Douglas Petrie Movies

A 4400 terrorist marks the dead Jordan Collier's birthday by planting a device within NTAC that causes all the males to turn savage, forcing a lockdown of the facility. Meanwhile, Lily suspects the 4400 Center has devious plans for Isabelle; Shawn adjusts to being a media figure; and Kyle kindles a romance. ~ Jeanette Martin, All Movie Guide

Now that he's "outed" himself as the son of a slayer, Principal Wood (D.B. Woodside) visits the potential-slayer compound at the Summers home. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) proudly demonstrates the girls' rigorous training program, but her lessons seem too rough for at least one of the potentials. Spurred on by the sinister whisperings of The First, a terrified and depressed Chloe (Lalaine) hangs herself. Her death shatters the other slayerettes' naive illusion that this is all some sort of superhero summer camp. Buffy defiantly warns them that Chloe was stupid and they will be, too, if they give in as easily as the dead girl did. More desperate than ever for answers about her powers, Buffy turns to a gift from Wood: a bag of slayer artifacts passed on from his mother to her Watcher to Wood. Discovering a mysterious box among the items, Buffy opens it and soon finds herself transported to a spirit realm much like the one she visited during her encounters with the specter of the First Slayer (see "Restless" and "Intervention"). This time, however, she communes with the spirits of the three mystics who created the First Slayer back in prehistory. Buffy learns that this was accomplished by chaining a young girl down and filling her with demonic power. The trio offer Buffy the chance for more of this dark magic, but she refuses, unwilling to accept its demonic nature -- and her own. Meanwhile, back on earth, the Scoobies are stuck fighting a demon who switched places with Buffy when she did her disappearing act. Spike (James Marsters) vanquishes the beast, drawing Buffy back to earth, but not before she witnesses a terrifying vision of an entire army of über-vamps like the one she recently almost died defeating (see "Showtime"). Originally broadcast Feb. 18, 2003, on UPN, "Get It Done" marked episode 137 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) finds her continued sexual hijinks with Spike (James Marsters) and her dead-end job at the Doublemeat Palace interrupted by an unexpected visitor: ex-boyfriend Riley Finn (Marc Blucas). Last seen heading off to fight demons in Belize (see "Into the Woods"), Riley seeks Buffy's help in tracking a Savolti demon, whose lightning-fast breeding cycle makes it particularly nasty. During the mission that follows, the old flames each get a rude surprise: Buffy, when she meets Sam (Ivana Milicevic), Riley's fellow soldier and wife; and Riley, when he stumbles onto Buffy and Spike in bed together. Although it's her insecurity at Riley's apparently quick recovery from their breakup that sends Buffy back to Spike's boudoir in the first place, she's horrified to have her ex learn about her own latest liaison. Ever the standup guy, though, Riley assures Buffy that no matter what's going on with her job or her love life, she's still the strongest woman he knows. Riley's visit doesn't turn out quite so comforting for a certain bleach-blond vampire. Not only does the do-gooder reveal Spike to be the mastermind behind the Savolti-breeding scheme, he also inadvertently spurs Buffy to break things off with Spike. Avowing that she could never love Spike and has just been using him, Buffy apologizes to her dumbstruck lover and walks out on him. Originally broadcast February 26, 2002, on UPN, "As You Were" marked episode 115 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Quentin Travers (Harris Yulin) and several other members of the Council arrive in Sunnydale with information about Glory (Clare Kramer) and begin ordering Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) around. They promise to share their data if Buffy and her friends will submit to tests and interviews, but they warn that without cooperation they'll shut down the magic shop and have Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) deported. Everyone reluctantly goes along with the Council's directives until a pair of close calls shifts the balance of power. First, Glory herself shows up at Buffy's house and threatens to kill Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) and Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) if the Slayer doesn't reveal the location of "The Key." Then, a bunch of medieval warriors called the Knights of Byzantium show up, declaring that Buffy is their enemy as long as she harbors The Key. Unflappable even in the face of these twin threats, Buffy turns the tables on Travers. Announcing that she's the one with all the actual power, she gets the Council members to cough up their info. They reveal the subtle but profound distinction that Glory is a god, not a demon. Originally broadcast January 23, 2001, on the WB network, "Checkpoint" marked episode 90 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

As Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) awaits her role as sacrificial victim for monstrous hell-god Glory (Clare Kramer), her slayer sister (Sarah Michelle Gellar) withdraws deeply into herself. Devastated by the shame of having allowed Dawn to be kidnapped (see "Spiral"), Buffy retreats into the safety of an illusory childhood in which she's safe with her long-estranged father, her now-deceased mother, and her mystically incarnated baby sister. Meanwhile, Glory battles for control with Ben (Charlie Weber), her unwilling host body. Ben's conscience and memories keep leaking into Glory's consciousness, leading her to pontificate about the misery of the human condition to the captive Dawn. Ben briefly manages to wrest full control from his demonic sibling. He attempts to free Dawn, but Glory promises him immortality if he'll stop fighting. He acquiesces, earning Dawn's disgust. Meanwhile, a firm but patient Willow (Alyson Hannigan) uses her magicks to wrench her way into Buffy's subconscious and give the Slayer a good talking-to. Buffy awakens from her catatonia, ready to save the day. That's when Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), recovering from his injuries, reveals that Glory's plan to break down the barrier between dimensions requires that Dawn's blood be spilled at a certain place and time; the barrier will remain open until all of Dawn's blood is spent. Originally broadcast May 15, 2001, on the WB network, "The Weight of the World" marked episode 99 of the cult-favorite series. This episode marked the first of several posthumous appearances by Buffy's mother, Joyce, played by Kristine Sutherland. The recently deceased Summers matriarch would feature in another of her daughter's hallucinations (see "Normal Again") and pop by for a beyond-the-grave chat with Dawn (see "Conversations With Dead People"). ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Spike (James Marsters) reveals his feelings for Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) when she comes to him for information on what it's like when a slayer dies. A brush with her own mortality ignites Buffy's curiosity and she realizes that only Spike, who has killed two previous slayers, will be able to sate it. When she offers the neutered vampire cash for his life story, he happily obliges: William, a terrible poet in the London of 1880, tries to court beautiful Cecily Addams (Kali Rocha) but finds acceptance only from Drusilla (Juliet Landau), the alluring but insane vampire who later sires him. Rampaging across the planet with Darla (Julie Benz), Angelus (David Boreanaz), and Dru, William comes into his own and renames himself Spike. His flamboyant carnage annoys the low-profile Angelus, who warns Spike that one day a slayer will get the best of him. Now fixated on slayers, Spike kills a Chinese Chosen One (Ming Liu) during the Boxer Rebellion, earning extravagant praise from Drusilla. A mere 75 years later, on a subway in New York, he finally bags his second slayer (April Weeden-Washington), this one a Foxy Brown-style heroine from whose corpse he collects his now-signature black leather trench coat. Dru remains his inamorata throughout these adventures, but in 1998 she leaves him, disgusted by his truce with Buffy (see "Becoming, Part 2"). In the present day, Spike counsels Buffy that he was able to kill both slayers only because their constant proximity to death left them eager, finally, to feel its peaceful embrace. He tells Buffy that when she's ready he will kill her, then he tries to kiss her. She recoils, tells him he's beneath her, and leaves him sobbing. Later, however, after learning her mother has once again been hospitalized, Buffy stiffly allows Spike to console her. Originally broadcast November 14, 2000, on the WB network, "Fool for Love" marked episode 85 of the cult-favorite series. The subsequent episode "Hell's Bells" would hint strongly that Halfrek, the vengeance demon played by Kali Rocha, is the same person as Cecily Addams, the human she portrays here. And although she would be played by a different actress, this episode's unnamed Blaxploitation slayer would resurface unexpectedly in "First Date." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Episode 48 finds Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) falling under the negative influence of maverick slayer Faith (Eliza Dushka). The episode is also noteworthy for the introduction of Buffy's new Watcher, Wesley (Alexis Denisof), a young and unwelcome administrative type who views Giles' training techniques as outmoded. At the start of the episode, Buffy dusts a vampire armed with two swords, which are then stolen by Mr. Trick (K. Todd Freeman), apparently playing some part in the mayor's ascension. Later, Buffy is introduced to the uptight and overconfident Wesley, whom she immediately dislikes. Nonetheless, Wesley informs her that the vampire with the swords belonged to the 15th century duelist cult El Eliminati -- worshippers of the demon Balthazar. They are now searching for a lost amulet, which is in all likelihood harmless. After finding the amulet and discovering where Balthazar is hiding, Faith persuades Buffy -- against her better judgment -- to break into a sporting goods store for weapons. They are arrested and -- again through Faith's persuasion -- cause the squad car to crash so they can escape. Giles and a terrified Wesley are captured by the El Eliminati; during the capture, Faith mistakenly kills Deputy Mayor Finch (Jack Plotnick), an act that will drive her insane and make her evil. Buffy and Angel (David Boreanaz) come to save Giles, who then shows up Wesley by deftly beheading Balthazar with some top-notch swordplay. Meanwhile, the Mayor (Harry Groener) performs a ceremony, after which he pronounces himself invincible for the next 100 days until the Ascension. Buffy confronts Faith about killing Finch -- killing a human is against slayer policy -- but Faith just doesn't care. ~ All Movie Guide

Featuring more subterfuge than a Shakespearean comedy, the good slayer/bad slayer plot thickens as Faith (Eliza Dushka) and the Mayor (Harry Groener) plan to take away Angel's (David Boreanaz) soul. Meanwhile, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), and the rest of the gang debate the nature of the Ascension -- which says it will make a city disappear; they all agree this would not be good! Following the Mayor's orders, Faith steals the Books of Ascension from a demon she has killed. She then goes to Angel and attempts to seduce him and turn him evil. It does not work, but Buffy comes in on them just as Faith kisses Angel. Later, unaware that Faith is working with the Mayor, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) has Buffy and Faith go look for the Books of Ascension. ~ All Movie Guide

Faith's (Eliza Dushku) new Watcher, Mrs. Gwendolyn Post (Serena Scott Thomas), arrives from England. She reveals that she is in Sunnydale not only to look after Faith, but also to stop the demon Lagos from acquiring the Glove of Mynegon -- a weapon. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) -- who has not told anyone that Angel (David Boreanaz) is alive -- tells Angel about Lagos. Later, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) is shocked to find Angel carrying something out of the Von Hauptman family crypt -- the location Giles (Anthony Head) believes the Glove of Mynegon to be. Xander rats out Buffy's secret and consequently Mrs. Post encourages Faith to go kill Angel and Xander joins in. Meanwhile, Giles informs Mrs. Post about everything he knows about the glove's powers and how to destroy it -- and she promptly knocks him out. On their way to kill Angel, Xander and Faith discover Giles unconcious and assume it was Angel's doing. Then, at Angel's mansion, Faith is about to slay Angel when Mrs. Post puts on the Glove of Mynegon. Realizing Mrs. Post's true evil intentions, Faith and Buffy turn their attention on her. ~ All Movie Guide