Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Recap/S3/E02 Dead Man's Party

"Giles: Unbelievable. "Do you like my mask? Isn't it pretty? It raises the dead!" Americans!"

The Scoobies throw a welcome home party for Buffy that doesn't make her feel welcome. A tribal mask Joyce took from the museum summons zombies.

"Xander: When scary things get scared, it's time to run."
 * All Is Well That Ends Well: After the conveniently-timed attack of the zombies, the Scooby Gang put aside their conflict without really addressing the issues that tore them apart earlier. This has major consequences down the road
 * Alone in a Crowd: Buffy at her own Welcome Home party.
 * Asshole Victim: More "Annoying Victim" with Joyce's Book Club friend Pat and The Stoner who answers the phone.
 * Barrier-Busting Blow
 * Break the Badass: The zombies cower in fear from the recently resurrected Ovu Mobani.

"Snyder: I'm not convinced. Giles: (slams Snyder against the wall) Would you like me to convince you?"
 * Cats Are Mean: Justified -- it's a zombie cat.
 * Cat Scare: Happens twice. Before and after the cat is buried.
 * Cheshire Cat Grin: Giles frightening Snyder with his inner Ripper.

"Xander: And what'll we talk about at a gathering anyway? "So, Buffy, did you meet any nice pimps on your travels? And oh, by the by, thanks for ruining our lives for the past three months.""
 * Conflict Ball: The repressed resentment the Scoobies and Joyce feel about Buffy's disappearing act boils over when she appears to be running away again.
 * Deadpan Snarker: For once not played for laughs, with Xander making far too many snide comments about Buffy.

"Didn't anyone ever warn you about playing with pointy sticks? It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye."
 * Destination Defenestration: Buffy and Ovu Mobani go out the bedroom window together.
 * Don't Sneak Up On Me Like That: Buffy sees a suspicious-looking character in an overcoat creeping along a dark alley at night. She sneaks up on him, only to step on a discarded soda can whereupon she's almost staked by a startled Xander.
 * Everything's Deader with Zombies
 * Evil Mask
 * Failed a Spot Check: Giles turns a page while arguing with the Scoobies about what sort of party to throw Buffy, and fails to notice a picture of Joyce's mask.
 * Funny Aneurysm Moment: Buffy to Xander.

"Willow: We were getting good. We dusted (nods) nine out of ten [vampires]. Oz: (whispers to Willow) Six out of ten. Willow: Six out of ten."
 * And Snyder to Buffy; "I noticed that hotdog stand needs new employees. You'll look so cute in that hat.". Fastforward to "Doublemeat Palace".
 * Go for the Eye: Buffy stabs Ovu Mobani in the eyes with a pitchfork. Naturally it's a Gory Discretion Shot.
 * Gory Discretion Shot: The burn victim zombie killing the hospital staff is seen as a vague reflection in the heart monitor.
 * Half Truth

"Like riding a bloody bicycle!"
 * Hassle Free Hotwire: Justified due to Giles' delinquent past.

"Xander: Oh, I would, but, uh, (reaches his hands around Cordelia's arm) I'm kind of tied up. Cordelia: You wish."
 * Let's Get Dangerous: When Buffy runs into the Scooby Gang again, they're all tooled up with holstered stakes and radios.
 * Night of the Living Mooks: The zombies controlled by Ovu Mobani attack the Summers house en masse.
 * Obligatory Joke

"Snyder: I'm not convinced."
 * Our Zombies Are Different: Type V
 * Papa Wolf\Parental Substitute: After several attempts to have Buffy resume school are shot down by Snyder Giles has a go. He is in full Ripper mode, and first threatens to go to the state government about his behavior, then...

"Giles: Would you like me to convince you?"
 * Ripper shoves him against a filing cabinet, dearly wanting to hurt this slug of a man.

"Buffy: You're really enjoying this whole moral superiority thing, aren't you? Willow: (smiles) It's like a drug!"
 * Smug Snake: Principal Snyder re not letting Buffy back in the school. Willow once Buffy has apologised.

"Giles: Cordelia, it's me! It's me! Cordelia: How do we know it's really you and not Zombie!Giles? Giles: Cordelia, do stop being tiresome.
 * Spot the Imposter: Cordelia and Oz suddenly bump into Giles.

Cordelia: It's him."

"Willow: Talking didn't work so we might as well try some violence. (zombies Super Window Jump into the house) I was being sarcastic!"
 * Spy Speak: "Nighthawk?"
 * Stop Helping Me!: When Cordelia tries to put herself in Buffy's shoes.
 * Tempting Fate / I Was Just Joking

"Xander: You can't just bury stuff, Buffy. It'll come right back up to get you. Description Cut to Giles fighting a zombie."
 * Twenty-Four-Hour Party People: Well, the fact that they actually are total strangers is the problem.
 * Stiff Upper Lip: After Buffy comes to his house, Giles keeps his demeanour until he leaves for the kitchen to get the Scoobies a Spot of Tea.
 * Volleying Insults: Willow and Buffy end the episode with a good-natured exchange of jibes.
 * What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic


 * Wild Teen Party: The party was originally, as Giles planned it, just going to be a quiet affair to welcome Buffy home (which Buffy would have preferred) but her friends overrule him and turn it in to one of these; ostensibly because they think it's going to be more fun, but actually because there's all sorts of tensions surrounding why Buffy left which, now she's back, they're all avoiding dealing with — having the huge party is just an excuse to avoid her as much as possible while 'welcoming' her back. Needless to say, it gets ugly even before the zombies show up.
 * Zombie Infectee: Pat is already dead when she gets hauled into the bedroom the Scoobies are holed up in. Then she becomes Not Quite Dead.