Things That Go Grr In The Night

Season 2 Episode Guide

Season Regulars:

Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg
Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
David Boreanaz as Angel
and Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles

When She Was Bad
Original Airdate:9/15/97
Written and directed by Joss Whedon
Guest Stars:Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers, Robia LaMorte as Jenny Calendar, Andrew J. Ferchland as The Anointed One, Armin Shimerman as Principal Snyder, Dean Butler as Hank Summers, Brent Jennings as Absalom.
Summary:Buffy returns from a summer away, and has to deal with her issues surrounding the Master's death when a group of vampires plans to resurrect him.
Highlight(s): Xander winning the bet that Giles will need to consult his books about something in the first ten minutes.
Quote of the week:Xander: Well, we could grind our enemies into talcum powder with a sledgehammer, but, gosh, we did that last night.
Fun Facts: There is a big continuity error in this episode. Joyce drives Buffy to school and she's wearing a pink top, then she gets to school and has a white one on. Then the next day she's wearing the pink. The scene was obviously supposed to take place on a different day.
Comments:Good season opener. Buffy's issues were maybe a little out of character, but still good. Love the music by Cibo Matto. The one thing that really interests me is how close Xander and Willow come to kissing, and the fact that it's another year before they actually do. Unresolved sexual tension much? And bitca (hehe) Buffy is fun, makes you see why SMG auditioned for the role of Cordelia.
Rating:8.5/10

Some Assembly Required
Original Airdate:9/22/97
Written by Ty King, directed by Bruce Seth Green
Guest Stars:Robia LaMorte as Jenny Calendar, Angelo Spizzirri as Chris Epps, Michael Bacall as Eric, Ingo Neuhaus as Daryl Epps.
Summary:Buffy and the gang discover that someone is digging up dead girls, and it leads them to a chilling story of a boy who brought his brother back from the dead, and is now constructing his bride.
Highlight(s):Giles practicing his pickup lines on the chair, Willow and Xander crashing Giles and Jenny's date.
Quote of the week:XANDER: So this chair-woman. We are talking Ms. Calendar, right?
GILES: W-what makes you think that?
XANDER: Simple deduction. Ms. Calendar is reasonably dollsome, especially for someone in your age bracket. She already knows that you're a school librarian, so you don't have to worry about how to break that embarrassing news to her.
BUFFY: And she's the only woman we've actually ever seen speak to you. Add it all up and it all spells 'duh'.
XANDER: Now, is it time to have a talk about the facts of life?
GILES: You know, I'm suddenly deciding this is none of your business.
XANDER: Y'know, because that whole stork thing is a smoke screen.
Fun Facts:This episode marks the debut of the Buffy/Angel Love Theme, Close Your Eyes. Listen for it at the end.
Comments:This is an okay episode, but it gets old quickly upon multiple viewings.
Rating:7/10

School Hard
Original Airdate:9/29/97
Written by David Greenwalt, directed by John T. Kretchmer
Guest Stars:James Marsters as Spike, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers, Robia LaMorte as Jenny Calendar, Armin Shimerman as Principal Snyder, Andrew J. Ferchland as The Anointed One, Alexandra Johnes as Sheila.
Summary:Spike comes to town and attacks the school during Parent Teacher Night.
Highlight(s):Buffy's lemonade, Angel pretending he's going to kill Xander.
Quote of the week: DRUSILLA: Miss Edith speaks out of turn. She's a bad example, and will have no cakes today.
Fun Facts:This is the first appearance of James Marsters and Juliet Landau, who will become major characters in the series. It is also the final appearance of the Anointed One.
Comments: Spike and Dru! What a fine entrance. How can you not absolutely love this episode? It's just all around fun.
Rating:9/10

