Buffy Challenge Post 33: Season 4: Episode 12 - 13

A New Man

What an odd title for an episode? Could it mean there is a new character being introduced or a new focus for one of the characters that already exists?

The whole "I can't be with you Riley" thing didn't last too long did it? Little action to start with only to be awkwardly be interrupted by Willow who puts her life in danger by throwing a surprise party for Buffy. Oh Giles with the chainsaw cracks me up as much as Willow with the monkey last season.

Anya is learning slowly but it seems that Giles is not fitting in to a College party, what a shock there! I think that Giles is the focus of this episode which can't be a bad thing. Nothing is more evil than someone stating that they are EVIL! Spike is moving out or being kicked out?

Riley has let Professor Walsh in on the big secret about Buffy. She is recruiting Buffy into the initiative. Wow 17 that's impressive, Buffy has done that in the first 2 episodes. Riley is feeling a little emasculated by Buffy's slaying resume. (And so he should! 17 that is sad.) Giles and Walsh meet for the first time and I don't like the where this is headed. Did Walsh just take a shot at Giles? He is a strong male role model and has been a real father figure for her, Walsh has misdiagnosed the situation. Are there such a thing as a clean demon?

Giles is now seeing that he has been kept out of the loop, and quite upset that Spike knows more than he does! Oh no it is the Anti-Giles, Ethan is back for his annual butt kicking! So the demons are scared are they Ethan? Wonder if it has anything to do with the Commando's?

Boyfriend hint #17 "Always let the Girlfriend win when sparring with each other."

Drunk Giles is not a pretty sight! At least he acknowledges he gets hit in the head a lot. Willow and her new witch friend are practicing their dark arts. While Giles is getting over one heck of a hang over that has turned him into a really ugly demon who doesn't know his own strength. Hope he learns never to go drinking with his arch enemy! "Bloody Humans indeed!" How is Giles going to find himself out of this one? Isn't Aniya so positive at times.

Spike can understand Giles, and he needs to offer a little more than $100 for him to help. Wow Spike is cheap labor at 200 bucks. Spike drives a manual as well as I do. Take that Walsh! Buffy puts her foot down and seeing that she kicked Riley half way across the room he has no choice but to follow along. Everybody has a price and Spike is a hundred bucks. Does Giles need an interpreter right now or what? Never thought I'd see Buffy Vs Giles, however desperate times..... Somehow Giles was able to speak English and luckily he can't afford a real silver letter opener. A spell later and everything is back to normal (Marvel reference i've lost count to be honest "Spider-man strong")

Giles has updated his phone after crushing his classical piece. "But face!" A very timely warning from Giles about Riley and a very timely warning from Walsh about Buffy. I don't trust her and I think room 314 has a lot to do with it!

An interesting episode to move forward with the whole Buffy and the initiative.

6/10 - Giles and Spike steal the show once again.

The I in Team

Someone flunked spelling I see!

More Occult prayers from Willow in playing poker. Xander is starting up a get rich quick scheme! Boost bars, the latest craze. Anya once again is still not getting the "what happens between couples stays between couples" thing.

It seems that Buffy is getting a tryout and doing really well at it. Although the wierd look on Walsh's face can't be a good sign for her. Buffy is head over heals for Riley. Poor Willow not getting spanked can be hard.

Here is the thing that bugs me? What would Spike have any need with money seeing that all the stores would be open during the day?

At what point did this show change from being Buffy the Vampire slayer to Men in Black? The one time that Walsh cracks a joke it's not even funny. What is funny is that all this money spent by the government on weapons to fight demons and vampires could be replaced by a piece of sharpen wood!

Is it me or does this new witch friend have a bit of crush on Willow? The mystery of room 314 is finally reveled and once again its a Frankenstein's monster. (Didn't we see this before?)

(another Marvel reference with Xander wearing a Captain America Shield tee shirt!)

Buffy is losing touch with her real friends and this is now getting out of hand. Buffy has sold out to the Government without doing her research. Great questions Willow, what is their ultimate agenda? Buffy has not done her homework and when you don't do your homework then most likely you will fail.

Spike has wondered in at the wrong time and now has been tagged.

Now this is just a little too weird for my liking the whole dispersing Buffy and Riley fighting with them sleeping together is really a distracting way to get the point across and Walsh is really creepy watching them! Oh and that Grin is just disturbing.

Spike seeks help from the Good guys and they are less than thrilled with helping. Still don't understand why vampires feel pain from things that are not stuff that can kill them? The rules kind of change a bit at times.

Willow and Buffy are drifting apart and I see now why Jess and April don't like Riley. (Although I don't think it's his fault. He is just a tool being used.) Great work with the hair after the spell! Oh and for all you doctors out there when operating on a vampire make sure you get them drunk on Brandy first!

Buffy has fallen for Walsh's trap and it seems she is enjoying the show way too much. (I have a feeling that Buffy is not dead like the tech says.) A cheap way to save on costly monster makeup is to get the actors to wear a really big cloak. Walsh's acting is so bad that even Riley couldn't believe this? Now he definitely doesn't believe it with Buffy giving Walsh a warning that she shouldn't mess with the Slayer.

Buffy has come around and we get a monologue from Walsh! Thankfully we are put out of our misery of hearing anymore of this tripe with Walsh getting impaled by the creature she created!

Ugh! What a crappy episode. The direction was as bad as I have seen and the story made little to no sense with the twists very formulaic. It seems it may be down hill from here. As I really couldn't care less about a SUPER DEMON Created by the government running loose. (It seems it is old ground that is being covered again.)

3/10

Well a bit of a mixed bag this time. The big reveal for the season is a bit of a fizzler at best. At least I don't have to see Walsh again.

Anyway, we'll catch you next time for Goodbye Iowa hopefully something can be salvaged from the last act of this season.