Nimrod: When Xander reluctantly invites Spike into his apartment, he calls him Nimrod. Nimrod was a key figure in ancient Babylon. It's more likely that Xander, given the news of Spike's returned soul, is referring to the X-Men character. Originally a white sentinel from the dark future, Nimrod later reappeared as an almost human being, Bastion. Oddly, Nimrod disguised himself somewhere inbetween as an ordinary man working on a construction site.
A Summer Place: The music (or muzak) which plays whenever the sight of R.J. captivates one of the ladies is Theme from a Summer Place, taken from a hit 1959 movie of that name. The version heard was a huge instrumental hit for Percy Faith when first released, keeping the US Number One slot for seven weeks in early 1960. In season two's Inca Mummy Girl, when asked what a girl would have to do to impress him, Oz claimed: "Well, it involves a feather boa, and the theme to A Summer Place." In 1965 the tune was a top ten hit with added lyrics by The Lettermen. The style of jacket which R.J wears to such enchanting effect? A Letterman jacket, of course, which is an American high school tradition and usually a symbol of excellence in sport.
If the outfit fits: When Dawn makes her disastrous audition for the Razorbacks' cheerleading squad, she is supposedly wearing Buffy's old outfit from the series' third ever episode, Witch. Quite apart from Michelle Trachtenberg not being the same height as Sarah Michelle Gellar, the top and skirt are of different designs.
Daddy like: Born in 1975, Thad Luckinbill, who plays R.J Brooks, is really ten years older than Michelle Trachtenberg. He's had roles in The Young and the Restless and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. Since making Him, Luckinbill has become a recurring character on 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter. This comedy starred John Ritter (the robot father-figure from Ted), who died in September 2003 after collapsing on the sitcom's set.
The Spanish Inquisition: Authorised by the Pope in 15th-Century Spain to enforce religious orthodoxy, the Spanish Inquisition became a byword for torture and execution. Dawn's "No one expects the Spanish Inquisition" is a slightly off-target quote from a famous sketch in Monty Python's Flying Circus, where the Pythons constantly burst into rooms dressed as the Inquisitors, shouting "NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!" Yes, alright we're pedantic.
On stage tonight: The Breeders are seen at the Bronze playing their tracks Little Fury and Son of Three. The track Warning Sign, which plays as R.J. and Buffy enter the empty classroom, comes from Coldplay's truckload-selling second album A Rush of Blood to the Head, released in late August 2002.
Anna Nicole Smith: According to Buffy, even this er... celebrity would think Dawn looks tacky in her "pushy queen of Slut Town" guise. Anna Nicole Smith, born in 1967, started modelling aged twenty and was Playboy's Playmate of the Year for 1993. She made quite an impression in the third Naked Gun movie in 1994, and became (in)famous for marrying an aged billionaire who died soon afterwards. Her weight and shape have fluctuated wildly, but her thick make-up has stayed intact. To say she was respected as a paragon of good taste would be a lie.
Bewitched again: Xander flashes back to season two's Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered where many girls are pursuing him in Buffy's basement. They're all putting their hands on him and going crazy to get at him. How does Xander recall this? Very fondly, with a major satisfied grin.
Crush number six: The sixth episode of last season, All the Way, revolved around the consequences of Dawn's first serious crush. Him is about the consequences of Dawn thinking she's in love for the first time. It is this season's sixth episode.
Buffy