I've just seen the ep... finished first airing here half an hour ago, and I have to say HOLY SHITE! Perhaps I'm reacting a bit stronger than usual as I've not really slept enough last night and thus had to run on concentrated cappuccino to stay awake until Buffy & Angel came on, but I'd spontaneously rate that as one of the top 5 episodes of either series, ever! Not even the idiotic German ep title could detract from it. (The Kinslayer knows what I'm talking about. 😀 )
Unbelievable that an ep can be both hysterically funny ("wee little puppet man", "...and my nose comes off" - just two of the scenes where I fear my laughing fits might have woken up a neighbor or two!), and just a few minutes later more uneasing and horrifying than just about any other Buffy or Angel ep I've ever seen (actually I'm afraid to go to sleep right now, fearing to have nightmares over the photo of that little girl in the lifeforce-sucked coma, to whose eery grin no Gentleman could really hold a candle ::disturb: ).
Seeing puppetized Angel finally freely express more emotion than brooding or moping was a treat, too. Almost like feeding Joyce band candy! And I like both Nina (probably one of the few who does) and the Fresley kiss - though even if I hadn't gotten spoilered already, I'd have bet heavily against either ship lasting for long-term happiness (I know for Fred it will be anything but long-term, now... :grim:::crying2: )
10 out of 10, if ever I saw an ep that deserved it!