Buffy is back home, but not back at school. Trying to make her feel welcome again, her friends stage a party to celebrate her return. Unfortunately, thanks to an ancient mask Buffy's mum has brought home from work, things are not going to go according to plan.
After last week's slow start, I was expecting a return to form here, with Buffy back home in Sunnydale. Unfortunately, it's time for another angst workout, as everyone decides to get really irritated with each other.
The biggest disaster here is that the main cast seem totally out of character. Admittedly, all of them have been through a lot, but surely they could all be a bit more sympathetic rather than trying to outdo each other about who's suffered most? Is it Joyce, who's had no idea where her daughter's been all this time? Is it the kids, who've been trying to kill vampires solo and needed occasional hugs? Or is it Buffy who had to murder someone she loved shortly after being expelled from school, having her mum throw a strop with her for being the Slayer, and being set up for murder? Oooh, tricky. The other serious faux pas is that one life-saving event later, everyone forgives Buffy because she can still kill vampires really well. Not very likely and disappointing. Still, hopefully the angst is over now.
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