Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Recap/S2 E20 Go Fish

The Scoobies investigate the deaths of the school swim team.

"Giles: If you're saying these killings aren't random, it would suggest someone's out for revenge.
 * Attempted Rape: Twice. A member of the swim team looks like he's going to do this near the beginning of the episode, but this is the Slayer we're talking about. Date Rape Averted, violently. Near the end, when Buffy confronts the coach about turning his swim team into fish monsters he attempts to have his fish monsters pack rape her.
 * Beautiful All Along: Buffy confronts Angelus while drawing out the small stake she was holding her hair bun in place with, Shaking Her Hair Loose in the process. Angelus immediately mocks the trope, saying "Why, Ms. Summers! You're beautiful!"
 * This trope could also be applied to Xander. He spends the majority of the series in rather unflattering clothes, and goes undercover ("Not under much" as Buffy says) on the swim team, and Cordelia, Buffy, and Willow are rather stunned to find out that Xander has a good body when in a Speedo.
 * Body Horror
 * Breather Episode
 * Brick Joke: The Scoobies remember that Jonathan peed in the pool moments before Xander dives into it. Also the Willow Perp Sweating Jonathan gag gets repeated in Season 3's "Earshot".
 * Buffy-Speak: Inverted with Giles Speak!

Buffy: And raise the possibility that someone brought forth this sea monster from whence it came to exact that revenge. 'From whence it came'? I'm spending way too much time around you."

"Xander: Figure I can keep an eye on Gage and the others when Buffy can't.
 * Bully Hunter: Buffy saves Jonathan from being forcibly dunked in a bucket of water. Jonathan is not happy at being saved by a girl.
 * Covert Pervert

Willow: Like when you're nude! (Buffy elbows her) I meant to say 'changing.'"

"Cordy: It's me, Cordelia? I know you can't answer me, but... God, this is all my fault. You joined the swim team to impress me. You were so courageous. And you looked really hot in those Speedo's. (chuckles) And I want you to know that I still care about you, no matter what you look like. And... and we can still date. Or, or not. I mean... I understand if you wanna see other fish. I'll do everything I can to make your quality of life better. Whether that means little bath toys or whatever.
 * Cowardly Lion: Xander runs like a girl when he first sees the fish monster; he ends up saving Buffy from being raped by a pack of them.
 * Date Rape Averted: It's generally a bad idea to try and put the moves on a Slayer. Trying to coerce or force her however...well the Jerk Jock is lucky Snyder showed up otherwise Buffy wouldn't have stopped with breaking his nose.
 * Dying Declaration of Love: When Cordelia thinks Xander has been turned into a fish monster she makes a quite moving speech for someone who is portrayed as shallow and obsessed by appearance.

Xander: (walking up behind her) Uh, Cordy? That's not me."

"Cordelia: Go ahead. Say it. You ran like a woman. (grins)
 * Fan Service: Xander wearing nothing but speedos.
 * Fish People
 * Girly Run: Xander when suddenly confronted by the fish-monster.

Xander: Hey, if you saw this thing, you'd run like a woman, too."

"Xander: What about me, what do I do?
 * And just a few minutes later,

Cordelia: You could go into the parking lot and practice running like a man."

""Wow...they really love their coach.""
 * Grievous Harm with a Body: Angelus escapes Buffy by throwing Gage into her.
 * Hand or Object Underwear: Spoofed when Xander struts into the pool area having secretly joined the swim team, only to be confronted by the female Scoobies staring at him in surprise and some rather frank appreciation. Even though he's already wearing speedoes, a suddenly embarrassed Xander grabs a float board and a tube of lotion to cover the same region.
 * Heroine With Bad Publicity: Buffy gripes that she's out breaking her nails fighting the forces of darkness while Jerk Jocks get all the glory. Not to mention her delinquent reputation means everyone takes it for granted she's either Ax Crazy or Really Gets Around.
 * Hey, It's That Guy!: Hey, Gage is Michael Scofield, and Sean is Doctor Ray Barnett. And hey, Nurse Ruthie is Berta!
 * Hoist by His Own Petard: Buffy escapes the rape attempt and the monsters go for the coach instead.

"Willow: You hated being pushed around by Dodd and the others. You wanted revenge. Didn't you? (leans in suddenly) (sternly) Didn't you?!
 * Incredibly Obvious Tail: Buffy following Gage; doomed to failure given she's already drawn attention to herself by roughing up two other members of the swim team.
 * Irony: Willow accusing Jonathan of delving into black magic. By Season 6 it will be true for both of them.
 * Jerk Jock
 * Letting the Air Out of the Band: When the Scoobies realise that the dripping wet, speedo-wearing hunk who just walked in is...Xander?
 * Mistaken Confession

Jonathon: (nervously) Yeah! Okay? I did!

Willow: (with relish) So... You delved into the black arts and conjured up a hellbeast from the ocean's depths to wreak your vengeance.

Jonathon: (confused) What? No! I snuck in yesterday and... peed in the pool.

Willow: (disappointed) Oh. (disgusted) Eww!"

"Great. This is just what my reputation needs: that I did it with the entire swim team."
 * Monster of the Week
 * Night Swim Equals Death
 * Perp Sweating: Willow gets quite hooked on this.
 * Black Comedy Rape: Buffy after being thrown to the fish monsters.


 * Rescue Romance: The previously sullen Gage is quite taken with Buffy after he saves her from Angelus.
 * Self-Disposing Villain
 * Show Some Leg: Buffy tries to convince Gage she's a swim groupie, but lacks Cordelia's ability to carry off Blatant Lies.
 * Space Whale Aesop: Steroid abuse leads to becoming a fish-monster. Trying to rape the Slayer will lead to either your nose being broken or torn apart by fish monsters.
 * Take My Hand
 * Team Spirit: Apparently involves steroid abuse and alteration of school grades.
 * Too Spicy for Yog-Sothoth: Angelus tries to sire one of the swim team as a henchvamp for his upcoming fight against Buffy. He doesn't like the taste.
 * Very Special Episode
 * We Will Meet Again: A rare heroic version with Buffy saying "This isn't over" when the coach forces her into the grotto at gunpoint.
 * You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: The coach feeds the nurse to his boys when she talks of quitting.