Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Recap/S2/E14 Innocence



After making love with Buffy earlier that night, Angel stumbles into the alley outside as his soul is ripped from him. When he shows up at the factory, Spike is surprised and Drusilla are stunned that the Judge cannot burn him—Angel has reverted to the evil Angelus. The three are pleased to be a "family" again. Meanwhile, Buffy wakes up to find Angel missing, and starts a desperate search for him. Eventually finding him back at his apartment, Angelus begins his torment of her by hitting her with numerous cutting remarks about the previous night.

While researching a way to defeat the Judge, Xander and Cordelia get caught kissing in the library by a crushed Willow. Angelus terrorizes Buffy and the Gang at school, and after several realizations about what might have happened to cause it, an emotionally shattered Buffy leaves, unable to cope. Buffy has another dream in which Angel helps her realise that Jenny knows more than she's letting on. The next morning she confronts Jenny at school, who admits she is a member of the Gypsy clan that cursed Angelus with his soul so long ago.

Xander hatches a plan using memories from being a soldier on Halloween, posing as an off-duty soldier looking to make out with his girlfriend in order to sneak in and borrow some heavy duty ordnance. Tracking down the Judge at the crowded mall, Buffy and her team blow him to bits with her new "present" – a rocket launcher, while Angelus and Drusilla narrowly escape the blast. The Slayer stalks Angelus through the fleeing crowd. Reaching a stand-off, neither of them is quite ready to kill the other, although Buffy does settle for kicking Angelus in the nuts.

Buffy home and she feels awful for putting her friends in serious danger from Angelus. Giles assures her that, although she did act irresponsibly, it is obvious that she and Angel loved each other and that he hasn't lost his trust and respect in her. Later, Buffy and her mother sit down to watch a movie. Joyce asks Buffy what she got for her birthday, and Buffy simply answers that she got older.

Tropes
"Buffy: Was I not good? Angelus: You were great. Really. I thought you were a pro."
 * And Your Little Dog, Too: Giles says Angel's profile indicates he'll "strike out at the things that made him most human."
 * Anguished Declaration of Love: Buffy whimpers this as Angelus is headed out the door. ..To which he asides, "Love ya too," without so much as looking back.
 * Anywhere but Their Lips: Angelus kisses Spike on the forehead in a Ho Yay moment.
 * Asshole Victim: Uncle Enyos.
 * Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: The guard on post isn't in a humoring mood, but Xander blackmails him by barking out, "Well, if you do, I won't tell Colonel Newsome that your boots ain't regulation, your post wasn't covered, and you hold your gun like a sissy girl."
 * Author Appeal: Joss Whedon really wanted the scene with Buffy using the rocket launcher, and declares it the part of the series he loves the most.
 * Backhanded Compliment: Angelus to Buffy:

"Uncle Enyos: To the modern man, vengeance is a verb, an idea. Payback. One thing for another. Like commerce. Not with us. Vengeance is a living thing. It passes through generations. It commands. It kills."
 * Bad News, Irrelevant News: Xander reports that the bus depot was a wash-out with regard to tracking down the Judge's pieces, but it wasn't a total loss: "a 400-pound wino offered to wash my hair."
 * Battle in the Rain: The flaming husk of the Judge sets off the shopping mall's sprinkler system, dousing Buffy as she follows after Angelus. He's nowhere to be found, but suddenly hops out and punches Buffy in the face, knocking her down. Interestingly, this fight defies the usual conceit of combatants never losing their footing in the rain, as there's plenty of slipping around and stumbling on the rain-slicked floor.
 * Because Destiny Says So: Uncle Enyos came to Sunnydale to stop Angelus' return, but now realizes that it was foretold.
 * Best Served Cold: Angelus' rage at Buffy for making him experience love.
 * Also the gypsies' rationale.

