Buffy Virgin: Season 2, Part 2

It's been taking me a long time between these posts because I haven't loved watching Buffy. Not so much that it's not a good show, it's more the detailed analysis I have to do as I watch instead of just watching it for fun. I think the next post will have a different style, focusing more on my thoughts on the episode than what happened in the episode. I mean, you guys know what happened, I'm the Buffy virgin here. By the end of this season, though, I'm getting really into it and looking forward to next season!

Ep. 12: Bad Eggs

While Buffy is at the mall trying to convince her mom to let her buy an outfit that makes her look like a “streetwalker”, she spots a cowboy vampire and beats him up but he gets away. In this episode, Buffy is learning about responsibility. She gets grounded more than once for being irresponsible. The whole class is learning about responsibility, actually. They’re doing the classic egg baby project in health class. As if carrying around a chicken egg making sure it doesn’t break is anything like having to care for a human infant. Although, these eggs actually contain weird little mind-controlling demons, so maybe they’re not so different.

Willow's reaction compared to Buffy's reaction.

Buffy kills hers, but just about everyone else gets one attached to them, making them slaves to the big mama demon thing in the school basement. Buffy and Xander save the day, kill the big blobby demon, scare away the cowboy, but Buffy still gets grounded.

I’m Confused: When asked what she thinks about, Buffy straight-up tells her mom “Saving the world from vampires.” And her mom just brushes it off. But her mom was there when Spike and a bunch of vamps were running around the school and she even beat up Spike to save Buffy. Was there some kind of memory wipe after that I missed? What did she think that was?

New Characters: Cowboy vampire brothers

Favorite Quote: “I can’t do this. I can’t take care of things. I killed my Giga Pet. Literally, I sat on it and it broke.” Maybe Buffy should have tried a Tamagotchi or a Nano Pet instead.

Mythology Lesson: The cowboy vampire brothers were bad guys even before they were vampires back in the wild west. They also seem to know, or know of, Angel(us).

Demon Deaths: One cowboy vampire brother, big blobby demon

Human Deaths: Zero. Good job, Buffy.

Ep. 13: Surprise

Big episode. All the things. Much drama.

Drusilla is back! Remember when they thought they killed Spike & Drusilla just because they were buried under a collapsed church? I guess after killing so many inferior vampires and demons, you don’t think of double-checking that they’re definitely dead. Well, Drusilla is back in full force but poor Spike has some scars and rolls around in a wheelchair while Drusilla plans a party.

Love is in the air. Buffy and Angel make-out and in a weird indirect way maybe decide to have sex sometime? Willow and Oz ask each other out in an adorable way. Xander tries to convince Cordelia to be a real couple but she’s still too embarrassed by him.

So, Jenny Calendar is not a techno pagan? But she is a gypsy whose family put the curse on Angel so he would suffer for all of eternity as vengeance for killing Drusilla. (I’m putting that together from what I remember of Angel’s & Drusilla’s history. He didn’t actually say her name...) Jenny’s uncle insists that Jenny get rid of Buffy because she is making Angel’s life less horrible than it should be.

The gang throws Buffy a surprise party but the surprise is vampires with a box and the box contains an arm. Angel and Giles figure out it must be that Drusilla is bringing together the pieces of The Judge, a demon that will bring on Armageddon. Why is he in pieces? Because he can’t be killed, so last time they just dismembered him and spread out the pieces. Angel volunteers to get the arm as far away as possible, which upsets Buffy very much as it would mean he would be gone for months. He gives Buffy a Claddagh ring for her birthday. I wonder if this is why those rings became so popular?

But Angel can’t leave because they’re interrupted by vampires who get their arm back, and they put all the pieces together to create The Judge. Buffy and Angel have a close call when spying on the vamp party, meeting The Judge, but make it back to Angel’s place where they confess their love and do the do. Not on screen, but I’m assuming that’s why one second they’re making out and the next, they’re sleeping in his bed. But Angel jumps up like he’s in pain and suddenly he’s fully clothed outside in the rain and we get a “to be continued”, so let’s continue and find out if that was actually just another one of Buffy’s prophetic dreams.

New Characters: Jenny Calendar’s uncle, The Judge

Favorite Quote: Willow explains their ‘Round Robin’ concept. Buffy: “Thus freeing us up for world save-age.” Willow: “And all night keggers! What, only Xander gets to make dumb jokes?"

Mythology Lesson: Jenny Calendar is actually a gypsy sent to Sunnydale to make sure Angel is still cursed.

The Judge is a demon that will rid the world of humanity, bring on Armageddon, etc. He can’t be killed, but he was dismembered.

Angel said the claddagh ring is from his people, so I guess Angel is Irish?

Demon Deaths: A few vamps

Human Deaths: No one yet

Ep. 14: Innocence

Okay, it wasn’t a dream. Angel is actually in pain, but then suddenly isn’t because he’s in full-on vampire mode. Soulless Angel goes to hang out with Spike & Drusilla because they can all be friends now.

Jenny’s uncle tells her that Angel’s curse has been lifted because the soul they cursed him with experienced true happiness (aka banging Buffy).

While Willow is all freaked out about catching Xander and Cordelia making out, Angel shows up to reveal his new/old self to everyone. Jenny the Gypsy also reveals her part in all this. Buffy is very upset the whole time because she finally gave it up to her boyfriend and now he’s evil and mean to her and trying to kill her friends and all of humanity. Teenage drama, huh.

The vamps decide the mall is the best place for The Judge to begin Armageddon, so Buffy shows up with a bazooka to blast apart The Judge.

New Characters: No one new.

Favorite Quote: “Does looking at guns make you wanna have sex?” “I’m 17. Looking at linoleum makes me wanna have sex.” -Cordelia & Xander

Mythology Lesson: Angel’s curse is lifted when his soul experiences true happiness, which apparently was doing it with Buffy.

Demon Deaths: The Judge

Human Deaths: The Judge zaps a few people at the mall

Ep. 15: Phases

This big stupid jock guy is talking to Oz about gettin’ some Buffy and Willow action, asking Oz how far he’s gotten with Willow. High school boys are so gross! He’s so gross, he knocks a girl’s books out of her hands so he can watch her pick them up and grabs Buffy’s ass during a self defence class. We’re also led to believe he might be the werewolf that attacked Cordelia & Xander. Another misogynist creep is this guy hunting werewolves. He laughs at Buffy when she says she’s hunting werewolves because “you’re a girl” and continues to say stupid sexist comments to Buffy while they try to find the werewolf.

Xander confronts the big stupid jock about being the werewolf in a hilarious way that neither says what they’re actually talking about, which leads to the jock confessing that he’s gay. Typical over-compensating closet homosexual. Well, if dumb jock isn’t the werewolf who is? It’s cute little Oz! But they manage to find him and catch him before the hunter can kill him. And then he and Willow finally kiss!

New Characters: Jock dude. (Played by “Ice” from Hocus Pocus. Hehehe.)

Favorite Quote: “Let’s not jump to any conclusions.” “I didn’t jump. I took a tiny step and there conclusions were.” - Giles and Buffy

Mythology Lesson: The nights before and after a full moon count as a full moon when it comes to mythical magical stuff like werewolves.

