The Prom (Buffy episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Prom" is episode 20 in season three of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
wakes up in Angel's bed at the mansion after the two fell asleep after patrol. Buffy talks a bit about bringing some of her stuff over so every once in a while she could spend the night and she mentions going to the prom. When she opens the curtains to check for the sun, she accidentally lets in a strong beam. It hits Angel, but he manages to move before it really burns him.
At school, Anya
, still a mere human being, asks Xander
to the Prom. Both are dateless and desperate, so he says yes. Later, Buffy, Willow
, Oz, and Xander discuss prom plans, and dresses. Joyce
visits Angel at the mansion and tells him she's worried about the effect he's having on her daughter. She tells him that he can't get in the way of her future and if Buffy can't see that, he'll have to do something about it.
Buffy and Willow are talking prom dresses while Giles
is continuing research for the Ascension. Although the pages Willow tore out the Books of Ascension have helped, they don't know for sure what kind of demon the Mayor will transform into. Giles and Wesley will both be chaperoning the prom which Buffy protests is going to be the one and possibly last night of fun they'll have in Sunnydale. Meanwhile, in a small house, someone plays a video for a caged beast that makes it go wild.
Buffy and Angel are in a church getting married. As they exit the church, Angel is fearful of the sun, but it is Buffy that burns up and dies – not him – when they come in contact with the sun's light, Angel wakes up.
While patrolling, Buffy and Angel have an argument. Angel's still very disturbed by his dream, the visit from Joyce, and what the Mayor said to him and Buffy during their last encounter and tells Buffy they need to talk. He tells her that it's unfair for her to be in a relationship with him because of all the things he can't give her. In order to make her realize how serious he is, he breaks up with her and tells her he doesn't want her to be with him. He plans to leave Sunnydale after the ascension.
Buffy goes to Willow for comfort and she realizes that Angel was right; the two of them really can't be together. But, after such a long and dedicated relationship falls apart so quickly, Buffy just feels horrible and cries. At "April Fools," a store where Cordelia works, Xander spots her through the window and goes in to tease her for what he perceives as her spending a long time trying to pick a dress, however he is stopped short when an assistant chides Cordelia for speaking to a customer. She reveals that, because of her dad's "little mistake on his taxes....for the last twelve years", she's now working there to save up for a prom dress, because her family lost all of their money and now she has nowhere to live, and she can't afford to go to any of the colleges that accepted her. Xander is clearly shocked by this, and can't come up with any words in response, while Cordelia says that he can go back to his friends and laugh at her getting her comeuppance. Their argument is cut short as one of the beasts that broke free breaks through the window and kills a boy dressed in a tux.
At the library, they study the video of the attack, and spot a guy outside, who turns out to be Tucker Wells, who used to have a chemistry class with Oz. Tucker has plans to ruin prom night by sending a hell-hound trained to attack those in formal wear after the students. Buffy vows not to let the hellhounds ruin the big night and issues orders for everyone to split up and search for clues. She ends up finding an address at the butcher where Tucker ordered cow brains to feed the demons. She runs into Angel, and the two have a post-break-up argument. As Cordelia leaves work, she finds that her prom dress has been paid for.
Buffy returns from her searching and orders everyone else to attend the prom while she takes care of the hounds. She tells Giles that Angel is leaving town. She finds Tucker in his basement and confronts him, asking him why he wants to ruin the happiest night of a senior's life, to which Tucker simply tells her he has his reasons (although the audience sees that it's just because the girl he asked to the prom turned him down). Buffy ties Tucker up before he can release the hounds. But she also finds out that there are four hounds, and three are already on their way to the school. After killing all of them, Buffy changes into her prom dress and shows up for the dance. Everyone looks amazing dressed up in their tuxes and formal dresses. Cordelia shows up and clings to Wesley (after thanking Xander for paying for her dress, restoring their friendship) while Anya tells Xander of her past cursing unfaithful men, and Willow and Oz just enjoy the evening.
When Class awards are given out, Xander is disappointed when he is snubbed for Class Clown. Then Jonathan approaches the microphone and asks if Buffy is in the room. Buffy, who was getting punch, slowly turns around. Jonathan says that the next award is a new category, and gives a speech saying that while they may not be friends, the student body has noticed whenever something creepy or horrible happened, Buffy was always there to stop it and that most of them have been saved by her at least once. As a result, the Graduating Class of 1999 has the lowest mortality rate
in Sunnydale High history and she is to be given an ornately decorated parasol bearing a small engraving saying 'Buffy Summers - Class Protector'. A deeply touched Buffy approaches the stage to the cheering of her classmates and friends and she happily accepts the award from Jonathan. Afterwards, the students continue to dance when Angel surprises her by showing up in a tux. While Angel assures her that his presence doesn't change their status, Buffy is just glad to be held in his arms as they dance.
