It's Happy Birthday Buffy

Episode 2.13: Surprise. Original Airdate 1.19.98

"To give Buffy a surprise on her 17th birthday, Drusilla and Spike bring together the body parts of a dismembered demon who cannot be killed."

Daniel's Thoughts:

• I love the way this show paints dreams with rooms bleeding into one another, the things that just don't make sense no matter how much you try to reason it (Willow & the monkey) & our worst worries and fears.  It's a realistic depiction of how dreams are.  Though also included are what makes this show Buffy:  Premonitions & symbolism.  What I find interesting is that this is Buffy's dream...which means it's going on inside her head, yet we see Dru at first but she doesn't.  If this was all in her head, she'd be aware that Drusilla was there.  I don't see this as a shenanigan, but rather a question to whether Drusilla is somehow controlling this dream. [Or, with her own psychic powers, sharing Buffy's dream? - Z]
• Also? Willow and a monkey!
• The rooms connecting to one another is also a trick Joss uses in Restless. Although he didn't write this episode, I'm sure he still had a hand in it.
• Worst. Mom. Ever. "Do you really think you're ready, Buffy?"  - Come on, dude.  Trust her with something.
• Hee! Buffy dreamed that she opened an office supply warehouse in Vegas with Giles!
• I love this whole conversation between Oz & Willow which shows both their comedic timing and their wonderful chemistry:

Oz: I'm gonna ask you to go out with me tomorrow night. And I'm kinda nervous about it, actually.  It's interesting.

Willow: Oh.  Well, if it helps at all, I'm gonna say yes.

Oz: Yeah, it helps.  It creates a comfort zone.  Do you wanna go out with me tomorrow night?

Willow: Oh! I can't!

Oz: Well, see, I like that you're unpredictable.

• Love crazy Dru.
• This whole g*psy curse makes absolutely no sense.  It punishes the man but not the demon.  If Angel has one moment of happiness, then the demon comes out and kills a hundred more people.  Way to think this through, guys.
• Seriously.  The Bronze.  How much does it cost to close The Bronze down for the night?  Who paid for it?  Giles, on his librarian salary?  And where are the staff members?  Can you really just rent out a bar/hangoutplace/whateverthefuckthebronzeis for a night without having any staff there whatsoever?
• I love Oz's reaction to everything!  He just accepts it!  Cause he's Oz!
• Why does a Vampire need glasses?  Shouldn't his vision heal like everything else?  I mean Spike is freaking paralyzed and that hea-SPOILERS!
• Also, 'extra' vamps are ALWAYS in vamp face....so...we know they're vampires.  Yeah, yeah, I know the morphing takes a lot of moula, so it's best to keep them all in one face.
• The Judge = Grouchy Smurf?

Basically the same guy.

• OK, so there's a lot of joking that an orgasm makes Angel evil.  But I noticed something this time around that I never considered before.  He doesn't start to turn until hours later when he's asleep with Buffy.  So it's afterwards, when he's with the woman he loves - all cuddly and content - that he turns.  Which  makes me feel slightly better about the whole thing.  Not completely, but slightly.
• The Judge can kill some vamps, which means that they possess some level of humanity.  Which makes the 'demon = always evil = always ok to kill' thing a little less black and white.  Which I guess is explored later with Spike?

Zelda's Thoughts:

• Hahaha Willow and the pantsless monkey. Joss Whedon, your brain.
• What's sad about the dream is it makes Buffy afraid Dru will take Angel away from her. And while that is certainly a risk all through the episode, that's not what happens. Dru claims him later, but ... she's not the one who takes Angel away.

Angel: "Hey."
Daniel and Zelda: "Hellllllllo."

• Shenanigans! "What if Drusilla is alive? We never saw her body." Well ... you wouldn't ... She would ash.
• Awwww the Buffy Angel theme is playing.
• They're so in loooooooooove which makes it so saaaaaaaaaaaaad because we know what's coming. Poor Buffy.
• Buffy is wearing all the rings. Is that why Angel thought she needed another?