""Sometimes, when I'm sitting in class -- you know, I'm not thinking about class, 'cause that would never happen. I think about kissing you. And it's like everything stops. It's like, it's like freeze frame. Willow kissage.""
 * Big "Shut Up!": Giles concludes that some "event" must have triggered Angel's transformation. The Awful Truth begins to dawn on Buffy, but she denies knowledge of anything that could have caused it. Giles presses her, but Buffy jumps up and flees from the library, saying, "Giles, please. I can't," in a choked voice. Giles calls after her, but Willow, having put the pieces together, mutters, "Giles, shut up."
 * Big Freaking Gun: M136 AT4 anti-armour launcher with night vision sight. Awesome!
 * Bond One-Liner: Buffy after blowing up the Judge. "Best birthday present ever."
 * Brainwash Residue: Xander retains some of his soldier knowledge after "Halloween".
 * Broken Bird: Averted as Angelus fails to break Buffy, but in the long term played straight -- from this point on Buffy has a tendency to shut herself off emotionally from her friends, and especially her lovers.
 * Buffy-Speak

""I knew it! I knew it! Well, not 'knew' in the sense of having the slightest idea, but I knew there was something I didn't know!""
 * Call Back: Xander still retains all the "soldier stuff" that was stuck in his brain ("Halloween"), including the layout of the whole army base. He's pretty sure he can can also dissemble an M-16 in under a minute.
 * Cerebus Syndrome: And how!
 * Chain Heat Wave: The Judge spreads his arms and send out bolts of soul-burning energy. The bolts jump from person to person, and soon everyone in the vicinity is trapped in a web.
 * Chekhov's Boomerang: Xander still remembers everything his soldier persona did in "Halloween", including the layout of the base and the name of his commanding officer. Not to mention how to use a rocket launcher.
 * Chekhov's Gunman: According to the Word of God the Judge was created specifically so the audience would know Angelus wasn't just Angel pretending to be evil, in the scene where he can't burn the goodness out because there's none there.
 * Cheshire Cat Grin: Drusilla seems to sense the departure of Angel's soul. At the factory, Spike is alarmed by the sound of Dru moaning. She drops to the floor in one of her patented seer seizures. Spike asks what's the matter, but all Dru can utter is, "Angel." Slowly, her agonized expression is replaced by an eerie smile.
 * Color-Coded for Your Convenience: When Buffy confronts Angelus at the school and later at the mall, she's ditched her virginal white clothes for black, as if cloaking herself in her Slayer persona.
 * Cosmic Retcon: The comic story "False Memories" reexamines how the early years of Buffy were changed by the reality shift that produced Dawn Summers. In the alternate history, it was Dawn rather than Willow who Angelus throttles inside the school.
 * Couldn't Find a Pen: Smeared in Enyos's blood above his bed are the words "WAS IT GOOD FOR YOU TOO?"
 * Create Your Own Villain: The Big Bad for season two, Angelus, has finally appeared and Buffy made it happen. He takes great pleasure in reminding Buffy of this fact.
 * Curse Escape Clause
 * Dangerously Genre Savvy: Angelus isn't the type to leave loose ends.
 * Dangerous Sixteenth Birthday: Well seventeenth but with what happens who's counting?
 * Dark Reprise: The Buffy/Angel theme, "Close Your Eyes", won't ever have quite the same ring again.
 * Darkness Equals Death
 * Description Cut: Willow catches Buffy in the hall to ask if she thinks that Angel would have gone after the Judge himself. Cut to Angelus (not Angel) getting zapped by the Judge, who reads him "clean" of humanity.
 * Deleted Scene: In the original script, there is an entire scene of Angelus bantering with Jenny's uncle which was cut.
 * The actors credited as "Teacher" and "Student" do not actually appear in the episode. The scene they were appeared, which revolved around Buffy running out of class after a series of dark thoughts about having sex the night before, was cut due to time.
 * Department of Redundancy Department: Willow runs off after seeing Xander and Cordy snogging. Xander calls after her and gives pursuit.

"Angelus: I feel just fine."
 * Disposable Sex Worker: Outside in the alley, Angel falls flat on the pavement. A streetwalker standing nearby sees him and skulks over. She asks Angel if he wants her to call an ambulance. and Angel gets to his feet, saying, "No. The pain is gone." The woman takes a drag off her cig and asks if he's sure. In response, he spins to face her in full game face and grabs her in a feeding frenzy.

