Counting Down the Magic: "Band Candy" Quiz

Answer: S.A.T.s

With the S.A.T.s looming, Buffy and Giles are forced to multitask at the beginning of this episode, by studying while on patrol. Therefore when Buffy responds to one question with "I'm putting 'B'! There hasn't been a 'B' in forever", Giles expresses his annoyance with the quotation mentioned in the question.

However Buffy and Giles' studying woes soon go from bad to worse due to the unexpected appearance of a vampire, which Buffy promptly stakes, breaking her number two pencil in the process.

Answer: Mayor Wilkins

This eerie quotation is spoken by Mayor Richard Wilkins, as he is engaged in conversation with his vampire minion, Mr. Trick. Though at this point in the episode, the exact nature of the "tribute" is unknown, Mr. Trick's subcontractor certainly sounds threatening. For as Mr. Trick explains to his boss, "I believe this guy's worked in your town before", and "If he lives up to his rep, the place'll be in flames."

Answer: Xander

It is of course Xander who makes the ghost of Christmas past comment to Principal Snyder, upon receiving band candy to sell. According to the latter, the confectionary is to be sold in order to raise money for the marching band, who need new uniforms. As a result, it is the parents of Sunnydale who are pestered into purchasing most of it, including Buffy's mother, who snaps up twenty of her daughter's chocolate treats.

As for the pictorial clue, Xander not only has a phobia of clowns, but is also considered to be the class clown during his high school years. Throughout the series he provides plenty of comic relief.

Answer: Bus

Having persuaded her mother to purchase twenty chocolate bars, Buffy takes advantage of the former's good mood by bringing up the topic of driving, exclaiming, "Oh, I'm pretty sure the best moms let their daughters drive". However Joyce only pours cold water on her daughter's driving ambitions, reminding her that not only did she fail "the written test", but she wasn't even allowed to "take the road test".

Moreover she goes on to remind her wayward teen of her own niggling worries, telling her, "I spend enough time not knowing where you are. I don't want to add to the possibility that you're on the highway to Chicago." Unfortunately, Buffy does little to soothe her mother's worries, as she retorts with "I'm not going to take off again. And if I was, I could just get on a bus."

Answer: Her mother

In order to covertly spend time with Angel, Buffy tells quite a few lies in this episode. As usual, it is her authority figures, Giles and Joyce, who organise much of her time, and these are the very two that Buffy manipulates in order to slip away and see her old beau, Angel. Early on in the episode she is seen lying to her mother, by claiming that Giles has arranged a "Slay-study double feature", and she "could be late"; later, her lies are then directed at Giles, who believes that she is unable to patrol as Joyce is in "hyper drive" and wants her home that night.

Answer: Playing footsie under the table

While waiting for Giles to lead study hall, Willow and Xander cannot resist flirting with each other, despite their rather innocent, mundane conversation. As they talk, they both play footsie underneath the table, rubbing their feet and ankles against each other.

Their interaction is made all the more illicit as Xander's girlfriend, Cordelia, is sitting in front of them, next to Buffy, and is complaining (loudly) about Giles' absence.

Answer: Bored

This outburst of Cordelia's is well-timed, and coincides with Xander and Willow's foot flirting, which causes the guilty pair to jump apart, slamming their knees into the table legs in the process. Luckily for them, Cordelia is only referring to Giles' absence from the study hall, which is very unlike him, a fact further emphasised by Buffy, who announces that Giles "is allergic to late".

Answer: The Bronze is filled with middle-aged adults acting like teenagers.

Something strange is certainly afoot in this particular episode, and while there have been earlier, subtle hints that all is not well, this all comes to a head when Buffy and Willow enter the Bronze. What greets them is an abundance of middle-aged adults, but their antics are far from being mature and responsible, as they are acting like high-school students, drinking, dancing and engaging in reckless, immoderate behaviour.

As for the picture, 'emit' is 'time' backwards, i.e. the adults seem to have turned back time and become teenagers again.

Answer: Principal Snyder

Principal Snyder is Sunnydale High School's very own principal, and under normal circumstances, he utterly detests every single one of the Scooby gang, especially Buffy, whom he took great delight in expelling back in season 2. However under the influence of the cursed band candy, he, like every other adult, is reduced to a carefree teenager. Despite Buffy and her friends' best efforts, the "teenage" Snyder attaches himself to them, as a sort of sidekick, joining them as they embark on a mission to return Sunnydale's adult population to their normal selves.

As for the picture, the word "disparaging" is a synonym for "snide", which should make you pick "Principal Snyder".

Answer: Rupert Giles

One of my favourite things about this episode is the transformation of the usually prim and proper Rupert Giles. It is clear from the moment mentioned in the question that he was quite a handful as a teenager, as drinking alcohol, smoking and breaking and entering are all things he engages in, in this episode, much to the delight of Buffy's mother, Joyce. He does not shy away from physical conflict, and delights in flouting the law, just as he does when takes on the armed policeman. Thankfully, he avoids being arrested, and Buffy manages to reign him in somewhat until the 'curse' of the band candy wears off.

As for the picture, fans of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" will know that during this episode, Giles is the librarian of Sunnydale High School.