The Cool Channel DVD Review: Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season Two Posted by J.D. Dunn on 09.09.2005
Don't all guys act like that after sex?
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Season Two
Created by:Joss Whedon Starring:Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, David Boreanaz and Anthony Stewart Head.
Episode 2.01 — "When She Was Bad"
W:Joss Whedon D:Joss Whedon Original Airdate: Sept. 15, 1997
Synopsis: Buffy comes back from Summer vacation a little distant from the others…and maybe a little paranoid. But you're not paranoid if they're really out to get you. A group of vampires assembled by the Anointed One (Andrew J. Ferchland) plan to revive the Master. At the Bronze, Buffy nearly gives Xander a lap dance while he's standing up just to make Angel jealous. Turns out that "bitch" is in this year, I guess. When her attitude causes Giles and Willow to get captured by the vampires trying to revive the Master, Buffy, Angel and Xander must race to the abandoned warehouse and save them.
Interesting Note: Buffy asks Angel if he ever wondered what would happen if they had to face off with one another. In fact, that's just what would happen in the season finale.
Best Line/Moment: (tie) 1. Buffy and Cordelia have it out in the alley behind the bronze. Cordelia tells her to "spank her inner moppet." 2. Snyder tells Giles he can smell trouble -- like a sixth sense. Giles reminds him that's one of the five.
Analysis: Good way to welcome back the whole crew after a summer off. Buffy's bitchiness is obviously supposed to make you think something supernatural is wrong, but as Giles points out, it's just post-death issues. Wow, character depth…on the WB? The baddies are boring, but the episode provides closure for the Master storyline -- just to show Whedon wasn't going to bring the Big Bads back over and again. B
Episode 2.02 — "Some Assembly Required"
W:Ty King
D: Bruce Seth Green Original Airdate: Sept. 22, 1997
Synopsis: While on the hunt for vampires, Buffy finds an open grave. Not exactly unheard of in Sunnydale, but this grave appears to have been robbed. Meanwhile, it appears that smart guy Chris and his weasally pal Eric are collecting parts of attractive dead girls to build their own girl. "Why?", you ask. For Chris' older brother Daryl, who he's revived after suffering a rock climbing accident. Unfortunately, they need a head soon or they lose the whole body. Since there aren't any fresh bodies laying around, Daryl pressures them into taking a pretty one -- Cordelia. When Chris has a crisis of conscience, he helps Buffy track Daryl down and stop him from taking Cordelia's head.
Best Line/Moment: Giles' attempts to ask out Miss Calendar.
Analysis: This episode is as much a patchwork as Daryl is. The actual horror aspect of "Some Assembly Required" is horribly lame, filled with one-note characters and clichés -- an unoriginal twist on "Frankenstein"/"Bride of Frankenstein." However, a lot of the humor and sexual politics at the beginning keep this from being a total dog. Though, it is disturbing that Giles is written as if he were just another teenager. C-
Episode 2.03 — "School Hard"
W:David Greenwalt D:John T. Kretchmer Original Airdate: Sept. 29, 1997
Synopsis: Principal Snyder assigns Buffy to set up for Parent-Teacher night. Unfortunately for her, a pair of whacked-out vampires named Spike and Drusilla show up on the scene with designs on taking over the town during St. Vigeous -- a vampiric holiday. A little research reveals that Spike has killed two slayers in the last century, so he's no pushover. When Spike attacks during the Parent/Teacher rally, Buffy has to defeat him while concealing her secret identity from Snyder and her mom. Angel shows up for a little reunion, trying to unsuccessfully convince Spike that he's still soulless. When push comes to shove, though, it's Joyce making the save for her daughter. Also, Spike kills the Anointed One, finishing off the final tie to Season One's baddies.
Historic Moment: Other than the introductions of Spike and Drusilla, we find that the city officials have known about the demons all along, but have covered it up. A welcome explanation that keeps everyone from looking like idiots.
Introduces: Spike (James Marsters) and Drusilla (Juliet Landau).
Best Line/Moment: (tie) 1. Xander's reaction to pulling a tampon out of Buffy's bag while looking for a stake. 2. Spike calls Angel an "Uncle Tom."