Demon Deaths: Angel turns a girl from school into a vamp and Xander stakes her

Human Deaths: I guess that can also count as a human death.

Ep. 16: Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered

It’s Valentine’s Day soon and love is in the air. Or, not. Xander wants to give Cordelia a necklace for the big day but Cordelia breaks up with him because her friends tease her. Xander is so upset that he blackmails Amy to work a love spell for him after he catches her using magic to hand in imaginary homework.

Giles, however, is less worried about teen romance and more concerned about what Angel will do for Valentine’s Day as he has a history of Valentine’s Day massacres. Angel sends Buffy roses with the ominous note “Soon". Angel is also busy showing Drusilla some love with a lovely human heart, which seems to beat out Spike’s gift of a necklace.

Xander and Amy’s love spell backfires. Instead of making Cordelia want him, the spell makes every other female obsessed with him. Buffy comes onto him, so Amy gets jealous and turns her into a rat. While Oz runs around the school trying to find Rat Buffy, Xander and Cordelia run away from the hoards of girls that want to kill either Cordelia because she didn’t appreciate him, or Xander because if they can’t have him, no one can.

Of course, Giles and Amy get the undo spell to work just in time and everyone (except our gang) forgets what happened. We end on a happy note when Cordelia stands up to her friends and tells them she’s going to date Xander and the two walk off together. Aww!

New Characters: Amy is back.

Favorite Quote: “I seem to be having a slight case of nudity here.” I think being completely naked is more than a slight case, Buffy.

Mythology Lesson: Amy’s mom was a witch who switched bodies with her to relive her cheerleading days. And also kill some teenage girls. (Season 1, Episode 3)

Demon Deaths: Only 1 vamp that Buffy gets on her regular patrol.

Human Deaths: Fortunately none of the love-sick girls manage to kill each other or Xander in their rage.

Ep. 17: Passion

Angel narrates over this episode a lot, talking about “passion” and super creepy things. He creeps out Buffy, and her loved ones, with notes and drawings. Talented artist that he is (he’s had a lot of time to practice), his work is not appreciated.

Jenny is trying to make up for what her family’s curse did to Angel. (He was cursed with a soul, but lost it when he banged Buffy.) She gets her hand on a crystal ball thing that can capture a soul, she just needs to translate some text in order to use it. As her computer finishes the translation, Angel shows up to show her how much he doesn’t want his soul back. He smashes the orb and, lacking a full grasp of technology, smashes the computer and burns the printed copy on the computer fire. (Because on TV, anything electronic will start a roaring fire if smashed.) Angel chases her down as she tries to escape and snaps her neck. Little does he know that Jenny invoked the golden rule: Back up your work. The translation is saved on a technological marvel known in the 1900’s as a “floppy disk”.

Angel, being the sick fuck that he is, stages a romantic evening at Giles’ home complete with roses, champagne, music, and Jenny’s dead body. Giles seeks revenge, but, thankfully, Buffy figures out his plan and swoops in to save the day. We’re all sad about Jenny’s death and her lost plans, until Willow unknowingly knocks the floppy disk between the desk & filing cabinet and we all get excited that there’s still hope for Angel. If only anyone ever cleaned between furniture like that...

New Characters: None

Favorite Quote: “The ‘Na na na na na na!’ approach to battle.” “Yes, Xander. Once more, you’ve managed to boil a complex thought down to its simplest possible form.” - Xander & Giles

Also, honourable mention for Xander’s use of the movie title Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!

Mythology Lesson: The Orb of Thesulah can capture a soul and hold onto it until you’re ready. Jenny needs to translate an ancient text before she can use it, though.

Demon Deaths: None

Human Deaths: Ms. Jenny Calendar, the Techno-Pagan.

Thoughts So Far:

How much longer is Angel going to be evil? As much fun as it is to see the new relationship dynamic between Spike, Drusilla, and Angel, I like it better when Angel is kind of playing for both sides. Buffy & the gang get the help of a really old vampire and Buffy gets her weird relationship problems. I was not sorry to see Jenny go. I got bored of her character right away. Sorry, Giles, only the teenagers get to be in love. I guess I’m still watching, waiting for something more exciting to happen than just the demon-of-the-week...

Ep. 18: Killed by Death

Buffy has the flu and Cordelia's main concern is that Buffy looks gross. While fighting Angel, Buffy passes out and wakes up in the hospital. Cordelia makes some comment about how Buffy should get that thing on her face fixed while she's in the hospital. What thing on her face?!

Buffy has fever dreams of a Freddy Kruger kind of guy walking to the kids' ward of the hospital and the kids say "death" comes for them at night. Buffy is already creeped out by hospitals because when she was 8, she witnessed her cousin dying in a hospital. Cordelia makes the surprisingly intelligent observation that Buffy might be making up this demon in an attempt to create a defeatable opponent because she can't fight disease & death.

Once the kids' doctor suffers the same fate as the kids, removing him from the suspect list, Buffy gets the idea to infect herself with the fever again so she's able to see the demon so she can fight it. It works and she kills it with violence, as usual.

New Characters: Kids in the hospital

Favorite Quote: "Flowers for m'lady." "I think they call those balloons." "Ya, stick 'em in water maybe they'll grow." Good one, Xander.

Mythology Lesson: Der Kindestod- means "child death". He feeds off children by sucking the life out of them, leaving them looking like they died of their illness. He does this by sitting on them. (Babysitter joke, anyone?)

Demon Deaths: Der Kindestod

Human Deaths: A few kids, the kids' doctor

Ep. 19: I Only Have Eyes for You

The Sadie Hawkins dance is coming up- don't even get me started on the gender stereotyping rant that I went on to myself watching this episode. In honour of the upcoming Sadie Hawkins dance, I guess, a tortured spirit is haunting the school. In a sort of poltergeist-time loop mash-up, people are getting temporarily possessed and reenacting a scene between lovers. It seems to be a forbidden romance and she is leaving him, so he shoots her. Well, it doesn't get that far because Buffy interrupts some teens who don't remember acting out the scene, and the gun disappeared. That troll of a principal is back and out to get Buffy, trying to blame her for the incident. The poltergeist activity also includes Buffy seeing scenes of the student-teacher relationship that is causing the haunting, and a teacher writing out  DON'T WALK AWAY FROM ME BITCH! on the blackboard. Doing some research, they find out about the past relationship and how it ended. They suspect the boy's spirit is holding on, seeking forgiveness.

Meanwhile, Angel is full of wheelchair puns for Spike and I love it. Turns out Spike is faking his paralysis, though! I'm really enjoying this Angel-Drusilla-Spike love triangle. 

Willow is teaching Ms. Calendar's class (What?! Students can just teach classes now?!) and going through her research and spells. Is this the beginning of Willow becoming a witch?

They try to exorcise the school with a spell and it kind of works, but I guess not because Buffy goes back in and so does Angel and they both get caught in the love scene, except Angel in the woman's place and when he gets shot, he doesn't die, so they continue being possessed and are able to act out a nice ending for the spirits, who go into the light or whatever.

