Buffy: A New Man (4.12)

To commit to this episode, you need to excuse some of the script's more contrived elements. While Giles has been on the periphery of things this year, his treatment by the Scoobies doesn't entirely make sense. Buffy in particular is pretty obnoxious here with her ignorant statements about how superior and 'grown-up' Maggie Walsh is, and later telling Willow that she'll run to Maggie with news about the majicks going haywire. Can you be any more insensitive, Buff?

But despite the iffy set-up, Giles' transformation is really, really funny. It's another sort of dumb standalone comedy story for season four, and probably came way too soon after Pangs and Something Blue, but it gives Anthony Stewart Head some great material to work with, Giles reflecting on where he's ended up and how he's at that awkward middle-aged point of his life without a whole lot to show for it.

Elsewhere, I'm not sure what it is about Buffy and Riley, but their scenes together post-superhero reveal really haven't worked all that well. When in dating mode, they've become insanely monotonous and boring. When in action mode, they both come off like an annoying pair of wannabe detectives. Who are they? Cagney and Lacey? Yeesh. I like Riley as a concept (the nice, 'blah' jock guy who isn't a challenge), but something is definitely 'off' with the story right now. There doesn't seem to be a huge number of roads to go down. Although I do like Walsh's obvious jealousy of one of her 'boys' being 'corrupted' by an attractive blonde monster-fighter. There's something vaguely squicky about the whole thing.

All of Giles' moments here are pretty fabulous, I love his continued double-act with Spike, and the moment where he chases Professor Walsh down the street is character-driven comedy at its finest. But some of the non-Giles stuff bugged a little. Generally it's fine. B

Credits
Guest stars Robin Sachs (Ethan Rayne); Amber Benson (Tara Maclay); Emma Caulfield (Anya); Lindsay Crouse (Maggie Walsh)
Writer Jane Espenson Director Michael Gershman