In 2.22 Becoming (Part Two), Xander failed to tell Buffy that Willow was going to perform the spell to re-cast Angel’s curse (instead he told her to “kick his ass”). This was never discussed until season seven’s 7.05 Selfless, when Buffy finally revealed to Xander she knew this was not Willow’s true message. Buffy also reminds Xander in 7.05 Selfless that she killed Angel in 2.22 Becoming (Part Two).
Related episodes: 2.22 Becoming (Part Two), 7.05 Selfless
Comments on this trivia
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myfanwy on May 4th, 2005 at 1:09 am
As I understood it, Buffy DIDN’T know. In Selfless Buffy seemed serious about recalling “kick his ass” and then Willow was the one who objected, as she hadn’t said it.
ant4buffy on May 12th, 2005 at 12:08 pm
Thats what I got from it as well. I like the way the writers touched on a episode from 5 years ago and then didn’t refer to it further. Nice touch
arkan on December 18th, 2005 at 11:59 pm
Me too. I always thought Buffy didn’t know. How did you figure otherwise, Jess? Just curious about the reasoning ; )
chad79 on February 1st, 2006 at 9:37 pm
I wish xander would have been like “I’m sorry willow; Buffy Willow wanted me to tell you she was gonna try to put Angel’s soul back, I panicked and said that instead”
MissKittyFantastico on February 1st, 2006 at 11:44 pm
Yeah, I definitely think Buffy didn’t know the truth until S7 when Willow says “I didn’t say that” but the conversation is moving so quickly because of the situation with Anya that it isn’t really discussed…. I’m certain Buffy wasn’t aware of it though.
Elly on April 7th, 2006 at 6:07 am
In “Dead Man’s Party” (season 3) Buffy and Xander are in a yelling match and she brings up the “kick his ass” line.
TwoToGo-Grave on April 7th, 2006 at 9:43 pm
This is actually in “Selfless” in season seven, and not in “Dead Man’s Party”.
ormaybemidgets on June 26th, 2007 at 6:00 am
I think it’s pretty clear that she did know. In Becoming, Part 2, I don’t think she knew, but in the course of five years, she figured it out. It’s clear from the dialogue that she knew that wasn’t what Willow said.
Meghann on June 27th, 2007 at 5:30 am
I don’t believe Buffy knew that Willow didn’t give that message. If she had, she wouldn’t have said that they were both cheering her on to kill Angel:
BUFFY: Do you remember cheering me on? Both of you. Do you remember giving me Willow’s message: Kick his ass.
WILLOW I never said that -
ormaybemidgets on June 27th, 2007 at 6:09 am
Why would Buffy bring up Xander relaying the message unless she knew Willow didn’t say it? Willow was already on Buffy’s side, pro-killing Anya, but Xander wasn’t. Buffy was trying to show that when the situation was reversed - when someone Buffy loved needed to be killed - Xander was all for it.
Also, when Willow said “I never said that,” Buffy didn’t have any reaction at all.
Lastly, Buffy knew that Willow was working on a spell to re-ensoul Angel. She knew that Willow wouldn’t tell her to “kiss his ass” at the same time she was trying to prevent just that.
Mel on June 27th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
I dont believe that Buffy knew Willow’s true message.
Up until that point I think Buffy still thinks that Willow’s only message was to “kisk his ass”.
I do wish they had went further with that story though as I would like to have seen Buffy’s reaction to Xander knowing the truth about what Willow was doing.
Meghann on June 28th, 2007 at 1:29 am
To me, Willow didn’t take a side. Her sitting there with a saddened look makes it look as though she was conflicted.
She knew what Buffy had take action because it was her job as the Slayer. I don’t think Willow was for it though. If she was for killing Anya, I don’t see why she would have contacted D’Hoffryn.
As for “kick his ass”…
When Willow did the spell in the hospital, Buffy had no clue… not until she saw Angel change. Xander was supposed to tell Buffy, yet we all know he didn’t.
