Buffy - S4E22

Restless
First Aired: Tuesday May 23, 2000

In this strange season finale, the Scoobies fall into a deep sleep and are stalked by an unknown assailant.

Picking up briefly after the previous episode, Buffy is saying bye to Riley who is going in for a debriefing from the government. As he leaves, Xander, Willow, and Giles all sit down with Buffy to watch some video because they claim that they aren't tired from the spell used to destroy Adam. However, moments after Joyce leaves the room and Xander puts in the first video, they are all asleep. This is where the episode gets weird, as we are transported into the jumbled dreams/nightmares of each of the characters, starting with Willow, going to Xander, then Giles, and finally Buffy. Willow is afraid that she may be acting the part of cool wicca person/lesbian and that people will see right through to what she used to be. Xander is running from his basement where he is currently stuck and hiding from his parents. Giles is worried about how is training or not training Buffy and begins to realize something is terrible wrong. Finally, Buffy is faced with her fears about Riley joining right back up with the government. At the end of each of their dreams, they are accosted by a strange faced-painted warrior who takes Willow's breath, Xander's heart, and Giles' brain. Buffy finally confronts the creature in the desert and it speaks through Tara. The thing tells her that she is the first slayer, her gift is death, and that there should be no friends. Buffy then proceeds to fight her to get control of her body again. She is successful and the others are safe as well. They discuss the dreams as the episode ends.

I can't stress how much I love this episode, especially since I have seen it last because I have gotten into more experimental things, such as David Lynch's movies and Chuck Palahniuk's books. It seems this is either a love it or hate it episode that is a little difficult to "get", but once I did, it was great. The cameos were very good, such as Snyder, Harmony, Oz, and non-killer Adam. The filming and the dialog is spot on for this type of dream sequence episode. This was an odd choice, perhaps, for a final episode of the season, since Buffy had already killed the Big Bad the episode before, but I found it revealing and a great vehicle for the next season.

Score: 5 / 5

Buffy - S4E21

Primeval
First Aired: Tuesday May 16, 2000

After the emotions ran high, the Scoobies are now divided, thanks to Spike's plan to help Adam. They are able to get the courage to face their demons before they have to face the real demon threat; Adam's ultimate plan is to unleash all threats in the Initiative.

At the end of the previous episode, the Scoobies have gone their separate ways because of things said. As they each try to deal with their feelings, Riley has had his behavior modification chip activated by Adam. The chip makes him completely subservient to Adam whose final stages are about to begin. Spike shows up and ultimately figures out his plan to separate the Scoobies has one fatal flaw; how will Willow get the disk information to Buffy if they are strained? Spike encounters Buffy and tries to persuade her to make up with "reds" in order to get the information and Buffy begins to realize what may have happened. Calling an importune meeting, the four core Scoobies meet and discuss how Spike was the one giving them the wild thoughts. They make up and start working together again just in time to take on the Initiative. They try to infiltrate the base again, but are ambushed by the commandos. Elsewhere, Adam shows Riley his new lab as well as his new experiments; Professor Walsh and Forest. Adam then begins his next phase by cutting the power and unleashing the demons in the Initiative. Buffy and the others escape capture and make their way to 314, where they think the secret lab is located. While Giles, Xander, and Willow set up for their spell, Buffy encounters Riley and the others. Forest and he square off, enraging Riley to the point where be gets enough willpower to remove the chip from his chest and takes on Forest himself while Buffy goes to find Adam. Buffy is no match for Adam and he has upgraded himself with an arm cannon, which he uses to chase Buffy into hiding. At that moment, the three others complete their spell and are infused with Buffy, giving her their power as well. With untold power, Buffy is able to rip out Adams power source and destroy him. Riley is also able to kill Forest while Spike saves the Scoobies, who are drained from the spell. The episode ends with a government panel discussing their failure while scenes of the escape orchestrated by Buffy are shown.

Awesome episode all around. This is how all seasons finales of Buffy feel; epic to a T. While the final fight scene between Buffy and Adam could have been a little more fleshed out, the action sequences in the Initiative's central area was amazing. While the action soared, so did the drama and humor, which was still intact. This season did depict college life, where you drift away from high school friends, but these friends have something stronger than simple friendship keeping them together. It was heartwarming to see the core four be the main focus and power behind the confrontation. Great stuff.

