Welcome to SlayerFest '98

Episode 3.5: Homecoming. Original Airdate 11.3.98




As Buffy and Cordelia vie for Homecoming Queen, a group of killers gathers to participate in SlayerFest '98.

Daniel's Thoughts:

• Cordelia Episode! Cordy Episode!
• Hey Scott Hope's last episode! (I'll miss you, Scott!)
• "Has Scott not asked you yet?"  Oh Cordy.  Tactless as always.
• Awkward kiss...  He's just not that into you, girl.
• Angel is still a bit rabid but he's clothed now.  He still doesn't know how to button his shirt, it seems...so that's good.
• Buffy admits to Angel that she hasn't told anyone.  So now I can hold Angel as accountable as Buffy for not encouraging her to tell Giles.
• Aww, Scott has finally accepted himself and is dumping Buffy.  Poor Buffy.  But good for you, Scott.  (I'm here if you want to talk about it, Scott!)
• Scary hot German twins!  Did we just switch the channel to porn?
• Why are they using binoculars if they have her on a camera feed?  Seems pointless. [I thought the camera feed was coming through the binoculars? They plug a wire into them. - Z]
• Ian Ambercrombie!  RIP!  He died just last year.
• First time with the Mayor.  Some say he's just a retread of the Master with the goofy sense of humor, etc...but I disagree.
• And Alan Finch!  (Openly gay actor - he does drag a whole bunch, too.)
• And right away, we're introduced to the Mayor's germaphobia.  
• I love the HS pictures.  

Poor Willow

And Oz's pic is just him being stoic as usual.

• Eliza Dushku has the oddest gestures.
• I'm glad they followed up on Principal Snyder's demands of getting a glowing recommendation. (Not from a British Librarian).
• SHENANIGANS! "contemporary American Heroes from Amelia Earhart to Maya Angelou"...is a high school course?  A junior's high school course? For a HS junior that doesn't exactly excel in school?   I can see it being offered to students like Willow as pre-college credit but it's not a standard HS class and Buffy would never.
• Fiesta Queen? Heh.
• I like that this show takes the time (sometimes) to actually remember that they are in high school.
• Shut up, Mr. Trick!
• Slayerfest '98!  Whoo hoo!
• Ugh.  I hate this. I hate the Willow/Xander thing that transpires in the next three episodes so much.  It just doesn't make sense to me as anything other than a plot device to cause drama.  Willow, sure - MAYBE.  She's always had a thing for Xander. But that was before she met Oz.  Wonderful Oz!  I feel like her crush on Xander was mostly because he was basically her only friend.  And I know she loves him as a friend and will always.  But she has cool Oz now.  And he has Cordelia.  So why now?  Because they're all dressed up in formal wear?  Bullshit.  The "moment" is pure contrived bullshit.  I would have bought this way back in the beginning of Season 2 with the whole ice cream on the nose thing.  The two were gelling, then.  But now?  No.  /rant  
• I love how serious Buffy is about running for homecoming queen.  It's also interesting that she assumes her friends are going to help her instead of Cordelia.
• "As Willow goes, so goes my nation".  Oh, Oz.
• The campaigning montage mixed with the assassin training montage is brilliant.
• Getting Scott's sympathy vote...nice.  I guess she's over him. (I'll always be there for you, Scott!)
• Oh, manipulative Buffy!
• "You crazy freak!"//"Vapid whore!"  Awesome!  I'm also siding with Cordy here.  Don't hate me. [I'm not. Don't hate me either. - Z]
• And willow and Xander are continuing to flirt stupidly:

tea length is a strange length

• Cordelia's dress is prettier than Buffy's.
• Buffy looks like she's going to a dance in the 50s.
• What...is that TV plugged into?
• I love Devon's 90s grungy voice.
• Oh Scott.  You dumped Buffy to take another girl to homecoming? (There's always college experimentation, Scott!)
• Giles made a joke!  He's pretty useless in this episode, may as well make him fun.
• I love that one of the extras is wearing a tuxedo t-shirt.
• Good thing there was that abandoned CABIN IN THE WOODS. 
• The whole spatula/telephone conversation between Buffy & Cordy is so good.  These two have really good chemistry and should have had more to do together.  
• The abandoned cabin in the woods has a working phone? Really?
• I looked up the German twins on IMDB.  They only have this one credit to their name.  But hey, look at this.
• I love Ian Abercrombie's Tron-type tracking device.

Clever quote from Tron. Hilarity!

• So the Gorches' plan was to just...wait in the library?
• There are wooden spatulas?
• I love Cordelia's speech to Lyle and that look is priceless.

Don't fuck with the Lords of Hell?
Don't fuck with the Cordelia!

• So this is Lyle's second episode of Buffy and he doesn't die.  I'm surprised they never bring him back.
• "Long story"//"Got Hunted"//"Apparently not that long"  Repeated joke but always a good one.
• And we have a tie! Buffy and Cordelia??  No! Fake out!

Zelda's Thoughts:

• I would just like to point out that, as promised by Daniel here, we are eating empanadas as we watch. And they are delicious.
• Buffy's hair was so pretty in season three.
• Angel learned how to put on a shirt again. That's progress. Though he hasn't learned how to button it closed.
• I dunno, if I were Angel, I wouldn't really want to hang out in the mansion where I was evil and also died. What happened to that museum-style apartment?
• "It hurts ... less." Good line, good delivery (I KNOW, Zelda said something nice about DB, we're confused, too.)
• I'm glad Angel seems to be feeling remorsey about Giles. As he should.
• Scott, you're such a dickwad. This breakup makes very little sense, except for reasons of plot.
• I do not like your shirt, Buffy.
• Look at these hi-tech German boys with their fancy binoculars.
• omfg I love Harry Groener so much.
• Deputy Alan looks alarmingly like Sheriff Rick.

Right??? Right???

