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{{Episode
{{buffyepisode
 
| season = 7
+
|season = 7
| number = 20
+
|number = 20
| image = 1imagesCALJV635.jpg
+
|image = Touched Faith Wilkins 02.jpg
| airdate = May 6, 2003
+
|airdate = May 6, [[2003]]
| writer = [[Rebecca Rand Kirshner]]
+
|writer = [[Rebecca Rand Kirshner]]
| director = [[David Solomon]]
+
|director = [[David Solomon]]
  +
|code = 7ABB20
| previous = "[[Empty Places]]"
 
| next = "[[End of Days]]"
+
|series = ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''
 
|previous = "[[Empty Places]]"
| cast = {{CastList
 
  +
|next = "[[End of Days]]"
| starring = {{CastGroup|{{CastActor|name=Sarah Michelle Gellar|character=Buffy Summers|billed=Buffy}}
 
  +
|series2 = ''[[Angel (series)|Angel]]''
| {{CastActor|name=Nicholas Brendon|character=Xander Harris|billed=Xander}}
 
  +
|previous2 = "[[Peace Out]]"
| {{CastActor|name=Emma Caulfield|character=Anya Jenkins|billed=Anya}}
 
  +
|next2 = "[[Home]]"
| {{CastActor|name=Michelle Trachtenberg|character=Dawn Summers|billed=Dawn}}
 
  +
|stars = [[Sarah Michelle Gellar]] — [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]]<br />[[Nicholas Brendon]] — [[Alexander Harris|Xander]]<br />[[Emma Caulfield]] — [[Anya Jenkins|Anya]]<br />[[Michelle Trachtenberg]] — [[Dawn Summers|Dawn]]<br />[[James Marsters]] — [[Spike]]<br />[[Alyson Hannigan]] — [[Willow Rosenberg|Willow]]
| {{CastActor|name=James Marsters|character=Spike}}
 
  +
|special = [[Anthony Stewart Head]] — [[Rupert Giles|Giles]]<br />[[Eliza Dushku]] — [[Faith Lehane|Faith]]<br />[[Nathan Fillion]] — [[Caleb]]
| {{CastActor|name=Alyson Hannigan|character=Willow Rosenberg|billed=Willow}}}}
 
  +
|gueststars = [[Tom Lenk]] — [[Andrew Wells|Andrew]]<br />[[Iyari Limon]] — [[Kennedy]]<br />[[Sarah Hagan]] — [[Amanda (Slayer)|Amanda]]<br />[[Harry Groener]] — [[Richard Wilkins|Mayor Wilkins]]<br />[[D. B. Woodside]] — [[Robin Wood|Principal Wood]]
| specialgueststarring = {{CastGroup|{{CastActor|name=Anthony Stewart Head|character=Rupert Giles|billed=Giles}}
 
  +
|costars = [[Felicia Day]] — [[Violet|Vi]]<br />[[Dania Ramirez]] — [[Caridad]]<br />[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0127530 Lisa Ann Cabasa] — [[Injured Girl]]<br />[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629634 Lance E. Nichols] — Middle-Aged Man
| {{CastActor|name=Eliza Dushku|character=Faith Lehane|billed=Faith}}
 
  +
|uncredited = [[Kristy Wu]] — [[Chao-Ahn]]<br />[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1219331 Alex Baik] — Demon<br />[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0320234 Bruno Gioiello] — Captured Bringer
| {{CastActor|name=Nathan Fillion|character=Caleb}}}}
 
| gueststarring = {{CastGroup|{{CastActor|name=Tom Lenk|character=Andrew Wells|billed=Andrew}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Iyari Limon|character=Kennedy}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Sarah Hagan|character=Amanda (Slayer)|billed=Amanda}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Harry Groener|character=Richard Wilkins|billed=Mayor Wilkins}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=D. B. Woodside|character=Robin Wood|billed=Principal Wood}}}}
 
| costarring = {{CastGroup|{{CastActor|name=Felicia Day|character=Violet|billed=Vi}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Dania Ramirez|imdb=1268158|character=Caridad}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Lisa Ann Cabasa|imdb=0127530|character=Injured Girl}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Lance E. Nichols|imdb=0629634|billed=Middle-Aged Man}}}}
 
| uncredited = {{CastGroup|{{CastActor|name=Kristy Wu|character=Chao-ahn|billed=Chao-Ahn}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Alex Baik|imdb=1219331|billed=Demon}}
 
| {{CastActor|name=Bruno Gioiello|imdb=0320234|billed=Captured Bringer}}}}}}
 
 
}}
 
}}
   
"'''Touched'''" is twentieth episode of the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer#Season Seven|seventh season]] of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', and is the one hundred forty-second episode altogether. It was written by [[Rebecca Rand Kirshner]] and directed by [[David Solomon]]. It originally broadcast on May 6, 2003.
+
"'''{{PAGENAME}}'''" is the twentieth episode of the [[Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 7|seventh season]] of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' television show, and the one hundred forty-second episode in the series. Written by [[Rebecca Rand Kirshner]] and directed by [[David Solomon]], it originally broadcast on May 6, [[2003]] on [[UPN]].
 
