Review
Rob
You have to hand it to Spike for withstanding Glory's gruesome torture for the love of Buffy. Mind you, he probably really enjoyed it. Something he definitely enjoyed was the Buffy Bot - probably too much for early evening television. Just what was the Slayer up to in that graveyard?
After weeks of death and grimness, it's great to see that rarity on Buffy - Sarah Michelle Gellar smiling. Her perky portrayal of Spike's plastic pal is a delight, especially her hilariously damning appraisal of Angel. Pity the Scooby Gang couldn't tell the difference between the bot and the real thing.
What was with all that cod mysticism in the desert? Apart from keeping the mountain lions of Hollywood in work and reintroducing something that looked like the First Slayer (but wasn't) it left me a little baffled.
Top marks to Jane Espenson, though. She certainly delivers the top-quality funnies time and time again.
Kim
It seems that as Buffy grows older, and possibly wiser, the spiritual and metaphysical aspects of being the Slayer are going to become more important to her. She can't afford the flippant dismissiveness that characterised early episodes now she's bereaved, and caring for her little sister.
But doesn't it all seem a little po-faced? It's not quite what you'd expect from the show. They're following the mysticism by numbers rules set up by The Last Temptation of Christ - every desert revelation scene needs to be accompanied by the same haunting arabic-style soundtrack. Only Giles' thermos flask showed the light touch that the show brings to a genre that usually takes itself very seriously.
I'm looking forward to the show moving on from this seasons' story line, as making the show more 'adult' seems to be making it lose its way.
Ann
If The Body was Joss’s gift to those who like the real life drama and emotion of Buffy, then Intervention is an overdue payment to fans of the sparky dialogue, humour and sense of the ridiculous that are the other hallmarks of the series.
Intervention is easily the funniest episode in season five, with a stonkingly good premise and some of the best Buffy gags ever. Even better, it play effortlessly with the Sunnydale scenario for laughs without ever failing to take it seriously. Lines like "We will bring you the limp and battered body of Bob Barker" just can’t help but be very, very funny.
Gellar must have been revelling in the chance to lighten up a bit after the previous two sorrow-soaked episodes, judging from her brilliant performance as the factory fresh Buffybot. Marsters is also great, with this episode letting us see what we’ve all wanted to really - Spike getting Buffy in a clinch. As well as many other positions. He’s obviously spent a lot of time working out those sexual fantasies.
There’s too many great scenes to just pick one, but the gourd okey-cokey must rate as a Giles magic moment.
