These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.
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Buffy receives an acceptance to Northwestern University, but what should be a happy surprise turns sour when she realizes that she may not be able to go away to school and still fulfill her duties as the Slayer. Buffy manages to intercept the Box of Gavrok, a container of mystical energy that is vital to the Mayor's Ascension. But when Willow is captured, the gang must decide whether they can give up their best chance at preventing the Ascension to save Willow's life.
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Faith: Give me the speech again, please. "Faith, we're still your friends. We can help you. It's not too late."
Willow: It's way too late. You know, it didn't have to be this way. But you made your choice. I know you had a tough life. I know that some people think you had a lot of bad breaks. Well, boo hoo! Poor you! You know, you had a lot more in your life than some people. I mean, you had friends in your life like Buffy. Now you have no one. You were a slayer and now you're nothing. You're just a big, selfish, worthless waste.
[Faith knocks Willow to the ground.]
Faith: You hurt me, I hurt you. I'm just a little more efficient.
Willow: [stands up] Aw, and here I just thought you didn't have a comeback.
Good character development, good dialogue and an average plot.
There is some nice character development in this episode that makes up for the so-so plotting: Willow standing up to Faith; Faith’s unsettling relationship with the Mayor; the Scoobies teaming up against Wesley; and yet more signs that the romance between Buffy and Angel is coming to an end. It’s tempting to echo Wes’s observation that by the end of the episode, "we’ re right back where we started," but that’s not really the case. This episode is the first one to really make full use of the Mayor, and finally brings the big bad face to face with the Slayer, (after a couple of near-misses).
Choices is a good episode for Willow, giving Alyson Hannigan a chance to really shine. There’s also plenty of groundwork laid for next season.
You have to admire the mayor's insight. As evil as he might be, he still has some penetrating insight into what Buffy and Angel's relationship have in store. "You're immortal, she's not. It's not. I married my Edna May in ought-three and I was with her right until the end. Not a pretty picture. Wrinkled and senile and cursing me for my youth. Wasn't our happiest time. And let's not forget the fact that any moment of true happiness will turn you evil. I mean, come on. What kind of a life can you offer her? I don't see a lot of Sunday picnics in the offing. I see skulking in the shadows, hiding from the sun. She's a blossoming young girl and you want to keep her from the life she should have until it has passed her by. My God! I think that's a little selfish. Is that what you came back from Hell for? Is that your greater purpose?" That is all but the final nail in the coffin there in my opinion. Buffy can't/won't see it but Angel knows its the truth.
The moral question raised when Willow gets kidnapped will be coming back to haunt the gang. The Scoobies have the box and can stop the Mayor's accession. Or they can trade it for Willow and risk the lives of everyone in Sunnydale. The argument in the library is nearly perfect. Oz and Xander want Willow back no matter the cost. Wesley argues that they can't surrender the box, they must find another way. Buffy, who just last season sacrificed Angel, no longer sees thing as strictly black and white. She won't even listen to Wesley's arguments. She doesn't want to see any other side, she just wants Willow back. Giles and Angel sort of agree with Wes. Angel, especially, is looking down at the floor as the debate rages and you can almost tell that he thinks Wesley is right... He's just not going to say it because then he'll become the bad guy. Giles might agree with Wes in principle, but he loves Willow. He wants to make the trade.
In the future similar situations like this will arise again and again, but the characters seem to remain fairly persistent in their reactions. Buffy never again sacrifices someone she loves. ("The Gift.") Angel will typically choose the greater good. ("Hole in the World.") Giles will argue with Buffy for a wider perspective. ("Lies My Parents Told Me.") Xander would risk the world rather than Willow. ("Grave.") And good ol' Wes will always make the tough choices, according to his own moral code. ("Sleep Tight.") This time the characters are forced to confront these issues but as will happen in the later episodes there really aren't any clear-cut answers.
My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - like
Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.
