Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode-by-episode: Season 7, Episode 22: Chosen

All three of those episodes were pretty good, though I agree that the fight with the robot left something to be desired.

And I never noticed that Willow had a picture of Giles in her locker.

 

Guns are used sparingly in Buffy, as she doesn't have vampire-like immortality where bullets are concerned. That said, there are several episodes where guns are used:

the werewolf hunter used a hunting rifle in season 2's Phases;

the fake cop/ bonty hunter shot at Buffy (and hit Oz) with an automatic pistol in the second episode of What's My Line? (they could never do that today, shooting a gun in school is a no-no now);

in season 3's Homecoming, the two German bounty hunters have M16 assault rifles (which they kill each other with), and the hunter nick-named Daniel Boone has a hunting rife (iirc);

season 3's Earshot has whats-his-name with a rifle (but he turns out to be trying to kill only himself);

the Watcher's council death squad was probably packing guns in Who Am I?, but I don't remember for sure.

There are probably more, but those are the ones off the top of my head.

 

108: I Robot You Jane

- First appearance of Jenny Calendar! Great character that bring us some great Giles moments.
- The plot here is not particularly memorable to me, but my love for Willow blinds me from any hate. I can ignore the plot, focus on character and be totally happy.
- Robot Moloch is really too cheesy for me, strangely it didn?t bother me at all when I originally watched the episode.
- Over the years I?ve seen a lot of criticisms regarding this episode, but I always found it reasonably decent. Especially if evaluated in context with the rest of season 1. I?m sure part of the reason I like it is that it?s the first episode where Alyson Hannigan is front and center though.

C +

 

Season 1, Episode 9: The Puppet Show

Writers: Rob Des Hotel/Dean Batali

Director: Ellen S. Pressman

The new principal forces Giles to run Sunnydale High's annual talent show, and Buffy, Willow and Xander have to perform against their will. As if this isn't bad enough, things go further awry when one of the talent show participants is found with her heart removed. Buffy and the gang race against the clock to find the killer, and all the clues point to Morgan and his ventriloquist dummy.

I like this one. I think having Sid turn out to be a Demon Hunter was a nice little twist on the "Evil Doll" idea. And Sid is kind of a fun character too, made me sad that he had to die, would have been a nice occaisional drop in character. Some good humor in this episode, from the lack of talent among Sunnydale students. We also get our introduction ot Snyder, who's an evil little troll from his very appearence on screen. The true highlight of this episode though, is only on the DVD. Buffy, Xander and Willow's dramatic scene is played over the credits, and its pure gold.

Snyder: My predecessor, Mr. Flutie, may have gone it for all that touchy-feely relating nonsense, but he was eaten. You're in my world now and Sunnydale has touched and felt for the last time.

Buffy: What am I gonna do, slay vampires on stage?
Willow: Maybe in a funny way.

Principal Snyder: I know Principal Flutie would have said, "Kids need understanding. Kids are human beings." That's the kind of wooly-headed liberal thinking that leads to being eaten.

 

Oh wow... I didn't know this thread existed.

I shall be following and frequently posting in this!

 

109: The Puppet Show

- Love Cordelia singing.
- Principal Snyder. An awesome character from his very first scene. He?s at least more memorable and interesting than Flutie ever was.
- I agree with Buffy, ventriloquist dummies are creepy.
- Love Giles making Cordelia leave him alone by implying that something?s wrong with her hair. Xander being the brains behind it is an additional nice touch.
- This episode, besides having lots of funny, actually functions pretty well narratively. The misdirection that Morgan and/or Sid is the culprit is quite cleverly laid out. The surprise that Sid is actually a human demon hunter trapped in the dummy works nicely.
- Xander playing around with the dummy is strangely hilarious: ?REDRUM! REDRUM!?
- Sid the dummy is a great character. His description of Buffy is awesomely delivered: ?Strong, athletic, limber? nubile??
- Great ending to this one. The curtain opening as the gang?s onstage just having defeated the demon is great, as is Buffy, Xander and Willow doing their dramatic scene during the closing credits.
- All in all a solid episode.

B

 

?Strong, athletic, limber? nubile??

 

Loved the scene during the credits where they're acting out Oedipus Rex. FTR, the first two seasons of Buffy are on Hulu.com and they do include this scene which is how I saw it.

I also love the fact that in Season Four of Angel when Cordelia is singing for Lorne, she once again sings "Greatest Love of All" and it's just as hilariously bad. It was a nice touch.

 

The Puppet Show is one of my favourite Buffys, and one of the best from season 1.

I think this was the episode where I realised that to get the best out of Buffy, you needed to see the episode more than once. From this point on I made sure to record the episodes.

 

Season 1, Episode 10: Nightmares

Writers: Joss Whedon/David Greenwalt

Director: Bruce Seth Green

When strange things start happening to the students at Sunnydale High, it seems that everyone is living their worst nightmares. Buffy and the gang must hold together to stop the phenomena before reality and the nightmare world become one.

A solid episode. They do a decent job of presenting the nightmares of the characters. Most of it works, especially the more subduded nightmares, before things get going in full throttle. I like Giles getting lost in his own stacks, and the scene with Buffy and her Dad is very well done, and very tough to watch. Also, I'm kind of with Xander, Vampire Buffy is still hot, and there's a sucking joke to made here, but I think it would get me banned. All in all, a solid episode, nothing really bad here, though I do think the idea was done more effectively in Fear Itself.

Buffy: This isn't real. You can't be free!
The Master: You still don't understand, do you? I am free because you fear it. Because you fear it, the world is crumbling. Your nightmares are made flesh.

Vampire Buffy (to The Ugly Man): Scary. But there are a lot scarier things out there than you... and I'm one of them.

Oh yeah, quick note, I'm out of town and away from a computer tommorow and probably most of wednesday, so it may be a couple days till the next episode.

 

As for the sucking joke, I don't think it would cause a ban.

Or maybe not.

 

And...double post.

 

110: Nightmares

- Nice and creepy opening scene.
- The first time I watched this episode several years ago now, I initially got Billy confused with the Anointed one. They probably shouldn?t have had The Anointed in this episode, since it becomes unnecessary complicated with two creepy kids in the same episode.
- ?We?ll find, you?ll slay, we?ll party!?
- This episode got a great premise with nightmares bleeding into reality. It?s a great look into our main characters greatest fears and sets up some fantastic sequences.
- Every child of divorce has a fear that it was because of them and the scene with Buffy and her father where he in fact tells her this is heartbreaking. Sarah Michelle Gellar does a great job there and the scene is very powerful.
- The nightmare version of Billy?s coach is very effectively creepy.
- Speaking of frightening, the Xander chasing clown is pretty terrifying as well. That might be because I don?t like clowns though. The laughing is what really creeps me out.
- Giles great nightmare being Buffy being dead is very telling.
- Vampire Buffy is pretty hot. [obligatory sucking comment ]
- Seeing Buffy?s dad at the end actually being happy to see her is a great ending.
- In conclusion, the best episode of the show yet.

A -

 

Season 1, Episode 11: Out of Mind, Out of Sight

Writers: Joss Whedon/Thomas A. Swyden/Ashley Gable

Director: Reza Badiyi

An invisible force is attacking the students and teachers at Sunnydale High. Buffy and the gang must find a way to stop this unseen menace, and determine why it seems to be centering its attacks on Cordelia.

Another good episode, after an uneven start, the show has really found its footing as we come to the end of season 1, plus this is the episode where Cordelia begins her transformation into a member of the Scoobies. This is the first time she comes to Buffy for help, and the first time she seems like an actual member of the cast, and not just there for some comic relief. They use the Invisible Girl idea here effectively, and Marci is fairly creepy. They also do a good job of making us feel a bit sorry for her. There's a nice little turn here, we start out the episode on Marci's side, and finish the episode on Cordelia's side. This is a good episode that leads nicely into the finale.