Analysis: Fine mythology episode that introduces this season's "Big Bad" as well as finally tying up a number of loose ends from Season One. Spike was only supposed to last a few episodes but was so popular he lasted through the end of the series. Plus, Joyce's attitude takes a welcome, if unbelievable, change toward Buffy. B+
Episode 2.04 — "Inca Mummy Girl"
W:Matt Kiene, Joe Reinkemeyer D:Ellen S. Pressman Original Airdate: October 6, 1997
Synopsis: When class dimwit Rodney tries to steal the seal from a mummy's tomb, the mummy escapes. At the same time, Buffy welcomes her foreign-exchange partner Ampata (Ara Celi), a lovely South American girl. Only Ampata was supposed to be a boy. Hmm. Xander develops a liking to her, but the mummy's guard is searching for the broken seal, and he'll use any means to get it. Unfortunately for Ampata, she must suck the lifeforce from men in order to survive. Although she wants to be with Xander, she still must kill people in order to survive. When Buffy finds a mummified corpse in Ampata's travel trunk, she realizes what's the what and races to the dance to send Ampata packing back to the netherworld by
Introduces: Oz (Seth Green, who is the only actor to work on both the film and the series. Oddly enough, no relation to the director) and Jonathon (Danny Strong).
Best Line/Moment: "Slaying entails certain sacrifices, blah, blah, bitty blah. I'm so stuffy, give me a scone." (Buffy, imitating Giles)
Analysis: As with a lot of non-mythology episodes from Season Two, "Inca Mummy Girl" is a barren source of amusement. The writers always have a hard time filling holes as they're waiting for Buffy and Giles to catch up with whatever beastie is out there. At least it debuts Oz as a love interest for Willow. Quite the sweet moment there. D+
Episode 2.05 — "Reptile Boy"
W:David Greenwalt D:David Greenwalt Original Airdate: October 13, 1997
Synopsis: Everyone is treating Buffy like a child, and her responsibilities are getting to her. When Cordy wants to go to a frat party, she needs Buffy to come along for her date's friend. Tiring of not having a life, Buffy decides to go. Of course, the frat boys are evil snake-worshippers. When Buffy lets her guard down and has a drink, she wakes up next to Cordelia chained in the basement. Willow finally finks to Giles about Buffy's whereabouts. Everyone rushes to save the girls as Buffy breaks free of her chains and sends the demon Machida back down into his little hole, ruining the fraternity.
Best Line/Moment: Cordelia's fake laugh.
Analysis: The moral of the story is driven home with a sledgehammer, so I don't think I need to go into that one. "Buffy's" horror episodes usually work best when we they're more detective story. Like "Inca Mummy Girl", the episode suffers because we already know where the evil is coming from, so it's just a matter of sitting there and waiting for Buffy to wise up and fight it. C
Episode 2.06 — "Halloween"
W:Carl Ellsworth D:Bruce Seth Green Original Airdate: October 27, 1997
Synopsis: Despite its reputation, Halloween is normally a slow period for vamps and demons…except in Sunnydale. Buffy is feeling inferior because she's a nineties chick while Angel tended to go for debutantes in his human days. When the owner of a costume shop makes her a deal on a dress, she accepts. Of course, he's evil, so he casts a spell turning everyone into the costume they were wearing. Buffy becomes a flighty debutante. Xander becomes an army ranger. It's up to Willow the Ghost to save the day, since she's the only one who's kept her personality. Well, there's Cordelia, who's dressed in a slinky cat suit and seems not to have changed. That provides Willow with a clue -- Cordy bought her costume from "Party Town" while everyone else bought them from "Ethan's." With Buffy helpless, Spike and his horde move in for the kill. It turns out Giles knew Ethan long ago when Giles was…different. Giles "convinces" Ethan to break the spell, returning everything to normal.
Historic Moment: Giles goes bad ass, and it's not from a costume.
Introduces: Ethan Rayne (Robin Sachs) an old cohort of Giles'.
Flub: A vampire enters Buffy's house and fights with Angel despite not having permission. (Maybe vamps made from costumes aren't governed by the same rules?)
