"What's My Line? Part One"

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Episode 9 Season 2

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"I am Kendra, the Vampire Slayer."

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Original US airdate: November 17th, 1997

Re-watched: June 12th, 2021

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• Writer: Howard Gordon & Marti Noxon  

• Director: David Solomon

• Guests: Seth Green, James Marsters, Eric Saiet, Kelly Connell, Bianca Lawson, Savero Guerra, Juliet Landau, Armin Shimerman

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The main season 2 action really picks up in this episode, with Spike trying to find a way to heal Drusilla, Angel and Buffy going on a date to an ice-skating rink, Spike and Drusilla putting on bounty on Buffy so that the Order of Taraka will kill her, and Kendra, the other Slayer, showing up. On top of that, it's career week at Sunnydale and Buffy is not amused. 

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The theme of this episode is what the future holds for Buffy, or rather that she has no real future other than slaying, and that her wish to be a regular kid will never be fulfilled. As Buffy says: "I don't have to be the Slayer, I could be dead." This theme is related to the theme of growing up. As we grow up, we tend to have fewer future paths ahead of us. What we choose to do after high school (college or not, which subjects to study) lock us into certain paths. Other decisions we make do this, too. With Buffy, it is, of course, more exaggerated, but it does serve to show the angst of being set on one path as we grow up. 

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While the theme of this episode is fairly straight forward, it should be noted that the role of Kendra has been criticized. In this episode, the viewers are meant to assume Kendra is a member of the Order of Taraka, the member represented by a leopard (or similar spotted cat) on Drusilla's tarot cards. This is perhaps why a more exotic look was chosen for her, but this choice works to "other" Kendra. She has a different (Jamaican) accent, she wears large earrings, colorful makeup, braids and a cropped top. It is clear she is not from the same world as Buffy. Later interactions will support this, showing that her upbringing and life are very different. In the classic trope of "otherness", the main character experiences the other for a time, gains knowledge, but ultimately returns to their own life, leaving the other behind, and this very much happens in Buffy. Kendra and Buffy are never really on the same level. She can give Buffy some knowledge from her more extensive training and studies, but Buffy will ultimately remain the stronger character, and it's too bad this dynamic also got mixed up with race (Kendra is clearly not white) and origins (non-Western, developing country). 

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The firsts in this episode are: Buffy going to Angel's apartment for the first time (at least on screen) to hide from the Order of Taraka. Willow finally meets Oz at the career fair. Willow mentions her fear of frogs. Xander calls the group the Scooby Gang for the first time. We see Willy's bar for the first time and Mr. Gordo, Buffy's stuffed pig. SeaTac airport gets a shout out in the episode, which gets a shout out from me (some hometown pride!). 

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In parallels to other episodes, Buffy and Angel kiss while Angel has his vamp face. In season 1, episode 7 ("Angel") Darla taunts Angel by saying that Buffy would never look at his true face and kiss it. 

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Buffy's career week quiz suggests law enforcement (and Giles does, as well), something that Buffy refuses to consider. Later, she does start working with, and later for, the police in the comic series. Although Buffy was not open to the idea of law enforcement in season 2, it actually does make sense for a Slayer to do, and it's surprising that isn't a standard Slayer job. 

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So, this episode is definitely a great watch, with a key theme and some key events, but with a flawed portrayal of one of the first non-white characters on the show (Ampata in "Inca Mummy Girl" was indigenous, and other POCs were extras or had minor roles; Kendra is also, unlike Ampata, the first POC recurring role). 

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"What's My Line? Part Two"

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Episode 10 Season 2

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"You talk about slaying like it's a job. It's not, it's who you are."

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Original US airdate: November 24th, 1997

Re-watched: June 19th, 2021

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• Writer: Marti Noxon     

• Director: David Semel      

• Guests: Seth Green, Saverio Guerra, Kelly Connell, Bianca Lawson, James Marsters, Juliet Landau

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Many of the themes from the episode 9 continue to hold sway in this episode, but with the added theme of relationships. Angel is kidnapped by Spike for a ritual that will kill Angel and save Drusilla, bringing the trio, sans Darla, together again and sparking Spike's jealousy of Angel and Drusilla. Willow and Oz embark on the beginnings of their relationship, with Oz saving Willow from a bullet meant for Buffy which wounds him in arm, and later the two share friendly banter about animal crackers. Buffy must navigate her relationship with a 2nd Slayer and her feelings of inadequacy when Giles seems to bond with Kendra. Finally, Cordelia and Xander kiss in two different scenes, with their hatred turning into desire against their better judgement. 

