David Fury Movies
A made for TV movie that provides a bridge between the sixth and seventh seasons of the hit FOX action series 24, 24: Redemption features series star Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer. As the program opens, Bauer spends his time doing missionary work in Africa, laying low while the United States government attempts to capture him. His work leads him into contact with an evil warlord who maintains a loyal army by constantly brainwashing children into joining him. Bauer risks his freedom in order to stop the warlord. Redemption co-stars Oscar winner Jon Voight, Gil Bellows, and Robert Carlyle. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kiefer Sutherland, Cherry Jones, (more)
- 2005
Walt's father, Michael (Harold Perrineau), is very unhappy with the close friendship that is developing between the somewhat creepy survivalist Locke (Terry O'Quinn) and Walt, and tries to put an end to it. And, once again, a ferocious animal that is unfit for tropical climates makes an appearance in the jungle...this time attacking young Walt (Malcolm David Kelley) when he runs off on his own after yet another disagreement with Michael. Flashbacks in this episode give insight into the strained relationship between Michael and Walt -- and indicate that there may be something "different" about the boy. In other events on the island, Shannon (Maggie Grace) finally starts to use her knowledge of French to help Sayid (Naveen Andrews), and Charlie (Dominic Monaghan) wants to know much, much more about the still-missing Claire (Emilie de Ravin). ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christian Bowman, Monica Garcia, (more)
- 2005
Now that Hurley's (Jorge Garcia) CD player has finally "died," neither the survivors nor the viewers will be treated to those pop music snatches that have capped the previous episodes of Lost. This does not mean, however, that Hurley's importance to the series has diminished: in fact, this episode is all about him -- or rather, his fascination with the Frenchwoman who has been transmitting radio messages from the jungle interior of the island. Also, an extended flashback finally explains why Hurley had popped up on Korean TV in a prior episode's flashback. A boon of good luck had recently drastically changed Hurley's life; however, things were not as fortunate as they at first seemed, and Hurley had set off on a quest to determine the meaning of it all. And in another development, Locke (Terry O'Quinn) commits another act of largesse, with Claire (Emilie de Raven) and her baby as the recipients. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mira Furlan, Lillian Hurst, (more)
- 2004
The mystery of those French radio transmissions is revealed to Sayid (Naveen Andrews) -- but he may not live long enough to tell the other survivors. On a less serious note, roly-poly Hurley (Jorge Garcia) comes up with a silly plan to bring a bit of entertainment to the island, involving a set of golf clubs recovered from the wreckage of the plane. And an extended flashback tells us more than we'd like to know about Sayid's previous life as an Iraqi Republican Guard. Mira Furlan guest stars as Danielle Rousseau, a character who was decidedly not on the passenger list. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mira Furlan, Andreas Gabriel, (more)
- 2004
When Locke leads Kate and Michael on a hunt for food, a tantalizing secret about the island's most mysterious survivor suddenly comes to light. As Locke dreams about the moments just after the crash, Vincent's incessant barking wakes up the entire camp. Something is in the fuselage, and as the group attempts to get a better look by using a flashlight three wild boars come dashing out. Apparently the beasts had been attracted to the bodies that had been roasting in the fuselage for the last few days, leading Jack to recommend that the corpses be cremated. With food supplies running short, Locke recommends that the group go hunting the boars for meat - they can even use his personal collection of knives to slay the swine. As Locke reflects on his past, it's revealed that he was not the military man one would suspect but the average cubicle dweller. Later, Michael and Locke prepare to go out on the hunt while Sun keeps an eye on Walt and Sayid attempts to trace the source of the mysterious French transmission. Back on the beach, Claire collects the possessions of those killed in the crash in order to stage a eulogy. Claire asks Jack to conduct the ceremony but he refuses, leaving her reluctantly saddled with a weighty responsibility. Boone has noticed that a survivor named Rose has been sitting alone on the beach and refusing to east, though when he mentions it to Shannon she tells him to mind his own business. As the hunt continues, Locke hones in on the boar's tracks just as one of the beasts begins to charge. Immediately after, Locke drifts back to the time that he purchased the tickets for he and Helen to take an Australian walkabout and was casually rejected - leaving him more determined to slay the boar than ever. Meanwhile, Shannon attempts to manipulate Charlie into catching her a fish as Jack learns that Rose's husband Bernard is missing. Though she hasn't seen him since the crash, she instinctually knows that he is still alive. After Claire discovers an envelope marked for Sayid and containing a picture of a woman, Kate climbs a tree to attach an antennae to trace the broadcast and sees an enormous monster heading directly towards Locke. Jack too has noticed something in the trees, making a mad dash to find out just what it could be. Much to his surprise, it was just Locke returning with a wild boar for dinner. That night, as the fuselage is ignited and the memorial service begins, Michael asks Locke about the monster. While Locke claims to have seen nothing, it's obvious that he has more than his fare share of secrets. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- L. Scott Caldwell
- 2004
The runaway hit of ABC's 2004-2005 TV season, the weekly, hour-long drama series Lost began at a point that in any other case may have been an ending: a passenger jet was torn apart in mid-air, crashing on an uncharted Pacific Island. Stripped of all vestiges of the civilized world, the 48 survivors were forced to fend for themselves in their new tropical surroundings, which departed from the "norm" for similar castaway dramas by boasting a bizarre and frequently incomprehensible topography, not to mention a most unusual variety of wildlife -- include at least one polar bear! Among the principal survivors were Dr. Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox); fugitive Kate Ryan (Evangeline Lilly); has-been rock star Charlie Pace (Dominic Monaghan); the reclusive and mysterious John Locke (Terry O'Quinn); hot-tempered and self-serving James "Sawyer" Ford (Josh Holloway); chauvinistic Korean husband Jin Kwon (Daniel Dae Kim) and his much-put-upon wife, Sun (Yunjin Kim); resourceful former Iraqi Republican Guard Sayid (Naveen Andrews); estranged siblings Shannon Rutherford and Boone Carlisle (Maggie Grace, Ian Somerhalder) -- she's a bitch, he's a control freak; dad Michael Dawson (Harold Perrineau) and his sullen young son, Walt (Malcolm David Kelley); roly-poly comic relief Hugo "Hurley" Reyes (Jorge Garcia); and very pregnant Aussie Claire Littleton (Emilie de Raven). Forced to rely upon one another to stay alive, this diverse group shares a number of sinister secrets and oft-unsavory interrelationships, with the truth behind each character revealed piecemeal via flashbacks and little-unexpected twists of plot. Adding to the suspense, at least during the series' first season, was the apparent presence of a person not on the passenger list, who seemed determined to bump off the hapless castaways one by one, and a mysterious, terrifying yet unseen monster-like creature. Co-created by J.J. Abrams of Alias and Felicity fame, Lost debuted on September 22, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Still incensed that Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) had the anti-violence chip removed from Spike's head, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) shows up with a mystical means of tracing The First's hold on the re-ensouled vampire. Spike (James Marsters) therefore reluctantly submits to the insertion of a magical slug into his eye socket. Once inside his skull, the creature shakes loose all sorts of memories. Spike recalls the close relationship he shared with his crippled mother (Caroline Lagerfelt) and his disastrous decision to sire her once Drusilla (Juliet Landau) entered the picture. He also finally remembers the identity of The First's post-hypnotic trigger: "Early One Morning," a folk tune his mother used to sing to him, is the song that now summons the beast within. Meanwhile, Principal Wood (D.B. Woodside) recalls his troubled relationship with his own mother, slain slayer Nikki Wood (K.D. Aubert), and reveals to Giles that he's out for vengeance against Spike for killing her. Giles conspires to keep Buffy busy while Wood takes his best shot at Spike, but their unholy alliance backfires. The result? An indignant Buffy turns her back on her former Watcher, while Spike finally comes to terms with his past -- and with The First's hold on him. Originally broadcast March 25, 2003, on UPN, "Lies My Parents Told Me" marked episode 139 of the cult-favorite series. Willow (Alyson Hannigan) appears in this episode only long enough to head off to Los Angeles to help out another of Buffy's vampire-with-a-soul boyfriends (see Angel, "Orpheus"). ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Thanks to her stint as a higher being, during which she relived every atrocity Angelus (David Boreanaz) ever committed, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) now knows that Angel and The Beast (Vladimir Kulich) were once in league with one another. With perpetual night engulfing L.A. in a vampire and demon free-for-all, Wesley (Alexis Denisof) convinces Angel and the others that the only way to defeat The Beast is to consult the evil vampire buried underneath Angel's soul. But as Wes seeks the help of Wo-Pang (Roger Yuan), a sorcerer with the power to remove and store souls, Angel manages the seemingly impossible task of destroying The Beast. He makes amends with estranged son Connor (Vincent Kartheiser) and finally makes love with Cordelia. Then he awakens, mutters the name of a certain vampire slayer, and cackles with the maniacal glee of Angelus. The previous series of unlikely events was nothing but an illusion implanted by Wo-Pang in Angel's mind to give him a moment of true happiness -- the trigger that allows his evil alter ego to emerge. Originally broadcast January 29, 2003, on the WB network, "Awakening" marked season four, episode ten of the supernatural soap opera. The sequence in which Angel and Cordy make love deliberately resembles the night Angel took Buffy's virginity and accidentally unleashed the monster inside himself (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Surprise"). In another strong echo of Angel's parent series, the mystic Wo-Pang appears to be of the same order as the sorcerer who pretended to remove Angel's soul in the Buffy episode "Enemies." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Wesley (Alexis Denisof) and the others return to the hotel to find the gleeful Angelus (David Boreanaz) sucking Lilah (Stephanie Romanov) dry. After Angelus flees, an incensed Connor (Vincent Kartheiser) vows to kill his evil father, unaware that the injured Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) is actually Lilah's murderer. As Wesley prepares to decapitate Lilah's body to prevent any possible vampirification, he is haunted by his ex-lover's memory -- and by his own foolish hope that she would ever forsake her self-serving ways. Such thoughts of redemption remind Wes that Team Angel isn't without allies. He heads to prison to confer with rogue slayer Faith (Eliza Dushku), who has survived not only the last few years behind bars but also a recent attempt on her life. When she learns that Angelus is back, Faith busts out of prison and accompanies Wesley on his search for Angelus. The evil vampire lures Faith to an isolated industrial space where he and The Beast tag-team her. Just as The Beast is about to finish the slayer off, Angelus betrays the molten demon and smites him with his own weapon. The perpetual night that The Beast unleashed on L.A. dies with him, giving Faith the sunlight she needs to hold Angelus at bay. In other developments, Cordelia turns out to be The Beast's mysterious master. She keeps that information under wraps but does tell Connor another secret: She's pregnant with his child. Originally broadcast March 5, 2003, on the WB network, "Salvage" marked season four, episode 13 of the supernatural soap opera. With the announcement of Cordelia's impending motherhood, the producers of Angel were finally able to stop disguising actress Charisma Carpenter's real-life pregnancy with flowing outfits and crafty camera angles. This episode also marked the return of Eliza Dushku's Faith to the Buffyverse after an absence of more than two seasons. The rogue slayer's quest for redemption would continue in the following two installments, after which she would return to Buffy the Vampire Slayer for that show's final five episodes. The use of an ornate Bringer's knife during the attempt on Faith's life serves as a silent tie into the continuity of Buffy season seven. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2003
As Jasmine (Gina Torres) prepares to secure her dominion over the entire planet via a worldwide satellite broadcast, Angel (David Boreanaz) makes his way through the last dimension to enjoy her oppressive love. There, amidst a desolate, otherworldly landscape, he encounters Jasmine's High Priest (Robert Towers), who taunts the vampire champion about all that Jasmine has taken from him. Back on earth, Connor (Vincent Kartheiser) captures Wesley (Alexis Denisof), Fred (Amy Acker), Gunn (J. August Richards), and Lorne (Andy Hallett), but Jasmine keeps them as bargaining chips rather than killing them. As the interloping higher power devours another flock of her followers, Connor stuns his prisoners by revealing that he's been able to see her pestilent true face all along. Upset that Jasmine still won't divulge what happened to Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), Connor beats the information out of some acolytes. Rather than being eaten by her demon love-child, it seems that Cordy has been squirreled away for safekeeping. Connor finds his paramour and confesses to her still-unconscious form that despite his desperate need for belonging, he recognizes the danger of Jasmine's coercive agenda for peace. Back at the hotel, as the bug-faced one begins her global address, Angel arrives to reveal her true name to the assembled throng. All across the planet, people are suddenly able to see the higher being for what she truly is. Rioting breaks out, and in the climactic battle that follows, Jasmine is felled once and for all by an unlikely opponent. A battered Angel returns to the hotel, sick with worry about Connor, only to find a surprise visitor: the late Lilah Morgan (Stephanie Romanov), who was last seen as a headless corpse (see "Salvage"). Originally broadcast April 30, 2003, on the WB network, "Peace Out" marked season four, episode 21 of the supernatural soap opera. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Conducting some supernatural detective work, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) and Anya (Emma Caulfield) learn that Buffy's resurrection (see "Bargaining, Part 1") caused a vulnerability in the slayer line, which is presumably the impetus for The First's campaign to kill all the potential slayers in the world. As the surviving potentials continue to stream into town, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) does everything she can to get them to safety before The First's Bringers can take them out. Rona (Indigo), one such potential, gets a dramatic rescue at the Sunnydale bus depot and joins the assembled slayerettes at the house. Eve (Amanda Fuller), another potential, fills the other girls' heads with horror stories about what's in store for them at the hands of The First. Meanwhile, Buffy finds Eve's body in a motel outside town -- evidence that The First has infiltrated the ranks in the guise of yet another dead person. Once it's found out, the fiend taunts the assembled potentials, then winks out in a flash of light. Soon, the Turok-Han (Camden Toy) and a bunch of Bringers attack the house. Fresh out of ideas, Buffy asks Willow (Alyson Hannigan) to cast a protection spell, then assumes the role of decoy so Xander (Nicholas Brendon) can bring everyone to his construction site to hide. The übervamp cottons onto Buffy's con and turns up at the site ready to wreak havoc. But the Slayer achieves a stunning defeat and finally fells the creature that's been terrorizing her army. As it turns out, her earlier helplessness was a ruse cooked up telepathically by Buffy, Xander and Willow to set the stage for the Turok-Han's destruction. A triumphant Buffy gives the potentials a motivational speech and then rescues poor Spike (James Marsters) from the underground lair where The First has been torturing him. Originally broadcast January 7, 2003, on UPN, "Showtime" marked episode 133 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) arrives at the Magic Box and mystically shackles the grief-mad Willow (Alyson Hannigan), then hears from Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) about everything that's gone down since his departure (see "Tabula Rasa"). Their joyful reunion is interrupted, though, when Willow mystically compels Anya (Emma Caulfield) to free her. Luckily, Giles has come to end the Wiccan's rampage, and he's armed with the magicks of an entire coven. They battle epically, but soon Willow drains Giles of his powers and leaves him near-dead. Elsewhere, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) are on the run with surviving super-nerds Jonathan (Danny Strong) and Andrew (Tom Lenk). Willow dispatches the magical equivalent of a guided missile to kill the villains and their reluctant protectors. Buffy manages to save her friends, but in the confusion, Jonathan and Andrew escape; Buffy and Dawn end up in a cavern full of zombies. As for Willow, the influx of Giles' power puts her magically in touch with the pain and suffering of the entire planet; she resolves to burn the Earth to a cinder. Anya warns Xander of the impending apocalypse and he rushes to the rocky bluff where Willow is raising the malign temple of an ancient doomsday cult. Despite Willow's vicious attacks, Xander showers her with love and acceptance, which eventually drains her of black magic and restores her humanity. Meanwhile, after battling side by side with her sister, Buffy finally realizes that she's glad to be alive again. And in a dark cave somewhere in Africa, Spike (James Marsters) completes his quest to be returned to his former self. But his demon taskmaster doesn't remove the chip in Spike's head -- he returns the vampire's soul. Originally broadcast May 21, 2002, on UPN, "Grave" marked episode 122 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) denies being attracted to Spike (James Marsters), both to herself and to the bad-boy vamp. But when he catches her holding on to a memento from their tryst, she grows furious and chops off a great deal of her hair. The Slayer soon gets an even more radical makeover when she's hit by an invisibility ray -- nerdy villains Warren (Adam Busch), Andrew (Tom Lenk), and Jonathan (Danny Strong) are at it again with the super-weapons. This time, the Slayer's happy for the change. Merrily pulling pranks on people around town -- including the social service worker who's been critiquing her parenting skills -- Buffy soon makes her way to Spike's crypt for some X-rated fun. Meanwhile, Xander (Nicholas Brendon) offends Willow (Alyson Hannigan) by accusing her of turning Buffy invisible. Miffed, the recovering magic addict sets about finding the real culprit -- without supernatural help. Thanks to Willow's exhaustive detective work, Anya (Emma Caulfield) discovers that anything hit by the ray gun soon turns to invisible mush. Looking to warn Buffy of the impending danger, Xander interrupts Spike and the Slayer's lovemaking. With Buffy invisible, though, Spike is able to pretend he's merely exercising. As Buffy continues her escapade, unaware that she's about to turn to pudding, the super-nerd troika kidnaps Willow. During the battle that follows, Buffy regains her visibility and finally comes face to face with the dorks who've been persecuting her. The geeks escape, but her near-jellification at their hands finally convinces Buffy to be grateful that she's back from the dead. Originally broadcast January 8, 2002, on UPN, "Gone" marked episode 111 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2002
