I remember watching this episode in conjunction with the Angel episode which complimented it. They were two separate stories that looked into the past and focused on the origins of Spike and Angel. Their stories overlapped, but but they stood on their own. That's what I loved about the smart writing and the rich characters of Buffy and Angel.

Spike's story told a sad tale about how a hopeless romantic with an unrequited love who was transformed into a heartless beast who only thrived for the rush of a life threatening battle. It really drew out what drives his character, why he fights and how he is different in character with Angel. Of course, Spike isn't really heartless, as it was shown when Buffy rejects him, using the same phrase that his love did over a century ago. Despite all the horrors Spike has caused, he still feels the emotional anguish of rejection. The fact that Buffy's comment brings him to the brink of tears really garners the villain some sympathy. I think the best scene was at the end, where Spike, hellbent on ridding the Slayer forever, finds Buffy sitting on her back porch, tears in her eyes over news that her mother is going to go to the hospital over a mysterious ailment. You can see the anger just wash away from his face as concern takes over. Him, sitting next to Buffy, not sure how to console her and settling with a pat on the back was touching. The fact that Buffy lets him, despite the animosity she shares with him really shows how deeply she needed it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. If you can look past the pretense and the lame use of a mad scientist's bonding ball, you can enjoy the hilarity that ensues. While it would be assumed and was even teased that this bonding would result in Kim and Ron getting stuck together, it was the next obvious pairings of Barkin and Ron as well as Kim and Bonnie that ended up happening. Great comic potential and delivery.

This episode gave us a little insight on a couple of supporting characters which is a pleasant change from the lives of Ron and Kim. The interactions between the odd couples made the episode all the more enjoyable. My one gripe is that they'll probably not pursue the whole Bonnie as the picked upon sibling in her family in future episodes, but it was an interesting thing to show to explain her general negativity and her need to succeed which sticks her into her rivalry with Kim in the first place.

I like Harry and it was about time they addressed his place in the Voyageur crew. That being said, boy did I not like Kim in this episode. He acted like a complete jerk in this ep. Mainly what I didn't like was the way he automatically assumed that no one could do things for themselves and that he had to do everything for them. Being a subordinate for so long, you'd think he'd be the type to know what it's like to be treated like that, but no, the minute he gets to command a starship he becomes the end all and be all of all things to do with a space ship.

It must be a captain thing on voyageur because it's one of the reasons that Janeway's character never really appealed to me. I know a captain should know about her ship, but she seemed to be an encyclopedia of knowledge from the engine core to the weapons array. Seriously, even Picard depended on the advice and suggestions of his officers like Data and LaForge before making a decision. It seemed like in every episode, it was Janeway coming up with the techno-ladened solutions to their problems while Kim would constantly remind everyone how many seconds to impact.

That was the main reason I was excited about this episode. Finally a chance for Kim to show how to lead a crew, but instead we get greenhorn Kim struggling to keep things together. Sheesh, I guess we can blame Janeway for this, "I can do it all" attitude that Kim picked up. That being said, the whole story, revolving around Kim learning what it takes to lead a group of people really turned me off. I still rated it high due to the rarity of a Kim focused episode.

When I first saw this show premiere way back when, I was totally blown away with what they did with CG graphics. This was the first show ever to be produced completely in computer graphics. That innovation aside, Reboot could have rested on their laurels and rode the novelty out for a few seasons, but instead they told good stories and got better graphics. Each progressive season led to more indepth storytelling and even more eye popping art. They managed to create a whole new world that was intriguing and exciting to watch. They told small scale stories like Enzo running his own delivery service to large scale stories about a virus destroying the entire Net. I really wish they would continue with this series in one way or another.

Not only does it lampoon on spy movies, comic book characters and all sorts of geeky sci fi stuff, it mocks the high school experience on the side. The characters are enjoyable to watch, and I don't just mean the main characters, the villains are truly what make the fun. It's a guilty pleasure to still enjoy watching cartoons. They don't make them like this as often as they should.