Not enough rings. Could be ringier.

• Omg the scene with Willow and Oz I can't it's so cute. "Well, see, I like that you're unpredictable." "I said date."

Can you see the vein?

• "Groping in a broom closet isn't dating." Good point, Cordy. You guys hate each other. Stop this before you hurt Willow.
• I like Spike's burn makeup.
• Dru has Madonna arms. Crazy ropey muscles.
• "It will be the best party ever." // "And why is that?" // "Because ... it will be the last."
• So is Buffy no longer grounded? Just curious, Joyce.
• Aiee! Joyce broke a plate! A prophecy plate.
• We weren't sure how to classify the reveal about Jenny Calendar. It's not an Evil Reveal, nor is it an Unevil Reveal, since we didn't think she was evil before. But they are playing her much more suspicious and schemey this episode. I'm sure Buffy would consider it an Evil Reveal, but we have the luxury of the outsider's perspective.
• "See if [Drusilla] has any particular patterns." // "She's crazy, so ... no."
• I love love LOVE that Giles insists they still hold Buffy's surprise party, regardless of danger. I LOVE it. I think it shows he's learned from What's My Line.
• Bahahaha Cordy yells "Surprise!" and the shot of everyone looking at her. Best thing ever.
• "Hey, did everybody see that guy just turn to dust." // "Actually it explains a lot." Oz, this is why you're our favorite.
• "It looked like an arm." That too. Also that.
• I like that the power relationship between Dru and Spike really has changed since the organ incident. It's not just the physical strength that's been switched, but now Spike is the voice of reason to Dru's temper, whereas before she stopped him from rage-killing randoms.
• Buffy's so sad Angel is leaving. Man, Marti is fantastic at writing heartbreak and goodbye scenes.
• "And all-night keggers! What, only Xander gets to make dumb jokes?"
• Hahaha Spike wheels in front of Dru defensively. Spike so tiny.

Don't make me roll on your foot.

• "Do it again! Do it again!" Aw Drusilla.
• Yay Buffy has a good plan. Except for the part where the Judge is already assembled. :( A lot of this episode seems to be about her being just a bit too late - too late in her dreams to save Angel, and too late in reality to stop Drusilla. 
• "You almost went away today." // "We both did."
• Welp. This'll be Buffy's last happy moment for a while. Joss, you magnificent bastard.

Crossfire!

D: Shenanigans! Buffy doesn't know what Carpe Diem means, but in episode one, seize the day is her motto.

Z: But she didn't say it in Latin.

D: I KNEW YOU WERE GONNA SAY THAT, but come ON. She's not that dumb.

Favorite Lines:

Daniel: "You think he's too old because he's a senior? Please. My boyfriend had a bicentennial." - Buffy
Zelda: Spike has two good ones in succession: "Yeah, that'll work. Now say 'pretty please.'" and "Uh, you're not clear on the concept, pal. There is no instead. Just first and second." Mostly it's about JM's blase delivery. Hearts and stars.

90s Factoid:

Willow is wearing a Blossom hat

  

Arc/Continuity Stuff:

• Spike and Dru are still alive (and so is Lucius - for a bit)! But Spike is scarred from the fire and in a wheelchair.
• Drusilla's birthday is near Buffy's birthday.
• Jenny Calendar is actually Janna of the Kalderash people, the same tribe that cursed Angel. And she's been sent here to watch him. 
• Oz has seen Buffy slay a vamp, which means ... HE'S PART OF THE SCOOBIES.
• Brian Thompson's second character, Smurfman!

Stats:

Voiceover - None

Oz's Hair - black with the red growing in

Dead Humans - 0

Dead Undeads - 3

Giles Unconscious - 0

Giles Cleans His Glasses - 0

Buffy Breaks a Door - 0

Evil Reveal - 0
Unevil Reveal - 0

Shenanigans Called - 2
Apocalypse Called - 1