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|season = 1
 
|season = 1
 
|number = 4
 
|number = 4
|image = 1x04 002.jpg
+
|image = Mrs_French_epi.jpg
 
|airdate = March 25, [[1997]] (USA)<br />January 24, [[1998]] (UK)
 
|airdate = March 25, [[1997]] (USA)<br />January 24, [[1998]] (UK)
 
|writer = [[David Greenwalt]]
 
|writer = [[David Greenwalt]]
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| {{CastActor|name=Kevin Keller|imdb=3249074|billed=[[Bass Player]]}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Kevin Keller|imdb=3249074|billed=[[Bass Player]]}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Kane McGee|imdb=3486739|billed=Drummer}}}}}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Kane McGee|imdb=3486739|billed=Drummer}}}}}}
 
}}"'''{{PAGENAME}}'''" is the fourth episode of the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 1)|first season]] of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' television show, and the fourth episode in the series. It was written by [[David Greenwalt]] and directed by [[Bruce Seth Green]]. It was originally broadcast on March 25, [[1997]].
}}
 
   
 
[[Alexander Harris|Xander]] is smitten by the substitute biology teacher, [[She-Mantis|Ms. French]], who turns out to be something the [[Scooby Gang|Scoobies]] never expected.
"'''Teacher's Pet'''" is the fourth episode of the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (season 1)|first season]] of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' television show, and the fourth episode in the series. It was written by [[David Greenwalt]] and directed by [[Bruce Seth Green]]. It was originally broadcast on March 25, [[1997]].
 
 
[[Xander Harris|Xander]] is smitten by the substitute biology teacher, [[She-Mantis|Ms. French]], who turns out to be something the Scoobies never expected.
 
   
 
==Synopsis==
 
==Synopsis==
One evening at the [[The Bronze|Bronze]], [[Alexander Harris|Xander]] suavely saves [[Buffy Summers|the Slayer]] from a menacing vamp, then mounts the stage to play his guitar solo and "kiss her like she has never been kissed before." He is rudely awakened from this beautiful dream to find himself stuck in the hell known as biology class, and [[Stephen Gregory|Dr. Gregory]] is about to call on him. After class, Dr. Gregory, who is the only teacher to believe in and encourage Buffy, is killed by an unseen monster.
+
One evening at [[The Bronze]], Xander suavely saves the [[Slayer]] from a menacing vamp, then mounts the stage to play his guitar solo and “kiss her like she has never been kissed before. He is rudely awakened from this beautiful dream to find himself stuck in the hell known as biology class, and [[Stephen Gregory|Dr. Gregory]] is about to call on him. After class, Dr. Gregory, who is the only teacher to believe in and encourage [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]], is killed by an unseen monster.
 
That night at the Bronze, Xander is taunted by fellow student [[Blayne Moll|Blayne]] for his lack of sexual prowess. When Buffy and Willow arrive, Xander smoothly puts his arms around both girls in order to buff up his reputation. Buffy rushes off when [[Angel]] shows up. He gives her his jacket to warm her and as he's taking it off, she notices several slashes on his arm. She jokes that somebody must have attacked him with a big fork. He warns her about the new threat and to not let him corner her as he'll "rip [her] throat out." He leaves quickly after the warning.
 
   
 
That night at the Bronze, Xander is taunted by fellow student [[Blayne Moll|Blayne]] for his lack of sexual prowess. When Buffy and Willow arrive, Xander smoothly puts his arms around both girls in order to buff up his reputation. Buffy rushes off when [[Angel]] shows up. He gives her his jacket to warm her and as he’s taking it off, she notices several slashes on his arm. She jokes that somebody must have attacked him with a big fork. He warns her about the new threat and to not let him corner her as he’ll “rip [her] throat out. He leaves quickly after the warning.
The next day, Buffy informs [[Rupert Giles|Giles]] that Angel warned her about a "fork guy." The substitute biology teacher, [[She-Mantis|Natalie French]], shows up and turns every boy's head. She seems to have a thing about insects, especially the praying mantis. At lunch, [[Cordelia Chase|Cordelia]] finds the headless body of Dr. Gregory in the cafeteria locker. The [[Scooby Gang|Scoobies]] try to figure out if there is a connection to the [[The Master|Master]], but don't rule out that there is a second monster about. Later that night, Buffy goes into the park and confronts a [[Claw|vampire who has a large claw in place of a right hand]]. The fight is interrupted by the police, and the vampire flees. While in pursuit, she sees the vampire come up behind Miss French, who just stares at him. To Buffy's surprise, the vampire bolts in panic.
 
