Entropy (Buffy episode)
Encyclopedia
"Entropy" is the 18th episode of season 6 of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
, riding ATVs
, pursue two vampires through a cemetery; one of them throws a tree branch at Andrew
, causing him to fall off and the others to crash. The vampires encounter Buffy
and they fight. One vampire drops the mysterious disk that the Trio were after; Warren
snatches it and the Trio escapes, unseen by the Slayer. As Buffy fights, Spike seizes one of the vampires and offers to stake him, provided that Buffy agrees to tell the Scooby Gang about their sex life. Buffy rejects the deal and stakes both vampires without Spike's help. She dares Spike to spill the beans; since her friends have forgiven her attempt to kill them a little dalliance is unlikely to make them hate her.
Xander
mopes alone at his apartment but eventually can't stand it anymore and leaves. As he walks away, Anya
watches him from behind some bushes.
The next day, Willow
waits for Tara
outside of her classroom and the two talk and plan a coffee date. Buffy and Dawn
stroll downtown, but there are very few stores where Dawn can show her face: she has confessed to shoplifting
at most of them. They chat about all of the things Dawn stole and how they're working to remedy the whole problem.
Jonathan
works on a project involving the disk they stole as Warren watches over, eager for it to be complete. While Jonathan finishes his work alone, Warren and Andrew Wells
talk about their inability to trust Jonathan and how soon they won't need him anymore.
That evening, Xander comes home from work and finds Anya at his apartment waiting for him. Xander tries to apologize for walking away from their wedding. There is a glimmer of hope for them until Xander says he wanted to stop the wedding before it happened. Taken aback, Anya asks Xander what he meant by that remark. Xander, as he's done before, tries to change the subject by telling a sarcastic story until Anya cuts him off by asking if he still wants to marry her. Xander admits to loving her dearly and wanting to be back with her, but he's still too afraid of himself to marry her. With her back turned to Xander, she reveals her vengeance demon
face and angrily begins to wish him physical harm – but nothing happens. Anya morphs back into her human face and, upset that her powers didn't work, she leaves while a confused Xander looks on.
The next day, Anya has coffee with Halfrek
and the two demons talk about Anya's attempts at vengeance. Halfrek reminds Anya that she can't grant her own wishes and must get someone else to wish Xander harm.
At the Summers house, Buffy makes pancakes for Dawn. Dawn realizes she's trying too hard to make up for what happened when she was crazy, and eventually Buffy catches on to that reality as well. Dawn proposes the idea of joining Buffy on patrol so the two can spend some time together, but Buffy isn't interested in that.
On their coffee date, Willow fills Tara in on all of the supernatural activities that Tara has missed over the past months. Anya interrupts them and tries to maneuver them into wishing harm to Xander. She does the same with Dawn at the Magic Box and with Buffy at home; but no one takes the bait. Xander shows up at Buffy's house and Anya leaves in a huff. Buffy talks him out of following Anya and he takes his aggressions out by kicking a lawn gnome on Buffy's front lawn. When Buffy doesn't recognize the decoration as something she put there, Xander examines it and finds that it contains a small camera. They guess that it was placed by Spike, who has more than once been caught watching the house in the past.
Buffy confronts Spike at his crypt with the mini camera she found. Spike denies planting the mini camera, and he further insists that he would never do anything like that to hurt Buffy, because he believes that the love between them is real. Buffy concedes that it is, for him; this hurts Spike deeply.
At the Magic Box, Anya complains to Halfrek that all the women she knows still love Xander too much to wish him harm, despite what he did to her. Halfrek tells Anya that she needs to find someone who hates Xander to make the wish – and at that moment Spike appears, seeking something to ease his pain. Anya remembers that Giles
left something appropriate: a partial bottle of Evan Williams
whiskey. Halfrek leaves and wishes Anya the best of luck.
At Buffy's house, Willow uses her computer to try to trace the camera's signal. Given that it was not Spike, they correctly assume that the Trio are behind it.
Jonathan completes his work with the disk, and uses it to highlight a spot on a map of Sunnydale. The Trio are delighted, until the map catches fire. This distracts them from a red light, flashing to announce that their network has been penetrated.
Anya and Spike drink the whiskey and complain to each other about their respective relationship problems. Spike reiterates how he despises Xander, but Anya cannot get him to make a wish. Spike also tells Anya that he likes her forthrightness.
