ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY RECOMMENDS: VIDEO & DVD

Review: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer's' second season

(Entertainment Weekly) -- Leave it to a demon-dusting Valley Girl to achieve the impossible.

A midseason entry in its first year, ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' not only came back for a second round but came back stronger, bolder, and just plain better.

Where Season 1 laid the groundwork, Season 2 explored that foundation and transformed it into the rich mythology ''Buffy'' is known for, yielding such classic episodes as ''Innocence,'' in which Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) experienced her sexual awakening.

Season 2 also marks the beginning of Willow's (Alyson Hannigan) dabbling in witchcraft and introduces punk-rock vampire Spike (James Marsters), who, executive producer Marti Noxon tells us on a commentary track, was just too cool to kill off as originally planned.

The special features are definitely an improvement on the first ''Buffy'' boxed set, including behind-the-scenes goodies like the ''Beastiary'' and quickie interviews with creator Joss Whedon.

Still, fans craving in-depth chats with Gellar, David Boreanaz, and the Scooby Gang will go hungry.

Grade: A-