After two episodes that were either not good (Inca Mummy Girl) or average (Reptile Boy) Halloween is an excellent return to form, and Spike is back so the episode was already going to be better than the last two.
It’s almost like this episode addressed some concerns I’ve had lately, namely I asked for a Willow episode and I got a Willow episode. We finally got to see Hannigan with some meaty material, and if this episode sets up a new, more Outgoing Willow, that’s how you do character development. We see her take charge, and at the end when she dumps the ghost sheet and walks with a new confidence, it’s entirely earned.
I wonder if this episode won any awards for costuming. I expect not since WB shows don’t get nominated for Emmys, but Buffy’s 1775 costume was beautiful. It looked like a show that got a bigger budget in season 2, and if I said a prior episode looked Dated, I think this episode could work in any time. I did love Willows comment about Why couldn’t Buffy be Xena.
Anyway, Spike returns and this was just a spectacular Halloween story. Hell, Xander didn’t annoy me this time and that was a plus. When Buffy snaps out of the spell and says “Hi Honey, I’m home”, it’s such another awesome badass moment. Yeah, Geller really improved as an actress from prophey girl onward and it’s such a joy to watch her kick ass like that.
I think the most exciting thing about this episode was it might have started some new arcs going forward. You have Willow no longer hiding but we also learn quite a bit about Giles and how he’s not your ordinary librarian. I hope the show delves deeper into this direction, maybe even clarifying what the “watcher” is because Giles is a lot older than he looks. I’m intrigued.
I think I liked Spike’s intro episode slightly better than this one but man I had a ton of fun with Halloween. It’s funny. Before I started Buffy I was watching Brooklyn Nine Nine and absolutely loved the Halloween Heist episodes. Halloween continues that streak of great episodes featuring the holiday even when I have felt a lot of shows that do holiday episodes turn out to be corny.
Great return to form, BTVS.