User Reviews

This isn't my favorite episode, but it does do an excellent job of treating a real life situation with BTVS's monster-of-the-week format. In this case, the topic of step-fathers is addressed. Ted, Joyce's new boyfriend, arrives and Buffy reacts like many young people would. She sees Ted as trying to take her dad's place and is automatically hostile towards him. Ted, meanwhile, starts trying to intimidate Buffy whenever they're alone together. When she tells her mother that Ted threatened her, Joyce dismisses Buffy's complaints as exaggerated. Just as many mother's, blinded by a new love, would. The episode shows what BTVS can do when it tackles actual issues, with a few vampires and a robot tossed into the mix.

This episode revolves around the arrival of Joyce's new boyfriend Ted. Ted's perfect. He's a gourmet chef, he's a successful salesman, he's sensitive, he's charming, and he's interested in everything Buffy and Joyce do. He's a single mom's dream man... And Buffy hates him. As Ted slips further and further into her life, Buffy becomes convinced that there's something wrong with him. He has flashes of meanness that only she seems to notice. Xander, Willow and Joyce all love Ted. Even Angel tells Buffy to give the guy a chance. Buffy still can't trust him, though, and Ted's starting to see her as a problem. He eventually steals her diary, goes through her things and even hits her. When Buffy fights back, Ted falls down the stairs and dies. Horrified that she's killed a human, Buffy now has to worry about the police, her mother's feelings, and her own guilt. Only, Ted's not exactly human. He's a robot, who's been drugging them all with his home cooked meals and plotting to drag Joyce underground to his "buncker o' love." And he's also not exactly dead...

There are some nice parts to the episode. John Ritter is perfect as Ted. So happily, creepily evil. He's genuinely scary and sort of likable all at the same time. And I enjoy Xander and Willow excitement over Ted taking an interest in them. Granted, they're under the influence of drugged cookies and mini-pizzas, but I think it's even deeper than that. Willow and Xander don't have very supportive home lives. (For examples of this, see season three's "Gingerbread" and season six's "Hell's Bells.") Ted giving Willow computer discs, showing an interest in Xander, and taking them all mini-golfing is a wonderful new treat for them. They like Ted, because he's different from their own parents. This is probably why they spend so much time with Giles, too. He's become the father figure for Willow, Xander and Buffy. Actually, I think that it's a shame that Giles didn't have bigger role in this episode, because he's also slowly coming to see himself in a parental role. It would have been interesting to see his take on Ted trying to usurp his position.

On the downside, I almost think it would be better if Ted had just been a regular human scumbag. Having him be a robot almost seemed like a cop-out. If he was just an ordinary human, I think the episode would have been more dramatic and emotionally charged. (I have the same complaint about "Lineage" over on season five of "Angel." All in all, I actually think that "Angel" does nicer job of showing the evilness of humans. BTVS usually portrays them as "better" than other types of creatures just by virtue of them being human. Lila's right; It's speciesest.) Also, I hope that the drugs were still effecting Joyce the period following Ted's "death." Otherwise, I think her attitude towards Buffy was way out of line. She doesn't know Buffy's the Slayer. As far as she knows Buffy's just a regular 17 year old who occasionally gets into fights at school. Ted was a lot bigger than Buffy. Doesn't Joyce wonder why Ted was in Buffy's bedroom in the first place? Or what started the fight? Buffy says that Ted hit and threatened her. Frankly, if I was Joyce, I'd assume Ted was a perverted nut who tried to attack my teenage daughter. Even the cops seemed to believe that. Hopefully, Joyce was still on happy pills because and not just a lousy mother.

My favorite part of the episode: Willow, Xander and Buffy go mini-golfing with Joyce and Ted. I wonder if that's the same course Faith and the Mayor go to in season three.

I absolutely love this episode. It's one of my all-time favorite Season 2 episodes, and it's actually one of my all-time favorite episodes in general. It's just fantastic. This episode was the first thing I ever saw John Ritter in and he did wonderfully in it. It was great to see him play a completely different character than I'm used to seeing.

In this episode, Buffy's Mother, Joyce, starts dating a seemingly nice man, named Ted. He seems like the best boyfriend ever, being nice to Buffy's friends, being a good role model, but it turns out that he has a deep, dark secret that Buffy discovers whilst trying to expose him for being a fraud, in some way. Ted goes and reads Buffy's diary, and they get into a fight, which he starts. Ted is somehow as strong as Buffy. And no one except evil beings and other Slayer's is as strong as Buffy. She kicks him down the stairs and he dies. And Joyce is just devastated. But then Ted comes back. It turns out that he's a robot. Yes, a robot. Xander and Willow discover that Ted, back in the '50s, killed his wives, and made a robot of himself, so that's who's been living for the last forty years. In the end, Buffy defeats the robot, who was really creepy, by the way.