Plot synopsis
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...
wakes up in Angel's bed at the mansion after the two fell asleep after patrol. Buffy talks a bit about bringing some of her stuff over so every once in a while she could spend the night and she mentions going to the prom. When she opens the curtains to check for the sun, she accidentally lets in a strong beam. It hits Angel, but he manages to move before it really burns him.
At school, Anya
Anya Jenkins
Anya is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also appears in the comic book series based on the television show. Portrayed by Emma Caulfield, the character appears as a guest star in the third and fourth seasons of the show before...
, still a mere human being, asks 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...
to the Prom. Both are dateless and desperate, so he says yes. Later, Buffy, 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...
, Oz, and Xander discuss prom plans, and dresses. Joyce
Joyce Summers
Joyce Summers is a fictional character in the fantasy television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer . Played by Kristine Sutherland, Joyce is the mother of the main character, Buffy Summers . Joyce appears regularly from the first episode until the character's death in the fifth season episode "The...
visits Angel at the mansion and tells him she's worried about the effect he's having on her daughter. She tells him that he can't get in the way of her future and if Buffy can't see that, he'll have to do something about it.
Buffy and Willow are talking prom dresses while 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...
is continuing research for the Ascension. Although the pages Willow tore out the Books of Ascension have helped, they don't know for sure what kind of demon the Mayor will transform into. Giles and Wesley will both be chaperoning the prom which Buffy protests is going to be the one and possibly last night of fun they'll have in Sunnydale. Meanwhile, in a small house, someone plays a video for a caged beast that makes it go wild.
Buffy and Angel are in a church getting married. As they exit the church, Angel is fearful of the sun, but it is Buffy that burns up and dies – not him – when they come in contact with the sun's light, Angel wakes up.
While patrolling, Buffy and Angel have an argument. Angel's still very disturbed by his dream, the visit from Joyce, and what the Mayor said to him and Buffy during their last encounter and tells Buffy they need to talk. He tells her that it's unfair for her to be in a relationship with him because of all the things he can't give her. In order to make her realize how serious he is, he breaks up with her and tells her he doesn't want her to be with him. He plans to leave Sunnydale after the ascension.
Buffy goes to Willow for comfort and she realizes that Angel was right; the two of them really can't be together. But, after such a long and dedicated relationship falls apart so quickly, Buffy just feels horrible and cries. At "April Fools," a store where Cordelia works, Xander spots her through the window and goes in to tease her for what he perceives as her spending a long time trying to pick a dress, however he is stopped short when an assistant chides Cordelia for speaking to a customer. She reveals that, because of her dad's "little mistake on his taxes....for the last twelve years", she's now working there to save up for a prom dress, because her family lost all of their money and now she has nowhere to live, and she can't afford to go to any of the colleges that accepted her. Xander is clearly shocked by this, and can't come up with any words in response, while Cordelia says that he can go back to his friends and laugh at her getting her comeuppance. Their argument is cut short as one of the beasts that broke free breaks through the window and kills a boy dressed in a tux.
At the library, they study the video of the attack, and spot a guy outside, who turns out to be Tucker Wells, who used to have a chemistry class with Oz. Tucker has plans to ruin prom night by sending a hell-hound trained to attack those in formal wear after the students. Buffy vows not to let the hellhounds ruin the big night and issues orders for everyone to split up and search for clues. She ends up finding an address at the butcher where Tucker ordered cow brains to feed the demons. She runs into Angel, and the two have a post-break-up argument. As Cordelia leaves work, she finds that her prom dress has been paid for.
Buffy returns from her searching and orders everyone else to attend the prom while she takes care of the hounds. She tells Giles that Angel is leaving town. She finds Tucker in his basement and confronts him, asking him why he wants to ruin the happiest night of a senior's life, to which Tucker simply tells her he has his reasons (although the audience sees that it's just because the girl he asked to the prom turned him down). Buffy ties Tucker up before he can release the hounds. But she also finds out that there are four hounds, and three are already on their way to the school. After killing all of them, Buffy changes into her prom dress and shows up for the dance. Everyone looks amazing dressed up in their tuxes and formal dresses. Cordelia shows up and clings to Wesley (after thanking Xander for paying for her dress, restoring their friendship) while Anya tells Xander of her past cursing unfaithful men, and Willow and Oz just enjoy the evening.
