Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Recap/S6/E01 Bargaining, Part 1

"Xander: This is deep stuff, Willow. We're talking about raising the dead. Willow: It's time we stop talking. Tomorrow night, we're bringing Buffy back."

The Scoobies had been holding the fort with the help of the Buffy-bot but decide they need the real Buffy. Demon bikers crash into town. This was the first episode on the new network of the series, UPN.

"Buffybot: That'll put marzipan on your pie plate, bingo! Willow: I was trying to program in some new puns and I kind of ended up with Word Salad."
 * Actually a Doombot
 * All Bikers Are Hellsmouth Demons: The Hellions.
 * Armor-Piercing Question: The Buffybot to Giles. "Then why are you still here?"
 * Bait and Switch: The Buffybot is introduced in the middle of the teaser fight, as if the real Buffy is somehow alive.
 * Bambification: Averted when Willow kills a fawn for its blood.
 * Black Magic
 * Bond One-Liner: The Buffybot never quite gets it right.

""I tried being patient but it took too long.""
 * Brought Down to Normal: Dawn is no longer the Key, so she only has to worry about being eaten by some random Monster of the Week.
 * Buried Alive: Joss Whedon has Sarah Michelle Gellar go through her greatest fear. Again.
 * Call Back: When persuading the Scoobies, Willow assures them that it's not like Dawn trying to raise Joyce from the dead in "Forever", and plays on their fear that Buffy might be trapped in a hell dimension like Angel was at the beginning of Season 3.
 * Channel Hop: First episode of the UPN era.
 * Comically Missing the Point: Anya does lots in this episode.

"Giles: I just can't help but wonder if ... she would have been better off without me. Buffy. Buffybot: I don't think that's true. You were very helpful to her. Giles: Right. Yes, I was a perfect Watcher. I did what any good Watcher would do. Got my Slayer killed in the line of duty."
 * The Confidant: Giles ends up discussing his feelings of guilt with the Buffybot.

"Willow: What are you doing? Help him! Spike: (calmly lighting a cigarette) I just did. (The back of the vamp's shirt goes up in flame, followed by the rest of him)"
 * Credits Gag: Homaged with Tara's finger monster. Grrr. Arrgh.
 * Darker and Edgier: Sets the template for the whole season.
 * Death Is Cheap: Willow can resurrect Buffy after she's been dead for months because she died a supernatural death.
 * Description Cut / Tempting Fate
 * "Nothing can go wrong tonight." Cut to the Hellions roaring past a Welcome to Sunnydale sign.
 * "You don't think they'll cause a lot of damage, do you?" Cut to the Hellions chucking Molotov cocktails about with abandon.
 * Dissonant Serenity / Man On Fire: Spike appears to be unconcerned that Giles is being choked by a huge vampire.

"I'll think it over."
 * Elephant in the Living Room: The reaction of the Scoobies when the Buffybot hugs her "sister".
 * Everything Is Online: Including the Urn of Osiris -- Anya bought it on EBay.
 * Fantastic Racism: Razor, the leader of the Hellions, kills a vampire who asks to ride with them by cutting off his head.

"Anya: "You know, I used to punish people like this when I was a demon. I made them double-check spreadsheets for all eternity.""
 * Five Stages of Grief: Bargaining is the third stage of grief.
 * Foreshadowing
 * Xander has been putting off announcing his engagement to Anya all summer, implying that he has second thoughts.
 * The distortions moving over Willow's body when she's being 'tested' are the same as the the malevolent spirit in "After Life".
 * Geographic Flexibility: Sunnydale has a regional airport with flights to Los Angeles.
 * Grievous Bottley Harm: A vampire damages the Buffybot when he hits it in the head with a bottle.
 * Half Truth: "Wine of the mother" (the fawn's blood)
 * Hide Your Gays: Averted -- Joss Whedon celebrates the new freedom of UPN by having Willow and Tara kiss casually and on the lips.
 * Incredibly Lame Pun: A sticker in the Magic Shop says "Life's a witch and then you fly." After the Buffybot malfunctions and keeps running into the furniture, Spike decides not to let it out as there's already enough Things That Go Bump in the Night.
 * Ironic Hell

