School Hard

Season 2, Episode 3, Aired
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Episode Summary

A dangerous new vampire named Spike comes to town, hoping to use the power of the Hellmouth to restore his love, Drusilla, to health. He has killed two Slayers before, and he decides to make Buffy the third, attacking Sunnydale High on Parent Teacher Night. Buffy must find a way to stop Spike and his vampire minions, lead her mom and the other parents and students to safety, and keep them from finding out that she is the Slayer.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (46)

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  • A whole new beginning

    10
    "Perfect"
    By joxerlives, Jan 11, 2012 Report Abuse
    School Hard;

    A whole new era begins as Spike and Dru explode onto the scene!

    The Good;
    Pretty much everything. Spike and Dru spark right from the beginning, you get their swagger mixed with their very real affection for one another. Julia Landua did her 'Look at all the people' line once for me and it chilled me to the bone. I often think the secret of a successful show is to make the villains as interesting as the heroes and here Buffy does it in spades. Also a great ep if your a fan of the the Joyce/Buffy relationship (and face it, who isn't?)

    The Bad;
    Not much!

    Best line;
    Xander; Does anyone remember when Saturday night was date night?
    Cordy; You sure don't!

    Observations and questions;
    First meeting between Cordy and Joyce, Cordy seeming to be appreciative of Joyce's milfiness, as Snyder comments, a mother/daughter resemblance (certainly when she hit's Spike with the axe). First hints that Snyder and the SDPD are aware of the truth about Sunnydale. For the record 3 people died at Woodstock although Spike never says he killed, just fed. The very subtle handbag joke. Ironically whilst Spike later teases the Trio for their nerdiness he refers to Angel as 'My yoda'. Angel's 'Anne Rice routine' is so convincing you almost buy it for a second. Listening to Spike mocking the 'I'm so tortured' brigade you can't help think of 'Twilight' and laugh. Spike's fascination with Buffy could almost be there from the beginning, check out the way he looks at her in the Bronze. The first Spike/Joyce scene which are something to look forward to in the seasons ahead. It almost goes unnoticed amongst all the excitment but this is the first time Cordy is a full official Scooby, she's in the library making stakes with everyone else without any form of back story, she's simply an accepted part of the gang. The crucifixion is mentioned, confirming Giles' assertion that demons and vampires predate christianity but also confirming it as historical fact.
    Interestingly at the end of this ep Cordy and Willow end up in the closet together. Will's out, how about Cordy?
    Utterly fabulous 10/10
    moreless

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  • Bye Bye Annoying One.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By MovieMark, Dec 11, 2010 Report Abuse
    The introduction of Spike and Drusilla essentially changes Buffy as a series for the better. They command the screen almost instantly: James and Juliet have sizzling chemistry and you instantly get that vibe theyve been together for a very long time. Whats more is that they actually come across as a serious threat. Spike locates his prey, stalks it, tests it, tricks it and then tries to kill it. All within one episode. You can see why they keep him around, hes bad news, and Buffy knows this.

    The hour has quite a few neat surprises as well. The fact Spike crashes earlier than expected was a welcomed change of pace. Sheila being vampirised (its a word!) while signposted a mile away made for a great a few tense moments. The best, by far, has to be Joyce coming to Buffys aid no-one touches my daughter! you tell em Joyce. Although now Spike knows what Buffys mother looks like, which cant be good (edit: actually, it makes for some laugh-out-loud funnies later on in the season/series).

    As well as all of the supernatural bits and pieces, what appeals to me about season 2 is the regular stuff Buffy has to deal with as a teen. Her attempts at hiding her mother away from Principal Snyder are brilliant, especially as her options run out and so shes forced to suggest the boiler room as a class. And the way Kristine Sutherland scolds Buffy, I feel as though Im being chastised too. Overall, its the first really good normal episode of Buffy. From the sharp dialogue (Je Stink) to Spikes badass entrance, this is one action packed episode with SO many good one-liners.moreless

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  • School Hard

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By TrueTvWatcher, Oct 11, 2010 Report Abuse
    School Hard was a great episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was the introductory episode for Spike aka William the Bloody and his Vampire Lover Druscilla. They are diabolical, demented, and devious. They take up with The Annointed one and his crew. Eventually Spike takes over. It was interesting to watch Snyder playing with Buffy's School Life, and how her mom automatically was on his side, until she saw Buffy in action when Spike and his crew attacked, to kill Buffy. It was interesting to note that Spike claims Angel was his Sire, when in the future we find out otherwise. I think think its great watching the characters and their relationships grow.moreless

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  • We meet Spike and Dru who eventually turn into so much more in this world we know as the Buffyverse. The night of the Parent/Teacher conference becomes hell night as the school is overrun with vampires and things with just one person to protect them.moreless

    10
    "Perfect"
    By jyarter, Dec 17, 2009 Report Abuse
    What a truly wonderful episode in retrospect. We meet James Masters as Spike who becomes almost every bit the heart throb that David Boreanaz as Angel was in the early days of Buffy. We also meet Drusilla played by Juliet Landau his paramour as well.

