Great issue, lots of things happening.
Well, Andrew finally learned the lesson, and retributed the trust the Scoobies have in him, by not accepting the Sculptor offer and talking right away to the gang. The Scoobies dealt with the monster together – all of them: Buffy, Spike, Dawn, Giles, Andrew – as well as Willow.
Willow and Buffy had their disagreements about working with the military earlier (as seen in the preview), but in the end they joined forces to face the Sculptor. But things still are a bit shaken between the two – Will is rarely at home, preferring to be in the company of Lake.
Buffy finally cave in under D'Hoffryn argument that she should use (cautiously) the Book to help them in the fight – each one of the council's members will be given some power to prevent, fight or defend against the opening portals. But the Slayer is truly torn apart by her decision: nobody has the right answers, and you have to live with the consequences of your choices.
Giles is tired of being a man in a kid's body, so he accepts Monarch's invitation for a visit to the fae world; there, what counts is the character, not the physical appearance. One more thing for Buffy to worry about; she fears for Giles - forgetting that he is a grown man. He reassures her that he will be in contact, as well as Spike, who says that Giles can't be kept there forever against his will.
Things between Buffy and Spike are OK – but she's starting thinking of that “normal” life she always had a longing for.
She suggests to Spike that they could go later to an amazing new Italian restaurant, but then remembers that he doesn't eat; he says that he just samples food, spicy ones mostly, but other than that, all taste bland. But he likes wine and a good company... Buffy changes the subject telling she will go for a run in the sun, and Spike stays home to feed the “beasts” (the cats).
While running, Buffy's attention is drawn by a gay (two men) couple and their baby, and an old couple walking holding hands – and she remembers the time Spike said to her that he “wanted normal too. And I want it with you” (S9). Before, Buffy had seen Dawn with her study group, doing something very normal, and insisted that she should keep doing that, that what she does is important and that she should fight for it.
Well, I can't read Buffy's mind (or Gage's), but Buffy's thinking about the so called normal life can go in two directions: or she decides that she wants and will pursue it, or she is about to realize that she will never have a normal life once for all - independently with whom she is. Giles going to live for a while in a fae world generated a comment by Buffy earlier:
Buffy: Giving up a normal life, and the things that go with it...
Spike: Normal life? When have we ever had a normal life?
IMO, the Slayer will never have a normal life; she can have a child, yes, but still her life won't be normal – it will be still more complicated, that is. She can love and want to grow old with her companion, but that dream can be smashed any day because she has a dangerous life style. Or she can marry a guy who has Coeliac disease, and can't eat pasta... So, will Buffy figure that out, or will she pursue the dream of a "normal life"?
