I finally got around to buying the Season 3, volume 1 Scripbook and checked up on the next volumes. Amazon says that Vol. 3 is no longer in print -- but I'm wondering whether it's just not out yet? (Because Vol. 2 is readily available.)

I thought Waiting in the Wings was fitting for the overwrought emotions some theater people tend to have.

I tend to be a bit too bombastic for real life when I'm under stress or enthusiastic, and it's been 10 years since i was in a play.

So I just watched "Wrecked."

Oh. My. God. Was it really this awful the first time I watched it? I'd rather watch "Beer Bad" a thousand times. I think I'd rather watch all of Season Seven.

At least "Smashed" had some amusing Trio action going for it, trying valiantly to cancel out the ridiculous Buffy/Spike sex.

But this...holy Jesus. Whose brilliant fucking idea was it to turn magic into drugs? It was Marti, right, we blame everything on Marti? Those scenes where Willow trips out? Completely. Fucking. Ridiculous. What the motherfucking hell were they thinking? (Although I kind of liked the trip-hoppy song in the background. Anyone know what it was?)

And when did magic become something you could do just by waving your hand? This shit started in "Smashed," but now Willow can give English commands to cars and make them work? Why did they throw away five solid years of magic continuity?

I knew it was coming, but there is no other reaction but to want to bitchslap the fucking hell out of Willow. I mean, I've wanted to punch her for most of this season, as they've been building up to this. She used to be so likable.

At least I'll be able to suppress the urge to bitchslap come "Villains," cause at least then she has some sort of valid reason to go nuts with the magic, but gah. I don't remember having this much of a reaction the first time I watched it.

And "In Loving Memory of J.D. Peralta"? Who's J.D. Peralta? I'm sure he deserves better than this episode for his loving memory.

God, this episode makes me ashamed to be a Buffy fan. Hell, it makes me ashamed for Buffy fans everywhere.

At least "Smashed" had some amusing Trio action going for it, trying valiantly to cancel out the ridiculous Buffy/Spike sex.

Oh dear. I thought the Buffy/Spike bringing the house down sex was rather hot. It wasn't as hot as Angel feeding off Buffy in Graduation Day, but it worked for me.

(I am trying to write in the, been-here-a-while trying-to-help-out-a-new-comer tone of voice.)

J.D. was Marti's assistant and a much loved member of the crew. When you read stories about the cast being upset because there'd been a death among the crew, her death is the one. Your comment is a little insensitive (or perhaps I'm overly sensitive, or both), seeing that a real human died, and was one who was loved by the people involved in making that episode.

I thought the Buffy/Spike bringing the house down sex was rather hot.

I just can't put myself behind Buffy/Spike because of the way he treats her and the obvious self-loathing it creates in Buffy. There are moments in Season Five where I believe Spike cares for her, and some near the end of Season Seven, but for most of this season, it feels like a sick, manipulative lust.

Your comment is a little insensitive (or perhaps I'm overly sensitive, or both), seeing that a real human died, and was one who was loved by the people involved in making that episode.

Oh. Thanks for letting me know. I'm sorry, I certainly didn't mean to be insensitive. It does make sense for Marti to have dedicated the episode to her, then. It's just that I feel bad for her to have been given this episode as a dedication. I guess it doesn't really matter; I don't remember which Angel episode they dedicated to Glenn Quinn. It's the thought, not the episode, that counts. But thank you for the information, and being civil about it.

Your comment seemed a bit harsh to me too, P-C, but I took at as a riff off the episode critique.

Just so we're clear, you didn't like it then?

Well, Wrecked was particularly craptacular.

I like Buffy/Spike sex.

I just can't put myself behind Buffy/Spike because of the way he treats her and the obvious self-loathing it creates in Buffy. There are moments in Season Five where I believe Spike cares for her, and some near the end of Season Seven, but for most of this season, it feels like a sick, manipulative lust.

But that's what makes it so compelling, and why some of us are disappointed that S6 wasn't darker in tone. Buffy becoming involved in a destructive, manipulative relationship just so she could feel something AND allowing that relationship to further alienate her from her friends? Spot-on in terms of early 20s fucked-up depression. The only thing that rang horribly, horribly false was the B/S relationship in S7. Once you've realized the person you've been sleeping with is a charming, manipulative psycho? You do not allow him back into your life EVEN if he says he's changed and he did it all for you. You keep a wary distance and/or get a restraining order.

I like Buffy/Spike sex.

Even the Doublemeat Palace dumpster diving?