Episode Big Bads

Robed Men - The men whom kill the girl in Istanbul at the beginning of the episode. It is not yet know if they are evil. (But they probably are).

The Sluggoth Demon (Ronnie) – The worm creature that Nancy ’s ex was turned into by Anya.

Anya – She did create the demon after all!

Spike’s Inner Demons – More babbling and mind games.

Episode References

- In the teaser Buffy wakes up from her dream about the German girl and says “From beneath you, it devours. That's what she said, and then they... There's more like her, Dawn. Out there somewhere.” This is in reference to one of the lesser used powers of pre/postcognition, or commonly know as visions. Precognition is seeing events before they happed, and postcognition is seeing events after they have happened. The visions granted to the Slayer are like Drusilla’s visions, except they occur less often and usually happen while the Slayer is sleeping.

-  In Act 1, while on the way to Sunnydale High School , Xander says, “At a spanking new Hellmouth High. Please. Outside of drugs and violence and the unwanted pregnancy, and, uh, unleashing of hordes of Armageddon that comes pouring out of the school's foundation every now and then, what trouble could these kids have?” This is in reference to SHS being rebuilt on the Hellmouth. Evil beings are naturally drawn the power emanating from the Hellmouth, so it leads to many evil happenings on the grounds. For more information about the original SHS see the Seasons 1, 2, and 3 episode guides.

-  In Act 1, while on the way to Sunnydale High School , Xander says, “Those kids are damn lucky having a slayer and a friend on campus there for 'em. I hope they appreciate it. I know I did.” This is in reference to the three years that Buffy, Xander, Willow , and Cordelia attended SHS together in Seasons 1, 2, and 3. During this time Buffy was able to save countless lives and cause her graduating class to have the lowest mortality rate ever. Her efforts were not unnoticed when in the Season 3 episode “The Prom” she was awarded the “Class Protector Award”

- In Act 1, while Buffy was speaking with Principal Wood about her new job she says, “You heard about Principal Flutie, right?” This is in reference to the SHS’s first principal (that we see). He was eaten alive by a group of hyena possessed students in the Season 1 episode “The Pack”. This seems the be a running joke in Season 7.

- In Act 1 when Giles and Willow are chatting Willow says, “Well, for starters, how 'bout the Hellmouth's getting all rumbly again. And now I know it's got teeth. And are those literal teeth, 'cause I don't know if I can handle it. And what if I can handle it? Does that mean I have to be a bigger, badder badass than the source of all badness? And what if I give up all this control stuff and I go all veiny and homicidal again? And what if…” There are two references in this statement. The first is about the status of the Hellmouth and the big badness. She knows this from a vision / feeling she got in the previous episode “Lessons”. The second is in reference to the Season 6 episodes “Villians”, “Two To Go”, “Grave”. In these episodes Willow has filled herself with dark magicks, which turned her hair black and made her face “veiny”.

- In Act 1, after deciding to look for Nancy’s worm monster Xander replies, in response to Dawns question about rounding up the gang, “Good thinking, except... this is the gang.” The Scooby gang from Season 6 consisted of Buffy, Xander, Willow , Tara , Anya, Spike, and Dawn to a lesser extent. But Tara died in the Season 6 episode “Seeing Red”, Anya has slowly drifted out of speaking terms with the gang after Xander left her at the alter in “Hells Bells”. We learned that Willow is in England coping with her actions from last season In “Lessons” and Spike attempted to sexually assault Buffy in “Seeing Red”. Hence Buffy, Xander, and Dawn are currently the only members of the gang.

- In Act 2, after Spike arrives Nancy asks who he is and dawn and Xander tell he that he is Buffy’s Ex. This is in reference to Buffy and Spikes spotted Season 6 relationship (Sometimes referred to a Spuffy by die hard fans). Tensions rose between the two during a desperate attempt for Spike to get Buffy back which lead to an attempted sexual assault Buffy in “Seeing Red”.

- In Act 2 Buffy, when speaking with Spike says, “New clothing. Better hair. Not so much with the crazy. I like it.” She is referring to the state that he was in when she discovered him in the Season 7 episode “Lessons”.

- In Act 2 Spike, when speaking with Buffy says, “I was hoping you'd tell me. You're the slayer connected to the visions, long line of worthies, right?” In this statement Spike references the Vision Slayer power earlier described and the Slayer Linage. Into ever generation a Slayer is born, when she dies another takes her place. These slayers also inherit powers such as super strength and visions.

- In Act 2 Dawn says to Spike, “Well, I can't take you in a fight or anything, even with a chip in your head.” This is a reference to the chip that the US military organization called the Initiative implanted in Spike’s brain in the Season 4 episode “The Initiative”. The chip prevents Spike from harming humans. After Buffy’s death and resurrection in the episodes “The Gift” and “Bargaining”, Spike’s chip could no longer recognize Buffy as human, allowing him to strike her pain free. The presence of Spike’s soul has brought into question if the chip will be able to function as originally intended with such an extraordinary factor.

- In Act 2, when Spike and Buffy are investigating the worm monster, Spike says, “Hold the torch, would you?” The word torch is sometimes used to reference a flashlight. I have noticed this more with the British.

- In Act 2, after the above scene Buffy has flashback “flashes”, these are from the Season 6 episode “Seeing Red”.

- In Act 2, Buffy says “Skittish? That's not a word I would use for it. You tried to rape me. I don't have the words.” These events took place in the Season 6 episode “Seeing Red”.

- In Act 3, Anya says to Spike, “Hey, hands off the merchandise. Spike, you don't get to go there again.” This is in reference to their very brief drunken fling in the Season 6 episode “Entropy”.

- In Act 3, Anya asks Spike “How did you do it?” She is referring to Spike’s soul which he regained in the Season 6 episode “Grave”.

- In Act 3, Anya says to Xander, “All I'm saying is none of this happened until you dumped me at the altar.” This is in reference to the Season 6 episode “Hells Bells”.

- In Act 3, Spike stabs the suddenly human Ronnie and screams and then stops while still stabbing him, this is because of the chip that the US military organization called the Initiative implanted in Spike’s brain in the Season 4 episode “The Initiative”. The chip prevents Spike from harming humans. This is why Spike screamed. The presence of Spike’s soul has brought into question if the chip will be able to function as originally intended with such an extraordinary factor. This may be why Spike stopped screaming in the Act, the scream may have been reflex.

- In Act 3 Spike says to Buffy, “Angel—he should've warned me.” This is in refrence to the pain he is feeling from his Soul. Angel is another Vampire with a soul. He was present during Seasons 1, 2, and 3 before leaving for LA (Enter Angel the Series). Angel’s soul comes from a gypsy’s curse that will cause him to loose it if he has one moment of true happiness.

- In Act 3 when Spike leans on the six foot cross it smokes and sizzles because crosses are pure therefore dangerous to vampires. Prolonged exposure could kill Spike.

Episode Observations, Nitpicks, and Assumptions

- From this episode it looks like they may be bringing Anya back to the scoobie fold, we will have to wait and see.

- In Act 3 when Spike skewers Ronnie I think is evidence that Spikes chip is not working, because of how he suddenly stops screaming.