The Weight of the World (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

"The Weight of the World"
Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode
In her mind, Buffy explains to Willow that this was the moment when she gave up hope of defeating Glory and thereby "killed" her sister.
Episode no.	Season 5 Episode 21
Directed by	David Solomon
Written by	Doug Petrie
Production code	5ABB21
Original air date	May 15, 2001
Guest appearance(s)
Joel Grey as Doc Clare Kramer as Glory Charlie Weber as Ben Amber Benson as Tara Maclay Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers Dean Butler as Hank Summers Lily Knight as Grodi Bob Morrisey as Crazy Guy #1 Todd Duffey as Murk Alexandra Lee as Young Buffy Paul Bates as Crazy Guy #2 Carl J. Johnson as Crazy Guy #3 Matthew Lang as High Priest Minion
Episode chronology
← Previous "Spiral" Next → "The Gift"
List of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes

"The Weight of the World" is the 21st episode of season 5 of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

In the episode, Willow tries to reach the Slayer, who has been rendered catatonic by Dawn's abduction. Meanwhile, the boundaries separating Ben and Glory begin to dissolve, and Glory is forced to deal with human emotion.

Glory prepares for the ritual to open the portal, talking to her minions and Dawn, who is tied up and gagged on a chair. Spike reports that he can't see Glory anywhere, but the gang has a new problem as Buffy has been reduced to a state of catatonia. Spike tries to violently shake Buffy back to normal, which only leads to a fight with Xander, and Willow forces them apart with magic. Willow takes command and quickly formulates a plan with both Buffy and Giles incapacitated: the Scoobies are to return to Sunnydale, with Xander taking Giles to the hospital, Anya looking after Tara, and Spike tracking down Glory while Willow helps Buffy. After mentioning that Ben and Glory share a body, Spike realizes that Glory's magic makes the humans forget that bit of information every time it's revealed to them.

Glory first attempts to comfort a frightened Dawn, but starts to lose her cool as she realizes she's feeling guilty. With Anya looking after Tara, Willow performs a spell to enter the mind of the Slayer, where she finds herself talking to Buffy as a child. Willow witnesses Buffy's memory of baby Dawn being brought home by their parents Joyce and Hank.

At the hospital where Giles was getting care, Xander fills him in on Willow's plans. Spike reports that Glory has left her apartment. Dawn reveals to Glory that she remembers the transformation from Ben; this really worries Glory, as it implies Ben is closer to the surface than before. She asks to have Ben taken out of her body, but it is the punishment she must face for her crime. In Buffy's mind, Willow watches Buffy (now adult) shelve a book at the magic shop, followed by Buffy's memory of the First Slayer telling her that "death is [her] gift." At her house, Buffy calmly acknowledges that death is her gift, before going to Dawn's room and smothering the young girl with a pillow, much to Willow's horror.