"Willow: No problem. I'll get Oz. He has a VAN."
 * Does This Remind You of Anything?: For Xander's plan to work, he says they're going to need wheels. Cordy offers her car, and Willow seethes nearby. Xander gulps and remarks that it "might have to be bigger."

"Spike: What's Big Blue up to anyway? He just sits there.
 * Not to mention the whole "boyfriend dropping his nice personality once he's slept with you" thing.
 * Do Not Taunt Cthulhu: Wheelchair!Spike doesn't hesitate to speak his mind.

Judge: I am preparing.

Spike: (rolls his eyes) Yeah. It's interesting to me that 'preparing' looks a great bit like sitting on your ass."

"Xander: [lightbulb over head] Whoa, whoa. I... I think I'm having a thought. Yeah, yeah, that's a thought. -- Now I'm having a plan! [the lights cut off].
 * Double Take: When Buffy shoulder's Xander's present Angelus and Drusilia pull this, as if to say, "Hold on, a rocket launcher???" Cue Oh Crap faces as they rush to take cover.
 * Dreaming the Truth: Following the dream flashback to Angel losing his soul, Buffy sees herself standing amongst mourners at a sunlit funeral. Angel approaches and intones, "You have to know what to see." She turns her face toward the assembled mourners, then turns to see Jenny Calendar lifting a black veil (symbolic of gypsies?) off her face.
 * Empathic Environment: As the lights go out inside the school, Angelus appears at the end of a darkened hallway, his shape blocking a lit ' EXIT ' sign.
 * Eureka Moment: Xander asks Willow if they've made any progress on the Judge. Brief recap of bad news: no weapons forged can defeat him, last time it took an army. Willow begins to mock one of the books, saying, "Where's an army when you need one?"

Xander: Now I'm having a wiggins."

"Angelus: You know what the worst part was, huh? Pretending that I loved you. If I'd known how easily you'd give it up, I wouldn't have even bothered. Buffy: That doesn't work anymore. You're not Angel. Angelus: You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? It doesn't matter. The important thing is you made me the man I am today!"
 * Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Angelus makes a Badass Boast that's he'll break Buffy overnight. Instead Buffy rallies due to her inner strength and the help of her friends to destroy the Judge.
 * Evil Costume Switch: But... he must be evil! Behold the leather pants!
 * When Angelus snubs Buffy in his apartment, the heart on his claddagh ring is now pointing in the opposite direction. Traditionally, the heart facing away from the base of the finger means the wearer isn't in a committed relationship. (This may, however, be unintentional)
 * Angelus continues wearing the claddagh ring throughout the season, possibly as a testament to his evil designs for Buffy.
 * Evil Feels Good: Angelus takes obvious pleasure in being freed of the Restraining Bolt of a soul.
 * Evil Gloating

""To kill this girl, you have to love her.""
 * Evil Is Stylish: Angelus brags to Spike and the dolly-clutching Drusilla about his adventures at the school. Spike is still back stuck at the part where he didn't kill the Slayer, but Drusilla's worked it out. Poking her doll in the eyes (a frequent Dru motif), explains that Angelus wants to hurt Buffy before he kills her. She smiles at him nostalgically: "Just like you hurt me." Angelus taunts Spike that his usual mode of attack clearly isn't working, seeing how he's stuck in a wheelchair. He concludes:

"Willow: It's Cordelia! Remember? The 'We Hate Cordelia Club', of which you are the treasurer...!"
 * Exact Eavesdropping: Jenny, already clued in that Angel's soul is in danger, skulks around the corner as Will and Buffy discuss his conspicuous absence.
 * Xander suggests that he and Cordy "kiss and make up." Cordy's not forthcoming with the forgiveness -- but she's fine with "the other part." As they pull apart from a kiss, we see Willow standing there with a shocked and hurt look on her face.

"The Judge: [on seeing the rocket launcher] "What's that do?""
 * Buffy, Giles, Xander, and the rest of the gang find the Factory deserted, although Spike is actually there, lurking in the shadows. Tellingly, he does not take action to warn Angelus.
 * Face Heel Turn: Angel.
 * Famous Last Words:

"Angelus: As long as there's injustice in the world, as long as scum like you is walking-- [notices the wheelchair] well, rolling the streets... I'll be around. Look over your shoulder. I'll be there.""
 * For Great Justice: Parodied by Angelus. Spike, mistaking him for the Vampire With a Soul, drops that old clinker, "You never give up, do you?"