After being told that Spike (James Marsters) is once again siring vampires (see "Conversations With Dead People"), Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) leads a desperate investigation into the activities of her mad, recently soul-infused ex-lover. She discovers a string of disappearances and enlists the help of Anya (Emma Caulfield) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) in monitoring Spike's after-dark whereabouts. Spike himself appears to have no knowledge of the slayings, even though Buffy witnesses him leading a pretty, young thing down a dark alley to her probable doom. Eventually, Spike encounters a newborn vamp vixen who claims he sired her; fragmentary images of his killing spree slowly come back to him. Buffy, realizing that Spike is being manipulated by the same shape-shifting demon who recently toyed with Willow (Alyson Hannigan), nonetheless agrees to meet him in a deserted basement. Just as the confused Spike begins to confess to his amnesic killing spree, the shape-shifting demon appears to him (but not to Buffy) and manipulates him into carrying out a carefully orchestrated ambush. Buffy almost becomes the victim of the newborn vamps Spike has been "planting" in the earthen basement floor like so many undead tulip bulbs. But Spike's conscience-stricken abandonment of his tormentor's manipulations and her own fighting prowess save the slayer. Spike tells Buffy to kill him, but instead she resolves to dig into his repressed memories for clues about the identity of the big bad who's been haunting her friends. Meanwhile, in England, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) stumbles onto the scene of a massacre and appears well on his way to becoming the latest casualty from the Watcher's Council. Originally broadcast November 19, 2002, on the UPN network, "Sleeper" marked episode 130 of the cult-favorite series. Pop musician Aimee Mann appears as herself, singing songs from her album Lost in Space on-stage at the Bronze during Spike's battle with the vampire he sired. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Still unable to contact the missing and now apparently godlike Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter), Angel (David Boreanaz) and the crew head to Vegas to enjoy a little R & R and take in pal Lorne's new musical revue. But at the show, their green-skinned, horned friend (Andy Hallett) refuses to acknowledge them -- even as he parlays his psychic power to read the future of anyone who sings for him into a parlor trick for the delighted audience. As it turns out, Lorne is the victim of Lee DeMarco (Clayton Rohner), a casino-owning crook who is forcing Lorne to help him literally steal the futures of any audience members who are set to enjoy fame or fortune. Fred (Amy Acker) disguises herself as one of Lorne's green-skinned backup dancers in an effort to rescue him, but the plan backfires and Angel himself gets his future stolen, reducing the vampire hero to a slot machine-addicted drone. It's only through the power of divine intervention (in the form a little mystical nudge from the far-off Cordy) that reunites Angel with his apocalyptic destiny -- and his fighting prowess. He and the crew head back to Los Angeles, where they find an apparently amnesiac Cordelia waiting for them. Originally broadcast October 20, 2002, on the WB network, "The House Always Wins" marked season four, episode three of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2002
The dark spell Angel (David Boreanaz) cast to force Sahjhan to materialize (see "Forgiving") has unexpected repercussions at the Hotel Hyperion. A client who visits the premises soon perishes after becoming grotesquely dehydrated and downing inhuman amounts of liquid. It turns out he's been infected by slug-like interdimensional parasites who impel their hosts to drink, drink, drink. When the incandescent little slitherers blanket the hotel, it's up to the gang to contain the contagion before all of Los Angeles becomes infected. As usual, it's Fred (Amy Acker) who falls prey to the monsters, leading boyfriend Gunn (J. August Richards) to make a difficult decision to save her. He enlists the help of the alienated Wesley (Alexis Denisof), who advises Gunn to cure Fred by simply feeding her a good, stiff, dehydrating drink of alcohol. Continuing to manifest new powers as a result of her half-demon transformation, Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) helps vanquish the slugs for good. Just then, another threat arrives through the vestigial interdimensional portal -- a teenaged warrior known as The Destroyer (Vincent Kartheiser) who calls