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When She Was Bad
When She Was Bad
When She Was Bad
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"When She Was Bad" is also the name of a book by Patricia Pearson
"When She Was Bad"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 1
Directed byJoss Whedon
Written byJoss Whedon
Production code5V01
Original air dateSeptember 15, 1997 (1997-09-15)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Some Assembly Required"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 2
List of episodes

"When She Was Bad" is the season premiere of the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the thirteenth episode in the series. The episode aired on The WB on September 15, 1997. The episode was written and directed by series creator and executive producer Joss Whedon.

When Buffy returns home to Sunnydale after a spending the summer away, Xander and Willow become concerned with her disturbingly cold and distant behavior. Meanwhile, Cordelia and Sunnydale High teacher Ms. Calendar are kidnapped and Buffy is convinced that the fight to protect them and the world from the undead is hers alone. Still reluctant to risk getting close to Angel, Buffy turns him away before either one can express their true feelings.[1]

Plot

[edit]

Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) are walking near a cemetery, reflecting on how quiet the summer has been in Sunnydale since the Master's (Mark Metcalf) defeat. Xander admits he's actually looking forward to the start of school. When he playfully puts ice cream on Willow's nose, the two nearly share a kiss — until a vampire suddenly appears behind her. Xander tries to fend off the attack, but Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) arrives just in time to slay the vampire.

At home, Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) questions the number of clothes Buffy brought back from her shopping spree in Los Angeles. Hank (Dean Butler) admits that Buffy seemed distant throughout the summer, so he overcompensated by letting her shop.

At school, Principal Snyder (Armin Shimerman) expresses his disdain for students while speaking with Giles (Anthony Head), who discreetly slips away upon spotting Jenny Calendar (Robia LaMorte). In the hallway, Giles and Jenny run into the Scooby gang, but Buffy appears aloof during the reunion. When Willow mentions that Buffy killed a vampire the night before, Giles explains that although the Hellmouth is closed, residual mystical energy still draws evil to Sunnydale. He asks Buffy to resume her training after school but seems concerned by her eagerness.

While training in the library, Buffy has a sudden vision of the Master and begins furiously attacking the training dummy. Giles urges her to stop, but she kicks the dummy across the room and declares that she's ready for whatever comes next.

That night, Buffy has a nightmare in which she is choked by the Master, who appears disguised as Giles. She wakes to find Angel (David Boreanaz) at her window. He warns her that the Anointed One is gathering forces. When Buffy dismisses his concern, Angel admits he missed her but leaves before she can respond.

The next day at school, the Scoobies run into Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), who casually mentions Buffy's Slayer identity, unaware it's supposed to be a secret. Buffy snaps at her, and Xander and Willow are taken aback by her hostility.

That evening at the Bronze, Xander and Willow discuss Buffy's recent behavior. Willow attempts to recreate the ice cream moment from the cemetery, but Xander simply tells her she has something on her nose. Meanwhile, the Anointed One and a vampire named Absalom (Brent Jennings) are forcing other vampires to dig up the Master's bones by hand, despite the consecrated ground.

When Buffy arrives at the Bronze, Angel asks if she is angry with him. Buffy tells him to get over himself, saying she has moved on "to the living." She then shares a slow, passionate dance with Xander, clearly unsettling both Angel and Willow. Buffy abruptly leaves Xander mid-dance after asking if he would like her to thank him for resurrecting her.

Outside, Cordelia confronts Buffy, telling her to get over whatever is bothering her. Buffy tells Cordelia to mind her own business and walks away. Moments later, Cordelia is grabbed by two shadowy figures and dragged into a building. She is thrown into a basement, where she finds Ms. Calendar unconscious on the floor. Meanwhile, Buffy visits the Master's grave in the cemetery and finds it empty.

