Bargaining: Part 1 

Buffy is dead, and the Scooby Gang must do the best they can without her. But concern about the way she died leads Willow to believe that she may have been pulled into a hell dimension. ... See full summary »

Director:

David Grossman

Writers:

Joss Whedon (created by), Marti Noxon

Stars:

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Emma Caulfield

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon	...	Xander Harris
Emma Caulfield	...	Anya
Michelle Trachtenberg	...	Dawn Summers
James Marsters	...	Spike
Alyson Hannigan	...	Willow Rosenberg
Anthony Head	...	Rupert Giles (as Anthony Stewart Head)
Franc Ross	...	Razor
Amber Benson	...	Tara Maclay
Geoff Meed	...	Mag
Mike Grief	...	Klyed
Paul Greenberg	...	Shempy Vamp
Joy Demichelle Moore	...	Ms. Lefcourt (as Joy DeMichelle Moore)
Bru Muller	...	Mr. Davis
Robert Vito	...	Cute Boy (as Robert D. Vito)

Storyline

Buffy is dead, and the Scooby Gang must do the best they can without her. But concern about the way she died leads Willow to believe that she may have been pulled into a hell dimension. Unable to bear the thought of their friend enduring eternal torment, Willow, Xander, Anya, and Tara decide to perform a resurrection spell that will bring Buffy back from the dead.

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Plot Keywords:

back from the dead | sister sister relationship | lesbian | heroine | female protagonist | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 October 2001 (USA)

Filming Locations:

1800 Stewart St., Santa Monica, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mutant Enemy, Kuzui Enterprises, Sandollar Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min (two parts)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first episode broadcast on UPN.

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Goofs

In the beginning of the episode when the gang is hunting the heavyset vampire, the camera pushes in to Willow on top of a mausoleum, and as it does you can clearly see a pair of camera flags being moved along with it on the right of the screen.

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Quotes

Xander: [sees Anya and Giles slapping at each other like kids] Okay, when *I'm* marvelling at the immaturity... be scared.

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Connections

References The Fury (1978)

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Soundtracks

Permanence
Written by Wayne Static, Tony Campos, Ken Jay
Performed by Static-X

User Reviews

BtVS's best season begins

Viewers, and for that matter the BtVS crew, didn't know when Buffy jumped if the show was done.

Then Whedon found a new home and the show's darkest but most meaningful season begins with "Bargaining." "Bargaining 1 & 2" are not the show's best episodes. But they set up exquisitely the season's Big Bad by providing a reason for Buffy to wonder "Is this Hell?"

Season 6 is the show's most metaphysical. BtVS was always filled with symbols and metaphors, but with Buffy's asking of Dawn the nature of their existence, Whedon and Co. are taking viewers into the meaning of the story. In Season 4's finale, "Restless," Xander visits the "Heart of Darkness." "Restless" is well regarded for its prophetic elements and with "Bargaining" the journey prophesied begins.

Its a sad, brutal and pointedly banal ride. At season's end the world will be saved by the most prosaic object imaginable: A yellow crayon. But Buffy's question will remain: "Is this Hell?"