• "Dirt gets trapped there. And germs. And mayonnaise."
• The Mayor refers to his mother, who never caught a cold. Is that cuz ... she's a demon?
• That's a terrible school photo, Xander. Also Willow. But Oz? Perfect.
• Cordy's earrings are crosses.
• Booooooo, Cordy, not telling Buffy about pictures like you said you would, booooooooo.
• And Buffy, post training, looks supercute today too!
• Our senior yearbook photos were done in August before the school year started, not during the day. Buffy would have missed ours, too.
• "It involves being part of this school" - it's actually a very good point Cordelia makes, and it's a goal Buffy will eventually achieve this year in a really satisfying way.
• Willow has one of those folding screens. I was about to type that I'm jealous, until I remembered that I have one, too; we use to to separate the kitchen from the living room. New York living, baby!
• I think our homecoming dance was slightly less formal - we kept the tuxedos for prom, I think just regular suits for homecoming. ... Not that I ever actually went to homecoming, now I think on it.
• Xander does look pretty good in his tux. Willow's dress is kind of dull though.
• I know Daniel has stuff to say about the Willow/Xander kissage, so I'll just leave it at: NO. STOP. LOOK AT YOUR LIFE. LOOK AT YOUR CHOICES. STOP. STAAAAAHP.
• I lied, I have one thing to say: on a lot of teen-geared TV shows, we're expected to root for the shy girl who pines after the boy and then finally gets him (I'm looking at you, Joey Potter, and I am not pleased), and I feel like this is playing into that trope, and maybe a tiny bit of my memory from first 'shipping them was gratified, the first time around, but no - not cool. They're both in relationships now, and Oz is the best, and they should both know better.
• Buffy's strategy board is awesome.

Can we just point out that Xander is listed under Cordy's weaknesses?

• Oh Buffster, read your audience. They are feeling very awkward.
• I like the montage song ("Fire Escape" by Fastball, for anyone who cares)
• It's nice to see Buffy being good at campaigning. Because she has done this before; she's not inept.
• Staaaaaaaaaahp Xander. Staaaaaaaaahp, Willow.
• Cordelia looks amazing.
• Shenanigans! Cordelia has never had a sallow tint to her skin.
• Wow, Scott Hope, you took another girl to Homecoming? Such a douchenozzle. [He's struggling!  Leave my Scott alone! - D]
• I dunno, Buff, I don't think I'd like wearing a corsage on my heiny.
• "A telephone? And you didn't think that'd be helpful?" // "No this is better for ... (swats the air with spatula) oh."

• Buffy has to be veddy careful with humans hunting her, because she's not supposed to kill humans.
• "This is all I do. This is what my life is.You couldn't understand. I just thought ... Homecoming Queen....I could pick up a yearbook someday and say, 'I was there. I went to high school, I had friends, and ... for one moment, I got to live in the world.' And there'd be proof. Proof that I was chosen for something other than this." Again, this speech will have such a gratifying payoff in The Prom. (And, of course, in Chosen)
• Bless, Cordy, just swatting at Yellow Spiny Demon with your spatula.
• Oh man, YSD jumping at the window and bouncing right back on the floor had me laaaaaaaaaaaaughing.
• Giles is unconscious! Yay! I mean, not YAY, but yay for our stats.
• Haha Trick got arrested. ARRESTED. I freaking love the Mayor.
• So YSD blew up, Random Human Hunter got bear-trapped but didn't die, the Germans blow each other up, Trick gets arrested, Lyle runs away after his wife gets spatula'd ... what happens to Ian Abercrombie?
• "The children are our future. We need them. I need them." To eeeeeeeeeeeat.
• The Mayor: someone even vampires fear.
• I remember, my first time watching it, feeling really gratified that not only is there a tie, but that neither Cordy nor Buffy are a part of it. Really fun cliche-buster.
• Love Oz's retro tux.
• Over the black credits screen: "I promised myself I wasn't gonna cry."

Discussion Question

At this point in the series, did we already know the Mayor is evil before he hires Mr. Trick? Is that an evil reveal? We can't remember anymore when we didn't know, because we're old and stuff. Snyder has invoked his name in evilish ways ("Tell the Mayor I have good news"), but so has Joyce in non-evilish ways. Zelda thinks it might count as an Evil Reveal when he wants to hire Trick rather than eliminate him, but her doubts are enough that it's not currently in our stats.

Favorite Lines: 

Daniel: "The point is, I haven't even broken a sweat. See, in the end Buffy's just the runner-up. I'm the Queen.  You get me mad?  What do you think I'm going to do to you?" - Cordelia

Zelda: "We have to find Buffy. Something terrible's happened. Just kidding. Thought I'd give you a scare. Are those finger sandwiches?" Giles, you are so my spirit animal.

90s Factoids:

Dial-up Modem

Box TV and VCR

Buffy's rocking the body glitter.

Arc/Continuity Stuff:

• As mentioned by Snyder in Faith, Hope & Trick, Buffy needs a glowing letter of recommendation from someone who's not a librarian.
• Recurring characters in attendance: Scott Hope, Mr. Trick, Faith, Lyle Gorch, Jonathan, Devon.
• First appearance by the Mayor and Deputy Alan!!
• Buffy took Contemporary American Heroes last year. (Yeah, we think it's ridiculous, too)
• Cordelia admits she loves Xander (to Buffy).
• This is a Very Important Year for the Mayor. eeeeeeeeeeee

Stats:

Oz's Hair - strawberry blond

Dead Humans - 2

Dead Undeads - 2

Dead Flashbacks - 0

Giles Unconscious - 1

Giles Cleans His Glasses - 0

Buffy Breaks a Door - 0

Evil Reveal - 0

Unevil Reveal - 0

Shenanigans Called - 2

Apocalypse Called - 0

Two Scoobies Answer: Who Are You?

