initiated by TrueMagic on September 06, 2008 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0533523/)
When I try to convince uninitiated, BTVS-resistant people to give the show a chance, I usually recommend that they watch season two. Season one has some good episodes and some important story lines, but it's in season two that the show really starts to find itself. The characters are more fully developed, the story arc is the best the series will ever produce and the show itself becomes darker and more
When I try to convince uninitiated, BTVS-resistant people to give the show a chance, I usually recommend that they watch season two. Season one has some good episodes and some important story lines, but it's in season two that the show really starts to find itself. The characters are more fully developed, the story arc is the best the series will ever produce and the show itself becomes darker and more compelling. There are some slow-ish monster-of-the-week episodes. (For instance, "Bad Eggs.") But all in all, season two is a masterpiece of television. It shows where BTVS will be headed in the seasons to come. It still has some pretty funny episodes, but it's also features heart wrenching drama and forces the characters to make impossible decisions. Season two sets the stage for everything that will come after it, both on BTVS and "Angel." If you're going to watch either show, you MUST see this season to understand the true foundation of the serise.The first episode of season two is actually wrapping up season one. Buffy comes home after a summer in LA and is acting strangely. She's distant and cold to her friends. She's angry and untrusting of Giles and Angel. Basically, she's being a real "bith-ca." Meanwhile, the Annointed One and his followers are trying to resurrect the Master. In order to preform the proper ritual, they have to abduct the people who were closest to him when he "died". Buffy is so traumatized from fighting the Master and dying herself (even if it was only for a minute)that she's making bad choices. She inadvertently places Cordy, Willow, Giles and Miss Calander in danger. She, Xander and Angel have to work together to save them and to stop the Master from rising.The best parts of this episode are Willow and Xander. I love their relationship and history together. Watching them walk around the cemetery placing a "guess the movie dialog" game is really cute. And they are both genuinely concerned when Buffy starts acting so strangely. "She's possessed!" Still, when Willow get's kidnapped, Xander's main focus is getting her back. It's pretty shocking to hear him coldly tell Buffy, "If anything happens to Willow, I'll kill you." This is one of the first indications of how much Xander and Willow really depend on each other. They have been together all their lives and they love each other completely, even if it's not always in a romantic way. By the end of season six, Xander and Willow's relationship comes into even sharper focus as their love for each other saves the world.On the downside, Buffy is really unlikable in this episode. Sure, she's all traumatized and mad, but... Geez! She seems to have "mean Buffy" spells once or twice every season (and through ALL of season six,) but her behavior in this episode is really extreme. She leads Xander on to make Angel jealous, she snaps at Giles and the Scoobies, she even manages to surprise Cordelia with her frosty attitude. And if CORDY thinks someone's being insensitive, that's REALLY saying something. Buffy's still a teenager and the weight of being a Slayer is hard on her. It's fairly easy to forgive her episodes of frustration and anger, when you consider how much responsibility she has at such a young age. Really, though, this just isn't Buffy's finest hour.My favorite part of the episode: Snyder and Giles discussing Buffy's troublemaking tendencies and possible future in prison. Snyder's comment that he can smell trouble... "It's like a sixth sense" and Giles snide reply, "No actually, that's one of the five" is priceless.
