Buffy is fighting in a graveyard when the vamp she's about to stake recognizes her and the pair strike up a conversation. Meanwhile, Dawn discovers that Joyce is trying to make contact but something is stopping her, Willow receives a visit from a dead girl who claims she can speak to Tara, and Jonathan and Andrew return to Sunnydale with a plan…

Okay, I really didn't see this coming. Pretty much any of it. I suspect this is the episode Amber Benson should have been back in, but in the end it makes more sense that it isn't her. By focusing in on a few of the characters, this episode has a lot more power and manages to get inside the minds of Buffy and Willow while bringing us a tougher Dawn. The Buffy story is my favourite because Jonathan M Woodward is superb as vampiric psych student Holden Webster, constantly reminding Buffy that he's evil but still managing to have a productive conversation with her. It's the best insight into Buffy's mind that we've had in a long time, as we really start to understand where she's coming from, and how she feels about the Slayer power that flows through her. There was a degree of it seen way back in season three, but this really crystallizes a lot of things we didn't know before. On top of that, of course, it's very funny, as 'Webs' tricks Buffy and generally tries his best to kill her as he gets used to being a vampire.

The Willow story is equally strong, dealing with her sadness, guilt and concern about the events surrounding Tara's death. It's only very late in the day that you realize she's being played, as it's so subtly done, and it sends a chill down the spine when you realize what is being suggested of her. It's very clever to use an innocent person to delve inside Willow, as she's not suspicious at all in the beginning, and therefore neither are we.

The Dawn plotline, meanwhile, provides some of the episode's scariest moments. It's always that much more nasty when we see bad things happen to Dawn, and she's put through real terrors in this episode as some kind of beast attempts to stop her seeing her mother. A test of strength for the young girl, this is Dawn as we've not seen her before: driven, strong, determined, and all these are borne of love. The direction is excellent, really creepy, and effectively uses brief flashes of things to make it even more horrific. I was creeped out and jumpy, and that hasn't happened with Buffy for a while.

Then there's the return of Jonathan and Andrew. It's never revealed what their plan is, but the fact that only Andrew is able to see the deceased Warren seems especially telling. I'm not sure if the other ghosts are appearing to specific people, but as we've already seen Warren this season, he's more likely to be linked to what's happening than the rest. As good as ever, Andrew and Warren share some really funny moments, and Jonathan's good character really comes through at last. Sadly it seems it's his last speech, judging by how the episode ends.

And this is where it really comes through. The multiple shocks at the end: the stabbing, the revelation from Webs, Joyce's warning and finally Willow's unmasking are excellent, throwing up multiple questions but leaving no doubt in my mind that not only do the show creators know where they're headed, but that this could turn out to be the most exciting season yet. I really have to see more, right now.

*****

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