Jane Espenson Movies

Edward James Olmos directs this feature-length drama that tells the story of the Peabody-winning series -- from the perspective of the Cylons. Battlestar Galactica: The Plan finds man's creations plotting to destroy their makers, but when their genocidal scheme leaves survivors. Now, two Cylons must try to eliminate the remnants of humanity, while Adama (Olmos) and his fleet struggle to survive. From the nuclear devastation that began the miniseries to Sharon's (Grace Park) attempt to kill her commander, all the show's biggest moments are seen from the enemy's point of view. The film also stars Tricia Helfer, Michael Hogan, Dean Stockwell, Michael Trucco, and Aaron Douglas. ~ All Movie Guide

Richard (Edward Herrmann) is devastated when his mother Trix unexpectedly dies (though Marion Ross quickly returns to the series in the new role of cousin Marilyn), but this pales in comparison to Emily's (Kelly Bishop) reaction upon unearthing evidence of how truly and deeply Trix despised her. With her parents in no condition to think straight, it falls to Lorelai (Lauren Graham) to plan the funeral, right down to selecting the guest of honor's underwear. Meanwhile, Luke (Scott Patterson) finds it impossible to keep his problems to himself -- and is rapidly losing customers as a result. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The first new FOX network series of the 2003-2004 season, The O.C. was co-produced and co-created by McG, director of the Charlie's Angels theatrical films, and Josh Schwartz, a 26-year-old University of Southern California graduate, upon whose academic research the series was based. The titular initials stood for "Orange County," as in California. A troubled and troublesome teenager from a rough neighborhood and an unhappy home environment, Ryan Atwood (Benjamin McKenzie) was on the verge of becoming a full-time lawbreaker when he was taken under the wing of public defender Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher). Much to the dismay of his social-climbing, ex-beauty queen wife Kirsten (Kelly Rowan), Sandy invited Ryan to live with his family in the high-class Orange County community of Newport Beach. Also participating the series' Beverly Hills 90210-like plot convolutions were Adam Brody as the Cohen's intellectual-loner son Seth; Mischa Barton as gorgeous girl-next-door Marissa Cooper (one of the few "nice" characters amongst the spoiled and narcissistic teen population of Newport Beach); and Tate Donovan as Marissa's rich father, Jimmy. Jumping the gun on the standard September startup date, The O.C. premiered August 5, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After his model-home hiding place has gone up in flames, Ryan (Ben McKenzie) ends up back in juvenile hall -- and, inevitably, Sandy (Peter Gallagher) shows up to plead Ryan's case. Back in Newport, Sandy's wife, Kirsten (Kelly Rowan), must deal with the unbridled anger of her son (and Ryan's new best friend), Seth (Adrien Brody); and the community is "invaded" by Ryan's unreliable mother, Dawn (Daphne Ashbrook) -- who, despite repeated promises to her son, has gone back to binge-drinking and gambling. Also, the financial secrets between the Cohens and the Coopers are brought to the forefront during "Casino Night" in the O.C. ~ All Movie Guide

As geeky hostage Andrew (Tom Lenk) annoys Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her army of acolytes with the cheesy documentary he's trying to film about the Slayer's adventures, Buffy learns of serious disturbances at Sunnydale High School. She explains to Principal Wood (D.B. Woodside) that the new school, like the old one, sits atop the Hellmouth, whose demonic energy sometimes seeps out, causing pent-up teenage feelings to take horrifying shape. The Scoobies hypothesize that such enchantments are on the upswing thanks to the blood sacrifices that were recently used to unleash the Turok-Han through the mystical Seal of Danzalthar hidden beneath the school. Because Andrew helped open the seal by murdering best friend Jonathan (Danny Strong) at The First's behest, Buffy decides he'll be the one to help close it. As Wood and Spike (James Marsters) stave off the ensorcelled hooligans who are rioting in the halls, the Slayer and her would-be biographer make their way into the bowels of the building. There, Buffy forces Andrew to come face-to-face with the horrible acts he committed -- and the made-up stories he's been telling himself to assuage his guilt. Terrified that the Slayer plans to close the seal with his blood, a tearful Andrew admits his sins. In doing so, he finds the real way to shut the portal down, thereby returning Sunnydale High to about as normal a state as it ever achieves. Originally broadcast February 25, 2003, on UPN, "Storyteller" marked episode 138 of the cult-favorite series. In addition to providing humorous flashbacks and references to numerous earlier episodes, this installment also offers a sort of unified field theory about the creature-of-the-week episodes that characterized Buffy's first season. Flashbacks and Andrew's stories once again allow Adam Busch and Danny Strong to appear as the other now-deceased members of season six's nerdy supervillain triumvirate. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

