Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Crush

“I feel safe with you.”

“Take that back!!!”

I’m tempted to start this review by saying “ooooooooh! Is that the Bronze? It’s been ages”, but I don’t think that’s really what this episode is about. What we have here is Spike and his rather complicated relationships with Buffy, Drusilla, and Harmony. It’s not so much a love triangle as a love square. Life is complicated if you’re a vampire with a chip in your head.

Not that it seems as though Spike has any chance whatsoever with Buffy. Yes, he may be smoking and stalking a lot, and he may get on well with Buffy’s sister and, indeed, her mother, but she gives him about the biggest rejection in the entire history of humanity. Harmony does want him, but, well, she’s Harmony. Unsurprisingly, he dumps her as soon as Drusilla’s back on the scene.

Ah yes, Drusilla. I’ve always liked her, but I’ve been liking her all the more since she started appearing in Angel and, conveniently, she goes and explains the plot of Angel season two for the benefit of Spike and any viewers who haven’t been following the sister show! Drusilla seems to believe that Spike has not lost his killer instincts, chip or no chip. Indeed, it seems as though he does actually kill someone in that rather erotic killing scene in the Bronze with Drusilla’s help, of course. But the real fun comes when he ties up both his women and opens his heart to them, threatening to kill Drusilla for Buffy. This is both romantic and kinky. Of course, the best thing about the whole scene is Drusilla’s reactions.

The best thing about the whole episode, though, is that Xander is jealous of Spike for taking his place as Dawn’s crush! The whole thing is pretty cool. I’m enjoying this season. I can’t believe it’s nearly over.