Directed by David Grossman
Written by Jane Espenson, Rebecca Kirshner, & Drew Z Greenberg
Giles takes the Potential Slayers on patrol and tells them how his keen senses saved him from the Bringer in Robson's flat that tried to sneak up on him, not telling them it was actually because the Bringer's shoes squeaked. During his talk, Spike suddenly tackles him due to having been told of the (now proven false) suspicion that he was actually the First Evil. Giles points out that if he was actually the First then no physical attack would have hurt him anyway, and then asks why Spike is not in pain. Buffy, accompanying Spike, tells Giles of the choice the military gave her and how she decided to get the chip removed instead of repaired.
Later, Giles confronts Buffy telling her he believed she made the wrong choice in deciding to get the chip removed, as he considers Spike to be too much of a loose cannon. Buffy reminds him the First still controlled him into killing people regardless, but Giles points out the chip may not have been working then and replacing it might have stopped the First from reasserting control. Buffy tells Giles she trusts Spike now that he has a soul, but Giles tells her he thinks she's making bad decisions where Spike is concerned due to their past relationship, reminding her she's putting a lot of lives on the line for him.
At work, Buffy tries to hunt for clues about whether Principal Wood is good or evil in his office. When she is about to open a cabinet, Wood finds her and asks her out to dinner. Back at the house, Buffy expresses mixed feelings about the date, and is unsure over whether she is interested in him. Willow suggests that it would be good for Buffy to "move on." Xander enters and reveals that he too has a date that evening. Upstairs, Buffy is getting dressed for dinner when Spike appears in the hallway, and tells Buffy that he feels fine about her having a date with another man, although Buffy tells him he doesn't have to be noble.
As Andrew tries to set the timer on the new microwave, he is confronted by the First in the form of Jonathan, who tries to persuade him that Buffy and the others don't care about him and will never trust him as he's a murderer. It also promises to allow Andrew to survive the coming apocalypse if he helps the First by killing all the potentials. Andrew is unwilling to stab them, but the First reminds him that Willow brought a gun into the house and he could use that. Andrew appears thoughtful.
On their way to a French restaurant, Buffy and Wood are jumped by a group of vampires. Buffy slays most of them, and thinks that Wood has set her up, until she sees him take out two of the vampires. At the restaurant, Wood reveals that he is a "freelance" demon hunter, and tells her about his mother — that she was the Slayer and was killed when he was four years old, after which he was raised by her Watcher. Buffy is struck by the idea that it is possible for a Slayer to have children. Meanwhile, Xander's date appears to be going well until he learns that she is a demon and has been motivated to work for the First. She ties him up to the wooden structure over the Seal of Danzalthar in the school basement and sticks a knife between his ribs.
Andrew goes to the First, having retrieved the gun, and the First guides him into how to kill the Potentials as quickly as possible. Andrew follows along, but also starts to ask questions, like why the First doesn't get Spike to do it since he has a trigger anyway. However, when he asks if the First has any weaknesses, the First realizes Andrew is pumping it for information and that he's wearing a wire. Willow, Dawn, Anya, and Kennedy are listening in, but they can only hear Andrew speaking, meaning the First can’t be recorded. The First, angry at being tricked, shows Andrew the knife that he plunged into Jonathan's stomach, stating that Jonathan is going to spend the rest of eternity in pain because of what Andrew did, while making the vision of Jonathan decompose. The First then appears to Willow and the others, still disguised as the disfigured Jonathan, promising they will all die before vanishing.
After the First leaves, Willow receives a text message with a help code from Xander. Spike offers to go fetch Buffy. He finds her at the restaurant as she was being fed by Wood. They all rush out to rescue Xander, driving in Wood's car. When they get to the seal beneath the school, they fight and kill the demon, finding Xander not too badly hurt. They prevent the seal from opening again, but, during the course of the fight, Wood notices that Spike is a vampire and that Buffy cares about him.
Later at the house, Giles and Spike aren't happy that Andrew and Willow tried to record the First because of the danger. However, Dawn compliments Andrew on his bravery in standing up to it. When Spike asks why the First didn't just go to him since he has a trigger, Andrew replies that the First stated it wasn't time for Spike. As they joke about Xander once again being attracted by a demon, Giles interrupts and declares it's time for the gang to stop messing around doing things like going on dates. He adds that they need to get rid of the gun and figure out a plan of action.
Later, Spike tells Buffy that, as the First is not ready to use him yet, he will leave town. Buffy tells Spike not to leave, because she isn't ready for him not to be there.
In Wood's bathroom, the First shows itself to him in the guise of his mother. He is well aware that it's the First and intends to ignore it, until the First offers to reveal the identity of mother's killer. Wood shows interest, so it tells him that Nikki was killed by Spike. Wood thanks the First.
This episode contains
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Buffy wonders if Robin Wood is asking her out because he's evil and setting her up to be killed. She admits however that she does fancy him and - if he's innocent - it would be good to date someone without that "wicked energy" for a change. Unless he really is evil and the wicked energy is what's attracting her?Willow: I'm gonna wait for that sentence to come around again before I jump on.
- And once more with Spuffy.
Spike: There's always girls who like the look; bad boy, you know. Does it for some of them.Buffy: Yeah, I can see that. - Always Save The Guy: Giles thinks that Buffy is ignoring the danger an unchipped Spike presents because of her feelings for him.
- Ambiguously Gay: Andrew rifling Buffy's underwear drawer, playing with a lipstick tube and sighing over the thought of Captain Archer with his shirt off.
- Ankle Drag: Wood is cutting free Xander when a Turok-Han reaches through the opening Seal of Danthazar and grabs him. Fortunately after Xander is free the Seal closes, severing its arm.
- Animal Eyes: Lissa has cats' eyes.
- The Atoner: Andrew
- Bait-and-Switch: Wood leads Buffy down a dark alley towards what he says is a nice restaurant, only for them to be ambushed by vampires. Turns out there really is a restaurant down there, and the vampires were after Wood too.
- Also where it seems like Andrew is turning back to evil at the First's behest in the first two thirds of the episode. Then it finds out that Andrew's wearing a wire and that the girls are listening to their conversation.
- Blatant Lies: There's no sparks between Buffy and Spike, and she's absolutely not letting her feelings for him influence her decisions.
- Blood Magic: Lissa tries to bleed Xander to death to open the Seal of Danzalthar and get her own pet Turok-Han.
- Buffy Speak: "Go-through-able". "Free range Spike".
- Brick Joke
- In "Conversations with Dead People", Dawn spills pizza sauce on Buffy's blouse, but doesn't worry as she thinks Buffy will assume it's blood. Here Anya tries to scrub out the 'bloodstain' but when she can't says, "It might be pizza."
- A lactose-intolerant Chao Ahn accuses Giles of trying to poison her when he offers her warm milk. Earlier she asks if the "flash card monsters" are attacking.
- Call-Back:
- Giles likely has the events of Season 2 very much in mind, when Buffy let her personal feelings get in the way of killing Angel when he turned evil, resulting in the death of Giles' girlfriend Jenny Calender.
- Giles' flash cards are similar to the overhead projector briefing he gave the Scoobies in "Hush", which also involved crude drawings using plenty of red pen.
- Giles deconstructs the idea that Buffy and Spike no longer have a relationship just because they're not having sex, as Spike famously did to Buffy/Angel in "Lovers' Walk".
- The Calls Are Coming from Inside the House: The Scoobies are in the basement trying to listen in on the First, but are only picking up Andrew's side of the conversation. Suddenly Willow gasps, suggesting that she briefly heard it acknowledge the wire Andrew's wearing and realizing she's been caught. A minute later, she says she can hear the First, only to take off her headphones and realise the First's voice is coming from all around them.
- Can't Live with Them, Can't Live Without Them: Anya/Xander and Buffy/Spike.
- Cell Phones Are Useless: Averted by Xander fortunately, but Buffy leaves her cellphone back at the house meaning Spike has to go find her, causing him to meet up with Wood.
- Comically Missing the Point: Plenty.
- Chao Ahn as a Running Gag — she doesn't speak English, and Giles' lousy Cantonese means he keeps misinterpreting what she's saying.
- Buffy acts like Giles is warning of the dangers of earlobe damage from hoop earrings, knowing he's actually refering to Spike.
- Andrew waving a cross at the First.
- Jonathan!First says that Willow brought something important to the house.
Andrew: The microwave?Jonathan!First: (Death Glare) The gun!- Andrew says he found Willow's pistol in Buffy's underwear drawer, and when the First asks to see says he didn't steal any.
- Continuity Nod:
- A graveyard memorial with SNYDER on it, presumably for Principal Snyder who was killed in "Graduation Day, Part 2".
- Xander notes that his not-a-wedding anniversary is coming up (which took place in "Hell's Bells"). Buffy suggests Spike go out with the girl he invited to the wedding.
- "No wonder you crashed your jetpack." Andrew did this in a failed Villain: Exit, Stage Left in "Seeing Red".
- Andrew briefly tries to set up a new microwave, as the old one exploded in "Conversations with Dead People".
- Covert Distress Code: Xander text messages Willow a codeword that means either "My date is a demon who's trying to kill me - send help!" or "Don't call me because I'm about to score!" Unfortunately as it's been several years since Xander went on a date, Willow has forgotten which one it is. They play the percentages and rescue him. As the demon is an attractive woman who asked Xander on a date, we never discover which code he sent.
- Cross-Referenced Titles: To "Never Kill a Boy on the First Date" in Season One.
