Works in Theory

Episode 2.16: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. Original Airdate 2.10.98

"As Valentine's Day approaches, Xander tries to improve his love life through witchcraft and finds himself with too much of a good thing."

Zelda's Thoughts:

• See, I like Xander better at the beginning of the episode. He got Cordy a nice necklace, and asked Buffy to stop mocking his relationship.
• "I'm glad that you guys are getting along. Almost really." I want to start using that qualifier.
• Xander's fall backward after being surprised by the vamp was quite cute.
• Hello Alpert Mausoleum! We are old friends. 
• Amy mind-controls her teacher. Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepy.
• Awwww Giles and Jenny are all sad and awkward. Lovely Giles, sticking by Buffy, even as he clearly misses and loves Jenny. IT'S SO SAD YOU GUYS.
• WHY IS THIS EPISODE SO SAD. Oh right Marti Noxon wrote it.
• Hi Spike and Dru! Hi Angelus, hijacking Dru from Spike!
• "I found it in a quaint little shopgirl." Why is DB so much better at playing a douchebag. Oh. Never mind.
• Wait, I'm bonding with Cordelia! I remember when all my friends randomly decided they hated me, and ignored me and walked away. :(
• Shenanigans! "Somebody left these for you." Buffy's name is not "Soon," Joyce.

That says "Buffy"

• Poor Xander. He's trying to be all declarative, and Cordy even likes the necklace, but she knows before he starts that she wants to break up. Sadface.
• "Do you know what's a good day to break up with somebody? Any day besides Valentines Day!" Good perf by NB in this scene.
• "Amy! Good to see you. You're a wwwitch."
• I don't like this plan, Xander. I don't. He wants Cordy to want him again, just so he can break up with her, and be the pain inflictor rather than receiver. I don't like this at all. [Does his dickishness surprise you? -D]
• We weren't allowed to decorate the outside of our lockers at our school. We also weren't allowed to decorate with stickers at all. I guess my town wasn't basically Sunnydale after all. :(
• So question. Does the love spell backfire because the intent wasn't pure, as Amy warned, or does she just fuck it up?
• So as of first thing in the morning, the spell hasn't taken effect yet, but once he gets the library, the mojo starts to work on Buffster. And as we see with Amy, it seems to be taking effect even before Xander interacts with the ladies - they find him. By day two it seems to be the whole town. 
• Oh god it's so mortifying. Willow in Xander's bed. No NO NO.
• I like the decor in Xander's room.
• I'm glad Xander comes clean to Giles ... relatively quickly. He recongizes this is bad and isn't just luxuriating in it. Moral Compass for the win?
• Jenny lusting after Xander MIGHT be the most hilarious. She just keeps touching herself. GIles: "Don't leave the library." Jenny: Slowly shaking her head.
• Also I respect Xander for not taking advantage of willing naked Buffy. "This isn't real to you."
• And then Buffy goes psycho on him, and for the rest of the episode all the women are terrifying.
• So is Goddess Hecate the patron goddess of ... rats?

Hecate does not approve.

• And now people besides Buffy are violent. Boy, that escalated quickly.
• "We have to catch the Buffy rat." - words Giles never thought he'd say.
• Oz punched Xander. Hee.
• Giles's loathing for Xander: "Just go. Get out of my sight." So cutting.
• Jesus. Poor Cordy. This is worse than Beatles mania.
• Lunch Lady!
• It's interesting that it's not just they're all obsessed with Xander; they're all convinced he loves them back.
• Willow with axe. Ack. Ack. And she's crying! AH is good at being scary.
• It's rather telling that Buffy the rat is a brown rat. Dye job!
• Shenanigans! Why is it dark out? He JUST left the high school followed by the mob.
• Also why go to Buffy's house rather than his own? (maybe he didn't want to risk his mom hitting on him?)
• Again with the small-time terrorizing, Angelus. Though, going after a friend of Buffy's is more in his psychological torture line. Okay, I'll stop criticizing.
• It's kind of sweet Cordy and Xander get back together in the same basement where they initially hooked up. Kind of. Almost really.
• So when the spell breaks, most of the girls say "what's going on? Where am I?" So at this point anyway, no one remembers what happened, with that patented Sunnydale selective amnesia. But Willow and Buffy and ... I guess anyone who's already in on the magicness, remember it.
• Harmony's self esteem is awful. No wonder she dates Spike.
• Harmony's a sheep!
• Awww Cordy and Xander, together again.
• So that's two feel-good episode endings in a row. WE ALL KNOW THIS WON'T LAST. :( :( :( (Next week: Passion)

