season 4

Episode Title: Doomed

Original Air Date: January 18, 2000

“What’s this? Sitting around watching the telly while there’s evil still afoot? That’s not very industrious of you. I say we go out there and kick a little demon ass! What, can’t go without your Buffy, is that it? Too chicken? Let’s find her! She is the Chosen One after all. Come on! Vampires! Grrr! Nasty! Let’s annihilate them. For Justice, and for… the safety of puppies… and Christmas, right? Let’s fight that evil! Let’s kill something! Oh, come on!” – Spike

Following on directly from the end of the previous episode which ended with Buffy and Riley in her dorm room now knowing the truth about each other, that he is part of “The Initiative” and that she is the Slayer. Of course it soon become clear that neither one knows about the existence of the other despite the fact that they are both fighting the same war against the forces of darkness.

However despite the couple more than happy to continue with their relationship despite the fact that neither is quite the normal college student that they first seemed, its a peace that is short lived as the campus is hit with an earthquake sending Buffy into a panic seeing how the last earthquake to hit Sunnydale prophecised her death in the season one finale. Now fearing that it could mean the same for her again amidst warning of a forthcoming apocalypse she launches an investigation soon discovering a trio of demons with plans to try and open the Hellmouth.

Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:04 Ep:11

Episode Title: Hush

Original Air Date: December 14, 1999

“All the time you used to talk to me about witchcraft and darkness and the like – I just thought you were being pretentious.” – Olivia

So here we are only four season into the run and here we have the best Buffy episode ever. Seriously if you’re looking for a high water mark for the series then this episode would be it!

What makes this episode so great though is the setup as a group of fairytale monsters known as “The Gentlemen” steal the voices of everyone in Sunnydale as part of their plot to collect seven hearts leaving Buffy and the Scoobies with the dilemma of how to stop them when none of them can speak.

Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:04 Ep:10

Episode Title: Pangs

Original Air Date: November 23, 1999

“And the thing is, I like my evil like I like my men. Evil. You know, ‘straight up, black hate, tied to the train tracks, soon my electro-ray will destroy metropolis’ bad. Not all mixed up with guilt and the destruction of an indigenous culture.” – Buffy

Thanksgiving has come to Sunnydale and with her mother out of town visiting her aunt; Buffy is left wanting to throw a thanksgiving celebration with her friends. At the same time when he accidently falls into a tomb beneath the college campus Xander unwittingly releases Hus, a Native American vengeance spirit

It seems that no one can celebrate a holiday in Sunnydale without something happening and this week it’s the turn of thanksgiving in an episode I honestly couldn’t remember seeing before much like “Gingerbread” which on one hand is great because it means getting to essentially watch a new episode and getting all the suprises which come with watching it for the first time. On the downside it was this episode which for the most part really is kind of a non-starter which really is only the more surprising when you look at all the pieces in play here.

Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:04 Ep:08

 

Episode Title: Beer Bad

Original Air Date: November 2, 1999

“Giles don’t make caveslayer unhappy.” – Xander

It’s been a rough time for Buffy so far since she headed to college as she has struggled to find her place, while also having to deal with a demon roommate let alone the fallout from her one night stand with Parker, who this week we open to Buffy daydreaming about him apologising to her for what he did. At the same time the equally lost Xander this week gets a job working at the on-campus bar where he soon discovers that there is something in the beer when a group of students including Buffy are turned into Neanderthals.

Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:04 Ep: 05

Episode Title: Wild At Heart

Original Air Date: November 9, 1999

“Well, I ran away and went to hell … and then I got through it. I’m kind of hoping Willow won’t use me as a model.” – Buffy

One of the most nagging aspects of having seen the series in its entirety is knowing what lies ahead for these characters and where their individual paths will take them. At the same time certain characters lose their original appeal as the series went on be it the result of attempts by the writing team to evolve their character or more likely the actor throwing their weight around over how they wish to play their character. A prime example of this of course being Willow who went from the shy and adorably akward witch in training to becoming something of a grating presence in the series, something which seems to be a running theme for any character which Alyson Hannigan plays for long enough (see also American Pie and How I Met Your Mother). It was of course only on this rewatch that I was finally able to pinpoint when her character went from likeable to a general bugbear for the series with this episode really proving to be the ground zero.

Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:04 Ep:06

Episode Title: The Harsh Light of Day

Original Air Date: October 19, 1999

“Being A Vampire Sucks.” – Harmony

It would be just typical that when Buffy seems to be getting her life in order, having established herself as the slayer on campus and got shot of her demon roommate but no things are once more thrown into confusion when she finds herself falling for fellow student Parker, while the appearance of a now vampire Harmony heralds the return of Spike to Sunnydale who is keen to find the “Gem of Amara”. The Vampire version of the Holy Grail and which will also make him in the process invincible to stakes and able to walk in the sun.

Continue reading Buffy The Vampire Slayer S:04 Ep:03