What was it about the second year of this little WB series centered on a teenager fighting the forces of darkness that struck such a cord with viewers and critics alike? Buffy the Vampire Slayer: A Retrospecticus – Season 2 Pt 1 continues this journey through the series we all gushed week after week about with an eagerness for more to the point that cultural osmosis set in around us.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: A Retrospecticus – Season 2 Pt 1

Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: A Retrospecticus…

If 1997 was the year Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS) burst onto the scene and made a name for itself, then 1998 is when it exploded into a pop culture phenomenon. Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide, and so many other magazines pushed their new obsession while SNL & SMG combined forces only days before Buffy’s big 17th birthday bash two-parter to get as many viewers as possible tuned in for the fireworks of switching to Tuesday nights. 

Fan or not, by the end of S2 everyone knew of BtVS thanks to those of us who couldn’t shut up about it.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: A Retrospecticus – Season 2 Pt 1

While there was a preamble (ramble? pre-ramble?) last time in regards to the what/who/why of it all, I believe you have the gist now. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: A Retrospecticus – Season 2 Pt 1 will cover the first 11 episodes of S2 with the second 11 episodes as well as overall thoughts of whole season to follow next week. 

2.1 When She Was Bad

• Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
• While Buffy manages to move past her traumatic death with the help of close friends and some bone-smashing catharsis (good end fight), her relationship with her father winds up being a casualty because of his petty nature. I’m sure Buffy was as distant and stand-offish over summer as he suggests, but so what? Teenagers are often weird for all kinds of reasons so for him to use her disinterest to call it a day on being her father suggests to me he was already kind of looking for a way out. He’ll pop up in the comics, eventually, but–surprise!–he’s still a jerk.

• Buffy taunting Angel with “Come on, kick my ass” and Joyce’s “I’ll just be happy if she makes it through the school year” comment, in particular, feel very nicely book-ended by what comes in the finale (not to mention Buffy being such a sucker for the bait & switch). Also, Willow proclaiming “Buffy killed a vampire last night!” in the crowded hallway & Giles stuttering through “Trout…is a fish” are favorite moments of mine.

• The whole Sugar Water dance sequence is expertly done and never gets old. Sarah Michelle Gellar demonstrates how easily Buffy can be nasty if that’s her desired goal and I have to say, I might have a soft spot for bitchy Buffy. Her sexy dance with Xander is one for the books and rightly lands a spot in the opening credits. Hot stuff!

• This is probably the best directed episode yet, if I think about it (even with the very fake Giles mask). The fact that the music isn’t awful and actually crosses the line into benefiting the scene is a welcome change from S1. Joss Whedon written & directed episodes prove to be standouts over the years, but that’s no surprise.
• Slayer Sense Fail: Vamps grab Cordy right behind the oblivious Buffy. Hone, Buffy!

2.2 Some Assembly Required

• Written by Ty King / Directed by Bruce Seth Green
• This standard MOTW outing proves worth it for all the Scooby banter and Giles/Jenny progressing further–from his practicing talking to her to their actual date interplay of rugby vs football. It’s all a fun enough bonding exercise for the characters as well as the viewer and then it’s over.

• Resurrecting your dead brother as some kind of walking corpse might seem like a good idea at the time, but what’s the long-term goal? Was Daryl going to live in the basement forever? What about their mother, the charming lady Buffy got to speak with? Oh, and that multi-colored glass front door of theirs is truly hideous.

• Angel’s tan/cream jacket is weird. I don’t really have much follow-up, it’s just an odd outfit for Angel. While I’m discussing Angel, I like how he (rightly) assumes Buffy’s got something to do with the fire and comes running. And in the beginning how come the shovel Buffy uses as a stake disappears but the sledgehammer from the premiere didn’t? My world is shattered.

• Cordy and Xander romance seeds are firmly planted, if they weren’t already, with him valiantly rescuing her followed by her genuinely thanking him. Yeah, he ruins the moment a bit but obviously not too much considering how much making out they’re going to do.
• Slayer Sense Fail: Undead Daryl’s right behind her. Pay attention, Buffy!