Score: 5 / 5

Buffy - S4E20

The Yoko Factor
First Aired: Tuesday May 9, 2000

After returning from Los Angeles, Buffy has to deal with Riley's new feelings towards Angel. Also, Spike has teamed up with Adam and tries to sabotage the rest of the Scoobies.

This episode revolves around how Spike tries to ruin the Scoobies bonds. Adam has "recruited" Spike, promising that he will remove the chip if Spike helps him. Spike talks about a plan where it would be best to split up the friends of Buffy. Riley, who is hiding out in the old high school, is told the full story about Angel from Xander, since Buffy left out the most important parts. While hiding out, Riley picks up a transmission about a group of the commandos being attacked. Riley goes to help out and finds Angel is the assiliant. They square off, with Angel putting the bigger beat down on Riley. They both retreat as the Initiative shows up. Elsewhere, Spike begins his plan. First, he puts Giles down for his ineffectiveness in helping Buffy. Then, he asks Xander why Buffy and Willow were joking about him joining the army. Finally, after retrieving some Initiative disks (really given by Adam), she comments to Willow about how Buffy said her "wicca" stuff was just a phase. Back at Buffy's room, Angel and Riley both show up. Buffy briefly speaks with Angel, who wishes to just apologize for the way her acted while she was in Los Angeles. Buffy then has to tell Riley about Forrest being killed by Adam and Riley leaves in a hurry. Buffy goes to Giles' home to work with the rest of the Scoobies, but they end up verbally sparing when they war over what Spike said to them. In the end, they all go their separate ways. The episode ends with Riley showing up at Adams stronghold, since he was expected by Adam.

This was a very good episode and was fun to watch Spike be manipulative. I am not really sure how much I like the very brief cameo by Angel. I understand the symbolism of him fighting, and beating up, Riley, but it still felt weird. I really enjoyed the fighting between the "core four" at the end, while Anya and Tara retreat to the bathroom. There were some funny lines ("Tara's your girlfriend?!" "Bloody Hell") to the serious. It really was like the Yoko Factor.

Score: 4 / 5

Buffy - S4E19

New Moon Rising
First Aired: Tuesday May 2, 2000

As the Scoobies contemplate what to do next about Adam, an unexpected guest shows up; Oz.

The episode begins with Willow taking Tara with her to Giles' home for a Scoobie meeting. Buffy and Giles are both becoming concerned since demon activity is down for Buffy but up a lot for the Initiative. As the meeting comes to a close, an unexpected guest arrives; it is Oz. Back in town, he wishes to talk with Willow. Riley and Buffy patrol and get into a fight when it is revealed that Oz is a werewolf, since Riley only sees Good and Evil. Buffy becomes angry because she still hasn't told Riley about Angel. Elsewhere, Oz shows up at Willows and takes her outside, showing her that he can control his changing now, since the moon is out. They then end up spending the night together talking. The next morning, while Willow goes to freshen up before breakfast, Tara comes to the door and Oz answers. Flustered, Tara leaves and when Oz tells Willow, one can see she is in conflict. Buffy and Riley wake up with her still mad at him, but this is stymied when word reaches Riley that a werewolf attacked Graham's group the night before. Buffy returns to her room and talks with Willow about the previous night she spent with Oz. She reveals that things are complicated because of Tara. Buffy becomes freaked a bit, but is ultimately understanding. Willow goes to Tara's to talk. As Tara goes to class then, Oz, who is signing up for classes again, smells Willow all over Tara and transforms after becoming upset there might be something going on. Before he can hurt her, Riley and the commandos show up and bag Oz. Tara goes to tell Buffy and the Scoobies devise a plan to infiltrate the Initiative. While they are doing this, Riley finds out the wolf is Oz and tries to help him escape, but doing so lands him in trouble. Spike, now recruited by Adam, helps Buffy and the others get into the complex. They spring both Riley and Oz. Riley is now on the run and is hiding out in the ruins of the old high school. It is during this time that Buffy decides to begin to tell him about Angel. Elsewhere, Willow and Oz have their final conversation before Oz leaves town for good. The episode ends with Willow going to Tara's room and finally telling her how she feels.

