Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Recap/S1/E04 Teacher's Pet

In the first of one of his "my love interest is a monster" moments, Xander falls for a substitute teacher who preys on virgins.

Tropes:
"Giles: That's all he said? Fork Guy? Buffy: That's all Cryptic Guy said -- Fork Guy.
 * Always a Bigger Fish: A vampire with a nightmarish metal claw is about to attack a woman when she turns around and is revealed to be the substitute teacher. The vampire hisses, recoils, runs off and dives into a manhole.
 * A Man Is Not a Virgin: Xander and Blayne vigorously deny being virgins after their rescue.
 * As You Know: Giles feels the need to explain who the Master is to the only other people who already know.
 * Attempted Rape: By a giant mantis.
 * The Beard: After Blayne mocks Xander's non-sex life, he asks Buffy and Willow to pretend to be his girls. Willow is certainly eager to play along.
 * Big Creepy-Crawlies
 * Buffy-Speak

Giles: I think there are too many 'guys' in your life."

"Dr. Gregory: If you read the homework you should know the two ways that ants communicate. (Willow strokes Xander) Buffy: Touch... (Willow sniffs Xander) Buffy: B.O.?"
 * Chekhov's Classroom: The lecture from the science teacher's substitute about the cannibalism seen in female praying mantises.
 * Cut Apart: Buffy is about to kick down Ms French's door when a harmless old lady opens it -- turns out she's the real Melanie French, whose identity the She-Mantis used as a cover.
 * Daydream Surprise: Xander saving Damsel in Distress Buffy. Plus he's a rock star.
 * Distracted by the Sexy: Xander mentions being distracted by the cheerleading squads' new short skirts, then is distracted on camera by Ms French's slow-motion Sexy Walk.
 * The End - or Is It?: Some of Ms. French's eggs are still unaccounted for. And they're starting to hatch. Oddly enough, this is never brought up again.
 * Evil-Detecting Dog: Buffy captures the Claw-vampire and uses him to find out where the She-Mantis is.
 * Exorcist Head
 * Flashback Echo: Xander flashbacks to the dream of himself as a rock star when he thinks he's scored with the new teacher.
 * Gender-Inverted Trope: Buffy and Willow rescuing the boys from Virgin Sacrifice.
 * Gone Mad From the Revelation: Dr. Ferris Carlyle on discovering the existence of the She-Mantis.
 * Hook Hand combined with Wolverine Claws for "Claw".
 * Horny Devil: The closest we get to this trope on the series.
 * Hot for Teacher
 * I Do Not Speak Nonverbal: Willow trying to tell Buffy the answers behind Dr. Gregory's back.

"Xander: It's the most beautiful chest... dress I've ever seen."
 * Incredibly Lame Pun: When forcing her to take counselling, Mr Flutie shouts at Buffy to "Heal!" She sits.
 * Little Black Dress. One might also call it a Freudian Slip.


 * Lecture as Exposition
 * Matter of Life and Death
 * Monster of the Week: The She-Mantis.
 * Padding: Oh, the number of lines explaining the perfectly obvious, and pointless flashbacks. The script clearly came in short.
 * Percussive Therapy: Xander takes a machete to the She-Mantis eggs.
 * Police Are Useless: Buffy's fight with Claw is interrupted by the police arriving (one of whom was disguised as a wino earlier). This appears to be one of the few occasions we see the Sunnydale police actively trying to catch a killer.
 * Screaming Woman: With a camera pullback from inside her mouth.
 * Shadow Discretion Shot: Buffy killing the She-Mantis -- likely more for budget reasons than averting violence.
 * Ship Tease: Buffy continuing to wear Angel's coat, and her "Oh boy" as she watches him walk away at the end.
 * Slipping a Mickey
 * Urban Legend Love Life: Jerk Jock Blayne
 * Virgin Power
 * Weirdness Magnet: The first time this hits Xander.
 * You Must Be Cold: Angel lends Buffy his coat, pissing off a Genre Savvy Xander who knows what it implies.