The next day at school, Xander and Willow express concern about Buffy, and Giles suspects she has not fully processed her traumatic encounter with the Master on a conscious level. Buffy suddenly appears and informs them that the Master's bones have gone missing. When Giles mentions revivification rituals, Buffy becomes upset that he never told her about them. After Buffy snaps at Willow, Xander defends her. Principal Snyder arrives, dismissing them to class and telling Giles he wants to expel Buffy, as he smells trouble around her and finds it weird when Giles suggests giving her a chance.

That night, the Scoobies learn that a revivification ritual needs the blood of the closest person to the deceased. Buffy assumes that would be her, since she and Master killed each other. Suddenly, a large rock wrapped with Cordelia's choker crashes through the library window. Attached is a message summoning Buffy to the Bronze, threatening to kill Cordelia. The others believe it is a trap, but Buffy insists on going alone, saying she can't look after them while slaying.

Outside the Bronze, Angel offers to help Buffy, but she tries to pick a fight with him instead. Inside they find a vampire trying to pass for Cordelia. Buffy quickly realizes she was lured there as a distraction rather than a trap. Meanwhile, Giles discovers the true meaning of the translation: the ritual requires the blood of those physically nearest to the Master when he died — meaning Giles, Willow, Cordelia, and Ms. Calendar. Suddenly, several vampires emerge from the shadows of the library.

Buffy returns to find a bloodied Xander, who threatens that if anything happens to Willow, he will kill her. Buffy returns to the Bronze and tortures the vampire they found into confessing where the ritual will take place. When Buffy arrives at an abandoned factory, she interrupts the ritual and kills the vampires. As the Anointed One flees, Angel and Xander rescue the others. Buffy stares at the Master's skeleton laid out on the table and smashes it to pieces with a sledgehammer while her friends watch in silence. As she breaks down in tears, Angel hugs her.

The next day, Buffy talks with Giles about her fear of facing her friends again after treating them so badly and putting them in danger. He tells her she can't hide from them forever and assures her this was not the worst mistake she'll ever make. Buffy reluctantly enters class, where Willow and Xander have saved her a seat. Together, they joke and make plans for the night. Meanwhile at the factory, the Anointed One gazes at the scene of destruction and vows revenge on Buffy.

Production

[edit]

This season marks the first appearance of David Boreanaz in the opening credits.

Cibo Matto appears as the musical guest at The Bronze, performing two songs during the episode.[2]

Cultural references

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

"When She Was Bad" drew an audience of 2.9 million households. When the episode was aired as a repeat in November 1997, it scored a higher 3.1 million household rating.[3]

Vox ranked it at #111 on their "Every Episode Ranked From Worst to Best" list (to mark the 20th anniversary of the show), suggesting it contains a metaphor "about how teen girls sometimes act like total nightmares because of the pervasive, unarticulated trauma" of being a teen girl. They add that the really memorable moment will be Buffy's seductive dance with Xander, which will show up in the opening credits henceforth.[4]

Noel Murray of The A.V. Club gave "When She Was Bad" a mixed review. While he praised the opening and closing scenes as well as other smaller moments, he felt that it dealt with the characters' emotions "erratically" and was not positive towards Buffy's attitude and carrying over the Master plotline.[5] A review from the BBC called "When She Was Bad" "another excellent episode", praising its tying up plot threads from the first season and developing the relationships between characters.[6]

Rolling Stone ranked "When She Was Bad" at #103 on their "Every Episode Ranked From Worst to Best" list, calling it a "strange episode, feeling almost uncharacteristic at times," adding that Buffy dealing with her traumatic encounter with the Master left her "scarred and traumatized. And while the episode is driving home how difficult it can be to overcome trauma, Buffy is kind of a dick here." They criticize Buffy's "weird seduction of Xander," saying it's "cruel, something that Buffy has never been before or will be again. There’s a catharsis at the close when she destroys the Master’s bones, which feels earned, but the road to that moment is littered with bumps."[7]

"When She Was Bad" was ranked at #105 on Paste Magazine's "Every Episode Ranked" list[8] and #109 on BuzzFeed's "Ranking Every Episode Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer" list.[9]

