Now this was a killer episode. Which, when I think of it, might actually falsify David Fury’s statement about “The House Always Wins” being the only stand-alone of the season, because I would certainly categorise this as a stand-alone.

At least plot wise, that is, as the (main) story line does very little to progress the season plot arc. Naturally, if we think in terms of character arcs, this one is far from a stand-alone, and the same goes for the minor stories of the episode, because this episode alone contains as much character development as a whole season of lesser shows. (Or so I’d presume, at any rate, as I don’t really watch any shows I’d call “lesser”. Of course, everything’s “less” than “Angel” and “Buffy”, but I used “lesser” in a slightly less narrow way than that.)

Wesley was particularly awesome in this one. From the moment he opened the door and answered Lilah’s gift with an, “Oh look, a bribe. How thoughtful,” to his leaving Fred on the university stairs, he showed himself as the character we’ve all grown to love: A man who will do anything he perceives as right, and who will do anything for the people he loves. He’s a tough man — and no wonder, what with everything he’s been through — but he also has a soft spot for said people.

One of those people being Fred, of course. Who, in this episode, takes centre stage for what I think is the first time. Sure, she’s been in the middle of things before, and proven herself as being both brave and clever in a tight spot, but this is the first time the main plot of an episode revolves around her. Naturally, she also serves as a focal point for Wes’ softer sides in this episode, as well as for Angel and Gunn’s protectiveness (speaking of which, there are two characters who in this episode expresses their desire to be free of said characters’ attempts to protect them), but that’s a minor thing here. After all, Fred in this episode is all about independence, as she wants to be independent of both Angel and Gunn’s concern, as well as from the grip of her old professor and of the memories of Pylea. Any doubts concerning her strength that might have existed previously to this episode, are now all driven out like a demon during an exorcism. Yay for Fred! ( :cry: )

I could have written just as long paragraphs about the other characters as well, but then I’d be stuck here for the rest of the night, and where’s the fun in that?* After all, I have to get through the Alexis Denisof/Joss Whedon commentary to episode 6, “Spin The Bottle”, as well as the episode itself, before bedtime.

*Not to mention that I don’t think I’ve played amateur psychologist as extensively as I’ve done here, in quite some time… :P