Buffy The Vampire Slayer, “Prophecy Girl" Review (1x12)

Brief Synopsis: “Giles discovers an ancient prophecy which states that Buffy will face The Master and she will die. Upon hearing this, Buffy breaks down and tries to quit her Slayer duties. But when vampires massacre a group of students on campus, she realises that she must face her destiny in order to save her friends, and the world.”

"Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight" (1x11) quick link here                                                           "When She Was Bad" (2x01) quick link here


Before getting started on this review, here are a few notes about how these reviews will be formatted...

1) I will be reviewing the episodes in bullet point form. This is because it makes the reviews simple to read, and helps break up the vast amount of text.
2) I will be uploading a new review every one or two days, so be sure to check back often! Alternatively, you could subscribe to the blog via email to receive the reviews in your inbox (the subscription box is located to the right-hand side of this blog).
3) If you are watching the show for the first time along with these reviews, please be warned that there may be a few spoilers for things that haven’t happened yet.
4) If you are here from my Buffy The Vampire Slayer/Angel fan page from Facebook (located here :- www.facebook.com/BTVSFC), these reviews are similar to the rewatch reviews that I wrote for that page, only they are longer, more detailed, and in a much nicer format than Facebook allows (curse their lack of italics, bold, and underline!)
5) The basic layout for the review will be the review itself, the ‘quote of the episode’, and then the final score for the episode (out of ten). All of the final scores will also be placed on a separate tab so that you can refer to them easily.

With that being said, let’s get started, shall we?



•    This episode is the climax of season one. It centres around Giles discovering a prophecy that Buffy will face The Master, and she will die. I cannot emphasise enough how important this episode was to “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”. If the finale to this season was bad, there probably wouldn’t have been a season two.
•    Season one was unique in that all 12 episodes were filmed before “Welcome To The Hellmouth” had aired.  This gave Joss Whedon and the actors the opportunity to go back and re-film scenes much later than they would ordinarily be able to. This definitely helped the season.
•    Willow’s face when Xander is practising asking Buffy to the dance is just too cute. Oh Willow, it shall not end well. Why is this episode so dramatic when it comes to love?! Buffy/Angel? Angsty. Xander-Willow? Heartbreaking. Buffy-Xander? Heartbreaking...fucking Whedon...you can always tell when he has written and directed an episode. It’s full of drama and heartache.
•    The fight between Buffy and the vampire in slow-motion is my favourite fight scene of season one. It’s just perfection! The slow-motion gave the fight a unique feel to it. Sarah Michelle Gellar’s facial acting was also phenomenal.
•    Giles: “The Master shall rise, and the Slayer shall die.”

Uh-oh. I must be honest, when I first watched this episode I figured that the writers would find a way around it. I was expecting the finale to play out like this: Drama, drama, drama, The Master gets free, Buffy does ultimately face The Master, but the Scoobies find a way around it and Buffy survives. This was when I was still deluded enough to think that Joss Whedon would write something with such a happy ending. The ending to this episode is happy, but it’s at the expense of half an hour of tears and turmoil. Joss’ way worked much better.

•    Earthquaaaaaaaake! Xander’s protection of Willow during the earthquake...effulgent-inducing.
•    Willow: “It’s the computer age, nerds are in.”
Fifteen years later, Willow couldn’t have been more right.
•    Don’t do it Xander, don’t ask Buffy out. It won’t end well...
•    Seriously, don’t do it, Xander.
•    The scene in which Xander asks out Buffy is the first of many in this episode that are hard to watch. Dating friends and having feelings for close friends is a very tricky business (speaking from a lot of personal experience, at least). Xander’s feelings for Buffy make perfect sense for his character. Xander is awkward, insecure, and has trouble talking to females. Buffy comes along and she’s a bona fide superhero. I think that Joss did a great job writing this scene. Buffy was honest with Xander, but also reiterated how important Xander’s friendship is to her, and Xander finally had his answer and could start to move on. A lot of underlying plot points from the first season get resolved in this conversation. Of course, Xander’s feelings for Buffy don’t go away for a few more years, but at least the issue is out in the open for the first time.
•    Xander: “I don’t handle rejection well. Funny, considering all the practise I’ve had.”

Must. Hug. Xander. Now.

