School Hard

Infobox Television episode
Title=School Hard


Series=Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Season=2
Episode=3
Airdate=September 29 1997
Production=5V03
Writer= David Greenwalt (story & teleplay)
Joss Whedon (story)
Director=John T. Kretchmer
Episode list=List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes
Prev=Some Assembly Required
Next=Inca Mummy Girl

"School Hard" is episode 3 of season 2 of the television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer".

Plot synopsis

ummary

A new vampire by the name of Spike arrives in Sunnydale with his girlfriend, Drusilla, and is bent on killing Buffy. Principal Snyder makes Buffy set up for Parent-Teacher Night.

Expanded overview

"School Hard" starts with Buffy and Sheila in Principal Snyder's office. He has decided that his two nemeses will prepare the school lounge for parent-teacher night on Thursday. Whoever does the better job will not be expelled. Sheila's continued unconcern puts even more pressure on Buffy, who already has a tough time balancing slaying with a social life. That night, a new pair of vampires arrive in town, Spike and Drusilla, who interrupt a gathering by the Anointed One to discuss The Master's departure. Spike promises to kill Buffy as he has killed two Slayers already. Drusilla is also quite ill, having being injured by an angry mob in Prague.

While the Scoobies are busy preparing for the parents, Giles and Jenny Calendar show up to inform Buffy that Saturday will be the Night of Saint Vigeous, named after the leader of a vampire crusade, and that during that night, the natural abilities of vampires will be enhanced. Buffy is unimpressed.

Buffy tries to combine school and social life by studying French at the Bronze. Spike is there, too, and sends one of his minions to attack someone, prompting Buffy to fight the minion. He watches while Buffy kills his minion. Spike then steps out of the shadows and tells her that he will kill her on Saturday. He later brings Sheila, who is enthralled by his bad boy charms, to the weak Drusilla as food.

Giles does not recognize Spike from Buffy's description. Angel walks in on the meeting and tells them that Spike is a large problem, and then leaves. Later, Giles finds a reference to Spike as "William the Bloody," and discovers that he has indeed killed two slayers already.

On Thursday night, the Scoobies are making weapons in the library while Buffy is preparing the buffet. She eventually fails to keep Snyder from her mother. Afterwards, a stern Joyce orders Buffy home just as Spike and the other vampires crash through the window, too impatient to wait for Saturday. In the ensuing fight, Buffy leads the adults to safety in the science room while Xander, Giles, and Ms. Calendar barricade themselves in the library. Willow and Cordelia hide in a utility closet. Xander is sent out to get Angel. Buffy takes command of the incredulous adults, tells them to stay put and climbs through the air ducts to reach the library and her weapons.

Xander returns to the school with Angel, who pretends to be his former evil self. Though Spike first welcomes Angel as a long-lost friend, he sees through the ruse and Xander and Angel are forced to flee. Xander hears Spike call Angel his "sire" and "Yoda."

Buffy and Spike finally meet in the hall, and Buffy is almost bested when her mother shows up and hits Spike over the head with the flat of an axe. With the curse "Women!", he retreats. Joyce tells Buffy that she trusts Buffy to take care of herself, whatever Snyder may say.

Snyder tells the police chief to say that the trouble was caused by a gang on PCP. When the chief wonders if people will believe it, Snyder asks if the chief would rather that he tell the truth. Spike returns to the vampire lair, where the Anointed One demands penance for attacking too early. After starting to go through the motions, Spike simply throws the boy in a cage and pulls it into the sun, killing him. From now on, he says, there will be less ritual and more fun "around here."

Acting

tarring

*Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
*Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
*Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg
*Charisma Carpenter as Cordelia Chase
*David Boreanaz as Angel
*and Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles

Guest starring

*Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers
*Robia LaMorte as Jenny Calendar
*Andrew J. Ferchland as The Anointed One
*James Marsters as Spike
*Alexandra Johnes as Sheila Martini
*Gregory Scott Cummins as Big Ugly
*Andrew Palmer as Lean Boy
*Brian Reddy as Police Chief Boy
*Juliet Landau as Drusilla
*and Armin Shimerman as Principal Snyder

Co-starring

*Keith MacKechnie as Parent
*Alan Abelew as Brian Kirsh
*Joanie Pleasant as Helpless Girl

Production

Arc Significance

*This is the first appearance of Spike, who will become a major character on the series.
*This episode establishes that Spike and Angel have a history.
*This is the final appearance of The Anointed One.
*Drusilla makes her first appearance.
*In this episode, Giles' research indicates that Spike is barely 200 years old whereas his age is given as 126 in season four.
*Spike calls Angel his sire in this episode. However, in flashbacks shown in later episodes, Drusilla is Spike's sire.

Cultural References

*"Die Hard" - The title and some plot elements are reminiscient of the action film.
*"Star Wars" - Spike refers to Angel as "His Yoda".

Music

* Nickel - "1000 Nights" "(music at The Bronze)"
* Nickel - "Stupid Thing" "(music at The Bronze)"

External links

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* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/buffy/indetail/schoolhard/ BBC episode guide to "School Hard"]