Never Kill A Boy on the First Date
Reviewed by Christophe | Rating: 8/10

Never Kill A Boy on the First Date

It’s back to the vampire scene in “Never kill a Boy on the first date” as Buffy is forced to juggle dating with slaying in a plight to halt an ancient vampire prophecy from being fulfilled. The master makes his first reappearance since “The Harvest,” still trapped in his mystical prison. Once again he uses his minions to stir up trouble in our favourite slayers town, Sunnydale.

Basically, there are two stories, which run parallel in this episode. One of them is the inevitable super natural side of things, and the other is Buffy’s dating schedule. The episode begins with Buffy slaying a vamp, and Giles discovering a strange ring in its dust. With some paranormal research, Buffy and Giles find the ring to be of “The Order of Aurelius.” The ever so reliable watcher begins to research the order, while Buffy begins to notice – Owen. Owen is a nice sensitive and caring boy who likes to read – a lot! Buffy on the other hand, doesn’t do so well with the whole book thing. Never the less, Buffy pursues Owen, and gets him interested – “I LOVE books!” says Buffy. A date at the Bronze is setup, leaving a somewhat jealous Cordelia speechless.

Just as Buffy is getting hyped about her date, Giles brings her bad news. A violent and terrifying prophecy will unravel…tonight! The brethren of the order of Aurelius will come to the master and bring him “the anointed one.” The anointed one is a warrior who will rise from the ashes of 5, on the evening of the 1000th day after the advent of Septus. Complicated huh? Well imagine all that explained to you in Giles’ English accent!
Much to Buffy’s dismay, Giles had calculated that the prophecy would unfold itself THAT night! So, Buffy misses her date to play the waiting game with Giles in the cemetery. Surprisingly, nothing rises from the graves, leaving Giles in a state of confusion – “I was sure it was tonight.”
Cut to a minibus filled with about 5 people, and a strange man muttering even stranger words, which disturb passengers - especially a young child. Suddenly the van hits a figure, standing in the middle of the road. When stationary the driver gets out of the van to see if the person is OK. Of course he thinks it is a person, but this is Sunnydale! You can probably guess what happens next, the vamps go “grrr” and what do ya know…they bite too!
Back at the Bronze, Buffy has found her date – wrapped tightly in the arms of Cordelia.

Day number 2 sees Buffy arrange another date, that night, with Owen. Giles however, believes that one of the 5 killed in “the van accident” last night, may be the anointed one. Buffy wiggles her way out of her slaying duties, and leaves with Owen, while Giles, Xander and Willow check the funeral home for any unusual activity. I like the way Buffy is trying to do things a normal girl would do, even though she’s the slayer – entertaining and comedic!
Buffy’s date is interrupted when she must leave to help a trapped Giles in the funeral home. What makes this interesting, is that unbeknownst to Buffy and co, Owen tags along!
Buffy leaves Owen and her friends in what she believes to be a safe place, while she and Giles hurriedly search for the anointed one. The supposedly safe places turns terrifying, when a vampire, likely to be the anointed, awakens in the next room. Xander, Willow, and a puzzled Owen, scramble from the treacherous foe, while Buffy tries to find them.

Everyone meets up again in the room where Giles was originally trapped. The vampire tries to kill Owen, however it is revealed soon after that he was only knocked unconscious. Because Buffy believed Owen to be dead, her anger was fuelled, and enabled her to defeat the vamp by throwing him in a furnace.

The writers of the episode make sure the ending is a good one, with major surprises. Owen finds he enjoys the thrill of living on the wild side, and wants to continue seeing Buffy. But when she realises that he only wants to be “danger-man” she asks for only a friendship with him. Buffy and Giles believe they’ve stopped the anointed one from rising, but the final twist is a shocker. The anointed one, is the young boy from the van….the prophecy was fulfilled – GO the master!

A fun episode with a great continuation plot involving the master. It was a good introduction to the anointed one, which keeps viewers guessing till the very end.
Buffy’s antics are rather amusing, as she tries to date, but can’t when pressured by watcher, Giles. Xander is also quite funny, as he disapproves and is made jealous by Buffy and Owen, causing him to compare himself to Buffy’s, book-worm and pocket watch bearing, date.
The second soundtrack song for the series is played during this episode – “Strong” by Velvet Chain. This is played during Buffy and Owen’s date at the Bronze.

The story does get a little complex when compared to prior episodes, what with Buffy’s dating schedule, and fantastic plot twists compliments of the writers. But the complexity added to the already superb formula of BTVS makes for truly gripping television.
Still wishing they would make better use of Cordelia, who, with her dismal 2 scene cameos, is barely worth her spot in the opening titles. Apart from this, “Never kill a boy in the first date” hits the mark.

8/10

Memorable Quotes

Xander: “So Buffy, how’d the slaying go last night?”
Buffy: “XANDER!”
Xander: “I mean…how’d the laying go?…no I didn’t mean that either.”

Giles after Buffy protests that the prophecy can’t be on the night of her date:
“Alright, I’ll just jump in my time machine, go back to the 12th century and ask the vampires to postpone their ancient prophecy for a few days, while you take in dinner and a show”

Giles: “You know what they say, ninety per cent of the vampire slaying game is waiting.”
Buffy: “You couldn’t have told me that ninety per cent ago?!”

Giles: “Another date, don’t you ever do anything else?”
Buffy: “This is the first date, there’s never been a date, ok , THIS is my maiden voyage!”

“If the apocalypse comes….beep me!” - Buffy

Owen after nearly being killed by a vampire:
“You see that? He tried to bite me! What a sissy.”

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