Best Line/Moment: "Well, this is just…neat." (Spike, observing the chaos)
Analysis: The first true Willow episode (not counting "I Robot…You Jane"), and it really gives her a chance to open up. First of all, she gets to skank it up for the first time. Also, she really gets to show her strong side, as opposed to the timid wallflower she usually displays. A nice way to rebound after a few uninspiring outings. B+
Episode 2.07 — "Lie to Die"
W:Joss Whedon D:Joss Whedon Original Airdate: November 3, 1997
Synopsis: When Buffy's old friend Ford (Jason Behr) transfers to Sunnydale, Buffy welcomes him with open arms, especially since she spied Angel talking with the mysterious Drusilla. Unfortunately, Ford belongs to a cult of vampire worshippers and plans to hand her over to Spike in exchange for turning him into a vampire. When Angel investigates Ford, he finds out about the cult and finally reveals to Buffy that he drove Drusilla insane and then sired her. Buffy feels betrayed by both men. Morality isn't that simple, though. It seems Ford has inoperable brain cancer and he'll be dying anyway, so what does he care? When Spike and Dru come to feed, though, Buffy is able to squirm out and save the rest of the cult members. Ford gets what he wants…and what he deserves.
Best Line/Moment: (tie) 1. Cordelia's defense of Marie Antoinette. 2. Willow's bedtime slippers.
Analysis: An average episode outside of Ford's reasons for double-crossing Buffy, which turns the morality of the episode on its ear. Also, it seems jealousy is very much alive in the vampire community. Angel is jealous of Ford so he spies on him. Spike and Buffy are both jealous of Dru seeing Angel. C+
Episode 2.08 — "The Dark Age"
W:Dean Batali, Rob Des Hotel D:Bruce Seth Green Original Airdate: November 10, 1997
Synopsis: Buffy and the gang think Giles has been uptight since birth, that is until a group of Giles' old friends start turning up dead. When one of Giles' dead friends comes back to attack Buffy and Ethan Rayne, he passes on the demon Eyghon to Miss Calendar. It seems that Rupert Giles and his friends did a little conjuring long ago and all carry the "Mark of Eyghon", which leads the demon to them. When Buffy goes to protect Ethan, he double-crosses her and tattoos the Mark of Eyghon on her so the demon will seek her instead. Willow has the idea to transfer the demon into Angel's body where his own internal demon can kill it.
Interesting Note: The photo of a young Giles is actually Sid Vicious with Anthony Stewart Head's face superimposed.
Analysis: Finally, we get to see some depth out Giles' character, who until now has been mostly the bland librarian. Portraying him as a reformed punk is quite a brilliant move on the part of the writers because we see why he has come to this extreme. Plus, the use of Angel's demon to kill Eyghon was a clever bit. B
Episode 2.09 — "What's My Line, Part 1"
W:Howard Gordon, Marti Noxon D:David Solomon Original Airdate: November 17, 1997
Synopsis: Buffy and crew are forced into career day, which for Buffy means next to nothing because of the whole prophecy thing. Meanwhile, Spike is desperately trying to cure Drusilla, who has been in a weakened state ever since we met her. He already has the spell book, stolen from the library in "Lie to Die", and now he has the key to translating it. He knows that he won't be able to cure her with the Slayer breathing down his neck. He calls on "The Order of Taraka", a badass group of demonic bounty hunters. Willow's high scores lead her to be picked by a Bill Gates-type software mogul. This leads to the first real meeting between Willow and Oz. Not only that, but there's a mysterious girl stalking Buffy and she's left Angel to die, trapped in the back room of a bar while the sun comes up. When Buffy and she fight it out, she tells Buffy that she is Kendra…the Vampire Slayer?!
Best Line/Moment: "Don't warn the tadpoles!" (Willow, awakening from a dream)
Introduces: Kendra, the Vampire Slayer ("Saved by the Bell's" Bianca Lawson) and Willy (Saverio Guerra), the stool pigeon.
