Buffy The Vampire Slayer:

Grading the Episodes: Season 2

Last updated: October 1, 2000.

Posted to alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer on September 26, 1999.

 The Cast for Season #2:

   Buffy (Anne) Summers          -Sarah-Michelle Gellar
   Alexander "Xander" 
     (LeValle) Harris            -Nicholas Brandon
   Willow Rosenberg              -Alyson Hannigan
   Cordelia Chase                -Charisma Carpenter
   Angel/Angelus                 -David Boreanaz
  and, 
   Rupert "The Ripper" Giles     -Anthony Stewart Head

  with,
   Joyce Summers                 -Kristine Sutherland
   Oz                            -Seth Green
   Principal Snyder              -Armin Shimerman
   Spike (aka. William 
     The Bloody)                 -James Marsters
   Drusilla                      -Juliet Landau

Yet again an overrated effort, this one has even less good stuff than "Prophecy Girl". What's good about? The second (and, so far, final) appearance from Hank Summers, Cordelia trying to wise Buffy up (Cordelia: "Whatever is causing the Joan Collins 'tude, deal with it. Embrace the pain. Spank your inner moppet. Whatever. But get over it. 'Cause pretty soon you're not even gonna have the loser friends you've got now."), and Xander threatening to kill Buffy himself if anything happens to Willow. But, I'm not sure I buy the main conceit of this episode (that Buffy's battle fatigue would manifest itself in quite the way it does in this episode), and this episode is further dragged down by the show's subsequent ignoring of what is brought up here until "Becoming (Part 2)" and "Anne". In short, more should have been done with this concept, both in this episode, and later on.

I find this episode to be underrated around a.tv.b-v-s. While one of the villains (i.e. Eric (Michael Bacall)) is weak, I like and sympathize with neo-Frankenstein Daryl (Ingo Neuhaus). This episode also gets points from me for being another somewhat Cordelia-centric episode (her scene where she cons Angel into driving her home, much to Buffy's chagrin, is a classic). Other pluses: this one gives us another example of Xander's heroism (though he gets major demerits for blowing Cordelia off at the end), and is noteworthy for being Giles and Jenny's first real date.

This one's a very significant episode, and a extremely satisfying one too. Lots of action takes place in this episode. Spike and Dru are introduced, Shelia (Alexandra Johnes) gets vamped (whatever happened to ol' Shelia, anyway?), Xander & Angel collaborate, Willow gets locked in a closet with Cordie (no lesbian subtext here, though!), Joyce comes through for Buffy in the end, Buffy kicks ass, Spike toasts The Annoying One (finally!) and Snyder is exposed as being a lackey of the mysterious Mayor. In other words, this is a key episode.

Another underrated episode, IMHO, which works as well as it does because of the good compare-and-contrast between the fates of the Inca Mummy Girl (aka. Ampata) and The Slayer (aka. Buffy). In other words, no matter how much she whines about her own fate, at least Buffy has a hand in setting it, which is more than Ampata has/had, a point that this episode makes strikingly clear. This episode also works as well as it does because good performances by Ara Celi (recently seen on ABC's "All My Children") and Nicholas Brendon. Their scenes together are tender, romantic and believable. In addition, this is the episode in which Oz is introduced, and introduced effectively (at this point, I liked the character, which is more than I can say for season #3 Oz). Unlike many Buffy episodes, this one doesn't sport any particularly memorable scenes or lines of dialogue (which is maybe why some don't like it); but it is solid thematically, and this enough for this episode to work for me.

This episode is not great, but it's certainly watchable. There are some good bits here: as usual, Cordelia is pretty funny throughout this episode, and the scene where Willow chews out Giles and Angel is one of her best. Also, the actor who plays Tom (Todd Babcock), the "nice" frat boy, is quite good. But the theme of this episode ("All frat boys are Evil!") is overdone, derivative and cliched, and is as prejudiced as my other least favorite high school (sitcom) theme (i.e. "All kids who go to private school are snobby and Evil!"). In addition, I could do without the Xander humiliation scene in the frat house. So this one is pretty much mediocre, but even mediocre Buffy is pretty entertaining.

