- Air Date – March 10th, 1997
- Writers – Rob Des Hotel and Dean Batali
- Director – David Semel
- Producer – Joss Whedon
It’s no surprise Buffy is in a cemetery late at night. Practicing her Slayer talents with Giles the two find a ring that seems to interest Giles. Cut to The Master delivering one of his always powerful soliloquies explaining that soon the Slayer’s greatest foe, The Anointed One, will rise from the ashes of five dead and deliver the Order of Aurelius (the order lead by The Master) from her constant annoyances.
The next day at Sunnydale High Buffy’s heart goes pitter pat as the handsome Owen asks her on a date. Before Buffy can drift away into dreamland over Owen however Giles returns with news about the mysterious ring discovered the night before. The ring has an engraving in it that connects it to a prophecy that does not bode well for the Slayer or Sunnydale. The
Owen looks like a nice guy.
prophecy speaks of The Anointed One showing up and basically screwing up everything up, and it is to happen that same night. The same night that Buffy is to go out with Owen. After being obviously disappointed over the lost date, Buffy joins Giles to stake out The Anointed One and stop the prophecy. As the two heroes wait vigilantly at a local cemetery for a few hours, absolutely nothing happens and Buffy is none too happy about the lost date.
Elsewhere in the city a van leaving the airport crashes. Five passengers survive the wreck only to be killed when vampires attack the wreckage.
Owen is back the next day asking out the surprised Buffy again. Despite the many concerns and warnings of Giles against a Slayer having a romantic life Buffy accepts the invitation as is once again dreaming of Owen. Xander also voices his concerns about Buffy and Owen, though clearly his motivations are personal in nature.
Buffy begins to get ready for her date with the help of Xander and Willow. Just as things look like they will go off smoothly Giles arrives with news. He believes the five vampire victims from the night before are a portent of the upcoming Anointed One prophecy. Giles speculates that Andrew Borba, a vampire victim from the bus who was covered in tattoos and tended to recite bible verses very loudly, will rise that very night as The Anointed One. Buffy will not be swayed from Owen this time and refuses to track down what she thinks is another wild goose chase. In order to get the date moving forward, Willow and Xander agree to go with Giles to the funeral home to keep an eye on Andrew Borba in case he rises from the grave.
Of course this time Giles is right and is immediately attacked by vampires on arriving at the funeral home. After locking himself in a room in an attempt to escape, Will and Xander arrive and agree to go get Buffy to save the day. Upon arriving at The Bronze Willow and Xander attempt to communicate to Buffy that there is vampire trouble without revealing the facts to Owen. After an interesting few minutes they leave Owen and head off to the funeral home.
He looks like trouble.
Arriving at the funeral home, Buffy Xander and Willow are surprised to see that Owen has followed them. Together the four begin looking around for clues. They find one in the way of the tattooed crazy vampire Borba tearing up the place and shouting quotes from the bible. After Owen is knocked out by the crazy vampire Buffy slays Borba by knocking him into a cremation oven.
At school the next day to Buffy’s surprise Owen not only wants to see her again, but had a great time getting knocked around the night before. Unfortunately Buffy realizes that Giles isright, and she is too great a danger to Owen to continue. She breaks it off gently and Giles tries to lift her spirits by reminding her she stopped the Anointed One and prevented the prophecy.
The Master in his underground lair welcomes The Anointed One in the form of an eight year old boy. Buffy stopped a vampire, but not the prophecy.