Angel by an unexpected name: "Dad." Originally broadcast April 29, 2002, on the WB network, "The Price" marked season three, episode 19 of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Although Angel (David Boreanaz) has reunited with his co-workers, regaining their trust isn't easy. Wesley (Alexis Denisof) is now in charge, and Cordelia (Charisma Carpenter) tells Angel outright that although they may be working together, they're no longer friends. One of Cordy's own friends, former Sunnydale resident and classic ditz Harmony Kendall (Mercedes McNab), soon arrives in town for a visit. Unaware that Harmony is now a vampire (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "The Harsh Light of Day" and various other episodes of that series), Cordy invites the girl to stay with her. When Harm confesses that she wants to jump Cordelia, Cordy assumes she's gone sapphic. A phone call to actual lesbian Willow (Buffy mainstay Alyson Hannigan) soon sets her, ahem, straight. But Harmony claims she's trying to learn not to be evil. Cordy gives her friend the benefit of the doubt and insists on inviting Harmony to hang out with the crew. This causes no end of annoyance to the others, who are working on a case involving a guru-turned-vampire who now runs an undead pyramid scheme. Harmony proves a crucial ally in infiltrating the network, but she's so stupid that the charlatan easily convinces her to betray her friends. Nevertheless, Angel's team is triumphant, and Cordy can't find it in her heart to stake Harmony. As the team recovers from her eventful visit, Angel buys his way back into Cordelia's heart by purchasing her an entire new wardrobe. Originally broadcast April 17, 2001, on the WB network, "Disharmony" marked season two, episode 17 of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Cordy (Charisma Carpenter) and the boys proudly cure a client of a demonic third eye that has sprouted in the back of her head, but the girl's mother refuses to pay on the grounds that since demons don't exist, the team must have scammed her. Later, Virginia (Brigid Brannagh) breaks up with Wesley (Alexis Denisof), unable to cope with his dangerous lifestyle. Elsewhere, Detective Kate Lockley (Elisabeth Rohm) gets fired from the LAPD for her obsession with the occult. Meanwhile, Angel (David Boreanaz) learns that one of the senior partners of Wolfram & Hart, a fearsome Kleynack demon, will be arriving on earth soon for the firm's violent 75-year review. Angel decides to take his battle with the firm all the way to the bottom -- to hell, where he will confront the senior partners on their home turf. After basically stealing a book from Wes and Cordy and further alienating his former comrades, he turns to Denver (Brett Rickaby), the same bookstore proprietor who helped him 50 years earlier (see "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?"). Denver gives him a mystic gauntlet that will allow him to kill the visiting Kleynack demon and steal the magical ring with which it travels between dimensions. Unfortunately, Darla (Julie Benz), who has been recovering from her burns at the apartment of smitten lawyer Lindsey McDonald (Christian Kane), has also learned of the impending review. She arrives at the bookstore, kills Denver, steals the glove and runs Angel through with a sword. Later, both Darla and Angel crash the Wolfram & Hart review, and Angel manages to get his hands on both the gauntlet and the ring. When he puts it on, the deceased Holland Manners (Sam Anderson) arrives to take him in an elevator to hell. As it turns out, though, the elevator leads not to hell, but back to earth -- for, as Holland explains, evil is everywhere and inside everyone. As the bitter Kate lies near death, having washed down a bottle of pills with liquor, a demoralized Angel returns home to find Darla waiting for him. He falls nihilistically into bed with her and awakens in what appears to be the same agony that beset him after making love to Buffy and losing his soul (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Innocence"). Originally broadcast February 20, 2001, on the WB network, "Reprise" marked season two, episode 15 of the supernatural comedy drama. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2001
The obsessive love Spike (James Marsters) feels for Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) reaches a crossroads when Drusilla (Juliet Landau) arrives back in Sunnydale looking to rekindle their centuries-long love affair. By the time the mad predator shows up, a train full of corpses in her wake, Spike has slowly wormed his way into the position of annoying but useful ally to the Slayer. Troubled Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) has even taken to hanging out in the crypt of her sister's former nemesis, leading Buffy to conclude that the girl has a crush on Spike. The Slayer is shocked, then appalled, when Dawn tells her it's Spike who's in love -- with Buffy. The Slayer warns Spike not to even think about trying to start a romance, sending the hurt bloodsucker into the waiting arms of his ex. Dru convinces Spike to try to overcome the blinding pain his