Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The Good;
All lovely, touching beyond belief and yet still plenty of action and funny stuff, works better when you have an emotional investment in the series. The music especially is excellent plus the wedding sequence must have sent many a Bangler's heart aflutter. The class protector award and scene where Joyce has 'The Talk' with Angel are just wonderful.

The Bad;
Again, could only be bettered if it had Dawn and Faith in it. In truth the devil dogs do look rather stupid but who cares, this is genius.

Best line;
Buffy; "Giles we get it, miles to go before we sleep" (somehow I can't imagine Robert Frost being quoted on Charmed)

Character death;
Does the guy at the menswear shop live or die?

Shot;
No but Buffy uses her crossbow to good effect.

Tied up;
Only Tucker

Knocked out;
For once everyone stays conscious

Women good/men bad;
Tucker wants to kill everyone at the prom because he couldn't get a date. JERK! Anya meanwhile has after a 1000 years of avenging men's wrongs nothing but contempt for them. But still wants to go to the Prom with one.

Jeez!;
Tucker feeds his pets on cow brains, yuck! Probably not as cruel as making them watch all those prom videos.

Kinky dinky;
Anya; "I know you find me attractive, I've seen you looking at my breasts"
Xander; "Nothing personal but when a guy does that it just means his eyes are open"
Wes thinks Cordy in her prom dress is 'hot'. He's not wrong.

Calling Captain Subtext;
Will and Buffy in each other's arms on her bed.

Guantanamo Bay;
What exactly do they do with Tucker? Turn him over to the police on charges of Hellhound raising?

Where's Dawn?
Nowhere to be seen this week but you figure one day she might have the same talk with Spike or The Immortal that Joyce has with Angel.

Questions and observations;
We'll never see Tucker again (although he might always show up in season 8?) but of course he's Andrew the Nerd's brother. Buffy dislikes Kool and the Gang's 'Celebration'? For shame! Even Oz gets all teary at 'We are family'. Everyone looks dynamite in their prom gear and the relationship with Giles and Buffy has such a resonance. Looking at Alexis in his tux you could imagine him being James Bond. Buffy writes 'Buffy and Angel 4ever' in her homework book. Sorry Spuffers, I think that settles it. The scene where Cordy and Xander meet at the prom is so great, you finally know she's forgiven him. According to Jonathon thanks to Buffy this year's class of SDH has the lowest mortality rate ever. I don't know if anyone counted but what must the rest of them have been like? As we see the end of the Buffy/Angel romance we see the beginning of Anya/Xander. Wes very much part of the group now and get's to dance with Cordy. Love to know a little more about Jonathon's date, was she from his therapy group? Poor Giles is the only one left stag for the evening. You wonder what Faith is doing across town, she must know the Prom is occuring?
Is the guy who wins the class clown award the one referred to in Conversations with Dead People as going insane?

Marks out of 10, 10/10 Buffy on such a roll.

The Prom was another thrilling episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Third Season. I really enjoyed this episode because it had a lot of character building in it. Zander and Cordelia had their moments, as did Angel and Buffy. I really think that this episode was spectacular because of what the senior class did for Buffy. It was really touching and relatable. The Senior Class actually recognized Buffy for the heroic effort she has shown in protecting her classmates. This episode was ver important to the series as a whole, and to the viewrs as individuals who have been through this rite of passage. I think that the episode was perfect in every way. It really added to the whole of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's third season!!!!!

For all of us who watched Buffy and Angel's tormented romance from beginning to end, this episode remains one of the most heartbreaking. For all they've gone through, lost souls, murdered friends, surviving demon dimensions to be together, it's her Mum of all people/creatures who comes as the final straw. I challenge any Buffy/Angel fan not to choke back a sob when Buffy tells Willow that she can't breathe the pain is so terrible. As always, the perfect bittersweet moment occurs just after Buffy's won the award for Class Protector (never quite understood why it's an umbrella) and despite their heart wrenching break up, Angel turns up at the Prom suited and booted regardless. Best episode for all out wallowing after losing the love of your life. Also touching moment between Xander and Cordelia, and Anya is hilarious from start to finish in this episode.

