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As per usual this thread is in it's nature a spoilery one... but as it hasn't gone out on UPN yet, I'll included the usual spoiler space


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Woah! Another cracking episode, courtesy of Marti Noxon, which was as we suspected the conclusion to the previous weeks "Smashed".

Willow has finally hit rock bottom. Last week after 'playing' with the occupants of the Bronze she wished for more, and boy did she get it.

This episode pushed the addiction metaphor from alcohol to something stronger - drugs. She experienced the incredible rush, a 'high' as it were, and then we see her come down and is left on a low which eventually showed its ugly head in the form of a demon.

Amy and her visit the 'dealer' and are quickly hooked. We see evidence that this is indeed a drug, by the people waiting outside his room for their turn (or 'hit'). Amy is stealing items from Buffy's house to pay for her habit. The way Mandrak uses Willow "you gotta give a little, to get a little".

Then the lowest point comes, she leaves Dawn alone (and couldn't really care less about the danger she had put her in) while she feeds her habit - and then when the demon appears she is unable to protect Dawn from it. She steals the car and 'joyrides' under the influence of the dark magick, putting Dawn even more at risk. The car crash is inevitable. Dawn was nearly killed, and her trust in Willow is shattered.

And then she finally realises how bad it has gotten and she breaks down. She even finds the strength to admit that she has a problem, "I need help" she tells Buffy. The first step on the road to recovery.

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Tara continues to be Dawn's mother figure. Buffy & Willow decided they had more important things to do and left Dawn to fend for herself (they didn't know that Tara was there). This is wrong, and hopefully they have realised that both Willow & Buffy have had their judgement clouded, and need to get back to their priorities.

Willow needs to give up magick altogther, as one 'drop' could trigger her addiction once more. Buffy needs to focus on Dawn, and also accept that she is alive again and to move on, and continue living.

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Random Thoughts:

Trying to remember where the music came from that was heard during Willow's second 'trip' - was it Restless???

When Dawn was defending herself against the demon, did anyone noticed that pretty slayer-like kick she gave him before running away - was this just a standard 'fight or flight' reaction or a hint at possible Slayer abilities?

Dawn is the pancake. Tara cared for her, shaped her (funny shapes, or round), and both Willow & Buffy failed to care that she ended up burnt.

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- Leeky.