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The second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer originally aired on The WB television network from September 15, 1997 to May 19, 1998. It was the first full season of the show, containing 22 episodes.

Synopsis[]

After her death at the hands of the Master and a summer vacation spent with her father, Buffy returns to Sunnydale in a strangely withdrawn and snappy mood. She's also determined to break off her relationship with Angel and seems a little too eager to renew her Slayer training. But getting Angel out of her blood proves to be harder than she thought. And as the two draw even closer together, their passion erupts into a danger neither of them could have foreseen — affecting not only Vampire and Slayer, but all of Buffy's friends and family and even her Watcher[1]

Summary[]

Buffy returns from her summer in L.A., after leaving her friends bored in Sunnydale. She works to overcome her feelings regarding her temporary death when she fought the Master, finally coming to terms with what happened when she prevents his resurrection.[2]

The Anointed One takes over from the Master, but his reign is short-lived as a cocky vampire named Spike rolls into town with his mad lover Drusilla. After dispatching the Anointed One, the two became Buffy's new adversaries.[3] Meanwhile, Buffy and Angel get closer and soon begin a relationship – until they sleep together[4] and he completely changes. What no one knew was that a moment of happiness was all it would take to remove Angel's soul, so he becomes evil again. He joins with Spike and Drusilla as they torment Buffy and her friends.[5]

The Scooby Gang also meets new friends and foes. The guitar player Oz beings dating Willow despite the discovery that he has become a werewolf.[6] Kendra is a Slayer called when Buffy temporarily died.[7] Ethan Rayne is a warlock who worships chaos and knows Giles from his rebellious youth.[8]

Angel's torments become more sinister as he kills Jenny, doing so just as she discovers a way to restore his soul.[9] Ultimately, Angel discovers an ancient demon he can revive to destroy the world by sucking it into hell. Willow restores his soul to prevent him from doing so, but she only succeeds after he has performed the ritual. The ritual dictates that the only way of closing the portal is killing the one who opened it, so Buffy kills Angel to save the world. Having also been expelled from school, her mother rejected her for being a Slayer, and the police have her as a suspect for Kendra's death, Buffy leaves Sunnydale.[10]

Cast[]

Main cast[]

Recurring cast[]

Episodes[]

