Buffy the Vampire Slayer - 6x10 “Wrecked” FULL REACTION

i love that your reading the novels too. there are some awesome ones that are just amazing. there is the buffy the vampire slayer gatekeeper trilogy, there is the lost slayer series 1-4 just some amazing books

I watched Buffy as it aired. Watching it now with Liam's reaction I can see it in a different way. I'm more grown up and wise to the world now, so some things may have passed me by when I was a teenager. That's why I like to watch the reaction, it's a way of re-watching the series, but from a different perspective. This series being about 20 years old, things were also different back then, there's a lot of words/scenes in Buffy that wouldn't be used these days. Buffy was very progressive for its day, (I won't mention what I want to as it's a spoiler for Liam - but it had a 'first' in TV history)

Sharon Owen

I've told this story before, but not to you, Liam! I know that the drug addiction metaphor may have SEEMED heavy-handed, especially to the modern, thoughtful viewer with an understanding of symbolism, subtext, and critical viewing, but I can assure you that these abilities are by no means universal. Many years ago, it came up in conversation that the dude I was talking with had been a regular viewer of BTVS during its initial run. We were reminiscing, having a ball, until I mentioned how deeply this episode had affected me, as an addict. He was like: "Huh?!" Turned out that he remembered the scenes with Rack, etc., but said that he never did "get" what it was really about. The punch line? He was my gorram DRUG COUNSELOR, at the methadone clinic, no less!! I forget how surface-y many peoples' viewing habits can be... It really kinda "bummed me out," haha

As soon as I catch up on all the comments/essays 😆 I’ll chime in on the discussions. Late as it may be.

Bunny Norris

Wow, I’m so sorry you’ve endured hateful comments from some ppl over your opinions, it really bothers me when that happens and I hope you won’t let it affect you. I think fandom can get very toxic, especially when ppl forcibly project their own feelings onto others, or feel personally offended if someone doesn’t echo their exact thoughts. I don’t think you’re biased towards Willow, I’ve listened to all your after thoughts on these episodes and really love how rewarding they are - your understanding of the character dynamics often takes people multiple rewatches to get to! Also, a person can love a character, or ship a particular ship, but that doesn’t in and of itself kill off a person’s brain cells or blind one to their faults. I’m invested in spuffy but I can clearly recognise when it is toxic and destructive, similarly my favourite characters are Buffy, Willow and Spike but that doesn’t mean I’m blind to their lowest moments or the worst aspects of their characters, I love them that much and am still invested in their ongoing journeys. Really looking forward to your thoughts on the rest of the season and hope you’ll stay unaffected and true to yourself ♥️

Regarding Amy, I agree that her transition to the "black magic drug addict bad influence" role does seem a little sudden in the way it's told here. However, looking back at her character: we know that she was psychologically and magically abused by her mother. We know about the body swapping (and from what I remember, we never learn how long that was going on -- maybe years), and there are allusions to other ways that her mother mistreated her. Going forward, we know that she starts using magic to cheat in high school (invisible homework during Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered). The next time we see her, to my memory, is when she is nearly burned at the stake by an angry mob. She's clearly had a rough life. Exactly when she starts visiting Rack is unclear, but there is definitely a good amount of groundwork to establish that she is a very damaged person. It's just that all that happened 3+ seasons ago, so it feels a little out-of-nowhere when that plot thread continues in season 6.

ModernArtery .

Dawn was totally in the right as well when she looked at Willow in disgust and then slapped her. Sometimes I don't think a lot of people really get just how much addiction can change someone. I was horrible when I was an addict, I didn't mean to be, but man, the lying, and the manipulation, and the sheer arrogance, and the way I spoke to and treated people. I deserved to have been slapped a dozen times over or more, and I will always maintain that Willow deserved that slap from Dawn as well. I was actually on the Methadone program during Season 6 of Buffy, the first season since around season 2 that I'd watched without being a raging junkie (sidenote: I still never missed an episode of Buffy in all that time though, I had two main focuses back then, get heroin, and find a TV set once a week to watch my favourite show, and I still managed both even when I was out on the streets). As a recovered addict I absolutely love the route they took with Willow's character, and the build up they put in place to get to this point in the show, and substituting out magic for actual drugs it still all rings so true for me.

