The Dark Age (Buffy episode)
Encyclopedia
"The Dark Age" is episode eight of season two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The episode was written by Executive Story Editors Rob Des Hotel & Dean Batali and was directed by Bruce Seth Green
. The narrative follows Giles, in which one of his friends has died, prompting the Scooby Gang to unravel his mysterious past; meanwhile, Buffy crashes into Ethan Rayne again.
At school, Buffy
and Willow
are seen playing 'Anywhere But Here' in which they recount their fantasies: Buffy is on a beach before sunset having her feet rubbed by Gavin Rossdale
, Willow is in Florence at a restaurant eating ziti when she is joined by John Cusack
. Giles tells Buffy to meet him later at the hospital where there will be a blood delivery, which attracts vampires. When Giles gets back to the library, a detective is waiting for him; the dead man had Giles' address on him. Giles identifies the body as an old friend from London. The body has a tattoo, which Giles says he does not recognize.
Shaken, Giles doesn't meet Buffy at the hospital, and she battles the doctor-dressed vampires alone until Angel shows up. She asks Angel to see to it that the blood gets to the hospital and goes to check on Giles. When Buffy goes to Giles' house to see what happened, he looks terribly drunk and sends her away. He calls another friend in London and finds out that she's dead, too. As he rolls up his sleeves, we see he has the same tattoo as his friend. Meanwhile, the dead friend, Phillip, comes back to life in the morgue, his eyes flashing, and escapes.
On Saturday, Willow, Xander
, and Cordelia
meet with Jenny Calendar
– Giles' girlfriend – for a computer class. Buffy shows up to express her concern about Giles' behavior. Cordelia mentions the police visit to the library, which had slipped her Cordelia-centered mind. In the library, Buffy finds Giles' former friend Ethan, the costume shop owner who had caused chaos on Halloween. As she calls Giles, Ethan mentions the "Mark of Eyghon". Giles says she's in danger, and the dead Phillip enters.
A panicked Giles shows up and, after a scuffle which leaves Jenny unconscious, Phillip turns into the green goo. The puddle touches Jenny; when she comes to, she seems normal but we see her eyes flash. Willow discovers the "Mark of Eyghon" in a book: Eyghon possesses the body of a dead or unconscious host. They figure out that the demon has jumped from Phillip's body to Jenny's. Possessed Jenny, looking and sounding increasingly like a demon, tries to seduce Giles at his apartment. When Buffy comes to the rescue, Jenny jumps out the window. Giles explains to Buffy that he ran with a bad crowd when he was young, and they used Eyghon as a temporary high – directing him in and out of each others' bodies.
But one friend died, then later the woman who killed Phillip, and now it seems the rest of the group will die, too. Buffy goes to the deserted costume shop to try to defend Ethan against Eyghon/Jenny, but he knocks her out, ties her up and puts the mark of Eyghon on her. He then pours acid on his own tattoo so that Eyghon will take Buffy instead of him. Jenny enters, completely demonic, and Buffy breaks free. Angel enters suddenly and chokes Jenny until she loses consciousness, whereupon Eyghon moves to the nearest dead body: that of Angel, a vampire
– as Willow had planned. Two demons fight for control in Angel's body, and Eyghon is destroyed. Jenny returns to normal, but Ethan escapes.
Bruce Seth Green
Bruce Seth Green is an American television director.His credits include Knight Rider, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Babylon 5, Buffy the Vampire Slayer , Angel, Dawson’s Creek, Gilmore Girls, Law & Order, Diagnosis Murder, Baywatch and other series.His last directorial credit...
. The narrative follows Giles, in which one of his friends has died, prompting the Scooby Gang to unravel his mysterious past; meanwhile, Buffy crashes into Ethan Rayne again.
Plot
A man tries to get into the library to see Giles, but a demon woman shows up and strangles him to death. He falls to the floor, and she turns into a puddle of green slime.At school, 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 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...
are seen playing 'Anywhere But Here' in which they recount their fantasies: Buffy is on a beach before sunset having her feet rubbed by Gavin Rossdale
Gavin Rossdale
Gavin McGregor Rossdale is an English musician, known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Bush as well as an actor. Following Bush's separation in 2002, which lasted for eight years, he was the lead singer and guitarist for Institute, and later began a solo career. He...
, Willow is in Florence at a restaurant eating ziti when she is joined by John Cusack
John Cusack
John Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
. Giles tells Buffy to meet him later at the hospital where there will be a blood delivery, which attracts vampires. When Giles gets back to the library, a detective is waiting for him; the dead man had Giles' address on him. Giles identifies the body as an old friend from London. The body has a tattoo, which Giles says he does not recognize.
