Reviewed By: Monica Medina
Rating: 8/10
Everyone's nightmares seem to be coming true at Sunnydale high – due to a young boys understandable fear of the coach who placed him in a coma. Thanks to the mystical influence of the Hellmouth, the boy’s fear is transformed into a monster, which Buffy must defeat while coming face-to-face with her own personal demons – one of which is her fear of abandonment by her father because of who she is. Not to be left out, the rest of the Scoobies also have inner demons to slay. Xander must defeat a childhood clown, Willow is thrust into the limelight at an opera she doesn't know the words for, and Giles losing the ability to read. But perhaps the most amazing nightmare manifestation is Giles’ fear of Buffy dying and Buffy's fear of being vamped. The way Buffy's and Giles' nightmares intertwine so neatly takes one's breath away. SMG's portrayal of Buffy living out her worst nightmare with brilliant sensitivity is truly amazing.
Not to be completely forsaken, the humorous dialogue, while toned down, was still present. This can be seen when Xander decks his clown, Giles gets lost in the stacks, and a vamped Buffy urges the gang to "hurry… I'm getting hungry."
Great Buffy Moment: Buffy and Giles worst nightmare coming true – Buffy’s untimely death and her vamping.
In A Nutshell: This episode is one of my personal favourites because it allows us a look inside the private nightmares of these amazing characters. The strength of this show is its characters, and they are made to look even more appealing because of their insecurities.