Episode Summary
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GUEST STAR
Rudolf MartinDracula
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GUEST STAR
E. J. GageMover #1
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GUEST STAR
Scott BermanMover #2
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Sarah Michelle Gellar
Buffy Anne Summers
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Nicholas Brendon
Alexander 'Xander' Harris
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Alyson Hannigan
Willow Rosenberg
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Marc Blucas
Riley Finn
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Emma Caulfield
Anya
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James Marsters
Spike
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (12)
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When Buffy dusts Dracula for the first time, the English subtitles on the original DVD release read "[Dagger thrusts]", even though she has obviously used a wooden stake.
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At 7:14 when Joyce says "It's so quiet." there is a plate in front of her, but when the shot changes the plate is gone. Then suddenly, when the shot changes again, there is a large salad bowl in front of her.
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After Buffy first attempts to stake Dracula, when she says "OK, that's cheating", she is standing with a stone pillar behind her on her left. She hears Xander say "Hey Buf, what's up?" and turns around 180 degrees and the stone pillar is still behind her on her left. There was no need to turn around as Buffy was already facing the direction from which Xander and Willow were coming.
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When Buffy is talking with Dracula in the cemetery near the beginning of the episode, there is a water droplet or something on the camera lens that moves off the right side of the screen as she says "like I paint clowns or something".
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The basement of Dracula's mansion that is shown when Giles falls through the door is the same set that was used in "Fear Itself" when Buffy fell through the door into the basement of the Alpha-Delt house.
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Although in "Angel"(1-07) we learn that Buffy lives at 1630 Revello Dr, the plaque above the door of the Summers' house reads 1313, not 1630. The address actually changes within this episode. The front of the Summers' home has several changes after Dracula visits Buffy in her bedroom. In the establishing night shot of the house the number 1630 appears on the right entrance column. There is a white vertical rectangle on the left column, and an overhead light enclosed in a glass bowl style fixture. There are also several hanging plant baskets across the porch. The shot of the house the next morning shows that the house number not only has changed, but has moved. Also, the white rectangle is now a tan color, the light fixture has changed, the hanging baskets are gone and there are now several potted plants on the porch railings and the addition of two large potted plants, one one either side of the front door.
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This is the third time Buffy is bitten by a vampire. The Master("Prophecy Girl"), Angel ("Graduation Day Part 2"), and Dracula.
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In the beach scene after the opening credits, you can see a small red tattoo in the back of Buffy's right shoulder. Aside from the tattoo of the Mark of Eyeghon that Ethan has given her in The Dark Age (which was removed), Buffy isn't supposed to have a tattoo. It probably belongs to Sarah Michelle Gellar, and was not covered by make-up.
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Prior to the release of this episode, there were rumors that Sarah's husband, Freddie Prinze Jr., was going to play Dracula.
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After recurring on the show for the past two seasons, Emma Caulfield finally becomes a series regular credited on the opening titles in this episode. In actuality, Emma has been a regular since season four's 'New Moon Rising,' in which she was credited with the regulars in the shooting script.
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You can really see the turf laid out in the graveyard at the beginning. Surely the caretakes would need some way of covering over all the vamps that claw their way out of their graves, but the entire cemetery has been freshly turfed.
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When Buffy meets Dracula in the cemetary, Willow and Xander join her. After finding out who the vampire really is, Xander runs to stand behind Buffy. But in the shots afterwards, which are quite fast, you can see him stand there, than disappear, and then stand there again. But in all shots he didn't plan on going anywhere.
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QUOTES (21)
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(After the defeat of Dracula, he comes back to life, but Buffy is standing right there to stake him again as he materializes) Buffy: I've seen your movies, you always come back. (Dracula dusts again, and after a brief pause, the clouds of his resurrection start to swirl again) I'm standing RIGHT here! (The clouds vanish)
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Xander: I'm supposed to take you to the master now. There's this whole thing where I get to be immortal, you cool with that? Buffy: Take me to him.
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Dracula: I knew you'd come. Buffy: Why? Because I'm under your thrall? (whips out her stake) Well, guess again, pal. Dracula: Put the stake down. Buffy: Okay. (puts it down) Right. That... was not... you. I did that. I did that because... I wanted to. Maybe I should rethink that thrall thing.
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Buffy: (to Dawn) What are you doing here? Joyce: Buffy? If you're going out, why don't you take your sister? Buffy and Dawn: Mom!
