I still don't think the chip works in Spike's head anymore. I think he was totally faking the pain once he quickly realized he wasn't feeling the pain, but the expectations of pain.

I just watched the episode right now, and I have to say that's the ONLY thing I saw when watching that scene. I thought it was painfully obvious that the look on his face was that of surprise that he didn't feel physical pain, and I'm kind of shocked that there are some people who don't see it that way.

I actually think he wasn't even faking the pain. Once he realized that it didn't hurt him, he just got his "huh?" look going. Now when he hit Buffy last season and it didn't hurt him, then he definitely faked the pain once he realized it so that Buffy wouldn't know.

I also don't know about the explanation that Spike knows the "from beneath you" line because of the former slayers he's killed. I still think he's more directly tied in with this season's Big Bad, although possibly unintentionally, or subconsciously, or something. Or not.

I'm confused...when Spike went to see that demon to make him the "way" he was, was he intending to get his soul back??? I had always thought he was there to get the chip out, because I remember a scene in the last episode of last season where he was on a motorcycle leaving town basically vowing vengeance on Buffy. I had always thought that the return of his soul was a goof-up on Spike's part. That he never specified getting the chip out so the demon did literally what spike asked - made him the way he was.

I get the feeling some of this was written to try to make the viewers think he's going to get the chip out, while in fact he was really there for his soul. It would be too much of a coincidence that the demon Spike went to see not only specializes in Souls but also removal of 'chips in the head.' Spike knew what he was there for.

Cool episode. I loved the homage to "Run Lola Run" @ the beginning.