Inca Mummy Girl
Original Airdate:10/6/97
Written by Matt Kiene and Joe Reinkemeyer, directed by Ellen Pressman.
Guest Stars:Ara Celi as Ampata, Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers, Seth Green as Oz, Jason Hall as Devon, Danny Strong as Jonathan.
Summary:Xander falls for the new exchange student, who turns out to be an Incan Mummy.
Highlight(s):Cordelia's commands to Sven. "You! Get punchy. Fruit drinky!" and the fact that he really can speak English. Also Willow's costume, and Oz's reaction to seeing her.
Quote of the week:Xander: So, do we have to speak Spanish when we see him? 'Cause I don't know anything much besides Doritos and Chihuahua.
(After seeing Ampata): Ay caramba! I can also say that.
Fun Facts:This episode is the first appearance of both Oz and Jonathan.
Comments:This is another decent episode. The premise isn't the best, and the whole "Xander's date is a demon" theme gets old after a while. But still entertaining.
Rating:6.5/10

Reptile Boy
Original Airdate:10/13/97
Written and directed by David Greenwalt
Guest Stars:Greg Vaughan as Richard Anderson, Todd Babcock as Tom Warner, Jordana Spiro as Callie, Robin Atkin Downes as Machida.
Summary:Buffy agrees to accompany Cordelia to a frat party, where they almost get fed to a giant snake.
Highlight(s):Cordelia lecturing Buffy on the "dos and don'ts," Cordelia's parking job and liscence plate, and her blaming Buffy for bringing her there once things go badly.
Quote of the week:WILLOW: (to Angel) Well, why do you think she went to that party? Because you gave her the brush-off! (to Giles) And you never let her do anything except work and patrol! And I know she's the chosen one, but you're killing her with the pressure! I mean, she's sixteen going on forty! (to Angel) And you! I mean, you're gonna live forever! You don't have time for a cup of coffee? Okay, I don't feel better now, and we've gotta help Buffy.
Fun Facts:Buffy and Angel officially become a couple at the end of this episode. Well, pretty much.
Comments:I just love this episode. It's a random favorite of mine. There are so many hilarious moments. There is also nice character development. Buffy and Angel finally get somewhere, Willow has her first rant and finally takes charge...just a great episode, which I will always love.
Rating:9/10

Halloween
Original Airdate:10/27/97
Written by Carl Ellsworth, directed by Bruce Seth Green
Guest Stars:James Marsters as Spike, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Robin Sachs as Ethan Rayne, Seth Green as Oz, Armin Shimerman as Principal Snyder, Larry Bagby III as Larry.
Summary:An old friend of Giles's comes to town, and turns everyone into their costumes on Halloween.
Highlight(s):Giles throwing everything up in the air when Willow comes through the wall.
Quote of the week:WILLOW: Okay, your name is Cordelia, you're not a cat, you're in high school, and we're your friends. Well, sort of.
CORDELIA: That's nice, Willow. And you went mental when?
Fun Facts:This is the first hint we get of Giles's not so perfect past. Ethan will later appear in The Dark Age, Band Candy, and A New Man.
Comments: As Spike said, "this is just...neat." A true classic episode. This is one to get out and watch every Halloween for sure. I also love Willow's moment where she struts across the street and Oz notices her. This season Willow really finds herself a lot, and it's fun to watch.
Rating:9.5/10

Lie To Me
Original Airdate:11/3/97
Written and directed by Joss Whedon
Guest Stars:Jason Behr as Billy "Ford" Fordham, Robia LaMorte as Jenny Calendar, James Marsters as Spike, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Jarrad Paul as Diego, Julia Lee as Chantarelle.
Summary:An old friend of Buffy's comes to Sunnydale, hoping to trade her for his immortality.
Highlight(s):Willow being all uncomfortable when Angel comes to her room.
Quote of the week:Xander: Angel was in your bedroom?
Willow: Ours is a forbidden love.
Fun Facts:Jason Behr is playing Sarah Michelle Gellar's boyfriend in her new movie "The Grudge." Julia Lee also went on to appear in the episode Anne, and in several episodes of Angel, including Not Fade Away.
Comments: I've never been a huge fan of this episode. I don't know. I think for a Joss Whedon episode, it ranks pretty low. Still enjoyable though.
Rating:7/10

