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2.8 The Dark Age

Cordelia: "This is what happens when you have school on Saturday."

There comes a time when every child realizes that their parent is a person, and Buffy finally experiences that moment with Giles. Giles and Buffy do some serious bonding; they've been getting progressively closer, and now she knows that he's not just a stodgy grown-up. Sexy fuddy-duddy Giles not only has a wicked past, he even has a tattoo.

Ethan Rayne, Giles' chaos-worshipping former friend from "Halloween," is back in town fleeing from the demon Eyghon -- and trying to divert it from himself toward Giles, and then toward Buffy. Unfortunately, it manages to get Jenny. It's a shame, too, because it looked like Giles and Jenny were about to hit the sheets (their next date was a "staying-in" date). Jenny was a tad upset about the whole possession thing, and who could blame her?

Eyghon jumps to an unconscious or dead person, which is how it takes Jenny. Willow figures out that Eyghon will jump to a dead person, Angel, and Angel volunteers to take it on. What if the vampire demon in Angel wasn't able to fight off Eyghon?

Bits and pieces:

-- Was Eyghon trying to seduce Giles before killing him?

-- Giles says that when he was 21, he was studying history at Oxford by day and the occult by night.

-- Giles' list has the following names: Thomas [?], Ethan Rayne, Deirdre Page, Philip Henry, and Rupert Giles.

-- Cordelia is now a Scooby. In this episode she not only asks for and receives a research assignment, she also knocks Ethan down. Go, Cordelia.

-- I enjoyed the "anywhere but here" game: John Cusack, Gavin Rossdale, Amy Yip.

-- Jenny loves to tease Giles; the book thing with the dog-eared pages, underlining and coffee spills was absolutely guaranteed to make a librarian cringe.

-- This the first time we see Giles' apartment.

-- This time, possession is indicated by a short gleam of yellow in the eyes.

-- Obligatory dog reference: Do dog-eared pages count?

Foreshadowing:

-- Angel takes a big risk to save Jenny's life.

-- Cordelia and Xander are doing the sort of obvious arguing that precedes a romantic entanglement.

Inconsistencies:

-- How did a dead Dierdre Page get all the way from London to Sunnydale?

Quotable quotes:

Xander: "Ooh, gang, did you hear that? A bonus day of class, plus Cordelia. Mix in a little rectal surgery and it's my best day ever."

Xander: "Giles lived for school. He's actually still bitter that there are only twelve grades."
Buffy: "He probably sat in math class thinking, 'There should be more math. This could be mathier.'
Willow: "C'mon, you don't think he ever got restless as a kid?"
Buffy: "Are you kidding? His diapers were tweed."

Buffy: "I know you. You ran that costume shop."
Ethan: "Oh, I'm pleased you remember."
Buffy: "You sold me that dress for Halloween, and nearly got us all killed."
Ethan: "But you looked great."

Giles: "Yes, well, I trust I gave good squirm."

Three out of four stakes,

Billie





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