2.20 Go Fish | A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcast

In this deep dive into Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Season 2, Episode 20 'Go Fish', hosts Jenny Owen Youngs and Kristen Russo dissect a bizarre and thematically rich episode where the Sunnydale swim team is being systematically transformed into fish-human hybrids. The episode blends body horror, satire of high school sports culture, and sharp commentary on patriarchy, with the fish monsters serving as both literal and metaphorical embodiments of toxic masculinity and systemic power. The hosts explore the episode’s absurdity—from the fishmen’s grotesque transformations to the surreal final scene of the trio swimming into the Pacific Ocean in full swim gear—while also honoring the emotional weight of Nicholas Brendon’s final episode as Xander. They reflect on the episode’s layered critiques of privilege, sexual assault, and the objectification of women, particularly through Cordelia’s sharp wit and Buffy’s trauma. The episode also features a heartfelt original song by Jenny Owen Youngs, which captures the episode’s surf-rock aesthetic and dark humor, and includes a nostalgic deep dive into the cultural legacy of the show’s music and fan community.