The Dark Age
Original Airdate:11/10/97
Written by Rob Des Hotel and Dean Batali, directed by Bruce Seth Green.
Guest Stars:Robia LaMorte as Jenny Calendar, Robin Sachs as Ethan Rayne.
Summary:A demon from Giles's past returns to Sunnydale and possesses Jenny.
Highlight(s):Cordelia saying that everything happened because "that's what happens when you have school on a Saturday."
Quote of the week:Jenny: Did anyone ever tell you you're kind of a fuddy-duddy?
Giles: Nobody ever seems to tell me anything else.
Jenny: Did anyone ever tell you you're kind of a sexy fuddy-duddy?
Giles: Well, no. Actually that, that part usually gets left out.
Fun Facts:Robia LaMorte didn't like playing the evil scenes, because it is very unlike herself. We learn for the first time about Giles's past.
Comments:Another decent episode. Love the Giles background, not crazy about the possessed Jenny. Love how Angel vanquishes the demon though. But I hate how after this Jenny and Giles waste so much time apart, when her life is limited.
Rating:7/10

What's My Line Part 1
Original Airdate:11/17/97
Written by Howard Gordon and Marti Noxon, directed by David Solomon
Guest Stars:Seth Green as Oz, James Marsters as Spike, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Saverio Guerra as Willy, Armin Shimerman as Principal Snyder, Bianca Lawson as Kendra.
Summary:Spike plans to cure Drusilla, and sends assassins after Buffy to distract her.
Highlight(s):Buffy killing the assassin with her skate blade. Hey, what can I say, I'm a figure skater. Also Buffy kissing Angel, despite his demon face.
Quote of the week:Buffy: No, Angel, it's not you. You're the one freaky thing in my freaky world that still makes sense to me. I just get messed sometimes. I wish we could be regular kids.
Angel: Yeah. I'll never be a kid.
Buffy: Okay, then a regular kid and her cradle robbing, creature-of-the-night boyfriend.
Fun Facts:This is the first two parter, and also the debut of future Executive Producer Marti Noxon.
Comments:This is a strong, solid episode. Especially love the B/A ness.
Rating:8.5/10

What's My Line Part 2
Original Airdate:11/24/97
Written by Marti Noxon, directed by David Semel.
Guest Stars:Seth Green as Oz, James Marsters as Spike, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Bianca Lawson as Kendra, Saverio Guerra as Willy.
Summary:Buffy teams up with the new slayer, Kendra, to save Angel from Spike and Drusila, while defeating the remaining assassins from the Order of Taraka.
Highlight(s):Cordy and Xander's bickering, kissing, and hosing off. And Oz's ramble about animal crackers. "I mock you with my monkey pants!"
Quote of the week:Buffy: Good. 'Cause I've had it. Spike is going down. You can attack me, you can send assassins after me, that's fine. But nobody messes with my boyfriend!
Fun Facts:After this, the gang assumes Spike and Dru are dead until Surprise, and Spike is in a wheelchair until the end of the season, although he doesn't need it for a while at the end.
Comments:This is a solid conclusion to a good two parter. Kendra is cool, the accent is a tad annoying though. And Cordy and Xander! I love them.
Rating:9/10

