This is such a lightweight episode that I don't understand it's placement in the season. It feels more like the "classic" BTVS than the dark episodes that surround it. With the characters making jokes and teasing each other, rather than crying and wishing for death. It's a welcome change, but it seems out of place. Just last episode Buffy beat the h*ll out of Spike and now they're goofing around and playing cards together. Xander and Anya's relationship is self-destructing, but in this episode they're sweet and worried about each other. "Older and Far Away" just doesn't "fit" into this point of the season. That said, I really like it. The episode is fun and likable and I highly recommend that you give it a shot.
The episode revolves around Buffy's 21st birthday. The night before the party, Buffy kills a demon with his own sword and then brings it home as a souvenir. Dawn meanwhile is feeling neglected. She complains to her new guidance councilor that everyone always leaves her and that she wishes that they would just stay. Xander and Anya decide to bring a "friend" to the party: Richard, a "date" for Buffy. Buffy isn't happy. Then, Spike and Clem show up and Spike's not happy, either. Luckily Buffy seems more interested in sparring with Spike than in flirting with Richard. And the party goes ahead with surprising success. In fact, no body wants to leave.
Little do they know that Dawn's councilor was really Halfreck the vengeance demon (or, as she prefers, "justice demon.") Halfreck has granted Dawn's wish not to be alone, by making it impossible for anyone to leave the house. As the Scoobies are trapped. Unfortunately, the demon Buffy killed with the sword is accidentally released and is soon trapped with them. It jumps out and attacks Richard. Then it disappears into the walls of the house. Anya wants Willow to use magic to get them out, but Willow refuses. She's afraid to try any magic for fear of re triggering her addiction. Anya is angry, but she also suspects that Dawn knows more than she's saying. She searches Dawn's room and finds many stolen items from the Magic Box.
Buffy realizes that Dawn made a wish to a vengeance demon and Anya calls Halfreck who pops in, just in time for the demon to stab her with his sword. Spike and Buffy battle the demon again and this time she finally kills it. Halfreck gets up, perfectly alright because you can't hurt a vengeance demon with a sword in the chest. At first she refuses to undo the spell, but then she gets trapped in the house, too. Finally, she ends the spell and everyone can finally leave.
There are some great parts to this episode. I really like Clem. I have no idea why Spike brought him to the party, but I'm glad that he did. Maybe Spike thought that Buffy wouldn't toss him out in front of a guest. But, Richard's reaction to Clem's "skin condition" is just hilarious. And I'm so glad that he's there. I also think that Tara's great in this episode. From protecting Willow to kidding Spike about his "leg cramp." I've never seen Spike at a loss for words before. But he really doesn't seem to know what to say to Tara's teasing. She isn't being mean or making fun of Spike, she just not intimidated by him and willing to laugh good-naturedly at his predicament with Buffy. I really like Tara a lot. And I like Buffy's friend "Sophie from work." Her list of all the foods she can't eat and how her mom told her to say thank you right away, just in case she forgot at the end, is priceless. I'm sorry we don't get to see her again. Finally, I'm glad that Anya finally busts Dawn for shoplifting. It's about time somebody called her on it.
There seems to be some suggestion that Halfreck really could be Cecily, Spike's first love from "Fool for Love" back in season five. Halfreck sees Spike standing in the Summers' living room and whispers, "William." At which point he squints at her and says, "Hey, wait a minute..." They then both deny knowing each other, but it's pretty clear that they're lying. I wish that the show had explored their relationship more throughly. Why would Cecily become a vengeance demon? What was wrong in her life? Could it have something to do with her parents, since she mainly works on children's vengeance wishes? Was her unhappiness the reason that she was so mean to William/Spike? Or maybe she already WAS a vengeance demon when she met William/Spike. Maybe she was working "undercover" as a human in 1880s London, like Anya was working undercover as a Sunnydale high student back in season three's "The Wish." Which would explain her curt dismissal of his love. I don't know, but I want to.
On the down side, there's Dawn. Her constant whining and selfishness are like nails on a chalk board. Buffy "is never home" because she's out making a living to take care of Dawn. She dropped out of college so she could care for Dawn. She's sacrificed her social life and peace of mind for Dawn. And is that little brat grateful or understanding? Nope. I just can't stand her snotty, entitled attitude.
