| Episode No. | Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2, Episode 1 |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Joss Whedon |
| Written by | Joss Whedon |
0:12 : The recap at the beginning of this episode states “Last Season on Buffy the Vampire Slayer…” The unknown voice artist from Season One, along with the intro, is missing. Anthony Stewart Head provides the narration.
1:52 : Xander says that they’ve had a boring summer while Buffy’s been away. That depends what you mean by boring… Pocket Books published How I Survived My Summer Vacation in 1998. Co-authored by a variety of novelists, it contained short stories which elaborated on the burial of the Master, and other events set in-between the seasons – including Angel being invited into Giles’ home, which will be important later this season…
2:46 : This is the first time Xander shows an interest in Willow. He’ll develop closer feelings on the subject by the end of the season – when it’s too late!
3:15 : Okay, we understand the dramatic effect thing, but how the heck did that vamp get that close to Xander and Willow without them noticing? As Buffy tells them shortly: sloppy.
4:20 : After seven appearances in season one as a recurring guest star, David Boreanaz has been added to the opening titles. In one form or another, Boreanaz would remain a leading man on network television for the next three decades, continuously working through Buffy (1997-1999), Angel (1999-2004), Bones (2005-2017) and SEAL Team (2017-2024). After a break, in 2026 he’s the new lead of a reboot of The Rockford Files.
From left: David Boreanaz as Angel, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers, Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg, Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles, Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase and Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
5:21 : Sarah Michelle Gellar‘s hair has been cut notably shorter in the season hiatus. This is primary due to movie roles. In the summer hiatus between Seasons 1 and 2, Gellar would work on two instant horror classics: I Know What You Did Last Summer and Scream 2 – a victim in both movies, jarring to watch after seeing Buffy kick ass.
5:58 : Hank has brought Buffy home to Sunnydale, the last time we see him visit town in the present day. He doesn’t appear onscreen again apart from flashbacks and dream sequences. In Season 11, he remarries, specifically asking Buffy to avoid coming to the ceremony due to his new step-children. They cut contact after that. Dean Butler will next appear in season five’s The Weight of the World, although he’ll make a voice cameo in Becoming.
6:59 : Joyce says she’ll just be happy if Buffy makes it through the school year. Joyce will end the season unhappy.
7:05 : A new semester begins at Sunnydale High! New classes, new students… or old students, reused shots, as Owen Thurman’s exit from Never Kill a Boy on the First Date is used here.
8:14 : This scene is perfect character development: Snyder talking to himself: “Every time a pretty girl walks by, every boy turns into a gibbering idiot…” As he’s watching the students, Giles proves his point by acting exactly like a gibbering idiot when Jenny approaches him. Masterful work from Anthony Head and Armin Shimerman. Snyder’s not just hateful. He’s funny.
8:40 : Snyder values discipline, order, responsibility and punctuality. He will go to his death trying to maintain this on campus.
8:50 : As Giles and Ms. Calendar walk into the main building, you can now see the finished High School set built by Mutant Enemy at their Studios in Santa Monica: the communal area, the flight of steps and the adjacent corridor and classroom were all fixed sets for the next two seasons.
11:27 : Our first glimpse of the factory. The interior is a set in studio. This factory will continue to be used until Passion.
11:28 : Absalom is played by Brett Jennings. More recently he’s appeared in Lodge 49 and All American.
11:59 : The Anointed One, still played by Andrew J. Ferchland, created somewhat of a problem this season. The plan was for the Anointed to be the leader of the vampires, but the young actor had shot up in height and matured during the hiatus. Now faced with an aging teenage vampire, the decision would soon be made to kill off the character.
13:41 : Absalom talks about their champion rising and returning to lead them. We assume this was prophesised to the Order of Aurelius… but could the prophecy actually be talking about Spike, who comes into town shortly afterwards, between what would have been two important rituals for the Order? What makes them sure the Master is the subject?
15:22 : Alison Krauss and Union Station sing “It’s Doesn’t Matter” to great effect in this episode. It’s a song that was also featured on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album.
16:40 : Cibo Matto are this episode’s Bronze guests. A poster for the band is beside Buffy’s locker in this scene.