No. Image Title Air date
01 B2x01 Willow Xander "When She Was Bad" September 15, 1997
Writer: Joss Whedon Director: Joss Whedon
When Buffy returns home to Sunnydale after a spending the summer away, Xander and Willow become concerned with her disturbingly cold and distant behavior. Meanwhile, Cordelia and Sunnydale High teacher Ms. Calendar are kidnapped and Buffy is convinced that the fight to protect them and the world from the undead is hers alone. Still reluctant to risk getting close to Angel, Buffy turns him away before either one can express his or her true feelings.
02 B2x02 Willow Buffy Xander Giles "Some Assembly Required" September 22, 1997
Writer: Ty King Director: Bruce Seth Green
When the body parts of dead girls are discovered missing from their graves, Buffy and her posse discover that the parts are being used to create the perfect woman, with the final touch being Cordelia's head. Meanwhile, Giles finally musters the nerve to ask fellow teacher Ms. Calendar out on a date and Angel admits his jealousy over the amount of time Buffy spends with Xander.
03 School Hard Buffy Spike 01 "School Hard" September 29, 1997
Writers: David Greenwalt, Joss Whedon Director: John T. Kretchmer
When parent-teacher night is interrupted by uninvited guests, Buffy must protect her fellow students, the principal and her mother while keeping her secret. Meanwhile, Angel's old friends, Spike and Drusilla visit Sunnydale for The Night of Saint Vigeous — the holy night of attack.
04 2x04 004 "Inca Mummy Girl" October 6, 1997
Writers: Matt Kiene, Joe Reinkemeyer Director: Ellen S. Pressman
Buffy and Giles are suspicious of Ampata, a Peruvian exchange student staying at Buffy's house, when a fellow student goes missing during a school field trip to the Natural History Museum and a broken Peruvian pictogram-cover plate is found in his place. Meanwhile, after Xander falls head over heels for Ampata, he faces certain death when his love interest is revealed to be an ancient mummy who must kill to stay alive.
05 2x05 006 "Reptile Boy" October 13, 1997
Writer: David Greenwalt Director: David Greenwalt
Buffy and Cordelia become unlikely party pals when at a fraternity bash they are offered as human sacrifices to Machida, a horrible half-man, half-snake creature.
06 Halloween Buffy "Halloween" October 27, 1997
Writer: Carl Ellsworth Director: Bruce Seth Green
Buffy, Willow and Xander are recruited by Principal Snyder to trick-or-treat with the neighborhood kids, but the night doesn't turn out as they had planned when Buffy's costume causes her to lose her slaying ability and the other kids transform into their costume characters. Meanwhile, when Giles begins to paste together the night's events, he learns that it's his past that is making this a very haunted Halloween.
07 Lie to me still "Lie to Me" November 3, 1997
Writer: Joss Whedon Director: Joss Whedon
Buffy's fifth grade flame, Billy "Ford" Fordham, unexpectedly arrives in Sunnydale with one motive: to deliver Buffy to Spike in exchange for the immortal life of a vampire. Meanwhile, Buffy and Angel confront their feelings for each other and Angel owns up to his past relationship with Drusilla.
08 2x08 "The Dark Age" November 10, 1997
Writers: Dean Batali, Rob Des Hotel Director: Bruce Seth Green
Giles' quiet existence in Sunnydale is jeopardized when a murder victim, who is found to be linked to Giles' past, is discovered on the steps of the school library. Meanwhile, when the Mark of Eyghon — a demon that takes possession of a dead host — takes over Ms. Calendar, Buffy and Angel discover the one way to save her soul.
09 What's My Line 1 Giles Buffy 01 "What's My Line? Part One" November 17, 1997
Writers: Howard Gordon, Marti Noxon Director: David Solomon
In part one of a two-part episode, Buffy and Angel finally go out on their first date; Angel sets out to hunt down his rival, Spike, however, unbeknownst to Angel, Spike and his new recruits are determined to capture him in hopes of helping the frail Drusilla; and Buffy encounters her new ally, Kendra.
10 Buffy what's my line part 2 kendra and buffy still "What's My Line? Part Two" November 24, 1997
Writer: Marti Noxon Director: David Semel
In this conclusion of a two-part episode, Buffy reluctantly confronts Kendra the new vampire slayer, only to find that the two are polar opposites in every way. Much to Buffy's chagrin, she must join forces with Kendra to save the man who means the most to her — Angel. Meanwhile, with Buffy on the hunt, Xander and Cordelia are left to wait at Buffy's home where they have a close encounter of their own kind.
11 2x11 002 "Ted" December 8, 1997
Writers: David Greenwalt, Joss Whedon Director: Bruce Seth Green
The whole gang falls for Buffy's mom's new boyfriend, Ted — everyone, that is, except Buffy, who suspects there may be more to him than meets the eye. Meanwhile, Giles tries to repair his relationship with Ms. Calendar after her near-death experience with a demon; and still reluctant to let anyone know about their romantic involvement, Xander and Cordelia continue to hide their rendezvous from their friends.
12 2x12 001 "Bad Eggs" January 12, 1998
Writer: Marti Noxon Director: David Greenwalt