Claire Eyles

Thumbs up for that post, Holi.

UTU49

I've been watching your reactions to Buffy since the beginning (I've been looking for a good reaction series for Buffy for a while and yours is by a long way the most insightful, funny and enjoyable) but I've never joined in the conversation till now. Your openness about your introverted nature, certainly in regards to your family, spoke to me so deeply. That's exactly how I feel and am perceived by a lot of the people in my life. Quietness must equal disinterest. You come across so eloquent and outgoing in your reactions so I really appreciate your frankness in regards to your difficulty with social situations. Thank you. I really hope the negative, thoughtless messages and comments you get don't affect you too much. You are extremely good at what you do and you should have full confidence in your worth as a reviewer. All the best!

I love this arc. And I 100% agree with you. I'm glad you like it. The whole concept of having good characters do bad things is some of my favorite things in TV. This is one of those moments.

Angela Colon

me with an axe "get the hell away from my reactor!"

Holi117

awesome reaction as always. Its a really tough episode to watch because we love the characters so much. I always get upset by that ending - with Willow breaking down screaming how sorry she is, to her 1-1 with Buffy on the bed... so upsetting. Buffy is really identifying with Willow, telling herself that she is a grown up and everything is under control. I didn't ever see the drugs metaphor as too much, or ham-fisted or any of those things. All through the end of s5 and through the whole of s6 so far we have seen how much Willow is using and relying on magic, and the build up to this addiction has been so well done, even as far back as s3. After she does her first few spells, she wants more. The longer she has been practicing and the more powerful she has become, the more addicted to the power and the feeling she has become. It makes total sense to me that after Tara leaves her (her love, her anchor) she would dive over the edge with Amy as a way to drown her sorrows. I know plenty of good people who have been through a hard time go into a drug dive to make the pain disappear for awhile. Myself included, once upon a time. They portrayed it very well to me - that arrogance, ignorance, the being out of control and not even realising how bad it has gotten until its too late. I think for Willow, she needed to hit this level of low to finally admit to herself that she has a problem and needs help. She has been in denial all season - to tara, to the scoobies, etc. The buffy and spike drama is of course not healthy at all. Its clear that buffy is using him. At the start of the season it seemed that they were growing close. She confided and trusted him and treated him like a friend, but at the same time still treated him like crap. Now she has moved that relationship to a new level and part of her wants it - that thrill, getting lost in him, easing her own pain... but then she creates more pain because she isn't in love with him, and she feels guilt and shame for what she has been getting up to with him... *sigh* Like many others, I love spuffy. and as you are bias for Willow, I am bias for Spike lol. I can see his flaws and mistakes, but still see his side and how/why he does things. I wanted them to fall for one another, based on those lovely, sweet moments they have shared. But not like this lol. Not this angry, resentful way. I feel bad for Spike when Buffy is horrible to him the morning after, calling him convienent. I can see his walls shooting up, being rude and defensive to cover how hurt he is by her words, how confused he is by her conflicting actions... makes me so sad and frustrated. But I won't go into it too much yet lol. Anyways! those are my thoughts lol. I'm sorry others have been giving you grief Liam. It makes zero sense to me. You are the best reactor in my opinion. Your thoughts are so on point, I love how into the show you are and how much you pick up on as a first time viewer. It's awesome. I'm so upset that certain people have upset you. Fuck those people. Take a break, regroup, look after you! We'll all be here waiting for you when you're ready :) xxx

Holi117

I personally dont think he dropped a 'pretence' he woke up in the morning with her and wanted to continue, snuggle, and she was SO horrible to him. The look on his face was just pure heartbreak and confusion. He doesn't understand why she would initiate kissing him and having sex with him if she doesn't want him or feel for him in return... Now he is putting on a bravado 'I know where you live now slayer...' 'I'm in your system.' etc. Yeah he is soulless, so he isn't understanding the moral ambiguity or the ranging depths of emotions or lack-of Buffy is dealing with, but he is still the same as before they had sex...

