First, a synopsis of Hallowe'en 1997.

<takes a deep breath>The kids go to a new costume shop to get their Hallowe'en costumes because Principle Snyder has volunteered them all to accompany little kids on their rounds as a public service thing but Ethan Raynes (the guy who turned Giles into a Demon last week) casts a spell so that they all became what their costumes were (Xander a soldier, Willow a ghost (an Anne Rice kinda ghost if Anne Rice did ghosts) and Buffy a Southern Belle subject to swooning and *not* Xena Princess Warrior which Willow wishes aloud she had chosen instead) but the
spell is broken just in time for Buffy to say "Hi Honey, I'm home" and kick Spikes' ass across
three states and two time zones.

This is interesting to know because this episode also follows a similar theme.

The action opens with Montage Synopsis (TM) dwelling mainly on Buffy and Parker (aka Mr. ScumBag) and finishes with the Scooby gang carving pumpkin heads for hallowe'en.  Buffy is wallowing in the throes of depression over Parker and the gang decide to all go to the big frat haunted house party.  Break for the credits (Oz yes, Spike no, Riley no) and the first set of commercials.

Little bit of set up for the show when we get back.  Willow says she's ready to do conjuration which is serious magic.  Oz expresses concern that it's too powerful and will tap into the dark side; a scary feeling he feels every time he wolfs out.  Buffy sees Parker and takes off.  Meanwhile, across town, Anya drops by to torment Xander.  First, having sex with him didn't kill all her feelings for him.  Second, she wonders why the rest of the gang put up with him when it's obvious they have nothing in common with him.  Lastly, she gets herself invited to go with him to the frat party as long as she finds a scary costume.

Now we visit the frat house decorating committee which has dug up a book with a cool pentangle in a circle to paint on their attic floor.  While Oz and Xander are helping set up the sound system Oz cuts himself and blood drips onto the circle.  Actually, slo-mo CGI blood falls gracefully into the circle which morphs the circle into a Andy Warhol thing for a second and Jumanji's a rubber spider.   When this much computer generated imagery happens in 20 seconds you know you've just seen something important.

Buffy's mom fixes up her Little Red Riding Hood costume that she last wore when she was 12.  Buffy has decided to go to the party because Giles has assured her that the demon world considers Hallowe'en tacky and avoid it and Riley has pep talked her into having a good time.  Buffy tells her mom that she senses a cycle in her life - love a guy and he leaves; her dad, Angel and now Parker.  Buffy's mom says well, yeah but you gotta keep trying.  Actually, she's much more articulate and philosophical than that but that's the brass tacks.

The Scooby Gang meet for the party.  Xander is dressed in a tux.  That way if they turn into their costumes he's either James Bond or (as Buffy suggests) a waiter.  Willow is dressed as Joan of Arc as both Willow and Joan were burned at the stake and had a close personal relationship with God.  "And you are?" asks Xander of Oz.  Oz flips open his jacket to reveal a My Name Is... stick on badge with GOD written on it.

Now scary stuff starts to happen inside the frat house.  People are running around screaming, props are coming alive, one guy falls down the stairs and breaks his neck and just general chaos with loud sound effects and strobe lights.  All happening as Buffy et al walk calmly and happily up to the peaceful house.  Pretty soon it becomes apparent to them though that something is wrong.  The house turns in on itself, halls lead in circles, doors disappear and creepy noises can be heard.  They find one guy in a closet (see, Willow isn't alone) who tells them that IT IS ALIVE!  Then a dummy skeleton stabs Buffy in the shoulder with a knife.  Buffy decides something weird is going on and orders them all out of the house.  Willow informs her that Buffy is not the boss and Willow can do a conjure spell to get them out.  Buffy says even the basic spells are fifty fifty.  Willow says so's your face.  Buffy asks what that means and Willow yells that she is not her sidekick.  Willow and Oz storm off and when Xander tries to give Buffy a pep talk she walks/talks as if he's invisible.  She storms off leaving him.  Meanwhile, Oz discovers that he's wolfing out and goes to hide and Willow conjures her little pixie guide only to have it split into a swarm of bees that buzz her.  And Buffy falls into the basement where the dead guy from a few scenes ago tells her that she's all alone as zombies break up from the floor.

Okay, last Hallowe'en show they all turned into their costumes but what they really turned into was what they *wanted* to be.  Xander wanted to be manly and take charge and became a soldier.  Willow wanted to be sexy and self confident and became a scantly clad ghost who took command in Buffy's absence.  Buffy became the frail southern belle that needed to be protected.  But in the end they discovered that either that wasn't what they really wanted (as in Buffy's case) or something they already had (as in Willow's) or something that just needed time to emerge (as in Xander's).

This Hallowe'en show they are all terrorized by what they fear most.  Oz by losing control of his humanity (smart call WolfBoy), Willow of unleashing more than she can handle, Xander of being abandoned as his friends have less and less in common with him and Buffy of being abandoned by her friends and left to fight alone.

End of lecture.

Anya arrives as frat house, can't get in, decides Xander is in trouble and goes gets Giles.  Giles
arrives and runs his hand along the wall and thus is started the best sight gag of the season...

GILES: I need to create a door.
ANYA: (obviously impressed with his magical ability) You can create a door.
GILES: Yes.  With this... (pulling out and starting a large chainsaw)

Buffy breaks free and finds herself in the attic with a bunch of comatose kids.  She spots Oz, calls his name and breaks him free.  Willow runs by swatting at invisible nothings and Buffy and Oz break her free.  Then they find Xander and realize that the house has herded them to the circle.  Giles, Anya and the chainsaw arrive.  Giles, reading the book with the picture of the circle, determines that a fear demon is about to manifest.  He shows them a picture of the demon and they decide to stop it because they don't want to fight him.  Giles reads "There are two ways to stop him from manifesting.  Destroying the circle..."

Buffy destroys circle.

"Is not one of them and will cause him to manifest immediately," and gives Buffy an annoyed look.

With much smoke and lighting the fear demon rises from the floor.  He glances around left and then right, gloating on the power soon to be his.  Then he looks up.  At the Scooby Gang looking down on his three inch self.

"I am the dark lord of night mares, bringer of terror.  Tremble before me. Fear me."

This is said in a munchkin voice.

"Ah, he's cute," Willow says.
"Who's the little fear demon?  Who's the scary guy?" Xander says, crouching down.
"Don't...taunt him," Giles says sharply.
"Why not?" Xander asks, springing back up abruptly.  "Will he hurt me?"
"No, it's just tacky."  He then reminds Buffy that she is the Slayer and size is immaterial.
"They're all going to abandon you, you know."
"Yeah, yeah," Buffy says and stomps him.

The show ends with the gang back at Giles, eating his Hallowe'en treats while Giles is pouring over a book.  Buffy announces that there is no problem that cannot be solved by chocolate.  Suddenly...

"Oh Bloody hell!" Giles says as ominous music starts.
"What?"
"The inscription at the bottom of the picture.  I should have translated it."
"What does it say?"
"Actual size."

Not as good (as usual) to Hush.  The show explored the fears of the Scooby Gang but didn't dwell on deeply analyzing them or solving them.  That's what the season is for I guess.  A couple of very comedic bits which just stick in your (well, my) head.  Really low body count (one dead fraternity guy) makes it a comedy I guess.

Thus endth the synopsis.