References

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When She Was Bad

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from Grokipedia
"When She Was Bad" is the first episode of the second season of the American television series , written and directed by series creator , and originally aired on September 15, 1997, on network. In the episode, (played by ) returns to Sunnydale High School after spending the summer away, displaying a markedly rebellious and distant attitude toward her friends and Watcher, . She is plagued by recurring nightmares stemming from her at the hands of the vampire known as the Master in the season one finale, reflecting symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Meanwhile, the Anointed One, a young vampire leader, oversees a group of vampires excavating the Master's skeleton from consecrated ground in an effort to resurrect him and exact revenge on the Slayer. Buffy's altered behavior strains her relationships with allies like , , and the vampire , leading to conflicts and a sense of isolation as she pushes them away. The plot culminates in the vampires kidnapping several Sunnydale residents, including and computer teacher , to lure Buffy into a trap at the Bronze nightclub. Ultimately, Buffy confronts her inner turmoil, defeats the vampires—including the powerful —and destroys the Master's bones, preventing his revival while beginning to reconcile with her friends. The episode features key cast members including as , as , as , and Anthony Stewart Head as Giles, with guest appearances by as the vampire and Andrew J. Ferchland as the Anointed One. Running approximately 44 minutes, it is rated TV-PG and explores themes of trauma recovery and personal reintegration, marking a tonal shift for the series toward deeper character-driven narratives in its sophomore season. Critically, "When She Was Bad" has been praised for its handling of Buffy's psychological aftermath from the previous season's events, earning an 8.0/10 rating on from over 4,500 user votes and serving as a strong reintroduction to the series' ensemble dynamics. It sets the stage for ongoing arcs involving new antagonists like Spike and Drusilla, while highlighting Whedon's signature blend of horror, humor, and emotional depth.

Episode Overview

Basic Information

"When She Was Bad" serves as the premiere episode of the second season of , a supernatural drama series that blends elements of horror, fantasy, and teen life. It directly follows the season 1 finale cliffhanger, in which the protagonist dies at the hands of the vampire known as the Master. The episode's title is derived from the 19th-century poem "There Was a Little Girl" by , which describes a girl's contrasting behaviors: "When she was good, / She was very good indeed, / But she was horrid." This reference underscores the post-traumatic duality in Buffy's character, highlighting her shift toward more rebellious and "bad" actions after her ordeal. The episode carries the production code 5V01 and was written and directed by , the series creator and executive producer. It originally aired on September 15, 1997, on television network, with an approximate runtime of 44 minutes.

Broadcast and Reception Metrics

"When She Was Bad" premiered in the United States on September 15, 1997, airing at 9:00 PM ET/PT on as the opening episode of season two. The episode drew an initial audience of 2.9 million households, which increased to 3.1 million households during its rerun in November 1997. This broadcast followed up on the unresolved plot threads from the season one finale, providing continuity to the series' narrative arc. Internationally, the episode had its premiere on on April 8, 1999. The episode has been available on home media since the release of the season two DVD set on June 11, 2002; the sets include director's commentary tracks by on select episodes from the season. As of 2025, "When She Was Bad" is accessible for streaming on platforms including and Disney+.

Production

Development and Writing

The episode "When She Was Bad" was conceived as a direct follow-up to Buffy's and resurrection in the season 1 finale "," allowing the creative team to address the emotional aftermath of those events. This approach shifted the narrative tone from the supernatural horror of the previous episode to a more character-driven drama, focusing on Buffy's post-traumatic stress and her struggle to reintegrate into her life in Sunnydale after spending the summer away with her father. Joss Whedon handled the writing solo, marking one of his early full scripts for the series as its creator and . His process emphasized subverting audience expectations by portraying Buffy acting out in a "bad" manner not due to supernatural possession—as might be anticipated in a horror show—but as a psychological mechanism for her trauma, highlighting her and . This choice underscored the series' interest in emotional realism over genre tropes, with Whedon drawing on Buffy's lead actress to convey the character's layered vulnerability. To resolve lingering threads from season 1 while setting up new conflicts, the script incorporated the Anointed One's ritual as a key , using the Master's skeleton in an attempt to resurrect him and thereby concluding his arc while introducing broader threats for season 2. "When She Was Bad" was directed by Whedon, a decision made to ensure tonal consistency in depicting Buffy's psychological arc and the episode's intimate character moments.