I think this is the most dramatic episode of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series.If you are a one of the Buffy / Angel\'s love fans , you feel really painful.The conversation between Buffy and Angel hurts you. When Buffy starts to cry , Angel dies again.. You can feel this.

As Prom approaches, Angel reveals that he wants Buffy to have a normal life. He tells her that he will leave town after the Ascension, leaving Buffy devastated. Meanwhile, Cordelia reveals to Xander that she is broke.



The acting in this episode was phenomenal. Sarah Michelle Gellar was incredible. I loved when she broke down in Willow's lap. The acting was incredible and I don't think she's ever done that before. Angel is leaving. :( The scene where he told her that was so powerful. Plus, the hairy thing was weird. Buffy and Angel scenes are so good and entertaining, especially since Angel is sexy and Buffy is pretty. Cool episode. YAY Prom! :)

It's prom. I love how Angel breaks up with Buffy right before Prom causing for her to want her perfect night even more that she already does. Anya and Xander going to prom together is quite amusing as well and the beginning of their relationship is great. I love the part when Wesley consults Giles about Cordelia and Giles tells him that he has the emotional maturity of a blueberry stone. Then when Buffy wins her class protector award it is such a good moment for her and it is nice to see that she gets to have at least that.

this episode is just heartbreaking yetso very touching at the end. it was heartbreaking when angel broke up with buffy. buffy just looked so sad. in the house with willow was so sad i actually felt like crying. buffy said ' i think worst is still to come. right now it feels worse. right now i am just trying to keep from dying.' i just felt so sad for her. how could angel do that??? but the ending made up for it. angel came back for one night. the speech jonathan gave was very touching. here we know that everyone noticed buffy and that they know that she save them. i felt less sad bout angel during the ending. he came back!!

The Prom-The biggest night in High School life is just around the corner, when strange creatures start appearing around town attacking anyone in formalwear. Meanwhile, Angel tells Buffy that he wants her to have a chance at the normal life that he could never give her. He plans to leave Sunnydale after the Ascension. Buffy must put aside her own pain and try to track down the source of the demonic Hellhounds in time to save the Senior Prom.



A very sweet and touching episode that sees the break-up of our star crossed lovers. It was pretty obvious that Angel and Buffy would break-up as their impossible future was constantly brought for the second half of the season. Still, it doesn't make their break-up scene any less sad. Sarah M. Gellar is heartbreaking as Buffy's world crashes down on her as Angel breaks up with her. David Boreanez is also very good as Angel struggles with his decision to leave Buffy for good. The next scene in which there is unsettling tense between the both exs is hard to watch as Buffy is still in pain.



I liked how the plot of the episode was very basic and Season 1-eqse with a psycho student unleashing a pack of hell hounds on the school prom. Of course, it was just a plot device to get Buffy to just get over her situation with Angel but it was also a way of showing how selfless Buffy has become. Her willness to let her friends have the most perfect night of their lives even though she won't, especially after her break-up is development very well. I also, love the development between Xander and Cordelia. Finding out Cordelia is broke and can't even by a dress is quite sad. But also sweet how Xander protects her secret even paying for her dress in the end. Both characters have been at odds since their abrupt break-up and its nice to see they both are on common ground, especially since Cordelia won't be in Sunnydale for long anymore. The best part of the episode is the scene in which Buffy is awarded the "Class Protector" award from all her classmates. It's truly touching scene as it makes Buffy's past 3 years at suddenly mean much more than she ever realized. Then of course, is the sequence of Angel showing up in a nice tux to have the last dance with Buffy. It's very emotional scene as this is probably one of the final moments they're ever have as a couple. Also, the scenes of Wesley acting like a dork from Cordelia being so hot, lol. All and All, a great little episode that does well by giving us some really excellent moments.

This episode got a few nice sides and a few lesser sides. First of all, no matter how fun the creatures have been in the past. the hellhounds were just a little too pathetic. Still this episode does have a few nice dialogue moments and the prom part is pretty much a must in the life of any slayer.



The fact that she learns that her additional work has gone less unnoticed then she thought does give you a nice scene that counts. Overall a little tame, but this should not be missed. The war with Faith is about to get really nasty and that part is building pressure in a very nice way.

