The gang is still dealing with being separated and confined “for their own good.” But internment camps have never proven to be the best option for human freedom. The situation is bound to erupt soon. And something tells me that Buffy is going to be right in the middle.
Note: This recap may contain spoilers!
As we start the issue, Buffy and Spike are having a disagreement. And it’s not the usual mistrust and life pressures that seem to often threaten their relationship. Instead, it’s because Buffy wants to sacrifice her health for the good of Spike’s. The vampire is starving, not able to survive on the blood allotments provided, so Buffy wants him to suck her blood. However, rightfully so, Spike fears he will not be able to stop once he starts. In the end, though, starvation wins out and he drinks a bit to take the edge off until he can pick up this week’s blood supply.
And as is often the case, unrest breeds unrest. One of the other vampires in line, Trevor, points out that they cannot survive on the limited blood they’re being given. Unfortunately, his weekly attempts to escape the camp ends the same way it always does as he hits the force field and is thrown back. And his suggestion that he and Spike drain the Slayer definitely doesn’t end well for him either. If you threaten Buffy, that’s the end of Spike’s patience for you.
Meanwhile, Willow’s helping one of her students, Calliope, to learn magic. Buffy thinks Willow’s getting intimate with her, but Willow denies it. The Wiccans just have to stick together because they’re some of the only humans in the camp. But whether Willow’s looking for love or just to be a guide, it shouldn’t matter. Just like Buffy, Willow’s got a right to survive the camp in any way she can.
Buffy’s approach to survival is more violent. She takes on some of the monsters to show them who is boss, but that doesn’t go so well for her. Eventually she manages to defeat them on her own, but that’s how Willow finds out that Buffy’s been letting Spike feed on her. That’s why she’s a bit weaker than normal, and why she’s putting herself in more danger than usual. If she continues to let Spike feed, she will get weaker. If she doesn’t, he might die. It’s a terrible situation to be in.
Six days later, we find out how dire the situation with Spike is. Buffy heads out to call Dawn, but before she goes Spike tells her he managed to make his blood ration last. It’s only when she leaves that he admits he had to go without for three days to do so. If they don’t find a way out of this soon, Spike is going to either die or go feral and attack a loved one. And they’re almost at that point when Spike joins Buffy in fighting the ogre’s crew. He ravages them, because he’s so angry and hungry and it takes a while before Buffy gets him to calm down so they can go back home.
Buffy emphasizes that he needs to tell her when he’s hungry, so that she can provide, but he doesn’t want to weaken her any more. Instead, he’s been thinking about breaking out. Buffy knows it’s a suicide mission that is destined to fail, but she also knows something needs to change because they cannot go on the way they are. So, she takes matters into her own hands. Buffy agrees to be a trustee in exchange for getting extra rations for Spike. If she has to sacrifice a piece of herself to protect Spike, that’s what she’s going to do. Love makes you go to extreme lengths. Hopefully it won’t prove detrimental to Buffy overall.
Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
