Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

Season 2, Episode 16, Aired

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9.1
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EPISODE RATING: Superb
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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
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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
    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

  • Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

    10
    "Perfect"
    By TrueTvWatcher, Oct 14, 2010
    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

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

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By TankLike, Jun 26, 2010
    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

  • Season 2, Episode 16.

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Wanted23, Apr 17, 2009
    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

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

    9.4
    "Superb"
    By addict666, Jul 31, 2008
    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 (10)

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    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • Cordelia and Xander make up/re-unite in Buffy's basement during a crisis--the same place they had their first kiss, while trying to escape the bug man in "What's My Line" Part 2.

    • When Buffy gets turned into a rat Xander is on the stairs, but in the next shot (after the commercial) (and a continuing scene) he comes onto the screen from the side, away from the stairs.

    • In the scene where Cordelia is walking up the stairs towards Harmony, right before you see Cordelia you see two people sitting on a bench, and two people walking to the stairs. But when Cordelia enters the shot a second later, there are magically three people on the bench and the same two people are further away from the stairs than they were before.

    • When Buffy is changed into a rat (and also in later episodes whenever Amy is a rat) the rat is a male. So not only does she change into a rat, but she also has a sex change!

    • In Xander's slo-mo walk down the hallway, he passes a group of girls right at the start and then again just before he runs into the library. Also, a black student seen behind Xander at the hallway doors is suddenly ahead of Xander staring at him.

    • When Xander and Cordelia are attacked at the school it is day, but when they arrive at Buffy's house it is night. It must be an awfully long distance.

    • For the love spell, Amy calls upon Diana, goddess of love and the hunt. Throughout history, Diana has been believed to have dominion over many things including the wilderness and untamed frontiers (which may include love). She has also been depicted as a torchbearer or guide, and has been known to be invoked for issues regarding fertility. It is for these reasons that it makes sense to call on Diana for a love spell. However, because Diana is most commonly known as the Roman goddess of forests, animals, and the hunt this could explain why the spell backfired.

  • QUOTES (22)

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    • (Joyce smashes through the back door window reaching for the lock) Joyce: Xander, honey, let Joycey in!

    • (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!

    • 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.

    • Cordelia: Your clothes... you look so good. Xander: I let Buffy dress me. Well, not physically. Cordelia: Perfect. You had to make this harder, didn't you? Xander: Okay, clearly the fact that I please you visually has got us off on the wrong foot here.

    • Xander: I wish dating was like slaying. You know, simple, direct, stake to the heart, no muss, no fuss. Buffy: Sorry to say, Xand, but slaying is a tad more perilous than dating. Xander: Well, you're obviously not dating Cordelia.

    • Buffy: I remember coming on to you. I remember begging you to undress me. And then a sudden need for cheese. I also remember that you didn't. Xander: Eat cheese? Buffy: Undress me.

    • (Giles searching through Angelus's history) Giles: Oh here's another... ahh yes Valentines Day. Angel nails a puppy to the... Buffy: Skip it. Giles: But, but it... Buffy: I don't want to know, I don't have a puppy, skip it. Giles: Right you are.

    • Xander: Blackmail is such an ugly word. Amy: I didn't say blackmail. Xander: Yeah, but I'm about to blackmail you so I thought I'd bring it up.

    • Giles: Buffy. Buffy, might I have a word? Buffy: Have a sentence even.

    • (Xander holding a heart-shaped necklace) Xander: So what do you think? Buffy: It's nice. Xander: But do you think Cordelia will like it? Buffy (referring to the heart) I don't know. Does she know what one of these is?

    • Xander: I have a plan: we use me as bait. Buffy: You mean make Angel come after you? Xander: No, I mean chop me into little pieces and stick me on hooks for fish to nibble at, 'cause it would be more fun than my life.

    • Angelus: I'm still trying to decide the best way to send my regards. Spike: Why don't you rip her lungs out? It might make an impression. Angelus: Lacks... poetry. Spike: It doesn't have to, what rhymes with lungs?

    • Buffy: I'm glad that you guys are getting along, almost really, and don't stress over the gift. Xander: Well, this is new territory for me. I mean, my valentines are usually met with heartfelt restraining orders.

    • (After Amy asks if they're going to the Bronze) Buffy: (To Willow) Go on, I know you're dying to say it. Willow: (To Amy) My boyfriend's in the band! Amy: Cool. Buffy: There, I think you have officially told everyone in the world. Willow: (sheepishly) Only in this hemisphere...

    • Drusilla: Your face is a poem. Oh, I can read it. Xander: Really? It doesn't say, "spare me" by any chance? Drusilla: How do you feel about eternal life? Xander: We couldn't just start with a coffee? A movie, maybe?