- Curse Cut Short: Thinking she had been set up Buffy is all set to tear a few verbal strips off Wood, only to find him also fighting back against the vamp ambush.You set me up you son of a... what?
- Does This Remind You of Anything?: Daddy!Giles trying to talk his surrogate daughter Buffy away from her disreputable boyfriend Spike. He even says, "I want better for you."
- Do Not Taunt Cthulhu: Andrew and Wood to the First. Or in Willow's case it should be Do Not Tape-Record Cthulhu.
- Everyone Can See It: Spuffy and Killow.
- Facial Horror: Jonathan!First appearing in the basement to frighten the Scoobies.
- Fatal Attractor:Xander: This can't just happen! It can't just keep happening that demon women find me attractive! There's gotta be a reason!Lissa: You just seem like a nice guy, that's all. And I wanted to get to know you.Xander: And kill me?Lissa: Sure.
- Felony Misdemeanor: The Bidet of Evil.
- Foreshadowing: Giles concern that Buffy is allowing her personal feelings to influence her decisions re Spike, and Wood discovering that Spike is the vampire that killed his mother, sets up the events of "Lies My Parents Told Me".
- Friendship Moment: Dawn offers a rare, genuine compliment to Andrew for his attempts to record the First, which he reciprocates. Additionally, after Andrew reveals that the First wanted him to shoot all of the girls, he assures a worried Dawn that she would have been excluded since he was only ordered to take out the Potentials.
- Fun with Foreign Languages: Chao Ahn can't speak English. Giles can speak Chinese; unfortunately, it's Mandarin, not Cantonese (both are considered "dialects" of Chinese, but are mutually unintelligible).Chao Ahn: (subtitle) Why is everyone up? Are the flashcard monsters attacking?Giles: She says she can't sleep. (to Chao-Ahn) Um, I made myself some warm milk. You can have it.Chao Ahn: (subtitle) You're trying to kill me!
- "Get Out of Jail Free" Card: The First, as Jonathan, is trying to get Andrew to turn against Buffy:The First: Really? Why? So you can earn a spot on her little pep squad? You think she'll ever let you in? You're a murderer.Andrew: Confidentially, a lot of her people are murderers. Uh, Anya and Willow and Spike....
- Gilligan Cut:'Xander: [captured by a demon he'd been dating after his tendency to date dangerous demons was pointed out once again] I knew it. See? I knew it.
- Glasses Pull: Giles venting his frustration at the Scoobies. He's Back!!
- Gut Feeling: SpoofedGiles: Why on Earth did you make that decision? (to unchip Spike)Buffy: Guess it was instinct, like you were talking about.Giles: I made that up! I knew the Bringer was there because his shoes squeaked!
- Held Gaze: Buffy with Spike — she becomes embarrassed on realising Wood has seen and drawn the obvious conclusion.
- Heroic Self-Deprecation: Subverted; Giles appears to be playing down his victory over the Bringer, but then admits he was lying about his Watcher instinct detecting him.
- Hidden Wire: Andrew wears a recording device so Willow can get the voice of the First on tape in an effort to gather information.
- Homoerotic Subtext:
- Xander asking Willow to make him gay, while standing next to Andrew.
- When Xander claims that he's "going gay", Dawn comments that Clem always liked him.
- Hypocritical Humor
- Giles talking of his Watcher's instinct only to be blindsided by Spike.
- Anya wishing Xander would get his head eaten by his date, to worrying about him when Buffy is late returning, to complaining when he turns up alive again.
- Buffy laughs that, if Xander were gay, he would just end up attracting male demons.
- I Just Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Spike tells Buffy he doesn't have a problem with Buffy going on a date, and stresses that he's not being noble as he's given up his fantasy of a life with her. Spike offers to leave Sunnydale when Andrew reveals that the First still has plans for him; after all, Buffy now has another demon fighter/potential love interest in Robin Wood. When Buffy is pushed on this issue however, she has to admit that she's not prepared for Spike to leave her.
- Ironic Echo CutGiles: How can anyone think about their social life? We are about to fight the original primal evil. These girls are in mortal danger. Didn't you see the flashcards? This isn't right.[Cut to Wood leading Buffy down a dark alley.]Buffy: This isn't right.
- Just Friends: Giles re Spuffy.Giles: It doesn't matter anymore if you're... if you're physical with each other. There's a connection there. You rely on him and he relies on you. That's what's affecting your judgement.
- Lingerie Scene: Buffy walks out in the corridor in her tight-fitting lacy camisole top and bumps into Spike. To his credit, Spike keeps his eyes on her face after the initial downward eye-flick. Mostly.
- Mirror Scare: The First appearing in Robin Wood's mirror in the form of his mother. He doesn't even flinch.
- Naughty Under the Table: Buffy threatens to make Willow talk about "your new girlfriend who you hold hands with under the dinner table and think we don't notice."
