Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV Series) What's My Line?: Part 1 (1997) User Reviews

Kendra arrives in Sunnydale

[katierose295 · 9/10 · 18 July 2006]

I'll never understand why Buffy doesn't get paid for her slaying. The Council pays Giles to be watcher, apparently had enough money to buy lots of ancient do-dads and employ lots of useless people, holds retreats with canoe trips and horse back riding... But they can't cough up any money for the actual Slayer? It just doesn't make any sense. Anyway, poor Buffy spends most of this episode lamenting her lack of a high-paying future. (A subject that will be revisited again in season six.) She also has to battle the assassins that Spike sends her way, go on an ice skating date with Angel and fight Kendra, a new girl in town who ALSO claims to be the Vampire Slayer. "What's My Line?" is actually a two part episode and it accomplishes a lot story-wise. The end of this installment, with Kendra arriving, is extremely important, especially to next seasons story arc. Suddenly, there are two slayers in the world and that's just bound to cause problems...

"What's My Line?" centers around Sunnydale High's Career Day. Xander, Willow, Cordy, Buffy and the rest of the students are busily filling out questionnaires, debating whether or not they aspire to help their fellow man and how much they like shrubs. Buffy becomes depressed when she realizes that being that Slayer pretty much precludes her from having a regular nine-to-five job. Spike, meanwhile, is becoming desperate. He likes to battle Slayers gladiator style, face to face, in a fair fight. It's his hobby. But he's running out of time. Dru's growing sicker by the day and Spike needs to find her cure right now. In an effort to kill Buffy quickly, or at least keep her busy for awhile, he hires a band of assassins to hunt her down. Paniced by the mercenaries gunning for her, Buffy decides to hide at Angel's apartment. Where she's soon attacked by Kendra, a girl who also claims to be the Vampire Slayer. Xander and Cordy, looking for Buffy at her house, are confronted by one of the assassins. While Angel is captured and left for dead at Willy's place.

This is an all around fun episode. I like Willow being recruited by that computer company and finally coming face to face with Oz. They have such a cute relationship. Also, I enjoy Buffy and Angel's date, especially the assassin attacking and Angel asking if Buffy knows what the dead-guy's ring means. "That I just killed a Superbowl champ?" And who doesn't smile when Buffy kisses Angel, even though he's all vamped-out and bleeding? I also continue to enjoy every scene with Dru and Spike. His increasing frustration with Dalton, the vampire scholar, is pretty funny. Spike is not the most patient fellow and his "pain is inspirational" leadership style is hilarious... In an evil sort of way.

On the downside, I really wish we'd gotten to see Angel ice-skate. Just the idea of it makes me smile. Also, why don't Giles and the Scoobies make an inventory of all the mystical amulets, gloves, crosses, axes, etc... that are buried around Sunnydale and go collect them? It seems like there's always some magical thing-y hidden in a Sunnydale graveyard that evil-doers are trying to find. And they're always described in Giles books. If the Scoobies were more proactive, researching and gathering up the stuff first, before bad-guys came to town, it would save them a lot of time and trouble. Of course, then the show might not be so fun.

My favorite part of the episode: Spike and Dru dancing.

A second slayer?!

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 18 August 2017]

Spike is trying to translate the book he stole from Giles's collection so he can cure Drusilla; to do this he needs a certain key… he also needs to get rid of Buffy. To this end he calls in a group of assassins known as the Order of Taraka. Meanwhile it is careers week at Sunnydale High; something Buffy feels is rather pointless given that she is the slayer. On the plus side Angel has invited her to go ice-skating on a closed rink. Of course this doesn't go quite as hoped as one of the Order attack and they are observed by a mysterious girl who sees that Angel is a vampire. This girl ambushes Angel and locks him in a cage where he will soon be caught by the rising sun. He isn't the only one in danger; Cordelia and Xander are in Buffy's house when a member of the Order knocks on the door and the mystery girl attacks Buffy and identifies herself as 'Kendra the Vampire Slayer'! Tension is high as it becomes apparent that we will have to wait for the next episode to see what happens next.

