Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Recap/S6/E05 Life Serial

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Anya: This whole day -- has it gone by too quickly for you?
Buffy: No. No, I don't think that's exactly the problem.

Buffy readjusts to life among the living. The Trio tests her to see if they can find a weakness.

  • Alien Geometries: In an effort to escape the time loop, Buffy tries to walk out the Magic Shop door only to find herself entering the shop from the back, much to Giles and Anya's puzzlement.
  • Altum Videtur: Lampshaded when Jonathan is casting a spell with his magic bone (heh heh).

"Okay, it's in Latin, so don't laugh. It's supposed to sound like this."

Spike: Me? I cheat? He's got X-ray vision! (points to scaly demon)
Scaly Demon: I'm not using it!
Clem: (stands up angrily) We are not the ones who are cheating! (An ace of spades protrudes from his folds of skin) I, I had no idea that was there. I could have leaned on that days ago.

Dawn: I'll take a drumstick.
Willow: I'm a breast girl myself. (looks slyly at Tara) But then you all know that.

Andrew: Plus, look what Warren and me discovered by accident before we drove away!
The Trio: Free cable porn!

  • Foreshadowing: Giles' worried look when Buffy says, "This makes me feel safe. Knowing you're always gonna be here." Giles leaves at the end of "Tabula Rasa" because he realises Buffy is too dependent on him.
    • Spike tells Buffy that she's a creature of the dark like him, a line he'll continue to push as their relationship intensifies.
  • Funny Background Event: The Trio cast a spell in the back of the van causing a dramatic puff of smoke, which promptly fills the van. We then cut to the Magic Shop where through the window we see the Van in Black parked across the street. The doors at the back open to emit a great cloud of smoke amidst the faint sound of coughing.
  • Glasses Pull: Giles' Character Tic finally becomes too much and Buffy crushes his glasses underfoot.
  • Groundhog Day Loop
  • Heh Heh, You Said "X": Warren and Andrew break out into sniggers every time Jonathan's magic bone is mentioned.

Warren: Jonathan, grab your magic bone.

Warren: It's like she's completely without focus. (pause) Should we check the other channels for free cable porn?

Buffy: I saw one downstairs. It's kinda hairy, though. Maybe it was a daddy hand.

Giles: Buffy, a word in your ear. Um, if you, uh, think of the store as a, as a library, (cleaning glasses) it'll help you to, to, uh, concentrate on, on ... service rather than selling.

Buffy: Yes. And then I'm going to marry Bob Dole and raise penguins in Guam.

Giles: Yes, uh, quite, quite, yes.

Buffy: Not my kind of fun.
Spike: Yeah it is. And your life's gonna get a lot less confusing when you figure that out. [snip] You're not a schoolgirl. You're not a shop girl. You're a creature of the darkness. Like me.

  • Obligatory Joke: Spike asks someone to advance him a kitten so he can join in the poker game.

Spike: Come on, someone's gotta stake me.
Buffy: (grinning) I'll do it! (Off Spike's look) What, you thought I was just gonna let that lie there?

Buffy: I don't ... really know how to say this ... (softly) but it's a little like having Mom back.
Giles: In this scenario, I am your mother?
Buffy: Wanna be my shiftless absentee father?

Giles: Is there some sort of, um, rakish uncle?

Spike: What's wrong, luv?
Buffy: What's wrong?! You were gonna help me! You, you were gonna beat heads and, and, and fix my life! But you're completely lame! Tonight sucks! And, and look at me! Look at, look at Stupid!Buffy -- too dumb for college, and, and, and Freak Buffy -- too strong for construction work. And, and my job at the Magic Shop? I was bored to tears even before the hour that wouldn't end! And the only person I can even stand to be around is a ... neutered vampire who cheats at kitten poker.
Spike: (embarrassed) Oh, you saw the cheating, did you.
Buffy: Also? I think you're drunk.

Spike: (quietly) These lowlifes know everything happens in this town.
Buffy: Oh, good. These are the lowlifes!
(Demons all turn to look at her)
Spike: Fine. A little louder.

  • Spies in a Van / Van in Black
  • Spy Speak: The Genre Savvy Trio know this is the way to speak while shadowing someone.
  • Square-Cube Law: Averted; Jonathan transforms himself into a much larger demon except that as the demon he "actually had the proportional strength of, uh...me."
  • Stealth Pun: In card games the betting pool is often referred to as "the kitty".
  • Tastes Like Feet: Buffy has a "bleeh!" reaction every time she downs a shot. She does pick up a bottle of...Khalua? and drink it straight, for a seasoned alcoholic that'd be tough especially if they don't like the taste, and the slayer doesn't drink. It doesn't stop her.
  • Tempting Fate: Each act begins with Buffy saying "This is gonna be great" as she prepares for her next new job.
  • Unknown Rival: The Trio vs. the Slayer.
  • The Un-Reveal: Buffy won't say what happened between her and Angel.
  • Vomit Discretion Shot

Buffy: I think at one point, I actually turned completely inside out.

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