Eventhough Buffy learns of Willow performing the spell, she still states in “Selfless” that Xander & Willow were both cheering her on. It was obvious how Xander felt about Angel and wanted him dead. But the “Kick his ass.” made Buffy think Willow wanted him dead as well.
If Buffy knew Willow didn’t say it, why wouldn’t she just say Xander was cheering her on and not include Willow?
ormaybemidgets on June 28th, 2007 at 2:34 am
She said “both,” when she knew it wasn’t both, because Xander saying Buffy should kill Angel didn’t mean much, it was just a true statement of his feelings. Xander telling Buffy that Willow wanted her to kill Angel, that’s a betrayal, because he’s lying about what Willow said and because that statement was a lot of what pushed Buffy over the edge.
There’s no reason for Buffy bringing up Willow’s statement to Xander unless she knew she didn’t say it. Why would Buffy bring up the statement if she thought Willow really said it?
stephanieisit on June 28th, 2007 at 3:44 am
Obviously she believed it or she would’ve questioned it AT THE TIME. When he came along and told her the message, Buffy would’ve said “What?” or some sign of confusion if she thought that Willow wouldn’t say that. Then she never mentioned it again until she was trying to convince them that she had to kill Anya so she brought it up. Willow never suggested killing her, she was pretty neutral as far as the argument went.
ormaybemidgets on June 28th, 2007 at 4:05 am
Not necessarily. Buffy herself didn’t really, seriously, I’ve-got-a-sword-in-my-hand consider killing Angel until the carnage in the library and the whole apocalypse thing. The fact that Willow would tell Buffy to “kick his ass” meant a lot, because when even Willow is giving up hope, the situation is dire. It helped Buffy get to the place where she was ready to kill Angel. Also, the world was ending. Buffy didn’t expect Xander to be lying to her, and a change of heart (Willow’s) at apocalypse time is understandable. Plus, Buffy has a lot on her mind, so I think she realized the weight of the statement and then pushed it away for the moment. So I think she believed Xander at the time, but over five years, I think she can figure out that Willow didn’t say that.
Meghann on June 28th, 2007 at 6:45 am
The beautyf of the Whedonverse is that things can be interpretted in various ways. I personally believe that if Buffy knew Willow didn’t say it, they would have talked about it. I could see them having a discusion of Xander and his crazy ways. But since Willow reacted with such surprise, it felt like a subject not touched on and the two were clueless except for Xander since it was his lie. That’s what always made the scene more exciting to me. For it to be discussed after several years was awesome… gotta love continuity!
ormaybemidgets on June 28th, 2007 at 9:55 am
You’re right. That’s one of the great things about the Whedonverse, it’s been four years and we still care enough to argue!
Also, I’m not sure if you’ve listened the the commentary for Selfless, but it has this awesome exchange:
(Line: “Do you remember giving me Willow’s message: Kick his ass.”)
David Solomon: I remember that.
Drew Goddard: Season two.
David Solomon: What episode?
Drew Goddard: Uh, the la-, the finale. Uh, Becoming, Part Two. Right before she’s gonna go kill Angel. I am an encyclopedia of all things Buffy. Quiz me again, Solomon.
David Solomon: Oh… Come on, I was on every episode and I don’t know it as well as you do. I worked on all 144 episodes.
Drew Goddard: Ah, yes, for you it’s a job, for me it is… well, I’m a total geek.
Meghann on June 29th, 2007 at 2:01 am
YES! I love that commentary! I adore Drew! I have always been so envious of him. I could never imagine the excitement of being a huge fan of a show and then working for it. Everytime he talks about the show, there’s so much happiness in his voice. And I love his episodes because he loves throwing in throwbacks to past episodes.
Boyslayer on March 27th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
alright look…calm down…its a show..we dont actually know these people..
HarFang on April 17th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Only two people could have told Buffy the truth about Willow’s message : Xander and Willow herself. Willow clearly didn’t even know that her message had been changed, and Xander certainly wasn’t going to tell the truth about it.
Buffy might still have guessed the truth on her own, even though she usually wasn’t that perceptive, but then wouldn’t she have asked Willow to be sure ?
So I also think she really didn’t know the truth about Willow’s message.