17:26 : Cordelia genuinely asks after the group’s well-being here, despite ‘suffering like no one has suffered’ all summer. She’s grown somewhat…
18:24 : The first song sung by Cibo Matto is “Spoon.”
20:08 : A vastly effective piece, their song “Sugar Water” plays over the scene of Buffy dancing with Xander. It was released on the second Buffy soundtrack, Radio Sunnydale.
22:22 : Check out the direction of this dance. It’s suddenly steamy! The camera circles Buffy as she turns around Xander, highlighting David Boreanaz, Charisma Carpenter and Alyson Hannigan as their characters react. It’s a beautiful shot, especially for an episode that is re-establishing the relationships of everyone present.
24:41 : Here Cordelia proves her growth, while outside the Bronze admonishing Buffy for her negative attitude – not because it’s bothering her particularly, but because she’s not ready to lose her crown as Bitch of the Year. But despite her wording, it’s actually the kindest thing we’ve seen her do since the series started and the first time she’s done something that’s of no benefit to her. Charisma Carpenter is sublime in this scene.
26:15 : The Master appears briefly here. While he appeared earlier in the episode, there is speculation that Mark Metcalf is not in the make-up. Other people theorised to be in the make-up were David Boreanaz or Anthony Head as stand ins, although the exact details have never been disclosed. Neither the actor nor character are mentioned in the credits.
26:43 : Is there a better example of Giles’ stuffy British behaviour than the way he visually shows his distaste at the soda he’s drinking?
28:09 : Giles mentions a revivification ritual that the vampires could use to resurrect the Master. Such rituals are not impossible and Giles himself will be at the centre of one in Season Nine. The Master would be resurrected in Season Eight.
28:54 : Snyder it seems has already made up his mind about Buffy Summers: he predicts she’ll be expelled by the end of the year, and was probably planning it even here if he’s honest.
30:12 : It’s a trap! Well, of course it is, but Buffy leaves her friends alone in the library, thinking she’s the target. She’ll fall for the bait again in Becoming, which will have much more tragic consequences…
31:14 : Buffy, in a very sexual tone, suggests that Angel ‘kick her ass’ and asks him if he thinks he can take her. Apart from the wording (and its insinuation), the pair battle later this season, and it’s never clear who would ultimately win.
32:22 : Buffy has learnt her lessons since the pilot; back then she identified vampires by their dated fashions and tastes. Now she can hone in and sense, just like Giles told her.
32:22 : The actress playing the vampire pretending to be Cordelia is named Tara and is played by Tamara Braun. She will appear again in season two as a frenzied girl, screaming after Xander in Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.
33:32 : This scene marks the first time that vampires breach the normal safety of the library. Again, this happens a few times this season, occuring again in Lie to Me and Becoming.
34:12 : Buffy enters the library the exact same way she will in Becoming. When Xander emerges he threatens Buffy over Willow’s safety. This is the first, but not last, time he challenges her decisions, usually over Angel or Spike. For a minute in this scene, practically the way it’s shot, but mostly due to Nicholas Brendon‘s performance, you think for a moment, even if it’s a second, that Xander could be a vampire or a danger to Buffy here. He really can be quite menacing.
35:44 : The scene of Buffy placing the cross and holding it in the vampire’s mouth was removed from broadcast in the UK on the BBC. It was deemed too violent for it’s timeslot – although a late-night repeat left the scene in intact at a later date.
39:18 : It’s the season premiere, so we expect a bit for our buck. However, the budget being what it was, both Buffy and Angel dust vampires in this battle – but we only hear the dusting effect instead of seeing it…
40:03 : …the reasons for which become clear as Buffy stakes Absalom with his own torch and watches as he flambés himself to ash. It looks epically cool though.
43:58 : Xander suggests they play mini-golf on the weekend, but Willow tells him they don’t have a mini-golf course in Sunnydale. They will by Ted.
44:50 : The Anointed One returns to the factory and surveys the destruction of his lackeys and the Master’s bones. His words are wonderful: “I hate that girl.” This attitude will let him ally himself with Spike and Drusilla – much to his sorrow.
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