Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV Series) Innocence (1998) User Reviews

One of the best episodes of the series

[katierose295 · 10/10 · 20 July 2006]

If you're a fan of BTVS or "Angel," if you're just a casual viewer BTVS or "Angel," if you're ever thinking about watching BTVS or "Angel," at all, then you really MUST see this episode. It effects everything that comes after it on both shows. As I said in my review of "Suprise," don't read any spoilers if you haven't seen this episode, yet. I didn't start watching BTVS until after the series had been canceled. (The first full season I saw was season three, on DVD, in fact.) So, I knew what happened in the season two story arc long before I saw the actual episodes. I still love it. It's still wonderful. But, if you can watch it and be surprised at the twist, I'm betting it would even be better.

"Suprise" ends with Buffy and Angel sleeping together and the Judge preparing to burn the humanity out of every living creature in Sunnydale. Angel, feeling that something is very wrong, stumbles outside and collapses in an alley. A woman smoking a cigarette hurries over to help him, asking if he's okay. Within seconds, she's dead. Angel rips into her throat, drinking her blood and letting her body drop to the pavement. Then he casually exhales the smoke he's sucked in from her windpipe and smiles. He feel just fine, he drawls. And right then you know... He's not Angel anymore. He's lost his soul. He's Angelus now. And Angelus is a real bad guy to have around.

Angel is a sweetheart. A hero and champion who loves Buffy with all his heart. Angelus is pure evil. He delights in torturing his victims, inflicting pain and generally being the rottenest Big Bad that Sunnydale's ever seen. Angelus' first stop is Spike and Dru's place. After all, the three of them (and Darla) spent a lot of years terrorizing the population of several continents. Where else would he go? Spike and Dru, for their part, are delighted to have Angelus back on the Darkside again. They immediately include him in on the fun of Dru's newest "destroy the world" plot. And Angelus, well, he's got a plan too. See he's got a real yen to hurt Buffy...

Buffy had no idea what's happened to Angel. Like a lot of young women, the morning after dawns and she's confused and worried about what will happen next in the relationship. Angel's behavior has her baffled. At first she thinks that he's been hurt of killed. But when she finally finds him, he's physically fine. Her relief if short lived, however. Angelus begins taunting her, belittling their love-making and dismissing her feelings. He walks away laughing and Buffy's heart breaks. Angelus isn't done, though. His next stop is Sunnydale High, where he attacks Willow. Certain now that the real Angel is gone, it doesn't take long for Buffy to realize that Jenny knows a lot more than she's let on. Giles, Buffy and the Scoobies now have to fight Spike, Dru, the Judge and Angelus. Xander comes up with a pretty cool loop-hole to the "no weapon forged can kill the Judge" thing. And the whole episode comes down to a showdown in a shopping mall. Buffy wins the fight, but in the end, she can't kill Angelus. She can't destroy the man she loves, even if he's completely vanished inside of a monster. It's flat-out great television.

I love this episode, so there are a lot of good parts to mention. The scene with Oz and Willow in the van is wonderful, as is the conversation between Giles and Buffy at the end of the episode. As always, I love Spike and Dru. This episode reunites them with Angelus and begins the countdown to "Becoming, Part Two" where their relationship comes to a head. Spike is temporarily out of commission and Angelus immediately takes at advantage of his weakness. He begins shutting Spike out and Spike doesn't like it. I also like the scene where Angelus attacks Willow. Xander has never liked Angel, but even he is genuinely shocked that such a thing could happen. I love Cordy's confusion over her role in Xander's plan and Oz helping to collect the Judge's body parts. "Arm." One of the littlest gems in the episode is the ring Angel wears, pledging himself to Buffy. Angel wears it with the heart facing in, which means you belong to someone. Angelus switches it around, so the heart faces out. He doesn't belong to anyone. How cool is that?! Seriously, I could gush on and on about this episode.

I don't have any real complaints about the episode. I am confused as to why they choose the Shirley Temple movie "Stowaway" for Buffy and her mom to watch at the end. I'm sure it must have some meaning or significance, but I honestly don't know what. I kind of wish they had used the movie again in the series to connect it to something. (Maybe the scene where Spike is watching TV at Buffy's house in "The Barginning" in season six, for example.) As it is, I'm not sure what "Stowaway" means in "Innocence." It's a cute movie, though and I really don't have a problem with it.

My favorite part of the episode: Spike's line, "Let's destroy the world already... I'm bored." It perfectly sums up his impatience with Dru and Angelus's complex "ending humanity" plots and all other battles he can't fight hand to hand. Ya gotta love him.

A flawless episode, and the best of the show of so far

[tv_is_my_parent · 10/10 · 28 December 2011]

In my second watch, I see now that this is a flawless and an excellent episode. I love Joss Whedon's writing and as a person who wants to be a television writer this is one of the episodes that I'll also admire and look up to.

I mean there are no empty scenes, everything was full with emotions, Sarah Michelle Gellar acting has never been this frustrating(in a good way) by far. She is an astonishing actress, needs more credit.

As this episode, we will know nothing will ever be the same and that's why people call this episode as the "fate changer".

"Innocence" is another prove for the people who thought this is a silly fantasy show(I was thinking that in my first watch). Everybody who is interesting in television writing should see this, I'm serious. 10/10

A word better than Brilliant

[charcoalphoto · 10/10 · 9 July 2006]

This is the greatest piece of television I have ever seen. And I've seen a lot of television. I'm not sure I can adequately describe what makes this episode stand out from all the rest, but here goes: The whole episode transpires with the events that happened in the episode before "Surprise." In that episode Buffy and Angel culminated their relationship in the physical sense. Anywho, he loses his soul and is reverted back to Angelus, the reeeeeeeeaaaaaaaallllllly evil vampire. He gives her the brushoff, acting like your typical man after sex. Sarah Michelle Geller gives one of the best performances ever. (She may or may not agree, but out of all the episodes I think this one tops it. Becoming Part 2 comes in reeeaaaaaallll close though).

Back on track, the gang riles together and come up with a plan to defeat the Judge, who had been assembled in the previous episode. Angelus almost kills Willow, but Jenny stops him. Jenny knows more than she's telling, lets just say that.

The whole rocket launcher thing was bloody brilliant (I'm not British BTW). I'm gonna stop rambling on and on and on and I'm just gonna tell you to watch the episode. Even if you don't like Buffy, if you know anything about acting and storytelling at all, then you should really enjoy this episode, if not blown away by it. I was blown away by it. I actually use it for inspiration and stuff when my storytelling isn't as good as it could be.

the episode that changed the face of television

[A_Different_Drummer · 10/10 · 31 October 2013]

Kind viewer, if you have made your way to this IMDb page it is because you are either want to know more about the plot arcs in Buffy, having not seen the series yet, or you are a fan of the series and want validation that you were in your right mind when you announced to your friends, years ago, that this was the most amazing TV drama ever. So in no particular order: 1. A rating of 10 is meaningless. Is one star in the sky brighter than the other? If there was a rating of 100, it would apply equally. This was the highest rated episode of the series, a series that changed the face of television, a series that changed the way TV drama plots unfold, a series which, in the days before record/playback cable, people used to plan their lives around; a series which as this review is penned, has yet to be equalled. 2. I have watched the series 3 times, beginning to end. Each time I do I find something I missed earlier. Offhand, there are few movies that I can make the same claim about. 3. The second instalment of INNOCENCE, unlike the first, was penned by Whedon himself. Somehow I think that no matter how big Whedon gets in the years to come, this will always be his best work. OK, spoilers. Buffy is surprised to discover she is the slayer. She has Scoobie friends (one of the best ensemble casts in history BTW). She has a taciturn boyfriend who claims to be a good vampire, but no one knows his back story. The Buffy show is by now supporting an entire network, a fact that will not become clear until later. Angel and Buffy spend the night together, something that later Whedon would admit he agonized about when writing. Angel wakes up the next morning and is cold to Buffy. No, not cold, as in a guy who loses interest in the girl after the conquest, but cold as in an age-old evil of monstrous proportions has been awakened because, unknown to anyone but Whedon, there had been a curse on Angel. Not any old curse -- 'duh -- but a curse that "restored his soul" in order to make one of the most evil vampires of all time have to suffer constantly with the memories of the evil he wrought. Still with me? There's more. The curse had an escape clause. If, under the influence of the curse (ie, as a good vampire or a vampire with a soul) the curse-ee should experience a moment of joy (as in, sleeping with Buffy) then the curse had obviously backfired (since its intent was to cause everlasting pain) and the curse would be removed, leaving, in its wake, one of the most malevolent characters in modern drama. So, not just a jaded boyfriend. The very essence of evil. There is more of course, but this episode is what hooked literally MILLIONS on the series. And justifiably so.

Angelus rears his ugly head

[Joxerlives · 10/10 · 23 January 2012]

Innocence

The Good; As Joss says "Buffy in pain, show good!" And he really puts her, Jenny and Giles through the wringer here (Willow also has her pain but Oz is there to thankfully not kiss it better) But you know what? It doesn't matter because in the final scene she ends up back in Joyce and Dawn's loving arms (in everyone's memory) and it's all too beautiful for words. Stunningly brilliant in every way, quite possibly the best episode of Buffy ever.

The Bad; Ummmmmm? Actually one thing I don't like is Angelus killing the hooker in the alley (Sophia Crawford, SMG's stunt double). She is lovely in a trashy sort of way, the Gorch's were wrong! Such a misogynistic cliché, couldn't he have killed some guy emptying the bins or something?

Best line; Xander (to Cordy) "Wear something trashy...er" (unkind actually as CC's outfit is very nice although a little school-uniformish). Plus; Giles; "I'd say we've hit rock bottom" Xander; "I have a plan" Cordy; "Oh no, there's a lower place!" But best dialogue; Joyce; "So how was your birthday?" Buffy; "Got older" Joyce "You don't look any different to me" (nice contrast between the scene where Joyce senses something different about Buffy after she's lost her virginity)

What the fanficcers thought; Angelus kills the scoobs but others (Harmony, Jonathon, Amy, Larry etc) take their place-Deadscoobies.

Questions and observations; So much good stuff, the dream sequence and the scene where Angelus kills Jenny's uncle especially good. But how does he know he's in town? Did Dru have a vision? So Sunnydale has it's own army base (couldn't the Initiative have been based there?) as well as an airport big enough for a 747, zoo, docks etc Not bad for a town of under 40,000 (The Mayor's influence?). How come Spike is prepared to destroy the world now but not in Becoming pt2? You can start to see his jealousy of Dru and Angelus almost from the start, without Darla the Fanged Four are out of balance. Although, like the Harvest or Adam or the Mayor turning into a big snake it would have been bad but would the Judge really have been the end of the world? Buffy using a firearm is a rare sight (I always thought she chucked it away afterwards but obviously she saves it for Season 7 'Him', couldn't she have used it on Adam or Glory?). It was always one of the things that troubled me about the supernatural threat, that really faced with modern technology they're not really up to much, the Hellgods from 'Cabin in the Woods' have a tactical nuke with their names on it (love the Judge's ignorance of what he'sfacing followed inevitably by death) Buffy says she beat up Willy the Snitch again.

I think most people fell in love at this point with Oz, ironically because he DOESN'T want to kiss Willow. Jenny leaves the Scoobies here and realistically will never get back in. Alison Hannigan shows some superb acting skills upon her discovery of Xander/Cordy but all the actors really shine here. Oz joins the Scoobies from the beginning. This makes the Scoobs officially; 1. Buffy 2. Giles 3. Willow 4. Xander 5. Angel (for the course of the ep at least) 6. Jenny 7. Cordy 8. Oz the biggest they'll ever be until season 5

10/10 and more of I could make it, just superb and a whole new era for Buffy

Season two real journey can begin.

