This is probably the worst BTVS Halloween episode, but it does have a few good moments. "All the Way" doesn't really contribute anything to the large story arc. The Scoobies have some nice scenes, though. Willow's casual use of magic is an indication of things to come. Also, Xander and Anya announce their engagement, which is sweet. And it's always fun to see Giles, Spike and Buffy battle vampires. But, really, if you're in a hurry to get through season, you could skip "All the Way" and not miss anything.
Basically "All the Way" revolves around Dawn sneaking out on Halloween night. She and her friend hook up with two guys and wander around on a double date. Unfortunately the boys are really vampires. Meanwhile, Anya and Xander announce their engagement and the Scoobie throw them a party. When Willow uses magic to decorate though, Tara worries that her girlfriend is becoming dependent on spells. Giles then learns that Dawn is missing and goes looking for her. Tara and Wilow help, and end up fighting about Willow's spells. Spike and Buffy join the Dawn hunt. As it turns out, Dawn is making out with her date. When she learns that he's a vampire, she's sort of sad and scared at the same time. She liked this kid and he's... Well... Evil. When Buffy tracks her sister down, she gives Dawn a lecture about the perils of dating the undead. She also has to deal with a large scale vampire attack. Dawn finally has to stake her new boyfriend. Once they're home again, Buffy foists Dawn off on Giles, not wanting to lecture her sister herself. Giles starts to think that Buffy is using him as a crutch to avoid her responsibilities. And Willow casts a spell on Tara so she'll forget their fight.
There are some good parts to this episode. Halloween in Sunnydale is usually pretty fun. Especially since BTVS always sticks to the idea that old-school evil-doers hate the holiday. Spike looks down on it's human taint, and insists that real Black Hats skip it. (He'll make the same arguments over on "Angel" season five's "Life of the Party.") Spike has a whole thing about the "rules" of good and evil, and he lectures one of the vamps about how his attack on Dawn was breaking them. But Spike went after Buffy, Angel and the Scoobies on Halloween back in season two's "Halloween." I'm not sure whether he just automatically excuses his own Halloween rule breaking as necessary for Dru's recovery. Or he considers himself different than other evil doers, a "rebel" who's earned the right to be different. Or if he regrets his actions in "Halloween" now, and killing that other vamp was almost a statement to his old pre-chip/pre-in-love-with-Buffy self. Or if he's just forgotten how he nearly killed them back in season two. Whatever the reason, I like the conflicted nature of it. And it's nice that the Scoobies finally found about Anya and Xander's engagement. Anya's money dance around the store really was cute. It's about time that Xander made the announcement.
I also think that this is episode that really underscores the problem with Willow's magic use. The Scoobies can seem hypocritical this season as they lecture her about being addicted to magic. She's saved them so many times in the past with her spells and it's like they've just forgotten all the good that it's done for them. But, really it's not the magic itself... It's Willow's depending on it for everything, all the time. She's using it as a short cut to life. There are a lot of characters this season who look for easy answers to hard problems. The Trio use comic books to short-cut their way to evil plans. Buffy uses an affair with Spike to short cut her way to feeling again. Spike is using his affair with Buffy to short cut his way to her love. Xander getting engaged to Anya as a short cut to adulthood. They're looking for quick and simple solutions, and it's going to backfire on all of them.
On the down side, I kinna liked the creepy old guy in this episode. It's a shame he died before we got to find out why he got fired from that toy making job.
My favorite part of the episode: Spike spending his Halloween night watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." In fact, you could make a heck of a comparison between Linus and Spike. Linus is sitting in that pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin to rise and give him gifts because his pumpkin patch is the most "sincere." Spike is hanging around Sunnydale waiting for Buffy (who has risen from her grave) to love him because he's proved his feelings are sincere. Both of them have a vague feeling that it might be hopeless. They're both ridiculed by everyone for their stubborn persistence. But, neither one of them will give up or stop trying. Then you have Linus and his blue blanket, using it as both his identity and disguise in "The Great Pumpkin." While Spike uses his coat for the same reasons throughout BTVS. At the end of the cartoon, Linus thinks that he sees the Great Pumpkin, but it's just Snoopy. Angry and disappointed, he never-the-less vows to find another, better pumpkin patch next year. For Spike, this season will let him get closer to Buffy than he ever imagined, but he slowly comes to see the relationship is false. He sets out to win her love a new way and come back a better man next year. Plus, you're sort of hoping that both Linus and Spike win in the end. Or am I just reaching, now?
