Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Recap/S1 E3 The Witch

You're the Slayer and we're like, the Slayerettes.

Buffy tries out to be a cheerleader only to find one of them is using magic to get rid of the competition. First appearance of recurring character Amy.

Tropes

• All Guys Want Cheerleaders: Except Giles.

Xander: People scoff at things like school spirit, but look at these girls giving their all like this! (He notices Amber doing the splits between two chairs) Ooo, stretchy! Where was I? Willow: You were pretending that seeing scantily clad girls in revealing postures was a spiritual experience. Xander: Who said I was pretending?

• All Men Are Perverts: Assuming a witch might get out books on witchcraft, the Scoobies look up the library computer.

Willow: 'Witches: Historic Roots to Modern Practice.' Checked out by Alexander Harris. Buffy: (reads also) 'The Pagan Rites', checked out by Alexander... Xander: Alright, alright, it's not what you think. Willow: You like to look at the semi-nude engravings? Xander: Oh, well, uh, I-I guess it is what you think.

• An Axe to Grind
• And I Must Scream: Catherine's spirit ends up being imprisoned within her old cheerleading trophy. Some would argue that she deserves it.
• Attack Backfire / Attack Reflector: Catherine's spell rebounds on her.
• Black Eyes of Evil
• Blank White Eyes: Blinded Cordelia
• Cat Scare: Naturally since All Witches Have Cats.
• Death Glare: Catherine on the other cheerleaders.
• Does Not Know Her Own Strength: Ditzy!Buffy
• Does This Remind You of Anything?: Parents trying to live through their children.
• The Ditz: Buffy is turned into one to get her off the team.
• Early Installment Weirdness: Giles says in this episode that he had never used magic before. Compare that with his demon summoning youth as revealed in season 2.
  • Why would he admit to that, though? He was probably lying, because he doesn't want to think about said past.
• Eye of Newt: Though apparently frogs eyes will do. They're still difficult to remove.
• Failed Audition Plot
• Free the Frogs: Averted as Willow has no problem dissecting a frog. (This may be because, as we learn in Season 2, she has a frog phobia.)
• Getting Crap Past the Radar: Buffy looks in a crate at a fertility statue. "Jeepers!"
• Grand Theft Me: Catherine, to her daughter Amy so she can relive her Glory Days.
• Heroic Self-Deprecation

Xander: I laugh in the face of danger...then I hide until it goes away.

• Impairment Shot: Cordelia's vision as she slowly goes blind.
• Last-Second Word Swap: Amy gets substituted for Buffy.

Ditzy!Buffy: You don't want her! She's a w--mmm-mmmm! Xander: (Putting a Hand Over Her Mouth) Wise choice indeed!

• Laser-Guided Karma: Catherine wanted to relive her glory days so she steals her own daughter's body. When the spell is reversed, she tries to blast Buffy with a magic spell but it gets deflected back at her and she disappears. The Scoobies don't know what happened to her but we find out that Catherine is now stuck in her old cheerleading trophy i.e "reliving her glory day".
• Mirrors Reflect Everything: Giles uses a lab mirror to deflect Catherine's spell back at her.
• Nightmare Fetishist

Giles: But that's the thrill of living on the Hellmouth! There's a veritable cornucopia of fiends and devils and ghouls to engage! (beat) ...Well, excuse me for finding the glass half-full.

• Not Herself: Xander realises something is wrong with Cordelia because she hasn't insulted him all day. Buffy twigs to the Grand Theft Me when she sees Amy's 'mother' is eating chocolate cookies.
• Not So Dire

Giles: This is madness! What can you have been thinking? You are the Slayer! Lives depend upon you! (begins pacing) I make allowances for your youth, but I expect a certain amount of responsibility, and instead of which you enslave yourself to this, this... (stops pacing) Cult? Buffy: (wearing a cheerleader outfit) You don't like the color?

• Oblivious to Love / Oblivious Mockery / Meaningful Echo: Xander asks Willow (unaware that she's pining for him) for advise on asking out Buffy.

Xander: You're like a guy! You're my guy friend that knows about girl stuff! (Later on...) Buffy: Do you have any idea why I love you so, Xander? Willow: We gotta to get her to a... Xander: Let her speak! Buffy: I'll tell you! You're not like other boys at all. Xander: Well... Buffy: You are totally, and completely one of the girls! (to Willow) I'm that comfy with him. Willow smiles widely. Xander: That's great. Buffy: Any other guy who'd give me a bracelet, they'd wanna date me.

• Papa Wolf: Our first occasion of Giles getting angry over someone harming Buffy.
• Reset Button: Giles is able to reverse all the spells.
• Ring Ring CRUNCH
• Scare Chord: Cordelia confronting Amy in the locker room.
• Shaped Like Itself: Buffy describes Xander thus.

You're my friend. You're my Xander-shaped friend!

• Spontaneous Human Combustion: Amber
• Technicolor Toxin: The expected bubbling green cauldron.
• Tempting Fate

Buffy: I just want to have a life, do something normal. Something safe.

• Voodoo Doll: Done with Barbie dolls.
• Vain Sorceress
• Wipe That Smile Off Your Face: Lishanne finds her mouth missing.