Wow.  Talk about suspense, dramatic tension, fear...I for one am shaking in my boots.  I'm having a hard time focusing my thoughts so soon after seeing the demise of the COW, and the vision of Spike draining blood onto the hellmouth.  Ugh.

This entire episode was tremendous.  I'll just go over some of my favorite scenes:

Andrew walking down the streets of Sunnydale in a black, leather duster.  Was it me, or did he look just like Angel, instead of Spike?  Maybe it's the gay thing.

(Shameless plug: http://www.channelingboards.com/Fanfiction/IHA - Join the I Hate Angel Fanclub.  It's free and it's worth it.  Come on.  You know you want to.)

Andrew and Willow meet.  As hubby pointed out, if this were reality, there would be a widening pee stain at the crotch of his pants.  No kidding!  The she-witch who flayed his would-be-lover, and nearly killed him, let alone the entire world...and she's standing before him while his bags of pig's blood roll on the floor.  That's what I call a life-defining moment...where you just stand there and wonder if your life will continue, or if this breath is your last.  

{Clean up in aisle seven.} 

Andrew and Mr. Gordo's alter ego meet.  When I saw the piggy, I admit I screamed: "NOOOO!!  Run, Gordo, run!"  I made sure to cover Miss Gordo's eyes.  She wouldn't have wanted to see that violent scene.  But, I have to ask.  How come Andrew can kill a human being, a friend, no less, but has trouble (physically) killing an animal?

Anya and Xander discussing what a great job they were doing with Andrew.  They made a natural good cop/bad cop team.  Lurved the accidental punching of Xander and Anya's swift but silent apology.  Or, maybe I only find that funny 'cuz I've done the same thing numerous times.  Not, pumping a guy for information, but accidentally hurting hubby.  I have no control.

Spike attacking Andrew.  Woo hoo!  Too bad he didn't die.  {There's that darn evil twin again.  Down, evil twin.  Down, I say!}

Xander vs the Summers' house.  Will he ever get a break?  He hasn't finished the repair from Joyce's return yet.  Now there's holes in the wall.

Dawn fighting the minions from Hell.  Go Dawn!  Go Dawn!

Continuity of the watchers.  Those were the same guys who came during Checkpoint.  And that was the same chick who did her thesis on William the Bloody.

Spike and Buffy.  Now we're finally seeing the basis for a real relationship.  They both realize the truth: that Buffy used him for her own psychologically screwy reasons.  They both realize that Spike got the soul, on purpose, for her.  And who here didn't swoon when Buffy was the only one sticking up for the bloodsucker in the living room?  Buffy gently wiping the blood off his face.  Oh, and the scene where she tried to convince him that he wasn't evil, and has changed!  That's got to be the biggest step I've ever seen her make in integrating the black and the white into grey.  She wants to love him, I think.  Okay, that's not really what I think.  I think I want to love him.  So, I'll just drop the MarySue bit and move along?  All right?  S'alright.

Spike and the FE.  So, we're not the only ones who like to see Spike shirtless.  He likes it too.

Lame moment of the night:

Spike's blood withdrawal.  Oh, come on!  Didn't you guys learn how lame that plot device is last season with Willow?!

Some thoughts I'm sure everyone else has already mentioned

Dawn's blood opened the Glory portal, Buffy's blood closed it, and now Spike's opens the hellmouth.  Interesting, eh?

Disappointed that the First Evil is a vampire.  Don't know why.

But love the continuity of Buffy recognizing the First's minions.  Of course, hubby was lost as a baby bunny.  I had to remind him about Angel's return and the First trying to convince him that he was brought back from Hell to serve Evil.  Hubby wasn't impressed.  I think he'd rather I get some useful hobby rather than memorize all the plots and their titles.  Hey!  It's not like I try to remember episodes...with Angel in them.

Hello!?  Giles!  What happened?  This is just cruel.  To leave us over the loooooooong hiatus not knowing what happened to my second favorite character.  Evil.  EEEEvil.  Darn new writer.  {Since you can't see me, I'll let you know.  I am now burning him in effigy.}

Principal Wood.  What's up with that?  I still can't decide if he's wise to the mouth or not.

This was an image I really could have done without.  Of course, it beats OBGyn Spike sucking on an umbilical cord.

Favorite Lines:

"He's primed.  I'll be pumping him in no time."

"That'll do, pig."

"I believe in you, Spike."

Oops.  Wrong episode.  I just stumbled across this pic and liked it.

Screen Caps courtesy of Spirit Crow