Well, this it it. This is the episode where Willow and Tara finally officially being their relationship. Having seen the whole series already (and knowing what happens), it was sweet to see the progression of the relationship before they became girlfriends. Of course, I feel bad for Oz because he did this all more or less for Willow. The ending was a neat little contrast to the other episode where Oz left; the two are juxtaposed, with Oz getting the most emotional and heartbroken. In the overall arc of the season, we see Spike being employed by Adam and start to see Adam's plan to overrun the Initiative. It was sad that Seth Green never returned, even near the end.

Score: 4 / 5

Buffy - S4E18

Where the Wild Things Are
First Aired: Tuesday April 25, 2000

Buffy and Riley's sexual energy releases something in the Lowell Fraternity house. When the guys of Lowell through a party, everyone is put into danger, especially Buffy and Riley.

The episode begins with Buffy and Riley battling a vampire/demon tag-team duo. Afterwards, their sexual energy leads them back to Lowell house instead of to Giles to report the strange occurrence of vampire helping demons. When they finally do tell him the next day, Riley comes to the conclusion that Adam is behind the unlikely pairing. Buffy and Riley run off to have sex again while the focus shifts to Anya and Xander. Xander, now an ice-cream man, is getting guff from Anya for not having sex with her the previous night, leading her to believe their relationship was over. Elsewhere, while preparing for the party, Riley's men overhear Buffy and him going at it again, but for some reason the fireplace erupts over one of the men. Later that night, Anya goes to the Bronze and encounters Spike, who tries to rob her, and they bound over dissing on their signifacant others. Back at the party, Buffy and Riley again go off to have sex and strange things begin to occur. Spike and Anya show up as well, but Xander is not willing to let her get under his skin. Once things start to get really out of hand, the Scoobies get out of the house and try to find Giles for help. They research and find out that the house used to be a boarding home, run by a decorated public social worker. They go to talk with her and in the process find out that she used severe punishment for the children being "unclean". The gang then surmises that Buffy and Riley are trapped in order to keep having sex, with the ghosts sucking the energy from them until they will ultimately die. Tara, Willow, and Giles try a spell to distract the spirits while Xander and Anya enter the house. While not successful at first, Anya's determination saves Xander and they get to Buffy and Riley shortly afterward. The episode ends with the Scoobies all talking about transpired, focusing more on the fact that Giles sings and plays guitar.

I am not a big fan of sexually themed episodes. When they are a part of the overall story, I do not mind the sex. Otherwise, it should be left to closed doors. I understand that they have to show the fact that Buffy and Riley were doing this, but it still irked me a bit. Overall, the premise of the episode was interesting, but it wasn't anything great. I think the best parts of the episode came from Xander and Anya, where there relationship continues to grow, as well as Anya's human side. Spike also added some very good lines/acting, which is always a given. Overall, I felt this was a good Xander/Anya-centric episode, but sub-par for the series nonetheless.

Score: 3 / 5

Buffy - S4E17

Superstar
First Aired: Tuesday April 4, 2000

Buffy, Willow, Xander and Anya are out hunting vampires and kill one of a pair. They track the other to a nest and decide to call in the big guns and visit... Jonathan.

The episode begins innocently enough with Buffy fighting a contingent of vampires with the other Scoobies. When she stumbles upon a nest of them, they all decide they need better help. They end up going to Jonathan, of all people. He has apparently done something to have the entire world enraptured with him (including the altering of the Buffy main credits). Jonathan helps Buffy and the others in killing the vampires. The next day, he confers with Buffy about her and Riley's stinted relationship. During this time, a woman named Karen asks Jonathan to autograph his book for her. Jonathan is then shown helping the Initiative devise a strategy to bring down Adam. Jonathan shows that him Walsh's blue prints, Adam is fueled by an internal power source. He postulates that destroying this source will destroy Adam. After this briefing, Jonathan talks to Riley about he has to show Buffy how he really feels. Elsewhere, the admirer Karen is shown watching Jonathan's mansion and being attacked a strange, gangely demon. She shows up at the Bronze where Jonathan is performing jazz for the crowd, which include Buffy and the Scoobies. She describes the creature to Buffy and Jonathan, in particular a mark on it. Jonathan tells Buffy it is nothing to worry about, but the demon later attacks Tara. Buffy begins to think there is a connection between the demon and Jonathan. When she tells the group this, Jonathan shows up and gives a possible reason why this may look like something. Buffy goads Jonathan into hunting the demon with her while the others try to find out about the symbol. Shortly, they find out the true meaning of the symbol and how Jonathan had done a spell to make everyone think he is cool. Jonathan and Buffy face off against the demon, with Jonathan ultimately making the killing blow. In the end, the gang remembers some of the lingering memories, but they are beginning to fade. Jonathan tells Buffy why he did it and how, but also mentions that the advice he had given was still true. Buffy and Riley end up reconciling.

