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| Writer: | Dana Reston |
| Director: | Stephen Cragg |
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| - | Review |
From the hilarious opening scene (see quote below) to the entertaining conclusion, this episode mostly succeeds. The snappy dialog continues to grow and we're shown that vampires aren't going to be the only villains on the show. The whole cheerleading angle can only be done once and I'm glad BtVS leaves it behind after this episode (aside from a brief scene with Dawn in "Him" [7x06]), but it made for some decent comedy here. It's also Amy's first appearance!
The entire production of this episode feels more polished and solid than the first couple of episodes. This is also the first time we really see Joss Whedon's influence with great character moments (even though I don't believe he wrote this episode). The whole concept of spontaneously combustible cheerleaders is highly entertaining. Then when Buffy sings "macho, macho man!" over and over I was in stitches. That moment marks one of Buffy's happiest moments in the entire series, even if she is being influenced by a spell.
Also a fun observation is that Buffy's alarm clock appears to be the same one that goes off in the beginning of the musical episode, "Once More, With Feeling" in S6. I think this clock makes several appearances throughout the series. I'm not sure if it has a special meaning or if it's just a prop they kept throughout the show's run. Probably the latter.
The only problems I can find with this episode involve a few clunky lines of dialog (though this is getting better and better as each episode this season rolls along) and some overuse of witch cliches (such as the black cat jumping out of the chest). Otherwise this episode is a good, but flawed first 'regular' episode.
| - | Minor Pros/Cons (+/-) |
| Pros: | |
| + | Willow has ultra cute mannerisms and dialog. |
| + | Xander's crush on Buffy begins. |
| + | Mom and daughter body swap was a nice twist on the basic witch plot. |
| - | Foreshadowing |
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| - | Quotes |
| GILES: | This is madness! What can you have been thinking? You are the Slayer! Lives depend upon you! I make allowances for your youth, but I expect a certain amount of responsibility, and instead of which you enslave yourself to this, this... cult? |
| BUFFY: | (wearing a cheerleader outfit) You don't like the color? |
| BUFFY: | Hmm, I know you don't, that's 'cause you're my friend. You're my Xander-shaped friend! |
| - | Score |
| 75/100 | B- |
Flawed in some areas. Possibly lacking in character development and relevance or possessing a poor plot and/or villain. There's still a lot of good material mixed in with the mediocre.
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| - | Screencaps |
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| - | Comments (18) |
| 1. | tabathSep 16, 2006 (Sat) | |
| Actually the name Spike was derived from on unfortunate victi, of his poetry(pre-vamping) declaring he would rather have a railroad spike driven through his head than listen to anymore of it -or something along those lines. Nice site by the way |
| 2. | Tobias DrakeJan 9, 2007 (Tue) | |
| Actually, you're both right. The victim in question was responsible for putting the idea in Spike's head, but Spike did follow up and do it. |
| 3. | buffyholicOct 3, 2007 (Wed) | |
| This is one of my favorite in S1. I think the plot is really well done and I like Amy. Once again, the characters and their dialogue is what really amazes more. I just have to say how I love Willow. That scene where Buffy tells Xander he´s one of the girls is awesome just by looking at Willow´s face. |
| 4. | AustinOct 4, 2007 (Thu) | |
| I was really surprised when Amy went back to magic in S2, you'd she would have been scared away. I kind of think it was the scoobies fault for not accepting her into their group after this ep |
| 5. | LibMaxNov 25, 2007 (Sun) | |
| Austin: I kind of think it was the scoobies fault for not accepting her into their group after this ep. Imagine how big the scooby gang would have gotten if they'd added every guest character who survived an episode and wasn't evil. Anyway, Amy didn't really turn evil until after she'd spent three of the best years of her life as a rat, which would piss off just about anybody. In Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered, she is morally ambiguous, true, but remember that Power Corrupts is one of the constant themes of the show. |
| 6. | NixJan 11, 2008 (Fri) | |
| Tobias, Spike *let it be known* that he'd tortured people with railroad spikes... but it really doesn't sound very Spike to me. He was always a fisticuffs just-punch-them sort of guy: torture with railroad spikes is more Angel's gig (as seen at the end of s2). I suspect that if he ever did this it was Angel's suggestion. |
| 7. | MichaelAug 3, 2008 (Sun) | |
| I really like the metaphor used in this episode - parents pushing their kids too far, in terms of sport. It was relevant then and relevant now. I'd give this episode the same rating as you. It's a lot better than most of S1 and holds up a decent, interesting storyline. I loved the twist-at-the-end as well. |
| 8. | jillSep 3, 2008 (Wed) | |
| My guess is Spike probably did the railroad spike in the head thing just the once, as 'poetic justice' from his POV to the man who taunted his poetry. Kinda kicking-sand-in the-face-of-the-bully thing. That was probably enough to create the 'legend' that Spike did that a lot, even though as Nix said, it's not his style. |
| 9. | Tara and Willow Mar 17, 2009 (Tue) | |
| YOU ARE THE BEST! I love your site and your thoughts although many times I disagree with you. This episode is great and I think it gives the show a scary quality. It was really funny too. Now about the Spike foreshadowing I read somewhere that Joss was preparing S2 during this episode so it might be a foreshadowing. Plus in one of Juliet Landau interviews she mentioned that Joss had the charachter Spike in his mind more than 10 years before the show began! By the way I agree with your score, although I think I would give it an A-. Great Job! Keep working! |
| 10. | RosalieMay 12, 2009 (Tue) | |
| Spike got his name from ''torturing his vitims with railroad spikes.'' |
| 11. | EmilySep 1, 2009 (Tue) | |
| Cordelia was blind and that's why she drove into the fence- yet she could see the truck that was barreling down the street towards her? This is the only episode that doesn't fit in with "Normal Again." Buffy straight out tells her mother that she's the vampire slayer- Joyce asks if Buffy is feeling well, but she doesn't freak out or even mention anything related to the experience Buffy had in a mental institution. I'm still able to accept it as canon, but I feel like Joss should've thought that one through a little more. And *why* was there a big mirror in the science lab? S1 can be so corny sometimes....... |
| 12. | LeeluSep 1, 2009 (Tue) | |
| @Emily: It's possible that Buffy going into an asylum is only part of the Post-Dawn past. She was apparently sent there after Dawn read her diary, saw all the vampire stuff in it, and showed it to their mother. |
| 13. | Dave CSep 1, 2009 (Tue) | |
| Leelu, I've heard that before, and it sort of makes sense (or close enough to satisfy me), but I wonder if it's "canon." did Joss or one of the other writers actually propose that as the official scenario about what happened or is the "Dawn Did It" theory simply (no offense) fanwanking? |
| 14. | EmilySep 2, 2009 (Wed) | |
| Leelu, I never heard that before- was that mentioned in "Normal Again"? (You'd think I would know after seeing the series five times, but I'm totally blanking lol.) Besides, even if it is mentioned, I don't think that would really work for me as an explanation, considering that Dawn was worked into everyone's memories. Before Dawn, it could've easily been Joyce or Hank who read the diary.... Like I said, I accept the mental asylum situation as canon- but it just doesn't work in a couple of scenes in the early seasons. It doesn't bother me that much....just thought it was worth mentioning. -Carpe noctem |
| 15. | LeeluSep 2, 2009 (Wed) | |
| @Dave C. & Emily: It was mentioned in one of the comics in a Buffy Omnibus. Honestly can't remember which one, though, and I'm too lazy to look it up. haha And yes, Dawn was worked into their memories, meaning that all their existing memories were tweaked to include her. But that also means that there had to be completely new memories fabricated. There's memories Dawn has of stuff she's done without the others; as babied and spoiled as Dawn was there also must be plenty of memories that are Dawn-centric for Joyce, Hank, and Buffy, as well. All of this also happens with Connor later on in Angel. |
| 16. | EmilySep 2, 2009 (Wed) | |
| The omnibus isn't canon, is it? -Carpe noctem |
| 17. | NixSep 8, 2009 (Tue) | |
| Hah. I just noticed: Giles tries 'as the Watcher I forbid it' here. It works about as well as it works when Wesley tries to do the same thing using exactly the same line more than three seasons later. |
| 18. | LeeluSep 8, 2009 (Tue) | |
| @Emily: I am not really certain whether the comics (other than Season Eight, which really shouldn't be XS ) are considered canon or not, honestly. heh But regardless, I think it works well to explain away some of the problems you were having with the episode. 8P |
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