After the disappointingly routine Never Kill a Boy on the First Date (#1.5), it's great to get something that is a little more original, this episode revolving around demonic animal possession, with Xander and a group of bullying alpha students becoming hosts to evil hyena spirits while on a school trip to Sunnydale Zoo. Once back on campus, the pack prey on the weak, moving from killing and eating the school mascot to attacking and devouring the principal. Buffy realises what is happening and enlists the help of the zoo-keeper to try and reverse the transmigration of the spirits back to the hyenas.
The Pack's success owes more to great performances than showy special effects (all we get here are glowing eyes), with Nicholas Brendon as evil Xander being this episode's best asset, the actor ably proving that he can play dark and threatening as well as dorky. Standout scenes include Xander attacking Buffy and belittling Willow, and a creepy attack on a family in a car. The best quips comes from Giles ("He's turned into a sixteen-year-old boy. Of course, you'll have to kill him") and Willow ("Why couldn't Xander be possessed by a puppy? Or-or some ducks?"). A neat twist towards the end adds to the fun of this very entertaining episode.
The Pack's success owes more to great performances than showy special effects (all we get here are glowing eyes), with Nicholas Brendon as evil Xander being this episode's best asset, the actor ably proving that he can play dark and threatening as well as dorky. Standout scenes include Xander attacking Buffy and belittling Willow, and a creepy attack on a family in a car. The best quips comes from Giles ("He's turned into a sixteen-year-old boy. Of course, you'll have to kill him") and Willow ("Why couldn't Xander be possessed by a puppy? Or-or some ducks?"). A neat twist towards the end adds to the fun of this very entertaining episode.