Analysis: Ace staff writer Noxon's first episode, and it's the most pivotal of the series so far. It's here that the series really starts to take off with storylines that will fuel the next season-and-a-half. Just too much stuff to go into here. Xander/Cordelia. Willow/Oz. The second slayer. Drusilla getting her groove back. With all this happening, there isn't an ounce of fat on this episode. A+
Episode 2.10 — "What's My Line, Part 2"
W:Marti Noxon D:David Semel Original Airdate: November 24, 1997
Synopsis: After the events of Season One's "Prophecy Girl" in which Buffy died, Kendra was called to be the new slayer -- a prospect that Buffy finds unnerving. Willy saves Angel from certain death and hands him over to Spike, who needs him to complete Drusilla's revitalization. Meanwhile, Xander and Cordelia get trapped in Buffy's basement when one of the Order of Taraka -- the Maggot Man -- attacks them while looking for Buffy. Giles takes a liking to Kendra because of her no-nonsense approach to Slayage, something Buffy sees as a chance to get out from under her responsibility. Another member of the Order takes the smart approach, pulling her gatt and popping a cap in Buffy's ass. Oz pushes Willow out of the way of an errant bullet and gets shot himself. Kendra and Buffy team up to interrogate Willy, but Buffy impetuously rushes off to save Angel and runs right into a trap. Kendra arrives with reinforcements as Spike is draining Angel's blood for the ritual. The church is set ablaze and collapses in on Spike and Drusilla. With disaster apparently averted, Kendra heads back to her own watcher.
Interesting Note: Spike was originally supposed to be killed, but he was so popular with "Buffy" fans that he was kept alive and later became a regular.
Best Line/Moment: (tie) 1. Cordelia and Xander give in to temptation…twice. 2. Oz and Willow's budding romance, especially Oz's explanation of Animal Crackers.
Analysis: Another excellent episode from Noxon who, other than Whedon, will go on to be the series' best writer. Buffy started the arc feeling the burden of slaying, but the arrival of Kendra made her realize that it's a part of her that she can't fight and doesn't particularly want to. It's also great to see Xander and Willow, two perennial losers in love, to find significant others -- who aren't each other, as would seems so obvious. A
Episode 2.11 — "Ted"
W:David Greenwalt, Joss Whedon D:Bruce Seth Green Original Airdate: December 8, 1997
Synopsis: Buffy arrives home one evening to find her mom smooching on her new honey, Ted (the late, great John Ritter). Buffy, of course, takes an immediate dislike to him, but she's the only one. Xander loves his mini-pizzas. Willow loves the free software he can get her. When Ted goes a little crazy during miniature golf, Buffy's suspicions are confirmed. Of course, no one will believe her. Buffy decides to delve into Ted's life and finds out about his wedding plans. Ted doesn't cotton to snooping and threatens to expose Buffy. When he slaps her around a bit, Buffy lets out her aggressions…and accidentally kills him! Because she has no bruises, the police don't believe her. On a hunch, Willow tests Ted's cookies and finds that they're drugged to make people compliant. When Ted later turns up in Buffy's room, it's obvious he's not just a salesman. Willow, Xander and Cordy trace Ted to an abandoned shop with a small apartment in the basement…and the bodies of Ted's ex-wives. Ted, it seems, is just an android created by the real Ted, whose wife left him. Buffy saves the day and deactivates Ted permanently. In other news, after a cooling off period following the events of "The Dark Age", Giles and Miss Calendar are back together. That's more important than you might think.
Best Line/Moment: "Beg to differ." (Ted, repeated line)
Analysis: An excellent performance by Ritter makes this a classic, despite a few flaws with the script -- not the least of which is Joyce's irritating mistrust of Buffy, which can't all be explained by the food. Plus, Whedon's attack on conservative values is a little simplistic. B+
Episode 2.12 — "Bad Eggs"
W:Marti Noxon D:David Greenwalt Original Airdate: January 12, 1998
Synopsis: In order to teach the negative consequences of sex, Buffy and the gang are assigned to care for eggs. Things are complicated when a pair of cowboy vampire brothers named Lyle and Tector Gorch move into town. Not only that, but Buffy and Willow are exhausted from caring for their eggs. It could be the burden of parenthood, or it could be the "Puppet Masters"-inspired body snatcher that hatches and unsuccessfully attacks Buffy in the middle of the night. Willow and Cordy aren't so lucky, as the hatchlings take them over and enlist them in the army to disperse more hatchlings. Giles and Joyce also get snatched. Buffy and the Gorches become reluctant allies as they wind up fighting off the bezoar army. Buffy handles things the best way she knows how -- a pickaxe and a whole lotta swingin'.
