- The place is a mess because Joyce is sick? Why doesn't Dawn do some housework?

- Hee, cute that Xander knows that the sweater belongs to Riley, but then Riley was the only man that probably spent the night in. It's weird that Buffy only found it now. Has the living room been a mess for two whole weeks?

- You know, those watcher guys, Giles' way of running the Magic Box is none of their business. He doesn't work for them, anymore, even if he still contacts them for info.

- I loved Giles' protective tone toward Anya. This is the first time he shows concern for her. It's so sweet.

- That professor was a jackass. I get that Buffy is probably an annoying student, but embarrassing a student in front of the class is a big no no, especially when the student isn't being disrespectful. And believe me, Buffy comes out as an angel compared to the fourth graders I teach.

- I assume this is the episode where Spike starts helping without wanting money. "Not for money, if that's what you're thinking. Your heartfelt gratitude's plenty."

- I don't think Buffy needed help while fighting with the vampire. She was letting her frustration out on him before she'd decide to kill him. But from an outsider's point of view, they'd think that Buffy was having a hard time staking him, hence Spike thinking that Buffy needed to be saved.

- BUFFY: I didn't need you. I never need you, Spike.

We'll see later in this episode ;)

- Lol at Spike's insults! Seriously, dude, how can you say that stuff to a girl and think she'll like you back? :D Poor Buffy, her expression in the end is heartbreaking.

- Buffy and Giles have always been one of my favorite relationships in the Buffyverse. The scene with the watchers where Giles was protecting Buffy as well as this:
GILES: Buffy, calm down. The scandal here is not anything you've done wrong, it's the way they're behaving. Holding what they know hostage with a gun pointed at my bleeding green card, no less. (sighs) It's humiliating.
BUFFY: Also smart. They picked the perfect thing. I can't lose you.
GILES: (softly) Thank you.

- XANDER: *Best* friends. Willow and me and Buffy. The three of us have been together from the beginning. We've always gone on patrols, and uh, done demon research with her and everything.

I remember a discussion we had in another forum about Anya and Tara being outsiders because Buffy/Xander/Willow have this special bond between them. Well, duh! Except for the outsiders part. For girlfriends, Tara and Anya are much beyond insiders. My boyfriend doesn't hang out with my friends at all, even though it's okay if he joined us from time to time. Tara and Anya are part of the Scoobies' family, but that doesn't make them best friends with Buffy, Xander and Willow. Simply because they only joined because of their lovers and because they have no friends, not because they valued the friendship of the Scoobies. Besides, Buffy, Xander and Willow were friends since high school, of course, their bond is gonna be tighter.

- PHILIP: Have you mastered any fighting disciplines over the years?
XANDER: No.

I've always found it weird that Xander never tried to improve his fighting skills. He does fine when they writers want him to but it's still not enough. From S6 and S7, I can see that he developed a skill for shooting arrows, look how he exactly got the bringer's hand in Dirty Girls, perhaps after this interview, he tried to progress in something.

- WILLOW: See, here's the thing. We, we can help because we do magicks. I'm working on this ball of sunshine thing. See, I have this theory.

Willow is still working on that ball? Lol. Do we ever see it? I don't remember.

- Why would the watchers interview Spike? I'm sure he's not aware how his answers are hurting Buffy's evaluation. Telling them that Buffy has him drink blood from dying victims and the fact that she's slipping 'cause she can't keep a man. :D

- I remember someone (a fan perhaps) wrote a fic with the female watcher's thesis. Anyone knows the link?

- Why must a slayer learn Japanese fighting words? She's not gonna need someone to instruct her in fighting, she'll follow her instincts.

- Dawn got on my nerves in the scene between Buffy and Glory. While it’s true they were writing Dawn as a 12 year old. She acted just like a typical annoying teenager here, it's nice when you think about the woman Dawn would grow up to be in S7.

- Okay, erase the sentence I've written above. Spike still asks Buffy for cash.

- Have you guys noticed how Dawn doesn't seem to care about Spike? She acts like he's a boring nobody. That crush isn't born yet.

- Awww, Spike/Joyce is another enjoyable relationship in the show. I like how the click together. Is Passions a show for the elders? Never watched it, but Spike, Joyce and Giles, the oldest among the bunch –except Anya- are the ones enjoying it.

- The Scoobies sitting on the balcony with their feet dangling in the air and they lean against the railing watching the watchers is the cutest shot in the whole episode.

- The Knights of Byzantium are probably the lowest point in S5.

- I think Buffy confronting the watchers is probably her best ever speech and slayer attitude in the whole show. Heck, her speech and stance here is far more impressive than hers in S7.

- I love when she shows appreciation to her friends here and I love how they all cheered her on. I love this season! They're all a family, it's so adorable.