I'm Confused: The principal and the police chief have a conversation about what to say to hide this weird activity, like we've seen them do before, but this time they actually mention being on the Hellmouth and bring the mayor into it. So, the important town officials know about all this? How much do they know? Do they know that Buffy is the Slayer? You'd think the principal would cut Buffy a break if he knew how important it is for her to be able to miss school and do this crazy stuff, but maybe he doesn't like her because he knows about this demon stuff but is on their side? I'm intrigued to say the least...

New Characters: The spirits acting out their love affair.

Favorite Quote: "Something weird is going on." "Isn't that our school motto?"

Mythology Lesson: A student and teacher had an affair back in the 50's. When she ended it, he shot her and then himself.

Demon Deaths: None

Human Deaths: The possessed janitor shoots a teacher.

Ep. 20: Go Fish

I hate just about every male in this episode. And the American school system. The swim team boys finally won semi-finals so they're getting special treatment in classes and generally being misogynistic asshats. It makes me sad to hear Cordelia even reenforcing this shit saying Xander runs "like a girl" and "some people deserve special treatment". Ugh.

Buffy is having none of your victim-blaming bullshit.

One of the swim team boys takes a shining to Buffy, and forces himself on her in his car, so she rightfully smashes his head against his steering wheel. The principal and this kid are just the worst people ever saying all that victim blaming shit like "You were leading me on." "Well, look how you dress." etc. Ugh.

Well, the stupid swim team gets what they deserve (sorry, a little harsh) because they're being killed off, only their skin remaining. Xander goes undercover to find out what's going on. Turns out the coach is putting what they all think is steroids in their steam room. It's actually some weird science experiment that is making them all good swimmers because they're actually turning into fishy creatures, that climb out of their own skin.

The coach is the real bad guy here, and he gets attacked by his monsters and then they escape to the sea. Be free, fishies, be free!

New Characters: Shane West and Wentworth Miller play guys from the swim team! 90's heartthrobs! 

Favorite Quote: "It's one thing to be dating the lame unpopular guy but it's another to be dating a creature from the blue lagoon." "Black lagoon. The creature from the Blue Lagoon was Brooke Shields."

Mythology Lesson: Coach says something about the fish stuff being leftover after the fall of the Soviet Union, an experiment to make soldiers better swimmers.

Demon Deaths: None? I don't think they killed any of the fish guys...

Human Deaths: Swim coach

Ep. 21: Becoming: Part 1

We get to see first hand Angel's origin story. Both becoming a vampire and becoming a vampire with a soul. And how he came to Sunnydale and started falling for Buffy. David Boreanaz's Irish accent isn't quite up to snuff. It doesn't explain why he came to New York after being cursed with a soul, or why he adapted an American accent.

Like, OMG, Buffy, you're like totally a vampire slayer! As if!

Angel is hellbent on bringing hell to Earth. Another big scary mythical creature/demon is unearthed and Angel wants to use it to bring on the apocalypse (This show needs some new big plot ideas besides ancient demons who can bring on an apocalypse.) While Buffy and Willow are trying to find a way to stop him, they finally find that floppy disk with Ms. Calendar's translation of the thing that can bring Angel's soul back!

While Buffy confronts Angel, Drusilla and some vamps attack the gang in the library while they're trying to do the spell. They steal Giles hoping that he will help them activate this evil thing. Buffy is found over the body of Kendra (Oh, yeah, the other Slayer showed up) and runs from the police.

I'm Confused: We see some of Buffy's origin story in this episode as well. Is this stuff from the movie? Is that man her Watcher who showed up to tell her she's the Slayer? Should I have watched the movie?

New Characters: Mysterious guy who brings Angel to Sunnydale (Rune from Gilmore Girls!)

Favorite Quote: "I wish for once you would support me! And I realize right now that you were and I'm embarrassed, so I'm gonna get back to the point." Oh. Xander.

Mythology Lesson: We get to see some of Angel's origin story.

Demon Deaths: None?

Human Deaths: None?

Ep. 22: Becoming: Part 2

Spike catches up with Buffy on the run wanting to strike a deal. He just wants to get himself and Drusilla out of the country, Buffy can have her Angel back. Buffy takes Spike home to talk where they run into her mom and the secret is spilled. Her mom overreacts and tells Buffy if she leaves (to go save the world) she can't come back. Harsh, mom. She's the Slayer, okay? She can't help it.

Buffy's mom and Spike share an awkward moment.

Willow is able to do the spell again and Angel gets his soul back right has he and Buffy are about to kill each other. They share a kiss and then she stabs him to close the portal to hell.

I'm left with many questions: Why hasn't Buffy's mom remembered anything until now? She says she does remember hitting Spike that time.

Where is Buffy going on the bus? Is she homeless? On the run from the police? Going to visit her dad for the summer again?

Where did Spike and Drusilla go?

Does Angel find a way back from hell? Does he turn up somewhere else and that's why he gets his own show?

Since Buffy's death (that she came back from) triggered the new Slayer, Kendra, while Kendra's death trigger the next Slayer? Is that Faith?

New Characters: That mysterious guy from Angel's past again

Favorite Quote: "Have we met?" "You hit me with an axe, one time. Remember? 'Get the hell away from my daughter.'" "Oh." Buffy's mom + Spike. I ship it.

Mythology Lesson: Angel opened the portal to hell, so only he can close it.

Demon Deaths: Some vamps. Angel?

Human Deaths: Kendra, the other Slayer

Thoughts on Season 2

I'm finally really interested in this show! So much as been revealed that I want to know more about. I want to know what the principal and the mayor really know about the Hellmouth and Buffy. I want to know more about Angel coming to America. I want to know if Willow is a witch now. I want to know if Faith is going to show up now. I want to know if Angel is going to come back. I want to know where Spike & Drusilla went, and when Spike is coming back because I know he does. I. Am. Interested. 

Buffy Virgin: Season 2, Part 1

Finally, we continue our adventures in Sunnydale! Now with screenshots, so you can feel like you were there watching it with me. (Don't you wish?)

Ep. 1: When She Was Bad

Awwwwww! Xander and Willow are so cute! They have a moment and almost kiss but then a vampire shows up. And so does Buffy.

"Miss me?” (They did.)

Buffy seems concerned with The Master being buried. Or maybe she just doesn't want to talk vampires. She seems uninterested but then she/SMG's body double goes full force into her training. PTSD? So, killing The Master and closing the Hellmouth didn't rid Sunnydale of vampires. There seems to be one piece they missed in the season one finale: The Anointed One. That damn kid is still around, apparently leading vampires. Angel is back. Pulling an Edward Cullen again. Warns Buffy of The Anointed One. Buffy's been acting weird since she got back but it is particularly weird when she blows off Angel to dance with Xander to the weird Japanese band at The Bronze. Even Cordelia calls her out on her 'tude right before being abducted by vamps. Ruh roh. Now the secrets out: The Master has been dug up. Bitch Buffy wants to take care of it all by herself. But she can't because it's a trap! She works through her issues by killing a bunch of vamps and smashing The Master’s bones. But, damnit, the annoying Anointed kid is still around! They always forget to tie up that lose end!

New Characters: It's just all our old favorites! Although they all have new hair-do's!

