Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Recap/S5/E01 Buffy vs. Dracula

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


Dracula: Do you know why you cannot resist me?
Buffy: Because you're famous?

The legend himself comes to Sunnydale to bring the Slayer under his thrall. We are introduced to Buffy's sister Dawn.

Giles: I was just about to kill those loathsome creatures when Riley interrupted me.
Riley: Really? You were gonna nuzzle 'em to death?"

  • Buffy-Speak: After going "Repeato Girl" over Dracula's charm, Riley accuses Buffy of transferring her feelings for Angel, causing her to assure him, "I'm not transfer-y!"
  • Butt Monkey: Xander refers to himself for the first time.

Xander: Dammit! You know what? I'm sick of this crap. I'm sick of being the guy who eats insects and gets the funny syphilis. As of this moment, it's over. I'm finished being everybody's butt-monkey!

[Giles, Riley, and Buffy nod and try to look solemn]

Buffy: Check. No more butt-monkey.

Dracula: You are resisting.
Buffy: Looks like.

Giles: Willow, um... you mustn't repeat what I'm about to say. Especially not to Buffy.
Willow: Uh-oh.
Giles: You promise?
Willow: Oh, god. Well, I guess. Now that I know there's something to know, I can't not know, just because I'm afraid somebody'll know I know, you know?
Giles: Did that mean yes?
Willow: Yeah.

Xander: He totally looked shorter in person.

  • Foreshadowing: Riley's jealousy over Buffy's attraction to vampires. Willow's use of magic for everyday purposes.
    • The tension between Riley and Spike continues over the season especially after Spike falls in love with Buffy.
    • Xander's rant about no longer being the Butt Monkey -- this season he starts making a serious attempt to get a life, starting in "The Replacement".
    • Dracula tells Buffy that her "power is rooted in darkness". Buffy discovers the origin of the Slayer's power in the Season 7 episode "Get It Done".
  • Genre Savvy

Buffy: You think I don't watch your movies? You always come back.

  • Getting Crap Past the Radar: Buffy, Anya, and Willow discuss how "sexy" Dracula is and Buffy mentions his "Dark, penetrating" eyes. When Buffy decides to hold off on killing him until they have more information...

Riley: You're not just saying that because of those "dark, penetrating" eyes of his . . . Are you?
Buffy: No! His eyes were -- there were -- there was NO penetration! Cross my heart.

Riley: I've lived here for two years. You know what I've never noticed?
Giles: Castle?
Riley: Big honkin' castle.

Xander: Nobody harms my Master. You want him, you come through me.
Riley: (knocks him out) Okey-dokey.

Xander: Here she is, Master. She Who You Most Desire...sorry, Whom.

  • Green-Eyed Monster: Riley and Xander. Tara gives Willow the hairy eyeball when she goes on too much about Dracula as well.
  • Hell-Bent for Leather: Buffy wears the Red Leather Pants of Death when hunting vampires, but after being bitten changes into the Pink Leather Pants of Enthrallment.
  • Hollywood Torches

Buffy: A guy like you should think about going electric. Seriously.

  • Hypnotic Eyes: Dracula has hypnotic Blue Eyes that can enthrall even Buffy.
  • I'm Standing Right Here: Dracula starts to reform again (after being staked twice) when Buffy tells him she's still here. After that Drac gives up and goes home.
  • I Resemble That Remark: Joyce sighs over the difficulties in dating when you're a single mother. "Sometimes you just feel like giving up men altogether." Willow and Tara exchange a sly grin.
  • Ironic Echo: Buffy tries to reassure Riley that she's not attracted to Dracula (or transferring her feelings for Angel) by saying, "I swear to you, I’m your girl, and I’m gonna stay that way." But Buffy had already told Angel (in "Enemies") that she'll always be his girl; sure enough the Buffy/Riley relationship will eventually break up because Riley suspects Buffy's attraction to vampires like Angel and Dracula is stronger than her attraction to him.
  • Jedi Mind Trick

Dracula: I knew you'd come.
Buffy: Why? Because I'm under your thrall? (suddenly pulls out her stake) Well, guess again, pal.
Dracula: Put the stake down.
Buffy: OK. (instantly puts it down, then looks at her hand in surprise) Right. That... was not... you. (sounding unconvinced) I did that. I did that because ... I wanted to. (looks around nervously) Maybe I should rethink that thrall thing. (whimpers a little)

Xander: As if even that's enough to stop the unholy Master! (everyone stares at him) ...bater.

Xander: I think you're drawing a lot of crazy conclusions about the Unholy Prince. (everybody looks at him funny again.) ...bator.

Dracula: Unworthy. He let you go. But the embrace, his bite, you remember.
Buffy: No...

Dracula: Don't fight. I can feel your hunger. (bites her -- Buffy moans)

  • Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Spike complains that Dracula's taste for publicity has taught the entire world how to kill vampires. Dracula makes Buffy drink from his blood to reveal her true dark nature as the Vampire Slayer.
  • No Hero to His Valet: Spike is the only member of the cast unimpressed by Dracula's reputation, calling him a "gloryhound" whose powers are little more than "showy gypsy stuff", adding that Drac has done more damage to vampires than even the Slayer has, that because of his movies, everyone knows how to kill them. He's also irked because Drac owes him £11.
  • Not Herself: Buffy turns down Riley's offer of a jelly donut.
  • Our Vampires Are Different: Dracula's stock powers (hypnosis, shapeshifting, teleportation, invulnerability) actually make him the strongest vamp in the Buffyverse. Spike claims it's all "showy gypsy stuff".
  • Paint It Black: Drac in black. He's a dark's only man.
  • Pre-Mortem One-Liner: "How do you like my darkness now?"
  • The Renfield: Xander, right down to the urge to eat spiders.
  • Silence, You Fool

Xander: Come on, Puffy Shirt! Pucker on up, 'cause you can kiss your pale ass good--
Dracula: Silence.
Xander: Yes Master.

Joyce: Buffy? If you're going out why don't you take your sister with you?
Buffy and Dawn: MOM!