Ted
Original Airdate:12/8/97
Written by David Greenwalt and Joss Whedon, directed by Bruce Seth Green
Guest Stars: John Ritter as Ted Buchanan, Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers, Robia LaMorte as Jenny Calendar.
Summary:Joyce's new boyfriend turns out to be a robot.
Highlight(s):Mini golf! Also Giles getting shot with the crossbow, and every time Ted says "Beg to differ."
Quote of the week:GILES: Whatever the authorities have planned for her, it can't be much worse than what she's doing to herself. She's taken a human life. The guilt, it-it's, it's pretty hard to bear, and it won't go away soon.
CORDELIA: I guess you should know, since you helped raise that demon that killed that guy that time?
GILES: Yes. And let's bring that up as often as possible.
Fun Facts:John Ritter died tragically in 2003 of aortic dissection. While filming the final scene, both SMG and John Ritter were sick. Sarah had the flu, and John had food poisoning from the night before.
Comments:I love this one! It's one of those episodes that I could just watch again and again. John Ritter is fabulous (RIP) and the concept is unique and keeps you guessing throughout the episode. Will always be one of my favorites.
Rating:9.5/10

Bad Eggs
Original Airdate:1/12/98
Written by Marti Noxon, directed by David Greenwalt
Guest Stars:Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers, Jeremy Ratchford as Lyle Gorch, James Parks as Tector Gorch.
Summary:The eggs that the gang are supposed to take care of for Sex Ed turn out to have mini demons inside.
Highlight(s):B/A kissage!
Quote of the week:Xander: Can I just say... gyuhhhh?
Buffy: I see your gyuhhhh and raise you a ngyahhh!
Fun Facts:Lyle Gorch will be back for SlayerFest 98 in Homecoming.
Comments:Decent episode. Again, gets boring after a few viewings. But still enjoyable. I enjoy the B/A scenes, especially because it's one of their last episodes of happiness. -sniffle- This filler episode becomes more appreciated after viewing the dark two parter that comes next.
Rating:7/10

Surprise
Original Airdate:1/19/98
Written by Marti Noxon, directed by Michael Lange
Guest Stars:James Marsters as Spike, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers, Seth Green as Oz, Robia LaMorte as Jenny Calendar, Brian Thompson as The Judge, Vincent Schiavelli as Uncle Enyos, Eric Saiet as Dalton.
Summary:It's Buffy's seventeenth birthday. Spike and Dru assemble a demon called the Judge, and Buffy and Angel consummate their relationship.
Highlight(s):Oz asking Willow out, all of the B/A moments, especially the claddagh ring and the very end, and Drusilla dancing at the party.
Quote of the week:Buffy: You think he's too old 'cause he's a senior? Please. My boyfriend had a bicentennial.
Fun Facts:Jenny Calendar wasn't originally supposed to be a gypsy, it was something Joss and the writers came up with later. This episode starts a trend of Buffy birthdays gone horribly wrong. This episode, along with Innocence, won an Emmy for Oustanding Makeup for a Series.
Comments:This is a great episode. I could watch it again and again. Some of the best B/A moments are here, right up until the end. Drusilla is great. "Do it again! Do it again!" I also love Oz's initiation into the Scooby Gang. "Surprise!" "That pretty much sums it up." This is an overrall great episode that leads into an even better part two.
Rating:9.5/10

Innocence
Original Airdate:1/20/98
Written and directed by Joss Whedon
Guest Stars:James Marsters as Spike, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers, Seth Green as Oz, Robia LaMorte as Jenny Calendar, Brian Thompson as The Judge, Vincent Schiavelli as Uncle Enyos.
Summary:Angel reverts to Angelus after his night of passion with Buffy, and the gang defeats the Judge.
Highlight(s):The Judge's reaction to the rocket launcher. "What does that do?" And Willow reminding Xander that he is the treasurer of the We Hate Cordelia Club.
Quote of the week:CORDELIA: This is great. There's an unkillable demon in town, Angel's joined his team, the Slayer is a basket case... I'd say we've hit bottom.
XANDER: I have a plan.
CORDELIA: Oh, no, here's a lower place.
Fun Facts:The moans during the love scene were done by Joss and Marti, because Joss was too embarrassed to ask SMG and DB to record them. The scene where Angel is cruel to Buffy after turning evil was originally supposed to take place outside Buffy's house. They were halfway through when Joss realized it wasn't working, and moved it to Angel's bedroom. This explains why Buffy later says "When I saw him at the house." This could be explained as an odd choice of words, but makes more sense when you know the backstory. Joss Whedon also calls this his favorite episode of the series. There is a big blooper in this episode as well. Xander and the others plan to go to the military base, they leave to get ready, then it's all of a sudden the next day. Then it shows them going that night. Huh?
Comments:This is an amazing, heartbreaking episode. Buffy's grief is almost unbearable to watch, and Angelus is so incredibly cruel. But SMG and DB really shine in this episode. It is also heartbreaking to see how deeply Willow is hurt by Xander and Cordy's "relationship." Overrall an amazing episode that will remain a classic.
Rating:10/10

