While the episode wasn’t unenjoyable, the maguffin of the apocalypse just illustrates how unlikely it would be for the initiative to have been operating in Sunnydale for as long as they have without knowing about the Slayer or the Slayer knowing about them. The performances do a lot in helping to suspend that disbelief.
Review by SLionsCricketBlockedParent2017-07-15T04:45:32Z
Doomed doesn't have the greatest of reputations among BUFFY episodes, and it certainly suffers as being the successor to the show's defiant Hush. Where Hush was about the residents of Sunnydale losing their abilities to speak, Doomed is about an impending apocalypse. Xander, Willow and Buffy's "AGAIN?!" reaction to this grave news certainly undermines the apocalypse but not in the way of Season 3's The Zeppo.
The highlight of the episode is Spike, who is absolutely THE perfect tragicomic character in the episode. There's not a moment where James Marsters doesn't relish in the joy of playing this absolutely hilarious rendition of the character. While almost every word Spike says in this episode can fall under the realm of comedic gold, arguably the finest moment is his deconstruction of Willow and Xander's roles in relation to Buffy as a slayer. While he may no longer be able to physically harm those he sees fit, he seizes the moment and converts physical evil for more of a verbal 'evil' and in doing so, brings a significant narrative thread for the season into gear: the Scoobies are slowly falling apart.
Doomed is at it's best when Spike controls the screen, he commands attention at every turn of the character. There's also some surprisingly fine moments between Buffy and Riley that seem to be slightly squandered by the ending of the episode. Speaking of endings, the final scene is pure Spike gold!