[m-47826 · 9/10 · 15 June 2021]

Every episodes after Innocence is great. It's the season at its all time high. Yes, even Killed by Death, and Go Fish!. And they are welcoming intermissions between all the overwhelming drama occurring. Surprise had interesting parts, but it's a slow episode overall. However, you have that feeling of dread throughout. Even when you know how it ends. As well as very melancholic bits, you don't see that often in teen dramas. Coupled with two big tissue moments, one of which being the most moving for play ever captured on TV. Then what we've dreaded all along happens. Angelus is back. He's sexy and dangerous, but also cruel and mean beyond belief. You ache with each character's realizations, especially Buffy's. It is not without humor, dark humor even. Which makes it an even better episode than expected, offsetting those heartbreaking moments, that keep more courageous viewers on the verge of tears. It's also one showing, writers aren't here to play nice. They don't pander to fans, while showing them it's for the best. The storyline's best, I mean...

Angelus is back!

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 30 August 2017]

As the previous episode opened it is clear that something had happened to Angel; now it becomes clear what that was… the curse has been lifted following a 'moment of pure happiness' so the evil Angelus in now back and is determined to punish Buffy for making him feel human. Initially Buffy has no idea what has happened so feels particularly hurt when he behaves in a particularly cruel manner. Angelus isn't the only threat of course; The Judge is regaining his strength so Buffy and her friends must find a way to defeat a threat that can't be killed by 'any weapon forged'.

This is another top-notch episode with a great central story and character development for most of the main cast. The most obvious development is seeing Angel turn evil; David Boreanaz did a fine job making us believe that this once tortured soul now revels in cruelty. There is also a major change for Buffy who is obviously affected by the night of passion she spent with the man she loved was the cause of him becoming evil! Sarah Michelle Gellar does a great job portraying Buffy's anguish and determination. I liked how previous episodes aren't forgotten so Xander could use the knowledge he picked up when he became a soldier to acquire a weapon that led to an awesome confrontation between Buffy and The Judge. That wasn't the only great confrontation; Buffy and Angelus had a really great fight; she might not have killed him but she certainly made his eyes water! Other interesting developments are the way that Spike is less pleased to see Angelus return than one might expect and Willow discovering what is going on between Xander and Cordelia. Overall this was a great episode that changed so much and makes the rest of the season rather intriguing.

This is one reason why Buffy was great

[sleepyhollow1515 · 10/10 · 9 December 2008]

Sure there are some really cheesy episodes of Buffy and her stuttering timid friends can get annoying but there are a handful of epic episodes that are inspired, dark and poignant that tackle real issues better than any teen drama out there. This is one of them (a few others that come to mind is the season 1 finally, the nightmare episode and Spike & Drew's first episode).

Sarah Michelle Gellar is damn hot obviously but that fact aside, she has serious skill as an athlete and actress and this is proof. No wonder Buffy got picked up for several more seasons. The rest of the cast are at their best in this one too, I think they all knew this was one of the better written episodes.

Cordelia: Care to let me in on the plan I'm a part of?

[bombersflyup · 10/10 · 6 August 2019]

Innocence is about Angel losing his soul, after experiencing a moment of true happiness.

Two amazing scenes and many good ones. Not often can something be funny and heartfelt at the same time. The scene with Buffy and Angelus where she believes it's Angel is one of these magical happenings, as Angelus milks it for everything it's worth, Buffy gutted moment by moment. David Boreanaz takes his opportunity here along with the great writing provided for him, turning a good character into a legendary character from this moment on. The other amazing scene is of Willow and Xander. Willow sees Xander and Cordy kissing and calls him out for wanting Cordy over her, even though they're opposites and she has always stood for everything they despise. Willow actually discussing it with Xander face to face instead of being discussed with Buffy in private. The Judge's immediate demise rather moot for such a world ending figure... Giles does right by his Slayer and puts his personal relationship aside, seconding Jenny to get out, I like that. Part of what makes the episode so great is that it's the midpoint of the second season and these threads have built up, with so much happening and all of it landing. However it's not an end to things like it would otherwise be, more so a beginning to a new chapter with Angelus.