A depressed [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]] is comforted by [[Spike]] while the [[Scooby Gang|Scoobies]] capture and interrogate a [[Harbingers of Death|Bringer]]. [[Faith Lehane|Faith]] decides on a plan.
 
   
 
==Synopsis==
 
==Synopsis==
  +
FEELING FOR THE LAST TIME — [[Faith Lehane|Faith]] claims leadership of the [[Scooby Gang|Scoobies]] and the [[Potential Slayer|potentials]] as [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]] wanders the now deserted [[Sunnydale]] in search of a place to stay. [[Spike]] and [[Andrew Wells|Andrew]] return from their trip to the mission with news that [[Caleb]] may indeed have something of Buffy's — most likely a weapon. Faith and the others kidnap a [[Harbingers of Death|Bringer]] and based on his information, plan an attack on the Bringers arsenal. After admonishing the gang for their treatment of Buffy, Spike sets off to find her.
With Buffy gone, the rest of the gang sit around and debate how they're going to deal now that they don't have Buffy making decisions for them. In the midst of their debating and arguing, the power goes out and Faith concludes the power company has left town and taken the power with them. Meanwhile, Buffy watches as people load up their cars and plan to escape the city, then breaks into a house in search of a place to stay. The owner is still there, but Buffy quietly convinces him it's a smart idea to leave town because nothing in [[Sunnydale]] belongs to any of them anymore.
 
   
  +
==Summary==
[[Andrew Wells|Andrew]] talks incessantly to Spike while the vampire impatiently waits for the sun to go down again. Worried about Buffy, Spike temporarily gets Andrew to shut up and they continue to wait. Down in the Summers' basement, Faith and the others talk about their plan and their enemies. [[Kennedy]] pushes for a say in decisions, but Faith steps up and makes it very clear that now that Buffy's gone, she's the leader they all voted for and they all need to accept that, and Kennedy reluctantly backs off. Faith decides they should go after the Bringers to attempt to gain information about [[The First]] or [[Caleb]] from one of them. Kennedy walks alone down an alley until a Bringer steps out of the shadows and tries to attack her. The Bringer is ambushed by the rest of the Scooby gang and taken as a captive. Back at the house, they find that the Bringer is without a tongue. Dawn suggests a spell she read about in an old Turkish text that would allow them to communicate with the Bringer.
 
 
With Buffy gone, the rest of the gang sit around and debate how they are going to deal now that they don't have Buffy making decisions for them. In the midst of their debating and arguing, the power goes out and Faith concludes the power company has left town and taken the power with them. Meanwhile, Buffy watches as people load up their cars and plan to escape the city, then breaks into a house in search of a place to stay. The owner is still there, but Buffy quietly convinces him it's a smart idea to leave town because nothing in Sunnydale belongs to any of them anymore.
   
 
At the [[Gilroy mission]], Andrew talks incessantly to Spike while the [[vampire]] waits for the sun to go down again. Worried about Buffy, Spike temporarily gets Andrew to shut up and they continue to wait. Down in the Summers' basement, Faith and the others talk about their plan and their enemies. [[Kennedy]] pushes for a say in decisions, but Faith steps up and makes it very clear that, now that Buffy's gone, she's the leader they all voted for and they all need to accept that, and the Potential reluctantly backs off. Faith decides they should go after the Bringers to attempt to gain information about the [[First Evil]] or Caleb from one of them. Kennedy walks alone down an alley until a Bringer steps out of the shadows and tries to attack her. The Bringer is ambushed by the rest of the Scooby Gang and taken as a captive. Back at the house, they find that the Bringer is without a tongue. Dawn suggests a [[To Communicate with the Dying|spell]] she read about in an old Turkish text used [[To Communicate with the Dying|to communicate with the dying]] that would allow them to hear from the Bringer.
Andrew and Spike return and when Spike asks about where Buffy is and when she will return, [[Willow Rosenberg|Willow]] tries to explain with an embellished version of what happened the previous night. Spike is not convinced that Buffy would "take a time off" during an apocalypse and realizes that the others turned their back on Buffy by kicking her out. Furious over their betrayal, he snaps at them for being ungrateful to Buffy after all that she has done for them. When an unimpressed Faith interrupts his speech, Spike loses his temper and physically attacks her, going so far as to taunt her, claiming that she has always been jealous of Buffy's life and demanding to know where Buffy has gone. After admitting she doesn't know, Faith stands prepared to continue, but Spike has lost interest. Spike then steps outside to catch her trail with his vampire ability to catch scent. He goes in search of Buffy.
 