Best Line/Moment: One of the major complaints during season one and the early part of season two regarded Buffy's revealing attire. During the opening, Noxon has fun with that when Joyce refuses to buy Buffy a slutty dress.
Interesting Note: Lyle and Tector Gorch share their names with characters from Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch." Giles mentions that they slaughtered an entire village in 1886. In the Peckinpah film, the Gorches destroy a village in 1913.
Analysis: Brilliant placement for an episode about the dangers of sex, especially considering the events of the next episode. The body snatchers gimmick is disappointing, especially since it just seems like they're running through the whole gamut of horror clichés -- vampire, check, Frankenstein, check, body snatcher, check, werewolf…uh…C+
Episode 2.13 — "Surprise"
W:Marti Noxon D:Michael Lange Original Airdate: January 19, 1998
Synopsis: Buffy has a prophetic dream about Drusilla killing Angel. In real life, she and Angel are getting hot and heavy, much to Willow's vicarious delight. Meanwhile, planning goes on behind Buffy's back, in more ways than one. While Willow and company plan for Buffy's 17th birthday, Drusilla plans to re-assemble The Judge -- a demon who could destroy humanity, but was dismembered by an entire army. That's not the only scheming going on. It seems Jenny Calendar is really Janna, a member of the Gypsy tribe who cursed Angel at the turn of the century. When she and Buffy intercept one of the Judge's missing arms, Jenny tries to separate Angel and Buffy in accordance with her tribe's wishes. Drusilla's horde attacks and recaptures the arm while Angel and Buffy are saying their goodbyes. When Buffy and Angel spy the Judge fully assembled and ready for violence, they run away from danger…and into each other's arms.
Interesting Note: During the opening dream sequence, Willow speaks, in French, to a monkey about a hippo wearing pants. This is a reference to Oz's Animal Cracker wisecracks to her at the end of "What's My Line, Part 2"
Interesting Note #2: Brian Thompson, who appeared as "Luke" in the series opening arc, reappears here as "the Judge."
Analysis: You know that the writers are on when they can just attach a past to Miss Calendar, and it makes perfect sense in retrospect. The episode itself is hard to judge on its own merits without seeing "Innocence", which aired the following night. Let's just say it's really good, but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. A
Episode 2.14 — "Innocence"
W:Joss Whedon D:Joss Whedon Original Airdate: January 20, 1998
Synopsis: Buffy wakes up post-coitus and finds Angel missing. It seems while Buffy has lost her virginity, Angel has lost his soul. He feeds off a hooker in the alley behind his abode as she hurries off to school. Angel reunites with Spike and Dru. During research, Willow accidentally learns about Xander and Cordelia's relationship, and she doesn't react well. When Buffy goes back to Angel's after a day of thinking about him, he brushes her off in one of the series' most heart-wrenching scenes. When a dream reveals that Miss Calendar was responsible, Buffy demands that she take her to her Uncle Enyos (Vincent Schiavelli), but Angel is one step ahead. He's dead by the time they get there. Meanwhile, since no weapon forged can stop the Judge, Xander has the idea to use a rocket launcher.
Best Line/Moment: Well, it's all good, but Willow's reaction to finding out about Xander and Cordelia -- "No. It just means that you'd rather be with someone you hate…than be with me"-- takes the prize, and it shows that Whedon doesn't neglect the supporting players even in a pivotal moment for the star.
Analysis: The first show for "Buffy's" new night, which you can tell by the airdate, and it had to be huge to keep its audience. It delivered. Boy, did it deliver! It's Pathos galore as Buffy has her heart ripped out when Angel treats her as just another lay…and not a very good one. Whedon rightly points out the "Moonlighting" curse (actually, he references "Cheers") where the characters sleep together and the show loses all momentum. Turning Angel against her was a way out around that. He also mentions that people hated Oz for coming between Xander and Willow, so he wrote the van scene where Oz refuses to kiss her to help the audience get into him. A success on nearly every level with the only small flaw being that Miss Calendar's treachery is revealed by a dream, which is a pretty lazy "out" for the writers, considering how well everything else worked. A+
Episode 2.15 — "Phases"
W:Rob Des Hotel, Dean Batali D:Bruce Seth Green Original Airdate: January 27, 1998
Synopsis: Willow has a problem with Oz's laid back approach to sex. Cordy also has problems with Xander and his feelings for both Willow and Buffy. Giles, however, is pretty geeked because Cordy and Xander were attacked by a werewolf, and it gives him a chance to consult his books. Could it be Larry, the big sexist jock who was attacked by a stray? Whoever it is, the gang doesn't want to kill it because it's a human 28 days of the month. If they're going to save him, they'll have to beat out the cagey werewolf poacher named Kane who sells their pelts. When it turns out that the werewolf is Oz, the ante is quite the upped. Buffy, Willow and Giles race to stop Oz before Kane gets to him first.