Though loved by many in a.tv.b-v-s, this episode is not one of my faves. But there is still plenty here that I like. The idea behind this episode is rather cool (imagine if the gang had been forewarned! Willow could have dressed up like Xena, and Xander like Superman!), and the consequences of the idea (such as Willow becoming a ghost, Xander becoming a soldier, and various children becoming demons) are pretty excellent. I also like Ethan Rayne (Robin Sachs), who's introduced here, and this episode is noteworthy in having Willow (for once!) come through to mostly save the day. Other nice moments: Giles kicking the sh*t out of Ethan, and Cordelia in a cat costume. Meow!

Continuing my (inadvertent) trend of being less than thrilled with Joss Whedon-penned efforts, I find "Lie to Me" to be perhaps the most overrated episode of all in alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer. For reasons that still aren't entirely clear to me, I am just not very moved by this story. Perhaps it is because I find Jason Behr, as Buffy's old (and terminal) friend Billy "Ford" Fordham, only marginally effective in the role. Maybe it's because I don't find the character of Ford sympathetic in any way. Maybe it's because I find Buffy-Angel angst the least compelling aspect of the entire Buffy series. Maybe it's because I feel that this episode focuses too much on Ford at the expense of series regulars, such as Xander. Still, there are some good bits: Angel coming to Willow's room (and being invited in!) is a good scene, and I love Angel's inadvertent put down of himself in the Goth club (just before encountering Chanterelle (Julia Lee)). But, all in all, this episode fails to move me like it should.

This episode is not bad, IMHO. It's a 'Giles' episode, and a welcome change of pace from the episodes that preceded it. Nothing too earthshattering happens here, and (except for Giles and Jenny Calendar) the other Buffy cast members are more in the background. But this episode sports a great performance by Anthony Stewart Head, and good job by Robia LaMorte (but poor Jenny Calendar!), and boasts the repeat performance of Ethan Rayne, one of my favorite recurring villains. Also, for once, Brooding Boy Angel is actually the key to saving the day. This one's not one of Buffy's very best, but it's a good, solid episode otherwise.

Continuing a Buffy tradition, this episode is the generally poor set-up episode, which is followed by a significantly superior Part Two. A lot happens in this episode, unfortunately much of it is rather snoozeworthy. The Career Day concept is good, but really doesn't lead to much (except for Willow's first face-to-face introduction to Oz, and the mysterious men they meet, a throwaway gag that is never followed up on). The order of Taraka (both here and in Part 2) turns out to be another paper tiger that Buffy and co. easily defeat. And, this episode treats us to more Buffy-Angel smoochies (if only Kendra had been successful in finishing Angel off at Willy's!). Basically, this episode is made bearable only by the exciting final 10 minutes, and the unforgettable last line: "I'm KynDRA, the Vamp-eye-r Slay-are!"

The second of this two-parter is a capped by a somewhat awkward but still likable performance by Bianca Lawson as Kendra. In addition, unlike the bulk of Part 1, Part 2 has a number of exciting sequences, including Xander and Cordelia trying to escape 'Maggot Boy' (and succumbing to their first moment of passion!), the cop-assassin trying to kill Buffy and grabbing Jonathan as a hostage, and the final showdown in the church. This episode also sports some good lines of dialogue (Willy: "Has either of you girls considered modeling? I have a friend with a camera, strictly high-class nude work. You know, art photographs, but naked. You don't have to answer right away."), and several nice touches, including Kendra obvious shyness and discomfort around Xander. Finally, this episode sports a great torture scene where Drusilla gets her revenge on Angel/Angelus. So this episode is a definite improvement over Part 1.

An underrated episode, but for obvious reasons: the ending is somewhat of a cop-out. (OTOH, what else could they have done with this?!). Still, Don Sample and other fans of this episode are right: the first 2/3 are edge-of-the-seat time. The last 1/3 is still enjoyable, though somewhat of a let-down. But there are large portions of this episode I like a lot. Unlike the same circumstances in "Faith, Hope & Trick", the gang's response to Ted (John Ritter) and Buffy's isolation are totally believable in "Ted", both for the way Ted treats everyone (aside from Buffy), and for the eventual (pharmaceutical) cause for everyone's behavior. In addition, I think John Ritter does an excellent job in this episode, especially in the mini-golf scene where I actually (for probably the only time in the show's entire run!) feared for Buffy's physical safety. Two other bonuses? This episode is almost an entirely traditional Buffy/Willow/Xander/Giles episode, with some Joyce thrown in (and I've missed episodes like this in season #3). And "Ted" is where Miss Calendar finally buries the hatchet with Giles in a funny scene (in a cemetery while fighting a vamp sans-Buffy!) Finally, the theme of this episode (how children of divorced parents often get ignored and pushed to the side when the divorced parent finds a new love interest) is an important (and, to me, a very troubling) one. This is all quite enough to make up for "Ted's" cop-out of an ending. So I give "Ted" 'Thumbs up'.

