History Recap / BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E3TheWitch

* CluelessMystery: Technically there are plenty of ''clues'' strewn throughout the episode as to what's going on with Amy, but they're only obvious due in a RewatchBonus capacity, and none of them allow the audience to figure out the real solution to the mystery (that Catherine has stolen Amy's body) before Buffy does. In fact, the only direct clues (the plate of brownies and "Catherine" stuttering: "Dad... ''her'' dad..." are disclosed to the viewer approximately one second before Buffy realizes the truth. You'd have to be ''very'' quick to figure it out before she does.

* FiveSecondForeshadowing: Buffy notices the plate of brownies on the floor of Amy's house in the same scene she realizes that Catherine used magic to swap bodies with her daughter.

** Buffy twigs to the GrandTheftMe when she sees Amy's 'mother' is eating chocolate cookies.

** Amy's SweetTooth. Buffy makes note of it at the beginning and sees a plate of brownies hidden discreetly at Amy's house. This helps her figure out that Amy is in Catherine's body, and vice-versa.

* RewatchBonus: For "Amy's" behavior after TheReveal, of course. Likewise, Catherine coming off as scared and nervous in Amy's presence becomes this when you realize she's in the wrong body.

* SuperStrength: Buffy's strength is showcased at home when she casually opens with one hand a crate her mother had been struggling to open with a crowbar.

* AbusiveParent: Catherine treats Amy like a genuine inconvenience, being emotionally and verbally abusive toward her. She goes so far as to steal her daughter's body so she can relive her glory days.

* PreassKickingOneLiner: A revived Buffy says "I feel better" before decking out Catherine with one punch.

* SuperLoser: Catherine might be a powerful witch, but she's an emotionally stunted narcissist obsessed with her High School fame, during which she peaked.

* TemptingFate

-->'''Giles:''' But why would someone want to hurt Cordelia?
-->'''Willow:''' Maybe 'cause they met her? [{{beat}}] Did I say that?

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

-->'''Ditzy Buffy:''' You don't want her! She's a w--''mmm-mmmm!''
-->'''Xander:''' ''[HandGagging Buffy]'' Wise choice indeed!

* {{Dissimile}}: "So maybe Amber has this power to make herself be on fire. It's like the Human Torch. Only it hurts."

** The proper title to the episode is "Witch," -- no "the." This is an IncrediblyLamePun that references both the spellcaster and TheReveal of "which" person is actually the witch.

** In her youth Catherine was also this. She was Captain of the Cheerleading Squad and led her squad to be Tri-County champions, a feat never accomplished before nor since,

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Catherine might have been good enough for the cheerleading squad back in her day, but in the present day, aka her daughter's body, she can't quite pull off the moves necessary to get a spot on the team. Possession of someone's body doesn't necessarily include your ''own'' muscle memory.

* ActorSharedBackground: Cordelia's aiming for the cheerleading squad, beside being apt for her character, may be an allusion to actor Creator/CharismaCarpenter's having been a cheerleader for the Sand Diego ''Chargers''.

* ActorAllusion: Cordelia's aiming for the cheerleading squad, beside being apt for her character, may be an allusion to actor Creator/CharismaCarpenter's having been a cheerleader for the Sand Diego ''Chargers''.

* AdultFear: Amy's dad used to protect her from her mother. When he left, she was completely at Catherine's mercy. He doesn't find out the details but becomes remorseful after gaining custody of his daughter, spoiling her rotten as an apology for neglecting her.

* AbsenteeActor: This is the first episode not to feature Angel.

* ChekovsGift: Xander gives Buffy a bracelet when she's trying out for the cheerleader squad. Later, witch Amy uses it as a personal item essential to a spell she casts on Buffy.

** The bracelet Xander gave Buffy shows up later as the token Catherine uses to cast a deadly spell on her.

* {{Eye of Newt}}: Though apparently frogs eyes will do. They're still difficult to remove.

* TheAce: Amber is this for cheerleading, putting on an audition that makes it easy to understand why Catherine went after her first. Apparently she turned the Lakers down.

** Catherine has one of her spells turned back on her, and seemingly vanishes. At the end of the episode, it turns out she's been trapped in one of her old cheerleading trophies. She presumably died when they blew the school up at the end of season three, but fans speculate that this somehow released Catherine to possess her daughter Amy again, explaining Amy's otherwise inexplicable FaceHeelTurn in Season 6 -- although the in-continuity comic series [[OutdatedByCanon disproved]] this.
** During biology class, one of the cheerleaders mouths is missing through a spell inflicted upon her, leaving her with inaudible screams and in a state of panic.

* BullyingADragon: Giles forbids Buffy from joining the cheerleadering squad. Buffy asks, "And you'll be stopping me how?" Unlike many examples of this trope, Giles is smart enough not to protest.

* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Buffy's spell-induced ditziness makes her let slip that she's a Slayer to Joyce, who apparently accepts the brush-off Buffy gives her. In the sixth season, we learn about Buffy's institutionalization, which means Joyce's reaction ''should'' have been one of contained, abject ''horror'' at her daughter's massive change in behavior coupled with an apparent relapse into delusion.

** Amy's SweetTooth. Buffy makes note of it at the beginning, and sees a plate of brownies hidden discreetly at Amy's house. This helps her figure out that Amy is in Catherine's body, and vice-versa.

** Giles says in this episode that he had never used magic before. He was lying, because he doesn't want to think about his past as a demon summoning youth as revealed in season 2 -- or perhaps [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness that part of his character hadn't been established yet.]]

* GilliganCut: Buffy wants to join the cheerleaders to do something normal. Something safe. Cut to a creepy voodoo witches den where someone's doing something unpleasant to a voodoo cheerleader doll.

* JustKeepDriving: As Cordelia stands in the road after crashing the Driver's Ed car through the fence, a UPS delivery van is coming towards her. Its driver makes no attempt to slow down or stop, and doesn't even bother to blow the horn. He doesn't even stop after hitting the Driver's Ed car!

** Xander realises something is wrong with Cordelia because she hasn't insulted him all day.

* WickedStepmother: Possible inversion with Amy; her mother is a real witch, literally, and her stepmother is presumably nicer to her, since Amy is shown to be much happier in her father's house, although this is never elaborated on. In fact, Amy even having a possible stepmother is only mentioned in an off-hand comment that Amy's father left Catherine for another woman.

* RealityEnsues: Catherine might have been good enough for the cheerleading squad back in her day, but in the present day, aka her daughter's body, she can't quite pull off the moves necessary to get a spot on the team. Possession of someone's body doesn't necessarily include your ''own'' muscle memory.