by Mark Murton
Original Air Date: October 23, 2001
Directed by: Nick Marck
Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this episode!
Synopsis: Buffy’s powers are tested by Andrew, Jonathan and Warren, who seek to expose and exploit her weaknesses in an effort to destroy her.
Kitten Cattle Call: Stressed and exhausted by the events of the day, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) joins Spike (James Marsters) at his crypt where she gets completely hammered. She then accompanies him to a bar seeking information on who has been testing her. They go into a back room where a group of demons are playing cards. Spike joins the game and they ante up — with kittens!
Play begins . . .
. . . and continues until Spike lays the winning hand . . .
. . . and starts to gather up his winnings.
The other players accuse him of cheating, advising him to abandon his winnings and leave. Sensing a set-up Spike challenges them to a fight, not just with him but Buffy, too.
Buffy has other ideas, declaring “I’m not getting into a bar fight . . . not for your right to gamble with kittens. Which, by the way, is stupid currency.” “They’re delicious!” one demon insists. Buffy tips the kittens out of the basket, crying, “Scamper! Be free, kittens!” then exits with Spike in pursuit.
Final Mewsings: Just because it’s called a kitty doesn’t mean you should take it literally.
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