Holi117

Yep. And real addiction isn't about the drug, it's about what's behind it. Using drugs (or sex, or shopping, or gambling), as a crutch, to avoid stuff, to regulate your emotions or to solve problems is pretty key. Willow is using the quick-fix rather than really tackling things, and she's been doing that since Season 4.

Hazel Angus

Ok, here goes my rant. I'm aiming for brief and articulate, so bear with me for a moment: - Any fandom (as any group of people) has its share of idiots that can't accept other people's opinions or discuss them without being rude or disrespectful. Learning to identify and ignore them quickly is the path to a happier life. - About the magic/drug metaphor being too in-your-face: it never bothered me, maybe because some of it flew over my head (i.e. "strawberry", "getting high", and all that don't mean the same in Spanish). But, hitting rock bottom shouldn't be subtle anyway. - About the "why don't you talk to her" part, which I hear quite a lot: well, that worked fine for the last two people that tried, didn't it? Giles got threatened and Tara got her memories erased, TWICE. I don't blame Xander for being scared of her, which I think he somewhat is, since the resurrecting spell. And Buffy, well, she's struggling with a similar issue, so how would she call Willow out? - About Buffy/Spike: Yeah, pretty toxic stuff. For both of them. Buffy's addiction is pretty obvious, with the parallels with Willow and all that, but Spike has been addicted to Buffy for more than a season at this point, so he'd do anything to get his dose, and can't get enough of it either. I have more to say, but I'm probably not that smart or insightful anyway, so I'll leave it here :P

Khanach

Because everyone is their own person and can ship who they want to on a fictional tv show. lol

Tia

People hate on you🙀🙀🙀 “Work with me British man, give me an axe and show me where to point it” I don’t understand, you’ve always been fair in your reactions even when it’s a cinnamon roll you’re talking about so why are people hating on you? I’ve never got the impression you didn’t like Tara either, I think you love her and considering she’s with Willow and you’ve made it clear you’re always going to prefer Willows relationship with Oz I think it’s amazing you love Tara as much as you do. There have been reactors I haven’t agreed with before, I won’t go onto the who and how but they defended an action that was indefensible and I was disgusted but I still never hated on them. Everyone has their own opinion and all opinions are valid to someone. It’s a TV show guys! Don’t be mean and hateful to someone because they don’t think the same way you do. Liam, for every one person that hates on you there are 100 of us with an axe 💕

CeNedra

I can't for the life of me figure out how anyone could ship Spike and Buffy. I mean in just this one episode how many times did she tell him no and tell him to stop and he kept going anyway? Every time.

homoerotic 80s volleyball scene personified

Love your analysis.

Vicky N

I couldn't think of any other ways for the writers to make this episode as effective as it has been so I think that the lack of subtlety was needed in a way of portraying the metaphor. Plus, I think the whole visual effects were really amazing and kinda cool to watch. :)

Stephen Mintac

Forreal! It's like people are miserable when others don't agree with their viewpoints. SMH. The beauty of the BuffyVerse is that many characters live in the Gray Area and that's what makes the show interesting and relatable. Some people may relate to a character and others may relate to another one more.

Stephen Mintac

Willow's a fantastic character. I love her. I love that she's complex and has flaws, like every interesting character should.

cs

Even if he was biased I dont know why people would get angry about it, each and every one of us have our own Buffy experience....

Jon Dub

People hate on you for liking Willow?! How weird. Dont worry about what idiots say

Jon Dub

I know it's horrible, if only it was uploaded to daily motion

Daveangels

Liam, I'm sorry to hear that people have attacked you for your opinions -- and sometimes their incorrect *perceptions* of your opinions. At very least they should say these things in a public place where other people can call them out when they are being unreasonable.