One of the saddest episodes of TV I've ever seen.. Angel breaks up with Buffy, many heartbreaking scenes including in the sewer, Buffy and Willow on Buffy's bed, seeing Buffy work so hard to give everyone the perfect prom, Buffy recieving the class protector award and then the killer blow, when Angel shows up (even though kinda predictably)for one last dance.



Extremely well written and made something that we all knew was coming very sad.. Having Jonathan award Buffy the class protector was a classic moment, his awkward, mumbling speech was fitting. Although it wasn't the last time Angel would appear in the season, it was the end of an era, and it was a perfect way to end their relationship..



Also.. the song playing while they were dancing really made that scene perfect.

this episode is so nice. angel tells buffy they cant be together and she deserves more. it was so beautiful, his speech and all. she cant understand why he feels this way and hates that she has to stay away from him. that basicly sets up for angel. this episode doesnt really focus much on the demon or other bad whch is good for a change. xander finds out about cordy becoming poor and buys her a dress. how nice. anya asked him to the prom and he acepted. cordelia and wesley enjoy a dance. buffy gets an award for class protecter and its so sweet. they have this whole speech and then angel comes for buffy. its so cute. a great way to end this perfect episode.

Angel breaking up with Buffy in the sewer while they were chasing down a vampire made this episode painful to watch. Sure I loved it but everything going on between Buffy and Angel made it so sad. Angel coming to the Prom though and dancing with Buffy was so cute.



I loved the Wesley/Cordelia storyline though. It was so incredibly funny to see them together. I loved when Wesley saw her he was going crazy. Giles saying that Wesley had the emotional maturity of a Blueberry scone when he asked if it would be inappropriate to dance with Cordy made it that much more enjoyable.



I liked that a student was behind the hellhounds. This season had a few episodes that really focused on the inner feelings of desperation and depression of the students at Sunnydale High, and this was one of the few.



I loved Xander finding out that Cordy was working at that store and then he didn't tell everyone else that. Cordy and Xander seem to be okay for the first time since "Lover's Walk."



I loved that Buffy got the "Class Protector" award it was really quite amazing, because up until this point no one ever really shows that they notice(d) all the weird stuff that happens in Sunnydale. This was a great episode but the Angel/Buffy parts are so sad.

I really liked this episode. I was really sad when Angel decided to break up with Buffy; his reasons for breaking up with her were really sweet though. He only wanted to break up with her because he wanted to let her have a normal life. I don't care for the Hellhounds though. They're really creepy, though it was funny seeing them attack that one guy in the shop Cordelia was working at. I thought it was really sweet that Xander bought that dress for Cordelia when she was working so hard in order to pay for it. Too bad they didn't end up together. I also liked the ending when Jonathan made that speech about Buffy being the school protector.

Favorite Quote:

Joyce (to Angel): "Because when it comes to you, Angel, she's just like any other young girl in love. You're all she can see of tomorrow. But I think we both know that there are some hard choices ahead. If she can't make them, you're going to have to. I know you care about her. I just hope you care enough."



This was my second favorite episode from season 3, after 'Amends'. We knew it was coming, but Angels break-up with Buffy was still heartbreaking. I think that even if Joyce had never come to talk to him, he still would have known that he had to end it with Buffy. Buffy throws herself into ensuring that everyone else has the perfect prom, all the while trying to deal with her own heartbreak. The best part for me, hands down, was when Angel showed up for one last dance with Buffy. A close second was when she got the "Class Protector" award and also Cordelias subtle thank you to Xander for getting her dress. Absolutely beautiful episode.

The senior prom is coming up and as usual there is a threat from evil creatures. This time they take the form of hell hounds which are trained to destroy the prom.



Unusually Buffy defeats the evil baddies about halfway through the episode and then manages to arrive at the prom looking lovely.



Receiving the class protector award really does mean a lot to her, she really was noticed, even if its not the greatest thing to be noticed for. I loved the way the award went with her outfit.



Angel turns up just in time for the slow dance and they share their last dance before the ascension and Angel's departure.

This was an extraordinary episode that really plays a big part in the rest of the series. When Angel breaks up with Buffy it really shows how much it hurts him though too. It kinds of makes me dislike Joyce some though because she did have a part in why Buffy and Angel break up.



