1, 5, 6. The tricky thing here is that Buffy herself is still in shock about it - for good reason. She doesn't fully accept who Dawn is until the end of this episode. It's hard to say what would be the "right" moment to reveal to her friends (or to Dawn herself) that her little sister, whom they've known for five years and she's known for 14 years, doesn't exist. For one thing, from a purely cold strategic point of view, what would be the point in telling them? It's already been shown that the other Scoobies have a pretty good relationship with Dawn, would knowing that she's Da Key somehow make them more likely to risk their lives to protect her than if she's just a slightly annoying but generally well-liked younger sibling of their best friend with a tendency to get kidnapped every Tuesday? Are they more or less at risk of getting hurt if they know or don't know? Is Dawn better or worse off having a major existential crisis? What if part of Buffy is afraid that they'd throw Dawn to Glory and be done with it? What if part of Buffy believes that would be the right thing to do? Buffy has a tendency to keep things to herself she'd probably be better off sharing, but I can completely understand why Dawn's status throws her. What do you do with that sort of information? "Oh, by the way, everything you know is wrong. Don't act any different or people might die." ...Which I'm guessing ties in nicely with Joss' fascination with existentialism - there's no fixed answer for this sort of thing, you give it meaning by giving it meaning. Etc.

2. The idea of an ancient mystical order being after Da Key is a good one. Having them dress like mediaeval knights and act like Monty Python's French knnnnnnniggits despite the fact that they're all obviously Americans in their late 20s is supremely silly. Both the Initiative and the Watcher's Council seem far more plausible - and that's saying something. Hell, even the Order of Taraka was hip to 20th century technology.

7. I defy anyone to make a logical prediction about how Da Key works. It does what the plot needs it to do.

8. 4. Not a great episode, but some nicely done reveals, and hugely emotional for us Dawn fans.

Angeria, noting that you've added "late comment" to your subject, and I'm even later than that - is that considered the "appropriate etiquette" on LJ? (yes I am honestly that clueless.)