Ep 11. Out of Mind... Out of Sight

Buffy The Vampire Slayer season 1 episode 11 titled "Out of Mind... Out of Sight" opens with Cordelia Chase, a popular high school student who is obsessed with her looks, getting ready for a school dance with her friends. While she applies her makeup, she vents about her problems with her boyfriend to her friends, who are completely unsympathetic. Meanwhile, Buffy and her friends, Xander and Willow, are also preparing for the dance. Buffy is hesitant about attending, fearing that she will be the target of yet another assassination attempt by The Master, her archenemy. Xander, on the other hand, is excited to finally ask Buffy to dance with him.

As the dance gets underway, strange things start to happen. Cordelia is suddenly attacked by an invisible force and her date is left unconscious. Buffy, who is keeping an eye on the event from the outside, quickly realizes that this is the work of a supernatural force. She, along with her friends, make their way into the school to investigate. While they try to figure out what kind of creature or entity they are dealing with, a student named Harmony Kendall informs them that Cordelia was not the only victim. She provides them with a list of potential suspects, all of whom are unpopular outcasts from the school.

The rest of the episode follows the Scooby gang as they try to determine the identity of the invisible monster who is wreaking havoc on the school. As they get closer to solving the mystery, they realize that they are dealing with a former student who had been completely overlooked and scorned by her peers. The student, now invisible, had been driven to insanity as a result of the constant bullying and belittling.

What makes this episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer stand out is the psychological aspects of it. The invisible monster initially seems like a typical villain that Buffy and her friends need to defeat in order to save the day. However, as the episode progresses, it becomes clear that there is a deeper issue at play. The monster's transformation into an invisible entity is a metaphor for what can happen to someone who is consistently ignored or ostracized by others.

The episode also explores the theme of appearance versus reality. The popular kids at school, who seem to have it all, are actually the ones who are most out of touch with reality. They fail to see the humanity in others and are blind to the effect their actions have on those around them. Conversely, it is the outcasts and socially excluded students who have a deeper understanding of what it means to be human and the importance of empathy and connection.

In addition to the psychological depth of the episode, there are also a number of standout performances. Charisma Carpenter shines as Cordelia, who is forced to confront the reality of her superficiality and the impact it has on others. Alison Hannigan also delivers a memorable performance as Willow, who is able to tap into her own experiences of being an outsider to understand the monster's motivations.

Overall, "Out of Mind... Out of Sight" is one of the standout episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer's first season. It manages to balance action, horror, and psychological drama with an expert touch, making it a must-watch for fans of the show.