"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" School Hard (1997)

Director:

John T. Kretchmer

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator)
David Greenwalt (teleplay)

TV Series:

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997)

Original Air Date:

29 syyskuu 1997 (Season 2, Episode 3)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

Principal Snyder puts 'worst students' Buffy and real rebel Sheila Martini in charge of parents night preparations as a last chance to avoid expulsion...

Plot Keywords:

Library | Bound And Gagged | Returning Character Killed Off | Heroine | Female Protagonist

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon	...	Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan	...	Willow Rosenberg
Charisma Carpenter	...	Cordelia Chase
David Boreanaz	...	Angel
Anthony Head	...	Rupert Giles (as Anthony Stewart Head)
Kristine Sutherland	...	Joyce Summers
Robia LaMorte	...	Jenny Calendar (as Robia La Morte)
Andrew J. Ferchland	...	Collin
James Marsters	...	Spike
Alexandra Johnes	...	Sheila Martini
Gregory Scott Cummins	...	Big Ugly
Andrew Palmer	...	Lean Boy
Brian Reddy	...	Police Chief Bob
Juliet Landau	...	Drusilla

Runtime:

44 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

Juliet Landau didn't have to audition for the part of Drusilla. Joss Whedon had been very taken by her performance in Ed Wood (1994) that she was offered the part within an hour of meeting with Whedon.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Drusilla is first introduced she cuts Spike on his cheek using her fingernail leaving a trail of blood. The tube through which the blood comes out is visible.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Principal Snyder: A lot of educators tell students, "Think of your principal as your pal." I say, "Think of me as your judge, jury, and executioner." Tell me, who do you think is the most troublesome student in this school? Well, it is quite a match between you two. On the one hand, Buffy hasn't stabbed a horticulture teacher with a trowel.
Sheila Martini: I didn't stab no one with a trowel. They were pruning shears.
Principal Snyder: On the other hand, Sheila has never burnt down a school building.
Buffy Summers: Well, that was never proven. The Fire Marshall said it coulda been mice.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Soundtrack:

Stupid Thing

The one that affixed the greatness

From this episode and onward, it's a whole new series This is the episode that defines the greatness of this series. We had clues, like in the first season (Prophecy girl, I think) when we understand the true meaning behind this series, but it took "School hard" to show us the series is really evolving into what is to become by the end of this very second season, one of the best shows ever aired, maybe even the best ever. While the first season was a mid-season filler, and as good as it was, looked like one, the second season opens with a certain declaration of intentions. "When she was bad" takes Buffy's character to new places, showing she is less one dimensional than she was up until now (first season Buffy I mean). While the first season Buffy was mostly just the one dimensional girl-fighting-vampires-an d-wisecracking-at-the-same-time, the Buffy of the last episode of the first season and first episode of second season is a round character. but what about the plot? The introduction of Spike and Drew gives us something to look for. they obviously are much more than your usual evil vampire. More like the upcoming Angelus than the former Master. a truly fun, emotional, totally evil, character. the fact that we find that the principal knows what happens and cover for it, paves the way to the third season. in conclusion, this is the chapter that started the perfection. the season's finale finalized it as the best series ever.