Tags
1990's, Alyson Hannigan, Anthony Stewart Head, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2, Charisma Carpenter, David Boreanaz, James Marsters, Juliet Landau, Nicholas Brendon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Seth Green
Season 2 of Buffy expands on the greatness of the short Season 1 with interesting character arcs and writing. This is when the show really begins to hit its stride and capture the interest of viewers. Spoilers will follow in this review.
After dying at the hands of the Master and then being revived at the end of Season 1, Buffy(Sarah Michelle Gellar) returns to Sunnydale, feeling distant and alienated. It seems that the deadly experience between her and the Master has had a deep effect on her. Willow(Alyson Hannigan),Xander(Nicholas Brendon) and Cordelia(Charisma Carpenter) are concerned for their friend and try to help her snap out of this state. It’s only after they are kidnapped along with Giles(Anthony Stewart Head) in an attempt to resurrect the Master, that Buffy manages to snap out of it and rescue them from danger. Other characters arcs are Xander and Cordelia dating despite the social difference, Giles beginning to find happiness with Jenny and Willow entering into a relationship with Oz(Seth Green), who just happens to be a werewolf. But darkness is just around the corner with the arrival of the sadistic vampires Spike(James Marsters) and Drusilla(Juliet Landau) who become the main antagonists for this season. To add to this, Buffy’s relationship with Angel(David Boreanaz) deepens. After declaring their love for one another and sleeping together, Angel loses his soul because he has experienced true happiness. The downside to this is that he now reverts back to the bloodthirsty Angelus and soon begins to torment Buffy and those closest to her. In the end Buffy must decide whether to follow her duty as slayer and kill Angel or attempt to change him back. As passions collide and blood is spilled, who will prosper in this eventful season?
As I previously mentioned, this season expands on the first in many excellent ways. The writing is as fresh and witty as ever, but the tone is more serious. This season shows maturity as Buffy experiences the tragic effects of falling in love with Angel and the consequences of it. The darkness of the season is also embodied in the characters of Spike and Drusilla. Their relationship is a twisted and perverse one that makes for a creepy watch. Spike is hotheaded and violent, Drusilla is childlike and doleful with a sinister streak. Their relationship calls to mind Bonnie and Clyde, in a dangerous vampire form. James Marsters and Juliet Landau make for inspired casting and imbue their roles with menace, dark humour and chills. Marsters makes Spike a dangerous enemy whilst imbuing him with a very dark sense of humour. Juliet Landau is perfectly cast as the fawning Drusilla, whose babbling and nursery rhymes belie her sadistic and twisted mind. This season has a dark and romantic atmosphere that keeps you hooked as each episode goes on, causing a correlation between the themes of love and death. The characters are growing up and we see the changes in them as they go through what life throws at them, with extra helpings of evil demons and fiends thrown in for good measure. Spike, Drusilla and Angel may take the honours of being the best villains, but there are plenty more foes that Buffy faces that are worth a mention. These include a robot disguised as a businessman who take a shine to Buffy’s mother, a terrifying demon that can only be seen by children and The Judge, a supposedly indestructible force that Buffy takes down with a rocket launcher in kick ass fashion. Emotions run high throughout Season 2 with Angel killing Jenny a particularly shocking and unexpected moment that has a grave outcome for an emotionally shattered Giles.
As with the last season, the acting is of the highest order. As Buffy, Sarah Michelle Gellar exudes maturity, strength and intensity that aid her in her battles against demons and her protection of her family and friends. She shows how Buffy is learning about life and the wounds it can inflict on you, especially when it comes to love. David Boreanaz nails the role of Angel, who reverts back to his menacing old self and wrecks havoc on Buffy and her friends. Gellar and Boreanaz have great chemistry together and their scenes together are filled with passion, devastation and connection.Alyson Hannigan subtly portrays Willow’s blossoming confidence and resourcefulness as she begins a relationship with Oz, who is played with easy-going charm by Seth Green. Nicholas Brendon continues to play Xander with lovable wit whilst also revealing the hidden depths to his character and how much his friends mean to him. Charisma Carpenter manages to give Cordelia an ever-growing sympathy as she joins the gang in their tasks. Her relationship with Xander proves interesting because of the way Cordelia shrugs off popularity to be with him. Sure Cordelia still retains some of her vanity, but she’s definitely more relatable this season. Anthony Stewart Head carries on his impressive role as Giles, who develops a close bond with fellow teacher Jenny, only to have it tragically taken away from him. I liked how this season expanded on the character of Giles and showed various incidents that happened in his past that have made him the way he is now.