Favorite Quote: “You're the watcher. I just work here.”-Buffy

Mythology Lesson: The Master can be brought back with a ritual involving the blood of those who were nearest him when he died.

Demon Death Count: About 5 vamps

Human Death Count: Buffy saves the day! No deaths.

Ep. 2: Some Assembly Required

Buffy is waiting for Stefan to wake up in the cemetery (who's Stefan?) and Angel shows up and they get in a cute jealous couple fight. Buffy falls in an open grave while chasing after Angel which is hilarious.

And this begins our mystery of the episode: a girl was dragged from her grave? Pervy yearbook camera nerd & his science nerd friend say something creepy about too bad Cordelia is alive. So, obviously they are the creeps we are looking for. The crew heads to the graveyard to see if any other of the recently deceased cheerleaders have been dug up while Angel finds Cordelia hiding in a dumpster where she finds some body parts. Cordelia hangs onto Angel like a sad puppy dog which Angel revels in as Buffy gets a taste of her own jealous medicine. They figure out that the creeps are indeed the creeps they are looking for but they don't show up for school because they are busy working on their patchwork girl who still needs a head. Why? Oh, because his dead brother is not dead but in fact a zombie who wants a lady-friend. 

 Commence the hunt and the fight. Buffy wins. All is well.

New Characters: Chris, the science nerd. Pervy camera guy.

Favorite Quote: “She's a techno-pagan, right? Ask her to bless your laptop." (This techno-pagan stuff cracks me up!)

Mythology Lesson: You can stitch body parts together and reanimate dead flesh, apparently.

Demon Death Count: Vamps: 1

Human Death Count: Darryl, but he was already kind of dead

Ep. 3: School Hard

Buffy and the other worst student at Sunnydale are given the task of organizing the parent-teacher night together. Xander jinxes it by saying maybe nothing bad will happen and then Spike drives into town! He joins the vamps & the Anointed One chatting about killing the Slayer. And then Drusilla shows up! She acts all spacey and weird which I find confusing because I thought she was a vamp, too. What is she...? Oh, she's psychic? Anyway, Buffy is having trouble balancing school and slaying, made even more difficult by Spike testing her skills as he prepares to kill her on Saturday, which is night of Saint Vigeous, a night that vampires do a lot of killing or something. If we weren't sure spacey Drusilla was actually a vampire, we are now as she feeds on bad ass Sheila. Shit hits the fan when Spike and his gang crash parent-teacher night. But who comes to Buffy's rescue as Spike is about to do her in? Buffy's mom!

(I just noticed Spike's nail polish. I love him.)

The principal and police officer agree to use the usual excuse of gang members on PCP, which makes me think they know the truth... Spike kills the Anointed One, so I guess Spike is leader of the Sunnydale vamps now.

New Characters: Spike! Drucilla! Worst student Sheila.

Favorite Quote: “Now, any of you wanna test who's got the biggest wrinkles around here, step on up." -Spike

Mythology Lesson: Night of St. Vigeous. Vampire crusades, killing etc. Spike's got history: William the bloody. Earned his nickname by torturing his victims with railroad spikes. He's killed two slayers in the last century. He and Angel have a history; Angel is Spike's "sire". (Or Spike is Angel's? Spike made Angel, I think.)

Demon Death Count: Buffy defeats most of Spike’s gang. Spike kills a few himself and the Anointed One, finally.

Human Death Count: Only two, according to the police.

Ep. 4: Inca Mummy Girl

Another international historically mystical mystery begins on a class field trip, this time at a museum where the kids are learning about Inca human sacrifice. There's a dumb kid who tries to steal some mystical curse plate from a mummy but he breaks it and she chokes him. When the crew go to look for him, they find that he has replaced the petrified mummy. Buffy is late picking up her foreign exchange student and he gets the life sucked out of him by the mummy. Damn, your tardiness, Buffy! The mummy becomes a real life girl thanks to his life force. She pretends to be the foreign exchange student so she can get her life back.

OMG it's Seth Green! He has facial hair! He's in a band! Their van has black & white stripes!

The mummy has a bodyguard, apparently. He wants the seal (broken plate) back to put the mummy back. But the mummy girl isn't having that. She sucks his life, too. Xander and mummy girl are adorably in puppy love at the dance while Willow looks adorable in her Eskimo costume and gets noticed by little Seth Green up on stage.

Mummy girl starts turning back into a mummy so she picks an unsuspecting boy to feed on- it's Doyle! (Gilmore Girls) but he gets away. Good, I can't wait for more 'Doyle: The Teenage Years'.

So, the mummy girl runs out of life before she can feed again and crumples up again, even though the seal wasn't fixed. And the gang just leaves this big ol mummy mess at the museum. Which, by the way, how did they get in after hours?! Where is museum security?! Goddamnit, Sunnydale. Get your shit together.

New Characters: Rodney, the dumb kid. Seth Green! I mean, "Oz". Mummy girl. Doyle! (I don't know his characters name.)

Favorite Quote: “Maybe he went out for a smoke.” "For 21 hours?" "It's addictive, you know." -Willow and Xander

Mythology Lesson: Inca human sacrifice was a thing.

Demon Death Count: Mummy girl goes back to being a mummy.

Human Death Count: Mummified: 3

Thoughts So Far

This show is really funny. There are so many good one-liners amidst the demon-fighting chaos. I'm getting pretty tired of every episode following the same formula, though. Something mysterious happens, the team gets some of the clues, the rest is revealed to the viewer, the team catches up just in time to save the day. With no consequences or mention of these horrific occurences ever again. I was excited to see some more characters I actually remember; Spike, Drusilla, Seth Green "Oz".

Ep. 5: Reptile Boy

The episode begins with Buffy, Xander, and Willow trying to understand what is going on in a Bollywood movie, which sounds like a great way to spend an evening. Meanwhile, a girl is running away from some dudes in monk-like robes. I'm guessing they aren't monks, though, because the one dude is a 90's teen hunk. Oh, that's because they're frat boys! Gross. Cordelia is dating one and another one chats up Buffy and she totally falls for it which is weird because he is not even hot, especially compared to Angel. Angel, who shows up at the cemetery when Buffy finds a clue. They have a very emotional, tortured conversation about how they can't date because he's 241 and he can't control himself. Yes, it's all very Twilight. Poor Angel. Poor Buffy. So, Buffy agrees to go to the frat party with Cordelia where she dances with frat boy Tom and gets roofied.

(Don't drink drinks that strangers give to you!)

Buffy, Cordelia, and the other missing girl are now chained up in the basement as the frat summons up their demon snake that they worship, but of course Buffy breaks free and kills it just as the rest of the gang gets there.

New Characters: Creepy frat boys.

Favorite Quote: “The reflection thing. You don't have. Angel, how do you shave?" Good question, Willow.

Mythology Lesson: The frat boys are worshipping some thing called Makita who looks like a Silurian/basilisk/Voldemort mix.

Demon Death Count: Makita gets chopped.

Human Death Count: None!

