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About Pangs

"Pangs" is the eighth episode of the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and is the sixty-fourth episode altogether. It was written by Jane Espenson and directed by Michael Lange. It originally broadcast on November 23, 1999.

At the groundbreaking ceremony for a new cultural center, Xander accidentally releases Hus, a Native American vengeance spirit, looking to payback the "white settlers" who took his people's land. Meanwhile, Buffy just wants to have Thanksgiving with the people she loves, but she must figure out who Hus is going after next. She also must deal with a "helpless" Spike, who arrives at Giles' apartment seeking help. When Angel — who has secretly arrived in Sunnydale to help Buffy — tells Buffy's friends that Hus is going after Buffy, they rush back into a war between Buffy and a band of Native American spirits. When the battle is over, everyone (including a tied up Spike) sits down and enjoys a nice meal — until Xander lets it slip that Angel was in Sunnydale.

Fun Facts

Not for the first time (Amends), stress brought on by holidays -- travel, family and preparations -- are metaphorically presented as attacks by spirits.

• Two views on America's history are presented by Willow, supporting Native Americans even when they killed people, and Giles and Spike, who champion the other side of the debate, Giles stressing the futility of symbolic revenge and Spike arguing the equal futility of guilt.
  
• Xander now refers to Anya as his girlfriend.
  
• Willow foreshadows the nature of this season's "Big Bad", Adam, by hypothesizing a demon made out of parts when a victim is missing an ear.
  
  
  

  Quotes

  Giles: "...It's very common for Indian spirits to change to animal form."
  Buffy: "Yeah, well it's plenty uncommon for me to freeze up during a fight. I mean, I had the guy, I was ready for the take
  down and I stopped. And Native American."
  Giles: "Sorry?"
  Buffy: "We don't say 'Indian.'"
  Giles: "Oh, right. Yes, yes. Um, always behind on the terms. Still trying not to refer to you lot [Americans] as 'Bloody
  Colonials'."
  Buffy: "And the thing is, I like my evil like I like my men. Evil. You know, 'straight up, black hat, tied to the train
  tracks, soon my electro-ray will destroy Metropolis' bad. Not all mixed up with guilt and the destruction of an indigenous
  culture."

  Spike: "(after watching Hus turn into a bear) A bear! You made a bear!"
  Buffy: "I didn't mean to."
  Spike: "Undo it! Undo it!"

  Spike: "Listen to you. How you gonna fight anyone with that attitude?"
  Willow: "We don't wanna fight anyone."
  Buffy: "I just wanna have Thanksgiving."
  Spike: "Heh heh. Yeah... Good luck."
  Willow: "Well, if we could talk to him..."
  Spike: "You exterminated his race. What could you possibly say that would make him feel better? It's kill or be killed here.
  Take your bloody pick."
  Xander: "Maybe it's the syphilis talking, but... Some of that made sense."

  
  

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