"Willow: I got her head back on, didn't I? And I got her off those knock-knock jokes. Buffybot: Ooh, who's there? Xander: You know, if we want her to be exactly-- Spike: She'll never be exactly. Xander: I know. Tara: The only really real Buffy is really Buffy. Giles: And she's gone. Buffybot: "If we want her to be exactly she'll never be exactly I know the only really real Buffy is really Buffy and she's gone" who?"
 * I Will Protect Her: Spike is living up to his promise to Buffy to protect her little sister.
 * Knock-Knock Joke

"Tara: Oops, um ... she wanted to help, and I got her started, but then I forgot to un-start."
 * Literal Minded: The Buffybot making mega-sandwiches.

"Spike: No. I'm not leaving you ... to get hurt. (softly) Not again."
 * Malaproper: The Urn of Cirrhosis...Osiris.
 * Man Hug: Between Xander and Giles.
 * Mood Whiplash: Dawn is trying to talk Spike out of babysitting her when he suddenly slams a pack of cards down on the table.

"Oh, poor Watcher, did your life flash before your eyes? Cuppa tea, cuppa tea, almost got shagged, cuppa tea?"
 * My Life Flashed Before My Eyes: Spike after Giles nearly gets throttled by a vampire.

"Vampire: "You're... you're a machine!""
 * No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: The Hellions knock the Buffybot to the ground and proceed to kick and stomp the shit out of it.
 * Not So Dire: "Buffybot is about to face her most dangerous challenge ever." Cut to a banner proclaiming "Welcome to Parent Teacher Day."
 * Our Zombies Are Different: When Xander worries that they might be raising a brain-eating Buffy, Anya reassures him that it's a myth -- zombies only eat brains if they're instructed to by the person who raised them.
 * Promoted to Parent / Has Two Mommies: Willow and Tara now sleep in Joyce's room and act as Dawn's parents.
 * Replacement Goldfish: Dawn curls up in bed next to the recharging Buffybot. Giles finds himself teaching the bot Eastern martial arts philosophy until Anya calls him on it. Averted with Spike who refuses even to look at it.
 * Rise From Your Grave
 * Reptiles Are Abhorrent: Willow vomits up a live snake during the ceremony, shocking the Scoobies who are unaware just how dark the magic she's using is.
 * Robotic Reveal:

"Buffybot: "School is where you learn." Preach it, sister."
 * Seemingly-Profound Fool

"Xander: My face was getting sore from all that faux smiling."
 * Spanner in the Works: The Buffybot is programmed to return to Willow if damaged. As a result it leads the Hellions directly to the Scoobies in the midst of their raising ceremony.
 * Stiff Upper Lippy: The Scoobies try to avoid tears while saying farewell to Giles.

"Willow: Oh. I, uh, had to get that thing. Xander: Giles isn't around, you can dump the cryptic."
 * Talk About That Thing: The Scoobies discussing their plan around Giles, Spike or Dawn.

"Xander: House o' chicks, relax. I'm a man and I have a tool! (sees Dawn) Tools. Lots of plural tools. In my toolbox."
 * Telepathy: Willow uses this to direct the Scoobies in the teaser where they run down a vampire.
 * That Came Out Wrong

"Tara: She did great; she impressed all the teachers. Xander: And they still thought it was Buffy?"
 * Two Part Episode
 * Weirdness Censor: The Buffybot is regarded as an example for all parents.

"Xander: Okay -- when I'm marveling at the immaturity...be scared."
 * Wimp Fight: Giles and Anya get into a slapfight.

"Xander: Who made you boss the boss of us? Willow: You did. You said I could be boss. Anya: You said to take a vote and it was unanimous. Tara: You made a plaque that said "You're the boss of us!" with little sparkles on it."
 * You Are in Command Now / Rhetorical Question Blunder