Overall, I give this episode a 10 out of 10.

There is something suspicious about the man that Buffy's mother is dating and it isn't that he lives with two women. John Ritter plays a warped Mr. Cleaver perfectly as he tries to mini pizza his way into the hearts of the gang. The episode itself uses him to send up the idea that evil comes in only one form, a theme that plays out a lot in this series. This is also the first episode where Buffy faces what she believes to be the reality of killing a human, a plot line that would return in the third season. Whether playing one serious game of putt putt or fighting to the death with Buffy in an amusing action sequence, John Ritter proves that he is real mean machine. Kristen Sutherland has one of her better episodes as well.

9 out of 10.

Ted(half his face warped to revel the robot beneath): "Buffy, would you like to play some Parcheesi?"

(Hi, have you met...?) Ted (A prize for whoever can get that in-joke)

The Good; Really the more Joyce in an episode the better it is. She was originally due to be a very minor character as in the movie but the cast and crew all fell in love with Joyce/Kristine Sutherland and the writers kept giving her more and more to do. She's excellent here, the pained scenes between Buffy and Joyce are wonderful in their awkwardness (note Joyce just tells the police that Ted fell, still trying to protect her daughter, it's Buffy who admits she fought with him). Full marks also to John Ritter playing essentially an evil version of his character from '8 Simple Rules'. Great scene where Buffy plays nurse to Angel (which she also enjoys doing later with Riley and season 7 Spike and in the comics fantasises about doing so in a sexy nurse uniform). Buffy taking out some frustrations on a very unfortunate vamp (Giles still accompanies her sometimes) plus Giles and Jenny beginning to get back together. Cordy's miniskirt and knee boots are smashing. Lovely scene between Buffy and Joyce at the end although not the best they'll ever have.

The Bad; Labours a bit in the middle and the robot makeup is a bit dodgy (although if it's 50s technology maybe it should be crude?)

Best line; Giles; "I believe the subtext here is rapidly becoming a text" (one of my great favourites which I use often) plus "DO let's bring that up as often as possible" when Cordy remarks on the Eyghon affair. Also great; Cordy; "Buffy's a superhero, shouldn't there be different rules for her?" Willow; "Sure in a fascist society" Cordy; "Yeah, why can't we have one of those?" (Wait until 'Shiny happy people')

Questions and observations; Willow and Xander discuss The Captain and Tennile. Quite weird as their last big hit was in 1980 and that would have been before they were born. More the sort of talk a bunch of 30 year old scriptwriters would have. Xander suggests Buffy play 'the naughty stewardess' which is probably the one outfit SMG hasn't worn for a men's magazine (or for Riley in Buffy season 4/5 or Spike in 6). Giles becomes the 3rd Scooby to be shot, Buffy and Joyce knocked out. How exactly does Willow analyse Ted's cookies using a microscope? Ted's creator, like Willow, Daryll Epps and ultimately Warren seems to be a recipient of the Hellmouth energy genius. No Oz. Buffy's antipathy to Ted actually seems pretty unreasonable although did any child of a divorce ever not want their parents to get back together? (I always think of the hair dye ad where the two little girls tell their dad that he'd be a great catch for someone, in real life you just know that if their mother was still alive they'd want him to get back with her and if she was dead they'd want to keep him for themselves). Big question, what did Dawn make of Ted? Did she like him as Joyce did or did she share Buffy's hatred? Due to her comments in 'I was made to love you' I think probably the latter. Surely being only 16 Buffy should have a solicitor or at very least an adult with her when the police talk to her? Shouldn't Joyce contact Hank and tell him what's going on? Ted threatens to put Buffy in a mental institution which she was in before (and if 'Normal Again' is to be believed remains in until she regains her sanity again at the end of 'Chosen'). Slayer healing is referenced for the first time, Buffy telling the detective that she doesn't bruise easily. Just as Buffy is repeatedly saved by her fashion sense Cordy discovers Ted's secret lair due to her sense of interior decoration (which we see again later in 'Rm w/a vu') All told 6/10, a standalone ep that's OK in itself, it's strengths largely lying in the dialogue. The series increasingly relying on the relationships between the characters rather than the demon of the week, no bad thing.

Ted is about Buffy having to deal with the presence of her mother's new boyfriend.

Certainly a different type of episode and the epitome of filler. Buffy's in a situation unfamiliar to her and she doesn't know how to deal with it. I don't like how she's bailed out by Ted striking her, it makes the issue unresolved and empty. I'm not a fan of Joyce and there's quite a bit of her here, but other than that I like it. Some reviews have questioned Joyce's behavior, (beg to differ) I think she's influenced by the food Ted is cooking her at that point. Quite a of humour in here and my god is Sarah beautiful.

