BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER EPISODE GUIDE

"Anne" -
WHERE NOBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME - Trying to escape who she is, Buffy (Sarah Michelle
Gellar) finds herself in a city far from home where she is forced to once again face her destiny to
battle a demonic force threatening inner-city kids living on the streets. Back in Sunnydale at the
onset of senior year, Willow (Alyson Hannigan), Xander (Nicholas Brendon), Cordelia (Charisma
Carpenter) and Oz (Seth Green) try to keep the vampire population in check without getting
themselves killed, while Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) searches for leads on Buffy's
whereabouts. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode.
Episode: 3ABB01

Original Air Date: September 29, 1998

"Dead Man's Party" -
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD - After months of being away, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) finds life
back in Sunnydale less than welcoming with Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Willow (Alyson
Hannigan) involved in their own romantic twosomes and Principal Snyder (recurring guest star
Armin Shimerman) sticking to his guns about expelling her from school. Despite the awkward
reunion, the gang must try to come together to face a new undead threat. Charisma Carpenter,
Seth Green and Anthony Stewart Head also star. James Whitmore Jr. directed the episode written
by Marti Noxon.
Episode: 3ABB02

Original Air Date: October 6, 1998

"Faith, Hope & Trick" -
NEW KIDS IN TOWN - Just as Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) tries to return to her normal life of going
to school, hanging out with friends and saving the world, she is faced with the arrival of an
ancient, cloven-hoofed villain (guest star Jeremy Roberts) and his blood-sucking sidekick, Mr. Trick
(guest star K. Todd Freeman). Another new Sunnydale arrival, Faith (guest star Eliza Dushku),
helps Buffy in her battle against the unspeakable demons and ingratiates herself into every aspect
of Buffy's life. Nicholas Brendan, Anthony Stewart Head, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter,
David Boreanaz and Seth Green also star. James A. Contner directed the episode written by David
Greenwalt.
Episode: 3ABB03

Original Air Date: October 13, 1998

"Beauty and the Beasts" -
ALL MEN ARE BEASTS - When a Sunnydale High student is found savagely mauled in the woods,
Willow (Alyson Hannigan) fears that Oz (Seth Green) in werewolf mode might somehow be
responsible for the violent murder. Meanwhile, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) secretly discovers
that Angel (David Boreanaz) has returned after 100 years of hellish torture, and she suspects that
he is the murderous culprit, Nicholas Brendon, Charisma Carpenter and Anthony Stewart Head
also star, James Whitmore Jr. directed the episode written by Marti Noxon.
Episode: 3ABB04

Original Air Date: October 20, 1998

"Homecoming" -
THE THRILL OF THE HUNT - With Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) flaunting her sure win in the race
for Homecoming Queen, she awakens the Prom Queen from within Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar),
who tries to enlist the entire gang to help her show Cordy how it's done, but some of their
allegiances may be elsewhere. Meanwhile, the blood-sucking Mr. Trick (guest star K. Todd
Freeman) assembles a host of killers in Sunnydale for a thrilling hunt to the death to bring down the
two slayers. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, David Boreanaz, Seth Green and Anthony
Stewart Head also star. David Greenwalt wrote and directed the episode.
Episode: 3ABB05

Original Air Date: November 3, 1998

"Band Candy" -
AGE BEFORE DEMON - Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is forced to grow up even faster when Mr.
Trick (guest star K. Todd Freeman) executes a devious plot to render the town defenseless by
causing Sunnydale's adult population to inexplicably behave as irresponsible adolescents.
Meanwhile, Buffy struggles to keep Angel's (David Boreanaz) return and recovery a secret while
her mom (Kristine Sutherland) and Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) conspire to schedule her 24
hours a day. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter and Seth Green also star.
Michael Lange directed the episode written by Jane Espenson.
Episode: 3ABB06

Original Air Date: November 10, 1998

"Revelations" -
TOUGH LOVE - Tempers run hot when the gang learns of Angel's (David Boreanaz) return and
Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) harboring this vicious killer, but they all must band together to fight a
demon who has arrived in Sunnydale in search of a highly powerful weapon. Meanwhile, Faith
(guest star Eliza Dushku) meets her new watcher (guest star Serena Scott Thomas), a brisk
Englishwoman who is disdainful of Giles' (Anthony Stewart Head) haphazard operations. Nicholas
Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter and Seth Green also star. James A. Contner
directed the episode written by Douglas Petrie.
Episode: 3ABB07
Real Video Trailer
Original Air Date: November 17, 1998

"Lovers Walk" -
SPIKE'S BACK - Just as Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) enjoys a minute to revel in her S.A.T. scores
and ponder her bright future, the underworld version of Sid Vicious, Spike (guest star James
Marsters), returns to Sunnydale a fallen man, a pathetic shell of his former self who has been left
in the dust by his love Drusilla and is back to punish every one who is to blame, especially Angel
(David Boreanaz). Meanwhile, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) prepares a de-lusting spell to keep her
and Xander's (Nicholas Brendon) hormones in check during a double bowling date with Cordelia
(Charisma Carpenter) and Oz (Seth Green). Anthony Stewart Head also stars. David Semel
directed the episode written by Dan Vebber.
Episode: 3ABB08

Original Air Date: November 24, 1998

"The Wish" -
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR - Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned-Cordelia (Charisma
Carpenter), wanting to be rid of all things Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and his spooky entourage,
decides that all of her troubles started when Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) moved to Sunnydale and
wishes that historic event never actually happened. Not knowing that a an evil genie would grant
her fateful wish, Cordelia is transported into an altered reality in which the Hellmouth is open and
The Master (guest star Mark Metcalf) is alive and ruling, with Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander
as his undead minions. Anthony Stewart Head, David Boreanaz and Seth Green also star. David
Greenwalt directed the episode written by Marti Noxon.
Episode: 3ABB09

Original Air Date: December 8, 1998

"Amends" -
THE GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS PAST - As Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her friends make plans
for a quiet Christmas vacation, Angel (David Boreanaz) is haunted by visions of his violent,
demonic past, including the ghost of Jenny Calendar (guest star Robia LaMorte). Meanwhile,
Willow (Alyson Hannigan) goes to great, seductive lengths to try to convince Oz (Seth Green) that
he is the one for her; and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) painfully adjusts to his life without Cordelia
(Charisma Carpenter). Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode.
Episode: 3ABB10

Original Air Date: December 15, 1998

"Gingerbread" -
THE SUNNYDALE WITCH HUNT - Picking the worst possible night for a surprise "mother-daughter
bonding" visit with Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) is haunted by the
discovery of two murdered children and feels compelled to take drastic action. When Giles
(Anthony Stewart Head) suggests that the killings appear to be an occult sacrifice, Joyce rallies
the entire adult population of Sunnydale behind a Salem-like witch hunt, leading the murderous mob
directly to Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Buffy. Nicholas Brendon, Charisma Carpenter, David
Boreanaz and Seth Green also star. James Whitmore Jr. directed the episode, teleplay by Jane
Esperson, story by Thania St. John & Jane Esperson.
Episode: 3ABB11

Original Air Date: January 12, 1999

"Helpless" -
COMING OF AGE - For her upcoming 18th birthday, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) eschews her
friends' offer of a big party, hoping to celebrate with quiet reflection and a traditional trip to the ice
show with her father. But unbeknownst to Buffy, preparations are being made for a
life-threatening rite of passage that drains the slayer of her powers and then entraps her with a
powerful vampire foe that she must defeat in a defenseless state in order to pass the test.
Nicholas Brendon, Anthony Stewart Head, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, David Boreanaz
and Seth Green also star. James A. Contner directed the episode written by David Fury.
Episode: 3ABB12

Original Air Date: January 19, 1999

"The Zeppo" -
ODD MAN OUT - Xander's (Nicholas Brendon) lack of slaying superpowers has him feeling
painfully expendable, but his quest to prove he's cool leads him to an unforgettable night that finds
him consorting with fast women, raising the dead and rolling with a dangerous crowd that could
put Sunnydale in a world of hurt. Meanwhile, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Giles (Anthony Stewart
Head) and the rest of the crew engage in a furious battle with an all-female apocalypse cult that
intends to reopen the Hellmouth and bring about the end of the world. Alyson Hannigan, Charisma
Carpenter, David Boreanaz and Seth Green also star. James Whitmore Jr. directed the episode
written by Dan Vebber.
Episode: 3ABB13

Original Air Date: January 26, 1999

"Bad Girls" -
TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE - A taste of the wild life leaves Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar)
wanting more, and while Sunnydale is being inhabited by a long-dead demon and his vampire
minions, Buffy follows Faith (Eliza Dushku) into her irresponsible world of reckless slaying
abandon. Meanwhile, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) fights to maintain his sanity in the face of the
pompous and stuffy new watcher (guest star Alexis Denisof), while Willow (Alyson Hannigan),
Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Oz (Seth Green) ponder their options for life after high school.
Charisma Carpenter and David Boreanaz also star. Michael Lange directed the episode written by
Douglas Petrie.
Episode: 3ABB14

Original Air Date: February 9, 1999

"Consequences" -
KEEP THE FAITH - Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is haunted by the consequences of her and Faith's
(Eliza Dushku) reckless behavior as she battles with Faith's apparent lack of remorse to keep her
from continuing on her destructive path. Meanwhile, the new watcher Wesley (guest star Alexis
Denisof) overrides Giles' (Anthony Stewart Head) objections and instructs Buffy and Faith to get to
the bottom of the recent murder, while the Mayor (guest star Harry Groener) and Trick (guest star
K. Todd Freeman) are thrilled by the possibility of imprisoning a slayer for the murder. Nicholas
Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter, David Boreanaz and Seth Green also star.
Michael Gershman directed the episode written by Marti Noxon.
Episode: 3ABB15

Original Air Date: February 16, 1999

"Doppelgängland" -
A VAMPIRE WILLOW PREYS ON SUNNYDALE - Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and the real Willow
must save the day when from the bleak alternate universe in which vampires rule Sunnydale,
Willow's (Alyson Hannigan) blood-sucking doppelganger is brought forth into this world and
wreaks havoc and confusion on Sunnydale. Meanwhile, Buffy goes into full training mode so she
can ace out Faith (Eliza Dushku) on the Watchers Council tests, while Faith's unholy new alliance
is already paying handsome dividends. Nicholas Brendon, Anthony Stewart Head, Charisma
Carpenter, David Boreanaz and Seth Green also star. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the
episode.
Episode: 3ABB16

Original Air Date: February 23, 1999

"Enemies" -
DARK ANGEL - Faith (Eliza Dushku) and the Mayor's (guest star Harry Groener) secret alliance
becomes an all-powerful triumvirate of evil against Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) when they
conspire to rob Angel (David Boreanaz) of his soul. Meanwhile, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) has
unofficially resumed his role as Watcher, as Wesley (guest star Alexis Denisof) is distracted from
his sacred duties by Cordelia's (Charisma Carpenter) amorous attention. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson
Hannigan and Seth Green also star. David Grossman directed the episode written by Douglas
Petrie.
Episode: 3ABB17

Original Air Date: March 16, 1999

"Choices" -
THERE'S NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT - Since Faith's (Eliza Dushku) turn to the dark side seems to
have put the proverbial kibosh on Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) chances of ever getting out of
Sunnydale to go away to college, Buffy decides to launch an offensive and shut down the Mayor's
(recurring guest star Harry Groener) plans for "Ascension." Meanwhile, plans for the future are
the order of the day, as Willow (Alyson Hannigan) tries to choose among a bevy of college
acceptances, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) prepares to hit the road on a Kerouac-inspired adventure
and Buffy and Angel (David Boreanaz) refuse to face the insurmountable obstacles to a
successful life together. Anthony Stewart Head, Charisma Carpenter and Seth Green also star.
James A. Contner directed the episode written by David Fury.
Episode: 3ABB19

Original Air Date: May 4, 1999

"The Prom" -
DEVIL IN A PROM DRESS - Spring has definitely sprung in Sunnydale as talk turns to all things
Prom, and while Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Angel grapple (David Boreanaz) with the
impossibility of a future together, she is determined on keeping a villain intent on crashing the Prom
from ruining her friends' perfect high school moment. Meanwhile, a chance encounter between
Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) may have reopened their lines of
communication, but he is saddled with a demonic Prom date (recurring guest star Emma Caulfield,
"Beverly Hills, 90210"), while Cordy only has eyes for the new watcher Wesley (recurring guest
star Alexis Denisof). Anthony Stewart Head, Alyson Hannigan and Seth Green also star. David
Solomon directed the episode written by Marti Noxon.
Episode: 3ABB20

Original Air Date: May 11, 1999

"Graduation Day, Part 1" -
AN ELECTRIFYING TWO-PART SEASON FINALE - As Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Willow (Alyson
Hannigan), Xander (Nicholas Brendon), Oz (Seth Green) and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) ready
for their long-awaited graduation day, the Mayor (recurring guest star Harry Groener) makes
preparations for his Ascension and transformation into pure demon at the climax of his
commencement address to the Class of 1999. With the fate of the world in true peril, Buffy is
distracted from her purpose when Angel (David Boreanaz) is weakened with a lethal poison, and
it's slayer against slayer when Buffy faces Faith (Eliza Dushku) for what may be the last time.
Anthony Stewart Head also stars. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode.
Episode: 3ABB21