Filming and Music

The episode was filmed primarily on soundstages at Fox Studios in , , where interior sets including the library, classrooms, and the nightclub were constructed. Exterior shots for Sunnydale High School were captured at , located at 2200 West Carson Street in . Production occurred over an approximately eight-day shooting schedule in the summer of 1997, adhering to the series' standard pace of around 24 setups per day to accommodate the demanding action and dialogue sequences. Challenges arose in choreographing the dance sequence at the , requiring precise coordination between performers and camera work to capture the episode's tense interpersonal dynamics. Joss Whedon, serving as both writer and director, ensured a unified artistic vision throughout the shoot. The original score was composed by , who crafted thematic cues to underscore the episode's emotional undercurrents, including the opening titles and sequences involving supernatural confrontations. Live performances by the band featured during the Bronze club scenes, with the group playing their songs "Spoon" and "Sugar Water" to enhance the nightlife atmosphere. In post-production, the episode was edited to heighten pacing in action and dream sequences, with sound design emphasizing eerie audio cues—such as distorted echoes and ambient whispers—to amplify the surreal quality of Buffy's visions.

Cast and Characters

Principal Cast

The principal cast of "When She Was Bad," the season two premiere of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, consists of the core ensemble portraying the Scooby Gang and their key allies, whose established dynamics drive the episode's interpersonal tensions. as : The Slayer returns from a summer in grappling with survivor's guilt from her at the end of season one, leading her to act distant, aggressive, and self-isolating from her friends while pushing away emotional connections. as : Buffy's loyal friend and fellow Scooby Gang member, who expresses concern over her altered behavior during the summer, attempts to reconnect through banter and support, and shows vulnerability in his near-romantic moment with Willow before confronting Buffy about her changes. as : Xander's best friend and a key member of the group, who tries to bridge the gap with Buffy upon her return, feels hurt by Buffy's provocative actions at The Bronze, and ultimately forgives her while reaffirming their friendship. as : The popular high school girl and emerging ally to the group, who is kidnapped during a vampire ritual, provides comic relief through her blunt confrontation of Buffy's rude behavior, and begins integrating more fully into the Scooby dynamic. David Boreanaz as : Buffy's love interest, who is first featured in the season's and appears in a brief but pivotal scene where Buffy rejects his attempts at emotional support, highlighting the strain in their relationship. Anthony Stewart Head as : The Watcher and school , who organizes the group's response to the emerging threat, expresses worry over Buffy's mental state, and coordinates the investigation into mystical disturbances tied to her trauma.

Guest and Recurring Roles

In the episode "When She Was Bad," reprises his role as the Master, the primary antagonist from the first season who appears in Buffy's haunting visions, with his skeletal remains serving as a pivotal element in the vampires' resurrection ritual. Metcalf's portrayal establishes the Master's lingering influence as a recurring threat, even in death. Andrew J. Ferchland portrays Collin, also known as the Anointed One, a child vampire who leads the minion vampires in their plot to revive the Master using mystical rites involving his bones. Robia LaMorte appears as , the newly introduced teacher at Sunnydale High, who becomes entangled in the episode's events through her position among . Calendar's role marks the beginning of her recurring presence as a technopagan ally to the main characters, though her involvement here underscores the vulnerability of school staff to the vampire threat. Mercedes McNab plays , Cordelia's bubbly and superficial friend, contributing to the episode's depiction of high school social hierarchies at venues like The Bronze. Kendall's brief interactions amplify the contrast between teenage normalcy and the encroaching danger. Brian Thompson as : A powerful serving the Anointed One, who leads the of Sunnydale residents for the resurrection ritual and engages Buffy in combat at the Bronze. Several uncredited actors portray the vampire minions who serve under the Anointed One, appearing in the underground lair sequences where they perform the ritual and engage in confrontations. These ensemble roles emphasize the Master's cult-like following among lesser s, without individual character development.

