Scooby Gang, which is their "family," and of course Dawn isn't "really" Buffy's sister. But Buffy left Dawn in the process. She thought she had to. Did she have to?

...rocks for my pillow and sand for my bed
...for better or worse I left him for dead

Buffy didn't just come back from the grave, or literally in her grave - she had to go back to what (chaos) - where (tower) - who (Dawn) she had left.

...then lightning struck and thunder roared
...and nothing was as it seemed


At first, she couldn't speak. She couldn't see fully. She couldn't hear properly. The world was erupting in her view but the details were far out of her grasp. The sky was pitch black yet orange with fire. The people shouted as if they were brave yet screamed in fear.

...then everything went crazy
...my shoes filled with blood
...the water rose the wind did howl
...the river looked ready to flood
...I left my man asleep to drown
...and ran without looking back around

The Buffy half of the protagonist was not back one hundred percent when she met up with Willow, Xander, Anya and Tara. Her senses - her five human senses - had not yet been fully restored. She was broken, in mind, body and spirit. She was shaking, scared and shocked.

But the Slayer half was there. She jumped fences, she attacked villains, she struck, punched, kicked and killed. That half was there. Feral. Gut instinct. Her Calling. Her Destiny. Something older than she'll ever be. That was there and that was back in action almost instantly.

Was this meant to show the duality of Buffy - woman vs. slayer, normal life vs. sacred duty - that we've explored since the pilot? It was funny to me (in a smart sense, not funny ha-ha or funny uh-oh) that Razor commented on her being alive and kicking, adding, "Well, alive anyway," when quickly what was shown thereafter was rather the opposite. One bit of opinion: I do honestly wished they had addressed that with even one line, coming from one of the Scoobies... that the Slayer was back, but that it may take time to get the Buffy girl back.

...ring the bells of mercy
...send the sinnerman home
...the keys to the kingdom are lost and gone
...and I'm left to die alone

She made the climb. She relived the moments. But she didn't jump again. Something about Dawn stopped her. Be it with her words, or just because of what Dawn means or symbolizes to Buffy, something brought another part of Buffy back to earth in that scene.

...all these girls grown old now
...all that long hair in the grave
...realize what's done is done
...it's far too late to be saved

No matter what may happen from here on out, it would appear as if the resurrection of Buffy is irreversible. Xander and Willow already had their own revelations about what they've done, what they've done to Buffy, what they've brought her back as, what they've brought her back to. They have returned Buffy to the very thing she was trying to escape. The darkness. The pain. The responsibility. Again, it is not to say Buffy ONLY died to escape these things and others like them - of course not. It was implied that she jumped, that she died, to save everyone and everything. To stop the bad guys. To win one for the good guys.

"It was so . . . clear . . . on this spot . . . I remember how shiny . . . and clear everything was . . . but now . . . now . . ." - Buffy

Now what? Who did they being back? What did they bring back? And what did they bring her back to? It appears as if more of this will be explored in "Afterlife," next week's outing. Or at least, I hope so.

Buffy, in body, is back now. We can only wait and see what is to become of her mind, heart, soul and essence.

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Natalie's Review:

Bargaining, alternately titled (by me), "If Buffy was alive right now, she'd be scratching like crazy to get out of her coffin."

This should have been the previously on from hell. Instead it was a hell of a lot classier than the WB ones, and a lot shorter.

Okay, I have to say it. At the beginning, when Tara's running with Giles and Spike? She got hot.

Hi, BuffyBot. I want your jacket. Even if you are dressed like a Delia's model. Boyfriend tank, page 16.

"Greay googly moogly, Willow!" Googly moogly???

Marry me, Spike. Seriously. I'm game for a nighttime wedding not in a church. Buy me a ring, please. I won't pester you like Anya did Xander.

How much do I *love* Willow's hair? I wish mine could look that cool.

"Oh, who's there?"
"[insert entire conversation here] who?"
Oh, [snort].

CREDITS!!! I love new credits. When Alyson's name didn't show up after Nick Brendon's, I knew where her name was going to be. And sure enough, she's the "and"! "And Alyson Hannigan as Willow." Wheeeee!!!! Nick and I just had this convo last week, about how the "and" is the prestige spot. And Aly's the "and"! Of course, it means Giles is gone. =( But, Willow and Tara are in the credits.

BuffyBot, why are you wearing that icky icky shirt? [sigh] Have they taught you nothing?

They never told their dad that Buffy died?! Oh my God. Absentee or not, that would have been cruel when he figured that one out.

"No, you give it!" Nice to see that Giles and Anya have regressed to five-year-old mentality.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Spike}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} I love Spike, with his protectiveness of Dawn. And oh so many other reasons.

Uh oh. BuffyBot's got a short. I keep typing "BuffyBoy." That would be another episode entirely.

Ebay. Anya was on Ebay. Hee.

Willow's shirt would kick ass, but the 11 is off center and that bothers me.

"Discovery Channel. Has monkeys." [snerk] The Hanniscapers should know what I'm snerking at. At least some of them.

I have to say it. Anya. Make the Farrah hair go away!

Willow brings up a good point. Where would Buffy's afterlife be? [ducks, hoping she didn't actually start a theological discussion]

Aly's a good "and".

"I think my feet are broken." [snerk] I'm going to use that IRL, damb it.

Oh, the whole Spike and BuffyBot thing hurt. Ow. Ow ow ow. And then BuffyBot with the "I think Spike's stopped liking me." OWWWW...

So they show Willow and Tara sleeping in a bed, and then they cut to Dawn. Which makes me ask: Where are Willow and Tara sleeping? Joyce's bed? Buffy's? Eep.

Nick and I have resorted to calling Marti Noxon all sorts of different names.

Anya has better hair. Good girl.

My soul hurts, dammit. Someone call 911. It's fallen, and it can't get up.

The vamp's name is Mm Bop. [sees vamp get dead] His name *was* Mm Bop.

I love Willow's dress! She's Snow White! Except for the deer killing part. And you know, when the deer came onscreen, I started yelling "Bambi's mother, run away!" The deer shoulda listened. Or run away in disgust when Nick said his "Doh! A deer!" joke.

Oh, Giles left a note. A note? Giles!

"Grr. Argh!" Oh, I LOVE that. Nick and I keep wiggling our fingers and going "Gr. Argh." and then we laugh. I'm gonna cry. Can't see Giles go. No! Giles stay!!!! [sob] Although amazingly, I did stop myself from crying.

Wait. Giles is taking a plane from the SUNNYDALE AIRPORT and going to LA, and then he's going directly to London? Is there an airline out there that will go from LA to London without stopovers?

Giles, come back.

Willow has gotten really good fashion sense. I couldn't really complain about most of the clothes. Did they leave the Fashion Nazi (tm MBTV) at the WB?

Aw, Tara's stutter came back.

When Willow's coughing up the snake, I'm screaming "FLUKE" at the TV because it reminds me of the fluke worm on the X-files.

Eew. IckyBuffy. And what the hell did they bury you in?!

BuffyBot, sweetie? Please stop saying "Willow will service me."

Farewell to the BuffyBot. We knew thee not too well. Or something.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Buffy's back. I'm taking a picture of the Buffy billboard around here before they take it down.

{{{{{{{{{{{{Xander}}}}}}}}}}}}}} I don't remember why I hugged him, but I know he needed it.

Oh, hold up. One of the demons is named Clyde?! And he gets to answer to Razor?!

Anya's reminding me a lot of Cordelia. Her voice and inflection and everything.

Dawn, get the hell away from the window! See, Spike agrees with me. And then he stands by it and watches. Spike, I love you, but don't make me swat you. (I could punch. But he's Spike. He will be lightly swatted on the arm.)

Aw, Buffy's all disorientated.

When Tara's mentioning a goddess or something, I only heard "Adia." And then demanded that Eva sing.