Original Air Date: May 18, 1999

"Graduation Day, Part 2" -
ASCENSION IS AT HAND IN THIS GRIPPING CONCLUSION - As the hours tick away to the fateful
graduation of Sunnydale High School's Class of 1999, the impending doom of the Mayor's
(recurring guest star Harry Groener) ascension and transformation into pure demon hangs heavy
with Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar). With Angel (David Boreanaz) near death, Buffy must risk her
own life and defy the orders of the Watchers Council in order lead a campaign to save the world.
Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, Charisma Carpenter and Seth Green
also star. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode.
Episode: 3ABB22

Original Air Date: July 13, 1999
SEASON FOUR
"The Freshman"

MOVING ON - Trying to adjust to the rigors of college life proves to be harder than Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) imagined. She moves into a dorm, must contend with a less-than-stable roommate and the complexities of dating college men. On campus, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) is overly enthused about college life and her ongoing romance with Oz (Seth Green), and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) unexpectedly returns from his self-discovery adventure. Elsewhere, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) seems to be enjoying his life away from being a librarian and a Watcher. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode. Episode: P4ABB01

"Living Conditions"

ATTACK OF THE KILLER ROOMMATE - Dorm life proves to be quite an adjustment for Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) when her roommate (guest star Dagney Kerr) drives her crazy with her idiosyncrasies even invading Buffy's dreams and the gang must come together to find away to get her to move out. Away from the dorm, Buffy meets Parker Finch (guest star Adam Kaufman), a handsome older classman who is the first guy Buffy has been attracted to since her break-up with Angel. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Seth Green and Anthony Stewart Head also star. David Grossman directed the episode written by Marti Noxon. Episode: P4ABB02

"The Harsh Light of Day"

JAMES MARSTERS RETURNS AS SPIKE - The underworld version of Sid Vicious, Spike (new series regular James Marsters), returns to Sunnydale in search of the vampire version of the Holy Grail, a mythical relic that supposedly engenders the wearer with unimaginable powers, and it's up to Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) to stop him. Meanwhile, Buffy is distracted by dating issues as she deals with her feelings for a new boy (guest star Adam Kaufman) who happens to not be a blood-sucking vampire, but is equally as difficult to understand. Xander (Nicholas Brendon) has romance issues of his own when his prom date from last spring, Anya (guest star Emma Caulfield), can't get the X-man out of her mind. Alyson Hannigan, Seth Green and Anthony Stewart Head also star. James A. Contner directed the episode written by Jane Espenson. Episode: P4ABB03

"Fear, Itself"

HOUSE OF HORRORS - Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) reluctantly agrees to join Willow (Alyson Hannigan), Oz (Seth Green) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) at a Halloween party where they stumble into a real-life house of horrors masquerading as an innocuous fraternity. Meanwhile, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) is called upon to help out the college crowd when all he wants is to get into the spirit of the holiday. Tucker Gates directed the episode written by David Fury. Episode: P4ABB04

"Beer Bad"

ANOTHER ALE FOR MY FRIEND - When Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is befriended by a group of upperclassmen who convince her to drown her sorrows with them, bartender Xander (Nicholas Brendon) becomes suspicious when Buffy and her new friends return to their primordial roots. Back at The Bronze, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) is aware of Oz's (Seth Green) attention being turned to a new performer, the sexual and charismatic Veruca (guest star Paige Moss). David Solomon directed the episode written by Tracey Forbes. Episode: P4ABB05

"Wild at Heart"

HONEY, IT'S A FULL MOON - Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) does her best to console Willow (Alyson Hannigan) when Oz is undeniably drawn to another woman, Veruca (guest star Paige Moss). Even after it is discovered that his attraction stems from the fact that she is also a werewolf, his powerful primitive instincts may be too innate to ignore. Nicholas Brendon, Anthony Stewart Head and James Marsters also star. David Grossman directed the episode written by Marti Noxon. Episode: P4ABB06

"The Initiative"

THE TRUTH IS DOWN THERE - Unbeknownst to Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and the gang, Spike (James Marsters) is captured by a commando squad for The Initiative, a mysterious underground laboratory beneath the streets of U.C. Sunnydale. Meanwhile, Buffy's Psych T.A., Riley (guest star Marc Blucas), has a major slayer crush and turns to Willow (Alyson Hannigan) for advice on ways to woo. Nicholas Brendon and Anthony Stewart Head also star. Douglas Petrie wrote the episode directed by James A. Contner. Episode: P4ABB07

"Pangs"

A DRAMATIC "BUFFY"/"ANGEL" TWO-HOUR EVENT - Unbeknownst to Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Angel (special guest star David Boreanaz, "Angel") lurks in the shadows of Sunnydale trying to protect her and keep her safe, while her perfect Thanksgiving feast is disrupted by an army of Chumash Indians, the original inhabitants of Sunnydale, whose spirits have come alive to recreate the wrongs that were done to their people. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters and Anthony Stewart Head also star. Michael Lange directed the episode written by Jane Espenson. Episode: P4ABB08

"Something Blue"

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW... - Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is only one of many who must bear the repercussions of a spell gone awry when Willow (Alyson Hannigan), pining over the disappearance of Oz (Seth Green), tries to imbue herself with the power to have her will done. The fallout includes Buffy falling in love with Spike (James Marsters) and planning to marry him, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) going blind and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) becoming even more of a demon magnet. Nick Marck directed the episode written by Tracey Forbes. Episode: P4ABB09

Hush
December 14, 1999
4ABB10

Credits

Writer:
Joss Whedon

Director:
Joss Whedon

Regulars:
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg
James Marsters as Spike
Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles
Guest Stars:
Marc Blucas as Riley Finn
Emma Caulfield as Anya
Leonard Roberts as Forrest Gates
Phina Oruche as Olivia
Amber Benson as Tara
Lindsay Crouse as Professor Maggie Walsh
Cast:
Brooke Bloom as Wanna Blessed Be
Jessica Townsend as Wanna Blessed Be
Camden Toy as Gentleman
Charlie Brumbly as Gentleman
Doug Jones as Gentleman
Don W. Lewis as Gentleman
Carlos Amezcua as Newscaster
Elizabeth Truax as Little Girl
Wayne Sable as Freshman

Synopsis

A group of demons called the Gentlemen come to Sunnydale and steal everyone's voices, then setting out to steal their hearts as well (literally, not figuratively). About half of this excellent episode takes place in almost total silence, as the gang tries to figure out how to save the day. In the end, Buffy and Riley end up fighting the Gentlemen together, thereby letting their secrets out of the bag. The next day, Riley comes over to talk, but the two just sit in awkward silence.

For the full, detailed synopsis, click here.

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Monstervision

The Gentlemen are "fairy tale monsters" who come to a town, steal everyone's voices, and take the hearts of seven people — and not just any people; they seem a little picky. It's not revealed what happens if they get seven hearts. The monsters can be killed by the sound of a scream. From what we can tell, they are fictional (as in, there's no fairy tale about them). The heaviest influences would appear to be Nosferatu, "The Strangers" in Dark City, and Tim Burton's visual style. Joss himself said, in an interview at Ultimate TV, "They (the Gentlemen) came from many storybooks and many silent movies and many horror movies and many nightmares and Mr. Burns (from The Simpsons). There's a little bit of Mr. Burns." Also of note, Chris Beck's score is very much in the vein of Danny Elfman (who did one song for the BtVS movie, and who has worked quite a bit with Tim Burton).

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Body Count

Dorm Dweller
Heart cut out by The Gentlemen.
Gentlemen's Goon
Neck snapped by Buffy in a residential area.
Three Gentlemen
Screamed at by Buffy in the clock tower.
Total: Five clear on-screen deaths (plus, obviously, at least three more Gentlemen, five more Goons, and four more victims)
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Dialogue to Die For

Riley: "So tell me about your dream. As a Psych major, I'm qualified to go, 'hmmm.'"

Anya: "This isn't a relationship; you don't need me! All you care about is lots of orgasms."
(Giles and Spike stare at them.)
Xander: "OK, remember how we talked about private conversations? How they're less private when they're in front of my friends?"
Spike: "Oh, we're not your friends; go on."

Giles: "I have a friend who's coming to town, and I'd like us to be alone."
Anya: "Oh, you mean an orgasm friend?"
Giles: "Yes, that's exactly the most appalling thing you could've said."

Forrest: "We have a gig that would inevitably cause any girl living to think we are cool upon cool. Yet, we must Clark Kent our way through the dating scene never to use our unfair advantage... thank God we're pretty."

More quotes from this episode...

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Dialogue to Bury

Riley (in Buffy's dream): "Don't worry. If I kiss you it'll make the sun go down."

Giles is right — Buffy's brain is an eternal mystery.

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References

Spike: "We're out of Weetabix."
Weetabix is a breakfast cereal made in the U.K., consisting of flaked wheat pressed together into oblong biscuits — along the lines of Nabisco Shredded Wheat, only soggier in milk (and, obviously, flaked and not shredded). Weetabix also sponsors the Weetabix Women's British Open golf tournament.

Wanna Blessed Be #1: "We come together, daughters of Gaia, sisters to the moon."
In Greek mythology, Gaia is the mother earth, and the oldest of goddesses. Also, in 1976, Dr. James Lovelock postulated that the planet Earth is a living being. This is known as the Gaia Hypothesis, and its believers, sometimes including Wiccans or Pagans, often refer to humans as the offspring of the Earth (or Gaia).

Wanna Blessed Be #2: "OK! Let's talk about our theme for the Bacchanal."
Technically, a Bacchanal is defined as a feast or festival in honor of Bacchus, the Roman God of wine and intoxication. We'd surmise that the girls just wanted to use a "witchy" word for party.

Willow: "Bunch of wanna blessed be's. Nowadays every girl with a henna tattoo and a spice rack thinks she's a sister to the dark ones."
"Blessed be" is a common Wiccan term, basically a wish of goodwill toward someone or something.

A henna tattoo is a temporary tattoo done with the natural dye from the leaves of the henna shrub.

Forrest: "Yet, we must Clark Kent our way through the dating scene never to use our unfair advantage."
Yet another Superman reference. Clark Kent was superhero Superman's mild-mannered real world persona, who kept it a secret that he was Superman.

A prayer group holds up a chalkboard reading "Revelations 15:1"
"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God."

Newscaster: "The Centers for Disease Control have ordered the entire town quarantined."
The CDC is a government agency whose mission is, as you might guess, "to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability." Originally named the Communicable Disease Center, the agency changed their name in 1970, and added "and Prevention" to their title in 1992, but still uses the initials CDC.

Giles (to Olivia): "Well, no, um, I wasn't actually one of the original members of Pink Floyd, but... but the monster stuff yes."
Pink Floyd, formed in London in 1965, is known mostly for their concept albums, such as Dark Side of the Moon, their most successful album.

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Continuity

Doppelgängland and Choices
Willow says that she wants to float something bigger than a pencil, something we've seen her do twice. She floated one for practice in "Doppelgängland" and she killed a vampire by telekinetically stabbing him with one in "Choices." (Willow and Buffy also mentioned that Willow could float pencils in "Gingerbread," but we hadn't yet seen it.)

The Freshman
Olivia's first (and only, thus far) appearance was in "The Freshman," when Buffy was disturbed to find her at Giles' place wearing nothing but his shirt. She was introduced only as an old friend.

Wild at Heart
The Wicca group that Willow is in (though it appears that she'll probably quit) is the one whose orientation she attended in "Wild at Heart."

Something Blue
Willow mentions her spells going awry and putting her friends in danger, referring to "Something Blue" (the previous episode).

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Goofs and Gaffes

When we first see a shot of the clock tower, the time is almost one o'clock. The camera cuts to a shot from inside, looking out at the clock, and the minute hand is pointing to the 40-minute mark. Cut back outside, and it's one o'clock again.

It's odd that the Gentlemen start on the second floor of the dorm and then move down to the first floor.

As the scene in the lecture hall starts, Anya can be seen sitting down, empty handed, with no sign of popcorn nearby (and no reason for there to be, as they're clearly just entering the room). A moment later, as the camera cuts back, she's apparently pulled a bag of microwave popcorn out of her skirt.

In the same scene, Buffy is mostly sitting with one leg up on her seat. But during a few camera switches, her keeps moving down and then up again. Some of the cuts are long enough to argue that she could be squirming around, but some cuts are too quick for that to be feasible.
Spotted by Diana.

Still in the same scene, Buffy holds her message board up to ask how she gets her voice back. When she first holds it up, the marker is in her right hand. After a quick cut away and back, the marker is in its little slot on the message board.
Spotted by Mark Mills and Marsia.

