For all his cute, goofy charm, a possessed Xander Harris can be a pretty scary guy. His eyes go flat, his smile takes on a hard edge and you just know that he's not going to be making any harmless wisecracks for a while. In this episode, a trip to the zoo leaves Xander and several popular students infected with the spirit of hyenas. Exhibiting pack like behavior, they begin terrorizing Sunnydale High. "The Pack" is one of the best episodes of the season. It centers around animal possession, but it is really talking about the cruelty of teenagers, especially when they're in groups. The hyena-people laugh at the weaker kids and terrorize anyone who crosses their path. They finally eat the school mascot and the principal, in a very creepy scene.
Eventually, Buffy locks Xander in the ever-useful library book cage, where he plays on Willow's feelings for him and tries to manipulate her into letting him out. (If it wasn't for that cage, the Scoobies would have a real hard time dealing with all the werewolves, evil Willows and assorted nasties that come their way in later seasons. I'm not sure why its in the library, but its a heck of a design feature.) The best Buffy episodes are character driven, and "The Pack" derives most of its drama from the fact that we know Xander. He loves Willow and Buffy so its disturbing to see what he's become. When he starts ridiculing Willow, you feel bad for both of them. Willow because she's heartbroken and Xander because he's truly not like that. It's really very well done.
I'm not sure I have any specific complaints about the episode, itself. But, I do wish that they had brought up Xander attempting to rape Buffy in "The Pack" after Spike tries to rape her in late season six. Clearly, Xander wasn't in control of himself in this episode. But, Spike had a demon in him, so was he really in control, either? Is that why Buffy forgave them both? Does that excuse them? It would have made for an interesting conversation, in any case.
My favorite part of the episode: The dodge ball scene. "God, this is a cruel sport."
Eventually, Buffy locks Xander in the ever-useful library book cage, where he plays on Willow's feelings for him and tries to manipulate her into letting him out. (If it wasn't for that cage, the Scoobies would have a real hard time dealing with all the werewolves, evil Willows and assorted nasties that come their way in later seasons. I'm not sure why its in the library, but its a heck of a design feature.) The best Buffy episodes are character driven, and "The Pack" derives most of its drama from the fact that we know Xander. He loves Willow and Buffy so its disturbing to see what he's become. When he starts ridiculing Willow, you feel bad for both of them. Willow because she's heartbroken and Xander because he's truly not like that. It's really very well done.
I'm not sure I have any specific complaints about the episode, itself. But, I do wish that they had brought up Xander attempting to rape Buffy in "The Pack" after Spike tries to rape her in late season six. Clearly, Xander wasn't in control of himself in this episode. But, Spike had a demon in him, so was he really in control, either? Is that why Buffy forgave them both? Does that excuse them? It would have made for an interesting conversation, in any case.
My favorite part of the episode: The dodge ball scene. "God, this is a cruel sport."