The fireflies! I remember those from Fear, Itself. And that was also a Fury ep. Have a cookie, David Fury.

Spike's on a motorcycle. Oh, hell yeah.

Did he just call Dawn "pigeon"??

"I so need male friends." Nick and I both got that. Although Xander is just swimming in estrogen.

Buffy's burial dress. Was this something Joyce bought in 1988 and (hopefully) locked in the basement? High collar in front, deep plunge in the back, and a wide belt that I used to wear with neon and polka dots when I was 8. Fashion Nazi, I banish thee!

Aw, Xander's getting punny. He's a manwich.

Anya said "mosey". I miss Oz.

"..the other Buffy." [starts cackling]

Our first neck snap of UPN. We must celebrate. Bottoms up!

Go, Tara! I was hoping she'd be the one to kill the demon. (Who I assume was Razor?) And the "Nobody messes with my girl." Awwww... =)

"The tower was built by crazy people and I don't think it's standing up very well." On any other show, that would just be a joke.

Buffy and Dawn on the pulley. The Amusement Park Ride From Hell. Oh, wow.

That was kind of a dissatisfying ending, really. I don't know, I just expected... something. Then again, I'm very odd.

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Randie's Review:

Dude, I don't get how those previouslys would help ANYONE who hadn't watched the show before. They're showing stuff about Buffy and Angel. What the heck? That had nothing to do with anything.

BuffyBot is super-duper funny. That knock-knock joke part was the best. I dunno if I laughed so hard because it was THAT funny or because I'd gone a whole summer without any new BtVS-funnies and just realized how seriously funny this show is.

I like the credits. Very cool parts. I don't like this thing at the end, though, I liked the image of Buffy from "Anne" better. Actually, I liked the one from "The Harvest" better, but I'd gotten more used to the "Anne" staredown.

The part where Dawn climbed into bed with BuffyBot was so sad. I actually said, "That's so sad." See?

I can't believe Willow killed a deer. Actually, I knew she was gonna do it, I just didn't know she'd be so calm about it.

Anyway, I think the first part was better than the second part. But then again, I want to cut off David Fury's head and feed it to my pet dinosaur. 'Cause I hate that guy. I really hate him. He just sucks.

It still annoys me that Buffy got resurrected, dug herself out of her grave, fought a fightin' fight with some fighty demon guys, and STILL managed to look like the most beautiful person in the world. That's annoying. (Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit there with the "most beautiful person in the world" bit, but she's annoyingly pretty) Willow looked cute as always, and even Tara looked pretty. I didn't like that thing Willow was wearing when they did the spell, though. (And on clothes: they couldn't have buried Buffy in a better dress? Okay, granted, I don't really LIKE dresses, but still. And then again, couldn't they have just buried her in jeans and then stuck a knife in the back pocket, just in case? And the shoes were ugly too. But I hate most shoes that aren't sneakers. Or yeller Doc Martens) Xander's face is all chubby and he doesn't look cute at all. I'm very upset. But I still love him. Spike was yummy as usual and I kept wanting to like, bite his chin. And, um... Dawn. Well, I don't like her. So ha.

And Giles left! That is so NOT cool! I kept expecting him to go, "Just kidding! Thought I'd give you a scare." (Homecoming memories, oh yes) I miss him already. Hello, how can they function without the G-man? Eek. The only thing that was good about him leaving was that Tara said, "Grr, Argh." ::woohoo dance:: I knew there was a reason I liked her! Okay, that's a lie. I never liked her. But now I do.

Sarah Michelle Gellar is amazing. I really don't understand why everyone thinks Michelle Trachtenberg is such a great actress. I was laughing at her the whole time. But when Buffy said, "Is this hell?" I wanted to hug her really tightly. She probably would have jumped if I did that, though, no? And SMG is really good at being robotic. The BuffyBot rules. I want her. But I don't WANT her. As in, the way Spike wanted her. Well, kinda I do.

Season 6 Episode List

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