"Something Blue"
Airdate: November 30, 1999

They were right when they said that Buffy was just a big whirlygig of fun.

I don't know who "they" are or why they'd use a word like "whirlygig", but "they" know what they're talking about.

It's another case of spell-goes-awry in the true Bewitched fashion: missing Oz and wanting to mend her broken heart, Willow casts a spell to have her will be done. It ends up backfiring; she's as miserable as ever, but offhand remarks leave her will inflicted upon others: Giles goes blind, Xander becomes a demon magnet in an almost literal sense, and Spike and Buffy suddenly plan to be married.

Yes, you heard me. Buffy and Spike make with the smoochies.

And I'm not talking wussy-smoochies, either. These kids are betrothed (with a romantic skull ring and all), and one has to ponder -- or hope against -- their belief in all that "waiting for the wedding night" mumbo-jumbo. Oh, come on. I know I'm not the only one who thinks those two should do a little something more than smooching.

Moving on now. Buffy has a nice picnic date with Riley, but spoils the effect later when revealing her "engagement" to Spike. Willow's pain draws the attention of D'Hoffryn, who made Anya a vengeance demon so long ago; now he wants to bring Willow into the fold. But Willow's more interested in saving her friends, so he just leaves her with a talisman and tells her to "give us a chant" if she reconsiders.

While the thought of Buffy and Spike actually getting married -- and most of the marriage talk throughout -- struck me as somewhat nauseating, that could be a result of two factors. 1) In my mind, weddings are associated with Mormons, temples, and missionaries. 2) They shouldn't get married, they should just shag like crazed bunnies. But the play between the two of them is amusing throughout, as are the fuzzy Xander/Anya moments. Giles is his usual self but more blind -- and as a result of having to put up with Buffy and Spike, much more tired.

My only big complaint with "Something Blue" is the continued failure to actually do something with Spike. It was nice to see him running around with his beloved Buffy instead of being tied to a chair for the entire episode, but I'm feeling more than ready to see where this is leading.

Could it be leading toward more Buffy/Spike smoochage? Not likely. But a girl can hope, right?

-- Lisa Kincaid

Buffy the Vampire Slayer airs Tuesday nights on the WB.

We welcome your comments on The 11th Hour and this review. Please send letters to: letters@the11thhour.com