I think this was one really fun filler episode, almost as good as the third season alternate reality where Buffy never went to Sunnydale. There is one interesting fact that still makes this a connecting episode, though, and that is revelation of Adam's power source. I also liked how Adam wasn't affected by the workings of Jonathan's spell, since he is "aware, totally". I like the Jonathan character and always felt that his addition to the group would have been cool, but that never happened.

Score: 8.3 / 10

Buffy - S4E15

This Year's Girl
First Aired: Tuesday February 22, 2000
Buffy and the gang try to figure out how to get Riley back. Their plan changes, however, when he shows up. Turns out that the Initative let him go. Elsewhere, Faith awakens from her almost year long coma to find the Mayor Wilkins didn't succeed.

Buffy, Xander, Willow and Giles are trying to figure out what their next move should be while Xander tries to get an Initative blaster working again. Buffy decides they need to get Riley back. While patrolling that night, the Scoobies encounter a demon they suspect was killed by Adam because it appears disected. Buffy starts to form a plan with Willow and Xander when Riley shows up. It turns out that he was able to leave the Initative compound of his own volition. Elsewhere, Faith has been dreaming vividly during her coma recently and when she is pushed to the brink in one, she wakes up. Encountering a young woman, she figures out that the mayor was unsuccessful. She knocks the girl out and takes her clothes. The medical personnel are flabbergasted and contact the authorities. At Giles' apartment, the gang, now with Riley, start to discuss what they need to do to bring Adam down. The phone rings and it is the hospital or police calling to tell Buffy about Faith. The gang goes into overdrive trying to figure out what to do about her. The next day, as Buffy and Willow are walking on the campus, Faith shows up and they fight briefly before Faith gets away. Faith later receives a VHS from the mayor telling her about things if he had in fact died. He also left her a little present in order to "go out with a bang". She infiltrates the Summers home and takes Joyce hostage, hoping Buffy will show. When she does, the two fight their way downstairs. In the closing moments, Faith uses her device and the two girls souls are transfered to the other body. Faith-in-Buffys-body then knocks out Buffy-in-Faiths-body as the police show up to take Faith away.

This was a very enjoyable episode because it had the interesting storyline of what happens when Faith returns from the coma. While only the first of two parts, I remember how well Eliza Dusku plays Buffy in the next episode, but this was a good primer in terms of acting on her part in the lose she now feels. There were some very funny moments in this episode, especially in the beginning with Xander trying to fix the blaster and later when he and Giles try go get Spikes help. Also, Riley is back, so yeah to that. Overall, an above average episode getting ready for a great acting episode by both women in the conclusion.

Score: 8.4 / 10

Buffy - S4E14

Goodbye Iowa
First Aired: Tuesday February 15, 2000

As the Scoobies regroup after finding about the attempted assassination of Buffy by Professor Walsh, Riley has to come to grips with her death and her creation; Adam.

The Scoobies and Spike listen to Buffy tell her story about the attack on Buffy's life by Walsh. Riley shows up shortly afterward to find out what Buffy knows. He becomes angry when he notices they are "friends" with Hostile-17 (Spike). The Scoobies then retreat to Xander's basement to hide from the commandos and the next day they see news of a child being killed. Thinking it is the previously captured demon, Buffy begins her search for it. The Initiative does the same when Riley finds out Walsh has been killed. Buffy and Riley encounter each other throughout the day, but he finally loses it in Willie's Place. It turns out he is getting sick and Buffy thinks it is tied to the Initiative, so she and Xander decide to infiltrate it. Upon confronting Walsh's second-in-command, Riley shows up and they are all ambushed by ADAM. He reveals that he was created by Walsh, that he killed her, and that Riley is her other "creation" through pills and genetics. ADAM is trying to find his purpose, but that includes death and destruction. Buffy tries to fight it, but nothing seems to help. ADAM finally gets away as the Initiative comes in and takes Riley away to be helped. The episode ends with Buffy and Willow musing about where he is and what is going on while the closing shot is of Riley in a hospital bed.