Ep. 6: Halloween

We start with a Buffy vs. vamp fight as usual, but this time she's being watched. A vampire is recording her with a video camera. I, for one, am impressed that someone that old managed to figure out the new technology. While Spike reviews the footage, Buffy is obsessing over Angel (big change there). She and Willow steal the Watcher diaries to find out more about him and Buffy is jealous of the old fashioned ladies in big dresses because she's feeling not-pretty-enough. The creepy costume shop guy just gives her a pretty old fashioned dress and then worships some chaos god which turns everyone into their Halloween costumes.

Kids are demons, Willow is a ghost, Xander is a soldier, and Buffy is an innocent young lady from 1775. Spike enjoys the chaos, hunting for the now-helpless Slayer. Xander enjoys being the big strong man protecting Buffy instead of the other way around.

Giles seems to have a history with the costume shop owner. Apparently a badass history for Giles, he keeps calling Giles “Ripper". Giles beats up shop owner until he tells him how to stop the chaos and Buffy turns back into her Slayer self just in time to fight off Spike. And we end with Buffy & Angel working out their issues and Giles being left an ominous note from his old pal Ethan.

New Characters: Jerk who bullies Xander, Ethan Rayne the costume shop owner.

Favorite Quote: "Do you love my insides? The parts you can't see." "Eyeballs to entrails my sweet.” Drusilla + Spike = Love
Mythology Lesson: Yonos, the two-faced god.
Demon Death Count: Vamps: 1
Human Death Count: None that we see, but there was a lot of bad guys running around...


Ep. 7: Lie to Me
Buffy sees Angel and Drusilla getting close in the park: commence insecure jealousy. Do Angel and Drusilla have more of a history than we know about? They were getting very personal. Buffy cheers up when her old friend, Ford, moves to town. He surprises Buffy with his knowledge that she is the Slayer. She thinks it's nice not to have secrets but he's up to something with a bunch of other kids who want to become vampires.

Angel, Willow, & Xander check out the wannabe-vamp club while Buffy encounters some vamps with Ford. Instead of killing the vamp like he told Buffy he did, he asked her for information and set her free. When Buffy brings in Giles for help, she identifies Drusilla from a photo and the thought-slayed vampire as it steals a book from the library. So, Ford makes a deal with Spike: the Slayer in exchange for turning him into a vamp. Buffy's onto him but he has a sad story about brain tumors to try to justify his choice. The stupid vamp-wannabes get free because Buffy uses Drusilla as leverage with Spike. Ford gets what he wants only to be staked by Buffy when he pops up out of his grave.

New Characters: Buffy's old friend, Ford.
Favorite Quote: “Oh, that's what that song is about!” -Willow about "I Touch Myself"
Mythology Lesson: In Angel's early vampire days, he was obsessed with a chaste Drusilla. He drove her mad by killing everyone she knew until she fled to a convent where Angel finally made her a vampire.
Demon Death Count: One vamp
Human Death Count: Ford


Ep. 8: The Dark Age
A man in a suit is desperate to find Giles, and escape a zombie named Deidre, but Buffy is in the library at night with Giles aerobicizing to loud music. I question the school board policies that allow a student to exercise in the library with a faculty member late at night while Deidre gets to the suit guy, kills him, and then turns to goo. The gang discuss how Giles is such an old fuddy-duddy but then he’s all adorable with the techno-pagan and they kiss. Giles and Jenny sitting in a tree...

Giles has to identify the body of the suit man, who turns out to be an old friend from jolly old England sporting an interesting tattoo, which we later see Giles sporting as well. He crosses Deidre off a list of names after he finds out she died. The only names left are Ethan Rayne (the costume shop guy who called Giles “Ripper”) and Giles himself. Damn, Giles, you’re finally getting interesting.
School on a Saturday is proven to be a bad idea when Buffy finds Ethan in the library and dead guy comes to get Ethan. Dead guy turns to goo before he can get Ethan, but when the goo touches Jenny (the techno-pagan) (still funny) she appears to contract the evilness. Evil Jenny goes after Giles, but Buffy steps in and Giles tells her his deep dark secret past of dropping out of Oxford, practicing magic, and summoning a demon. Buffy goes to find Ethan and falls for the stupid “No, you first.” trick and gets whacked on the back of the head and tied up for Ethan’s ritual.

Buffy gets the mark of Eyghon tattooed on her so it goes after her instead of Ethan but the kids bust in with Angel and a plan- the demon will go into Angel because he’s dead but the demon inside Angel fights back and wins. Ethan escapes, though, so I bet we haven’t seen the last of him.

New Characters: Giles’ dead friends
Favorite Quote: “Have I ever let you down?” “Should I answer that or just glare?” -Buffy and Giles
Mythology Lesson: Giles and his friends have the mark of Eyghon, a demon who gave Giles and his friend a good high when invoked.
Demon Death Count: A few vamps trying to steal blood from the hospital
Human Death Count: Giles’ friends


Thoughts So Far
Now that Spike and Drusilla have been introduced, and we know they have a past with Angel, I want more of that storyline! I’m so over the demon-of-the-week routine. Let’s dive into a Spike-Drusilla-Angel tortured love/hate triangle, with Buffy thrown in there for some Twilight-level tortured romance. Speaking of romance, where did Seth Green aka Oz go? Let’s give the crew their own lives outside of being Buffy’s research monkeys, please.


Ep. 9: What’s My Line? Part 1
The kids are taking a career test but Buffy is bitter because she already knows what she's going to be when she grows up; The Slayer. I beg to differ since being the Slayer doesn't pay the rent. She has to go to high school while being the Slayer so I think she'll still need a job.
Spike and Drusilla are back! Spike is trying to find Drusilla's cure in a book but it's in code and they must find the key.

Buffy and Angel are being all adorable which is weird because I haven't even seen them together lately, let alone cutesy coupley. Speaking of cute couples, Oz is back! He and Willow were selected by some software company big wig to be recruited at the career fair.
Buffy and Giles are onto the plan to decode this book which will unleash unspeakable evil, etc. while Spike's hired bounty hunters find their way to Sunnydale as well as a girl looking like she belongs in a TLC music video.

Buffy and Angel have their skate date but I'm not impressed. By Buffy's skating, I mean. Sorry, girl but I used to be a figure skater and you ain't got shit. But they kill an assassin and then she kisses his vamp face while TLC girl watches. And then she tries to kill Angel and speaks in a bad fake Caribbean kind of accent.
We're left with a cliffhanger of Giles and Willow in the library figuring things out, Angel locked in a cage with the sun coming up, Xander and Cordelia in Buffy's house with one of the assassins, and Buffy fighting "Kendra, the Vampire Slayer".

New Characters: Caribbean TLC girl says she's Kendra, the Vampire Slayer.
Favorite Quote: "Why are they after me?" "'Cause you're the scurge of the underworld?" "I haven't been that scurgey lately." -Willow & Buffy
Mythology Lesson: DuLac wrote a book and created a cross that is the decoder. It contains a ritual to heal a sick vampire.
Demon Death Count: 1 vamp, bounty hunter/assassin dude
Human Death Count: Buffy's neighbor invites assassin maggot demon in for free make-up samples and gets herself dead


Ep. 10: What’s My Line? Part 2
Kendra, the other Slayer, takes this Slayer thing super-serious. Friends? What are friends? Kendra and Buffy clash on their individual ways of going about Slayer business while they try to find out what happened to Angel. He didn’t “meet the sun” (Sorry, True Blood term.) because the gross bar owner dragged him into the sewer so Spike could have him for his ritual. While Xander and Cordelia are trapped in Buffy’s basement hiding from the assassin made of maggots, their fighting builds up to the point where there is no other option but to kiss. There’s a fine line between love and hate?

