Ahhhh. . .season four. I get gushy just thinking about my favoritest show in the world, and even more gooey thinking about fun new episodes to bring light to my Tuesdays. So far, it has been interesting. There hasn't been a big baddie that stands out from all others. Maggie Walsh was a baddie, but not on the same level as Spike, the Master or the Mayor. Plus, she's dead already. Adam is becoming quite the threat, but he was just introduced recently, and I don't find him scary in the slightest. Can't they just blow him up or something? It's not like he's going to open the hellmouth or anything.Before we get to the characters, I want to talk about Hush. Brilliant, inventive, ground-breaking and absolutely hilarious. This episode is the highlight of season four, and ranks as the best Buffy to date. I have never been so amused and amazed as I was watching that episode. Joss Whedon proved yet again that he is an innovator, willing to break boundaries and stretch the lines of reality a little further every chance he gets. It just makes me want to marry him all the more. OK, I think I'm done with the praise, but it's hard not to get all freaky about that episode.
Let's talk about our favorite characters! First, of course, is Buffy. I'm rather happy about how they've been taking Buffy this season - she's been generally happy and fucking up like everyone does. The drinking in Beer Bad is part of it, but I'm speaking mainly of Parker. It's nice to see her go out and get screwed over, basically because it's something that happens to all girls whether they want to admit it or not, unless they are nuns. Except, I've heard the priests can be really bad about calling after they get some. The cool thing is, Parker isn't an unmentionable demon, but a regular guy. And Buffy got played just like a regular girl would. Normally, the writers like to take normal stuff and make it all demony, which is cool, but sometimes I like to see the bad without demon influence. Some people just suck. Buffy, however, doesn't. I like her with Riley, a lot, although they seem to be getting a little boring as of late. But not too bad, so I still like them together. It's wonderful seeing her get on with the rest of her life, and it's about fucking time too. Plus, regardless of how they act around other people, the two of them are HOT together. That scene in The I in Team was probably the best "sex" scene I've seen on Buffy. The flashback to Angel/Buffy in Amends was nice, but this was just carnal and fun. Sarah's been really great this year, performing wonderfully in all the eps. Buffy has been a lot more independent and making many more command decisions. She's more like a general now than before, when she had the Watcher's Council on her ass all the time. She is becoming more and more kick ass and don't fuck with me all the time, and I just LOVE it. (Note that a big loser would insert a "you go girl!" here, but I, thankfully, am not that loser.)
Willow is gay. I'm very excited about it, actually. Except for Larry, there has been no gay fun on Buffy. OK, I don't think Willow is gay, but rather really really gay. Seriously though, I'm sure she's just confused and all weird since Oz left, and I don't blame her one bit. She got the short end of the stick, big time, and AH showed amazing depth in portraying a sad, mopey Willow. For some reason, sad mopey Willows don't bother me like sad mopey Buffys do, but I digress. I'm looking forward to witnessing what is going to come of Willow and Tara's relationship. Can I just say I hate Tara's freaking hair and most of her clothes? Thanks. Willow has gotten much more fun this season, what with the witchcraft and all. She's a big girl now, and she has self-confidence out the ass. Willow has continued to be a good and faithful friend to Buffy and the gang, and her friendship with Giles seems to be deepening all the more, which makes me a happy girl - I like the idea of Giles and Willow together now more than ever. Basically, I want Willow to be with EVERYONE! Make her a slut! Willow continues to be one of my most favorite characters because she is such a cutie and a sweetie; she is geniune, unique, smart and faithful. Plus, she's hot too.
Xander. The loser becomes an even bigger loser, and the world stands amazed. He's not in school, which is OK because not everyone digs the school tip. But he doesn't have a good job either. In fact, the gag seems to be a new job for Xander every week, which is funnier than I thought it would be. The funny part about it is that I can see Xander doing all of those things, hating them all and then proceeding to weasel his way out of the job. I like Xander with Anya, which is amazing, as I thought I would never like Xander with anyone after Cordy. But Anya has a Cordy like quality to her which makes it fun. It's good to know that Xander is finally getting some on a regular basis. He needs, more than most I think, to have a lot of sex. And from what Anya has said, it seems to be somewhat interesting at that. "Yes, we've enjoyed spanking." I'm curious though, at what Xander is going to become. I am unclear about where his character is going and how they are going to develop him. His presence seems to be more as a element of comedy than anything else. I like Xander for the funny, but he's more than that - but that's what he's been reduced to this season. I want my Xander-centric ep! Where is it? The Zeppo and Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, season three and two Xander eps, respectively, were both highlights of the year. His character, more than any other main character, seems to lack the growth and maturation we have seen from the others this year.
