7.14: First Date - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

obcooke · 12th February 2003, 02:48 AM

Buffy & Principal Wood go out on a date and she learns some surprising things about him and about herself.

Xander meets a new mysterious woman and goes out on a date. Maybe his luck has changed... and then again.

And The First is encouraging everyone to pick which side they will be on in the coming battle between Buffy and Evil.

Andrew, among others, must choose.

Brent · 12th February 2003, 03:05 AM

I thought this was an EXCELLENT episode!

All the major points we wanted came true

1.) Giles did avoide the bringer and showed how, and made good jokes about it too hehe, the squeeky shoes

2.) Buffy decided to have the chip removed from Spike, trust ++

3.) Andrew is definitely on the good side

4.) Now we know the scoop on the Principal, and how his mother was the previous slayer, that is awesome. But Spike killed her, that will bring some interesting story line.

There was some good humor in this ep, and then there was seriousness, Giles is trying so hard to strike home to them the dangers they truely face...

I really liked this ep, and the next one looks great as well...

angelle myst · 12th February 2003, 03:10 AM

"Why does everybody in this house think I'm still in love with Spike?!"

First time Buffy ever admitted that at one point she loved him? Pretty cool

Thought it was cute when Spike kept wanting to go get Buffy (away from Wood), poor guy. From the trailer i saw on upn.com, Ashanti looked like a good actress, will have to wait to see the whole ep to make final judgement on that though. What did everyone else think of her? Poor Xander, lol, but that kinda serves him right for not wanting Willow to check up on Lyssa ain't it? He was given the opportunity, and refused.

Nice moment between Buffy and Spike at the end -

"I'm not ready for you to not be here."

Very sweet, definitely an "aww" moment

Wonder how Wood will deal with Spike now he's soulful. Will him having a soul make a difference?

Good ep

can't wait to see it for real

xxx

Highlander II · 12th February 2003, 03:15 AM

1st -- woohoo - a plot twist -- about damn time --

anyway --

comments -- did anyone hear Buffy tell Willow "I'm not in love with Spike anymore" ?? -- um - when was she *ever* in love with him? She never said she was - so, what was that? And why didn't Willow catch it?

Spike tackled Giles! LOL! - b/c he thought he was evil and non-corporeal - um - something suck out your braincells Spike?

The dates? Hmm - I was half expecting Principal wood to be more along the lines of the Mayor w/ all that hardware - then he told Buffy a vampire killed his mother -- 1st thing that jumped into my head? -- Spike (evil Spike at that!)

The 'sum up' of the Giles bit was kind of lame - but better than just the little wrap from last week - I mean - yeah - okay - instinctive-Giles - and he heard the guy's shoes squeak - but geeeeeeeeeez -- to wait this long? However, this is abt the only down part of this ep -- I really liked this one -

Nice 'set up' (excuse the pun) of Buffy and the vamps in the alley - she thought she was being set up - then, as it turns out - Wood is all vengency against vamps -

Course - now Buffy's gonna have to either a) protect Spike from Wood or b) hand him over --- as she's 'not ready for him to not be here' yet -- that might be a tough choice - but, she seems to have feelings for Wood - so, who knows where this is going - not that I mind a lack of Buffy / Spike ship - praying dearly for it, actually - but gotta toss out a 'poor Spike' - more fuel for the 'love's bitch' fire -- he needs to start a support group or something

Overall - good ep -- really do wanna know how they're gonna deal with the 'Spike killed Wood's mother' bit ---

tabuno · 12th February 2003, 06:12 AM

From the very get go at the opening scenes the humor is back in style, seamlessly charming along with the serious ending and back to work drama. It's a 180 degree turn that this series is famous for. In between we get revelations after revelations and hints after hints. Emotional ties lurk strongly in this episode.

I have to agree, though, that I'm beginning to see some truth to the sad sidelined Dawn who doesn't seem to get the attention that a sister of Buffy deserves. With their mother gone, family usually comes first and Dawn in some ways really deserves to be become a central figure in Buffy's life as her older sister.