Zelda is Giles

One of the first things I knew about Daniel was that Anya was his favorite character, and the one he most identified with - he also said as much here. And though I said Buffy was my favorite (she still is), I wouldn't say she was the character I'm most like - I was never going to be a Gryffindor. At first I thought maybe Willow was my character twin, what with being a wiz in school and kind of shy and awkward, but there are huge chunks of her personality which don't coincide with mine. Then last week, Daniel showed me this amazing gif (above) of Anya and Giles fighting in Tabula Rasa. And I realized: ...Oh. That's who I am. I'm the know-it-all who actually does know a lot of random useless stuff. I'm Ravenclaw. I've got a dry sense of humor, I'm too classy to drink beer (actually, I just don't like the taste), and I'm fiercely loyal to those whom I love. I would slice that Mayor's face anytime he threatened my homies. Oh, and I can be super freaking scary when I want to be.

I also take hilarious pratfalls.

But most importantly, perhaps, to this whole discussion is this:

"Yes. Well. I appreciate your thoughts on the matter. In fact, I encourage you to always challenge me when you feel it's appropriate. You must never be cowed by authority. Except, of course, in this instance when I am clearly right and you are clearly wrong."

I don't really have to explain any more at this point.

Daniel is Anya

When Zelda first proposed this as a blog topic, I was excited, if not a little bit nervous.  I've always been loud and proud about my fondness and appreciation for Anya Christina Emanuella Jenkins and how much I identify with her. But when forced to put my thoughts to paper computer about how exactly I'm like her, at first I came up with a big flat blank.I was worried at first that I wasn't like Anya at all; that I just aspired to be like her.

To describe her superficially, you can say she's loud and tactless: two things, I pride myself in not being.  But if you examine her a little deeper, I think Anya is more self-conscious and needy than most of the Scooby gang.  She puts on a brave front with her sarcastic quips but the things she wants most is extremely human.  She wants to be loved and she wants to be part of the group.  She's often self-conscious about Xander and whether he really truly loves her.  And while the latter (wanting to be part of the group) can certainly be argued, I saw no other reason for her to stay with the group after her and Xander's break-up.

And that's why I was a little apprehensive about doing this blog post:  Because Anya and I often share the same insecurities about life, love & friendship.  Our tactics in hiding it may be slightly different, but what lies underneath certainly isn't.  

Also, I provide much needed sarcasm.

Cold-blooded Jelly Doughnut

Episode 34: Beauty & the Beasts. Original Airidate 10.20.98 

The Beasts

"Oz becomes the prime suspect when a series of animal-like attacks occurs in Sunnydale."

Zelda's Thoughts:

• So when I was first getting into this show, my mom got me a Buffy guide book of some sort. It kept referring to the episode All Men Are Beasts, and I was really confused, as ... that episode didn't exist. I'm not sure if that was an earlier title for the episode, or just the book getting it wrong (Faith does say "All men are beasts" in the teaser). Cool story bro.
• We don't really like this episode. The metaphor is sorely lacking in subtlety.
• Wolfy Oz likes rabbits. To eat, not to pet, so Anya would approve, I think.
• The wolf makeup has improved (I guess) from S2.
• Geez, Xander, at least PRETEND to try to stay awake a bit while on Oz-watch. He immediately lies down to sleep.
• Parking lot graveyard.
• Gasp. Who killed random human (Jeff) in the teaser? Was it newly-returned Angel? Wolfy Oz? Spoiler: no and no.
• I've never been in a flower relationship. I WILL DIE ALONE.
• Aw Buffy makes kissyface with Scott.
• "Just a thought: Poker? Not your game."
• omg srsly SHENANIGANS on the school shrink smoking on school grounds. So many shenanigans on that. Of course, it does match the motif of if you're smoking in Sunnydale, you're either evil or destined to die.
• It's good Buffy is continuing to open up about Angel. I like this shrink guy. Pity he's doomed.
• When did Feral Angel have time to find pants but no shirt or shoes? Shenanigans.
• I was about to type that I like how Willow kept her cool while Xander and Cordy spazzed, because Willow had to focus on the job at hand, but then she fainted.
• Glad to see the school library has returned to its typical uninhabited state.
• Oh Buffy, just tell Giles Angel is back. Just tell him. I understand you're afraid, but ... okay, I admit I have baggage about people lying/obfuscating the truth. I don't approve of "protecting" someone from the truth because what you're actually saying is you don't respect/trust them enough to handle it. Okay, clearly in this case she wants to understand more before she decides what to do. But she's not the slayer of later years. She's still growing into her leadership, she still has her parental figures to guide her, and she should ask for help. It's not quite the same as Xander's big Lie, but it's still not respectful or wise.
• Aw Scott is funny. "I hope you realize I don't actually know these people..."
• I'd accuse Buffy of cutting class to go see Angel, but we learned last episode that seniors can leave school grounds on lunch. Continuity!
• Hey Pete, you win, you're the most unpleasant boy in high school. Please go away.
• See, the metaphor's not even a metaphor. "You do this to me," "I'm all you've got," "You know you shouldn't make me mad." It's just straight up what it is, and it's unpleasant. Then again, Glee handled this shit even worse, so I guess we should be grateful.

"Yeah, I think you should be grateful."

• "You know what works? Don't get hit."
• Oh Pete, don't come after Oz on a full moon night. That's just unwise.
• I love that Pete doesn't even acknowledge/notice that Oz is in a cage.
• Oh look. Yet again, this cage has proven incapable of staying shut against the strength of supernatural creatures. I guess we've learned never to ever use it again, right? Right? Sigh.

Dream on, Zelda.

• I forgot Pete kills Debbie. :(
• This is exciting. We're chasing Pete, we're chasing WolfOz, Angel shows up. Action-packed fun!
• Willow pulled Oz's tail. Not a euphemism, but still hilarious.
• Though the metaphor is clumsily done, I do approve of our full condemnation of a woman-hater.
• Awwww he says "Buffy" and then falls to her feet, weeping. All the feels!
• "Great, now I'm gonna be stuck with serious thoughts all day."