Joyce has a new boyfriend Ted and he is instantly liked by everyone except for Buffy. Ted threatens Buffy and has a nasty temper but no one else see this and figures that Buffy is just jealous. But when Ted hits Buffy, Buffy fights back and the unthinkable happens - she accidentally kills him.

Why It's So Good - Buffy's father is rarely seen, and honestly comes off as a poor person. But that doesn't mean Buffy would instantly accept a new father figure, especially one with a clear dark side. John Ritter is a delight, and there's plenty to enjoy about this episode.

Watch Out For - I beg to differ.

Quote - "Look, I'm not gonna tell, they're not gonna know. Not your friends, not my friends. You wanna go to the utility closet and make out?" - Xander to Cordelia.

After a night out Buffy returns home earlier than expected and is shocked to find her mother kissing a man in the kitchen. He introduces himself as Ted and soon Willow and Xander think he is great; thanks to an offer of free computer upgrades and some rather good mini-pizzas. Buffy is less impressed. Is it just because she doesn't want a man other than her father in her mother's life or is there something wrong with Ted. After he threatens to hit her following a minor misdemeanour it is clear that something is wrong although nobody else believes her. Things come to a head when Buffy returns home, having sneaked out, and finds him in her room. This time he hits her and she fights back; he ends up dead at the bottom of the stairs. Buffy has dispatched numerous vampires, demons and other supernatural terrors but now she must deal with the guilt of killing a person. Xander, Willow and Cordelia work to discover the late Ted's dark secret; Giles goes patrolling and Buffy has quite a surprise when Ted turns up again.

This stand-alone episode was pretty impressive; Ted was a distinctly creepy character; a little too perfect right till the point where he threatens Buffy. For most of the episode it looks as if he is just an unpleasant man; when he is 'killed' the audience is led to believe that Buffy has killed a person the whole time she is dealing with the guilt. John Ritter does an impressive job as Ted; while other threats were more obviously dangerous there was something more disturbing about him. It was good to see more of Kristine Sutherland, as Buffy's mother. Sarah Michelle Gellar showed a greater emotional range than her character requires as Buffy deals with the guilt of killing a person. There are some enjoyably lighter moments such as when Giles and Jenny deal with a vampire. Overall a good episode that I found genuinely disturbing (in a good way) at times.

John Ritter is pretty likable as a character actor, but the plot on this one seems rushed and definitely doesn't make much sense. Even accepting the 1950s robot and cookies that magically make you like someone, which I do, it's quite a stretch to believe that Buffy wouldn't notice the guy she was fighting was incredibly strong and resilient, given that she's literally a super hero used to fighting super strong demons. That she didn't find that suspicious when the direction of their fight scene seems to call it out for the audience is a strange way to cross their feet. But they need to make that happen so she can feel guilty.

Also what's up with Joyce? Okay she was drugged, but then her boyfriend tried to attack her daughter, she either would want to kill him herself or she's a bad human being. Guess which direction the show takes it in? Since she doesn't know Buffy has super powers, it's just inexcusable to imagine a woman not shaking with rage knowing a big dude she was dating tried to beat her 95 lbs daughter into submission, and it's HER fault for letting him into their lives. Definitely undercuts the idea of this being a "very special episode".

The only thing in the episode blessed with some verisimilitude was the attitude of the police, who in real life would totally be like, "***** that guy, he tried to beat a 16 year old girl and got knocked the stairs, good." Otherwise, it's too silly to be meaningful, and not engaging enough to be a great episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

One of my favorite monster of the weeks as Joyce finds the seemingly perfect man who cooks, has a great job and turns out to be a robot. Yet if you take out the sci-fi it perfectly shows how a girls deals with a divorced parent meeting someone new acting moody, not wanting to spend time with him or try his cookies. Another aspect of the relationship is Ted could be viewed as an abusive stepfather since he tells Joyce what to think, wants everything perfect and hits Buffy over minor events.

It even explores the duties of a slayer since they both get in a fight and she knocks him down the stairs seemingly killing him. Buffy is guilt ridden yet what does it mean for a slayer to kill an innocent they are suppose to protect. Does the council hand out punishment or let society take care of it and even if it were self defense its a huge burden for a teenager. Very powerful metaphors for a standalone which makes it the best of season 2 so far.

I have a problem with a major plot assumption of this episode, and to a lesser extent the fifth season episode "I Was Made to Love You". Even with today's technology, it's not possible AFAIK to build a robot indistinguishable from a human being in both mental and physical abilities (even just making a robot capable of standing on two feet is a problem only recently conquered). The eponymous Ted somehow managed this feat with no supernatural assistance whatsoever (at least, none is mentioned or alluded to in the episode) using *1950s* technology! Even if the robot Ted's computer was built using transistors rather than valves, they would have been relatively large power hogs running on 22.5 V - I don't think so.