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February 13, 2002
Buffy - Older and Far Away - 02/12/02
Once again, it's Buffy's birthday. And once again, everything goes wrong.
I liked this episode, but it was not in my favorites. It was a good filler episode, good to finally get out in the open all of Dawn's issues. The shoplifting thing has been going to too long for no one to notice, but it took the leather coat (how DID she get out of the store?) with the security tag on it to start people thinking. The Magic Box stuff she never wore or used, just kept hidden. But still...
And the whole alone thing. Buffy has been so wrapped up in her own issues that she hasn't had time to spare for Dawn. It was a good wake-up call for Buffy, I just wish it had come sooner. Look, Buffy, the girl has found out she is the Key, lost her mother, and her sister, all within the span of a year. THEN she gets her sister back, but finds out in a bit of musical theater that her sister was happy where she was, and she didn't WANT to come back. And finally, her sister isn't really there when she is standing right in front of you.
HELLO?? Take a look at the pain in front of you! Thank you!
Okay, so Dawn's whining was really, really annoying. Makes me feel less sympathetic toward her. But she's a sixteen-year old girl. Like asking for help or telling someone - one of your family members - about your problems is really gonna happen.
I knew that the guidance counselor was more than she appeared when she showed. It was just TOO much. I was pleased with her appearance at the end, but it was almost too convenient, the way they put it all together. I would have liked Buffy to dig a bit more into Dawn's psyche before putting two and two together and coming up with the requisite four. It seemed to me that she put two out there, guessed that there was another two somewhere, and leapt to four. It's not like vengeance...err, sorry...JUSTICE demons are around every day. It's not like an early episode of Buffy, wherein she "...took a tiny step, and there conclusions were."
I really enjoyed Tara's return in this episode. I liked how she stood up for Willow's attempts at recovery, even in the face of a pissed-off Anya and an injured Xander. And I loved her comments at Spike, who obviously had no idea that Buffy had spilled the proverbial beans. Go Tara!
Overall, 6/10.
Repeats next week while we're away. Yippie, no need to worry about the TV on the right channel!
Posted by Julia at February 13, 2002 1:05 PM