Empty Places (Buffy episode)
Encyclopedia
"Empty Places" is the 19th episode of the seventh and final season of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
flee en masse and Sunnydale becomes a ghost town. Willow
uses magic to get information from the police on Caleb, and Spike and Andrew leave to pursue a lead. They discover an engraving on a plaque that states that the power they are searching for is to be wielded by "her" alone. At the deserted school Buffy
is confronted by Caleb, who beats her unconscious. After a brief period of unconsciousness, Buffy returns home to discover that Faith has taken Dawn
and the Potentials to the Bronze
for a night of relaxation. After they run into trouble with the police - during which the police threaten to kill or injure Faith and briefly hold the Potentials hostage at the Bronze - Buffy confronts the group and demands that they make better choices, and reveals her plans for another attack. At this point (before Spike and Andrew return) the Potentials as well as Dawn, Willow, Xander
, Anya
, and Giles
, tell Buffy that they no longer trust her leadership. At Dawn's request, Buffy leaves the house and Faith reluctantly becomes the new leader.
Plot synopsis
The citizens of SunnydaleSunnydale
Sunnydale, California is the fictional setting for the U.S. television drama Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Series creator Joss Whedon conceived the town as a representation of a generic California city, as well as a narrative parody of the all-too-serene towns typical in traditional horror...
flee en masse and Sunnydale becomes a ghost town. 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...
uses magic to get information from the police on Caleb, and Spike and Andrew leave to pursue a lead. They discover an engraving on a plaque that states that the power they are searching for is to be wielded by "her" alone. At the deserted school 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...
is confronted by Caleb, who beats her unconscious. After a brief period of unconsciousness, Buffy returns home to discover that Faith has taken 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...
and the Potentials to the Bronze
The Bronze
The Bronze is a fictional nightclub in Sunnydale, the fictional setting for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Of 144 episodes of the series, 66 have at least one scene at the Bronze, not including its appearance in the unaired pilot....
for a night of relaxation. After they run into trouble with the police - during which the police threaten to kill or injure Faith and briefly hold the Potentials hostage at the Bronze - Buffy confronts the group and demands that they make better choices, and reveals her plans for another attack. At this point (before Spike and Andrew return) the Potentials as well as Dawn, Willow, 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...
, Anya
Anya Jenkins
Anya is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She also appears in the comic book series based on the television show. Portrayed by Emma Caulfield, the character appears as a guest star in the third and fourth seasons of the show before...
, 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...
, tell Buffy that they no longer trust her leadership. At Dawn's request, Buffy leaves the house and Faith reluctantly becomes the new leader.
Arc significance
- This episode marks the final appearance of the character Clem, who leaves Sunnydale with the other residents.
- This episode marks the final appearance of The BronzeThe BronzeThe Bronze is a fictional nightclub in Sunnydale, the fictional setting for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Of 144 episodes of the series, 66 have at least one scene at the Bronze, not including its appearance in the unaired pilot....
, which has been a recurring element of the show since the very first episode. - Buffy is ejected from the house and Faith is put in charge of the Potentials.
- Faith refers to the events of "The Zeppo" in which she and Xander had sex.
Trivia
- When in the hospital after losing an eye, Xander says, "Oh, you know the best part is? No one will ever make me watch Jaws 3D again." The director of the episode, James Contner, was also a cinematographer on Jaws 3D.
- The officer who says to Faith "You'll have to come with us, Miss. Outstanding warrant," was played by the same actor as the villain Billy Blim in the AngelAngel (TV series)Angel is an American television series, a spin-off of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series was created by Buffys creator, Joss Whedon, in collaboration with David Greenwalt, and first aired on October 5, 1999...
episode "Billy". - The football helmet that Andrew wears while riding behind Spike on Spike's motorcycle is the same helmet that Dawn wore in "Bargaining, Part Two".
Music
- Nerf HerderNerf HerderNerf Herder is a punk rock band from Santa Barbara formed in 1994 by Parry Gripp , Charlie Dennis and Steve Sherlock . They describe themselves as a "geek rock" band, and are known for simplistic modern punk-style songs with frequently humorous, juvenile and pop-culture-referencing lyrics...
appeared as the musical guest in this episode as the last band to play at The BronzeThe BronzeThe Bronze is a fictional nightclub in Sunnydale, the fictional setting for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Of 144 episodes of the series, 66 have at least one scene at the Bronze, not including its appearance in the unaired pilot....
. Their special connection to the series was further acknowledged by a bit of dialogue:
- KennedyKennedy (Buffyverse)Kennedy is a fictional character in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Portrayed by Iyari Limon in the TV series, the character was introduced in the final season of the series and goes on to appear in the comic book series Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight which continues the...
: What kind of band plays during an apocalypse? - DawnDawn SummersDawn 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...
: I think this band might actually be one of the signs.