Dead Man's Party

Season 3, Episode 2, Aired
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Episode Summary

Buffy returns home, but finds that picking up the pieces of the life she left behind may not be as easy as she had hoped. Her mother is trying to accept her back with open arms, but she doesn't seem to trust that Buffy won't just run away again. Her friends seem happy to see her, but their odd behavior makes it appear that they silently resent Buffy for taking off. And, of course, before these problems can be laid to rest, the dead of Sunnydale start to rise.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (29)

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  • Good but not brilliant

    6.0
    "Fair"
    By joxerlives, Jan 19, 2012 Report Abuse
    Dead Man's Party

    The Good;
    Cordy's outfit, Buffy's homecoming. Joyce's friend Pat. Jonathon. The attack of the undead, another Sunnydale High cheerleader seemingly amongst them. Giles's 'Americans' line and his hotwiring the car. Oz's party definitions. 'Ripper' threatening Snyder

    The Bad;
    Before Giles arrives the house is full of zombies, after he gets there they all disappear? Also would Joyce really choose to hang that horrible mask in the bedroom, even if it is art?

    Best line;
    Oz; "And a hootenany. Well that's chock full of hoot. With just a little bit of nanny" (How effortlessly cool is Seth Green in this scene?)

    Whedon Cliches;
    Character death; So long Pat, we hardly knew you. But at least the actress goes on to be Earl's mum in 'My Name is Earl'

    Tied up; none although when Xander says he's tied up tomorrow Cordy says 'You wish'??????

    Kinky dinky; Buffy is aghast that Joyce wants her to go to private school where she'll have to wear a schoolgirl's uniform. Well it worked for Britney. Cordy says that Xander turned her on with the whole 'Nighthawk' vamphunter look (she also seemed to like him in his army gear in Halloween) Her party dress has to be seen to be believed. Also see 'Tied Up'

    Calling Captain Subtext; this time it's Oz and Cordy who end up in the closet together

    Questions and observations;
    So where is Dawn in all of this? Snyder advises Buffy to get a job in fast food which she eventually does. The confrontation between Joyce and Buffy is really long overdue and Joyce really does have a point. Willow is studying to be witch. Jonathon gets in on the demon fighting for the first time as do Joyce and Devon. After this it's business as usual and we're glad to get back to the status quo in Sunnydale. Joyce's tipple is schnapps and she has a book club (which she later attends in season 5). She also skis to judge by the weapons Oz and Cordy use in the closet. Xander calls himself Nighthawk on patrol, they seem to be pretty good at the vamp staking, having killed at least 6. I'd love to see if they handled any other supernatural threats during the summer. The Mayor is mentioned again and the first appearance of the Expresso Pump. Cordy refers to Buffy as a freak but she'll later become one herself on Angel. Presumably the Watcher's Council used their influence to help get Buffy back in school (see also Checkpoint). Willow is still practicing witchcraft and growing more proficient.
    6/10, good but not brilliant
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  • I think I know what they were going for, but it just fell far short.

    6.0
    "Fair"
    By Gojirob, Apr 17, 2011 Report Abuse
    Its kind of like Marvel's Civil War - the side that has the better argument is acting so contemptuously and demonstrating so many of their worst in-character traits that you find yourself rooting for the side that actually is wrong. Yes, Buffy should not have run off, left the Slaying to the Normal Scoobies, and stayed out of touch for three months. But to use a military analogy, Buffy deserved to be napalmed, but instead she was nuked. Xander and Willow briefly became the characters they would become in later seasons, shrill caricatures that knew how to lecture. Joyce briefly became the flaky idiot of S1. I don't think she had a lower moment than when she casually dodged Buffy's pointing out that Joyce's ultimatum played a role in Buffy leaving. 'Mommy's Not Perfect' is so shallow a thing it rings in my ears years later.

    Let's not forget Willow, who could have calmed things down when she found Buffy packing, but instead ratted her out. If one wants to see where the Xander who left Anya at the altar and the Willow who made snarky threats while trying to kill her friends came from, lookie here.

