Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 2 Episode 11

Ep 11. Ted

  • TV14
  • December 8, 1997
  • 44 min
  • 7.4  (3,786)

In Buffy The Vampire Slayer season 2 episode 11 titled "Ted," we see the introduction of a new character who comes into Buffy's life in the form of her mother's new boyfriend. Ted, played by John Ritter, seems like the perfect guy - he's charming, kind, and an excellent cook. But as Buffy starts spending more time with him, she begins to sense that there's something off about him.

The episode starts with Buffy and her mother having a heartfelt conversation about the latter's love life. Joyce reveals that she's started dating a man named Ted, and Buffy seems happy for her. But the next day at school, Buffy overhears a classmate talking about how her friend's mother's boyfriend turned out to be an abusive drunk. This sets off alarm bells in Buffy's mind, and she becomes increasingly suspicious of Ted's behavior.

At first, Buffy's fears seem misplaced. Ted is always very sweet to her and seems genuinely interested in her well-being. He brings her muffins, invites her to watch football with him, and even gives her a gold watch as a gift. But Buffy keeps finding small things that make her uneasy. Ted is a little too strict about table manners, he's always trying to one-up Buffy's jokes, and he can't seem to handle being contradicted or disobeyed.

Things come to a head when Buffy and Ted are left alone in the house together and he starts getting physically aggressive with her. Buffy fights back, and in the ensuing scuffle, Ted falls down the stairs and dies. The police come to investigate, and Buffy is taken into questioning. Meanwhile, her friends try to figure out what's going on. Willow and Xander break into Ted's apartment and find evidence that he's been married multiple times before and has a history of domestic violence.

The episode deals with some pretty heavy subject matter, and it's to the show's credit that it handles it with sensitivity and nuance. The character of Ted is a great example of how Buffy can use the monster-of-the-week format to explore issues beyond just vampires and demons. He's a very human villain, and in many ways, the scariest kind of foe Buffy has faced so far.

The episode also delves deeper into Buffy's relationship with her mother. Joyce has always been a somewhat absent figure in Buffy's life, and Ted's arrival exacerbates this tension. Buffy is jealous of the attention her mother is paying to Ted, and when she tries to talk to her about her suspicions, Joyce dismisses her concerns. This dynamic plays into the show's larger themes about the difficulties of adolescence and the strained relationships between parents and teenagers.

Overall, "Ted" is a particularly strong episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. It's suspenseful, emotional, and thought-provoking. The performances from the regular cast are excellent, especially Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy and Kristine Sutherland as Joyce. John Ritter is also excellent in a rare dramatic role, and it's a shame that he only got to appear in this one episode. If you're a fan of the show, "Ted" is definitely an episode you won't want to miss.

Description
Watch Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Ted (s2 e11) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 2 Episode 11, is available to watch and stream on FOX. You can also buy, rent Buffy The Vampire Slayer on demand at Amazon, Hulu, Vudu, Microsoft Movies & TV, Sling, Google Play, Apple TV online.
  • First Aired
    December 8, 1997
  • Content Rating
    TV14
  • Runtime
    44 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.4  (3,786)