They were able to have a major plot with Angel and Buffy and still include evil creatures. It was really cute when Angel still showed up to the prom because he knew how much it meant to her. And they were still able to add some comedy with Xander and Maya.



It was really sweet when Buffy recieves the award because it shows that her class really did notice her, which is all she wanted.



I think it was a really interesting episode that I love to rewatch.

Once again we see how Buffy successfully balances being a slayer and being a young teenage girl who's trying to live her life and enjoy it.

The umbrella-scene is one of my all time favourite scenes, it was just sooo sweat and I had tears in my eyes!

She's awarded with a shiny umbrella that says "Buffy Summers. Class protector." and when she comes on stage to get it, everybody's watching her, everyone's looking all thankful and for the first time all her hard work is acknowledged. I think this was just what she needed after three years of high school with permanent battles and death all around when she saved so many people and saved the world twice without having anyone say so much as a "thank you". There it is, girl!

Brilliant episode!

So prom is just around the corner. Willow and Oz are going together, they are back to being together and happy. Anya is freaking out about being a teen again and now she has no date so she asks Xander because he knows her past. Buffy goes to ask Angel and he says no. Turns out that he and Joyce had a heart to heart and Angel agreed with a lot of the stuff that she said. Angel loved Buffy enough to know that she needs to have a life different than what they have together. I am not sure that I agree with this but Angel says that it what needs to be done and that he is leaving Sunnydale after the accession. Tears, tears, tears. And I should point out (Riley, army man and Spike were not as good for her as Angel). All of this is happening as Prom is going on and one of the students made hellbeasts to crash the party.



Buffy: I'm gonna give you all a nice, fun, normal evening if I have to kill every person on the face of the Earth to do it.

Xander: Yay?

I really enjoyed watching Buffy's intensity about the prom, it was defenitely something different to watch. Typicly prom episodes are very mushy and cheesy. This was quite a nice road to go down instead.



Even with the end of her tormented relationship with Angel is episode had a good amount of Scooby humor moments, the favortie kind of most fans.

This is one of my favourite Buffy episodes of all time. At the beginning of this episode Buffy and Angel are going through a hard time and end up breaking up...which nearly breaks my heart :(, and also when Buffy tells Willow what has happened...that bit does break my heart because Buffy is all crying and heart broken :(:(:(. The best part of this episode though is at the end when Buffy has gotten rid of all the hell demons and goes to the prom where she is presented with a "class protector" umbrella which is just soo sweet. ALSO when Angel turns up to the prom and she has no idea he would come and they dance and its just so nice that he's there for her and she looks gorgeous in that dress also, i want it!

An average episode but with powerful individual scenes that make it worth watching:



Angel decides that for Buffy's future he really needs to leave Sunnydale. He lets her know that it has to be over between them. Of course, he waits until Buffy's all jazzed over him taking her to the Prom before he suddenly acts on his revelation. Way to twist the knife, are you sure Angelus didn't surface for a second?



The main foe of the episode: Tucker and his hellhounds are on the blah-side, but they aren't the point of the episode so that's okay.



Powerful scenes: Angel's dream in which he and Buffy marry only for her to... well, you need to watch it.



The scene with Willow and Buffy below--



Buffy: Will, it's okay. You don't have to make him the bad guy.

Willow: But, that's the best friend's job. Vilifying and grousing.

Buffy: Usually, yeah. But he's right. I think that maybe in the long run, he's right.

Willow: Yeah. I think he is. I mean, I tried to hope for the best, but... I'm sorry. Must be horrible.

Buffy: I think horrible is still coming. Right now, it's worse. Right now, I'm just trying to keep from dying.

Willow: Oh Buffy.

Buffy: I can't breathe Will. I feel like I can't breathe.





And the special award giving to Buffy for protecting her classmates. It's even more affecting to have Jonathon present the award after Buffy saved him from suicide in 'Earshot'.



And not having quite the powerhouse impact, but still a sweet and wonderful scene: Xander finding out about Cordelia's financial turnaround and buying her prom gown for her, despite her not being his date. I love Xander.