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Starting with Buffy, while she doesn't want to be the Slayer, she has gotten used to being the only one and Kendra being in Sunnydale challenges her a bit. Kendra has been training longer, as she was sent to her Watcher as a child, and she has done many of the same readings Giles has, perhaps indicating she is the more disciplined Slayer. While Buffy does make a case that her unique background and her emotions (in her words: "My emotions give me power") actually make her a better fighter, and the final fight in this episode as well as Kendra's demise at the end of this season seem to back up this claim, it gives Buffy food for thought to see slaying being done another way. And, of course, she is jealous of Kendra and Giles bonding. Giles is her de facto father as well as her Watcher. 

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Oz and Willow are, of course, another key (fan-favorite) relationship in this series and seeing the two get together is fun. The show really seems to hit the message right - Oz loves Willow for who she is and she doesn't need to change to be with him. This is definitely a positive message for young women.

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Then there are Xander and Cordelia. While it is a bit of a cliche to have hatred turn to love, one aspect that strikes me here in comparison to many other teen series is that this is not true love or forever love and it is not portrayed that way. Xander and Cordelia are together because events keep throwing them together (a lot of near-death events) and they like each other just fine, despite their teasing. In high school, this is often enough and it's nice to see it on screen. Young love doesn't have to be forever love nor so-in-love-it's-unhealthy love. 

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Finally, the vampire love triangle. The Master sired Darla, who sired Angel, who sired Drusilla (after driving her insane), who sired Spike. They are one happy vampire family, with Angel being Drusilla's father and Spike her son. These relationships are, of course, complicated by the romantic. Angel clearly had a non-platonic relationship with Drusilla (and Darla), just as Drusilla also has a non-platonic relationship with Spike. So, it's not just family, it's also lovers and ex-lovers. To be honest, I am not sure how they spent any time together before Angel got his soul and left the group... but Spike clearly does not want Angel around and it will take quite a while before Spike and Angel can have a relationship that is not colored by jealousy. In fact, this episode sets in motion the events that will keep this love triangle going for many episodes to come. At the end of this episode, Angel is saved by Buffy, further cementing their feelings for each other and leading towards Angel losing his soul, and Drusilla has been cured by the ritual and regained her strength. Spike, injured by a falling organ as the church where the ceremony took place burns around him, is later pulled out of the ashes by Drusilla, who carries him home with the promise to care for him, meaning in future encounters with Angel, Spike will not be at full strength but Angel and Drusilla will be. It's pretty clear that this triangle will not end well. 

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A few things that are mentioned in this episode are that Sunnydale has 43 churches. Despite the Hellmouth, it does seem a lot for such a small town. Kendra mentions the Slayer Handbook, which Giles may have tried to give Buffy at their first meeting, but Buffy never actually got. Giles also mentioned in a previous episode that he wished there was a handbook. So, this is a bit confusing. Finally, the series will continue to confuse the new moon with the full moon. Spike says the ritual will happen at the full moon and Drusilla says she feels it rising, but Giles and Kendra reference the new moon (a new moon is when there is no moon in the sky and the moon then waxes to full and wanes again to new). 

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"Ted"

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Episode 11 Season 2

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"I don't take orders from women."

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Original US airdate: December 8th, 1997

Re-watched: June 26th, 2021

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• Writer: David Greenwalt & Joss Whedon

• Director: Bruce Seth Green          

• Guests: John Ritter, Kristine Sutherland, Robia LaMorte, Ken Thorley, James G. MacDonald

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This episode has one of the most famous guest stars of all seven seasons, John Ritter, who plays Ted, Joyce's new robot boyfriend. The theme of this episode is relationships and, slightly more specifically, parental issues. The first relationship is Joyce and Ted. Buffy meets Joyce's new boyfriend, a computer salesman, and she is the only one who doesn't like him. While slightly traditional (patriarchal), he seems like a nice guy with great cooking skills. Not only does Joyce like him, but Xander and Willow are also quite taken. Angel, who hasn't met Ted, also encourages Buffy to give him a chance. However, things come to a head when Buffy sneaks back into her room after slaying to find Ted reading her diary and threatening to tell her mother what's in it in order to get her sent to mental hospital (we later learn Buffy has already been in one, making this threat perhaps more realistic and scary). Ted hits her and Buffy unleashes the Slayer, causing Ted to fall down the stairs. Ted seems to be dead, and Buffy and her mother are quite distraught. However, Ted shows up again the next evening, first confronting Buffy and then trying to kidnap Joyce. Buffy takes him out, discovering in the process that he is a robot. The Scoobies are able to discover that the real Ted was a computer genius who made a better version of himself after his wife left him, and then kept trying to find the perfect woman. Wife 1-4 were discovered dead in his basement. 

