We know the world didn't end, cuz ... check it out: Season Two in Review

Series Stats:

Dead Humans - 49

Dead Undeads - 66

Dead Flashbacks - 5

Giles Unconscious - 8

Giles Cleans His Glasses - 6

Buffy Breaks a Door - 11*

Evil Reveal - 26

Unevil Reveal - 8

Shenanigans Called - 51

Apocalypse Called - 4

Season Two Stats (including comparison to previous season):

Dead Humans - 27 (+5)

Dead Undeads - 45 (+24)

Dead Flashbacks - 5 (news stat)

Giles Unconscious - 4 (=)

Giles Cleans His Glasses - 5 (+4)

Buffy Breaks a Door - 5 (-1)*

Evil Reveal - 17 (+8)

Unevil Reveal - 5 (+2)

Shenanigans Called - 26 (+1)

Apocalypse Called - 2 (=)

Zelda's Thoughts:

Season Two is when they really started bringing arc to the show, and it was enormously satisfying. In Season One we had a lot of set up, monsters of the week, and character pieces, but the main throughlines (beyond Willow's and Xander's growing competence in the slayage world) was Angel-is-a-vampire-but-also-hot and The-Master-is-evil-and-stuff. Here, a lot of things were set up and followed through in really satisfying ways. Giles, Willow and Xander all got romantic partners, Willow started exploring the magics, Amy starting witching about too, everyone got their heart broken in some shape or other, Oz arrived and became a werewolf, Larry was gay, Jonathan was nebbishy (and EMMY WINNING, wait that happened now, not then), Spike arrived and was just a new brand of awesome, and, most importantly, Buffy's and Angel's relationship steadily progressed in intensity, leading to the sexes and the soullessness...es. Season Two is definitely one of my favorite seasons - I think the emotionally arc tracks extremely well and organically, and is still effective years later. It gives me Spike, whom we all know I love. It gives us Angelus, who will always be loads more fun than Angel (for both DB and for us, I suspect). The season overall is very strong, and there are some stellar individual episodes as well. Which is probably why I keep forgetting (and am surprised by) the BAD episodes here. Inca Mummy Girl, Reptile Boy, Go Fish - though each contain some funny, I dread the rewatch on all three of these. Sometimes it's just because the metaphor is too preachy/overdone, but sometimes (mostly?) it just feels like bad writing - the funny isn't funny enough, the poignant isn't poignant enough, and I can't be made to care.

But then ... oh, but then ... there is Buffy's sad crumpling face, in Innocence or in Becoming Part 2. There is her small childlike voice asking "Angel?" in I Only Have Eyes For You. There is Buffy with the rocket launcher. There is Spike disposing of the Annoying One. There is Oz falling in love with Willow, over and over again. There is Buffy asking Giles to lie to her about adulthood. There is beautiful, wonderful Giles with the roses in Passion, and in the factory afterward. And yes, there is Sarah McLachlan.

And damn, Season Two is good. I can't wait for Season Three.

Come back, Buffy!

*Stats updated to reflect the door Buffy broke in Bad Eggs.


*******************SHAMELESS PLUG*******************
Zelda's book of short stories, This Is What They Made It Out Of: tales from the end of the world, is now available on Amazon Kindle. Get your copy today!