It all starts with a simple question: "Who would win in a fight, Cavemen or Astronauts?". In a regular show this would be just a petty argument for comedy's sake but as this is written by Joss Whedon it serves a higher purpose as the thematical exposition of the episode. The debate literally manifests when the smart, reasonable and science-minded Fred is infected by an ancient and violent primal force slowly hollowing her out to take control of her body. As Fred lays dying each member of the group begin an all out struggle for Fred's life and as they sink deeper into despair the violent and unreasonable cavemen inside of them begin to take control of their actions. When Spike and Angel find out that killing thousands of people is the only way to save Fred the cavemen in them comes out as Angel states he will chose Fred over the world. However as desperate as they become, ultimately the astronaut of logic and reason wins leaving Angel and Spike powerless to stop Fred's death. As Spike says "there's a hole in the world" and the viewer can't do anything but agree. It's unjust that Fred is killed. A girl who lived in a cave for years where her kind were slaughtered like cattle is finally brought down by, as she puts it, "some monster flue". It's unfair and unjust. The world is imperfect i. e. there's a hole in it. But in the end instead of letting go and giving in to an animalistic anger Spike is forced to simply accept the worlds flaws and continue to fight the good fight, a response of reason not of anger. A score for the astronauts and a score for Angel for producing one of the most beautiful and tragic things shown on television.
Review of A Hole in the World