When Spike opens the fridge, the cup of blood is full almost to the brim. He takes it out, and before it even reaches his lips, he tips it so far that if it were that full, it would have spilled onto him before he drank.
Spotted by Mathew.

When Riley smashes the bottle near the end of the episode, a chunk of glass lands firmly on top of the box. When he starts to swing at the box, the chunk of glass is gone.
Spotted by Mathew.

When the heads start popping, we only get to see three Gentlemen burst (it's probably an expensive trick). Of those three, the right hand one pops and then the left hand one pops. The camera switches angles to focus on the middle one, and the left hand one pops again before the middle one pops.

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Notes

This actually has serious goof potential, but we're trying not to be so picky. ;-) The list of Stevenson Hall residents that Tara has printed out is not the same list that Spike looked at in "The Initiative." Some names are missing (maybe they were vamped), this one has more names (more students moved in to take their place?), the names are in a different order (granted, the other list wasn't accurately alphabetized), some students have apparently moved to different rooms, and this list includes phone numbers. We considered that this could be a list of all dorm residents (not just Stevenson), but there is nothing by each name to designate which building they're in. We also considered that Spike's list could have been freshmen only, and this list includes all classes, but that doesn't explain that some names are missing or in different rooms (and you'd think both lists would have phone numbers).

Another campus building: Judd. There is a Judd Hall (home of the Psychology Department) at Wesleyan University, Joss Whedon's alma mater. (Thanks to Rose for the tip.)

More downtown businesses: Sunnydale Securities Bank and Hank's Jr. Mart (liquor store).

The newscaster is Carlos Amezcua, an actual newscaster on KTLA's morning news. KTLA is the WB affiliate in Los Angeles. (The call letters of the station the gang is watching appear to be KOUS.) Interestingly, the weatherman from the same news show, Mark Kriski, was the weatherman in "Amends."

Giles gets delivery of the Sunnydale Press, the same newspaper we saw in "Bad Girls."

The boy killed by the Gentleman is credited as Wayne Sable, but Casey M., who knows him through a friend, informs us that his real name is Wayne Skjoldal.

We counted (twice) about 27 1/2 minutes with no human dialogue, not including commercials, despite the fact that the promos promised 29 minutes.

Joss stated in an interview at Ultimate TV that he had originally planned for Buffy and Riley to have sex in this episode, while they couldn't speak, but "it became clear that it was too early for that."

The song that Giles plays during his transparency lecture, Danse Macabre, is also the theme song for the UK TV show Jonathan Creek. The connection — Anthony Stewart Head played Adam Krauss in the first episode of this series.

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Music

Camille Saint-Saëns - "Danse Macabre" (From The Best of Saint-Saëns and other CDs, composed in 1875)
This is the song Giles plays during his transparency lecture about the Gentlemen.
Listen to it: MIDI 82K
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Comments

Jeremy:
Everything you should expect from a Joss Whedon written and directed episode and more. This is the first episode that truly seemed to be more like a movie than a TV show. I too was worried that an episode with over 25 minutes of silence would be impossible to pull off, but Joss has once again made the impossible possible. This is the episode to get a friend or family member hooked on Buffy. With great acting, special effects, writing, directing, and music, Joss & Co. would be silly not to send this episode for consideration come Emmy time. It would definitely be the best chance to get nominated for one of the larger Emmy categories that we all know they deserve. With an invigorating blend of comedy, drama, suspense, horror, and creativity, how can I not give this episode a perfect score? (10/10)
Jamie Marie:
If I never again hear the phrase, "A special Buffy," I will be a very happy fan. OK, it's special, I get it already! Ugh. Anyhow, this was obviously a truly unique episode ("special," if you will). This will definitely make it onto my mental list of all time favorites — of anything. Joss's best work to date. He should submit this one to the Emmy voters without even a second thought. In fact, this could be submitted for multiple categories: writing, acting, music, make-up, and (especially) directing, at least. Who would have thought that a show with no dialogue for more than half of it could be so hilarious — especially one so well known for its dialogue? The scene in the lecture hall hurled one laugh after another at me, until I was almost looking forward to a commercial, to catch my breath. As for the Gentlemen themselves, I admit that the first time I saw them gliding through the air, Joss almost lost me. But it grew on me, especially after watching their graceful, polite mannerisms and cheerful enthusiasm for their job. I am, of course, mad at Joss for leaving me hanging at the end. It's highly unlikely that we'll ever get to see Buffy and Riley's conversation, unless for some reason we get a flashback of it, and this pains me. It really does. But hey, it's not like Buffy's gonna chase Riley out of town — the guy's doing Buffy promos left and right, after all. Anyhow, a couple of notes/questions. Walsh "says" that the commandos should dress like civilians, because a "military presence" would increase panic. Sure, she could have been using the term loosely, referring to their style and their dress. But she could have also been giving us a little hint about the Initiative's funding and origination. Perhaps they are a government military outfit. Also, Tara mentions that her mom was a witch and had a lot of power. Could it be that somehow Tara and Amy share the same mother? Or is that too obvious and exactly the wrong conclusion that Joss wants us to jump to? Guess we'll see. (10/10)

Doomed
January 18, 2000
4ABB11

Credits

Writers:
Marti Noxon
David Fury
Jane Espenson

Director:
James A. Contner

Regulars:
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg
Marc Blucas as Riley Finn
James Marsters as Spike
Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles
Guest Stars:
Leonard Roberts as Forrest Gates
Bailey Chase as Graham Miller
Ethan Erickson as Percy West
Cast:
Anastasia Horne as Laurie
Anthony Anselmi as Partier / The Dead Guy

Synopsis

Picking up where last week left off, Buffy and Riley argue a bit about each one having kept secrets from the other. They decide to take some space, but an earthquake interrupts their conversation. Buffy worries that the earthquiake signifies the end of the world, and turns out to be right. As the gang heads back to high school to stop the Hellmouth from opening, Riley tries to convince a wary Buffy that a relationship between them can work. After Riley helps her save the world (and the gang figures out that he's a commando), Buffy comes to her senses and heads to his dorm for some kissage.

For the full, detailed synopsis, click here.

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Monstervision

The Vahrall demons are another fictional breed of demons, said to be: "Slick like gold, and gird in moonlight, father of portents, and brother to blight, limbs of talons, eyes like knives, bane of the blameless, thief of lives." Their goal for this episode was, of course, to end the world via the Sunnydale Hellmouth, using the blood of a man, the bones of a child, the Word of Valios (a talisman), and three sacrifices (themselves).

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Body Count

UCS Party-Goer
Throat sliced by Vahrall demon in a dorm room.
Vahrall Demon
Sacrificed himself by jumping in the Hellmouth.
Vahrall Demon
Thrown into Hellmouth by Spike.
Vahrall Demon
Stabbed by Buffy at the Hellmouth.
Total: Four
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Dialogue to Die For

Buffy: "I'm the Slayer. (Riley looks blankly.) Slay-er. Chosen One. She who hangs out a lot in cemeteries. (He still looks blankly.) You're kidding me! Ask around. Look it up. Slayer, comma, The."

Buffy: "I really thought that you were a nice, normal guy."
Riley: "I am a nice, normal guy."
Buffy: "Maybe by this town's standards, but I'm not grading on a curve."

Riley: "Buffy. She's pretty cool, huh?"
Forrest: "Yes, already! She's cool. She's hot. She's tepid. She's all-temperature Buffy."

Giles: "Oh — as usual — dear."

More quotes from this episode...

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Dialogue to Bury

Giles: "It's the end of the world; everyone dies. It's rather important, really."

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References

Riley: "What are you?"
Buffy: "Capricorn on the cusp of Aquarius, you?"
Because of the inflection, one could consider "What are you?" to be an indirect reference to the "Who are you?" line in Batman.

Buffy is referring to her astrological sign — Capricorn is said to include birthdays falling from December 22 or 23 to January 19 or 20 (depending on where you get your information). A birthday on the cusp is one which falls close to the cut-off line, generally one to three days on either side. (See also the Notes section.)

Forrest: "Slayer? Thrash band. Anvil-heavy guitar rock with delusions of Black Sabbath."
Forrest pretty much sums up Slayer, a heavy-metal band that's been around since the early 80s. Black Sabbath is a classic heavy-metal band, originating in the early 70s and originally (and sometimes still) joined by Ozzy Osbourne. Listen to a sample of Slayer (Real Player) or Black Sabbath (MPEG)

Forrest: "Well, the way I got it figured, the Slayer's like some kind of bogeyman for the sub-terrestrials."
A bogeyman (spelled many different ways, by the way) is an imaginary evil character; a generic bad guy or monster. It's often used to scare little children who've been bad, or discourage them from being bad (i.e., "If you get out of bed again, the bogeyman will get you and take you away!").

Forrest: "Maybe this isn't a good time to tell you about the Easter Bunny."
Another imaginary character for the benefit of children (not to scare them, though, in this case). The symbol of the Easter Bunny is said to have originated as a Pagan symbol in Germany as early as the 1500s, and to have been brought to American by the Germans in the 1700s (the symbol, not an actual Easter Bunny). Children believed that if they were good, the Bunny would lay colored eggs in a nest that they left for the Bunny. These days, parents often hide colored plastic eggs with candy inside them for children to find and collect in an Easter basket (this tradition varies somewhat by region and by family; we don't have room to list all the variations here).

Forrest: "They're just animals, man. Plain and simple. Granted, a little rarer than the ones you grew up with on that little farm in Smallville..."
Yet another Superman reference — Smallville was the farm-town that Clark Kent (Superman) grew up in with his adoptive parents before moving to Metropolis. Forrest compared both himself and Riley to Clark Kent in the last episode, "Hush."

Willow (upon seeing Percy): "I thought you got that football scholarship to USC."
This is a reference to the University of Southern California, a prestigious private school in Los Angeles, home of the Trojans.

Xander: "It's kind of the CBS logo. Hey, could this be the handiwork of one Mr. Morley Safer?"
The CBS logo is an eye, although not an eye in a triangle. Morley Safer is a co-editor/corespondent for the CBS show 60 Minutes, and has been since 1970.

Forrest: "She's cool. She's hot. She's tepid. She's all-temperature Buffy."
This may be a reference to Cheer, a laundry detergent made by Proctor & Gamble. Several years ago, their slogan was "All-temperature Cheer," due to its cleaning abilities in hot, warm, and cold water. — Thanks to David H. for catching this one.

Spike: "Oh, but you can. You know I'd drain you drier than the Sahara if I had half a chance."
The Sahara desert is the largest non-polar desert, encompassing more than 3.5 million square miles of North Africa.

Riley (about demon-hunting): "It's not just a job!"
Buffy: "It's an adventure, great."
This is a reference to the old U.S. Navy commercials with the tagline, "It's not just a job, it's an adventure." — Thanks to Ang for catching that. Somehow we managed to miss it. :-)

Buffy: "Is this really the time for Donkey Kong?"
Donkey Kong was a coin-operated video game developed in 1981 by Nintendo. This video game quickly became the hottest selling individual coin-operated machine in the business. It introduced two of the most famous Nintendo characters: Mario and Donkey Kong (although Mario wasn't named in this video game).

Xander: "Mayor meat. Extra crispy."
This is probably a KFC reference. KFC now has a style of chicken known as Extra Tasty Crispy, but most people refer to it as only Extra Crispy. Interestingly, KFC is now their actual name (not Kentucky Fried Chicken as it was once known), since they have expanded their menu to include other types of chicken besides fried.

Willow: "You were just passing by in your G.I. Joe outfit?"
G.I. Joe was debuted in 1964 as an 11-1/2 inch soldier "doll" for boys. Named after the 1945 movie The Story of G.I. Joe, it became the first boys' "action figure" in the world and was dressed in military clothing. Still a very popular toy for young boys, they are now approximately 4 inches tall and produced by Hasbro.

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Continuity

Hush
The episode picked up exactly where "Hush" left off, with Buffy and Riley sitting silently in her room.

The Initiative and Pangs
The audience discovered that Riley was a member of the Initiative, that the headquarters were under UCS, and that they had put an implant in Spike in "The Initiative." Buffy discovered her knowledge (of the implants, the experiments, and him being from Iowa) in "Pangs," via Spike giving her info in order to receive the gang's help.

Gingerbread and Something Blue
The rat in the dorm is Amy, who turned herself into a rat in "Gingerbread." Amy-rat was also seen in the girls' dorm in "Something Blue," when Willow unknowingly turned her into a human for a few seconds.

Prophecy Girl
Buffy mentions that the last time there was an earthquake, she died, referring to her death at the hands of the Master.

Doppelgängland
Willow was ordered by Principal Snyder to tutor Percy so that he could remain eligible to play basketball.

Surprise and Wild at Heart
Willow reasons that she's not a nerd because she's dating a guitarist refers, obviously, to Oz, whom she began dating in "Surprise." Her "Or I was" correction refers to their break-up in "Wild at Heart."

