I liked it, OK? It was not a perfect issue but it was entertaining, interesting and packed to the brim with cool shit! So let's go!
Buffy and speed dating - all in all pretty funny stuff in my opinion, I like the nod to season 8, the tumblrtards funnies and hey, vampire erections? It's a good question and not just because I asked it. Also, what in the hell is Buffy wearing? I know, there were times when Buffy's fashion choices were extravagant to say the least but this rosy monstrosity of a dress she's wearing here is really pushing it.
Xander and Dawn. Look, I love "Princess Bride" as much as the next guy but Xander and Dawn are getting seriously repetitive and obnoxious! And mostly Xander. I'm with Anya's apparition on this. Speaking of Anya - this issue and particularly her scene with the kittens made me realize something. I miss Anya. I don't want her to come back from the dead full time as she earned her rest plus there's already enough characters in this comic but damn, I still miss her. Anya added something unique and special to BtVS and her death truly left a void.
Willow. I loved Willow's segment, I think that it was the most interesting part of the issue. First of all, there's the whole absurdity of dating a snake. There aren't many franchises that can play it straight - well, OK, there's Monster Girl Quest and some other Japanese stuff but anyway, it's not easy to build something genuine on such foundation and I feel that the writers managed just fine here. Yes, Aluwyn is a chaos demon snake lady thing with tits ( and by the way, why do you even have tits Ms Vasuki? You're a snake, you're not a mammal you don't need...OK, OK, I stop now ) a wiccan house party makes sense, as does the pile of heart-shaped pillows to lounge on with Willow ( 😛 ) I mean, it's not like she can sit in a chair. But seriously, about the trust thing. It echoes back to the conversation Buffy and Xander had in "Seeing Red":
Buffy: You fought side by side with him when I was gone. You let him take care of Dawn-
Xander: But I never forgot what he really is.
Similarly, Willow doesn't forget what Aluwyn is and what she is a...yes, a snake, get over it already. Like Willow says, Aluwyn's a trickster. A deceiver. It's the essence of her being. For Willow to be able to trust her snake, the snake would have to overcome and act against her own nature. Is it possible? Is it even fair to expect that? Interesting stuff right here and really complicated, especially for Willow - as long as she cannot trust Saga she cannot even talk about these issues with her. It seems to me that Aluwyn will have to prove her trustworthiness to Willow, otherwise I can't see this relationship surviving. Oh, and liked Willow's dress, kinda goth-y but come on, she is a witch after all, also, nice delts and collarbones! What? Collarbones are sexy.
Giles. What can I say? New life. New body. New city. Same old wanker. Maybe he'll get what he wants, what with that asclepian vial lying around. The pedophile line - gold! Also, the insight into Giles' relationship with Olivia was pretty interesting, it's something that I think deserved to be explored more thoroughly in the TV series. Good job.
And for better or worse, it's time to come back to Buffy. Holy shit, does Dawn drop some epic lines in this issue or what?! Look at this:
Dawn: I just don't get why you keep trying to force me to get back together with Xander when it doesn't feel right! You're my sister! You should be on my side!
Buffy: Why are there sides? I love you! I love Xander! He adores you, and you're great together! I just don't know why you're the only one who can't see that!
You do know what this is, right? See, Buffy's many things, turns out a bloody shipper is one of them! Oh yes, that's you shippers! You and your shipping! That's exactly how you act! You just got called out on your shit, feel shame! But guess what, it gets better!
Dawn: Have you ever given anyone a chance when there was half a shot at it working? Or only when they're unattainable? I swear Buffy. Sometimes I think you don't really want to be happy.
This shit right here! Hard hitting truth! I mean, yes, it's something we've known since at least "Conversations with Dead People", more than 10 years now but whatever, finally somebody said it out loud! Yes! Now, what happens next will get people all unnecessarily excited. Basically, Buffy and Spike go out to slay some shit together. They slay shit, make some ironically bad self-aware puns and...Buffy kisses Spike. Look, Buffy knows how Spike feels about her after overhearing his conversation with Xander in the previous issue so let's be honest, it's kinda eeky but if she's really in love with him, if she truly wants a relationship with him, if her feelings are 100% genuine - whatever, all is fair in love. Hope she finds happiness. Hey, maybe she'll even get laid this century? If they are not however then she's a thunder****. OK? At this point, after everything they've been through Spike doesn't deserve manipulation. Seriously Summers, don't screw this up.
What else? Yeah, yeah, Andrew came out, completely unsurprising, again, we've known since season 7, also, the sculptor guy can't be that scary if Andrew of all people can get rid off him. Twilight jokes - pretty low at this point but still, pop rocks up the arse? I admit, I chuckled. Jack Lalanne? Nice. One more thing - what's wrong with kitten hazard? Or eating them for that matter? Not that I would, being human and all that but hell, I eat animals. Lots of them in fact. If some law-abiding demons wish to dine on cat flesh they should be free to do so, gambling is fine too - if they pay taxes of course.
So yeah, it was a good issue, really. Honestly, I recommend it, go read it, it's good stuff.