"Cordelia: Does looking at guns make you wanna have sex? Xander: I'm seventeen. Looking at linoleum makes me wanna have sex."
 * Foreshadowing: Giles ominously notes that "the coming months will be hard, I suspect on all of us." If he only knew.
 * Good Smoking, Evil Smoking: Once he's finished gnawing on the streetwalker's neck, Angelus exhales her last tobacco-filled breath for her.
 * So I guess Angel likes to smoke a cig afterwards?
 * Just to indicate his lack of soul, Angelus lights a cigarette in the presence of Spike and Dru, thus proving that he is Truly Evil.
 * Smoking continues to be used on Angel as a motif for Angel's Dark Side. Angel is later seen lighting up during flashbacks to the 1950s, when he was alienated from humans (though to be fair, everybody smoked). More notably, Angel sets on fire by puffing on a cigarette and flicking it into a pool of gasoline. ("Redefinition")
 * Gory Discretion Shot: The body of Jenny's uncle is never properly shown, but, considering Angelus killed him and Couldn't Find a Pen, it's probably safe to assume that he wasn't left in a pretty state.
 * Groin Attack: Angelous sneers that Buffy can't kill him, so The Slayer punts him in the balls and makes him wish she did.
 * The Guards Must Be Crazy: In the military base, Xander approaches a door marked "Secured Area." On cue, a guard cocks his gun and demands that they identify themselves. Xander persuades the guard that he's a private "on leave" from "the 33rd", and asks that the solider turn a blind eye so he can show his girlfriend (Cordy) some hardware.
 * Gut Punch: Asked about his decision to turn Angel evil, Joss Whedon said that he feels it was necessary to keep the story fresh. Although the fan base wanted Buffy and Angel to be together romantically, Whedon says, "What people want is not what they need."
 * Heel Face Mole: Buffy accuses and Giles tries to interfere until Jenny admits she was planted there to keep her and Angel apart. When war plans are being laid, Jenny stands in the doorway and offers her help, but both Buffy and Giles tell her to Get Out! and then turn their backs on her. Ouch!
 * Heroic BSOD: Overwhelmed by the revelation of the part she played in Angelus' return, Buffy retreats back to her bedroom. She spots the crucifix Angel gave her and pulls his claddagh ring from her finger. Sobbing, she falls on the bed, cradling the ring.
 * Hope Spot: Buffy demands that Jenny re-curse Angel, but Jenny claims "those magicks are lost." Buffy then demands that Jenny take her to a higher authority. Smash Cut to Uncle Enyos, puffing on his pipe as the door creaks behind him. "I knew she would bring you. I suppose you want answers," he smugs, apparently thinking it's Buffy at the door. But instead, he turns to be greeted by Angelus. So long, Uncle Enyos.
 * Hormone-Addled Teenager: Xander puts it matter-of-factly.

"Buffy: Angel, there must be some part of you inside that still remembers who you are. Angelus: Dream on, schoolgirl. Your boyfriend is dead. You're all gonna join him."
 * Hyde Plays Jekyll
 * "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight:

"Willow: No. It just means you'd rather be with someone you hate... then be with me."
 * I Like Those Odds: With Angel defecting to his team, Spike gloats that it's now "four against one; and those are the kinds of odds I like to play."
 * Technically, it's more like four against six, but Spike evidentially doesn't hold the Scoobies in much regard.
 * Ironic Birthday: At the end, Joyce surprises Buffy with a cake. ...Well, technically some sad-looking cupcakes. lights a candle on one of the cupcakes and tells Buffy to Make a Wish. Buffy says to let the candle burn.
 * It Doesn't Mean Anything: Xander tries this argument after Willow catches him making out with Cordelia.