- BUFFY: The boy has clocked more field time than all of you combined. He's part of the unit.
WILLOW: (whispers to Xander) That's Riley-speak.

Aww, Riley! It's sweet how Buffy takes speech patterns from her boyfriends. (Remembers when she says "Here endth the lesson." imitating Spike in S7.)

- XANDER: (whispers back, with a big grin) I've clocked field time.

Double awws for Xander. I loved when Willow encouragingly smiled back at him.

- Buffy looked adorable when she said "Oh." Actually, I really love her hair in this scene.

Hee, cute that Xander knows that the sweater belongs to Riley, but then Riley was the only man that probably spent the night in.
I haven't rewatched the ep, but isn't it an Initiative sweater? The olive green ones with the suede patches on the shoulders? So obviously it would be Riley's.

I've always found it weird that Xander never tried to improve his fighting skills. He does fine when they writers want him to but it's still not enough.
Well, I think part of it is that Xander is always as skilled or as useless as the situation requires him to be. Angry troll on the loose? Hey, Xander can go head-to-head with him and only end up with a broken arm. Need Xander to be beaten up and/or kidnapped by a demon? Look at how helpless he is! Or, more often, need someone for comic relief? Just have Xander do something clumsy and/or stupid during a fight.

The other, character-driven part of it is that I think in a sense Xander has accepted his role with the Scoobies. He's never going to be as strong as Buffy or as smart as Giles or as powerful as Willow. He's the guy that fixes the windows. Why bother trying to be something he's not? There's a sense of peace in knowing your place (like in his conversation with Dawn in "Potential" ), but it's also giving up in a way, because he probably could be better than he is, if he'd tried.

Willow is still working on that ball? Lol. Do we ever see it? I don't remember.
Nope. I don't think it's ever brought up after this episode. I guess eventually she gave up.

Have you guys noticed how Dawn doesn't seem to care about Spike? She acts like he's a boring nobody. That crush isn't born yet.
Yeah, I don't think she's really spent time with him up until this point. I think maybe this episode and "Blood Ties" are when he caught her interest, and then she started going to his crypt to hang out, which is how Buffy catches her in "Crush." Same with Joyce - there's a whole fanon thing that they've been hanging out ever since "Lover's Walk," but here she's pretty snarky about his decorating skills (and not in a friendly way), and they don't seem to know that the other watches "Passions." Surely, if they'd been spending time together, that would've come up! I think this is probably the episode where Joyce and Spike bonded as well, to get to the point where Spike likes her enough to bring flowers in "Forever." ("Passions," btw, is an outlandish supernatural soap opera - or was, I should say, as it's since been canceled.)

I haven't rewatched the ep, but isn't it an Initiative sweater? The olive green ones with the suede patches on the shoulders? So obviously it would be Riley's.

I kinda forgot. I'll re-check later.

The other, character-driven part of it is that I think in a sense Xander has accepted his role with the Scoobies. He's never going to be as strong as Buffy or as smart as Giles or as powerful as Willow. He's the guy that fixes the windows.

I think it's still early for Xander to realize that. He'll accept who he is and his his limits in S7 but not before that as we've seen how he hated himself in S6 for being useless.

but it's also giving up in a way, because he probably could be better than he is, if he'd tried.

Makes me happy for S8. I like the man Xander became now. :)

I think maybe this episode and "Blood Ties" are when he caught her interest

I'd say Blood Ties. Not this episode. I think she still thought less of him when he caught her sneaking out of the house. But then I'll wait until I watch that episode before I make my judgement.

Same with Joyce - there's a whole fanon thing that they've been hanging out ever since "Lover's Walk," but here she's pretty snarky about his decorating skills (and not in a friendly way), and they don't seem to know that the other watches "Passions." Surely, if they'd been spending time together, that would've come up! I think this is probably the episode where Joyce and Spike bonded as well, to get to the point where Spike likes her enough to bring flowers in "Forever."

I agree.

For the Lydia thesis fic, search Google for "Lydia Chalmers thesis."  It's very involved, LOL.  I loved that scene, though, with Lydia being all nervous and Spike trying to find out how Buffy's doing.  I think Spike also enjoyed it a little.  No one in Sunnydale cares about how scary he used to be.  He's just chipped, fangless Spike to them.

Spike seems to just be messing with the Watchers, saying Buffy paid him with blood from people who were bleeding.  Which given what happened in Triangle, her remark about him wanting credit for not feeding off people, that so never happened.  I doubt she would let him drink blood from someone even if the person was dying. She does give him cash, though.  But I doubt it hurt her review score much (which was already in the toilet, based on how bad she'd been doing), because why would they believe the word of an evil vampire?  Why were they interviewing him anyway?

Spike should not be sleeping where the sunlight falls when you open the crypt door.  That's just asking to get fried.