Kendra talks about how her parents gave her to her Watcher when she was very young to start her training, but I thought a new Slayer wasn’t “activated” until the current Slayer dies. Buffy only died (for a minute) a year ago. Kendra is the same age as Buffy, so if Buffy hadn’t died until she was much older then Kendra would have just been a Slayer-in-Training her whole life? I’m very confused by this system.

Drusilla has had some fun torturing Angel, but now it’s time for the ritual. Buffy is taken there as a hostage so Spike can have her, interrupting the ritual. Kendra and the gang bust in to help Buffy and somehow everyone significant escapes alive. How convenient.
It’s all wrapped up with Willow and Oz being adorable together, Cordelia and Xander angry kissing again, and Buffy and Kendra having a good Slayer heart-to-heart. So… what, there’s just two Slayers now? That’s okay? Buffy lives in Sunnydale because there are a lot of vampires because of the Hellmouth, but is there another vampire hot spot in whatever Caribbean country Kendra is from? I need this explained!

New Characters: We get to know the assassins sent to kill Buffy a little better. Maggot Man, Police Poser.
Favorite Quote: “Man, that guy got major neck in his day!” -Xander about Angel
Mythology Lesson: The ritual to restore Drusilla to full health involves a new moon and her sire, Angel.
Demon Death Count: Several vamps, including assassins
Human Death Count: None.


Ep. 11: Ted
Buffy’s mom has a boyfriend! Ew! Old people kissing! Willow and Xander think he’s great, but Buffy understandably is weirded out and suspicious of Ted. And, after getting to know him at mini-golf, I am more than suspicious. That bitch be crazy!

But in other love stuff, Buffy is loving being Angel’s nursemaid bandaging his wounds, and Giles goes to check on Jenny the Techno-Pagan. She is still traumatized and wants nothing to do with him. Xander and “Cordy” are still in denial of what they’re doing together, refusing to acknowledge there’s something there in front of their friends, but then going to the utility closet to make out.
I hate Ted. Even if he didn’t have that extra bit of unnatural psycho freak stuff, he is so incredibly annoying and manipulative! I’m so glad Buffy kills him after she finds him in her room at night and he threatens her and smacks her real good. She feels really guilty about it though, so the gang investigates creepy Ted and finds drugs in his cookies that makes everyone chill and loving. While they’re investigating his address and marriage certificates going back all the way to 1957, Ted shows up in Buffy’s room again. Don’t worry, he’s not a zombie just a robot. She smashes his robo-head with his precious cast iron frying pan and everything’s back to normal. Oh, and Giles and Jenny/Ms. Calendar/the Techno-Pagan are back together. Smoochie smoochie.

New Characters: Ted, mom’s boyfriend.
Favorite Quote: “Vampires are creeps.” “Yes, that’s why one slays them.” -Buffy & Giles
Mythology Lesson: Ted lived in the 50’s. When he got sick, his wife left him. So he built a robo-Ted, brought his wife home and kept her there until she died and kept bringing women like her back to replace her.
Demon Death Count: 1 vamp.
Human Death Count: Ted


Thoughts So Far
We’re finally moving away from demon-of-the-week episodes and into longer story arcs, thank you. I love the Spike, Drusilla, Angel stuff. More of those weirdos, please. I’m enjoying the show, but I’m still eagerly anticipating more of the stuff I vaguely remember like Willow being a powerful witch, Willow being a lesbian, Buffy has a little sister?, Xander and Cordelia are together?, Faith is another Slayer? Well, I’m only half way through the second season, so I better learn to be patient while all those things unfold over the next five and a half seasons...

Buffy Virgin: Season 1

Can you believe I've never really watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer? I have vague memories of watching it as a kid. I know the main characters and vampires. But I never watched it week-to-week when it was on the air. I now consider myself a Joss Whedon fan (Firefly, Dr. Horrible, The Avengers, Much Ado) but how can I say that when I have not fully experienced Buffy? Well, I'm experiencing it now! Come with me as I watch Buffy from beginning to end, making snarky comments and counting deaths.

Ep. 1: Welcome to the Hellmouth
I feel like I'm already behind because I didn't see the movie first, in which Buffy actually discovers that she is the slayer. I was expecting it to be more like the first episode of Sabrina in which she finds out she's a witch on her 16th birthday. But, since I heard that Joss wasn't happy with the movie because they changed it so far from his original script, I thought I should skip it and start with the Buffy world that Joss wanted.
First Impression: It's super cheesey and 90's. Real obvious introduction of main characters, full of high school tropes; the "cool" kids, the "weird" kids. I thought I remembered Giles as old and wise but in the first episode he's like a bumbling nervous professor type. I know most shows' first episodes don't match the vibe of the series as a whole, so I won't hold it against the show.
The episode ends with a big vampire on top of Buffy in a mausoleum (I'm guessing this won't be the only time she fights vampires in a mausoleum) and a "to be continued", so let's continue and see how she gets out of her first vampire showdown in Sunnydale.

New Characters: They're all new! Buffy bumps into Angel and doesn't even know he's a vampire. (She hasn't honed her vampy senses.) Willow is super shy and dresses like a Sister Wife. Not a witch yet, I guess. Cordelia is a too-cool-for-anything bitch. Does she become part of the friend group or stay the school bitch? Giles is not as wise and steady as I remember him. Where is your confidence, Giles? And Xander sounds like he hasn't hit puberty yet. They all, do, actually. It's hilarious. I'm not sure how long this Master guy will last, the only recurring vamps I remember are Spike, Drusilla, and Angel.
Favorite Quote: "I never said I'm not going to ever slay another vampire. It's not like I have any fluffy bunny feelings for them. I'm just not going to get real extracurricular about it." -Buffy

Mythology Lesson: "Into every generation a slayer is born: one girl in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer." Woah. That's a lot for a sixteen year old girl.
Vampire Death Count: Just one.
Human Death Count: A kid is found dead in the locker room.

Ep. 2: The Harvest
Xander and Willow officially join Giles and Buffy in Vamp club. Willow helps Giles figure out what "The Harvest" is and Xander tries to help Buffy save his friend Jesse. Well, Jesse's already a vampire and The Master has a chosen a vessel. Angel is still creeping on Buffy and Cordelia is still a bitch. I find it strange that it was so easy to avoid the end of the world. How can there be seven seasons of this show, when it's as simple as slaying a few vamps in a nightclub to avoid all Hell literally breaking loose? I guess things get more complicated when Buffy starts making friends with vampires and it's not as simple as vampires = bad.

New Characters: Cordelia's friend, Harmony. She is bad at programming class.
Favorite Quote: Willow: Oh, I-I need to sit down. Buffy: You are sitting down. Willow: Oh. Good for me.
Mythology Lesson: Once a century, there is The Harvest. The Master is trapped underground since the last time he tried to end the world, or whatever, so he chooses a vessel to feed on his behalf.
Vampire Death Count: Countless. There's a showdown at Bronze where even Xander and Willow get in on some slaying action.
Human Death Count: Zero? I must have missed some, right? I mean, it's The Harvest.

