Reviewed by Sanguine

Are you ready to rumble?

It would appear that the ethos of UPN's prize show, "Smackdown" is infiltrating our beloved BTVS. In a strange twist of telepathically induced fate, the climax of David Fury's episode, "Showtime" occurs on the site of a new library that Xander is building--a site that bears a remarkable resemblance to a Roman coliseum. With the skeptical and scared Slayers-in-Training watching from above, they observe a carefully staged spectacle, designed for their delectation: It's Buffy vs. Turok-Han (who also goes by the more effective wrestling pseudonym, "The Ubervamp"). It's Buffy and Ubie, locked in a struggle to the death! We know that stakes aren't effective against this creature, but apparently decapitation is. It would also seem that Buffy gains additional strength when her slaying becomes a spectator sport. In "Bring on the Night," Ubie kicked her ass. But in "Showtime," Buffy prevails over his skankitude with relatively little fuss or muss.

Yes, "Showtime was full of improbable plot twists. The silliness of the final smackdown (sent up by Buffy's line, "Welcome to Thunderdome," and Andrew's response, "Two men shall enter; one shall leave"). Buffy's sudden ability to foster a three-way psychic link-up with her buds, Willow and Xander. The surreal spectacle of the Harbingers and Ubie storming Buffy's castle (what must the property values be on Revello Drive?). But despite these deficiencies, "Showtime" also had some rather interesting character and plot developments.

First things first: the First Evil! So, why did our friend Firsty choose this particular moment to go after the Slayer line? That's precisely the question Anya and Giles ask the oracle, Beljoxa's Eye. Located in a mystical wind tunnel, Anya must solicit the aid of one of her ex-lovers to open the portal. Anthony Stewart Head and Emma Caulfield work so well together in this sequence and the comic sparkage flies. After Anya unsuccessfully offers sex as a bribe to her ex, the ever-practical Giles simply threatens the demon with Slayer-induced death and destruction. Go Ripper. Presto!Vortex!

According to the cryptic oracle (who sounded rather like the digitally enhanced voice of David Fury), the mystical forces surrounding the Slayer have become unstable. Apparently, Buffy's last resurrection screwed everything up. But why was this last resurrection so problematic? After all, Buffy had come back from the dead before (Season 1). I believe the crucial difference is that Buffy's return from the valley of death in Season 1 was natural: Xander performed CPR and mouth-to-mouth. In Season 6 it was mystical. Willow was playing with forces that she had no business manipulating. The current situation is very much a case of "you reap what you sow." As Anya remorsefully points out, "the world would have been better off if Buffy had just stayed dead." But is this really true? Can we believe Anya or the Oracle? If we take Anya's comment at face value, then things look rather grim for our Buffy. In a rehash of the ending of Season 5, the Slayer will be forced to kill herself to save the world. But I suspect there is more to it. Besides, Buffy always goes for the untraditional solution. Even in the face of great odds, she somehow finds a way.

While Anya and Giles are visiting the oracle, Buffy and the Slayers-in-Training have another problem in their midst: Eve. Funny name, Mr. Fury. According to the Bible, Eve, the first woman, is responsible for Original Sin as she tempted Adam to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. This little tale caused later writers to associate all womankind with moral turpitude. Beyond the name, I just knew that Eve had to be evil. What with all the rambling on about how terrible Buffy is, how she can't defeat the First . . . and then there was the fake Southern accent. I guess the whole purpose of the Eve thing was to demonstrate the First Evil's infiltration abilities. It is pervasive and cannot be defeated. It can only be suppressed.

And speaking of potential First Evil infiltration: God, how I wish Giles would just touch something already. If I have to watch Anthony Stewart Head with his hands in his pockets or his coat for another episode, I think I'll go crazy!

So, in this time of ultimate crisis, the Slayer's ranks have begun to swell. Ostensibly, her Watcher has returned to help. Her house is full of Slayerettes. Even Andrew is getting into the swing of things (anyone think that Andrew, like his geeky vampiric counterpart, Spike, will ultimately be redeemed? I see the signs, I tell ya!) Speaking of Spike, it was interesting to hear Buffy and the Scoobs justify their reasons for wanting to rescue him. First!Eve was particularly interested in this conversation, which again made me wonder why the First is taking such pains to try to convert Spike back to Team Evil. Is he part of some prophecy? Does he have a major role to play in defeating Evil? Maybe that Shanshu thing doesn't apply to Angel after all.

While Spike had very little screen time, Marsters made the most of it. No scenery chewing here: just understated emotion (which, after being tortured for days on end, was probably all Spike could muster). In a particularly touching moment, the First is trying to convince Spike that resistance is futile: his beloved will leave him to rot. We see Spike's lips moving slightly. I thought he might be praying (!?!) but then we hear what he's saying--"She will come for me"--a mantra against the First's venomous words. For Spike, it's still all about Buffy and probably always will be. Nevertheless, when Buffy does actually come to rescue him, he's so broken that he doesn't initially believe it's her. Spike can no longer go on faith alone. He must touch her to make sure that she's real. Then two weary warriors stagger from the cave, and Team Good is now complete. And I can now say unequivocally that Spike is a major player on Team Good. If the description of the next new episode is correct, Spike, like Buffy, will be playing Watcher to the Slayers-in-Training. And in turn another prophecy from "Restless" comes to pass. Spike, after being crucified at the hands of evil, becomes a Watcher. Let's just hope he doesn't start wearing tweed.