Phases
Original Airdate:1/27/98
Written by Rob Des Hotel and Dean Batali, directed by Bruce Seth Green
Guest Stars:Seth Green as Oz, Jack Conley as Cain, Larry Bagby III as Larry, Megahn Perry as Theresa.
Summary:Oz finds out he's a werewolf after a series of attacks, and the gang must save him from a werewolf hunter.
Highlight(s):Gym class! Giles's excitement over the werewolf, Oz's conversation with his aunt, and the kiss at the end.
Quote of the week:Willow: Great. I'll give Xander a call. What's his number? Oh, yeah, 1- 800-I'm-Dating-A-Skanky-Ho.
Fun Facts:Jack Conley, who plays Cain, will return as Sahjahn in Angel Season 3, and briefly in Season 5.
Comments:Phases and I will always have a special bond, because it was the first episode I ever saw. It is a fun episode, with Oz ("he said he was going through all these changes, then he...went through all these changes!") Willow and Oz finally become a couple, and the kiss at the end is both unexpected and sweet. At least someone is happy. -sigh-
Rating:8.5/10

Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered
Original Airdate:2/10/98
Written by Marti Noxon, directed by James A. Contner
Guest Stars:Elizabeth Anne Allen as Amy Madison, Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers, Seth Green as Oz, James Marsters as Spike, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Robia LaMorte as Jenny Calendar, Mercedes McNab as Harmony.
Summary:Xander casts a love spell to make Cordelia want him again, and instead every female in Sunnydale except Cordelia become obsessed with him.
Highlight(s):"We need to catch the Buffy rat!" And Buffy's little "come hither" glances at Xander from inside the library.
Quote of the week:Angelus: Dear Buffy. I'm still trying to decide the best way to send my regards.
Spike: Why don't you rip her lungs out? It might make an impression.
Angelus: Lacks... poetry.
Spike: It doesn't have to. What rhymes with lungs?
Fun Facts:Buffy was turned into a rat so Sarah Michelle Gellar could go to NYC for a week to host Saturday Night Live.
Comments:This is a pure fun episode. We find out Cordelia actually does care about Xander. I love the moment when she goes to get the necklace from her locker, but she really has it on. Awwwww. And her telling Joyce to "Keep your mom-aged mitts off my boyfriend! Former!" I love her little telling off of Harmony at the end too. A very fun episode, which is good, considering what was to come the following week...
Rating:9/10

Passion
Original Airdate:2/24/98
Written by Ty King, directed by Michael E. Gershman
Guest Stars:Robia LaMorte as Jenny Calendar, James Marsters as Spike, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers.
Summary:Angelus murders Jenny, right after she translates the ritual to restore his soul.
Highlight(s):Dru's puppy, "Miss Sunshine." Buffy and Willow's "pajama party with weapons" and Cordelia saying she switched cars with her grandmother. How nice.
Quote of the week:Xander, to the students who just entered the library: Excuse me, but have you ever heard of knocking?
Jonathan: We're supposed to get some books. On Stalin.
Xander: Does this look like a Barnes & Noble?
Giles: This is a school library, Xander.
Xander: Since when?
Fun Facts:We never saw Giles invite Angel in. That was probably done only so that they could have him plant Miss Calendar's body there. Also, in the final scene in the cemetary, that is Anthony Stewart Head singing.
Comments:This is a haunting episode. Poor Jenny. But you have to give them credit, because not many shows would kill of a pretty major character like that. The chase scene is very suspenseful, and the scene where Giles returns home is heartbreaking. Poor, poor Giles. But this episode really puts the season into high gear.
Rating:9/10

