History Recap / BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E10Nightmares

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Joyce and Hank are portrayed as somewhat AmicablyDivorced, when later seasons will act like Buffy's nightmare about him is completely accurate.

* AesopAmnesia: Xander asks if there was any homework, and Willow reminds him that they're doing "active listening." Xander draws a blank. Buffy says that Miss Tischler was wearing [[SweaterGirl a tight sweater]]. "''Oh'', [[SkewedPriorities the midnight blue angora]]! See, I was listening." Um, has he already forgotten "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS1E4TeachersPet Teacher's Pet]]"?

* BrutalHonesty: "Hank's" admission that the divorce is indeed Buffy's fault. Furthermore, he claims to be bored by their weekends together; that Buffy is selfish and withdrawn and an overall bore. The expression on Buffy's face makes it clear that she's afraid he might have a point.

* AdultFear:
** Your son joins the little league; the coach beats him into a coma when they lose a game.
** Giles' fear isn't much different: [[TheObiWan It is his responsibility to watch over and train Buffy]], the inexperienced teenage Slayer. Naturally, his fear is that he will fail to prepare and protect her, and she will die an untimely death as a result.

* PunchSpinGape: It takes a real man to punch a clown.

* BeeAfraid: Willow looks out a hospital window to see a swarm of hornets over Sunnydale.

* WhatDoTheyFearEpisode: All the worst nightmares of Sunnydale residents come to life. These range in severity from embarrassment—showing up in class in your underwear or forgetting how to read—to Buffy getting buried alive and turned into a vampire, and Xander being attacked by a knife-wielding MonsterClown.

* WhatDoTheyFearEpisode: All the worst nightmares of Sunnydale residents come to life. These range in severity from embarrassment—showing up in class in your underwear or forgetting how to read—to Buffy getting buried alive and turned into a vampire, to Xander being attacked by a knife-wielding MonsterClown.

* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Buffy's vampire strength gives her the edge she needs to KO the Ugly Man. (Although, the villain was only Buffy’s projection so does this trope might not apply.)

* BuriedAlive: Buffy seems unable to lift a hand against D Master in her dream, which is consistent with her nightmare at the beginning of the episode. The Master asks what she's afraid of as he holds her over the open grave, then tosses her in. The coffin lid closes on her as she screams for help.

* DreamRealityCheck: Xander realizing he's wearing only underwear. He thinks he's dreaming and tries to pinch himself, but when that doesn't work, he runs off screaming.
** Buffy shouts at the Master that he's not due to be released yet -- that this is a dream. The Master says he ''is'' free, because she fears it.