Buffy's speech at the end was just awesome.  She's coming into her own as the Slayer.  I also liked it much better than any of the S7 speeches.

Why were they interviewing him anyway?

That's what I'm wondering about as well.

I don't know why Spike was saying these things about Buffy. I mean, he's not Anya. He's smart enough and aware enough to know that what he's saying is gonna ruin Buffy's score. While it's true, she pays him cash for helping and she can't keep a man ( :D ), she doesn't really let him drink off victims. Was Spike trying to get back at her for not appreciating his help in Triangle?

Quite possibly. :)
He also might be hoping for some more verbal sparring if she finds out what he said.
With these writers, who knows?

CM

Why were they interviewing him anyway?
Good question, lol. My guess is either they have Council spies in Sunnydale that know he's been helping, or Giles had reported to the Council that Spike has been assisting them. The only way they'd know about Spike if is someone told them, and I'd hate to believe the Scoobies are that stupid that they'd send the Council to go question Spike, when it's obvious that's not going to turn out well for Buffy (and they don't even know he likes her!). My guess is, the writers wanted the scene for the humor, and didn't think too hard about how it might actually happen.

He's smart enough and aware enough to know that what he's saying is gonna ruin Buffy's score.
Did anyone tell Spike WHY the Council was questioning him? Obviously, it's a review of Buffy's performance, but he knows Buffy follows the rules about as often as he does, so maybe he figured he'd give them a hard time on her behalf. But maybe he didn't realize the goal was to get info on Glory from the Council, so he didn't know he'd be putting Dawn in jeopardy with flip answers.

Yeah, the whole scene seemed to be played for laughs, without much thought about why the Council would be talking to him, or how they found about him.  Although, maybe since they seemed to be more or less setting Buffy up to fail, they wanted as much incriminating evidence as possible.  "Hey, let's go talk to that vampire she pays..."  LOL

Did anyone tell Spike WHY the Council was questioning him? Obviously, it's a review of Buffy's performance, but he knows Buffy follows the rules about as often as he does, so maybe he figured he'd give them a hard time on her behalf. But maybe he didn't realize the goal was to get info on Glory from the Council, so he didn't know he'd be putting Dawn in jeopardy with flip answers.

Good reasoning.

"Hey, let's go talk to that vampire she pays..." LOL

Except they didn't know that until Spike told them.

I think they went to talk to Spike simply because they couldn't resist talking to one of the most notorious vampires in their history.  Spike had previously killed two slayers, and eluded the Watchers in the past (as we learn in AtS s5), and now he was no longer a threat.  They were intrigued, and understandably so.  Whoever told them about Spike's assistance (presumably Giles), then what exactly would they expect him to say?  One would expect that he wouldn't have anything good to say about her, but I guess they wanted to hear him say that for the purpose of records.  But yes, I suspect that little interview ran deeper than his opinion on Buffy.

Why were they interviewing him anyway? - I think one of the gang must have accidentally mentioned Spike - we saw how nervous they all were and once the Watchers found out, there was no way Lydia was leaving town without interviewing her fave vampire.  Spike is the only one who is in control of his conversation with the Watcher bunch, interestingly enough.  He manipulates them, unlike the others who are blundering goofs.

Quentin Travers is incredibly creepy.  I saw the actor in another movie.  He was incredibly creepy there too (and he wasn't supposed to be). 

And, excuse me, but what was all this big info they were supposed to be protecting?  Glory's a god.  That's it.  She's a god and she's mean.  Buffy already knew about the mean part.  They gave her exactly no information.  And what's the big secret anyway?  Buffy has to fight Glory.  No one else is going to volunteer.  If Buffy doesn't win, their precious information won't be worth anything.

Giles green card - This is really irksome.  Here in America we have about 1 lawyer for every three people.  No way the Council could have taken away his store and had him deported.  Hell, we can hardly deport people here who are illegal.  Grrr. 

Spike is the only one who is in control of his conversation with the Watcher bunch, interestingly enough. He manipulates them, unlike the others who are blundering goofs.

Because Spike didn't seem to care about showing Buffy in a bad light (I guess he didn't know about the big info the council won't reveal until Buffy passed) the others were too nervous about saying something that'll hurt Buffy's score.  Except Anya who was nervous about them discovering she was an ex-demon.

Why did the Council make such a big deal about this review?  They were going to decide if she would get to recieve the information they had or not?  Which, as was already pointed out, was only the fact that Glory was a god.  They really had nothing on how to fight her.  What would be the benefit of keeping this information from Buffy?  No one else could hope to stand against Glory.  Were they only there, like Buffy said, to get the Slayer back so they'd have someone to "Watch?" 

Also, besides in season 7 when they're being killed, isn't this the last time we see the Council?  It is the last time they interact with Buffy, isn't it?  (Besides Giles being a Watcher again.)

