"I'd like to test that theory." BEST. ENTRANCE. EVER! Of all time!

"This doesn't feel like Willow anymore." I think that was kind of the point. It's quite telling that she speak of herself in third person as a loser and a junkie. After getting that extra power boast, it's like a whole other person has taken over. She's not just lashing out a friends now. She's trashing her 'former' self. As if to say "I'll never allow myself to be that weak again." If it seems like it's just the magic doing it than I can see what Mackenzie means of it just being put upon. However I don't see it that way. It's admittedly told more than shown, but her dialogue suggest both a break from and a response to where she's been over the years. The desire to be loved and appreciated predates the use of magic so its like dark forces are feed upon it. The awareness of still there, but it's only a resentfully awareness of a life you seek to get away from. What's most telling of all is that her talk of Tara as the only thing "I ever had going for me." Of course there was more then, but was her death that drove her seek out this much power and how's she justifying what she can do with it. Even Anya said it's gone beyond vengeance now.

I was so waiting for her to see Giles.

People in the season two finale are like: Buffys "Me" is the coolest line ever. Giles: I'd like to test that theory.

Willow's not really mad about having to stop doing magic. Willow never really understood magic, she treated it like a tool, something she could use to get what she wanted, like her computer skills or book knowledge. She was warned again and again by Giles and Tara that magic was dangerous and that she progressing terrifyingly fast. She was always pushing, find something, see if she can do it, keep pushing until she succeeds and then climb to the next level, never slowing down or stopping to actually master and understand her current skills. And in the end she lost control, the magic was controlling her rather than her controlling it and so she had to quit tp regain that self control. But staying off the magic forever was never a viable solution, the power was always going to be inside her building up until she burst. Unfortunately she burst in a moment of grief and rage and she's basically locked herself into a cycle of hurting, looking for targets only to end up hurting again since the vengeance doesn't solve anything. The dark magic she absorbed is acting liek a screen, keeping her more positive emotions from breaking through and influencing her so she's just venting her negative feelings on everyone around her. The one person who manages to break through to her for just a moment is Dawn when she talks about Tara, but Willow didn;t like that, didn't like feeling the pain and grief so she lashed out at Dawn to make it stop.

It's not possessing her, it's an addiction metaphor. She's still willow she's grieving and losing herself to her addiction, letting it change her.

Giles: I’d like to test that theory. 😱🙌🏽

So hard to tell when Mackenzie is excited 😂

12:46 I watched this episode when it first aired. I can't articulate just how hyped I was at the prospect of Willow VS Giles. It's easily one of the best cliffhangers in the entire show. Giles reappearing out of nowhere when everything seems lost, casually blasting a superpowered Willow, and following it up with a classy one-liner... It's perfect.

Alyson Hannigan also had experience with taekwondo and actually got to employ some of her skills in the fight!

“Flames on the side of my face.” 😍

I BEEN WAITING FOR THESE!!! Also - Fun Fact: The actor for Warren dated Amber Benson for 7 years during and after Buffy

I've been waiting for weeks to see Mackenzie's face when Giles came back, and it was worth the wait.

Alyson was excellent, all the actors. Warren Dark Willow had credible and crazy intentions. Buffy VS Willow was amazing and the things about magics were well concluded, and the ending was an echo to the beginning of the season so well written. Giles entrance was so badass

Willow is a good person who has completely changed in personality due to the addictive influence of dark magic, like an alcoholic who gets violent instead of lethargic. The grief and anger also contributes.

How she treats Dawn in this episode is, funnily enough, way more unforgivable to me than what she does to Warren or Rack (who isn't a good person but he is a human being that Willow just decided to kill). One killed her girlfriend and the other was amoral and sleazy and possibly a rapist, but I don't understand nor frankly care why Willow would threaten Dawn. Grief, trauma, and loss are tremendously painful things that every human being goes through at some point or another, some far worse than others. Wanting to hurt the people who hurt you is sad but human. But taking your anger out on people who have done absolutely nothing to do and just want to help is where I lose all sympathy for Willow. "Wah Mom, wah Buffy," you say? Well wah Tara, boo fucking hoo, if Willow ever cared about Tara, she wouldn't have threatened to kill/erase from existence/revert back/whatever the closest thing Tara had to a daughter. Reminds me of Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy, "Everyone's got dead people. It's no excuse to try and get everyone else around killed along the way!" I feel for Willow when Tara dies, I feel for Willow when she kills the man responsible, but I just don't give a flying fuck about Willow when she acts like a mustache twirler and rubs in all of her friends' fears and insecurities as she tries to kill them. That has nothing to do with Tara, nothing to do with "Dark Magicks," and everything to do with Willow being a shy, passive aggressive wallflower who hates herself for being meek and wants to be big and powerful and make other people feel small. It's funny. When I was a kid, I really related to Willow and Xander and thought Buffy was a big stick in the mud, but as an adult, I really relate to Buffy and can't stand Willow and Xander.

