Season Four

The episode reviews on this page are from the official Buffy page and do not belong to me

"The Freshman"
Trying to adjust to the rigors of college life proves to be harder than Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) imagined. She moves into a dorm, must contend with a less-than-stable roommate and the complexities of dating college men. On campus, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) is overly enthused about college life and her ongoing romance with Oz (Seth Green), and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) unexpectedly returns from his self-discovery adventure. Elsewhere, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) seems to be enjoying his life away from being a librarian and a Watcher. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode.



"Living Conditions"
Dorm life proves to be quite an adjustment for Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) when her roommate (guest star Dagney Kerr) drives her crazy with her idiosyncrasies even invading Buffy's dreams and the gang must come together to find away to get her to move out. Away from the dorm, Buffy meets Parker Finch (guest star Adam Kaufman), a handsome older classman who is the first guy Buffy has been attracted to since her break-up with Angel. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Seth Green and Anthony Stewart Head also star. David Grossman directed the episode written by Marti Noxon.
Episode: (#P4ABB02)
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"The Harsh Light of Day"
The underworld version of Sid Vicious, Spike (new series regular James Marsters), returns to Sunnydale in search of the vampire version of the Holy Grail, a mythical relic that supposedly engenders the wearer with unimaginable powers, and it's up to Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) to stop him. Meanwhile, Buffy is distracted by dating issues as she deals with her feelings for a new boy (guest star Adam Kaufman) who happens to not be a blood-sucking vampire, but is equally as difficult to understand. Xander (Nicholas Brendon) has romance issues of his own when his prom date from last spring, Anya (guest star Emma Caulfield), can't get the X-man out of her mind. Alyson Hannigan, Seth Green and Anthony Stewart Head also star. James A. Contner directed the episode written by Jane Espenson.
Episode: (#P4ABB03)
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"Fear, Itself"
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) reluctantly agrees to join Willow (Alyson Hannigan), Oz (Seth Green) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) at a Halloween party where they stumble into a real-life house of horrors masquerading as an innocuous fraternity. Meanwhile, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) is called upon to help out the college crowd when all he wants is to get into the spirit of the holiday. Tucker Gates directed the episode written by David Fury.



"Beer Bad"
When Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is befriended by a group of upperclassmen who convince her to drown her sorrows with them, bartender Xander (Nicholas Brendon) becomes suspicious when Buffy and her new friends return to their primordial roots. Back at The Bronze, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) is aware of Oz's (Seth Green) attention being turned to a new performer, the sexual and charismatic Veruca (guest star Paige Moss). David Solomon directed the episode written by Tracey Forbes.


"Wild at Heart"
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) does her best to console Willow (Alyson Hannigan) when Oz is undeniably drawn to another woman, Veruca (guest star Paige Moss). Even after it is discovered that his attraction stems from the fact that she is also a werewolf, his powerful primitive instincts may be too innate to ignore. Nicholas Brendon, Anthony Stewart Head and James Marsters also star. David Grossman directed the episode written by Marti Noxon

"The Initiative"
Unbeknownst to Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and the gang, Spike (James Marsters) is captured by a commando squad for The Initiative, a mysterious underground laboratory beneath the streets of U.C. Sunnydale. Meanwhile, Buffy's Psych T.A., Riley (guest star Marc Blucas), has a major slayer crush and turns to Willow (Alyson Hannigan) for advice on ways to woo. Nicholas Brendon and Anthony Stewart Head also star. Douglas Petrie wrote the episode directed by James A. Contner


"Pangs"
Unbeknownst to Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Angel (special guest star David Boreanaz, "Angel") lurks in the shadows of Sunnydale trying to protect her and keep her safe, while her perfect Thanksgiving feast is disrupted by an army of Chumash Indians, the original inhabitants of Sunnydale, whose spirits have come alive to recreate the wrongs that were done to their people. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters and Anthony Stewart Head also star. Michael Lange directed the episode written by Jane Espenson

"Something Blue"
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is only one of many who must bear the repercussions of a spell gone awry when Willow (Alyson Hannigan), pining over the disappearance of Oz (Seth Green), tries to imbue herself with the power to have her will done. The fallout includes Buffy falling in love with Spike (James Marsters) and planning to marry him, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) going blind and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) becoming even more of a demon magnet. Nick Marck directed the episode written by Tracey Forbes (#P4ABB09).
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"Hush"
A silence falls over Sunnydale when otherwordly beings come to town and steal the power of speech from all the residents. Meanwhile, Riley (Marc Blucas) gets his first clue to Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) slayerside when they have a fight with the outside visitor, and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) attends a wicca group that's not all she had hoped. Nicholas Brendon, James Marsters and Anthony Stewart Head also star. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode

"Doomed"
While Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Riley (Marc Blucas) grapple to come to terms with what they now know about each other, the reopening of the Sunnydale Hellmouth sends Buffy and the gang back to high school to prevent impending apocalypse. Meanwhile, Spike (James Marsters) has lost all will to live without the ability to kill, but he grows heartened by the approaching end of the world. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan and Anthony Stewart Head also star. James A. Contner directed the episode written by Marti Noxon & David Fury & Jane Espenson

"A New Man"
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Riley (Marc Blucas) explore the extent of each other's powers as they become more romantically entwined. Feeling left out these days, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) turns to his old buddy Ethan Rayne (guest star Robin Sachs) for camaraderie, but Giles must rely on an unlikely source when he is transformed into a demon and mistakenly hunted down by an unknowing Buffy. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan and James Marsters also star. Michael Gershman directed the episode written by Jane Espenson

"The I in Team"
Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) friends become hurt and concerned when her involvement with Riley (Marc Blucas) and the Initiative becomes more intense. Meanwhile, Professor Walsh (guest star Lindsay Crouse) sends the slayer on a mission that brings her close to revealing a dangerous secret. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters and Anthony Stewart Head also star. James A. Contner directed the episode written by David Fury

"Goodbye Iowa"
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Riley's (Marc Blucas) relationship is put to the test when she investigates Professor Walsh's (guest star Lindsay Crouse) death and comes up against the Initiative's secret weapon. While Buffy is trying to find a way to save Sunnydale from rogue warrior demon on the loose, Riley becomes paranoid and delusional and challenges Buffy when he discovers that his mentor has been killed. Elsewhere in town, Spike (James Marsters) has become the outcast among demons since he has taken up with the Scooby-Doo Gang. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan and Anthony Stewart Head also star. David Solomon directed the episode written by Marti Noxon

"This Year's Girl"
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is preoccupied with catching the creature that attacked Riley (Marc Blucas), but her problems are just beginning when she learns that Faith (guest star Eliza Dushku) has awakened from her coma and has gone seeking revenge to the only home in which Faith remembers Buffy living. Meanwhile, once she is set free, Faith receives a mysterious gift left behind from the Mayor. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters and Anthony Stewart Head also star. Michael Gershman directed the episode written by Douglas Petrie


"Who Are You"
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) battles to escape the clutches of the Watcher's Council special operations team who plan to send her to England, while Faith (guest star Eliza Dushku) continues to wreak havoc in the lives of Buffy's family and friends. Meanwhile, it's Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Tara (guest star Amber Benson) who figure out Buffy's whereabouts, but not before Faith has done some serious damage to Buffy's relationship with Riley (Marc Blucas). Nicholas Brendon, James Marsters and Anthony Stewart Head also star. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the episode



"Superstar"
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), still reeling from the discovery that Riley (Marc Blucas) was intimate with Faith (guest star Eliza Dushku), must put aside her personal emotions and summon the strength to uncover why the entire town thinks that former high school nerd, Jonathan (guest star Danny Strong), is Sunnydale's newest version of a superhero. Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, James Marsters and Anthony Stewart Head also star. David Grossman directed the episode written by Jane Espenson (#P4ABB17).
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"Where the Wild Things Are"
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Riley (Marc Blucas) unleash a powerful supernatural force that awakens during a Lowell House fraternity party and causes everyone's hormones to kick into overdrive, threatening the very lives of Buffy and Riley. In order to free them, the gang must battle the spirits of children from the 1950s who have come back to avenge past abuses. Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, James Marsters and Anthony Stewart Head also star. David Solomon directed the episode written by Tracey Forbes



"New Moon Rising"
Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and her friends are stunned when Oz (guest star Seth Green) returns to Sunnydale claiming he still loves Willow and has his full moon frolics under control. Meanwhile, Willow tries to sort out her feelings for Oz and finally tells Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) about her new relationship with Tara (guest star Amber Benson). But when the moon sets, a transformed Oz is captured by The Initiative and an unlikely source breaks his alliance to come to the rescue. Marti Noxon wrote the episode directed by James A. Contner



"The Yoko Factor"
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is even more certain of her love for Riley (Marc Blucas) when Angel's (guest star David Boreanaz, "Angel") surprise visit to Sunnydale brings Riley and Angel to blows. Meanwhile, Spike (James Marsters) joins forces with Adam (guest star George Hertzberg) and devises a plan to tear the Slayer apart from her gang, leaving her wide open for her enemies to attack. David Grossman directed the episode written by Douglas Petrie


"Primeval"
Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) estrangement from her friends and Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) threatens to keep the group from stopping Adam's (guest star George Hertzberg) plan to design a master race of human/demon hybrids. Elsewhere, Riley (Marc Blucas) is captured by Adam and learns that before Professor Walsh death, she had implanted Riley with a chip that could destroy his power and bond him to Adam forever. Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters and Emma Caulfield also star. James A. Contner directed the episode written by David Fury
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"Restless"
A primal animal force stalks Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Willow (Alyson Hannigan), Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) in their nightmares as they each come face to face with their worst fears. James Marsters, Marc Blucas and Emma Caulfield also star