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

Xander makes a comment about Buffy's new shorter, blonder hair. This is because Sarah Michelle Gellar had had her hair restyled for Scream 2 which she filmed during the hiatus between Seasons 1 and 2 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

---

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: Buffy killed a vampire last night.

---

Connections

Referenced in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Band Candy (1998)

---

Soundtracks

"Sugar Water"
Performed by Cibo Matto

User Reviews

"I hate that girl!"

Season 2, with the exception of Season 3, is probably the best of the entire series and the first episode opens it up perfectly. I love 'bad' Buffy and her scene with Xander on the dance floor at the Bronze is... well, hot. I love his facial expressions while Buffy's grinding on him. Priceless. Plus, the scene with Cordy in the alley right before she's abducted really helps you see that Cordelia is more than just the bitchy, pretty, rich girl who makes snide comments and whines most of the time. She sees more than people give her credit for--more than even she herself does. I think her acting also really improves throughout this season.

Let's see... My favorite parts of this episode would probably have to be Xander and his constant misunderstanding of what's going on. Examples:

Willow: I mean, why else would she be acting like such a b-i-t-c-h? Giles: Willow, I think we're a little too old to be spelling things out.

Xander: A "bitca"?

and

Buffy: Come to The Bronze before it opens or we make her a meal.

Xander: They're gonna cook her dinner? I'll pretend I didn't say that.

Also, I'm loving Buffy's hair this season SO much more than the last. Less poof, more blonde. However, not loving Cordelia's extreme camel toe pants during her little talk about stains with Miss Calendar in the last bit of the episode. Gotta love the 90s... ;o)