The Best Night on TV

Sure, it only lasts from 8-10 pm, but I haven't seen a pairing like this since Buffy and Angel were on the same network. Of course, I have to change channels for this pairing, but nothing beats a fantastic episode of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer followed by an exciting episode of Smallville. Allow me to go on at length.

Sure, I was prepared for a suck-tastic season premiere from our friends at Mutant Enemy (Grr, Argh!), so maybe that's why I was so ecstatic by 8:58 pm. However, I think actual good writing may be the reason. It's almost as if they went out and rehired the original writers. They sure rehired some original cast members. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Buffy training Dawn how to defend herself? Good. Not making it out as if Buffy is training her to be a real Slayer? Better. Bookending the concept of power was a very nice touch. Hey, I like my BtVS heavy-handed, m'kay?

Question: who was the chick getting the stuffing knifed out of her in Istanbul and when will we find out more?

Xander making with the suit and the car -- glad to see he's learning how to be a grown up. Probably why he couldn't marry Anya; he wasn't at a good place yet. However, it's all or nothing for Anya (who is obviously dressing in the dark, yeegh). She still doesn't have the heart for vengeance. D'Hoffryn should just take back her powers, and where the hell is her power source? If Hallie has one, she should, too. Oops, sorry, getting too esoteric for BtVS virgins.

The new principal at the new Sunnydale High: way to make us think he could be evil, then (almost certainly) definitively prove to us that he's not. The new Sunnydale High, period: I'm so glad they're bringing back the Hellmouth! Did anyone even mention the Hellmouth in Season 6? The source of all the evil in Sunnydale, drawing demons and baddies of every stripe the world over to its naughty cream filling. And now it's waking up again. More on that in a bit.

The ghosts were scary!

Finally, someone has figured out what the hell to do with Buffy now that she's not in school anymore. Fast food? How stupid. I realize it was supposed to be the ultimate example of failure, but it was just weird. Can I note how nice it is to see some earth tones and less red everywhere? Thank you for answering my production-value-wishes, Good Fairy! Anyway, a counselor for the school is the perfect device to keep Buffy near Sunnydale high without being suspicious, but it's also a good thing for Buffy to do as a person, helping students find their way through the high school from hell. She can "learn and grow." (Sorry, Faith reference. Mmm, Faith.) New teenagers, also a good sign. Dawn needs some friends, already. If she must be on the show, give her friends. Now, I know some people may be afraid this foreshadows a Dawn, The Vampire Slayer spin-off with all her wacky sidekicks, but let's just not think about that possibility. Let's live in Season 7 and only Season 7, okay?

Ah, now we come to Spike. Nice hair. No self-respecting, soul-having, tortured and crazy vampire would take the time to slick his hair back or buy peroxide. It's refreshing that Spike hasn't either. I liked the bit where he alluded to trying to cut out his soul (the cuts were over his heart; is that where the Jossverse soul is?). Oh, and is he nuts. Very well done, James Marsters. Wondered who the third on in "the three of us" was. When I saw Warren, I was deeply confused. Was Warren representing a physical manifestation of Spike's new soul? It didn't make sense, Warren being such an assbag and all. Then when he morphed into Glory, I was afraid. Afraid that Glory was truly back. I mean, she did tend to morph. But then I remembered that Warren was all skinless, so it couldn't be Glory. When Glory morphed into Adam, I got it. I started doing the happy Buffy dance of joy, the one that used to drive Jean-Paul crazy. Last time I remember bouncing up and down that much during an episode was the Season 2 finale, when Buffy and Angel were swordfighting. I may have fuzzy memory; I'm sure other episodes in the future got me jumpy. Anyway. Each incarnation actually talked like the villain they represented (if you don't get this, the being was changing into each Big Bad from the previous years, chronologically). Glory said she was "fabulous," Adam called Spike "Number 17" (though I think "Hostile 17" would have been more accurate). I couldn't believe that they would actually get everyone. Could they? Did the actors love the show that much that they would take time out for a cameo in all that makeup (in some cases)? Yes! Adam became the Mayor, and I was creeped out anew. The Mayor became Drusilla, red French tips and all. At this point I was saying "Ohmygodohmygodohmygod" over and over, waiting, hoping to see Mark Metcalf in all his nasty Master-ness. And, Yay! But the last... the last... where the Master becomes Buffy? I lost it. Evil, evil, evil! Hellmouth Evil. The Original Big Bad. EVIL is sharing a crazy solitary cell with a re-souled Spike. No brooding goody-two-shoes champion will come out of this one. The possibilities, the promise...

Oh yeah, and Willow's getting in touch with the real concept of Wicca in England with Giles. But Giles isn't in the opening credits. Boo! Oh well, I got to see him ride a horse in a duster, rowrr.

So, after I shrieked some incomprehensibles into my friend's phone, I settled in for the second part of the Smallville Season 1 cliffhanger. If you haven't seen this show, you should check it out. You can catch reruns on the WB on Sundays. For one, Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, and yes, John Schneider are very cute. Regardless. Clark flew! He wasn't sure he did it or how, but he did, and he saved Lana from being toast. Lex saved his father from dying, but made a bad decision and now Lionel is blind. Of course, he has to tell Lex that he'd be better off dead, when a tortured Lex thinks he'd be better off if Lionel were dead as well, though he doesn't want to be that person. Lex saves Jonathan's life and Clark's secret (unknowingly), by popping the bad reporter (who totally deserved it -- an archetype of slime). Chloe pulled the all-time dumbest move a girl can pull. She tested Clark's affection for her by suggesting they just be friends. Instead of begging her to reconsider, like she really wanted, he said okay, the way any normal boy would. Stupid, stupid Chloe. We've all seen Superman 3, we know Clark and Lana don't get together.

Well, it was a very good episode, tying up all the loose ends from the previous one. There was some great acting, amazing special effects, great sets (the wreckage from the tornado was well-done) and a few revelations. The character of Lex is ever-evolving. The big question is how and when does he become evil? When do Clark and Lex go from being best friends to arch nemeses? In a way, the show is more about Lex than about Clark. Clark's charcter isn't that round. He's good now, he's good later. He just gets a special suit and glasses later. I'm pleased with Smallville.

Sing! Sing! Sing!

The only problem with this sublime Tuesday night is that Pieces has started a karaoke contest. Now, I really only have to miss one Tuesday to be in it, but I think it woud be a good idea to see the competition before the semifinals, you know? I would tape the shows, but my VCR doesn't tape right. What shall I do? This is a season not to be missed, but I have the chance to win $1000. Some of my friends think I could win, but I don't know. I know there are other singers out there who are better than I am, but I think I've got the "karaoke" thing down pretty well. Bob is judging the Tuesday preliminaries, and he told me he's judging on appearance and stage presence as well as just singing. Then there's the choice: do I sign up now or wait for December? If I sign up now, I have a higher risk of losing out in the semifinals. But if it gets popular, I have a risk of not getting into the semifinals if I wait. Plus, I can kill with a number of different songs. I thought I'd get into a Tuesday with "Boy From New York City." It's sweet, easy to sing, and I can work it. Add a cute dress and I'm sure I could get in the top three of 10. I want to save the show-stoppers for the popular ballot contests. I really want to do this, but as with all competition, I'm afraid I'll mess up and look stupid. So, I'll be happy if I manage a $10 bar tab. I'll post updates here.