    Looking back, maybe this firestorm was needed, but I will still remember this as the episode they cornered someone who couldn't fight back without hurting them and used that against her. All the traits that normally endear the Scoobies made me want to see them turned into Scoobie Snacks. Oh, and Joyce? Next time you make casual friends, tell them that you can lecture your daughter, but they can't? If her pal from the book club had been an old family friend, that's one thing. But you've empowered a complete stranger to talk trash in a situation she knows nothing about. Worst ep in the best season.moreless

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  • Dead Man's Party

    8.5
    "Great"
    By TrueTvWatcher, Oct 14, 2010 Report Abuse
    Dead Man's Party was a great episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayers third season. This was a fun episode centering around Buffy's return and every one reacts in their own way. The Gang were on patrol when Buffy found them and it was funny. Buffy's mom Joyce was very mature in handling Buffy's return and she was great in this episode. The sub story in this episode was about Zombies which was cool. The writers keep things original and unique, yet familiar and cliche however cliches are so for a reason, and making fun of them is fun too. The characters are all engaging and relatable.moreless

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  • Season 3, Episode 2.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By Wanted23, Apr 20, 2009 Report Abuse
    Buffy has returned to Sunnydale, and her friends secretly resent her for leaving. However, she is no longer wanted for murder, but returns just in time for some zombies to rise from the dead.

    I liked when Buffy met with Xander again, and then Willow, Oz, and Cordelia all came. Principal Snyder is unbelievable. I can't believe Willow stood Buffy up! I highly doubt that she got held up. I liked seeing Buffy wander through Sunnydale High. Plus, the sexy David Boreanaz was in this episode, which is always good. :) Things are moving a little slow so far this season, though. Decent episode.moreless

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  • Oz: Well, a gathering is brie, mellow song stylings; shindig: dip, less mellow song stylings, perhaps a large amount of malt beverage; and hootenanny, well, it's chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny.moreless

    9.3
    "Superb"
    By addict666, Jul 31, 2008 Report Abuse
    So, Buffy is not quite greeted with open arms upon her return to Sunnydale. I love how she interrupts the group slayage to get the job done. Then the lukewarm reaction that she is faced with as the gang doesn't know how to deal with her presence. The party is a good culmination of everyone's feelings and Xander and Cordelia are hilarious with the whole nighthawk thing together. Willow and Oz continue to be very cute in this episode as well. I love the confrontation that begins when Willow sees Buffy packing and calls her out on her behavior and how everyone's life is hard, not just her own. Then Joyce gets into the mix just as a group of zombies attack the group. The fighting scene that ensues is really funny and everyone does their part to fend of the enemy.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • The pink dress that Buffy wears to the party is the same one she wore in the dream with Angel in Anne (3x01). Edit
    • When the zombies smash through the front door it is not a solid door but only a thin sheet of laminate or some similar material. Edit
    • When the zombies attack the house, you see Joyce standing by the desk sort of close to the door. When Xander and Cordelia go into the kitchen, you see Joyce holding a flower pot. But in the next shot, Joyce has no flower pot in her hands, and later picks it up to bean a zombie with. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • According to the sign on his desk, Principal Snyder's first name begins with an "R". Edit
    • Music: During the party at Buffy's house, "Dingoes Ate My Baby" perform three songs -- "Nevermind", "Sway" and "Pain" by Four Star Mary. Edit
    • When he hotwires his car, Giles mutters, "Like riding a bloody bicycle," implying that he has hotwired cars in the past. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Buffy: Hey Pat! (Stabs a shovel through the mask's eyes) Made you look. Edit
    • Buffy: You're really enjoying this moral superiority thing, aren't you? Willow: It's like a drug! Edit
    • Cordelia: I'm the dip! Xander: You've got to admire the purity of it... Cordelia: What? Onion dip. Stirring. Not cooking. It's what I bring. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Title: Dead Man's Party Title reference to an 80's song by the same name by the rock group called Oingo Boingo, also responsible for songs like 'Weird Science' Edit
    • A dead black cat comes to life at the mask's beckoning, showing a sudden, vicious behavior which alarms Joyce and Buffy. This may be an allusion to the 1989 film Pet Sematary in which a man buries a cat in cursed land. The cat comes back to life but is not the same friendly animal it was before. Edit
    • Near the beginning of the episode, Buffy finds a dead cat in the basement, and she and Joyce bury it. The next day, they discover that the cat has returned. This may be an oblique reference to the song "The Cat Came Back" (1893) by Harry S. Miller in which several attempts are made to get rid of a cat, but no matter what was tried, "the cat came back the very next day". Edit

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