Halloween, a Vampire's Night Off (except that it never is)

[shapinglight]

At last I get an episode to talk about that's generally loved by all (it is, right?) rather than cheerleading for episodes everyone thinks aren't any good (even though they are, so there! Except for Some Assembly Required).

Such a fun episode.

Comments

[kazzy_cee]

I love Giles being scared by Willow. I also love Willow reading the books and not being able to turn the pages.

[shapinglight]

It's all very well done (apart from Angel's pyjama shirt. What on earth was he thinking?)

[gillo]

That's a very strange shirt. But I can't say the costume team was on top form in this episode - too many performers to do in such a short time, perhaps. Though Willow and Cordy's costumes never seem to attract opprobrium from male viewers!

[shapinglight]

Though Willow and Cordy's costumes never seem to attract opprobrium from male viewers!

Understandable. ;)

[gillo]

I was a little envious that this was your turn, till I checked what comes next, and after that - we're into a run of episodes that positively sparkle, and not in a broody faux-vampire way.

My thoughts on Halloween"Your dress? Everything is strange. How did I come to be here?" Buffy's reaction to 'waking up' in the twentieth century is interesting - almost a dry run for S6

[shapinglight]

I was a little envious that this was your turn

I reckon I earned it, after having to do Some Assembly Required, and don't forget that further down the line I'll be stuck with most of the forgettable MoTW episodes.

Buffy's costume may be wrong, but I don't think it matters. It is, after all, a costume she got from a fancy dress shop, not the real thing.

Which is not to say that the Mutant Enemy costumiers are forgiven everything. I'm still traumatised by having to rewatch the Victorian party scene from FFL.

Why doesn’t Buffy stake Spike when she beats him up? I'm very glad she doesn't, of course, but this is the second time they've met and she lets a chance to kill him slip past her.

Because he was supposed to die in WML? I dunno. Pretty much every time Buffy doesn't kill Spike in season 2 (and again in season 4) doesn't make sense.

[kikimay]

Good point about Buffy's reaction! I always feel that way when she looks at the photo. It makes me think about her arc in S6, but ultimately I think that detachment is something that she always deal with.

Also good point about the dress! I don't know anything about the bodice and the skirt but that color is OUTRAGEOUS. I wish we would see a more historically accurate Buffy's costume. People who do fanart, please!! Do this!

Soldier!Xander is cute and kinda sexy.

[rbfvid]

It's a wonderful recap, thanks for reminding me how much I love this episode!
And you got me thinking - have anyone written a fic where Buffy turns not into generic 18the century damsel, but actually into Darla?

[shapinglight]

I've never come across one, have to say.

Not sure how it would work, though. If Buffy turned into Darla she'd be dead. Or, if she turned into Past!Darla presumably she wouldn't sire Angel in the first place and so never get to meet him later on.

My head hurts!

[rbfvid]

Well, Willow became dead, too, so I don't think it should be an issue (well, apart from the fact that Darla!Buffy would try to munch on Xander and Cordelia).

[shapinglight]

That...would actually be quite fun.

[kikimay]

I would like to express my appreciation for Angel in his pyjama top. He looks really cute. And, again, maybe there's a pattern. He tried to dress like a regular dude also in 2x02. Is he trying to look normal so Buffy would like him more? Is he trying to fit among teenagers? Or maybe that's how a manpire dresses when he's in love. And the chemistry with Cordy is undeniable.

[shapinglight]

If Angel is trying to dress normally he's doing a terrible job.

Seriously, that shirt is awful. What was he thinking?

And the chemistry with Cordy is undeniable.

Definitely, and a very different chemistry to the one he has with Buffy.

[shapinglight]

Yeah, Buffy misses so many opportunities to stake Spike (thank goodness!). It begins to look like sheer carelessness. Even when she thinks she's killed him in WML part 2 I'm not sure why she thinks that. After all, she didn't see him turn to dust.

NB really looks good in season 2. I think it's the only year I've thought that about him while rewatching. He is quite thin, though. Maybe it was just too hard to keep up - like JM in season 6 (though at the point I've got to- OaFA-JM is way, way too thin. Has been since about mid-season).