I have always loved Giles, because he is stuffy and haughty. Now I love Giles more because he is becoming less stuffy and more approachable. It's endearing to watch a character you adore become more and more comfortable in his surroundings and witness him developing a place where he is comfortable. So, his tweed is gone, but not forgotten, as it lives on in the hearts of those who remember it. Giles looks fetching in whatever he wears, and it's nice to see him in more comfortable looking clothing, although a suit of armor would probably be more cosy than his former wardrobe. I also am rather fond of the fact that Giles was getting with Olivia. He needed to get laid, and she's quite a cutie. Plus, it seems to be some sort of relationship, the parameters of which I am unsure. Regardless, it wasn't a one night chocolate induced thing like it was with Joyce. Giles desperately needed to get on with it, and to stop thinking about Jenny all the time. He never said he was, but you know he was. The "friendship" between Spike and our manly former-librarian is just hilarious. Spike might pretend that he hates Giles, but I really don't think that he does. How can anyone hate Giles? He's so cute and fuzzy and smart and sexy. I did enjoy this year's Giles ep, A New Man. We haven't had one of those since the aptly titled The Dark Age. I laughed aplenty when Giles ranted on about resisting his demony urges and then rushed out of his pathetic little former non-car to scare the crap out of Maggie Walsh. Giles is actually like a real person now! He's unemployed (wonder how he keeps his nice apartment), relaxed, seemingly happy and just as brilliant as ever. His relationships with the Scooby gang have matured from parent-child like situations into real friendships, full of mutual respect and admiration. I can only hope to see more of this kind of development from Giles as the season progresses.
I miss Oz and the element that he added to the show, but if I were Seth Green, I would have left too. His budding movie career is looking very hot, and he could have missed some great opportunities by staying. However, we Buffy fans missed some great things by not having him around. I liked the way they handled Oz's departure. I might get some flack for this, but I don't fucking care. It seems accurate to believe that if Oz was changing into a werewolf, he would be much more attune to the primitive id-ness that he, like all of us, tries to quash on a regular basis. I can't tell you the number of times I've been in a situation where my id has been going freaking nuts, trying to get me to do something I really want to do but know better than to actually do it. Of course, what he did was wrong. Poor Willow. But it's believable, and what's more, it added a passionate side to him that was hiding. Oz will be back sooner or later, and I hope Willow makes him squirm. When it came down to it, he chose Willow over that bitchass Veruca. Regardless of what happened, he loves her deeply. Oz's humor is sorely missed. Rewatching old episodes made me realize how funny he is. A classic Oz-ism was in Living Conditions. After Buffy has kicked the bench and split it in two, Oz remarks: "On the plus side, you killed the bench, which was looking shifty." Perfect. That's what I miss. I was never wild about Willow/Oz, although they were OK and it was nice to see Willow be with someone who truly cares about her. It's Oz's humor that has always made me a fan of him.
Spike, to my delight, has been made a regular this season. Nothing could give me more joy, as I am obsessed with Spike and love every little thing about him. My favorite Spike episode was definitely Something Blue, mostly because I have always wanted Buffy and Spike to get together, and this gave us an idea of what it would be like to have the two of them together. Which was really funny. Spike and Harmony were too hilarious for words, and I hope to see them reunited in the future. They, like Buffy/Riley, were way hot. I very much enjoyed their bed scenes. Mostly because James Marsters as Spike is just about the sexiest man ever. But the poor baby can't bite anymore, leading to many funny impotence euphemisms. And an opportunity for him to chill with the scoobies, even though he hates them. Spike, surprisingly, loves Passions. He eats Wheatabits. He wears Xander's clothes when his own get messed up. Here's hoping Hostile 17 will be with us for a long while, as he brightens up every scene and always can be counted on to say something funny. The big bad adds a lot to the show, even now that he's living in a crypt on his own. I think it's cute how he moved out of Xander's, like he is finally a big boy allowed to be on his own. And his American accent ("I'm a friend of Xander's) was awesome.
Let's talk about Riley. I'm kind of a fan. He's cute, sweet and an absolute joy in Buffy's life. He really brings out the good fun in her, plus she's getting laid which is definitely happy fun. I'm glad he's not a regular guy - I don't think Buffy could ever really be with an average joe. Her life is just too complicated and she would have a hard time explaining why she's always out late at night. Ultimately, Mr. Average Guy would think she's running around town getting with whomever, which is hardly the case. I'd like to think that both Buffy and Riley sensed something about each other, but I don't think that's the case. Both seemed willing to make allowances for weird behavior, just based on the fact that they act weird sometimes in ways they cannot explain. Marc Blucas showed excellent range as Riley in the episode "Goodbye Iowa". That episode really put me in Riley's camp, for it was the first time that I felt strongly for his character, rather than mild indifference. Who knew the kid could act? I like the fact that Riley has layers and is not just some marine-like pretty boy. Of course, Angel had layers but most of them were more boring than tragic. But Riley seems a little out of whack right now and I'm not sure where they are going to take it. For the freaking love of god, if Riley turns evil I'm gonna be pissed. We already did that story arc, remember? And a quick segue to my favorite Riley moment - punching Parker square in the face. Also, the sex scene with Buff was phenom! All in all, I like what I've seen of Riley so far and look forward to seeing even more.
Anya is turning into one of my favorite characters. I love her preoccupation with sex, and her extreme bluntness. Wacky hijinks. Also, I think Emma Caulfield is wonderful in the role - she brings the character to life with her great timing and her fun facial expressions. Anya and Xander together scares me, but amuses me much more. They really seem to be getting on, and Xander deserves a funny hot girl. I've heard that Emma signed on to be a regular, and I am very happy to hear it. Since Oz left, there was a bit of a hole, humor wise, but I think Emma has really stepped up and done a fab job with her part and providing laughs aplenty to the show. Emma's best work this season, by far, was in "Hush", an episode that seemed to bring out the best in everyone. She was one of the highlights of the ep, and proved that you don't need dialogue to provide laugh-making fodder. Her obsession-like devotion to Xander only makes her all the more humorous, and more human too. It must be alarming to Anya, but she is becoming more human every day.
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