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Riley: (to Buffy) It could have been worse. At least you weren't making time with the Dracu-babes like Giles here. Giles: I was not making time! I, I was, uh, just about to kill those, uh, loathsome creatures when Riley interrupted me. Riley: (grins) You were gonna nuzzle 'em to death?
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Dracula: Very impressive hunt. Such power. Buffy: That was no hunt. That was just another day on the job. Care to step up for some overtime? Dracula: We're not going to fight. Buffy: Do you know what a Slayer is? Dracula: Do you?
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Buffy: Who are you? Dracula: I apologize. I assumed you knew. I am Dracula. Buffy: Get out!
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Buffy: Wow. That was gross. Dracula: You are resisting. Buffy: Looks like. Dracula: Come here. Come to me. Buffy: You know, I really think the thrall has gone out of our relationship. Dracula: What is this? Buffy: My true nature. You want a taste?
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Buffy: Stay away from me. Dracula: Are you afraid I will bite you? Slayer, that's why you came. Buffy: No. Last night... it's not gonna happen again. Dracula: Stop me. Stake me. Buffy: I... Any minute now. Dracula: Do you know why you cannot resist? Buffy: Cause you're famous?
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Joyce: He seemed so nice and normal. A little pale... Willow: A good Sunnydale rule-of-thumb? Avoid white-skinned men in capes.
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Spike: (to Riley) You can take the boy out of the Initiative, but you can't take the Initiative out of the boy.
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Anya: (about Dracula to Xander) I doubt he'd remember me. I was just a silly young thing. I mean, like 700 or so. But he did say that this guy I cursed was doomed forever, which was really sweet, don't you think?
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Buffy: So let me get this straight. You're... "Dracula." The guy. The Count. Dracula: I am. Buffy: And you're sure this isn't just some fanboy thing? Because... I've fought more than a couple of pimply overweight vamps that called themselves Lestat. Dracula: You know who I am. As I would know without question that you are Buffy Summers. Buffy: You've heard of me? Dracula: Naturally. You're known throughout the world. Buffy: Naw. Really? Dracula: Why else would I come here? For the sun? I came to meet the renowned... killer. Buffy: Yeah, I prefer the term "Slayer." You know, killer just sounds so... Dracula: Naked? Buffy: Like I... paint clowns or something. I'm the good guy, remember? Dracula: Perhaps, but your power is rooted in darkness. You must feel it. Buffy: No. You know what I feel? Bored.
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Willow: It's just, you've been Mr. Project all summer. Labeling the amulets and indexing your diaries. I draw the line at making giant rubber-band balls. That's when you'll just have to get a life. Giles: That's what I'm trying to do, actually, is get a life. Willow: It might go better if you left the house.
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Buffy: Go, Team Me! Riley: Anyone ever told Team You the quarterback throws like a girl Buffy: I do? Xander: I'm exhausted just looking at those two. All this splashing and jumping and running... shouldn't relaxing involve less exertion? Anya: Absolutely. Exertion can lead to sweatiness Tara: Which can cause the pain and heartbreak of stinkiness. Better to just stay put. Willow: I think we've just put our finger on why we're the sidekicks.
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Xander: I'm tired of being the one who eats the bugs and gets the funny syphillis! I'm tired of being everybody's butt-monkey! Buffy: Check. No more butt-monkey.
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Riley: What can you tell me about Dracula? Spike: Dracula? Poncy bugger owes me £11, for one thing.
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Willow: Now that I know there's something to know, I can't not know, just because I'm afraid somebody will know I know. You know? Giles: Did that mean yes?
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Xander: Like that's enough to fight the Dark Master... bator.
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Buffy: You think I don't watch your movies? You always come back. I'm standing right here.
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Xander: Where is he? Where's the guy who turned me into a spider eating man bitch?
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NOTES (17)
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Although this episode marks the beginning of Michelle Trachtenberg's run as Dawn on the show, she does not appear in the regular credits, presumably so that those watching wouldn't know there would be a new character introduced, and is instead credited as a guest star in the end credits. This would have presumably been done to make Dawn's appearance more of a shock to viewers.
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In the season four finale Restless Tara says to Buffy "Be back before Dawn". This is a reference to Dawn appearing in this episode.