My favorite part of the episode: Willow's birthday gift to Buffy. Buffy holds the back vibrator in her hands for a long moment. Then, her eyes slide over to Spike. He arches a brow and smirks, knowingly. They each assume that the other is thinking exactly what they're thinking. And they're both right.
The episode revolves around Buffy's 21st birthday. The night before the party, Buffy kills a demon with his own sword and then brings it home as a souvenir. Dawn meanwhile is feeling neglected. She complains to her new guidance councilor that everyone always leaves her and that she wishes that they would just stay. Xander and Anya decide to bring a "friend" to the party: Richard, a "date" for Buffy. Buffy isn't happy. Then, Spike and Clem show up and Spike's not happy, either. Luckily Buffy seems more interested in sparring with Spike than in flirting with Richard. And the party goes ahead with surprising success. In fact, no body wants to leave.
Little do they know that Dawn's councilor was really Halfreck the vengeance demon (or, as she prefers, "justice demon.") Halfreck has granted Dawn's wish not to be alone, by making it impossible for anyone to leave the house. As the Scoobies are trapped. Unfortunately, the demon Buffy killed with the sword is accidentally released and is soon trapped with them. It jumps out and attacks Richard. Then it disappears into the walls of the house. Anya wants Willow to use magic to get them out, but Willow refuses. She's afraid to try any magic for fear of re triggering her addiction. Anya is angry, but she also suspects that Dawn knows more than she's saying. She searches Dawn's room and finds many stolen items from the Magic Box.
Buffy realizes that Dawn made a wish to a vengeance demon and Anya calls Halfreck who pops in, just in time for the demon to stab her with his sword. Spike and Buffy battle the demon again and this time she finally kills it. Halfreck gets up, perfectly alright because you can't hurt a vengeance demon with a sword in the chest. At first she refuses to undo the spell, but then she gets trapped in the house, too. Finally, she ends the spell and everyone can finally leave.
There are some great parts to this episode. I really like Clem. I have no idea why Spike brought him to the party, but I'm glad that he did. Maybe Spike thought that Buffy wouldn't toss him out in front of a guest. But, Richard's reaction to Clem's "skin condition" is just hilarious. And I'm so glad that he's there. I also think that Tara's great in this episode. From protecting Willow to kidding Spike about his "leg cramp." I've never seen Spike at a loss for words before. But he really doesn't seem to know what to say to Tara's teasing. She isn't being mean or making fun of Spike, she just not intimidated by him and willing to laugh good-naturedly at his predicament with Buffy. I really like Tara a lot. And I like Buffy's friend "Sophie from work." Her list of all the foods she can't eat and how her mom told her to say thank you right away, just in case she forgot at the end, is priceless. I'm sorry we don't get to see her again. Finally, I'm glad that Anya finally busts Dawn for shoplifting. It's about time somebody called her on it.
There seems to be some suggestion that Halfreck really could be Cecily, Spike's first love from "Fool for Love" back in season five. Halfreck sees Spike standing in the Summers' living room and whispers, "William." At which point he squints at her and says, "Hey, wait a minute..." They then both deny knowing each other, but it's pretty clear that they're lying. I wish that the show had explored their relationship more throughly. Why would Cecily become a vengeance demon? What was wrong in her life? Could it have something to do with her parents, since she mainly works on children's vengeance wishes? Was her unhappiness the reason that she was so mean to William/Spike? Or maybe she already WAS a vengeance demon when she met William/Spike. Maybe she was working "undercover" as a human in 1880s London, like Anya was working undercover as a Sunnydale high student back in season three's "The Wish." Which would explain her curt dismissal of his love. I don't know, but I want to.
On the down side, there's Dawn. Her constant whining and selfishness are like nails on a chalk board. Buffy "is never home" because she's out making a living to take care of Dawn. She dropped out of college so she could care for Dawn. She's sacrificed her social life and peace of mind for Dawn. And is that little brat grateful or understanding? Nope. I just can't stand her snotty, entitled attitude.
My favorite part of the episode: Willow's birthday gift to Buffy. Buffy holds the back vibrator in her hands for a long moment. Then, her eyes slide over to Spike. He arches a brow and smirks, knowingly. They each assume that the other is thinking exactly what they're thinking. And they're both right.