microchip-implanted brain inflicts on him whenever he tries to harm a human. He complies, assisting her in feeding on a happy couple at The Bronze. Back in Spike's crypt, just as the disgusted Buffy discovers the vampire's shrine to her, Dru arrives and knocks the Slayer out with a cattle prod. Spike leaps to Buffy's defense and before they know it both women find themselves strung upside down together. With Buffy repelled by Spike's advances and Dru revolted by his apparent love for the Slayer, a free-for-all breaks out. To complicate matters, airheaded vamp Harmony (Mercedes McNab) shows up, furious that Spike has once again used and discarded her. Somehow the beleaguered vampire gigolo survives all three women's fury, but he's dismayed when Buffy solidifies her rejection by having Willow (Alyson Hannigan) mystically revoke his ability to enter the Summers house uninvited. Originally broadcast February 13, 2001, on the WB network, "Crush" marked episode 92 of the cult-favorite series. Drusilla's visit to Sunnydale and sudden yearning for the comfort of her relationship with Spike follows her fiery near-death in the spin-off episode of Angel, "Redefinition." ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and the gang find themselves singing out their feelings in this musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The weirdness begins when Buffy interrupts her patrol to sing about post-resurrection angst. The next day, she learns that all of Sunnydale has become a great big Broadway musical. She and her friends float out various theories, but it turns out a musical demon named Sweet (Hinton Battle) has cast a nefarious spell over the town. As the enchantment forces various unfortunates to sing and dance until they burst into flames, the main characters find themselves expressing their deepest emotions. Tara (Amber Benson) sings a tender love song to Willow (Alyson Hannigan). Xander (Nicholas Brendon) and Anya (Emma Caulfield) share a comical duet about their marriage misgivings. Spike (James Marsters) belts out a heavy metal number about his love/hate relationship with Buffy. Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) croons pensively about Buffy's need for independence. And Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) dances a ballet of loneliness. Dawn also accidentally reveals that Willow cast a spell of forgetfulness over Tara (see "All the Way"). Soon, Tara and Giles are harmonizing about the need to leave Willow and Buffy for their own good. Just when it seems that these tangled emotions will cause the Scoobies to combust, however, Sweet arrives to make Dawn his underworld bride. While rescuing her sister, Buffy reveals the truth she's been hiding from her friends -- when they brought her back to life, they wrenched her not from Hell, but from Heaven. The anguished Slayer then almost dances herself into fiery oblivion -- until Spike intercedes and begs her to live. Once Sweet is vanquished, the entire cast sings an uncertain song about what the future may hold. Then Spike and the Slayer sneak out and share an unexpected kiss. Originally broadcast November 6, 2001, on UPN, "Once More, With Feeling" marked episode 107 of the cult-favorite series. Several minutes longer than a typical hour-long Buffy episode, the musical had to be trimmed for subsequent airings and syndication. A cast album was also released. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Skirmishes between Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and the three dorky would-be villains who have targeted her continue as the Slayer attempts to hit the books and find gainful employment. While auditing classes back at U.C. Sunnydale, Buffy literally brushes up against Warren (Adam Busch), with confusing results. The dorky inventor plants on her a device that speeds time up, resulting in lost hours and missed appointments for the Slayer. Just as she figures out what's going on, the tiny troublemaker self-destructs. The next day, Buffy reports to work at the construction site where Xander (Nicholas Brendon) has agreed to hire her. First her gender and then her super-strength and over-efficiency annoy her burly co-worker's, but Buffy doesn't last long at the new job, anyway; once again, Warren and his sidekicks send demons to attack her, and in protecting her fellow workers she causes thousands of dollars in damages. Soon Buffy finds herself working for Anya (Emma Caulfield) as a salesgirl at the magic shop; this time, the nerds pull a Groundhog Day on her, looping her through this particularly annoying afternoon until she is finally able to restore time to its normal flow by making her first sale. Later, during a drunken escapade with Spike (James Marsters), Buffy comes face to face with Jonathan (Danny Strong) in battle but doesn't even know it: the diminutive would-be arch-fiend is disguised as a much larger demon. He, Warren, and Andrew (Tom Lenk) make their getaway, having successfully taken stock of the Slayer's abilities. Originally broadcast October 23, 2001, on the UPN network, "Life Serial" marked episode 105 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) learns