Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

Season 2, Episode 16, Aired
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Episode Summary

Xander tries to use Valentine's Day to further his relationship with Cordelia, but she succumbs to peer pressure and breaks up with him. With the help of Amy (who is experimenting with her mother's magickal tricks), he puts a love spell on her which goes horribly wrong, turning him into every woman's desire... everyone's except the one who matters most.moreless
9.1
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Fan Episode Reviews (27)

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  • The ep that made me a fan

    10
    "Perfect"
    By joxerlives, Jan 19, 2012 Report Abuse
    Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

    The Good;
    Just when you thought it couldn't get any better! Pretty much everything, even the music is superb, especially when Xander does his slow walk through the school. It really does set the bar for other eps.

    The Bad;
    Are you insane? This may well be my favourite Buffy ep EVER!

    Best line;
    Dru; Don't fret kitten, mummy's here. How do you feel about eternal life?
    Xander (terrified); We couldn't just start with coffee?
    Angelus (bemused) Boy I really did drive you insane!

    Wheldon cliches;
    Character death-0
    Bondage-0
    Knocked out-0
    Shot-0
    Women good/men bad-0
    Kinky-dinky; yep, Willow enthusiastically telling Xander that 'Force is ok' showing the naughty girl behind the softer side of Sears (love her impish smile as she says this). Buffy striptease too.

    Questions and observations;
    Lovely to see Amy and Jenny back and Harmony playing a fairly major role. Buffy's slit leopardskin mini-skirt is just SCANDALOUS, is this the outfit Joyce refused to buy her in Bad Eggs? Xander meanwhile seems to be dressed as though he's auditioning for Life on Mars, you could go handgliding with that collar. I always knew Cordy and Buffy and Jenny were lovely but here I think for the first time you realise the incredible sexiness of Alysson Hannigan, all the more remarkable for her wearing a man's shirt at the time. Joyce has been introduced to Cordy and greets her by name when she turns up at the door. Exactly how long are Cordy and Xander running around, it's light when they leave the school but dark when they reach Buffy's house?
    If I was to single one performance out from them all it would actually be Robia LaMorte for playing Jenny, the way she tries to talk to Giles whilst being gradually overcome by her irresistable attaction to Xander. Amy's bitchy comment that Jenny is old enough to be Queen of the World is a bit much as she's only 28 at the time of shooting.
    Note Spike's charming present for Dru contrasted to Angelus' hideous gift, his humanity once more shines through. The jealousy between the three shows through, AngeIus tormenting Spike in all sorts of subtle little ways. I once read a very short but hugely funny slashfic at fanfiction .net calld 'Bewitched, bothered and befuddled' where Amy's spell goes wrong in a slightly different way, resulting in all the boys lusting after Xander rather than the girls, even Angelus. Anyone else read that one?

    10/10, just terrific in every way
    moreless

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  • Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

    10
    "Perfect"
    By TrueTvWatcher, Oct 14, 2010 Report Abuse
    Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered was a Perfectly Classic Episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. This episode had a lot of character growth for most of the characters. This episode is the start of viewers seeing Amy using Magic. Cordelia and Zander once again find themselves hiding together in Buffy's Basement, only this time from a raving hoarde of women. Oz also comes into play, accusing Zander of hurting Willow. This episode definitely asserts that one should be careful what they wish for and don't mess with Love spells. I really enjoyed watching this episode. The ending was nice, as Cordelia stood up to her so called friends. I thought it was funny that Druscilla fell under the spell as well.moreless

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  • Love me, love me! Say that you love me!

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By TankLike, Jun 26, 2010 Report Abuse
    When Cordelia dumps Xander on Valentine's Day he blackmails the witch Amy into casting a love spell. His goal is to punish Cordelia by breaking up with her. But the whole thing backfires when everyone except Cordelia falls in love with Xander. After a few strange situations Xander realises his mistake but going back to normal might not be that easy. To complicate things even more Buffy is turned into a rat by the lovesick Amy and the soulless Angel wants to show his affection for Buffy by killing one of her friends.
    In the end all spells are reversed, Cordelia for once sees that being popular isn't the only thing in life and all of Buffy's friends live another day.

    This episode has been one of my favorites right from the very first time I saw it. This is mostly due to the fact that I'm a huge fan of the character of Xander. But there are other things that are great about this episode as well. It is funny and we get to see we normally don't: A very sexy Buffy, a jealous Cordy and Jenny, Joyce and Willow hitting on Xander.

