Buffy has had enough of being a Slayer and decides to try and enjoy a normal life for a while by running against Cordelia for the position of Homecoming Queen. Unfortunately, Mr TRick has decided that the time is right for Slayerfest '98, and invites Buffy and Faith to join him and some of his friends in a hunt, with the Slayers as prey. Sadly, it's Buffy and Cordelia that become the hunted...
Again, Buffy does what it's best at, juxtaposing comedy with extreme violence. The early part of the episode is hilarious as Buffy and Cordy both try any number of highly suspect tactics to win the Homecoming title, including making a series of bigger and better food bribes to get the students to vote for them. There's also a lot of sneakiness with the two rivals trying to get their friends to help them.
When the Slayerfest begins, the sudden jump into seriousness is expertly executed, although Cordelia's efforts to beat her attackers with a spatula are marvellously funny. Although there's not a huge amount going on in Homecoming, the action sequences are fabulous, with a whole selection of weaponry being utilized against demonic and vampiric assassins. Meanwhile, Xander and Willow have a sudden unexpected change in their relationship which is a tremendous surprise to the audience after all this time, and is so completely natural that you are left to wonder why it hasn't happened before now!
****
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