Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV Series) Inca Mummy Girl (1997) User Reviews

Xander's second demon love comes to town

[katierose295 · 7/10 · 17 July 2006]

Oz and Jonathan appear in this episode, which is reason enough to watch it. Oz, part of the band "Dingoes Ate My Baby," will become Willow's love interest for the next couple seasons. And Jonathan will play a larger role in the series later on, especially in season 6. Their characters are important and I happen to like them a lot, so its nice to seem them in this episode... Even if both of them are only on screen for a few minutes. This is a fairly good episode overall. While it doesn't contribute much to the season's main story-arc, it is fun to see the Scoobies on a museum field trip and contending with the new foreign exchange students. It's definitely worth a look.

The episode itself revolves around an reanimated mummy, who Buffy mistakenly assumes is the foreign exchange student assigned to stay at her house. Sacifised at 17, the Incan princess, Ampata, has been in museum displays for years. Now, Ampata is eager to reclaim the life stolen from her. She hangs around with Buffy and the Scoobies, goes to Sunnydale High and even starts to date Xander. Unfortunately, she's being stalked by a sword-wielding ancient guard who wants to put her back in the museum. Plus, in order to stay "alive," Ampata has to suck the life out of unsuspecting victims. While Buffy and Giles try to figure out what's going on, Jonathan, Xander, and Willow all nearly die at Ampata's hands.

The episode has some pretty funny parts. Cordy and her foreign exchange student, Sven, are hilarious together. She drags him around like a puppy and he is completely befuddled by her use of the English language. Of course, that doesn't stop her from ordering him about. "Drink-y. Fruit-y Drink-y. Now!" And it's nice to see Oz take an interest in Willow. After watching her pine after Xander for so long, it's good that someone is finally pinning after her. I also like the connections that the show draws between Buffy's situation and Ampata's. Both of them were swept up in something beyond their control at a very young age and both of them yearn for a more normal life. Yet, Ampata tries to change things by hurting others, while Buffy accepts her fate and still fights to defend people. It's interesting.

On the downside, Angel's not in this episode. And "School Hard" is such a hard act to follow, that you find yourself wishing Dru, Angel and Spike's storyline could just pick up immediately. Also, I think that Xander is little harsh with Willow this episode. He says some insensitive things to her and seems so caught up in Ampata that he ignores Willow's feelings entirely. Of course, he does pull it out at the end and save Willow's life, so I guess it's pretty easy to forgive him.

My favorite part of the episode: Willow's costume. Geez, she looks cute in that little, furry, hooded get-up.

"You're not a praying mantis... are you?"

[foamyfan15010 · 7/10 · 29 January 2009]

This episode is yet another example of why Sunnydale students should never go on field trips. Someone always ends up dying.

Anywho, this was kind of a filler episode, but not a bad one. I totally feel for Ampata, and liked how she and Buffy share(d) similar fates. Also, poor Xander! He really does have the WORST luck with women.

Favorite part of the episode: Seeing Oz (Seth Green) introduced for the first time. I love how he picked Willow out of a crowd of people like she was the only one there. He's definitely a keeper. Was a little disappointed that Angel wasn't in the episode, but honestly, he's in this season plenty enough to keep me satisfied.

Do you want your mummy?

[gizmomogwai · 8/10 · 11 June 2009]

Re-watching episodes of Buffy for the first time since my teens, I've found I prefer the vampire episodes to the miscellaneous monster of the week episodes. Vampires, witches and demons are classic villains and work well, but other things on this show- say, for example, a giant praying mantis disguised as a high school teacher- are a little harder to swallow. This episode references the praying mantis episode and follows in its footsteps in making Xander a romantic interest for the monster of the week- this time, an Inca mummy. At first I brushed this off as another weak Buffy episode, but on reflection I realized there were a few things I liked about it, re-watched the episode, and gave it a higher rating.

The plot: Buffy and her class go on a field trip and see an Inca mummy, which one student accidentally awakens. It takes on its appearance as a teenage girl and takes the name Ampata from a boy who was going to live with Buffy and her mother for a number of days. Ampata and Xander meet and begin to like each other, with Willow becoming jealous, but Ampata has a dark secret- she has to suck the life out of innocent people so she can continue living herself. Buffy and Giles figure this out while Xander and Ampata go to a high school dance.