Narrative and Analysis

Plot Summary

returns to Sunnydale High School after spending the summer in , following her traumatic ordeal in the season one finale where she defeated the Master but drowned in the process. She displays a markedly changed demeanor, acting aloof and dismissive toward her friends and while openly flirting with the . Buffy skips classes, ignores her Watcher Rupert Giles's attempts to discuss duties, and shows little interest in resuming her role as the . That night, Buffy experiences a vivid dream sequence: she dances seductively at The Bronze nightclub, attracting attention, before transitioning to a confrontation in the Master's abandoned church lair, where she battles and seemingly defeats him again. Meanwhile, a group of vampires led by the Anointed One plots to resurrect the Master using his preserved bones and a blood ritual involving Giles, , , and computer teacher . The vampires kidnap and Jenny during a parent-teacher night at the school, followed by Giles and . Xander and werewolf-to-be Oz investigate the kidnappings and approach Buffy for help, but she initially refuses, claiming she is finished with slaying. warns Buffy of the ritual's danger, prompting her to track the vampires to an abandoned . In the climax, Buffy infiltrates the lair, fights off the vampires, disrupts the resurrection ceremony, and destroys the Master's bones with a , preventing his return. She rescues her friends and reconciles with them, admitting her distant behavior stemmed from fear of vulnerability after her . In the resolution, the group gathers at The Bronze, where the band performs, allowing Buffy, , , and their friends to bond and restore their camaraderie.

Themes and Symbolism

In "When She Was Bad," the central theme revolves around (PTSD) as manifested in Buffy's altered behavior following her brief death and at the end of season one. Her return to Sunnydale is marked by , , and a deliberate avoidance of intimacy with her friends and romantic interest , serving as a psychological defense mechanism against the vulnerability exposed by her traumatic experience with the Master. Giles explicitly identifies this as trauma-induced, observing that "Her experience with the Master must have been traumatic. She was, for a time, technically dead," which underscores the episode's focus on the realistic psychological aftermath of near-death rather than fantastical elements alone. This portrayal emphasizes Buffy's internal struggle to process , highlighting how PTSD disrupts relational bonds and self-perception in a young woman burdened by her duties. The symbolism of the Master's bones further illustrates unresolved trauma, embodying the persistent shadow of past threats that Buffy must confront to regain control. The vampires' ritual to reassemble the bones represents an attempt to revive old horrors, mirroring Buffy's suppressed memories of and helplessness. By destroying the bones herself during the ritual's climax, Buffy asserts her agency, transforming a of defeat into one of and emotional , allowing her to move beyond isolation toward reintegration. Friendship and emerge as key themes, contrasting Buffy's self-imposed isolation with the restorative power of the Scooby Gang's unwavering support. Her initial cruelty toward and stems from fear of closeness, yet their refusal to abandon her—evident in their aid during the bone ritual—facilitates a wordless , culminating in a collective victory that reaffirms the group's role as her emotional anchor. This dynamic illustrates how communal bonds counteract the alienating effects of trauma, enabling Buffy to reclaim her connections without overt confrontation. Gender dynamics are subverted through Buffy's provocative dance at the , where she weaponizes her femininity to taunt and provoke , critiquing the by turning objectification into a tool for emotional distancing. This performance, paired with her subsequent violent reclaiming of power against the vampires, blends seductive allure with strength, challenging patriarchal expectations of female passivity in horror tropes and affirming Buffy's hybrid resilience as both and . The episode thus avoids supernatural explanations for her actions, such as possession, instead grounding them in authentic human emotions to emphasize psychological depth over conventions.

