Buffy Challenge Post 25: Season 3: Episodes 16 - 17

Doppelgangland

Oh what a mouthful for a title, but I do like the idea right off the bat of having a fake buffy running around causing trouble!

Why is it when they break out the makeup department I kind of lose a little interest in the show? I'm not sure about that one it might be the fact that I hate horror, or I just hate bad special effects. Oh well looks like were stuck with Guru Goat Guy to start this one. Oh the wish chick is back. What horror to be stuck at Sunnydale high. Now the floating pencil effect is nice, and even tough I don't like the whole Willow the witch line of things, I still love her naiveté (cool spellchecker gave me the french thinggie!) For the record I never wanted to be a floweriest, although many of the people who meet me think that I already am one. Buffy is blaming herself for what has happen to Faith eventhough it was not her fault.

Synder is back and is making Willow to tutor the big dopey jock who is lazy. Well it seems that Faith playing both sides here after the shocking ending of the last episode. Cool, Faith sells her soul and gets a playstation. Willow is feeling pressured from all sides, and it seems that she is about to break at any moment soon. Oh Xander, your great at making a bad situation worse. Willow you rebel, eat that banana girl and don't look back.

Aniya the demon not the band has got Willow to help her try to recreate the amulet and Willow sees the horror alternative reality that was the wish. But it seems that something has happen as Vampire Willow has been transported from her reality to the real buffy world. Her first stop is what she thinks is the vampire hangout of the Bronze. Willvamp is struggling, and Buffy just saw her vampside and Willvamp is ready to change things to the way it was back on her earth.

Earth 1 Willow is surprised at the reaction of her friends when seeing her. Great work describing the situation Giles "Strange things are happening" Isn't it great that an 11 hundred year old demon can't get a beer! Willvamp has taken over the Bronze which conveniently happens to be where Aniya is who knows exactly what is going on. Angel is ready to break the bad news to everyone and Earth 1 Willow and Willvamp meet up for the first time. Great work Willow, smart thinking knocking out Willvamp with the tranq, I'm sensing there was a part of Willow that kind of liked the idea of being a skanky evil lesbian vampire. (Delivery was great of that line BTW) I see where Buffy is going with this and it will be interesting if Willow can pull this off.

This is great, I almost want to stop typing so I can watch this scene as Earth 1 Willow tries to pull off Willvamp. Not doing the best job I might say but great to watch. Just as earth 1 Willow is getting into the role, along comes Cordelia to stuff everything up as Willvamp wakes up in the hellish attire that is a pink sweater and skirt combo. I can see what is going through Willvamps mind, it seems it's like when your really hungry and the only food store in town is closed but has the most delicious cake in the window. It seems Cordelia has let the monster out of the cage.

I'm sorry I'm enjoying this episode so much that I forgot to comment. anyway, Willvamp gets sent back to her earth right at the moment that she gets killed, (nice touch, knowing what was about to happen and about to drop the F-bomb)

Wow, what a fun episode, I love the fact that it fit seamlessly in with the wish, it was full of action and extremely funny, Well done Alyson playing the duel role. There is so much to like about this episode and as a fan of the DC Universe that has 52 different realities which sees Doppelganger's come in and out of story lines all the time this was really well done!

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that this show would get back to back 10/10's

But it has

10/10

Enemies

Buffy and Angel start this one out seeing a racy french film (does Angel get a senoir citizen discount, he is over 200 years old?) Not the best choice of film considering their history together. (Kids, read the synopsis of the movie before seeing it, just to be safe.)  Is it me or is there a lot of making out in this show. Thankfully Faith is there to pour cold water on the two. Out on patrol and there is something that is making your local demon scared out of their minds and wanting out of Sunnydale and the hellmouth. Too bad he spilt the beans to the Mayors new lap dog. (Another DC reference! Buffy and the Superfriends! DC 13 Marvel who cares anymore!) Nothing kills stress like a good tall glass of milk.

So Faith's mantra of "See, Want, Take" continues with Murder. Faith kills the Demon for the book and she is struggling with the darkness inside her. She is trying to find comfort (and a little sugar) with Angel. It seems that people have a knack of walking in on Angel at the wrong time and seeing the wrong thing happening. Also it seems that Faith has not only fooled Angel with her sob story but yours truly. Angel looks to be the Mayor's new target. Giles is really upset about the drop in standards of demons these days!

Arabian demons are cool. Just a thought what happen to the link between The Mayor and Synder? Willow once again is the voice of reason in this show. Well Faith is trying again with Angel and has removed his soul (the hard way) This is getting nasty and I don't think Buffy will know what will hit her. Get over it Xander, I agree with Evil Angel, Xander does bug me at times.

This is going to be messy. As they lead Buffy into a huge trap and she gets hit with the reality of what has been happening since Faiths decent. and like all great villains they spill the beans on the whole plan when they think they have the hero tied up. Only to fall for the old we know what you've been doing since the start. This brilliant, the demon who "restored" Angel to his evil self was working for Giles all the time. (The whole Angel act has put a little doubt in Buffy's mind though)

The Mayors idea of a pick me up for Faith? Miniature Golf. There relationship is so Star Wars Episode III (although the emperor was not as corny and Aniken was really whiney) I see now that Faith has found the father figure that she was craving for and her decent  to the dark side is complete. (Although there is always a possibility for some kind of redemption I guess.) There is 2 minutes left please don't spoil this episode by giving a sobby ending. Buffy needs some time which is fair enough.

WOW! This is another brilliant episode that had many different twists and turns that I didn't see coming, I can't believe I'm doing this but........

10/10 (3 Brilliant episodes in a row, I see now why this is April's favorite season of the show.)

Well the stage is set for either a great run to a conclusion to this season, or a horrible train wreck. With 5 episodes to go we shall see.

See you next time Challengers, Same Buff time, Same Buff channel!