I feel like I don't really see the sentiment echoed enough here, but there's a very simple reason why this episode is so satisfying; buffy as a teacher. And not only a teacher through words, but a teacher with a fantastic setup, an arena where she gets to give an immaculate and incredibly self-confident presentation of the culmination of seven years of experience as one of the most legendary slayers of the lineage.
I love the environment they chose and the way it is fully put to use throughout the entire fight. I love the tone of the combat where it almost feels like Buffy is taking the uber-vamp on an endurance-hunt, tiring it out while she grows more confident as the fight progresses, regardless of how beat up she gets. It's exhilerating and one of my favorite fights of the series.
I love the little telepathy moment and how unfazed we the viewers are by it after everything the characters have shared together.
And then there is the look exchanged between Buffy an Spike as she finally frees him, once more underscoring what phenomenal actors these two are. Just an all-around great episode.
I love the environment they chose and the way it is fully put to use throughout the entire fight. I love the tone of the combat where it almost feels like Buffy is taking the uber-vamp on an endurance-hunt, tiring it out while she grows more confident as the fight progresses, regardless of how beat up she gets. It's exhilerating and one of my favorite fights of the series.
I love the little telepathy moment and how unfazed we the viewers are by it after everything the characters have shared together.
And then there is the look exchanged between Buffy an Spike as she finally frees him, once more underscoring what phenomenal actors these two are. Just an all-around great episode.