Original Air Date: November 16, 1999

Written by Douglas Petrie
Directed by James A. Contner

Summary

Riley and his friends are eating lunch in the cafeteria when Riley's friend notices Buffy and finds her incredibly attractive. Riley just says that he finds her peculiar. Meanwhile, Spike is locked in a white cell. He tries to get out but the glass pane electrocutes him. We then see a row upon row of white cells filled with demons. Spike tries to figure out what he's doing there and the only conclusion he comes to is that it's the Slayer's fault. A blood package drops from the ceiling and Spike's just about to take a bite of it when the vampire in the cell beside him tells him that it's drugged. The vamp explains that the drugged blood makes you unconscious and then they take you away to do some tests on you.

Willow and Buffy are in psych class when the bells rings, signifying the end of class. Willow has a brief conversation with Professor Walsh about Oz leaving the class and assures the professor that Oz will be back. The professor says that he's already been kicked out of the class. Willow stalks out and Buffy puts in a bitter word to the professor and then follows Willow out. The professor then turns to Riley and says she really likes Buffy, Riley just comments that she's peculiar. Later on, Riley and his friends are in the student lounge discussing Buffy. A friend spots Parker and asks him what Buffy was like in bed. Parker makes some snide comment about her and Riley punches him viciously in the face. Riley is then so surprised by his actions and tells his friends that he just didn't like Parker saying those things about Buffy. He then figures out that he's got feelings for Buffy and his friends just laugh at him because it took him so long to figure that out.

Back in his white cell, an apparently unconscious Spike is lifted onto a stretcher when he suddenly comes alive and attacks the two guys in lab coats. He then makes his escape. Meanwhile, Willow is sitting inher room when Riley knocks and enters. He tells her that he's planning on asking Buffy out and he's wondering what she's interested in. Willow's reluctant but gives him a little info about her and says that the two of them will be at the party tonight.

Harmony is busy decorating her underground apartment when Spike drops in. She's angry with him but ends up taking him back anyway. Over at the frat house, Willow and Buffy show up for the party. Buffy heads off to go talk with some friends while Willow heads over to Riley and points out Buffy to him. She says to go over and just start talking with her. A nervous Riley goes over and tries to talk to Buffy but he can barely make conversation. Over in the woods, Xander and Giles are out looking for the guys dressed in black. They split up and Xander runs into Harmony and has a pathetic slapping fight with her. He leaves but not before finding out that Spike is back in town. Back at the party, a depressed Riley is sitting beside Willow while Buffy dances with some friends. Willow heads home and Riley goes over to Buffy again and tells her that Willow left. Suddenly Xander shows up at the party and whisks Buffy away for some unscheduled slayage. Riley and his friends then go downstairs, go through a retinal eye scan and are then permitted into a secret elevator. Once they get off the elevator they are in a huge underground lab where they meet up with Professor Walsh who tells them to suit up and go find the missing prisoner. Over at Giles' house, Buffy says she's putting an end to this now by killing Spike. Xander hands her a flare gun and tells her to use it when she's in trouble. Meanwhile, Spike locates Buffy's dorm number by using the school's computer system.

Riley and his friends are scouring the school campus when they spot Buffy sitting on a bench waiting for Spike. Riley gets out of his army getup and goes over to her and tries to get her to leave but she's also trying to get him to leave. They both hear a scream and run off in their own direction. Meanwhile, Willow's in her room when their's a knock on the door, she invites the person in but realizes her mistake when Spike walks in. He tries to bite her but he can't because he gets immense pain in his head and can't continue. Riley and his friends have located Spike and run into Stevenson Hall and bust down Willow's door. The three masked guys get into a fight with Spike who really can't fight back. Suddenly Buffy drops in and fires the flare gun which creates a lot of smoke. Buffy gets into a vicious fight with Riley, though she doesn't know it's him and he doesn't know it's her because the lights are out and there's smoke everywhere. Spike makes his escape during the frenzy and eventually the black masked guys make a hasty retreat. Back at the undergound lab, Professor Walsh in sincerely displeased with Riley and his team. They tell her that apparently Spike had an accomplice (Buffy) who was tough and aggressive. Riley does tell her that the implant in Spike does work and he can't bite anyone anymore.

The next day, Riley catches up with Buffy on the school campus and they make small talk. Riley says something a little goofy and Buffy says that he's a little peculiar. Riley says that he can live with that.

Summary written by Nika

Quote of the Week

Willow: (To Riley) And remember, if you hurt her I'll beat you to death with a shovel.

My Rating

5/5

Nika's Review

I cannot possibly say ENOUGH good things about this episode. This episode absolutely relit my Buffy fire (okay, that sounds cheesy but it's true!). Up until this episode, I'd kind of found this season a little on the dull side but I became really excited about this season after seeing this episode. There were so many surprising things in this episode that it's almost impossible to name them all. The first one is definitely the revelation of Oz's full name! I so wasn't expecting that! Daniel Osbourne. Seems to suit him though. And Willow just said it just like that, that I almost didn't think she'd said it! Wow! (don't mind me, I'm a little over-excitable). Anyway... continuing on... It was also nice to see Spike finally get his own screen credit in the opening song. I personally have become a pretty good fan of Riley and it was nice to see him become aware that he does like Buffy (and if anyone didn't see this relationship coming I'm just going to have to smack you over the head). I liked how Riley was standing up for Buffy when he was talking to Parker. And THEN! When we found out that Riley was also a demon hunter, I almost thought it was too good to be true! This is so perfect! I still love Angel, but I'm looking forward to seeing Buffy and Riley getting together! I really liked Harmony and Xander's slow-motion bitch fight in the foods, classic laughs! Those two are hysterical when they're put together :)

Niki Bartl's Review

This episode is like those Hallowe'en candies that have this beautiful wrapper and so you open it, pop it into your mouth and chew. So far, so good. And then you're happily chewing along and you realize it tastes like crap. When I first watched this episode I thought it was amazing. The next day, still thought it was so good. But now, as I reflect and write this review, it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth and a lot of questions. First things first though. How much did I want Spike and willow to hook up at that moment in time? Of course later on there would be serious repercussions which I will discuss in a few minutes. We'll start from the beginning. I don't mind Riley. In fact, he's kind of sweet in an aww shucks kind-of way. Him and Buffy would be sweet and cute and all things fluffy and adorable. But Riley, commando boy extraordinaire? Not my style. We've been through the whole helping each other fight, although Riley is not a vampire. I do not enjoy the idea of the secret laboratory and teacher's and T.A's doing secret experiments on demons. And how could they do this to Spike? He's the quintessential bad boy, and sure, he has his nice days but he's supposed to maim, torture and kill! If he joins the good side, I will be so disappointed. They better find a way to fix all of this stuff, especially my Spike. and soon.

Cast