    • Amy: Why did you send Xander away? He needs me. Jenny: That's a laugh. Amy: He loves me. We look into each other's souls. Jenny: No one can love two people at once. What we have is real. Giles: Instead of making me ill, why doesn't one of you try to help me?

    • Amy: Who made you Queen of the world? Well, you're old enough to be. Jenny: What can I say? I guess Xander's just too much man for the pimple squad.

    • (Willow leans up to the side of his face and starts to suck on his earlobe) Xander: I-I don't wanna use force. Willow: Mmm. Force is okay! Xander: Th-that's it! This has gotta stop. It's time for me to act like a man. And hide.

    • Cordelia: You're a sheep (Refering to Harmony). All you ever do is what everyone else does just so you can say you did it first. And here I am, scrambling for your approval, when I'm way cooler than you are 'cause I'm not a sheep. I do what I wanna do, and I wear what I wanna wear. And you know what? I'll date whoever the hell I wanna date. No matter how lame he is.

    • Amy: What do you want? Xander: What do I want? I want some respect around here. I want, for once, to come out ahead. I want the Hellmouth to be working for me. You and me, Amy... we're gonna cast a little spell.

    • Willow: How long have we been friends?
      Xander:       A long, long time. Too long to do anything that might change that now.
      Willow:       Well, friendships change all the time. People grow apart. They grow closer.
      Xander:       Uh, this is good! How close we are now. I feel very comfortable with this amount of closeness. In fact, I can even back up a few paces and still be happy. (steps back) See?
      Willow      : I want you Xander. I want you to be my first...
      Xander: Baseman! Please tell me we're talking Baseball.

    • Buffy: Hi Oz! I seem to be having a slight case of nudity here. Oz: But you're not a rat. So call it an upside. Buffy: You think maybe you could get me some clothing? Oz: Yes, I can. Just, uh...don't go anywhere. Buffy: Really not an issue.

  • NOTES (8)

    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

    • Tamara Braun "Frenzied girl" also Co-Starred in Season 2's "When She Was Bad" as Tara.

    • 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.

    • The French title for this episode is "Un Amour Deroutant", which translates "A Misleading Love".

    • When Amy does a spell on Buffy, her eyes go pitch-black like her mother's in the episode The Witch. This, and the mojo she worked on her teacher, suggests that Amy is taking the same path as her mother regarding the use of magic.

    • In this episode we see the grave with the name "Alpert," named after a producer on the show. The same grave is seen a number of times throughout the show, including the pivitol Xander scene in the 6x22 episode "Grave (2)."

    • In the October 1, 1999 issue of Entertainment Weekly, Gareth Davies, the producer, said this was his favorite episode.

    • According to an interview with Sarah Michelle Gellar, they filmed this episode in same week she first hosted Saturday Night Live. They filmed her parts first, then she left for New York, while the rat played her part for the rest of the episode.

  • ALLUSIONS (11)

    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.

    • 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".

    • 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.

    • Cordelia: Who died and made you Elvis.
      Elvis Presley was a rock star who was perhaps best known for the adoring throngs of female fans which followed him.

    • Cordelia: Ok Harmony, if you need to borrow my Midol just ask.
      Midol is an over the counter medicine used to treat the symptoms of PMS.

    • Xander: We were both in footy pajamas.
      Pajamas with closed-end feet are worn almost exclusively by small children.

    • Cordelia: Because all you ever gave me was that Wal-Mart looking thing.
      Wal-Mart is a huge discount store chain. By saying that the necklace looked like it came from Wal-Mart Cordelia is implying that it is a cheap inferior quality item.

    • Buffy: He said it with flowers.
      From the advertising tag line "say it with flowers". The florists' idea is that you can express an emotion through the gift of flowers.

    • Xander: A man can only talk self-tanning lotion for so long before his head explodes.
      Self-tanning lotions give the effect of tanning without requiring sun. The implication is that Xander and Cordy don't exactly discuss deep topics.

    • Cordelia: Excuse me, where's the fire sale.
      A fire sale is usually held to sell the possibly damaged merchandise after a fire in a retail store. The line is a play on the phrase "where's the fire" which is often used when someone is rushing someplace (as in a fire fighter trying to get to a fire). The implication is that Harmony and her friends are more likely to be rushing off to a sale than to a fire.

    • Title: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.
      From the Frank Sinatra song "Bewitched" (Written by Rodgers/Hart). Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote this song as part of their score for the musical "Pal Joey" in 1941. The second to last verse seems particularly appropriate to the Xander/Cordelia relationship seen in the episode:
      I lost my heart, but what of it
      he is cold I agree
      She might laugh, but I love it
      Although the laugh's on me

      The chorus of the song is as follows:
      I'm wild again, beguiled again
      A whimpering, simpering child again
      Bewitched, bothered and bewildered - am I

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