Ep. 3: Witch
Buffy's trying out for cheerleading and Giles does not approve. At cheerleading tryouts, a girls hands spontaneously combust and Buffy saves the day. It's our first non-vampire supernatural mystery! It's witchcraft! It's Amy, the girl who wants to be a cheerleader to make her mom happy. But first she has to get some cheerleaders out of the way so she can make the team. Oh, wait, it's actually Amy's crazy witch mom in Amy's body trying to relive her glory days. Also, Xander wants to ask Buffy out, which is clearly a bad idea because inter-vampire-slaying-team relationships never end well. Let's just all be friends. I'd say he should go out with cute little Willow instead but I know she ends up being a lesbian.

New Characters: Amy, the witch. Or rather her mom, the witch. In Amy's body.

Favorite Quote: "I laugh in the face of danger. And then I hide until it goes away." -Xander
Mythology Lesson: We see a little bit of witchcraft this episode including a bubbling potion, voo-doo-like dolls, and a spell book.
Vampire Death Count: No vampires this episode!
Human Death Count: Just Amy's mom. (She deserved it.)

Ep. 4: Teacher's Pet

Xander's crush on Buffy continues with a daydream of him saving her from a vampire (Saving the vampire slayer from a vampire? He has some serious alpha-male issues.) and then rocking out on the guitar. The science teacher gets killed by what looks like a giant insect. (Is this the prequel to the Ant-Man movie?) Sexy Angel shows up with another vague warning for Buffy. Sexy new science teacher shows up with an affinity for praying mantises... She's also clearly a pedophile/sexual predator. Gives me the icks. She seduces male students to help her fertilize her eggs or something gross. They kill her with bat sonar sounds. Keep that in mind if you ever need to fend off praying mantises.

New Characters: Sexy science teacher, Blayne the douchebag

Favorite Quote: Buffy: So, I'm an undead monster that can shave with my hand - How many things am I afraid of? Giles: Not many, and not substitute teachers as a rule.

Mythology Lesson: It's more of a entomology lesson. "Dr. Ferris Carlyle spent years transcribing a lost pre-Germanic language. What he discovered he kept to himself until several teenage boys were murdered in the Cotswolds. Then he went hunting for it. He calls her a She-Mantis. This type of creature, the Kleptes-Virgo, or virgin-thief, appears in many cultures. The Greek sirens, the Celtic sea maidens..."
Vampire Death Count: One in Xander's dream, a fork-handed vampire in real life.
Human Death Count: Science teacher

Thoughts So Far

Buffy has shown some of her amazing physical abilities. She's yanked open a locked gym door, did a hand stand on a bar, jumped over the school fence, and all the usual vampire/creature fighting.
I am digging the mysterious Angel. I'm looking forward to seeing how their relationship goes and at what point we find out that he's a vampire.
I can draw so many parallels between Buffy the (Teenage) Vampire Slayer and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Buffy is Sabrina, of course. Cordelia is bitch Libby. Willow is the sad friend (Jenny, Valerie, etc.). Xander is Harvey (except they stay just friends). I guess Giles is the Aunts, giving guidance.

Ep. 5: Never Kill a Boy on the First Date
The Master is back and up to his old tricks! Buffy and Giles are researching a ring a vamp left behind when Owen comes into the library (The first student not in vamp club to enter the library!) and Buffy goes all gooey over him. Commence Xander jealousy. The Master is working on a prophecy about five dying and The Anointed One, but Buffy's too busy trying to date Owen to care. Turns out dating and slaying don't mix. Buffy congratulates herself on stopping The Master's plans once again, but- surprise ending! The Anointed One was not the vampire they thought! It's a little boy! Because nothing's creepier than a demon boy.

New Characters: Owen, who reads Emily Dickenson and has a death wish.
Favorite Quote: Giles: They came after me, but I was more than a match for them. Buffy: Meaning? Giles: I hid.
Mythology Lesson: "And there will be a time of crisis, of worlds hanging in the balance. And in this time shall come the Anointed, the Master's great warrior. And the Slayer will not know him, will not stop him, and he will lead her into hell. As it is written, so it shall be. Five will die, and from their ashes the Anointed One shall rise. The Brethren of Aurelius shall greet him and usher him to his immortal destiny."
Vampire Death Count: The one in the cemetery that leaves his ring behind and the vampire they think is The Anointed One gets shoved in the crematorium oven.

Human Death Count: "Five die in van accident"

Ep. 6: The Pack
On the class field trip to the zoo, the mean kids are mean to the loser kid and then take him into the closed hyena exhibit. The hyena appears to be evil and infects the mean kids and Xander with evilness. So, Xander and the mean kids are evil hyena people, eating the school mascot pig and then the principal. The zoo keeper is very knowledgeable about the evil hyenas but turns out that he wanted the hyena evil for himself. Obviously, Buffy won't stand for that.

New Characters: The four mean kids, the loser kid, and the zoo keeper hyena expert.
Favorite Quote: "I cannot believe that you, of all people, are trying to Scully me." -Buffy

Mythology Lesson: The zoo keeper explains something about rumors of evil hyenas in Africa, Maasai warriors, and the hyenas'/demon's great power.
Vampire Death Count: No vamps, just hyena teens.
Human Death Count: Principal Flootie, zoo keeper

Ep. 7: Angel
This episode started with a "Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer..", so we know some old shit is coming back. Looks like we'll finally see what The Master intends to do with the Anointed kid, and Angel will show his beautiful face again. Angel does what Xander dreams about; saves Buffy from some vampires. And then he takes his shirt off. Thank you. Angel hides out in Buffy's room for the night. And a day. And the next night they finally kiss. But then he gets too excited and reveals his ugly vampy face and scares her. (Twilight flashbacks.) The secrets out! Now, Darla is trying to get Angel to embrace his vampness and kill Buffy, but he’s like totally in love with her. He’s only like 224 years older than her, so I’m sure it will work out.

New Characters: Darla isn't a new character, but this is the first episode that she's actually important to the plot.
Favorite Quote: "That way leads to madness and sweaty palms." -Willow
Mythology Lesson: Angel was like all the other vampires for the first hundred years of his life, until he came to America and decided to lay low. Why? Gypsies put a curse on him that gave him back his soul. Also, Darla is his maker. (Oops, is that only a True Blood term?)
Vampire Death Count: The Three (vampire assassins sent to kill Buffy but fail), Darla
Human Death Count: None!

Ep. 8: I, Robot... You, Jane
The future is now, kids! We have the technology to scan books into the computer with the Scan-O-Matic! Unfortunately, Willow uses it to unknowingly scan a book that had captured a demon, so now the demon is possessing the school’s computers. It’s seducing Willow as a seemingly innocent boy, Malcolm, through online chat and telling some computer geeks to do bad things. When Giles goes to the computer teacher with this information, she’s already down with it because she’s a “techno pagan”. (I’ll let that sink in…) As if that wasn't all crazy enough, the demon is getting computer geeks to build him a robot body, and he's kind of in love with Willow. But they manage to read the curse to trap him back in the book.

