BtVS - 2.15: Phases

[wearing_tearing]

Original Air Date: January 27, 1998
Writer: Rob Des Hotel, Dean Batali
Director: Bruce Seth Green

When a werewolf descends upon the city of Sunnydale, it is up to Buffy and the gang to protect the mostly-human being from an evil poacher who is hunting the animal for sport. Meanwhile, much to Xander's dismay, Willow turns her romantic interests to Oz, unaware of the danger she is about to face.

I love that we start the episode with Oz staring at the cheerleading trophy lol and then we have awkward teenagers who like each other being awkward :’D

Ugh Larry

A little heartbreaking to hear Willow and Buffy talk about boys and Buffy being all :( due to Angel now being Angelus. I do wish more of her conversations revolved around anything other than who they like, though…

And a werewolf creeping in the woods! In the vampire show! Giles being giddy about getting to do some research on “one of the classics” is so relatable. I, too, am excited about the werewolf.

*Kill Bill sirens* COUSIN JORDY MENTION!

“The full moon seems to bring out our darkest qualities.”
Me, who either gets lethargic or super energetic during full moons: interesting.

Buffy getting caught in a trap??? I have no memory of this place. Or the werewolf hunter…

I get such an yick whenever Angelus mentions Buffy. A+ acting from DB!

Shoutout to this band’s episode: Lotion! I missed seeing The Bronze and people chilling there.

LMAO CORDELIA AND WILLOW commiserating about Xander, I love to see it. I wish we had more of them being friends throughout the show. BtVS wasted a bunch of opportunities to have the girlies together being badasses.

… The werewolf really drops out of the ceiling onto a table like that…

AND THE TWIST!!! WILL ALWAYS BE MY FAVORITE!!!! I was so damn shocked the first time I watched this episode and we got the reveal of who the werewolf was. And every time, upon rewatch, I’m just so happy to see the slow transformation of Oz back to human. The implications of such a thing!

I also love the mention of Xander being a hyena that one time. I do very much enjoy what they decided to do with the episode, both in terms of callbacks and also the Oz plot.

Aaaahh, the slut shaming.

Have to say that despite all the Angel/Angelus shenanigans, I do like how they use the situation to torture Buffy a little. The Theresa scene with her telling Buffy that Angel sends his love is great when it comes to the emotional torture part of the equation.

I really don’t care about Kane the Werewolf Hunter and his subplot. It’s fine if they wanted a contrast to the Vampire Slayer, but it wasn’t all that well done.

And now Willow knows! I always love when she stands up for herself and goes after what she wants. Even if it ends up with her having to hit her werewolf boyfriend with a trash can.

Some continuity errors in the scene where Willow tells Buffy and Giles about Oz. Giles has his glasses on and then he doesn’t and then he does and then he doesn’t.

Willow shooting Oz and the conversation they have at the end of the episode… I have such a huge soft spot for those two and how their relationship develops in these early stages. So much communication and support and cuteness. And it’s such a sweet note to end the episode on! Even more so after all the angst of previous episodes.

Some good fun all around.

Vampires Slayed: 1.
Series Total: 41.

Giles Taking Off/Putting On Glasses: 1.
Series Total: 32.

Episode Quote:
Giles: Werewolves. It’s one of the classics.