The Pack
April 21st, 2007 | 
Author: 
While enduring the annual field trip to the zoo, Xander and several other students enter the quarantined Hyena pen and become possessed by the spirit of the wild animals. Buffy notices that Xander is acting different, more aggressive and mean, but she must figure out what happened and how to reverse it before something terrible happens.
Directed by: Bruce Seth Green
Original Air Date: 7 April 1997
Guest Stars:
Ken Lerner (Principal Flutie)
Eion Bailey (Kyle)
Brian Gross (Tor)
Jennifer Sky (Heidi)
Trivia:
- Rumor has it, Alyson Hannigan went to de-pants Nick Brendon in the dodge ball game and got more than just his shorts… she got his undies down as well.
- The gym is a seperate gym from what we’ve seen in previous episodes.
Quotes:
Gym Teacher: “God this game is brutal. I love it.”
Xander: “We just saw the zebras mating! Thank you, very exciting…”
Willow: “It was like the Heimlich, with stripes!”
Buffy: “I cannot believe that you, of all people, are trying to Scully me. There is something supernatural at work here. Get your books! Look stuff up!”
Key Events:
- Flutie is eaten. The first principle to die on the show.
- We see many different parts of the school
- First inter scoobie fighting
Images:
Posted in 9 Responses to “The Pack”
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Great episode, guys. I kind of liked this episode, I think it was one of the best early ‘relationship’ episodes cementing the dynamic between the Scoobies. Of course Buffy goes right back to ignoring the unrequited Xanderthing… because she’s kinda awful like that, but at least that meatball was out there.
Keep up the good work and don’t let their little fashion faux pas go uncommented! I LOVE that.
Hey, great show (you’re going to hear that a lot)! There is an episode latter on in season 4 that reminds me of this episode. It is the one were the beer was turning everyone in to cavemen (at least mentally).
Poor Flutie!
Cheers!
Another great episode and thanks so much for the shout out! That was a great idea about the Sunnydale Janitor Files, btw, and I plan to steal it and claim its mine. As someone who works in a community college…I feel your pain about work order requests. SHS must have had a round the clock hard-core physical plant crack team repairing that place.
Looking forward to more!
Aly
Hey! I have my own podcast too.. hehehee.. Strangely Literal and we’re working on a Buffy Audio Drama podcast called Buffy Between the Lines with Alyrenee (Undead America) and Kim (Upside Down and Halfway to Happyland).
Oh.. and don’t forget the stunts MIGHT be by Nick B. twin
Good episode, highlighting what I think is one of the underrated stories from season one.
Season one was a prologue and had to set the story into motion by introducing us to characters and themes that would play out over the course of the next few seasons. The Pack is our chance to learn more about Xander and his relationship to the other characters. It’s the first time Xander gets a showcase and Nicholas Brendan runs with it. His range here is quite good and makes the fact that Xander gets sidelined for much of seasons six and seven that much more of a crime. (Yes, Ally is good but Brendan is just as good and deserved better in the final two seasons IMHO).
Also, the death of Principal Flutie is one of the most unnerving deaths on the show. It’s not up there with the horror factor that is the death of Ms. Calendar, but it’s still pretty creepy. I loved how the show took a less is more approach to it with it came to what was shown on screen….my imigination is far more effective at creating gruesome details than most special effects budgets ever could be.
I just want to thank you for making such a great podcast. I have seen the Buffy episodes too many times to remember, but hearing you point out all the things that I now overlook or have forgotten make it as exciting as the first time I watched the episode.
If Elsia Dushku is in a show called “Nurses” will it be fit to air on TV?
No matter what, the thought of Elisa in a skimpy nurses outfit really makes me want to be sick and visit the hospital.
Or maybe I’m already sick for the thought.
Or maybe I’m just exercising my male piggy-ness with the comment.
Tell me the truth guys, what was the first thought that crossed your mind when you heard the words “Elisa Dushku” and “Nurses”. Don’t lie.
Hi guys! Love the cast, I’m an Aussie, who discovered your podcast by doing a search in itunes on Buffy. I discovered Buffy when I lived in England and as we were ahead with Sky I used to tape and send the episodes home to my sisters to watch. To further cement our geekdom, I named my two cats Buffy and Faith, my younger sister named hers Willow and our older sister’s family named their second cat Cordelia, although we fondly refer to her as Cordy. Funnily all the personalities fit quite well, my Buffy’s into stalking, Faith is quite snobbish with anyone but me, and Cordy is quite the…. ummm I hope I’m allowed to say slut!! She rolls over as soon as you start petting her. The only problem is my younger sister seems to have inherited “Evil Willow”!!
Some trivia for you guys:
*In the unaired pilot the guy that Darla sneaks into the school with is a very young looking Carmine Giovinazzo from CSI:NY.
*Marc Blucas used to play basketball, he once played in England for a team called the Manchester Giants. (I supported the London Towers and was in London when Marc played for Manchester when he appeared in Buffy, we all got a kick out of having seen him play).
Spotted:
Amy Acker and Amber Bensen both had guest roles (separately) in Supernatural, Amber funnily enough guest starred as…. a Vampire.
Keep up the great work, I look forward to the episodes to come!