The thing I don't get is why wasn't a new slayer created when Buffy 'died' after last season.

Because Faith is the slayer and she was quite alive and well.

Which leads to the question of why The First is manifesting now. Did the disrupted Slayer line (Buffy being back alive while Faith is as well) create a 'window' for him? Or do vampires with souls just piss him off so much he can't idly stand by (my choice)? Cosmically bored? Series nearing its end,time to make an appearance? Other? ANYway,things are starting to heat up!

Well, if by judging this episode, and the scenes from the next one on Angel, Faith is no more.

Well, Faith will be around in some form for other episodes of Buffy and Angel (can't recall how many of either are left) so she's doing SOMETHING. Someone else pointed out to me that one vamp-bite doesn't make one an instantaneous vamp in the Buffyverse-- and I've a vague notion this rule was articulated again recently, though where I dunno. Faith has to drink Angel's blood to become a vamp. Did Angel bite hard enough or drink long enough to kill Faith? I dunno, may be a fakeout like the teaser about Giles' impending crewcut.

And to whoever asked: yes, it's definitely been said that the First is active again because of some muckup in the Slayer line, though it's remained vague and the Scoobies haven't seemed to show much interest in pursuing it. (Because the writers don't want them to yet, of course... arrgh)

For those of us who missed the last few minutes of this week's Angel, due to the war coverage, it will be rebroadcast Sunday nite 3/23 at 9pm.

They showed the whole episode here, so if you want to know, I could fill you in on the final few minutes.

rockie,

"For those of us who missed the last few minutes of this week's Angel, due to the war coverage, it will be rebroadcast Sunday nite 3/23 at 9pm."

Oh, thank gosh. I saw all the ending, but I also spaced out and missed the first 24 minutes of the episode! Coulda kicked myself! I mean, it's not like I couldn't tell what was going on, but it would be nice to actually *see* it play out. Plus, one does not miss a moment of Faith if one can help it, right?

Matthew

I saw the notice at tvtome.com . I'm thankful I checked that site out because The WB had no notice at their site of a rebroadcasting.

Yeah,no doubt Faith is,as the kids say,one foine piece of eye candy and this was a kick ass episode. I have a minor qualm though. At the end (no spoiler necessary)where Faith and the Angel scoobies are talking events and plans,the writers inserted a lot of 'Buffyisms' into Faith's dialogue. You all know what I mean without detailing,because almost all Whedon characters lapse into 'Buffyspeak' on occasion. Sometimes it actually seems like laziness on the writers' part instead of a unifying aspect of the shows. No big deal,as Faith's butch delivery is sufficiently different than slayer B's as to negate a too-close resemblance.
And did I mention faith kicks ass?!