Because Spike didn't seem to care about showing Buffy in a bad light
Well, he eventually tips his hand, and they know that all he was saying was B.S.

SPIKE: Oh, yeah. See, the poor little twig can't keep a man. Gets her all down. Few more disappointments, she'll be cryin' on my shoulder, mark my words.
LYDIA: (frowns) Is that what you want? I'd think you'd want to kill her. You've killed Slayers before.
SPIKE: (intrigued) Heard of me, have you?

He walks a little closer. The two male Watchers shift nervously and hold up their weapons.

LYDIA: (embarrassed smile) I ... wrote my thesis on you.
SPIKE: (grins) Well, well. Isn't that neat. (stops smiling) Tell me, pet, now we're such good friends, how's the Slayer doing? Is she okay? High marks in all categories?

and they know that all he was saying was B.S.

Doubt it. They obviously wanted Buffy to fail, so everything Spike says is a plus to them.

I doubt that Spike is being clueless like Anya, saying things innocently without knowing their bad effect. I'll take Eowyn's explanation as the answer:

Obviously, it's a review of Buffy's performance, but he knows Buffy follows the rules about as often as he does, so maybe he figured he'd give them a hard time on her behalf. But maybe he didn't realize the goal was to get info on Glory from the Council, so he didn't know he'd be putting Dawn in jeopardy with flip answers.

Here in America we have about 1 lawyer for every three people. No way the Council could have taken away his store and had him deported. Hell, we can hardly deport people here who are illegal.
I get the impression that the Council has the influence and/or the money to do pretty much whatever it wants. I really doubt that Giles can afford a lawyer that could go head to head with them on this.

Why did the Council make such a big deal about this review?
I think you answered your own question. :) It's just what Buffy said it was - a power play, an attempt to regain control over a rebellious Slayer. Ever since she quit the Council, they've had no power over her - she's never wanted or needed anything from them that they could hold over her like this, and their attempt to replace Giles with Wesley pretty much failed completely. This is their big opportunity, to get them both back under Council control, to show Buffy and Giles once and for all who's running the show. Except Buffy outplays them, and in a sense, she calls their bluff. They've been saying, "Oh, you need us, you need this information," to get her to jump through the hoops, but it turns out they don't really have much info anyway. If the Council had had their way, I think Buffy would've had "Property of CoW" branded on her ass before she got any information out of them, and she'd have felt like she'd been played when she learned that the only thing they knew was that Glory was a god.

Doubt it. They obviously wanted Buffy to fail, so everything Spike says is a plus to them. I doubt that Spike is being clueless like Anya, saying things innocently without knowing their bad effect.

But if you look at their exchange, it's clear that he is actually concerned.  Lydia picks up on it--she frowns and questions him ( "Is that what you want?  I'd think you'd want to kill her." ).  I didn't say that Spike was clueless--he says all of that stuff on purpose.  But he eventually slips up and shows his concern.  Not just his words, but it's written on his face.

Because Spike didn't seem to care about showing Buffy in a bad light  - I think he realizes what a bunch of wankers they are and is having fun pulling their chain.  It's true that he trips himself up, which is very funny.

I really doubt that Giles can afford a lawyer that could go head to head with them on this. - Eow - heh heh.  you wouldn't believe the amount of trouble one ham and egger lawyer can cause when he feels like it.  A couple of thousand bucks, a fee for a jury demand and you're in business.  (I work for lawyers, my husband is a lawyer and we have 13 lawyers in our family.  I know whereof I speak.)

But if you look at their exchange, it's clear that he is actually concerned. Lydia picks up on it--she frowns and questions him ( "Is that what you want? I'd think you'd want to kill her." ). I didn't say that Spike was clueless--he says all of that stuff on purpose. But he eventually slips up and shows his concern. Not just his words, but it's written on his face.

I do believe Spike wants what's best for Buffy. I think he just didn't care about those watchers. Their opinion on Buffy doesn't interest him and he thinks they won't harm Buffy one way or another since she doesn't work for them anymore.

I think he realizes what a bunch of wankers they are and is having fun pulling their chain.

I agree.

Spikez_tart, you're talking about the real world. I'm talking about a fictional agency that has more power than you're crediting them with. This is an organization that apparently has the ability to smuggle a known felon out of the country with American security being none the wiser. I'm sure they could do the same to Giles if he tried to cause any trouble about his green card. Hell, the Council probably has the ability to make Giles' green card records "disappear" so that no lawyer would be able to prove he'd ever been admitted to the country legally.

Spikez_tart, you're talking about the real world. - you're right, but fiction occasionally has to touch base with reality.  All that green card stuff is messy and we've never seen them pull anything remotely like that.    Easier just to kill him.  That would be in line with previous activities.  Yeah, I know he's one of their own, but he's been a pain in the butt and I don't think they'd ponder long.