Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Dirty Girls (2003)

Following their joint adventures in Los Angeles (see Angel, "Orpheus"), sorceress Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and slayer Faith (Eliza Dushku) find their drive home to Sunnydale interrupted by the machinations of Caleb (Nathan Fillion), a murderous preacher who's turned away from God and toward The First. After espousing a rather misogynistic world view to a newly arrived potential slayer (Mary Wilcher), Caleb leaves her half-dead by the side of the road as a message for Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar). As Willow watches over the girl at the hospital, Faith finally reconnects with Buffy. Although she hasn't forgiven Faith for a multitude of past sins (see, for example, "Who Are You?"), Buffy's glad to have another slayer in town. She's less happy, however, to find Faith hitting it off with Spike (James Marsters). After mistaking the guy for a typical vamp and almost dusting him, Faith swaps smokes and stories with the soulful blood-sucker. Nobody else, though, seems very convinced that she's reformed. Soon, Caleb's victim awakens and reveals that her attacker is in control of The First's Bringers, Buffy decides it's time for the potentials to experience some real combat. Over the strenuous objections of Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), she and Faith lead a team into what turns out to be a total massacre at the hands of Caleb and his Bringers. Molly (Clara Bryant) and some other potentials bite the big one, while Rona (Indigo) suffers a broken arm. Xander (Nicholas Brendon), however, receives the most gruesome injury: Caleb puts out one of his eyes. What remains of Buffy's army flees in retreat, leaving the humbled slayer to ponder her next move. Originally broadcast April 15, 2003, on UPN, "Dirty Girls" marked episode 140 of the cult-favorite series. Three years after her last Buffy appearance and just weeks after a three-episode stint on sister series Angel, Eliza Dushku reprises her role as Faith. New villain Caleb is portrayed by Nathan Fillion, who previously starred in Firefly, the short-lived space Western from Buffy creator Joss Whedon. During a series of provocative conversations with The First, the character reveals that he's the one who blew up the headquarters of the Watchers' Council (see "Never Leave Me"). ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi