History Recap / BuffyTheVampireSlayerS3E22GraduationDayPart2

We're back on the balcony; Faith has just taken her swan dive. Buffy is in a state of shock over what's she done. She scurries down the fire escape -- just missing Mayor Wilkins and his mooks, who emerge upstairs. Wilkins surveys the shattered window and pieces together what happened. He orders his henchman to find the Slayers: "[[AllOfThem Put everyone on it]]." The mook politely reminds Wilkins that they're on a timetable here...

Eep! The henchvamp complies and exits as the Mayor quietly goes bonkers.

* AllOfThem: At Faith's penthouse, the Mayor surveys the scene. He tells his henchvamp to find Buffy and Faith, and to "put everyone on it." The henchvamp meekly tries to demur, reminding him of the Ascention, but the Mayor whirls around and barks, "FIND THEM!" Uh, I'd obey the crazed-with-grief-soon-to-be-demon if I were you, dude.

* SecurityCling: Cordelia cowers behind the dimnutive Jonathan's shoulder just as the school blows up.

* SecurityCling: Cordelia is hides behind Jonathan's shoulder just as the school blows up.

* SickbedSlaying: In Faith's hospital room, the camera moves in for a close-up of her comatose face, and the Mayor strokes her hair. The Mayor caresses Faith's bruised face, telling herHe desolately tells her, "It's your day." His face hardens, however, when he hears a nurse telling the doctor that they have another young girl with severe blood loss. He walks in on an unconscious Buffy in her room and tries to suffocate her.

* MauveShirt: Larry's flamethrower jams (oh, the irony) and he gets swiped to the ground by the Mayor's tail, [[NeckSnap breaking his neck]]. His death was vague enough to warrant confirmation in Season Six ("Smashed").

* CrypticConversation: Lampshaded by Buffy in her shared dream. Faith apologizes, "Sorry. It's my head."

* DyingDeclarationOfLove / {{Hallucinations}}: While being nursed by Willow, Angel deliriously apologizes for his talk of leaving town, and that he needs her. Rejoins Oz in the other room, Willow reports that Angel thought she was Buffy. Oz nods understandingly: "[[PlayedForLaughs You too]], huh?"
* HeelFaceTurn: Faith does one in a dream sequence where she tells Buffy how to defeat The Mayor, tells of Dawn, and Buffy's HeroicSacrifice.
* HypocriticalHumor: Snyder takes the podium. He acknowledges that this is "a time for celebration," and tells everyone to sit still and shut up. He orders Xander to "spit out that gum." At last, Snyder introduces the Mayor, but not before an aside: "I ''saw'' that gesture. You see me after graduation."

We're back on the balcony; Faith has just taken her swan dive. Buffy is in a state of shock over what's she done. She scurries down the fire escape -- just missing Mayor Wilkins and his mooks, who emerge upstairs. Wilkins surveys the shattered window and pieces together what happened. He orders his henchman to find the Slayers: "[[AllOfThem Put everyone one it]]." The mook politely reminds Wilkins that they're on a timetable here...

Angel bursts back in and yanks the Mayor away from Buffy. The Mayor and Angel exchange words. Wilkins gives him a stern talking to: "Misery loves company, young man, and I'm looking to share that with you and your whore!" Angel shoves him backward, causing a scene. The Mayor, all smiles again, dusts himself off and tells the onlookers the "show's ''not'' over -- but there will be a brief intermission." Angel grrs that he'll be there.

Wesley and Cordelia are in the library, packing up all the books. Wes finally breaks the silence. He says that, should they survive, he's going back to England. They inch closer as Wesley removes his glasses. They kiss. ...And it's the most forced, out-of-sync kiss imaginable. Wesley has no idea what to do with his hands. [[RecordNeedleScratch The dramatic romantic music stops]]. They pause, realizing it's not going so well. They give it another go. It's even worse than before. They give up again. Cordelia wishes him good luck in England. Wesley mumbles that he'll drop her line. "That'd be neat."

Buffy charges back into the school, the Mayor right behind her, head-butting through entire walls. She runs through the library, and bursts through a window, leaving the Mayor surrounded by fertilizer explosives.

We're back on the balcony; Faith has just taken her swan dive. Buffy is in a state of shock over what's she done.

After a breather, she scurries down the fire escape -- just missing Mayor Wilkins and his mooks, who emerge upstairs. Wilkins surveys the shattered window and pieces together what happened. He orders his henchman to find the Slayers: "[[AllOfThem Put everyone one it]]."

The mook politely reminds Wilkins that they're on a timetable here...

Back at the mansion, Willow and Oz are tending to Angel, who is delirious. So delirious, he's professing his love for Buffy. Who is actually Oz. Whoops. Buffy enters, and they ask if she found Faith, but Buffy doesn't answer. She asks to be alone with Angel. Naively, her friends take their leave, no doubt assuming she's come to pay her last respects. Buffy goes into Angel's room, where he tells her he's ready to die at last. She disagrees, then slips off her jacket:

"Drink me."

Angel's having none of that. He knows it'll kill her, but Buffy says it won't if he doesn't take too much. Angel begs her to not make him drink, and she punches him in the face.

..And when that doesn't work, she punches him two more times. This triggers the game face.

She pushes her shirt aside and pulls his face to her neck. He begins to feed. Buffy goes weak, and they fall to the floor. Buffy grabs a metal water jug and squeezes, crushing it. She pulls her leg in toward him, then kicks it out violently, kicking the table and breaking it in two. He ends up taking too much and Buffy passes out just as Angel finally breaks free ... but gets no response from an unconscious Buffy.

Angel rushes Buffy to the hospital, then goes to use a payphone. In a nearby room, a doctor is telling the Mayor that Faith has broken bones, damage to the kidney, head trauma, and severe blood loss - there is almost no chance that she will ever regain consciousness. The Mayor caresses Faith's bruised face, telling her, "It's your day." The nurse comes in to tell the doctor about the other girl with severe blood loss. A lightbulb goes off. The Mayor realizes who it must be, walks into her room, and puts his hand over her mouth, trying to smother her. The nurse tries to stop him and calls for security.

The Scoobies arrive, having received Angel's phone call. They are, to put it mildly, disapproving when they learn what's been done to Buffy. Xander notes with mock sincerity that when chips are down and things look grim, Angel can be counted on to save his own ass. Angel apologizes, but Giles icily insists that Angel go; the sun will be up soon. The lonely figure of Angel departs down the hall as the others go see how Buffy's doing.

Buffy finds herself in Faith's sunny apartment, which is full of moving boxes.

It's a dream, of course, which Buffy seems to pick up on. The two trade cryptic comments, and Faith assures Buffy she'll heal. She also offers Buffy a tip: "Human weakness. It never goes away. Even his." Buffy looks down at her hand, where the knife she killed Faith with appears and then disappears. Buffy asks Faith if this is her mind or Faith's, but Faith doesn't know. Faith reaches up to touch Buffy's face, thus awakening her.

Wesley and Cordelia are in the library, packing up all the books. Wes finally breaks the silence. He says that, should they survive, he's going back to England. They inch closer as Wesley removes his glasses.

They kiss.

...And it's the most forced, out-of-sync kiss imaginable. Wesley has no idea what to do with his hands. [[RecordNeedleScratch The dramatic romantic music stops]].

They pause, realizing it's not going so well. They give it another go. It's even worse than before. They give up again. Cordelia wishes him good luck in England. Wesley mumbles that he'll drop her line. "That'd be neat."

In Giles' office, Buffy tells Angel that she got what she needed, and that there aren't enough weapons, and he tells her that Giles is on it. Angel tells Buffy that he's not going to say goodbye; when the whole thing is over, he's just going to go. He leaves her alone. She looks down at the what she's been holding wrapped in a rag - Faith's knife.

The students march in to the Graduation ceremony. A little way into the Mayor's speech, the sky goes dark. He says that nothing will ever be the same, as the sun is eclipsed. He doubles over in pain. Characteristically, he tries to continue with his upbeat speech. But to no avail. The Mayor suddenly morphs into a giant serpent/dragon thing.

They engage in hand-to-hand fights, while the students keep attacking Olvikan. The snake's tail whacks Larry, killing him. Snyder shouts warnings at Olvikan, insisting on maintaining order on his campus. He is interrupted when Olvikan takes him into his jaws, eating him. The students come down the stairs in a herd, attacking the vamps with their weapons. A vampire feeds on Harmony, presumably killing her. Cordelia stakes a vampire. Wesley is still down on the ground, whining for help.

