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Buffy The Vampire Slayer
As the big day arrives, Willow is full of anticipation, hoping her and Tara still have a chance, Buffy is glowing with happiness for the cute couple, Anya is rehearsing her vows and Xander is… Where did Xander go?
Hell's Bells
UPN Episode Air Date 03/05/02The day that was supposed to be the comic opportunity of the season turned out to be anything but. There were a few laughable moments, but all in all the writing staff managed to make viewers think about commitment, marriage, weddings, family, alcohol abuse, self-respect, bigotry, and acceptance.
As everyone prepares for the wedding, Anya is the epitome of the blushing bride. Full of excitement and happiness her only want is to share it all with her best friend and future husband. Between avoiding family members, Xander takes advantage of this special day to connect with his two best friends, Willow and Buffy, letting them know how important they are to him. When a man presenting himself as Xander from the future tells Xander of the present that he can't marry Anya, the natural reaction is not to believe it. Though the Scooby gang has battled everything from giant snakes to Ancient Indian ghosts, the idea of time travel is unbelievable. But after a little magic shows Xander some scenes from his future, he begins to question his intention to marry Anya.
Like most scared grooms, Xander runs away. Buffy is able to stall the audience for a while with charades and juggling (it somehow makes sense that the slayer can juggle), but Anya gets anxious. When she hears that Xander left Anya seeks out the last person seen with Xander, the supposed Xander from the future. It turns out that this wedding crasher is actually a past recipient of Anyaka's wrath. In return for ruining his life, the bitter man seeks to prevent Anya from being happy. Xander appears killing the demon, but will the ceremony go on? You'll have to watch it to find out.
Some good aspects of tonight's episode: the characters on Anya's side of the aisle were quite clever. The make-up was fun but unimpressive, but the banter made up for it. The wrestling match between the two sides, complete with chair shots, was a lot of fun. The bridesmaid's dresses were sufficiently disgusting, but Sarah Michelle Gellar still looked good in hers. It was fascinating glimpsing into the hell that is Xander's family life, but the exploration of the alcohol abuse, and emotional distance with his parents was a little too real. The bigotry showed by Xander's father was balanced by his cousins attempt to snag one of Anya's "circus" friends.
All in all it was a well-written, well-acted and well-directed episode. The focus of the episode shifted away from Buffy, and the evil was a broken heart rather than a creature. The interaction between Spike and Buffy came across and sincerely painful for both. Buffy maintained her self-image by not giving in, but did so without being cold. Her admission of jealously not only gave Spike a boost, but also gave a little hope to those of us out there clinging to the possibility of their reunion.
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