Halloween (Buffy episode)
Encyclopedia
"Halloween" is episode six of season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was written by freelance writer Carl Ellsworth
and directed by Bruce Seth Green
. The narrative follows Ethan Rayne
, a Chaos worshiper, who makes everybody turn into their costumes, meaning a chance for Spike to kill the Slayer.
and Angel finally agree to a date, but Buffy is delayed at Pop's Pumpkin Patch by a vampire. Another vampire films the fight from hiding. As Angel waits at The Bronze
, Cordelia
shows up and starts talking to him. When Buffy finally arrives, she is turned away by Cordelia's sharp tongue. Cordelia continues to hit on Angel, unaware of his history.
The next day, Principal Snyder
forces Buffy and her friends into chaperoning small children while they trick-or-treat. Buffy would rather take a break during the only slow night for vampires. Later, Larry, the school bully, threatens Xander
while asking him about Buffy, who smashes Larry into a soda machine. Xander is angered by the damage that does to his reputation.
After Xander leaves, Buffy and Willow's conversation eventually turns to speculation about Angel's past. The two decide to sneak into Giles
' office and borrow the passed-down Watcher's Diary. From this, they hope to learn more about what type of girls Angel used to be attracted to as a human. Buffy is slightly mopey after her date with Angel didn't fly, and is eager for information on how to win him over.
The gang has to dress up for Halloween. They head to Ethan's Costume Shoppe, where Willow
gets a ghost costume and Xander buys a toy gun to go with his army fatigues from home. Buffy and Xander make up, but then she spies the most beautiful 18th-century pink dress—one that matches what she has spied from Giles' Watcher files on Angel. Ethan Rayne appears and makes her an offer she cannot refuse.
Spike is reviewing Buffy's fight. Drusilla comes to tell him that someone will make Buffy weak on Halloween night. Meanwhile, Ethan is chanting to a statue of Janus
in the back room of his shop.
On Halloween night, Buffy persuades Willow to wear a black mini-skirt and a long-sleeved crop shirt, but Willow's shyness returns; when Buffy goes to answer the doorbell, she covers up with her ghost costume. Later that night, Ethan's spell takes effect and everyone wearing a costume from his store turns into the respective persona. Willow becomes a real ghost, able to walk through walls, Xander a soldier, and Buffy an 18th-century noble woman.
With Buffy incapable to lead or even fight because of the spell, Willow is forced to take the role as a leader of the circle, convinces Xander not to shoot at people. They find Buffy disoriented, frightened and confused by the modern world. Willow rushes them to Buffy's house, where her mother is conveniently not home. Outside, Cordelia screams and Xander rushes out to save her. They find that Cordelia has not changed into what she is wearing—a cat—because she bought her costume from another store. Willow goes to Giles for help. While Cordelia searches the house, Angel shows up and takes Buffy into the kitchen. As Angel tries to kill a vampire that has sneaked into the house, he reveals his vampire face. Buffy is horrified and runs from the house.
Arriving at the library by walking through walls, Willow, after scaring Giles by just showing up where there isn't a door, tells him about Ethan's costumes. They head to the shop, where Giles reveals that he knows Ethan. He orders Willow to leave and physically persuades Ethan to tell him how to reverse the spell.
Spike is looking for Buffy, who enters an alley and meets Larry, now a pirate. Xander arrives to beat up Larry while Willow shows up to warn them of Spike. The gang tries to barricade themselves inside a warehouse, but Spike's gang breaks in. Just as Spike is about to kill Buffy, Ethan reveals the secret to ending the spell and Giles throws the statue to the floor, smashing it to pieces, breaking the spell. Buffy recovers to defeat Spike and he flees.
Oz sees Willow around town again, asking himself "Who is that girl?"
Buffy admits to Angel that she was trying to impress him. He tells her that he hated those people back then. The women were dull; he wanted someone exciting. They kiss. The next day, Giles returns to the store to find a note. Ethan has promised to return soon.
Carl Ellsworth
Carl Ellsworth is an American screenwriter whose best known movies include Disturbia and The Last House on the Left.-Filmography:*Red Eye *Disturbia...
and directed by Bruce Seth Green
Bruce Seth Green
Bruce Seth Green is an American television director.His credits include Knight Rider, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Babylon 5, Buffy the Vampire Slayer , Angel, Dawson’s Creek, Gilmore Girls, Law & Order, Diagnosis Murder, Baywatch and other series.His last directorial credit...
. The narrative follows Ethan Rayne
Ethan Rayne
Ethan Rayne is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television program Buffy the Vampire Slayer, portrayed by Robin Sachs.-Character history:...
, a Chaos worshiper, who makes everybody turn into their costumes, meaning a chance for Spike to kill the Slayer.
Plot
BuffyBuffy Summers
Buffy Summers is a fictional character from Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise. She first appeared in the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer before going on to appear in the television series and subsequent comic book of the same name...
and Angel finally agree to a date, but Buffy is delayed at Pop's Pumpkin Patch by a vampire. Another vampire films the fight from hiding. As Angel waits at The Bronze
The Bronze
The Bronze is a fictional nightclub in Sunnydale, the fictional setting for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Of 144 episodes of the series, 66 have at least one scene at the Bronze, not including its appearance in the unaired pilot....
, Cordelia
Cordelia Chase
Cordelia Chase is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer; she also appeared on Buffy's spin-off series Angel...
shows up and starts talking to him. When Buffy finally arrives, she is turned away by Cordelia's sharp tongue. Cordelia continues to hit on Angel, unaware of his history.
