"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" What's My Line?: Part 2 (1997)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

David Semel

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator)
Marti Noxon (written by)

TV Series:

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997)

Original Air Date:

24 November 1997 (Season 2, Episode 10)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

The girl who attacked Buffy turns out to be no vampire but another slayer, Kendra, who assumed her duty...

Plot Keywords:

Holy Water | Undressing Scene | Female Protagonist | Torture | Suspension

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon	...	Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan	...	Willow Rosenberg
Charisma Carpenter	...	Cordelia Chase
David Boreanaz	...	Angel
Anthony Head	...	Rupert Giles (as Anthony Stewart Head)
Seth Green	...	Oz
Saverio Guerra	...	Willy the Snitch
Kelly Connell	...	Norman Pfister
Bianca Lawson	...	Kendra
James Marsters	...	Spike
Juliet Landau	...	Drusilla
Danny Strong	...	Jonathan Levinson

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

The "pink ranger" line has significance beyond being a standard Buffy pop-culture reference. 'Sarah Michelle Gellar' (av)'s stunt double, Sophia Crawford, used to play the pink ranger on _"Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers"_ (1993).

Goofs:

Continuity: Buffy is seen using a "steel" to sharpen her knife, while talking to Kendra. During the scene, Buffy puts the knife down and uses the steel to whittle her stake but after a quick cutaway, the knife is back in her hand in the next shot.

Quotes:

Cordelia: You know what? I'm going. I'd rather be worm food than look at *your* pathetic face.
Xander: Then go. I'm not stopping ya.
Cordelia: I bet you wouldn't. I bet you'd let a girl go off to her doom all by herself.
Xander: Not just any girl. You're special.

Movie Connections:

References Funny Farm (1988)

Spike, Angel and Dru have their first scene together

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

I love Angel, don't get me wrong, but he sure does get captured a lot here on BTVS. He does much better over on "Angel," where he's more capable and a better fighter. In "What's My Line? Part Two" and many other BTVS episodes though, his main job seem to be getting kidnapped so Buffy can save him. It's kind of unfair. Anyway, this episode picks up right where "What's My Line? Part One" left off, with Angel locked in a cage, Buffy fighting Kendra, and Spike working on the cure for Dru. This is the episode where Dru is cured, so it's pretty important. You really can't skip this episode, as Drusilla's recovery and Spike's subsequent injury are vital facets to the next part of the story arc this season.

"What's My Line? Part Two" mainly focuses on Buffy's attempts to rescues Angel. Learning that Angel's blood is the cure for Dru's illness, Spike captures him and ties him up at the factory. After Drusilla spends the afternoon torturing Angel for fun, Spike prepares them both for the healing ritual. It will probably kill Angel, of course, but Spike's certainly willing to chance it. Especially, after being reminded of the somewhat sordid past Angel and Dru share. Back at Sunnydale High, Buffy is adjusting to the idea of a second Slayer in the world. It seems that her momentary death at the hands of the Master, meant that a new Slayer was called. Buffy may not always like being the Chosen One, but she's also not happy with being half of the Chosen Two. Giles seems pleased as punch with Kendra's scholarly approach to slaying, which makes Buffy feel even worse. And when she learns that Kendra attacked Angel and now Spike has him, she's furious and sets off alone to save him. Meanwhile, Cordy and Xander are trying to adjust to their new feelings for each other. The kiss they shared in Buffy's basement has shaken them both. And Oz and Willow are growing closer. The episode ends with Angel safe, Dru cured and Spike injured... But their story's not over yet.

There's so much great stuff in this episode. I love Oz and Willow together. They each have a quirkiness about them that compliments the other perfectly. The animal cracker scene at the end of "What's My Line? Part Two" is one of the highlights of the episode. Also, anytime Spike, Dru and Angel are on screen together, I'm happy. The three of them play off each other so well and have so much history that they're just a joy to watch. And Spike's amazement when Kendra shows up at end fight is pretty funny. "Who the h*ll is this?" He's just as incredulous as Buffy was when Kendra first attacked her. Clearly, nobody told him about the second Slayer rising, either.

I do have a few complaints about the episode. First and foremost, Kendra has the most annoying accent in the history of the universe. (And she will have some serious competition for that title when the dreaded Potentials hit town in season seven.) I have nothing against the character or actress, but I literally cringe when she starts talking in that stilted dialect. Also, not to nit-pick, but I have a hard time believing that Angel couldn't escape that cage at Willy's. Just a few episodes ago, in "Lie to Me," Spike managed to breakout of a bomb-shelter. And know we're suppose to accept that Angel can't smash a little metal grate? Spike and Angel are generally portrayed as fairly evenly matched, so it seems doubtful that Angel couldn't just kick down that door and walk away before the sun came out. By season one of "Angel," he can punch his way out of a meat locker with no real difficulty. His helplessness in "What's My Line? Part Two" seems sort of contrived.

My favorite part of the episode: Jonathan's reaction to the police lady/assassin taking him hostage, shooting Oz and up trying to kill Buffy. "Was that a demonstration?"