School Hard
Spike bids goodbye to Dru when before he tries to kill himself, Dru being Drusilla, the love of his un-life, first seen in "School Hard." She was seen in lots of Season Two, last seen in "Becoming, Part Two;" it was revealed in "Lovers Walk" that she'd left him.

Graduation Day, Part One
Buffy tells Riley that the last person she knew who had fun slaying is in a coma right now because she had too much fun. This, of course, refers to Faith, who jumped off a building to avoid letting Buffy use her blood to save Angel from a poison that Faith had given him. Of course, that was after Buffy tried to kill her, which she doesn't mention to Riley.

Graduation Day, Part Two
The high school is in ruins because the gang blew it up in order to kill the Mayor, who'd transformed into a giant serpent demon — hence, "Mayor meat."

The Harvest, Prophecy Girl, Becoming, Part Two, and The Zeppo
The various near ends-of-the-world (explaining the gang's reaction to Giles' announcement that the end of the world was coming). In "The Harvest," the Master attempted to open the Hellmouth. In "Prophecy Girl," he succeeds. In "Becoming," the world was nearly sucked into hell. In "The Zeppo," the Sisters of Jhe opened the Hellmouth. Obviously Buffy and co. averted catastrophe each time.

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Goofs and Gaffes

In the very first scene (the continuation from "Hush"), the right side of Buffy's hair (her right) is behind her shoulder, as it was at the end of "Hush." The camera zooms out, and when it cuts back to her, all of her hair is in front of her shoulders.
Spotted by Christine.

It's difficult to be sure, but after Riley knocks out the demon, it looks as though his right-hand horn is gone. Seeing as that should be roughly equivalent to someone's ear falling off after being hit on the back of the head, that just doesn't seem right.

When the lights first turn on to show Willow with the dead guy, his eyes appear to be open. The close-up shot of him shows his eyes closed, and then in another zoomed out shot, his eyes again appear to be open.
Spotted by Matt C.

When the gang is researching the Vahrall demons and Willow reads about the ritual, Xander's pizza shirt is open over a white t-shirt. For one cut, though, the pizza shirt is buttoned up, and then it's open again.
Spotted by Mathew.

OK, we swear we're trying not to be too picky, but Riley tells the commandos to go out in "civies" and bag their weapons (carry them in a bag). He's out, though, with nothing but the pheromone detector — no bag o' weapons. That just seems odd. What if he finds the demon with his detector? He's gonna hide and wait for back up?

Willow wears clothes to the Aftershock Party. This is good. However, she then wears those clothes for the rest of the episode. The morning after the party, Buffy has changed, so she must have gone back to the dorm — why couldn't she take Willow with her or at least bring some clothes back for her?

When Spike attempts to stake himself, the stake goes flying off and cannot be seen in the shot of Spike lying on the floor. Xander then steps right in front of him, and picks the stake up from where it didn't appear to be a moment before.
Spotted by Sam.

Some people think there are two other goofs: one, that Spike is first wearing shorts but is wearing jeans when they go to the high school. However, the gang stopped at Giles' for a bit, and he could have either borrowed some of Giles' or put on some of his own that he left there. Two, that there are various goofs/logical fallacies/physical impossibilities with the whole Buffy-jumping-into-Hellmouth-Riley-pulling-her-out thing. Most or all of it can be explained away with just a little effort, and none of it bothers us, so we're not including any of it. (Except for this part that says we're not including it.)

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Notes

Buffy states that she's a Capricorn on the cusp of Aquarius (see References), which confirms that her birthdate is somewhere between the 17th and the 20th of January of 1981 (most likely the 18th or 19th). This corresponds to the fact that her birthday episodes usually air that week (on Jan. 19th seasons two and three; this year's birthday episode, "A New Man," was originally scheduled to air on the 18th, but was pushed back to the 25th for reasons unknown to us). This should prove to the naysayers that her birthday really is in January, and the October 24 thing in "I Robot, You Jane" was a big ol' goof, as we have been saying all along!

The Initiative's official term for the demons they catch is "Hostile Sub-Terrestrials."

Xander has another new job. This week he is delivering pizzas.

Porter (as in the dorm that holds the Aftershock Party) is another UC Santa Cruz college (the others mentioned have been Kresge, as in Parker's dorm, and Stevenson, as in Buffy's dorm; see the Notes in "Living Conditions" for more info). UC Sunnydale's Porter is a heavy party dorm.

Percy is attending USC on a football scholarship. Cordelia was also accepted to USC, but couldn't afford to attend (revealed in "Choices").

Riley says that the Vahrall demon is "not a capture, it's a kill," meaning that they don't capture all their specimens alive for experimenting. Of course, it's quite possible that they still do autopsies and research on the ones they kill.

When Willow is explaining to Spike why he's not scary (the clothes, the fact that he can't bite), the captioning says, "Please. Leave a bloke a shred, will you? (Spike, presumably.) I'm sorry. It's just not right. Besides, you still haven't told Buffy everything about the commandos. (Willow, presumably.)"

Buffy says that Riley is a Psychology graduate student, which would mean that he already has a Bachelor's degree (presumably in Psychology), and that he's at least 21, more likely 22 or 23.

Forrest tells Riley that he "don't got game," which is interesting because Leonard Roberts was in the 1998 movie He Got Game.

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Music

Hellacopters - "Hey" (From Payin' the Dues, Sub Pop, 1999)
This is the first song playing at the aftershock party, when Willow is standing around alone and then talking to Percy.

Echobelly - "Mouth Almighty" (From Lustra, Sony, 1997)
This song is playing when Willow overhears Percy calling her a nerd.
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Comments

Jeremy:
Well, first of all, congratulations Marc Blucas on your ascension to the demigod status that is being a Buffy regular. We know that you have your dissenters that think it should be "Buffy and Angel 4 Eva," but we're behind you (and I think Jamie might have yet another reason for wanting to be behind you). James Marsters was, as always, a bag full of big bad, uh... goodness (now that's an oxymoron if I ever heard one). However, a couple of reviews ago when I said that I wish you would get some new threads, going through Xander's closest wasn't exactly what I had in mind. The dialogue and acting for this episode was good, but with arguably the three best writers on board for this episode, I was expecting a much better story. Having three writers working on the script now seems to have been the problem. We all enjoyed that this episode picked up with Buffy and Riley right where we left them. I can't think of any other show that would be willing to do this, except for perhaps a soap opera or two (and that's not intended as an insult). Overall, I wasn't impressed by this episode, but liked the character development of both Riley and Spike. (7.5/10)
Jamie Marie:
Not bad. Not overwhelmingly good, but not bad. As usual, I have a few issues. OK, three students leave the party, and we see a demon's hand grip the door, as though he's going to enter the party. Instead, we find him down the hall, killing the naked limbo guy. Then we have Willow entering a stranger's dorm and inviting herself in to lay down on his bed. Yeah, OK, she's sad, but she couldn't have just sat on the floor? Oh, right, then she wouldn't have been in bed with a dead guy. Which, granted, was an enjoyably disgusting thing, but still. Then there's Buffy, finding out the world is going to end, and what does she do? She heroically grabs her crossbow and announces, "I stop it!" Haven't we seen that before? She sure gets off on this hero stuff sometimes, doesn't she? And then there's the jeans thing. Spike is wearing shorts, and then he's wearing jeans. Now we can't goof this because he could easily have put them on at Giles' house — in fact, they could even be his own jeans that he left there. But why wouldn't he have put jeans on in the first place? Sure, we can make some decent excuses (it's hot in Xander's basement, Xander's jeans were dirty), but really it's because that wouldn't be as funny. Oh, and what was with Giles/ASH's voice in his first scene? Did anyone else think he sounded like a cartoon voice-over or something? Anyhow, it wasn't all bad; I did enjoy it well enough. Plenty of Riley for me, including in the credits (I knew all those promo pics weren't for nothing!), and I for one agreed with his comments to Buffy (with the possible exception of the self-involved thing, but she can be sometimes, so I'll let it slide). Plus, logic aside, Spike in Xander's clothes was a hilarious sight, and his performance at the end was great. It was also interesting to have a side-by-side view of how differently the Initiative and the Scooby Gang approach the same task. The Initiative would never think of researching occult books or going to the magic shop; it's interesting that they fight the same things that Buffy does and still don't have any idea what really goes on. Anyhow, like I said, not bad, but not great. (And the extra .75 is a bonus for picking up right where "Hush" left off — I really wasn't counting on it.) (7.75/10]

A New Man
January 25, 2000
4ABB12

Credits

Writer:
Jane Espenson

Director:
Michael Gershman

Regulars:
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg
Marc Blucas as Riley Finn
James Marsters as Spike
Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles
Guest Stars:
Robin Sachs as Ethan Rayne
Amber Benson as Tara
Emma Caulfield as Anya
Lindsay Crouse as Professor Maggie Walsh
Cast:
Elizabeth Payne as Waitress
Michelle Ferrara as Mother

Synopsis

Giles feels out of the loop when Buffy suddenly introduces Riley as her boyfriends, Buffy gushes over Professor Walsh, Walsh tells him that Buffy lacks a good father figure, and he then finds out that Riley is in the Initiative — and everyone knew but him. Ethan Rayne turns up, and convinces Giles to go out for a beer so that Ethan can warn him of some impending doom involving "314." Giles gets drunk, and wakes up the next day to find that Ethan has turned him into a demon. Being unable to speak English, he can't communicate with the gang, so he ends up turning to Spike for help while Buffy and the gang hunt him down, thinking that he did something to Giles. Buffy almost kills him, but recognizes his eyes just in the nick of time.

For the full, detailed synopsis, click here.

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Monstervision

Giles was turned into a Fyarl demon. They're very strong, like to crush things, have rock-hard paralyzing mucous, often work for other demons, and can be killed with a weapon made of silver.

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Dialogue to Die For

Xander (while Spike packs up his things, including Xander's radio): "That's my radio!"
Spike: "And you're what, shocked and disappointed? I'm evil."

Walsh: "We thought you were a myth."
Buffy: "Well, you were myth-taken."

Walsh: "It's only our methods that differ. We use the latest in scientific technology and state-of-the-art weaponry, and you, if I understand correctly, poke them with a sharp stick."

Giles (drunk): "You know what gets me? This is what gets me. Twenty years I've been fighting demons. Maggie Walsh and her nancy ninja boys come in; six months later, demons are pissing themselves with fear. They never even noticed me."

More quotes from this episode...

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References

Giles: "I felt like Theseus and the Minotaur in the, uh, Labyrinth."
According to Greek mythology, King Minos of Crete sacrificed seven youths and seven damsels to the Minotaur, a creature with the head and tail of bull and the body of a man who had been cast into a huge maze known as the Labyrinth. When the Greek hero Theseus learned of the Minotaur and the sacrifices, he volunteered to go to Crete as one of the victims. Upon his arrival in Crete, he met Ariadne, Minos' daughter, who fell in love with him. When Theseus agreed to marry her, she gave him a simple ball of thread, which he was to fasten at the entrance of the maze. He made his way through the maze, while unwinding the thread, and he stumbled upon the sleeping Minotaur. He beat it to death and led the others back to the entrance by following the thread.

Ethan: "Oh, religious intolerance. Sad, there. I mean, just look at 'The Irish Troubles.'"
The conflict known today as "The Troubles" began about thirty years ago. The twenty-six counties of Ireland won independence from Britain in 1922, and later became a Republic; the North remained part of the United Kingdom. This division gave rise to two movements: the nationalist movement, and the loyalist movement. The Nationalists, who are typically Catholic, want the six counties of Northern Ireland to be reunited with the Republic. The Loyalists, who are typically Protestant, prefer that Northern Ireland remain under British rule. The Irish Republican Army (IRA), a militant Republican group, and the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a militant Loyalist group, are two groups that we Americans are most familiar with. Info from the Close Up Foundation.

Spike: "Well. What do I spy with my little eye?"
This a reference to the game "I Spy," in which someone chooses an item in the room and says, "I spy with my little eye something purple" (or beginning with "L" or what have you), and someone else tries to guess what that something is.

Riley: "You're really strong. Like, Spiderman strong."
Spiderman is a Marvel Comics superhero. Student Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider, giving him superhuman strength, reflexes, and equilibrium; a subconscious premonitional "danger" sense; and the ability to cause parts of his body to stick with great tenacity to most surfaces, from which Buffy's comment about not sticking to things stems.

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Continuity

Doomed
Riley tells Giles that he's seen the library, and it's gone downhill since Giles left; he later refers to Buffy stopping the world from ending. Both refer to last week, when Riley helped Buffy stop some demons from opening the Hellmouth in the ruined crater that used to be the library. Buffy's comments about Riley asking her not to reveal his secret and the "cat [coming] out of the bag" also refers to "Doomed," when the gang saw Riley at the library in the aforementioned scene.