Best Line/Moment: (tie) 1. Giles cracks up at one of Xander's jokes, for the only time in the series' history. 2. Xander forces a confession from Larry, but it's not the kind he wanted. 3. "Three days out of the month, I'm not much fun to be around either." (Willow to Oz)
Analysis: There are a lot of pretty good writer tricks that you don't notice unless you're really looking for them. The bitten jock is easily spotted as a MacGuffin, but who could have guessed from Oz's throwaway comment about getting bit by his cousin? In addition, while the audience is cool with Oz being a werewolf, we wouldn't have much sympathy if he was a killer, so the writers solve that by introducing a subplot with Angel. Plus, Director Green puts in a brilliant "little moment" between Buffy and Xander that implies he might be able to catch her on the rebound. The roll continues. A-
Episode 2.16 — "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered"
W:Marti Noxon D:James A. Contner Original Airdate: February 10, 1998
Synopsis: Cordelia breaks up with Xander on Valentine's Day because her friends think he's a loser. V-Day is not much fun for Spike either, when his gift of a heart pendant to Dru is topped by an actual heart from Angel. Xander enlists Amy the witch (Elizabeth Anne Allen from season one's "Witch") to help him get her back. Of course, Amy isn't very experienced, and it's a difficult spell. It causes every woman but Cordelia to fall in love with him. This may sound cool, but love is harsh mistress. Some of the girls become insane with jealousy. Others become obsessive. As the Sunnydale female population try violently to get to Xander and Cordelia, it's up to Giles and lovesick Amy to reverse the spell before people get hurt.
Best Line/Moment: (tie) 1. Buffy calls Xander's spell "the great roofie spirit." 2. Cordelia still wears Xander's locket close to her heart, even after she's broken up with him.
Analysis: It's Noxon, so you know it's going to be good. I'll level with you and say this is my favorite of the non-mythology episodes from "the high school" years. The failed love spell may seem a little pedestrian, but it's important to look at how each woman reacts to being in love. Willow takes this as just another rejection from Xander. Buffy feels that Xander was just using her and tossing her away, just like Angel. See, there's always subtext with Noxon. The only downside is the "everything is back to normal" conclusion, which is a rarity for this show. A-
Episode 2.17 — "Passion"
W:Ty King D:Michael E. Gershman Original Airdate: February 24, 1998
Synopsis: Angel begins to play mind games with Buffy. Giles is the first to tell her not to be affected by his taunts. Meanwhile, in an attempt to make amends to Buffy and Giles, Miss Calendar goes to work on a spell to restore Angel's soul. Willow also gets into the spellage in order to lock Angel out of her and Buffy's homes (and Cordelia's car). Unfortunately, Jenny's efforts make her Angel's prime target. He tracks her down in the school late at night and snaps her neck. When Giles finds her body laid out in his apartment as a taunt, he tries to take it upon himself to get revenge. Buffy races to stop him before Angel, Spike and Drusilla make him a meal.