The relationship is over

[Realrockerhalloween · 1 October 2016]

Innocence is my favorite episode dealing with the aftermath of Angel becoming a soulless vampire once again buying a prostitute on the street and joining the party goers at Dru's bash for the festivities involving the judge. Buffy heartbroken thinks Angel doesn't want her anymore now that they've consummated their relationship. I find it heartbreaking the conversation she has with Angelus as he he berates her and acts like it was a one night stand. It hurts my heart when Sarah cries as she's beautiful, a teenager and in love yet rejected so coldly.

Another aspect is the judge going to destroy the crowd at a mall. Buffy has to rise above her feelings to take on two monsters one with a rocket lounger and the other driving a stake through her heart. It almost feels like a break up as Angel has new friends now, dismisses her feelings and they have a confrontation where she walks away justly after kneeing him. Once again the team aspect comes in handy as Xander is the one who remembers his military training from the Halloween escapade giving her the one tool to defeat an unstoppable monster and could've easily killed the slayer. Showing without her friend she would be a cooked goose.

One of the best of the series

[kellyq12 · 10/10 · 1 June 2022]

This episode is one of the best Buffy episodes, period. From the deeper storytelling and coming of age/sexuality aspects to the dark fun of seeing Bad Angel for the first time.... it's just good on so many levels. Basically, every level. 10+

Not only did the show go up a level, so did TV in general

[ossie85 · 10/10 · 9 August 2022]

It is revealed that Angel has lost his soul! Angelus' first act as evil is to kill the first person he sees. He then goes and joins forces with Spike, Drusilla and The Judge. Buffy is desperate with worry over Angel's whereabouts. Jenny is still talking to Enyos about Angel and Buffy and he reveals to her that Angel has lost his soul.

Why It's So Good - The episode where Buffy went from good to great. Television, particularly genre television at this point in TV history, didn't do things like this. Shake the status quo to the core in such a painful, but relatable way. Horrific and scary.

Watch Out For - Willow finding out about Xander & Cordelia.

Quote - "Weird? It's against all laws of God and Man! It's Cordelia! Remember? The, the 'We Hate Cordelia' club, of which you are the treasurer." - Willow to Xander.

Pretty great episode.

[skatergirl17 · 9/10 · 7 March 2009]

This episode is pretty great overall.

With Willow finally finding out about Xander and Cordelia, and Xander being the one with the big plan on how to stop the judge. But I think it's amazing how David Boreanaz can go from being the sweet and totally lovable Angel, to becoming the sick and twisted character that is Angelus. He and Spike are the reasons I watch this show, and in this episode, he doesn't disappoint. - You know, except for the whole becoming evil thing...

9 out of 10.

Spike: Hurts, doesn't it? Angelus: Well, you know, it kinda itches a little. Spike: Don't just stand there, burn him! Angelus: Gee, maybe he's broken.

Whedon's Overture

[bruno-costa · 9/10 · 1 August 2015]

Buffy is a teenager "fantasy" series, with several research flaws, incoherent battle-plots - like old 007 movies - and grown-ups portraying teenagers - Charisma was 11 years older than her character. So, was it bad? Far from that. I watched when I was nineteen - my ex-girlfriend loved -, and I'm watching again now, almost two decades later. Today I watched "Innocence" again, and from the perspective gained by what Whedon became, turns out easy to see this episode as an overture of his fine career as screenwriter, a truly announcement of his capacity. Until this point, the series were much more pure entertainment with some character development than anything else, but suddenly Whedon brings every element about his characters and take BTVS to a new level. If someone went from the beginning to this episode, become very difficult to step away from the series. Whedon made his characters absolutely real after this one. Buffy's anxiety and deception were perfect - and Geller was amazing. Same thing with Williow, and Hannigan's work. Xander and Cordy interaction start to change, and Oz bring new elements to the group. At the end, Giles said the only thing you can say to a teenager: he chooses not to punish someone, but not to justify either, in a supportive way, being friendly without being a friend, in a perfect comprehension of his fathering role in the life of Buffy. Also, Buffy gets her best birthday present ever, and a memorable scene happens. Watching "Innocence" made me understand how this episode and another one from Firefly were important to the quality change in TV series. This kind of character development would appear again in the first season of Heroes, in Lost, in House, in Breaking Bad... Together with Hurwitz and J. J. Abrams, Whedom is one of the big names of the last 20 years in TV.

