Subtle is actually the last word I would use to describe Beauty and the Beasts. It's my least favourite episode of that season, because it keeps hitting us with the parallels to Buffy/Angel and abusive relationships - but then doesn't provide any way out of this cycle of violence: Debbie gets killed, and even Buffy has to be rescued by Angel of all people. Who the hell has any agency in this episode? The men are feral animals, the women are victims and I just end up getting mad thinking about it again!! Grr!