Buffy: Anne (3.1)

Like last season's opener, the year opens with the characters re-grouping somewhat, Joss resolving the cliffhangers of the previous year and exploring new depths to Buffy as a character. Following Buffy running away from Sunnydale last episode, she's now angsty and isolated in a sleazy corner of Los Angeles, filled with various homeless runaways just a notch below her current status. Outside of a couple of corny moments of maudlin hokiness, Anne creates a vividly bleak portrait of 'another world' outside of Sunnydale, reflecting Buffy's state of mind. The episode isn't perfect, but it's another sign of the series maturing and evolving.

Buffy's adventures in LA were a mixed bag, but featured a wonderful bad guy in creepy cult leader-esque Ken. There were some pacing problems in the hell scenes at the end (it dragged a little), but in general it was fine. I loved Buffy's scenes with Lily throughout, too. Julia Lee has a strange kind of magnetism that makes her really watchable, it's not surprising she's brought back so often in the Buffyverse. I also really enjoyed Buffy's "couldn't give less of a shit" attitude here, especially in that great moment where the nurse catches her rifling through medical files.

Meanwhile, we have a couple of Sunnydale subplots. You can completely understand why Joyce decides to blame Giles for Buffy's departure. Her daughter had an entirely separate and secret existence that she had no clue about, this stuffy British man seemingly her surrogate parent. Joyce is at a loss, and you can sympathize with what she's going through.

Evolution has really settled into the rest of the Scoobies. Willow, especially, has grown in confidence and looks a little more polished in terms of fashion sense. And we had scenes in which they all faced up against vampires together without Buffy around. It wasn't a total success (their slaying track record isn't great), but worked in an awkward kind of way. I'm not sure Cordelia is being used as effectively as she could be, though. I love her presence on the show, but she's still written like an outsider of sorts.

Buffy rarely had perfect season openers, but Anne successfully explored the growth of most of its ensemble. Buffy herself managed to dig herself out of the funk she was in, and became as badass as ever towards the end. And that opening tracking shot of Sunnydale High was mightily impressive. B-

Credits
Guest stars Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers); Julia Lee (Lily); Carlos Jacott (Ken); Mary-Pat Green (Doctor); Chad Todhunter (Rickie)
Writer Joss Whedon Director Joss Whedon