   
 
The next day, Buffy informs [[Rupert Giles|Giles]] that Angel warned her about a “fork guy”. The substitute biology teacher, [[She-Mantis|Natalie French]], shows up and turns every boy’s head. She seems to have a thing about insects, especially the praying mantis. At lunch, [[Cordelia Chase|Cordelia]] finds the headless body of Dr. Gregory in the cafeteria locker. The Scoobies try to figure out if there is a connection to [[the Master]], but don’t rule out that there is a second monster about. Later that night, Buffy goes into the park and confronts "[[Claw]]", a vampire who has a large claw in place of a right hand. The fight is interrupted by the police, and the vampire flees. While in pursuit, she sees the vampire come up behind Miss French, who just stares at him. To Buffy’s surprise, the vampire bolts in panic.
[[File:She-Mantis.jpg|left|thumb|The new substitute teacher.]]
 
   
At school the next day, Buffy is sent to a counselor to help her get over seeing the dead body. This makes her late for the surprise test that Miss French gives the class - a test where she helps Xander with a question. Buffy arrives and looks through the window in the door. Sensing Buffy's presence, Miss French turns her head 180 degrees to look at her. Later, Miss French asks Xander over to her house in the evening to work on a project.
+
At school the next day, Buffy is sent to a counselor to help her get over seeing the dead body. This makes her late for the surprise test that Miss French gives the class - a test where she helps Xander with a question. Buffy arrives and looks through the window in the door. Sensing Buffy’s presence, Miss French turns her head 180 degrees to look at her. Later, Miss French asks Xander over to her house in the evening to work on a project.
   
 
Back in the [[Sunnydale High School library|library]], Buffy figures that Miss French must be a praying mantis and convinces the Giles and Willow. They discover that Blayne, who worked on a project with Miss French the day before, never came home that night. Buffy tries to warn Xander, but he brushes her off, saying that she is just jealous.
 
Back in the [[Sunnydale High School library|library]], Buffy figures that Miss French must be a praying mantis and convinces the Giles and Willow. They discover that Blayne, who worked on a project with Miss French the day before, never came home that night. Buffy tries to warn Xander, but he brushes her off, saying that she is just jealous.
   
Miss French welcomes Xander with a drink, a fire in the fireplace, and a revealing dress. The drink knocks him out just when she turns into an insect. Xander wakes up in a cage next to Blayne who tells him how she mates like a praying mantis, biting off men's heads in the process. In the library, the gang discovers that the She-Mantis lures virgins to her for her mating ritual. Willow reveals that Xander is a virgin then calls Xander's mother and finds out that he isn't home. They realize that he's in great danger. Buffy gets Giles to record bat sonar while Miss French chooses Xander to be her next victim. When the remaining Scoobies visit the house where Miss French is supposed to live, they find a nice old woman who is the real Ms. French but retired in 1972. To quickly find Xander, Buffy tracks the one-handed vampire, who is so scared of the She-Mantis that he knows just which house is the right one. After finding the right house, the vampire attacks Buffy, but she quickly stakes him with a broken fence post. Buffy breaks through the window when the mantis is about to mate with Xander. She slays the insect, using the bat sonar to weaken it. Xander then destroys the eggs that are in the house.
+
Miss French welcomes Xander with a drink, a fire in the fireplace, and a revealing dress. The drink knocks him out just when she turns into an insect. Xander wakes up in a cage next to Blayne who tells him how she mates like a praying mantis, biting off men’s heads in the process. In the library, the gang discovers that the She-Mantis lures virgins to her for her mating ritual. Willow reveals that Xander is a virgin then calls Xander’s mother and finds out that he isn’t home. They realize that he’s in great danger. Buffy gets Giles to record bat sonar while Miss French chooses Xander to be her next victim. When the remaining Scoobies visit the house where Miss French is supposed to live, they find a nice old woman who is the real Ms. French but retired in 1972. To quickly find Xander, Buffy tracks the one-handed vampire, who is so scared of the She-Mantis that he knows just which house is the right one. After finding the right house, the vampire attacks Buffy, but she quickly stakes him with a broken fence post. Buffy breaks through the window when the mantis is about to mate with Xander. She slays the insect, using the bat sonar to weaken it. Xander then destroys the eggs that are in the house.
   