This was a fine opening to a two part episode. The scenes were Buffy and her friends discuss their potential careers was rather fun; it was particularly intriguing in Willow's case as she is one of two students selected for a possible job by a mystery corporation… interestingly the other student is Oz. The Order of Taraka is an interesting threat as each of them are different… I loved how Buffy dispatched one by kicking him in the throat while wearing skates! It is notable that Sarah Michelle Gellar does all her own skating in these scenes. Kendra is introduced in an interesting way; for most of the episode it looks like she is one of the Order of Taraka and when she announces that she is The Slayer that only raises more questions. I really like the way the Willow/Oz story line is moving at an almost glacial pace; anybody watching for the first time is sure to wonder whether it is going anywhere or just an ongoing joke of the series. Overall this was an impressive episode that left me keen to watch part two.

Everyone is vulnerable.

[pulikd · 8/10 · 15 September 2022]

Although only around halfway through the second season, this particular episode is easily a significant turning point for the show in general. Thus far, that is. Buffy's love story with Angel, obviously, is rooted in the first season and has been developing ever since. The level of trust they have gained for each other has never been as high as it now is, in this episode. They do love each other, but there are certain barriers keeping them at a distance. Those barriers have not been this weak yet. That is a good thing because it helps Buffy cope with how crazy her way of life has to be. The regular school life takes a lot of time and effort, her secret identity as the vampire slayer, of course, does the same. Then there are her friends and her mother. All of these take time and strength. Buffy doesn't have much time left to do what she'd like to and to be who she'd like to be. She has to spend most of her time doing what the environment wants from her. With Angel, however, she can be in a comfort zone, and it gives her the strength she needs to persevere. But the comfort cannot last long because the new danger isn't just relaxing out there somewhere. They've been busy for a good chunk of time now, and the evil plan is about to be realized. Not that they haven't done enough damage already, but what they're up to right now could be much more.

There can be only one...?

[Joxerlives · 10/10 · 17 January 2012]

What's my line? pt1

The Good; Love Buffy's miniskirt and booties, very hot. The neighbours scream blending into the plane's engine noise. Will and Oz, awwww! Buffy ice-skating, you wonder who's better now, SMG or Michelle 'Ice Princess' Tractenberg? Or maybe Julie Benz who is also apparently was once rated 12th best in the US. Buffy's gesture with the torch when Giles suggests she consider law enforcement as a career. Death by iceskate! Buffy's paranoia as she walks through careers day. The Xander/Snyder faceoff. Cordy's little expression at the thought of free cosmetics. Buffy's look of shock at the final line.

The Bad; Kendra's accent for one although if she was taken from her parents as a child and raised in the UK you'd expect it to be a mishmash.

Best line; Cordy; "What am I, mass transportation?" Xander; "That's what guys say but it's just locker room talk"

Questions and observations; A small town like Sunnydale must have a pretty huge airport to handle a 747? Why has no one tried to hire the Order of Taraka before now? Willy the Snitch for the first time. Angel tortures him, of course. Xander refers to the Scooby gang for the first time. First sign of Will's frog fear. Is this the first appearance of Mr Gordo? Also Dalton who will reappear as Spike's lackey in future eps. Xander breaks into Buffy's house very easily,for such a dangerous town everyone seems very slack. What happened to the Slayer rule about not killing humans, Kendra tries to kill Buff with the axe. 10/10 great stuff

The One Where Buffy Almost Gets Killed, Again...

[taylorkingston · 10/10 · 1 February 2015]

I really like this episode. I find it really good and entertaining.

In this episode, it's Career Week at Sunnydale High and everyone's taken a test to see what job they'd be suited for. Xander got prison guard. Buffy got cop. And Willow wasn't assigned anything. She's too smart. The fair is going all fine, but when Buffy is almost killed by a cop, they must find a way to destroy the Order O Taraka. And you know who sent the order to kill Buffy? Spike. Of course he gets others to do his dirty work. It's so funny when Xander and Cordelia go to Buffy's house and are almost killed by a bug man selling cosmetics. Or that could happen in Part 2, I'm not sure.

