Original Air Date: October 3, 2000

Written by David Fury
Directed by David Grossman

Summary

Buffy is training with Giles and they're working on her control. Calmly Buffy pushes herself up into a handstand on a small block of wood. She pulls one hand away and is left in a one-handed handstand. Her control slips when Dawn disrupts her asking if it's time to go home.

Dawn writes in her diary and she's somewhat bitter about her sister Buffy being the Slayer. Buffy has plans to go to the Magic Shop with Giles for some training materials. Unfortunately she has to give up her plans with Riley and take Dawn back to school shopping which she really doesn't want to do. Giles, in his spiffy new red convertible which he bought on a whim, takes Buffy and Dawn to the Magic Shop where they meet up with Willow and Tara. Buffy tells Willow that because of her new training schedule she'll have to drop drama with her. Willow's not happy about this turn of events. At the magic shop everything is deserted until Willow finds the dead body of the shopkeeper. Buffy takes Dawn outside and tells her to wait there. A crazy bum starts talking to Dawn. He tells her that he knows who she is and that she doesn't belong here. Tara joins Dawn outside while inside the shop they find that the shopkeeper was attacked by several vampires. Giles is going through the shop books and he's surprised by the profit this little shop makes. In a cave somewhere, Harmony and her group of minion vampires are plotting to kill the Slayer.

At home Joyce is mad at Buffy for taking Dawn to a murder scene. Buffy needs to go patrolling for those vampires but she can't leave Dawn home alone and Buffy's mom is heading out. Buffy gets Xander to baby-sit and Dawn's pretty happy about that because she's got a crush on Xander. Meanwhile Willow is helping Tara set up her dorm room. Willow tries to convince Tara that she's not an outsider with the Scooby Gang but Tara's more worried about Dawn feeling like an outsider. Buffy and Riley are on patrol and all Buffy can do is complain about Dawn and how Dawn always complains about being a kid when that's what Buffy wants to be; a kid. Xander, Anya and Dawn are playing the game of Life and Dawn's complaining about Buffy. Suddenly a rock flies through the window and into the room. A message attached asks the Slayer to come outside. Xander opens the door to find Harmony and her four minions outside. Xander laughs at her until she taunts him nastily. Accidentally Dawn invites Hamony in. Harmony attacks Xander but he manages to kick her outside and lock the door. Buffy returns and after hearing about Harmony starts laughing hysterically until she learns that Dawn invited her in.

Harmony and her gang are returning to their cave when they run into Spike. Incidentally Spike gives Harmony a new plan to get the Slayer. Back at home, Buffy gathers up some weapons and complains about Dawn acting like an idiot inviting Harmony into the house and that she has to learn to be more careful. Dawn is eavesdropping on them and gets upset. She runs downstairs and out the door. Anya tries to stop her but they're attacked by Harmony's gang and Dawn is taken away. At Harmony's lair, Dawn is locked up. Harmony's minions are getting angry because Harmony isn't letting them feed on Dawn. Buffy visits Spike and punches some info about where Harmony is out of him. Back at the cave, Harmony's minions revolt and decide to kill her and Dawn. Dawn's about to be attacked when Buffy makes her entrance by dusting a vamp. Buffy makes quick work of the rest of Harmony's gang while Harmony runs away from the fight. Buffy unchains Dawn and they make it home just before Joyce walks in the door. Dawn's pretty grateful that Buffy didn't say anything to their mom.

The next day Buffy and Giles are in the Magic Shop setting it up. Giles is planning on running the store as his new job. Meanwhile Dawn writes in her diary that Buffy will be in for a surprise when she finds out who Dawn really is.

Summary written by Nika

Quote of the Week

Buffy: Giles! Are you breaking up with your car?
Giles: Well it did seduce me, all red and sporty!
Buffy: Little two-door tramp.

My Rating

2.5/5

Nika's Review

Why is it that all second episodes in every season have been the pits? The absolute pits? Okay, this one was better than the other ones (let us reminisce about Some Assembly Required and Dead Man's Party and Living Conditions) but it wasn't by much. I did not enjoy hearing Buffy complain about Dawn throughout the entire episode. It was too much. At first I was like okay this normal stuff, everyone bitches about their brother or sister at points but then it got to be excessive and that's when it started to grate on my nerves. Some people have started to point out to me that Buffy is a whiner and I'm only starting to notice it now. Maybe it was only this episode (time will tell) but this was not the Buffy I know and love. The Dawn issue wasn't really solved, and I was at least expecting some answers this episode (but it is early in the season so too many answers aren't to be expected). Anybody else think that Harmony looked really freaky? That makeup wasn't doing anything for her and that was something really off about her hair colour. On the upside Xander is still getting used well this season though I'm feeling that Willow is kind of drowning out into the background. But wait a minute, that symbolism stuff from Restless is kicking in. What was that we heard about drama class? What's going on there? And once again we hit that beginning-of-the-season question-and-no-answers time.

Niki Bartl's Review

There's still a big giant huh? floating around in my head! Okay, I don't understand how Dawn is her sister and we've never heard anyone mention it. I understand that this information will be revealed as a later date, but I'm not patient AND I WANT TO KNOW NOW!!!! I was sort of neutral to this episode, mostly because I don't really understand what is going on, it's like the beginning of the Jonathan episode, but like a kajillion times more frustrating! I hope that Harmony isn't going to become a "serious" threat or a regular character. It's fun to see her pop up once in a while, but we need someone more um, threatening. Ever notice how every year, there's one big macho head dude to fight against? It should be a chick vampire this year, or something equally cool. Anyways, right, back to this episode. I like the Dawn voiceover, sort of, but sometimes it gets a bit tedious. I was scared that adding a younger character would make the show more "kiddy" like, and it sort of did, I guess I'm just used to seeing things from the B's point of view. I'll have to figure out what's going on before making any concrete judgements.

Cast