Daniel's Thoughts:

• Werewolf Oz!
• Ugh, I’m not calling a shenanigan but “rabbits” does not sound like “rabbis”,  Xander.
• Also, stop being all worried that you said something that makes you sound gay.  Idiot High School Boy.
• I’m not entirely convinced the library cage can hold Oz-wolf.
• Faith trying to bond with Buffy is hilarious.  But the comparison of Scott Hope to a blueberry muffin is…well also hilarious. (marry me, Scott! It’s legal now!)
• Faith: “All Men are beasts”.  Yeah…pretty much.

Amy             Maybe/kinda?          Debbie

• Oz is being Oz. And it makes me laugh.
• Debbie looks like Amy. =====>
• And Pete is creepy from the get-go.
• I think Giles is unfairly blaming Xander for the open window and going to sleep.  True, Xander did go to sleep too quickly but Giles doesn’t know that part.  It’s kind of unfair to make a student stay up all night to watch the wolf anyway.  I think Giles should have made it his responsibility.  Or at least make shifts throughout the night where one sleeps in the back. I know staying up all night for three nights is a little unreasonable for Giles to do alone, too. Still, too quick with the yelling.
• Could a guidance counselor really smoke in his office in front of a student? Even in the 90s? Zelda called this shenanigan, so good.
• “You know that thing where you bail in the middle of an upsetting conversation?  It’s dramatic, I know, but sometimes it's a necessary guy thing."  Yep.
• I think this is the first time Oz has gotten intensely emotional.   I guess thinking you may have killed someone will do that to you.
• Buffy’s reaction to seeing Angel alive is awesome. SMG is so good.
• Scooby lunch box!  I love that Willow’s medical tools are in a Scooby lunchbox. 

Scooby Lunchbox!  Filled with medical tools.

• Miss Edith is back!
• Nice shot of Faith dancing.
• And then punching Buffy as a reaction to being startled.  Awesome.
• I’m surprised Giles isn’t suspicious at all regarding Buffy’s questions about her “dreams”.
• This is the second time they use “the hills are alive” as a metaphor.  It doesn’t really make as much sense here.  Last time it was a metaphor for happiness.  This time it seems like it’s supposed to be a metaphor for how vivid a dream is – which...what?
• While I’m sure Giles’ assessment of what Angel would be like if he were alive today is troubling, I still think Buffy should have told him.
• Scott’s pretty funny, I guess. (Have my children, Scott!)
• I like the growth of Angel in these episodes.  They could have just brought him back making him all hunky-dory and that would have been easy – but they chose to go the longer route that makes more sense.
• I don’t buy that Buffy would confide in this guidance counselor more than she would in Giles.  And if I do decide to buy it, I don’t forgive it.
• Does the liquid formula make Pete a demon or just a dick?

Did someone say Dick Demon?

• Debbie is really such a sad character.
• Ugh this whole Jekyll/Hyde wife beating metaphor is so heavy handed.  And some of the writing is just ridiculous.
• This is the second time Giles gets accidentally hit in the butt with a sharp object.  The first time was by Jenny with a crossbow.  This time? A Tranquilizer dart from Buffy.  And his fall is hilarious.
• Willow pulled Oz’s tail!
• Angel saved Buffy!!!
• And this is the point where Buffy should have gone to Giles.
• Cordelia: “Where have I been?”  Seriously.  Can we get more Cordy?
• Poor Scott Hope.  Two friends dead and still struggling with his sexuality. (let’s grow old together, Scott!)

Favorite Lines:

Zelda: Giles, after getting tranqed: "Oh right, bloody priceless." floppy fall. That was beautiful I want a gif.

Thanks Lucas for the gif!

Daniel: "I'm serious.  Something's gonna happen that you probably won't believe." [Pete transforms into a monster] "Or you might..." -Oz

Arc/Continuity Stuff:

• Sunnydale has a marching jazz band.
• Miss Edith and the rest of Dru's dolls are still at the mansion.
• Also, Willow's third pink fuzzy sweater has appeared (well, okay, second, since we haven't gotten to Doppelgangland yet):

Stats

Voiceover - Buffy, fading into Willow

Oz's Hair - red. or wolfy. why isn't he a redheaded wolf? Daniel says because his natural hair color is probably brown.

Dead Humans - 4

Dead Undeads - 0

Dead Flashbacks - 0

Giles Unconscious - 1

Giles Cleans His Glasses - 0

Buffy Breaks a Door - 0

Evil Reveal - 1 (Pete)

Unevil Reveal - 0

Shenanigans Called - 2

Apocalypse Called - 0

I'm the one getting Single White Femaled here.

Episode 3.3: Faith, Hope & Trick. Original Airdate 10.13.98

"A charismatic Slayer visits Sunnydale and wins over many of Buffy's friends. Meanwhile, two powerful vampires plot an attack."

Daniel's Thoughts:

• The title of this episode is clever because it introduces three recurring characters – though it’s a little too 'in your face' cutesie.
• Wow, I actually like Willow’s outfit.  The pants are a bit bright…and orange…but they’re cool.  And I like her fuzzy blue sweater.
• I don’t think my HS had a rule about leaving for lunch.  I mean…who was going to stop us? They don't take attendance at lunch. And there were so many entrances, not all of them can be guarded. [Our Assistant Principal was rumored to hide under cars during lunch to catch students sneaking off campus. True story. - Z]
• Martha Stewart slays!!  I bet that’s true.
• Oh, Scott Hope.  (#2 in the episode title) You may not know you’re gay.  But we knew from the beginning.
• "You're supposed to stop me when you do that."//  "I like when you do that."  SO CUTE.
• Ugh. Mr. Trick. (#3 in the episode title). You’re a horrible addition to the recurring character pool and nothing good will every come from you.
• And another dream Angel…because….  Ya know what, you know by now why.
• Eww, gross dead make up.