UTU49

I don’t love every character in this show, but I really like them all [and every main character has at least a few moments where I love them] and it’s because of two main reasons. 1) Their complete character profiles with flaws and strengths are organic and make sense throughout the show for me. 2) Secondly the main trio especially try to be good within their limits. This show is the rare show that’s about relatable people struggling to be and do “good” in a harsh world, where the choices aren’t often great. Sometimes failing, but failing in understandable and true ways to their character, and also succeeding and overcoming not just outside obstacle but internal struggles. The character’s whole personalities are compatible to real life people and that’s why people really connect with multiple characters in this show, the writers didn’t just throw together random traits or use flaws for plot devises [mostly]. The weaknesses and strengths of the characters are deeply intertwined and present in small forms from the beginning and how they grown within them over the seasons in spirals of highs and lows is fascinating. Willow’s self-esteem issues and her desire to improve/learn and become worthy, Buffy's tendency to self-blame/self-hate and her sense of responsibility to protect others, and Xander’s insecurities and his desire to be there for others are just a few of the strengths and flaws that are intertwined so well into a whole “realistic” person. To me these characters feel bigger than any story they happened to be involved in because of the reasons above. And I can genuinely ask what would Willow, Xander or Buffy do in this situation and come up with quick reasonable answers. Heck there’s a whole book called what would Buffy do? It's great fun!

Shashank

Someone actually was rude to you for still liking Willow? Willow Is my favorite character and nothing she did (whether to Tara, to Dawn, or herself) ever changed that. I just liked her that much. People love Spike despite all the crap he's done and is still doing.

Prue

It should tell you something about his level-headedness when it comes to Willow when he says his favorite Dawn episode is the one where she hits Willow in the face. Willow's response in the last scene to Buffy saying Tara loved her — "we don't know that" — makes my head spin. Because it's obvious that Tara loves her, and it would be mad stubborn of Willow to deny that, but I think she means that Tara doesn't love the "real" her. The insecure nerd she's afraid she truly is deep down. Her magic was blossoming at the beginning of her and Tara's relationship and is actually foundational to their connection. I mean, it was a goddamn metaphor for gay sex for a while, of course she feels like Tara couldn't love her without the magic. It's that line that makes it abundantly clear to me why Willow continued using magic even after all those red flags. She hates herself, and she doesn't want Tara to see who she really is.  I think a lot of this ep was really on the nose too, but I forgive it because I love this storyline and there are so many nuanced intimate scenes that make up for it. As a recovering drug addict especially, this just all makes perfect sense to me and I'm proud of the show for going there, even if some of the execution is a little clunky. The "getting high" stuff is just a component of a very complex picture, and doesn't undo any of the other things that magic has stood for in the past. It's just following your lore and the character you've built to their natural conclusion, which is exactly what I want from scifi/fantasy.

KT

Empathy is not forgiveness. Sorry you have commenters who don’t get that. Loving a character doesn’t necessarily mean you’d want that person as a friend in the real world.

