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Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Wrecked
Episode Air Date 11/27/01Last week Buffy gave in to her wanton desire for Spike, and Willow spent the night causing black magic mischief with Amy the rat girl. Good thing Tara was around to look after Dawn.
After a house-shaking night with Spike, Buffy awakens to a mind full of regrets. In between insulting him, she passionately kisses Spike. She returns home to a worried Dawn, and claims to have spent the night fighting bad guys. Just as Buffy gets home Willow strolls in with Amy bragging about their mystic accomplishments. Of course, this hardly impresses Tara who has conveniently stuck around to make breakfast.
As Willow catches up on her sleep, Buffy, Xander, and Anya continue researching who might have stolen the diamond (last week's episode). Anya is particularly interested in her research because rather than studying ancient texts describing the evils of the past, she's planning what her bridal party will be wearing. This certainly opens the door for some entertaining wedding conversations. There has to be some comical cultural clashes between humans and demons when it comes to planning matrimonial unions. Tonight it was whether the bride's maids will wear gowns and heels or larva and burlap.
The Xander-Anya wedding should prove to be very entertaining to anyone who has ever planned a wedding, but Joss Whedon's gang has been somewhat stingy with the funnies on this one. Granted, there has been other stuff going on, but if Anya has any human female in her she would have bought one of those huge bridal magazines the day after the threat of apocalypse passed. Hopefully this will be developed further in future episodes.
Unable to top their first fun night of mystical mayhem Bronze, Amy brings Willow to Rak, a local warlock. To follow the theme of Willow's magic addiction, Rak is the dealer, and the crack house is a stealth apartment. Rak seems to give Willow some magical high. She comes back the next night for another fix; only this time she brings Dawn. It was supposed to be a quick stop on the way to the movies, but a few hours later they are running from a demon that Willow conjured up. Spike and Buffy save them, but Willow breaks down at the thought that she could have gotten Dawn killed.
The magic addiction story line has accurately followed the steps of most stories of addiction. Willow tried hiding her addiction, she got caught and was left so she created someone to participate with her. She enjoys a high then crashes only to need another high. She promises an enjoyable evening to Dawn, only to let her down then put her in danger. Once out of danger she is traumatized by what could have happened and swears never to do it again.
The plot could be confused for an after-school special, assuming it will be ending happily. We'll have to see if Willow is able to quit cold turkey, or if she betrays the hopes of her friends.
Let's turn to another addict. Spike borders on pitiful in his blind love of a woman who admittedly strings him along because she's in need of some "affection". The writers crafted an odd parallel comparing Buffy's use of Spike to Willow's abuse of magic. Though unusual, this comparison works. It seems unlikely that Buffy will suddenly realize her true love for Spike. Rather, the relationship will probably soon return to an adversarial state.
But will the show back off from its current explicit state? This episode teases us with an opening involving a naked Spike. Granted, it's the family hour, but why be coy? Since Andy Sipowicz has showed us some on NYPD Blue, and Vince McMahon showed us way too much on WWF Raw last night, couldn't we get a little peek of Spike? (just as long as we don't get a little peek of little Spike - editor)
