This week on Buffy and the Art of Story: Killed By Death (Season 2 Episode 18 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

This podcast episode covers (1) what causes this episode's slower pace; (2) whether the flashbacks are needed; (3) fuzzy major plot turns in unusual places; (4) just-in-time backstory; and (5) very subtle advances in the season 2 arc.

As always, the discussion is spoiler-free, except at the end (with plenty of warning).

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About Lisa M. Lilly

In addition to hosting the podcast Buffy and the Art of Story, Lisa M. Lilly is the author of the bestselling four-book Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries, as well as numerous short stories. She also writes non-fiction, including books on writing craft, under L.M. Lilly. She is the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

Episode Transcript for Killed By Death

Hello and welcome to Buffy and the Art of Story Season Two. If you love Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you love creating stories – or just taking them apart to see how they work – you’re in the right place.

I am Lisa M Lilly, author of the Awakening supernatural thriller series and the Q.C. Davis mysteries and founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com

Today we're talking about Season Two Episode Eighteen Killed By Death.

What’s Included

In particular, I'll cover:

why the pace in this episode feels slower than usual;

the use of flashbacks;

some fuzzy major plot turns; and

the very subtle advances in the Season Two series arc.

As always, there will be no Spoilers except at the end to talk about foreshadowing, but I’ll give you plenty of warning.

Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.

Killed By Death was written by Rob DesHotel and Dean Vitali and directed by Darren Serafini.

Opening Conflict

We start with conflict. Buffy climbs over stone wall into the graveyard. And she is coughing as she does. She stumbles when she lands on the ground and puts her hand to her head, clearly feeling ill but struggling to patrol anyway.

As she moves around the tombstone she almost stakes Xander.

Xander: Damn Buffy. My whole life flashed before my eyes. I gotta get me a life.

Cordelia and Willow are with him. Willow scolds Buffy for being out patrolling when she is so sick.

Cordelia: Half the school is out with the flu and we’re all concerned about how gross you look.

Buffy says she needs to patrol. She's not going to let Angel kill even one more person.

From behind her Angel says, “Oh, come on, just one more.” And he runs for Cordelia and knocks her down. Buffy pulls him off of Cordelia. They fight. She is struggling, but she does get some good punches and kicks in.

Angel, though, says her being off her game kind of takes the fun out of it. Then he hits her really hard says,