   
 
Andrew and Spike return to the [[1630 Revello Drive|Summers residence]]. When Spike asks about Buffy, [[Willow Rosenberg|Willow]] tries to explain with an embellished version of what happened the previous night. Spike is not convinced that Buffy would "take a time off" during an [[apocalypse]] and realizes that the others turned their back on Buffy by kicking her out. Furious over their betrayal, he snaps at them for being ungrateful after all that she has done for them. When an unimpressed Faith interrupts his speech, Spike physically attacks her, going so far as to taunt her, claiming that she has always been jealous of Buffy's life and demanding to know where Buffy has gone. After admitting she doesn't know, Faith stands prepared to continue, but Spike has lost interest. He steps outside to catch Buffy's scent and follows the trail in search of Buffy.
In the basement, Willow uses a spell to get the Bringer to talk while Kennedy, [[Rupert Giles|Giles]], [[Xander]], and Andrew sit around waiting. Andrew begins to talk whilst the group wonders if the spell worked, but they soon realize that he's speaking for the Bringer. Andrew explains that the Bringers are everywhere preparing for battle, taunting them until Giles becomes angry and slashes the throat of the Bringer, breaking his spell on Andrew, who complains that beheading the Bringer instead of ending the spell magically could have led to his (Andrew's) death.
 
   
 
In the basement, Willow uses a spell to get the Bringer to talk, while Kennedy, [[Rupert Giles|Giles]], [[Alexander Harris|Xander]], and Andrew sit around waiting. Andrew begins to talk whilst the group wonders if the spell worked, but they soon realize that he's speaking for the Bringer. He explains that the Bringers are everywhere preparing for battle, taunting them until Giles becomes angry and slashes the Bringer's throat, breaking his spell on Andrew, who complains that it could have magically led to his own beheading.
Spike finds Buffy curled up in a bed at the house she broke into, noticing that Sunnydale has gone to hell, explaining that he didn't need an invitation. He tells her about the [[Shadow Valley Vineyards|Vineyard]] and what they found. She was right, but Buffy doesn't seem to care anymore and is ready to give up. Spike tries to convince her that she shouldn't listen to what they said, reminding her of everything that ever happened, but she never gave up.
 
   
 
Spike finds Buffy curled up in a bed at the house she broke into. He notes that Sunnydale has gone to hell, as he didn't even need an invitation. He tells her about [[Shadow Valley Vineyards|the vineyard]] and what they found: she was right. But Buffy doesn't seem to care anymore and is ready to give up. Spike tries to convince her that she shouldn't listen to what they said, reminding her of everything that ever happened, but she never gave up.
Giles and Faith look over a map as they plan to begin a search through the sewers for the Bringer's hideout and decide to attack there the next day. As Giles leaves, the First in [[Richard Wilkins|the Mayor]]'s form appears to Faith. She knows what he is and isn't fazed, but he prods anyway, praising her for kicking Buffy out and warning that Buffy is a dangerous threat.
 
   
 
Giles and Faith look over a map as they plan to begin a search through the sewers for the Bringer's hideout and decide to attack there the next day. As Giles leaves, the First in the form of [[Richard Wilkins]] appears to Faith. She knows what he is and isn't fazed, but he prods anyway, praising her for kicking Buffy out and warning that Buffy is a dangerous threat.
Meanwhile Spike works to convince an exhausted Buffy that she is still needed. Buffy talks about how she detached herself from the Potentials and how detaching herself from people is something she's done for as long as she's been the Slayer. Spike talks about his feelings for her, and how much he admires her. He tells her that he had always thought he was evil until he met her. He tells her that as difficult as everything has been the one thing that he was always sure of was her. He tells her that she is the one. Spike then professes his true love for Buffy and starts to leave, but Buffy asks him to stay and just hold her.
 
   
 
Meanwhile Spike works to convince Buffy that she is still needed. She talks about how she detached herself from the Potentials and how detaching herself from people is something she's done for as long as she's been the Slayer. Spike talks about how much he admires her but that this wasn't about his feelings. He says that he knows every side of her and in all the years of his unlife she's the only thing that he was always sure of, but she answers she doesn't want to be the one. Spike starts to leave so Buffy can rest, but she asks him to stay and just hold her.
[[Robin Wood|Robin]] interrupts Faith's chat with the First and they start to talk about the First's visits with both of them and the effect it had. The two express their apprehension about the coming battle, then Faith takes things in a different direction and they kiss and tumble onto the bed.
 
   
 
[[Robin Wood|Robin]] interrupts Faith and they talk about the First's visits with both of them and the effect it had. They express their apprehension about the coming battle, then Faith takes things in a different direction. They kiss and tumble onto the bed.
Willow returns to her room to find Kennedy waiting for her and all of the other Potentials gone from the room. They kiss, but Willow breaks it up, worried that if they let things go too far, she will lose the self-control that she has been working for and something bad may happen. Kennedy convinces her that everything will be okay and she will "anchor" Willow, then the two get back to kissing. Buffy and Spike continue to hold each other while at the house, [[Anya]] and Xander, Faith and Robin, and Willow and Kennedy all have sex. The First talks about the gang and the knowledge that they're all taking comfort in each others' arms. Caleb talks to it about how he has its strength inside of him and the First's need to feel. The next morning, Faith gives out her orders to the gang, sending some to go find Buffy and others to help her investigate the sewers. Spike wakes up to find Buffy gone and a note left in her absence.
 
