Classics: BtVS 2:1 - When She Was Bad

Overall Rating: 2.0

A disturbing character assassination without justification and without long term consequences, an annoying reprise of a boring super-villain, a hero gone bad without retribution, a romance toyed with and then abandoned as if to intentionally screw with the fans, and a script lacking in charm...awesome Joss. Awesome.

Plot Synopsis:

In Buffy's absence, following the death of The Master, Sunnydale's vampire action is at a minimum. On patrol, Xander and Willow are bored and screwing around very romantically - things seem very sweet until they are attacked by a vampire for the first time all summer. When Buffy leaps in to save the day - making her first appearance since summer vacation began, they are relieved at first...but their joy turns to horror as Buffy's behavior becomes inexplicably cruel and angry.

Through the course of the episode, she tells the Scoobies they've been holding her back and she can't keep slaying with them to worry about, she dismisses Giles' warnings of impending trouble after a vision of the Master rising and killing her again, she lashes out at Angel, and her bad attitude is so off-putting that CORDELIA steps in to bitch her out (!) and the man who loves her more than anyone alive (read: not undead)...threatens to kill her after the rest of the scoobies besides Xander are taken captive by The Anointed One, who intends to bleed them over the Master's bones and bring him back to life. Buffy, Angel and Xander march into the ceremony and stop it just in time and Buffy grinds The Master's bones to dust. The Anointed One escapes, but his time is short without the Master to protect him.

Meanwhile, Giles and Ms. Calendar begin seriously flirting in this episode, which I love...and any temporary flirtation between Willow and Xander is, for the moment, put on hold as soon as Buffy walks back in the door, which I find hard to believe, no matter how much Xander might have been macking on the Slayer in Season One. My serious complaints with this episode will be addressed below.

Writing: 1.0

It would merit a zero if not for the Giles/Jenny flirtation, which is well written, and if not for Xander becoming awesome and ripping Buffy's head off for her bad behavior in defense of Willow. The rest of the episode is a parade of character assassination, dramatic tension created in bad faith, annoying villainy that makes no sense (why does the master get to have bones when all other vamps go to dust completely?? And why does he get to be revived with some innocent blood?), and awkward dialog that leaves me completely unsatisfied. If you are going to have the star of your show inexplicably change character overnight, you had better damned well have a good reason for doing so. Unfortunately, all we get out of Joss is that Buffy is having bad dreams about the Master and struggling to recover from her death. But this doens't fit with the Buffy we saw rise from the death scene feeling "strong!" and match quippy wits with her adversary in the final battle of first season. It makes no sense at all, and is done, I believe, only to create tension in the audience. That's shameless soap opera-style writing and Whedon is better than that. I think even he would admit this was one of his worst.

Acting: 5.0

One of Sarah Michelle Gellar's worst performances in the entire run of the franchise may be found here. On top of that, The Anointed One (Andrew Ferchland) is still a mediocrity at best, and a number of the regulars seem off their game. Big props go to Charisma Carpenter and - yes...my fave. cast member I must admit...Nicholas Brendan for some good moments, as well as Tony Head and Robia LaMorte. All in all, a mediocre acting job compared to the average Buffy episode.

Message: Is there a number lower than negative infinity?

Apart from a couple of great moments between Buffy and other regulars (Cordelia and Xander)...Buffy acts like a primo byach for no reason at all, nearly gets her friends killed...and there is no permanent damage that has to be worked through? There are no long term consequences at all? Normally, I wouldn't blame the writer of a single script...but the writer is also the producer and guides future content. Joss...you should know better. Shame on you. The message here seems to be...friendships are stronger than evil as long as the evil-doer has gone through trauma. I would personally beg to differ. Buffy turns evil for an episode and there is no after-affect. That is a complete FAIL.

Highlights: OK...there are some highlight worthy moments even in this lousy episode...but I'm now too annoyed to bother. A few golden nuggets in a pile of Iron Pyrite don't make the mining expedition worth my time.