We once again return to the story of the last Slayer and it’s a lovely touchpoint in the story. Buffy, Spike, and Thessaly are continuing to learn from each other, forming a family that is walking towards their shared destiny together.
Note: This recap may contain spoilers!
Spike and Buffy continue to train Thessaly. She still hasn’t perfected the proper aim of a stake, always missing the heart. And it doesn’t seem she’s as committed to her destiny as they think she should be. The fate of the world rests on her shoulders, whether she wants it or not, and she needs to take that seriously. But she also never asked for this burden. Maybe she just wants to be a teenager.
Thessaly has a blossoming relationship going with Iris. They have dates and Thessaly is always trying to look after Iris, even going so far as to take out one of her field hockey opponents during a game. But, as we have seen many times before, Slayers and relationships don’t often go well together. Will Thessaly break the mold or suffer the same fate?
Buffy and Spike are continuing their ongoing relationship and I am all for that. Always a fan of their love story. And Buffy is working with the Watcher’s Council to do good in the world. They are also still trying to track down Tara. The latest clue is a short bit of CCTV footage of what might be Tara, but the video isn’t clear. There’s nothing they can tell Thessaly, no hope after five years.
There’s also the threat of someone named Mother Marrow, who seems to have it out for Thessaly. She’s been sending out her minions to track down Thessaly. And once Anya arrives with further information, it’s clear that this threat is larger than they thought. Mother Marrow is opening a path to hell, hiding out in some caves in America and scaring the demons of the world. It’s time to head out and track her down.
The impromptu trip to America is not welcomed by Thessaly. She even attempts to place a memory spell on the group, to make them forget why they took the trip in the first place. But her actions and constant whining are not swaying Buffy or Spike. Being a Slayer means making sacrifices and now it’s time to step up and save the world from Mother Marrow.
Except, they discover that Mother Marrow and Tara are one and the same. When it’s time to make a choice, of course Thessaly is going to choose her mother. She lashes out, thinking Buffy is going to kill her mom. She even tries to stake Spike, but misses his heart, before Tara explains things to Thessaly. Tara made the illusion of a monster so she could watch over Thessaly and intervene when her magic got uncontrolled. Tara assures her daughter that she is the right Slayer for his generation. But now that the truth of Thessaly tapping into her darkness is out, it does not sit well with Buffy.
A choice has to be made. Will Thessaly say with her mom or continue to learn from Buffy? But, really, it was no choice at all. While they can seek out Tara if needed, Thessaly belongs with Buffy. The family will continue on, learning from each other and growing stronger as a result. A nice way to end this part of the story.
Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