Surprise and Helpless
Buffy makes a joke about how having her toes smashed would still be better than her previous birthday bashes, referring to "Surprise," when her surprise party was interrupted by the Judge (or, specifically, by his arm). While there was no birthday bash in "Helpless," it wasn't exactly a great birthday — she was forced to go through an archaic ritual of the Watcher's Council, in which she was drained of her powers and locked up with a nutcase vampire.

Fear, Itself
Walsh makes a joke about Buffy having been in her class, but not all the time, which is likely a reference to "Fear, Itself," when Buffy missed class and was scolded by Walsh.

Prophecy Girl
Buffy told Riley that she drowned, which was in "Prophecy Girl."

Band Candy, Reptile Boy, or Graduation Day, Part Two
Buffy tells Riley about a snake, most likely referring to the Mayor, who transformed into a giant serpent demon in "Grad. Day 2." It's possible, though, that she was talking about Machida, the snake demon in "Reptile Boy" or Lurconis, the snake demon in "Band Candy."

Revelations, Becoming, Part One, Prophecy Girl, Passion, Pangs, and Earshot
Giles states that he has a tendency to get knocked on the head — these episodes all include Giles getting hit in the head or the face (which is, of course, part of the head). This does not include all the times that he's been unconscious, since that's not what he said. However, there is an amusing list of all the times that Giles has been unconscious at Laugh Lines, Love Lines.

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Goofs and Gaffes

Spike casually tosses his lit cigarette in Xander's basement, presumably onto the floor, and neither Xander or Anya seem to notice or care enough to put it out and/or pick it up.
Spotted by Melissa.

During the scene in which Ethan tells Giles that he's poisoned Giles' beer, the foam on Giles' beer (the one closest to him) increases, decreases, and then disappears altogether in an unrealistic amount of time. (There's actually a variety of strange things going on with the glasses in this scene, including an empty one that appears and disappears a few times.)
Foam part spotted by Mathew.

When Buffy and Willow are having breakfast, Willow picks up her glass of orange juice while the camera is facing her. When the camera faces Buffy, the glass is still on the table (and it looks like Willow is just about to reach for it). Cut back to Willow, and she's setting the glass down.
Spotted by Mathew.

When demon-Giles goes to wake up Xander, there are clothes hanging on the clothes line across the room. On the left, there's a pair of briefs dangling by one clothespin. A few cuts later, they're hanging securely by two clothespins... then one, then two, then one, then two, then one.

Xander doesn't even go halfway up the stairs before coming back down and stating matter-of-factly that Giles isn't upstairs. How does he know Giles isn't dead or unconscious on the bed or in the closet or something?

When Spike and Giles talk in the cemetery, Spike puts a cigarette in his mouth. The camera cuts to Giles, then quickly back to Spike — and he's suddenly holding the cigarette down by his waist and he tosses it aside.
Spotted by Mathew.

Ethan is supposedly staying at the Sunnydale Motor Inn, but the shot outside his motel is of a place called the Downtowner Apartments. Moreover, this is the exact same shot they used in "Faith, Hope, and Trick" (right down to the car parked in front) — it's the motel that Faith was staying at. It's understandable that they might wish to use the same shot, but they should have had the waitress say that Ethan was staying at the Downtowner Apartments, and they could have at least not shown the car in the last second of the shot.

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Notes

Sunnydale seems to have a motel called the Sunnydale Motor Inn, although the supposed shot of that Inn was actually of the Downtowner Apartments, the place that Faith stayed before the Mayor hooked her up. (See Goofs above.)

We know for sure now that the Initiative is an official U.S. military operation. They also may have headquarters outside Sunnydale — Riley says that Ethan will be taken to a detention facility in the Nevada desert, which may or may not be an Initiative facility (it could be purely military, etc.) and which could be in Area 51.

In a chat at Raven's Realm, Jane Espenson (who wrote this episode) had this to say about what happened to Spike after he crashed the car: "That was cut... for time. In fact, he got out of the car injured and he said 'I can kill demons. I can crash cars. Things are looking up!' It`s too bad this got cut. It was a nice moment. And now you know..."

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Comments

Jeremy:
As far as filler episodes go this one was pretty good. It had a good filler premise as well as some pretty good story arc development (rare for a filler episode, hence the term "filler episode"). I thought I would enjoy this episode more than I actually did. Giles' transformation into a demon started much too far into the episode, and we didn't even see what he tried to do with himself from 10:30 that morning (when he woke up Xander) to when he meets up with Spike later that night in the cemetery. We finally get a car chase in Buffy, something that I didn't think would ever happen. Granted it was between two Humvees and a Citroen, but still enjoyable. I know it's picky, but Spike's voice definitely seemed dubbed in for his last line before he crashed the car, and it wasn't done very well. Ethan Rayne is a great character that I completely forgot about, but now I want more of him. Hopefully, he will use his sorcery to break out of the detention center and get back to Sunnydale. All in all, tastes alright, less fillingTM. (7/10)
Jamie Marie:
Well, that was fun enough, I guess. I like when the filler episodes aren't just filler episodes - that is, it's mostly fun-filled filler, and there's nothing wrong with that, but we also get some story arc development. Specifically, this 314 thing is clearly something big, and obviously has to do with the big bad evil that will eventually take us into the season finale. And no, I am not yet announcing my theories on it — I'm not even sure what they are yet. In the meantime, we got some definite laughs out of this one, which is always a good thing. The car chase was fun, as was the whole Buffy-vs-Riley's-ego thing, which would definitely be a factor in their relationship. I loved seeing Giles chase Walsh down the street. It's rather hilarious that someone in charge of a group like the Initiative (well, in charge of the research and/or of this headquarters, anyway) can do nothing but scream and run when faced with a demon. They ought to put her through some of the training that the guys go through. I loved the music used when Buffy and Riley are sparring, too. And hey, is Giles finally gonna get a new car now? And what kind of car does Riley drive? (I doubt he and Buffy were cruising Sunnydale in a Humvee.) And what did Giles do all day? And how come Riley didn't mention the 911 call from Xander's neighbor who saw Giles running through her yard? Wouldn't they have realized that the incidents might be connected? I guess I'm supposed to assume that no one ever made that call. Anyhow, I think I would have preferred that Giles become a demon a bit sooner in the episode. As for the Willow and Tara thing... well, I don't know. But personally, if they are going to head into the experimental sexuality plot, I think they should use someone cuter than Tara. She looks like a stoner to me. And bad Willow for lying, no matter what her reasons! (8.5/10)

The I in Team
February 8, 2000
4ABB14

Credits

Writer:
David Fury

Director:
James A. Contner

Regulars:
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg
Marc Blucas as Riley Finn
James Marsters as Spike
Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles
Guest Stars:
Amber Benson as Tara
George Hertzberg as Adam
Leonard Roberts as Forrest Gates
Bailey Chase as Graham Miller
Jack Stehlin as Doctor Angleman
Emma Caulfield as Anya
Lindsay Crouse as Professor Maggie Walsh
Cast:
Neil Daly as Mason

Synopsis

As Walsh begins to let Buffy into the Initiative, Buffy grows curious about what goes on in Room 314. Walsh begins to think that Buffy is asking too many questions and sets her up to be killed. Nothing will stop Walsh from finishing her pet project... Adam.

For the full, detailed synopsis, click here.

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Monstervision

The clear inspiration for the introduction of Adam is the gothic horror classic Frankenstein, written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851) and published in 1818, in which a brilliant scientist named Victor Frankenstein builds a creature from scratch and brings it to life. Considered one of the first works of science fiction, it is one of the most influential works in the history of speculative fiction. Buffy has done the Frankenstein bit before, albeit in a different way, in "Some Assembly Required." We're also told by Mathew Ignash that there are lots of references to/takeoffs of Aliens, but unfortunately we've never seen the movie and don't have time to rent it. So for now, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt. :-)

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Body Count

First Squid-Faced Demon
Accidental axe blow from the Second Squid-Faced Demon in the sewers.
Second Squid-Faced Demon
Electrocuted by Buffy in the sewers.
Professor Maggie Walsh
Skewered by Adam in Room 314.
Total: Three
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Dialogue to Die For

Willow (about Buffy): "Guess she's out with Riley. You know what it's like with a spanking new boyfriend."
Anya (re: Xander): "Yes, we've enjoyed spanking."

Buffy (about Riley's lunch selection): "... A Twinkie! That's his lunch? Oh, he is so gonna be punished."
Willow: "Everyone's getting spanked but me."

More quotes from this episode...

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Dialogue to Bury

Willow: "Wow, I've been trying to find a dolls-eye crystal my entire life. Well, since June, anyway."

Adam: "Mommy."

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References

The I in Team
The title of the episode is itself a reference to the adage "There's no 'I' in 'TEAM.'" This is often used by coaches in team sports, as well as other team situations. Taken literally, it means exactly what it says, but the point of it is that the individual should be a complete and total team player — the team should work as a unit, with no one individual acting for themselves alone.

Xander: "You are looking the new local distributor for Boost Bars — the natural food bar that provides a natural energy boost for active, health-conscious people."
Boost Bars are, according to their website, a "great-tasting, nutritious snack alternative... to satisfy between-meal hunger." They don't seem to actually have all the exotic flavors Xander mentioned, only Chocolate Crunch and Strawberries & Cream.

Buffy: "... a Twinkie?! That's his lunch?"
Twinkies were created by a Hostess bakery manager in Chicago named Jimmy Dewar. The original Twinkies were filled with banana creme, but changed to vanilla due to a World War II banana shortage. Twinkies were originally sold two for a nickel and their name came from a St. Louis billboard that Jimmy Dewar saw for Twinkle Toe shoe.

Spike: "And I don't want you crawling back here, knocking on my door, pleading for help the second teen witch's magic goes all wonky, or little Xander cuts a new tooth."
This could be a reference to the 1989 comedy Teen Witch, in which an unpopular girl is bestowed with magical powers on her 16th birthday.

Buffy: "So I've seen. On the Discovery Channel."
The Discovery Channel is a US cable station that deals primarily with science and nature.

Xander: "She's probably out living the life of Riley."
The "life of Riley" is an informal phrase meaning that someone has a carefree, comfortable life. It's often, but not always, associated with being rich. Of course, Xander is giving it its own spin.

Buffy: "Coke, please."
The pharmacist Dr. John Stith Pemberton concocted a caramel-colored syrup in a three-legged brass kettle in his Atlanta backyard in 1886. He began selling his drink from the soda fountain at Jacob's Pharmacy. In his first year he averaged about nine drinks a day. Today, Coca-Cola is enjoyed around the world. Early advertising discouraged calling the product "Coke." It urged "Ask for Coca-Cola by its full name; nicknames encourage substitution." Since people kept asking for "Coke," the company relented to popular demand. In 1941, the trademark "Coke" received equal prominence in advertising with "Coca-Cola," and in 1945, "Coke" was registered as a trademark. The term is used fairly generically now, with many people using it to refer to any number of cola flavored soft drinks.

Willow: "Are they going to... get [the neutered vampires and demons] jobs as bag boys at Wal-Mart?"
Wal-Mart is a large chain of discount stores started by Sam Walton in the mid-western United States in 1962. However, none of the Wal-Marts that we have ever been to have had dedicated bag boys.

Riley: "Mother wants us."
This is a possible reference to the originally British 1960's series "The Avengers." Mother was John Steed's wheelchair-bound boss starting in the sixth season of the show. Mother also appeared in the 1998 movie The Avengers, along with the newly created character Father. By the way, Mother is a man and Father is a woman.

Buffy: "Oh, you mean the camo and stuff. I thought about it, but on me it's gonna look all Private Benjamin."
Private Benjamin was a 1980 movie starring Goldie Hawn as a high-society woman who joins the army on a whim. A short-lived TV series (1981-1983) followed, with Lorna Patterson in the lead role.

Spike: "I don't care if it's playing 'Rockin' the Casbah' on the bloody Jew's harp, just get it out!"
We can only presume that Spike is referring to the Clash's 1982 song "Rock the Casbah." In case you are wondering, a casbah is a palace or castle in Northern Africa.

A Jew's harp (a.k.a. Juice Harp, Gewgaw, and Jaw Harp) is a small musical instrument which is held against the teeth or lips, and plucked with the fingers. This instrument is not in any way associated with Jews exclusively and is not meant in a derogatory nor offensive manner; it's just one of those words that has been mangled over the years by the English language.

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Continuity

A New Man
Giles pays Spike for his help during Giles' "recent metamorphosis," referring to Ethan having turned him into a demon in the last episode. Giles had to offer Spike money to help him find Ethan. Willow also mentions "that 314 thing that Ethan told Giles about."

The Initiative
Riley says that Walsh liked Buffy before he did, and told him so herself. This refers to when Buffy told Walsh off, prompting Walsh to comment, "I like her."

The Freshman
Buffy and Riley make comments about Buffy having been a student of Walsh's. Buffy was enrolled in her introductory Psychology class last semester, beginning with "The Freshman."

Halloween
Xander comments on his "pseudo-soldier memory bank," referring to when a spell of Ethan's turned him into his Halloween costume (a soldier).

