"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Two to Go (2002)

Director:

Bill L. Norton

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator)
Douglas Petrie (written by)

TV Series:

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997)

Original Air Date:

21 May 2002 (Season 6, Episode 21)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

After killing Warren, Dark Willow tries to track-down Andrew and Jonathan. Meanwhile, in Africa, Spike battles against a numerous amount of foes to try to get his chip removed.

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian | Heroine | Hero Gone Bad | Sister Sister Relationship | Female Protagonist

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon	...	Xander Harris
Emma Caulfield	...	Anya
Michelle Trachtenberg	...	Dawn Summers
James Marsters	...	Spike
Alyson Hannigan	...	Willow Rosenberg
Danny Strong	...	Jonathan Levinson
Tom Lenk	...	Andrew Wells
Jeff Kober	...	Rack
Anthony Head	...	Rupert Giles (as Anthony Stewart Head)
James Charles Leary	...	Clem (as James C. Leary)
Jeff McCredie	...	Officer
Damian Mooney	...	Patrol Cop
Michael Younger	...	Truck Driver
Steven W. Bailey	...	Cave Demon

Runtime:

41 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:TV-14

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

When Spike faces his opponent in the test, he remarks, "Here we are now, entertain us," which is a quote from the Nirvana song "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

Goofs:

Continuity: As Willow starts her "little tour" at 20:34, she has her right hand on Rack's face and her left hand on his chest, but when the view cuts to a different angle her hands are switched, with her left hand on his face and her right hand on his chest. Also, Rack's right hand, which was touching Willow's face before the cut, suddenly is down by his side.

Quotes:

[a shirtless and shoeless Spike stands in an arena-like space in the African cave]
Cave Demon: You understand, then?
Spike: Yeah. Yeah, it's not like you haven't been clear about it, oh great mysterious one. This is a test. I don't get what I want unless I pass said test. That about the size and shape?
Cave Demon: Yes.
Spike: And since your pad is decked out gladiator style, and no number two pencils have been provided, I guess we're not starting with the written.

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars (1977)

Willow goes "all Dark Phoenix"

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Really, season six is Willow's season. It was her idea to bring Buffy back, her addiction to magic that drove many of the story lines and, in the end, it's her descent into darkness that will give the Scoobies the worst Big Bad they've ever faced. Willow is out of control and she's more powerful than anything Buffy can fight. Willow, the same girl who got so excited over that Pez witch and who played with Miss Kitty Fantasitco and who always tapes "Biography," is on a path to destroy the world. You can't skip this episode. It's an incredible twist for her character and it will set up everything to come.

"Two to Go" picks up right where "Villians" left off. Buffy, Anya and Xander are in the woods, Willow is after the remaining members of the Trio, and Warren has been skinned alive. The Scoobies are horrified at what Willow has done. But they quickly rationalize that at least she only killed Warren. (Xander is especially eager to write off Warren's death as old fashioned "He Got What was Coming to Him" frontier justice. He loves Willow too much to accept that she might be slipping over the ledge.) As Buffy explains it, though, Andrew and Jonathan are different than Warren. Less guilty, more helpless and if Willow starts peeling off their skin, there's no coming back. She and Xander head for the jail to break the Trio (Now the Duo) free. Anya teleports ahead to warn the boys that Willow is coming.

Andrew and Jonathan are in the "Big House." Abandoned by Warren, ignored by their families, and terrified at what might happen to them, they are spending their time bickering among themselves. Anya arrives and tells them that they have to get out of the cell. As they try to talk the police into opening the door, Willow shows up. Ripping the bricks out of the wall, she breaks her way into in the jail. By that time, though, Buffy has freed the Duo. Willow chases them all for awhile, but soon she has to recharge and she heads for Racks. Dawn goes there, too, looking for Willow. The Scoobies take the Duo to the Magic Box and try to formulate a plan. Meanwhile, in Africa, Spike continues on with his demons trials. Buffy makes her way to Rack's and stops Willow from hurting Dawn. But, Willow is now too powerful for any of them to control. Magically transporting herself, Dawn and Buffy to the Magic Box she immediately attacks Andrew and Jonathan. Thanks to a spell from Anya and some Slayer fighting from Buffy, Xander, Dawn and the Duo escape. Willow isn't worried, though. She knocks out Buffy and Anya, proclaims that no one can stop her, and then the door to the shop slams open...

There are some good parts to this episode. I love Jonathan and Andrew. The way that Jonathan tries to come to grips with what they've done is really sad and well done. He's known Willow since he was a kid and he's horrified at that they've driven her to this. Jonathan has always been the most sympathetic member of the Trio. He basically joined up with them because they give him a place to belong. Even in this episode, he's really trying to be part of the Scoobies, though. Andrew is less willing to take responsibility. And he's certainly not about to let the Scoobies and/or Willow dole out his punishment. He's ready to go down fighting, which is a prelude to where his character will go next season. Andrew has made a lot of mistakes and he's in complete denial about most of them. (It's not until "Storyteller" in season seven that he seems to break down and accept the consequences of his actions.) Still, Andrew isn't someone who gives up or lives in the past. No matter what's gone wrong, he still wants to survive and keep going forward... Preferably to Mexico.

I also adore Dark Willow. It's impossible to even see the "real" Willow left within her her dark shell. All the insecurities, slights and secret "meaness" inside of Willow have bubbled to the surface. She's ripping into Dawn for her constant whining. (Which is such a wonderful, guilty pleasure of a moment that I always want to rewind it and watch it again. I know, I know, I'm just petty.) She's accusing Buffy of being a hypocrite and a snob, "who needs every square inch of" her ass kicked. She's killing Rack, the man who helped her down this path. And, no matter what she does, I forgive Willow instantly. All of her rage is fueled by of her grief over of Tara. I understand her pain and, like the Scoobies, I just want the "real" Willow back and whole again.

On the down side, Spike's really not in this episode very much.

My favorite part of the episode: The cliffhanger at the end of "Two to Go" is probably the most satisfying, surprising, jumping-off-the- couch-and-shouting-"YES!" moment of the season.