There are some weaknesses in the writing and maybe a little in the delivery- okay, Xander, we get the point, you don't like it that a boy might live at Buffy's house. Although the special effects mostly work, I was also not impressed when the mummy first opens her eyes. And we have a tragic villain, a mummy who started out as an innocent teenage girl who was sacrificed, but we don't get to feel much of her pain. But there are some good points to this episode- some parts are funny, with Willow hoping for a happy ending for the mummy story and later considering whether she should wait for Xander to notice her or get on with her life. And the plot is actually good. We have a villain with some parallels to Buffy, a tragic background, and, just to make things complicated and more interesting, a love for Xander. We also get helpful instructions as to how to eat twinkies. I'm a third of the way through re-watching season 2 and have been noticing the improvements over season 1, and this episode indicates that the non-vampire episodes are improving also. 7.5-8/10

Mummy girl

[Realrockerhalloween · 30 September 2016]

Inca mummy girl turns the movie on its head by having an exchange student being replaced by Ampata. An ancient mummy tombed long ago and looking to relieve the life she was denied. What makes this episode special is the similarities shared between Buffy and the mummy as they both had to fulfill a destiny even dying for their people. I felt bad for Ampatha at first realizing she's a teenager looking for a boyfriend, a family and to be a normal girl until she refused penance till the end.

Another factor I enjoyed was Xander as her Prince Charming coming off as suave and cool. He was even shown to sacrifice his life for his friends by letting her take his life force yet it takes so long to get to him she crumbles into dust saving the day. My only complaint is what the school thought of a foreign exchange student disappearing and his worried parents back home waiting for his return is never addressed.

Not the only chosen one

[ossie85 · 7/10 · 8 August 2022]

There is an exchange program going on and Buffy has a South American boy staying with him. But their seems to be a mix up and the buy turns out to be a girl named Ampata. In fact their is no mix up and the girl is actually an Incan Mummy that escaped from her tomb. Willow catches the eye of a cool band member Oz. Ampata is also showing an interest in Xander and vice versa, much to Willow's displeasure.

Why It's So Good - A great way of showing parallels and differences to Buffy's own hero arc. Both are chosen beyond their control, but both make different decisions. This episode has a strong atmosphere also.

Watch Out For - Xander's Twinkie philosophy.

Quote - "Oh! I know this one! Slaying entails certain sacrifices, blah, blah, bity blah, I'm so stuffy, gimme a scone." - Buffy to Giles.

Entertaining Monster Episode

[kellyq12 · 7/10 · 1 June 2022]

This is more in the vein of season 1 (standalone monster episodes), but for that, it's a quite good one and we start to get the early hints of Oz.... You'll really feel for Xander in this one.

Inca Mummy galore

[saxon-7 · 8/10 · 16 November 2006]

A seal on an Inca Princess is broken on a school trip causing the mummified princess to rise and try to have a normal life, but being a teenager in a whole new world isn't easy. This episode also introduces Daniel 'Oz' Osbourne (Seth Green).

This episode has a great plot with an ancient Inca Princess who in accordance with Inca beliefs was chosen to be sacrificed at a young age whom now has been released. This episode deals with the difficulties of being a teenager in an other world (culture) but does so in a abstract way (using a mummy, who has to drain life to survive). It also introduces Oz but dosn't reveal much about him.

The acting is good with Alyson Hannigan putting on the best performance. the effects is also well done.

This episode gets a 8 out of 10.

Giles: Because you are the Chosen One. Buffy: Mm, just this once, I'd like to be the Overlooked One.

[bombersflyup · 10/10 · 24 July 2019]

Inca Mummy Girl is about a reanimated Incan Princess, wanting to pursue a normal life, but must take life in order to keep it.

The episode consists of excellent character breakdown and superb dialogue, with youthful whimsy. Giles up in Buffy's bedroom with Joyce there could've been awkward. Willow shines, if only briefly. The music at the Bronze by "Four Star Mary," some of the show's best, with the introduction of Oz. Also with quality effects and sound. Ara Celi's transition as Ampata from one mode to another is impressive, like it's another person.

Buffy: Giles, come on. Budge! No one likes a non-budger.

Willow: I didn't choose yet.

Exchange Student: Punchy, fruity, drinky, is Cordelia even from the country?

Xander falls for an Inca mummy

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 10 August 2017]

As this stand-alone episode opens Buffy and her friends are talking about an upcoming cultural exchange; Buffy isn't pleased to be having somebody stay with her for a fortnight… Xander thinks it is a great idea until he learns that the student due to stay with Buffy is a boy named Ampata. Before that starts there is the school trip to a local museum that is playing host to the mummy of a sacrificed Incan princess. After most of the students have moved on one of the boys tries to steal the seal which keeps the mummy dead. He breaks it and she grabs him and literally sucks the life out of him. The mummy's next victim is the Peruvian boy that was waiting for Buffy to pick him up from the bus station. When she gets there the mummy, who now looks like a young woman, claims to be Ampata. The fact that she isn't a boy is quickly accepted as a misunderstanding. Xander is somewhat smitten with her and invites her to a dance; Willow is upset but accepts that he only sees her as a friend… there are hints that there may be romance in her future though as band member 'Oz' is fascinated by her as she stands alone at the Bronze dressed as an Eskimo! Eventually Buffy and Giles realise the truth about Ampata and rush to save Xander from a potentially disastrous date.

