Buffy: The Vampire Slayer

Episode Title: Faith, Hope and Trick

Original Air Date: October 13, 1998

“Giles, there are two things that I don’t believe in: coincidence and leprechauns.” – Buffy

This week sees the start of some major changes in the Buffy universe as outlined by the episode title which essentially names the three characters who debut here (Faith, Scott Hope, Mr. Trick) and in doing so each bring their own element to the Buffy universe.

The most major of the three of these of course being the arrival of the new slayer “Faith” whose impact on the Buffy-verse will later flow not into the “Angel” spin off but also the comic books aswell with “Angel and Faith” she received her calling following the death of Kendra and now arrives in Sunnydale keen to meet Buffy while her watcher is away at a watcher’s retreat in England while being pursued by the ancient vampire Kakistos.

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“Didn’t anyone ever warn you about playing with pointy sticks? It’s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye.” – Buffy

Next to vampires might just be one the most over worked of the horror sub-genres, especially when every week there seems to be a new low budget zombie movie thrown out direct to DVD, so needless to the prospect of having Buffy face off against the zombie hordes this week was hardly a thrilling one.

Continuing on from the events of the previous episode, this episode essentially picks up directly after the season opener with Buffy struggling still to adjust to life back in Sunnydale as her mom still feels that she might run off again. At the same time the Xander and Willow appeared to have moved on without her. Of course she doesn’t have time to dwell for long when the mysterious mask her mother has brought back from her gallery has the nasty side effect of reanimating the dead.

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Episode Title: Anne

Original Air Date: September 29, 1998

“You don’t hide. You’re bait. Go act baity.” – Xander

So last time we left Buffy and the Scoobies things were left in a mixture of celebration and sadness as Buffy stopped Sunnydale and the world being sucked into hell at the cost of sending Angel to hell instead. The season ending with Buffy on a bus and seemingly leaving Sunnydale and her responsibilities as the slayer behind her. Now re-joining them at the start of season 3, several months have now passed and Buffy is now living in Los Angeles working and disguising herself by working as a waitress under her middle name Anne. Meanwhile Willow, Xander and Oz are attempting to pick up Buffy’s slayer duties by continuing patrols with mixed results as they manage to lose as many vampires as they slay.

Fear not though as this show hasn’t turned into Buffy the waitress with her having to deal with folks refusing to tip or being sexually harassed by jackass customers, as despite leaving Sunnydale trouble still has a way of finding her as she soon finds herself helping fellow runaway Lily whose boyfriend mysteriously disappeared only to reappear as an old man

Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:03 Ep:01

“In case the curse does not succeed, this is my lucky stake. I have killed many vampires with it. I call it Mr. Pointy.” – Kendra

So here we are the end of Season 2 and seems that its suddenly dawned on the writers that our vampire trio of Spike, Drusilla and Angel have yet to come up with an end game for their schemes something which they now set out to correct with this two part finale. This week I’ll be looking at this double as one episode seeing how here in the UK they showed both parts together. At the same time this episode really highlighted just how popular the show had become as they tried to sell this episode as a direct to video special with that classic “Never Seen On TV” tag, which was true only because the episode hadn’t aired yet!

Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:02 Ep: 21-22

“I think it’s safe to say we found Sean. He was skinless dipping in the pool.” – Cordelia

It would be just typical that we would end this year one episode away from the season finale and hence meaning that we can’t kick off 2016 with a new season, but alas this is still a great episode to end the year on, especially after the ho-hum previous episode.

This week Buffy and the Scoobies are forced to investigate a series of attacks on the school swim team by a mysterious sea monster which is leaving them as skinned husks. However the link between the team and these attacks might be closer than  first seems.

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“Something weird is going on. Isn’t that our school motto?” – Xander

Well it had to happen eventually and this week it has as we get a pretty ho-hum episode as Buffy and the Scoobies find themselves having to deal with a stream of ghostly happenings at Sunnydale high, while Giles is convinced that it’s the spirit of Jenny, Buffy is left feeling something else is responsible.

Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:02 Ep:19

Episode Title: Killed By Death

Original Air Date: March 3, 1998

“Your mom’s tryin’ to Bogart the cheesy chips. What’s that all about?” – Xander

While we have pretty much at this point grown used to Buffy playing the fearless and seemingly invincible slayer, this week things are mixed up when Buffy is struck down with the flu, which soon leads to having to confront her fear of hospitals when she has to be admitted. Things of course take a turn from the strange when she discovers that a monstrous presence in the hospital is preying on the sick children.

Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:02 Ep:18

Episode Title: Passion

Original Air Date: February 24, 1998

“We had kind of a ‘pajama party sleepover with weapons’ thing” – Willow

This week is not only a key episode but also one which sadly marks the end of the line for one of the cast, as Angel embark on a campaign of torment against the Scoobies, while at the same time Jenny believes that she may have found a way to restore his soul.

Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:02 Ep:17

Episode title: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

Original air date: February 10, 1998

“Well, this is new territory for me. I mean, my valentines are usually met with heartfelt restraining orders.” – Xander

Yes it’s another of my favourite episodes with this Xander lead episodes see’s him teaming up with Witch Amy to cast a love spell on Cordelia after she leaves him fearing the damage their relationship is doing to her status at Sunnydale High. Of course things don’t go exactly as planned when Xander suddenly finds himself irresistibly attractive to all women except Cordeilia!

Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:02 Ep:16