"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" What's My Line?: Part 1 (1997)

Director:

David Solomon

Writers:

Joss Whedon (creator)
Howard Gordon (written by) ...

TV Series:

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997)

Original Air Date:

17 marraskuu 1997 (Season 2, Episode 9)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

Its "Career Week" at Sunnydale High and Buffy is faced with the reality that she has no future apart from that of a Slayer. Meanwhile, Spike sends four deadly assassins to ensure the Slayer has no future at all.

Plot Keywords:

Library | Heroine | Female Protagonist | Demon | High School

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)
Seth Green	...	Oz
James Marsters	...	Spike
Eric Saiet	...	Dalton
Kelly Connell	...	Norman Pfister
Bianca Lawson	...	Kendra
Saverio Guerra	...	Willy the Snitch
Juliet Landau	...	Drusilla
Armin Shimerman	...	Principal Snyder
Michael Rothhaar	...	Suitman

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:TV-PG

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

Bianca Lawson (Kendra the Vampire Slayer) originally auditioned for the role of Cordelia.

Goofs:

Continuity: One of the assassins of the Order of Taraka is shown getting off a bus. In a wide shot, the steps are one color with signs reading "Watch your step". In the close up, the steps change color and the signs are missing.

Quotes:

Buffy: I really have to bail, but I promise I'll be back bright and early tomorrow and ready to slay.
Rupert Giles: This is a matter of some urgency, Buffy.
Buffy: I realize that. Well, you have to admit I kinda lack in the book area. I mean, you guys are the brains. I'd only be here for moral support anyway.
Xander: That's untrue, Buffy, you totally contribute. You go for snacks.
Willow Rosenberg: [helping Buffy] She should go. You know, gather her strength.
Rupert Giles: Perhaps you're right. There may be fierce battles ahead.
Xander: [desperate] But Ho-Ho's are a vital part of my cognitive process.

Movie Connections:

References "Scooby Doo, Where Are You!" (1969)

Soundtrack:

Spring

Kendra arrives in Sunnydale

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I'll never understand why Buffy doesn't get paid for her slaying. The Council pays Giles to be watcher, apparently had enough money to buy lots of ancient do-dads and employ lots of useless people, holds retreats with canoe trips and horse back riding... But they can't cough up any money for the actual Slayer? It just doesn't make any sense. Anyway, poor Buffy spends most of this episode lamenting her lack of a high-paying future. (A subject that will be revisited again in season six.) She also has to battle the assassins that Spike sends her way, go on an ice skating date with Angel and fight Kendra, a new girl in town who ALSO claims to be the Vampire Slayer. "What's My Line?" is actually a two part episode and it accomplishes a lot story-wise. The end of this installment, with Kendra arriving, is extremely important, especially to next seasons story arc. Suddenly, there are two slayers in the world and that's just bound to cause problems...

"What's My Line?" centers around Sunnydale High's Career Day. Xander, Willow, Cordy, Buffy and the rest of the students are busily filling out questionnaires, debating whether or not they aspire to help their fellow man and how much they like shrubs. Buffy becomes depressed when she realizes that being that Slayer pretty much precludes her from having a regular nine-to-five job. Spike, meanwhile, is becoming desperate. He likes to battle Slayers gladiator style, face to face, in a fair fight. It's his hobby. But he's running out of time. Dru's growing sicker by the day and Spike needs to find her cure right now. In an effort to kill Buffy quickly, or at least keep her busy for awhile, he hires a band of assassins to hunt her down. Paniced by the mercenaries gunning for her, Buffy decides to hide at Angel's apartment. Where she's soon attacked by Kendra, a girl who also claims to be the Vampire Slayer. Xander and Cordy, looking for Buffy at her house, are confronted by one of the assassins. While Angel is captured and left for dead at Willy's place.

This is an all around fun episode. I like Willow being recruited by that computer company and finally coming face to face with Oz. They have such a cute relationship. Also, I enjoy Buffy and Angel's date, especially the assassin attacking and Angel asking if Buffy knows what the dead-guy's ring means. "That I just killed a Superbowl champ?" And who doesn't smile when Buffy kisses Angel, even though he's all vamped-out and bleeding? I also continue to enjoy every scene with Dru and Spike. His increasing frustration with Dalton, the vampire scholar, is pretty funny. Spike is not the most patient fellow and his "pain is inspirational" leadership style is hilarious... In an evil sort of way.

On the downside, I really wish we'd gotten to see Angel ice-skate. Just the idea of it makes me smile. Also, why don't Giles and the Scoobies make an inventory of all the mystical amulets, gloves, crosses, axes, etc... that are buried around Sunnydale and go collect them? It seems like there's always some magical thing-y hidden in a Sunnydale graveyard that evil-doers are trying to find. And they're always described in Giles books. If the Scoobies were more proactive, researching and gathering up the stuff first, before bad-guys came to town, it would save them a lot of time and trouble. Of course, then the show might not be so fun.

My favorite part of the episode: Spike and Dru dancing.