People are missing the real noteworthy thing of the episode. It seems like an actual human is hitting on Xander!

Oh, that Shakespearean soliloquy [Spikeliloquy?] in the church... Flawless.

When Angel got his soul back, the curse was that he was tormented by visions of the people he killed. And that has been happening to Spike. Guilt in 3D. Much more effective! But the end scene is one of my favorites in Buffy...and all the references Spike made. Imagine how much this would have hit if we didnt know he got his soul back?

That is 1 of my favourite spike episodes. James was phenomenal.

BUFFY :Why? Why would you do that- SPIKE: Buffy, shame on you. Why does a man do what he mustn't? For her. To be hers. To be the kind of man who would nev- to be a kind of man. She shall look on him with forgiveness, and everybody will forgive and love. He will be loved. This has to be the best escene on THE ENTIRE SERIES. Spike did take his soul back for her. it is amazing, shocking and heartbreaking. James Marsters is brilliant! This speech is unique. They should get an emmy for this.

The church scene is my all time favourite Buffy the vampire slayer moment . Angel lived in a sewer ya he was sane.

MacKenzie was right about the "Monkey's paw" factor with Spike but it wasn't that he didn't expect to get his soul back. He didn't realize just how much guilt, pain, and anguish he was going to experience when he got his soul back....because how could he? That last scene (which was added by Joss at the last minute) is a beautiful summation of just what he's going through at the moment. I love SMG's reaction to Spike slowly burning on the cross. It's absolutely perfect. The rest of the episode is merely...okay but it's the last scene everybody remembers anyway.

You guys are talking about Anya like she's not a killer. Anya never felt guilt with her soul when she became humans for all her killings, hell she joked about them.

I get that you guys like Anya but she's way more in the wrong here than Xander is. Sure, Xander made a huge mistake by leaving her at the alter but Anya's way of coping was to reject her humanity and become a vengeance demon again and everything that entails. That was a conscious choice, just like Xander's choice. The big difference being that Xander's choice caused heartbreak while Anya's choice is now costing people their lives. Yeah, Anya ain't the hero in this scenario.

"The thing.. beneath you, it's here too, everybody" "You're beneath me" (Buffy 5x07) Spike refers to himself, the him that haunts him for what he did in the past.

I don't think it's talked about enough that Angel's soul is from a curse and is used a form of punishment and vengeance, and Spike's soul was an honor earned through trials. The souls are not the same at all. Also, I kind of think that Anya's excuse of Xander leaving her at the alter is kind of weak. She needs to take responsibility to the fact that her actions as a demon hurts people. She has done more damage than Spike and Angelus combined, and yet she gets a pass.

By far one of the best episodes in season 7, soo emotional but fantastic, James did an incredible job, the church scene is one of my favorites in the series, the way Spike lays himself on the cross, professing his undying love for Buffy, while in pain as he burns is 😥😥😭😭❤❤

How many flesh-eating monsters can you unleash upon the innocent populace (and the puppies), before "I was dumped" becomes a weak excuse?

The reason fans don’t hold Anya as accountable is because they aren’t use to the show doing so. They coded her as the full time comic relief for 4 seasons & made us love her for the outspoken, quirky, levity she provides. Also her dark past has only been referenced in throw a way funny lines rather than amount of story focus given to Spike/Angel’s dark pasts. Suddenly we’re being given a tonal change in her material & we’re not accustom to it. So it’s harder to be as angry with her. I don’t blame Anya, so much as the writing. The fact that people are finally debating how they feel about her choices shows progress because it means she’s finally been given some real agency within the story!

Love that bit from Dawn to Spike. Pretty badass, especially from someone who a couple seasons ago was fairly whiny. I really like seeing the growth she's had from the very end of last season fighting with Buffy to training last episode and now this. I can't fault that lady for realizing a cat would be better, but yeah the lack of any emotion from her after losing her dog is pretty alarming. Xander absolutely should be single for a while and figure out what he wants. He's also right blaming Anya for this. He did something terrible to her yes, but getting back in to vengeance and turning that guy into a demon worm so he can kill a dog and terrorize his ex was a choice that she made, and she is responsible for. Great reaction as always. Never apologize for staying safe during a pandemic.

