Rapid Reviews - Exercise Shows

Buffy the Vampire Slayer [1-09]: The Puppet Show: This one had a few little plot holes, which I'll forgive this time due to the generally high quality of the show. The new principal was an actor I was not expecting, but he's absolutely perfect for the part. I do have a comment about the school though. Like Smallville High, the death rate at Sunnydale is remarkably large. In this episode alone we've got what will certainly go down as two deaths and a disappearance. I wonder how many grief counselors the school has? Then again, nobody seems to really know anyone else, so maybe grief isn't really a problem there.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer [1-10]: Nightmares: What if your worst nightmares came true? Pretty bad, yeah? But what if the Vampire Slayer's worst nightmares were also coming true? I didn't see any deaths in this one, so the death count goes on hold, but if anyone remembers what happened besides Buffy and crew, the school might need those counselors anyway.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer [1-11]: Out of Mind, Out of Sight: Ok. Big school I understand. Big school with so many deaths and disappearances... anyway, the FBI is drawn in by something, and it's not all the other stuff happening at the school? Cordelia gets her first real dimension in this one, as she demonstrates that she really isn't stupid as she sometimes appears to be, just really really shallow. And the appearance of Angel is very nicely done. How nice that a vampire is assisting Giles. This one is pretty much made by Cordelia's performance, which doesn't make it great, but certainly made it more interesting.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer [1-12]: Prophecy Girl: A very cool way to end the season. Buffy is destined to die, but she's only sixteen years old... how does that affect a person? The entire gang gets together for this one, including the cool teacher from the "demon on the internet" episode. And there's some good bits with Xander's love life and lack thereof. A couple of nits. The Master didn't fully dust, his bones were left. If I were Buffy I wouldn't have walked away without making sure he was all dust. Especially since the kid is still wandering around out there somewhere.