There was that look again, Kyle...

It's one of my big pet peeves of the series that Willow can magically fight Buffy with equal skill. Even if that spell gave her Buffy's level of physical strength, she shouldn't be able to do flips and complex martial arts that Buffy has spent many years perfecting. It feels like the writers stretching logic. Buffy would have beat Willow's ass in that fight.

As usual, you've made my Monday better. Alas, we're only a season away from the end of this wonderful run. Thanks!

That ending is one of the best ever endings!

Quite possibly my favourite episode. Assuming the person watching has watched all the previous seasons and is invested in the characters the Buffy/Willow smackdown is all sorts of epic. "I'd like to test that theory." is just the tasty, tasty icing on the cake.

Okay so most people are saying this season sucked (which I don't understand cause I loved it) But do you think seasons 1- 4 were better? Season 5 was awesome! Because of Glory and Season 6 A Buffy and Willow SHOWDOWN was pretty Dope! So much Character Development in this season. It's just funny people nick pick about certain shows that were 20+ years ago and breaking a lot of barriers back then. When shows in today times SUCK! And can't even come close to Buffy with these lame actors in todays time. #Buffyforever!!!!

When this episode aired, I was told by my friends on the message boards that they could hear me screaming "YESSSSSSSS!" when Giles shows up and utters that famous line. This episode goes a long way in redeeming the season for me.

I’m so glad Mackenzie & Kyle appreciate Anya!! Her help here is often so overlooked. But she’s such an MVP! Also couldn’t agree more! FINALLY she’s getting to do & be more than just Xander’s love interest! And damn she’s got some great stuff ahead!

This was the hardest spoiler to avoid. For weeks!

I knew THE entrance would get a big reaction, and that didn't disappoint : ) I do have to admit to finding Mackenzie's Spike theories at this time not just interesting, but a little amusing, considering where it's going....

That entrance at the end still gives me chills.

THIS is the FUCKING reaction I was waiting for!!!!!!!!!! LOVING it! Oh, and Willow filleted Warren. Hahaha. I also love when Willow is calling out Buffy NO ONE realizes the room changed.... and that is due to the incredible acting and dialogue. Plus, the ending? That is an ENDING! Willow: And there's no one in the world who can stop me now. Giles: Hold my glasses and my books. I've got this.

Just wanna say Kyle’s T-shirt is the best thing I’ve seen and i need it now!

I can’t pick just one but the last three episodes of this season are my favorite. I remember watching it in High School.

This is one of my favorite episodes.

Awww wonderful Madeline Khan reference!

I've been dying for this reaction CHILLS

Fun fact: the actor who played Rafe also played the sadist "silence of the lambs" vampire in "Helpless."

Giles coming back was so hard not to spoiler.

Gah! I remember watching this live, back-to-back with the finale

Willows magic abuse/addiction has been building up literally since they were in high school. I don’t understand why people think it’s out of character or comes from no where. She’s always resorted to magic as a quick fix to her problems and tied her self worth to her magic abilities. When she and Xander were having an affair, when Oz left her, when Oz cheated? Every situation she tried to turn to magic to fix things. And then she’s constantly stated or shown that she thinks her magic abilities are the only thing that make her special or useful to the group. In Restless we see how she views the “old willow” as shy and pathetic. Someone with no power to be laughed at. And her treatment towards Dawn? The whole point is that the dark magic is changing her (I mean she also takes magic from Drak. It’s not going to be good magic lol) And Dark Willow’s tactic is obviously to be mean and cruel to the people she loves. To deflect the pain she’s feeling, to stop them from getting her to feel anything other than anger because she doesn’t want to stop using, stop becoming more powerful (a trait of addiction) And ever since she brought Buffy back she’s been channeling forces and opening doors you can’t come back from (Giles has even said this about magic in general and warned Willow ) The addiction, power, the dark forces and then the grief and anger is all causing her to act completely different. That’s why she no longer feels like Willow but it makes total sense to me. All the signs have always been there. I love this season and how it takes our characters to extremes because of issues and patterns they’ve been ignoring in themselves. Also Giles coming in at the end? AHH one of my absolute fave moments