I must admit that after the previous episode I was hoping for a bit more of Spike and Drusilla but my disappointment didn't last long as this was an impressive stand-alone episode. Ampata was a good 'monster of the week' as she was a sympathetic character; she had been robbed of her life as a teenager and just wanted to have a chance to live again… it was just a shame that she regularly had to take the life of others to survive; guest star Ara Celi did a fine job in the role. As well as the usual action mixed with unforced comedy there are some touching moments; notably when Willow overhears Xander saying that he loves her but could never see her as anything but a friend and later as she stands alone in the Bronze; Alyson Hannigan does a great job in the role and was particularly adorable in her Eskimo costume. This episode sees the introducing of Seth Green as Oz and hints of a possible relationship with Willow even if at this point she has no idea he is even aware of her. Overall this episode was really good; certainly better than I was expecting from a stand-alone episode.

one of the worst episodes of buffy in existence

[nysmbs · 1/10 · 19 December 2022]

I just can't with this exaltation of xander, the most mediocre man in existence. He spends the entire episode being an idiot and gets redeemed at the end by being in the right place at the right time (just like always). The fact Willow has the unrequited crush on *him* and not vice versa is just ridiculous at this point. In one corner you have an intelligent, attractive funny girl and in the other you have a guy who thinks making chandler bing style one liners constitutes a personality. Xander up to this point has become incredibly annoying in that he spends 90% of his screen time being cruel to people for his own laughs, and the other 10% crash-landing into a spot where he's able to do something heroic. And this really just feels like the worst version of that.

The episode is also made difficult to enjoy by all the weird, terribly aged casual racism. I know cordelia isn't supposed to be the most likable character but she's flat out an unpalatable level of disgusting in this episode.

The One With A Mummy...

[taylorkingston · 8/10 · 8 October 2014]

I love this episode. But it's kind of creepy at the same time.

In this episode, Buffy and her classmates all go to a museum, where one of the students on the class trip, accidentally awakens an ancient mummy. She has the power to suck the life force from other people, and take it as her own, by kissing them. Making her look young and beautiful again. And you know, not all wrinkly. She poses as Buffy's foreign exchange student, so she can experience normal teenage life. Going to school, going on dates. But when she starts dating Xander, things get very bad. She doesn't want to have to take his life for herself, so she finds others instead. Meanwhile, a man is looking for the mummy, a protector. Everyone assumes he is a protector of the mummy, but it turns out, that he's the protector of people from the mummy.

Overall, I give this episode an 8 out of 10.

Willow Watching

[Aegelis · 8/10 · 23 March 2024]

Ever focus on a character during an episode even though they're not central to the story? With all the hubbub with Buffy and Cordelia hosting exchange students resulting in all sorts of drama, we get to see a bit of growth for Willow as a character. Key realizations cause her to reassess her situation, mostly for the positive.

Mummy in the Buffy formula works and was impressed how well Ara Celi made a believable Ampata Gutierrez, despite the far-fetched concept of the revived Incan Princess. Fun romp, if you're into the classic-style horror without taking details seriously, this is worth a watch-through, though not likely on the top list of episodes.

Here's Oz!

[Joxerlives · 4/10 · 12 January 2012]

Inca Mummy Girl.

The Good; Another doomed romance for Xander with a demon/older woman. Will's lovely Eskimo outfit and the first appearance of Oz and Devon, the first of Jonathon since the pilot. Buffy's identification with Ampata is lovely. A good enough ep but not a great one. Xanders as a cowboy from the country of Leone

The Bad; Nothing really bad here, just a little lacking in sparkle

Best line; Oz; "What impresses me in a girl involves a feather boa and the 'Theme from a Summer Place" (the mind boggles but I'm sure it's been covered in fanfic 'Why do we write this?').

Questions and observations; The only ep in season 2 with no Angel in it whatsoever. No Jenny either. The Cordettes are back but no Harmony. The mummy's way of killing people is reminiscent of an extremely so bad it's brilliant British sci-fi horror film called 'Lifeforce'. We discover that Xander can drive and that he is aware of Willow's crush on him (which makes him turning her down all the more cruel). How does the mummy know to call Ampata's name at the bus station? Ampata shares Buffy's room, what about the one Dawn will eventually inhabit? Willow plays with a toy frog although it's later established that she fears real ones. This marks the beginning of Willow deciding to try for boys other than Xander. Buffy comments that one day Giles will have to get a proper car and indeed he does. Does Amapata have to drain people totally? Couldn't she just take little bits of Lifeforce so she doesn't kill anyone? 4/10