2.3 School Hard

• Written by David Greenwalt and Joss Whedon / Directed by John T. Kretchmer
• The biggest takeaway is obviously the arrival of Spike & Drusilla, no question. Aside from the Master and Darla every antagonist vampire’s pretty much been a lineless extra, even the ones who spoke, so the influx of James Marsters and Juliet Landau as this murderously devoted undead duo signals a welcome new age.
• This is neither here nor there, but I remember an interview with the executive producers of Frasier years ago where they mentioned almost casting Juliet Landau as Maris–Niles’ bizarre, never seen (but frequently mentioned) wife. I can see it.

• Several bits of Spike’s history will be adjusted in the near future, such as his age of “barely 200” and Angel being his sire, but frankly what stands out to me more as a hard square to circle is Giles never having heard of Spike or Angel. Based on everything we come to learn it’s kind of impossible to believe Giles is so in the dark in regards to their histories. I don’t count Spike being a liar about the second slayer he killed begging for her life as an error–more ego fluffing.

• This isn’t one of my favorites, actually. I like most of what’s on display when it comes to character interactions and whatnot, but at a certain point the plot holes/inconsistencies/idiocy become overwhelming. Once Spike crashes Parent/Teacher night with a gang of vampires I feel like the wheels come off a little as all the adults are deeply stupid and the vampires are inept. They can’t break down a wood classroom door? Or a window? Buffy breaks through a ceiling and stakes a guy while the vampire around the corner has no clue? Wouldn’t Joyce being present in the end fight make things easier for Spike? And Buffy et all leave without looking for Willow (Scooby shirt sighting) at all? I could go on, but that’s enough.

• Snyder putting who he considers the two biggest delinquents in charge of Parent/Teacher night is a horrible idea–I guess he really wanted to drink urine, or something. As for Sheila, I always found her a lame and quite poorly portrayed character. The only worthwhile thing to come from her existing is the legitimately freakish shot that cuts away a moment before Drusilla bites a chunk out of Sheila’s face (Miss Edith doesn’t get to watch).
• Slayer Sense Fail: Spike’s right there in the Bronze, being super predatory near the oblivious Buffy.

2.4 Inca Mummy Girl

• Written by Matt Kiene & Joe Reinkemeyer / Directed by Ellen S. Pressman
• For what one might think is such a throwaway MOTW outing there’s actually several notable debuts. Oz appears for the first time (looking a little like he’s pleasuring himself on stage to the sight of Eskimo Willow, FYI) along with Dingoes Ate My Baby and lead singer Devon, plus Jonathan shows up at the World Culture Dance as some kind of cowboy safari guy. He’s the guy Ampata almost kills–”You’re hands are kinda…rough”–before Xander pops in.

• The World Culture Dance would certainly ruffle a few feathers of the PC police today, but it’s all rather brief and it’s not like there’s any blackface on display so I think we’ll be okay.
• Was Ampata going to room with Buffy when Joyce thought she was a he? There *is* a third bedroom, y’know. You invited an exchange student so move whatever gallery stuff in there out of the way and make space, Joyce. Also, sharing lipstick seems gross–like sharing lip balm.

• Everything about Sunnydale’s museum makes no sense–no plexiglass covering the mummy? Or cameras? Maybe a guard named Rusty? Even a janitor to notice an exhibit has been damaged? I guess they have other things to worry about in Sunnydale.
• A moment of silence for Ampata. And what do you think they told the real Ampata’s family about how their son mysteriously died?

• Ara Celi sells Ampata’s situation nicely and I like that she’s not some evil monster, even if she leaves several bodies in her wake. She and Nicholas Brendan also have some pretty good chemistry to the point I believe their little romance, so kudos. Xander’s so bummed at the end he has no comical remarks and, for once, they all just wordlessly leave.

2.5 Reptile Boy

• Written & Directed by David Greenwalt
• Another fun, silly MOTW adventure for the Scooby Gang. Similar to S1 a little, this one’s just an entertaining example of building up character relationships while fighting some supernatural menace. What’s this week’s obstacle? A fraternity’s hidden snake monster the bros sacrifice young women to in exchange for money, power, a dick girls will stop laughing at, love from daddy, and whatever other issues motivate someone to join their weirdo club.

