Writer:

Marti Noxon

Director:

David Solomon

Regulars:

Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers

Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris

Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg

Marc Blucas as Riley Finn

Emma Caulfield as Anya

James Marsters as Spike

Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles

Guest Stars:

Rudolph Martin as Dracula

Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn (Buffy's sister)

Amber Benson as Tara

Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers

Cast:

E.J. Gage as Mover #1

Scott Berman as Mover #2

Marita Schaub as Vampire Girl #1

Leslee Jean Matta as Vampire Girl #2

Jennifer Slimko as Vampire Girl #3

The very first appearance of "Count Dracula" is in Bram Stoker's novel Dracula, written in 1897. The real "Dracula," Vlad III Dracula, is also known as Vlad the Impaler, but according to some researchers, Stoker didn't know much about him, and only ran across his name in a book, which he learned meant "Son of the Devil" in Vlad's local language. Despite his inhuman cruelty, in Romania, Dracula is remembered as a national hero who resisted the Turkish conquerors and asserted Romanian national sovereignty against the powerful Hungarian kingdom, and never associated with vampires. The two of the them, however, have become confused by many people.

The three sisters who Giles got a taste of (or would that be vice versa?), appear in Bram Stoker's novel, accosting Harker much in the same way until Dracula appears and scolds them. Xander's enthrallment is much like Renfield's (and is especially reminiscent of the characterization in Mel Brooks' Dracula: Dead and Loving It), who took to collecting flies, then spiders to which he fed the flies, and then sparrows to which he fed the spiders. He himself then took to eating them.

Vampire

Staked during Buffy's late night slay in a cemetery.

Mover

Throat slashed by Dracula at the castle.

Vampire

Staked by Buffy in a cemetery.

Total: "One, two, three — three victims! Mwah, ha, ha, ha!"

Xander: No, we're not going to (imitates Dracula's accent) leave you. And where'd you get that accent Sesame Street? One, two, three — three victims. Mwah, ha, ha, ha!

Willow: Well, I think we have Dracula factoids.
Xander: Like any of that's enough to fight the Dark Master. (They look at him) Bator.

Xander: See?! Buffy didn't feel it. I think you're drawing a lot of crazy conclusions about the Unholy Prince! (They look at him) Bator.

Riley: I've lived in Sunnydale a couple of years now. Know what I've never noticed before?
Giles: Uh, a castle?
Riley: A big, honking castle.

Giles: Oh, good show Giles. At least you didn't get knocked out for a change.

Xander: Where is he? Where's the creep that turned me into a spider eating man bitch?
Buffy: He's gone.
Xander: Damn it! You know what? I'm sick of this crap. I'm sick of being the guy who eats insects and gets the funny syphilis. As of this moment, it's over. I'm finished being everybody's butt monkey!
Buffy: Check. No more butt monkey.

More quotes from this episode...

Riley: Yeah man, I'm starving. Cow me.

Willow: But what about the rest of us? We still need to be watched. Personally, I can't get through a day without a little hairy eyeball.

• Willow: "Just call me the Computer Whisperer."

This is a reference to the novel The Horse Whisperer, by first time novelist Nicholas Evans. It was turned into a somewhat successful film by Robert Redford in 1998. The title refers to a method of "breaking" horses by being gentle and listening to their body language.


• Xander: "And where'd you get that accent, Sesame Street?"

Sesame Street is an incredibly successful children's television show, famous for such things as teaching children to count, with the character Count von Count, a Draculaesque muppet with a Romanian accent.

• Buffy: "And you're sure this isn't just some fanboy thing? 'Cause I've fought more than a couple pimply, overweight vamps that called themselves Lestat."

Lestat is the good looking, charismatic main character of Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles. The first book of the series Interview with the Vampire was made into a movie in 1994, with a blonde Tom Cruise as the vampire Lestat.

• Buffy: "You know, 'killer' just sounds so... like I paint clowns or something."

This is a reference to Chicago serial killer John Wayne Gacy, Jr., who raped and killed over thirty teenage boys. Gacy had a hobby of painting clowns. To read more about John Wayne Gacy, try The Crime Library.

• Xander: "I wonder if he knows Frankenstein?"

Frankenstein, or more correctly Frankenstein's monster, is another classic monster. Frankenstein, written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (1797-1851) and published in 1818, is about a brilliant scientist named Victor Frankenstein who builds a man from scratch and brings it to life.

• Spike: "No, the Count has to have his luxury estate, and his bug-eaters, and his special dirt, doesn't he?"

See more info about Dracula in Monstervision.

• Helpless

  Willow states that Giles is Buffy's Watcher "in a fired way," referring to the fact that he was fired by the Watchers Council when they deemed that his concern for Buffy was too fatherly and unprofessional.

• Who Are You and Restless

  Though we normally wouldn't list something like this, it seems worth noting that Dracula isn't the first person to refer to Buffy as a killer — Forrest called her a killer in "Who Are You" (though Faith was in her body, Forrest was unaware of that), and Riley referred to her as "killer" in Buffy's dream in "Restless."

• The Wish

  Anya refers to her time as a vengeance demon. She lost her powers in "The Wish."