Willow: (reading Marcie's yearbook) Oh, my God! "Have a nice summer." "Have a nice summer." This girl had no friends at all.
Giles: Uh, once again I teeter at the precipice of the generation gap.
Buffy: "Have a nice summer" is what you write when you have nothing to say.
Xander: It's the kiss of death
Buffy: You guys didn't know Marcie Ross?
Xander: Never met her. Why?
Buffy: 'Cause you both wrote it, too.
Xander: (reading Marcie's yearbook) "Have a nice..." Yeesh!
Willow: Where am I? Oh. "Have a great summer." See, I cared!


Cordelia: So, are you saying she's invisible because she's so unpopular?
Buffy: That about sums it up.
Cordelia: Bummer for her. It's awful to feel that lonely.
Buffy: Hmm. So you've read something about the feeling?
Cordelia: Hey! You think I'm never lonely because I'm so cute and popular? I can be surrounded by people and be completely alone. It's not like any of them really know me. I don't even know if they like me half the time. People just want to be in a popular zone. Sometimes when I talk, everyone's so busy agreeing with me, they don't hear a word I say.
Buffy: Well, if you feel so alone, then why do you work so hard at being popular?
Cordelia: Well, it beats being alone all by yourself.

 

111: Out of Mind Out of Sight

- Yay, Harmony?s back! And more awesome stuff with Snyder as well, his fear of the school being sued is great.
- I like the premise here (girl being ignored to the point that she actually turns invisible) but I think the execution of it could?ve been better. The flashbacks to Cordelia and her gang consistently ignoring Marcie are pretty effective though?
- We get our first Giles and Angel scene here. I like how obviously uncomfortable they are around each other. The scene itself is all about set up for the finale of course.
- The episode is a little too slow and meandering for my taste. There are several individual pieces I like, but it doesn?t come together as well as I?d like.
- This episode gives us our first extended look at Cordelia. Here, she goes beyond just being bitchy and self centered and actually shows some depth. I like that she?s smart enough to know to go to Buffy for help.
- Cordelia?s scene with Buffy where she talks about feeling lonely herself is really quite nice; Charisma Carpenter does a great job there.
- How did Marcie get Buffy and Cordelia from the school to the Bronze?
- The ending is nothing spectacular, but I do like Angel saving Giles, Willow and Xander.
- The FBI guys coming in at the end is a little too X-files-y for my taste?
- So not a great episode, but not really a bad one either. It helps that the episode is the first to make Cordelia an actual person rather than a caricature.

B -

 

Sorry about the late title change, folks...not my fault [mutter, mutter, mutter]

 

Actually, if you think about how big of a character Cordelia became on Angel, this was a big turning point in the course of the franchise, this being the first time Cordelia goes to Buffy for help.

 

Season 1, Episode 12: Prophecy Girl

Writer: Joss Whedon

Director: Joss Whedon

Giles discovers an ancient prophecy which states that Buffy will face The Master and she will die. Upon hearing this, Buffy breaks down and tries to quit her Slayer duties. But when vampires massacre a group of students on campus, she realizes that she must face her destiny in order to save her friends... and the world.

The first episode to be written and directed by Joss Whedon, and it shows. This episode just seems different, this is easily the best episode of the 1st season by far, and in my opinion, one of the ten best of the entire series. From Buffy's opening slow motion fight with a vampire to the final battle in the library, we also get the resumption of the Buffy/Xander plot line, and Joss handles it well. I like Willow then turning down Xander when he asks her to go to the dance with him. Oh yeah, Buffy dies, which has a slight bearing on the next few seasons. This is an outstanding episode.

Xander: How can I say this clearly? I don't like you. At the end of the day, I pretty much think you're a vampire. But Buffy's got this big old yen for you. She thinks you're a real person. And right now I need you to prove her right.
Angel: You're in love with her.
Xander: Aren't you?


Buffy: It doesn't matter as long as you're okay.
Willow: I'm not okay. I knew those guys. I go to that room every day. And when I walked in there, it... it wasn't our world anymore. They made it theirs. And they had fun.

The Master: You were destined to die! It was written!
Buffy: What can I say? I flunked the written.