This episode is good, silly fun: so what's the problem?! This episode gets knocked by detractors for being derivative of "The Puppet Masters" and "Invasion of the Body Snatches", but I fail to see why this causes people problems (it's not like the show hasn't been derivative before, or since!). So this episode succeeds better as a series of individual scenes than as a plotline... so what?! In any case, I think this episode is a lot of fun, a nice change of pace from the dark episodes that immediately precede, and immediate follow, it. I like the beginning scene with Buffy and Joyce in the mall (one of the better Joyce and Buffy scenes, if you ask me). The 'egg' gimmick is funny, especially Xander's 'solution' to it. (I love the scene where he discovers what's really inside the egg as he's just about to eat it!) The bug that almost gets Buffy in her room is genuinely creepy. Joyce's clueless behavior and harshness with Buffy is both amusing and warranted (it was about "Ted" or so that I really began to seriously question why Joyce hadn't been let in on the 'Slayer' secret, and Joyce's harshness with Buffy in this episode is a direct result of Buffy not letting Joyce in on the truth). And any episode that has Cordelia and Willow giving Buffy and Xander a serious 'clunking' upside the head is a keeper with me. About the only thing that doesn't work is the Gorch brothers, who cause the action to grind to a halt in almost every one of their (individual) scenes; IMHO, they weren't needed in this episode and should have been dropped. But I like this episode, and that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

"Surprise" is another in the long-line of surprisingly poor set-up episodes that leaves me cold. We're subjected to cringeworthy scenes with Willow and Oz (I hate Willow's hat! HATE it!), and more cringeworthy scenes with Buffy and Angel. (What can I say? Their 'romance' has always left me cold too!) The biggest minus in this episode? The developments vis a vis Jenny Calender's true identity come completely out of left field, and leave the rest of this episode almost totally without credibility. Had Joss & co. laid hints about Jenny's true identity in previous episodes, rather than suddenly dumping it on us in this episode, I would have liked this one a lot more. And not much else happens that's very interesting (and Cordelia is made to look even more foolish than usual). Some things I like? The Judge (Brian Thompson) is droll, Drusilla gets some good lines, and I like Dalton the Bookworm vamp (Eric Saiet; too bad he's toast in this ep.!) But built mostly around Buffy-Angel angst, this isn't one of my faves.

An awesome conclusion, "Innocence" more than makes up for the lameness of "Surprise". David Boreanaz finally gets a chance to shine as evil Angelus (and does). From Angelus' first scene where he takes a 'smoke' from a pliant woman (or should I say "victim"?!), Angelus exudes an immense (evil) charisma that stuffy old (good) Angel could never muster (outside of "Welcome to the Hellmouth"). And Angelus' scenes with Drusilla and Spike are priceless. There's lots more in this episode to love: Willow discovers Xander and Cordelia in flagrante, and blows her stack! Angelus rips Buffy's heart out and makes her feel like a whore. Angelus almost turns Willow into a vamp snack, before Jenny Calendar, Xander and Buffy save her. Xander comes up with the plan to save the day (including coming up with the execution of said plan) and be the hero! ('Bout time!) Buffy gives Jenny the trashing she deserves in front of her own class! (But does Giles have to be so harsh to her?! Ouch!) Xander utters the line of the series! (Xander: "I'm 17. Looking at linoleum makes me wanna' have sex!"), while Oz shows himself to be a true gentlemen in the face of a seductive (and vengeful) Willow. Buffy (with Xander's help, of course) blows The Judge to smithereens, and then beats Angelus to a pulp (though definite demerits for the Buffster for not staking Angelus here: it would have saved everybody a lot of trouble later on!). And Giles gets the last word: a compassion bit of encouraging and fatherly support.