It still amazes me no how many times I watch this episode, that every time, at the end I cry. The whole episode is set up for a emotional time. Angel breaks up with Buffy, and then once again, Buffy is single-out as the slayer, unable to be a normal teenager, when she has to go after hell hounds at the prom.



Then comes the prom. Where Buffy recieves a special award,(the tears start here for me).Then Angel surprises Buffy at the prom, and its the happiest/saddest moment. (I love the song the play as well). This gives them both their final goodbye. But it is so sad, because its one of the very few times, we see Buffy completely happy, and just like everyone else.

With three episodes to go and Angel getting his own show. They have to break up the beautiful relationship of Angel and Buffy.

‘The Prom’ did that perfectly, and had another storyline that usually ends up boring but is what makes the episode this good. The prom ball.



It begins with Angel and Buffy sleeping over, she begins to talk about the prom and sleeping over more often after she graduates. But he isn’t sure about it.

That same day Joyce pays him a visit and tells him that if he really loves Buffy, he should know what to do. Buffy doesn’t have a future with him.

On that note, Angel has a beautiful dream where he marries Buffy and when they walk out of the church he doesn’t burn up but she does. It’s one of the prettiest scenes of the season, if not the prettiest.



The same day Buffy and Angel go haunt vampires in the sewers but Angel wants to tell her something she isn’t going to like. He tells her that she deserves much better than him, she deserves someone who can take her into the light. After Buffy says a couple of harsh things to Angel he breaks up with her. He says she doesn’t want to be with her and that after it’s all done with the Mayor, he’s going to leave Sunnydale. The whole scene was beautiful and mostly well acted.



So now Buffy is heart broken, Willow tries to make Angel the bad guy but Buffy admits that Angel might be right in the long run. But at the moment, she’s having trouble breathing. Poor Buffy.



In the meanwhile, everyone is buying their dresses for prom but there is a guy named Tucker who is raising some wear dogs who will attack the school prom and kill everyone there. He sends one of his dogs to a shop where it kills a young man. In the same shop Xander and Cordelia were fighting. Xander finds out that Cordelia is working, she tells him that her father lost everything and now she doesn’t have clothes, money, car and cannot go to any school she was accepted in.



In school the scooby’s watch everything that happened on tape and they see a young man who is controlling the dog. Oz knows him and Buffy goes to his house to stop him. He tells her that he already let three dogs loose to kill everyone in the school prom.



While Buffy kills the three dogs that were going to attack the school prom. Everyone else comes into the ball and begin to dance.

I mostly loved Xander this episode, he bought the dress for Cordelia that she couldn’t buy (and she looked damn hot in it) and he got a date with the crazy, but hilarious Anya. I loved Anya as well with her vengeance talk. Oh, and don’t forget Wesley who thought Cordy was hotter than the sauce.



The entire episode was a blast, not entirely perfect. But mostly, yes. Buffy also looked beautiful in her pink dress and lovely when she got the award for class-protector. That was a big highlight of the series. Then Buffy sees Angel walk in and they dace together, a beautiful scene that was heartbreaking, sad but romantic at the same time.



Wild horses.

Buffy and Angel are sleeping together; but only sleeping, no shenanigans. Buffy takes this snuggling to mean that she can have a drawer in Angel’s crypt and put up some mirrors and that he can accompany Buffy to the Prom in the capacity of Boyfriend. Angel, unsurprisingly, is freaked out. He’s been alone for centuries and now he has to share things?! Buffy is a normal teenage girl (or trying to be) and of course she wants to go to the “end of school rite of passage thingy”, whereas the only rite of passage Angel had in his day was getting drunk and going to the local brothel. Their differences are amplified by Buffy drawing back the heavy curtains and almost scalding Angel with sunlight. Angel then finds the scribblings on his school-girl-friend’s exercise book: “Buffy 4 Angel 4 eva”. Joyce hits this home to Angel “She’s still just a girl. She is just starting out in life.” From her experience, Joyce knows that Angel is “all [Buffy] can see of tomorrow” – she points out to Angel that since Buffy cant make adult choices, Angel is going to have to make them for her.



