History Recap / BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E4FearItself

* ContinuityNod / ClothesMakeTheSuperman: Just in case everyone turns into their costumes again Xander dresses as JamesBond, Willow as JoanOfArc, and Oz as {{God}}.

* LiteraryAllusionTitle: From {{FDR}}'s famous first inaugural address; "We have nothing to fear but fear itself"

* TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers / BewareTheNiceOnes: Willow is talking on the phone.

* YourCostumeNeedsWork: The Scoobies catch sight of the Initiative commandoes, but think they're people playing dress-up.

* EverythingsBetterWithChocolate: At the end of the episode, the Scoobies are pigging out on Giles' Halloween treats.
-->'''Buffy:''' Uhm, this is much better. There is no problem that can not be solved with chocolate.\\
'''Willow:''' I think I’m going to barf.\\
'''Buffy:''' Except that.

* TakeAThirdOption: By accident. Buffy destroyed the mark of Gachnar [[spoiler:which summoned the little demon and allowed her to crush him.]]

* {{Anticlimax}}: Double subverted. [[spoiler:Giles begins explaining how they can stop Gachnar from manifesting, mentioning destroying the symbol. Buffy then calmly walks over and destroys the ground it's on. Then Giles finishes his sentence, revealing that destroying the symbol is ''not'' one of the ways and will instead cause him to manifest immediately. Gachnar begins to appear and the gang is truly and legitimately terrified... until it turns out that he's miniscule and easily stopped by Buffy stepping on him.]]

* DontCelebrateJustYet: Brilliantly subverted; the Scoobies are stuffing themselves with chocolate after having defeated the MonsterOfTheWeek when suddenly Giles says in an alarmed voice (with accompanying dramatic music) that he should have translated the description of the Fear Demon in his TomeOfEldritchLore. [[spoiler:It turns out the words are; "Actual size".]]

* {{Narm}}: In universe example. Buffy goes to see Giles, who greets her as a trick or treater while wearing a traditional Mexican outfit with sombrero. Buffy takes a moment to get over the initial shock before talking to him, but she simply cannot get over the hat and soon says he has to take it off.

* NowYouTellMe: Giles reads that "there are two ways of stopping the demon from being fully summoned. Destroying the mark of Gachnar--" Buffy promptly tears up the floorboards that the symbol is painted on. Giles continues; "--is '''not''' one of them and will in fact bring forth the fear demon itself!" Oops.

* PartialTransformation: Oz inexplicably starts to change and gets stuck halfway between man and wolf. He ends up huddled in a bathtub, scared out of his mind and muttering a hopeless SurvivalMantra that he's not going to change.

* SmithWillSuffice: Oz dresses for Halloween as God (which basically consists of wearing his own clothes an a name tag saying "Hello, my name is GOD"). This is the punchline to Willow having dressed up as Joan of Arc, because of their similarities, such as the close relationship with God. He runs with it in dialogue.
--> '''Xander:''' Why didn't I think of that? I coulda been God!
--> '''Oz:''' Blasphemer.
-->Later, after having to listen to annoying "spooky" sound effects in a haunted house, the noises finally stop:
--> '''Buffy:''' Thank the Lord!
--> '''Oz:''' ''(holding power lead)'' You're welcome.

--> '''Buffy:''' Thank God!

* LittleDeadRidingHood: Buffy dresses as Red Riding Hood -- with a bag of weapons.

* TakeAThirdOption: By accident. Buffy destroyed the mark of Gachnar which summoned the little demon and allowed her to crush him.

* LittleDeadRidingHood

* ContinuityNod / ClothesMakeTheSuperman: Just in case everyone turns into their costumes again Xander dresses as JamesBond, Willow as Joan d'Arc and Oz as {{God}}.

* ThereWasADoor: Giles and Anya are standing in front of the sealed-off frat house, Giles holding a spellbook. "We're going to have to create a door." He rummages around in his bag and produces...a chainsaw! [[ChainsawGood Go Ripper!]]

* DontCelebrateJustYet: Brilliantly subverted.

-->'''Oz:''' Frat boys aren't too obsessive with their cleaning. Might not be decoration per se.

* TheBeard: Buffy says "He wanted the candy, I was just the beard" with regards to her father taking her trick or treating on Halloween. Joyce informs Buffy the candy was for her.

* [[spoiler:AntiClimaxBoss[=/=]BigLittleMan]]: Played for laughs.

* EyeScream