Last Week:
Spike and Andrew return with news about a possible weapon to use against The First. The Mayor returns to chit chat with Faith. Everyone pairs off for some pre-apocalyptic nookie except Spike and Buffy who just cuddle. Buffy visits the Vineyard and finds a magic weapon. Faith and the Slayerettes visit the arsenal and find a trap.

Ten Second Recap:
Buffy returns home with her new weapon. Xander goes on a secret mission, Dawn goes postal and Anya goes fag hag. Buffy takes her new toy out for a test drive and finds answers, Caleb and a heart throb.

"It is not for thee. It is for her alone to wield."

Two episodes later we discover what the mystic monks of Gilroy meant by that. End of Days begins with Caleb and Buffy standing next to the candy apple red axe (which we are quickly informed is a scythe). Caleb tells her that there is no way she will be able to remove it from the stone, but clearly he's never heard the story of Excalibur and doesn't remember the Gilroy inscription.

Meanwhile Faith and the girls have a Charlie's Angels moment as they ride the flames of the blast to some soft rubble and survive the bomb. Bad news is they have stirred up a few uber vamps. Good news is that Buffy is on hand to rescue them.

From here on out, the episode is mostly shared moments between various characters. Everyone is given their chance to show where they currently stand in the Buffy universe and some get a chance to patch up old wounds before the show ends.

Willow and Giles research the heretofore unheard of Slayer scythe but are not able to come up with any definitive answers. Buffy and Xander share a moment in the kitchen to discuss what I like to call Plan X. Buffy then ties up loose ends with Faith.

Caleb and The First go over their evil plan and The First decides that Caleb needs a recharge of his power. After merging with The First, Caleb is not only more powerful but also inoculated against the aliens on X-Files.

Spike and Buffy begin to fall into old habits in regards to their night together but since the show is ending, they stop themselves. Spike confesses that it was the greatest night of his life and Buffy non-committedly says that she was right there with him. We can't have her in some kind of complex relationship moments before Angel arrives and with only one show left to resolve it.

After a few more twists and turns, we end up with Buffy in a Pagan temple (which A. no one ever bothered looking in before? and B. Why does Sunnydale have so many caves, crypts and graves for such a small town?) There the Slayer Oracle is waiting for her to fill Buffy in on some Slayer history. Unfortunately, Caleb is also there to pick a fight followed by the moment we've waiting all episode for.

I have to give credit where credit is due. Angel had the best entrance of the season. What a dreamboat…(swoon)

Last week I said that Spike was no Angel and I really never bought into the Spike and Buffy's romance. Angel's return only cements the fact in my mind.

The chemistry between he and Buffy is palpable and electrifying. Their few lines of dialogue took me back to seasons 1-3 and reminded me that, for me, it's Buffy & Angel 4-Ever.

Actually much of End of Days reminded me of earlier seasons of Buffy. The dialogue had a little extra snap to it and there was a lot more humor.

Buffy herself seemed much brighter and happier than we've seen in a long time. I guess one night out of the house and curled up in Spike's arms works like chicken soup for the soul.

At least that's what my wife keeps insisting it would be like.

I enjoyed last week's Touched but End of Days was better. Despite the fact that there wasn't a lot of action, the little conversations here and there combined with juicy plot advancement left me primed and ready for the big finale.

Line of the Week:
Xander: "You know what's even worse? All those stupid, 'it's all fun and games till someone loses an eye jokes.' 'Hey Xander, so no more fun and games, huh?'"

Honorable mention goes to Faith: "Thank God we're hot chicks with super powers."

Michael Goodson