The genius of Joss is that this move of Angel, to LA, to his own show, seems entirely natural. On a metaphorical level it’s the leaving behind of teenage romance as Buffy enters adulthood, on a character level, it is obvious that the Slayer/Vamp relationship couldn’t go and on a plot level it works entirely.

This doesn’t make the sewer scene any easier to bear – the love concealed behind the insults (“this freak show” “you have a heart? It isn’t even beating” “I want my life to be with you” – “I don’t”) is poignant and the dialogue hurtful. The scene is long in an already-packed ‘sode, but it needs to be because the viewer is as emotionally invested in the characters as the characters are in each other. This ending between them was going to happen from the first moment they kissed. They’ve split up many times since then, but this torrid scene makes us realise the finality of it. And even Buffy, wallowing in misery, accepts this: “I think maybe in the long run, he’s right”. Her BFF may try to vilify Angel but Buffy, growing up, knows that there are shades of grey and that even bad guys can be right about something, that someone can break your heart by doing the right thing. The irony is that Angel says she deserves more than demons and darkness but her wanting teengirl things is what makes him anxious. The overly-romantic dream sequence has the neat twist in that it is Angel’s dream and it is Buffy who combusts in the sunlight – the message being that he will ruin her if he stays with her – she’ll be forever with the demons and the darkness. Buffy seeing where he gets his blood from only highlights the differences between them.



Meanwhile, Anya is scouting around for a date for the Prom, and it seems obvious that a misandryst would prefer Xander, an epsilon male, to one of the football team. “Men are evil - will you go with me?” is how she words her invitation.



Anya admirably deconstructs the prom – it’s all about being 18 and having all these feelings that you really don’t like and needing a partner to accompany oneself. The message in this episode is that even though the prom is lame and, like, so over; one has to go - to dance to crap music, drink dreadful punch and leave childhood and innocence behind. Trying to sabotage it because someone turned you down is worse than lame. Anya hates the idea of the Prom, but hates the idea of not going to it. This is a great ep for us English viewers, because we don’t have all these slightly bizarre rituals and yet we’ve seen so many films about them – this is nicely satirised in the scene where Buffy discovers the videos (Pretty in Pink, Prom Party IV) in the secret training bungalow – that we feel like we’ve been to one. And training hell hounds to attack people in formal wear is twisted hilarious genius. Even before they come across Tucker’s evil plan, Buffy is insistent that everyone will attend the Prom and have their “night of all nights” before the ascension: “One night of glory is not too much to ask”, the metaphor being that the ascension/graduation is the end of high school and the beginning of the real world and its harshness and unfairness. We need to have a break, we need to have a little fun. Later on, when they discover the devil-dogs, she is even more determined. She wants a perfect high school moment and is “going to give everyone a nice normal evening even if I have kill every single person on the face of the earth to do it.” Yay!



Someone finding out about unfairness already is Cordelia, who is working in a dress shop since daddy forgot to pay his taxes for 12 years. Yup, Cordy got hers, she is now a “nametag person”. Xander finally gets his chance to make up for his infidelity by not only failing to reveal her secret to the gang and covering up for her, but by buying the cough-inducing silver dress for her. Considering that Xander is from a blue-collar background and is saving up for a road-trip, this is a truly magnanimous gesture and one that earns him Cordy’s discreet forgiveness.



The night of the Prom is here: Buffy kills the demon-dogs, they were only a MacGuffin, and gets her party dress out of the weapons bag and goes the goddamn prom. By sacrificing herself, she has ensured that - as Willow says - “everything’s perfect”. The boy in the tuxedo who watches as Buffy kills the hellhound and then asks for the bathroom is typical of Sunnydale’s denial and ingratitude. But this is about to change…..