3:59 first reactor who got the Nirvana reference!! Kudos

HARRY POTTER SPOILER Great reaction to Giles's return. 10:57-11:13. I remember when Spike said, "I don't wanna hurt you baby. Doesn't mean I won't" to Drusilla in _Becoming Part 2._ Interesting that Buffy is now in that position and that Kyle caught its oddness. If Xander thought he had a chance at fixing things with Anya, he should have told her he wanted to fix the mess he created by leaving her at the alter because otherwise she had a right to find solace or even move on with Spike. It is a deep-seeded emotional thing with Willow. She is ignoring the grief of losing Tara by giving into vengeance and dark magic. It isn't just about her being evil or possessed. The conflict between Willow and Buffy is happening because Willow is having an internal battle involving ignoring issues and feelings she needs to confront. Willow's reaction to Tara's death was us seeing the why and how she is acting the way she is. Willow isn't actually upset over being a secondary character, she is just saying she is because she has given in to the "power" and "addiction" of said dark magic and vengeance. While I don't like what Willow is doing, I think it is odd that Xander said just after the musical that he was going to spend more time with Buffy due to them realizing what they had done to her. So why is it that Willow is only now calling Buffy out on her depression? Why did Xander never spend that time with her when he said that is what they needed to do? And why did Giles leave when the group knew Buffy was having trouble emotionally. Truthfully, I dislike the actions of every main character this season, except Tara (and even she helped resurrect Buffy), as she goes against the theme of the season and grows up. I have seen people argue that Tara is part of the "bury your gays" trope, but I disagree, I think with her being the only successful person at subverting the season's theme of not growing up. Killing her character was more similar to killing off a parent in a teen show or Dumbledore in Harry Potter.

"And this one time at witch camp..."

Oh shit...just remembered the final scene of this ep and can't wait for Mackenzien to see it!!!

U clearly missed all the tidbits of willow dark side since season 3 she has show a dark side like vamp willow to season 4 cursing oz to season 5 fighting glory and season 6 shows just how far willow is willing to go and what she can do with magic.

I don't think I'm giving away too much to say that stopping Willow without destroying her is going to take more than a spell. Her own words about what I once had and will never have again provide the clue to this.

Say what you want about season 6, it has the best finale build up in the whole series.

I enjoy your reactions so much.

Willow's hunt for Vengence continues, but her friends stand in the way. The return of Giles! looking forward the finale reaction lots to say, including a summary of the characters.

“I’ve got a theory....”

Awesome episode, seeing Giles again in the coolest way ever, Buffy and Willow fighting and yep what Buffy said to Willow was awesome, she basically said the same thing Spike said in the season 2 finale, he didn't want to hurt drusilla but didn't say he wouldn't, sometimes I cant stand Xander but him taking charge and running with Dawn, Jonathan and Andrew was awesome, no spoilers but Tara is still missed, last few episodes of season 6 and all of season 7 is still weird without her, Amber did an incredible job playing Tara.

Yeah the trio are not the big bad Its actually Dark Willow

Guilty Pleasure: Dark Willow’s SAVAGE reads on Dawn & Buffy... Don’t get me wrong they are SO mean but also SO good..?! 🤭

is there plans after lockdown to invite all of us over and have a huge buffy re-watching marathon? Cause you guys are awesome to have Buffy marathons with :)

Okay,have to be honest,when I first saw this ending my reaction was...so how exactly is Giles going to stop her? Have we ever even seen him do magic on the show before? Yes,I know he was supposed to have dabbled with dark magic as a teen but I couldn't recall him using magic at all in any of the past seasons. But seeing Mackenzie excited about his return was a lot of fun!

