The Killer in Me

"The Killer in Me"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode
Warren taking over Willow's body relives the moment where Tara was shot by pointing the gun at Kennedy
Episode no.	Season 7 Episode 13
Directed by	David Solomon
Written by	Drew Z. Greenberg
Production code	7ABB13
Original air date	February 4, 2003
Guest appearance(s)
Anthony Stewart Head as Rupert Giles Adam Busch as Warren Mears Tom Lenk as Andrew Wells Iyari Limon as Kennedy Elizabeth Anne Allen as Amy Madison Megalyn Echikunwoke as Vaughne Rif Hutton as Initiative General Terence Bernie Hines as Shop Keeper Anna Maria Maccarrone as Waitress
Episode chronology
← Previous "Potential" Next → "First Date"
List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes

"The Killer in Me" is the 13th episode of the seventh and final season of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Giles prepares to take all of the Potentials – except Kennedy, who's sick with the flu – on a trip to the desert to meet the First Slayer. Buffy goes to check on Spike, who's chained in the basement. They chat about the girls being gone and Spike's decision to stay chained up until they know the First Evil is through with him. Suddenly, Spike begins to writhe in pain as his chip fires without provocation.

Buffy talks with Willow in the kitchen about Spike's chip and what little they actually know about it. Willow then goes upstairs to bring Kennedy some tea. When Willow walks into the room, she finds that Kennedy is not actually sick, and is instead dressed for a "mission" which she says requires Willow's assistance. The mission turns out to be drinks at The Bronze. Back in the basement, Buffy checks on Spike again and they talk about the potential causes of the chip's glitches. Buffy realizes that she is going to have to contact the people who implanted the chip in the first place: The Initiative. Buffy tries, but fails, to reach Riley Finn on the telephone; Spike's chip continues to fire at random intervals.

Willow and Kennedy finish their drinks and then return to Revello Drive. Back in their room, Kennedy gives Willow an end-of-date kiss, with a surprising effect: Willow takes on the appearance of Warren Mears. Panicking, Willow rushes downstairs; on seeing her, the others recoil, partly because they know that the First Evil has appeared to Andrew as Warren. Buffy hits "Warren", showing that "he" cannot be the First (who is incorporeal). When Willow threatens to tell some embarrassing old stories about Xander, the gang provisionally accept her claim.

Willow goes off to try to break the spell; Kennedy tags along. Spike's chip fires again. Buffy and Spike go to the Initiative's abandoned base to look for the painkilling drugs that were used on Spike during his captivity there three years before, when the chip was implanted, and for documentation on the chip.