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Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 2, Episodes 13 and 14: Surprise/Innocence

Surprise
Written by Marti Noxon; Directed by Michael Lange

Innocence
Written and Directed by Joss Whedon

(a.k.a. In Which Buffy Learns That Sex Is Bad)

This is the two-parter that turned Buffy the Vampire Slayer from a "monster of the week" show into one that was willing to deal with real human emotions in a surprisingly honest way for a show about supernatural demons aimed primarily at teenagers and twentysomethings. It also sent the show on a much darker path, culminating in the season finale, which would change the character of Buffy from a carefree teenager to, eventually, a mopy bitch. Of course, it would take another three seasons for this transformation to be completed, but by the end of Season 2, it was well on its way, and so, despite Innocence easily being one of the show's best episodes (it's also Joss Whedon's favourite, the narcissistic weasel), it's arguably also the beginning of the end.

Innocence is considerably better than Surprise, but as with What's My Line? Parts 1 and 2, the two have to be taken together as a 90 minute event. Surprise is saddled with the bulk of the setup, so it's not surprising that more happens in Innocence, but even so, the setup is pretty engaging. There's a whole lot going on here with each character and their various relationships. Of course, it's not until Innocence that the action really heats up, when Angel loses his soul (and David Boreanaz discovers some acting ability - actually, the acting in this episode is a tour de force all round), but, like I said, you can't take one without the other.

Unfortunately, however, both episodes feature a big blue-faced demon in a tin suit, which, at least in Surprise, is a little hard to take seriously. In Innocence, because the tone is generally darker and more serious, it's not so bad.

Oh yeah - is this the only time it's ever rained in Sunnydale? And holy crap, the town appears to have a cinema! Warner must have been pimping The Quest for Camelot at the time, judging by the number of posters for it that can be prominently seen.

8/10 for Surprise, 10/10 for Innocence.

Next time: Phases. I think this is the one where Oz discovers he is a werewolf, but to tell the truth I barely remember it.

13:04