Gingerbread

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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Picking the wrong night for mother-daughter bonding, Joyce discovers the bodies of two children in the park, apparently sacrificed in an occult ritual. Deeply disturbed by what she has seen, Joyce rallies the adults of Sunnydale, convincing them to rid the town of all magical and occult influences. Soon, however, it becomes apparent that Buffy, Willow, and Amy are themselves considered a part of the occult threat to Sunnydale.

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Cordelia: I came by to tell Buffy to stop all of this craziness and found you all unconscious ... again. How many times have you been knocked out, anyway? I swear, one of these times, you're gonna wake up in a coma.
Giles: Wake up in a co... ? Oh, never mind. We need to save Buffy from Hansel and Gretel.
Cordelia: Now, let's be clear. The brain damage happened before I hit you.


Good character development, average dialogue and a so-so plot.

We see the distinction between the child and adult perspective on evil and how you deal with it, in this episode. For the kids, evil is done by monsters. The solution is simple, kill the monsters. That's the perspective we've seen on Buffy 'till now. Buffy makes this point when Giles tells her the killings were probably committed by a cult, by humans. She finds it hard to believe that something with a soul committed such a terrible crime. In the end, she turns out to be right, but she is revealing a certain narrow minded blindness. A casual glance at the newspaper or a history book reveals that humans (souls or not) are capable of some really vile acts.

The adult perspective is different. There are no demons and humans are capable of anything. Problems are not resolved by direct confrontation, slaying monsters, but by creating controlling structures like laws. Joyce tells Buffy that her slaying isn't accomplishing anything. Regardless of the fact that Buffy has saved people's lives and the whole world twice over. But for Joyce accomplishment means the elimination of the problem, not merely dealing with instances of it. Joyce plans to eliminate the problem by changing the rules. First, all the civil rights people have are set aside. We get illegal searches, seizure of private property without cause or compensation, censorship, the immediate assumption of guilt without the right to confront your accusers, and ultimately punishment without trial. This allows for much quicker and surer justice. Any mistakes along the way are just the price for creating a safer, more secure world.

But at the end of the episode we're left with humans are essentially good, demons are essentially evil. So terrible crimes are committed by demons, not by humans.

Although and average episode, it really had quite a few burst out laughing moments.



My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like

Overall I consider this an average episode compared to the rest of the season.

Ted

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.
----------------------------recap----------------------------
Buffy has parental issues when Joyce comes home with a boyfriend, the computer expert and master chef Ted, whose charming personality impresses everyone. Everyone except Buffy that is, who is not at all willing to give her mother up to someone new. Even Willow and Xander seem to love him, and Buffy must find a way to prove that her fears about Ted are something more than simple jealousy.
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Willow: And you're loving playing nursemaid?
Buffy: Oh, yeah!
Xander: So, is it better than playing naughty stewardess?


Good character development, average dialogue and a good plot.

The second appearance of the sad/depressed overalls.

The second time a robot is featured in a major role. The first was I Robot You Jane. Still to come are Adam, April and Buffy-bot.

Giles and Jenny make up in this episode, after their rift in The Dark Age.



Foreshadowing
Buffy: Oh, Will, you're supposed to use your powers for good!


My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - absent
Angel - neutral
Oz - absent

Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.

Out of Mind, Out of Sight

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.
----------------------------recap----------------------------

An invisible force is attacking the students and teachers at Sunnydale High. Buffy and the gang must find a way to stop this unseen menace, and determine why it seems to be centering its attacks on Cordelia.

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BUFFY: (to Cordelia) So you've come to me for help.


A decent episode. We get a closer look at  the loneliness/alienation experienced by Buffy as opposed to Cordelia and Marcie. Good example of Buffy's selfless nature after being excluded and yet still supporting Cordelia and giving her encouragement.

A good attempt at adding some depth to Cordelia, by showing her as more than just a bitch queen. She actually starts acting human around Buffy when they are alone, but she still has a ways to go, as she demonstrates with her boyfriend at the end.

Giles finally meets Angel, who then recovers the rare Pergamum Codex for him.

First of three episodes to feature invisibility. Season Six episode "Gone" where Buffy assures her friends that her invisibility is not a result of the same condition as Marcie's. This is again seen in the Season Seven episode "Storyteller" when Buffy witnesses a girl slowly disappearing.

Almost forgot that, "Crush, kill, destroy"; was the famous phrase of IDAK Alpha 12 from Lost in Space.

Just love the Scooby Doo t-shirt Willow is wearing in this episode.

The US government involvement at the end of the episode is a great lead in for season four's Initiative.

My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - neutral - hint of humanity showing
Angel - neutral
The Master - absent


Overall I consider this a good episode compared to the rest of the season.