(Sorry for the long quote here, but I love this entire exchange)

Giles: Listen. Some prophecies are, are a bit dodgy. They're, they're
mutable. Buffy herself has, has thwarted them time and time again, but
this is the Codex. There is nothing in it that does not come to pass.
Angel: Then you're reading it wrong.
Giles: I wish to God I were! But it's very plain! Tomorrow night Buffy
will face the Master, and she will die.
Angel: Well, have you verified the text?
*Buffy laughs, Giles and Angel see her*
Buffy: So that's it, huh? I remember the drill. One Slayer dies, next
one's called. Wonder who she is. (to Giles) Will you train her? Or will
they send someone else?
Giles: Buffy, I...
Buffy: They say how he's gonna kill me? Do you think it'll hurt?
*Angel tries to hug her, but she puts up her hands and quickly steps away.*
Buffy: Don't touch me! (to Giles) Were you even gonna tell me?
Giles: I was hoping that I wouldn't have to. That there was... some way
around it. I...
Buffy: I've got a way around it. I quit.
Angel: It's not that simple.
Buffy: I'm making it that simple. I quit. I resign, I-I'm fired, you
can find someone else to stop the Master from taking over.
Giles: I'm not sure that anyone else can. All the... the signs
indicate...
Buffy: The signs? (throws a book at him) READ ME THE SIGNS! (throws
another one) TELL ME MY FORTUNE! YOU'RE SO USEFUL SITTING HERE WITH ALL
YOUR BOOKS! YOU'RE REALLY A LOTTA HELP!
Giles: No, I don't suppose I am.
Angel: I know this is hard.
Buffy: What do you know about this? You're never gonna die!
Angel: You think I want anything to happen to you? Do you think I could
stand it? We just gotta figure out a way...
Buffy: I already did. I quit, remember? Pay attention!
Giles: Buffy, if the Master rises...
Buffy: (yanks the cross from her neck) I don't care! (calms down) I
don't care. Giles, I'm sixteen years old. I don't wanna die.

 

112: Prophecy Girl

- Good teaser. Sets up the rest of the episode nicely for all our main characters.
- What do you think, 5,1?? ? hee
- ?Written and directed by Joss Whedon? ? yay! This the first time we get to see those gorgeous words.
- Xander asking Buffy out is such a painful thing to watch. I love it though. Good job, both actors!
- Anthony Stewart Head really sells Giles? desperation that Buffy is prophesized to die.
- Sarah Michelle Gellar plays Buffy finding out she?s gonna die almost perfectly. The initial laughter bugs me a tiny little bit. But when she says she quits I?m practically in tears.
- ?I?m sixteen years old. I don?t want to die.?
- Xander on his bed listening to ?I fall to pieces? is a genius comic juxtaposition to the high drama of the previous Buffy scene. When that shot comes up, I need the relief so much that I can?t help but laugh.
- I know my onslaught of love for this episode is getting repetitive, but this is easily my favorite episode from the first season.
- Even Joyce gets a great scene here when she comforts Buffy.
- Willlow: ?I?m furious.? ? hee
- How gorgeous is Sarah Michelle Gellar in that white dress?
- The first big bad of the show being the oldest vampire ?alive? is very appropriate I think.
- The Master feeding on Buffy is a great shocker.
- More good stuff with Cordelia, I like her being involved in the final battle.
- The theme song kicking in for the first and only time in the actual show is a classic moment!
- ?What can I say, I flunked the written.?
- My only criticism of this one is that it ends very abruptly. It could have needed a few more minutes of wrap up after the Master dies. I do like that slow piano version of the main theme that is underscoring that final scene though?
- All in all an awesome piece of television.

A

 

112 Prophecy Girl

Willow: "Buffy's not here. You can practice on me some more!"

The Master: "This is a sign...we are in the final days...my time has come...Glory Glory!. What do you think, 5.1?"

Buffy: "Fine. I can't put it off any longer. I got to meet my terrible fate"
Giles: "What?!?"
Buffy: "Biology"

Buffy: "Xander, you're one of my best friends, you and Willow."
Xander: "Well Willow isn't looking to date you. Or if she is she's playing it pretty close to the chest"

Xander: "On a scale of 1 to 10, it sucked."

