Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV Series) Entropy (2002) User Reviews

Spike and Anya make a connection

[katierose295 · 7/10 · 31 August 2006]

I love Spike and Anya. They're two of the most consistently interesting and sympathetic characters on the show. They're funny and insightful and they care about people more than they let on. Their shared demon-ness has always given them an understanding and connection to each other. In this episode, though, they take things one step further. Hurt by their human loves, they turn to each other for comfort and companionship. Things, predictably enough, turn out badly. "Entropy" is hardly the highlight of the season, but it does set up some important stuff for the episodes to come. It will also be referenced into season seven, so you really can't skip it if you're watching on DVD.

"Entropy" revolves around Anya returning to Sunnydale. Still furious over her canceled wedding and working as a vengeance demon again, Anya is looking to get some revenge on Xander. After he tells her that he loves her and, although he's not ready for marriage, he still wants to date, Anya tries to smite him down. Unfortunately, vengeance has a loop hole. It seems Anya can't wish terrible fates upon Xander herself, she has to get someone else to do it. Meanwhile, Buffy has broken up with Spike... Again or still, depending on how you want to look at it. When she finds a camera hidden in a lawn troll in front of her house, she and Xander blame Spike. Spike is insulted that they think that he'd spy on her like that. (And really, Buffy should know that he does his front yard stalking in person. He's out there all the time, staring up at the house. What would he need cameras for?) He tells Buffy to get out of his tomb and she tells him that he need to move on with his life.

Prehaps remembering the old "love spell" plan from season three's "Lover's Walk," Spike heads for the Magic Box. In "Lover's Walk" Willow wanted a potion to make her "de-lusted" and uninterested in Xander. Spike steals the idea and asks Anya for something to help him get over Buffy. Anya sees a potential "Xander curser" and starts plying Spike with liquor. As the night wears on the two of them bond of booze and heart-ache. Spike tells Anya that he's always admired her forthrightness. Anya tells Spike that he smells nice. And pretty soon the two of them are having sex on a table.

Little do they know that Buffy, Xander and Willow have been tracing the camera they found back to the Trio's complex surveillance network. The Trio has cameras setup at every Scoobie hangout and Anya and Spike's love making is beamed into Willow's lap top and all the Trio's computers. As Andrew, Jonathan and Warren gape at their screens back at the "Lair", Buffy and Xander's hearts break back at the Summers' house. Xander grabs an ax and heads off to kill Spike. Buffy races after him. Spike allows Xander to shout and throw him around, but when Xander tells at Anya that he's disgusted with her now, Spike announces that he and Buffy have been sleeping together, too.

There are some good parts to this episode. I just adore Anya and Spike. They have always had a connection with each other. Going all the way back to "Where the Wild Things Are" in season four, they've been commiserating with each other about their love lives and their new "human"-ness They're both ex-evil doers who have been, somewhat reluctantly, stuck with the Scoobie gang. Both of them are older (much older) and are more willing to lay themselves on the line for love. Maybe Spike's right. Maybe he and Anya are the strongest because they're the ones who will take chances and really "live." (For an ironic twist on their selfless love for their human friends see season seven's "Chosen.") Spike and Anya have seen a lot, and been through a lot, and they are willing to see the shades of gray. They're survivors. They could make it in the world without the Scoobies, but they can't seem to break free. When Xander is shouting at Anya about sleeping with Spike, insulting both of them, you just want to tell him to shut up. Spike and Anya have saved the Scoobies lives many times and they deserve more than the tired "souless evil demon" song and dance. Things aren't that black and white anymore and Xander knows it. Spike always sticks up for the underdog. And as Xander rages on and Anya seems feel guilty, Spike finally announces that he was "good enough for Buffy." I always get the feeling that more than defending himself, trying to hurt Xander or attempting to stick it to Buffy, he's defending Anya with that statement. A woman who he respects and feels connected to.

On the down side, am I suppose to be on Xander and Buffy's side in this episode? Because I'm not. The two of them treated Spike and Anya like dirt all season. THEY broke off the relationships and now they're all upset because Spike and Anya are moving on? PLEASE! I kinna wish that Anya had figured out a way to curse BOTH of them, the self-righteous jerks. Also, I think that had Xander should had been listening to Patsy Cline music when he was all depressed at the Bronze. It would have fit in with his country songs are the "music of pain" thing from season one's "Prophesy Girl." Finally, it's a shame that Spike and Halfreck didn't have more of a scene together. I want to know if she's Cecily or not.

My favorite part of the episode: The Trio desperately trying to disconnect their camera surveillance system before Buffy can find them... Only to stop everything so they can watch Spike and Anya making love. "He's so cool... And the girl's hot, too."

Careful what you wish for...

