I Only Have Eyes for You (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

"I Only Have Eyes for You" is the nineteenth episode of the second season of the American television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Written by Marti Noxon and directed by James Whitmore, Jr., it originally aired on May 12, 1998.

The episode centers around the restless spirit of a student who committed suicide after being rejected by a teacher with whom she was infatuated. This spirit, James Stanley, possesses the bodies of those in Sunnydale High, forcing them to re-enact the events leading up to his death.

The title, "I Only Have Eyes for You," refers to the popular song of the same name, which serves as a thematic element within the episode. The song underscores the obsessive and destructive nature of Stanley's unrequited love.

The episode explores themes of obsession, unrequited love, and the lasting impact of trauma. It also delves into the complicated relationship between Buffy and Angel, as they are forced to confront their own struggles with passion and its potential for harm when possessed by Stanley. The episode is notable for its dramatic and emotionally charged performances, particularly from Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy) and David Boreanaz (Angel), as they portray the possessed characters. The narrative structure involves a complex interplay of possession and memory, blurring the lines between the past and the present, and highlighting the cyclical nature of violence and pain.