Buffy vs. Dracula
Written by Marti Noxon
Directed by
Original Airdate: September 26, 2000
Plot: The world's most famous vampire, Dracula, arrives in Sunnydale where he exhibits a strange power over Buffy.
Review
Warning: If you feel you might have trouble falling under the dark spell of SPOILERS for the fifth season premiere of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, "Buffy vs. Dracula" please turn back now. There are major SPOILERS just ahead....
In short: A superb start.
When the WB began running ads for the season premiere of Buffy back in August, proclaiming that Buffy would be battling the most famous vampire of them all to start the new season, I was worried.
When I read on-line that for the first time, Joss Whedon would not be writing the opening segment of Buffy's season, I was concerned.
On the one hand, that combination of events could spell major success or a major disaster.
Of course, the last time I felt that Buffy had an episode that would either be a huge success or a major disaster was last year with "Hush" and we all know how that worked out.
So, I have to admit that as I sat down to watch the fifth season premiere, "Buffy vs. Dracula" I was high hopes but grave reservations (no pun intended).
And I've got to admit that the reservations quickly evaporated and my expectations were not only met but exceeded in every possible way.
The fifth season premiere of Buffy is easily the strongest start the series has had since "When She Was Bad" back at the beginning of season two. And it's interesting to note that Joss brought in a pinch-hitter to start it all off. Of course, it helps if that pinch hitter is Marti Noxon, who really came into her own last year as a writer. Marti stepped up and delivered a clutch hit that really has sparked my interest in not only next week but the entire fifth season of the show. I have to admit that the closing credits came a bit too quickly this week and that I'm anxious to see how this all unfolds.
"Buffy vs. Dracula" was every bit a success.
And it started with the fundamentals of Buffy--namely that the Scooby gang is the center of the show.
After a year in which we watched the gang splinter apart, it was refreshing to see them working together as a team here. I enjoyed the give and take that each member brought to the meetings, especially as they shared ideas about just who Dracula was, what exactly the legend surrounding him was and why he's come to Sunnydale. I liked the fact that the gang was able to pick up on the fact that Buffy was under Dracula's spell just by her reactions and her mannerisms. I loved the fact that Giles and Xander got something meaningful to do in the course of the episode. I liked that Anya had some connection to Dracula, though it was never really explored enough for my liking. And I liked the fact that Riley seemed a bit out of place in the scheme of things. (Certainly having helped bring down the Initiative and that being the only real life he's known until this point would make him feel a bit left out). I liked that Willow was computer girl and that she also tried to get everyone to realize they needed Giles as much as he needed them.
And I loved Xander.
There must be something in Nicholas Brendon's contract that he gets to steal every season premiere. He did it last year in "The Freshman" and he did it here again. The best scenes of the entire show had to be Xander's first meeting with Dracula and the mocking of the accent (which sent me into such stitches that I had to re-watch it three times), Xander's falling under Dracula's spell, the spider-eating scene ("The Dark Master....bater" is an instant classic line) and the scene where he takes Buffy to Dracula. Brendon got to show off why he's one of the show's biggest assets again and again. And his final speech at the end about being tired of being the whipping boy on the show was both funny and absolutely dead-on. Brendon got some superb stuff and he made the most of it. It almost makes up for the virtual disappearance of Xander from the final run of episodes last year.
But, of course, the Scooby gang is nothing without the Slayer. And once again, Sarah Michelle Gellar showed why she deserves a Emmy nod as best actress. Watching her work here was a treat. From the beginning where she couldn't sleep unless she'd kicked some vampire butt to her falling under the thrall of Dracula to her drinking from Dracula and then battling him to her touching scene with Giles saying that she needs her Watcher back, Gellar made everything superbly believable. And the scenes when she was under the thrall of Dracula were nicely done. I haven't seen Buffy this conflicted since she had to make the choice whether or not to slay Angel back in season two.
And coupled with the strength of the Scooby gang is the strength of the villain of the peace--namely Dracula. My biggest worry going into the episode was that he'd be portrayed as hammy and over the top (sort of like a villain from the old Batman shows). Dracula can be dark and menacing if done correctly (which if you've seen Coppola's "Dracula" you have hints of what I'm saying). And he worked well here. I think the choice of actors worked well. It is tempting to play Dracula as an over the top villain but the actor chosen to play Dracula here kept that in check. Yes, he had the accent but it wasn't too much so as to distract you away from the overall narrative or what he was saying. Also, Dracula wasn't entirely all powerful. Yes, he did have some nice tricks, but as Spike said, it's all gypsy things he's learned (interesting that the gypsies would teach Dracula such things but curse Angel...makes you wonder if Drac might have had some part in their retribution on Angel). I liked seeing him move about as a wisp of smoke and transform into a bat. And to see Buffy be concerned about taking on a new force but not afraid of him was nicely done.
And while it was interesting to see Buffy's reaction to Dracula and his power over her, I also liked the reactions the rest of the Scooby gang had to him--especially Riley. Seeing Riley as freaked out as he was at Buffy being under his thrall, was nicely done. And it certainly worked based on the explanation he gave about her past entanglement with Angel. It's nice to see Riley get jealous about that and overreact to it. Especially in this case where it proved out his overreaction was entirely justified.
About the only niggling thing was that Tara really added nothing to the episode, other than that sly look she and Willow exchanged when Joyce talked about trouble with men.
As for Dawn, I can't make any real judgments yet. She was only in there for a few moments and it was at the end. I reserve judgment on her and the character until next week when we see how she factors into an episode.
But I can overlook that small point in favor of all that was just plain right about this episode.
So, I guess that about wraps it up except a few small things....
--"At least I didn't get knocked out" and "I'm tired of being everyone's man-bitch" were both great lines. Who says they don't listen to the on-line chatter?
--Spike added a bit. I enjoyed his jealousy directed at Dracula.
--The scene with Buffy asking Giles to stay and why she needed him was the most touching I've seen in quite some time. I also liked the fact that it answered a major question from last year and did it in an intelligent, believable way. And the smile on Giles' face when Buffy asked him to stay was nicely done.
--It looks like that events of "Restless" really affect Buffy. Wonder if the other members of the Scooby gang will also be affected?
--Joyce got some good time in the show, after being underutilized last year.
Well, that's about it for now. I've probably run on a bit longer than usual, but I hope you forgive me. It's been a while since I got to ramble on about Buffy--and it was a superbly done episode. I'm anxious for season five to unfold and I can't wait to see how it goes from here.
My rating: 10.0 (out of 10.0) Good way to start off the season.
Next up: Buffy's little sister is being a pest.....
"I'm supposed to deliver you to the Master now. There's this whole deal where I get to be immortal. You cool with that?"
--Xander
Review Copyright 2000 by Michael T. Hickerson. All Rights Reserved.
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