Season 6, Episode 11 | Aired: 8 January 2002 | Written by: David Fury | Directed by: David Fury
The Trio accidentally turns Buffy invisible. She finds it a relief. Social services has opened a case on the Summers household; the episode deals with both plot strands simultaneously. Invisible Buffy is briefly lighthearted — she torments her case worker, she has sex with Spike — before the show acknowledges that finding invisibility a relief is precisely the symptom the season has been building. Xander and Willow reverse the ray before Buffy dissolves.
What Happens
A Diamond of Damaskinos (from the Trio’s botched heist) combines with Warren’s invisibility ray to accidentally zap Buffy. She’s delighted, initially. Doris the social worker (Susan Ruttan) is conducting a home assessment and Invisible Buffy undermines it while visible Buffy isn’t there. The Trio realise their ray causes molecules to deteriorate and try to stabilise it — and eventually Xander, Willow and a captured Warren reverse it. Buffy is solid again and not entirely pleased about it.
Key Moments
Buffy admitting to herself, watching the invisible version of herself in a mirror, that she doesn’t want to be seen. The episode has been playing her invisibility as slapstick. The show pivots briefly to what it actually means.
Monster / Villain
The Trio — more dangerous than they intend to be, less dangerous than they want to be.
Notable Quote
“I’m not really here. I mean I’m here, but I’m not… visible. I don’t know why that’s so great, but it is.” — Buffy. She does know why. So does the audience.
Where It Fits
Gone is a midseason episode that acknowledges Buffy’s death wish more directly than most. The comedy wrapper is functional; the undertow is the point.