Sigh. This episode was so pointless and boring that I can’t really think of anything to say about it. Instead, since it was all about Harmony, I’ve decided to use this space to explain why it is that I dislike her.

Mostly it’s because she is virtually indistinguishable from the Harmony of Seasons 1-3 of [i]Buffy[/i]. I know, I get it, that’s why it’s funny. Every other Vampire who we’ve seen prior to their vamping has been shown to be markedly different from his or her Human self (William/Spike, Willow/VampWillow, Xander/VampXander…Yum. Where was I again?), and yet “Harm” remains the same mindless bimbo she always was. Ha ha. Except that I don’t find it that hilarious that TPTB are violating one of their basic Vamp-laws all for the sake of a joke that, while funny at first, has now been beaten into the ground for so long that it’s just annoying. If they were dead set on making Harmony the humorous exception, they should’ve limited her return to one episode (or arc) and either killed her off or had her leave for good.

But she’s still around and, in order to keep her on the show, they’ve had her independently choose to abstain from killing and fight on the side of good, which is the other big problem I have with her: She’s an un-souled, un-chipped Vampire. We’ve been told again and again that that should make her a remorseless murderer. But she’s not, and that also fucks with the long-established rules of the Jossverse. If Vamps can be redeemed, doesn’t that call the idea of slaying into question? Shouldn’t Buffy have spent her time trying to convince the Vamps to “be all they could be…in, you know, a non-killing way?”

I know I’m probably making too big a deal out of this, but given that this is the same family of writers who chose to have Spike sexually assault Buffy to remind us that without a soul, he was EVIL, I think it’s warranted.

I have other, less earth-shattering reasons for hating Harmony. She (you knew it was coming) constantly refers to her former relationship with Spike. She’s stupid, she’s shrill, and she’s weak. Now, I’m not saying that what we need is an empowered Harmony kicking ass and taking names at W&H. I just think that who and what she is at present is adding absolutely nothing to this show.

The next time they need a filler ep that doesn’t advance the central plot (is there a central plot?), might I suggest an hour of Gunsley? They could give each other smoldering looks for the first five minutes or so, then get down to the shirtless wrestling. Mmmm.