Shaken, Giles doesn't meet Buffy at the hospital, and she battles the doctor-dressed vampires alone until Angel shows up. She asks Angel to see to it that the blood gets to the hospital and goes to check on Giles. When Buffy goes to Giles' house to see what happened, he looks terribly drunk and sends her away. He calls another friend in London and finds out that she's dead, too. As he rolls up his sleeves, we see he has the same tattoo as his friend. Meanwhile, the dead friend, Phillip, comes back to life in the morgue, his eyes flashing, and escapes.
On Saturday, Willow, 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...
, and Cordelia
Cordelia Chase
Cordelia Chase is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer; she also appeared on Buffy's spin-off series Angel...
meet with Jenny Calendar
Jenny Calendar
Jenny Calendar is a fictional character in the fantasy television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer . Played by Robia LaMorte, Jenny is the computer teacher at Sunnydale High School...
– Giles' girlfriend – for a computer class. Buffy shows up to express her concern about Giles' behavior. Cordelia mentions the police visit to the library, which had slipped her Cordelia-centered mind. In the library, Buffy finds Giles' former friend Ethan, the costume shop owner who had caused chaos on Halloween. As she calls Giles, Ethan mentions the "Mark of Eyghon". Giles says she's in danger, and the dead Phillip enters.
A panicked Giles shows up and, after a scuffle which leaves Jenny unconscious, Phillip turns into the green goo. The puddle touches Jenny; when she comes to, she seems normal but we see her eyes flash. Willow discovers the "Mark of Eyghon" in a book: Eyghon possesses the body of a dead or unconscious host. They figure out that the demon has jumped from Phillip's body to Jenny's. Possessed Jenny, looking and sounding increasingly like a demon, tries to seduce Giles at his apartment. When Buffy comes to the rescue, Jenny jumps out the window. Giles explains to Buffy that he ran with a bad crowd when he was young, and they used Eyghon as a temporary high – directing him in and out of each others' bodies.
But one friend died, then later the woman who killed Phillip, and now it seems the rest of the group will die, too. Buffy goes to the deserted costume shop to try to defend Ethan against Eyghon/Jenny, but he knocks her out, ties her up and puts the mark of Eyghon on her. He then pours acid on his own tattoo so that Eyghon will take Buffy instead of him. Jenny enters, completely demonic, and Buffy breaks free. Angel enters suddenly and chokes Jenny until she loses consciousness, whereupon Eyghon moves to the nearest dead body: that of Angel, a vampire
Vampire (Buffyverse)
Vampire, in the fictional world of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, is a species of demon which inhabits and animates a human corpse...
– as Willow had planned. Two demons fight for control in Angel's body, and Eyghon is destroyed. Jenny returns to normal, but Ethan escapes.
Arc significance
- This is the first episode to establish details about Giles' more "wild" youth, parts of which will occasionally return to haunt him throughout the series. This is also the first time Giles' apartment is seen, which will become the Scoobie's headquarters in Season 4
- Buffy and Willow play their game again in the Season EightBuffy the Vampire Slayer Season EightBuffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight is a comic book series published by Dark Horse Comics. The series serves as a canonical continuation of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and follows the events of that show's final televised season. It is produced by Joss Whedon, who wrote the...
comic "Anywhere but HereAnywhere but Here (Buffy comic)"Anywhere but Here" is the tenth issue of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight series of comic books, a continuation from the television series of the same name. It is written by Joss Whedon.-Plot:...
": their fantasies have Buffy approached by Daniel CraigDaniel CraigDaniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor. His early film roles include Elizabeth, The Power of One, A Kid in King Arthur's Court and the television episodes Sharpe's Eagle, Zorro and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Daredevils of the Desert...
while lying on the beach, and Willow trapped with Tina FeyTina FeyElizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey is an American actress, comedian, writer and producer, known for her work on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live , the NBC comedy series 30 Rock, and films such as Mean Girls and Baby Mama .Fey first broke into comedy as a featured player in the...
in a cabin during a snowstorm. - Due to the events of this episode, Giles' and Jenny's relationship will remain strained.
- Angel's selfless act to save Jenny's life is somewhat ironic, as she will be killed by Angelus later in the same season.
- Second appearance of Ethan RayneEthan RayneEthan Rayne is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television program Buffy the Vampire Slayer, portrayed by Robin Sachs.-Character history:...
, who was introduced in "Halloween" and will next appear in "Band Candy".