I saw the Principal's good side coming. I didn't see Spike's chip coming though! I thought there'd be a little more agonizing over the issue, perhaps a whole episode devoted to it, but pow! It's done. But the shock is as great to the audience as it is to the Buffy gang which is perhaps what Josh Whedon wanted or intended.

This episode continues a long line of great plots and acting and script writing. I just can't get over how naturally the humor, horror, and drama just flow along, seamlessly. It is just unbelievable. People just don't realize how difficult this series really is. Comedy just by itself is hard enough.

Angelus Rex · 12th February 2003, 10:52 AM

Decent episode. Nothing special, but good.

I was jumping up and down on my chair when Wood revealed who he really was. See I had made up somehting similar to that years ago. You know, a kid of that dead black Slayer comes back for his head.

BTW why Buffy said "This is the greatest thing I have ever had in my mouth", I said to myself, "I think Angel, Spike, and Reilly might disagree with you on that!"

Highlander II · 13th February 2003, 02:28 AM

And as much as I'm wanting to throttle annoying Buffy - she made a good point about Spike's chip - he was evil, but doing something evil to him to keep him from being evil isn't the right way to go about it -- (though, I'm seeing an issue w/ the 'killing of evil things' being 'not evil' - but we can work around that) --

Tho - I think the REAL reason she had the chip removed - the reason she won't admit to anyone - is that she *loves* Spike - (and I gag and spit and cough as I type that b/c eww - don't want that ship to happen, but anyway) - or, that's at least PART of why she had it removed instead of repaired --

But her 'muzzle' argument was good too --

The other thing I thought was really funny - Anya and her rant, then telling Buffy she had to pee!

obcooke · 28th February 2003, 07:08 AM

Hey, I just watched this one again and noticed something really cheesy--

When Buffy and Wood are walking through the alley to the restuarant. The first vampire walks around the corner in front of them.

They re-used the footage from "The Gift"!!. That's the vampire that chased the kid in the alley in very beginning!! They re-used a couple of seconds from the scene where he corners the young man in the alley.

How disappointing. It's really a jarring reminder that we're watching a TV show, when we should be enjoying the story.

markpud · 18th April 2003, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Highlander II
The dates? Hmm - I was half expecting Principal wood to be more along the lines of the Mayor w/ all that hardware - then he told Buffy a vampire killed his mother -- 1st thing that jumped into my head? -- Spike (evil Spike at that!)

Yeah, me too!! And then it falls into place that she was the slayer we saw Spike kill in his flashbacks in S6 - excellent continunity (making up for the re-use that OB-wan spotted?).

So there's a major tension brewing up - Wood's going to take a lot of persuading not to go after Spike, and it may come down to Buffy protecting Spike physically. Erm what am I talking about, it will definitely come down to that....

What about the oriental potential.. what was the point of her scenes anyway??

Gotta dig the idea of trying to tape the first with a wire tap - but when did chez Summers get fitted with mics, wireless transmitters etc?? And Willow thinking she's finally picking something up, til whatsherface pulled the earphones down

Poor Xander once again, the foolish boy may never learn - do the checks first!!!

Highlander II · 18th April 2003, 02:44 AM

Ahem - correction police here -- "Fool For Love" and the flashbacks to the slayer in the 70's is from S5, Mark -- (you know I gotta do it

)

But yeah - Wood and Spike - tense bit -- Wood's all out for blood - bad Wood - never go after Spike, don't you know the rules?

markpud · 18th April 2003, 01:42 PM

Oops my bad, of course it was S5...

Did anyone notice we didn't see all of the SiTs this week? I only saw Willows friend, the new one and one other... where r the rest??

I guess it was slightly worrying that there is an unspecified number of uber-vamps down under that seal - bot one of tehm is fairly arm-les s now

But if there are lots down there, why only rise one at a time? Surely 10 of them coming up would be enough to over-run the scooby-squad...

Brit Chick · 18th April 2003, 06:17 PM

So when they all get to the where Xander is tied up and Spike starts to fight and goes into Vamp face why is it only at that point Principal Wood says, - 'he is a vampire' ?? all the drive over there he is looking in the rear view mirror with Spike behind him so he must have noticed that there was no relfection - Just wondering

I must admit I saw the naughty side of Buffy's comment that the food was the best thing she'd ever had in her mouth !! LOL

And at the end Xander 'come on Willow - gay me up' !! 'I'm mentally undressing Scott Bakula as we speak' and Andrew's wistfull look - ahh Captain Archer. Andrew is SO Gay!!!