New Characters: Ms. Calendar, Computer Science teacher and Techno-Pagan
Favorite Quote: "Smell is the most powerful trigger to the memory there is. A certain flower, or a-a whiff of smoke can bring up experiences long forgotten. Books smell musty and-and-and rich. The knowledge gained from a computer is a - it, uh, it has no-no texture, no-no context. It's-it's there and then it's gone. If it's to last, then-then the getting of knowledge should be, uh, tangible, it should be, um, smelly" -Giles

Mythology Lesson: Back in 1418 in Italy, a priest or monk or something trapped Maloch in a book.
Vampire Death Count: No vamps! (One robo-demon.)
Human Death Count: Poor Dave gets killed and made to look like suicide.

Thoughts So Far
Like most first seasons of demon-of-the-week type shows, most episodes are just a silly plot with a problem that only lasts the episode. Demonic hyenas this week, cyber demons the next. We still have The Master and his Anointed kid waiting to make their move, though. And I assume Angel will be back soon to give Buffy more cryptic warnings and make her knees weak at the sight of him.

Ep. 9: The Puppet Show

It's the Annual School Talentless Show! The ventriloquist dummy is super creepy. Something is looking for flesh. The new principal is a dick and forces Buffy, Willow & Xander to come up with something for the talent show. A girl is killed by the thing wanting flesh, and then Morgan is caught talking to his dummy, or rather the dummy is caught talking. Buffy is convinced the dummy is the demon, while the rest of the team thinks it's Morgan. Plot twist! The dummy isn't a demon going after Buffy to cut out her organs, he's a demon hunter going after Buffy because he thought she was the demon! The show must go on! Who's the demon? The magician guy who is now trying to slice off Giles' head to get to his smart brains. But Buffy & gang arrive in the nick of time and the demon hunter dummy finishes his quest and rests in peace. And then Buffy, Xander and Willow perform their half-hearted play.

New Characters: Morgan, the guy with the dummy, and the demon hunter stuck in the body of a dummy.
Favorite Quote: Cordelia: "It could have been me!" Xander: "We can dream."
Mythology Lesson: Something about 7 demons and demon hunter dummy has only got 6 so far. When he finishes his mission, he will released from his wooden prison.
Vampire Death Count: No vamps! (One demon.)
Human Death Count: Emily, who loses her heart. Morgan, who loses his brain.

Ep. 10: Nightmares
It's your worst nightmare come to life! Literally. People's nightmares are coming true. All the classics like spiders, not being prepared for a test, showing up for class in your underwear, your dad blaming you for your parents' divorce, or turning into a vampire. They think a little boy in a coma has something to do with it. Buffy sees him walking around, so apparently he's brought the nightmare world into reality, including a big ugly dude that's after Billy. They figure out how to wake up little Billy and find that it was his baseball coach who put him in a coma and was represented by the scary nightmare guy. Once again, everything is back to normal in the end so we can start next episode with a clean slate.

New Characters: Billy, the coma kid.
Favorite Quote: "A dream is a wish your heart makes. This is reality." -The Master
Mythology Lesson: Astral projection is the ability to project yourself to another time and/or place while you're asleep, or in Billy's case, in a coma. It's not explained why exactly Billy is the one kid who could turn his (everyone's) nightmares into reality.
Vampire Death Count: None
Human Death Count: They only die of embarrassment this episode.

Ep. 11: Out of Mind, Out of Sight
Cordelia got herself some man candy to be King to her May Queen, or whatever the stupid dance is called. She seems to actually care about school for a moment, which seems suspicious. Or at least significant to a forthcoming subplot. And when she says "Mitch is gonna die" when he sees her in her dress, I don't think she meant literally. But that's what almost happens when someone invisible beats him with a bat. And then Cordelia's friend Harmony gets pushed down the stairs by something invisible. What's the common denominator? Cordelia. What a surprise someone invisible hates Queen Bee Cordelia. Angel is back! He's too in love with Buffy to see her, so he chats with Giles about The Master, slayer lore, and getting him an ancient book. They figure out who the invisible girl is and Buffy finds her hideout. The next victim is a teacher. It seems that the invisible girl was so invisible to everyone she actually became invisible. She also became totally crazy. She locks Giles, Xander and Willow in the boiler room filling up with gas, but our guardian Angel rescues them while Buffy fights off the invisible girl trying to give Cordelia a face to remember. And then the FBI shows up to take away invisible girl saying she'll become "a useful member of society." Very ominous. The episode ends with a classroom of invisible kids turning to Chapter 11: Assassination and Infiltration. I must say, I am way more into a show about invisible kids being trained as assassins that Buffy the Vampire not-very-often Slayer. I hope this comes back in the show.

New Characters: Mitch, Cordelia's arm candy; Marcie, the invisible girl.

Favorite Quote: Xander: Maybe it's a vampire bat.

Mythology Lesson: Xander tries to prove he is useful for research when he throws our some knowledge of Greek gods' invisibility cloaks. Giles needs the Pergamum Codex, a book of prophecies.

Vampire Death Count: No vamps, again! Vampire slayer isn't slaying many vampires lately...
Human Death Count: Several attempts, but no successful murders this time.

Ep. 12: Prophecy Girl
There's an earthquake! The end is, like, nigh. The techno-pagan (stop laughing) Computer Science teacher is back in the picture, wanting to help Giles with apocalypse stuff. Xander gets shut down by Buffy, while Willow pines for Xander. Meanwhile, Giles is translating that special book of prophecies that always come true and it says Buffy will face The Master and Buffy will die. She doesn't take the news well at first, but she comes around to accept her destiny and goes after The Master. And she dies. But then she doesn't. CPR works, kids! Willow, Giles and the techno-pagan fight off the hoards of vamps and the creature of the Hellmouth while Buffy struts across town in her pretty white prom dress on her way to The Master. She kills him fairly easily and then it's like no biggie, saved the world, might as well go to prom since everyone likes my dress. No closure. 

New Characters: None. It's the same old gang fighting the same old bad guys.

Favorite Quote: "We saved the world. I say we party." -Buffy
Mythology Lesson: The Pergamum Codex's prophecies always come true.
Vampire Death Count: When Buffy kills The Master, apparently the hoards of vamps all over the school also died.
Human Death Count: Like 8 kids in the A/V room. And Buffy, but that didn't stick.

Thoughts on Season One

What an unsatisfying season finale! Everyone has feelings that needed to be dealt with and weren't. Cordelia definitely knows about all this supernatural stuff now, but we don't get an initiation scene like Willow and Xander did. I thought for sure Giles and the techno-pagan chick would have some sort of romance thing going on. Willow never tells Xander how she feels. Buffy finaly sees Angel again but all this prophecy stuff gets in the way and they don't get a reunion "Where do we go from here?" moment. I guess I better keep going on to Season Two to see if any of these things are dealt with...

Join me next time, as I go through the first half of Season Two! If you're a Buffy fan, I welcome any suggestions as to what I should like out for (along the lines of new characters, death count, etc.) And I'll remember to get some screen shots as I watch, so my posts are a little more visual. :)