The Initiative

Season four picks up; metaplot ahoy! Although there are deeper ramifications and some interesting character development things, this episode is mainly plot. Spike is being held captive in the Initiative's lab; he escapes, but then nearly gets re-captured. Giles and Xander are more obviously feeling useless, a situation that continues through much of season four. And Willow, who is still obviously hurting over Oz leaving, has long talks with both Riley and Spike, both of whom are using Willow to get to Buffy.

Riley's All-American good guy-ness is played up. He defends Buffy's honor by punching Parker for making an insensitive comment about Buffy, and he uses the word "courting" to refer to what he wants to do to get to know Buffy. He's nervous and inarticulate when Buffy's around, then G.I Joe when we discover he's part of the para-military group Buffy is curious about. His intentions are honorable, and he's sweet. His conversation with Willow makes it clear that he may be a better match for the brainy Willow--they seem to connect well--but after a long monologue about how they'll fall in love but end up with someone leaving (a commentary not just on her relationship with Oz, but also foreshadowing Buffy and Riley's end)--Willow accepts that Riley is going to "court" Buffy, and offers the baffling info that she likes cheese (a curiously reoccuring joke--or symbolic theme, but what of...still considering!)

The parallel of Spike going to Willow to find Buffy is interesting. Spike and Riley have antipathy towards each other, but before Riley leaves (next season? Not sure), they have a talk that makes it apparent that they are very jealous of each other. The parallel conversations with Willow is the beginning of their parallel relationships with Buffy. Riley, sweet and romantic, the "perfect" boyfriend; Spike, all emotion and passion, the despised partner. Watching for parallel moments will be interesting.

Note that Marster and Hannigan (Spike and Willow) do a subtle job of going from terror to parody as Spike finds he's unable to perform as a vampire, not realizing that the Initiative has put the chip in his head that renders him unable to attack humans. The moments like that scene remind me that it's not just Whedon's writing; the actors excel in subtle ways, making even the most ludicrous situations ring emotionally true.