[Joxerlives · 8/10 · 19 July 2012]

The Good; Anya's hilarious attempts to take vengeance on Xander. The Geeks vamphunting. Buffy and Dawn the happiest they've been together in a long time. But best of all Willow and Tara back together.

The Bad; Not much, a lot more fun than recent eps. You do feel bad for Anya though.

Best line; Anya; "What kind of lesbians are you? If you love men so much, go be with men!"

Women good/men bad; Anya is perfectly justified in her rage at Xander. Halfrek has cursed a man who refuses to pay child support to receive a paper cut each time he touches paper (in many ways Halfrek is much more merciful than Anyanka?). She also comments on Anya's whole 'female power take back the night thing'. Xander actually says the old relationship cliché 'It's not you it's me'. Anya comments on her 'changing to please' Xander.

Jeez!; Jonathon tells Warren to leave him alone with his experiment or they'll be 'Deader than an ex-girlfriend'. Stick it in and break it off why don't you?

Kinky dinky;

The Troika and the Scoobies voyeuristically watch Anya and Spike at the Magic Shop via the nerd's cameras. Anya describes men as having been 'riding roughshod over Buffy' for years. She describes Xander as 'bumpy in the right places' and says she has a sexy dance. Spike says Anya's the only Scooby he'd consider biting but we know that's a lie from Buffy and Willow in 'Lover's Walk'.

Captain Subtext; Tara and Willow say they don't hate men and are all about the girl/girl action. As Andrew watches Spike and Anya at the Magic Shop rather than comment on the hot girl he thinks Spike is cool. As with Hell's Bells Buffy might want rid of Spike but is not too keen on him immediately taking up with another girl. Buffy and Dawn seem a lot closer this ep, partly as a measure of big sis' guilt over Normal Again. Buffy confides in Dawn about her and Spike but not the others who have to find out for themselves. Willow tells Tara about the wig lady monster and says what we were all thinking about it's appearance. Spike calls Xander a ponce. Anya observes that none of the Scoobs speak their mind which is true. And Willow and Tara get all kissy, awwww!

Guantanamo Bay; Anya wants to talk about torture

Scoobies go evil: I wouldn't class Anya as evil just yet Giles: 1 Cordy: 1 Will: 2 Jenny: 1 Angel: 1 Oz: 1 Joyce: 1 Xander: 4 Anya; 1 Dawn; 1 Buffy; 1

Alternate scoobies: Demon Anya Buffy: 8 Giles: 4 Cordy: 1 Will: 3 Jenny: 2 Angel: 3 Oz: 2 Joyce: 2 Xander: 4 Tara; 1 Dawn;1 Spike; 1 Anya; 2

Recurring characters killed: 11 Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce, Katrina Sunnydale deaths; 93 Total number of scoobies:4 Xander, Willow, Buffy, Spike, Xander demon magnet: 5(6?) Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot: Giles: 2 Angel: 3 Oz: 4 Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost: Now, Buffy remarks on her four partners which tends to suggest only Spike, Riley, Parker and Angel and seems to rule out Dracula. But then again we all know how good the Summer's girls are at denial? Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes? Cordy: 1? Buffy: 4 confirmed; Angel, Parker, Riley, Spike. 1 possible, Dracula(?) Angel: 1;Buffy Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?) Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley Xander: 2; Faith, Anya Willow: 2;Oz and Tara Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vampwhore Spike; 2 Buffy and Anya Anya; 2 Xander and Spike

Spike; good or bad? He feels sympathy for Anya being left at the altar and it seems quite genuine.

Dawn in peril; 9

Dawn the bashful virgin; Dawn the voyeur again but Willow stops her continuing to watch Spike/Anya get it on at the Magic Shop via the surveillance cameras

What the fanficcers thought; A truly hilarious fanfic dealing with this episode has the various Scoobies appearing on The Jerry Springer Show and Xander being confronted by the footage of Anya and Spike at the Magic Box AND Buffy's shameful confession live on air. Of course he then does the sensible thing and hits Spike over the head with a chair.... But as Jerry says in his final thought if Tara and Willow can find their love for one another again can't we all. Take care of yourselves and each other. 'The Buffy Springer Show'

Questions and observations; Do we really think Giles would drink Jack Daniels? Surely he's a Scotch man? Maybe Gwendoline Post was right, he has become too American. Dawn no longer likes pet shops, perhaps because she too has been a prisoner at least twice. Note Warren seems to take sadistic glee at hunting the vamps. Buffy feels bad about the events of Normal Again but her friends and sister easily forgive her, she's delighted to feel the love. Are there real gnomes in the Buffyverse? Marks out of 10; I was going to say that Entropy was a good title for a season that had lost it's way and become quite dismal in places but actually this is more like it, sex and character based comedy with a happy ending. 8/10

Everybody is sad

[ossie85 · 6/10 · 23 August 2022]

Spike still thinks that Buffy loves him and Buffy tells him to move on. The geeks steal a magic disk that helps them in their plans but their spy cameras are discovered. Anya returns and despite Xander's constant apologising she tries to curse him. Yes, Anya's a vengeance demon again.