Groossssss

• Snyder’s back to being funnily awesome.  I love: “get a written recommendation from anyone in the faculty who is not an English librarian.”  Hehe.
• Yay.  Joyce is being a good mom, standing by her daughter and acting like an immature child on her behalf.
• Willow is doing a lot of observational humor this episode.  She commented on the way Buffy does this half-moon smile and the way Giles does this click with his tongue when he’s annoyed.  Ya know who else does observational humor?  Ellen DeGeneres.  She’s like Ellen.  Umm…spoilers!
• I like the subplot of Giles helping Buffy under the guise of doing a spell for Acathla.
• Willow is going to grow a lot this season what with the witchery and stuff.  And I like that Giles is concerned from the beginning.
• Hey, who’s that slut on the dance floor?  It’s Faith! (#1 in the episode of the title)
• Buffy, don’t get flustered over Scott Hope.  He’s cute and all but he plays for my team.
• 70s vampire is an awesome dancer but he needs new moves.  I know he’s dead but he’s still been in this world for the last twenty-thirty years.
• Welcome Faith, the evil twin.  And I like that she calls Buffy, “B”.
• I’m going to try to count how many times the writers make Eliza Dushku say “Aboat”. (about.) This will be a new stat. I’m convinced they do it on purpose.  Her accent is so weird.
• Love the alligator story.
• I love the whole hungry & horny conversation.  “Sometimes I crave a non-fat yogurt afterwards".
• "It’s a long story."//" I got bit."//"Apparently not that long."
• Five by Five!  What the fuck does that mean? Oh.
• SHENANIGANS!  Giles is the watcher they chose to be the ONE SLAYER’S watcher.  Why on Earth would the council not respect him enough to invite him to the convention?  Sorry, but a lot of the council lore/history makes absolutely no sense to me.
• "Raise your hand if ew"
• Sarah is so good at finding the humor in things and making little gestures.  She throws in this offhanded gesture when everyone makes plans for her around her. It was one of the things I miss in other things she does – especially Ringer.  I’m sure half of it is the way she’s directed.
• Ok, now Willow is wearing an awful outfit.

Good                                       Bad

• I dunno if I believe Faith flirting with Scott Hope.  I think she’s the type of gal who has gay-dar.
• Kakistos isn’t that scary. 
• Buffy calls Joyce “best mom ever.”  Note the sarcasm in her voice.
• I like jealous Buffy.
• Joyce: “Well does anyone else think she’s creepy?” Yeah, because that reasoning worked with Ted.  Trust Buffy's instincts, Joyce.
• Oh…the realization on Joyce’s face when she finds out that Buffy died once…that’s heart-breaking.
• The slayer pride parade.  OY.  Enough with the gay metaphors.
• “He lived for kissing toast” HAHAHA. “Or maybe it was taquitos”.  HAHAHAH X2
• I like the continuity that extremely old vampires develop animal-like features.  I wonder if Angel will eventually get a donkey…  er…  tail.
• YOU’RE OVER-COMPENSATING SCOTT HOPE. (and I love you.)
• Nice revelation that Faith’s watcher was a woman.  I think it’s cool that being a watcher is an equal opportunity thing.  But…being a slayer is not.
• A lot of death in this episode!
• I think this is the only time we see Faith truly scared.  It feels out of character for her knowing how she’s written later.
• OK.  I think I get, now, why everyone wasn’t as understanding as they should have been when Buffy ran away.  The moment Buffy admits that Angel was cured when she killed him, they have an “oh shit” moment….and I think they finally get it.  And I loved this reveal that the whole binding spell was just a ruse to get Buffy to open up.
• Also, I think Xander wasn’t in this scene because he wouldn’t have cared either way. Stupid Xander.
• Nice sweater vest, Scott.  I wore those in High School, too.  And then I came out. (love me back, Scott!)

Get that hand off your hip, Scott.

• I don’t really understand Angel’s castle/house but I kinda like it.
• Angel’s back! And he’s naked! And we see his butt!  DAVID BOREAN-ASS!

Borean-ASS!

• Faith's "aboat" Count. 3

Zelda's Thoughts:

• Aw it's cute how they carry Willow off campus.
• "Prepare to uncouple. Uncouple." That was also cute.
• "Oh, I hear she can, but she doesn't like to." Oz, why are you the best? It hardly seems fair to anyone else.
• Willow has the cutest babbles. It's also nice how much she wants to help Buffy get back into stuff.
• Xander's laugh turning into "ow." This whole scenario I love. Everyone so bantery and cute and I love it.
• "All right, yes, date and shop and hang out and go to school and save the world from unspeakable demons. You know, I wanna do girly stuff."
• Happy Burger. Really?

Yes, really. At least it's not Doublemeat Palace.

• Mr. Trick has such swagger to him.
• Nice misdirect on the "Kill the Slayer" bit.
• I wonder who's driving the limo? And how did he know not to pull away til Mr. Trick got his human snack?
• Oho Angel's wearing white in this dream.
• Nice reminder of their claddagh rings.
• Stop trying to act, DB. "Go to hell! I DID." should be "I did."
• Buffy, stop playing with the letter opener blade. Also, Snyder, you really shouldn't have that in school. I guess Sunnydale High doesn't have a zero tolerance policy like my high school did.
• "That's like having your whole ability to do this job called into question" d'awwwww
• Ah yes. Giles's ploy to get Buffy to tell the truth about what happened when she killed Angel.
• Aramaic, eh? I just so happen to be fluent in Aramaic. [editor's note: Zelda is not fluent in Aramaic]
• "If I were [mad], I would be making a strange clucking sound with my tongue." Oh Giles.
• Cute, sneaking Faith's first appearance into a group dance shot.

We see what you did there, show.

