Wesley.

Do you think she was changed as a result of Wesley? I don't see it.

I was just being difficult.

I'm not sure how important Angel was to Lilah at all, really. I think Lindsey probably affected her more, although it was probably subconsciously, or negatively ("I'm not going to be like Lindsey was.")

She did seem to have a strong regard for him after he was gone, though that whole spared-because-he-quit situation might have been at the root of that. Involvement with Angel & Co. ultimately got her killed, but she was going to end up on Wolfram & Hart's retirement plan regardless of how events progressed from her introduction.

Question of the moment, inspired by the Fuffy quote I just got and the wine I've been drinking:

Why do I find SMG as Faith in Buffy's body SO much more compelling and believable than SMG as, say, Catherine in Cruel Intentions? They seem like pretty similar roles in a lot of ways, but I find one believable and one just... not. I guess it could be the writing, but I tend to find SMG so mediocre so much of the time that I'm just not sure. I really wish I consistently found her to be an amazing actress, as her performances in episodes like, say, The Body and the ones where she is Fuffy, tend to verge on the absolutely brilliant. Sad that she's generally so... boring. See also: The Grudge, which I thought was great, but not in any way because of her, specifically.

Please not to flame me too hard if you disagree. I do understand that YActressAppreciationMV.

I was just listening to the audio of the Buffy OMWF promo (I have it in iTunes for sime reason). I remember noticing it at the time, and I noticed again-- did it seem like Spike's Rest in Peace was mixed very differently? The guitar seem much stronger and the whole peice seemed rougher and I liked it a lot better. But maybe I am craxy.

Also, WRT to SMG, I personally like her best when she is doing sort of wacky romantic comedy Buffy-- like Something Blue and Intervention. I think she has a hell of a range to play that AND Fuffy AND the Body and Season one Buffy and Season 6 buffy.

Okay then, let's all throw down.

Top 10 SMG Performances in the Buffyverse

Becoming Part Two (absolutely credible as the kind of girl who could save herself)
The Wish (scarred up altnera-Buffy)
Once More With Feeling (I really respect that she worked so hard on the singing)
Restless (particularly her fast talk flapper)
I Only Have Eyes For You (the scene in the hallway with Angel, natch)
Prophecy Girl (she can break your heart)
I Will Remember You (...and she can still break your heart)
Who Are You (as Fuffy, though Eliza as Baith might've been better)
Intervention (Buffybot comedy)
Conversations With Dead People

I think the first 15 minutes of "The Body" needs to be in that list.

I'd suggest the last ep (putting over the "cookie dough" metaphor, plus that last shot) and, much as I hate the ep, the sex-with-Spike scene in "Doublemeat Palace."