Willow finds more camera feeds: the Trio are watching her classrooms, the Bronze
, Xander's and Buffy's workplaces. Buffy wants to find them even more urgently now.
Spike and Anya seek comfort in each other's arms. Anya feels guilty about what happened with Xander and Spike consoles her, which leads to something much more. The two kiss and undress. Andrew belatedly sees the intrusion alarm. Willow stumbles upon the Magic Box feed as Spike and Anya are having sex on a table. Warren directs Andrew to shut down the surveillance network, but they are captivated by the action on the Magic Box camera.
Willow fails to keep Buffy, Xander and Dawn from seeing what is going on at the Magic Box. Xander is enraged. Buffy, stunned, goes to sit in the back yard. Dawn follows Buffy and they begin to talk about Buffy's affair with Spike. Their bonding moment is cut short as Willow informs them both that Xander is gone – with an axe.
Spike and Anya get dressed and act awkwardly and embarrassed about their impulsive behavior. As Spike leaves the shop, Xander attacks him. Xander is about to stake Spike when Anya comes outside, trying to stop him; she distracts him long enough for Buffy to knock him out of the way. Xander and Anya yell at each other. Xander is disgusted that Anya had "let that evil, soulless thing touch [her]"; Spike quietly remarks that he was good enough for Buffy. Xander tells Spike to leave Buffy out of it – then he and Anya see Buffy's startled face and connect the dots. This is too much for Xander; he drops the stake and walks away stunned. Buffy also walks off, angry at Spike for revealing their secret. Spike finally starts to make a wish, but Anya stops him, and they part ways.
Willow is sitting in her bedroom when Tara appears, saying that repairing their love will be a long process – which she'd rather skip. They kiss.
Plot synopsis
The TrioTrio (Buffyverse)
The Trio is the name of three fictional characters in the sixth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who serve as the villains of the season. They continually strive to neutralize Buffy, the Slayer, and thus the primary obstacle to their ultimate goal of taking over Sunnydale...
, riding ATVs
All-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
, pursue two vampires through a cemetery; one of them throws a tree branch at Andrew
Andrew Wells
Andrew Wells is a fictional character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, played by Tom Lenk. The character also appears in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, the canonical continuation of the series....
, causing him to fall off and the others to crash. The vampires encounter Buffy
Buffy Summers
Buffy Summers is a fictional character from Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise. She first appeared in the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer before going on to appear in the television series and subsequent comic book of the same name...
and they fight. One vampire drops the mysterious disk that the Trio were after; Warren
Warren Mears
Warren Mears is a fictional character portrayed by Adam Busch in the American television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as its canonical comic book series continuation.-Television:...
snatches it and the Trio escapes, unseen by the Slayer. As Buffy fights, Spike seizes one of the vampires and offers to stake him, provided that Buffy agrees to tell the Scooby Gang about their sex life. Buffy rejects the deal and stakes both vampires without Spike's help. She dares Spike to spill the beans; since her friends have forgiven her attempt to kill them a little dalliance is unlikely to make them hate her.
Xander
Xander Harris
Alexander LaVelle "Xander" Harris is a fictional character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as in numerous items in the series Expanded Universe, such as comic books, tie-in novels and video games...
mopes alone at his apartment but eventually can't stand it anymore and leaves. As he walks away, Anya
Anya Jenkins
Anya is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also appears in the comic book series based on the television show. Portrayed by Emma Caulfield, the character appears as a guest star in the third and fourth seasons of the show before...
watches him from behind some bushes.
The next day, Willow
Willow Rosenberg
Willow Rosenberg is a fictional character created for the fantasy television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer . She was developed by Joss Whedon and portrayed throughout the TV series by Alyson Hannigan...
waits for Tara
Tara Maclay
Tara Maclay is a fictional character created for the fantasy television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer . She was developed by Joss Whedon and portrayed by Amber Benson from the fourth to the sixth season until the character's death. Tara is a shy young woman with magical talents who falls in love...
outside of her classroom and the two talk and plan a coffee date. Buffy and Dawn
Dawn Summers
Dawn Summers is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon and introduced by Marti Noxon and David Fury on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, portrayed by Michelle Trachtenberg. She made her debut in the premiere episode of the show's fifth season, and subsequently appeared in every...
stroll downtown, but there are very few stores where Dawn can show her face: she has confessed to shoplifting
Shoplifting
Shoplifting is theft of goods from a retail establishment. It is one of the most common property crimes dealt with by police and courts....
at most of them. They chat about all of the things Dawn stole and how they're working to remedy the whole problem.