Analysis: I wasn't a big fan of King's earlier script for "Some Assembly Required", but he more than makes up for it with "Passions." Again, as with "Surprise/Innocence", all the tiny character moments are carefully calculated so that the episode never teeters out of control, as it easily could. It's important that Giles is the one to tell Buffy not to fall for Angel's taunts because he is the one to fall victim. A novice writer may have a good idea for the episode, but it takes an expert hand to make little decisions like that. Also, Gershman's direction is spot on, from Angel's narration of the episode, to the taut chase scene, to Giles' call to Buffy and Willow. The best episode of the series so far, eclipsing even "Innocence." A+
Episode 2.18 — "Killed By Death"
W:Rob Des Hotel, Dean Batali D:Deran Sarafian Original Airdate: March 3, 1998
Synopsis: A really bad case of the flu lays up Buffy in the hospital. Joyce tells the gang that Buffy has hated hospitals ever since she watched her cousin die in one. Late at night, Buffy spies a rather sinister-looking man stalking the hallways. When she investigates, the children tell her that Death comes to them at night. She also overhears a conversation between two doctors about using a controversial method that may be endangering the kids in the children's ward. Giles is skeptical, but a little investigation into the background of one of the docs reveals a long history of malpractice. When said doc is killed by a creature only the children can see, Willow discovers the doctor was using a valid but controversial theory to cure the kids, thus taking away the demon's (called by the German der Kindestod or "Child Death) food. In order to fight it, Buffy must infect herself with the flu once again so she can see the Kindestod and stop it from feeding off any more children.
Analysis: After the harrowing events of "Passion", it was necessary for the series to shift gears and cleanse the pallet (and mix metaphors). "Killed by Death" feels more like a first season episode, which is fine. However, the plot is just a reworking of the failed Jennifer Rubin feature film "Bad Dreams" in which only the lone survivor of a bizarre cult ritual can see the evil cult leader stalking her through the hospital. Even that film was just a ripoff of "A Nightmare on Elm Street", so we're just getting a ripoff of a ripoff here. That being said, it's actually much better than "Bad Dreams", but it's still just a run-of-the-mill detective story with a creepy antagonist. C
Episode 2.19 — "I Only Have Eyes for You"
W:Marti Noxon D:James Whitmore Jr. Original Airdate: April 28, 1998
Synopsis: When Sunnydale students and teachers start reliving an unearthly violent romance from the 1950's, Giles tells Buffy they must resolve the issues of the poltergeist. The reenactment is the same every time: a male student and female teacher go through a vicious breakup before the boy pulls a gun and shoots her. A clouded Giles thinks the poltergeist is Jenny, who wants revenge for the awful way she died. Buffy also views the problems through her own skewed prism, hoping to extract some revenge on the boy who hurt the teacher. Giles theorizes that since James (the boy) keeps repeating the same night over and over again, he can't receive forgiveness. When Buffy is guided to the school by the spirit, she and Angel reenact the fight. Only this time, Angel can't be killed by a bullet.
Historic/Interesting Moment: We find out that Snyder knows about the Hellmouth and that he has a deep-seated fear of the Mayor (and rightly so, considering Season Three's closer).
Analysis: The show returned after a long hiatus with this episode from ace writer Noxon. A lot of "Buffy" fans consider this a classic because it reunites Angel and Buffy in a creative way, but the episode has a lot of problems that are hard to get around. Snakes and wasps may be fine for "Poltergeist", but these are very different kinds of ghosts and it doesn't make much sense for creepy arms to be coming out of lockers when the story is about star-crossed lovers. C+
Episode 2.20 — "Go Fish"
W:David Fury, Elin Hampton D:David Semel Original Airdate: May 5, 1998
Synopsis: Everyone loves the Sunnydale swim team, except for Buffy -- who thinks they're jerks -- and Willow -- who is pressured into changing their grades so they maintain eligibility. It turns out that the swimmers on the endangered species list, though. Something is apparently eating their insides. That "something", Xander discovers, is a sea monster a la the Creature from the Black Lagoon. When Angel attacks another member of the team, he finds he doesn't quite like the taste. Meanwhile, Xander goes undercover by joining the swim team, to Cordelia's delight. Buffy discovers that the danger isn't from without, it's from within -- as in the boys are turning into these creatures…from steroids fused with fish DNA. Who would do such a thing? Perhaps it's the evil win-at-all-costs coach ("Halloween's" Charles Cyphers), who forces Buffy down into the sewers to be a fishy one night stand.
Best Line/Moment: Cordelia's heartfelt promises when she mistakenly thinks Xander has gone fish.
