I actually like all 3 of these episodes LOL
To be honest, with the possible exception of "Go Fish", I really struggle to understand why they're so maligned by fandom. They all have some really great things about them and I don't mind that they're MotW episodes. However, if I had to choose, it'd have to be "Inca Mummy Girl."
There's some great stuff here. For one thing, Ampata is probably the most interesting MotW we've had thus far and dare I say it, probably one of the most interesting MotW's we'll ever get. Off the top of my head, the only other creatures that I think standout more than her are obvious choices like The Gentlemen and Sweet or Kralik who is very memorable and creepy, but Ampata is the most complex of them all. She's the only MotW I can think of that is genuinely sympathetic and who is harming people not necessarily because she's evil but as a matter of self-preservation. She ultimately chose herself over Xander but I do think she sincerely cared about him. I also found the parallels between Ampata/Buffy really interesting and I thought the actual mummy design itself was pretty frightening (those gaping eye sockets... eek!).
Besides Ampata, there were a lot of other great things about the episode as well. As with a lot of the earlier MotW episodes the interaction between the characters is really great. I loved this exchange between Buffy and Willow - "So I can continue waiting around for Xander to like every other girl before he notices me. Or I can get on with my life" "Good for you" "Well, I haven't decided yet" *g* - and Cordy and Sven had some wonderful moments - "Punchy, fruity drinky? Is Cordelia even from this country?" I thought Buffy's pain at Ampata assimilating into Sunnydale life so easily was also intriguing. Furthermore, I enjoyed that in this episode the writers cut straight to the chase and drop all pretence that the characters should be 'surprised' that the mummy may have killed Rodney and instead assume, this being Sunnydale an' all, that they should investigate immediately. I thought that was great! And of course, this is the episode that first introduces us to Oz and teases Willow/Oz which is a favourite of mine. This episode is also notable in the fact that it introduces us to Devon and Dingoes Ate My Baby for the first time, that it's the first appearance of Jonathan, and the first episode to feature Giles' car.
I did used to find this episode quite visually ugly. I'm not sure if it was just a case with the DVD's but my version used to have this fairly ugly yellow-ish over the entire episode which I found off-putting. However, now that I have the HD version the episode looks great (it's a shame they forget to add the mummified effect when Ampata's arm changes at The Bronze, though) so I've really grown to appreciate it. Also, I have this really weird specific nostalgia attached to this episode as I'll always remember that when it first aired in Australia that it was the last episode to air for a couple of weeks so me and my sister watched our tape recording of this episode on loop for, literally, weeks. I knew every line off by heart by the end of those two weeks so this episode always holds a special place in my heart. "Buffy" was such a huge part of my childhood and I have a lot of really special memories of it, especially Season 1 & 2.
As for the other episodes, I think "Reptile Boy" contains some really funny scenes. The Buffy/Cordy scenes are comedy gold ("Why do they always park so damn close!") and Willow screaming at Angel and Giles was a highlight. I also am one of those few fans who actually thought the demon snake design in this episode was really good? I've never understood why it's criticised so much? The practical effects and demon make-up are, much, much better than the CGI snake we get in "Band Candy", for instance. I also enjoyed the scenes at the party and Buffy beating the sh*t out of Tom and the other fraternity guys. I think most people have negative impressions of this episode due to the really hammy and OTT Bangel scene in the graveyard ("When you kiss me I want to die") but it's chock-full of some really lovely character moments. The opening teaser of Buffy/Willow/Xander watching a Bollywood Musical is also a particular fave of mine. And as for "Go Fish", whilst it's my least favourite of the 3, and it's really poorly placed in Season 2, it also contains some really underrated moments. The Xander speedo scene is a real highlight and I love Buffy's sarcastic exchange with Cordelia - "I'm dating a swimmer from the Sunnydale High swim team!" "You can die happy!" - which never fails to make me laugh, I thought the swim team monster makeup was actually really well done, I'll always enjoy Buffy slamming Cam's face into the steering wheel, and I think the episode is an interesting commentary on how society privileges certain people unfairly. I've also always loved Buffy's 'Hero Moment' when she saves Gage from Angelus. When she pulls the wooden clip out of her hair and shakes her head she does indeed look really, really beautiful.
I personally prefer all 3 of these episodes to some truly dull episodes like "Gone" or "Him." I do understand people disliking "Go Fish" as the overall plot is really bad and it's placement in Season 2 really is very poor (it breaks up "I Only Have Eyes For You" and "Becoming") but "Reptile Boy" and especially "Inca Mummy Girl" aren't that bad at all.
