Thoughts:
Xanders speech was the best "Supporting Actor" speech ever given. Ever. As Dru said, it was worth the whole episode. Very touching.
Buffy's slayer school was quite good in my opinion. The part where she left the four girls alone against the vampire reminded me so much of the watcher test from the Third Season. (Anyone remember Kralik, the spoon-fed vampire?) I kind of wonder if that's where she got the idea from?
Dawn's journey this episode was also a "worth waiting for." It's about time Michelle Trachtenberg had something to sink her teeth into (pun intended) beside playing "the whiny klepto brat." The last time she had this much face time was in the Season Premiere. But I think we are in for yet one more piece of misdirection. I think there are TWO slayer candidates native to Sunnydale, and I think that the spell didn't lie. The scene that makes me think this is the scene where Dawn fights the vampire in the school lab, with Buffy's voice-over about qualities the Slayer possesses.
Spike continues to be a fascinating character, and I hope some resolution comes between him and Buffy in the end.
Giles... hmmm. Giles? Hmmm. But... hmmm. Giles? *shrug* We'll see.
Favorite scenes:
--EDIT: How could I have forgotten Buffy's statement about Andrew being like an emotional mushroom "Whever he's near evil, he picks up its flavor?"
--Buffy's scene in the demon bar about how shifty and evil demons were, followed by Clem's heart-warming, "Buffy! Hey, girl, how ya been?"
--Rona's line: "Wonder if she dated him too?"
--Buffy's line about Spike's Crypt being "Comfortable" - followed by the girls' reactions.
--And of course, the "Standing just outside the spotlight speech," which was as cool as




(Sorry.)