Daniel's Thoughts:

• I love Buffy reassuring Xander of his thing for Cordelia even if she clearly doesn’t approve.
• Interesting Cordettes, this episode:

I swear it's Kirsten Dunst!

And what's with this one's hair?

• I love that they brought back Amy and the witchcraft continuity.
• Aww, Jenny.  I kinda forgot about her…  Err…Again, I think they’re being way too hard on her but they need someone to blame and she’s an easy target.
• Eww, Angel gave Dru a real heart.
• Oh God, Devon’s very shiny shirt.
• Do people in HS really laugh at you because you got dumped?  Are kids really that cruel?  I guess so, damn.  Also, what’s with the track suit, Xander?  Yes.  This is one train of thought.
• Aww, Cordy is wearing Xander’s locket.
• Ya know, with Larry coming out last episode, they really missed an opportunity here. [Oh. My. God. YES. - Z]
• SMG looks incredible in this episode:

Also? Auditioning for Cabaret

• UGH, Willow in Xander’s bed is so awkward
• Ok, I know the guys are supposed to be mad but some of them look like they’re checking him out too.   Again, a missed Larry opportunity.
• Jenny is fantastic lusting over Xander
• Wow, Amy is pretty powerful
• BUFFY RAT BUFFY RAT!
• The cattiness is amazing
• Ok, what is it now, you don’t like my locker combination?
• Lotsa hitting in this episode.  Also, go Oz!
• Seriously, Giles being disappointed with you is like your dad being disappointed with you
• Yes, GH fans – that frenzied extra is Tamara Braun, Carly #2
• Willow with an axe!
• I love the “this is a kooky episode” music
• Eww, Joyce hitting on Xander is even worse than Willow
• …and then there’s Dru.
• It’s never actually stated, but I think the spell never worked on Cordelia because she actually does love him.  That's the theory I'm going with, anyway.
• Except…I guess that doesn’t make sense since Willow does still sorta love Xander.
• “Harmony, you’re a sheep!”
• Cordy is pretty awesome in this episode – great with the comedic timing

Favorite Lines:

Zelda: Spike: Why don't you rip her lungs out? That might make an impression.

Angel: Lacks poetry.

Spike: Doesn't have to. What rhymes with lungs?

Daniel: Buffy: I seem to have a slight case of nudity here.

Oz: But you're not a rat. So call it an upside.

90s Factoid:

Cordy's knotted button down shirt:

Like the Carrie Bradshaw of the 90s

Arc Stuff:

• Harmony's back!
• So is Amy! And she's been partaking of the witchcraft.
• So is Devon!
• Buffy, Xander, Willow, and Amy all have ... some class together where they write papers.
• Angelus goes extra-psycho on Valentines Day. Delightful. Psychoness included nailing a puppy to - skip it.
• The Dingoes play Pain, the one song they play.
• Do we think Buffy's ratness was the beginning of her love of cheese?

Stats:

Voiceover - none

Oz's Hair - honey blonde (his cool hair)

Dead Humans - 0

Dead Undeads - 0

Giles Unconscious - 0

Giles Cleans His Glasses - 1

Buffy Breaks a Door - 0

Evil Reveal - 0

Unevil Reveal - 0

Shenanigans Called - 2

Apocalypse Called - 0

People for the Ethical Treatment of Werewolves

Episode 2.15: Phases. Original Airdate 1.27.98

"Buffy and her friends discover secrets about themselves as they battle a werewolf, its hunter, and their own emotions."