Buffy and the gang are introduced to parenting through a school assignment that takes a very rotten turn. Meanwhile, two wild west vampires come to town hunting for Buffy. At the same time, romance is in the air when Buffy and Angel continue to rendenzvous and Xander and Cordelia keep their liaison in the closet.
13 BuffyAngel1 "Surprise" January 19, 1998
Writer: Marti Noxon Director: Michael Lange
The fate of the world is at stake when Spike and Drusilla gather the dismembered body parts of The Judge — a demon with a deadly touch — from the ends of the earth as their ultimate weapon to extinguish The Slayer. Meanwhile, Angel's ability to feel human emotion is in jeopardy when he and Buffy share an intimate moment which threatens to destroy his soul.
14 BuffyStake "Innocence" January 20, 1998
Writer: Joss Whedon Director: Joss Whedon
After Buffy shares an intimate moment with Angel which extinguishes his human soul, she is left with the realization that she must destroy the now-evil Angel who has transformed into his previous persona of Angelus. Meanwhile, Giles' relationship with Jenny Calendar takes on a new twist when he discovers that she is a member of the gypsy family who gave Angel his human soul, and Willow's hopes of a relationship with Xander are dashed when she discovers Xander and Cordelia's secret romance.
15 Phases Main "Phases" January 27, 1998
Writers: Rob Des Hotel, Dean Batali Director: Bruce Seth Green
When a werewolf descends upon the city of Sunnydale, it is up to Buffy and the gang to protect the mostly-human being from an evil poacher who is hunting the animal for sport. Meanwhile, much to Xander's dismay, Willow turns her romantic interests to Oz, unaware of the danger she is about to face.
16 2x16 003 "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" February 10, 1998
Writer: Marti Noxon Director: James A. Contner
When Cordelia succumbs to peer pressure and breaks off her tryst with Xander, on Valentine's Day, he convinces a witch to put a spell on Cordelia which will make her fall in love with him. But when the spell backfires, the women in Sunnydale, except Cordelia, and including Buffy and Drusilla begin to see Xander in a whole new light.
17 217 Passion "Passion" February 24, 1998
Writer: Ty King Director: Michael E. Gershman
Angel's obsession with tormenting Buffy takes a dangerous turn when he starts edging closer to her heart — and home, forcing Buffy to have a serious talk with her mom. Meanwhile, Jenny is doing everything in her power to right her wrongs, especially the one with Giles.
18 B2x18 Killed by Death "Killed by Death" March 3, 1998
Writers: Rob Des Hotel, Dean Batali Director: Deran Sarafian
Buffy is admitted to the hospital with a raging fever where she encounters a young child who brings with him nightmares of Buffy's past and present. Meanwhile, a jealous Cordelia looks on as Xander protects a weakened Buffy from Angel's fury.
19 Buffy i only have eyes for you episode still "I Only Have Eyes for You" April 28, 1998
Writer: Marti Noxon Director: James Whitmore Jr.
Buffy encounters a tortured spirit haunting the halls of Sunnydale High and recruits her friends to help the bitter spirit in its quest for peace. Meanwhile, Giles is filled with anguish when he believes the spiritual being is Jenny trapped and trying to impart a final message to him from the beyond.
20 B2x20 Go Fish "Go Fish" May 5, 1998
Writers: Elin Hampton, David Fury Director: David Semel
When a monster starts preying on members of the high school swim team, Buffy takes it upon herself to become the protector of the star players. Meanwhile, Xander goes undercover to discover the truth about the missing teammates and ends up revealing a rarely seen side of himself.
21 Becoming 1 Drusilla Angel Spike "Becoming, Part One" May 12, 1998
Writer: Joss Whedon Director: Joss Whedon
Buffy determines the time has come to destroy Angel and must ascertain if she is ready to sacrifice all she knows to be true to do so, but her decision is further entangled when Willow uncovers the secret that may restore Buffy's former beloved. Elsewhere, Angel chooses to unearth an evil demon that could swallow the earth and all of the beings, rather than return to the arms of his former lover.
22 Becoming Buffy vs Angelus "Becoming, Part Two" May 19, 1998
Writer: Joss Whedon Director: Joss Whedon
The suspense continues as hell prepares to swallow the world and Buffy is left alone to stop it. With Giles in the hands of the enemy and Angel primed for destruction, our slayer is forced into some treacherous alliances and faced with life-changing decisions.

Behind the scenes[]

Production[]

  • Joss Whedon has stated that this season "exceeded his expectations": "I think the Angelus arc really let the audience know that we were interested in change. That we were interested in shaking things up as much as possible and interested in just making things as grown up and complex as we could get away with. As it grew and the more we thought about it, the bigger it got until it became a really complex, adult kind of show."[11]

Collections[]

Awards[]

  • This season earned the series an Emmy Award as Outstanding Makeup for a Series for the episodes "Surprise"/"Innocence" and as Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore) for "Becoming, Part One."[12]

References[]

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