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While this episode does touch on the issues of stepparents/stepchildren, it is also a study of how (certain) women aren't believed. Buffy has a feeling something is off with Ted, but no one gives her gut feeling any credence. Even though Ted hits her before she hits him, the detective questioning her calls her statement into question, because he can't see any evidence. This is, in a sense, what the #MeToo movement is built around and this episode underlines the importance of believing the experience of others. 

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While Buffy is able to take out Ted and patch up her relationship with her mother, Joyce being attacked by Ted may have had lasting consequences for Joyce, as she isn't seen dating again until season 5. Other continuity aspects are that Ted is only the first convincingly human robot to be seen on Buffy. Additionally, Willow saving parts of Ted may later help her keep the Buffybot running. The detective, Paul Stein, who questions Buffy will also appear in season 3. Finally, Giles mentions how the hard it is to live with the guilt of taking a human life. This may be a reference to his involvement in the death of his friend (episode 8 season 2), but Buffy's reaction should be kept in mind when Faith, in season 3, also faces the guilt of killing a man and this causes her to turn to evil. There are hints that Buffy actually having killed a human Ted may not have ended well for her. Further, Giles will also take a human life at the end of season 5, which could be seen as a driver for his absence in season 6.  

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Finally, the 2nd relationship in this episode is Giles and Jenny, who finally manage to patch things up. While neither Jenny or Giles are perfect humans, their ability to talk about their feelings and set boundaries (particularly Jenny's ability) is a good juxtaposition to Ted's misogynistic views. 

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In the end, this episode shows one good example of an adult relationship and one example of how not to do it, and tells us to trust our guts.

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"Bad Eggs"

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Episode 12 Season 2

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"A little responsibility is all I ask. Honestly, don't you ever think of anything besides boys and clothes?"

"Saving the world from vampires?"

"I swear, sometimes I don't know what goes on in your head."

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Original US airdate: January 12th, 1998

Re-watched: July 2nd, 2021

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• Writer: Marti Noxon     

• Director: David Greenwalt             

• Guests: Kristine Sutherland, Jeremy Ratchford, James Parks, Rick Zieff

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The dangers of teen pregnancy are the central theme of this episode. Buffy faces two sets of demons in this episode, the vampires Lyle and Tector Gorch and the bezoar. The bezoar is an ancient parasite, who reproduces through eggs which feed from their hosts and, once hatched, use the host to return to the mother. In this particular case, the eggs the Scoobies are given by their teen health teacher for a baby simulation project are bezoar eggs, who feed on them and then use the students, teachers and parents, including Joyce, to try to dig up the mother, who is living underneath Sunnydale High School. Buffy and Xander escape (Xander boiled his egg and Buffy was out so late slaying she catches her egg hatching) and are able to stop the monster, freeing everyone from their parasites. This is the ultimate pregnancy metaphor. It does not rely on the morality of teen sex, but solely on what a baby will do to you and your life. And babies do take over your life and suck out all your energy. So, while it does seem a little silly that nearly every teen drama has an episode about not getting pregnant or the dangers of sex, at least Buffy was able to deliver a realistic metaphor. You better be sure you're ready for it (I'm glad I waited and now I can enjoy my little parasites from a place of stability). 

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The Gorch brothers are a fun distraction. Texan vampires who distract Buffy from running errands for her mother and get her in trouble. And then get her in trouble for staying out too late. They also provide commentary on Buffy and Angel's relationship (as do the Scoobies), and this commentary, combined with the numerous scenes of Buffy and Angel making out, show that their relationship is now fully in swing. The school project does bring up the future of their relationship, but neither Buffy nor Angel is ready to think about that yet. As Buffy says, "When I look into the future, all I see is you, all I want is you." 

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Finally, much like "The Harvest", another theme of this episode is Joyce's inability to understand Buffy. Buffy ends this episode grounded, as her mother is disappointed she was distracted from running errands and in Buffy's sneaking out. Of course, viewers know there are valid reasons for this, but Buffy has not told her mother she is the Slayer yet and has no excuse she can tell her mother that makes sense. Isn't having a life your parents don't fully know about the essence of adulthood?

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Finally, in terms of continuity, Tector Gorch dies in this episode, but his brother Lyle will return looking for revenge in season 3. While this episode focuses on one specific consequence of sex, pregnancy, the next two episodes will feature more on this theme. Finally, Buffy mentions that she and Angel are not helpless slaves to passion, perhaps foreshadowing episode 17 of this season, "Passion".