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

Assassins. Creed

[Realrockerhalloween · 30 September 2016]

An exciting two parter where Spike and Dru send assassins after Buffy. Meanwhile she tries to plan a romantic outing with Angel. This episode is full of tension as we don't know who the assassins are appearing as a normal door sales man until he turns into bugs, a cop coming to career day attempting to shot her and when at the icing rink grabbed from behind before she can pick herself off the floor.

Sarah looks beautiful as she skates across the floor with grace and beauty. The music accompany the scene is delicate, lovely and made me fall in love with her. Another aspect was the surprise ending where a would be assassin admits she's a slayer leaving is on a shocking cliff hanger. It leaves so many questions about the slayer line, can Buffy still call another and to see how they would take on evil as a team.

Slayer Redux

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 19 May 2024]

Spike seems to have the authority to call in outside troops--some mercenary vampires who, for money, are hired to kill. Buffy, of course, is the prey. Much of the episode is about trying to be normal--right! Buffy goes ice skating, a skill she had as a child and she seems quite good. But one of those baddies grabs her. With Angel's help (he came late to the rink) she puts the guy away. But Giles makes it known that there is big trouble ahead. Spike has managed to get a translation of a book which will supposedly make his efforts easier. There is a guy, played by Kelly Connel, who inters the houses of women, pretending to be a salesman offering free samples, and does them in. I'm not sure of his methods because we only hear screams. There is a major surprise to end this episode and things have not gone well for Angel.

Strong themes of choice

[ossie85 · 8/10 · 9 August 2022]

Sunnydale high have a career fair and this causes Buffy to become depressed as she knows she won't ever have a normal career. One of Spike's minions, Dalton, is translating a text that holds the key to Drusilla's cure. To keep Buffy out of the way he sends for the Order of Teraka. At the same time three people arrive - An ugly strong looking guy, a business man and a South American girl.

Why It's So Good - Choices are the most interesting thing about characters, and choosing a life after high school is a rite of passage for most. Buffy adds its own twists (aplenty), mixed with the usual humour.

Watch Out For - Tadpoles.

Quote - "Okay, then a regular kid and her cradle robbing, creature-of-the-night boyfriend." - Buffy.

Strong Episode with Twist

[Aegelis · 9/10 · 5 April 2024]

Answering the question in the previous episode regarding the stolen book, we get more insight into the enemy's plans. Classic element of mercenaries deployed, which reminded me a lot of Superman II (excellent film by the way), giving an intriguing approach.

A little slow-going and uneven paced, the episode still packs its punch, is vampire related, and runs along the main plot of the story arc. Lots here for Buffy fans to enjoy, including character development and a couple of surprises. This episode is surely a part of the 'essential Buffy' fans must see.

Making a two-parter was non-offensive, it had happened before with good execution, which is better than jamming up a storyline with too many questions.

Not my fave

[kellyq12 · 6/10 · 1 June 2022]

The premise is good, but ick, the bugs are gross. And I'm not a huge Kendra fine. She's a little one-note, but the fake accent is the part I can't get past. Is it Jamaican? Irish? It doesn't sound consistent or real to me. That aside, Buffy and Kendra's banter is pretty fun in parts, and I like the building relationship between Cordelia and Xander.

Don't warn the tadpoles!

[bombersflyup · 7/10 · 31 July 2019]

What's My Line is about Spike bringing in the Order of Taraka to eliminate or at least distract Buffy, while he attempts to restore Drusilla to health.

The double episode isn't that bad, but it's not worthy of being a two parter, as there isn't much here. The first episode superior to the second. The introduction of a second slayer yields some good results later on, but Kendra's just abysmal, though has only a few lines in the first episode. If the character had become a regular, the show may have gone downhill rapidly. The Order of Taraka aren't anything special, though the bug guy makes for some good moments between Xander and Cordy, a fun pairing. Buffy trusting a guy named Willy the Snitch.