Buffy the Vampire Slayer
"The Yoko Factor"

Airdate: May 09, 1999

Have I mentioned lately how much I love Spike? I have? Well, it's one of those things that really can't be said enough.

Yes, I know that "The Yoko Factor" featured some big events, like Angel coming to Sunnydale and meeting Buffy's new boy-toy, and Forrest being quite possibly dead and all that. But it all pales in comparison to the glory that is Spike. As I'm sure you know.

The plot of this episode is actually surprisingly simple, considering how much was going on and how well they pulled it off. Angel visits Sunnydale to set things right with Buffy after their less-than-cordial parting in the Angel episode "Sanctuary", and ends up running into Riley, which leads to a bit of Smackdown, Buffy-style. There isn't much of a point to this, aside from the fun of a confrontation we've been wanting and an appearance by David Boreanaz that was probably a nice ratings-booster. The scenes were entertaining, too, and the despite the fact that Angel, with two centuries plus of experience fighting all sorts of nasty things, should've wiped the floor with only-human, no-longer-on-the-steroids Riley. Disbelief aside, the fight provides the satisfaction many fans have been seeking, and leads to some nice resolution between Buffy and Angel.

Meanwhile, back in the plot.... Adam and Spike are still scheming to get to the Slayer out of the picture, and Spike, crafty bugger that he is, plans to cut her from the herd by turning her support team against her. With carefully placed lies, he turns Giles into a falling-down drunk (hooray for comic relief) and brings to a head several legitimate issues that have been simmering under the surface all season: Buffy and Xander don't trust Willow's magic skills (probably because the spells always go awry), and Willow and Buffy have effectively left Xander behind when they moved on to college. After a fairly vicious fight, Buffy storms out, intent on taking care of Adam on her own, and Spike's mission is all too easily accomplished.

Somewhere in the midst of all that, Buffy runs into Forrest in the... er, well, the forest... and they end up investigating a cave, where they find Adam; despite Buffy's efforts to take out the big bad, Forrest ends up skewered. We don't really know if he's dead, and while there may just be assimilation in his future, Buffy manages to escape and eventually breaks the news to Riley. He reacts strangely and goes off on his own... only to find his way to Adam. The two greet each other, and the screen fades to black, displayed the cursed and blessed name of Joss Whedon, He Who Is Cruel Unto Me.

It's episodes like this one that lead me to conclude that the weeks are far too long, and Tuesdays always too far away. Despite some spots that are a bit disjointed -- Angel's appearance seems just for the gratification of those of us who were yenning for a Riley vs. Angel Deathmatch, and once again Giles sings for no apparent reason... but you won't really hear me complain on either count. But the real glory, of course, is Spike, who proves that in order to be truly good at being bad, one must have the brains to go along with the brawn.

-- Lisa Kincaid

Buffy the Vampire Slayer airs Tuesdays at 8pm EST on the WB.

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