Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Series 7 Part 1 [VHS] [1998]

Buffy is now training Dawn, and gets a job as a student counsellor; Xander gets all professional and successful; Willow learns to cope with her power; Anya struggles to get into the vengeance game again; and Spike is insane in the basement.

Season Seven is the shows most consistently entertaining season since Season Three. The re-building of Sunnydale High, the return of the Hellmouth and the re-introduction of standalone stories gives it a back to basics feel. This is quick-witted stuff, never failing to be dramatic or emotional, but always keeping the cheeky humour. The first 11 episodes set up what will become the seasons main story arc, involving the re-opening of the Hellmouth. There are some dark hints, building to pretty horrific clues, about what exactly the Scooby gang will be facing at the end of the season.

There isn't a single episode in this collection that I would call less than "very good". The show has wavered in the past, but here, Buffy's on top form. Single best episode from this collection? Possibly Selfless - Buffy and Anya come to blows, with Anya being a murdering demon and all.

LESSONS
A strange, yet effective way of opening Season 7. I especially enjoyed seeing Sunnydale High and Willow in GB. The story itself is nothing superb (especially for Joss Whedon's standards), but the final 2 minutes are spectacular. **1/2

BENEATH YOU
Overall, much better than 'Lessons', finally we learn that Spike does indeed have a soul now and the discovery for Buffy of this is a masterful scene. Even the Anya/Xander storyline seems to work. ****

SAME TIME, SAME PLACE
An unpraised gem in my opinion. The demon is brilliant and Alyson Hannigan does probably her best acting from the seventh season here. The reunion is touching, and at moments I even sensed some of the creepiness of 'Hush'. ****1/2

HELP
One of the weaker installments on the boxset, 'Help' feels a bit like a S2 throwaway - an unnecessary for the final season's year. It's linkage to 'Conversations...' later is good though. **1/2

SELFLESS
Emma Caulfield is superb in what will always be known as her swansong episode of the series. Finally we get to learn most things about her past and even see a wonderful song that apparently happened during 'Once more with feeling'. Everything you expect from a top quality Buffy episode. *****

HIM
In some ways this one seems to be crying out for 'Worst episode of the season', strangely, it isn't. It's actually quite funny at times and can't help but provoke thoughts of a Season 1 episode. ***

CONVERSATIONS WITH DEAD PEOPLE
THE BEST EPISODE OF SEASON 7. This is a creepy, intelligent and very important episode of the season. Trachtenburg, Gellar and Hannigan are fantastic in their respective storylines, interesting Buffy Vs Vamp is probably the most effective of the stories, while Dawn's story is simply chilling. Best since 'Once more with feeling'. *****

SLEEPER
Another wonderful episode, James Marsters finally begins to get some stuff to do. The First is really beginning to come into business here and the scene is finally set for the showdown later on in the series. A superb scene in the Bronze also ! ****1/2

NEVER LEAVE ME
A turning point episode where the First's threat really hits home with Buffy and the Scooby gang. The destruction of the council is great and Andrew is fitting in to the gang very well. ****1/2

BRING ON THE NIGHT
The final episode on the boxset and a brilliant one. Landau and Marsters have always been good together and they still haven't lost their spark (even though Landau is playing the First). ****1/2