The crew plans a visit to Persephone, where Mal (Nathan Fillion) just wants to re-supply, look for a job, and get out. He walks in on Inara (Morena Baccarin) as she's making plans to visit a regular client on the planet, a well-heeled gentleman named Atherton Wing (Edward Atterton). She tells Mal she'll attend a grand ball with Atherton. Mal, obviously jealous, makes disparaging comments about her profession, and she returns the favor. On the planet, Mal mocks Kaylee (Jewel Staite) when she admires a frilly dress in a store window, opining that his mechanic in such a get-up would resemble "a sheep walking on its hind legs." Later, Mal gets a business proposition from an unfriendly acquaintance, Badger (Mark Sheppard). There's a rich client, Harrow (Larry Drake), who has some goods he wants smuggled off the planet, but he won't deal with the lowlife Badger. Badger suggests that the somewhat more refined Mal hook up with Harrow at an upcoming ball (the same one Inara's attending, of course), and take the job. Mal makes up for his earlier rudeness to Kaylee by getting her that frilly dress, so he can go to the ball as her escort. While Kaylee attacks the buffet table, and wows a group of attentive men with her technical expertise, Mal approaches Harrow and offers his services. Before any kind of deal can be struck, Mal sees Inara and is introduced to Atherton. Mal cuts in on their dance, and Inara tells him that Atherton has asked her to live with him on Persephone. This news provokes Mal to strike Atherton, inadvertently challenging him to a duel. Atherton, an expert swordsman, accepts. Does Mal know anything about fighting with swords? As Zoe (Gina Torres) puts it, "I think he knows which end to hold." ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

While on a routine patrol, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) encounters Holden Webster (Jonathan M. Woodward), a high-school classmate she barely knew, just as he's rising from the grave as a newborn vamp. The slayer and her foe spend more time talking than fighting; Holden's affable demeanor weakens Buffy's emotional defenses, leading her to articulate her deepest insecurities. The vamp's most interesting insights -- that Buffy has a thing for guys who hurt her, and, when it comes to her closest friends, suffers from both a super-power superiority complex and a moral inferiority complex -- aren't nearly as shocking as the revelation that he was sired by Spike (James Marsters). Back at the Summers' house, Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) pigs out and plays with Buffy's weapons until a series of Poltergeist-like scare tactics reveals the assault of an unseen demon. Dawn fights back against the shadowy threat and eventually receives a chilling message from the shade of her own long-dead mother (Kristine Sutherland). Meanwhile, at the library, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) meets Cassie (Azura Skye), Dawn's recently deceased psychic classmate (see "Help"). The melancholy spirit claims to bear messages from Tara, Willow's late lesbian lover, but Willow sniffs something amiss when Cassie counsels her to kill herself before she loses control of her powers again. Suddenly, Cassie morphs into demon form, spits out a few nasty threats, and disappears, revealing herself to be the same shape-shifting demon who has been tormenting poor Spike all season. As for Buffy's bad-boy vampire ex, he does, indeed, appear to be feasting on human blood again. Even more blood is spilled by returning super-nerd Andrew (Tom Lenk), who ritually murders his compatriot Jonathan (Danny Strong) at the urging of a spirit who claims to be slain super-villain Warren (Adam Busch). Originally broadcast November 12, 2002, on the UPN network, "Conversations With Dead People" marked episode 129 of the cult-favorite series. After the events of this episodes, fans finally figured out that the season's shape-shifting villain is none other than the First Evil, who briefly battled Buffy four years earlier (see "Amends"). ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

While Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) heads to England to ask the Council for help in defeating Glory (Clare Kramer), Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) deals with the aftermath of Riley's sudden departure (see "Into the Woods"). A recovering Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) and a forlorn Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) seem to miss Buffy's boyfriend as much as she does, while Spike (James Marsters) regrets having revealed Riley's infidelity and causing the Slayer so much pain. Anya (Emma Caulfield), meanwhile, is delighted to be left in charge of the Magic Box and annoyed that Giles has asked Willow (Alyson Hannigan) to keep an eye on things. A petty power struggle ensues between the Wiccan and the surly ex-demon. Tara (Amber Benson) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) leave the squabbling ladies to battle it out, but things go awry when Anya disrupts the spell Willow is working on and accidentally unleashes a troll on Sunnydale. The creature turns out to be Olaf (Abraham Benrubi), Anya's once-human ex-boyfriend, whose infidelity led her, a millennium ago, to become a vengeance demon and turn him into a troll. His rampage -- and repartee with Anya -- provide plenty of comic ruminations on the nature of love. Anya is even moved to admit that she fears Willow will come between her and Xander the same way Willow came between Xander and Cordelia. Buffy and Willow eventually beat up and vanquish Olaf, but not before he trashes the Magic Box and the Bronze. Giles returns from England without much new information, but Dawn overhears the ensuing conversation and inadvertently learns for the first time that she is "The Key" that Glory seeks. Originally broadcast January 9, 2001, on the WB network, "Triangle" marked episode 89 of the cult-favorite series. Abraham Benrubi would reprise his role as Olaf in the seventh-season episode "Selfless." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

After the previous episode's romantic tug-of-war (see "Crush"), love is once again in the air. Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) nearly goes on a date with cute doctor Ben (Charlie Weber), unaware that he actually time-shares his mortal shell with the malevolent Glory (Clare Kramer). Meanwhile, a disturbingly perky woman named April (Shonda Farr) arrives on the scene looking around frantically for her boyfriend, Warren (Adam Busch). She responds violently, and with great strength, to the vulgar flirtations of Spike (James Marsters), who's only hitting on her to assuage his hurt feelings over Buffy's rejection. The Scoobies figure out that the blank, cheerful, determined April is actually a robot. In fact, she's a sex-bot created by the nerdy Warren, who has since ditched his creation to enjoy a relationship with an actual human being named Katrina (Amelinda Embry). When Buffy confronts Warren about the mess he left behind, an incensed Katrina dumps him. Soon, the human girlfriend almost falls victim to the robot one, who's still searching for the man she was constructed to love. Buffy intervenes, saves Katrina, and comforts April as her batteries run down into oblivion. Saddened by the seemingly inane but actually thought-provoking wisdom she's received from the dying robot, Buffy breaks her date with Ben just as he's transforming into Glory. Spike, however, is less easily dissuaded from his infatuations. He turns to Warren for another sex-bot, this time in Buffy's image. Originally broadcast February 20, 2001, on the WB network, "I Was Made To Love You" marked episode 93 of the cult-favorite series. The character of Warren would reappear throughout the subsequent sixth season, slowly morphing from a misguided nerd into a villain capable of killing a member of the Scooby Gang. Pop sensation Britney Spears was in talks to play sex-bot April, but the part eventually went to Shonda Farr. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Despite the return of her beloved former watcher, domestic and financial issues compound the dark depression in which the Slayer has wallowed since her return from the dead. A flooded basement sends Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) scrounging for a loan when she learns that her mother's insurance money has long since been exhausted. Just as she's being turned down by the loan officer, Buffy witnesses a demon attacking the bank. During the confusion, the fiend's unseen accomplice makes off with a wad of cash. Angry about losing out on her loan and letting the demon escape, the exhausted Slayer heads to the training room to let off some steam. Soon Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) appears, fresh off the plane from England and full of reassuring wisdom. Worried that Buffy doesn't seem quite herself, he chastises an unrepentant Willow (Alyson Hannigan) for her foolhardy trafficking in dark magic. Elsewhere, three other former Sunnydale High misfits make use of the black arts: nerdy inventor Warren (Adam Busch, see "I Was Made to Love You"); class dork Jonathan (Danny Strong, see "Superstar"); and Andrew (Tom Lenk), the science fiction-obsessed younger brother of Tucker, the villain of "The Prom." These three hapless self-styled super-villains plan to use their ill-gotten gains from their earlier bank robbery to take over the entire town. The demon who assisted in their larceny tries to take out the Slayer, but Buffy vanquishes it -- without learning a thing about the creature's three very human accomplices. Originally broadcast October 16, 2001, on the UPN network, "Flooded" marked episode 104 of the cult-favorite series. Andrew, Jonathan, and Warren would appear throughout the rest of season six as both comic relief and the year's unlikely "big bad" villains. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