Buffy shouts up at the Mayor, holding the knife he gave to Faith as a gift. Remember this? She gloats about how she stuck it into Faith's gut. "Just slid in her like she was butter. You wanna get it back from me? [[ParentheticalSwearing Dick?]]"

In the aftermath, fire trucks and ambulances litter the area. Giles congratulates Buffy on a job well done, and pulls out her diploma, which he fished out from the wreckage. Buffy spots Angel twenty yards away, standing beside an ambulance. They exchange a long, plaintive look. He turns and walks away, disappearing into the haze.

Buffy shouts up at the Mayor, holding the knife he gave Faith in front of him, describing how smoothly it slid into Faith. "You wanna get it back from me? [[ParentheticalSwearing Dick?]]"

She runs into the school, the Mayor right behind her, pushing through entire walls. She runs through the library, and bursts through a window, leaving the Mayor surrounded by fertilizer explosives.

The gang gathers together, taking stock of the situation. Oz thinks they should take a moment to reflect on the fact that they survived. Buffy comments that it was a hell of a battle, but Oz says screw that noise: they survived ''High School''. They all stare blankly at the smoking ruins. Oz is spaciou.

After a breather, she scurries down the fire escape -- just missing Mayor Wilkins and his mooks, who emerge upstairs. Wilkins surveys the shattered window and pieces together what happened. He orders his henchman to find the Slayers: "Put everyone one it."

"FIND THEM!"

Angel rushes Buffy to the hospital, then goes to use a payphone. In a nearby room, a doctor is telling the Mayor that Faith has broken bones, damage to the kidney, head trauma, and severe blood loss - there is almost no chance that she will ever regain consciousness. The Mayor caresses Faith's bruised face, telling her, "It's your day." The nurse comes in to tell the doctor about the other girl with severe blood loss. A lightbulb goes off. The Mayor realizes who it must be, walks into her room, and puts his hand over her mouth, trying to smother her. The nurse tries to stop him and calls for security. Angel bursts back in and yanks the Mayor away from Buffy. The Mayor and Angel exchange words. Wilkins gives him a stern talking to: "Misery loves company, young man, and I'm looking to share that with you and your whore!" Angel shoves him backward, causing a scene. The Mayor, all smiles again, dusts himself off and tells the onlookers the "show's ''not'' over -- but there will be a brief intermission." Angel grrs that he'll be there.

The Scoobies arrive, having received Angel's phone call. They are, to put it mildly, disapproving when they learn what's been done to Buffy. Xander notes with mock sincerity that "when chips are down and things look grim", Angel will happily drain "the girl who loves you to save your own ass." Angel apologizes, but Giles icily insists that Angel go; the sun will be up soon. The lonely figure of Angel departs down the hall as the others go see how Buffy's doing.

It's a dream, of course, which Buffy seems to pick up on. The two trade cryptic comments, and Faith assures Buffy she'll heal. She also offers Buffy a tip:

"Human weakness. It never goes away. Even his."

Buffy looks down at her hand, where the knife she killed Faith with appears and then disappears. Buffy asks Faith if this is her mind or Faith's, but Faith doesn't know. Faith reaches up to touch Buffy's face, thus awakening her.

Back in the library, Buffy has just finished describing her plan to the gang. Cordelia doesn't think they could come up with a crazier plan, but Oz points out that they could attack the Mayor with hummus. Cordy stands corrected. ("Just keeping things in perspective"). He thinks she wants to use a rocket launcher, but she says that won't get it done. It took a volcano to bury Olvikan last time. Buffy tells them that Faith told her to play on the Mayor's human weakness. They try to figure out what that weakness is, and when Angel mentions the whole germ thing, Cordelia suggests chasing him with a box labeled 'Ebola virus.' An exasperated Xander is now "starting to lean toward the hummus offensive."

Wesley enters, and Buffy tells him she's in no mood for orders, but he says he is there to help of his own volition; not on behalf of the Watcher's Council. He just wants to help. Predictably, his valor makes Cordelia melt.

And it's the most forced, out-of-sync kiss imaginable. Wesley has no idea what to do with his hands. [[RecordNeedleScratch The dramatic romantic music stops]].

They pause, realizing it's not going so well. They give it another go. It's even worse than before. They give up again. Cordelia wishes him good luck in England. Wesley says he'll drop her line. "That'd be neat."

