Primeval (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

"Primeval"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode
The composite Buffy-Willow-Xander-Giles turns Adam's missile into a dove
Episode no.	Season 4 Episode 21
Directed by	James A. Contner
Written by	David Fury
Production code	4ABB21
Original air date	May 16, 2000
Guest appearance(s)
Emma Caulfield as Anya Leonard Roberts as Forrest Gates Amber Benson as Tara Maclay Bailey Chase as Graham Miller Jack Stehlin as Dr. Angleman Conor O'Farrell as Colonel McNamara George Hertzberg as Adam Lindsay Crouse as Maggie Walsh Bob Fimiani as Mr. Ward Jordi Vilasuso as Dixon
Episode chronology
← Previous "The Yoko Factor" Next → "Restless"
List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes

"Primeval" is the 21st episode of season 4 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Following Spike's interference in the previous episode, Buffy and the Scoobies are not talking to each other, consistent with Adam's plans. However, since he wants Buffy in the Initiative, Adam is displeased to discover that Willow still has possession of the encrypted disks from the previous episode which would have led her back. He refuses to remove Spike's behaviour modification chip unless he rectifies this situation. Meanwhile, Riley is unsure why he is in Adam's lair, and Adam reveals that the government implanted a chip near Riley's heart, giving Adam complete control over Riley's motor functions.

In the aftermath of the Scoobies' fights, Xander dejectedly ponders his life direction, and is consoled by Anya, who tells him that she loves him. Tara and Willow work at decrypting the information disks, only to find that they suddenly decrypt themselves. Giles suffers through a hangover. Buffy returns to Adam's cave seeking more information, annoyed when she finds Spike there, and suspicious when he lets slip that he's aware of the Scoobies' falling out. Buffy realises that Spike has deceived them and reunites with the original gang.

Willow reveals the information on the disks: that Adam is hiding at one of The Initiative's secret labs, and plans to build more cyborg demonoids like himself. Buffy realises that the overcrowded holding cells at the Initiative are a form of Trojan horse warfare; Adam will release the demons and the resulting battle will leave lots of demon and human body parts. Furthermore, he is particularly keen for Buffy to be present to even the demon-human kill ratio. The gang brainstorms how to kill Adam, and a difficult paralysis spell (which only Willow can cast) which must be incanted in Sumerian (which only Giles can speak) within striking distance of the victim (which only Buffy can survive) is suggested. Xander jokingly suggests merging the whole gang into one body to allow the spell to be cast — an idea to which Giles is surprisingly receptive.