Episode Report Card Ace: A+ | 20 USERS: A YOU GRADE IT The Harvest (2)
By Ace | Season 1 | Episode 2 | Aired on 03.09.1997
Xander and Buffy are crawling through the tunnel, pursued by the vamp. Xander is wearing one of those wallet chains that were so popular back then and, like his skateboard, it's never to be seen again. They push aside a manhole cover, and Xander climbs out into the daylight into what appears to be a power station. He extends his hand to help Buffy out, but right when she's almost free, her ankle is caught by the vampire. Xander pulls on Buffy, exposing her ankle (and the vamp hand) to the sunlight. The vamp sizzles for a good long bit before deciding the pain is too much and letting go of Buffy's ankle, causing Buffy and Xander to fall over backwards.
In the Master's lair, he's berating his henchman. Colin starts to say something, and the Master inquires, "Are you going to make excuthes?" I'm really glad they've figured out how to do the vampire teeth without the lisping. The Master needles Colin a bit more, but then says that it just means there will be someone good for him to kill when he's free. He orders his henchman to bring Luke, but stops Colin as he turns and orders him to apologize. Colin complies and the Master says, "There. That wasn't so bad, was it?" Before Colin can turn to go, the Master says, "Hold on. You've got something in your eye," as he shoves his sharpened fingernail into Colin's eye. Ew. I'm really glad the special-effects team decided not to show us that, but the Foley guy made up for it by having an extra squishy sound effect.
The camera zooms in on Giles -- wait for it -- researching. He looks up at a noise, calling out, "Buffy?" It's not Buffy but Willow. She asks if there has been any word, and when she finds out all has been quiet, she tells Giles the fruits of her research. She explains that there was a rash of murders before a big earthquake in 1837. Giles says it's all falling into place, "although [he] rather wish[es] it weren't."
I guess Darla has been reading Martha Stewart's Living for advice on how to spruce up your underground prison, because she's lighting the last of about a billion candles. I would think vampires, being susceptible to death by fire, would be more careful about open flames. Perhaps someone should suggest that a few strings of Christmas lights would give the same effect, more safely. Luke approaches the Master and dramatically takes off his coat as the Master extends his hand for Luke to kiss. They're all moving so deliberately -- what is this? The interpretive dance portion of the show? This is supposed to be a horror show and I'm trying to suppress my giggles. I must say, the "Sounds of Halloween" soundtrack that Joss picked up real cheap isn't exactly helping either. Anyway, Darla looks on, fascinated, as the Master exposes his inner wrist to Luke, who feeds on some of his blood. "My blood is your blood. My soul is your soul," intones the Master. "My body is your instrument," replies Luke. Dude, we didn't need to know that. The Master daubs a symbol onto Luke's forehead and helpfully explains the plot of this episode. Namely, that Luke is "the vessel" of the Master, and that every person he drains tonight will bring the Master one step closer to freedom. And it's happening tonight. Which certainly hadn't been established before.