Season 6, Episode 18 | Aired: 30 April 2002 | Written by: Drew Z. Greenberg | Directed by: James A. Contner
Anya, back as a vengeance demon, tries to get one of the Scoobies to make a wish against Xander. None of them will. She gets drunk with Spike. They sleep together. The Trio’s cameras — hidden throughout Sunnydale — catch it. Xander sees it. The confrontation between Xander and Anya and Spike is one of the messiest and most human in the season, and nobody is quite right and nobody is quite wrong.
What Happens
Anya’s attempts to get wishes granted fail — none of the Scoobies are angry enough at Xander, or can articulate it as a wish. She and Spike, both processing rejection and loneliness, end up at the Magic Box. The Trio’s cameras capture everything and broadcast it to their lair. Willow finds the cameras. Xander sees. He confronts Spike and Anya. He and Anya say true things badly. Buffy admits to the Scoobies that she was involved with Spike. Spike is hit by Xander. Nobody wins.
Key Moments
The Magic Box scene — two people who feel discarded, being honest with each other about it, and making a choice neither of them would make if things were different. The show doesn’t condemn either of them. And Buffy’s admission to her friends, which she’s been holding for months.
Monster / Villain
The Trio’s camera network — revealed as extensive. Warren is watching everything.
Notable Quote
“We’re not exactly the people we want to be right now.” — Anya, about herself and Spike. Precise.
Where It Fits
Entropy is the episode that exposes every secret the Scoobies have been keeping from each other and forces them all into the same light. What follows — Seeing Red — is worse, but this is where the season’s final arc begins.