I think the difference between Angel's and Spike's behaviour makes sense and not because of the ways they got their souls, but because of who they are. Different people handle, or fail to handle trauma differently and they've always been shown to be very different people both as soulless vampires and back when they were alive, so it makes sense to me that they're responses to regaining their souls would look very different.

How is it not Anya's fault? Becoming a vengence demon, trying to curse him, tricking others into cursing people, actively serving evil. Those are all choices Anya made of her own free will. She doesn't get a pass on them just because she was hurt. She knows what she's doing is wrong but keeps doing it anyway.

4:39 We may not agree on everything but oh my gosh if that isn't the truest truth EVER. Thanks for saying it. I would not date someone who didn't cry over their dead dog or show Some sign it bothered them but they tragically can't express it. 10:37 LMAO Also said often but "can we rest?" 💔 Having a soul is not easy dear Spike. And that sensitive poet soul realizing it committed Mass trauma/death, could make you crazy I think. Unlike William, Liam at least had some darkness to fall back on in his incredible realization of what vampirism brought out in him and technically did without him. and you are right about one thing that big bad thing that was in the basement with him that sounds like it would make you crazy too. I think it's subtle because he doesn't know how to dig into identity so much of his identity has been around being this demon but to be honest it's definitely not the spike we know, it's subtle but they're clues. I mean while he was in the midst of his crazy he cried about getting in trouble for his homework being ruined, that's not Spike that's William. Angel didn't have that problem as much (tho you may be you're forgetting a time he did as seen in the flashbacks that crossed episodes between him and Spike) to hold on to in terms of identifying with that monster that he became. His darkness proved to be too dark. Spike in his darkness actually did manage routine some types of light via his affection for others. The demon had changed so much in an attempt to be what Buffy wanted, before that what Drusilla wanted, it's such a part of his identity, I don't think he knows how to let it go in quite the same way because there was actual heart to his demon. The evil unbridled is all he really lost. Anything else I could say is a spoiler or been said.

THE Church scene with Spike is the Re-written one. The ORGINAL FULL script is online to read. It's more intense and crazy spike shows his frustration of how evil he is and what he's done to people. That it hurts having a soul. Both are good. I think this released version is more poetic and more like spike. Other one was all about self hatred.

This was absolutely Anya's fault. It's probably been three to five months since the non-wedding and y'all still want to blame Xander for Anya's actions. Please!

This comment used to be speculation on my part about why I think Spike is acting so crazy. I call it speculation because I based my comment on purely past episodes and haven't actually seen any later episodes that would confirm or deny my speculation. Unfortunately some people have complained that my comment was a spoiler. This is sad for 2 reasons. Their comments basically made my speculation a spoiler by confirming it was true, which then spoiled some of show for me. Thanks for that. Then it also meant I had to remove my comment entirely as it was now in fact a spoiler. Thanks again. Seriously though, I get the need for spoiler police and would rather lose a comment rather than ruin someones enjoyment of the show. Just, maybe spend a bit more time checking if it's a real spoiler or not. Everything I said came from s3e10, s3e21, and s7e01. If you don't want to be spoiled, don't go looking at those episodes cause now you know there is some importance to them.

Anya getting dumped at the altar was one of the lowest things ever on the show....but that's no excuse to get other innocent people dead as a form of vengence on Xander...

Spike.....

I was heartbroken for Anya when he left her on the wedding day BUT how is committing murder the best she can do?? I love Anya, one of my favorite characters,,,,, and that’s how I know she can do better. Would she have taken it back if the scoobies didn’t find her and beg her? Probably not and the cute puppy died because of her!!

lol nah Anya is not allowed to go kill things because she's hurt that Xander left her. Regardless of how upset, Xander is right that she can't use that as an excuse to turn people into giant puppy eating monsters.