Buffy, in Angel's jacket, later meets him at the Bronze. He tells her to keep it, and Buffy is obviously smitten. Later, Buffy puts Dr. Gregory's glasses in his jacket, still hanging in the classroom closet, not noticing that there are She-Mantis eggs attached to the bottom of a shelf or that one of them hatches.
+
Buffy, in Angel’s jacket, later meets him at the Bronze. He tells her to keep it, and Buffy is obviously smitten. Later, Buffy puts Dr. Gregory’s glasses in his jacket, still hanging in the classroom closet, not noticing that there are She-Mantis eggs attached to the bottom of a shelf or that one of them hatches.
   
 
==Continuity==
 
==Continuity==
*It is revealed that Xander's middle name is LaVelle (which he apparently hates, as he told Miss French to "guard that secret with her life").
+
*It is revealed that Xander’s middle name is LaVelle (which he apparently hates, as he told Miss French to “guard that secret with her life”).
 
*Angel gives Buffy his leather jacket in this episode. She will be seen wearing if off-and-on from here on out.
 
*Angel gives Buffy his leather jacket in this episode. She will be seen wearing if off-and-on from here on out.
 
*Xander begins a habit of entering into relationships with literally monstrous women in the series.
 
*Xander begins a habit of entering into relationships with literally monstrous women in the series.
 
*Xander is a virgin, and will continue to be one until he sleeps with [[Faith Lehane|Faith]] in "[[The Zeppo]]".
 
*Xander is a virgin, and will continue to be one until he sleeps with [[Faith Lehane|Faith]] in "[[The Zeppo]]".
*This is the first of two times where a member of faculty (except for Giles), has a positive effect on Buffy, only to end up dying at the hands of the episode's antagonist. The second time will be in "[[Beauty and the Beasts]]" with [[Stephen Platt]].
+
*This is the first of two times where a member of faculty (except for Giles), has a positive effect on Buffy, only to end up dying at the hands of the episode’s antagonist. The second time will be in "[[Beauty and the Beasts]]" with [[Stephen Platt]].
   
 
==Appearances==
 
==Appearances==
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*[[Claw]]
 
*[[Claw]]
 
*[[Cordelia Chase]]
 
*[[Cordelia Chase]]
*[[Ferris Carlyle|Ferris Carlyle]] {{Om}}
+
*[[Ferris Carlyle]] {{Om}}
*[[Robert Flutie|Principal Bob Flutie]]
+
*[[Robert Flutie]]
 
*[[Natalie French]]
 
*[[Natalie French]]
*[[She-Mantis|Natalie French/She-Mantis]]
 
 
*[[Rupert Giles]]
 
*[[Rupert Giles]]
*[[Stephen Gregory|Dr. Stephen Gregory]]
+
*[[Stephen Gregory]]
*[[Alexander Harris|Xander Harris]]
+
*[[Alexander Harris]]
  +
*[[Jessica Harris]] {{Om}}
  +
*[[Mrs. Jackson]]
 
*[[The Master]] {{Om}}
 
*[[The Master]] {{Om}}
 
*[[Blayne Moll]]
 
*[[Blayne Moll]]
  +
*[[Mr. Moll]] {{Om}}
  +
*[[Mrs. Moll]] {{Om}}
 
*[[Willow Rosenberg]]
 
*[[Willow Rosenberg]]
 
*[[Buffy Summers]]
 
*[[Buffy Summers]]
 
*[[Blayne's friend]]
*Unidentified substitute teacher
 
  +
*[[Homeless Guy]]
*Unidentified Blayne's friend
 
 
*[[She-Mantis]]
  +
*[[Unidentified teacher (Teacher's Pet)|Unidentified teacher]]
  +
*[[Unidentified crisis counselor]]
 