• Scott actually is being charming and handling Buffy's skittishness very well. Too bad he pulls a pretty douche move two episodes down.(and then gets retconned into even douchier behavior later, as indicated by Holden Webster) 
• "Plus bonus points for use of the word mosey."
• "Check out Slut-O-Rama and her Disco Dave" Yay Cordy is pointing out a vamp to Buffy
• Hiya Faith. oh man you were so yoooooooooooooooung
• Did they decide in Season Three that Cordelia was the new Exposition Fairy instead of Giles? Taking advantage of her lack of tact? I'm not complaining, cuz it's funny, but ... was that a decision they made?
• And the birth of fucking Five By Five.
• Poor Giles and his inferiority complex about the Watchers' Retreat. Man, did the Council just not have any stake in Buffy (after her first Watcher was killed), that they send a Watcher who never even went on a Retreat to watch the One and Only Slayer?
• Though it helps with our not realizing that Faith is lying about where her Watcher is.
• Willow's and Xander's tour of Sunnydale High is adorbs. "Here's where we almost died! Here's where we almost died again!"
• Cordy to Xander: "What is it with you and Slayers?" Yep.
• "We're looking at what?" SMG is really funny this episode.
• What's with the random vamp waving that thurible?

Seriously, are all Incredibly Old Vampires obsessed with Catholicism?

• "Rumor has it that this town already has a Slayer, which makes two ... I'm not real sure how that happened." Trick is so awesome. 
• I love that all the vampires' "food" is fast food workers.
• "Well, sure, it beats that dead feeling you get when they win and you lose."
• I'm glad the Single White Female Buffy-is-paranoid-for-nothing thing doesn't last, and they all figure out that our Buffy is better than any Buffy who's not our Buffy. Even if SMG is funny. "Look, now she's getting along with my fries!"
• It is a very nice concept they entertain, though - what if Buffy didn't have to do it full time? (if only Faith didn't have a skewed sense of morality) What if she could explore what else she might want to do with her time? That's what's so satisfying about the final moment of Chosen. Now, finally, she gets to do that. (Except not, if you read the comics.)
• Faith's a lil bit ragey.
• "She doesn't need a life, she has mine."
• Kissing Toast, Taquitos. I love Buffy's complete inability/disinterest in the names of old vamps and demons.
• "There are two things that I don't believe in - coincidence and leprechauns." We believe, V!
• Scott Hope, trying again. "Keaton is key." It's sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.
• But then he gives a RING OF SAD TRAUMA FEELS
• ED is good as Faith. I'm not overly impressed with her range, especially on Dollhouse, but she's very good in this episode. Her brazen attitude, and now her childlike fear and grief, her panic, are all very honest.
• "If we don't do something, the Master could get killed. Well, our prayers are with him." Oh Trick, you've got the same modern blase that Spike had. No wonder you were popular. You're written remarkably similarly, at least on introduction.
• Willow's face when Buffy finally tells the truth about Angel's death. Buffy's face too. All the sad things. And they're even playing the Buffy/Angel theme underneath it all. You are MEAN, show.
• "There is no spell."
• Alyson Hannigan's eyes take up half her face.
• I still don't understand the mechanics of how/why Angel returns. Is it the ring? Is it luck? Deus ex machina? We never find out, do we? I kind of want to call a shenanigan ... Metaphorically I get it, because she finally was able to talk about what happened that night, to start to let go of him, to say goodbye, to stop dreaming of him. But like ... outside of the metaphor ... why? Is this a Powers That Be intervention (which, FUCK that concept, Angel the Show, fuck it right into the ground), which will appear again to save him in Amends?

Crossfire!

The moment in question.

Z: SHE. NAN. I. GANS. Kakistos was able to get his arm past the doorway into Faith's apartment. What the actual fuckage. I don't care how cloven his hooves are, he shouldn't be able to do that.

D: See, I can forgive this for a number of reasons.  I think a lot of the mystical properties of a vampire not being able to enter a home depends on what constitutes a home.  1) This seems like more of a motel than an apartment. I realize it's more of a long-term living area but Faith pays daily which means she could leave any day.  In that way, it's not really an established home. 2) Faith packed her bags to leave and was on her way out so even if at one point, it was considered her home - at that particular point, it was not.

Favorite Lines:

Daniel: "The girl's not playing with a full deck, Giles. She has almost no deck.  She has a three." - Buffy

Zelda: Buffy: It's a long story.

Oz: Got bit.

Buffy: Apparently not that long.

90s Factoid:

Willow's furry sweater

Arc/Continuity Stuff:

• Scott Hope is here and he likes Buffy.
• Mr. Trick is also here but he doesn't like Buffy.
• In this universe, very old vampires acquire inhuman physical attributes, in addition to always being in gameface - The Master was wrinkly and batlike; Kakistos (also called "the Master" by Trick) has cloven limbs.
• Willow has been investigating magicks and spell ingredients, including floating feather and fire out of ice. Giles is concerned.
• When Kendra was killed by Drusilla in Becoming: Part 1, Faith was called as the next Slayer.
• There's an annual Watcher's Retreat. Giles has never been invited.
• Giles used to love a good kayak.
• Angel is back! And nekkid!

Stats:

Oz's Hair - red

Dead Humans - 3

Dead Undeads - 6

Dead Flashbacks - 0

Giles Unconscious - 0

Giles Cleans His Glasses - 0

Buffy Breaks a Door - 0

Evil Reveal - 0

Unevil Reveal - 0

Shenanigans Called - 2

Apocalypse Called - 0

Do You Like My Mask? Isn't It Pretty?

 Episode 3.2: Dead Man's Party. Original Airdate 10.6.98

"A Nigerian mask reanimates the dead, forcing Buffy to battle a horde of zombies."