Daniel's Thoughts:

• Love the continuity with Oz staring and commenting on the cheerleading award. ==>
• “Oh, there, I have my friend…so I will…go to her”.  No one understands the importance of a good ramble like Willow does.
• "1-800-I'm-Dating-A-Skanky-Ho." - HEE
• What is with this show and the fierceness of bunnies? [Have you ever lived with one? Or five? Bunnies are evil. - Z]
• I love that Oz turns into a werewolf based on a tiny bite from his baby nephew.
• The three consecutive nights of moon were a genius way of doing this episode. It’s not like the show can just jump month to month.
• I’m actually surprised this is the first time someone infers an inappropriate relationship between Buffy & Giles but I’m glad the show never really went there. That's for "normal" teen shows.
• Aww, Theresa.
• David B. really knows how to turn on the creep.
• Gosh, Willow & Cordelia commiserating about boys.  It’s like a world without shrimp.  Or...a world with nothing but shrimp.
• He’s a short werewolf cause he’s Oz!
• So Oz wakes up after the second night naked in the woods and realizes something is amiss….but….where did he wake up after the first night?
• Love the surreal normality of the conversation between Oz and his aunt asking about Jordy the baby werewolf.
• Hyenas – more continuity from season 1.
• Aww, Gay Larry is so much sweeter than Straight Larry.
• Coincidental that Theresa turns just when Buffy arrives at the funeral home.  Of course it does make for an awesome scene.  It also furthers my shenanigans that Buffy would have no idea if extreme dead guy in Aura’s locker in the first episode was going to turn or not.
• I like that Oz is being pro-active with the chains.
• I love Buffy’s purple jacket.

• Oz and Willow are so adorable.
• "Three days out of the month, I’m not much fun to be around either."  HEE.

Zelda's Thoughts:

• My brain: OMGOZJUSTKISSHERALREADY
• "You're really mastered the single entendre."
• "She's actually an evil mastermind. It's fun." SG's delivery is just wonderful.
• Buffy's being a really good support-o-friend to Willow, listening to all her boy woes and not throwing her own pity party at all. Our Buffy is the best.
• "I mean, they might not look it, but bunnies can really take care of themselves." Bunnies are EVIL. I'm not saying this to bond with Anya. I'm saying this because I've lived with them and they are EVIL.
• Larry got bit by a dog. MISDIRECTION. Aw, Oz and his tiny bite from his cousin.
• Whee! Buffy is the best. She flips Larry over.
• "Invention of the moon pie." I can't believe Giles laughs. And yet, it's the best thing IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.
• "On behalf of my gender, hey." I'm glad they at least call her out on over-generalizing, even if that is this week's metaphor.
• Giles snooping around all the cars of macking teens: kinda creepy.
• Jack Conley, I never like you. In any of your roles.
• "It's good to get the fruit while it's fresh." Ew.
• I love that Buffy just out and out says they're hunting werewolves. And the reveal that Kane is, too.
• I feel like Kane is a prototype for Jayne. But Adam Baldwin is a far better actor, so his awfulness is somehow charming. See, like "No, I'm in it purely for the money" is a funny line, if said by someone who isn't Jack Conley.
• Angelus, you are really good at seeming harmless and sweet - way better at it than when you were ACTUALLY not evil (see: Welcome to the Hellmouth, when you were a mysterious asshole). Also, you suck for killing Theresa.
• "This is what happens when a woman tries to do a man's job." Ew.
• Showdown between Angelus and OzWolf. Angelus BACKS DOWWWWWWN. Oh, snap.
• I have to say, going from trying to end the world to killing a teenage girl and running away from a werewolf, Angelus seems to be suffering from Second Novel Syndrome.
• GASP OZ IS A WEREWOLF. And has the best reaction ever: "huh." I love Seth Green so hard.
• "I wanted to ask you something - is Jordy a werewolf? Uh huh. And how long has that been going on?" LOVE
• Now it's time for Oz's paranoid tracking hall shot. Will he suddenly attack Buffy like she did him that one time? Oh. No.
• Poor Oz. He should probably come clean now, but I can see why he didn't do it, since he walked in on Buffy talking about killing the wolf, but ... basically, he should say something, and he didn't.
• "But while we hang around here, doing nothing, there's a human werewolf walking around out there, probably making fun of us." // "The way werewolves always do." I don't know why this made me laugh so hard.
• I like Larry so much more once he starts liking himself. Yay Gay!Larry! And then he's even all sweet, telling Xander he won't out him.
• NO BUFFY NO. She's advising Willow to make the first move. The last time she gave Willow relationship advice, she almost got killed by a vampire. Now's she's going to almost get killed by a werewolf. Buffy should never give advice ever.