*Unidentified homeless man
 
*Unidentified homeless man
   
===Organizations and Titles===
+
===Organizations and titles===
  +
*[[Kleptes-Virgo]]
 
*[[Order of Aurelius]]
 
*[[Order of Aurelius]]
 
*[[Scooby Gang]]
 
*[[Scooby Gang]]
 
*[[Slayer]]
 
*[[Slayer]]
  +
*[[Superfine]]
 
*[[Watcher]]
 
*[[Watcher]]
   
Line 87: Line 91:
 
*[[Human]]
 
*[[Human]]
 
*[[Vampire]]
 
*[[Vampire]]
*[[She-Mantis]]
+
*[[Sea-Maiden]] {{Om}}
   
 
===Locations===
 
===Locations===
*[[The Bronze]]
+
*[[Los Angeles]] {{Om}}
 
**[[Hemery High School]] {{Om}}
*[[She-Mantis' residence]]
 
*[[Sunnydale High School|Sunnydale High]]
+
*[[Sunnydale]]
  +
**[[The Bronze]]
**[[Sunnydale High School library]]
 
*[[Weatherly Park]]
+
**[[French residence]]
  +
**[[Harris residence]] {{Om}}
  +
**[[She-Mantis' residence]]
  +
**[[Sunnydale High School]]
  +
***[[Sunnydale High School library]]
  +
**[[Weatherly Park]]
   
===Weapons and Objects===
+
===Weapons and objects===
 
*[[Stake]]
 
*[[Stake]]
*Machete
 
   
==Death Count==
+
==Death count==
*One [[vampire]], dusted by [[Alexander Harris|Xander Harris]] (only in a dream).
+
*One vampire, dusted by Xander Harris (only in a dream).
*Dr. [[Stephen Gregory]], decapitated by the [[She-Mantis]].
+
*Dr. Stephen Gregory, beheaded by the She-Mantis.
*[[Claw]], staked by [[Buffy Summers]].
+
*Claw, staked by Buffy Summers.
*The [[She-Mantis]], hacked to death by Buffy at her nesting lair.
+
*The She-Mantis, hacked to death by Buffy at her nesting lair.
  +
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
[[File:Buffy the vampire slayer episode 4 " Teacher's Pet " promo !|thumb|right|220 px|Original WB Promo for "Teacher’s Pet"]]
  +
  +
===Production===
  +
*The puppet of the She-Mantis’ real form is a re-use of the [[w:c:babylon5:N'Grath|N’Grath]] prop from ''[[w:c:babylon5:Babylon 5 (TV series)|Babylon 5]]'' (1994) television series, created by Optic Nerve Studios.
   
==Behind the Scenes==
 
 
===Broadcast===
 
===Broadcast===
 
*"Teacher’s Pet" captured a Nielsen rating of 2.0 on its original airing.<ref>[http://home.insightbb.com/~wahoskem/buffy1.html "Nielsen Ratings for Buffy's First Season"]</ref>
[[File:Buffy the vampire slayer episode 4 " Teacher's Pet " promo !|thumb|right|220 px|Original WB Promo for "Teacher's Pet"]]
 
*"'''Teacher's Pet'''" captured a Nielsen rating of 2.0 on its original airing.<ref>[http://home.insightbb.com/~wahoskem/buffy1.html "Nielsen Ratings for Buffy's First Season"]</ref>
 
   
===Deleted Scenes===
+
===Deleted scenes===
 
*This scene was cut because of length:<ref>"[[The Watcher's Guide, Volume One]]"</ref>
 
*This scene was cut because of length:<ref>"[[The Watcher's Guide, Volume One]]"</ref>
:'''Buffy:''' "Dr. Gregory didn't chew me out or anything. He was really cool. But Flutie showed him my permanent record. Apparently, I fall somewhere between Charles Manson and a really bad person."
+
:'''Buffy:''' "Dr. Gregory didn’t chew me out or anything. He was really cool. But Flutie showed him my permanent record. Apparently, I fall somewhere between Charles Manson and a really bad person."
:'''Willow:''' "And you can't tell Dr. Gregory what really happened at your old school?"
+
:'''Willow:''' "And you can’t tell Dr. Gregory what really happened at your old school?"
:'''Buffy:''' "I was fighting vampires? I'm thinking he might not believe me."
+
:'''Buffy:''' "I was fighting vampires? I’m thinking he might not believe me."
 
