It's pretty much common knowledge within the show that Buffy doesn't exactly have the best luck when it comes to birthdays. This one is probably her worst: she loses her virginity to Angel and is directly responsibly for him losing his soul, turning him back into a dangerous, sadistic monster. It's a shocking moment for the characters and audiences alike, and Buffy's grief here is palpable. But credit where credit's due: despite her emotional bond with Angel, she's still willing to do what needs to be done. She puts her job first, even though it's clear that she's barely holding herself together. This is an episode where the troops rally around her wonderfully, and Xander is particularly well used here as his memories of being a soldier on Halloween night save the day. And the image of Buffy with a bazooka...well, that's pretty iconic.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
