Buffy: Amends (3.10)

This is an episode that I feel is unfairly maligned by a lot of fans. But, then again, I've never exactly been repulsed by elaborate festive corn. But even away from the polarizing snow storm that caps the episode, Amends has a lot of ambition in regards to Angel as well as the show's mythology. After being on the periphery of the action ever since he was resurrected, Angel is put center stage once again, hopefully bringing some closure to the Angelus arc. He once again questions his destiny, wondering if being alive once again is really anything positive. You can't exactly blame him. His presence isn't usually welcomed by Buffy's friends, his sadistic alter ego terrorized them all last year, and Buffy seems to want him out of her life. Of course, there's still that passion between the two of them, something she has to once again confess at the end of the episode. There's no separating these two, at all.

Some of the aspects to Amends are better viewed in retrospect after having seen Angel the series. The idea here, Giles suggesting that the First Evil brought Angel back in order to once again have him lose his soul, seems like a huge waste of time... since Angel was already locked away in a hell dimension. The bigger picture at work, revealed during Angel, is a much smarter explanation than the one given here, but it still manages to create the idea that Angel's destiny isn't done, and that he has a far greater role to play in the world than you would have thought.

The First Evil is an inevitable and arresting nemesis. It is literally the epitome of evil, the emotions and chaos that infects everybody and everything in the world. It can get into your head and expose your worst fears, and knows how to play on your emotions. Great guest work by Robia LaMorte, too, especially considering she had some issues with the story. She gave me chills when she so coldly appeared like an emotionless 'presence' right behind Giles' back.

The episode also works well in exploring the rest of the cast. Willow is still looking for Oz's forgiveness, and her failed seduction scene was beautifully done. She's awkwardly trying to get him to take her back by offering her virginity to him, but in a neat retread of What's My Line? Part Two, he once again turns her down because he wants that moment to be about the two of them wanting to do it, not because Willow wants something else. Meanwhile, Giles finally reunited with Angel, and there was still the expected and justified coldness towards him. His casually arming himself with a crossbow was a genius visual florish. Finally, Faith melted her iciness a little, embracing 'people' for once and surrounding herself with her own version of a family for the holidays. It's nice to see her vulnerable.

If anything, Amends is a pre-pilot for the spin-off. Angel finally acknowledges his destiny, comes to terms with his resurrection, and appears to find some kind of peace with his existence. There's still the lingering problem of being hopelessly in love with Buffy (and vice versa), but that'll be explored later. What the episode does do is balance several different subplots at the same time, wrapping them all up in an emotional, intense hour which is mostly successful. Seriously, I don't know why this episode has such a bad rep. B+

Credits
Guest stars Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers); Saverio Guerra (Willy); Shane Barach (Daniel); Edward Edwards (Male Ghost); Cornelia Hayes O'Herlihy (Margaret); Robia LaMorte (Jenny Calendar); Eliza Dushku (Faith)
Writer Joss Whedon Director Joss Whedon