Reviewed By: Adam Bardwell
Rating: 8/10
In a break from tradition this episode is the first part of the two-part season finale with the finale itself being a coda episode. Viewed in this light "The Yoko Factor" is disappointing especially compared to the opening parts of both "Becoming" and "Graduation Day". They felt like the beginning of a bigger story - this doesn't. It has to deal with Buffy and Angel's fall out from "Sanctuary", also, and as a crossover episode it is also quite disappointing.
Having opened by saying how disappointing the episode it still has a lot of good points which is why I've given it a fairly high rating. One of its strongest points is the fact that the separation of the core Scooby gang finally comes to a head. Throughout the season Buffy, Willow, Giles and Xander have grown apart . Buffy, along with spending more time with Riley than her old friends has also been dealing with evil more by herself than she used to. Xander and Giles in particular feel unneeded. Willow on the other hand feels that they don't accept Tara as her girlfriend and is concerned about their opinions of her Wicca activities. They all keep these feelings inside until Spike stirs up trouble and tells each of them (except Buffy) stories about what the others have been saying behind their backs.
Spike is the Yoko of the piece. He is the one who is blamed in "Primeval" but ultimately it would have happened anyway (like The Beatles without Yoko being present). His motivation is because taking out the Slayerettes from the equation will ease the chances of Adam's plan succeeding and if Adam succeeds he has promised to remove Spike's chip. Adam's ultimate plan remains unclear here although it is clear that he wants to organise a large human Vs demon battle. I don't think that it was difficult to work out after watch this episode that he wanted to make more human / demon hybrids. However, why he needed Riley who turned up at Adam's layer at the end of the episode was unclear. I'm sure that some people were hoping that Riley would end up being a bad guy but realistically this was never likely.
Like in Angel's previous appearance in Buffy this season he wasn't really integral to the episodes plot. After things ended badly in "Sanctuary" between him and Buffy he had said that he need to go after to make things right. That ending scene in "Sanctuary" was a defining moment for the series and their relationship in my opinion. It was basically a we live in different world kind of thing. I can totally understand why Angel had to go to Sunnydale - he still feels for Buffy and doesn't want her to feel bad. However, really I was on his side in that argument - she was getting involved in something she didn't understand - so I don't think his appearance here was vital. If he was going to appear he should have got involved in the plot - helped fight Adam or something.
All Angel really does is fight Riley before apologising to Buffy and leaving. I was glad that Angel wailed on Riley because he really was acting like a jerk. The look Angel gives Riley as he walks out of the room with Buffy is priceless. After discovering Buffy slept with Angel Riley basically lost all of his sanity. He isn't prepared to give Angel the benefit of the doubt and doesn't seem able to trust Buffy with him. I can't see the Buffy / Riley relationship if every time she sees and ex. he thinks she's sleeping with him.
The strongest element of the episode is its humour. The big confrontation scene is actually hilarious thanks to a drunken Giles. His 'bloody hell' to Willows revelation that Tara was her girlfriend was side splitting. I also like his complaint that Buffy doesn't train with him any more. Hopefully he will return to doing so next season.
The scene between Xander, Spike and Anya was also very funny. Xander's reaction to Spike saying he'd heard he was joining the army combined with Anya hitting him was very good. I also though the phone-sex line stuff was good although not fully appropriate. Spike himself was funny especially when he was holding the gun - enjoying the power it gain him until he pointed it at Xander discovering that he couldn't even point a fake gun at a human. I've mention the inconsistancies in Spikes abilities before so I won't dwell on them again but although Anya's tactless reaction to this is funny it doesn't really add up with what else we have seen chiped Spike do.
Beyond the fact that this episode leaves a little bit too much for the second part to do (although luckily, except for the gangs making up, "Primeval" doesn't feel too rushed) I have two small qualms about this episode. Firstly, Giles signing was totally unnecessary. Perhaps it is setting up for Giles to get a singing job next season but to me it seemed a waste of time (I appreciate that some female viewers may find his singing sexy but I'm with Xander on this one!). My second problem is that Buffy now seems impervious to weapons. She takes a taszer blast full on and still manages to escape. I know she is the Slayer but that doesn't mean that she can with stand that amount of current and walk away. Adam on the other had seems to feed of the blast with is believable and seeing him say 'thank you' kind of chilling.
Great Buffy Moment: Has to be drunk Giles' remark of 'bloody hell'.
In a Nutshell: Struggles to fit everything in with Angel's appearance, although necessary for the character, seeming surplus to requirements considering this episode had to set up the big end of season confrontation with Adam.