I don’t know about this argument that Anya isn’t to blame at this point. Sure Xander messed up. But how many people does Anya get to kill before some of the blame is hers? She’s an active vengeance demon. Any other demon doing this kind of thing, Buffy would be after already. We haven’t even seen all the damage she’s probably done off camera. I doubt this is the first wish she’s granted. Xander’s an emotionally stunted idiot. That’s been on display since season 1. We got hints and signs about what lead to that with the abusive family he grew up in. We got it on full display at the wedding with his family and his self loathing in the vision he received. He never rejected Anya. Just himself. I think he truly loved Anya as best he could under his circumstances. But he doesn’t truly love or trust himself. He called off the wedding to protect Anya from himself because he doesn’t want to hurt her. It was never about not wanting her. His problems are lack of self reflection, difficulty communicating emotionally and lack of self esteem. So realizing that maybe he may not be emotionally stable and mature enough for marriage was bad timing. That shouldn’t make him out to be a bad person. Just maybe not marriage material yet. What Xander did was painful. Probably badly timed. He rushed into a marriage that he wasn’t ready for probably because she made him feel better about himself. Upon realizing he might not be right for her, should he really have gone through with the wedding? Especially given his primary role models of marital bliss? I can’t point to anything Xander has done that I would call truly evil. What Anya does as a vengeance demon is evil. I can’t imagine anything that that man did that really deserved being turned into a giant worm monster. The dog certainly didn’t deserve to be eaten. I doubt his ex that he was terrorizing deserved it either. Or any other bystanders who might be killed unleashing a monster like that. Basically, blaming Xander for Anya’s vengeance activities would constitute justifying mass murder for anyone jilted at the alter. That hardly seems right. Xander’s right in this instance. He should feel bad for his own actions. He can hardly be expected to take the blame for others misdeeds. At some point that excuse has to stop working.

Oh yessssss y'all are not playin!!!! Another 2 in 1 day. Im loving this!!!! Keep them comin!!!!!!

Hmmmm have to disagree with your opinion about Anya. She is not at all entitle to ruin people's lifes and go all vengeancy because of what happened to her. She, twice now, decided to be a demon and do unspeakable things!! Getting back on your feet doesn't mean going out there and do whatever you like...and it's disturbing that what Anya likes is vengeance. In my opinion.

Given what Charisma Carpenter and Amber Benson have both come out and said about Joss Whedon maybe you guys should change the tag line we watch whedon and we done watched it

Love that this season FINALLY gives Anya some heavier material & deeper storylines! Since Emma Caulfield has always killed the few bits of dramatic material she’s been given (ex. The Body, Hells Bells & Entropy.) Better late (3 seasons as a series regular) than never!!

Even if it is a heartwrenching scene at the church I can't help but give a small laugh at the "yeah, where have you been all night"-line. Also Dawns little pyromanic treath is gold.

That first scene that was like from an Alias episode was ICONIC. 😍 And that last scene breaks my heart, even if I HATED Spike for a long time after what he did in season 6. By the way now I just realized (thanks to you guys) that Anya felt worse about the dog dying, than the actual owner (the girl) did.

Joss rewrote and redirected the cross scene: "There was a scene between Buffy and me in a church, and I think I ended up draping myself over a cross. I was very, very sad. [It was] a very dramatic scene. [Joss Whedon] didn’t direct it. He saw the footage and came up to me and he said, “Okay, James, I’ve got good news and bad news, what do you want?” I said, “Well, give me the bad news first.” He said, “Okay. That scene that was so important, your whole career-making scene? That sucks. It’s horrible. You kind of overacted. It’s not your fault. It was the direction. But it’s just so on the nose, and it’s just cringe-worthy. Do you want the good news?” I said, “Yeah.” He said, “Okay, I’m going to rewrite it, I’m going to direct it, I’m going to save this, it’s going to be right. Don’t worry.” We filmed 12 to 20 hours to begin with, which is so much longer than other shows. Other shows filmed 12 hours a day for eight days, and they’re going to get an episode out of that. Then, after we finished those eight days, and the main unit started a new episode, we were doing pickups and extra shots on B and splinter units throughout the next week, which was not even entirely legal. But to go back and wholesale throw away an entire day’s work and begin from scratch in the midst of all that other filming was just a huge, huge thing to do. He was willing to do that." And, of coruse, the Willow-Giles scenes are still from Aly and Joss trip to UK during summer 2002.