So, the Prom: there are a realistic amount of extras, Anya and Xander’s relationship is starting as it means to go on, Wes and Cordy dance, a man with balloons on his head wins the Class Clown prize and then….we have probably my favourite scene in the whole seven series as Buffy receives the Class Protector award. It makes me sob every single time - I’m welling up just typing about it. How wonderfully fitting that it’s Jonathan who (a choice only besmirched by his later actions) presents her with her prize mini-umbrella. What he says is just faultless:



“We don’t talk about it much, but it’s no secret that Sunnydale High isn’t really like other high schools. A lot of weird stuff happens here…..Most of the people here have been saved by you, or helped by you at one time or another. We’re proud to say that the Class of ‘99 has the lowest mortality rate of any graduating class in Sunnydale history……So the senior class, offers its thanks, and gives you this. It’s from all of us, and it has written here, ‘Buffy Summers, Class Protector.’ ”



Finally Buffy gets her perfect high school moment, finally she is recognised and appreciated for what she does, what she is. She’s not Prom Queen, she is herself, the much much better option than being a falsity. Buffy is wholly validated as she finally realises that she is accepted for what she is and she has found her place in life, which is surely everyone’s dream moment as well as being a blueprint for adulthood. A rite of passage. Then the perfect moment has it’s post-script, as a suited and booted Angel turns up for the perfect dance, the extra special moment. Now does Xander see why he gets tickets for these occasions?



Pity we never got to see Giles in pink taffeta though.

I like this episode except for the fact that it made me cry. It was something about angel breaking up with buffy then showing up at the prom that was a teary moment and then when Johnathon made that speach about the class protector i laughed and cried at the same time.The parts where wesley was trying to decide wether to ask cordelia to dance were hysterical and then when Giles told him he had the "emotional maturity of a blueberry scone" he said "thanks for that" and asked her to dance. This episode is like a crucial part of buffys senior year at sunnydale high. It was funny how tall Johnathons date was compared to him and it was sad that Angel broek up with Buffy. This all sums up another great episode.

There are a number of episodes of Buffy that will effect you in amazing and varying ways, but there are only a select few that get me like a kick in the gut. This is one of the top ones. I've been watching this show for years, and no matter how many times I see this particular episode, and know everything that is coming, this one still gets me every single time. How could it not?. Next to "The Body" in season five, I would say that this is the saddest, most emotional, most teary eyed, but also most uplifting, episodes I have seen. The two part finale that followed may of been the end of the season, but there were things about this episode that signaled that this episode was another end to the show. Of course, it all happens during the all important prom. But unlike most proms in horror/fantasy shows or movies, the festivites went off without a hitch(after all, the hell hounds didn't really get to the actual dance or cause much damage), and there was no pig blood dropped on a poor, unsuspecting girl with telekinetic powers. Smartly, the show went the other way and actually had the prom be, well, nice. No real problems. Everyone danced, everyone laughed and smiled, and just generally had a good time. Well, they deserved it. As Buffy told the gang, she was going to make sure that they all had a prom and all had a good time. She was right. The prom also included what had to be one of the all time best moments in the history of Buffy. You know what I am talking about. This was a great episode. So, what exactly went on before the b ig graduation?. Grab your hanky and let's find out...



Buffy and gang are pretty happy with the upcoming prom, but Buffy's joy and happiness turns sour after Angel tells her that he doesn't want to be with her and breaks things off. Things get even worse when a vengeful student tries to get his revenge by unleashing a pack of wild hell hounds on the unsuspecting partygoers at the prom.



After the last few episodes, Angel has had some thoughts put into his head. The Mayor was first when he gave Angel a lecture on his and Buffy's relationship. Telling Angel the differences of the two, and the difficulties. What can Angel offer her?. What kind of relationship can they have when she will grow old and die and he will stay young forever?. He can't go out in the daytime. She can. Buffy tries to tell Angel not to listen to him, but it is obvious that he does and the words are hitting close to him. If Angel had any doubts about this, they were then pushed aside when he gets a visit from Joyce. Joyce comes to the mansion and has a little heart to heart with her daughter's undead boyfriend. She comes as a worried and concerned mother. Who wouldn't be when their daughter's boyfriend can snap into pure, murderous evil because of simple happiness?. Joyce is worried that Buffy is dating some monster who can be released at a moment's notice. She says that Buffy is like any other girl in love with someone. Joyce wants Buffy to have a future, but she tells Angel that all Buffy sees is him. Buffy is 18. She is madly in love. But what kind of life can it be together?. If the Mayor's words hadn't completely made Angel think of ending it with Buffy, then this conversation did. After all of this talk, you kind of wonder if Buffy has ever had these thoughts herself. She acts like it's nothing when others say it to him, but has she ever really thought of it?. Down in the sewers(how appropriate!), Angel lets it out. He tells Buffy that he doesn't want to be with her, and that it's basically over. In what has to be one of the most heart wrenching scenes ever, Buffy is shocked with Angel's comments. Sarah just keeps getting better and better. She should have a number of Emmy's by now. But the heartache gets worse. In a scene that gets my tear ducts going, Buffy cries to Willow about how she can't breathe over what has happened("I can't breathe Willow, I feel like I just can't breathe"). Ugh!. If that doesn't do it for you, then you are a cold, heartless piece of stone. Sarah continues to amaze and astonish with her acting and the range of emotions she can go through in a single episode. This whole storyline is one of the best ever.



