Maloker’s on the loose, magic rules have gone astray, and Xander’s mental state is shaky at best. Will the gang be able to set things right before the world is torn apart? We continue to hope, waiting and watching.
Note: This recap may contain spoilers!
Poor Xander; he’s being pulled in every which direction. He’s still wanting to help Dracula, despite the creature having been transformed into Maloker. Good thing Dawn drags him out before he can sacrifice himself. Meanwhile, Willow, Spike, and Buffy try to take down the transformed vampire. Giles gives them some insight on the fact that they can still use sacred objects, stakes, and fire if they can amp them up to Maloker’s scale. If big’s what they need, big is what they’re going to get. Their plan is to make Dawn a giant again, force Maloker over to one of the skyscrapers that they’ve made a sacred object, and impale him on it. Good plan, if it works.
As Dracula’s mental hold on Xander starts weakening, Ghost!Anya’s ability to be seen becomes stronger. She’s got things to say, advice to give, and Xander’s just going to have to listen to her, whether he wants to or not. She convinces Xander that he is the only one who knows what to write in the magic book to reverse the transformation. And he does just that, giving Dracula the willpower to fight off Maloker’s hold and releasing all his followers from his control.
Dracula poofs back to Transylvania and one crisis is averted. But that just opens up another issue. Buffy and the gang are now responsible for writing the new rules of magic. Giles, Willow, and the Watcher’s Council are all a no-go to take ultimate control, and D’Hoffryn’s offer to do it is met with refusal. If the rules need writing, it’ll be a group effort among the good guys. I hope they don’t let the power go to their heads, though. Absolute power has a way of doing that.
Another issue to be dealt with, at least with Xander and Dawn, is their fractured relationship. Dawn’s lost the love she once had and they cannot continue as they were. Now broken up, to give each other some space, they must find their way back to one another. Xander seems to want to make her fall in love with him again, so I hope he can do just that. And maybe, along the way, he can learn why Ghost!Anya is still hanging around. There are many tempting plotlines to explore here!
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