"Angelus: Lighten up. It was a good time. It doesn't mean like we have to make a big deal. Buffy: (in tears) It is a big deal! Angelus: It's what? Bells ringing, fireworks, a dulcet choir of pretty little birdies? (laughs) Come on, Buffy. It's not like I've never been there before."
 * Also done as a Break the Cutie tactic by Angelus. Knowing how much Their First Time meant to Buffy, he pretends he was only using her for sex.

"Willow: My God, you people are all -- well, I'm upset and I can't think of a mean word right now, but that's what you are and we're going to the factory!"
 * It Got Worse
 * It's All My Fault / Disappointed in You: Buffy blames herself for what happened and expects Giles to agree that he's let her down. Giles tells her otherwise in a Crowning Moment of Heartwarming.
 * It's the Best Whatever Ever!: Xander's birthday present for Buffy. The rocket launcher.
 * Jack Bauer Interrogation Technique: In the wake of Buffy's dream, she stomps into school the next morning, headed straight for Jenny's classroom. She spots Jenny and Giles chatting at the front, grabs Jenny's throat, and slams her backward onto the desk, demanding. "Did you do it? Did you change him?" A stammering Giles meekly dismisses the class.
 * Jerkass Has a Point: Giles tells Xander that the Judge is probably assembled by now. Xander immediately starts planning to storm Spike's factory. "And do what?", Cordelia pipes up, "Besides be afraid and die?" Xander has a snide comeback on the front burner, but Giles interjects that Cordy actually has a point.
 * Knight of Cerebus: Angelus.
 * Kill the Ones You Love: Buffy's not prepared to do it yet. But she will be.
 * Lame Comeback: The Scoobies butt heads over whether or not to double-back to Spike's lair and risk getting roasted by the Judge; Xander and Willow are ready to stomp off and save Buffy, but Giles and Ms. Calender are more cautious.

"Cordelia: This is great. There's an unkillable demon in town, Angel's joined his team, the Slayer is a basket case -- I'd say we've hit bottom. Xander: I have a plan. Cordelia: Oh, no, here's a lower place."
 * Xander admonishes Angelus to "Don't do that!" when he's choking Willow. (Angelus pulls an "Are you serious?" face.) Of course Angel would do this himself a year later, though in his defense he wards off who he says it to.
 * Last Villain Stand: A soaked Angelus hightails it out of there, but is waylaid by Buffy in a concession snack room. Buffy nearly finishes him, but relents at the last second.
 * Linked-List Clue Methodology: Buffy muses that the Judge will need to go "somewhere crowded" to start his killing, and Willow suggests the Bronze. But the Bronze is closed, so the gang is stumped until Oz suggests the mall.
 * Loophole Abuse: The Judge reiterating that no weapon forged can top him. "That was then," Buffy replies, shouldering a rocket launcher, "This is now."
 * Lost in Character: Sarah Michelle Gellar was so invested in her character's romance with Angel that when he turns evil and abuses her, in the scene where Buffy runs home and cries SMG was so broken up they had to close the set for half an hour.
 * Lost Love Montage: Buffy flashes back to the previous night she spent with Angel. Angel whispers, "I love you," and to a crashing noise he suddenly turns and vamps out.
 * Love Makes You Evil
 * The Mall
 * Muggles Do It Better: Bazooka toting Buffy provides the current page image.
 * Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Buffy sleeping with Angel.
 * The Nicknamer: Spike refers to the Judge as "Big Blue" while Buffy calls it a smurf. The same gag is repeated with Illyria in Season 5 of Angel.
 * No Honor Among Thieves
 * Not Himself
 * Nothing Is the Same Anymore
 * Not Staying for Breakfast: Buffy reaches for Angel but awakens when she finds his side of the bed empty. After scouring the city for him, she eventually finds Angelus back where he left her: his apartment. Buffy sheds tears of relief as she asks why he disappeared, which causes Angelus to act petulant. "You've got a lot to learn about men, kiddo," he quips, insinuating that she didn't satisfy him. Buffy is weeping by this time, and Angelus tells her not to make a big deal out of the situation, to which Buffy proclaims that "It is a big deal!!" Angelus laughs and coldly tells her she's too immature for him, then throws an "I'll call ya," over his shoulder before leaving.
 * Oh Crap: Angelus and Drusilla's faces when Buffy pulls out the rocket launcher.
 * Also Xander when the lights go off, Buffy when she realises Angel is gone, Giles when he realises what's happened, Uncle Enos when he realises Angelus is in his room... This episode is basically Oh Crap: The Movie.
 * On Second Thought: The guard grudgingly lets Xander into the armory, warning him to be back within twenty minutes. Xander, no doubt channeling his favorite spy movie (or the spirit of Joss Whedon), cockily answers, "I just need five." Then, recalling how much a bazooka weighs, and the fact he claimed he was taking Cordilia in for some nookie, adds, "Uhh, forget I said that last part."
 * Opposites Attract Revenge: Outside in the van, Willow asks Oz in a just-making-conversation tone, "Do you want to make out with me?" Oz gently confides that he gets the feeling she's using him get back at Xander in some way, which is a bit "on the empty side." He tells her that in his fantasy, when he's kissing her, she's kissing him. Oz says he'll wait.
 * The Other Darrin: In the flashback scenes of Buffy and Angel making love, the heavy breathing wasn't voiced by David and Sarah, but rather by series creator Joss Whedon and supervising sound editor Cindy Rabideau. (Apparently Joss was too embarrassed to ask the stars to record it).
 * Post-Modern Magik: Xander realizes that rocket launchers weren't around last time The Judge appeared. Cue Author Appeal.
 * Prophecy Twist: "No weapon forged" can kill the Judge. But weapons these days aren't forged, they're built.
 * Psycho Electro
 * More like Pyromaniac, the Judge powers "burns" the humanity
 * Psycho Strings: Foreshadowing Angel's change.
 * Product Placement: During their fight at the mall, you can see advance posters for Quest for Camelot behind Buffy and Angel. Earlier, you can see the poster for Fallen behind Angel. Both movies were distributed by Warner Bros. around the time this episode aired.
 * Fallen. Yeah.
 * Quizzical Tilt: Drusilla cocks her head when the Judge has no effect on Angel. Wot?
 * Revealing Coverup: Willow on the Xander/Cordelia snog; "I know it! [snip] You two were fighting way too much! It's not natural!" This was shown in "Bad Eggs" when Willow was puzzled over the intensity of their Snark-to-Snark Combat during Teen Health class.
 * Revealing Hug: Angelus grimaces in distaste when Buffy hugs him after they meet up again.
 * Rule of Symbolism: The red sheets in the bed where Buffy lost her virginity.
 * Rock Bottom:

"Cordelia:"Hi! I'm not a soldier. Right?""
 * Saying Too Much: Willow wonders how Jenny anticipated Angel turning evil, much less knowing exactly where to be with a cross in hand. Buffy is too distraught to see much into it -- at least right now.
 * Ship Sinking: The scene with Oz was specifically written by Joss to make the audience warm to the character, as many viewers were still hoping for Xander and Willow to date.
 * Shoo Out the Clowns: Angelus and Dru escort the Judge to his upcoming slaughter, leaving a very resentful Spike behind in the factory. Our colorful antagonist spends the rest of this season moldering in his wheelchair.
 * Swiss Cheese Security: Lampshaded when Xander breaks into the army base via a torn chain-link fence. "The security here really is a joke. I should, uh, report it."
 * Giving the military the benefit of the doubt, why is there a door that says " SECURED AREA " when it's unlocked?
 * Show Some Leg / Fake-Out Make-Out: Xander asks the guard on duty to let him give a trashy-looking Cordy the tour. "Well, you know the ladies. They like to see the big guns."

"Buffy: Give me time."
 * Sword Over Head: Angelus collapses and Buffy pulls a stake, but then her lip quivers and she lowers the weapon. "You can't do it. You can't kill me," sneers Angelus, so Buffy settles for dealing him an extremely powerful kick to the goolies.

