James: "Dick Van Helsing?"

Why did the Watcher's Council guys have such terrible, terrible accents? So much work has clearly gone into getting English accents at least close in the rest of the show, but these three men are awful.

It's hard to take this episode seriously at times. No matter how good it is, it has three Dick Van Dyke's in.

Steve: "Handbags at sunset"

This Year�s Girl was pure prelude to this episode. It�s a classic oestregen fuelled, handbags-at-sunset showdown.

Sarah Michelle Gellar takes the baton from Dusku and sprints with some serious scene stealing. All the fun is had as 'Faith' wreaks havok with a changed Sunnydale. She instantly springs Tara and Willow, takes it nice n' sleazy with Riley, and puts a different kind of lump in Spike's throat at the Bronze.

Not bad for a day�s work! Adam returns momentarily, and is even more like Dawson�s Demon Dad. Can�t she just slay him now, and get on with episodes as good as this?

Kim: "Doe eyed mushiness Vs Nielsons"

After that spell there can�t be any doubt about Willow and Tara�s relationship. In Faith-as-Buffy�s (Fuffy? Baith?) words, she �isn�t driving stick any more�. Yep, those girls are a couple.

The handling of this same-sex relationship hasn�t been a lame excuse to boost the Nielsens with a controversy; neither has it been tooth-jarrigly PC (Ellen de Generes, be ashamed!).

Finally, a show treats a gay relationship just like any other - in human terms rather than as an �issue�. So Willow has a girlfriend, it�s no big deal. Her secrecy, hesitancy and occasional doe-eyed mushiness are familiar to anyone who has met that special someone, whatever their sexuality. You go, girl!