•    ...told you not to ask Buffy out, Xander...
•    Another thing I love about that scene is that it doesn’t make Buffy the bad guy. Buffy did nothing wrong in this scenario. Buffy doesn’t have romantic feelings for Xander, so she said no (and reaffirmed how much Xander meant to her as a friend). I would imagine it must have been hard for Joss to write this scene without making Xander or Buffy come across as the bad guy.
•    This episode is the perfect example of just how much musical scores can add to an episode of television. They take the viewer on a journey. “Prophecy Girl” easily contains the greatest musical scores thus far.
•    It’s nice to see Jenny Calendar back. A cynical part of me expect her to disappear after “I Robot...You Jane” and never return again.
•    I completely support Willow’s decision to not go to the dance with Xander. Xander knows Willow is in love with him, he shouldn’t have asked. Xander getting rejected by Buffy was tough on him. Xander has always struggled with his self-esteem and his sense of self-worth. After Buffy rejected him his self-esteem was even lower than it was before. He was desperate to feel loved, to feel needed, so he decided to ask Willow to the dance because he knew she’d say yes...turns out Willow doesn’t want to be second best, and who can blame her? Willow has been in love with Xander since they were five! At the beginning of this episode she sat there listening to Xander practise asking Buffy to the dance so that she could daydream that Xander was asking her! I understand that Xander was upset, but he should never, ever have asked Willow to go to the dance. Even as friends.

•    Blood from the taps. Where’s a plumber when you need one? (This is the writing equivalent of the nervous chuckle before an awkward conversation. I know what scene comes next).
•    As good as the Buffy-Xander-Willow feelings-fest is, it is overshadowed by the greatest part of the episode; the prophecy that Buffy will die at the hands of The Master and Buffy’s subsequent reaction to hearing that news.
•    Buffy finding out that she will die, and the scene that follows, is my favourite scene of season one. No other scene comes close. It’s the best acted scene, the most emotionally intense scene, and the most heartbreaking scene of season one. Check out the “Quote Of The Episode” section of the review for the full conversation.
•    Buffy: “Do you think it’ll hurt?”
Heartbreaking. Nothing else to say. I’m not too manly to admit that I teared up during that line...again. It’s such an innocent question to ask. It really drives home the point that Buffy is sixteen years old, and the amount of pressure and expectation that she’s had on her shoulders for so long is ridiculous! No sixteen-year-old should have to ask such questions.
•    Buffy: “I’m sixteen years old, I don’t want to die.”

How did Sarah Michelle Gellar not win more awards for her acting on “Buffy The Vampire Slayer”?! This scene is some of the finest acting I’ve seen from a teenager in my life. The primary theme of season one is Buffy struggling to balance being the Slayer and trying to lead a more normal life. This is Buffy’s tipping point. She doesn’t want to be the Slayer. She doesn’t want to die. When she arrived in Sunnydale she was retired from slaying. She throws Angel’s cross necklace to the ground and walks away from her responsibilities. 

•    Joss has stated many times that he doesn’t know a lot about science. He doesn’t know how or why things work. When he can’t figure out a logical reason for something, he uses the excuse “because of the Hellmouth”. However, what Joss does better than anyone I’ve ever seen before is drawing emotion out of people. Joss’ television shows have made me laugh, smile, cry, and scream more than any other. This scene is the perfect example of that. Most shows would have been content with Buffy finding out the prophecy and going to confront The Master. Joss takes an entirely different approach and decides to show the entire conversation between Buffy, Giles, and Angel. He did this to invoke a reaction out of the audience, and boy did it work!
•    The entire scene was just lightning in a bottle! Everything worked! The attention to detail from Sarah here was first-class. Buffy almost exhibits all of the five stages of grief in one scene! Buffy starts with nervous laughter, then jumps into denial, then to anger, to bargaining, to depression. The only thing left is acceptance. Go and find another nineteen-year-old actress that can do a better job than Sarah did in this scene, I dare you.
•    The scene where Joyce shows Buffy the dress that she’s bought her is so wonderful. Joyce is my favourite TV mother ever. Does she make mistakes? Absolutely. Especially season two. However, she knows her daughter so well and has such a strong love for Buffy that I can’t help but love her. Joyce could sense that something was wrong, and tried to cheer her daughter up without asking Buffy what was wrong. Joyce was giving Buffy the space to come to her, which is so much better than demanding answers.
•    Joyce: “Is it written somewhere?”