When Class awards are given out, Xander is disappointed when he is snubbed for Class Clown. Then Jonathan approaches the microphone and asks if Buffy is in the room. Buffy, who was getting punch, slowly turns around. Jonathan says that the next award is a new category, and gives a speech saying that while they may not be friends, the student body has noticed whenever something creepy or horrible happened, Buffy was always there to stop it and that most of them have been saved by her at least once. As a result, the Graduating Class of 1999 has the lowest mortality rate
Mortality rate
Mortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths in a population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit time...
in Sunnydale High history and she is to be given an ornately decorated parasol bearing a small engraving saying 'Buffy Summers - Class Protector'. A deeply touched Buffy approaches the stage to the cheering of her classmates and friends and she happily accepts the award from Jonathan. Afterwards, the students continue to dance when Angel surprises her by showing up in a tux. While Angel assures her that his presence doesn't change their status, Buffy is just glad to be held in his arms as they dance.
Production
- In the scene where Angel breaks up with Buffy, Sarah Michelle Gellar admits that she "could not stop crying," and the set was closed for 25 minutes to allow her to recover. Sarah has been known to say that she believes Buffy and Angel are soul mates.
Cultural references
- Among the movies used by Tucker Wells to train the Hellhounds to attack the prom, the following titles can be seen on top of the TV set in his lair: Carrie, Prom Night, Prom Night IV: Deliver Us from Evil, Pump Up the VolumePump Up the Volume (film)Pump Up the Volume is a 1990 comedy-drama film written and directed by Allan Moyle and starring Christian Slater and Samantha Mathis.- Plot summary :...
, Pretty in PinkPretty in PinkPretty in Pink is a 1986 American teen romantic comedy-drama film about teenage love and social cliques in 1980s American high schools. It is one of a group of John Hughes films starring Molly Ringwald, and is commonly identified as a "Brat Pack" film...
, and The Club. - Buffy tells Angel that she had to "stop a crazy from pulling a Carrie at the prom," a reference to Stephen King's novelCarrie (novel)Carrie is American author Stephen King's first published novel, released in 1974. It revolves around the eponymous Carrie, a shy high-school girl, who uses her newly discovered telekinetic powers to exact revenge on those who tease her...
(which was made into a feature film) about a girl with telekinetic powers who destroys her high school and kills most of her classmates in a fire. - When Giles interrupts a conversation about the Prom to say they ought to focus on the mayor's Ascension, Buffy says, "Giles, we get it, miles to go before we sleep," a phrase from the famous Robert FrostRobert FrostRobert Lee Frost was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. His work frequently employed settings from rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and...
poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy EveningStopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" is a poem written in 1922 by Robert Frost, and published in 1923 in his New Hampshire volume. Imagery and personification are prominent in the work...
". Faith later quotes from the same line in a dream sequence in "Graduation Day, Part TwoGraduation Day (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)"Graduation Day" is the season finale of the WB Television Network's third season of the drama television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, consisting of the twenty-first and twenty-second episodes. They are also the fifty-fifth and fifty-sixth episodes of the show overall...
": "Miles to go, Little Miss Muffet counting down from 7-3-0." - When Buffy bumps into Angel picking up blood at a meat shop, she says "I mean, where did I think you get your blood? McPlasma's?" therefore alluding to McDonald'sMcDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
.
Arc significance
- This episode marks the end of Buffy and Angel's relationship. He leaves Sunnydale after the season finale and starts the spinoff 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...
. - Cordelia's father is revealed to have been guilty of tax fraud of some sort, reducing her family to near poverty. This change eventually leads to her migration to LA, where she will team up with Angel.
- Buffy achieves the high school moment she dreamed of ("Homecoming") and was floored to be recognized by her peers for her work.
- When Jonathan says that Sunnydale High is different from other schools and that students have already noticed that a lot of weird things happen there two people in the crowd scream "zombies" and "hyena people", referencing to the episodes "Dead Man's Party" and "The Pack" respectively.
- In a small act of compassion, Xander helps make Cordelia's night by purchasing her dress. The two make amends and become friends again.
- Tucker Wells has an even more obscure brother AndrewAndrew WellsAndrew Wells is a fictional character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, played by Tom Lenk. The character also appears in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, the canonical continuation of the series....
, who will become involved starting in season six. - Due to the episode "Earshot" not being aired out of respect for the victims of the Columbine massacre, television viewers of this episode were unaware of Buffy stopping Jonathan from committing suicide. The fact that Buffy saved his life makes his presentation of the Class Protector Award to her even more significant.
- Giles mentions that Hellhounds were bred "during the Machash Wars," an apparently fictional series of wars about which no other information is given.