The next day, Principal Snyder
Principal Snyder
Principal R. Snyder is a fictional character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, played by Armin Shimerman. Shimerman originally auditioned for the role of Flutie, but lost that role to Ken Lerner...
forces Buffy and her friends into chaperoning small children while they trick-or-treat. Buffy would rather take a break during the only slow night for vampires. Later, Larry, the school bully, threatens Xander
Xander Harris
Alexander LaVelle "Xander" Harris is a fictional character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as in numerous items in the series Expanded Universe, such as comic books, tie-in novels and video games...
while asking him about Buffy, who smashes Larry into a soda machine. Xander is angered by the damage that does to his reputation.
After Xander leaves, Buffy and Willow's conversation eventually turns to speculation about Angel's past. The two decide to sneak into Giles
Rupert Giles
Rupert Giles is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The character is portrayed by Anthony Stewart Head. He serves as Buffy Summers' mentor and surrogate father figure...
' office and borrow the passed-down Watcher's Diary. From this, they hope to learn more about what type of girls Angel used to be attracted to as a human. Buffy is slightly mopey after her date with Angel didn't fly, and is eager for information on how to win him over.
The gang has to dress up for Halloween. They head to Ethan's Costume Shoppe, where Willow
Willow Rosenberg
Willow Rosenberg is a fictional character created for the fantasy television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer . She was developed by Joss Whedon and portrayed throughout the TV series by Alyson Hannigan...
gets a ghost costume and Xander buys a toy gun to go with his army fatigues from home. Buffy and Xander make up, but then she spies the most beautiful 18th-century pink dress—one that matches what she has spied from Giles' Watcher files on Angel. Ethan Rayne appears and makes her an offer she cannot refuse.
Spike is reviewing Buffy's fight. Drusilla comes to tell him that someone will make Buffy weak on Halloween night. Meanwhile, Ethan is chanting to a statue of Janus
Janus (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Janus is the god of beginnings and transitions, thence also of gates, doors, doorways, endings and time. He is usually a two-faced god since he looks to the future and the past...
in the back room of his shop.
On Halloween night, Buffy persuades Willow to wear a black mini-skirt and a long-sleeved crop shirt, but Willow's shyness returns; when Buffy goes to answer the doorbell, she covers up with her ghost costume. Later that night, Ethan's spell takes effect and everyone wearing a costume from his store turns into the respective persona. Willow becomes a real ghost, able to walk through walls, Xander a soldier, and Buffy an 18th-century noble woman.
With Buffy incapable to lead or even fight because of the spell, Willow is forced to take the role as a leader of the circle, convinces Xander not to shoot at people. They find Buffy disoriented, frightened and confused by the modern world. Willow rushes them to Buffy's house, where her mother is conveniently not home. Outside, Cordelia screams and Xander rushes out to save her. They find that Cordelia has not changed into what she is wearing—a cat—because she bought her costume from another store. Willow goes to Giles for help. While Cordelia searches the house, Angel shows up and takes Buffy into the kitchen. As Angel tries to kill a vampire that has sneaked into the house, he reveals his vampire face. Buffy is horrified and runs from the house.
Arriving at the library by walking through walls, Willow, after scaring Giles by just showing up where there isn't a door, tells him about Ethan's costumes. They head to the shop, where Giles reveals that he knows Ethan. He orders Willow to leave and physically persuades Ethan to tell him how to reverse the spell.
Spike is looking for Buffy, who enters an alley and meets Larry, now a pirate. Xander arrives to beat up Larry while Willow shows up to warn them of Spike. The gang tries to barricade themselves inside a warehouse, but Spike's gang breaks in. Just as Spike is about to kill Buffy, Ethan reveals the secret to ending the spell and Giles throws the statue to the floor, smashing it to pieces, breaking the spell. Buffy recovers to defeat Spike and he flees.
Oz sees Willow around town again, asking himself "Who is that girl?"
Buffy admits to Angel that she was trying to impress him. He tells her that he hated those people back then. The women were dull; he wanted someone exciting. They kiss. The next day, Giles returns to the store to find a note. Ethan has promised to return soon.
Continuity
- A diary entry depicts a girl connected to Angel's past from 1775, when the entry also says Angel was an 18 year old human. This date does not fit with later flashbacks to Angel's early days. In the first part to the season two finale, "Becoming, Part One", the date when the vampire Angelus was sired is given as 1753. This date is also upheld in several episodes of the Buffy spin-off, AngelAngel (TV series)Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
.
- Since it is Halloween, all vampires are allowed to enter the houses of residents without the usual needed permission. This is how a vampire enters the Summers home.
- When told to leave the costume shop, you can hear Willow open the door while she is a ghost and unable to touch anything.
Arc significance
- Cordelia learns Angel is a vampire.
- Xander retains his knowledge and skills of an experienced soldier after Ethan's spell, thus becomes proficient with military hand-to-hand combat, tactics, and weaponry. This comes to use in later episodes.
- This episode marks the first time that Willow takes command of the Scoobies, as Buffy has no recollection of who she is & therefore has no way of leading her friends. Willow will take command of the Scoobies again many times, most notable during the time between seasons 5 & 6, when Buffy is dead.
- This is the first hint at Giles's past, more of which is explained in "The Dark Age".
- This episode marks the first appearance of Ethan RayneEthan RayneEthan Rayne is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television program Buffy the Vampire Slayer, portrayed by Robin Sachs.-Character history:...
, who will later be a recurring character. For the first time, we learn from him the former nickname of his old friend GilesRupert GilesRupert Giles is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The character is portrayed by Anthony Stewart Head. He serves as Buffy Summers' mentor and surrogate father figure...
, "Ripper". - Willow assures Buffy that Cordelia is not Angel's type, Buffy relaxes. However, in the television spin-off AngelAngel (TV series)Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
, the characters Cordelia and Angel do eventually develop romantic feelings for each other. - This episode establishes that vampires show up on film, despite the fact that they have no reflections. This trait will continue until the series finale and crossover to the spin-off Angel.