First Date: The Rant

Warning: Spoilerish to the amount of 10.

I have a confession to make. I was disappointed in last week's effort that I couldn't make myself sit down and write a rant for it. "The Killer in Me" was so all over the place and so half-assed that I couldn't hardly say anything about it. It's funny what a week and a better TV writer will do for your confidence in your favorite show. "First Date" makes me want to spend 3 hours typing away on this, but fear not - it won't take that long to read this. Because even though M.E half-asses it every once and awhile, your friendly neighborhood Mac half-asses it all the time. That's one thing you can always come to expect.

- The Giles escape scene. Ok, I agree. Why build up to it if it's going to be so anti-climatic? But with Jane Espenson and her humor, it made me want to let it off the hook. So that's exactly what I'm going to do. The "squeeky shoes" are what made me lay off. Silly answer or not, it was funny.

- Poor Xander. Only he could date a pop star turned evil. Ok...Xander and Justin Timberlake.

- Ashanti was kind of wooden. Just saying...kind of wooden.

- Where were the rest of the SITs? I don't remember there being an explanation. Another one I'll let slide, cause hey, who wants 'em around anyway?

- I don't know about you, but the way they told the Principal Wood story was so much better than what I was expecting, and it explains a whole hell of a lot. Spike better watch his back.

- Who else liked Wood and Buffy together? I thought they were very cute. Can a grown man say "cute"? I don't know the boundries.

- I'm looking forward to the Wood/Spike confrontation that is inevitable.

- The whole "Are you wearing a wire?" scene was one of the funniest in the show's history.

Final Verdict: This episode was roll-off-my-chair funny. There were so many soon to be classic lines that it actually FELT like a regular Buffy, and not this "we're not trying anymore" Buffy. For that I am extremely greatful. The wire scene, the "gay me up, Will" scene, everything having to do with Andrew, Xander, Willow and Anya. It was the most fun I've had watching the show since CwDP (which was co-written by, ironically, Jane Espenson). If they could simply give every episode to Jane and the Ultimate Drew (not Greenberg), the series would be saved. Excellent show.

Rating: 4 STAKES

Rant Over.

- Mac