Darkly romantic, dramatic and witty, Buffy Season 2 delivers the goods that really have me wanting to watch Season 3 as soon as possible.
Paul Bowler said:
Season 2 of Buffy is a great season, there are some great episodes here, and I especially like the story arc involving Buffy and Angel, where he turns evil and becomes Angelus. Spike and Drusilla are also introduced this season, and they prove to be brilliant enemies for the Scooby Gang to battle. Giles has to cope with the loss of Jenny, killed by Angelus, Willow’s skills with majic continue to develop, and is introduced as well. The final showdown in the mansion between Buffy and Angel is really exciting and one of the most heartbreaking finales ever. A brilliant season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer 😀
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for the comment. That showdown is so filled with emotion, gets me everytime when Buffy begins to weep.
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BTW07 said:
Great recap for one of my favorite seasons of Buffy! This was also the season that I really became a fan of Cordelia. She genuinely cares about Xander and is crushed when she sees him kissing Willow. I thought the hospital scene where she tells Xander to leave was so well done.
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vinnieh said:
I also warmed to Cordelia this season, she really developed as a character.
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lukebbtt said:
Buffy is easily one of the greatest shows out there. It is always funny and exciting, no matter how many times I watch them.
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vinnieh said:
Totally agree with you, Buffy will never get old.
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The Vern said:
I love this season. This is where the characters start to really grow and it is the start of some greart characters who stay in the series for a long time. umm just for the record I would let Drusulla drain me. She is very hot even when she is all demon like. Great post
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vinnieh said:
Thanks, Drusilla has that gothic romanticism thing going on and she’s such a fascinating character.
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sidekickreviews said:
A great season with so many memorable episodes. I think the Season 2 finale was one of the first episodes of Buffy I watched and it got me hooked. Great review as always!
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for commenting. It was around season 2 that I originally started to watch the show as well.
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returntothe80s said:
Spike was my favorite villain on the show – especially in the beginning. And then it was so great to see James Marsters play Brainiac on Smallville. It took me a while to stop calling him Spike.
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vinnieh said:
You just can’t beat Spike, he’s just such a cool character.
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emmakwall said:
I can’t believe you reviewed all of these Vinnie, you’ve done so well!!!!! I didn’t realise you were such a Buffy fan 🙂 🙂
(I wanna watch it tonight now!)
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vinnieh said:
Appreciate that Emma, I really enjoyed revisiting them and putting my thoughts into words for all you wonderful people to read.
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emmakwall said:
You’re a champion!!!
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vinnieh said:
I wouldn’t go that far but thanks for the compliment anyway.
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emmakwall said:
Why not? You write awesome reviews, love brilliant stuff and always have a kind word and a naughty innuendo for all 🙂
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vinnieh said:
Ok, I’ll take the title then after hearing your words of praise.
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emmakwall said:
Take it!! It’s all true.
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vinnieh said:
Your compliments are really boosting my ego.
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alexraphael said:
Brilliant sum up dude. I really, really liked this series. Drusilla is evil sure but the story behind it is so sad. It’s a compliment to the writingm and acting of Boreanaz, that you can’t hate him. I really liked Jenny being a romantic foil for Giles. Cordelia really came out of her shell too. I think she was my favourite character in this, along with Giles. Both are just so funny, especially when they are in the scene together. But you’re right this is far darker. It works at a lovely pace, the level of maturity, so that the viewer never feels like a storyline has been rushed.
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vinnieh said:
There is so much good in this season, especially the doomed romance of Buffy and Angel.
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Alex said:
One thing I really enjoyed about Season 2 was the music score. Christophe Beck had some really good ones in this season, including “Close Your Eyes.” I still think of the season finale and all the emotion when I hear that one, especially during its crescendo. I loved how history of the slayer line is created/expanded upon with the introduction to Kendra. Overall, this is in my top 3 favorite seasons.
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vinnieh said:
I’ve always loved the music score from across the Buffy seasons. I am a wreck when the finale of Season 2 arrives, seen it a million times and still get emotional.
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