Giles: "I made up my mind."
Buffy: "So have I."
Giles: "I made mine up first...I'm older and wiser than you...Just do what you're told, for once. All right?"


The slow version of the theme song during the aftermath of the battle is a nice touch.

Overall, I'd give this episode an A-. A few points taken off for the Master. He's not one of my favorite bad guys and in this episode he is too much like the vamp from the movie with the hypnosis crap. And what is with the three-headed Audrey II springing from the hellmouth?

 

well, one could think that there would be more friction between him and Joyce created when she finds out Buffy is the slayer. Now, she knows why Buffy is always in trouble, and what the problem with her has always been. Her father doesn't, and he may still be making comments about her, and especially during the Summer when Buffy is wanted for murder, expelled, and run away to L.A., that could have led to some fights between the parents, and maybe her father, not knowing what the problem with Buffy is, to pull away from her and leave her life.

 

Also; Buffy actually became an adult.

I always saw it as Buffy pulling away as she got older and there was no obvious expectation that they should spend time together. I think Buffy, when she doesn't blame herself, blames her father for breaking up the family. So when she gets older and there is no obvious need for the father the relationship pretty much just stops.

Of course, that probably makes less sense when throwing Dawn into the mix.

 

Season 2, Episode 1: When She Was Bad

Writer: Joss Whedon

Director: Joss Whedon

Buffy returns from summer vacation with a "major attitude" and recurring nightmares involving the Master, even as the Anointed One and his followers plot their revenge.

This is an episode that might not be as good on first viewing, but when you re-watch it after having seen the entire second season, you see a better episode. One big reason, foreshadowing. Joss sets up a whole lot of what's going to happen in the upcoming season in this episode, there's a lot going on here that might not be quite as evident the first time through. Plus, I like that they actually have Buffy suffer with some issues due to the events of last season. Too many shows have their characters go through major, life changing experiences, then when we come back the next season, everything's back to normal, and everyone is completely the same. This is the first real sign we get that Joss is going have these characters grow, and develop, that the events around them, shape them and change them.

Snyder: That Summers girl. I smell trouble. I smell expulsion and just the faintest aroma of jail.
Giles: Well, before you throw away the key, you might consider giving
her the benefit of the doubt. She may surprise you.
Snyder: You really have faith in those kids, don't you?
Giles: Yes, I do.
Snyder: Weird.


Buffy: What happened?
Xander: Vampires. The ones you could handle yourself.
Buffy: Where are the others?
Xander: I don't know. I don't know what your problem is, what your issues are. But as of now, I officially don't care. If you had worked with us for five seconds, you could have stopped this.
Buffy: We, we just have to think. Where would they have
taken them?
Xander: If they hurt Willow, I'll kill you.


Xander: So, we Bronzin' it tonight?
Willow: Wednesday, it's kinda beat.
Xander: Well, we could grind our enemies into talcum powder with a sledgehammer, but, gosh, we did that last night.

 

201: When She Was Bad

- Great teaser. Alyson Hannigan continues her awesomeness and is more adorable than ever.
- Lots of introductory exposition that reestablishes what the various characters are all about. It?s all fairly seamless though.
- The dream sequence with Giles turning out to be the Master is a neat little shocker. Good writing, in that just prior to Giles arriving, they talk about dreams and Xander even says that ?dreams are meaningful?
- Buffy?s attitude in this gets a little tiring from a viewer?s perspective, but I like that the episode gives us the epilogue to the first season finale that I felt was needed there.
- Cordelia continues her slow integration into the gang; she knows their secret and she?s actually (somewhat) open to talking with them. I especially like her being the one to call Buffy out on her ?Joan Collins-tude?.
- ?A bitca?? - hee
- Lots of fantastic Snyder lines here?
- I like that there?s obvious consequences to how Buffy treats everybody in this one.
- Okay episode, if possibly a little disappointing for a season premiere. It works better in retrospect than it did on initial viewing: lots of foreshadowing and setup for later.

B