:'''Willow:''' "Yeah, he probably gets that excuse all the time."
 
:'''Willow:''' "Yeah, he probably gets that excuse all the time."
:'''Cordelia:''' (just arriving) "Here lies a problem. What used to be my table occupied by pitiful losers. Of course, we'll have to burn it."
+
:'''Cordelia:''' (just arriving) "Here lies a problem. What used to be my table occupied by pitiful losers. Of course, we’ll have to burn it."
:'''Buffy:''' "Sad, you have so many memories here. You and Lawrence, you and Mark, you and John. You spent the better part of your 'J' through 'M' here."
+
:'''Buffy:''' "Sad, you have so many memories here. You and Lawrence, you and Mark, you and John. You spent the better part of your ’J’ through ’M’ here."
   
===Pop Culture References===
+
===Pop culture references===
*When describing Ms. French's head-twisting abilities, Buffy references ''[[Wikipedia:The Exorcist (film)|The Exorcist]]''.
+
*When describing Ms. French’s head-twisting abilities, Buffy references ''[[Wikipedia:The Exorcist (film)|The Exorcist]]''.
*In the library, Willow's comment, "Inquiring minds want to know," is a reference to the slogan used by the tabloid newspaper [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Enquirer The National Enquirer].
+
*In the library, Willow’s comment, "Inquiring minds want to know," is a reference to the slogan used by the tabloid newspaper [[Wikipedia:National Enquirer|National Enquirer]].
 
*Xander complains about the numerous dark beings on the Hellmouth, calling it "[[Wikipedia:Monsterland and Monster Island|Monster Island]]".
*While talking to Miss French at her home, Xander nervously talks about the Greek food [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shwarma shwarma].
 
This could just be coincidence, but in The Avengers - which was directed by Joss Whedon - Tony Stark has a fixation with shwarma and constantly suggests getting some after the fight. Indeed in the post-credits scene, all of the Avengers are shown at a shwarma restaurant chilling out and eating shwarma just after the New York fight.
 
*Xander complains about the numerous dark beings on the Hellmouth, calling it "[[Wikipedia:Monsterland and Monster Island|Monster Island]]."
 
*The tease at the end of the episode shows one of the Mantis Monster eggs, hidden away in the science lab, beginning to hatch. This could be interpreted as a reference to Creature Feature Cinema, where the monster is frequently shown to have survived in some form, regardless of intent for a sequel. In continuity-based television, however, such a tease is almost always indicative of a follow-up sometime later in the series. In this case, the fate of the creature's offspring is never addressed.
 
   
 
===Music===
 
===Music===
*[[Superfine]] - "Already Met You" <small>(Plays in The Bronze.) ([[Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album]])</small>
+
*[[Superfine]] "Already Met You" <small>(Plays at The Bronze.)</small>
*Superfine - "Stoner Love" <small>(Plays when Xander smashes the mantis eggs.)</small>
+
*Superfine "Stoner Love" <small>(Plays when Xander smashes the mantis eggs.)</small>
*[[Walter Murphy]] - original score
+
*[[Walter Murphy]] original score
   
===International Titles===
+
===International titles===
*'''French:''' Le Chouchou du prof ''(The teacher's Pet)''
+
*'''French:''' "Le Chouchou du Prof" (The Teacher’s Pet)
 
*'''Finnish:''' "Opettajan Lemmikki" (Teacher’s Pet)
*'''Portuguese (Brazil):''' O Queridinho da Professora (''The Teacher's Dearest'')
 
  +
*'''German:''' "Die Gottesanbeterin" (The Praying Mantis)
*'''Finnish:''' Opettajan lemmikki ''(Teacher's Pet)''
 
