Giles originally forbids Buffy from joining the cheerleading squad, arguing it's a "cult" and a distraction from her sacred duty as the Slayer.

The episode features one of the series' first major supernatural twists, where Amy and her mother's consciousnesses are swapped.

Buffy and the "Scooby Gang" initially suspect , a fellow cheerleader hopeful, of using dark magic to eliminate her competition. The investigation eventually reveals that Amy’s mother, Catherine Madison , is the true witch. Driven by an obsession with her past "glory days," Catherine used a spell to switch bodies with her daughter to relive her youth.

Buffy tries to reclaim a sense of normalcy by trying out for the . However, the tryouts take a supernatural turn when several competitors are hit by bizarre, dangerous accidents, including spontaneous combustion and sudden blindness.

The title of the third episode of (Season 1) is simply "Witch" . Episode Synopsis

For a deeper look into the episode's plot and character development, check out this review: