When She Was Bad

Original Airdate: September 15, 1997

Writer: Joss Whedon

Director: Joss Whedon

While Whedon and his writers would craft some great season long storylines, often leading to satisfying payoffs, they would mostly stumble on these first episodes. Usually, episodes like this one serve to wrap up the previous season's loose ends and get the group ready for the current season's main event, rather than establish it.

In the first season, they had to prepare for possible cancellation. That meant a season finale that tied up most of the urgent plot threads, which would've given some closure to the experience. So with the second season a go, they had to wrap up the things that they did leave open.

Buffy was a bit dazed following The Master's defeat, and now she is in a full fledged funk, where even Cordelia (who sounds a little sick in this episode) expresses concern, albeit in her own way. Considering this may be the first taste some viewers had of Buffy, this may have not been the best first impression. Having her lash out at the other main characters with no provocation isn't going to earn sympathy points. However, for the sake of story continuity, they had little choice in the matter. And the "bitca" joke doesn't work (don't stake me!) It feels too forced.

The lack of vampires during Buffy's absence is interesting. Future seasons would allude to prior problems being there during the summer. If the vamps wanted to, they could've taken Sunnydale over during the summer (or The Master could've waited a few weeks). Perhaps this is just a result of Whedon's desire to keep the first season self-contained. Since Hellmouth is a unique trait of this world, they have some liberty to decide whether demonic activity would be there even when it was closed.

Relationships are incredibly important to the series and in this season probably the most. Many of them take up an added complexity this season, with ramifications that extend through both "Buffy" and "Angel". We saw mostly puppy love crushes in the first season, but this season they are growing up, and things are going to get heavy, with unrequited feelings, betrayal and lots of heartbreak.

Despite his rejection, Xander still harbors feelings for Buffy. Unfortunately, the moody Buffy uses this to make Angel jealous in a memorably sexy dance that only confuses him. Poor guy, he probably couldn't think straight for days after that, I know I wouldn't if that happened to me at 16.

Much to Willow's delight, it appears that there may be something brewing between her and Xander, as he tenderly cleaned her nose and had a near kiss before the vamp ruined the moment. However, once Buffy returned Willow found herself having her affections fall unheard. Without Buffy, the two of them had time to bond the way they used to before she came to town.

They have amplified Giles and Ms. Calendar's feelings towards each other, which was only a hint late last season. Now Jenny's jabs at Giles' stuffiness are more overtly flirtatious, which is a nice change. It's funny to see the adult of the group acting like a child in front of the woman he likes.

Another major piece of the episode comes from Buffy's attempts to keep her identity secret from her unsuspecting mother (this is the last time we see Hank Summer as a dad who cared about his daughter). It is only briefly hinted in this episode, but it works as establishing a theme. Buffy unable to relate to her mother how she feels could explain why she's hesitant to tell her friends, who understand what she's going through.

Although his role in bringing Buffy down was ultimately lackluster, the remaining members of the Order of Aurelius (who should really consider a dress code more fitting of their group) remain close to the Anointed One. Perhaps they too wonder "is that it?" and think that there has to be more to the Prophecy than what was said in "Never Kill a Boy…"

It is interesting that the vampires decided to let Xander live when they took Willow and Giles. Usually, they would at least suck him dry or figure he was incapacitated. Why would they leave someone behind who could tell the Slayer what they were doing, inevitably leading to her foiling that plan? This is probably most likely the "he's a lead so he lives" syndrome, but it is a forgivable flaw.

The bones of The Master serve two purposes: the impetus of the main plot (I wonder if they could perform a ritual with just a vamp's dust) and as a symbol of the lingering emotional pain Buffy's dealing with in the episode. Throughout the episode her judgment is clouded by her anger towards The Master, who is present in her dreams and hallucinations. By smashing his bones into dust, Buffy manages to put that trauma behind her, but the denouement is still painful for her.

Unlike every other season, the first one was done before the first episode aired, so they were able to throw in bits of foreshadowing, like Buffy's dream in the pilot. Now in season two, they go in production like the typical TV show, but that doesn't stop the foreshadowing. Thankfully, they had someone in charge who knew what he was doing and where he wanted to take the show. In this first episode, two hints are dropped that become major parts of the season finale "Becoming" and an event mirrors a later occurrence.

This is a decent opener, but it serves more to wrap up the first season's loose ends than start what would come down the road. However, there are some bits that hint towards the bigger plan of the season, and that helps. And they don't use so many filler montages (the training one I liked, because I'm very simple).

Score: 7/10

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