To get him away from the Hellmouth, Buffy has decided that it's in Spike's
best interest to move in with Xander. Xander is understandably pissed by this
unasked for addition to his home, and Spike's not too thrilled about it either.
But Buffy knows best so they both reluctantly agree to the arrangement.
Buffy & Dawn are at the football field watching the team practice. They
discuss how complicated Buffy's relationship with Spike is. Dawn wonders why
Buffy wants to help Spike after all the pain he's caused her. Dawn then goes on
an anti-relationship rant; why people bother with relationships as all they
cause are confusion and heartache. As Buffy leaves, Dawn spots a handsome jock,
R.J., and is mesmerized as he puts on his school jacket.
At Anya's apartment, Buffy fights and kills a demon. Anya
reveals that it was sent by D'Hoffryn to kill her. I guess D'Hoffryn changed his
mind about, "never kill when pain will do." Buffy convinces a reluctant Anya to
come back to the Scoobies. Anya is convinced when she realizes that Willow is
only effective when she's Dark Willow and that Dawn is good for nothing. Huzzah!
Yet another great Anya scene.
At school, Dawn unsuccessfully tries to include herself amongst
R.J.'s clique. Dawn learns that there's an open cheerleader spot due to a
vending machine accident. LOL. I love silly throw away lines like that. In
order to get closer to R.J. (who's the quarterback of the football team) Dawn
tries out for the cheerleader spot. Wearing Buffy's old ill-fitting cheerleading
outfit and chanting R.J. inspired cheers, Dawn fails miserably. Later that night
Dawn locks herself in the bathroom weeping uncontrollably. She's upset that
she's made a fool of herself in front of R.J.. Buffy & Xander try to comfort
Dawn, but she is convinced of her undying love for R.J., despite the fact she's
only known him for a couple days.
The next morning at school Dawn overhears that R.J. is being
replaced as starting quarterback with O'Donnell. Infuriated by this shocking
news, she confronts O'Donnell and starts yelling at him. He brushes her off and
Dawn in a fit of rage, pushes him down a flight of stairs. In Principal Wood's
office, Wood and Buffy question Dawn about O'Donnell's tumble. Dawn claims he
tripped himself. This apparently is good enough for Wood & Buffy as Dawn is
dismissed. R.J. catches up with Dawn and asks if she'd be interested in
meeting later on that night. Dawn enthusiastically agrees.
At the Bronze that night Buffy, Willow, and Xander discuss
Spike's woes. Buffy spots R.J. dancing with a hot young gal. Xander & Willow are
both intrigued with R.J.'s dance partner until she turns around and she's
revealed to be Dawn! Xander & Willow immediately retract their intrigue. Buffy
is shocked and interrupts Dawn's dance. The two sisters have a nasty argument
which results in Dawn leaving the Bronze. Outside she encounters one of the
cheerleaders who's very upset that Dawn is seeing R.J.. So much so that she
attacks Dawn, and we have a catfight on our hands. Sadly, Buffy is there to
break things up.
In Principal Wood's office, R.J. comes in for a detention.
Buffy starts going off on him for his treatment of girls and Dawn in particular.
R.J. knows how to deal with this however as he pulls on his jacket and voila!
Buffy is ensorcelled and starts flirting with him. That night Buffy tells Dawn
that she's being too aggressive with R.J. and the best option would be to let
R.J. come to her. Oh that sneaky Buffy! Next morning, Buffy calls R.J. away from
class to an empty class room and promptly starts making out with him. Meanwhile
Dawn is looking in EVERY classroom, hoping to get just a peek of her beloved
quarterback. Eventually she gets to the room that Buffy & R.J. are in and is
shocked by what she sees. Crying she runs outside and encounters Xander. Xander
tries to comfort her and Dawn informs Xander where to look to find the source of
her distress. Xander busts up Buffy & R.J.'s session and calls a full Scooby
meeting for later that night.
They discuss the obvious love spell that must be affecting
Buffy & Dawn. Though Buffy claims that only Dawn is affected. This causes yet
another Buffy-Dawn argument. Xander happily recalls his experience with love
potions as he flashes back to the season two episode Bewitched, Bothered, &
Bewildered. Using the omnipotent all-knowing internet, Willow discovers that
R.J. has an older brother named Lance. Xander remembers him from high school. He
was similar to R.J., a popular football playing jock. As Xander & Spike pay him
a visit, it's clear Lance's best days are behind him. He's now a chubby pizza
delivery boy. Xander spots a picture of him from high school, wearing R.J.'s
jacket. Lance explains that his father gave him the jacket and he in turn passed
it on to R.J.. Ah ha! The jacket's the culprit!
Looking for more Buffy love, R.J. shows up at the Summer's
house. Anya & Willow answer the door and send him away but not after they've
fallen under the jacket's power. They argue amongst themselves who R.J. loves
more. Willow claims that her love is the truest as it ignores sexual
orientation. Buffy & Dawn then come down stairs and all four women start
proclaiming their love. Buffy plans to kill Principal Wood to prove her love.
Willow plans on turning R.J. into a girl. Anya plans on robbing a bank to
impress him. Dawn gets very depressed knowing that she cannot possibly compete
with Buffy, Willow & Anya. The screen then splits into four, showing all four
girls preparing their plans.
Xander and Spike interrupt Willow's spell just in the knick of
time. Willow informs them of Buffy's killing the principal plan which Spike is
able to foil before Buffy can carry it out. Using a locator spell, the gang find
Dawn lying on the train tracks, intending to commit suicide. Buffy is able to
save her sister with seconds to spare. Dawn explains that her death would be an
eternal testament of her love.
Xander and Spike find R.J. walking with a girl on crutches (for
some reason I found the added detail of the crutch very funny.) They rip the
jacket off him and run off into the night. The next scene we see the jacket
burning in the fire place. Buffy remarks that she's surprised that Xander didn't
take the jacket for himself. Xander replies that it didn't fit. Willow questions
Anya what her plan for R.J. was. Anya lies and says that she wrote a beautiful
epic poem for him. On the radio, we hear a report that a bank robber is still at
large in Sunnydale. Anya quickly turns the radio off.
What I liked: A very silly, light-hearted episode with some
poignant moments thrown in. Classic Buffy. Highly enjoyable. So many little
things throughout had me smiling.
What I didn't like: Spike didn't do much, but in an episode
like this, you wouldn't expect him too. Willow was under-used. The plot was
weak, but why bother analyzing it? These characters and actors are so strong
they can make even the most inane of plots work. The bottom line: I was
entertained.
Rating: (out of 6) 4
Comments, questions, answers? Happily agree, or violently disagree?
Email me and let me know.
Well I've been informed that sometimes the music does
work...so I don't know what the deal is...cross your fingers I guess.
Listen to the Theme from Summer Place. The music played in
the episode whenever the gals caught sight of R.J. and his demonic jacket!!!