Why It's So Good - This season is a powder keg waiting to happen, and it finally exploded. Xander, Anya, Buffy, Spike, and suddenly the gang might be damaged forever. But we get Willow and Tara back together!

Watch Out For - Anya trying to get everyone else to curse Xander.

Quote - "He's got that same look on his face, the one he had that time I highlighted in his Babylon 5 novels. Right before he told his mother on me! Warren! I don't think we can trust him." - Andrew about Jonathan.

Anya the destroyer of men

[Realrockerhalloween · 5 October 2016]

Anya returns as a vengeance demon and wants to curse him but can't. I struggle with with this decision as she made so much progress, helped fight against Apocalypses and loved Xander completely. I know being dumped hurts, but to go back to your old life with out a second thought seems like a big leap and not realistic as it would mean hurting innocents who make a mistake. It was a nice surprise to find out in the end she does care for him and only wants the pain to stop yet I can't help thinking to earlier in the ep were she wanted to mutilate and kill him if she had the power to.

Spike on the other hand woos her into bed after their talk chalking up his relationship with Buffy was only to see what he was missing and move on. I'm glad at the end she sees what I do that he's a sleaze bag and a phony with his talks of love. It seems that lives are being saved by Buffy being back yet it created the trio and obsessive Spike that seems more like negatives on why she should've stayed buried then brought back.

Anya's Return

[Samuel-Shovel · 6/10 · 17 August 2018]

In "Entropy", Anya returns to town to exact revenge on Xander. She has returned to her vengeance demon ways and wants someone to wish some kind of curse on him. No one is aware of her return to demoness. She runs into Spike; the two get drunk and console each other about their failed relationships. Buffy tries to be a better sister to Dawn after discovering Dawn's sticky fingers and after attempting to kill her. Willow and Tara continue to mend their relationship. Buffy discovers that someone has been spying on her; she suspects the Trio. Willow hacks into the webcam feeds and Xander sees Anya and Spike making love.

Xander tries to kill Spike. Buffy stops him but Xander and Dawn learn the truth about Buffy and Spike's past relationship. Xander leaves in disgust.

Well... the cat's finally out of the bag! After keeping it a secret for so long, the Gang has discovered the truth. Everyone's all very fragmented right now. The only thing that seems to be getting better is Willow and Tara's relationship. I guess Buffy and Dawn seem to be getting along fine as well... Regardless, this is another dark period for the gang. Without Giles' steady hand to keep things constant around Sunnyvale, there seems to be constant drama in store for everyone.

Also, shouldn't Spike be able to sense that Anya is a demon again?

Entropy: "a doctrine of inevitable social decline and degeneration".

[skay_baltimore · 3/10 · 5 August 2010]

What an interesting definition of entropy. Why? Because this episode -- Entroypy -- is, in some ways, just another in an increasingly long line of boring, mindless BtVS episodes. On the other hand, Entropy, maybe more than any other episode, zeroes in on exactly what is wrong with the entire BtVS series, in particular, and MSM presentations of society as a whole -- paralyzingly weak male role models. Over. And over. And over.

This is certainly not the only series to promote such images. In fact, most TV shows and movies do exactly the same thing, although maybe not to the same degree as BtVS. But even assuming this is true -- what do they have to gain by this? This is what they have to gain -- TV shows and movies have emasculated men to the degree that authentic male-female relationship role models have all but disappeared. Entropy.

But why? Because it's being perpetrated by global interests intent on ripping social structures as we know them to shreds. It serves their interests, all the while seducing us into believing that what we're seeing is something good and progressive. But it is something that is neither good nor progressive; it is regressive and unnatural to the nth degree.

Whether this is intentional on the part of Whedon and Co., or whether he/they actually believe in what they're spewing is irrelevant; the net result is the same. The more we get bombarded with these ridiculous examples of twisted, inverted human behavior, the more we begin to change of view of the world around us. Xander Harris. Rupert Giles. Oz. Angel. Spike. ALL -- to one degree or another -- are clear examples of emasculated male role models.

Yet even in his extremely emasculated role, Spike still manages to nail the essence of the Scoobies when he says to Anya: "We should have been dead hundreds of years ago. And we're the only ones who are really alive". He captures the way the Scoobies lie to themselves and others, and how they repress their true inner natures -- the men AND the women. See...that's the thing. This inversion of roles helps no one. It just rips society asunder and leaves everyone more alienated, alone, and full of despair. That opens the gates for enslavement and depopulation -- the two main goals of the globalists. To them...people are either commodities or liabilities. And for them, the fewer...the better.

Entropy, indeed.