When She Was Bad (15 Sep. 1997)

Buffy returns from summer vacation sporting an attitude and suffers from recurring nightmares involving the Master. Meanwhile, the Anointed One and his followers plot their revenge.

Director:

Joss Whedon

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator), Joss Whedon

Stars:

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan

Cast

Episode cast overview:
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)
Kristine Sutherland	...	Joyce Summers
Robia LaMorte	...	Jenny Calendar (as Robia La Morte)
Andrew J. Ferchland	...	Collin
Dean Butler	...	Hank Summers
Brent Jennings	...	Absalom
Armin Shimerman	...	Principal Snyder
Tamara Braun	...	Tara

Storyline

Buffy returns from her summer vacation after defeating the Master and is not the same fun-loving slayer she used to be. Her cold, distant behavior escalates when she discovers that the remaining vampire population are planning to resurrect the Master.

---

Plot Keywords:

heroine | library | female protagonist

---

Genres:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

---

Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 1997 (USA)

Filming Locations:

1800 Stewart St., Santa Monica, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mutant Enemy, Kuzui Enterprises, Sandollar Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is derived from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: "And when she was good, She was very, very good. But when she was bad she was horrid."

---

Goofs

When a rock is thrown through the library window with a note attached, Buffy catches it, removes the note and sets the rock on the table to her left. The view cuts away for a moment, and when it cuts back, Buffy has the rock in her lap and sets it on the table to her left a second time.

---

Quotes

Willow: The other night, I dreamt that Xander... uh, it wasn't Xander. In fact, it wasn't me, it was a friend's dream and... she doesn't remember it.

---

Connections

Referenced in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Surprise (1998)

---

Soundtracks

"Spoon"
Performed by Cibo Matto

User Reviews

The start of one of BTVS greatest seasons

When I try to convince uninitiated, BTVS-resistant people to give the show a chance, I usually recommend that they watch season two. Season one has some good episodes and some important story lines, but it's in season two that the show really starts to find itself. The characters are more fully developed, the story arc is the best the series will ever produce and the show itself becomes darker and more compelling. There are some slow-ish monster-of-the-week episodes. (For instance, "Bad Eggs.") But all in all, season two is a masterpiece of television. It shows where BTVS will be headed in the seasons to come. It still has some pretty funny episodes, but it's also features heart wrenching drama and forces the characters to make impossible decisions. Season two sets the stage for everything that will come after it, both on BTVS and "Angel." If you're going to watch either show, you MUST see this season to understand the true foundation of the serise.

The first episode of season two is actually wrapping up season one. Buffy comes home after a summer in LA and is acting strangely. She's distant and cold to her friends. She's angry and untrusting of Giles and Angel. Basically, she's being a real "bith-ca." Meanwhile, the Annointed One and his followers are trying to resurrect the Master. In order to preform the proper ritual, they have to abduct the people who were closest to him when he "died". Buffy is so traumatized from fighting the Master and dying herself (even if it was only for a minute)that she's making bad choices. She inadvertently places Cordy, Willow, Giles and Miss Calander in danger. She, Xander and Angel have to work together to save them and to stop the Master from rising.

The best parts of this episode are Willow and Xander. I love their relationship and history together. Watching them walk around the cemetery placing a "guess the movie dialog" game is really cute. And they are both genuinely concerned when Buffy starts acting so strangely. "She's possessed!" Still, when Willow get's kidnapped, Xander's main focus is getting her back. It's pretty shocking to hear him coldly tell Buffy, "If anything happens to Willow, I'll kill you." This is one of the first indications of how much Xander and Willow really depend on each other. They have been together all their lives and they love each other completely, even if it's not always in a romantic way. By the end of season six, Xander and Willow's relationship comes into even sharper focus as their love for each other saves the world.

On the downside, Buffy is really unlikable in this episode. Sure, she's all traumatized and mad, but... Geez! She seems to have "mean Buffy" spells once or twice every season (and through ALL of season six,) but her behavior in this episode is really extreme. She leads Xander on to make Angel jealous, she snaps at Giles and the Scoobies, she even manages to surprise Cordelia with her frosty attitude. And if CORDY thinks someone's being insensitive, that's REALLY saying something. Buffy's still a teenager and the weight of being a Slayer is hard on her. It's fairly easy to forgive her episodes of frustration and anger, when you consider how much responsibility she has at such a young age. Really, though, this just isn't Buffy's finest hour.

My favorite part of the episode: Snyder and Giles discussing Buffy's troublemaking tendencies and possible future in prison. Snyder's comment that he can smell trouble... "It's like a sixth sense" and Giles snide reply, "No actually, that's one of the five" is priceless.