Surprise

Buffy Episode Review

In which it is Buffy's birthday.

What Happened

Buffy's friends plan a surprise party for her birthday, but Drusilla is planning to throw a bash of her own, and her presents include a brand new way to end the world.

The Good

• "Note the economy of phrase: 'Gone.'" Xander and Giles trading quips. That was a fun combination.
• Jenny's uncle warning her about Angel. At least she now has a back-story, and, like Buffy, she's essentially ignoring duty for love.
• Vincent Schievelli always equals auto-weird.
• Giles: "Buffy's surprise party will go ahead as planned... except that I will not be wearing a little hat." Giles has changed.
• Jenny's motives are sufficiently hazy that we don't know if she's taking Buffy to her party or something darker. She takes major advantage of what's going on to send Angel to the ends of the Earth.
• Buffy's surprise party: Cordelia popping up as everyone stares; Giles' noisemaker; Willow explaining vampires to Oz.
• Buffy and Angel's goodbye scene at the docks was fantastic, but again with the slurping sound effects when they kiss.

The Bad

• Angel is awfully sure that Drusilla is dead. Guess his sources aren't as good as he thought.
• I think we've already pretty much established that he and Buffy are hot for each other, enough with heavy breathing.

The Cliche

• Sex is evil: Angel jumps out of bed, in obvious pain, but, this being network television, stops to put on his clothes before running outside in the rain.

Best Lines

Oz: "I'm going to ask you out for tomorrow night, and I'm a little nervous about it."
Willow: "If it helps, I'm planning to say yes."

Angel: "Leave her alone!"
Spike: "Yeah. That'll work."

What Did I Think?

Not the best cliffhanger ever (the competition is tough), but the payoff next episode is so good...