I'm right there with you on the some-parts worked (characterization!) and some parts didn't (plot?) of the ep. I really do think it worked for the 100th, what with the *well-handled* continuity shout outs that didn't *quite* leave me wishing for the days of yore, but pinged the nostalgia button nonetheless. With that in mind, I'm absolutely convinced that the basement Angel-killing-thingy was made to look deliberately Christmas Ornament-like so we would think that Cordy was gonna go out Doyle style.

Also, I would accuse David Fury of having seen Blade too many times, but . . . uhhh, the fact that I saw the sword fight as a Blade homage pretty means that I've watched it too many times, not him.

So, I pretty much handwaved the plot, but Cordy was spot on. And I looooove the little "well mine's obviously *better*" diss between Cordy and Spike re: souls, despite the ridiculous biting set up. Sometimes, I'm very very easy.