Sex sex sex - I thought this show was about Spike's development but it was really about sex and the way sex interferes with growing up.  Who's getting it, who isn't, who's letting it take over their life while they neglect their responsiblities, who feels it's more important than anything else.  Poor Spike doesn't get laid, but he does make a little progress. 

 

I just finished watching the episode and there are so many really important foreshadows and messages about Buffy-Riley and Xander-Anya. I think this is really a very interesting episode. Even something as simple as the transition from the scenes with Spike at the frat house party to the song that Giles sings and how they apply to Spike and Giles and the theme of distance and hidden emotional pain that these two characters experience with the Buffy-Riley relationship.  The Song "Behind Blue Eyes" is also perfect for Spike and the plot of "The Yoko Factor." We see the going away from the father figure and taking up with the replacement in the school talking scene when they are talking about going to the party instead of following the instructions from Giles. It's interesting to see again how Willow plays such a strong supportive role for the Buffy-Riley relationship.

Everything about this episode shows the coming collapse of Buffy-Riley – I think it’s a wonderful continuation from "Super Star" and the fantasy world theme.

From the start we see the fundamental problem that is facing Buffy and Riley, the disparity of their physical strengths and the Super Enhanced Riley vs. Mr. Joe Normal. We see them both so satisfied with their ability to work together – they are equals and they are physical, but what they are not is capable of dealing honestly with each other when all the crap hits the fan. I love how that little line from Giles is casually dropped in about the evil energy could be coming from the underground Initiative facility, which of course is Adam and the evil that the humans are doing.

Buffy and Riley are all about the "touchy feely" primal sex, self-absorbed and ignoring all else - one of the most powerful and revealing scenes about Buffy’s disregard of important events now is the "Willow in danger, does not matter." – it plays perfectly off the earlier scene when Xander is talking about the trouble he and Anya are having, she hears nothing regarding her friend’s love problem, but she does hear about something as unimportant as her borrowed sweater.

For all the symbolism and references of sexual consummation of love, what we are shown is the metaphor of the energy force manifesting in the wall. Walls that separate and hide all those inner demons and monsters that Xander, Anya, Buffy and Riley are hiding and that will destroy their relationships. Everything is on the surface with these two couples and all the ugly fears and insecurities are in hiding.

Spike and Anya, you have to love their scenes together and how totally clueless Anya can be, Spike’s reaction when he finds out she takes him to the Initiative house is just wonderful, James Marsters is so perfect with his interpretation of Spike.

I loved their reminiscing about their lost powers - how they could so easily have done evil in their former state. Was nice to see how Anya really loves Xander and does not want to hurt him. Spike’s line about his love and how it ended badly was another one of those great lines that just slips in. He with his crazy vampire logic will pretend to stake Dru, but it won’t be out of vengeance, but out of love for Buffy. Great foreshadow for all the tragic future of "Entropy" between Xander, Anya and Spike.

Lots more things that I liked about this episode, but this post is too long and rambling as is.

He hsa so much screen presence I don't even think about his height.  He fills the screen.