Guest Starring: 
     
 Kristine Sutherland: 
 (Joyce Summers) 
   
 Alexis Denisof: 
 (Wesley Wyndham-Price) 
   
 Emma Calfield: 
 (Anya) 
   
 Danny Strong: 
 (Jonathan) 
   
 Brad Kane: 
 (Tucker Wells) 
   
 
 
  20. The Prom.  
   
 
It's just a fantasy folks.
Angel has told Buffy that their tumultuous relationship cannot continue and that he plans to leave town if they defeat the mayor. This causes Buffy to go into depression, but impending doom and a surprise gift bring her on to an emotional high.
 
  Great quotes:  
   
 
Buffy at the prom.
  • Anya: "Men are evil; will you go (to the Prom) with me?"
  • Anya: "I know you find me attractive, I've seen you looking at my breasts." Xander: "That just means a guy's eyes are open."
  • Buffy: "You're going to have a nice normal evening if I have to kill every single person on the face of the Earth to do it."
  • Giles puts Wesley in his place over his crush on Cordelia: "For God's sakes man she's 18 and you have the emotional maturity of a blueberry scone; just have at it will you and stop fluttering about!"
  • Jonathan: "Most of us never found the time to get to know you, but that doesn't mean we haven't noticed you... whenever there was a problem or something creepy happened you seemed to show up and stop it. Most of the people here have been saved by you, or helped by you at one time or another. We're proud to say that the class of '99 has the lowest mortality rate of any graduating class in Sunnydale history. We know at least part of that is because of you... Buffy Summers: Class Protector."
 
  Fantastic moments:  
   
 
  • Xander finds out that Cordelia is working in a shop, so what does he do? He buys her the dress she wants, what a noble guy.
  • I love the way that the demon dogs go the craziest when 'Celebration' starts playing.
  • IBuffy's 'immolation' at the end of act 1 is great special effects.
  • The way that the final act isn't cheesy (Buffy gets her class protector award, Angel dances with her) is a testament to the skill of the writers. It's a great way to bring season 3's themes, of hidden secrets and unwanted truths, to a close.
 
  Duff Bits:  
   
 
  • Angel's bed is located in a ludicrous location; perhaps he should get a room with a North-facing window.
  • I obviously don't understand inter-female break-up rituals. Why does Willow, the one person who for 3 years has been the happiest at Angel and Buffy being together, suddenly admit that Angel has done the right thing in breaking up with her? These women make no sense.
  • Buffy's hair suddenly becomes immaculate after she defeats the demonic dogs. Demon Dogs? The plot is a bit lame, but it provides a nice way for Buffy to be the hero.
 
  Dean's comments:  
   
 
Giles and Wesley looking smart.
A beautiful episode that takes Buffy, and the viewers with her, on a roller coaster ride of emotion. The initial high of the episode is dashed abruptly but then re-built into something more fulfilling and substantial by the end as Buffy finds out that she's appreciated more than she ever realised. It's strange to think that the episode when Buffy and Angel finally break up for good is a 'feel-good' episode. A neutral observer of their relationship will tell them that Angel has done the right thing (in the same way that Xander does the 'right thing' in buying Cordelia a dress), but Buffy doesn't want to hear it. It's a testimony to the depth of the character that we believe Buffy's acceptance of Angel's decision by the end of the show, lesser mortals would tell Angel to shove off! The presentation of the parasol to Buffy is a lovely touch that leads everyone nicely into the season finale, giving us a reason to believe that the whole school will come out to fight the mayor. Buffy doesn't half look pretty in her prom dress too.
 
   
 9/10 
 
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