Analysis: Satire only works when it's plausible in some way. "Go Fish" is a good idea for an episode, and actually works for the first half or so. However, once we find out the coach is behind it all and doesn't care that the boys are now giant gill creatures, the episode loses all credibility. C
Episode 2.21 — "Becoming, Part 1"
W:Joss Whedon D:Joss Whedon Original Airdate: May 12, 1998
Synopsis: Through flashback, we see a brief history of Angel, including his being sired by Darla (Julie Benz), his desecration of Drusilla, the curse put on him by the Gypsies, and his recruitment by the good guy demon Whistler (Max Perlich) to help Buffy about a year before he met her. Meanwhile, in the present, a mysterious obelisk is unearthed and brought to the Sunnydale History Museum. Angel, Dru and Spike evince a keen interest in the obelisk because it contains the body of the demon Acathla. Also, Willow and Buffy discover a floppy disk that contains the curse that can restore Angel's soul, which creates a morality meltdown for the gang when they try to decide what to do. Xander, Cordelia, and the returning Kendra want to kill Angel, while Buffy, Giles and Willow want to try the curse. When Angel lures Buffy to the graveyard, it leaves Willow and the others helpless against an attack from Drusilla. When Buffy returns to the library, she finds Kendra dead and a handful of police officers there to arrest her for the crime.
Best Line/Moment: Buffy's misnomers for Acathla include "Alfalfa" and "Al Franken." So, Bill O'Reilly was right!
Interesting Note: Angel's human name is "Liam", usually a pet name for William. Spike's name is also William.
Analysis: Well, "Buffy" was always known for its high quality finales and this is no exception. Story threads that have been bubbling like a tea kettle -- the dropped diskette, the jealousy between Spike and Angel, Jenny Calendar's death and the reactions to it -- are boiling over here, and they're just getting started! A
Episode 2.22 — "Becoming, Part 2"
W:Joss Whedon D:Joss Whedon Original Airdate: May 19, 1998
Synopsis: With Buffy a wanted woman, Willow in a coma, and Giles captured by Angel, things look very bleak for the gang. It turns out that Angel can't open Acathla without performing a ritual, of which only Giles knows the detail. Spike, now fully-healed, approaches Buffy for a truce. He wants Angel out of the picture again. Even through torture, Giles won't give up the secret to Acathla. Meanwhile, Joyce discovers Buffy's secret when Buffy has to save her from a vampire. Still in denial, Joyce kicks Buffy out of the house! Not only that, but Principal Snyder expels her from school. Bad freakin' day. When Giles doesn't crack through Angel's methods, Dru hypnotizes him into thinking Jenny is still alive. Giles tells her that Angel must use his own blood to unleash Acathla. Buffy arrives just as Angel opens the gates of hell. Spike takes Drusilla away against her will. All the while, in the hospital, Willow has recovered and is performing the spell to give Angel back his soul. Once the gate to hell is open, only Angel's blood can seal it again. So, it's up to Buffy to make the ultimate sacrifice and send Angel to hell, even though his soul is restored. However, with nothing to return to after the world is safe, Buffy simply hops a bus out of town.
Historic Moments: Too many to mention all of them. Buffy and Spike team up for the first time. Angel gets his soul back before getting sent to hell. Buffy's mom discovers Buffy is the Slayer.
Best Line/Moment: (tie) 1. "Earth may be sucked into Hell, and you want my help 'cause your girlfriend's a big ho?!" (Buffy, to Spike) 2. Spike and Joyce's awkward moment while waiting for Buffy.
Analysis: Right up there with "Innocence" and "Passion" as the series best episodes. What could have been trite and schmaltzy becomes at once heart wrenching and spellbinding (no pun intended) in the sure hand of Whedon and the fine acting of Gellar. The introduction of the wild card element in the form of Spike is welcome, especially since the series would excel in "shades of gray." A+
The 411: The most classically horror-filled season of the series six-and-a-half year run and the most uneven. The early episodes move in fits and starts as the crew tries to brush away the leftovers from last season and assemble a mythology now that they have long-term stability. The addition of Marti Noxon really gave this show a soul. Not a lot of writers could have handled something like the loss of virginity without making the lead look either like a whore or an idiot, but Noxon hits all the right notes. It's just unfortunate that we have to suffer through episodes like "Some Assembly Required" and "Inca Mummy Girl" to get there.
Interesting Note: The photo of a young Giles is actually Sid Vicious with Anthony Stewart Head's face superimposed.
Interesting Note: Spike was originally supposed to be killed, but he was so popular with "Buffy" fans that he was kept alive and later became a regular.