Critical and Cultural Impact

Initial Reception

The second season premiere of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "When She Was Bad," aired on September 15, 1997, and drew an initial household rating of 2.9, translating to approximately 4.3 million viewers and ranking 97th among the week's programs. Early reviews praised the episode's direction by and its exploration of Buffy's post-traumatic attitude shift following the events of the first , highlighting her character depth and emotional recovery arc. Entertainment Weekly, in an October 1997 assessment, described the second season as "fabulous," noting it was "even funnier and scarier than the first," with the contributing to this momentum through its blend of horror elements and teen drama dynamics. similarly lauded the show's innovative fusion of threats and authentic adolescent insecurities, appreciating how Buffy's altered demeanor in the episode underscored themes of isolation and resilience amid high school pressures. Critics appreciated the episode's ties to ongoing season arcs, such as Buffy's strained relationships and the introduction of new intrigue, though some observed uneven pacing in the early sequences balancing action and interpersonal tension. Overall, the garnered a retrospective critical consensus of 92% positive on based on 13 reviews, reflecting strong approval for its premiere's role in elevating the series' narrative sophistication. However, a few contemporary observers found Buffy's initial meanness toward her friends jarring, viewing it as an underdeveloped response to her trauma that risked alienating viewers early on.

Legacy and References

In cultural references, the episode's sassy, confrontational dialogue, such as Buffy's quips toward , has been quoted in online discussions of "mean girl" archetypes, influencing analyses of sharp-witted banter in films like (2004). Among fans, the episode maintains a strong legacy. It has inspired extensive fanfiction exploring Buffy's unrevealed summer absence in , with stories on platforms like delving into her mechanisms and pre-return experiences, often expanding on themes of isolation and self-discovery. In retrospectives, the episode has undergone modern reevaluation for its representation, praised amid #MeToo-era conversations for validating a young woman's rage and vulnerability without pathologizing her strength; outlets like highlighted its "strange, almost parodic" style as effectively cathartic in addressing trauma, securing its place as #103 in their 2023 ranking of all 144 episodes.

References

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  2. http://www.buffystudies.org/uploads/2/6/2/8/26288593/6._fixler_-slayage_16.2.pdf
  3. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44650/there-was-a-little-girl
  4. https://www.ign.com/wikis/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/When_She_Was_Bad
  5. https://www.buffyforums.net/forum/buffyverse/buffy/general-buffy-discussions/728814-buffy-viewership-trends-and-analysis
  6. https://www-users.york.ac.uk/~ss44/sf/tv/buffy/2.htm
  7. https://www.blu-ray.com/dvd/Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-The-Complete-Second-Season-DVD/33136/
  8. https://www.hulu.com/series/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-f2c277c5-62b4-417c-b277-8435b70176dd
  9. https://www.avclub.com/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-when-she-was-bad-some-as-1798204527
  10. https://www.slashfilm.com/1816026/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-filming-locations-explained/
  11. https://buffy.fandom.com/wiki/Cibo_Matto
  12. https://www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-20th-anniversary-musicians-stories-ashanti-michelle-branch-7717906/
  13. https://theasc.com/articles/buffy-vampire-slayer-young-blood
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0533523/fullcredits/
  15. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E1WhenSheWasBad
  16. http://markwatches.net/reviews/2011/12/mark-watches-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-s02e01-when-she-was-bad/
  17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rREwwAEjys
  18. https://www.buffyguide.com/episodes/whenshe.shtml
  19. https://www.angelfire.com/journal2/tialorna/descriptions.html
  20. https://buffyangelshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2x01.pdf
  21. https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.12657/101264/9781000648263.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
  22. https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/concern/publications/8k71nk356
  23. https://www.angelfire.com/tv2/buffytvs5/nielsens2.html
  24. https://ew.com/article/1997/10/10/tv-show-reviews-ally-mcbeal-and-buffy-vampire-slayer/
  25. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/26/arts/television-tv-s-teen-agers-an-insecure-world-weary-lot.html
  26. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/s02
  27. https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-lists/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-ranking-every-episode-worst-to-best-sarah-michelle-gellar-joss-whedon-1234735428/
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