• Good on Willow for telling Giles and Angel how it is. She continues her growth from that meek, softer side of Sears girl in the pilot with what seem like baby steps but by the end of S2 Willow is firmly not one to be trifled with–and she hasn’t even floated a pencil yet.
• For whatever reason, one of my oft-quoted BtVS lines over the years is “Like we’re sisters, with really different hair!” Whoever knows why certain lines stick, especially since I’ve been shaving my head for over a decade, but this one did.

• This episode is kind of a helpful guide on the kinds of guys to avoid as a young person on the dating scene. First off, college seniors who flash a BMW to flirt with High Schoolers–run the other direction. If there’s a “nice guy” among the din of morons, someone who talks about how he’s different from his friends and understands more, you can bet he’s not and he doesn’t. Also, don’t ever take an open drink at a frat party from someone you don’t know unless being drugged and raped is high on your to-do list.

• I’m all for every one of the frat guys who benefited from their murderous ways getting comeuppance, so Xander conveying the various arrests & suicides in the boardroom via newspaper in the wrappup works for me even if it’s all a bit immediate and simple.

2.6 Halloween

• Written by Carl Ellsworth / Directed by Bruce Seth Green
• A BtVS classic. Hijinks ensue when a bunch of people are turned into their costumes, courtesy of Giles’ old friend Ethan Rayne. Willow and the amnesiacs make for a rather amusing bunch, plus Soldier Xander furthers the burgeoning Cordy flirtation along with his manliness and lack of Xander-esque commentary. We learn of Giles being a badass named “Ripper” once upon a time, too, and he gets to kick the crap out of Ethan while saying threatening stuff like “You get to live.” Be seeing you, Ethan.

• First mention of Halloween being “dead for the undead” as they aren’t a fan, which I never quite got. Why not wander the streets like Spike eventually does after chaos erupts? I mean, a vampire could certainly do some damage on a regular Halloween night and disappear before anyone really knew what happened. 
• Angel’s a big liar when he talks about not being into girls when he was alive and how he “wished [he] could meet someone interesting.” He was a big drunk who liked to treat himself with a whore every day of the week.

• In all fairness to Larry (who makes his debut here), Xander *did* initiate physical contact first. Larry was being a pig, absolutely, but that’s no excuse for a needless physical altercation. Also, it’s important for you to know both my husband and Buffy said “oo, diet Dr Pepper” when one popped out after she slammed Larry into the soda machine. Also also, the previous image of Buffy & Willow looking through the library door window may have been a computer wallpaper of mine once upon a time.

• Since Willow becomes a ghost (“Of what, exactly?” as Giles asks upon seeing her hooker outfit) that means she died, right? It doesn’t really matter as it’s all undone when Giles breaks the statue, but as far as trivia goes Willow joins the list of those who died and got better. Willow telling Buffy that Angel would never fall for Cordy also proves less than accurate over the long haul. Fun facts.

2.7 Lie to Me

• Written & Directed by Joss Whedon
• My favorite episode of S2’s first half. Humor, pathos, effective character development, long term world-building, and other positive qualities all mix together to deliver a seminal BtVS episode with too many favorite moments: Willow realizing what “I Touch Myself” was about, when Spike snarls at Chanterelle, “once more, with tension,” Angel and one of the Sunset Club dorks dressing the same, and more but I’ll stop before I summarize the whole episode. Also, having a swimsuit round in a 9th grade beauty contest is especially gross.

• Buffy’s trust in people gets put to the test as her old friend Ford, Willow, Xander, and Angel all deceive her to varying degrees. It’s not all done out of malice, but at a certain point it doesn’t matter–more lies are just more lies. Buffy’s talk with Giles at the end when she asks him to lie to her, after wanting the truth so much, stuck with me long ago and still holds up.

• The kid at the beginning has awful parents if they leave him alone at night like that in Sunnydale. Or maybe they were trying to get him killed? Anyway, Angel and Dru meeting in the park is the first time they’ve seen each other in a long time–I think almost 100 years? All that comes after, narratively and via flashback, greatly enriches this scene.
• Jenny finally reappears after last showing up in “School Hard”–maybe she was visiting Uncle Enyos? At least she and Giles can have a little more fun before a possessed wrench gets thrown in the works next episode.

