Let's Fold Scarves

I had ever really thought much of this episode (as a whole) before but this time I was gripped.

The scene when Angel tells Buffy about his relationship with Drusilla was well written and acted but was marred by the choice to shoot SMG (wearing an unflattering off the shoulder top) from an high angle. I mean, look!

Buffy misses another chance to kill Spike and Drusilla when she (and the others) fail to take advantage of the fact that they ARE TRAPPED IN A BOMB SHELTER and, as such, are sitting ducks.

Still, it's a pretty solid episode. It has a Divinyls reference and begins the story of Anne: I love that she returns. I like it when Angel visits Willow in her room. He looks rather scrummy with a more Goth like look than usual.

Finally: “What? Whating a what?”

This is a fabulous standalone episode (edit: this is exactly what I said in 2006 though I didn't like Buffy as the damsel - oh well, I can be wrong). It doesn't really advance the overall story by much (except for a hint or two that Cordelia is softening towards Xander) but I think it could be enjoyed by any newbie. It has a clear set-up: Xander feels emasculated, Willow needs to get assertive and Buffy thinks she knows what kind of woman that Angel prefers. It is funny throughout: just watch it and see.

It is full of cracking dialogue including one of my favourite clever lines: "Who died and made her the boss?" I also adore the Xena line and the way Seth Green says "you're like a great big cat" is oddly hilarious.

I do like what Cordelia is wearing here:

Rewind

I really hate the main storyline. I know that unpleasant frat boys and the torture and humiliation of others is a staple of horror but I don't like watching it.

I do like the gang watching a Bollywood film; Cordelia's fake laugh; Buffy besting Giles in combat and in pouting; Willow apparent jealousy of Buffy going out with Cordelia; Willow having a go at Giles and Angel; and this exchange:

Buffy: I told one lie, I had one drink.

Giles: Yes, and you were very nearly devoured by a giant demon snake.

Why does Buffy want to die when Angel kisses her? Why doesn't this romance do anything for me at this point in the series? Why do I cringe every time Willow asks Buffy about her love life?

Oz!

Well, I like Oz but I like Tara. But which is better? Oz or Tara? There's only one way to find out...

Tara is the reason I love Buffy but that doesn't mean I can't like the character of Oz. He was so cool. And he had taste.

I've always liked this episode. I think Ampata's situation is heartbreaking. The urge to live again when your life had been curtailed unjustly is a powerful one.

I like the explanation for Ampata's good English. I also like my family's explanation for the appearance of a z-bed for Ampata in Buffy's room (but was Buffy really going to share her room with a boy?): although it is later shown that the Summers live in a three bedroomed house since Dawn has a room of her own, however, just like Dawn the bedroom doesn't exist yet so a z-bed is required in this reality's two bedroomed house.

Willow's hats may make their first appearance but here she is as the cutest Scooby:

Rewind

Adam really perked up when that car crashed into the Sunnydale sign. And who can blame him? The next three seasons are going to be bleedin' great.

I don't understand why Spike isn't one of the most famous vampires ever because he killed two Slayers. Killing just one should make any vamp famous, shouldn't it? So Giles' ignorance of him really bugs me.

I think my original review was skimpy and a little unfair though the episode is not without its problems mainly due to budgetary issues as far as I can tell, e.g., too few sets available and too few extras. However, it is full of good things like Buffy's French, Angel using Xander to try to trick Spike, Joyce coming into her own, Cordelia laughing at Buffy's plight, Cordelia complaining that she had been at work for at least three minutes, Cordelia praying, the Annoying One getting it, etc.

And what is definitely true: Spike and Drusilla's accents are appalling.

Rewind

Except for Giles and Jenny (for good reasons) and Angel's jealousy of Xander (for bad reasons) this was a mainly undistinguished and, of course, highly derivative episode of Buffy.

Actually, I also like the bits with Cordelia and Angel - they look nice together.

How do you follow up a superb S1 finale and kick off the new season? The answer is not very well. This has classic dialogue (one of the best lines ever "It's entirely pointy!"), a literally sweet scene with Willow and Xander at the beginning of the programme, one of Buffy's best dreams (astute viewers will spot the wrong snacks being eaten by Xander and Willow), a great Cordelia and Buffy scene, Principal Snyder being all Principal Snydery, and the cast is strung up like pigs but it doesn't hang together.

The dirty dancing with Xander is plain icky and a not a little pervy, Mr Whedon, and the plot doesn't work; it's just unsatisfactory.

However, Adam predicted that Andy and I had smiles on our face at the conclusion of the episode and, of course, he was right.

Rewind (quite a thoughtful review I think)

This episode is so good. As much as I do like the rest of S1, this really is a massive step up in quality. Everything has more meaning, more depth, more resonance and, overall, it is as rich as a double chocolate cake with chocolate sauce. Actually, scratch that analogy because that sounds inedible. OK, as rich as a lemon cheesecake with double cream. Hmmm.

In the "I quit" scene, Sarah Michelle Gellar is simply amazing. Both Andy and I cried and we may have seen it several times. She is perfect and Joss Whedon must have been thrilled that she was because he then knew he could really make her work hard for her money in subsequent seasons. And she earned it over all 144 episodes.

I don't like Xander but I do like Willow. And their scene after he is rejected by Buffy sums up why. Anyway...I am looking forward to S2 a lot.

I swear there was more of Clea DuVall in this. She's the main reason I like this episode along with the brilliant Cordelia character development.

It has a very X-Files ending which I didn't mind but I'm glad they stayed away from that. After all government involvement in this series would just kill it, wouldn't it? Erm.

Just how did Marcie transport Cordelia and Buffy to the Bronze: invisibility and super-strength? No wonder the government is interested.

I'm puzzled that some people recommend that Buffy virgins should skip S1 and start with S2. It's not as if S2 doesn't have a good selection of clunkers and, in order to get episodes as good as "Innocence" and "Passion", you need to develop the characters and plotlines; you need to have earned the right to break our hearts.

If you don't get Buffy after viewing "Welcome to the Hellmouth" and "The Harvest", I'm surprised if you get Buffy at all.

"Nightmares" is great. That is all.

See here for a Willow fancies Buffy screencap.