This episode might be the defining episode of the entire Buffy series. It's definitely a 'must see' episode.

I find "Phases" to be a real snoozer, though it's still barely watchable. Still, I consider it to be probably my least favorite episode of season #2 (I think it's far worse than "Reptile Boy" or "Go Fish"). And what should I expect from an episode that's built around Willow and Oz, my two least favorite (main) Buffy characters? Sure, the first scene is a great bit of humorous continuity (and a wink to "The Witch"), and the scene where Buffy throws Larry, followed later by the scene where Xander confronts Larry (and gives Larry the wrong idea!) are funny. The scene and subsequent struggle at Theresa's coffin is good (Xander: "Yeah, like my life isn't complicated enough already!"). But there's not much else here that I like. Cain the werewolf hunter (Jack Conley) is random and uninteresting, and the revelation that Oz is the werewolf is a yawn (I just wish he'd made a snack out of Willow when he had the chance!). Like I said: this is my least favorite season #3 episode.

The quintessential 'funny' Buffy episode, I doubt BB&B could be improved upon. It is unquestionably my favorite episode from the entire series. From the very first scenes with Buffy and Xander in the cemetery, and Angelus giving Drusilla her Valentine's Day 'present' (Angelus: "I got it from a charming little shop girl.") I love everything about this episode. Almost every single line of dialogue is a keeper, and the background music is awesome in BB&B. The most pleasant surprises are the reappearances of Amy The Witch (Elizabeth Anne Allen), who plays a big part in the episode's proceedings and is a key factor in its overall success, and the bitchy Harmony (Mercedes McNab), who is the catalyst in the developments in this episode. Every scene builds upon the previous one, and all are winners: Harmony and company put pressure on Cordelia to dump Xander, which Cordelia does, on Valentine's Day, after Xander has already given her his lovely gift of the heart-shaped locket (Xander: "Do you know what's a good day to break up with somebody? Any day besides Valentine's Day!")

Xander seeks revenge and blackmails Amy (who's now dabbling in the witchcraft, just like her mother before her) to cast a love spell on Cordelia. But who knew that Cordelia secretly really loved Xander already making the spell go haywire and causing every other female in Sunnydale to develop the 'hots' for the X-man?!! From this moment on, there's one hysterical scene after another: Buffy comes onto Xander, then Amy (admitting that the spell didn't work right) does the same. Xander retreats to his bedroom only to discover Willow, wearing nothing but one of his shirts (Xander: "I don't want to use force." Willow: "Force is OK...") causing Xander to run away again. This leads to possibly the most hysterical scene in the whole episode, as Xander walks down the hall of Sunnydale high while being leered at by every female (and glared at by every male) while "Got the Love" blares. This is followed by Jenny Calendar (of all people!) coming on to Xander (Jenny: "Have you been working out?"), Giles' furious reaction, Buffy's ultimate come-on (Buffy (wearing only a trenchcoat): "Aren't you gonna open your present?..."), Amy's jealousy causing her to turn Buffy into a rat (Buffy: "Uh-oh..."), and Oz's punching Xander. Things only get better from here: Cordelia is almost torn apart by a mob, which then goes after Xander (Willow: "I'd rather see you dead than with that bitch!"); Joyce comes onto Xander (Cordelia: "And keep your Mom-aged mitts of my boyfriend! FORMER!"); Drusilla comes onto Xander (Drusilla: "Your face is a poem. Oh, I can read it." Xander: "Really? It doesn't say, 'spare me' by any chance?" Drusilla: "How do you feel about eternal life?..."); and Giles forces Amy to reverse the spell just as the mob is about to do-in both Cordelia and Xander. Ending on a perfect note, with a forgiving Buffy (and a not-so- forgiving Willow), and Cordelia's "sheep" put down of Harmony, you have the recipe for my favorite episode of Buffy. BRAVO, Marti Noxon!