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Goofs and Gaffes

When Walsh hands Buffy the stack of papers in the IHQ, Buffy is holding them fairly high in front of her. Whenever the camera angle is behind her, the papers can be seen in that position, but whenever the angle is in front of her, they are so low that they can't even be seen in front of her.
Spotted by Mathew.

Walsh goes into room 314, and the door falls shut behind her. Cut to a frontal shot of her coming in, and the door shuts again.

In the first shots of Buffy and Riley having sex, the pillowcases are striped green and white, but afterwards (and the next morning), the pillowcases are dark red, like the sheets. There are excuses to "justify" this, but it just doesn't sit right.

There's a hole in Spike's t-shirt from where he was shot with the tracer, but his duster is fully intact.
Spotted by m_mski.

Yes, we noticed that Buffy has different clothes on the first day, and our first instinct was to call it a goof. But she does have a bag with her, and it is very possible that she had some extra clothes in it. She comes prepared.

While Buffy is crouched over the map of the sewer system, her arms are crossed with her hands near her elbows. In the next shot from over her shoulder, her hands are clasped together. And then back at the original camera angle her arms are once again crossed.
Spotted by Willowpal.

When the demon in the sewer knocks Buffy down, she falls in front of the gun, with her head to it. A cut later, she's shown to the right of it, with the gun near her left arm.
Spotted by Matt C.

The com-cam picked up on audio, so when Buffy threw it down, Walsh probably should have still heard the fighting going on. Some people claim there was a click-on button, which may have gotten clicked off when the camera fell, which is a possibility.
Spotted by Willowpal.

Walsh sees the com-cam (on Buffy, she thinks) fall to the ground and land sideways, showing a sideways shot of the sewers. A few minutes later, the camera is shown flat on the ground, in a way that would result in a vertical picture. When Riley comes in to IHQ later and Walsh tells him about Buffy "dying," the shot (before Buffy picks it up) is still the same sideways shot that Walsh saw, which would imply that the camera hadn't been moved.
Spotted by Mathew.

From the angle that Walsh was skewered at, it really looks like Adam should have been visible behind her — especially considering that when she looks behind her, he is clearly visible right where he wasn't visible a moment ago.
Spotted by bluestar.

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Notes

Buffy's "yummy sushi pajamas" are real, and are made by the same company that makes the butterfly pajamas she wore in "Beer Bad." Click here to see them (or even order them).

Xander's job of the week consists of selling Boost Bars (see References).

The area of the Initiative Headquarters where hands-on research is done on the demons is called "The Pit."

Other Initiative guys: Kevin and Jay.

There is only one firm confirmation (that we've spotted) that it's a new semester in the Buffy-verse, which it should be — Buffy comments that she thought she'd never get homework from Walsh again.

We didn't count the Polgara demon in the Body Count because there is reason to believe that it could actually be alive — it's clear that the Initiative doesn't always kill their capture, so even without its arm, they may have saved the rest of him for something else.

A new goddess mentioned by Willow: Neisa (goddess of chance and fortune). She does not appear to be from any real mythology.

A couple of people have told us the Dr. Angleman and the Polgara demon were named after regulars at the Official Buffy site's posting board (Angle_man and Polgara). However, we have yet to see any proof of this — if you have any, feel free to send it our way. The Polgara demon may have gotten his name from the title character of the 1997 David & Leigh Eddings novel, Polgara the Sorceress.

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Music

Lavish - "Trashed" (From Polaroid, Festival, 1999)
This song plays while Xander, Anya, and Willow are waiting for Buffy to arrive at the Bronze.
Listen to it: WAV 75K

Black Lab - "Keep Myself Awake" (From BtVS Soundtrack, TVT Records, 1999)
This song begins when Buffy and her commando company enter the Bronze.
Listen to it: Real Player

Delerium - "Window to Your Soul" (From Karma, EMD, 1997)
This song plays throughout the fight/sex scene.
Listen to it: WAV 41K
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Comments

Jeremy:
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode, but it's not gonna stand out as my most favorite or anything. I loved the cinematography in the sex/fight scene, but it still didn't beat "Living Conditions." Killing Professor Walsh seems like a bad idea to me so far. If she wasn't supposed to be developed into the main baddie for this season, who is it going to be? The Initiative at large, Adam, or what? Oh well, just leave me guessing I suppose (until I read the spoilers that is). One of the things I've just realized I am starting to miss from the third season is the gang's mind-melding sessions in the library. I can definitely see how Willow is feeling left out having to hang only with Anya and Xander. I really wish I had time for a longer review, but frankly, I'm really tired. I'll let Jamie pick up the slack. (7.5/10)
Jamie Marie:
Well, I don't know if I'm in the mood to pick up the slack. It's been such a busy week, I haven't even had time to gather my thoughts. But I'm afraid if I make you wait just for that, we'll start getting bomb threats. Is it good enough just to say that I liked it? I liked the plot, I liked the sex scene (sex scenes ought to be sexy, I think), I liked Riley, especially his reaction to Walsh's fake revelation/betrayal. I didn't like that the commandos don't put their pagers on vibrate. Conspicuous, much? The dialogue was a bit lacking, IMO — not bad, really, but there wasn't much to die for. So, for the first time ever, I leave you with a review even shorter than Jeremy's. Perhaps I'll add to it later, if time ever permits (not counting on it). (8.5/10)

Goodbye Iowa
February 15, 2000
4ABB14

Credits

Writer:
Marti Noxon

Director:
David Solomon

Regulars:
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg
Marc Blucas as Riley Finn
James Marsters as Spike
Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles
Guest Stars:
Amber Benson as Tara
George Hertzberg as Adam
Leonard Roberts as Forrest Gates
Bailey Chase as Graham Miller
Jack Stehlin as Doctor Angleman
JB Gaynor as Little Boy
Saverio Guerra as Willy
Emma Caulfield as Anya
Cast:
Amy Powell as Reporter
Andy Marshall as Scientist #1
Paul Leighton as Rough-Looking Demon
Karen Charnell as Shady Lady

Synopsis

Riley is in complete shock that Walsh tried to have Buffy killed, and now that Walsh has died, the Initiative has fallen into disarray. Riley goes into some serious withdrawal from missing the drugs he was unsuspectedly given and begins to doubt everything he once held dear, including Buffy.

For the full, detailed synopsis, click here.

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Monstervision

Adam appears again in all his Frankenstein's monsteresque glory. (See last week's Monstervision for more info on the story of Frankenstein.) An interesting note: in Chapter 10 of the book the monster says: "Remember, that I am thy creature; I ought to be thy Adam." Adam is also very philosophical, as was Frankenstein's monster. Also, the murder of the little boy is somewhat reminiscent of the monster's murder of a little girl in Frankenstein. In a twist on the original story, Adam is also a cyborg, who describes himself as a "kinematically redundant, bio-mechanical demonoid, designed by Maggie Walsh; she called me Adam and I called her Mother; ...in addition to organic material, I am equipped with GP2D-11 infrared detectors, a harmonic decelerator, plus DC servo." A cyborg is an organism which has certain physiological processes aided or controlled by mechanical or electronic devices. Cyborg comes from the contraction of "cybernetic" and "organism." An example of a cyborg would be Lee Majors as Steve Austin (not to be confused with Stone Cold) in the 1973 TV movie The Six Million Dollar Man and the 1974-1978 TV Series of the same name. The Six Million Dollar Man is an astronaut and test pilot who is rebuilt and equipped with nuclear powered artificial limbs and implants after being mutilated in a plane crash. Some people are referring to Adam as a triborg, since he is part man, part demon, and part machine.

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Body Count

Little Boy
Mutilated by Adam in a woodsy area of Sunnydale.
Initiative Member*
Dropped from a catwalk by Adam at the Initiative Headquarters.
Dr. Angleman
Skewered by Adam at the Initiative Headquarters.
Total: Three (* - Yes, it's possible that the commando Adam dropped didn't die, but it seems quite reasonable to think that he did. In fact, Adam probably killed him before he dropped him.)
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Dialogue to Die For

Xander: "Storm the Initiative? Yeah, let's take on those suckers!"
Buffy: "I was thinking more that we'd hide."
Xander: "Oh thank God."

Buffy: "Maggie tried to kill me."
Anya: "It didn't work, but they're all upset anyway."

Riley: "That's hostile seventeen."
Spike (in his bad American accent): "No. I'm just a friend of Xander's... Bugger it. I'm your guy."
Buffy: "This is Spike. He's um... it's a really long story. But he's not bad anymore!"
Spike: "Hey! What am I, a bleeding broken record? I'm bad! It's just... I can't bite anymore, thanks to you wankers."

Xander: "I totally get it now. Can I have sex with Riley, too?"

More quotes from this episode...

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References

Buffy: "And the next thing I know, it's raining monsters."
Xander: "Hallelujah."
This is a reference to the 1983 Weather Girls song "It's Raining Men." The applicable lyrics: "It's raining men, Hallelujah, it's raining men." Real Player

Spike: "Gotta hand it to ya, Goldilocks. You do have bleeding tragic taste in men."
Goldilocks is the girl with golden hair in the Grimm Brother's fairy tale "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

Willow, Buffy, and Anya are watching a Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote cartoon.
Originally, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner were the stars of Warner Bros. theatrical cartoons. Like their contemporaries, they were packaged into Saturday morning's The Bugs Bunny Show, but by 1966, the two had become popular enough to earn their own spin-off. Created by legendary animator Chuck Jones, the series had a simple premise: The coyote, who was very hungry, tried to catch the Road Runner, who was very fast. Wile E. would try anything to catch his prey, utilizing a wide variety of products from the Acme Company (rocket skates, giant magnets, foot springs, etc.) Regardless of the scheme, it would always backfire, and Wile E. would end up trapping, flattening, or blowing himself up. It looks like the episode they were watching may have been 1959's "Wild About Hurry." (Info from YesterdayLand.)

Giles (to Anya): "I'm surprised you could hear it over your Wagnerian snoring."
Richard Wagner (1813-83), pronounced "Vahgnur," was a German opera composer. His most famous work is probably Ride of the Valkeries (40K). Giles is presumably comparing Anya's snoring to an operatic work.

Anya: "It's not like he was in The 'Nam. He was G.I. Joe for one night!"
"The 'Nam" is, of course, The Vietnam War, which was conflict in Southeast Asia, primarily fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerrilla forces aided by North Vietnam. The war began in 1954 soon after the Geneva Conference provisionally divided Vietnam into the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam). It escalated from a Vietnamese civil war into a limited international conflict in which the United States was deeply involved, and did not end, despite peace agreements in 1973, until North Vietnam's successful offensive in 1975 resulted in South Vietnam's collapse and the unification of Vietnam by the North.

G.I. Joe debuted in 1964 as an 11-1/2 inch soldier "doll" for boys. Named after the 1945 movie The Story of G.I. Joe, it became the first boys' "action figure" in the world and was dressed in military clothing. Still a very popular toy for young boys, they are now approximately 4 inches tall and produced by Hasbro.

Anya: "Can't you do something else to help them, like Xerox handouts or something?"
Xerox was founded in Rochester, New York as The Haloid Company, a maker of photographic paper, in 1906, and was renamed Xerox Corporation in 1961. Haloid coined the word "Xerox" as the trademark for their photocopy machines in 1948. The word Xerox is now used generically, like Kleenex or Frisbee, as both a verb and a noun for the act of copying and the copies themselves.

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Continuity

The I in Team
Since this episode picks up exactly where "The I in Team" left off, it's basically one big continuity note.

The Buffy & Angel Chronicles and The Harsh Light of Day
Spike refers to Buffy's "tragic taste in men," and Anya refers to "that whole thing with Angel." For a refresher course on the Buffy and Angel relationship, check out The Buffy & Angel Chronicles, the second video set released in the US. One could also argue that the "tragic taste in men" would also include Parker, whom Buffy slept with in "The Harsh Light of Day," and didn't want anything to do with Buffy afterwards. (Spike overheard a Buffy/Parker conversation and figured it out.)

Hush
Spike comments that Xander's basement is good enough for him to stay in, but not Giles. Spike was forced to stay there when Olivia came to town and Giles wanted Spike out of the house.

The Initiative
Riley recognizes Spike as Hostile 17 and states the Initiative has been looking for him for weeks. Though Spike was caught by the Initiative in "Wild at Heart," he escaped in "The Initiative," which is also when we learned that he was "Hostile 17."

Doomed
When Riley recognizes Spike, Spike begins to use the same accent and excuse that he used in "Doomed" when Riley first saw him (though at that time, he was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and blue jeans, which threw Riley off the scent).

A New Man
Buffy makes more mention of 314, which she only knows about from Ethan having mysteriously told Giles about it in "A New Man."

The Dark Age
Giles' "tattoo," the Mark of Eyghon, is shown when he turns off the TV at Xander's. A conduit for summoning the demon Eyghon, it was first shown (and explained) in "The Dark Age."

