Reptile Boy (Buffy episode)

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"Reptile Boy" is episode 5 of season 2 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. See also List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes.

Contents

1 Plot synopsis

1.1 Summary
1.2 Expanded overview

2 Writing and acting
3 Production details

3.1 Music

4 Quotes and trivia
5 Continuity

5.1 Arc significance
5.2 Timing

Plot synopsis

[Spoiler warningSpoiler warning]: Plot and/or ending details about some or all of the Whedonverse productions (Buffy, Angel, Fray, etc.) follow.

Summary

Buffy is frustrated by Angel's lack of initiative in furthering their relationship. She is also burdened by Giles's training. To escape, she lies to Giles to go to a frat party with Cordelia. They are drugged and about to be sacrificed to a demon when the gang arrives to free them. Buffy releases herself and kills the demon.

Expanded overview

A girl jumps out of a second-floor window of a frat house and chased into a cemetery, where she is caught. Meanwhile, Buffy's gang are happy with the apparent lack of activity on the Hellmouth. Giles presses her to train harder, but she just wants to be a teenager.

The next day at school, Cordelia introduces Buffy to two college guys, one of whom invites Buffy to a party. She turns him down, claiming she is involved with someone. Buffy goes on patrol and meets Angel, who smells blood on a bracelet on the ground. He says that their age difference is a problem and that she does not know what she wants in life. She runs off.

Buffy decides to go to the frat party with Cordelia. She chooses not to tell Giles or Angel about her date. Later that night, Giles and Willow discover that the bracelet is from Kent Prepatory School, just outside of Sunnydale and where Buffy is partying. Angel appears and asks about Buffy. Willow tells the two men why Buffy lied to them. They then rush off to save Buffy and Cordelia.

At the party, Buffy tries to avoid drunk frat guys. Xander has snuck in to protect Buffy, but is mistaken for a crasher and is dressed up like a girl. Meanwhile, Buffy relents and decides to accept a drink. Drugged, she stumbles her way up to the bedroom where Cordelia is lying unconscious. When they wake up, they find themselves chained in a basement as an offering for a reptile god. Cordelia is chosen as the first victim, but Buffy distracts the demon and breaks out of her chains just in time.

Willow, Angel and Giles head to the frat party and meet up with Xander. They enter the house and beat up the frat guys. Buffy kills the demon, and the frat guys are arrested. Afterwards, everyone gathers at the Bronze. Angel appears and asks to have coffee with Buffy sometime. She plays it cool.

Writing and acting

Greg Vaughan played 'Richard Anderson' in Reptile Boy. The actor also played 'Diego Guttierez' in The Young and the Restless, which coincidentally is the name of Whedon's assistant. The actor currently plays 'Lucky Spencer' in General Hospital.

Production details

The demon Machida was originally supposed to appear in more episodes but difficulties in the special effects and makeup department led to his last appearance in this episode. In the original script his last appearance is:

Machida disappears into the pit with Tom. We hear Tom’s screams, a quick couple of chomps and then silence.

Later at the Bronze:

Willow: “They didn’t find the snake? “ (Xander shakes his head) “Which means we probably will some day. Oh Goody!

Music

Act of Faith - "Bring me on"
Clement & Murray - "Devil's lair"
Clement & Murray - "Graffiti Sound"
Clement & Murray - "If i can't have you"
Clement & Murray - "Secrets"
Clement & Murray - "Wolves"
Louie Says - "She"
Nancy Sinatra - "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'"

Quotes and trivia

This episode deals with allegories of date-rape, spiked drinks and not judging people by their appearances.

David Greenwalt's DVD commentary revealed Greenwalt made up the name 'Machida' but later found that it was the name of a brand of power tools.

Continuity

Arc significance

This episode continues a common theme in the series, where bad things tend to happen to people who drink or smoke. When Buffy goes to college in season four, alcohol and fraternity parties will once again pose problems.

This episode continues the tradition of Angel getting mixed up about his age.

Buffy and Angel agree to go for coffee, and attempt to do so in "Halloween". In Season 5, Buffy sees 'coffee' as an extremely important date-like event, and the drink is used as an analogy for feelings.

A hint is given about the future of the Cordelia-Xander relationship. Cordelia mentions that Spandex is one of her trademarks.

Timing

Stories that take place around the same time in the Buffyverse:

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