Go Fish

Buffy Episode Review

In which there is a school activity.

What Happened

Members of the swim team start disappearing, leaving behind only their skins, so Buffy investigates. Xander goes undercover and joins the team to find out what's going on when they suspect steroid use. The Coach is revealed to be infusing his swimmer with fish DNA, with the result that they swim really fast and turn into sea monsters.

The Good

• Cordelia: "I think I've lost all will to cheerlead." She got all the good lines in this episode.
• "I snuck in yesterday and pee'd in the pool." Jonathan gets more lines. This is a good thing. Interrogator Willow is fun.
• At least Gage isn't too proud/stupid that he's won't ask Buffy to walk him home after being attacked.

The Bad

• Willow: "I like teaching."
  Snyder: "Isn't that nice." Love his sarcasm. Some explanation why a student is still allowed to teach would be nice, however.
• It really bugs me that no one backs Buffy up on the whole "Cameron's a creep and she's being treated unfairly" thing.

The Cliche

• Fine. Locker rooms are creepy. We get it.
• "Is steroid abuse usually linked with 'Hey, I'm a fish?'" Lesson of the Week: Drugs are Bad.
• Nice leather coat for your trip into the sewers, Buffy. I know Giles only has one outfit, but you couldn't have changed?
• Predictable ending.

Best Lines

Xander: "I'm undercover."
Willow: "Not under much."

Coach: "Boy, when they were handing out school spirit, you didn't even bother standing in line."
Buffy: "No, I was in the line for shred of sanity."

What Did I Think?

So there's "Go Fish," "Halloween," and "Reptile Boy." That makes three times this season Buffy is almost sexually assaulted. Disturbing pattern.