"Joyce: Is something wrong? Buffy: [startled] No. What would be wrong? Joyce: I don't know. You just look... [stares curiously]"
 * "Take That!" Kiss:
 * Spike tells Angelus that it made him sick seeing him as Buffy's "lapdog." At this, Angelus lunges over and grabs Spike by his lapels. But then he kisses him on the forehead, and everyone bursts into laughter.
 * Once Miss Calender drives him off, Angelus grabs Buffy by the shoulders and, his face inches away from hers, hisses, "Things are about to get very interesting." He full-on kiss on the mouth, then shoves her against the wall railing before mwu ha ha'ing it out of there.
 * This Is Gonna Suck: For once Angelus has this expression all over his face. His thinking goes something like this: "Where the hell did the Slayer get a rocket launcher? Why did I dump her? Oh Crap she's actually going to use it. Run!"
 * Throw It In: The scene where Angel dumps Buffy in his apartment was not supposed to take place there. Halfway through shooting the scene on Buffy's lawn, Sarah Michelle Gellar and David Boreanaz told Joss that the scene wasn't working, so he moved it to the bedroom. Buffy is still heard saying she saw him at "the house".
 * Two Part Episode
 * Unusually Uninteresting Sight: The arrival of the Judge does not appear to raise an eyebrow amongst the blasé West Coast shoppers. Commentary?
 * It's California. The shoppers would pass him off as on the way to Vegas.
 * For that matter, everybody forgets Buffy used a freaking rocket launcher to blow someone or something up at the mall? The Weirdness Censor was working overtime.
 * Vampiric Draining: The Judge exposits that he's a living battery, and needs to murder a swath of people before he's at full strength.
 * Villain Exit Stage Left: Spike rolls onto the scene and voices his concern that Angel and Buffy now know the location of the hideout: "We should be vacating." Dru reassures him that Angel won't be making a return visit because he'll be afraid to face the Judge.
 * Angelus and Dru hit the deck just before Buffy fires her rocket. The Judge bursts into tiny pieces, showering Angelus and Dru where they lie on the floor. Dru, realizing she covered in charred remains, emits a high-pitched whimper and totters off in her high heels.
 * Virgin Vision: Feeling abandoned by Angel, Buffy returns home and starts climbing the stairs to her room when she's stopped by Joyce. Mother and daughter engage in small talk; Buffy is visibly shaken. Joyce uses her Super Mom Powers to discern that something's different with Buffy.

"Angelus: Well, it's not really the kind of message you tell. It sorta involves finding the bodies of all your friends."
 * Walk in Chime In: Spike hopefully asks Drusilla whether she sees what's in store for Angel. On cue, Angelus strolls in, saying, "Well, he moves to New York and tries to fulfill that Broadway dream. It's tough sledding, but one day he's working in the chorus when the big star twists her ankle..."
 * Angelus, in his game face, grabs Willow by the throat from behind. Angelus tells his present company that he has a message for Buffy. "Why don't you give it to me yourself?" asks Buffy from behind him.

"Angelus: She made me feel like a human being. That's not the kind of thing you just forgive."
 * We Will Meet Again: Inverted - Buffy promises Angelus that she won't be so heartfelt next time.
 * Wham! Episode
 * What Do You Mean It's Not Heinous?: Angelus talks his buddies into putting their plans for world domination on hold so he can harass the Slayer. Spike marvels that Angelus must be really itching to hurt Buffy.

"Spike: Now, I know you haven't been in the game for a while, mate, but we still do kill people. Sort of our raison d'être, you know."
 * What Could Have Been: The rocket launcher was originally a tank in the script.
 * Jenny Calendar was originally supposed to die in this episode.
 * Who Dares?: A crossbow bolt suddenly hits the Judge's chest, causing him to lose his concentration, freeing the bystanders from his evil energy. "Who dares?" shouts the Judge. A bazooka toting Buffy does, that's who.
 * Why Don't Ya Just Shoot Him: Spike's puzzlement at why Angelus didn't just kill Buffy when he had the chance. Spike continues simmering in his frustration for the rest of the arc.


 * Subverted with The Judge, Xander thinks this is exactly what they'll do.
 * You Can Panic Now: Giles is not weathering the news of Angelus's return well. In fact, when Xander ask what they're going to do about it, Giles says he's "leaning towards blind panic."
 * You Wouldn't Believe Me If I Told You: Angelus on the means by which he lost his soul. Given how Spike tries to get a rise out of him later, it's probably for the best.

""Things are about to get very interesting...""