*'''German:''' Die Gottesanbeterin ''(The Praying Mantis)''
+
*'''Portuguese (Brazil):''' "O Queridinho da Professora" (The Teacher’s Dearest)
*'''Spanish:''' El Favorito de la Profesora ''(The Teacher's Favorite)''
+
*'''Spanish (Spain):''' "El Favorito de la Profesora" (The Teacher’s Favorite)
*'''Spanish:''' La Mascota del Profesor ''(The Teacher's Pet)''
+
*'''Spanish (Latin American):''' "La Mascota del Profesor" (The Teacher’s Pet)
  +
*'''Italian: '''"La mantide" (The mantis)
   
 
===Other===
 
===Other===
*The real Mrs. French was played by actress [[Wikipedia:Jean Speegle Howard|Jean Speegle Howard]], director [[Wikipedia:Ron Howard|Ron Howard]]'s mother. Her husband, [[Wikipedia:Rance Howard|Rance Howard]], appeared on ''[[Angel (series)|Angel]]''.
+
*The real Mrs. French was played by actress [[Wikipedia:Jean Speegle Howard|Jean Speegle Howard]], director [[Wikipedia:Ron Howard|Ron Howard]]’s mother. Her husband, [[Wikipedia:Rance Howard|Rance Howard]], appeared on ''[[Angel (series)|Angel]]'' series portraying [[Marcus Roscoe]].
 
*This episode is Xander-centric and is the first of several episodes of the series to focus on someone other than Buffy.
 
*This episode is Xander-centric and is the first of several episodes of the series to focus on someone other than Buffy.
*Dr. Gregory (a recurring character who also features in The Witch) is the first member of the Sunnydale High faculty to die, but by no means the last.
+
*Dr. Gregory (a recurring character who also features in "[[Witch (episode)|Witch]]") is the first member of the Sunnydale High faculty to die, but by no means the last.
   
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
===Photos===
+
===Promotional stills===
<gallery bordersize="none" widths="200" spacing="small" orientation="portrait">
+
<gallery widths="150" spacing="small" orientation="portrait">
  +
ASHGILES33.jpg
 
Sarah-Michelle-Gellar-Buffy-Season-1-Promo-Shot-sarah-michelle-gellar-5592897-266-400.jpg
 
Sarah-Michelle-Gellar-Buffy-Season-1-Promo-Shot-sarah-michelle-gellar-5592897-266-400.jpg
 
Btvs-episode-stills-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-6055175-1000-1500.jpg
 
Btvs-episode-stills-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-6055175-1000-1500.jpg
 
1x04 004.jpg
 
1x04 004.jpg
 
1x04 002.jpg
 
1x04 002.jpg
  +
B1x04 Buffy Xander.jpg
 
1x04 003.jpg
 
1x04 003.jpg
  +
</gallery>
  +
===Behind the scenes===
  +
<gallery widths="150" spacing="small" orientation="portrait">
  +
B1x04 Whedon.jpg
  +
B1x04 Whedon Gellar.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
Line 170: Line 187:
 
|Ms. French|''(smiles)'' "Yes. His notes tell me you were right in the middle of insect life."
 
|Ms. French|''(smiles)'' "Yes. His notes tell me you were right in the middle of insect life."
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Ms. French|"It's the way nature designed them: noble, solitary and prolific. Over 1800 species worldwide, and in nearly all of them the female is larger and more aggressive than the male."
 
|Ms. French|"It's the way nature designed them: noble, solitary and prolific. Over 1800 species worldwide, and in nearly all of them the female is larger and more aggressive than the male."
Line 176: Line 192:
 
}}
 
}}
   
  +
==References==
{{references}}
 
  +
{{References}}[[fr:Le Chouchou du prof]]
 
  +
[[de:Die Gottesanbeterin]]
  +
[[nl:Teacher's Pet]]
  +
[[es:El favorito de la profesora]]
 
[[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes]]
 
[[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes]]
 
[[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1]]
 
[[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1]]
[[Category:Xander-centric episodes]]
 

Revision as of 17:50, 3 February 2020

Template:Buffyepisode"Teacher's Pet" is the fourth episode of the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer television show, and the fourth episode in the series. It was written by David Greenwalt and directed by Bruce Seth Green. It was originally broadcast on March 25, 1997.

Xander is smitten by the substitute biology teacher, Ms. French, who turns out to be something the Scoobies never expected.