Killed By Death
Original Airdate:3/3/98
Written by Rob Des Hotel and Dean Batali, directed by Deran Sarifian.
Guest Stars:Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers, Richard Herd as Dr. Backer, Andrew Ducote as Ryan, Juanita Jennings as Dr. Wilkinson, James Jude Courtney as Der Kindestod.
Summary:Buffy is hospitalized with the flu, and she uses the opportunity to defeat a monster who is killing the children in the hospital.
Highlight(s):Willow using her frog fear to distract the security guards, and Buffy's present from Ryan at the end.
Quote of the week:Intern: What happened?
Xander: She fell.
Willow, simultaneously: The flu.
Cordelia, also simultaneously: She fainted.
Xander: The flu, fainted and fell. She's sick, make it better!
Fun Facts:The name Der Kindestod means "child death" in German. It is also implied by the flashback that Buffy is not a natural blonde, like Sarah.
Comments:This is an okay episode. The plot is a little lame, especially following an episode like Passion. It was a serious filler, but still enjoyable.
Rating:6.5/10

I Only Have Eyes For You
Original Airdate:4/28/98
Written by Marti Noxon, directed by James Whitmore, Jr.
Guest Stars:Christopher Gorham as James, Meredith Salinger as Grace, James Marsters as Spike, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Armin Shimerman as Principal Snyder.
Summary:Sunnydale High is tormented by two ghosts reenacting their tragedy, and Buffy and Angel get pulled into it.
Highlight(s):The end, where Buffy and Angel kiss. It was a nice moment in the middle of all the badness.
Quote of the week:Buffy: I'm telling you, something weird is going on.
Xander: 'Something weird is going on.' Isn't that our school motto?
Fun Facts:It was during the filming of this episode that Joss realized that David should have his own show. Also, there is a huge goof. The song IOHEFY didn't come out until after 1955. Oopsies.
Comments:This is a great episode. The storyline is haunting. Poor Giles, automatically hoping that it's Jenny. And the parallels between James and Grace and B/A are very freaky. This is a very emotional episode that is sure to bring tears to your eyes.
Rating:9/10

Go Fish
Original Airdate:5/5/98
Written by David Fury and Elin Hampton, directed by David Semel
Guest Stars:Armin Shimerman as Principal Snyder, Conchata Ferrell as Nurse Greenliegh, Wentworth Miller as Gage Petronzi, Charles Cyphers as Coach Marin, Jake Patellis as Dodd McAlvy, Jeremy Garrett as Cameron Walker, Shane West as Sean, Danny Strong as Jonathan.
Summary:The Sunnydale High swim team is close to winning state championships, but then the top swimmers start being brutally "murdered."
Highlight(s):Xander's entrance in his Speedo, and Cordelia's sweet speech to the thing in the pool.
Quote of the week: Gage: Was that the thing that killed Cameron?
Buffy: No, that was something else.
Gage: Something else?
Buffy: Unfortunately, we have a lot of something elses in this town.
Fun Facts:Shane West, who played Sean, went on to become a fairly big movie star, best known for his role in A Walk to Remember alongside Mandy Moore. He is also filming the movie Vinyl with Michelle Trachtenberg in fall 2004.
Comments:This episode is overrated. It gets less funny with multiple viewings. It has it's moments, but overrall nothing special, just a filler to pass the time till the finale. And the ending was just plain lame.
Rating:6.5/10

