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

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


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.

  • Any Torment You Can Walk Away From: 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 when Angel returns and her rift with the Scoobies means Buffy is reluctant to tell them about it.
  • 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.

Xander: When scary things get scared, it's time to run.

Snyder: I'm not convinced.
Giles: (slams Snyder against the wall) Would you like me to convince you?

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."

Didn't anyone ever warn you about playing with pointy sticks? It's all fun and games until somebody loses an eye.

    • 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

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.

Like riding a bloody bicycle!

Xander: Oh, I would, but, uh, (reaches his hands around Cordelia's arm) I'm kind of tied up.
Cordelia: You wish.

Snyder: I'm not convinced.

    • Ripper shoves him against a filing cabinet, dearly wanting to hurt this slug of a man.
  • Smug Snake: Principal Snyder re not letting Buffy back in the school. Willow once Buffy has apologised.

Buffy: You're really enjoying this whole moral superiority thing, aren't you?
Willow: (smiles) It's like a drug!

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.

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!

Xander: You can't just bury stuff, Buffy. It'll come right back up to get you.
Description Cut to Giles fighting a zombie.

  • 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.