Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Band Candy

Band Candy
Season 3, Episode 6
Airdate	November 10, 1998
Production Number	3ABB06
Written by	Jane Espenson
Directed by	Michael Lange
← 3x05 Homecoming	3x07 → Revelations
Buffy the Vampire Slayer — Season Three

Band Candy is the sixth episode of the third season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the fortieth episode overall.

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), David Boreanaz (Angel), Seth Green (Oz)

and Anthony Stewart Head (Giles)

Guest Starring: Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), K. Todd Freeman (Mr. Trick), Robin Sachs (Ethan Rayne), Harry Groener (The Mayor)

and Armin Shimerman (Principal Snyder)

Co-Starring: Jason Hall (Devon), Peg Stewart (Ms. Barton)

Plot Overview

Feeling as though she's being treated like a child by her mother and watcher, Buffy finds the tide of maturity turned when all the adults begin acting out as teenagers. Little does anyone suspect that the whole thing is to mask a much more sinister plot involving the Mayor and a familiar enemy.

Notes

Monster of the Week

Ethan Rayne, under the employ of Mr. Trick and the mayor, returns to cause chaos in Sunnydale. Much like his Halloween scheme, he uses a seemingly innocuous thing to affect the minds of residents in the town—in this case chocolate bars sold to the adults.

The candy causes adults to mentally and emotionally regress to the state of teenagers, effectively dulling them to responsibility and better judgment. While the adults are occupied, the Mayor uses the distraction to pay tribute to Lurconis, a demon which granted him the power to take his position as the Mayor of Sunnydale. In a moment of clarity, Giles remembers that "Lurconis" means "glutton" and that it dwells in sewers.

The tribute for the demon is four newborn babies, all stolen from the hospital while people weren't paying attention, made every 30 years.

Body Count

#	Whom	By Whom	How	Where
1	Vampire	Buffy	Staked	Cemetery
2	Worker	Mr. Trick	Neck Snapped	Factory
3–4	Vampires	Buffy	Staked	Sewer
5	Vampire	Lurconis	Devoured	Sewer
6	Lurconis	Buffy	Immolated	Sewer

Music

• "Tales of Brave Ulysses" by Cream: Before they go out on the town, Giles and Joyce are listening to "Tales of Brave Ulysses" by Cream on his record player. The song, inspired by Homer's Odyssey, was released on Disraeli Gears in 1967 and details some of the encounters the hero of the poem, Ulysses, overcame to return home after the Trojan War.

• "Louie Louie" by The Kingsman: The drunken adults at the Bronze break out into a karaoke rendition of "Louie Louie" by The Kingsman. The song was the band's only hit and was at one time considered a danger to children because of its inaudible lyrics. Some outraged parents believed that the lyrics were obscene and the FBI was not able to decipher any of the lyrics when they followed up on the complaint.

• Every Bit Of Nothing - "Slip Jimmy"

• Four Star Mary - "Violent"

• Mad Cow - "Blas"

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• Big Bad: Mayor Wilkins makes it clear that he ascended to power by making deals with various demons, including the one he attempted to pay tribute in this episode.

• Conspiracy: Snyder apparently knows much less than he lets on in previous cover-up encounters. He didn't know anything about the Mayor's true plan or where the candy came from except that it was disseminated through the school board. Snyder being used as a pawn is a recurring character motif.

Trivia

The Show

• The tombstone seen at the start of the episode has the name of Set Decorator David Koneff inscribed on it.

Behind the Scenes

• International: Buffy the Vampire Slayer has been dubbed into many different languages and the title translated for each different international version. Some international translations of this episode's title are:
  • French: "Effet chocolat" ("Chocolate Effect")
  • Italian: "I dolci della banda" ("The Band's Candies")
  • German: "Außer Rand und Band" (Idiom; "Out of Control")
  • Japanese: "バンドのためのチョコバー" ("Bando no tame no Chokobaa" - "Chocolate Bars for the Band")
  • Spanish: "Los chocolates embrujados" ("The Bewitched Chocolates")

Allusions and References

• Death of a Salesman: Willy Loman is the central character in the Arthur Miller play Death of a Salesman. He is seen as a success obsessed man whose career as a salesman is long past his glory years. Ultimately, the story takes a cynical standpoint on the American Dream and criticizes those who seek success and wealth without taking principles into consideration.

Buffy: I'm sure we like the idea of going all Willy Loman, but we're not in the band.

Quotes

• Giles: This is the SATs, Buffy, not connect the dots. Please pay attention. A low score can seriously harm your chances of getting into college.

Buffy: Gee, thanks. That takes the pressure right off.

• Principal Snyder: Whoa, Summers! You drive like a spaz!

• Xander: I don't get this. The candy's supposed to make you feel all immature and stuff, but I've had a ton and I don't feel any diff... Never mind.