   
 
Willow returns to her room to find Kennedy waiting for her and all of the other Potentials gone from the room. They kiss, but Willow breaks it up, worried that if they let things go too far, she will lose the self-control that she has been working for and something bad may happen. Kennedy convinces her that everything will be okay and she will "anchor" Willow, then the two get back to kissing. Buffy and Spike continue to hold each other, while [[Anya Jenkins|Anya]] and Xander, Faith and Robin, and Willow and Kennedy all have sex. The First talks to Caleb about the gang and the knowledge that they are all taking comfort in each others' arms. The priest answers with how he has its strength inside of him and the First's need to feel. The next morning, Faith gives out her orders to the gang, sending some to go find Buffy and others to help her investigate the sewers. Spike wakes up to find Buffy gone and a note left in her absence.
At the Vineyard, the First talks with Caleb about their progress, but the First is impatient, worried that Buffy may get her hands on what they have. A Bringer is tossed down the stairs of the cellar and the real Buffy stands at the top, asking for whatever it is Caleb has of hers. Buffy goads Caleb into attacking her, but instead of taking a beating, she keeps her distance and avoids his blows. In the sewers, Faith and the girls find the Bringer's lair and the Bringers that live there. Meanwhile, as the battle with Caleb dies down, Buffy spots a trap door in the floor and dives through it. The girls battle with the Bringers, eventually disposing of all of them. After the fight ends, Kennedy finds a stairway that leads to an area below the sewers. Buffy finds a [[scythe]] embedded in a rock while Faith finds a locked metal box. Faith breaks open the box only to find a bomb inside, ticking away with a few seconds to go as she tells everyone to take cover.{{Clear}}
 
   
 
At the vineyard, the First talks with Caleb about their progress, but the First is impatient, worried that Buffy may get her hands on what they have. A Bringer is tossed down the stairs of the cellar and the real Buffy stands at the top, asking for whatever it is Caleb has of hers. Buffy goads Caleb into attacking her, but instead of taking a beating, she keeps her distance and avoids his blows. In the sewers, Faith and the girls find the Bringer's lair and the Bringers that live there. Meanwhile, as the battle with Caleb dies down, Buffy spots a trap door in the floor and dives through it. The girls battle with the Bringers, eventually disposing of all of them. After the fight ends, Kennedy finds a stairway that leads to an area below the sewers. Buffy finds [[Mʔ|a weapon]] embedded in a rock, while Faith finds a locked metal box. Faith breaks open the box only to find a bomb inside, ticking away with a few seconds to go as she tells everyone to take cover.
==Continuity==
 
*This episode begins minutes after the conclusion of the previous episode, continuing the meeting of the Potentials after Buffy leaves.
 
*Buffy's comment "You really really have problems with that word, don't you?" to Spike after repeating the word "no" is a reference to Spike forcing himself upon Buffy, almost raping her in "[[Seeing Red]]". The two have obviously been able to move past it.
 
   
 
==Continuity==
*During [[Spike]]'s speech, he says "You're a hell of a woman," which is the same thing [[Riley]] said to [[Buffy Summers|Buffy]] during "[[As You Were]]" in Season 6.
 
 
*This episode begins minutes after the conclusion of the previous episode "[[Empty Places]]", continuing the Scooby meeting after Buffy leaves.
  +
*Spike informs Buffy she was right about Caleb having something of hers, as he and Andrew have just discovered the engraving "It is not for thee. It is for her alone to wield." as the reason for the priest's fury ("Empty Places").
 
*Spike tells Buffy: "You're a hell of a woman," as [[Riley Finn|Riley]] said to her in "[[As You Were]]".
  +
*Robin tells Faith that the First visited him in the form of his mother, in "[[First Date]]".
  +
*This episode introduces the Mʔ into the TV series, having debuted in the comic story ''[[Tales (story)|Tales]]'' and previously featured as well in ''[[Fray (series)|Fray]]'' comic series.
   
  +
==Appearances==
*Though vampires cannot enter a home without being invited, Spike walks into the house where Buffy has hidden away without such an invitation. (He explains this being due to Sunnydale being deserted by all the townsfolk - "Do you realize I could just walk in here, no invite needed? This town really is theirs now, innit?")
 
