R E V I E W S
"Crush"
(Season 5, Episode 14)
Written by: Eric Teall
Spike, as Buffy, Xander, and Giles are fond of pointing out, is a vicious killer, so why do I find myself feeling sorry for him? For those of you who don't cruise the message boards, Spike and his chip have provided no end to the discussion of Spike's current true nature. In "Crush", Buffy and Dawn each take one of the sides in their argument outside Spike's crypt and each makes valid points, but their discussion leaves the question unanswered: Does Spike's chip make him good at heart or only good in action?
Once again, Buffy's writers display an uncanny understanding of the workings of the heart, human or otherwise. Tara's description of why Quasimodo is not truly a good person, that all his actions are motivated by a selfish love and not by any understanding of good, seems to be consistent with Spike's rather valiant actions later in the season. The writing is able to generate sympathy for Spike because the concept of such a "selfishly selfless" love is familiar to us. Spike will do anything for Buffy, but at least at this point in the season, he charges a fee: Buffy's love.
The quality writing aside, another reason to like this episode can be expressed in three words: Spike and Drusilla. I love Juliet Landau, and although it's always a pleasure to see her, Drusilla does not seem as whimsically insane here as she was in Season Two. When Harmony calls Spike her "boo-boo", Dru's expression is almost completely lucid. Any of us might make that expression. Compare this to my single favorite shot of Drusilla ("Sorry, I was in the moment." - "Becoming, Part 2"), and you'll see that some of the bite is gone from Drusilla's character. Still, Landau and Marsters still have that special chemistry, and that they are able to create the same chemistry (but muted) as in Season Two says a great deal for their talents as actors.
James Marsters should be winning some serious recognition for his acting range. In this episode alone he plays several emotions perfectly and still clearly combines them in the same character. There is not a single moment this season where I have thought that I was watching James Marsters instead of Spike. Some of the other actors "slip" every once in a while, but Marsters' performance has me fooled.
In the end, though, this episode left me hanging. It resolves very little, and it does not feel as focused as it could be. I found myself getting bored during the "Are you leading him on?" conversation between Joyce, Willow, and Buffy. I think this episode would have benefited from a Glory-centric sub-plot; the main plot would have been that much leaner. I am also left wanting something different from Buffy's reaction, but again, the whole episode leaves me hanging.
So I'm giving this episode 4 stakes, but they're four big stakes. Four and a half stakes, maybe. Despite Marsters' performance, the rest of the episode leaves me wanting too much for five. Maybe when they've tied up some of these plot threads next season I'll feel differently, but we'll have to wait and see.
Rating: 4/6 Stakes
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