When love-sick vampire Spike (James Marsters) acquires a robot version of Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) to use as his sex toy, the resulting case of mistaken identity almost gives mad hell-god Glory (Clare Kramer) the key to interdimensional Armageddon. The problem begins when Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) takes Buffy on a vision quest into the desert. There, she communes with the spirit of the First Slayer (Sharon Ferguson) and learns, cryptically enough, that her greatest gift is death itself. Meanwhile, back in Sunnydale, various Scoobies spot Spike fighting alongside -- and canoodling with -- the Buffy-bot he recently obtained (see "I Was Made to Love You"). Fearing for the Slayer's virtue (and her sanity), her friends prepare to stage an intervention. Meanwhile, Glory's minions spot the Buffy-bot protecting Spike during a battle and jump to the conclusion that he must be The Key their mistress is seeking. They kidnap him and, when Glory realizes he isn't The Key, begin torturing him to find out who is. Meanwhile, Buffy arrives back at the Summers house and sets her friends straight about her sexual involvement, or lack thereof, with her neutered suitor. Learning from her robot doppleganger that Spike is in the big bad's clutches, Buffy rescues him to keep him from revealing that The Key is actually her sister, Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg). Then, in order to find out how much information Spike may have revealed to Glory, Buffy poses as her robot self and cuddles up to him. Once her deception is revealed, the besotted vampire vows that he would never allow Buffy or Dawn to be harmed -- a promise that earns him a tender kiss from his unattainable beloved. Originally broadcast April 24, 2001, on the WB network, "Intervention" marked episode 96 of the cult-favorite series. Buffy would finally figure out the meaning of the First Slayer's message in "The Gift"; in doing so, she would set the stage for an eventual non-robotic romance with Spike. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Wesley (Alexis Denisof) pretends to be Angel (David Boreanaz) while Angel consults with a shaman who turns out to be an impostor in this tale of mistaken identities. Despondent over the return of Darla (see "Dear Boy"), Angel heads to the demon karaoke bar Caritas for advice from the Host (Andy Hallett), who sends him on a weekend retreat with no-nonsense guru T'ish Magev (Art LeFleur). Meanwhile, back at headquarters, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) and Wesley are hassled by the henchmen of Magnus Bryce (Todd Susman), a businessman who made his fortune selling spells to the rich and famous. Bryce wants protection for his comely daughter, Virginia (Brigid Brannagh), whom he claims is in danger of being assassinated by his business rivals. Bryce wants Angel and only Angel to take the job, so Wes poses as his employer (even drinking a vial of blood) and begins faking his way through bodyguard duty. Along the way, he and Virginia have a tumble in the hay. Meanwhile, Angel learns that the T'ish Magev, despite having given him some real insights into his own character, is actually an impostor in the employ of one of Bryce's rivals. It turns out that, far from desiring to protect his daughter, Bryce wants to sacrifice Virginia to the demon goddess Yeska in exchange for greater power; the fake T'ish's job was to keep Angel from protecting the young woman. Eventually, Wes, Angel, and the crew save Virginia from her father. The young heiress begins a romance the man she now realizes is not Angel but Wesley, and Wes ends up in the society pages. Originally broadcast November 7, 2000, on the WB network, "Guise Will Be Guise" marked season two, episode six of the supernatural comedy drama. Guest star Todd Susman previously played the obnoxious PA voice on the long-running television comedy M*A*S*H. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

An earthquake hits Sunnydale, unleashing some demons seeking the ingredients to bring about the end of the world -- "Again," Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and her friends groan. Meanwhile, Spike (James Marstens), tied up at Xander's (Nicholas Brendon) and utterly dispirited over losing his ability to kill (see "Pangs"), attempts suicide by falling on a stake. Buffy and friends decide that maybe taking him along to stop the end of the world might cheer him up. Then, Giles (Anthony Head) is attacked by the demons who steal a talisman from him, thereby collecting all they need to start the end of the world. Earlier in the episode, Buffy and Riley (Marc Blucas) -- who fought "The Gentlemen" together in "Hush" -- reveal their secret lives to each other. Buffy keeps the information about The Initiative from Giles. ~ All Movie Guide