Buffy: Something Blue (4.9)

This works as both a character piece and as a ridiculously entertaining slice of comedic silliness. Willow is still understandably angsty over Oz's departure, a feeling exaggerated when she discovers that he has secretly sent for his things behind her back, presumably confirming his long-term departure in the process. So, instead of facing up to what has happened, Willow decides to blame everybody else around her: a common error that so many of us make when we're confronted with something shitty.

At the same time, Something Blue sets out to have fun. There's no real moral or message to any of Willow's inadvertent spells, but it's just really, really funny to see Spike and Buffy engaged, Amy returning for all of three seconds, and Xander being catnip to demons. A spellbound Buffy telling Riley all about her 'way older' fiancée? Buffy and Spike arguing over their wedding plans? Buffy assuming she wasn't affected by the spell because of her slayer-ness? It's all pretty obvious comedy, but it's done in such a cleverly written way and acted with such conviction that it really works.

It's also important to add that Sarah Michelle Gellar and James Marsters have crazy amounts of chemistry, even before they got spellbound. Spike has chemistry with everybody, thinking about it, and I already love the combative odd couple relationship he has with Giles. I remember being so 'over' Spike when Buffy was originally airing, but his inclusion right now is crazy entertaining. Where did it go wrong? Did it even go wrong at all?

Coming straight after Pangs, this was another great comedy episode. There's definitely that feeling of 'coasting' a little this season, but the writers are doing some wonderful, more standalone, things with the characters so far. A

Credits
Guest stars Marc Blucas (Riley Finn); Emma Caulfield (Anya); Elizabeth Anne Allen (Amy Madison)
Writer Tracey Forbes Director Nick Marck