Jonathan
Jonathan Levinson
Jonathan Levinson is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The character is portrayed by Danny Strong.-Character history:Jonathan was born in 1981 and raised in Sunnydale, California...
works on a project involving the disk they stole as Warren watches over, eager for it to be complete. While Jonathan finishes his work alone, Warren and Andrew Wells
Andrew Wells
Andrew Wells is a fictional character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, played by Tom Lenk. The character also appears in Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight, the canonical continuation of the series....
talk about their inability to trust Jonathan and how soon they won't need him anymore.
That evening, Xander comes home from work and finds Anya at his apartment waiting for him. Xander tries to apologize for walking away from their wedding. There is a glimmer of hope for them until Xander says he wanted to stop the wedding before it happened. Taken aback, Anya asks Xander what he meant by that remark. Xander, as he's done before, tries to change the subject by telling a sarcastic story until Anya cuts him off by asking if he still wants to marry her. Xander admits to loving her dearly and wanting to be back with her, but he's still too afraid of himself to marry her. With her back turned to Xander, she reveals her vengeance demon
Vengeance demon
Vengeance demons are a group of beings that appear in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They are immortals who travel the world exacting vengeance on behalf of victims, such as scorned men, women or neglected children...
face and angrily begins to wish him physical harm – but nothing happens. Anya morphs back into her human face and, upset that her powers didn't work, she leaves while a confused Xander looks on.
The next day, Anya has coffee with Halfrek
Halfrek
Halfrek or Hallie is a recurring fictional character on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She appears as a vengeance demon in seasons 6 and 7, and has previously appeared as Cecily in season 5. She is played by actress Kali Rocha....
and the two demons talk about Anya's attempts at vengeance. Halfrek reminds Anya that she can't grant her own wishes and must get someone else to wish Xander harm.
At the Summers house, Buffy makes pancakes for Dawn. Dawn realizes she's trying too hard to make up for what happened when she was crazy, and eventually Buffy catches on to that reality as well. Dawn proposes the idea of joining Buffy on patrol so the two can spend some time together, but Buffy isn't interested in that.
On their coffee date, Willow fills Tara in on all of the supernatural activities that Tara has missed over the past months. Anya interrupts them and tries to maneuver them into wishing harm to Xander. She does the same with Dawn at the Magic Box and with Buffy at home; but no one takes the bait. Xander shows up at Buffy's house and Anya leaves in a huff. Buffy talks him out of following Anya and he takes his aggressions out by kicking a lawn gnome on Buffy's front lawn. When Buffy doesn't recognize the decoration as something she put there, Xander examines it and finds that it contains a small camera. They guess that it was placed by Spike, who has more than once been caught watching the house in the past.
Buffy confronts Spike at his crypt with the mini camera she found. Spike denies planting the mini camera, and he further insists that he would never do anything like that to hurt Buffy, because he believes that the love between them is real. Buffy concedes that it is, for him; this hurts Spike deeply.
At the Magic Box, Anya complains to Halfrek that all the women she knows still love Xander too much to wish him harm, despite what he did to her. Halfrek tells Anya that she needs to find someone who hates Xander to make the wish – and at that moment Spike appears, seeking something to ease his pain. Anya remembers that Giles
Rupert Giles
Rupert Giles is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The character is portrayed by Anthony Stewart Head. He serves as Buffy Summers' mentor and surrogate father figure...
left something appropriate: a partial bottle of Evan Williams
Evan Williams (whiskey)
Evan Williams is a brand of bourbon whiskey bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky at the Heaven Hill distillery. The product is aged for a minimum of four years and is sold for a relatively modest price.-Production:...
whiskey. Halfrek leaves and wishes Anya the best of luck.
At Buffy's house, Willow uses her computer to try to trace the camera's signal. Given that it was not Spike, they correctly assume that the Trio are behind it.
Jonathan completes his work with the disk, and uses it to highlight a spot on a map of Sunnydale. The Trio are delighted, until the map catches fire. This distracts them from a red light, flashing to announce that their network has been penetrated.
