"You could have, I dunno, a world without shrimp. Or a world with nothing but shrimp…"
The best episodes of Buffy, for me, as a lover of metatextual fun, are the ones that subvert the format, and this is no exception. Jonathan, unexpectedly, is back for the first time since Jane Espenson's earlier Earshot. I love the character, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a shortarse. I love everything about this alternate world in which Jonathan is even in the opening credits.
It's hilarious just how perfect Jonathan is- he's a millionaire with two live-in supermodel lovers, a world-famous crooner, starred in The Matrix, has completed med school in spite of being only eighteen, advises the Initiative, has his own comic books and trading cards, was given the Class Protector Award by Buffy(!), and is the most hilariously exaggerated Mary Sue I've ever seen. This alone is enormous fun. We also get hilarious consequences. My favourite is the conversation, early on, between Willow and Tara, where the camera suddenly turns round to reveal they've been making a Jonathan collage.
Interestingly, reality has shifted only as far as is needed to incorporate Jonathan being such a great hero. This has knock-on effects, but continuity is otherwise the same. Indeed, we learn more about Adam, courtesy of Jonathan, naturally; he's powered by Uranium-235, which basically means he's really difficult to kill. Lovely. Also, the Initiative have a new boss: Colonel George Havilland.
The only real difference is that Buffy, in this reality, has always played second fiddle to Jonathan, and is rather lacking in confidence until reality reasserts itself. Her relationship with Riley remains the same, though, and we see the consequences of Riley unknowingly sleeping with Faith play out. This seems to be resolved, rather touchingly, with a lot of honesty, a lot of tenderness, and some very wise words from Jonathan. I wonder, though: are they really going to be able to quite get back to where they were before?
Also adorable are Xander and the gloriously tactless Anya (please let her be in every episode!!!), but most of all Willow and Tara, who are now officially and publicly a couple. Willow's concern for Tara after she's attacked by the beast is just lovely. Seeing the two of them together just makes me go "aaaah!"
Interestingly, and usefully for the exposition, Adam realises that reality has shifted, but also that chaos will ensue as reality reasserts itself. This also has the useful side-effect, of course, of making him seem more of a badass. And Buffy, too, comes across as increasingly badass as she works out what's happening and gradually starts to act herself, instead of the subordinate role that Jonathan has written for her. The conclusion is fitting; Jonathan, although he's made a Faustian pact, ultimately avoids temptation by saving the day and Buffy's life. For all its wit and coolness, this episode is also plotted with awesome economy and efficiency.
Rather hilariously (intentional, I think), the final conversation between Buffy and Jonathan comes across as a bit like those monologues at the end of Masters of the Universe and other cartoons. We're being told that problems can't be solved by magic, and life is complicated. Given the high magical content of this show, you could say that's a bit rich!!!
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