BtVS: 3.02 Dead Man's Party

Alisa says:
So I already mentioned how much I don't love the Monster of the Week episodes, right? This is the zombie episode and well ... meh. The only bit I think I really and truly love is when Buffy and her Mum are having the awkward fight at her Welcome Home party and Buffy starts yelling at people and singles out Jonathan, "Anyone else want to weigh in? How 'bout you, over by the dip!"
Love it! It's one of my all time favourite lines.

Underlying all the zombie mayhem, and flashing eyes, there's the fact that Buffy's friends didn't let her get away with bailing after the Angel confrontation. She seriously betrayed their trust and friendship and whilst uncomfortable, they force her to face up to and address it. Friendship underpins this series and is what I love about it.

Yay - the Scoobs are back! Bring on Season 3 proper!

Rachel says:
The awkwardness between best friends is really well played here - haven't we all been there? Where you want everything to be alright, but it just isn't?

I have to disagree and say I quite like the use of zombies. Although the metaphor's a little obvious - all the problems Buffy tried to bury are coming back after her - how can you go past that cat?
"I think you should call it Patches."

And Giles is just terrific, his slayer is safely returned, but he isn't off the hook.
"Do you like my mask? Isn't it pretty. It raises the dead!"

Actually the whole episode is filled with quotable lines (Nighthawk, dip, tingly feelings). For a Monster of the Week episode, this one's more than adequate. Killing off Pat - we all have one of those we'd like to shovel through the eyes - yet the arc is still moving forward with the Scoobies reconciled by the end, but not without a fight.
"Talking about it isn't helping, we might as well try some violence."