When She Was Bad
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| “When She Was Bad” | |
|---|---|
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode | |
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| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 1 |
| Guest stars | Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers) Mark Metcalf (The Master) Andrew J. Ferchland (The Anointed One) Robia LaMorte (Jenny Calendar) Dean Butler (Hank Summers) Armin Shimerman (Principal Snyder) |
| Written by | Joss Whedon |
| Directed by | Joss Whedon |
| Production no. | 5V01 |
| Original airdate | September 15, 1997 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Prophecy Girl" | "Some Assembly Required" |
"When She Was Bad" is the first episode in the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. See also List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes.
Contents |
[edit] Plot synopsis
The second season begins with Xander and Willow quizzing each other on film quotes on the outskirts of a cemetery. Willow is doing poorly. The pair comment on the quiet summer in Sunnydale since they buried the Master in the graveyard. A tender moment ensued when Xander playfully put ice cream on Willow's nose, but just as he was about to kiss it, a vampire appears behind Willow. Xander intervened and was barely holding out when Buffy shows up. She tells her friends about spending the summer in Los Angeles with her father. At home, her mother is a bit uneasy about Buffy's shopping spree. Hank explains that he felt guilty when Buffy appeared distant.
At school, Principal Snyder expresses again his disgust with students. Giles spots Jenny Calendar and slips away; an oblivious Snyder babbles on. Giles finds the younglings and explains that although they have closed the Hellmouth, the mystical energy still attracts evil forces to the town. He asks Buffy to resume her training after school.
Whilst practicing, Buffy has a vision of the Master and begins whaling on a dummy. At night, she dreams of being killed by him when Angel appears in her room to warn her of the child-looking Anointed One. Buffy coldly brushes him off. He tells her he missed her and leaves before she can reply.
The next day, the young Scoobies run into Cordelia, who seems unmotivated to keeping Buffy's identity a secret. Buffy heaps an insult on Cordy that her friends find "too good." At the Bronze, Xander and Willow wonder about Buffy's behavior. Willow tries to recreate the ice-cream moment, in vain. Buffy then arrives in a very revealing dress and mocks Angel. She begins a slow, sensual dance with Xander that makes everyone squirm.
Meanwhile, the Anointed One and his preacher pal are forcing their vampires to dig up the Master's bones barehanded through consecrated earth.
Back in the club, Buffy leaves Xander hanging mid-dance. Cordelia confronts her outside and tells her to get over her problems. Buffy leaves and Cordy is kidnapped by two dark figures. They throw her into a basement with an unconscious Ms. Calender. Buffy walks to the grave that holds the bones of he who triggered her attitude, and finds it dug up.
At lunch the next day, Giles shares Xander and Willow's concerns about Buffy, who shows up to tell them about her discovery. Giles remembers some revivification spells and Buffy is angered that he never told her. Snyder shoos away the students and tells Giles he would like to expel Buffy.
That night, the Scoobies learn that a revivification spell needs the blood of the "closest" person to the deceased. Cordelia's watch, wrapped around a large rock, sails through the library window. Buffy leaves for the obvious trap, saying she cannot look out for them while slaying.
Outside the basement where Cordelia was held, Buffy tries to pick a fight with Angel, who ignores her. Inside, they find one female vampire. Buffy realizes that the trap is not for her. At the same time, Giles realizes that the foreign text actually said that the ritual requires the blood of those physically nearest to the Master when he died -- in other words, Giles, Willow, Cordelia and Ms. Calendar.
Buffy returns to the library to find a bloody Xander, who angrily warns that if anything happens to Willow, he will kill Buffy. They go back to the female vampire, whom Buffy tortures into confession. Buffy interrupts the ritual while Angel and Xander rescue the others. Before she leaves, Buffy smashes to bits the Master's bones and her frustrations.
The next day, Buffy apologizes for her behavoir and is pleasantly surprised to find herself forgiven. Meanwhile, the Anointed One gazes at the scene of destruction and exclaims, "I hate that girl!"
[edit] Acting
[edit] Main cast
- Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
- Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
- Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg
- David Boreanaz as Angel
- Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
- Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles
[edit] Guest stars
- Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers
- Robia LaMorte as Ms. Calendar
- Andrew J. Ferchland as The Anointed One
- Dean Butler as Hank Summers
- Armin Shimerman as Principal Snyder
[edit] Also starring
- Brent Jennings as Absalom
- Tamara Braun as Tara
[edit] Music
From Angel’s visit in Buffy’s bedroom to Joyce driving her daughter to school, Alison Krauss and Union Station’s “It Doesn’t Matter” from their 1997 album So Long, So Wrong plays in the background. As well as being referenced by characters, Cibo Matto appear at The Bronze performing “Spoon” and “Sugar Water,” the latter from their 1997 album Viva! La Woman and the former from 1999's Stereo Type A.
[edit] Translations
- French title: "La Métamorphose de Buffy" ("The Metamorphosis of Buffy")
- Italian title: "L'ombra del Maestro" ("The shadow of the Master")
- German title: "Im Banne des Bösen" ("Under the spell of evil")
- Japanese title: "バフィーはイヤなヤツ!?" ("Bafī wa Iya na Yatsu!?" - "Buffy's a Bad Guy!?")
[edit] Timing
- Stories that take place around the same time in the Buffyverse:
| Location, time (if known) |
Buffyverse chronology: Fall 1997 - Spring 1998 (non-canon = italic) |
|---|---|
| Sunnydale, fall 1997 | B2.01 When She Was Bad |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | Tales of the Slayers: Broken Bottle of Djinn, 1997 |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | B2.02 Some Assembly Required |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | Tales of the Vampires: The Problem with Vampires |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | Buffy graphic novel: Spike & Dru: The Queen of Hearts |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | B2.03 School Hard |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | B2.04 Inca Mummy Girl |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | B2.05 Reptile Boy |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | Buffy graphic novel: Dust Waltz |
| Sunnydale, October 1997 | B2.06 Halloween |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | B2.07 Lie to Me |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | Buffy book: Keep Me In Mind |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | Buffy book: The Suicide King |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | Buffy book: Colony |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | Buffy book: Night Terrors |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | B2.08 The Dark Age |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | B2.09 What's My Line, Part One |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | B2.10 What's My Line, Part Two |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | Buffy book: After Image |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | Buffy book: Carnival of Souls |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | B2.11 Ted |
| Sunnydale, 1997 | B2.12 Bad Eggs |
| Boston, December 1997 - June 1998 | Buffy book: Go Ask Malice: A Slayer's Diary |
| Sunnydale, 1997/8 | Buffy book: Blooded |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B2.13 Surprise |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B2.14 Innocence |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B2.15 Phases |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B2.16 Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B2.17 Passion |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | Buffy graphic novel: Ring of Fire |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B2.18 Killed by Death |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B2.19 I Only Have Eyes for You |
| Sunnydale, 1998 | B2.20 Go Fish |
| Sunnydale, spring 1998 | B2.21 Becoming, Part One |
| Sunnydale, spring 1998 | B2.22 Becoming, Part Two |
| Sunnydale, spring 1998 | Buffy graphic novel: Spike & Dru: Paint the Town Red |
