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2.4 Inca Mummy Girl

Giles: "You have responsibilities that other girls do not."
Buffy: "Oh, I know this one! Slaying entails certain sacrifices, blah, blah, bitty blah, I'm so stuffy, give me a scone."

We've reached the point where every episode is at least somewhat witty. That's about all that can be said about this one.

Buffy continues to talk about not having a life, and here, she meets another Chosen one who has it even worse than Buffy does. Ampada generates some sympathy on our part, since it is certainly not her fault that she was a human sacrifice. Sucking life out of others to stay alive, though, is probably not the way to go.

This episode is notable for the introduction of Seth Green as Oz, who immediately makes points with us by having the good taste to notice Willow under that parka ("who is that girl?"). Oz is a member of a fictional, wonderfully named rock group, "Dingoes Ate My Baby" whose lead singer, Devon, is dating Cordelia. Willow and Oz do not meet in this episode; it's a little like "Doctor Zhivago," where Omar Sharif and Julie Christie keep almost meeting, but don't.

Xander again shows jealousy of Buffy having a male exchange student as a houseguest, until he is distracted by Ampada. But he also shows great courage as well as the depth of his love for Willow when he makes Ampada attack him. Willow overhears Xander talking about how he doesn't think of Willow "that way" and decides it is time to move on. It's about time.

Bits and pieces:

-- "Dingoes Ate My Baby" is a reference to an actual incident that occurred in Australia. What we actually hear when the Dingoes play is an L.A. group called "Four Star Mary."

-- Along with Oz, we get the first appearance, for about thirty seconds in a closet, of another continuing character: Danny Strong as Jonathan.

-- Ampada, the Incan mummy princess, sleeps in Buffy's room with her. Where were they planning to put the original Ampada, who was a guy?

-- Giles refers to the mummy freeze-drying people. This is probably an inside "Taster's Choice" joke.

-- Ampada's command of English is at least explained; she has been listening while she has traveled to Atlanta, Boston, and New York.

-- Xander dresses up like Clint Eastwood for the party, and mentions Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns.

-- David Boreanaz does not appear in this episode.

-- Obligatory dog reference: Cordelia asks Buffy why she didn't look at a photo of her exchange student: "You didn't look at him first? He could be dogly. You live on the edge." Later, Cordelia tells a friend that her exchange student, Sven, is "like one of those dogs that you leave at the Grand Canyon on vacation? It follows you back across four states." And aren't dingoes somewhat dog-like?

Quotable quotes:

Buffy: "Have you ever done an exchange program?"
Xander: "My dad tried to send me to some Armenians once. Does that count?"

Xander: "Typical museum trick. Promise human sacrifice, deliver old pots and pans."

Willow: "On the other hand, maybe Rodney just stepped out for a smoke."
Xander: "For twenty-one hours?"
Willow: "It's addictive, you know."

Willow: "Giles, were the Incas very advanced?"
Giles: "Yes, yes, very."
Willow: "Did they have orthodontists?"

Devon: "What does a girl have to do to impress you?"
Oz: "Well, it involves a feather boa and the theme to 'A Summer Place'."

Oz: "You're just impressed by any pretty girl that can walk and talk."
Devon: "She doesn't have to talk."

Xander: "I'm from the country of Leone. It's in Italy, pretending to be Montana."

Willow: "Well, you know, I have a choice. I can spend my life waiting for Xander to go out with every other girl in the world until he notices me, or I can just get on with my life."
Buffy: "Good for you."
Willow: "Well, I didn't choose yet."

Xander: "We're in the crime club. Which is kinda like the chess club, only with crime, and, um... no chess."

Could be a lot better. One star,

Billie





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