And of course, finally, Giles took his bloody coat off!!!

Highlander II · 18th April 2003, 11:03 PM

eh -you know I luv ya, mark --

anyway --

I was wonderin' the same thing about Wood lookin' at Spike in the rearview mirror -- b/c EVERYONE knows that in vehicles where the driver sits on the left, if you sit directly behind the driver - even YOU can see yourself in the rearview mirror -- that BUGGED me! ack! So, either Wood is really dense, or the writers had a huge brain fart on that one ---

They don't use all the SITs in every ep -- too expensive -- so you get SIT-glimpses instead --

VAMPette · 21st April 2003, 04:07 PM

I really liked this episode, great plot twist at the end, even though we saw it coming from the dinner bit, plus some really funny bits - liked Buffy's bidet of evil speech plus Giles' flash cards and how cute was Spike when he was really understanding and mature about Buffy's date and then couldn't wait to get to her to break it up. And Ashanti looked great as a demon. But yeah, thought Spike's chip being removed was very much brushed over - I thought there might be a bit more agonising over, guilt, wondering if they've done the right thing. And Xander didn't even comment - I thought he would've been very much against it. And then the comment from Buffy about being still in love with him - is that trying to imply that she was in love with him all along and lied about it?

little smaug · 22nd April 2003, 11:51 AM

Another excellent episode, the season has definately taken a turn for the better.

I'm glad we got to see how Giles avoided that axe, cos it really didn't seem possible. And i loved his explanation later on about the 'squeaky shoes'.

I thought that Spike tackling Giles was hilarious, as was

Spike: You're supposed to be all... go-through-able.
Giles: Then why the hell did you tackle me, you berk!?! :laugh2:

I feel sorry for Xander. Will he never get a normal girlfriend? (i realise that Cordelia wasn't a demon, but she wasn't exactly normal either

)
One question - at what point, when he was being roped to the pentagram, did Xander have time to send a text message?

On a positive note, i'm really glad that Wood isn't evil, i like him. It was a shock that his mother was a slayer.

But i thought it was kinda obvious it was gonna be Spike who killed her. I wonder what's going to happen now. Will Wood try to kill Spike? If Buffy stops him, will he go over to the dark side?

12th February 2003, 02:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
obcooke OB-Wan Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,357	7.14: First Date Buffy & Principal Wood go out on a date and she learns some surprising things about him and about herself. Xander meets a new mysterious woman and goes out on a date. Maybe his luck has changed... and then again. And The First is encouraging everyone to pick which side they will be on in the coming battle between Buffy and Evil. Andrew, among others, must choose.

12th February 2003, 06:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
tabuno Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Utah, USA Posts: 69	Excellent From the very get go at the opening scenes the humor is back in style, seamlessly charming along with the serious ending and back to work drama. It's a 180 degree turn that this series is famous for. In between we get revelations after revelations and hints after hints. Emotional ties lurk strongly in this episode. I have to agree, though, that I'm beginning to see some truth to the sad sidelined Dawn who doesn't seem to get the attention that a sister of Buffy deserves. With their mother gone, family usually comes first and Dawn in some ways really deserves to be become a central figure in Buffy's life as her older sister. I saw the Principal's good side coming. I didn't see Spike's chip coming though! I thought there'd be a little more agonizing over the issue, perhaps a whole episode devoted to it, but pow! It's done. But the shock is as great to the audience as it is to the Buffy gang which is perhaps what Josh Whedon wanted or intended. This episode continues a long line of great plots and acting and script writing. I just can't get over how naturally the humor, horror, and drama just flow along, seamlessly. It is just unbelievable. People just don't realize how difficult this series really is. Comedy just by itself is hard enough.