    We learn that Angelus sired William(Spike) and that there is a special bond there. Also we seemed to finally get rid of a little bit of that constant annoying Mother not understanding her daughter bit which seemed to crop up every episode. You would have thought that Joyce would have realized there was something special about her daughter by now. Principal Snyder never did seem to learn what was what though as we find out later.

    Personally I found a great deal of satisfaction in Spike's actions during at the end of this episode. I especially enjoyed him locking the chosen one in the cage and raising him up into the sunlight. Sort of a little snot nosed kid for being the chosen one. You had to wonder how long it would be before that would happen!

    The scenes in the school were exciting and action packed and I think this is one of the best episodes up to this point in the short life of the series. Excellent story with some interesting consequences on the series as a whole and even for the series Angel later on. Who would have thought at the time? Hindsight is always 20/20. Thanks for reading...moreless

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  • This is such a great episode! It introduces two of the best villians ever....Spike and Dru!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By sophdoph13, May 25, 2009 Report Abuse
    Spike and Dru are possibly the best villians ever in Buffy! Spike comes to try and get Dru back to full health and partly to check out the Slayer. Spike has killed two slayers already. I think this episode is really good, because it introduces the villians really well. Buffy also has some trouble at school, because Parent Teacher Night is coming up. That is also the night that Spike attacks the school and Buffy has to try and get everyone out safely without them finding out that she is the Slayer. I love Spike and Dru. Dru is so great in the way that she is so mad and Spike because well, he is just awesome!moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Right after the vampire Sheila runs from Buffy in terror, there is a shot of Joyce staring through the hole in the classroom door - the one that the vampires made with the axe. The hole had definitely been at eye level, because we had previously seen Buffy talking to her mother through it and she didn't need to crouch to do so. Seconds after Sheila runs off, Buffy hurries to the door to rush her mother and the others out... but the eye level hole in the door has mysteriously vanished. Edit
    • When Buffy and Spike first meet outside the Bronze, the vampire Buffy is fighting calls out to Spike and there is a closeup shot of Buffy turning around. About 10 seconds later when Spike starts clapping, the same shot of Buffy turning around is used again. Edit
    • When Giles is researching Spike, he says that Spike is barely 200 years old. However, it is stated in several later episodes that Spike was turned into a vampire in 1880. At the time of this episode, Spike had been a vampire for 117 years and does not appear to have been past his twenties as a human. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • Featured Music: The song heard in the background while Willow is helping Buffy with her French at the Bronze is "1000 Nights" by Nickel. The song that plays in The Bronze while Spike watches the Slayer and her gang dance is "Stupid Thing" by Nickel. Edit
    • James Marsters practiced diligently with Anthony Stewart Head as his "mentor" to make sure he got his English accent right. Marsters said Spike's accent is very largely based on Head's off-screen accent, which sounds far more Cockney than his proper, stalwart intonation on Buffy. Edit
    • James Marsters originally auditioned for the role of Spike using a Texan accent for the character. He and the writers eventually decided that this was not a good choice for the character, and so instead of a cowboy, Spike became a Brit. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Xander: C'mon, one dance. You've been studying nearly twelve minutes. Buffy: No wonder my brain's fried. Edit
    • Spike: Nice work, love. Buffy: Who are you? Spike: You'll find out on Saturday. Buffy: What happens on Saturday? Spike: I kill you. Edit
    • Xander: So, this night of St. Vigeous deal. If they're going to attack in force, aren't we thinking vacation? Willow: We can't run, that would be wrong. Could we hide? Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Jenny: Rupert, you have got to read something which was published after 1066. 1066 is the year of the Norman invasion of the British Isles. William, the Norman leader, became King of England, and was known thereafter as William the Conqueror. Edit
    • Buffy: I'm gonna take 'em on 1-on-1: Set 'em up, knock 'em down! This is a bowling reference. You set up the pins only to knock them down. Edit
    • Spike: A Slayer with family and friends. That sure as hell wasn't in the brochure. An unexpected negative aspect of a situation can be described as something that wasn't in the brochure. The term probably derives from the travel industry where hotels or travel destinations are described in a glossy brochure which leaves out or down-plays negatives. Edit

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