Our occasional Buffy rewatch reaches the show’s second – arguably greatest – season. Watch out Sunnydale, Spike’s come to town…



Synopsis: Buffy’s struggle to balance her ordinary high school life with her calling as the Slayer only gets harder this year. With the Master gone, the new big bads in town are Spike and Drusilla, a pair of formidable, fun-loving vamps out for the Slayer’s blood. Meanwhile, romance flies between the Scooby gang – but can Buffy ever find happiness with the immortal Angel?

1. When She Was Bad

Buffy grows distant and meaner with her friends as the vamps plan to resurrect the Master. Her trauma is understandable, but it’s hard to like Buffy when she’s like this. Some great jokes, though. 7.5/10

2. Some Assembly Required

A Frankenstein-esque football player coveting a bride makes for an absolute dud of an A-plot but, once again, the episode is saved thanks to the sparkling dialogue. 7.5/10

3. School Hard

Vampires attack Parent’s Night at Sunnydale High – led by Spike! James Marsters and Juliet Landau make a triumphant debut here. The show would never be the same again. 8.5/10

4. Inca Mummy Girl

A resurrected mummy masquerading as an exchange student makes for a goofy plot, but this gets praise for some good Xander stuff and for introducing Oz (and briefly Jonathan). 7.5/10

5. Reptile Boy

Buffy and Cordy go to a frat party with some demon-worshipping college boys. This one suffers from its weak plot but Xander and Cordy make for great comic relief. 6.5/10

6. Halloween

Giles’ old enemy Ethan Rayne turns everyone into their Halloween costumes. The first out-of-character episode of the show results in probably the first really great Buffy episode. 9/10