History Recap / BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E20TheYokoFactor

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Spike shows that he knows what ThePowerOfFriendship ''is''...but also shows that he doesn't understand it yet. He identifies Buffy's friends as strong assets... but is absurdly confident that he can cause a ''permanent'' falling out between Buffy and the Scoobies, just like that. Friends fight, but friends apologize and make up too. Adam, being evil, also considers it a simple thing to get rid of her friends.

* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: The entire mess between Riley and Angel is kick-started because Xander, not realizing Buffy didn't already tell him herself, tells him everything... including his CurseEscapeClause and how it was sleeping with Buffy that turned him evil.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Angel comes back to apologize to Buffy for his actions in "Sanctuary" because while both of their viewpoints regarding Faith were legitimate, he went too far in exiling her from Los Angeles. Not to mention Buffy pointed out that, in her view, Angel chose Faith over her, which was very not cool considering what Faith did to both of them. He gets in a fight with her new boyfriend over their mutual jealousy, which Buffy has to break up as she threatens to put them both in the hospital. Even though Buffy accepts his apology when they finally talk about what happened, she also shuts down any attempts of reconciliation. They're too different now.
** The fight itself. While Riley is a soldier running on drugs to make him peak human with weapons and some combat experience, Angel is a centuries-plus vampire whose martial prowess is legendary to both good and evil alike, has vampire superhuman strength, and has much, MUCH more experience in combat and fighting evil. While Riley is able to use his weapons to his advantage and (for a human) is able to do pretty well for himself, he is completely out of his league and the moment Angel starts taking the fight seriously, Riley is utterly decimated.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Angel comes back to apologize to Buffy for his actions in "Sanctuary" because while both of their viewpoints regarding Faith were legitimate, he went too far in exiling her from Los Angeles. Not to mention Buffy pointed out that Angel chose Faith over her, which was very not cool considering what Faith did to both of them. He gets in a fight with her new boyfriend over their mutual jealousy, which Buffy has to break up and she threatens to put them both in the hospital. Even though Buffy accepts his apology when they finally talk about what happened, she also shuts down any attempts of reconciliation. They're too different now.

* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Spike shows that he knows what ThePowerOfFriendship ''is''...but also shows that he doesn't understand it yet. He identifies Buffy's friends as strong assets...but is absurdly confident that ''he of all people'' can cause a permanent falling out between Buffy and the Scoobies on the eve before their big fight with Adam. Spike's sowing of discord causes a semi-dramatic quarrel that angers the Scoobies for all of a half episode. Then they rally about, and unleash epic ass-kicking. Friends fight, but friends apologize and make up too. Adam, being evil, is also waayyyy too eager to imagine that a squabble will be enough to cause a serious rift between the Slayer and her friends.

** The cells are becoming overcrowded with demons, while the Initiative is spread thin capturing them. It turns out they're [[PlayAlongPrisoner Play-Along Prisoners]].

%% * 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.

** The fight itself. While Riley is a solider running on drugs to make him peak human with weapons and some combat experience, Angel is a centuries plus vampire who martial prowess is legendary to both good and evil alike, has vampire superhuman strength, and has much, MUCH more experience in combat and fighting evil. While Riley is able to use his weapons to his advantage and (for a human) is able to do pretty well for himself, he is completely out of his league and the moment Angel starts taking the fight seriously, Riley is utterly decimated.

* YokoOhNo: The Yoko, in this case, is an actively malicious one — Spike, who can see a conflict brewing among the Scoobies and pushes just the right buttons to set it off. Notably, Spike himself notes to Adam during the episode that Yoko, for all she got blamed, didn't break up the Beatles, but rather internal strife; similarly, he wasn't the cause of the Scoobies' breakup, just the catalyst that (deliberately) brought their grievances into plain view. This example, however, is a subversion — while the Scoobies do have a vicious argument and falling out thanks largely to Spike's prodding, when tempers have cooled a bit they're savvy enough to realise that Spike's been manipulating them, approach either other more calmly about their recent tensions and mend bridges.

** YMMV on whether it counts as "ingenious" - the fight lasted less than an episode, and directly led them to the idea which helped them destroy Adam. If it was a Batman Gambit, it wasn't a very good one.

* FeudEpisode: Invoked by Spike between Giles and the PowerTrio, though it doesn't take much episode.

* CrossOver: This episode has the only PreviouslyOn segment to include a clip from ''Series/{{Angel}}'', namely Buffy and Angel's fight at the end of "[[Recap/AngelS01E19Sanctuary Sanctuary]]". Buffy is seen returning from L.A. at the beginning of this episode, and Angel follows her soon after. The fallout from said fight is explored in this episode.

* RequiredSpinoffCrossover: Angel stops by to apologize for his harsh words to Buffy in the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "[[Recap/AngelS01E19Sanctuary Sanctuary]]".

* {{Blooper}}: As Riley barges into Buffy's dorm room while she is talking to Angel, the door can be seen swinging shut behind him. The camera angle changes and the door is seen swinging shut a second time.

-->'''Riley:''' Even when he's good he's all Mister... [[BadassLongcoat Billowy Coat]], [[TheWoobie King of Pain]] and girls really--

* YokoOhNo: The Yoko, in this case, is an actively malicious one — Spike, who can see a conflict brewing among the Scoobies and pushes just the right buttons to set it off. Notably, Spike himself notes to Adam during the episode that Yoko, for all she got blamed, didn't break up the Beatles, but rather internal strife; similarly, he wasn't the cause of the Scoobies' breakup, just the catalyst that (deliberately) brought their grievances into plain view. This example, however, is a subversion — while the Scoobies do have a vicious argument and falling out thanks largely to Spike's prodding when tempers have cooled a bit they're savvy enough to realise that Spike's been manipulating them, approach either other more calmly about their recent tensions and mend bridges.

* PoorCommunicationKills: When Angel meets Riley he goes straight to the macho posturing and veiled threats, making Riley think he's lost his soul again, and Angel does nothing to set him straight.

-->'''Angel''': Well, It's... going pretty good, don't you think?\\

* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: Riley is worried about Buffy's "bad boy" attraction.

* RequiredSpinoffCrossover: Angel stops by to apologize for his actions in the ''Series/{{Angel}}'' episode "[[Recap/AngelS01E19Sanctuary Sanctuary]]".

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: In one corner, Riley Finn, a human on supplements to make him peak human, some weapons, military training, and some experience against the supernatural. In the other corner, ANGEL. A legendary vampire known for his martial prowess, superior strength, centuries plus combat experience, and PISSED. Seriously, who did you think would win that fight?