Year two of Buffy starts with Willow and Xander wrestling with their feelings for each other. Meanwhile Buffy is away for the summer in LA with her father Hank (aka Jerkface!). We open in the graveyard with Willow and Xander playing a movie quote game. Before said game can get too intimate a vampire shows up. The Slayer makes a timely return to save her pals and makes one hell of a cool entrance (with killer hair to boot!). At first everything seems back to normal, however, there are signs in Buffy's actions towards her friends that not is all what it seems, and that she may not have come to terms her traumatic experiences before the summer break.
When She was Bad is a very solid season opener. I'd go so far as to say its actually underrated. There's lots of good character interaction and growth. The opening exchange between Willow and Xander is one of their most adorable together. The scene has a very naturalistic flow to it and feels very true to how close friends would interact, not least when bored and trying to pass the time. Its also interesting that Xander flirts with Willow during the scene. For the first time he appears to show a romantic interest in her, though of course things change once Buffy makes her return. There is further fun involving Snyder and Giles. With the Principal snipping about School children giving in to their animistic, only for the G-Man to do the same when Jenny shows up! Not just is this sharp comedy once again, but I like the contrast between Snyder and Giles as authority figures within the school set up.
The central plot involving Buffy is a nice slow burning one. Its refreshing that the odd changes in Buffy's behavior are as a result of humanistic, not supernatural causes. That is a big part of the appeal of Buffy as a show that the fantasy stuff is a metaphor for the human lives. The episode does a good job in fact in making it appear as so Buffy is acting out because of other worldly reasons. I like the small little touches that when you look back could point to something being wrong, but could just as easily be something else. For example, when she casually refers to Willow and as losers. Something that is passed off as banter but given her later attitude change could be a little more mean spirited. Another smart moment is Willow picking up on Buffy's change because of her being a little too mean towards Cordelia.
Speaking of which the scene of the episode is surely the Bronze sequence in which Cordy and Buffy have a memorable exchange outside the club. But before that Cibo Matto make their mark as the most notable musical guest stars on the show to date. Buffy's sexy dance teasing Xander and at the expense of the watching Willow and Angel, is one of the most dreamy and surreal sequences of Buffy. It was both seductive, and yet strange and eerie. Matto's music is the perfect back drop. This scene is so iconic that it even got added to the opening credits.
The later exchange between Buffy and Cordelia is a nice add on to their scenes together at the end of season one. Its an interesting scene because in her roundabout way Cordelia is looking out for Buffy by warning her not to push her existing friends away, but also I think it is a gesture made on behalf of Xander and Willow too. Of course Cordy's humanity is carefully hidden beneath her sparky acid insults slickly exchanged with a game Buffy. Cordelia does drop the line about flirting with Angel as Buffy leaves, but again I think that was just a front.
Mirroring her charismatic villainous turn in Cruel Intentions a couple of years later, Sarah Michelle Gellar is convincing as the bad girl, while supplying the subtle hints of a confused teenage girl going through a crisis. The twist in her performance, and Buffy as a character during the episode sets a marker down for the show as a more unpredictable and experimental show moving forward. The payoff with Buffy releasing her emotions when violently smashing up The Master's bones is another powerful moment, beautifully portrayed by Gellar. The episode tells a nice little story of friendships, the complications of them, but just how important they are. The final scene with Xander and Willow welcoming Buffy back into the fold is a nice little cap off to this, all be it a over sold moment because of the cheesy 'TV Movie of the Week' style music that plays over the top of it.
It is moments like this that are the rough edges of this season opener and are a example of the flaws of Buffy at this still early stage. The music throughout WSWB suggests that the show was still transitioning from the soapy style music of the debut run and the more cinematic and powerful music that would distinguish Buffy from other teen shows of the era. Cibo Matto was the first of a number of alternative bands to appear in the Buffy Universe that play their part in giving the show a fresh identity. At this point its fair to say that the look and atmosphere of the show is still finding its feet. The brilliant sequence in the Bronze feels out of step with much of the rest of the episodes. Another issue I have is that the Vampires doing the Master's bidding for him are a little bland. They feel like they were thrown together as monsters of the week. However, this is a very consistent season opener, that promises even better to follow.
Episode 202: Some Assembly Required
One of the big speed bumps of the second season. Like just about every episode of this show Some Assembly has a number of sharp lines, moments of brilliance and is all the more likable because of the interactions between the Scoobies. It is the A-plot that proves a forgettable MOTW.
One note is that the dire "In every generation" speech returns pre-opening scene. Thankfully, its more bearable because of Anthony Stewart Head lending his rich vocals talents to the part.
Starting with the good, the opening graveyard scene with Buffy and Angel is a lovely little gem. Angel reassuring Buffy that the vampire will rise eventually whist drawing on his own experiences is an interesting touch and is a subtle way to link the living and dead. Whedon's show has a unique way of humanising the mundane and strange. That they return to Buffy's flirty dance in front of Xander in the previous episode is a nice piece of continuity that was rare for Television of this era. Its also the first time that the age gap between Buffy and Angel is touch upon with Angel dismissing Xander as "just a kid." Buffy ending up in the open grave is a nice intro to the main plot of the episode. Its a tight little scene.
Much more interesting than the core plot is the Scoobies teasing/encouraging Giles to ask Jenny out on a date. As a love interest for Giles, Jenny is a great foil, and their contrasts make for fun and sweet odd couple banter. The scene with them at the School Football match and Gile's dismissing of American's favourite pass time is a pure joy. Their differences on this call back to their Books VS. Computers debate from I robot, you jane...
The exchange of the episode comes between Buffy and Giles:
Giles: "Grave robbing? That's new, interesting."
Buffy: "I know you meant to say gross and disturbing?"
Giles: "Yes, yes of course, terrible thing. We must put a stop to it."
Xander freaking Cordelia out is a lot of fun. Willow steals the episode with her line "Love makes you do the wacky." Xander's speech to Buffy about people wanting the unattainable (a reference to her picking Angel and not him) is a totally dickish remark on his behalf and very on the nose. Later we see Xander's heroic side when helping to save Cordy near the end of the episode. But then he un-does that by dismissing Cordy when she tries to thank him later. Fair to say this episode sees the best and worse of him.
The Frankenstein style plot is full of holes that just make it a none starter and took me out of the episode. The bigger problems are that the writing of the nerd, sleaze and jock/monster are thin and not very engaging. The actors playing them are one note, and there is no reason for me to care or be interested in them. There are one or two effective moments like Jock's mother being entranced by the footage of his old football. The visual of her glazed over eyes and cigarette smoke is quite powerful. The idea about her as a neglectful parent as far as her other son is interesting, but sadly its only a brief detour.
The finale of the episode descends into cheap action thrills. It resolves itself as a bit of mess. Seeing Cordelia used as a Damsel in Distress once again was another thing that bothered me. Despite the fun Scooby scenes this is one episode you could skip and it would make little difference.
Buffy Episode Rankings Updated:
14. Teacher's Pet
13. i robot... you jane
12. Some Assembly Required (NEW Entry)
11. Nightmares
10. Never Kill a Boy on the First
9. Witch
8. The Harvest
7. Out of Mind, Out of Sight
6. The Pack
5. Angel
4. Welcome to the Hellmouth
3. When She Was Bad (NEW Entry)
2. Prophecy Girl
1. The Puppet Show