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12th February 2003, 03:05 AM	#2 (permalink)
Brent Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 4	I thought this was an EXCELLENT episode! All the major points we wanted came true 1.) Giles did avoide the bringer and showed how, and made good jokes about it too hehe, the squeeky shoes 2.) Buffy decided to have the chip removed from Spike, trust ++ 3.) Andrew is definitely on the good side 4.) Now we know the scoop on the Principal, and how his mother was the previous slayer, that is awesome. But Spike killed her, that will bring some interesting story line. There was some good humor in this ep, and then there was seriousness, Giles is trying so hard to strike home to them the dangers they truely face... I really liked this ep, and the next one looks great as well...

12th February 2003, 03:10 AM	#3 (permalink)
angelle myst Ash Join Date: May 2002 Location: Yorkshire, England. Posts: 1,772	"Why does everybody in this house think I'm still in love with Spike?!" First time Buffy ever admitted that at one point she loved him? Pretty cool Thought it was cute when Spike kept wanting to go get Buffy (away from Wood), poor guy. From the trailer i saw on upn.com, Ashanti looked like a good actress, will have to wait to see the whole ep to make final judgement on that though. What did everyone else think of her? Poor Xander, lol, but that kinda serves him right for not wanting Willow to check up on Lyssa ain't it? He was given the opportunity, and refused. Nice moment between Buffy and Spike at the end - "I'm not ready for you to not be here." Very sweet, definitely an "aww" moment Wonder how Wood will deal with Spike now he's soulful. Will him having a soul make a difference? Good ep can't wait to see it for real xxx

12th February 2003, 03:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,481	1st -- woohoo - a plot twist -- about damn time -- anyway -- comments -- did anyone hear Buffy tell Willow "I'm not in love with Spike anymore" ?? -- um - when was she ever in love with him? She never said she was - so, what was that? And why didn't Willow catch it? Spike tackled Giles! LOL! - b/c he thought he was evil and non-corporeal - um - something suck out your braincells Spike? The dates? Hmm - I was half expecting Principal wood to be more along the lines of the Mayor w/ all that hardware - then he told Buffy a vampire killed his mother -- 1st thing that jumped into my head? -- Spike (evil Spike at that!) The 'sum up' of the Giles bit was kind of lame - but better than just the little wrap from last week - I mean - yeah - okay - instinctive-Giles - and he heard the guy's shoes squeak - but geeeeeeeeeez -- to wait this long? However, this is abt the only down part of this ep -- I really liked this one - Nice 'set up' (excuse the pun) of Buffy and the vamps in the alley - she thought she was being set up - then, as it turns out - Wood is all vengency against vamps - Course - now Buffy's gonna have to either a) protect Spike from Wood or b) hand him over --- as she's 'not ready for him to not be here' yet -- that might be a tough choice - but, she seems to have feelings for Wood - so, who knows where this is going - not that I mind a lack of Buffy / Spike ship - praying dearly for it, actually - but gotta toss out a 'poor Spike' - more fuel for the 'love's bitch' fire -- he needs to start a support group or something Overall - good ep -- really do wanna know how they're gonna deal with the 'Spike killed Wood's mother' bit ---

12th February 2003, 10:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
Angelus Rex Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Somewhere Posts: 18	Decent episode. Nothing special, but good. I was jumping up and down on my chair when Wood revealed who he really was. See I had made up somehting similar to that years ago. You know, a kid of that dead black Slayer comes back for his head. BTW why Buffy said "This is the greatest thing I have ever had in my mouth", I said to myself, "I think Angel, Spike, and Reilly might disagree with you on that!"

13th February 2003, 02:28 AM	#7 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,481	And as much as I'm wanting to throttle annoying Buffy - she made a good point about Spike's chip - he was evil, but doing something evil to him to keep him from being evil isn't the right way to go about it -- (though, I'm seeing an issue w/ the 'killing of evil things' being 'not evil' - but we can work around that) -- Tho - I think the REAL reason she had the chip removed - the reason she won't admit to anyone - is that she loves Spike - (and I gag and spit and cough as I type that b/c eww - don't want that ship to happen, but anyway) - or, that's at least PART of why she had it removed instead of repaired -- But her 'muzzle' argument was good too -- The other thing I thought was really funny - Anya and her rant, then telling Buffy she had to pee!