Steve Maxey

Okay, now that we're finally at this episode let's do a character synopsis. You have this socially awkward, brainiac nerd type, whose Mother picks out her clothes, who is picked on and made to feel completely irrelevant by those who have deemed themselves to have the power, whose internal sense of self oscilliates between non existent and self loathing, and because of that she tends to externalise her sense of self onto other things. This girl also has an underlying need to control things around her, to reject any emotion or situation that feels anything less than positive, to try and control or suppress those unwanted emotions and/or to try and ensure that even the remotest bit of goodness in her life has to remain that way come hell or high water (and if that doesn't seem to be happening, well by god she'll make it happen, even if that means charging in without really stopping to think what the best thing for everyone is in any given situation and potentially making the situation worse). Then she finds a group of friends, and eventually discovers something that makes her feel as if she has worth (again an externalised sense of worth). She's not nobody, now she's somebody, she feels like she finally has something of (external) value to contribute, she's useful instead of useless. And bonus, this new seemingly amazing discovery also apparently comes with this nifty idea/sense/abiltity of external and internal control - having to accept negative emotions/situations A through Z? Pfft, not anymore, she can just do X and everything will just magically be fixed (but like other attempts to come charging in headfirst like a bull at a gate to try and forcibly make things into her idea of better, this new coping strategy also has a tendency to backfire, spectacularly at times). And the more she comes to rely on, and engage in this externalised sense of worth, and control, the more it becomes tied in to an equally externalised identity she begins to create for herself, like a costume that she becomes increasingly laced into but is too scared to have just ripped away from her, because then people will see who she really is. She starts to feel like she's nothing without that costume; remove the costume and she's still that same picked on and dismissed and belittled school girl, who is a worthless nobody, with nothing of value to contribute to anybody. And the further things go, the more desperate she becomes to hang onto this external sense of identity she's increasingly layered upon herself; to the point that she starts to become increasingly defensive towards pretty much anyone who just might be picking up on the fact that maybe her newly found sense of worth, and confidence, and feelings of empowerment might not be that healthy afterall. Even if deep down, on some level, she knows they probably have a point she still has a snappy defense, or a sharp rebuke, or an argument at the ready to explain why everyone's concern is totally misplaced and wrong. In the meantime she either doesn't see, or doesn't want to see the giant, neon red, flashing warning sign that says 'You are headed for one hell of a fall' - not at least until she steps off the edge of the cliff she's been teetering on and ends up crashing down to earth with a hell of a thud. ---------------------------------- All of that is why I relate to very, very strongly to Willow not just as a character, but to her entire character arc thus far. Oh, and that character synopsis? That's not Willow I'm talking about, it's me. And I'll talk more about the whole first hand addiction experience parallels in another post, because I'm probably already close to going over the word limit here.

Claire Eyles

I've been curious about your reaction to this episode ever since you first professed your love for Willow. We're seeing both Buffy and Willow at low places at the same time. It does not feel good. It reminds me of a time in my life when both my brother and I were in a state of crisis at the same time and we were therefore not able to be there for each other in ways that we would have at any other time in our lives.

UTU49

Fandoms are passionate. That's good. Sometimes fandoms are so passionate they attack all other view points. That's bad. One thing I like about your reactions Is that you discuss different viewpoints and explain your reasoning, You're allowed to have a favorite character. You admit your occasional bias and still acknowledge the faults in her character. I don't know what else anybody could ask of you. I find it difficult to like Willow during this time in the show, but I'll never attack you for her being your favorite.

Second_Strike

I don't think you like Willow too much. She's awesome. Everyone is. When Willow is in the wrong, you call it out, so I have no idea why someone would be rude to you and say you are biased. I don't think you are. I'm so sorry about that. :( That irritates me, and I hope you don't take all that to heart. Most of us love your reactions and reviews. Your content is so wonderful. THANK YOU. 🖤

Grace

My god do I relate to the “Why don’t you talk?” thing. As though a group of people turning to stare at you when someone asks that and waiting for you to explain what’s wrong with you is going to make you feel more comfortable.

Karissa Edie

Thank you Liam for your reactions. On that note........DropBox is a pretty bad way to watch your reactions. It freezes towards the middle many times and I have to go to your YouTube channel to finish the edited version. Does Google Drive not work for you anymore? Not sure how it all works.

Bastion33

Specifically someone who prostitutes themselves for drugs.

Moon Logic

I agree about this episode hitting you over the head with the addiction story. I agree with you, the subtle nods to it for me was enough, we really didn't need an episode this much on the nose and IMO over the top to explore this issue with Willow.