...actually, yes...

•    I like Buffy’s dress.
•    After Joyce explaining how she met Hank, I want more Joyce backstory, and I want it now.
•    Don’t open the door, Willow! Didn’t you see the bloody handprint on the TV?!
•    The shock value in that scene is high. Killing an entire room full of teenagers, and showing the bodies (accompanied by blood) made for a great surprise! It took a lot of guts to go with such a graphic scene (especially with Buffy’s target audience), but again, it made the episode so much more memorable. Killing a group of teenagers is shocking. Killing them in Sunnydale High School whilst they’re innocently watching TV is much, much worse.
•    Next heartbreaking scene: Willow crying and talking to Buffy about how the vampires made the school their world and that they had fun. Alyson was flawless in this scene. The quality of acting from everyone is so good in this episode! Willow has never had her personal life affected by vampires so much before. Suddenly vampires became a more real threat to Willow. Sure she lost Jesse at the beginning of the season, but it was never established how close they were. Willow’s tears in this scene are the final thing that Buffy needs to convince herself that she can’t just let The Master rise and the Hellmouth open.

•    Bless you, Giles! Bless you for trying to go and face The Master in Buffy’s place. Giles already has such a fatherly love for Buffy. Giles was prepared to face The Master (and almost definitely die) to save Buffy from the fate that is mentioned in the prophecy. Of course, Joss wrote this episode, so it quickly descents into childish squabbling between Giles and Buffy. The scene ends with Buffy punching Giles (bad Buffy!) and reclaiming her cross necklace. This signifies Buffy once again picking up the mantle of ‘Slayer’, and accepting her fate. While we’re on the subject...
•    Buffy Anne Summers, you do not punch Giles! He gets knocked out enough! How he doesn’t have brain damage by the end of season seven I’ll never know.  I swear, one of these days he’s going to wake up in a coma...
•    Xander going to Angel for help was unexpected, but a superb edition to the episode! It’s no secret that Xander loathes Angel. He only goes to Angel for help because he knows that Angel can find The Master. My favourite part of the scene is when Xander explains all this to Angel. Xander does something that he doesn’t do enough in the first three seasons when it comes to Angel...he puts his own feelings aside for the greater good. Xander does not do that in “Becoming”, Xander does not do that in “Revelations”....this is one of very few times where Xander does the nobler thing. The only other time I can think of when he does this is “Amends”, where he offers to help Buffy research what is haunting Angel. In this episode, Xander has been rejected and feels humiliated, yet he goes out of his way to get help from someone he hates because he is desperate to save Buffy.

•    Amidst all this chaos and heartache, you just know that Joss is sitting in a rocking chair somewhere, smiling gleefully at the depression he’s causing to everyone watching. I’ve got a theory that (it’s a demon, a dancing demon...no, something isn’t right there) every time someone cries at a Joss show, he becomes stronger and more powerful than before. Think about it...his career sky-rocketing, The Avengers? Tell me I’m wrong.
•    Xander: “You were checking out my neck!”
Gold. Comedy gold. More Xander and Angel buddy-cop scenes, please.
•    I find so many parallels between Buffy and Harry Potter. Like Harry, Buffy has had to sacrifice a lot this season in order to make the world a safer place. Both characters willingly walk to their death in order to save everyone else. Buffy knows that the Anointed One will take her to The Master, and she also knows that The Master will kill her, yet she goes anyway because she has to try to stop The Master from rising. Buffy’s nobility is often overlooked by the fandom. Perhaps it’s because she becomes more about ‘the greater good’ after being resurrected in “Bargaining Par t One”.
•    The Master: “You’re the one that sets me free. If you hadn’t come, then I couldn’t go. Think about that.”

Way to kick us when we’re down, Joss!

