It really makes *me* wonder if what I thought was SMG's stellar acting was a case of good writing and my own blindness at how awesome Buffy was.

One shouldn't become *worse* at their craft as they progress, ya know?

It takes me back to the last 2 seasons of Buffy and how I thought it was the writing or the subject matter or the shipwars. I never blamed my lack of enjoyment toward -- Buffy the character -- as having to do with the actress, but after watching Ringer I'm not so certain. She's got that post Grave sadness/blank eyed stare and not really anything else going on.