The one where the watchers council shows up again.

buffy: glory, what is she? i want to know

quentin: she is a god

buffy: oh!

on first viewing, the revelation worked but the more you know about her later in the season, the less you care about that bit of information :ermm:

apart for that, the reviews of the scoobies are hilarious (if not a bit long): anya trying to cover her demonic past, willow/tara bit embarrassed annoucement of their relationship, spike happy to learn that the lady watcher made her thesis about him and then also happily critic buffy.

a good episode from doug petrie and jane espenson with a mix of humour and actions, with a fantastic final scene where buffy tell quentin and co what the what because she realised that she has more power over them than them over her (well the council need her to feel useful :lol: )

the introduction of the knights of byzamtium even if needed for buffy to realised she has power should have been keeped for an other episode (and anyway these guys only appear here and there to have the plot moving and/or bring a bit of info :rolleyes: )

Pure gold this one! The Council you love to hate, and if it's not ironic, a very worrying insight into American views of Britishness.

And if it wasn't for the full-on Spike charm offensive on the w ench who researched him, I'd be grousing about misrepresentation: if there's one thing I can guarantee about anyone who's survived a thesis, is that's you'll never simper again, for ANYONE!

Have to admit, the Knights of Byzantium get an even lousier press (and don't seem very GREEK at all, all things considered...). To say nothing of damned unchivalrous, mildly incompetent and very misguided. HOW did they get through Customs and Imegration in all that armour, please?

an other spike moment: him and joyce starting to discuss passion (and dawn leaving the scene in discust) :lmao: :thumbsup:

the knights: i guess it's hard to be unnoticed with a big tatoo on your head :rolleyes: , maybe it's the american team of their group and they don't have the same view of the chivalery rules than the europeans

still love buffy being just a bit annoyed but not really worried when they show up

Checkpoint is a lot better than I remembered. The main problem which was stuck in my memory was the overlong and tedious interview section which lasts for about 5 minutes after 20 minutes has elapsed.

I do not have any grand theory about Checkpoint but the title speaks for itself as it seems to herald the start of the arc proper with Glory confronting Buffy about what she wants. Without a midi-chlorian type disaster some exposition stating what Glory wants exactly would have been nice. I would suggest as a possibility Glory could have been losing her powers hence she has to top herself up from time to time but that would be only a stopgap measure hence she needs to return to her dimension. A tiny bit of exposition would have been nice. As it stands the storytelling is slightly irritating as you are left somewhat in the dark.

I love how Buffy learns her tactics from Glory when confronting the council. Buffy assesses that the council essentially have no power so Buffy forces their hand. It is all very neatly done.

Just before Buffy meets the council for the interrogation I love how Buffy is totally reluctant to engage in a fight. It is just like life when something happens when you least want it to.

The main problem which I alluded to at the beginning has to be the poorly written interviews of the scoobies. I feel they lack the razor sharp edge needed to really deliver a satisfying laugh. I did like it when Tara stutters "re re registered" in response. Somehow that really captured their amateurism clashing with the vaguely professional council. Anya was simply embarrassing with her wittering on about being American. All in all it was 5 minutes that should have been ruthlessly edited.

Mehitabel proffers the suggestion that the understanding of Britishness presented here is close to disturbing. I suppose this is the case with a lot of comedy. Remember the episode of The Simpsons that has Bart going on an exchange to France where quite frankly he experiences child abuse and neglect. Checkpoint is not that bad but the council are a little bit stereotyped with their "I'm so stuffy give me a scone" attitude. It could have been worse.

Spike anticipates S6 with his unnecessary staking of the vampire showing the depth of his feelings and laying the groundwork for Crush.

All in all pretty good but the interviews should have been edited. 6/10