End of Days (Buffy episode)
Encyclopedia
"End of Days" is the 21st episode of the seventh and final season of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
ended, "End of Days" begins as Buffy
(Sarah Michelle Gellar
) effortlessly pulls the scythe from the stone. The First tells Caleb (Nathan Fillion
) to let Buffy go, so that she could attempt to save the Potentials from the trap Faith
(Eliza Dushku
) led them into.
Meanwhile, in the sewers, those that survived the bomb blast are dragging the wounded to the surface when they are ambushed by three Turok-Han
vampires. Buffy arrives in time to kill the vampires with her new weapon.
Back at Buffy's house, the Scoobies and Potentials immediately pledge their loyalty to Buffy again, while Willow
(Alyson Hannigan
) and Giles
(Anthony Stewart Head
) search the Internet for references to the battleaxe - finding a connection to Ancient Egypt. Faith and Buffy bond over their shared loneliness as Slayers, and reflect how they are the only ones in the group who truly understand what it feels like to be a Slayer, foreshadowing the finale of the series. Buffy admits to Spike (James Marsters
) how special the night they shared was and that it gave her the strength to find new courage. Spike tells Buffy that it was the best night of his life.
At Buffy's insistence, a reluctant Xander
(Nicholas Brendon
) renders Dawn
(Michelle Trachtenberg
) unconscious with chloroform and drives off with her, away from Sunnydale for safety. When Dawn wakes up, she gives him a shock with a stun gun and then drives them back.
Following the Egyptian lead, Buffy takes the axe to a small pyramid outside the gates of the same cemetery that she has patrolled for the past six years. Inside, a woman (Christine Healy) who claims she is part of a secret female order that has watched the Watchers since ancient times, called Guardians, tells her that the axe is a powerful weapon forged for the final battle. Suddenly, Caleb shows up from behind the woman, kills her, and almost has Buffy bested when Angel (David Boreanaz
) steps in to save her. However, Buffy insists on fighting Caleb alone, and Caleb falls.
Buffy gives Angel a welcome kiss. Unknown to them, Spike is watching them from the shadows with the First, in the guise of Buffy, by his side. "That bitch", it tells him.
This is the first time that Angel and Buffy have seen each other since their off-screen interlude after her return from death, between Buffy episodes "Flooded
" and "Life Serial", and Angel episodes "Carpe Noctem" and "Fredless". They were last on screen together in "Forever
".
's comic series, Fray
.
Although it aired after "Touched
", this episode was filmed before, to accommodate Eliza Dushku
's need for time to film the pilot
for Tru Calling
.
Since the Region 1 DVDs do not contain the "Previously on..." segments, the scene of the girls being blasted right before Buffy grabs the Scythe is not included. The other region DVDs contain this scene.
in Monty Python and the Holy Grail
.
Plot synopsis
Starting moments after the previous episodeTouched (Buffy episode)
"Touched" is the 20th episode of the seventh and final season of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot:After being ejected from her home when the Scooby Gang loses faith in her leadership, a depressed Buffy is comforted by Spike....
ended, "End of Days" begins as 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...
(Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Prinze , known professionally by her birth name of Sarah Michelle Gellar , is an American actress, singer and executive producer...
) effortlessly pulls the scythe from the stone. The First tells Caleb (Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion
Nathan Fillion is a Canadian actor, currently starring as Richard Castle on the ABC series Castle. He is also known for his portrayal of the lead role of Captain Malcolm Reynolds in the television series Firefly and its feature film continuation, Serenity.He has acted in traditionally distributed...
) to let Buffy go, so that she could attempt to save the Potentials from the trap Faith
Faith Lehane
Faith is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Played by actress Eliza Dushku in the TV series and by Whitney Thompson in the motion comic series, Faith was introduced in the third season of Buffy and was a focus of that season's...
(Eliza Dushku
Eliza Dushku
Eliza Patricia Dushku is an American actress known for her television roles, including recurring appearances as Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff series Angel. She starred in two Fox series, Tru Calling and Dollhouse...
) led them into.
Meanwhile, in the sewers, those that survived the bomb blast are dragging the wounded to the surface when they are ambushed by three Turok-Han
Turok-Han
The Turok-Han vampires are fictional characters from Joss Whedon's TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They appear in the 7th and final season of the series, making their first appearance in the episode "Never Leave Me", when the Seal of Danzalthar is opened under the basement of Sunnydale High,...
vampires. Buffy arrives in time to kill the vampires with her new weapon.
Back at Buffy's house, the Scoobies and Potentials immediately pledge their loyalty to Buffy again, while 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...
(Alyson Hannigan
Alyson Hannigan
Alyson Lee Hannigan is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Willow Rosenberg in the cult classic television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Michelle Flaherty in three American Pie films, and Lily Aldrin on the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother.-Early life:Hannigan was born in...
) and Giles
Rupert Giles
Rupert Giles is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The character is portrayed by Anthony Stewart Head. He serves as Buffy Summers' mentor and surrogate father figure...
