Reviewed By: Adam Bardwell.
Rating: 9/10
The previous episode seemed fun but this is the funnest (don't worry I'm not developing a Kathy complex!). It also has some brains for by making all the adults of Sunnydale act like teenagers we get to see just how mature Buffy and the gang are. One might argue they are too mature, with the exception of Xander, but luckily this explored in the Buffy Faith relationship later in the season (in particular the episode "Bad Girls").
The whole issue of maturity and taking responsibilities is brought up at the beginning of the episode with Giles and Joyce being seen to organise all of Buffy's time. She rebels by using them as an alibi to each other and actually going to see Angel. Although it was wrong of Buffy to lie to them about her whereabouts I am on her side when she says she can look after herself. Taking off at the end of "Becoming" may have been a very bad decision but we saw in "Anne" that she is more than capable at living on her own. I can understand Joyce and Giles' position - they have lost trust in her - but the fact that she survived the whole summer has to show that she can take on responsibility. After she proves this again here their attempts to structure her life ease although the discovery that Angel is alive knocks everyone's trust of Buffy.
The fun factor of this episode comes from the adults acting as teenagers. The older members of the cast are obviously have a great time in playing these care free variants of there characters. Giles as a teenager is so different to the stuffy librarian (/man of leisure) we know and love you would hardly believe it. Him and Joyce doing stuff with handcuffs was a bit of a shock but ironically ensured that they will never get together when they return to normal. Buffy seemed a bit naive to think she had stopped Giles and her mother doing anything but after finding the cuffs perhaps she was repressing the idea (I don't blame her). Of course this liaison comes into the open in "Earshot". Snyder as a teenager was interesting. He was obviously a bit of a geek and a coward (unlike Giles - "Copper's got a gun, you'll never use it though mate!"). I thought his attempted martial arts were hilarious!
The adults reverted to a second adolescence because Ethan had been subcontracted by Mr. Trick to make sure the adults did nothing to stop babies being taken from the hospital as a tribute to a demon that the Mayor has promised to feed in exchange for not attacking the town, one assumes. Ethan achieved this buy cursing chocolate bars which were given to the school to be sold to raise proceeds for the marching band (as mentioned in "Beauty and the Beasts"). It is nice to see Ethan again and as a worshipper of chaos his appearance is logical. The scene between him Buffy and Ripper in the chocolate factory is a gem. Ripper gets so much joy out of seeing Buffy punching Ethan. It seems that his hatred of Ethan hasn't gone with his reversion to his "electic-kool-aid-funky-satan-groove" days! While talking about this scene, however, I have to ask how on earth Ethan got into that box?
OK I have no idea what the laws on minors driving are in the US but whatever they are there is no way that Buffy should have been allowed on the roads with out an adult. Yes her driving was very funny (as was Snyder's "Summers - you drive like a spaz" remark although not very politically correct) but she failed the written test and has yet to take the practical. If just taking the classes with out the tests allows her to drive then there is something wrong with the system - if Joyce shouldn't have let her drive then both she and Buffy were very immature (OK Joyce was under the influence of the chocolate but Buffy would have known that is was illegal). On top of not having a licence it is clear that Buffy was not insure - I don't know about America but here that is a legal requirement. Buffy therefore is setting a terrible example to viewers and this undoes all the parts of the show which show Buffy as being responsible and mature - taking the car shows she isn't. Sorry to ramble on but after spending a large number of hours not to mention money learning to driving and passing the tests I feel strongly about this.
Willow and Xander continue there on-the-side relationship - well sort of. They don't kiss but they look legs under the table. Cordelia asking Willow is she wanted to swap was very well done. Of course she was wanting to swap books - I can't really see Oz and Cordy as a couple but I'm sure that there are some 'shippers out there for this relationship(?)
Great Buffy Moment: Any scene with Ripper in!
In a Nutshell: Really, really fun and amazingly watchable mainly due its great premise and top quality performances.