Synopsis

One evening at The Bronze, Xander suavely saves the Slayer from a menacing vamp, then mounts the stage to play his guitar solo and “kiss her like she has never been kissed before.” He is rudely awakened from this beautiful dream to find himself stuck in the hell known as biology class, and Dr. Gregory is about to call on him. After class, Dr. Gregory, who is the only teacher to believe in and encourage Buffy, is killed by an unseen monster.

That night at the Bronze, Xander is taunted by fellow student Blayne for his lack of sexual prowess. When Buffy and Willow arrive, Xander smoothly puts his arms around both girls in order to buff up his reputation. Buffy rushes off when Angel shows up. He gives her his jacket to warm her and as he’s taking it off, she notices several slashes on his arm. She jokes that somebody must have attacked him with a big fork. He warns her about the new threat and to not let him corner her as he’ll “rip [her] throat out.” He leaves quickly after the warning.

The next day, Buffy informs Giles that Angel warned her about a “fork guy”. The substitute biology teacher, Natalie French, shows up and turns every boy’s head. She seems to have a thing about insects, especially the praying mantis. At lunch, Cordelia finds the headless body of Dr. Gregory in the cafeteria locker. The Scoobies try to figure out if there is a connection to the Master, but don’t rule out that there is a second monster about. Later that night, Buffy goes into the park and confronts "Claw", a vampire who has a large claw in place of a right hand. The fight is interrupted by the police, and the vampire flees. While in pursuit, she sees the vampire come up behind Miss French, who just stares at him. To Buffy’s surprise, the vampire bolts in panic.

At school the next day, Buffy is sent to a counselor to help her get over seeing the dead body. This makes her late for the surprise test that Miss French gives the class - a test where she helps Xander with a question. Buffy arrives and looks through the window in the door. Sensing Buffy’s presence, Miss French turns her head 180 degrees to look at her. Later, Miss French asks Xander over to her house in the evening to work on a project.

Back in the library, Buffy figures that Miss French must be a praying mantis and convinces the Giles and Willow. They discover that Blayne, who worked on a project with Miss French the day before, never came home that night. Buffy tries to warn Xander, but he brushes her off, saying that she is just jealous.

Miss French welcomes Xander with a drink, a fire in the fireplace, and a revealing dress. The drink knocks him out just when she turns into an insect. Xander wakes up in a cage next to Blayne who tells him how she mates like a praying mantis, biting off men’s heads in the process. In the library, the gang discovers that the She-Mantis lures virgins to her for her mating ritual. Willow reveals that Xander is a virgin then calls Xander’s mother and finds out that he isn’t home. They realize that he’s in great danger. Buffy gets Giles to record bat sonar while Miss French chooses Xander to be her next victim. When the remaining Scoobies visit the house where Miss French is supposed to live, they find a nice old woman who is the real Ms. French but retired in 1972. To quickly find Xander, Buffy tracks the one-handed vampire, who is so scared of the She-Mantis that he knows just which house is the right one. After finding the right house, the vampire attacks Buffy, but she quickly stakes him with a broken fence post. Buffy breaks through the window when the mantis is about to mate with Xander. She slays the insect, using the bat sonar to weaken it. Xander then destroys the eggs that are in the house.

Buffy, in Angel’s jacket, later meets him at the Bronze. He tells her to keep it, and Buffy is obviously smitten. Later, Buffy puts Dr. Gregory’s glasses in his jacket, still hanging in the classroom closet, not noticing that there are She-Mantis eggs attached to the bottom of a shelf or that one of them hatches.

Continuity

  • It is revealed that Xander’s middle name is LaVelle (which he apparently hates, as he told Miss French to “guard that secret with her life”).
  • Angel gives Buffy his leather jacket in this episode. She will be seen wearing if off-and-on from here on out.
  • Xander begins a habit of entering into relationships with literally monstrous women in the series.
  • Xander is a virgin, and will continue to be one until he sleeps with Faith in "The Zeppo".
  • This is the first of two times where a member of faculty (except for Giles), has a positive effect on Buffy, only to end up dying at the hands of the episode’s antagonist. The second time will be in "Beauty and the Beasts" with Stephen Platt.