  +
===Individuals===
  +
*[[Amanda (Slayer)|Amanda]]
  +
*[[Caleb]]
  +
*[[Caridad]]
  +
*[[Chao-Ahn]]
  +
*[[First Evil]]
  +
*[[Rupert Giles]]
  +
*[[Alexander Harris]]
  +
*[[Anya Jenkins]]
  +
*[[Kennedy]]
  +
*[[Willow Rosenberg]]
  +
*[[Spike]]
  +
*[[Buffy Summers]]
  +
*[[Dawn Summers]]
  +
*[[Violet]]
  +
*[[Andrew Wells]]
  +
*[[Richard Wilkins]] {{OV}}
  +
*[[Nikki Wood]] {{Om}}
  +
*[[Robin Wood]]
  +
*[[Injured Girl]]
  +
===Organizations and titles===
  +
*[[Harbingers of Death]]
  +
*[[Potential Slayer]]
  +
*[[Slayer]]
  +
*[[Watcher]]
  +
*[[Witch]]
  +
===Species===
  +
*[[Demon]]
  +
*[[Human]]
  +
*[[Vampire]]
  +
===Events===
  +
*[[Ambush in the sewers]]
  +
*[[Apocalypse]] {{Om}}
  +
*[[Duel at the Vineyard]]
  +
===Locations===
  +
*Gilroy
  +
**[[Gilroy mission]]
  +
*[[Sunnydale]]
  +
**[[1630 Revello Drive]]
  +
**[[Shadow Valley Vineyards]]
  +
**[[Sunnydale High School]] {{Om}}
  +
===Weapons and objects===
  +
*[[Bringers' knife]]
  +
*[[Mʔ]]
  +
*[[Seal of Danzalthar]] {{Om}}
  +
===Rituals and spells===
  +
*[[To Communicate with the Dying]]
   
  +
==Death count==
*This episode introduces the [[Scythe]] into the TV series. It has been seen before in the Fray comics, as the weapon of that time's Slayer, [[Melaka Fray]].
 
 
*One Bringer, stabbed by Kennedy.
 
*One Bringer, stabbed by a potential slayer.
 
*One Bringer, throat slit by Giles.
 
*One Bringer, stabbed by Vi.
 
*One Bringer, stabbed by Faith.
   
== Body Count ==
+
==Behind the scenes==
  +
[[File:Buffy the vampire slayer " Touched " episode promo trailer !|thumb|right|220px|Original UPN Promo of "Touched"]]
*One Bringer, stabbed by Kennedy
 
*One Bringer, stabbed by a potential slayer
 
*One Bringer, throat slit by Giles
 
*One Bringer, stabbed by Vi
 
*One Bringer, stabbed by Faith
 
   
== Behind the Scenes ==
 
 
===Production===
 
===Production===
*This episode was filmed after "[[End of Days]]", even though it aired beforehand, so that [[Eliza Dushku]] could film the pilot for her show ''[[Wikipedia:Tru Calling|Tru Calling]]''.
+
*This episode was filmed after "[[End of Days]]", even though it aired beforehand, so that [[Eliza Dushku]] could film the pilot for her show ''[[Wikipedia:Tru Calling|Tru Calling]]''.{{cite}}
 
*The Turkish spell that Willow casts to get the Bringer to speak translates as: "Speak to us the man without a voice. Speak to us the man without eyes."
  +
*According to the original prop, the letter Buffy leaves for Spike reads: "Spike, You told me things last night that I really needed to hear. I feel stronger now because of you. I know what my mission is and that Caleb's holding the secret to it all. This one I have to take care of alone. You take care too. Buffy"<ref>[https://www.yourprops.com/Buffy-s-Letter-to-Spike-original-movie-prop-Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-TV-1997-YP48441.html "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Buffy's Letter to Spike original TV series prop"]. ''yourprops.com, movie props and costumes''. Retrieved March 10, 2020.</ref>
   
 
===Broadcast===
 
===Broadcast===
*The sex scene between [[Willow]] and [[Kennedy]] is the first lesbian sex scene ever on network TV.
+
*The sex scene between Willow and Kennedy is the first lesbian sex scene ever on network TV.{{cite}}
   
===Deleted Scenes===
+
===Deleted scenes===
 
*This exchange was cut due to length:
 
*This exchange was cut due to length:
:'''Andrew:''' "I spy with my little eye something that begins with a...''Y''."
+
:'''Andrew:''' "I spy with my little eye something that begins with a...'Y'."
:'''Spike:''' "A ''Y''? There's nothing here that-"
+
:'''Spike:''' "A 'Y'? There's nothing here that-"
 
:'''Andrew:''' "''Yet'' another tapestry!"
 
:'''Andrew:''' "''Yet'' another tapestry!"
   
=== Pop Culture References ===
+
===Pop culture references===
 
*Andrew and Spike play a game of "[[wikipedia:I spy|I spy]]".
*In the abandoned house with Buffy, Spike says "That diabolical old torture device, the comfy chair". This is a reference to one of the Spanish Inquisition sketches in [[Wikipedia:Monty_Python's_Flying_Circus|Monthy Python's Flying Circus]].
 
  +
*Anya mentions [[wikipedia:Rhodes Scholarship|Rhodes Scholarship]].
*Mayor Wilkins references [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Women Little Women] during his conversation with Faith. 
 
 
*In the abandoned house with Buffy, Spike says "That diabolical old torture device, the comfy chair". This is a reference to one of the Spanish Inquisition sketches in [[Wikipedia:Monty Python's Flying Circus|Monthy Python's Flying Circus]].
*Andrew and Spike play a game of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_spy I spy].
 
