Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season One: Episode Twelve: Prophecy Girl
Original Air Date: 6/2/97
Special Notes: Season finale, major character deaths

Andrew Webster

Action: 5.0
Comedy: 2.0
Plot/Story: 4.5

The season finale of Buffy features some of the better emotional acting in the series, and also helps the entire plot along immensely. When Giles and Angel discover a prophecy in which Buffy is predicted to die fighting the master, chaos ensures. Adding to the problem is that supernatural activity is becoming very great. People are dying, problems are increasing, and Buffy is going on a tantrum. The entire episode is tense with emotion, and unseen danger. This episode brings to a climax, all the plot points up to this episode. Not filled with much comedy, there's a scene or two that are very funny. To compensate, we do get an epic battle against the Master, and a whole lotta dead people rising. I really like this episode, as it is very well rounded, and features enough of the vital elements to make it quite the worthy season finale. With vampires galore, a beast of the Hellmouth, the Nerf Herder theme song actually played during the course of the episode, and the fate of the Earth at stake, this episode doesn't disappoint at all.

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Scott Tofte

Action: 4.5
Comedy: 3
Plot/Story: 5

This is a truly great episode, again based on the acting, the story, the character development, and the writing. Joss does an amazing job on this one. The way that Buffy handles the news of her imminent death is amazing, and Alyson Hannigan once again proves that she plays pain like no one else on the planet. The subtle nuances of humor really just ad to the pain that the characters feel. Most of the one liners come from very dejected characters at very painful moments. Xander's dealing with the rejection from Buffy is a prime example. It shows us a little insight into him, that he uses sarcasm as a mask for his feelings. I still don't understand how Joss managed to cram so much, so well into this episode. A must see for everyone!

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Running Tally's

Cordelia almost dead: 4
Cordelia finds badness: 1
Xander bad dates: 1
Apocalypses: 2
Hospital Scenes: 2
Perfect 5 Ratings: 2

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Eaglefreak2k: Prophecy Girl
Eaglefreak2k: Episode Twelve
Eaglefreak2k: Season 1 finale
Webby2299: indeed it was
Eaglefreak2k: the first in a long line of really heartwrenching finales
Webby2299: this less heartwrenching than others though
Eaglefreak2k: true
Eaglefreak2k: although take note of the ending, Buffy dying turns out to be quite important
Webby2299: yes, critical plot point
Eaglefreak2k: so the story goes like this
Eaglefreak2k: Buffy finds out about the prophecy that she is gonna die, she freaks, tries to get out of it, and realized she must go through with it
Eaglefreak2k: in a really tiny nutshell
Webby2299: yes, keep in mind that episode 11 tied into the discovery of the prophecy
Eaglefreak2k: true
Eaglefreak2k: but the acting is what really got me in this one
Webby2299: the emotional scene between Giles and Buffy sticks out in my mind
Eaglefreak2k: i could feel Buffy's horror, and that feeling of imminent doom when she finds out everything and is trying to deal with it
Webby2299: it does do a good job of drawing you into the story and making you sympathize with the characters. Though we would never be in Buffy's position, we almost believe that we are.
Eaglefreak2k: exactly
Eaglefreak2k: it's really Sarah's shining moment early on, and a big indicator of what was to come in the near future as far as intensity and attitude directions of the show
Eaglefreak2k: this is easily a top ten episode
Eaglefreak2k: everyone in the cast is amazing, nick brendon, tony head, david boreanez
Webby2299: I have to agree with you on that, I really liked how it lent itself to so many future episodes, and we can't emphasize the acting enough.
Eaglefreak2k: its spectacular
Eaglefreak2k: so lets move on to comedy
Eaglefreak2k: you can take it
Webby2299: I was about to offer it to you
Eaglefreak2k: ok
Eaglefreak2k: ill try it
Eaglefreak2k: there is very little
Eaglefreak2k: there are some small jokes here and there, most notably the running gag about buffy's dress, and a couple of akward silence breaking one liners, but any comedy in this episode that appears does so in a very akward tone, amidst the incredibly powerful story its set against. As well it should
Webby2299: perfectly stated. Like in "Angel" too much comedy would've killed the episode
Eaglefreak2k: exactly
Eaglefreak2k: so thats comedy. action is all yours
Eaglefreak2k: but before you post, i just want to make a general statement: I cant believe Joss crammed all of this into one episode. It should've been like 2 hours long. Its amazing.
Webby2299: The action here was absolutely incredible. So much was going on in such a short period of time, that the tension was almost too much to bear. With Buffy fighting The Master, hundreds of vampires rising, the hellmouth opening, Xander and Angel trying to find Buffy, and the threat of losing our main star, it was incredible.
Eaglefreak2k: well put
Eaglefreak2k: so thats that
Eaglefreak2k: overall rating?
Webby2299: I give it a perfect, 5.0. Though it lacked comedy, the action and story more thatn made up for it
Eaglefreak2k: I give it a 5 as well, because it is perfect. it doesnt drag anywhere, there is enough humor intertwined with tension to make you cry, and GOD the acting!
Webby2299: so then, our second episode with an average of 5
Eaglefreak2k: yep
Webby2299: well, that concludes the very first season of Buffy, next up, Season Two
Eaglefreak2k: and what a season it is!! WOO
Eaglefreak2k: we should celebrate of something
Webby2299: ...I don't know what
Eaglefreak2k: or something
Eaglefreak2k: *
Webby2299: we need a song of jubliant rhapsody
Eaglefreak2k: how about the Buffy theme?