Quit while you're ahead, B.

• "Buffy, you can't blame yourself for every death that happens in Sunnydale. If it weren't for you, people'd be lined up five deep waiting to get themselves buried." We'll see how true this is next season. I'm glad Xander recognizes that now, and tells her.
• "Angel sends his love." Oh, that's cold.
• And now, just to confuse us all more, the awkward exit from the hug of Buffy and Xander, never to referenced again.
• Awww, Kane uses a Bunsen burner to make his silver bullets. Science!
• Um. Wherrrrrre did Oz get the old-timey-looking shackles? And why were they in an old cardboard box? I do NOT want to know about his parents' private life.

• See, the mid-transition werewolf makeup is okay. It's the gorilla suit final product I'm less kicked on. ==>
• Man, Willow, Yellow was the wrong color overalls to wear for a chase in the woods. It's called planning ahead.
• "How exactly do we find this thing?" // "It's Oz! It's Oz!" Easiest detective work ever.
• "I shot Oz." I love you Willow. Also that was awesome.
• Buffy make the gun go bendy. Buffy is the best.
• See? Gay!Larry is even nicer to girls. Yay growth! I wish Xander weren't so freaked out about being thought gay. It's partly a 90s thing, where all of Television thought it was "funny" when a guy panicked about being presumed gay, but it wasn't actually funny then and at least it's not as in vogue to do that now. The best I can pawn it off is to say that teens freak out about being presumed different in ANY way, and that I can relate to. I just wish ... yeah. No.[Word ~D]
• The final scene of Willow and Oz!!! !I love it to teeny tiny widdle bits.
• "You are quite the human." Quite a specific and apt compliment in this town.
• "I'd still. I'd very still."
• It was nice of them to give us such a sweet ending after the PAIN and SAD of Innocence.

  

Crossfire!

Z: Introduction of the worst werewolf costume ever.

D: Aw it's not that bad.

Z: It's pretty bad.

D: Yeah, it's pretty bad.

Larry, with the wrong emphasis: What do you want, hush money?
D & Z: Hush MONEY?!??!

D: What IS that?

Z: I hate when it's so obvious an actor doesn't understand the phrase they're using.

Favorite Lines:

Daniel: "I didn't jump. I took a tiny step, and there conclusions were." - Buffy (I've used this before)

Zelda: "Buffy told me that sometimes what a girl makes has to be the first move and now that I'm saying this, I'm starting to think that the written version sounded pretty good ..." - Willow

90s Factoid:

Cordelia's Tommy Hilfiger sweater.

Hackysack was a thing.

Arc/Continuity Stuff:

• Oz is looking at the cheerleading trophy, in which Amy's psychotic mother is trapped.
• Larry's second appearance, in which he is a raging misogynist. And then gay.
• Our first werewolf story. Also, in this mythology, werewolves turn on the three nights around the full moon, not just the night itself. 
• Buffy, Willow, Oz, Cordelia, Xander, and Larry all have gym together. Not Jonathan though. Loser.
• Xander is pretending his time as a hyena will help him uncover the wolf, but he's still pretending he doesn't remember any of that. Because Xander is a stupid teenage boy.
• Also, Oz is a werewolf.

Stats:

Voiceover - Giles

Oz's Hair - Brown

Dead Humans - 1

Dead Undeads - 1

Giles Unconscious - 0

Giles Cleans His Glasses - 0 

Buffy Breaks a Door - 0

Evil Reveal - 1 (Oz, sort of)

Unevil Reveal - 2 (Larry is gay, not a wolf. Oz, because he didn't kill Theresa.)

Shenanigans Called - 0

Apocalypse Called - 0