Becoming Part 1
Original Airdate:5/12/98
Written and directed by Joss Whedon
Guest Stars:James Marsters as Spike, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers, Seth Green as Oz, Max Perlich as Whistler, Bianca Lawson as Kendra, Julie Benz as Darla, Armin Shimerman as Principal Snyder, Richard Riehle as Merrick.
Summary:Buffy and Willow find the means to restore Angel's soul, while Angelus prepares to suck the world into hell.
Highlight(s):The end, where Buffy runs around the corner in slow motion and discovers Kendra's body, with the voiceover going on, is Buffy at it's best.
Quote of the week:Whistler: Bottom line is, even if you see 'em coming, you're not ready for the big moments. No one asks for their life to change, not really. But it does. So what are we, helpless? Puppets? No. The big moments are gonna come, you can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that counts. That's when you find out who you are.
Fun Facts:This episode won an Emmy for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore). Score by Christophe Beck. This is also the first episode in which we see the flashbacks that the show will become known for. Julie Benz reprises her role as Darla for the first time since Angel.
Comments:This is an amazing episode. The fight with the gang on the topic of Angel is the first of many, and shows us how much Xander truly loathes the guy. The flashbacks are excellent, love ditzy Buffy. The end with the attack on the library is heartstopping. Poor Kendra. "Night night." And the end scene is amazing as well. I am glad I wasn't watching at this point, because I wouldn't have been able to survive a week afterwards!
Rating:10/10

Becoming Part 2
Original Airdate:5/19/98
Written and directed by Joss Whedon
Guest Stars:James Marsters as Spike, Juliet Landau as Drusilla, Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers, Seth Green as Oz, Armin Shimerman as Principal Snyder, Max Perlich as Whistler, Robia LaMorte as Jenny Calendar.
Summary:Buffy prepares to fight Angel to the death, with the help of Spike, while Willow attempts the soul restoration ritual again.
Highlight(s):How can I possibly choose? I love Xander's sweet speech to Willow in the hospital, the awkward conversation/silence between Joyce and Spike, and of course the fight scene, final kiss, and the end montage with the song.
Quote of the week:Joyce: Well, it stops now!
Buffy: No, it doesn't stop. It never stops. Do you think I chose to be like this? Do you have any idea how lonely it is? How dangerous? I would love to be upstairs watching TV or gossiping about boys or, god, even studying! But I have to save the world. Again.
Fun Facts:During the filming of this episode Joss approached David about doing Angel, but he was so absorbed in filming the emotional scenes that it didn't really sink in until later. Anthony Stewart Head put chili peppers in his mouth for the torture scenes to make it more realistic. Thankfully they didn't affect Robia LaMorte or Juliet Landau, whom he had to kiss in the scene. At the end, the Mutant Enemy monster says "I need a hug!" instead of his usual "grr argh." This happens a few times in the future with special episodes as well.
Comments:Wow. This episode amazes me every time. Easily in the top 3 episodes of the series. This episode has it all. Joss really outdid himself. So many great things happen in this episode. Joyce finally finds out that Buffy is the slayer, and that scene is amazing. Willow has a near death experience, Xander finally confesses his love (more W/X "fluke" foreshadowing) and then she wakes up asking for Oz. Giles is tortured, but caves only when deceived. "You must perform the ritual...in a tutu!" Spike makes a very interesting turn here, which is foreshadowing for the later seasons in which he regularly helps Buffy and the gang. I find it interesting how Xander never gave Buffy the real message from Willow, and loved how it finally came up in Season 7 (Selfless). The fight scene is in my opinion the best the series ever had, and when Angel's soul is returned at precisely the wrong moment our hearts break for Buffy. She was really put through the ringer. She was kicked out of her house, expelled from school, and had to kill her boyfriend. The poor thing. The final scene with her and Angel is devastating, and still gets me to tears every time. "Close your eyes." We really can't blame her for running away at the end. The end montage is beautiful, with the song "Full of Grace" capturing the moment perfectly. Joss completely shatters Buffy's world, and we wonder how he will ever pick up the pieces. A truly amazing episode.
Rating:10/10

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