that her mother is suffering from brain cancer and feels helpless to do anything about it. Anya (Emma Caulfield) and Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) counsel her and Willow (Alyson Hannigan) that a healing spell might make things worse because the magical and the medical aren't supposed to mix. Riley (Marc Blucas) comforts Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) and tries to do the same for Buffy, but she pushes him away. She's too busy seeking out the giant snake-demon that Glory (Clare Kramer) has dispatched to find the mystical Key that, unbeknownst to the vivacious demon, has actually been incarnated into human form as Dawn. Buffy is furious to discover that Glory procured the materials for her enchantment from Giles and Anya's shop -- walked right in and out under their noses. Nonetheless, after receiving another butt-kicking from Glory, the Slayer tracks down the she-demon's minion and savagely mutilates it, thereby saving Dawn and venting some of her own feelings of powerlessness. Back at the hospital, she affects steely determination, once again shutting Riley out. Of course, she has no clue that he's been getting his kicks by letting a vampire tart suck his neck and then staking her. Originally broadcast November 21, 2000, on the WB network, "Shadow" marked episode 86 of the cult-favorite series. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Adam (George Hertzberg) now controls Riley (Marc Blucas) via a chip implanted in his arm by Dr. Walsh (Lindsay Crouse). His plan to create an army of half human/half demon is finally revealed along with new recruits Forrest (Leonard Roberts) and Dr. Walsh. Meanwhile, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) meets up with Giles (Anthony Head), Willow (Alyson Hannigan), and Xander (Nicholas Brendon). After comparing notes, the group realizes they've been tricked by Spike (James Marsters) into being angry with each other. They also piece together Adam's evil plan and break into the Initiative compound to put it to an end. They are captured by Initiative commandos and at the same time Adam releases the demons and chaos ensues. Needless to say, Spike's chip stays implanted. During the final battle sequence, Willow, Xander, and Giles magically imbue Buffy with heightened supernatural powers that seem correlate to each character's best personality trait. ~ All Movie Guide
- 2000
The mystery of the Slayer's newfound sibling deepens as narrator Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) confides to her diary that she's sick of big sis Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) hogging all the attention. Buffy vents her own frustrations about having to balance her duties as the Slayer with her sisterly responsibilities -- a juggling act thrown into sharp relief when Dawn accidentally invites bimbo vampire Harmony (Mercedes McNab) into the house and gets kidnapped, necessitating a dramatic rescue. As for viewers, they may well be frustrated by the sudden and inexplicable appearance of Dawn in the surprise ending of the previous episode (see "Buffy vs. Dracula"); Buffy was an only child for the first 78 episodes of the series, but now she and her friends are acting as if Dawn has been around all along. Perhaps the truth has something to do with the mad vagrant who accosts Dawn and tells her she doesn't belong here; nonetheless, it will be three more episodes before the truth about the girl's origin is revealed (see "No Place Like Home"). In the meantime, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) decides to take over Sunnydale's magic shop after yet another of its proprietors ends up dead. Originally broadcast October 3, 2000, on the WB network, "Real Me" marked episode 80 of the cult-favorite series. As of this episode, Michelle Trachtenberg joins the regular cast. Tom Lenk, who portrays vampire Cyrus here, would return in the prominent role of geeky would-be villain Andrew throughout the sixth and seventh seasons. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 2000
Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) friends begin expressing bad feelings toward the Initiative (see "The Initiative"). Anya (Emma Caulfield) doesn't appreciate their anti-demon policies and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) doesn't trust the secretive commando operation. Buffy couldn't disagree more, especially after Dr. Walsh (Lindsay Crouse) asks her to join the Initiative. Buffy and Riley (Marc Blucas) fight a demon together unaware that Maggie is watching them via hidden camera. Later, Dr. Walsh sends Buffy out to capture a harmless monster which turns out to be two large, strong demons. Dr. Walsh is watching as Buffy is cornered by the demons and the hidden camera cuts out. As she is telling Riley of Buffy's death, Buffy appears in her lab alive and angry. Afterwards, Dr. Walsh enters room 314 (see "A New Man") and awakens some kind of half-human monster who mutters the word "Mommy." It is implied in this episode that as Tara (Amber Benson) and Willow spend the whole night together, their feelings change toward each other. ~ All Movie Guide