Basically "All the Way" revolves around Dawn sneaking out on Halloween night. She and her friend hook up with two guys and wander around on a double date. Unfortunately the boys are really vampires. Meanwhile, Anya and Xander announce their engagement and the Scoobie throw them a party. When Willow uses magic to decorate though, Tara worries that her girlfriend is becoming dependent on spells. Giles then learns that Dawn is missing and goes looking for her. Tara and Wilow help, and end up fighting about Willow's spells. Spike and Buffy join the Dawn hunt. As it turns out, Dawn is making out with her date. When she learns that he's a vampire, she's sort of sad and scared at the same time. She liked this kid and he's... Well... Evil. When Buffy tracks her sister down, she gives Dawn a lecture about the perils of dating the undead. She also has to deal with a large scale vampire attack. Dawn finally has to stake her new boyfriend. Once they're home again, Buffy foists Dawn off on Giles, not wanting to lecture her sister herself. Giles starts to think that Buffy is using him as a crutch to avoid her responsibilities. And Willow casts a spell on Tara so she'll forget their fight.
There are some good parts to this episode. Halloween in Sunnydale is usually pretty fun. Especially since BTVS always sticks to the idea that old-school evil-doers hate the holiday. Spike looks down on it's human taint, and insists that real Black Hats skip it. (He'll make the same arguments over on "Angel" season five's "Life of the Party.") Spike has a whole thing about the "rules" of good and evil, and he lectures one of the vamps about how his attack on Dawn was breaking them. But Spike went after Buffy, Angel and the Scoobies on Halloween back in season two's "Halloween." I'm not sure whether he just automatically excuses his own Halloween rule breaking as necessary for Dru's recovery. Or he considers himself different than other evil doers, a "rebel" who's earned the right to be different. Or if he regrets his actions in "Halloween" now, and killing that other vamp was almost a statement to his old pre-chip/pre-in-love-with-Buffy self. Or if he's just forgotten how he nearly killed them back in season two. Whatever the reason, I like the conflicted nature of it. And it's nice that the Scoobies finally found about Anya and Xander's engagement. Anya's money dance around the store really was cute. It's about time that Xander made the announcement.
I also think that this is episode that really underscores the problem with Willow's magic use. The Scoobies can seem hypocritical this season as they lecture her about being addicted to magic. She's saved them so many times in the past with her spells and it's like they've just forgotten all the good that it's done for them. But, really it's not the magic itself... It's Willow's depending on it for everything, all the time. She's using it as a short cut to life. There are a lot of characters this season who look for easy answers to hard problems. The Trio use comic books to short-cut their way to evil plans. Buffy uses an affair with Spike to short cut her way to feeling again. Spike is using his affair with Buffy to short cut his way to her love. Xander getting engaged to Anya as a short cut to adulthood. They're looking for quick and simple solutions, and it's going to backfire on all of them.
On the down side, I kinna liked the creepy old guy in this episode. It's a shame he died before we got to find out why he got fired from that toy making job.
My favorite part of the episode: Spike spending his Halloween night watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." In fact, you could make a heck of a comparison between Linus and Spike. Linus is sitting in that pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin to rise and give him gifts because his pumpkin patch is the most "sincere." Spike is hanging around Sunnydale waiting for Buffy (who has risen from her grave) to love him because he's proved his feelings are sincere. Both of them have a vague feeling that it might be hopeless. They're both ridiculed by everyone for their stubborn persistence. But, neither one of them will give up or stop trying. Then you have Linus and his blue blanket, using it as both his identity and disguise in "The Great Pumpkin." While Spike uses his coat for the same reasons throughout BTVS. At the end of the cartoon, Linus thinks that he sees the Great Pumpkin, but it's just Snoopy. Angry and disappointed, he never-the-less vows to find another, better pumpkin patch next year. For Spike, this season will let him get closer to Buffy than he ever imagined, but he slowly comes to see the relationship is false. He sets out to win her love a new way and come back a better man next year. Plus, you're sort of hoping that both Linus and Spike win in the end. Or am I just reaching, now?