The students march in to the Graduation ceremony. A little way into the Mayor's speech, the sky goes dark. He says that nothing will ever be the same, as the sun is eclipsed. He doubles over in pain. Characteristically, he tries to continue with his speech, to no avail. The Mayor suddenly morphs into a giant serpent/dragon thing. The parents and guests rush to get out. A troupe of vampires stands behind the students, a ways back.

Buffy calls, "Now!" The students take off their gowns to reveal a full range of medieval-type weapons, plus a few flame-throwers.

Buffy calls for the flame units, and the Mayor finds himself attacked with fire. Snyder finds this whole scene unacceptable. Oz notices the vampires and calls to Xander, who yells "Fire!" Some students shoot flaming arrows at the vamps. killing one. The vamps turn to run, but are faced with a horde of good guys, including Angel, Wesley, and Percy. They engage in hand-to-hand fights, while the students keep attacking the Mayor. The Mayor's tail whacks Larry, killing him. Snyder shouts up at the Mayor, telling him he needs to maintain order on his campus. He is interrupted when the Mayor takes him into his jaws, eating him.

Buffy orders the students to fall back, and Xander orders everyone to go hand-to-hand. The students come down the stairs in a herd, attacking the vamps with their weapons. A vampire feeds on Harmony, presumably killing her. Cordelia stakes a vampire. Wesley is still down on the ground, calling for help. Buffy shouts up at the Mayor, holding the knife he gave Faith in front of him, describing how smoothly it slid into Faith. "You wanna get it back from me? [[ParentheticalSwearing Dick?]]"

She runs into the school, the Mayor right behind her, pushing through entire walls. She runs through the library, and bursts through a window, leaving the Mayor in there to see himself surrounded by explosives.

Giles sets off the explosives - and the library, the Mayor, and the whole darn school are awash in a sea of flames, smoke, sparks, smoke, and still more smoke.

In the aftermath, fire trucks and ambulances litter the area. Giles congratulates Buffy on a job well done, and pulls out her diploma, which he fished out from the wreckage. Buffy spots Angel about 20 yards away, haze and smoke surrounding him. they gaze at each other. He turns and walks away, disappearing into the haze.

The gang gathers together, taking stock of the situation. Oz suggests they take a moment to deal with the fact that they survived ... high school, that is. Oz is spacious.

The girls get antsy and leave.

"...and we're done." And then they walk away. Cut to a shot of a partially burned SHS yearbook, emblazoned with the words, "The Future Is Ours."

* EnvironmentalSymbolism

..When that doesn't work, she punches him two more times. Thus triggering the game face.

Angel rushes Buffy to the hospital, then goes to use a payphone. In a nearby room, a doctor is telling the Mayor that Faith has broken bones, damage to the kidney, head trauma, and severe blood loss - there is almost no chance that she will ever regain consciousness. The Mayor caresses Faith's bruised face, telling her, "It's your day."

The nurse comes in to tell the doctor about the other girl with severe blood loss. A lightbulb goes off. Uh oh.

The Mayor realizes who it must be, walks into her room, and puts his hand over her mouth, trying to smother her. The nurse tries to stop him and calls for security. Angel bursts back in and yanks the Mayor away from Buffy. The Mayor and Angel exchange words. Wilkins gives him a stern talking to: "Misery loves company, young man, and I'm looking to share that with you and your whore!" Angel shoves him backward, causing a scene. The Mayor, all smiles again, dusts himself off and tells the onlookers the "show's ''not'' over -- but there will be a brief intermission." Angel grrs that he'll be there.

The Scoobies arrive, having received Angel's phone call. They are, to put it mildly, disapproving when they learn what's been done to Buffy. Xander notes with mock sincerity that "when chips are down and things look grim", Angel will happily drain "the girl who loves you to save your own ass." Angel apologizes, but Giles icily insists that Angel go; the sun will be up soon. They go in to see how Buffy's doing.

Buffy wakes up in the hospital, and walks into Faith's room. She kisses the unconscious Faith on the forehead, and walks away. Then, after changing from the hospital gown into her street clothes, goes out and tells the gang to get Angel; she's ready for war.

