Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 2 episode 13: Surprise

I can't believe it has been over a year since I've written one of these, almost two since I did the last episode. Boy do I suck. And to stop at such an important episode. Forgive me, those two people who still read these. 

As with the last episode, this one was also written by Marti Noxon, with Michael Kange taking over with directing duties. This is one of the most important episodes of the series, so if you haven't seen it yet, before to check it out!

The episode starts off with Buffy waking up in her bed, a normal enough start, until she walks into the hallway and Drusilla is standing behind her. She makes her way down the hall and opens a door, leading to the Bronze of all places. It quickly becomes clear that this is in fact a dream. Her mom asks her if she is sure she is ready before dropping a cup. Remember that!

Our beloved Buffy just makes her way through the Bronze until she Angel, but before she can get to him he is staked through the heart. Dru wishes her a happy birthday, that's right ladies and gentlemen, we are in for a Buffy birthday! And those never go well! This one happens to be her 17th.

After the amazing intro music, which I have missed oh so much, she goes and visits Angel and tells him about the dream. He tries to cheer her up and remind her that not every dream is a slayer dream. You can hear in her voice how stressed out she is, how worried she is, but Angel stops her with a kiss. The passion between the two of them builds, only stopping when she tells him the most corny of lines. "I like seeing you at bedtime." It's adorable. 

Buffy confides in Willow about her concerns and what she should do with her relationship. She wants to seize the day, and maybe help Willow talk to the Ozman. I have to be honest, I know Willow and Tara is everyone's favorite, but I love her and Oz. They were so perfect together. This scene here, where Oz asks her out, in the most Oz like way, shows just how perfect they are for each other. How can you not love them?

We jump from the perfect couple to the most tragic of relationships. Xander and Cordy. I personally love them together. At this stage in their lives, they fit so well. He humbles her and she fills him with confidence. They each give each other that one trait that they are missing. That they need to be more well rounded. They make each other better in a way that the other relationships don't.

Back in the world of Spike and Dru, we see that they are planning a party of their own. Complete with gifts. Gifts that smell of death. You know, the kind you really want. 

Back at Summer's residents, we find Buffy asking her mom if she can take her driving test, to which she asks if she is really sure she is ready and wait for it. . .she drops shit! The dream has started to come true! If that is not bad enough, we learn the true about Jenny Calendar. That she is a member of the Gypsies tribe that cursed Angelus all those years ago. That she is here to make sure he still suffers and the curse stays in place. Oh, and her real name, yeah its Janna of the Kalderash. Her uncle shows up in her classroom to yell at her for not making sure Angel is in pain. It doesn't matter that he saved her life. He must suffer for all time. She is tasked with breaking the two of them up.

Giles and the others try to get Buffy to relax, but she is too freaked out. Can you blame her? I mean Giles big example of her dreams not always coming true was the Master rising. You'll remember that he did rise. Yes she stopped him, but only after he rose. Long live the Master! After Buffy leaves Xander and Willow get ready to cancel the party but Giles won't them. Buffy needs this party. She needs some fun and normal in her life. This is very true. 

On the way to the library Buffy is stopped by Jenny, who tells her she has to take her to Giles. Is a trap? What could it mean? Oh no! The suspense! Before we can find out where they are going they spot some weirdness happening and they stop so Buffy can check it out. She is a hero after all, and this is what heroes do. It turns out that it is Spike's annoying lackey with the glasses, stealing yet another box like the one that was given to Dru at the beginning of the episode. 

The fight ends up in the Bronze, where they rented the place out for Buffy! What great friends! The best part of all, Oz doesn't seem at all shocked about vampires being real. Jenny brings in the box, inside is a arm and Angel feels them in on the Judge. Giles tells the story of no weapon foraged by man can stop him. Jenny volunteers Angel to take it out of town. Buffy is not happy with this idea, but it is their only option. What a horrible birthday present, the love of your life leaving town.

Meanwhile Dru is pissed at Vamp with Glasses, stepping on his glasses with the intent to poke out his eyes but Spike saves him. Got to love Spike. She puts his broken glasses back on his face. Can you stop for a moment and think about how much it must suck to be a vampire and still need glasses? Talk about unfair.

At the dock Buffy and Angel are attacked while they are saying their goodbyes. She is worried about him, but he keeps telling her not to worry, this is when he gives her the Claddagh ring. It's an Irish wedding band, it's very sweet. During the fight the box is stolen by the vampires and Angel has to let it go in order to save Buffy, who was tossed into the ocean. 

Xander is far to excited by Angel leaving town. His jealous is showing, but I still love Xander. Crazy fantasies about how you turn your life around and show everyone how amazing you truly are is something I do all the time. Plus, you can tell that he is feeling bad about things, since Cordy still wants to keep them a secret. The two of them really are great together, if they would just get out of their own ways.

Dru puts the Judge back together and right off the bat he criticizes them for their humanity. He doesn't feed on them however, no that he saves for the vamp with glasses. Just in time for Buffy to figure out that they are at the factory. Her plan is for her and Angel to go and scout out how close they are to finishing the Judge, never for a second thinking that the job of putting him together was already done. That is until they see him walking around with Dru and a wheelchair bound Spike. The Judge senses them and the vampire quickly capture them. 

We also learn that Dru had the same dreams as Buffy. Got to love the psychicness of it all. Buffy and Angel manage to escape into the sewers, much to the disappointment of Spike and co. They exit the sewer into the pouring rain and head for Angel's apartment. Soaking wet and cold. Angel gives her dry clothes and tells her to get under the covers for warmth. He turns around to give her privacy and she winces in pain. He goes to check it out, she is fine. She starts crying, telling him that she feels like she lost him. He confesses his love for her. One thing leads to another and they end up having sex. Buffy's first time. Thunder wakes him up and he runs outside, screaming in pain. As he calls out for Buffy we get a to be continued. You'll never guess what happens next!