 " Once More , with Feeling " received positive praise from media and critics when it aired , during overseas syndication , and in reminiscences of the best episodes of Buffy after the series ended . Although Salon.com writer Stephanie Zacharek states " ( t ) he songs were only half @-@ memorable at best , and the singing ability of the show 's regular cast ranged only from the fairly good to the not so great " , she also asserts that it works " beautifully " , paces itself gracefully , and is " clever and affecting " . Zacharek 's unenthusiastic assessments of the music and cast 's singing abilities were not shared by other writers . Debi Enker in Australia 's The Age writes , " Giles ( Anthony Stewart Head ) and Tara ( Amber Benson ) are terrific , Xander ( Nicholas Brendon ) and Dawn ( Michelle Trachtenberg ) struggle valiantly , and Willow ( Alyson Hannigan ) barely sings a note " . Tony Johnston in The Sunday Herald Sun writes that Gellar " struggles on some of her higher notes , but her dance routines are superb , Michelle Trachtenberg 's Dawn reveals sensual dance moves way beyond her tender years , and James Marsters ' Spike evokes a sort of Billy Idol yell to disguise his lack of vocal proficiency [ ... ] The rest of the cast mix and match like ready @-@ made Broadway troupers . " Johnston counts " I 'll Never Tell " as one of the episode 's " standout moments " . Connie Ogle in The Miami Herald calls the songs " better and far more clever than most of the ones you 'll hear on Broadway these days " . 