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In the episode "This Year's Girl", Faith says (in one of her dreams) "Little sis coming. I know. So much to do before she gets here." This could have been referring to this episode.
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Spike mentions that Dracula's powers are just Gypsy magic.
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Spike and Anya have actually met Dracula.
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The alternate title to this episode was 'Before Dawn,' in reference to this being the first episode that Buffy's sister, Dawn, appears. It is also a pun as vampires' activities are confined to being 'before dawn,' at which point they turn to dust if out.
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Dracula mentions that Buffy's power "is rooted in darkness." In Season 7 "Get it Done", Buffy learns from the Shadow Men that the First Slayer was created by using "the energy of the Demon" - a power that Buffy turned down.
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It would appear that Dracula is invincible as Buffy was able to stake him twice (and he was about the materalize for a third time until Buffy quipped, "I'm standing right here!").
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This is one of the two season premieres not written by Joss Whedon (the other would be "Bargaining (1)").
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Dracula has "the power to read and control minds and enter dreams."
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Xander makes a reference to when he got syphilis in season four's "Pangs".
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Two other cast members receive promotions this series. Amber Benson and Kristine Sutherland are now credited, respectively, as "Amber Benson as Tara" and "and Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers" in the guest credits.
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Sarah Michelle Gellar and Rudolf Martin had an ongoing storyline together in the soap opera All My Children, she as Kendall and he as Anton.
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Starting from this season, Emma Caulfield (Anya) is added to the opening credits. Previously, she had been credited amongst the guest cast.
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Dracula is the first and only vampire (to date) in the series seen to have the ability to shapeshift, as he turns into a bat, a wolf and into mist.
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Within the same month that this episode originally aired, the actor who played Dracula also played Vlad the Impaler (whom the story of "Dracula" is based on) in a made for tv movie.
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Dracula repeats the lines that the first slayer and Tara said to Buffy in last season's finale, Restless: "You think you know. What's to come. What you are. You haven't even begun."
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ALLUSIONS (8)
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A lot of elements of Bram Stoker's book Dracula are in this episode. The transformation into a wolf, bat or mist; the servant who eats bugs looking for life; Dracula eating a woman slowly; the three sisters seducing a man; a storm annoucing Dracula's arrival and him being transported in a box to a incredible big house.
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Title: Buffy vs. Dracula "Dracula" is a popular vampire character in many books and movies. The first appearance of the character "Count Dracula" was in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, written in 1897. Stoker based the character on a real "Dracula," Vlad III Dracula, is also known as Vlad the Impaler. The name Dracula means "Son of the Devil" in Vlad's local language. Although Vlad was never associated with vampires before Stoker's book, the two of the them have become confused by many people. Many of the elements associated with Dracula are shown in this episode such as his ability to turn into a bat or mist, a thick foreign accent, having a hypnotic effect on people (especially females) and him having vampire brides and a crazed servant that eats bugs.
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Buffy: Like I paint clowns or something.
When Dracula refers to Buffy as a killer, she objects saying it makes her sound like she paints clowns. This is a reference to famous serial killer John Wayne Gacy who painted clown pictures as a hobby, and also enjoyed dressing as a clown. -
Xander: C'mon puffy shirt...
This could be a reference to the Seinfeld episode in which Jerry has to wear a puffy shirt as a favor to Kramer, which makes him look ridiculous. -
Xander: I wonder if he knows Frankenstein?
For the culturally challenged, Frankenstein is a classic monster novel written by authoress Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, published in 1818; about a brilliant scientist, Victor Frankenstein who builds a man from various dead parts and brings him to life. -
Buffy: 'Cause I've fought more than a couple pimply, overweight vamps that called themselves Lestat.
Lestat is the good looking, charismatic main character of Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles. The first book of the series Interview with the Vampire was made into a movie in 1994, with a blonde Tom Cruise as the vampire Lestat. -
Xander: And where'd you get that accent, Sesame Street? Vun, two, three -- three victims. Mwa ha ha!
Xander pokes fun at Dracula's accent by comparing it to the Count on the PBS children's show Sesame Street. The Count character looks like Dracula but is harmless and teaches kids to count. -
Willow: Just call me the computer whisperer.
Willow compares herself to the title character in the movie The Horse Whisperer, starring Robert Redford and Kristin Scott Thomas. Redford's character is a horse trainer that has a strong relationship with the animals.
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