Band Candy
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| Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode | |
|---|---|
| “Band Candy” | |
 |
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| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 6 |
| Guest star(s) | Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers) K. Todd Freeman (Mr. Trick) Robin Sachs (Ethan Rayne) Harry Groener (Mayor Richard Wilkins III) Armin Shimerman (Principal Snyder) |
| Writer(s) | Jane Espenson |
| Director | Michael Lange |
| Production no. | 3ABB06 |
| Original airdate | November 10, 1998 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Homecoming" | "Revelations" |
"Band Candy" is the sixth episode of season 3 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. See also List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes.
Contents |
[edit] Plot synopsis
[edit] Summary
Sunnydale High students are coerced by Principal Snyder into selling chocolate bars to raise funds for the school band. As it turns out, Ethan Rayne is back in town and producing the bars, which are turning all those who eat them into teenagers.
The gang is forced to investigate the situation on their own, as every adult -- including Giles, Joyce and Principal Snyder -- has become reckless. Eventually, Buffy confronts Rayne and saves Sunnydale babies from a monster in the sewers.
[edit] Expanded overview
Buffy combines her slaying with studying for the SAT in the graveyard with Giles. At school the next day, Buffy tells Willow and Oz of a test-related nightmare. Oz offers to help her study and Willow brags about how smart Oz is. Buffy tells them Giles and her Mom have her scheduled 24/7 to keep her out of trouble. They find Principal Snyder in the cafeteria handing out boxes of candy, which they are forced to sell to pay for band uniforms.
Buffy sells half of her candies to her mom, who refuses to let her drive. Buffy then leaves for the library, ostensibly for the night. She sells the other half of her quota to Giles, then leaves, ostensibly for home. Instead, Buffy brings blood to Angel, who is practicing tai chi. He asks her about Scott; Buffy tells him it is over. When she arrives home, Buffy finds her mother and Giles waiting. They send her to bed and proceed to munch on her candies.
The next day, Giles fails to show up for study hall, where Xander and Willow are playing footsie. Worried, Buffy goes to Giles's place and finds her mom on the couch. Giles explains that they are rescheduling her activities to lessen her burden, and Joyce offers her car keys. After a surprised Buffy leaves, Giles lights up a cigarette and Joyce pulls out a bottle of wine.
Buffy frightens Willow with her driving while Giles, now "Ripper," offers to take Joyce out for some fun. At the Bronze, Buffy and Willow discover a place packed with adults who are acting like teenagers. Snyder starts following Buffy and Willow. They leave with Oz.
Mr. Trick checks up on Ethan and the production of the chocolate bars, then leaves to perform the "tribute."
Meanwhile, Joyce notices a coat in a shop window, which Ripper destroys. The ensuing alarm attracts a cop, who Giles beats unconscious. He and Joyce start making out on the hood of the police car.
Buffy sends her friends to the library, then finds her mother and Giles kissing in the middle of the street. Buffy tries to reason with her mother, with no luck. She enters the factory, taking Joyce along; Giles and Snyder follow. Inside, Buffy finds Ethan and catches him. Her fist persuades Ethan to give up all that he knows. Trick needs to dull Sunnydale adults to take the tribute for Lurconis.
Meanwhile, four vampires enter an unguarded hospital to remove four newborn babies. The teenage researchers discover that Lurconis eats babies, and Giles remembers that the demon may be found in the sewers.
Buffy, Giles and Joyce crash the party underground, and the Mayor flees unnoticed. Buffy defeats the vampires while Giles and Joyce retrieve the babies to safety. Trick escapes and the demon appears. Buffy pulls down a gas pipe, igniting a fire that kills Lurconis.
The next day, adults have returned to their senses. Snyder promptly chooses Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordelia as volunteers to clean up the mess in the hall. Buffy complains to Giles about the SAT's. They meet Joyce, but Buffy fails to notice their awkwardness upon seeing each other.
[edit] Writing and acting
Please help Wikipedia by adding references. See the talk page for details.
The candy is a metaphor for drugs, and the show also makes the point here that people must still be responsible for their own actions when under the influence.
[edit] Production details
[edit] Music
- Christophe Beck - "Sugar high"
- Christophe Beck - "Tai Chi"
- Cream - "Tale of brave ulysses"
- Every bit of nothing - "Slip jimmy"
- Four Star Mary - "Violent"
- Kingsmen - "Louie Louie"
- Mad Cow - "Blase"
- The Rocky Horror Picture Show - "The Time Warp"
[edit] Quotes and trivia
- Kristine Sutherland, who plays Joyce Summers, has named "Band Candy" as one of her favourite Buffy episodes, alongside with "Ted", "When She Was Bad" and "Innocence".
[edit] Continuity
[edit] Arc significance
- Willow and Xander continue their dangerous liaison.
- The Mayor shows once more his character, while Snyder proves to be an ignorant participant in his evil schemes.
- The glaring implication at the end that Giles and Joyce went further than kisses is confirmed in "Earshot".
- This is Ethan Rayne's first appearance since the previous season's "The Dark Age".
[edit] Timing
- Stories that take place around the same time in the Buffyverse:
| Location, time (if known) |
Buffyverse chronology: Fall 1998 - Christmas 1998 (non-canon = italic) |
|---|---|
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B3.01 Anne |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B3.02 Dead Man's Party |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B3.03 Faith, Hope & Trick |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B3.04 Beauty and the Beasts |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B3.05 Homecoming |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B3.06 Band Candy |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | Buffy book: Sins of the Father |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | Buffy graphic novel: Play With Fire |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B3.07 Revelations |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | Buffy book: Child of the Hunt |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Buffy video game: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Xbox) |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B3.08 Lovers Walk |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | Buffy graphic novel: Spike & Dru: Who Made Who |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | Buffy graphic novel: Remaining Sunlight |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | Buffy book: Ghoul Trouble |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | Buffy book: Paleo |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B3.09 The Wish |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | Buffy book: The Evil That Men Do |
| Sunnydale, Christmas, 1998 | B3.10 Amends |
| Sunnydale, Christmas, 1998 | Tales of the Vampires: Numb, (During Amends) |
| Sunnydale, Christmas, 1998 | Christmas Buffy promo, (After Amends) |
