Who hasn't had that nightmare?

Story by: Joss Whedon. Teleplay by: David Greenwalt. Joyce... Kristine Sutherland the Master... Mark Metcalf Billy... Jeremy Foley Hank Summers... Dean Butler Summary: Yet again something strange is happening in Sunnydale as people's fears start to come true. It appears that the cause of it is a 12 year old boy in a coma and the gang needs to wake him up before the whole world is in chaos.

Buffy has heartbreaking news from her father. Cordelia swears she's innocent, she doesn't belong to the chess team. Willow Rosenberg, the great opera singer. Buffy the vampire.

Quotes: Cordelia: Hello? Doofus! You're in my light. Xander: Wendell, what is wrong with you? Don't you know that she is the center of the universe and the rest of us merely revolve around her? Cordelia: Why don't you revolve yourselves out of my light? Willow: Why is she so Evita-like? Buffy: I think it's the hair. Willow: Weighs heavy on the cerebral cortex. Willow: I don't like spiders, okay? Their furry bodies, and their sticky webs, and what do they need all those legs for anyway? I'll tell you, for crawling across your face in the middle of the night. Ewww! How do they not ruffle you? Xander: I'm sorry! I'm unruffled by spiders. Now, if a bunch of Nazis crawled all over my face... Xander: I'm not worried. If there's somethin' bad out there, we'll find, you'll slay, we'll party. Willow: So, why is this happening? Giles: Billy. Xander: Well, that explanation was shorter than usual. (to Willow) It's Billy! (to Giles) Who's Billy? Xander: Our dreams are coming true. Giles: Dreams? That would be a musical comedy version of this. Xander: Probably be faster if we split up to look for her. Giles: Good idea. Willow: Uh-uh... faster, but not really safer. Cordelia: No! What are you doing! Hey, no! You don't understand! I don't wanna go! I'm not even on the chess team! I swear, I'm not! Xander to the clown: Your balloon animals were pathetic! Everyone can make a giraffe. The Master: So this is the Slayer. You're prettier than the last one. Willow: Personal question. Xander: Yeah, shoot. Willow: When Buffy was a vampire, you weren't still like attracted to her, were you? Xander: Willow, how can you... I mean, that's really bent! She was... grotesque. Willow: Still dug her, huh? Xander: I'm sick. I need help. Willow: Don't I know it.

My review for the episode: After a great filler the show goes back to the big picture involving the Master. Thankfully Darla is gone, dust in some corner of the Bronze. She just annoyed me. Again this episode contains all what is great about Btvs humor, drama, action and “horror” laced with the friendship between the Scoobies. The story is interesting because everyone has fears and the fact that the real bad guy is human, makes this even more affective episode. In this episode Joyce is a good mother, she doesn't lay any guilt on Buffy and reminds her that the divorce wasn't her fault and her father loves her, of course not more than she herself does. But what bothered me was that Joyce had heard Buffy yelling in her sleep at night and one could suspect it wasn't about hugs and puppies, so why didn't Joyce wake her? Everyone's fears are very much in character. Giles gets lost in the library and can't read, for someone who can read five different languages and spends most of his time around books and doing research using them it must be a scary situation. Of course let's not forget Cordelia who's fears revolve around loosing her perfect hair and stylish clothes and being dragged to the chess club, very Queen C-like nightmares. And that's what makes her a great comedic relief. Willow's fear of public performing was established in the previous episode (1.09 The Puppet Show) and now she is pushed to the stage to sing in front of an large audience that includes critics, a scary scenario to anyone. And poor Willow gets fruit thrown at her. Xander shows his courage by facing his fears and punching the clown, who seriously was creepy with the laughing, and later when he and Giles grab the coach, stopping him from escaping. But Buffy's fears are the most frightening. Before she knows about what is happening (peoples nightmares coming true), she has to hear her father telling her that the divorce was her fault and he is disappointed in her, that she isn't smart enough or the daughter he wanted. The scene is heartbreaking and Sarah Michelle Gellar does wonderful job with it. Also Buffy has to face the Master and she is buried alive, something that did come true in season six as she woke up in her coffin. The only complaint I have is that there is no Angel. This is the third episode without him making an appearance, sure it worked great without him but it would have been interesting to see his fears, I'm sure Buffy turning into a vampire was one of them. 9 ½

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