Zelda's Thoughts:

• "It's angry at the room. It wants the room to suffer." I don't use this one, but I'd like to start.
• Bless you, Joyce. You're trying to be supportive of the slaying, of finding her friends, trying to feed her. It's awkward, but you want your daughter to feel safe to be herself, safe to stay home this time.
• Oh come ON. That's CLEARLY Xander, Buffy.
• And Buffy's trying to banter, and Xander just can't process, and there's so much in his face, he's happy to see her, but he's hurt, and there's a bit of anger.
• And then they're all just staring at her from the ground. Willow's tentatively happy, Oz just looks pissed, which is interesting to me, since I'd say he had the least relationship with Buffy, of the four. 

• I guess it shouldn't have been a surprise Angel was gonna come back, since there'e still so much of him in the opening credits. Still, must have been confusing at the time.

Giles feels...Britishly.

• Guys, it's time for more feels! Giles and Buffy! Giles and Buffy! 
• "Hey, so you're not wanted for murder, anymore." It's nice they're all bantering with her. Belgium and the like.
• "We dusted nine out of ten ... six out of ten."
• The problem is they had to learn how to exist without her, and it's hard to adjust back to having her around.
• Oh Pat. Hello Pat.
• I wonder if DB insisted in his contract that he get some sunlight scenes. He got one last week, he's got one this week, he'll get one in his dream of their wedding in The Prom.
• Giles knows the mask is Nigerian because he knows All the Things.
• "I love art talk as much as the next very dull person."
• I'm fairly certain Giles isn't allowed to bring cats, zombified or otherwise, on school property.
• "I like it. I think you should call it Patches."
• "Thanks for ruining our lives for the past three months." - this is the core of the resentment, the abandonment. What's hard is Xander's not fully understanding or appreciating that Buffy's life was ruined too (granted, because she's not telling them). WE WON'T EVEN MENTION THAT HE'S PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
• I'm sorry, that drawing doesn't really look like the mask.

Didn't quite get the teeth right.

• Ew, Pat brought cold empanadas? Those babies are good only when fresh. I want an empanada. [There's this great place by me.  Next time we do a Buffy day, we'll order some - D]
• And then the party is too big and so no one can talk. That's the problem. No one is actually talking, about what happened before, about what's happening now. Instead, resentments are festering. Everyone's in pain but not sharing it. And when Buffy tries to ask Willow what's going on, Willow pretends nothing is wrong. Granted, it's (at least in part) because she is glad Buffy's back and she doesn't want to scare Buffy off again, but the result is that Buffy doesn't feel like there's any communication or connection, so she's got no real feeling she ought to stay either.
• Xander's trying to whitewash it too - "guess a lot of people are glad to have you back." "We all do. It's great to have the Buffster back." He's also distracted by his relationship with Cordelia.
• I'd say it's convenient all these people are dying, and thus providing us with zombies, but ... it's Sunnydale. My argument is invalid. 
• And then Buffy overhears just the wrong part of Joyce's conversation with Pat. I actually super massively hate this storytelling cliche, the overhearing/misunderstanding. Like, a lot. It's lazy writing. I'm glad the show doesn't do it that often. [It's a tired Soap Opera technique and you're right, beneath this show. -D]
• Parking lot playground full o' zombies!
• This guy on the phone makes me laugh. "That guy's gotta do a shot!"
• I wonder what Willow was coming up to talk about when she finds Buffy packing. Would this have been a healthier heart to heart?
• They're both so hurt. I'm glad they're finally talking about what's actually going on, and I'm really mad that this all gets cut off for the zombiness, because this conversation is never really resolved. And I'm glad Willow told us some of the stuff that's been going on with her, and why she's maybe been distant with Buffy, but STILL NO ONE is really asking why Buffy left, how the fight ended, what she did when she left, why she came back. THESE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS and if they're all so (somewhat justifiably) resentful of her leaving, wouldn't they maybe want to know the reason why? "look what it did to us, never mind what it did to you" They're not seeing Buffy. They're not hearing her.
• Lucky for us the zombies in this universe are the slow-moving variety.
• Oh good. Joyce has joined the upset misunderstanding party.
• "You put me through the ringer, Buffy." Ringer!  Sorry. (Not sorry.)
• Oh and Buffy's so sad. "But you told me!"
• "Mom's not perfect, okay. I handled it badly."
• "It was selfish and stupid." Hmmm, Xander, can we think of other things we've done recently that were selfish and stupid? Like lying to our best friend?
• Hey Buffy, it's "Angel and me," not "Angel and I."
• I mean, I liked that Cordy stepped to Buffy's defense, but she's not handling it the most tactfully. [Tact is just not saying true stuff.  - Cordelia]
• See, I understand Joyce's arguments and Willow's arguments. Xander's not coming from a justified place. So I'm less forgiving of him. He's not letting Buffy talk.
• I DO like that the Mission comes first. As soon as the zombies break in, they all go into team mode. "I got your back," says Xander as he runs to the kitchen. All the scoobies join the defense.
• Jonathan's wielding the guitar and it's so cute.
• Oz said the episode title! 5 points to Oz!
• "Worse than a zombie." Cordy makes me laugh. She makes me forget how much I disliked her on Angel.
• Man, Buffy's house is getting traaaaaaaaaashed tonight. This is what happens when you throw a zombie hootenanny!
• I like when defeating the Zombie Overlord makes all the zombies disappear. Clean up is way easier.
• Okay I figured it out - the problems weren't resolved in dialogue (and they're CERTAINLY not fully resolved) - but they were at least partially resolved through demon battling. Just like in a musical (where problems/conflicts are often resolved in song). They still have stuff that they're not talking about, but the battle reminded them what (and who) is important, and worth fighting for.
• Giles, you are fucking creepy.
• Runaway. Quitter. Whiner. Bailer. Harpy. Delinquent. Tramp. Bad seed. Witch. Freak. LOVE IT.
• Daniel and I are so ashamed. We were talking about the return of our recurrings (Larry last week, this week Snyder, Jonathan, and Devon). We noticed the lack of Harmony and Amy, which led to a discussion of which episodes Amy was in, which led to the realization that NEITHER OF US had really processed until JUST NOW that Bewitched Bothered & Bewildered had the word "witch" it in.

