Writer:

Douglas Petrie

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

Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn

James Marsters as Spike

Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles

Guest Stars:

Clare Kramer as "The Beast" (Glory)

Charlie Weber as Ben

Ravil Isyanov as Monk

Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers

Cast:

James Wellington as Night Watchman

Paul Hayes as Older Night Watchman

Staci Lawrence as Customer

John Sarkisian as Old Monk

This is our introduction to what is presumably the season's Big Bad, Glory, a.k.a. The Beast. Though her true form is as yet unknown, she clearly has the ability to appear human. She's incredibly strong, apparently needs (or chooses) to suck the sanity out of humans in order to maintain her own, and she desperately wants The Key (Dawn).

Vampire

Staked by Buffy outside the warehouse.

The Monk

Died outside the warehouse after having been beaten and tortured by Glory.

Total: Two

Giles: It appears to be paranormal in origin.
Buffy: How can you tell?
Giles: Well, it's so shiny.

Anya (to a customer who just finished her purchase): Please go.
Xander: Anya, the Shopkeepers of America called. They wanted me to tell you that "Please go" just got replaced with "Have a nice day."
Anya: But I have their money. Who cares what kind of day they have?
Xander: No one. It's just a long cultural tradition of raging insincerity. Embrace.

Dawn: What are you doing?
Buffy: My boyfriend. Go away.

Spike: Oh, yeah, okay. Let me guess — you won't kill me? Ooh! The whole crowd-pleasing threats and swagger routine. Outstandingly original. You know, I'm just passing through. Satisfied? You know, I really hope so, because God knows you need some satisfaction in life besides shagging Captain Cardboard! And I never really liked you anyway. And you have stupid hair!

More quotes from this episode...

• No Place Like Home

The title of this episode has its origins in The Wizard of Oz, the 1939 film in which the main character, Dorothy, clicked her heels together and repeated, "There's no place like home" in order to get back to her home in Kansas after having found herself in the magical world of Oz.


• Dawn: "Who died and made you the Iron Chef?"

Iron Chef is a Japanese produced show that now airs on The Food Network in the US. The host of the show pits his "Iron Chefs," master chefs in various culinary styles, against challengers who try to prove their culinary prowess and skill, in an arena called "Kitchen Stadium." After seeing their theme ingredient, they have an hour to whip up a multi-course menu that utilizes the theme ingredient. A group of judges taste the dishes and offer their commentary on them before a vote is cast. (Info from Iron Chef Compendium, an unofficial fan site. Image property of FujiTV.)


• Buffy: "I want you to relax all day, keep your feet up, plenty of Oprah."

The Oprah Winfrey Show, of course, is the daytime talk show, which started in 1984 in Chicago, and started running as a syndicated show in 1986. The show and Oprah have since won more than 30 Emmy Awards.

• Riley: "Giles, you got that Danger Room set up out back?"

The Danger Room is part of comic/TV series X-Men — it's a room where the teammates go to work out; computers simulate a variety of dangers (hence the name), allowing the mutants to practice in a variety of conditions.

• Ben (about Buffy's strength): "Radioactive spider bite?"

This comment refers to the method by which Marvel Comics' Spider-Man received his super powers.

• Real Me

  Giles bought the magic shop after Harmony's gang killed the last owner. Also, the crazy guy who frightened Dawn in "Real Me" had likely had been made crazy by Glory.

• For the rundown on what Dawn is and where she came from, check out the passage between Buffy and the monk in the quotes page.

• Clare Kramer (Glory) appeared in Bring It On with Buffy alumni Eliza Dushku.

• Giles has hired Anya to work at the Magic Box.

Jeremy:

Well, I don't think I like this Big Bad. Sure, it's an interesting concept, an ultimate evil that looks like Clare Kramer, but I'd much rather see Spike or someone like the Master again, or especially Angelus. One thing that I am glad about, however, is that Dawn has now finally been resolved. So now we don't have to get any more emails about it. (6/10)

Jamie Marie:

Would it be acceptable if my entire review consisted of me saying "I told you so" to all the people who whined that it was a big continuity goof that Buffy suddenly had a sister? See — Joss does know what he's doing. And I think I'd like to marry him. But that's neither here nor there. So... top notch plot development here, some very keen cinematography in the trance scene, much cutie-patootie-Giles, a healthy dose of Anya-esque humor, and a dollop of Spike acting like an 11 year old with his first crush. (Does anyone else feel the urge to taunt him by singing, "Spike and Buffy sittin' in a tree..."?) Slight question marks over the whole devil-in-a-red-dress thing, but each time I watch it, I like her a wee bit more, so I'll give it a chance. (9/10)