The Zeppo
Willy mentions the Apocalypse demons (a.k.a. Jhe demons) who beat the crap out of him in "The Zeppo." That was the last episode we saw him in, as well as the last time Buffy was there.

Halloween
Buffy refers to Xander having "military experience," referring to when he was turned into a soldier in "Halloween" and retained the memories as though they were real (though the memories have been fading of late).

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Goofs and Gaffes

When Buffy describes what took place in the sewers, she says that the gate slammed down, and then she tried to use the gun. However, she actually used the gun first, and the gate dropped a moment later. Sure Buffy's memory may not be flawless, but there's no good reason for it to have been written that way.
Spotted by Ross.

Buffy tells Giles that Walsh sent her on a one-way recon, followed by a shot of Giles looking concerned. A few moments later, after Spike implies that Riley was in on it, they cut to the exact same shot of Giles looking concerned.
Spotted by CatieE.

Spike no longer has a hole in his shirt from where he was shot with the tracer last week, even though the episode picks up where last week left off.
Spotted by Danielle.

Angleman slips (presumably in Walsh's blood) and lands with his hand in her blood at least a couple of feet away from Walsh's body. However, in the shot from above, the blood appears to stop much closer to her body, very much shy of where Angleman is. Later, the smear from where the blood was cleaned up does extend out to where it was when Angleman fell.

When Riley and Walsh see Walsh's body and Forrest implies that Buffy killed her, Riley points at Forrest with his left hand as he says, "You better not be saying what I think you're saying." The camera cuts mid-sentence, and from the new angle, Riley is pointing with his right hand.
Spotted by Max.

It is very strange that Spike would have a TV in his mausoleum, especially a warm one (which means he'd been watching it). One would not expect electricity in a mausoleum. He could possibly have the extension cord plugged in to an outlet somewhere in the cemetery, but that's not very secretive for a guy who's supposed to be hiding from the Initiative. He must really want to make sure he doesn't miss Passions.

There are a couple of continuity errors. The Polgara demon was captured the night before this episode starts. However, the second day into the episode, Riley says that "the Polgara demon [we] captured last week" must have killed Walsh. Later, Willy says that he heard a Polgara demon was in town and taken off the streets "a week or two ago."
Riley's goof spotted by JosephB.

There are a couple of continuity errors. The Polgara demon was captured the night before this episode starts. However, the second day into the episode, Riley says that "the Polgara demon [we] captured last week" must have killed Walsh. Later, Willy says that he heard a Polgara demon was in town and taken off the streets "a week or two ago."
Riley's goof spotted by JosephB.

Buffy takes the bandana out of her hair and wraps it around Riley's hand. A few moments later, she's wearing it again (though of course it's still on Riley's hand).
Spotted by Kim.

Adam puts a second disk in his drive without having taken out the first. The only explanation is that he may be designed to "eat" the disks once they're inserted, but that would seem odd.

Riley doesn't have a tear in his shirt from being skewered by Adam.

Angleman also does not have a tear in his lab coat from his skewering, nor is he even bleeding (though there was blood on Adam's skewer).
Spotted by Mathew.

When the commandos burst into the room after Adam leaves, Forrest doesn't believe Buffy that there was a demon in the room, even though Adam should have been visible through the window in the door.
Spotted by Ross.

Yes, we noticed that Riley isn't wearing the bandana on his hand when he goes to the IHQ and that he has it on later at the hospital. However, there is no good reason why he couldn't have put it in his pocket, and there are many reasonable reasons why he may have taken it off in the first place (the simplest being: to scratch his hand), so in our minds, it's not a goof. Please don't email us about this. Thanks!

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Notes

They are watching the news on Channel 14 again, which they watched for the news in "Consequences" and "The Harsh Light of Day ."

A new goddess mentioned by Willow: Thespia, "protector of the night" and "ruler of all darkness." In Greek mythology, Thespia was the (not extremely well-known) daughter of the River God Asopus and his wife Metope. The city of Thespiae was named after her.

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Music

Lou Reed - "Romeo Had Juliette" (From New York, Warner Brothers, 1989)
This song plays when Buffy enters Willy's Place.
Listen to it: Real
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Comments

Jeremy:
In this big-screen worthy performance by the whole Buffy cast, there is one definite standout: Marc Blucas. If this episode can't bring around all of the people that don't like his character, I guess nothing will. His performance was astonishing. We finally get a Buffy boyfriend who will actually speak his feelings. I also thought that Tara was becoming a better character when we first see her again in this episode. She seemed more confident and pretty, but in a matter of moments her stoner-like personae reappeared. My feeling about the spell's sabotage by her is simply that she was scared to invoke Thespia in order to pinpoint demonic activity. I have a feeling that Willow hasn't bothered to tell her yet that demons, vampires, et al actually exist. Either that, or Tara has a pet demon cat in the closest that she didn't want Willow finding. (Oh wait, I guess that would be our cat.) I never really thought one way or another about Willy, but he was a welcome face to see again. Now, I think, would be the perfect time for an X-Files cross-over to investigate the deaths of the two principal Initiative scientists. I'll have to admit it, my eyes felt strangely wet during some of the scenes from this episode. (9/10)
Jamie Marie:
Well, by golly, that was fun. Marc Blucas is not only a cutie-patootie, but he can act, too. :-) Not that I thought he couldn't, but he hadn't been tested much. I think he did excellently with this material. I felt both sorry for him and yet frustrated with him at the same time. Adam is pretty darn cool — I don't understand most of those big words that he used to describe himself, but he's an interesting opponent. Intelligent, philosophical, violent as hell, and just plain different. He's set up to be not easily destructed, which is good. (If he gets killed in less than a few weeks, I'll be a cranky Jamie.) Loved the Spike development, because it makes sense. And, of course, it leaves him with no choice for socialization other than the Scooby Gang. The Scooby Gang sleepover was also a pleasure, as was Forrest's performance — in an "I would love to kick that boy's ass" kind of way. Grrr. Graham, while clearly not as bad as Forrest, also disappointed me. When he moved in front of Buffy to take Riley away, I totally expected him to at least mumble an apology under his breath. Bad Graham! My major gripe this week is the whole "medication in their food" thing. Huh? Food? We have never seen them eat at IHQ, though we have seen them eat in the cafeteria. They made a very big deal last week out of showing Riley taking his vitamins, and then they go and say it's in their food?! Way to waste a setup. Grr again. Aside from that, definitely an excellent episode. (9/10)

This Year's Girl
February 22, 2000
4ABB15

Credits

Writer:
Douglas Petrie

Director:
Michael Gershman

Regulars:
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg
Marc Blucas as Riley Finn
James Marsters as Spike
Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles
Guest Stars:
Kristine Sutherland as Joyce
Eliza Dushku as Faith
Harry Groener as Mayor Richard Wilkins III
Amber Benson as Tara
Leonard Roberts as Forrest Gates
Bailey Chase as Graham Miller
Chet Grissom as Detective
Alastair Duncan as Collins
Cast:
Jeff Ricketts as Weatherby
Kevin Owers as Smith
Mark Gantt as Demon
Kimberly McRae as Visitor
Sara Van Horn as Older Nurse
Brian Hawley as Orderly
Jack Esformes as Doctor

Synopsis

Faith finally recovers from the coma that Buffy put her in during their fight before the Mayor's Ascension. With the help of a gift left behind from the Mayor, she is out to exact her revenge.

For the full, detailed synopsis, click here.

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Monstervision

Just some bits and pieces in this one. The splayed-open demon that Adam left hanging in the trees is quite reminiscent of the splayed-open guard that Hannibal Lecter left hanging in his cell in Silence of the Lambs. We're also told that the scene of Faith (in her dream) climbing out of the grave and standing in the rain is a near-exact replication of the prison-escape scene in The Shawshank Redemption, but we haven't seen it. In the same scene, the whole thing with Faith running from Buffy but not being able to gain any real distance, despite the fact that Buffy's only walking, is a horror film staple. And, of course, the body switching is yet another old concept (in everything from Freaky Friday to X-Files) that Joss is giving his own twist to — which is not necessarily a bad thing. (There was also some body-switching in "The Witch," when Catherine Madison switched bodies with her daughter Amy in order to relive her cheerleading days.)

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Body Count

Demon
Presumably gutted by Adam in a woodsy area of Sunnydale.
Demon
Neck broken by Faith in an alley.
Total: Two
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Dialogue to Die For

Xander (regarding Adam and Faith): "I'd hate to see the pursuit of a homicidal lunatic get in the way of pursuing a homicidal lunatic."

Willow (about Riley): "What did you tell him?"
Buffy: "The truth. That she's my wacky identical cousin from England, and whenever she visits, hijinks ensue."
Willow: "It's good that you two have such an honest relationship."

Willow: "She's like this cleavagey slutbomb walking around going 'Ooh. Check me out, I'm wicked cool. I'm five by five.'"
Tara: "Five by five? Five what by five what?"
Willow: "See, that's the thing. No one knows."

More quotes from this episode...

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References

Xander (on whether he can fix the blaster): "Sure. As soon as I get my master's degree in advanced starship technology."
This is a possible reference to the original Star Trek TV series, which coined and made famous the term "starship" for their space traveling vessels.

Xander: "Now, if it were called the Orgasmator, I'd be the first to try your basic button-press approach."
This could be a reference to Trey Parker's 1997 movie Orgazmo. The Orgazmorator is a ray gun that gives people the most intense orgasm they've ever had. Nicholas may have misspoken his line, the slight incorrectness could have been intentional, or it may be a coincidence. It's also a possible reference to Woody Allen's 1973 movie Sleeper, which featured an Orgasmatron.

Buffy: "Will, you haven't seen this Adam thing. He's the Terminator without the bashful charm."
The Terminator was a 1984 James Cameron movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, a "cyborg" sent back in time to change the future by killing Sarah Connor. The character was reprised in 1991's Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

Willow: "I mean, Riley is their Top Gun guy."
Top Gun was a 1986 movie starring Tom Cruise, about the macho students of an elite US flying school for advanced fighter pilots who compete to be the best in the class.

Willow (about Riley): "What did you tell him?"
Buffy: "The truth. That she's my wacky identical cousin from England, and whenever she visits, hijinks ensue."
This is a reference to The Patty Duke Show (1963-66), in which Patty Duke played Patty Lane and her identical English cousin Cathy, who came from Europe to live with Patty's family.

Buffy: "I tell you, if I were her, I'd get out of Dodge post hasty."
The phrase "get out of Dodge," meaning to get out of town, comes from the old TV western Gunsmoke (1955-75), which took place in Dodge City.

Faith: "So that's my dream. That and some stuff about cigars and a tunnel."
This is likely a Freudian-based joke about Faith's sexual preoccupations (cigars and tunnels being symbols of the male and female sexual organs).

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Continuity

Season Three
To fill yourself up with information on Faith and her relationships with Buffy and the Mayor, do some browsing through the season three episode guides, from her arrival in "Faith, Hope, and Trick" to Buffy putting her in a coma in "Graduation Day." In particular, you may wish to focus on the episodes that Faith appears in, which you can see in her Cast page or the Complete Actor List (where you can also see which episodes the Mayor has appeared in).

The I in Team
The blaster that Xander tries to fix (and Riley does fix) is the faulty one that Walsh gave Buffy in her attempt to murder her.

Graduation Day, Part Two
The snake that the Mayor picks up is clearly a sly reference to the fact that he himself turned into a giant snake demon in "Grad. Day 2." Also, the girl Faith talks to in the hospital describes the tragedy that occurred at the graduation ceremony.

Goodbye Iowa
Riley's wound (as well as his being in the hospital and the references to his behavior last week) and the talk of Adam refer way back to last week's episode.

Graduation Day, Part One
Buffy tells Riley about how she used to (sometimes) take orders from the council, until she quit in "Grad. Day 1."

Consequences
Xander mentions that the council failed in their attempts to handle Faith, presumably referring to their lack of control in general, as well as the specific incident in which Wesley tried to take Faith to face the council in Britain, but let her escape.

The Zeppo
Xander makes references to his "history" with Faith, referring to their having had sex in "The Zeppo."

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Goofs and Gaffes

When Forrest confronts Riley as he's trying to leave the infirmary, Riley's shirt is further open in some shots than in others.
Spotted by Lindy.

Right before Buffy finds the demon hanging from the trees, you can see someone in the bushes to her right. It appears to be a boom mic operator, as you can see what certainly looks like a boom (basically, it's a long stick, on the end of which is a microphone).

Unless Willow and Xander are blind, they really should have noticed Riley coming down the stairs behind Buffy. One could also argue that we should have been able to see him coming down the stairs, but that one isn't quite as drastic.

Faith rips off her monitor, and nothing happens. No flat-line, no alarms, nothing. No one even notices until the nurse does her regular rounds. That's rather silly as she is wanted by the police for questioning.

