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Selfless is the fifth episode of the seventh season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the one-hundred and twenty-seventh episode overall. When Anya steps too far over the line, Buffy resigns herself to killing her to stop any more damage from occurring.

Guest Stars: Abraham Benrubi (Olaf), Andy Umberger (D'Hoffryn), Kali Rocha (Halfrek), Joyce Guy (Professor), Jennifer Shon (Rachel)

Co-Stars: Taylor Sutherland (Villager #1), Marybeth Scherr (Villager #2), Alessandro Mastrobuono (Villager #3), Daniel Spanton (Viking #1), John Timmons (Viking #2)

Contents 1 Plot Overview 2 Notes 2.1 Monster of the Week 2.2 Body Count 3 Arc Advancement 3.1 Happenings 3.2 Characters 3.3 Referbacks 4 Trivia 4.1 The Show 4.2 Behind the Scenes 4.3 Allusions and References 4.4 Memorable Moments 5 Quotes 5.1 "Mrs." Lyrics 6 Reviews

[edit] Plot Overview

[edit] Notes

[edit] Monster of the Week

• Crimslaw Demon: Crimslaw demons are giant green spider monsters, completely with a webbing like substance that it uses to build webs and attack its victims. In addition to the normal spider stuff, the demon also has a mouth in its abdomen which it uses to tear the heart out of its victim.

[edit] Body Count

#	Whom	By Whom	How	Where
1	Crimslaw Demon	Buffy	Axed	Woods
2	Halfrek	D'Hoffryn	Sacrificed	UCS Frathouse

[edit] Arc Advancement

[edit] Happenings

[edit] Characters

• Willow: Willow returns to UC Sunnydale after her brief stint of evilness. In this episode she also reveals that she used magic to cheat on her exams and falls back into Evil Willow mode briefly.
• Spike: Although Spike's sanity is clearly devolving into hallucinations and rambling, he appears to be completely aware of this and is lucid during his hallucinatory moments.
• Anya: The majority of this episode is spent exploring Anya's past. This is shown in the form of three flashbacks: to her origin as a vengeance demon, to the Russian Revolution and to Once More, With Feeling.

[edit] Referbacks

• 5x11 - Triangle: Olaf first appeared in the present day when Willow accidentally let him loose from a crystal he was trapped in. Olaf and Anya's relationship was briefly mentioned in that episode, but is shown in a flashback in this one.

• 5x22 - Becoming (2): Buffy was forced to kill Angel in the second season finale. In the episode, Willow was attempting to find a way that would return his soul to him, but Xander would have rather seen him dead so he didn't delay her. Xander's lie is revealed for the first time in this episode.

Buffy: I killed Angel! Do you even remember that?

• 4x09 - Something Blue: D'Hoffryn offered Willow a position as a vengeance demon when she impressed him with a complex spell. She declined, but he left her an amulet to contact him with in case she changed her mind.

D'Hoffran: I figured I'd be hearing from you soon. The flaying of Warren Meers? Oh, truly inspired.

• 6x07 - Once More, With Feeling: Anya's third flashback takes place after she and Xander had an argument that turned into the breaking out into song. Also referenced in this episode is that man who sang about his dry-cleaning, who can be heard before Anya starts her song.

Anya: Honey? Was that weird? That thing earlier with the singing... and the coconuts.

• 6x14 - Older and Far Away: Buffy witnessed Halfrek get stabbed with a sword in a previous episode. This is why Anya says that she should know better.

Anya: You know better than that, Buffy. It takes a lot more to kill a vengeance demon.

[edit] Trivia

[edit] The Show

• Casting Recall: Rachel, the girl who accidentally wishes all of the frat boys dead in this episode, previously appeared as a girl in one of Willow's classes at UC Sunnydale in Life Serial.

[edit] Behind the Scenes

• Songwriting: According to Drew Goddard, Joss Whedon wrote the entire song from this episode in one night. In a post on Bronze Beta, Goddard explained: "Joss wrote the song (it's called 'Mrs.'). I can’t take any credit for it whatsoever. We were on the set of Firefly when he was directing The Train Job and we were talking and he said something like, 'What if we flash back to the musical…' And then the very next morning he walked in and said, 'I’ve got the song.' Sometimes I think you can start car batteries with his brain."

[edit] Allusions and References

• Montresor: Montresor is the main character of Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado who walls his friend into a wine cellar after chaining him to a wall. At one point towards the end of the story, Fortunado screams "For the love of God, Montresor!"

Spike: Scream Montresor all you like, pet.

• Russian Revolution of 1905: The 1905 Russian Revolution was the precursor to Lenin's communist revolution that would occur about a decade later. It was instigated by Russia's failed war with Japan and a lack of faith in the tsar, as well as his unsavory advisors like Rasputin. The revolution was ended when the tsar made some compromises with the revolting peasants, but after his promises were broken, revolution occurred again.

[edit] Memorable Moments

• Anya sings her song about becoming Mrs. Harris after Xander has fallen asleep.

[edit] Quotes

• Olaf the Troll: Stop! Stop! It is Olaf!
  Villager #2: The troll is doing an Olaf impersonation!
  Olaf the Troll: I am Olaf!
  Villager #3: Hit him with fruits and various meats!

[edit] "Mrs." Lyrics

Mr. Xander Harris.

That's what he is to the world outside.

That's the name he carries with pride.

I'm just lately Anya.

Not very much to the world, I know.

All these years with nothing to show.

I've boned a troll, I've wreaked some wrath,

But on the whole, I've had no path.

I like to bowl, I'm good with math,

But who am I?

Now I reply that

I'm the Missis

I will be his Missis.

Mrs. Anya Christina Emanuella Jenkins Harris.

What's the point of loving...

I mean except for the sweaty part.

What's the point of losing your heart?

Maybe if you're lucky

Being a pair makes you twice as tall.

Maybe you're not losing at all.

No need to cover up my heart,

Plus see above RE: sweaty part.

So maybe love is pretty smart

And so am I

I found my guy!

And I'll be Missis

I will be his Missis

Mrs. Anya Lame-Ass-Made-Up-Maiden-Name Harris.

We'll never part

Not if we can

And if we start

Then here's my plan

I'll show him what bliss is

Welcome him with kisses

'Cause this is a Missis who misses her man

He's my Xander

And he's awfully swell

It makes financial sense as well,

Although he can be—I'll never tell—

Just stand aside

Here comes the bride

I'll be Missis.

I will be his Missis

I will be—

[edit] Reviews

• Overall Grade: no reviews yet
• Review Breakdown: A+: 0 A: 0 A-: 0 B+: 0 B: 0 B-: 0 C+: 0 C: 0 C-: 0 D: 0 F: 0