Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Rewatch & Review Part 3

Season 2!

02.01 When She Was Bad

Rating: 4/5

Quote:

Giles: “I must consult my books.”

Xander: “Oh, 8 minutes and 33 seconds, pay up! ...I called 10 minutes before you’d consult your books about something.”

Xander: “Well we could grind our enemies into talcum powder with a sledge hammer, but… gosh we did that last night.”

Review:

The return of the Slayer to quiet Sunnydale after a nice long Summer break and complete traumatic stress on the part of Buffy means for some intense vampire bashing. Fun times.

02.02 Some Assembly Required

Rating: 3/5

Quote:

Xander: “So, this ‘chair woman’, we are talking about Miss Calendar, right?”

Giles: “What makes you say that?”

Xander: “Simple deduction. Miss Calendar is reasonably doll-some. Especially for someone in your age bracket. She already knows that you’re a school librarian, so you don’t have to worry about how to break that embarrassing news to her.”

Buffy: “And she’s the only woman we’ve actually ever seen speak to you. Add it up, it all spells ‘duh’.”

Xander: “Now, is it time to have a talk about the facts of life?”

Review:

Bit of an ew factor to this one (though nothing at all compared to, say, Game of Thrones season 7 so far). A fairly average episode in terms of storyline and not really any overarching/long term stuff going on, but it does have a fair amount of Whedonisms!

02.03 School Hard

Rating: 4/5

Quote:

Spike: “How’s the annoying one?” [referring to the Anointed one]
Drusilla: “He doesn’t want to play.”

Review:

First half of this episode is a bit slow but then, yep, that’s right, it’s the first episode featuring Spike and Drusilla! Definitely fan favourites and some of the best characters on the show in the long run. Plus Spike’s introduction is badass!

02.04 Inca Mummy Girl

Rating: 3.5/5

Quote:

Ampata: “...I like you too.”
Xander: “Really?”
Ampata: “Really.”
Xander: “That’s great. Really?”
Ampata: “Really!”
Xander: “That’s great! ...you’re not a praying mantis are you?”
*Awkward pause*
Xander: “Sorry. Someone else.”

Where do I know that face from?

Seth Green appears as Oz for the first time in this episode! A very small role here, but soon to become an ongoing character. You might know him from Austin Powers as Scott, Dr. Evil’s son, or from action movie The Italian Job, or you may recognize his voice because of Robot Chicken and, of course, Chris Griffin (and various other roles) in Family Guy!

Review:

A relatively simple, yet fun episode. Poor Xander’s dating life though, that’s all I can say without too much spoilerific detail. For a change, I’m fairly sure there was actually not a single vampire in this episode. It does happen!

02.05 Reptile Boy

Rating: 2.5/5

Quote:

Buffy: “Right! Who needs a social life when you’ve got your very own Hellmouth?”
Giles: “Yes! You have a duty, a purpose. You have a commitment in life. Now how many people your age can say that?”

Review:

Much like Season 1 Episode 8 I, Robot, You Jane, this episode also tries to teach us the dangers, in this case, of drinking alcohol, going to parties and joining frats. Oh also of worshiping ancient creatures and relying on them for wealth and power.

02.06 Halloween

Rating: 5/5

Quote:

Cordelia: “So what’s his story anyway, I mean, I never see him around.”
Willow: “Not during the day, anyway.”
Cordelia: “Oh, please. Don’t tell me he still lives at home, like he has to wait for his dad to get back before he can take the car?”
Buffy: “Cordelia, I think his parents have been dead for a couple hundred years…”
Cordelia: “Oh, good… I mean, what?”
Buffy: “Angel’s a vampire… I thought you knew.”
Cordelia (sarcastic): “Oh, he’s a vampire? Of course. But the cuddly kind, like a care bear with fangs?”

Review:

I love this one! Halloween specials are great, and this is definitely among the best. Characters turning into whatever costumes they happen to be wearing? Hilarity follows! And Willow & Xander get to have some more badass moments too.