Written by Drew Z. Greenberg
Directed by Michael E. Gershman
At Buffy's party, Spike appears with Clem, Tara comes, and so does Sophie from Buffy's work. Xander and Anya also tell her that they invited a guy for her. Willow has an awkward conversation with Tara while Buffy tells Richard, the guy Xander and Anya brought, that Clem has a skin condition. Tara and Clem agree together that Richard is cute, aggravating Spike. When opening presents, Buffy is amazed by Dawn's gift, a leather jacket. Dawn forgot to take the tab off the jacket, and Buffy notices but immedietly is distracted by Xander and Anya's gift, a nice trunk for weapons. Outside, Dawn's couciler appears and grants Dawn's wish.
Richard flirts with Buffy and Spike pulls Buffy away. Tara catches Buffy and Spike and Spike makes pathetic excuses. Everyone spends the night and discover in the morning that they cannot leave. Dawn gets upset about how everyone really wants to leave and runs upstairs. She claims to know nothing on why they can't leave and screams untill they leave. Tara tries some spells but instead releases the demon from the sword. The demon stabs Richard and Buffy attacks it, but it melts into the walls. They still haven't found a way out of the house by nightfall, and Anya gets mad at Willow for not tring spells to help them escape. Tara quickly comes to Willow's defense and they stop arguing.
Dawn confesses to Buffy that she has no friends and that she always feels alone. Buffy realizes that it must be a demon when Dawn mentions a counciler that she made a wish to. Anya freaks out and searches Dawn's room for clues. She discovers stolen items from many stores including the Magic Box. Buffy defends Dawn until she remembers the jacket with the security tag on. Anya realizes that the counciler must be Halfrek and summons her. She appears but then gets stabbed by the demon. Buffy grabs the sword and the demon goes into the wall, but Buffy thrusts the sword into the wall killing the demon. She snaps the sword in half and Hallie gets up. She's ok but reveals that Dawn is troubled and is in lots of pain. Halfrek sees Spike and they reconize each other. Hallie then tries to teleport but can't because of the spell. Halfrek then reverses the wish Dawn wished. Xander and Anya help Richard while Tara says she's proud of Willow not giving in to do magic. Then everyone leaves the house, finally.
Halfrek
Buffy has her 21st birthday party.
Dawn reveals that she feels alone.
Rating
4/5
Goofs
When Buffy anf Spike are talking in the hall you can see Spike's reflection in the mirror.
Trivia
Halfrek reconizes Spike in this episode. Kali Rocha, who plays Halfrek, also played Cecily, Spike's (William's) love intrest in Fool for Love. Cecily was turned into a vengeance demon by D'Hoffryn. Spike also dedicates a poem to Cecily in Angel's fanale, 'Not Fade Away.'
The episodes title comes from J.G. Ballard's novel, Empire Of the Sun.