Revelations

First televised November 17, 1998; Première diffusion en france le 27 novembre 1999
Guest Starring Serena Scott Thomas (Gwendolyn Post) and Eliza Dushku (Faith); Written by Douglas Petrie; Directed by James A. Contner; Edited by Regis B. Kimble

Intro: At the Bronze, Oz's band plays. Willow and Xander are nervous around each other-and Cordelia notices. Willow thinks Buffy's been acting differently. Giles watches Buffy and Faith battle vampires in the cemetery. Mrs. Gwendolyn Post introduces herself-she's Faith's new Watcher, and she wasn't impressed with the fighting.

Act 1: Back at the library, Post isn't impressed with the collection of books. Post says the Council sent her not only to be Faith's Watcher, but to report on "the entire situation," including Giles. It seems a demon, Lagos, is coming to the Hellmouth seeking the Glove of Mynnegon. The Glove is buried in a tomb; they must find it. Later, Buffy trains with Angel. They almost kiss. Xander and Willow do research at the library-and kiss. Giles learns the location of the Glove. Buffy and Faith talk aboutguys. At Restfield Cemetery, XanderseesAngel leaving atomb carrying something. HefollowsAngel homeand findsAngel and Buffy kissing passionately.

Act 2: Angel shows Buffy the Glove. He says once it's put on, it can't be removed. Xander tells Giles about what he saw. The next day, Buffy finds Giles, Xander, Cordelia, Willow, and Oz waiting for her at the library-and not in a good mood. They know that Angel is alive. Giles says Buffy's actions were ill-advised, but understandable; they need to think about destroying the Glove. But later, Giles expresses his anger at her. Post visits Faith at her motel. Xander tells Faith that Angel is alive and has the Glove. Gi les tells Post that the Glove is ata mansion on Crawford Street-then she knocks him unconscious.

Act 3: While Buffy guards the crypt where the Glove used to be hidden, she talks with Willow about keeping secrets. A monster attacks; Buffy defeats him. Faith and Xander find Giles, still unconscious. Faith thinks Angel did it and goes after him. At the mansion, Angel casts a spell. Buffy and Willow arrive at the library; as medics carry Giles away, he tells her to destroy the Glove with 'living flame". Post goes to the mansion and knocks out Angel.

Act 4: Angel revives as a vampire and fights Post. Faith arrives; they fight. Buffy arrives just in time to save Angel. Willow and Xander work on the spell. Faith and Buffy fight. Xander and Willow arrive. Post gets the Glove and puts it on. Buffy throws apiece of glass and cuts off Post's arm. Post is consumed by lightning. The next day, Buffy and the gang talk. Xander isn't mad at her any more. Giles says Post was a Watcher kicked out a couple ofyears ago. Buffy visits Faith and says she's on her side, but Faith isn't interested.

COMMENTS: Two plotlines-the exposure of Buffy's secret, and Gwendolyn Post's search for the Glove of Mynnegon-converge nicely at the end, though the former is by far the more interesting story, while the second is a more-or-less standard monster-of-theweek plot. 'The secrecy plot yields sonic fantastic momentsXander's discovery of'Buf'ly arid Angel together at the mansion; the gang's confrontation with Buffy at the library; and, best of all, Giles's personal comment to Buffy about her lack ofrespect for him and his job-pu rictuated with a reminder that Angel tortured him for pleasure for hours ("Becoming, Part 2," last season). In a season of great Giles scenes wonderfully performed by Anthony Head, this is one of the best.

A nice parallel subplot continues to develop regarding Willow and Xander's secret romance, and it's given a little added meaning in light of Buffy's situation. Unfortunately, no great depth is provided-Willow never quite relates Buffy's secret to hers. Perhaps she shouldn't-they are two very different things-but the producers must have had sonic reason for presenting the situalions side by side. What is the viewer supposed to get out of it? As is. it seems to be there more for cuteness than anything else.

Bufty's relationship with Faith is frustratingly schizophrenic-episode by episode. even scene by scene, they're alternately casual friends or mortal enemies. It's as if the writers are using the relationship as a plot contrivance or for expositional purposes, instead of thinking about the flow of that relationship. Obviously the two have contrasting personalities, but there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to how they will interact at any given moment.

Similarly, Buffy's relationship with her friends always gets wrapped tip nicely and cleanly in very quick fashion. It shows the resiliency of their friendship, though except for the obligatory sarcastic remark from Cordelia (which has pretty much always been the case anyway) things get resolved a little too quickiv, particurarly in light of Bufly's recent history. One of the strengths of' Btilly is the serial thread that runs throughout what, are essentially episodic stories, and when everything is back to normal at the beginning ofeach episode, Bq[f_4 becomes closer to standard television material. Coming tip soon, however, is yet a riot her crisis that will impact the relationships-and its consequences will be longer lasting.

Despite our criticism,,, however, "Revelations" turns out to be the best episode to date of the third season-but not for long: "Lovers Walk' comes next week.