Snyder has given Giles the unwelcome task of running thr annual school talent show, much to his dismay. Buffy, Willow and Xander find this very amusing and tease him about it. Unfortunately for them, Snyder overhears them and forces them to be participants, leaving the three of them in despair.

However, this being Sunnydale, the talent show rehearsals do not run smoothly, especially when one of the particiapants, Emily is found dead with her heart cut out. Since there are no clues indicating a demonic presence, the scooby gang decide that it must be a serial killer.

While researching Giles learns about the Brotherhood of Seven, a group of demons who must obtain a heart and a brain of a young human to maintain their human form. Time is running out as they scramble to find the killer before someone else is killed.

Their top suspect is Morgan, a genius who hold two way conversations with his ventriloquist's dummy. He is also suffering from headaches, which adds more suspicion. Well, until Buffy find's Morgan's body with his brain ripped out, that is. They learn that Morgan had a brain tumor, which was why he was having the headaches.

Buffy is attacked by Morgan's dummy, Sid. He becomes top suspect, but he has also disappeared. When Sid does make another appearence, he confesses that he is a demon hunter. he was imprisioned inside the dummy's body and will only be freed once he has disposed of the Seven. Buffy and Sid team up to try and find the demon, before he finds a suitable brain.

While Buffy is out demon hunting, Giles turns his attention back to the talent show. One of the entrants asks Giles if he would help him with his magic act. He straps Giles into a guillotine, then we realise that he is the demon and that he is after Giles' brain!!

Buffy (and Sid) arrive just in time to save Giles and Sid kills the demon. Sid is now freed of his curse and his soul leaves the dummy. Just at that moment the curtain opens revealing this interesting tableau. "I don't get it," a confused Snyder comments.

Later on in the talent show, Buffy, Xander and Willow are acting out their little act. They are all terrible at acting and the scene falls apart when Willow runs off-stage with stage fright. Xander and Buffy fill the gap where Willow stood and carry on as if nothing has happened.

Our View
Oh, funny! Especially Xander, Willow, And Buffy's act. The demon Dummy Sid was actually quite sweet and it's a shame that we won't see him again.
Our score - 8

The Professional View
Outlandishly over-the-top, the main impression of this episode is of 'plan B', deliberately different from everything around it. Nearly everybody is out of character too; it's a memorable debut for Armin Shimmerman, however, and the direction is great.
Their Score - 7