Appearances

Individuals

Organizations and titles

Species

Locations

Weapons and objects

Death count

  • One vampire, dusted by Xander Harris (only in a dream).
  • Dr. Stephen Gregory, beheaded by the She-Mantis.
  • Claw, staked by Buffy Summers.
  • The She-Mantis, hacked to death by Buffy at her nesting lair.

Behind the scenes

File:Buffy the vampire slayer episode 4 " Teacher's Pet " promo !

Original WB Promo for "Teacher’s Pet"

Production

  • The puppet of the She-Mantis’ real form is a re-use of the N’Grath prop from Babylon 5 (1994) television series, created by Optic Nerve Studios.

Broadcast

  • "Teacher’s Pet" captured a Nielsen rating of 2.0 on its original airing.[1]

Deleted scenes

  • This scene was cut because of length:[2]
Buffy: "Dr. Gregory didn’t chew me out or anything. He was really cool. But Flutie showed him my permanent record. Apparently, I fall somewhere between Charles Manson and a really bad person."
Willow: "And you can’t tell Dr. Gregory what really happened at your old school?"
Buffy: "I was fighting vampires? I’m thinking he might not believe me."
Willow: "Yeah, he probably gets that excuse all the time."
Cordelia: (just arriving) "Here lies a problem. What used to be my table occupied by pitiful losers. Of course, we’ll have to burn it."
Buffy: "Sad, you have so many memories here. You and Lawrence, you and Mark, you and John. You spent the better part of your ’J’ through ’M’ here."

Pop culture references

  • When describing Ms. French’s head-twisting abilities, Buffy references The Exorcist.
  • In the library, Willow’s comment, "Inquiring minds want to know," is a reference to the slogan used by the tabloid newspaper National Enquirer.
  • Xander complains about the numerous dark beings on the Hellmouth, calling it "Monster Island".

Music

  • Superfine — "Already Met You" (Plays at The Bronze.)
  • Superfine — "Stoner Love" (Plays when Xander smashes the mantis eggs.)
  • Walter Murphy — original score

International titles

  • French: "Le Chouchou du Prof" (The Teacher’s Pet)
  • Finnish: "Opettajan Lemmikki" (Teacher’s Pet)
  • German: "Die Gottesanbeterin" (The Praying Mantis)
  • Portuguese (Brazil): "O Queridinho da Professora" (The Teacher’s Dearest)
  • Spanish (Spain): "El Favorito de la Profesora" (The Teacher’s Favorite)
  • Spanish (Latin American): "La Mascota del Profesor" (The Teacher’s Pet)
  • Italian: "La mantide" (The mantis)

Other

  • The real Mrs. French was played by actress Jean Speegle Howard, director Ron Howard’s mother. Her husband, Rance Howard, appeared on Angel series portraying Marcus Roscoe.
  • This episode is Xander-centric and is the first of several episodes of the series to focus on someone other than Buffy.
  • Dr. Gregory (a recurring character who also features in "Witch") is the first member of the Sunnydale High faculty to die, but by no means the last.

Gallery

Promotional stills

Behind the scenes

Quotes

Ms. French: "Oh, Xander, I've done something really stupid. I hope you can forgive me."
Xander: "Oh, forgiveness is my middle name! Well, actually it's LaVelle, and I'd appreciate it if you guard that secret with your life." (He laughs, as does Ms. French)
Ms. French: "My name is Natalie French, and I will be substituting for Dr. Gregory."
Buffy: "Do you know when he's coming back?"
Ms. French: "No, I don't, um, (checks her roster) Buffy. They just call and tell me where they want me."
Blayne: (in a low voice) "I'll tell you where I want you."
Ms. French: "Excuse me, Blayne?"
Blayne: (caught off-guard, but tries to play it cool) "Uh, I was just wondering if you were gonna pick up where Dr. Gregory left off."
Ms. French: (smiles) "Yes. His notes tell me you were right in the middle of insect life."
Ms. French: "It's the way nature designed them: noble, solitary and prolific. Over 1800 species worldwide, and in nearly all of them the female is larger and more aggressive than the male."
Blayne: (casually, aside to Buffy) "Nothing wrong with an aggressive female."

References

  1. "Nielsen Ratings for Buffy's First Season"
  2. "The Watcher's Guide, Volume One"