• Who’s that as one of the loser vampire wannabe members of the Sunset Club? Here she goes by Chanterelle but we’ll know her by a couple other names before the Buffyverse comes to a close on TV. This minor character appearing a handful of times over the course of two different series and getting a nice arc for herself is one of the things I love about BtVS–you really never could tell who might show up again, stick around a while, suddenly leave, die, or whatever else. They liked to promote from within when it came to their supporting/recurring cast of characters which long time viewers notice and appreciate.

2.8 The Dark Age

• Written by Dean Batali & Rob Des Hotel / Directed by Bruce Seth Green
• Giles falls to pieces over some foolish choices he made when young that resulted in a friend’s death so Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Cordy (“What about me? I care about Giles”) step in as the investigators. I like this one for the most part, but there are a few too many lazy plot assumptions and otherwise weak story choices for it to be upper echelon–though there is a BtVS Binder connection I’ll get to in a second.

• Willow saves the day (via Angel–who undoes his efforts to save Jenny in the near future) with what turns out to be a great idea, so nice work. Giles, Angel, Ethan, and Eyghon actually cross paths again in the comics one day so this isn’t the last they’ll all see of each other.

• I always thought it was surprising Ethan Rayne turned up again so soon after the ominous “Be Seeing You” note. Having seen the rest of the season I can understand why, however it still seems like more of a tease couldn’t have hurt. It’s also a bit weak how all it takes for Ethan to fool Eyghon is to give Buffy the mark tattoo and burn his off–why couldn’t Deidre or Phillip do that? Or Giles? I guess if Phillip couldn’t think to run away from the monster trying to kill him he wasn’t a big thinker, but the others?

• As for the BtVS Binder story I mentioned, one of the entries was titled “It Was An Extraordinary High” and consisted of a young adult Adem *very high* on ecstasy expounding all about Giles’ youthful transgressions. I forgot all about that day, E-Day, which wasn’t exactly a family friendly experience to share the details of but it just goes to show BtVS was always a topic on my mind.
• Slayer Sense Fail: Buffy turns her back on Ethan and gets knocked out in one go–lame. Also, she should be able to break free of that table in a heartbeat.

2.9 What’s My Line? Pt 1

• Written by Marti Noxon & Howard Gordon / Directed by David Solomon
• It’s career fair week at Sunnydale High. Buffy, of course, has a career already as the slayer *plus* she’s a teenager so all the future planning and wondering what she’ll be when she grows up really gets under her skin. Being told that either law enforcement or environmental planning could be up here alley isn’t doing Buffy’s sour mood any favors, either. I remember taking those kinds of tests in high school and I’m with Buffy–they’re lame and a waste of time.

• This episode feels a bit like table setting for the next episode, honestly, but it’s amusing enough and has fun banter (plus Xander calls them the Scooby Gang for the first time, I believe). Kendra the vampire slayer shows up, which is obviously an important development, but that’s more the next episode than this one.

• Snyder disappears after this episode until the end of the season and I know you’re heartbroken to hear it. Even though Snyder’s MIA for 10 episodes there’s a feeling that, as Willow said, “I DID just see [him] a minute ago and [he] IS around here somewhere.” Also, the teasing of Oz & Willow continues and it’s the series premiere of Willy the Snitch aka Mocha Joe.
• This is Marti Noxon’s debut, credited as co-writer here with Howard Gordon. I haven’t made note really of any writers so far who aren’t Joss Whedon until now because aside from Whedon & David Greenwalt none of them carry on very long but that has changed with Marti Noxon. She’s around until series end so get used to her name in the credits.

• “Note to self, religion freaky”–true story, Buffy. True story…
• Okay, as for the Order of Taraka–it seems like anyone with a sniper rifle would have done a better job than all these goobers. The one guy just grabs Buffy at the ice skating rink to choke her then promptly gets his throat slit with an ice skate (blood should be all over the ice, by the way). If anything, they at least keep Buffy busy dealing with their incompetence while Spike’s working on restoring Dru.