Melissa Murphy

In terms of the whole 'magic is drugs' metaphor being heavy handed and too on the nose (which I know some people think) - I agree that the hallucinatory graphics, and Willow literally high on the ceiling, and so on, was totally lacking in subtlety, but I've always seen the magic that Rack deals in as like the difference between snorting meth and dropping a few eccies, and mainlining heroin.

Claire Eyles

Not a big fan of this episode to be honest. I feel like it takes Willow's storyline from a very interesting psychology approach (using magic for the wrong reasons, being controlling and manipulative, trying to make up for her giant insecurities) to this dumbed down druggie storyline that I personally don't really feel like makes much sense, is too literal and quite boring (except for the ending of the episode when Willow explains her reasons). So I'm glad you're looking at it beyond and see how it ties back to Willow as a person :)

4Tom4lepus4

I think it's a very good episode but I've never taken it at face value and doubt the truthfulness/accuracy of a lot of things that are said. For me this is a really sad episode for Willow. The way her face lights up when she sees Tara in the kitchen. Spending time cuddling with her clothes. How Willow perks up and then deflates when Dawn mentions Tara during their walk-and-talk. Willow is still very much in love but her fear of appearing weak to Amy, her fear of actually being weak and the fact that Tara has already left her, are among the things that have led Willow down this particular path.

Bruce Trogdon

PS I’m sorry that people think it’s okay to be so aggressive toward you just because you still love Willow. People seem to think it’s blind love but you acknowledge her mistakes and flaws; idk why others somehow take that as an insult to how they feel about the situation

Ritchie

You are definitely not alone in finding the getting high scenes heavy-handed and ham-fisted. I find it all kind of cringeworthy to watch and usually skip over those parts on rewatches. It feels very un-Buffy like, because the show is usually so good at subtlety.

Dentarthurdent

Oh, btw, little point of trivia, the term 'Strawberry' is old school street slang for a prostitute. It was mostly used in the 80s around LA and surrounding areas. So yeah if it wasn't already obvious that the energy exchange between Rack and Willow was a sexual one, throw in the 'Strawberry' nickname and well, yeah.

Claire Eyles

I went into rewatching this episode thinking I would find it just as alright as I remembered but after rewatching it, I really do have a lot of mixed emotions. Willow’s build-up is both dealt with well and dealt with badly. I feel like we could have done without the more obvious parallels to drug addiction that we were absolutely clubbed over the head with here. Surely, Willow could have realized how far she’s gone without Rack the Drug Lord doping her up. Idk this episode wasn’t as good as I remember it being. This episode feels like if Beer Bad actually held any emotional weight. This one is obviously leagues better but it feels almost like an after school special out of nowhere. Which is strange since Willow’s storyline hasn’t been “out of nowhere” in the slightest. But the VERY OBVOUS drug addict parallels feel so suddenly clunky here that it somehow does Although, I do love this story for Willow in the sense that it’s what had to happen with the path that she’s been on. Something like this had to happen for her to wake up and acknowledge her relationship with magic. I just wish the metaphors were cleaner and that Rack didn’t exist.

Ritchie

I love the way you react to these Liam, you have such a nuanced and empathetic understanding of the characters. I think this is why season 6 is so divisive and you're one of the few reactors I enjoy watching experience it. It's a season that requires you to think of people in a very multidimensional way and understand that we are the product of our experiences, emotions, actions and environment and that means we all make both poor and good decisions. Thank you for taking the time to involve yourself with it all. :)

Scarlet

Expect an essay from me at some point post watching this reaction. I said right from season 1 that I related the strongest to Willow, because her character is basically me - and now I can finally explain why I think that, and talk about the portrayal of addiction from a first hand point of view. I am also ridiculously excited for this reaction so I'm gonna go watch it. YAY!