Back in the library, Buffy has just finished describing her plan to the gang. Cordelia doesn't think they could come up with a crazier plan, but Oz points out that they could attack the Mayor with hummus. Cordy stands corrected. ("Just keeping things in perspective"). Buffy tells them that Faith told her to play on the Mayor's human weakness. They try to figure out what that weakness is, and when Angel mentions the whole germ thing, Cordelia suggests chasing him with a box labeled 'Ebola virus.' An exasperated Xander is now "starting to lean toward the hummus offensive." Wesley enters, and Buffy tells him she has no time for orders, but he's not there for the council; he just wants to help. Cordelia is nevertheless impressed with his class for offering to help in a non-Watcher capacity.

At City Hall, the Mayor is laying out his plan for his henchvamps. The sun, he tells them, will not be a problem. Back in the library, the gang figures out that there will be an eclipse, putting Angel "back in the game." At City Hall, the Mayor orders the vamps that there is to be no snacking, only killing. In the library, the gang is arranging "volcano detail." Buffy instructs Giles to get "weapons, weapons, weapons." At City Hall, the vamps are leaving, and the Mayor reminds them to keep it fast and brutal-- "and boys? Let's watch the swearing."

At school, Xander approaches Harmony, needing to talk to her. Willow goes to talk to Percy. Wesley and Cordelia are in the library, packing up all the books. Wesley tells her that once this is over, he'll be going back to England, since there's no reason to stay. They inch closer, Wesley takes off his glasses, and they kiss awkwardly. They stop. They try again. It just isn't working; they have no chemistry. Cordelia wishes him good luck in England, and they get back to work, each looking displeased with the other's kissing.

Buffy calls, "Now!" The students take off their gowns to reveal a full range of medieval-type weapons (plus a few flame-throwers).

Buffy calls for the flame units, and the Mayor finds himself attacked with fire. Snyder finds this whole scene unacceptable. Oz notices the vampires and calls to Xander, who yells "Fire!" Some students shoot flaming arrows at the vamps. killing one. The vamps turn to run, but are faced with a troupe of good guys, including Angel, Wesley, and Percy. They engage in hand-to-hand fights, while the students keep attacking the Mayor. The Mayor's tail whacks Larry, killing him. Snyder shouts up at the Mayor, telling him he needs to maintain order on his campus. He is interrupted when the Mayor takes him into his jaws, eating him.

That does it. She runs into the school, the Mayor right behind her, pushing through entire walls. She runs through the library, and bursts through a window, leaving the Mayor in there to see himself surrounded by explosives.

Buffy is still looking over the balcony, in a state of shock. She puts the knife down and starts climbing down the fire escape. Just afterwards, the Mayor and his henchman arrive. The Mayor looks through the broken glass out onto the balcony, not realizing he just missed Buffy. He orders his henchman to find them.

Back at the mansion, Willow and Oz are tending to Angel, who is delirious. Buffy enters, and they ask if she found Faith, but Buffy doesn't answer. She asks to be alone with Angel, and Willow and Oz leave. Buffy goes into Angel's room, where he tells her he is ready to die. She disagrees, telling him he has to live. She slips off her jacket. "Drink me. He refuses, saying it will kill her, but she says it won't if he doesn't take too much. Angel begs her to not make him drink, but she punches him in the face. When that doesn't work, she punches him two more times, triggering the game face. She pushes her shirt aside and pulls his face to her neck. He begins to feed. He ends up taking too much and Buffy passes out just as Angel finally breaks free ... but gets no response from an unconscious Buffy.

Angel is carrying Buffy into the hospital and lays her on a bed and goes to the payphone. In a nearby room, a doctor is telling the Mayor that Faith has broken bones, damage to the kidney, head trauma, and severe blood loss - there is almost no chance that she will ever regain consciousness. The Mayor caresses Faith's bruised face, telling her, "It's your day." The nurse comes in to tell the doctor about the other girl with severe blood loss (Buffy). The Mayor realizes who it must be, walks into her room, and puts his hand over her mouth, trying to smother her. The nurse tries to stop him and calls for security. Angel bursts in and pulls the Mayor away from Buffy. The Mayor and Angel exchange words, and Angel shoves him backward, breaking a window. The Mayor gets up, chuckling and noting Angel's regained strength. The Mayor leaves, after making a veiled threat about the Ascension.