"Passion" is another stellar season #2 episode. This episode is chock full of stunning developments that really hit home for the viewer. Angelus is stalking Buffy, Joyce and Willow, and the previous invitations to their houses must be revoked if any of them are to be safe. Buffy tells Joyce a series of half-truths and warns her that Angel is stalking her and that Joyce must never let him into their house. Meanwhile, a guilty Jenny Calendar is working frantically to translate the 'restoration' spell, so that Angel's soul can be returned and the demon Angelus again held in check. As Buffy and Willow perform the spell necessary to keep Angelus out of their homes, Angelus ambushes Joyce as she pulls up in the driveway, and immediately sets about menacingly putting Joyce off balance by letting her know that he and Buffy 'did the deed'. Just as Angelus is about to enter Buffy's house to finish off Joyce, Buffy and Willow successfully administer the spell to keep Angelus on the other side of the front doorway, and Buffy slams the door in his face. But Drusilla has found out what Jenny's intentions are, and in a truly frightening series of scenes, Angelus ambushes Jenny at Sunnydale High, threatens her, chases her, and coldly snaps her neck. These events unbeknownst to him, Giles enters his house expecting to meet with Jenny, only to find her dead and broken body upon his bed, in one of the single most heartwrenching scene in the entire series. (Giles' expression in this scene says it all...) This leads to the thrilling showdown between Giles and Angelus (who gives it to Angelus pretty good there, at first), and then Buffy and Angelus (as the cowardly Spike and Drusilla flee for their own safety). This episode ends with a pair of very emotional and extremely effective scenes between Giles and Buffy. A brilliant ending to a brilliant episode. "Passion" is very close behind BB&B as the 2nd best episode of season #2.

KBD is not the greatest effort to be sure. It drags in parts, but it is salvaged by some truly good stuff from Xander, Giles and Cordelia (who, as others have pointed out, nearly steals this episode). Examples of this? I very much like the scene between Giles and Joyce at the hospital, and the scene where Xander holds his ground against Angelus (who's already earned my enmity in this ep. by attacking Cordelia in the first scene) as Angelus threatens to go after Buffy in her hospital room is very good. The scenes with Cordelia, Xander and the hospital guard, and Cordelia bringing Xander donuts as he keeps guard on Buffy, are also good. Probably my favorite parts of this episode are the Giles-Cordelia moments which sport a number of good lines. Other good stuff? The scene where a feverish Buffy first spots der Kinderstat is truly creepy, and Willow's "Frogs! Frogs! FROGS!" scene is rather amusing. But, all in all, this episode is rather unremarkable. It's average Buffy, which, after all, isn't that bad.

This is a polarizing episode: people seem to either love it, or hate it (mostly those who feel it is too "fanfic-ish"), but it's an episode that works pretty well for me. Indeed, it is IOHEfY's theme of Buffy's self-loathing (and it's not like it isn't warranted after "Passion"!) that appeals most to me. Beyond its thematic aspects, this episode is also quite good in several other areas. First off, the tragic Grace Newman is played by Meredith Salenger, an actress I'll always have a soft spot for (it's a long story...). And several scenes in this episode are genuinely scary, such as the disembodied arm attacking Xander, the snakes in the cafeteria, the whirlpool that almost gets Willow, and the ghoulish version of James Stanley who tells Buffy to "Get out!" of the school. Finally, the Slayerettes obvious concern for Buffy's emotional state, and the final confrontation between the possessed Buffy and Angel, all have real emotional resonance, which helps IOHEfY rise above the norm. And the surprise ending vis a vis Spike is a long time in coming. So, despite its reputation, this is one of the better entries from season #2.

I find "Go Fish" to be amiably silly viewing; it's not a great episode, but it's not that terrible either. The stuff I like: as always Principal Snyder is a pleasure (especially when trying to strong-arm Willow into changing one of the swim team member's grades); the scene where Xander emerges in his speedos to the awe of Willow, Buffy and Cordelia is a great bit; Willow's interrogation of Jonathan is pretty humorous; and Cordelia's comic scene where she thinks Xander has turned into one of the fish creatures is another fave of mine. And who wouldn't like Buffy bashing would-be rapist Cameron (Jeremy Garrett) against a steering wheel? Things I don't like? Guest stars Concheta Ferrell (as the nurse) and especially Charles Cyphers (as the swim coach) are wasted in this episode, and the 'monster of the week' theme in this particular episode is much more out-of-left-field than usual. So, a mostly poor episode, with some good bits to make up for the overall effort.