28th February 2003, 07:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
obcooke OB-Wan Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 1,357	Hey, I just watched this one again and noticed something really cheesy-- When Buffy and Wood are walking through the alley to the restuarant. The first vampire walks around the corner in front of them. They re-used the footage from "The Gift"!!. That's the vampire that chased the kid in the alley in very beginning!! They re-used a couple of seconds from the scene where he corners the young man in the alley. How disappointing. It's really a jarring reminder that we're watching a TV show, when we should be enjoying the story.

18th April 2003, 02:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,481	Ahem - correction police here -- "Fool For Love" and the flashbacks to the slayer in the 70's is from S5, Mark -- (you know I gotta do it ) But yeah - Wood and Spike - tense bit -- Wood's all out for blood - bad Wood - never go after Spike, don't you know the rules?

18th April 2003, 01:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
markpud Super-Mod to the gods Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: with Buffy, in Manchester, England... Posts: 4,732	Oops my bad, of course it was S5... Did anyone notice we didn't see all of the SiTs this week? I only saw Willows friend, the new one and one other... where r the rest?? I guess it was slightly worrying that there is an unspecified number of uber-vamps down under that seal - bot one of tehm is fairly arm-les s now But if there are lots down there, why only rise one at a time? Surely 10 of them coming up would be enough to over-run the scooby-squad...

18th April 2003, 06:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
Brit Chick Ooh look - shiny things ! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: London Posts: 276	So when they all get to the where Xander is tied up and Spike starts to fight and goes into Vamp face why is it only at that point Principal Wood says, - 'he is a vampire' ?? all the drive over there he is looking in the rear view mirror with Spike behind him so he must have noticed that there was no relfection - Just wondering I must admit I saw the naughty side of Buffy's comment that the food was the best thing she'd ever had in her mouth !! LOL And at the end Xander 'come on Willow - gay me up' !! 'I'm mentally undressing Scott Bakula as we speak' and Andrew's wistfull look - ahh Captain Archer. Andrew is SO Gay!!! And of course, finally, Giles took his bloody coat off!!!

18th April 2003, 11:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,481	eh -you know I luv ya, mark -- anyway -- I was wonderin' the same thing about Wood lookin' at Spike in the rearview mirror -- b/c EVERYONE knows that in vehicles where the driver sits on the left, if you sit directly behind the driver - even YOU can see yourself in the rearview mirror -- that BUGGED me! ack! So, either Wood is really dense, or the writers had a huge brain fart on that one --- They don't use all the SITs in every ep -- too expensive -- so you get SIT-glimpses instead --

21st April 2003, 04:07 PM	#14 (permalink)
VAMPette To the Angel- Mobile! Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 419	I really liked this episode, great plot twist at the end, even though we saw it coming from the dinner bit, plus some really funny bits - liked Buffy's bidet of evil speech plus Giles' flash cards and how cute was Spike when he was really understanding and mature about Buffy's date and then couldn't wait to get to her to break it up. And Ashanti looked great as a demon. But yeah, thought Spike's chip being removed was very much brushed over - I thought there might be a bit more agonising over, guilt, wondering if they've done the right thing. And Xander didn't even comment - I thought he would've been very much against it. And then the comment from Buffy about being still in love with him - is that trying to imply that she was in love with him all along and lied about it?

22nd April 2003, 11:51 AM	#15 (permalink)
little smaug Fire and Brimstone Join Date: May 2002 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 1,343	Another excellent episode, the season has definately taken a turn for the better. I'm glad we got to see how Giles avoided that axe, cos it really didn't seem possible. And i loved his explanation later on about the 'squeaky shoes'. I thought that Spike tackling Giles was hilarious, as was Spike: You're supposed to be all... go-through-able. Giles: Then why the hell did you tackle me, you berk!?! :laugh2: I feel sorry for Xander. Will he never get a normal girlfriend? (i realise that Cordelia wasn't a demon, but she wasn't exactly normal either ) One question - at what point, when he was being roped to the pentagram, did Xander have time to send a text message? On a positive note, i'm really glad that Wood isn't evil, i like him. It was a shock that his mother was a slayer. But i thought it was kinda obvious it was gonna be Spike who killed her. I wonder what's going to happen now. Will Wood try to kill Spike? If Buffy stops him, will he go over to the dark side?