(Anthony Stewart Head
Anthony Head
Anthony Stewart Head , usually credited as Anthony Head, is an English actor and musician. He rose to fame in the UK following his role in television advertisements for Nescafé Gold Blend , and is known for his roles as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Uther Pendragon in...
) search the Internet for references to the battleaxe - finding a connection to Ancient Egypt. Faith and Buffy bond over their shared loneliness as Slayers, and reflect how they are the only ones in the group who truly understand what it feels like to be a Slayer, foreshadowing the finale of the series. Buffy admits to Spike (James Marsters
James Marsters
James Wesley Marsters is an American actor and musician. Marsters first came to the attention of the general public playing the popular character Spike, a platinum-blond yobbish English vampire in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series, Angel from 1997 to 2004...
) how special the night they shared was and that it gave her the strength to find new courage. Spike tells Buffy that it was the best night of his life.
At Buffy's insistence, a reluctant 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...
(Nicholas Brendon
Nicholas Brendon
Nicholas Brendon , is an actor best known for his character Xander Harris in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer .-Early life:...
) renders Dawn
Dawn Summers
Dawn Summers is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon and introduced by Marti Noxon and David Fury on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, portrayed by Michelle Trachtenberg. She made her debut in the premiere episode of the show's fifth season, and subsequently appeared in every...
(Michelle Trachtenberg
Michelle Trachtenberg
Michelle Christine Trachtenberg is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Dawn Summers in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl...
) unconscious with chloroform and drives off with her, away from Sunnydale for safety. When Dawn wakes up, she gives him a shock with a stun gun and then drives them back.
Following the Egyptian lead, Buffy takes the axe to a small pyramid outside the gates of the same cemetery that she has patrolled for the past six years. Inside, a woman (Christine Healy) who claims she is part of a secret female order that has watched the Watchers since ancient times, called Guardians, tells her that the axe is a powerful weapon forged for the final battle. Suddenly, Caleb shows up from behind the woman, kills her, and almost has Buffy bested when Angel (David Boreanaz
David Boreanaz
David Boreanaz is an American actor, television producer, and director, known for his role as Angel on the supernatural drama series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, and as Special Agent Seeley Booth on the television crime drama Bones....
) steps in to save her. However, Buffy insists on fighting Caleb alone, and Caleb falls.
Buffy gives Angel a welcome kiss. Unknown to them, Spike is watching them from the shadows with the First, in the guise of Buffy, by his side. "That bitch", it tells him.
This is the first time that Angel and Buffy have seen each other since their off-screen interlude after her return from death, between Buffy episodes "Flooded
Flooded (Buffy episode)
"Flooded" is the fourth episode of season 6 of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.- Plot synopsis :Buffy attempts to repair a leaky pipe in her basement only to have it burst and flood the basement. At breakfast, the gang discusses the damage while Xander and a plumber examine the...
" and "Life Serial", and Angel episodes "Carpe Noctem" and "Fredless". They were last on screen together in "Forever
Forever (Buffy episode)
"Forever" is the 17th episode of season 5 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The Scooby Gang attends Joyce's funeral, and Angel visits to pay his respects. The day after the funeral, Dawn attempts to bring her mother back to life. Also, Glory learns that the Key is in human...
".
Production details
Marti Noxon was originally due to write this episode. However, she was already working on a pilot for the Fox television network, Still Life and was unavailable to do so. As a result, Espenson and Petrie, the next two writers with the most seniority on the show, co-wrote this episode. The concept of the Scythe was previously and originally created for Joss WhedonJoss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
's comic series, Fray
Fray
Fray is an eight-issue comic book limited series, a futuristic spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Written by Buffy creator Joss Whedon, the series follows a Slayer named Melaka Fray, a chosen one in a time where vampires are returning to the slums of New York City, and the...
.
Although it aired after "Touched
Touched (Buffy episode)
"Touched" is the 20th episode of the seventh and final season of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Plot:After being ejected from her home when the Scooby Gang loses faith in her leadership, a depressed Buffy is comforted by Spike....
", this episode was filmed before, to accommodate Eliza Dushku
Eliza Dushku
Eliza Patricia Dushku is an American actress known for her television roles, including recurring appearances as Faith on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff series Angel. She starred in two Fox series, Tru Calling and Dollhouse...
's need for time to film the pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
for Tru Calling
Tru Calling
Tru Calling is an American television supernatural drama series that premiered on Fox Network on October 30, 2003. It ran for two seasons before being canceled....
.
Since the Region 1 DVDs do not contain the "Previously on..." segments, the scene of the girls being blasted right before Buffy grabs the Scythe is not included. The other region DVDs contain this scene.
Cultural references
When Spike returns to the house to find Buffy has found the scythe, he says "...fulfilled your mission, found the Holy Grail. Or the Holy Hand Grenade or whatever the Hell that is." This is a reference to the Holy Hand Grenade of AntiochHoly Hand Grenade of Antioch
The Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch is a fictional weapon from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It bears a striking resemblance to the Sovereign's Orb of the United Kingdom, and seems to draw some inspiration from the Holy Spear of Antioch...
in Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1974 British comedy film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python , and directed by Gilliam and Jones...
.