Part 1 of "Becoming" is one of the only two set-up episodes in Buffy's run (so far) that is actually effective, and very entertaining as well. And this one's sure a corker, with a lot happening it. First off, it's interspersed with flashbacks to several key past events (more on this later). But it's the events in the present that keep this one going. A great stone tomb containing the demon Acathla has been found by archeologists, and Giles is brought in to consult. But before he gets a chance to figure out what it is, Drusilla has a vision about it, and Angel steals it and brings it back to Dru and Spike (Spike: "Oooh. It's a big rock. Can't wait to tell my friends; they don't have a rock this big..."). Meanwhile, the gang is worried about final exams, including Willow who's trying to tutor Buffy in chemistry. Of course, Buffy's only half paying attention, but her lack of focus allows for her and Willow to discover Jenny Calendar's disk with the soul restoration spell for Angel. This leads to the first of many big fights between Xander (and Cordelia) and Buffy, Willow and Giles over what to do about Angel (Xander: "So this spell might restore Angel's humanity? Well, here's an interesting angle: who cares?"). Kendra (Bianca Lawson) soon shows up again, warning of grave danger in Sunnydale, and bringing a sword which Buffy and co. will need to use should Angel succeed in reviving Acathla. Meanwhile, Angel is failing in his attempts to revive Acathla, and so comes up with a plan of his own. While Angel creates a diversion for Buffy, Drusilla and a gang of vamps attack the library, kill Kendra, maim Xander and Willow (while a terrified Cordelia sprints for escape), and kidnap Giles. As Buffy bursts upon the scene to find Kendra's body, the cops arrive to find Buffy over the body in a very circumstantially criminal position. TO BE CONTINUED...

So what's specifically good about "Becoming (Part 1)"? First, it's jammed packed with exciting action, and doesn't let up: each scene builds upon the one preceding it. The main cast is all exceptionally good in this one (especially Angel, Spike and Xander), and Bianca Lawson is much more effective as Kendra here than in "What's My Line (Part 2)". What's not so good? As with "Amends" (in season #3), the flashbacks to past events in this episode aren't as effectively integrated into the episode as they were back in the other vampire TV series "Forever Knight" (or in "Highlander" the series, for that matter). The opening flashback with Darla (Julie Benz) is great, as is the flashback where Angelus tries to escape the gypsies, but the flashback with Drusilla is rather random, and the scene with early Buffy is only partly effective (the portion with Joyce and Hank is better than the preceding parts of this flashback).

But, all in all, "Becoming (Part 1)" is a great episode, and is a large part of the success of the season #2 finale.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the "Becoming (Part 2)" is a great ending to a great season. In fact, it may be the greatest season finale of any show ever. There's not one false note in this episode... (well, maybe the final big confrontation between Buffy and Joyce doesn't quite ring true, which may explain why I was hesitant to give this one an 'A+', along with BB&B). Once Buffy escapes from the cops and Snyder, there's one great scene after another: Buffy and Xander in the hospital. (Cordelia: "I ran. I think I made it through three counties before I realized nobody was chasing me. Not too brave.") Angelus tortures Giles, Buffy is confronted by Spike who wants to deal, Joyce finally learns the truth about her daughter and is forced to have an awkward moment with Spike (lots of great stuff in that scene!) before finally snapping and kicking Buffy out of the house. Buffy confronts Snyder one more time, Drusilla clouds Giles' mind into thinking that she's Jenny Calendar (and the kiss! Eeeewwww!), Buffy is brought up to speed by Whistler (Max Perlich), Xander meets up with Buffy outside the mansion before the final showdown (leading to the infamous 'Xander lied!' debate), and all hell breaks lose as Xander frees Giles, Spike subdues and absconds with Drusilla, and Buffy duels with Angelus. Finally, just as Buffy is about to defeat Angelus once and for all, Willow successfully casts the Soul Restoration Spell(tm) just as Buffy is forced to run her restored Angel through with her sword, leading to the doubly shocking finale. (What?! Buffy's leaving town! Now what?!!!)

There's not much more to say. Anyone who's seen this episode knows how good it is. It's beyond a keeper. Treasure it. Always.

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