"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" The Prom (1999)

Director:

David Solomon

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator)
Marti Noxon (written by)

TV Series:

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997)

Original Air Date:

11 May 1999 (Season 3, Episode 20)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

The gang insists the watchers should at least allow them a glorious prom night before fighting the mayor's ascension...

Plot Keywords:

Library | Female Protagonist | Heroine | Demon | High School

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon	...	Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan	...	Willow Rosenberg
Charisma Carpenter	...	Cordelia Chase
David Boreanaz	...	Angel
Seth Green	...	Oz
Anthony Head	...	Rupert Giles (as Anthony Stewart Head)
Kristine Sutherland	...	Joyce Summers
Alexis Denisof	...	Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
Brad Kane	...	Tucker Wells
Emma Caulfield	...	Anya
Danny Strong	...	Jonathan Levinson
Bonita Friedericy	...	Mrs. Finkle
Andrea Baker	...	Sales Girl (as Andrea E. Taylor)
Mike Kimmel	...	Harv

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

Buffy's prom dress was designed by couturier Pamela Dennis, by request from Sarah Michelle Gellar. Gellar could not sit down in the dress once it was on her.

Quotes:

Giles: And I shall be wearing pink taffeta, as chenille will not go with my complexion. Can we *please* talk about the ascension.

Movie Connections:

References Pretty in Pink (1986)

Soundtrack:

Praise You

Tucker... You know, Andrew's brother

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Throughout seasons six and seven Andrew will get blamed for devil dogs attacking the prom and be referred to as "You know... Tucker's brother." Part of the Trio and later a "hostage" of the Scoobie gang, Andrew becomes a pretty important character as time goes on. If you want to get the jokes about his origins, then you have to look to this episode. Tucker is Andrew's brother and, like his sibling, he's got a thing for raising demons. This is also the episode where Angel decides to leave town, so if you're watching the show on DVD you really shouldn't skip "The Prom."

The episode revolves around, obviously, the Sunnydale prom. Buffy is determined to go with Angel, but he has other ideas. After the Mayor's lecture in "Choices" and a visit from Joyce, Angel thinks it's time that he and Buffy call it quits. Claiming that she deserves better than a life in darkness with him, he breaks things off with her. Buffy is heartbroken, but doubly determined to ensure that at least her friends have a good time at the prom.

Meanwhile, Cordy's father has made a few mistakes on his taxes (for the last 12 years) and the Chase family has lost everything. In order to afford a prom dress, Cordeila has taken a part time job. She and Xander are having one of their patented "I hate you, I hate you more" arguments, when a devil dog bursts into the shop and attacks a boy in formal wear. It seems that Tucker, a Sunnydale student, has been training an army of demons to attack the prom and all things prom related. He has his reasons, of course. (Specifically, he couldn't get a date.) And now, Buffy has to stop Tucker before everyone's night is ruined.

There are some good parts to this episode. Buffy's "Angel and Buffy 4-ever" notebook cover is pretty funny. And I think that Angel's nightmare about Buffy dying is great. He dreams that he's marrying Buffy and then she suddenly she bursts into flames. He's leaving town because he's afraid that he'll destroy her if their romance continues. It's really well done. Also, I love that Xander paid off the balance of Cordy's dress. How sweet is that? His date with Anya is hilarious,too. Their romance will span the next several seasons so it's cute to see them on a first date. And the other students giving Buffy the Class Protector Award is just beautiful. Really, I think it's one of the nicest moments of the season.

On the downside, Willows right. Angel really could've waited until AFTER the prom to break up with Buffy. Still, he pulls it out at the end.

My favorite part of the episode: Angel and Buffy dancing at the prom. Is it sappy and manipulative? Yep. Does it still completely work and make me sigh and smile and wish that things could just work out for them? Yep.