Surprise

These snapshots may contain SPOILERS for the entire series, so if for some reason you haven't yet seen some of the episodes and do not want to know what is going on, read no further.

----------------------------recap----------------------------
Buffy's seventeenth birthday arrives, and the Scoobies prepare a surprise birthday party for her. But when the gang discovers that Spike and Drusilla are planning their own party, Angel may have to leave Sunnydale to keep Dru's party guest, the Judge, from painting the town red. A two parter with Innocence.

--------------------------end recap--------------------------

Oz: I'm gonna ask you to go out with me tomorrow night. And I'm kinda nervous about it, actually. It's interesting.
Willow: Oh! Well, if it helps at all, I'm gonna say "yes."
Oz: Yeah, it helps. It ... it creates a comfort zone. ... Do you wanna go out with me tomorrow night?
Willow: [slaps forehead] Oh! I can't!
Oz: Well, see, I like that you're unpredictable.


A lot of character development, good dialogue and a great plot.

This episode begins a tradition of Buffy birthdays around the 12th episode of each season, except for seasons 1 and 7. As revealed in this episode and confirmed in later episodes, Buffy's birthday is in late January, making her a Capricorn on the cusp of Aquarius, or in other words January 19th, which is also the original air date of this episode.

In Buffy's dream during the teaser, Willow says to a monkey, "L'hippo a piqué ton pantalon" (French: "The hippo stole your trousers"). This refers back to her conversation with Oz near the end of "What's My Line, pt. 2," in which he wonders if the hippo animal cracker is jealous because the monkey is the only animal cracker with pants, and then goes on to remark, "All monkeys are French." Buffy didn't witness this conversation, which lends credence to her fear that this dream is prophetic, yielding real information about things outside her direct experience. That and Joyce's identical question and breaking of the plate which happens later, seals the issue.

Several important plot-lines begin in this episode.

• Oz and Willow go on their first date, starting one of the longer relationships on the show. Oz also learns about vampires and other supernatural forces that plague Sunnydale (which he takes in stride, remarking that it actually explains a lot).
• Angel loses his soul and becomes Angelus, the Big Bad of Season 2. 
• Jenny's hidden motives are revealed, a prelude to her eventual untimely death - an event with long lasting effects for the Scooby gang.
• Spike and Dru are established as worthy adversaries, allowing for Spike's eventual return appearance.

Buffy's birthday gift from Angel, her claddagh ring, not only comes to signify her lost love for the rest of the season, but also plays a big part in the beginning of Season 3. First as a poignant flashback with Scott Hope's identical gift, and then as a mystical focus for Angel's return.

Buffy's just a sweet innocent young girl, and this episode pounds that fact home repeatedly with everything from the dialogue frequently alluding to her age, to the wardrobe, to the music. Speaking of which, it is just perfect throughout this entire episode.

Buffy and Angel come out of the sewers in the rain, then later Angel stumbles into the alley in the rain. A sure sign in the Whedonverse that something momentous and bad is about to happen.


Foreshadowing
Xander: Hmm, it's sad, granted. But let's look at the upside for a moment. I mean, what kind of a future would she've (Buffy) really had with him? She's got 2 jobs -- Denny's waitress by day, Slayer by night - Season 6 & 7



My views/status of characters;
Buffy - like
Willow - like
Xander - like
Giles - like
Cordelia - like
Spike - like
Angel - neutral
Oz - like

Overall I consider this a very good episode compared to the rest of the season.