 
*Mayor Wilkins references [[wikipedia:Little Women|Little Women]] during his conversation with Faith.
  +
*Faith mentions drinking [[wikipedia:Jack Daniel's|Jack Daniel's]] whiskey as a way to dull the loneliness. 
  +
 
===Goofs, bloopers & continuity errors===
 
*Despite being a continuation of the previous episode with no time in between, Anya's hair has gone from straight to curly, Kennedy's hair is noticeable curlier, Xander's hair seems lighter and a little longer.
 
*When Buffy first arrives at the vineyard, she says, "Where's it at? I'm going to find it sooner or later." When the camera flashes to Caleb to hear his reply, you can see a crewman's arm in the shot.
   
 
===Music===
 
===Music===
*[[Wikipedia: Heather Nova |Heather Nova ]]- "It's Only Love"
+
*[[Wikipedia: Heather Nova|Heather Nova]] "It's Only Love"
*[[Robert Duncan ]]- original score
+
*[[Robert Duncan]] original score
   
  +
===International titles===
===Goofs, Bloopers & Continuity Errors===
 
  +
*'''Armenian:''' "Նրբության պահը" (Moment of Reflection)
*Despite being a continuation of the previous episode with no time in between, [[Anya]]'s hair has gone from straight to curly, Kennedy's hair is noticeable curlier, Xander's hair seems lighter and a little longer, and Vi is now sitting in the spot behind Xander (though people could have rearranged their seats in the few minutes between when the episodes take place).
 
  +
*'''Czech:''' "Zdroj moci" (Source of Power)
*Spike tells Buffy she was right about Caleb guarding something at the vineyard, as if he knew that was why she was kicked out of the group, even though he left before Buffy came to that realization, wasn't there when Buffy told that to the group, and wasn't back in the house long enough for anyone else to fill him in before he stormed out looking for Buffy. And Spike doesn't have a cell phone for Buffy to have told him, since if he had one there wouldn't have been as much urgency for Spike to get him to report his findings.
 
  +
*'''Finnish:''' "Hellyyden ehdoilla" (Terms of Endearment)
*When Buffy first arrives at the vineyard, she says, "Where's it at? I'm going to find it sooner or later." When the camera flashes to Caleb to hear his reply, you can see a crewman's arm in the shot.
 
  +
*'''French:''' "Contre-attaque" (Counter-Attack)
  +
*'''German:''' "Die Quelle der Macht" (The Source of Power)
  +
*'''Hungarian:''' "Megérintve" (Touching)
  +
*'''Italian:''' "Toccata dal Male" ([Female] Touched by Evil)
  +
*'''Japanese:''' "感触" (Sensation)
  +
*'''Polish:''' "Zbliżenie" (Rapprochement)
  +
*'''Portuguese (Brazil):''' "Tocado" (Touched)
  +
*'''Romanian:''' "Touched"
  +
*'''Russian:''' "Момент нежности" (Moment of Tenderness)
  +
*'''Spanish (Latin America):''' "Tocada" ([Female] Touched)
  +
*'''Spanish (Spain):''' "Tocado" (Touched)
   
===Other===
+
===Adaptations===
  +
*The book "[[Chosen: The One]]" includes a novelization of this episode, along with all season 7.
*The Turkish spell that Willow casts to get the Bringer to speak was translated as followed:
 
  +
:"Speak to us the man without a voice. Speak to us the man without eyes."
 
  +
==Gallery==
  +
===Promotional stills===
  +
<gallery widths="150" spacing="small" orientation="portrait">
  +
Harbinger01.jpg
  +
Touched Harbinger 02.jpg
  +
Touched Giles.jpg
  +
Touched First Evil Wilkins.jpg
  +
Touched Faith Wilkins 01.jpg
  +
Touched Faith Wilkins 02.jpg
  +
Touched Faith Wilkins 03.jpg
  +
Touched Faith Robin.jpg
  +
Touched Caleb First 01.jpg
  +
Touched Caleb First 02.jpg
  +
Scythe.png
  +
</gallery>
   
 
==Quotes==
 
==Quotes==
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Andrew|"I spy with my little eye something that begins with a 'T'."
|Spike|"You listen to me. I've been alive a bit longer than you, and dead a lot longer than that. I've seen things you couldn't imagine, and done things I'd prefer you didn't. Don't exactly have a reputation for being a thinker. I follow my blood, which doesn't exactly rush in the direction of my brain. I've made a lot of mistakes. A lot of wrong bloody calls. A hundred plus years, and there's only one thing I've ever been sure of: you ... Here, look at me. I'm not asking you for anything. When I say "I love you", it's not because I want you, or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are. What you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand, with perfect clarity, exactly what you are. You're a hell of a woman. You're the One, Buffy."
 
 
|Spike|"Tapestry."
 
|Andrew|"Hey, good one. How did you..."
 