This was a very good episode after the previous. The opening sequence in Giles' place was very dramatic and also fun, thank to Spike. I think it was interesting to watch what was going on with the Initiative and with Riley as Walsh's death came to light. It was also funny when the Scoobies were hiding in Xander's basement. I forgot how cold and calculating a Big Bad ADAM was and I like him even more now. I am not to keen on the self-destructive Riley, but his acting was top-notch. This was a good episode to really present the Big Bad of this season and I am sure I remember the rest of the season being just as good.

Score: 8.6 / 10

Buffy - S4E13

The I in Team
First Aired: Tuesday February 8, 2000

Buffy finally joins up fully with the Initiative, to Willows dismay. Still, something isn't right as Professor Walsh has to deal with Buffy's abrasive approach to slaying.

The episode begins with Xander, Anya, and Willow musing about the Initiative and how it might not be a good thing for Buffy to be a part of them. Buffy is missing from the gang because she is out working and fighting with the Initiative. The next day, Willow reminds Buffy they are to meet at the Bronze to all hang out, but when Buffy gets the grand tour of the Initiative, along with being given a pager, Buffy brings along Riley and some of the guys. Not long after arriving, though, they leave as their pagers beep. Buffy asks too many questions at the monster briefing, which seems to perturb Walsh much. Two scenes are interlaced then; one where Riley and Buffy face the creature and a jump to their sex scene afterward. Walsh monitors this in the base and begins to despise Buffy. She decides it might be best to dispose of her. Sending Riley after a now tagged Hostile-17 (Spike), she sends Buffy alone under false pretenses. Buffy ends up facing two very tough demons that she had seen contained in the Initiative. The rest of the Scoobies are able to remove the tracker from Spike before Riley and his guys could get to Giles place. Upon returning, Walsh tells Riley that Buffy is dead. However, Buffy shows up on the communication monitor to threaten Walsh because she knows it was a set-up. Riley, seeing the truth, stoically walks away as Walsh calls after him. Buffy joins the Scoobies and Spile to tell them that it isn't safe for any of them. The episode ends after Walsh makes a monologue about how she can still fix things, but she is killed by a newly awakened Adam, the experiment housed in room 314.

This was a good episode. The humor with Spike, as well as with Buffy and the Initiative, were spot on. Filming of the fight/sex scene between Riley and Buffy was also very well done. We also begin to see the relationship between Willow and Tara begin to take form. Finally, I am glad to see Walsh go, because she was a very deceptive and deceitful person.

Score: 8 / 10

Buffy - S4E12

A New Man
First Aired: Tuesday January 25, 2000

Giles has been out of the loop for awhile now, but when he finds out everyone has known about Riley and the Initiative, he gets more depressed. Then Ethan Rayne shows up and changes him into a demon.

During a surprise birthday party for Buffy's 19th birthday, Giles begins to look and feel out of place for the first time. He then later finds out that a demon prince is going to rise and he tries to find Buffy at Professor Walsh's office. After being discretely berated by Walsh, Giles just gets Willow and Xander to come help him. He turns out to be wrong in his prediction and the gang muses that perhaps the Initiative cleared it up. Giles is shocked to learn that Riley is part of the Initiative and that Professor Walsh runs it. As he is leaving, he hears Ethan Rayne trying to have a monologue and the two fight. Before it can go further, Ethan suggests that the two talk about this. They spend the night drinking away at the pub, where Ethan mentions the demons are all worried about the Initiative and something called "314". The next morning, Giles wakes up as a Feyarl demon and tries to get help from Xander, who can't understand his demon speaking. While the Scoobies assemble to find the demon, which they believe killed Giles, Giles enlists the help of Spike through money to find Ethan Rayne. Buffy has come to the same conclusion when she checks receipts at the Magic Box. Giles gets to the motel and confronts Ethan just before Buffy bursts in. She attacks and stabs Giles, but notices his eyes and realizes it is him. Ethan reversed the spell and was put into custody with the US government.

This was a very good episode because of the funny circumstances that it puts Giles in, including having to work with Spike. The funniest moment was when he told Spike to pull over so he could run after and scare Professor Walsh. It was also very sweet how Buffy finally realized it at the end and a bit sad about how Giles has been left out of the group. I could already tell that there was going to be much tension between Buffy and the Initiative, in particular with Riley and Walsh. Also, the ominous "314" first shows up that leads to ADAM. Overall, this was a fun episode.

Score: 8.4 / 10