THE PACK
SEASON 1 EPISODE 6
It's time for another Xander episode! This is definitely one of my favorite episodes of the season, and really one of my favorite Xander episodes in general; it's got probably the most unique premise of the season, and it's full of memorable moments.
It starts out with Buffy getting picked on by an annoying clique while at the zoo before Xander and Willow show up. The great thing about Season 1 is that you can see the three gradually becoming better friends as it goes on. The bullies take a nerdy kid into the Hyena Den to haze him, and Xander takes matters into his own hands by following them in. As Buffy and Willow decide to give him backup, they are stopped by the creepy zookeeper guy. The weird pan flute music cues are pretty hilarious here. Xander stops the gang but as the look into the hyena's eyes, their eyes flash, and they begin cackling uncontrollably.
After the trip at the Bronze, Willow's crush on Xander develops and they talk about each others' lack of love lives. When Xander shows up, he's sporting a more confident attitude than usual, but incidents with Buffy's hair and a fat guy proves he's also weirder more mean-spirited than before as well. Something is afoot! The music in this episode is really good actually; the song playing when the gang walks into the Bronze is great.
The next day at school, the new mascot is caught by Buffy running through the halls; Herbert the pig, representing the Sunnydale High Razorbacks is admittedly cute for a pig. Also check out the 30 year old extras in the background. Willow's tutoring Xander in math (and being adorable) but Xander is slowly becoming more of a jerk towards her (not to mention scaring the pig as he walks by Buffy holding it).
After a particularly violent game of dodgeball, Xander becomes a flat-out douche towards Willow, as he becomes a part of the gang of laughing maniacs. The gang parade around school looking for food before finally breaking into the room with the pig. Poor Herbert, we hardly knew ye! But brightside, the next scene opens with probably my favorite song from Season 1; Job's Eyes by the band Far. The scene is pretty much just two minutes of the gang walking in slo-mo, but the song rules. Afterwards, Buffy asks Giles about why Xander is acting this way.
"It's devastating, he's turned into a sixteen year old boy. Of course, you'll have to kill him."
Sarcastic Giles is the best! Buffy, Willow, and Giles eventually puts the hyena possession thing together, and Buffy dukes it out with Xander in the pig room. The gang, sans Xander, is called to Principal Flutie's office. Then, in a pretty unsettling scene, they eat him. It's played for comedy anytime it's ever mentioned after this point, but the actual scene is kind of creepy. Buffy locks Xander in the cage in the library (which will later hold many a monster) while Willow guards him. He tries to manipulate his way out by sweet-talking Willow, but she's too smart for that. Even though it's largely a Xander episode, Willow gets a lot of development too. There's a lot of her more clever, compassionate side, rather than just being the plot device hacker. And Nicholas Brendon plays creepy remarkably well; it's a shame he doesn't get to play evil more on the show.
Buffy and Giles question the zookeeper about the possession, who reveals that the other hyenas are going to track Xander, putting Willow right in harm's way. The scene where the hyena kids are on the window crooning Willow's name is actually kind of creepy too. This chase would be really tense if not for all the tribal drumming background score. Anytime you want to make the audience worry, put Willow in danger.
Buffy and Giles show up just in time to save her. Buffy leads them to the zoo while Giles and Willow set up to unpossess them with the zookeeper. In a twist that surprises no one, the creepy zookeeper guy is evil and wants the power for himself. The Xander and the hyena kids show up and their possession transfers to the zookeeper. Buffy throws him over the railing into the hyena pit where he is eaten. Buffy doesn't typically kill people, but you could argue that she killed this guy.
The next day, Xander is appalled by all the things he did while possessed, seemingly without any memory. But when confronted by Giles, he admits that he does remember, and the pan flute plays us out!
This is just a really fun episode. Objectively it's probably not one of the better ones, but I love it a lot. It's got a fun premise, and actually has a couple creepy moments.
****
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