Daniel's Thoughts:

• “Will you be slaying?”  Such a cute awkward mom question about something she doesn’t understand but wants to try to understand.  It’s like the time my friend told me his mom awkwardly asked him once how two gay men do it.    True Story.
• I gotta admit, Nicholas Brandon plays Xander’s reaction to seeing Buffy for the first time really well.
• And Buffy hilariously watching the gang try to fight.
• Cordelia’s “Hi Buffy!”  Hee!
• And Giles!  More reserved but…just as sweet.  He’s English.  He can’t show his emotions until he goes to the other room and brews his tea.
• How’d you find her?   I pretty much remembered where she was.  Hee!
• Snyder!  So evil!
• Aww, Buffy would look cute in hotdog-on-a-stick hat.  She’d look better in a doublemeat palace hat! 
• Why would Joyce go to the Mayor to get her daughter back in school?  So that she can foreshadow him to death?
• New downtown set!
• Awww, Willow didn’t show up.
• Willow tried to call.  See, this wouldn’t happen if there were cell phones.
• Why would they bury the cat? Why not call animal control?
• Zombie cat!  That cat is obviously being pushed out of the hole by a prop man.
• Another Angel dream!  Because we’re not ready to bring him back but he’s still under contract.

Hi, I'm still under contract.

• “Superhero.  Is that the right term? I mean it's not offensive, is it?” – It’s another one of those awkward mom trying to understand questions. "Homosexual? Is that term still acceptable?"
• “I’m the dip” - Hee.
• Love the 'gathering, shindig & hootenanny' discussion
• And why are they deciding what type of party to have at Joyce’s house anyway.  Wasn’t she the one organizing this? In her house?  It’s kinda rude.
• I always forget what Devon looks like.  I always ask Zelda, “That’s Devon, right?”
• I guess Oz & Cordy invited the people because Willow & Xander don’t have friends.  OUCH. BURRRRN…
• Though, there are no Cordettes that we can see.
• Aww, Willow is uncomfortable…and so is Buffy and it’s just ALL SO AWKARD!
• Hey! Sunnydale police!
• I’m glad “Nighthawk” doesn’t become a thing.
• I hate party dude. “I heard it’s for some chick who got out of rehab.” Shut up.

Hi, I'm a zombie movie cliche

• Joyce’s conversation with Pat is just gross.  “I thought having Buffy home would make it better but in some ways, it’s almost worse.”  How the hell is it worse, Joyce?  Awkward, yes but worse?  That’s a horrible thing to say.  Worst. Mom. Ever. 
• IN EVERY ZOMBIE MOVIE, THERE IS ALWAYS A CHEERLEADER ZOMBIE. =====>
• And there’s one guy at that party that looks 45.
• OK, Party dude is back and he’s yelling at someone to do a shot. BUT IT’S SO OBVIOUS HE’S NOT TALKING TO SOMEONE.  BAD ACTOR.  I’m glad he SPOILERS. [Wait, he spoilers? Did we get that in our death count? - Z]
• The altercation between Willow & Buffy that finally comes about is so well written. I like when there’s an argument on TV or in a movie where I can see both sides.  It’s also really well acted.
• Buffy’s packing again.  Don’t forget your stuffed bird.
• Ok, this whole ganging up on Buffy is not cool.  While some of the arguments are valid, it’s a shitty way to do it.  It reminds me of a future episode which is so hated for that very reason.
• Jonathan!  By the dip!

Who, me?

• Go Badass Giles!  Hot wire that car!
• “You stop acting like an idiot. And I’ll stop annoying you.”  Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Xander.
• YAY! Party dude got his just desserts!
• I like unlikely pairings!  Oz and Cordelia fighting together!
• How come all the zombies are this whitish/greenish color except for Pat? And it has nothing to do with the fact that she just died because the first body we see rising was from a gun shot wound that just happened.
• Buffy’s awfully cavalier about killing her mom’s friend.  Ok, Pat is a zombie – but she could have a little tact.
• So it’s nice that everyone is all friends now but nothing was really resolved…
• And another example of Giles’ badassery – intimidating Snyder.
• I like the new set with the coffee shop.  They can’t always hang out at The Bronze.
• I love the exchange of fun insults at the end.  It’s a cute way to end the episode.

Crossfire!

Question for everyone: Does the zombie cat count as a dead undead? We haven't been tracking dead animals before.

Favorite Lines:

Zelda: "'Do you like my mask, isn't it pretty? It raises the dead.' Americans." - Giles

Daniel: "It’s angry at the room, mom.  It wants the room to suffer.” - Buffy

90s Factoid:

Willow called.  This kind of thing wouldn't happen if you got those new fangled inventions called "cell phones"

Arc/Continuity Stuff:

• Snyder still hates Buffy.
• Joyce namedrops the Mayor.
• Our first zombie episode. This kind of zombie is corpses being raised by the mask, rather than infecting each other by biting.
• Also, cats can be zombies. 
• Devon and the rest of Dingoes Ate My Baby are here, and they're playing their only song, Pain.
• Willow mentions that she's still studying witchcraft.
• We forgot Jonathan was here! Him by the dip!
• Giles uses his DARK PAST to hotwire his car. Also to intimidate Snyder into letting Buffy back in school.
• Snyder has appointments with the Mayor.
• New Downtown Sunnydale set, including the Espresso Pump.

Stats:

Oz's Hair - red

Dead Humans - 4

Dead Undeads - 2

Dead Flashbacks - 0

Giles Unconscious - 0

Giles Cleans His Glasses - 0

Buffy Breaks a Door - 0

Evil Reveal - 1 (the mask)

Unevil Reveal - 0

Shenanigans Called - 0

Apocalypse Called - 0