•    Dear Mr. Master, you’re not allowed to like Buffy’s dress. You just killed her. You are officially banned from compliments, ‘kay?
•    It’s a good job Xander went with Angel, isn’t it? What a convenient plot point. Breathing is an underrated pleasure.
•    Buffy’s alive again! You had me worried there for a moment...also, hi Kendra! Welcome to the team. For those of you that asked (and this gets asked on a weekly basis), Buffy’s death in “The Gift” doesn’t activate a new Slayer because of this episode. Buffy died here and Kendra was called. Kendra is the Slayer. Buffy is an anomaly that shouldn’t exist. Buffy is technically no longer a part of the Slayer line. So when Buffy dies in “The Gift”, no replacement is called because Buffy isn’t the true Slayer, Faith is. If Faith had died a new Slayer would have been called.
•    Cordy saves the day. CORDY SAVES THE DAY! This is the first time I feel like she’s a member of the Scooby Gang and not just bitchy comedic relief.
•    The Hellmouth is in the library! Having the Hellmouth be in the centre of the Scoobies’ universe was perfect. There isn’t another place in Sunnydale that I can think of that would have been a more suitable choice.

•    I get so much joy from the Buffy theme being playing over the top of a confident Buffy walking towards Sunnydale High School. It’s one of those empowering moments that makes you “whoop” loudly at the television and scream “that’s my Buffy!”...just me?...
•    Cordelia shall forever be dear to my heart for biting that vampire’s hand. She is so sassy.
•    Buffy: “I may be dead, but I’m still pretty...which is more than I can say for you.”
Buffy: 1, The Master: 0.
•    FRUIT PUNCH MOUTH! Greatest insult since Cordelia’s “Do I hone in on your private conversations? No. Why? Because you’re boring.”
•    The Master: “Where are your jibes now? Will you laugh when my Hell is on Earth?”
Buffy: “You’re that amped about Hell? *Buffy grabs The Master by the throat*...go there!”
•    The Master’s death was spectacular, but I’d have loved for the fight to go a bit longer! It was A whole season of build-up for that fight?!  I know The Master was all about psychology and mind-control, but I would have loved to see more of an actual fight before Buffy threw The Master down onto a conveniently placed giant piece of wood.
•    Buffy: “It’s just been a really weird day...”
Xander: “Yeah, Buffy died and everything.”
Willow: “Wow, harsh.”
Giles: “I should’ve known that wouldn’t stop you.”

You know why I love this exchange? It’s the ‘core four’ talking. Angel, Cordy, and Jenny are there, but it’s the core four that really appreciate the magnitude of what just happened.

•    I believe that the filming of season one finished before they knew if they’d have a second season, so they ended it in a way that closed out the story if they weren’t picked up for a second season.
•    To conclude, this episode was superb. It was vastly superior to anything that came before it. For a first season, “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” did a good job. It was cheesy in parts, it was downright embarrassing in parts (I’m looking at you, “I Robot...You Jane”), but overall the first twelve episodes told a fantastic story. The main four characters have been developed well (especially Buffy, Xander, and Willow), Cordelia has had some character development since “Out Of Mind, Out Of Sight”, Angel has grown into more than just ‘Hot guy #2’, and many of the stories that were told this season worked well. However, season one is my least favourite season, so get ready for things to get significantly better in season two! Spike, Drusilla, Oz, and Angelus will join the Buffyverse!


Quote Of The Episode

Buffy: “So that's it, huh? My time is up. I remember the drill. ‘One Slayer dies, the next is called.’ I wonder who the next one is? Are you gonna train her? Or will they send someone else?...”

Giles: “Buffy, I...”

Buffy: “Does it say how he's gonna kill me? Do you think it'll hurt?...Don't touch me! Were you guys even gonna tell me?”

Giles: “I was hoping I wouldn't have to. That there was some way around it.”

Buffy: “I've got a way around it. I quit.”

Angel: “It's not that simple.”

Buffy: “I'm making it that simple! I quit! I resign! I'm fired! Someone else can stop the Master from taking over.”

Giles: “I don't know that anyone else can. The signs all indicate...”

Buffy: “The signs?! Read me the signs! Tell me my fortune! You're so useful, sitting around with your books. You're really a lot of help!”

Giles: “No, I don't suppose I am...”

Angel: “I know this is hard...”

Buffy: “What do you know about it? You're never gonna die.”

Angel: “You think I want anything to happen to you? Do you think I could stand it? We just have to figure out a way...”

Buffy: “I already have. I quit, remember? Pay attention!”

Giles: “Buffy, if the Master rises...”

Buffy: “I don't care! I don't care. Giles, I'm sixteen years old...I don't wanna die.”




FINAL SCORE: 9.5/10



So what are your thoughts on "Prophecy Girl"? Did you enjoy this episode? Dislike it? Let me know all your thoughts in the comments section below!