Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Written by: Marti Noxon
Directed by: James A. Contner
Starring: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, Anthony Head, Charisma Carpenter, Kristine Sutherland, David Boreanaz, Juliet Landau, Robia LaMorte, Elizabeth Anne Allen, Mercedes McNab, and Seth Green.
Welcome to Episode 16, in which Xander acts completely out of character by trying to force women into doing what he wants and getting angry when they won’t.
Outfit 1
I love a scarf. Patterned, knitted, silk, bandanna, all of them. They were one of my most frequent op shop/vintage purchases. Mostly because you find some amazing stuff but mostly because a scarf always fits. One of my favourite vintage scarves is a Carla Zampatti one I bought at Glebe Market in Sydney. It’s paisley and it’s wonderful.
It’s a fun take on her patrol look. What’s not fun is the baggy pants and loose coat. Or that Buffy thinks Xander is too good for Cordelia.
Outfit 2
I was wrong about cowl necks being more early 2000s. Trends took a long time to get to us so if I was wearing cowl necks in the early 2000s they probably did start in, like, the 90s. This seems like a lot of velour. Brown velour.
There’s also brown pants. They’re baggy. Are they culottes? Gaucho pants? I... uh, they’re ok.
But her hair is crazy good.
Xander’s friends don’t approve of his dating Cordelia, but he doesn’t really give a shit. Cordelia’s friends, however, really disapprove and Cordy gives a bit of a shit.
I give a shit about how great she looks here.
I am living for these 70s style wrap dresses on Harmony.
Outfit 3
Buffy’s Valentine’s Day Dance look is ‘staying at home because ex-boyfriend is literally a psycho.’ And I dig it.
In a shocking twist, Angelus acts completely out of character by stalking Buffy and giving her creepy gifts. This time it’s flowers with a card that says ‘soon.’
It’s a scary gift, but it’s also scary how good her hair is.
Cordelia looks amazing.
If Harmony’s hair was pulled back with butterfly clips this would have been absolute perfection.
Xander mentions Buffy picked this outfit and it feels like he looks like someone else...
Oh, and Cordelia breaks up with him after he gives her a necklace that is actually quite pretty.
Outfit 4
This is a classic Buffy look and I love it. Between this and rewatching Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 I’m ready to consider an animal print mini.
The hair in this episode is so fucking good.
Swoon.
Xander’s wearing some really terrible velour, but I suppose it’s ok because he’s experiencing a break-up. Meanwhile, Harmony and her mean friends look amazing. I mean, can I get that dress the blonde girl is wearing?
Cordelia’s look is way off. Proof she’s grieving. She’s giving the necklace back to Xander because he wants to do a love spell to humiliate Cordelia for the crime of not liking him the way he likes her. Except she does and this obviously backfires terribly but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Oh, and Amy’s a witch or whatever.
Outfit 5
This is cute. I’m ok with it. I’m more than ok with the hair.
Xander fucked the love spell up because Cordelia’s necklace somehow protected her from it. Basically, every woman who comes into contact with Xander falls under the spell and it’s... painful to watch. Buffy here is under the influence of said spell. I think these are black pants. I wanted them to be jeans, but hey. Life is full of disappointments.
This feels like a standard response to having to talk to Xander.
So can Willow make anything infinitely cuter, or is it that Xander’s clothes just look terrible on him?
Outfit 6
Xander’s dream scenario is quickly becoming his worst nightmare because the spell has nothing to do with love and everything to do with obsession and the dark side of women being socialised to compete for the attention of men. Having said that, this is one of Buffy’s best coats.
And the hair. Is. Amazing.
Oh, and Amy can turn people into rats or whatever.
Meanwhile. Cordelia can’t win with Harmony and her friends. She is winning with me, however, because this dress is pretty great.
This wrap dress also wins.
This was actually a look. I may have wanted this hair. I read the novelisation of this episode and I think she was described as having hair that made a U at the ends. Or something. It was a long time ago when I thought Xander was cute and funny.
Oz punched Xander and it was hot but I think Willow can handle herself. I also hope she’s stolen Xander’s flanno forever because it’s way better on her.
Oh, and everyone goes even more nuts for Xander, including Drusilla and Buffy’s mum and he and Cordelia are almost mobbed to death. Luckily, Giles convinces Amy to help him reverse the spell and Buffy is human again and everyone except Cordelia comes to their senses and remembers Xander sucks.
Outfit 7
Buffy’s giving Xander a bit of shit for this stupid spell, particularly for how much it hurt Willow’s feelings. But she’s also pretty lenient with him because he chose not to take advantage of her while she was under the spell. Like every single man should ever all the time.
This hair is a bit of a disappointment after such a dream run, but you know I love a scrunchie.
Cordelia is back and in charge. You can tell this from the popped collar. Harmony also looks great but it’s obvious from the muted colours and cardigan that the power dynamics have shifted.
I mean, her choice is bad. But it’s her choice and she’s standing up for herself and it’s good, I guess.
Up next, bad things happen. Really bad. It’s... not gonna be fun.
Until then, Slayerettes.