    In my opinion this episode is important because it shows Xander making a mistake and taking responsibility by telling Giles that he messed up. And while the basic tone of the episode is relaxed and funny the love spell and its consequences are dead serious: Angel attacking Xander is real. And the anger of the rejected women makes them very dangerous.
    I also think that it's important that Cordy and Xander are getting back together in the end. We never got a lot of insight into their relationship (except their fighting) anyway which is sad in my opinion. The way they treated each other always made me wonder if what they had was more than a fling. As far as I know we also never learnt whether they ever had sex.
    But still: In this episode we get a glance at their feelings for each other. We never had a doubt about how Xander feels for Buffy and Willow. But here the audiences sees Xander risking something for Cordelia as well. And that's maybe the most important thing about the episode since it puts their relationship into perspective.moreless

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  • Season 2, Episode 16.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Wanted23, Apr 17, 2009 Report Abuse
    It's Valentine's Day in Sunnydale! Cordelia breaks up with Xander after her (former) friends make fun of her and shun her out for dating him. So, Xander blackmails Amy, a witch from season one, into making Cordelia fall in love with him so he can break her heart.

    I liked that Cordelia still wore the necklace. She definitely still liked him, but didn't want to go out with him because of the way people treated her. I liked how she was transformed back to normal though. The spell worked on Buffy! Haha. And Amy. And every other girl. Haha, I liked Buffy in the raincoat in the library. Awesome episode!moreless

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  • Xander's use of magic comes back to haunt him.

    9.4
    "Superb"
    By addict666, Jul 31, 2008 Report Abuse
    I always forget how much I like this episode until I watch it. Xander is such a great character and I love all the humor that he brings to show which is showcased in this episode that features him trying to win Cordelia back after she succumbs to peer pressure. I love the ways in which all the women come on to him. Jenny is hilarious as she tries to seduce him as well as Joyce. Buffy's seduction scene is really funny as well and you really have to admire the willpower of Xander in that case. The scene with Willow in his bed is good as well and it is kind of sad to see her still hung up on him, but I'm glad that Oz came in and punched Xander, because he really deserves it for how he treated Willow (outside of this episode). I really like the end though with Cordelia realizing that what her friends think shouldn't rule her life.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • When Angel says that ripping a person's lungs out lacks poetry, Spike answers: "It doesn't have to, what rhymes with lungs?" This references to his past as a (not very good) poet. Edit
    • When the Buffyrat leaves the library she goes through the library doors, one of which is slightly ajar, but the scenes before and after show both doors completely closed. Edit
    • At the beginning of the episode a female student is seen wearing a dark top with a black and white plaid skirt. She is seen wearing this same outfit at school throughout the episode even though the story's events occur over three days. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Music: At the Bronze, during the Valentine's party, 'Dingoes Ate My Baby' play this song -- "Pain" by Four Star Mary Cordelia breaks up with Xander -- "Drift Away" by Naked Xander walks in slow motion in the hallway -- "Got The Love" by The Average White Band Edit
    • Tamara Braun "Frenzied girl" also Co-Starred in Season 2's "When She Was Bad" as Tara. Edit
    • Below the Etnies sticker in Xander's room (when Willow tries to seduce him) the word "SHEEP" is painted in red, this is possibly tied to the women who follow Xander like sheep (albeit violent ones) and Cordy's line to Harmony at the end of the episode. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • (Joyce smashes through the back door window reaching for the lock) Joyce: Xander, honey, let Joycey in! Edit
    • (Xander gives Cordelia the necklace) Cordelia: Xander, it's beautiful. We have to break up. Xander: Not the kind of reaction I was hoping for... Cordelia: Come on Xander, who are we kidding? Even if parts of us see good in the other, we just don't fit! Xander: Okay, you know what's a good day to break up with someone? Any day besides Valentine's Day! Edit
    • Giles: I cannot believe that you are fool enough to do something like this. Xander: Oh, no, I'm twice the fool it takes to do something like this. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Poster of super-heroes in Xanders bedroom The characters on the poster are the X-men of the year 2099 who appeared in the Marvel comic X-men 2099 that ran for 35 issues from 1993-1996. Edit
    • Cordelia: Who died and made you Elvis?
      This is a play on the phrase "Who died and made you the king?". Singer Elvis Presley was often referred to as "The King of Rock & Roll" or just "The King". Edit
    • Buffy: She loved you before you invoked the great roofie spirit.
      Roofie is a street name for the drug Rohypnol. Know as the "date rape drug", Rohypnol is related to valium but much stronger. It acts as a strong sedative and is often combined with alcohol or other drugs. Edit

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