The prom itself was fun, but a Sunnydale student named Tucker plans on unleashing a pack of bloodthirsty hell hounds on the party and has trained them to attack anyone in formal wear, by showing them movies like "Prom Night", "Carrie", and "Pretty In Pink". But like I said before, the prom really doesn't go the typical horror movie route. The hounds get there, but Buffy stops them before they actually get to the dance or really hurt someone. It so easily could of gone the other way and have another prom massacre on our hands, but the writers have always been too smart for a cliche like that. Instead, they let the characters have their moment. They let them have that one last(or one good?)high school moment, before all hell breaks loose and it's over for good. Everyone looks astonishing. Even Wesley looks "way 007" in his tux. Cordelia comes in the hot dress that Xander had bought her(such a nice scene), and Willow and Oz looks great. But time seems to stop, and jaws drop, when Buffy enters. Could there be a more lovelier vision?. Angel drops by in his tux and gives Buffy her one great high school moment. They dance. Just when you thought a moment couldn't get any better, here comes Jonathan to hand out a very special award to a very special someone. Jonathan gives the best speech of the show when he awards Buffy with the "Class Protector" award. This is kind of surprising since I had always been under the impression that most, if not all, of the other students were not aware of Buffy and her..uh, gift. But because of this, and some of Jonathan's words, I guess they really did know and notice all the weird things that have been happening at their school. I guess they knew about Buffy as well. The emotional music starts up as Buffy walks with everyone clapping towards the stage. Easily, the greatest moment ever. Seeing Giles smile as his slayer(and daughter figure)accepts the award, was priceless. You are smiling too because you know the hell and heartbreak that Buffy has gone through. Everything she has done to save the kids of the school and the school itself. She deserves this, and you are excited that she is finally getting some kind of recognition. Now, if only Sarah herself got that from her peers, all would be right with the world.



At the end of the day, "The Prom" is a classic and important episode of the series. It has always been one of my all time favorites, and will continue to be so. Everything was perfect. The emotion was at it's peak, and the cast, especially Sarah, were marvelous. Everybody's prom should be this magical.

At the end of "Becoming (2)" the Mutant Enemy logo says "Oh, I need a hug!" as he walks across the screen instead of his usual "Grr, Argh!"

I feel the same would have been very appropriate here. Angel breaks up with Buffy. *Cries*

Sarah Michelle Gellar's crying brings tears to the eyes every time. As Buffy starts bawling with Willow, she says "I can't breathe! It feels like I can't breathe!"

Marti Noxon really outdid herself with the writing of this episode.

Sarah Michelle Gellar really outdid herself with that aforementioned scene.



I can't wait for my next breakup. Then I can watch Becoming (2), The Prom, Grad (1), Grad (2) and I Will Remember You (an Angel episode) and think "at least it didn't go like that."

Did I really just say I couldn't wait for my next breakup?

This is one of the most emotionally riveting episodes out of all things Buffy in my opinion, right up there with "The Body." I laughed, I cried, I reveled in the bittersweet memories of Sunnydale High, I wondered what was wrong with that Tucker kid, I cried, I wished that Angel wasn't going away (although 2 hours of Buffyverse are better than one), I laughed at Wesley's "blueberry sconeness," I tried to appreciate the decision that Angel (and Joss Whedon) were making, I saw just how far Buffy had come from not being able to share who she is for fear of their lives to being appreciated en mass, and I cried some more. A whole lot more. Then I watched it again.