This week on Buffy and the Art of Story: The Puppet Show. (Season 1, Episode 9 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.)

In addition to plot turns, we'll talk about (1) how characters on the protagonist's side can still push against her and create conflict; (2) the excellent use of hints and red herrings while still playing fair; (3) a new character opposed to Buffy who might or might not be evil (Principal Snyder!), a replacement character who is very different from his predecessor (also Snyder).

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

Story Elements in The Puppet Show

In this podcast episode we’ll look at:

Strong, clear plot turns  

Using red herrings and hints without misleading the audience

Why the protagonist's friends sometimes must be against her

New and replacement characters

Also: Season 1 DVD commentary from Joss Whedon about his aim in creating The Puppet Show is discussed, as well as the post-credit sequence you may never have seen.

Next Up: Nightmares S1 E10 

Last Week: I, Robot...You, Jane S1 E8

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Episodes will include Buffy-adjacent stories (such as key Angel episodes). Plus films or TV episodes that are intriguing from a story, theme, or character perspective.

Episode Transcript

Hello, and welcome to Buffy and the Art of Story. 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, the Q.C. Davis mysteries, and the founder of WritingAsASecondCareer.com.

This Week: The Puppet Show

Today will be talking about Season One, Episode Nine, The Puppet Show, written by Rob DesHotel and Dean Batali and directed by Ellen S. Pressman. In particular, we’ll look at the very clear structure in this episode, the plot turns, how the characters on the protagonist's side still push against her and the excellent use of hints and red herrings while still playing fair.

We have an intriguing new character introduction Principal Snyder and a replacement character who is very, very different from his predecessor, again Principal Snyder. As always, there will be no spoilers except at the end. But I'll give you plenty of warning.

Okay, let's dive into the Hellmouth.

Opening Conflict

We start right in with our opening conflict. There's no prologue. Instead we have a voiceover that says, “I will be whole. I will be new.” And we see the students either rehearsing for the talent show or practicing for trying out.

We see Cordelia singing ‘The Greatest Love of All’ and she's terrible. And we see Giles looking horrified. Then we get a tuba player struggling through his number.

Then Buffy, Xander, and Willow come in the back of the auditorium to make fun of Giles, who got roped into heading the talent show. He says, ‘Our new Fuhrer, Mr. Snyder insisted he do this.” That line of dialogue is such a great way to give a one-sentence summing up of the new principal before we see him.

Giles says if Buffy had any shred of decency she would participate or at least help. And Buffy says, “I'll take your traditional role and watch.”

A very nice way of quickly setting up some of the dynamic between these two characters if you have an audience member who isn't yet familiar with them.

Character Development in The Puppet Show: Principal Snyder

Principal Snyder comes in and because the three are mocking Giles, he tells them they must participate in the talent show. He also says he's been watching them, he knows they left campus early, and they’re always in one scrape or another.

So right away we have Principal Snyder at odds with our three characters.