The One With Angelus...

[taylorkingston · 9/10 · 17 May 2015]

I love this episode. It's so good. It's one of my all-time favorite episodes, not only from Season 2, but from the entire series.

In this episode, after a special night with Buffy, Angel loses his soul and turns back into Angelus. He then teams up with Spike, Drusilla and the newly resembled demon, The Judge. Buffy goes to Angel who thinks he no longer loves her after their night of passion, not realizing that he's not Angel anymore. Since Jenny clearly knew something about Angel's curse, Buffy forces her to tell her. Angel had one pure moment of happiness with Buffy and that's why his soul was taken away. That seems like a dumb curse. Why not just make it that he has a soul forever and nothing will take it away? Since it took an army to defeat The Judge, Buffy uses a rocket launcher to destroy him, which was awesome, by the way, and then he's turned back into little pieces that they will scatter around the world. Meanwhile, Willow is shocked to find Xander kissing Cordelia.

Overall, I give this episode a 9 out of 10, which in my ratings book is: Amazing.

Love Bites

[nysmbs · 9/10 · 29 December 2022]

I felt my heart breaking for Buffy in this episode. Maybe it's something about the way Sarah Michelle Gellar collapsed, crying, into her bed, that reminded me of my first real heartbreak.

We're at what feels like the greatest obstacle yet for the Slayer, so of course it's going to be a gripping episode. We know Buffy had real feelings for Angel, hell the first half of the season was practically shouting it at us about 5 minutes per episode. We know she's gone a step further and placed greater trust in him. So his betrayal stings.

But before soulless Angel there was with-a-soul Angel, and we need to address the elephant in the room: statutory rape. Buffy is a minor! It is disappointing that this aspect is not handled with care; it is entirely ignored and the focus is instead cast on the *general* risk of being heartbroken by sex or abused after the fact. And while the latter lands and hurts, there's a missing context there that I think keeps this at a 9/10 and not a 10/10. The fact is that even before the curse was lifted, Buffy and Angel did not have what we can call a healthy or even acceptable relationship.

Further, there's a lack of examination on the abuse itself, as we mostly focus on heartbreak. Angel didn't part ways like a normal adult, he was deliberately cruel to her. The experience of which leaves her shaken and in need of support that her friends, for the most part, fail to deliver. Only Giles is there to offer it, and only quite briefly. It would be a better series if we got a stronger sense of camaraderie between the Scooby Gang.

Speaking of which, Willow's reaction to Xander and Cordelia is unlikeable. And I say that as someone who maintained she is criminally mistreated by Xander earlier in the show. Yes there is obvious baggage there, but Willow ought to mature up and support her friend. It's what we expect from heroes, even teenage heroes.

And yet... I can't resist liking this episode so much in spite of my above complaints. There's a fantastically vulnerable performance from Sarah Michelle Gellar that elevates this to something greater than what was simply scribbled on paper by whedon. There's yet another outing of delightful chemistry between Charisma Carpenter and Nicolas Brendan. And a new fun dynamic between our three villains, who somehow are able to all take up oodles of space without the room ever seeming overcrowded.

And there's of course the moment where Buffy *nearly* kills Angel, but opts to give him the good ol' groin kick instead. A sense of her holding back. It's an intriguing moment, but will there be consequences for her lack of conviction? Later episodes will show if this was simply a cheap way to set up angel recovering, or if it really is part of a well-crafted fantasy hero's arc.

Extra points: -"Do you wanna make out with me?" is delivered so likably by Alyson Hanigan that I felt personally wronged when it didn't succeed for her.

-buffy really launched a hecking RPG in a mall. I think it's just the right level of goofy for the show, I love it.

-"curse him again". Even after everything I just said about Angel... that's cruel, Buffy.

-i hope this is the end of miss calendar's kind-of-racist-caricatures of relatives -r.i.p. Judge. You had a lot of hype going but let's face it, you were the least interesting person in the room.