Giles, Willow, Oz and Xander arrive. Angel tells them that Buffy is OK, that she put Faith in a coma, and that she cured him. He starts to say that she made him drink of her, but Giles interrupts: "You fed off her?" Willow is worried that she will be a vampire, but Angel reassures her that Buffy didn't feed off him, so she won't. Xander pipes in with, "Well, it's just good to know that when the chips are down and things look grim, you'll feed off the girl who loves you to save your own ass." Giles insists that Angel go, reminding him that the sun will be up soon. They go in to see how Buffy's doing.

Buffy is in Faith's apartment, which is full of moving boxes. It's a dream, of course, which Buffy seems to pick up on. The two trade cryptic comments, and Faith assures Buffy she'll heal. She also offers Buffy a tip: "Human weakness. It never goes away. Even his." Buffy looks down at her hand, where the knife she killed Faith with appears and then disappears. Buffy asks Faith if this is her mind or Faith's, but Faith doesn't know. Faith reaches up to touch Buffy's face, thus awakening her. wakes up in the hospital, and walks into Faith's room. She kisses the unconscious Faith on the forehead, and walks away. Then, after changing from the hospital gown into her street clothes, goes out and tells the gang to get Angel; she's ready for war.

Back in the library, Buffy has just finished describing her plan to the gang. Buffy tells Xander that he's the key figure, asking if he remembers his military training from when he became "soldier-guy." He thinks she wants to use a rocket launcher, but she says that won't get it done. She tells them that Faith told her to play on the Mayor's human weakness. Wesley enters, and Buffy tells him she has no time for orders, but he's not there for the council; he just wants to help. "If I need someone to scream like a woman, I'll give you a call." Cordelia is nevertheless impressed with his class for offering to help in a non-Watcher capacity. At City Hall, the Mayor is laying out his plan for his vamp henchmen. The sun, he tells them, will not be a problem. Back in the library, the gang figures out that there will be an eclipse, putting Angel "back in the game." At City Hall, the Mayor orders the vamps that there is to be no snacking, only killing. In the library, the gang is arranging "volcano detail." Buffy instructs Giles to get "weapons, weapons, weapons." At City Hall, the vamps are leaving, and the Mayor reminds them to keep if fast and brutal - and to watch the swearing.

At school, Xander approaches Harmony, needing to talk to her. Willow goes to talk to Percy. Wesley and Cordelia are in the library, packing up all the books. Wesley tells her that once this is over, he'll be going back to England, since there's no reason to stay. They inch closer, Wesley takes off his glasses, and they kiss awkwardly. They stop. They try again. It just isn't working; they have no chemistry. Cordelia wishes him good luck in England, and they get back to work, each looking displeased with the other's kissing. Outside, Willow, Oz.

The students march in to the Graduation ceremony. A little way into the Mayor's speech, the sky goes dark. He says that nothing will ever be the same, as the sun is eclipsed. He doubles over in pain. Characteristically, he tries to continue with his speech, to no avail. The Mayor suddenly morphs into a giant serpent/dragon thing. The parents and guests rush to get out. A troupe of vampires stands behind the students, a ways back. Buffy calls, "Now," and the students take off their gowns to reveal a full range of medieval-type weapons (plus a few flame-throwers). Buffy calls for the flame units, and the Mayor finds himself attacked with fire. It does no damage; he eats a student. Snyder finds this whole scene unacceptable. Oz notices the vampires and calls to Xander, who yells "Fire!" Some students shoot flaming arrows at the vamps. killing one. The vamps turn to run, but are faced with a troupe of good guys, including Angel, Wesley, and Percy. They engage in hand-to-hand fights, while the students keep attacking the Mayor. The Mayor's tail whacks Larry, killing him. Snyder shouts up at the Mayor, telling him he needs to maintain order on his campus. He is interrupted when the Mayor takes him into his jaws, eating him.

Buffy orders the students to fall back, and tells Willow to go. Xander orders everyone to go hand-to-hand. The students come down the stairs in a herd, attacking the vamps with their weapons. A vampire feeds on Harmony, presumably killing her. Cordelia stakes a vampire. Wesley is down on the ground, calling for help. Buffy shouts up at the Mayor, holding the knife he gave Faith in front of him, describing how smoothly it slid into Faith. "You wanna get it back from me, Dick?" She runs into the school, the Mayor right behind her, pushing through entire walls. She runs through the library, and bursts through a window, leaving the Mayor in there to see himself surrounded by explosives. "Well, gosh," he exclaims. Giles sets off the explosives - and the library, the Mayor, and the whole darn school are awash in a sea of flames, sparks, and smoke. Buffy has outdone herself this time.