Anya and Spike drink the whiskey and complain to each other about their respective relationship problems. Spike reiterates how he despises Xander, but Anya cannot get him to make a wish. Spike also tells Anya that he likes her forthrightness.
Willow finds more camera feeds: the Trio are watching her classrooms, the Bronze
The Bronze
The Bronze is a fictional nightclub in Sunnydale, the fictional setting for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Of 144 episodes of the series, 66 have at least one scene at the Bronze, not including its appearance in the unaired pilot....
, Xander's and Buffy's workplaces. Buffy wants to find them even more urgently now.
Spike and Anya seek comfort in each other's arms. Anya feels guilty about what happened with Xander and Spike consoles her, which leads to something much more. The two kiss and undress. Andrew belatedly sees the intrusion alarm. Willow stumbles upon the Magic Box feed as Spike and Anya are having sex on a table. Warren directs Andrew to shut down the surveillance network, but they are captivated by the action on the Magic Box camera.
Willow fails to keep Buffy, Xander and Dawn from seeing what is going on at the Magic Box. Xander is enraged. Buffy, stunned, goes to sit in the back yard. Dawn follows Buffy and they begin to talk about Buffy's affair with Spike. Their bonding moment is cut short as Willow informs them both that Xander is gone – with an axe.
Spike and Anya get dressed and act awkwardly and embarrassed about their impulsive behavior. As Spike leaves the shop, Xander attacks him. Xander is about to stake Spike when Anya comes outside, trying to stop him; she distracts him long enough for Buffy to knock him out of the way. Xander and Anya yell at each other. Xander is disgusted that Anya had "let that evil, soulless thing touch [her]"; Spike quietly remarks that he was good enough for Buffy. Xander tells Spike to leave Buffy out of it – then he and Anya see Buffy's startled face and connect the dots. This is too much for Xander; he drops the stake and walks away stunned. Buffy also walks off, angry at Spike for revealing their secret. Spike finally starts to make a wish, but Anya stops him, and they part ways.
Willow is sitting in her bedroom when Tara appears, saying that repairing their love will be a long process – which she'd rather skip. They kiss.
Cultural references
- Referencing Indiana Jones, Warren calls Jonathan "Short Round", a character in Indiana Jones and the Temple of DoomIndiana Jones and the Temple of DoomIndiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a 1984 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise and prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark . After arriving in India, Indiana Jones is asked by a desperate village to find a mystical stone...
. - Also the bit where they use the disk to find the spot on the map references a similar scene in Raiders of the Lost ArkRaiders of the Lost ArkRaiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by George Lucas, and starring Harrison Ford. It is the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise...
. - Summing the episode's "Entropy" theme, Tara paraphrases William Butler YeatsWilliam Butler YeatsWilliam Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright, and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, in his later years he served as an Irish Senator for two terms...
' The Second ComingThe Second Coming (poem)"The Second Coming" is a poem composed by Irish poet William Butler Yeats in 1919 and first printed in The Dial and afterwards included in his 1921 collection of verses titled Michael Robartes and the Dancer. The poem uses Christian imagery regarding the Apocalypse and second coming as allegory to...
, saying "Things fall apart, they fall apart so hard." - The disk is inscribed with unknown symbols in a spiral, loosely resembling the Phaistos Disk.
Continuity
- Anya mentions Xander's "beady eyes", as she did when magically compelled to sing her true feelings in "Once More, with Feeling".
- Willow's outfit from the musical episode can also be seen on the door while she and Tara reconcile.
- Buffy jokes that technically Dawn is only one and a half years old, and thus much too young to go fighting demons, because she was created as a teenager at the beginning of season five.
- Xander and Anya's fight at the end of the episode mirrors some things that were said in Xander's false visions of his future in "Hell's Bells", including telling Anya that she disgusts him and yelling to "leave her (Buffy) out of it".
- Anya and Spike previously bonded over their problems in "Where the Wild Things Are".
Arc significance
- Willow and Tara are reconciled.
- Buffy's relationship with Spike is revealed to Dawn, Xander and Anya.
- Halfrek reminds Anyanka that Vengeance demons cannot enact their own wishes.
- The Scoobies learn that the Trio have been watching them with hidden cameras.