2.10 What’s My Line? Pt 2

• Written by Marti Noxon / Directed by David Semel
• Kendra being so by the book and under the thumb of her Watcher/the Watcher’s Council is probably their ideal slayer scenario–she does what she’s told, doesn’t push back, doesn’t have a family/friend support system of any kind, and exists solely as a tool in their war chest. The more we learn of the Watcher’s Council and their motivations it becomes clear they have deep systematic flaws, to be nice about it, but are you really surprised when centuries old institutions aren’t terribly progressive?

• Drusilla appears to still have some issues with Angel re: him murdering her family. As the Judge points out in a few episodes, she and Spike ooze emotion and other human-esque feelings so it’s not out of the realm of reason for Dru to still harbor complex thoughts about Angel. Plus, she had the sight and he drove her super crazy so lots of things are swirling around in there.
• Between Buffy & Kendra carrying Angel out then Dru carrying Spike out, the ladies are doing all the heavy lifting as is often the case on BtVS–both literally and figuratively. 

• All the Order of Taraka assassins continue to be lame & ineffective, but at the same time Buffy and Kendra kind of take a long time to dispatch them for some reason–especially the cop lady who shoots Oz and takes Jonathan hostage. You have super powers, just break her face and move on! As for Bugman, two regular high school students who can’t stop making out make him look like an idiot a couple times so maybe he should give Career Day a shot and see if there’s something better for him out there.

• It turns out there *is* a slayer handbook and Giles–correctly, no doubt–decided it wouldn’t mesh with Buffy. Based on Kendra’s fairly short time on the job I’d almost venture a guess that a feature of the slayer handbook is to hammer home they will die at a young age for a good cause and it’s an honor. Thankfully, Buffy will put the Watcher’s Council in their place a few times over the years before the Scooby Gang ends up taking those reigns themselves.

2.11 Ted

• Written by David Greenwalt & Joss Whedon / Directed by Bruce Seth Green
• Joyce appears for the first time since 2.4 “Inca Mummy Girl” and with her she brings John Ritter as new boyfriend Ted. I guess if I squint and turn my brain off I can see why Joyce would date him (plus she’s probably being drugged for a while a little like Clarice at the end of Hannibal), but even before things go off the rails I can see why Buffy’s put off. He’s extremely old-fashioned in how he treats women, whereas Buffy has no patience for such garbage. 

• This one’s pretty funny. Mostly intentionally via dialogue and performance (like Cordy casually mentioning Giles having “killed that guy that one time”), but also for things like Willow’s “new 9 gig hard drive.” I’ll also say I couldn’t help but laugh at Ted’s rather chipper & good-natured “Fine then, I’ll have to carry you” when he knocks Joyce unconscious.

• Buffy’s “I’d feel like killing myself” sentiments when asked her thoughts on Ted proposing soon followed by “I was so hoping you’d do that” when he strikes her across the face are a couple highlights. Buffy’s immediate reaction when Ted threatens to involve a mental institution ties together pretty well with the later revelation about her brief time at a similar place. Death by your own cookware for you, Ted.

• In other news, Giles & Jenny reconnect during which he gets shot with a crossbow and takes it really well. Cordy and Xander continue their secret coupling, to both of their dismay, while Willow sciences out what drug Ted uses in his recipes and keeps a few of his robot parts to study. It won’t be the last robo-person she encounters, so good for trying to be prepared.
• Slayer Sense Fail: Buffy doesn’t notice Ted watching her cheat at mini-golf in broad daylight?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: A Retrospecticus – Season 2 will return next week to cover the second 11 episodes as well as overall thoughts of whole season. 

There’ll be more from the BtVS Binder as we move through the series so please end your hunger strikes, but for now try Buffy the Vampire Slayer: A Retrospecticus – Season 2 Pt 1′s couple of trivia questions–and remember, attempt to answer as if Google doesn’t exit.

1. When the Watcher’s Council came to Sunnydale to “beg to be let back in,” what date did Anya give as her birthday?
2. What state did Buffy’s freshman year college roommate tell everyone she was from?

*Last week’s answers: 1) 837 Weatherly Drive, 2) Sophie, 3) Le Banquet D’Amelia