Buffy The Vampire SlayerBecoming Part 2
My 4 All-time Favorite "Buffy" Episodes
DVD Season 2, Episode 22 (Season Finale)
Jenny D - TwoCents Staff Writer
jennyd@thetwocentscorp.com
The Buffy and Angel saga comes to a dramatic end (for now) in this season 2 finale. Angelus is trying to wake Acathla, ending the world. Not if Buffy has anything to say about it. And he has definitely given her enough fuel for her rage against him.
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Buffy The Vampire Slayer
ReplyDeleteBecoming Part 2
My 4 All-time Favorite "Buffy" Episodes
DVD Season 2, Episode 22 (Season Finale)
Jenny D - TwoCents Staff Writer
jennyd@thetwocentscorp.com
The Buffy and Angel saga comes to a dramatic end (for now) in this season 2 finale. Angelus is trying to wake Acathla, ending the world. Not if Buffy has anything to say about it. And he has definitely given her enough fuel for her rage against him.
Kendra is dead, Xander is hurt, Willow is in a coma, Giles is missing and for Buffy, that isn’t even the worst part. The worst part is that the man (or shell of him) that Buffy loves is the one responsible for it. Oh yeah, and but the police think that it was her. So, while she tries to find Giles, she also has to avoid Sunnydale’s finest. They question Joyce about Buffy’s warabouts; not making her very happy that Buffy lied and is involved with yet another bad situation.
Buffy goes to Giles’ house and meets Whistler. He explains that Angel was supposed to stop Acathla, not bring him back. But when Buffy and Angel got physical, that changed the whole course of the plan. Buffy gets mad and leaves as Whistler tells her that she has to be prepared to do whatever it takes and asks what she is prepared to give up. AS Buffy walks down the street a police officer stops her, but Spike is there to knock him out. This is the beginning of the Spike turning into a nice guy (kind of). He tells Buffy that Angel has Giles and he wants to help her save the world. And here is where the phrase “happy meals with legs” was coined. He talks about liking the world because of all it has to offer, including people walking around like happy meals with legs. Buffy is not thrilled that Spike is only interested in helping her because “his girlfriend is a big ho”. I love the Buffy writers. They leave together to talk.
Back in the hospital, Willow is still in a coma. Xander and Cordelia stay by her side. Cordelia asks if Xander wants any coffee and leaves. While she is gone, Xander takes the opportunity to tell Willow how he feels and that he loves her. She wakes up, but she says Oz’s name, just as he shows up. She is awake.
Buffy and Spike get back to her house just as Joyce pulls up. She wants to know where Buffy has been, and Buffy lies to her and tells her that she is in a band. A vampire spy jumps out and Buffy stakes him. Joyce is confused. I guess it is time to break the news to her mom. AS Buffy talks to Willow and Xander on the phone in the kitchen, Joyce and Spike make small talk. Buffy comes in and Spike says that he will help, but he and Dru get to leave town. Joyce is confused and asks Buffy if she has tried not being a slayer. She tells Spike to go back to the mansion and to make sure Giles is ok. She will be there soon and wants him to be ready to back her up. After he leaves, Buffy and Joyce get into an argument about the situation. Buffy did not choose the life of a slayer and her mom does not understand that. As she leaves, her mom tells her that if she leaves, not to come back.
Willow wants to try again to change Angel. Oz and Cordelia leave to get Willow’s things and Xander’s job is to go tell Buffy. And as this goes on, Angel continues to torture Giles. But he won’t talk. Spike calls Drucilla into the room, and she makes Giles believe that he is talking to Jenny. Giles tells her that Angel’s blood is the key to waking Acathala. Angel thinks that Spike is on his side, as they watch Drucilla kiss Giles.
Buffy finds Whistler back at Giles’ house. He explains that she will have to kill Angel whether or not he wakes Acathala. She heads to the mansion. Xander catches up to her, but instead of telling her that he is trying to cure Angel, he tells her that Willow said to kick his ass. Both rituals begin to take place. Buffy shows up just as Angel cuts his hand. Spike stands up and hit Angel as the fighting begins. Xander goes and rescues Giles, but he is convinced that it is only a mind trick. Xander says, then why would they make you see me. Giles is convinced it is true. Spike knocks out Dru and leaves as Buffy and Angel fight. Just as Buffy goes to kill Angel, Willow finishes the ritual and Angel’s soul is back. He does not know what is going on. They share a moment, but it is too late as the portal begins to open. Buffy knows what she has to do. They kiss, they tell each other that they love each other and she kills him. She watches him get sucked into Hell. He is gone. Once again, great music (Sarah McLachlan), appropriate song. Buffy goes home, gets her things and leaves. The Scoobies wonder what happened to Buffy, did it the spell work and Buffy and Angel are together. No, she killed the man she loves and can’t deal with it, so she leaves town. As she leaves on the bus, we see a sign that says, “Now leaving Sunnydale, come back soon!”
Back at the school, Buffy is getting weapons as Principal Snyder comes in and expels her. She pulls out a sword and walks away. He calls the mayor (set up to season 3).
Well, that was number 4 on my list. Would it have made your top Buffy episodes list? If so, where at? Next week I will be reviewing number 3 on my list, “The Gift”, season 5, episode 22 (Season Finale). This is another episode that gets me choked up when I watch it, so get your tissue box ready. Please leave your two cents in the comment section or e-mail me at JennyD@thetwocentscorp.com. I will see you next week!
Certainly one of the episodes if not THE episode that set Buffy apart from all other shows. No other show was putting it's main character through so much. It was an amazing thing to watch when it first aired. I really can't even be articulate about it, because I just don't have the words to describe this kind of story telling. Obviously there were better episodes, but when you can do something like that to you main character, as an audience you just believe anything can happen. No one is safe, and we are blessed with great storytelling. Whedon knows how to raise the stakes (no pun intended) on his stories. Awesome, just awesome, and of course totally heartbreaking. I can't hear Full of Grace without seeing Buffy looking out of that bus window
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the truth. I think that Season 2 may have been my favorite. It was such a phenomenal season overall with the whole Buffy/Angel storyline. And this finale was something else. So sad and so pivotal.
ReplyDeleteThis was the first episode of Buffy that I ever saw. I was hooked! I couldn't believe that a show about a teenage vampire slayer could provoke so much emotion, and I barely knew what was going on. Great episode.
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