The gang gathers together, taking stock of the situation. Willow asks Buffy if she is OK; she is, but she's tired. Oz suggests they take a moment to deal with the fact that they survived ... high school, that is. They do. And then they walk away. Cut to a shot of a partially burned SHS yearbook, emblazoned with the words, "The Future Is Ours."

The Mayor plans to go ahead with his Ascension without Faith. The Scoobies muster the students to fight The Mayor and his horde.

* SickbedSlaying: In Faith's hospital room, the camera moves in for a close-up of her comatose face, and the Mayor strokes her hair. He desolately tells her, "It's your day." His face hardens, however, when he hears a nurse telling the doctor that they have another young girl with severe blood loss. He walks in on an unconscious Buffy in her room and tries to suffocate her.

** Willow suggested to Buffy in the Season One episode "The Harvest" that one way she could get out of school would be to "blow something up." Can do!

* MauveShirt / NeckSnap:

* RuleOfSymbolism

* TapOnTheHead / CrackOhMyBack

* TrenchCoatWarfare

* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: This ain't no science project volcano.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotHeinous
* YouNoTakeCandle

* BookEnds: When Buffy reawakens in the hospital, she approaches Faith's bed and returns the forehead kiss that Faith had given her in "Enemies."

** Willow suggested to Buffy in the Season One episode "The Harvest" that one way she could get kicked out of school would be to "blow something up." Can do!
** Buffy kissing comatose Faith's forehead, which echoes [[TakeThatKiss the kiss]] Faith planted on her in "Enemies."

** Willow suggested to Buffy in the Season One episode "The Harvest" that one way they could get kicked out of school would be to "blow up the school". Can do!

* BrickJoke

* ComicallyMissingThePoint:

* CrazyEnoughToWork

* CrypticConversation
* DamnedByFaintPraise

* LastKiss

* MathematiciansAnswer

* NeverSayGoodbye

* NowOrNeverKiss / TestKiss

* PsychicDreamsForEveryone / PsychicLink

* ThisMeansWar

* TwoScenesOneDialogue
* UnspokenPlanGuarantee

* HalfTruth
* DyingDeclarationOfLove / {{Hallucinations}}: While being nursed by Willow, Angel deliriously apologizes for his talk of leaving town, and that he needs her. Rejoins Oz in the other room, Willow reports that Angel thought she was Buffy. Oz nods understandingly. "[[PlayedForLaughs You too, huh?]]"

** This continues up until the hospital, when the Mayor finally [[SubvertedTrope gets wise]].
* MustHaveCaffeine: Xander fetches Giles coffee, then wonders why Giles [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness isn't drinking tea]]. "Tea is soothing. I wish to be tense."

* PercussiveTherapy: Buffy tries convincing Angel to drink her blood, but he's adamantly against it. Reaching a standstill in the argument, Buffy resorts to her fists. After the third wallop, Angel vamps out and bites her neck.

* PsychoStrings / SickbedSlaying

* PutOnABus: This episode is the last in which David Boreanaz and Charisma Carpenter are series regulars, and marks the final appearance of Cordelia and Wesley. The trio will return to the Buffyverse the following season on the spin-off show, ''Angel''. However, Angel will continue at least once per season (either in person or in flashbacks) witht he exception of Season Six.

* VillainousBSOD

** Principal Snyder is killed in this episode by being eaten. This after Snyder made such a big deal back in his first appearance ("The Puppet Show") about how former Principal Flutie's "woolly-headed liberal thinking" was what led to him being eaten.

* StuffBlowingUp: The school explosions was filmed at 5am in Torrence, California (where the show's outdoor scenes had been filmed for three years). The huge explosion woke up many residents, broke windows, and set off car alarms, causing the town to [[PersonaNonGrata disallow future BtVS filming in the town]].

* HypocriticalHumor / DescriptionCut

* OneWingedAngel: Ascension
* PercussiveTherapy

* StuffBlowingUp

* TheTriple

* AllOfThem

* MadnessMantra

* MustHaveCaffeine

* OneWingedAngel: Ascension
* SeriesFauxnale

* TrashTheSet: Bye bye, Sunnydale High.

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: [[spoiler: Buffy takes advantage of this and finishes with a DidYouJustFlipOutCthulhu moment to lure the Mayor into a trap]]