You guys are kinda wierd with the Xander/Anya situation. He left her at the altar so she's entitled to go out and inflict pain and death on innocent people as a vengeance demon? It's a massively disproportionate response, and I feel like you're giving her way too much of a free pass. What Xander did was thoughtless and selfish, but what she's doing is straight up evil. You're drawing the line in a really strange place. It isn't Xander's fault she doesn't know how to function as human being; anymore than it is her fault that Xander hasn't processed his traumatic childhood and shitty interpersonal skills. You can't excuse one and ignore the other. Or at least I don't think you should. Sorry to rant, because I otherwise love your reactions, but that's been bugging me.

The end of this episode, 19 years on, gives me the Goddamn chills.

That ending scene gets me every time. Top notch!

Not one of my favorite episodes, but a great set-up for much more compelling stories to come! And that final scene, directed by Joss was gorgeous.

We be getting one a day now. Love this episode, great ending and great Anya and Xander episode. So far this seasons episodes endings are on point

Blame someone else for being bringing death and mayhem to people that was completely in your control? No shot.

Another factor with Spike vs Angel and how they deal with their soul is Liam was likely Irish Catholic and William was upper-class victorian england, so more likely CoE. The cultural impacts of how guilt is viewed combined with Spike being more in the moment is likely the cause for his seeming to come to terms with it a lot faster compared to Angel's hundredish years of wallowing in sewers, etc.

I hope y'all can be together by episode 5

I thought this episode was super sloppy, especially the confrontations in the bronze and the rehashing of everyone baggage and relationships, and devolving into a fight, it felt kinda like fanfiction.

hi guys. thanks alot for this episode : I really like that song in the beginning. it is called "Von der Tiefe" (from the depth) by Stillste Stund. it's a special remix version for the Buffy episode.. best wishes. take care of yourselves and stay healthy! :)

after buffy and angel are you two plan to react to other shows together?

When I wached this ep. for the first time I've cried a bunch of salt at the end of it! Why almost nobody dosn't??!!

I honestly don't mind you guys doing this your reactions are still great 👍

First, two reactions in two days! Thanks. Like Kyle, I'm afraid to comment on anything for fear of a spoiler.

I would have liked to see the reaction to Xander and Spike looking at each other uncomfortably as the spoken words of "is there anyone here who hasn't slept together" are said. ."Please don't date her Xander." Xander isn't really any better in the basic context Mackenzie brings that up in either. He often considers people stupid and does something just as stupid just afterwards. Technically it could be considered a cliché in pop culture. 9:04-9:15 could be true of many of the characters and should be taken as wisdom for real life after any relationship is over. I also disagree that 9:28-9:32 will stop working as an excuse as long as Xander hasn't apologized and comes up with weak 'I had to do it so get over it' retaliations against her being justifiably upset. If Xander ever does sit down and actually talk to Anya and listen and apologize, then perhaps the excuse wouldn't work, but if he did that she wouldn't give him the excuse anymore. It doesn't help that the two of them ran in the same group of friends and because he was an OG character, she was the one pushed from the group. Probably made her decision to rebecome a vengeance demon a little easier also.

Oh my God. Episode 2 already?!

The pink haired girl was a callback to the show Alias with Jennifer Garner who plays a spy and had a signature look of wigs.

This whole thing is so so good and so well done...if only this character progression made the lease bit of sense and didn’t require a complete retcon of both the lore and the end of last season. You two are insane! Sure, Anya has every right to be angry with Xander and whatever that comes with.....BUT SHE’S MURDERING INNOCENT PEOPLE. How is “he left me at the alter” a valid justification for multiple homicides??

I swear they borrowed the worms from Tremors for this one.

I have always hated this episode except for the final scene. Other than that and like one other episode, this is such a good final season, one of the best final seasons ever.