In Faith's dream, she climbs out of the grave and takes two very small steps forward. The camera immediately cuts to a shot looking down on Faith, and she's suddenly a few feet away. Of course, maybe in Faith's dreams, she can move magically.
Spotted by Ross.

When Buffy asks Riley (in her room) if there's anything she can do for him, she takes his hand in both of hers. The camera cuts back, and she's only holding his hand in her right hand (the left one is behind her). A moment later, still holding his hand with her right hand, she takes it with her left again, as well.
Spotted by Mathew.

When Faith is watching the gang through Giles' window, Buffy has her arm around Riley. Between cuts, her arm goes back and forth from being draped across him to being behind him, playing with his hair.
Spotted by Joshua.

When Buffy and Willow are discussing what Buffy told Riley about Faith, an extra in a striped sweater walks by on Buffy's left. A moment later, as the camera cuts to a different angle, he walks by again.
Spotted by maktoL516.

In the same scene, Buffy's hair makes several unnatural movements from behind her shoulders to in front.
Spotted by Lindy.

When Buffy unknowingly approaches Faith, she stops maybe a foot shy of her. After the commercial, she's quite a few feet back and walking toward Faith again.
Spotted by Ross.

As Faith climbs the wall to jump it, it actually moves a little. Also, when Buffy looks over the wall, there are students sitting - without blankets - on the grass, which does appear to be dry — even though on the other side of the wall, it had very clearly just rained.
Spotted by Allison (the wall) and Mathew (the grass).

As Tara and Willow come down the stairs at school and discuss Faith, the pendant on Tara's necklace (which is too tight to move by itself) continually moves from side to side between cuts.
Spotted by Danielle.

When Faith is rummaging through Joyce's makeup, it's quite clear that she doesn't have her tattoo on her arm.

At one point, Joyce (in the bedroom with Faith) has her hands under her legs, but a quick cut shows them back up on her knees.

Buffy throws Faith across the dining table as they fight, knocking everything off the table. A few moments later, the tablecloth and some pieces of fruit are back on the table.
Spotted by Anthony.

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Notes

The first day of the episode takes place on Friday, February 25, 2000.

The nurse only dials four numbers when she calls to tell someone that Faith has escaped. Either her contact is in the hospital as well, or this is a goof. We'll give it the benefit of the doubt and assume that she was calling someone in the hospital.

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Comments

Jeremy:
I probably won't have much to say here, since I didn't really like the episode. I didn't really want to take a break in the going story arcs in order to bring up a new one. That's not to say, however, that I didn't like the presence of the smashing Eliza Dushku on my telly. "Cleavagey Slutbomb" is not a insult in my mind. This episode did serve its purpose, though. I am thoroughly enticed to watch the next episode in order to see just how prolific Sarah's acting skills are (of course, we all already know what a wonderful actress she is). A couple of more things about the episode itself. Tara actually doing her hair and putting on some jewelry really did wonders, but she needs to have Willow pick her out some better clothes. James Marsters' one and only scene was fantastic — too bad there wasn't more of him. Hopefully we will finally get some more clues as to what the Watchers Council's ulterior motive is, since we haven't heard about anything that they have been up to since Buffy quit the council. In closing, this episode was a bit too predictable for me. I didn't read any spoilers or anything, but even just seeing the preview of it and knowing the title of next week's episode, I pretty much knew what I was going to see. (6/10)
Jamie Marie:
Well, it's the ever-somewhat-less-than-spectacular-first-part-of-a-two-parter. I think it's hard to avoid, really, as it has to contain a good deal of setup for the next part. It's understandable. This one really isn't bad, but it's hard to be objective when I can't shake the feeling that next week is going to be a lot better. It was great to see Faith back and badder than ever, and I for one am greatly looking forward to seeing the two in each other's bodies — especially Faith in Buffy's. This will be a great opportunity for SMG to really shine. It was also nice to see Joyce back (and with a better haircut, no less), and to see Faith observe that Buffy's not around too much. She was right on with that point — not that Buffy doesn't love Joyce, of course, but it really is rather ridiculous how rarely Joyce is seen or even mentioned. Apparently Joss and co. are aware of that; perhaps even planning on taking it somewhere. On a more shallow level, there were some truly horrible clothes in this episode. Xander's vest outfit and Willow's in the same scene were not pleasing at all. But Tara gets the award for worst outfit ever, with that giant horizontal stripe across her stomach. What were they thinking when they put that on her? Isn't the costumer's job usually to accentuate the actors' good features, not dress them in painfully unflattering clothing? I feel sorry for Amber Benson (who, by the way, still bugs me, even if she was a tad funnier here). Overall, I liked it well enough, but I'm counting on next week to bring the average up for this pair of episodes. (7.5/10)

Who Are You
February 29, 2000
4ABB16

Credits

Writer:
Joss Whedon

Director:
Joss Whedon

Regulars:
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg
Marc Blucas as Riley Finn
James Marsters as Spike
Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles
Guest Stars:
Eliza Dushku as "Buffy"
Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers
Amber Benson as Tara
Leonard Roberts as Forrest Gates
George Hertzberg as Adam
Alastair Duncan as Collins
Emma Caulfield as Anya
Chet Grissom as Detective
Cast:
Rick Stear as Booke
Jeff Ricketts as Weatherby
Kevin Owers as Smith
Amy Powell as Reporter
Rick Scarry as Sergeant
Jennifer S. Albright as Date

Synopsis

Faith eases into Buffy's life after having taken over her body. She flirts with Spike, sleeps with Riley, and slacks on slaying duty. Meanwhile, Buffy (in Faith's body) is kidnapped by the Watcher's Council to be taken to England. Living Buffy's life opens Faith's eyes to how the other (not evil) half lives, and she saves the day when a group of Adam's proteges take hostages in a local church. Presumably confused by what she's feeling, Faith sneaks out of town on a train, leaving Buffy to deal with the aftermath.

For the full, detailed synopsis, click here.

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Body Count

Anonymous Vampire
Adam rips his head off in the sewers.
Anonymous Vampire
Staked by Faith-in-Buffy in The Bronze.
Anonymous Vampire
Staked by Faith-in-Buffy at a church.
Anonymous Vampire
Pushed into the sunlight by Riley outside a church.
Vamp Leader
Staked by Buffy-in-Faith in a church.
Total: Five (Plus one victim of the vampires in the church, off camera.)
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Dialogue to Die For

Spike: "You know why I really hate you, Summers?"
Faith-in-Buffy: "'Cause I'm a stuck-up tight-ass with no sense of fun?"
Spike: "Well, yeah, that covers a lot of it."
Faith-in-Buffy: "'Cause I can do anything I want, and instead I choose to pout and whine and feel the burden of Slayerness? I mean, I could be rich. I could be famous. I could have anything. Anyone. Even you, Spike. I could ride you at a gallop until your legs buckled and your eyes rolled up. I've got muscles you've never even dreamed of. I could squeeze you until you popped like warm champagne, and you would beg me to hurt you just a little bit more. And you know why I don't? (pauses) Because it's wrong."

Giles: "Look, I know what you are going to say, and..."
Buffy-in-Faith: "I'm Buffy."
Giles: "All right, I didn't know what you were going to say, but that doesn't make you any less crazy."

More quotes from this episode...

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References

Spike: "But until then, I'm just as helpless as a kitten up a tree."
As a possible reference, the jazz song "Misty," written by Johnny Burke and most famously performed by Ella Fitzgerald, featured the line "I'm as helpless as a kitten in a tree."

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Continuity

This Year's Girl
Since this is a two-part episode, there's lots of continuity to last week's episode. You may wish to read up on it.

Consequences
Faith-in-Buffy makes a sarcastic comment about Wesley's attempt to capture Faith on behalf of the Watcher's Council (she escaped without much trouble).

The I in Team
We first saw Adam in "The I in Team." More was learned about him in "Goodbye Iowa."

The Initiative
Spike refers to the chip in his head, which we found out about in "The Initiative."

Helpless and Graduation Day, Part One
Watcher Guy reminds "Faith" (BiF) that Giles and Buffy don't work for the Council anymore — Giles was fired in "Helpless," and Buffy quit in "Graduation Day."

Wild at Heart
FiB surmises that Oz is out of Willow's life, which is correct — the two met in "What's My Line, Part One" and began dating soon after; Oz left to explore his werewolf self in "Wild at Heart."

The Pack
Willow worries that Buffy's been possessed by a hyena, and tells Tara that hyena possessions are unpleasant. She doesn't specify, but she's referring to when Xander was possessed by a hyena (along with some other students) in "The Pack."

Goodbye Iowa
Riley mentions the drugs the Professor was giving him, referring to the "vitamins" being fed to all of the Initiative members, which he found out about in "Goodbye Iowa" (the Professor being Professor Maggie Walsh).

A New Man
BiF reminds Giles that when he turned into a demon (in "A New Man"), she was able to identify him.

The Freshman
BiF refers to Giles' girlfriend Olivia, whom Buffy met in "The Freshman." Olivia was last seen in "Hush."

Graduation Day, Part Two
BiF states the Giles hasn't had a job since he blew up the school, which occurred in the season three finale.

Earshot and Band Candy
BiF refers to the fact that when she had psychic power, which was in "Earshot," she heard her mom thinking about having had sex with Giles, which was in "Band Candy."

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Goofs and Gaffes

At the end of "This Year's Girl" and in the first scene of this episode, Buffy's hair is quite straight. But when she comes into the house in the second scene, it's quite wavy.
Spotted by Danielle.

When Joyce and FiB come back into the house, you can see the door that Buffy crashed through just a few minutes before (in "This Year's Girl"), and it appears to have a full frame of perfectly intact glass. It looks like perhaps they tried to arrange it so that you couldn't tell, but there is a glare on the glass that gives it away.
Spotted by Anthony.

When the Watcher's Council guys come out of the truck, they appear to open the door on their left first. However, when they close the doors, they also close that one first. It's almost certain that for the doors to latch closed correctly, whichever one opens first should close last.

After FiB imagines stabbing Willow, there's what looks like a knife next to her on the desk that wasn't in the previous shot.

There are a couple of spots in which hair moves back and forth from behind shoulders to in front: One on FiB when she pokes Riley in the ribs, and one on BiF after she hugs Riley (both scenes outside the church).
Spotted by Anthony.

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Notes

Riley says that he doesn't want a bunch of Marines staring in at him and "Buffy." This implies that at least some of the Initiative guys are Marines. Riley himself was previously (in "A New Man") implied to be a member of the Army, so either there are some members of each branch of the U.S. military in the Initiative, or there's some conflict here. We're giving it the benefit of the doubt.

Giles' TV (and the airport television) is again tuned to the oft-watched channel 14 (its last appearance was in "Goodbye Iowa").

Riley is a suit-wearing, Sunday morning church-goer.

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Music

Nerf Herder - "Vivian" (From How to Meet Girls, Honest Don's, 2000)
This is the song FiB dances to in the Bronze. Nerf Herder is, of course, the band which performs the Buffy theme song.
Listen to it: Real Player

The Cure - "Watching Me Fall" (From Bloodflowers, Elektra, 2000)
This is the song playing in the Bronze when Spike and FiB have their little exchange.
Listen to it: Real Player

Headland - "Sweet Charlotte Rose" (From unknown CD, Lazy Bones Recording, 1999)
This song plays in the Bronze when Willow, Tara, and FiB are there.
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Comments

Jeremy:
Much much much better than I anticipated for a body switching episode. I was expecting this to be pretty lame, but it wasn't, which of course is a good thing. The inner turmoil and transformation that Faith went through in Buffy's body was amazing beyond the telling of it. This story was one that only Joss could do with his characters and it shows. And yes, I am amazed at what he could get by the censors during Willow and Tara's spell. Chalk this one up to another wonderful closing of a two-parter by the entire Buffy cast and crew. (9/10)
Jamie Marie:
Just like I figured, part two was better than part one. This could perhaps be my own doing — a self-fulfilling prophecy. I expect to like part two better, and so I do. Oh well. the fact is, I liked it. A lot, even. SMG playing Faith playing Buffy was truly excellent. When are they going to give that girl an Emmy (a Primetime Emmy, that is)? Sigh. Eliza as Buffy was also quite impressive — but, in my opinion, not until she went to Giles. In the truck, I didn't feel like Buffy was really in there. Well, maybe somewhat, but she it just didn't feel quite right until she got to Giles' house. In that scene, she was great. I, like pretty much everyone else, absolutely loved the mirror scene and the Spike scene. :-) And Giles waving his arms about, shouting about "tiny, tiny babies" was hysterical. Not the dialogue so much as his delivery and the visual of it. One thing that irked me a bit was that Willow didn't call Giles when she figured out that Buffy and Faith had switched. I can reason with myself that the reason she didn't come over until the next day because she and Tara were conjuring the switcheroo thing. But really, she should have at least called to warn him — middle of the night or not. I had other things to say, but I didn't jot them down and I have forgotten them at the moment. I'm sure they'll come back to me, and I'll add them when they do. But anyhow... (9/10)