Evil Goth Willow is really Scary isn't she? Another nice Episode and I really enjoy it. Send my regards and best wishes due to Corona to kenzie and Kyle 🖖🤘

My problem with Willow's portrayal is more the portrayal through the entire season. At no point through seasons 1-5 was magic ever shown to have addictive qualities nor was Willow ever even hinted at having an addictive personality. I mean heck in previous seasons she was actually chewing out people for their overuse of magic, so the turnaround this season just doesn't fit the character for me. Now if they had made it that this addiction was caused by her casting the spell to resurrect Buffy then I could understand, or if they had made it that she got the resurrection spell from Rack and this was a side effect that would have been fine too. But the way they introduced it just doesn't really fit.

"I thought you were gonna show me what a Slayer is' Um... she did, Willow. She tried to stop you. You just didn't give a f #$k about hurting her or anyone at this point. Buffy trying to fight you is almost like Buffy trying to fight Angelus (2x14). Anybody else seeing the parallel here??? lol Or maybe it's just me 😋And Giles came back as... Gandalf. Or something. 🤔 He just needs a staff. 😵

GILES!!!!!!!!!!

Final season finale? Have you already done season 7?

I hope you upload the next one today lol

*SPOILER ALERT!!!* Sorry dear, Tara will not be getting a proper send-off. Presumably it's because the writers just couldn't be asked, which is an often recurring problem in season 7.

Now all we need is for X-Men to finally do a great live action Phoenix saga and that will make 3. 4:04 I agree that she already crossed the line and that she's now extremely potentially dangerous but at the same time she's trying to minimize a potential serial killer run that could lead to innocent blood. And she's starting with a two people that aren't technically innocent but are innocent of this particular crime I don't think she saw a wrack coming. But as we saw with Faith you can get a taste for it when you kill someone. It is a genuine power. Which is why killing for vengeance is so dangerous because that adds to the temptation. What happened with Dawn and Willow still makes me shutter. She was real close. I hope that explains her behavior some. To be honest I think of all the Scoobies between this and the Tara rape she's probably done the worst things...Willow. And there were so many clues too Whedon is good at this. Jonathan and Anya really came through this episode. And Xander's introspection and growth here was good too.

''Do you think he was a tasty smell?''

Willow is so very very amazing with her black hair and vains and her badass black magic because I supposed to Willow she has a very controlling her powers and she is so very very very very beautiful and amazing and Badass

Interestingly but she seems to have multiple powers which ever she wants but its like a mana bar from a video game u have to recharge. And the more powerful the faster she recharges.

Willow being the big bad is the only thing that keeps me from throwing this whole season away.

I love how Willow points out Buffy's hangups for the majority of the season and that Buffy has used as justification for her behavior all Season long, put that stay out in the universe it may bite you.

Xander behaves badly, hate him Willow murders, wants to kill and hurts her friends, still loved. got it

Willow's evilness was confusing to me too. Like Dawn was a bridge to Tara, they sort of raised her for awhile. When she's threatening her I wished there'd been reaction from Willow, other than calling her an energy ball. I guess it was to show it was all about magic/power at this point not really about Tara but still.

When Willow told Dawn, "We'd all be happier without your constant whining" that was spot-on. IMO Dawn was the worst character in the series. She was always bratty, complaining and needed protection. I can't think of anything useful she did in the show aside from offer a kick ass backstory for Glory.

MacKenzie is right. After Buffy died, Willow was the leader of the Scoobies and a surrogate mother to Dawn. When Buffy came back everyone started treating *her* as the leader again, even though she was depressed and unwilling to take on all her responsibilities. That would've been a much better source of conflict than Willow becoming consumed by her magic addiction. This is one of the most important reasons I don't like this season, and believe me the list of things I don't like about season sux is *long!*

I really dislike this season, not just that everyone is out of character and the plots are contrived and absurd but the writers even used several lines from previous episodes, so lazy. Willow calls Dawn cutie and Dawny, the former is what Spike called Buffy back in 2/22 and the latter is what Glory called Dawn. And the line about "I said I didn't want to hurt you, didn't say I wouldn't," is what Spike said to Drusilla, also in 2/22. And how many times do we have to hear Buffy say, "I'll show you what a slayer really is"? Enough with the Xander hating/blaming. He didn't make Anya sleep with Spike or become a demon or hate him, those are her choices. It makes her look weak to blame all that on Xander. Why did he leave her at the altar? Because he was afraid he'd end up hurting her. Good motivation, bad decision.

Honestly Tara was a boring character so it was probably fir the best she was killed off