Haunted flubber, Orgies soundtracked by the Bay City Rollers, Angel's demon-soul parfait, queer body horror - it's all here in this week's episode, The Dark Age.

A dreamy figure from Buffy’s past turns up in Sunnydale, providing the unhappy catalyst for some learnin’ and growin’ from our heroine. Also, can we succeed in making this episode work as some kind of allegory for the French revolution? How is a teenage vampire cult like the misplaced political identifications of the new consumer class? And do vampires really need a dining table for their mealtime?

Spooky season in Sunnydale turns into some intense method-cosplay for the Scoobies, and as a result we learn about Giles' secretly sexy past. Cordelia's choice of beverage awakens memories of Celtic Tiger Ireland, and we continue our metaphysical investigations into the mechanics of supernatural transformation.

Buffy and Cordelia buddy up in this one, like sisters with really different hair. Reptile Boy explores the consequences of lying to your elders, drinking, and fancying boys through the medium of a giant snake who represents a penis, but also maybe represents capitalism? Cordelia's reading material has a surprising cover story, Argentina's economic collapse is foreshadowed, and the homosocial dynamics of Xander’s pledge experience reveal something in common with a [REDACTED] ex-head of state. Listen now and find out.

Join us on a journey into deepest darkest Latin America/ South America/ Peru / It's all the same *pan pipes play* for Inca Mummy Girl. Yes, the girl from the "cramped and dead" place with apparently no kitchens; is she talking about South America? Or is she talking about her sarcophagus? It is impossible to tell between these two things because they are the same to me! We also find out that Osh thinks he met the Inca Mummy Girl in question, discuss the ins-and-outs of life-force sucking, and ask the v important question: what the fuck is happening at the Bronze? I see geishas, sheikhs, vikings, Crocodile Dundee... and is that Justin Trudeau? 👀

Spike and Dru come to town at last, and light up Sunnydale with their exquisite horniness. But meanwhile, Buffy has her hands full with bigger problems: parent teacher evening. We're not totally convinced by the "wordplay" in this weeks title, and it calls to mind for Sadie an inexplicable moment in the great tram wars of Edinburgh. We also start working on our Joyce / Cordelia (slash?) fiction, and think of the similarities between juggling being a slayer and a high school student with being a podcaster and an academic.

It's the Sunnydale high school science fair, but looks like some guys are taking it 'a little over the edge'! Cordelia is put through the wringer in this episode, especially from Angel who not only stalks her down the street like a total creep, but presumably makes her participate in a multi-corpse jigsaw. We also discuss some working theories about we had as children about the birds and the bees, and think about how cheerleading might map onto the oppressive logic of capitalism.

Buffy is back, with a bad attitude, but fantastic hair. When She Was Bad, the season 2 opener, sets us up for a new school year in Sunnydale. The siren call of Cibo Matto proves too strong for Buffy and Xander, who leave no room for Jesus in their steamy dance, while a vampire resurrection ritual reminds us of the non-pharmaceutical ways we used to get high as tweens...

Before we get stuck into the next season, first, as a treat (??), we go back to 1992, where teenagers are contemptible, vampires are chaotic , and presumably everyone is on masses of cocaine. For the first time (for us) we decided to watch the original, ill-fated movie where it all began, and we ask questions such as: why, why, how and why???

And just like that, we arrive at the end of series 1. Prophecy Girl: the triple distilled spirit of Buffy, the poitín of vampire slayer narratives (what's poitín? we're glad you asked!). We are made incredibly uncomfortable by Xander (again!), and have some serious questions about Joyce's home economics. Also, a dog giving birth to snakes triggers a long suppressed horror in Osh, and Sadie gives a message to all mums about how not to text their children.