|Spike|"Tapestry's the only thing in the whole bloody room."
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
{{QuoteBlock
Line 113: Line 187:
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Spike|"You listen to me. I've been alive a bit longer than you, and dead a lot longer than that. I've seen things you couldn't imagine, and done things I'd prefer you didn't. Don't exactly have a reputation for being a thinker. I follow my blood, which doesn't exactly rush in the direction of my brain. I've made a lot of mistakes. A lot of wrong bloody calls. A hundred plus years, and there's only one thing I've ever been sure of: you... Here, look at me. I'm not asking you for anything. When I say "I love you", it's not because I want you, or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are. What you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand, with perfect clarity, exactly what you are. You're a hell of a woman. You're the one, Buffy."
|Spike|"That diabolical old torture device, the comfy chair."
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
|Spike|"That diabolical old torture device, the comfy chair."
|Spike|"'No'?"
 
|Buffy|"No."
 
|Spike|"You mean as in, eventually?"
 
|Buffy|"You really have a problems with that word, don't you?"
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
{{QuoteBlock
 
{{QuoteBlock
  +
|Faith|"Man, look at that. My hand's shakin'! Demons, vampires, women in the penitentiary system... none of that freaks me out!"
|Andrew Wells|"I spy with my little eye something that begins with a 'T'."
 
  +
|Robin|"That's exactly what the First does. Find your Achilles' heel."
|Spike|"Tapestry."
 
  +
|Faith|"No, it just talked to me. It does a heel thing too?"
|Andrew Wells|"Hey, good one. How did you..."
 
|Spike|"Tapestry's the only thing in the whole bloody room."
 
 
}}
 
}}
  +
[[Category:Episodes featuring Faith]]
 
  +
==References==
[[Category:Faith-centric episodes]]
 
  +
{{References}}
  +
  +
[[de:Die Quelle der Macht]]
  +
[[fr:Contre-attaque]]
  +
[[nl:Touched]]
  +
 
[[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes]]
 
[[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7]]
 
[[Category:Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7]]

Revision as of 21:41, 10 March 2020

"Touched" is the twentieth episode of the seventh season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer television show, and the one hundred forty-second episode in the series. Written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner and directed by David Solomon, it originally broadcast on May 6, 2003 on UPN.

Synopsis

FEELING FOR THE LAST TIME — Faith claims leadership of the Scoobies and the potentials as Buffy wanders the now deserted Sunnydale in search of a place to stay. Spike and Andrew return from their trip to the mission with news that Caleb may indeed have something of Buffy's — most likely a weapon. Faith and the others kidnap a Bringer and based on his information, plan an attack on the Bringers arsenal. After admonishing the gang for their treatment of Buffy, Spike sets off to find her.

Summary

With Buffy gone, the rest of the gang sit around and debate how they are going to deal now that they don't have Buffy making decisions for them. In the midst of their debating and arguing, the power goes out and Faith concludes the power company has left town and taken the power with them. Meanwhile, Buffy watches as people load up their cars and plan to escape the city, then breaks into a house in search of a place to stay. The owner is still there, but Buffy quietly convinces him it's a smart idea to leave town because nothing in Sunnydale belongs to any of them anymore.

At the Gilroy mission, Andrew talks incessantly to Spike while the vampire waits for the sun to go down again. Worried about Buffy, Spike temporarily gets Andrew to shut up and they continue to wait. Down in the Summers' basement, Faith and the others talk about their plan and their enemies. Kennedy pushes for a say in decisions, but Faith steps up and makes it very clear that, now that Buffy's gone, she's the leader they all voted for and they all need to accept that, and the Potential reluctantly backs off. Faith decides they should go after the Bringers to attempt to gain information about the First Evil or Caleb from one of them. Kennedy walks alone down an alley until a Bringer steps out of the shadows and tries to attack her. The Bringer is ambushed by the rest of the Scooby Gang and taken as a captive. Back at the house, they find that the Bringer is without a tongue. Dawn suggests a spell she read about in an old Turkish text used to communicate with the dying that would allow them to hear from the Bringer.

Andrew and Spike return to the Summers residence. When Spike asks about Buffy, Willow tries to explain with an embellished version of what happened the previous night. Spike is not convinced that Buffy would "take a time off" during an apocalypse and realizes that the others turned their back on Buffy by kicking her out. Furious over their betrayal, he snaps at them for being ungrateful after all that she has done for them. When an unimpressed Faith interrupts his speech, Spike physically attacks her, going so far as to taunt her, claiming that she has always been jealous of Buffy's life and demanding to know where Buffy has gone. After admitting she doesn't know, Faith stands prepared to continue, but Spike has lost interest. He steps outside to catch Buffy's scent and follows the trail in search of Buffy.

In the basement, Willow uses a spell to get the Bringer to talk, while Kennedy, Giles, Xander, and Andrew sit around waiting. Andrew begins to talk whilst the group wonders if the spell worked, but they soon realize that he's speaking for the Bringer. He explains that the Bringers are everywhere preparing for battle, taunting them until Giles becomes angry and slashes the Bringer's throat, breaking his spell on Andrew, who complains that it could have magically led to his own beheading.