• The Initiative

  Mention is made of Spike's helplessness — Maggie Walsh and the Initiative planted a chip in his brain, rendering him unable to hurt humans. He can and does, however, kill demons, hence his comment about demons being after him.

• Graduation Day, Part Two

  Dracula notes the scar on Buffy's neck, concluding that she had been tasted. Though Buffy was also bitten by the Master in "Prophecy Girl," the scar is more likely from Angel's bite, which was more recent and more fervent. The scar was also seen in "The Harsh Light of Day."

• Seasons One through Three

  Riley alludes to Buffy's previous relationship with Angel, who's now in Los Angeles. If you're new to the show, you'll want to read up on much of the previous seasons to get the full scoop on the Buffy / Angel relationship. You may also want to rent or buy The Buffy and Angel Chronicles video set.

• Restless

  Dracula says to Buffy, "You think you know... what you are, what's to come. You haven't even begun." This is only slightly different than what Tara said to her in her "Restless" dream: "You think you know ... what's to come ... what you are. You haven't even begun."

• Pangs

  Xander refers to when he got the "funny syphilis," which was thanks to a vengeful Chumash spirit.

• Primeval

  When talking to Giles, Buffy mentions the spell in which they called on the first Slayer, which they did in order to defeat Adam last season.

• This Year's Girl and Restless

  As far as Dawn goes, it seems clearly related to Faith's comment in Buffy's dream in "This Year's Girl" ("Little sis coming. I know. So much to do before she gets here.") as well as Tara's comment in Restless ("Be back before Dawn."). Nonetheless, it's been made clear in the past that Buffy is an only child. See Notes below.

• After Buffy and Joyce have eaten dinner, Joyce first has a plate in front of her. The plate then disappears and is later magically replaced by a large bowl which had been a few feet away.
        Spotted by Mathew.

• No, it's not a goof when Buffy's bite from Dracula is shown the morning after his bedroom visit — she's looking at it in the mirror.

• Emma Caulfield has been added to the opening credits as of this episode.

• Both of the movers in the scene in which Dracula arrives have been on episodes of Angel. Mover #1 was the guy selling the toys to the kids at the beginning of "Blind Date." Mover #2 played Mordar the Bentback in "Judgment."
        Spotted by Mathew.

• Rudolph Martin (usually credited as Rudolf Martin) played Anton Lang opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar's Kendall on All My Children in the mid-1990s. The two portrayed lovers, then enemies — par for the soap opera course.

• No, Buffy isn't a vampire now. Before Buffy drinks his blood Dracula himself says: "I have not drunk enough for you to change. You must be near death to become one of us. And that comes only when you plead for it..."

• Regarding Buffy's sister — sorry, but we're not Joss and we're spoiler-free. All we can tell you is that no, you're not going crazy; there's never been mention of a sister. (Well, not a "real" mention - see Continuity above.) You can either be patient and trust in Joss, or you can seek out some spoilers. (Head to the Link Database and view the Buffy/Spoilers category or search for "spoilers"). We make no guarantees as to the accuracy of any spoilers you may read.

• Vertical Horizon - "Finding Me" (From Everything You Want, BMG/RCA, 1999)
  This song plays during the beach scene toward the beginning of the episode, as Riley and Buffy play football.
  Lyrics — Official Site

Jeremy:

Well, when I first heard of the plot, I was prepared for a pretty bad episode. I think Joss was able to fit the legend in quite well to his Buffyverse. I realize they left it open ended for his return, but I hope that he doesn't. Buffy's newfound passion for slaying will probably have some great rewards for the coming season. With the departure of the old Stunt Coordinator, Buffy's Stunt Double, and the Composer, the show's stunts and music are still top notch. Now, Dracula wasn't the only plot element I had concerns about; I am also wary of Buffy's new sister. It should add a whole new set of personal dynamics that... Oops! Sorry for slipping into Richard Hatch mode, I hope I don't feel the need to wander down to the beach naked now. Anyway, I am still a little wary about the sister thing, but I think it will be interesting. Can I also add a "Yeah!" to Anya in a bikini? Too late, I already did. (8/10)

Jamie Marie:

Firstly, I need to say that Xander's giggle, after Dracula brainwashes him and then disappears, is just adorable. Cracks me up. Anyway, this is good stuff. Yes, Dracula's accent, pale makeup, cape, etc. were comedic — they were supposed to be. Marti Noxon, working with Joss' ideas, managed to work in a bit of parody without going overboard, and I give them both kudos for it. The plot, while somewhat filler-esque, nonetheless leads us quite nicely into the new season — Buffy's newfound interest in who and what she is and where she comes from, her renewed need for Giles' help (yay for Giles being more involved in the future), and the startling introduction of Buffy's sister. Ah, Buffy's sister. All I'm going to say at this point is in Joss I trust. The man knows what he's doing. Summing up: a solid episode of its own accord, a good start to the season, thumbs up on the comedy, a fun change of pace with the beach scene, and some kick-ass stunts (Jeff who? Sophia who?). Oh, and a yay for Vertical Horizon being featured (it makes my life a bit easier when they use music I know and like). (8.5/10)