- Nightmare Fuel Coloring Book / Exposition Diagram: Giles tries to explain to Chao Ahan what they're up against using flash card drawings of girls being bloodily massacred by Bringers and vampires. The Potentials complain when she goes and locks herself in the only toilet in the house.
- Not a Date:
- Buffy is asked out to dinner by Principal Wood, who may or may not be evil. If he is evil then this is an information gathering mission, but Wood is also hot, so if he's not evil then this is a date. Unless Buffy is attracted to him because he's evil?
- Willow: Well, you'll have to dress for the ambiguity.
Anya: Everybody has a date. Buffy has a date. Willow's been completely making out with this girl—Kennedy: Hey!Anya: Xander's out with some hardware-store-whore. It's Date Fest 2003.Willow: Actually, Buffy's investigating Principal Wood. It's not a date.Giles: Really.Willow: Might be a date. - Not So Stoic: The First appears to Wood in the form of his mother. Well aware of who it is, Wood maintains a stony expression, but his control slips towards the end of their conversation.
- Once More, with Clarity: The cliffhanger from "Sleeper" is resolved. Giles grabbed the axe's handle as it was swung at his head, snatched the axe from the Bringer's hands and chopped off his head.
- Operation: Jealousy:Anya: I think [Xander's date] is part of a plan to make me jealous.Buffy: Well, it's not working.Anya: Are you nuts? Of course it's working! Observe my bitter ranting! Hear the shrill edge of hysteria in my voice!
- Political Overcorrectness: Principal Wood asking school guidance counsellor Buffy out on a date."I'd like to take you out to dinner, if that's all right with you. I mean, you don't have to. I'm certainly not saying 'come to dinner if you enjoy having a job.' Heheh. You know, I may have to make up a document saying I didn't just say that and have you sign it."
- The Reveal: Principal Wood is the son of the Slayer killed by Spike in 1977.
- Running Gag: Laughter ensues whenever Buffy suggests Wood might have hired her for her counseling skills. Giles mistranslating the Chinese Potential.
- Sarcasm Mode:Giles: Well, that sounds very responsible of you. Balances out the vampire-on-the-loose issue.
- Saying Too Much: Willow tells Buffy that her Not a Date with Wood will help her move on.Buffy: (defensively) Why does everybody in this house think I'm still in love with Spike?Willow: No, I-I meant move on from this imposed super-self-reliance. Let somebody get close.Buffy: Oh.
- Ship Tease: Loads — Spike/Buffy, Wood/Buffy, Kennedy/Willow, Andrew/Dawn, Xander/Andrew, Anya/Xander.
- Slowly Slipping Into Evil / "They Still Belong to Us" Lecture: The argument Jonathan!First uses against Andrew; he's already committed murder, so why join with the Scoobies in the futile belief that he can atone?
- Speak in Unison: Spike tackles Giles.Spike: Hey! You're not the First!Giles: (simultaneously) Hey! You're not in pain!
- Special Guest: Ashanti as Lissa.
- Spider-Sense: Giles is boasting of his Watcher's Instinct in defeating a Bringer (who was sneaking up behind him with an axe) only to get blindsided by Spike. He later admits he was making the story up, and actually heard the Bringer's shoes squeak.
- Situational Sexuality: When a man keeps getting hit on by homicidal demon chicks, there's only one thing he can do. "Willow, gay me up."
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: "Why does everybody in this house think I'm still in love with Spike?"
- Tastes Like Friendship: Subverted when Giles picks up Chao Ahn, and since they share no common language, he takes her out for ice cream as a way to show friendship. Unfortunately, like most Asians, she's lactose intolerant.
- That Came Out Wrong: When Xander helps Lissa select a rope at the hardware store, he starts babbling about the recreation uses of rope and makes it sound like he's into bondage.
- This Was Her True Form: Lissa reverts to her demon form after Buffy cuts off her head.
- Unwilling Suspension: Xander is suspended above the Hellmouth by a demon. Really, Xander, you shouldn't have suggested that use for the rope yourself....
- Verbal Backspace: Dawn is glad when Andrew says he was only going to shoot the Potentials, not her. She's probably still a little freaked out from the time she thought she ''could'' be a Potential.(relieved) Oh, well that's something, anyway...(realizes what she said) Something tragic.
- Wall of Weapons: An impressive display of edged weaponry is hidden behind the whiteboard in Principal Wood's office.
- Wham Line: After a lengthy build-up of Andrew's apparent reluctant Face–Heel Turn at the First's behest by trapping the girls in the basement to kill them, the First realizes that Andrew is wearing a wire.The First/Jonathan: Are you wearing a wire?
- Followed by Wham Shot: Willow gasps and takes off her headphones, while in the basement with the girls monitoring the conversation.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Giles re taking Spike's chip out, and the Scoobies going out on dates when there's an apocalypse afoot.