Claire Eyles

This is a tough one to watch, this episode. But gotta love the character depth going on here. You're allowed to have a favorite character, by the way. Everyone has characters they're more drawn to than others. I wouldn't worry on that nor about those who worry of you hating Tara. Some people are projecting their own insecurities. Some people are so super sensitive that you preferring Oz/Willow somehow makes them feel emotionally like you must hate Tara/a rejection of a pairing or character they might like, even though that's not how you feel. (Throw in the LGBTQ sensitivities and that can amplify peoples' emotions). People tend to have knee jerk reactions to their own emotions and don't take the time to critically evaluate their own feelings and thoughts before commenting. I wouldn't stress on that one either. That's on them, not on you. Just on another note, I think if you keep quiet due to lack of knowledge on any particular subject, since you are listening to what others have to say at those times, you might notice that most people aren't experts either and it's okay to chat about opinions and thoughts on something if you like. Another tact to take is just to ask questions about the subject, giving them more room to speak up and you room to be quiet as you like without being called out for being too quiet. Just my two cents on that one!

Jayna

Thank you, Liam! 😁 I LOVE this episode for all the darkness and parallels to addiction and depression. It hits me right in the heart every time, and though I am furious with Willow, she has a disease, and she needed this level of fucked-up-ness to realise that she does need help. The Spike and Buffy thing is so messed up, but I love it anyway. because everyone has probably done something stupid for the wrong reasons to make themselves feel better at some point in their life. and Spike is that for where Buffy is currently at. this whole spisode is just brimming with an incredible poignancy that really resonates on several levels. really looking forward to the next ep, which is one of my favourites of the season, if not the show

Signe (Seena) Stewart

Was drinking the same flavour cider as you earlier! As for Willow, it is a good portrayal of addiction. And it all makes sense. It's not a random character thing, we saw how Willow was getting into magic in early s3, so it makes sense that after 3 years, it escalated and went out of control. In general, I never really liked this episode much outside of the final 2 scenes which were great. Also, I dislike Amy and always have after Witch. Didn't like her in any of S2/3 appearances, and obviously now. Also, to the bell-e*** who send you abuse, tell them where to go!

Salv Mancuso

I'm sorry some people feel the need to send you abuse. One of the reasons I subscribe to you (aside from being an unrepentant Buffy/Angel addict) is that I think you're incredibly observant in terms of picking up on themes and characters, and very fair and reasonable in your thoughts and reactions. I agree that this episode is a little too on the nose, but there's still some good stuff. Spike and Buffy in particular is like a car crash that you can't look away from. Spike is clearly terrible for Buffy and their dynamic is so toxic. I also think it's interesting that, as soon as Spike got what he wanted from Buffy in terms of physical affection, he dropped the pretence of being a good man. I love Spike as a character but he's soulless, and despite being far more sensitive than the average vampire is clearly evil and, if not incapable of love, is certainly not able to love in any sort of selfless, healthy way.

Shandler

Yeah I agree.. it's been built up for a long time but it's got all the subtlety of a hand grenade. And I feel like "magic is a drug" just sort of.. simplifies the complexity of Willow's issues?

4Tom4lepus4

I’ve always seen the drug metaphor as more about power than it was magic. Willow has been, for seasons now, using magic as a crutch but very specifically she has used it to have power over others, to manipulate their choices or avoid personal pain relating to them. I find it a fascinating choice that they’ve built appropriately.

Renee Pope-Munro

I buy into the Willow story too. It's been building for so long... I just kinda wish it was a little less heavy handed on the metaphor here.

Bisibia

We know what this situation needs: Cartoon All-Stars To The Rescue!

Koz

I think the magic=drugs metaphor is rather clunky, but I love how layered and interesting Willow has become as a character. I get a bit confused by the suggestion that Willow should only be an unambiguously sweet person - a 2D sidekick who plays with the computer and wears knitted jumpers. You can criticise a character’s decisions, but still find them engaging, interesting and be emotionally involved in their actions.

Nick Earl

I may or may not have been refreshing all day for this. I am SO excited for this one. I've actually been looking forward to it for so many seasons. This is gonna be good! 🤩

Jenn Rose

I got you covered

Was literally just thinking, I hope Liam uploads the next episode soon!