Season 6, Episode 21

Written by Douglas Petrie

Directed by Bill Norton

Original Airdate: 20 May 2002

"Come on, this is a huge deal for me! Six years as a side man, and now I get to be the Slayer."

Willow

REGULAR CAST

• Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers

• Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris

• Emma Caulfield as Anyanka

• Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn Summers

• James Marsters as Spike

• Alyson Hannigan as Willow Rosenberg

GUEST CAST

• Danny Strong as Jonathan Levinson

• Tom Lenk as Andrew Wells

• Jeff Kober as Rack

SPECIAL GUEST STAR

• Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles

CO-STARRING

• James C. Leary as Clem

• Steven W. Bailey as Cave Demon

• Jeff McCredie as Officer

• Damian Mooney as Patrol Cop

• Michael Younger as Truck Driver

SYNOPSIS

• Buffy, Xander and Anyanka run through the woods and Xander fights the urge to be sick so they can reach Willow before she gets to Andrew and Jonathan. Knowing Willow will take some time to get to the prison, even at her level, Anyanka teleports herself to get there first so she can save the boys. Buffy and Xander find Xander's car destroyed courtesy of Willow and Buffy runs ahead by herself. Andrew is still convinced Warren is coming to save them, but Jonathan has a bit more of a realistic view and the two argue. Anyanka appears in the cell and updates the guys on the events that have happened since they were put in jail. Anyanka calls to the guard and tries to convince him that he needs to let the guys out because something terrible is coming for them.
  
  Willow arrives outside the police station, puts an officer down and uses magic to tear apart the brick wall that keeps her from Andrew and Jonathan's cell. Officers try to stop Willow, but she keeps them all at bay. Anyanka is pretty much helpless and can't get the guys out of the cell as the wall breaks apart. Meanwhile, Buffy arrives on the scene and sneaks into the building. Willow floats up to the opening in the wall, but finds that the cell bars have been bent apart and Buffy has gotten the guys out. Anyanka tries to talk to Willow, but Willow knocks her out and lets out a powerful and seemingly endless scream.
  
  Xander steals a police car and gives Buffy, Andrew and Jonathan an escape. Buffy and Xander talk about their plans and question why Willow isn't after them already. They don't have to wait long as a huge semi-truck approaches from behind with Willow on top, controlling the vehicle. Eventually though, Willow runs out of power and the driver stops the truck while Xander and the others escape. Clem tries to entertain Dawn, but she is focused more on the fact that she is cooped up in the crypt with him and wants to be helping her sister and friends. Spike reviews the rules of the trial with the demon and then a large man with flaming fists approaches and starts to attack Spike.
  
  Dawn has Clem lead the way to Rack's moving shop, but the demon tries to convince her it's a really bad idea. Anyanka helps the others into the Magic Box and goes to one of the few books Willow didn't drain, a book of protection spells. Jonathan tries to help, but Buffy isn't interested and he only manages to let them know that Willow will need a recharge soon. Buffy and Xander talk about keeping Willow from killing Andrew or Jonathan and what is going to happen when they do actually find her. Willow pays Rack a visit and he starts to chat with her, but things don't go as he planned when she starts to suck the power from him. Clem finally gets Dawn to Rack's place and Dawn goes in to talk with him but finds Rack dead and a much more powerful Willow waiting for her.
  
  Dawn is frightened by the new Willow and tries to get away, but Willow won't let her leave. Dawn mentions Tara, but it has little impact on Willow. Irritated with Dawn, Willow suggests ending Dawn's constant whining by sending her back to being a ball of energy, but Buffy arrives in time to stand in the way. Jonathan continues to offer help to Xander and Anyanka as they struggle to translate the book, but Xander suggests he get back to sitting down unless he can do the translating for them. Andrew wonders why Jonathan is helping their supposed enemy and suggests a plan to escape before Willow can get to them. Anyanka and Xander bicker about handling the situation with Willow and the sour turns their relationship took. Xander expresses his guilt about what's currently happening because he saw Warren's gun before he shot anyone and didn't do anything.
  
  Buffy tries to reason with Willow and get Dawn out safely, but Willow's tired of being the old Willow because the only good part of that involved Tara. Willow doesn't buy Buffy's attempt to convince her life is worth living because she knows Buffy is anything but someone who wants to live. Willow transports the three of them into the Magic Box where Buffy and Dawn collapse to the floor and Willow turns her magic on Andrew and Jonathan. A protection barrier stops Willow from hurting the guys because Anyanka continuously chants a protection spell. Meanwhile, in Africa, a burned Spike finally manages to defeat his challenger, but he quickly finds out that that was only the first of many tests he must pass. Buffy tries to talk with Willow and stop her from hurting Andrew or Jonathan but Willow is relentless and casts a spell on herself to make herself strong. Buffy steps up to physically stop Willow but she's carelessly tossed aside. Buffy recovers quickly and returns the favour to Willow.
  
  Xander and Dawn get Andrew and Jonathan out of the shop while Willow is down for a moment. The girls fight and Buffy pretty much gets her ass kicked because of Willow's magical advantage. Anyanka continues to chant the protection spell until Willow finds her and makes her stop. Andrew doesn't want to stay in Sunnydale where Willow can find him and wants to escape to Mexico, but Xander doesn't agree. Andrew rebels and pulls a sword on Xander, but Jonathan pulls a sword on Andrew and informs Andrew that they're not getting away, they're going to go back to jail. Willow tosses Anyanka aside and then does the same to Buffy, confident that no one can stop her now. Suddenly, a bright green light sends Willow flying across the shop and Giles appears in the doorway, willing to test her unstoppable power.

TRIVIA

• Anthony Stewart Head is not credited until the end credits of this episode to keep his return a secret. When this episode originally aired it was combined with Grave as a two-hour movie event. In repeat airings, it's cut, and each episode has a set of opening credits.

• Instead of the usual Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer intro normally narrated by Anthony Stewart Head, Nicholas Brendon begins an intro that explains all the major events of this seasons with 'This is what happened this year...'

CONTINUITY

• When Willow drains Rack of his magic she tells him that she 'just wanna take a little tour.' He said this to her in Wrecked.

• The episode title is a direct reference to Willow's last words in Villains: "One down..."

GOOFS

• When Xander says "she drained the place" the boom mic comes down behind him.

• When Willow drains Rack, she holds his face with her right hand. This changes to her left in the next shot.

• In the final fight scene between Buffy and Willow, the timing is all wrong between when Buffy hits Willow and when her head swings back.

• Where did Clem go? One minute he's 'baby-sitting' Dawn (by putting her in mortal danger by taking her to Rack's place) and then he just disappears.

Bargaining (Part 1) | Bargaining (Part 2) | Afterlife | Flooded | Life Serial

All the Way | Once More, With Feeling | Tabula Rasa | Smashed | Wrecked | Gone

Doublemeat Palace | Dead Things | Older and Far Away | As You Were | Hell's Bells | Normal Again

Entropy | Seeing Red | Villains | Two to Go | Grave