As Season Three reaches its climax ("Graduation Day" is next) Sunnydale High School goes to the Senior Prom. This provides opportunities for several emotional high moments for our Scoobies, especially if you are a committed Buffy watcher. "The Prom," delivers its best moments for those who have been watching the show regularly.
Xander discovers Cordelia's shameful secret and in response he performs an act of such grace and style that Cordy is forever changed. Anya joins the human race soul AND body. And Buffy's classmates end their group denial, and in a spectacularly well-crafted speech by Jonathan (he of the suicide attempt in "Earshot") present a gift that will become as iconic as the Cladagh ring.
Most episodes of Buffy have bittersweet endings. This appears to be a style choice because "The Prom" is set-up to end joyously but then finds a chasm to throw itself into. But the end scene is actually pretty forgettable and unimportant, nothing happens that we didn't know was going to happen. But SMG's expression as she's getting some punch (the fruity kind) is the real climax of "The Prom." Earlier in the episode she states that the Senior Prom is meant to be the "best night of our lives." Buffy gets hers. And an umbrella.
Xander discovers Cordelia's shameful secret and in response he performs an act of such grace and style that Cordy is forever changed. Anya joins the human race soul AND body. And Buffy's classmates end their group denial, and in a spectacularly well-crafted speech by Jonathan (he of the suicide attempt in "Earshot") present a gift that will become as iconic as the Cladagh ring.
Most episodes of Buffy have bittersweet endings. This appears to be a style choice because "The Prom" is set-up to end joyously but then finds a chasm to throw itself into. But the end scene is actually pretty forgettable and unimportant, nothing happens that we didn't know was going to happen. But SMG's expression as she's getting some punch (the fruity kind) is the real climax of "The Prom." Earlier in the episode she states that the Senior Prom is meant to be the "best night of our lives." Buffy gets hers. And an umbrella.