Spike finds Buffy curled up in a bed at the house she broke into. He notes that Sunnydale has gone to hell, as he didn't even need an invitation. He tells her about the vineyard and what they found: she was right. But Buffy doesn't seem to care anymore and is ready to give up. Spike tries to convince her that she shouldn't listen to what they said, reminding her of everything that ever happened, but she never gave up.

Giles and Faith look over a map as they plan to begin a search through the sewers for the Bringer's hideout and decide to attack there the next day. As Giles leaves, the First in the form of Richard Wilkins appears to Faith. She knows what he is and isn't fazed, but he prods anyway, praising her for kicking Buffy out and warning that Buffy is a dangerous threat.

Meanwhile Spike works to convince Buffy that she is still needed. She talks about how she detached herself from the Potentials and how detaching herself from people is something she's done for as long as she's been the Slayer. Spike talks about how much he admires her but that this wasn't about his feelings. He says that he knows every side of her and in all the years of his unlife she's the only thing that he was always sure of, but she answers she doesn't want to be the one. Spike starts to leave so Buffy can rest, but she asks him to stay and just hold her.

Robin interrupts Faith and they talk about the First's visits with both of them and the effect it had. They express their apprehension about the coming battle, then Faith takes things in a different direction. They kiss and tumble onto the bed.

Willow returns to her room to find Kennedy waiting for her and all of the other Potentials gone from the room. They kiss, but Willow breaks it up, worried that if they let things go too far, she will lose the self-control that she has been working for and something bad may happen. Kennedy convinces her that everything will be okay and she will "anchor" Willow, then the two get back to kissing. Buffy and Spike continue to hold each other, while Anya and Xander, Faith and Robin, and Willow and Kennedy all have sex. The First talks to Caleb about the gang and the knowledge that they are all taking comfort in each others' arms. The priest answers with how he has its strength inside of him and the First's need to feel. The next morning, Faith gives out her orders to the gang, sending some to go find Buffy and others to help her investigate the sewers. Spike wakes up to find Buffy gone and a note left in her absence.

At the vineyard, the First talks with Caleb about their progress, but the First is impatient, worried that Buffy may get her hands on what they have. A Bringer is tossed down the stairs of the cellar and the real Buffy stands at the top, asking for whatever it is Caleb has of hers. Buffy goads Caleb into attacking her, but instead of taking a beating, she keeps her distance and avoids his blows. In the sewers, Faith and the girls find the Bringer's lair and the Bringers that live there. Meanwhile, as the battle with Caleb dies down, Buffy spots a trap door in the floor and dives through it. The girls battle with the Bringers, eventually disposing of all of them. After the fight ends, Kennedy finds a stairway that leads to an area below the sewers. Buffy finds a weapon embedded in a rock, while Faith finds a locked metal box. Faith breaks open the box only to find a bomb inside, ticking away with a few seconds to go as she tells everyone to take cover.

Continuity

  • This episode begins minutes after the conclusion of the previous episode "Empty Places", continuing the Scooby meeting after Buffy leaves.
  • Spike informs Buffy she was right about Caleb having something of hers, as he and Andrew have just discovered the engraving "It is not for thee. It is for her alone to wield." as the reason for the priest's fury ("Empty Places").
  • Spike tells Buffy: "You're a hell of a woman," as Riley said to her in "As You Were".
  • Robin tells Faith that the First visited him in the form of his mother, in "First Date".
  • This episode introduces the Mʔ into the TV series, having debuted in the comic story Tales and previously featured as well in Fray comic series.

Appearances

Individuals

Organizations and titles

Species

Events

Locations

Weapons and objects

Rituals and spells

  • To Communicate with the Dying

Death count

  • One Bringer, stabbed by Kennedy.
  • One Bringer, stabbed by a potential slayer.
  • One Bringer, throat slit by Giles.
  • One Bringer, stabbed by Vi.
  • One Bringer, stabbed by Faith.

Behind the scenes

File:Buffy the vampire slayer " Touched " episode promo trailer !

Original UPN Promo of "Touched"

Production

  • This episode was filmed after "End of Days", even though it aired beforehand, so that Eliza Dushku could film the pilot for her show Tru Calling.[citation needed]
  • The Turkish spell that Willow casts to get the Bringer to speak translates as: "Speak to us the man without a voice. Speak to us the man without eyes."
  • According to the original prop, the letter Buffy leaves for Spike reads: "Spike, You told me things last night that I really needed to hear. I feel stronger now because of you. I know what my mission is and that Caleb's holding the secret to it all. This one I have to take care of alone. You take care too. Buffy"[1]

Broadcast

  • The sex scene between Willow and Kennedy is the first lesbian sex scene ever on network TV.[citation needed]

Deleted scenes

  • This exchange was cut due to length:
Andrew: "I spy with my little eye something that begins with a...'Y'."
Spike: "A 'Y'? There's nothing here that-"
Andrew: "Yet another tapestry!"

Pop culture references

  • Andrew and Spike play a game of "I spy".
  • Anya mentions Rhodes Scholarship.
  • In the abandoned house with Buffy, Spike says "That diabolical old torture device, the comfy chair". This is a reference to one of the Spanish Inquisition sketches in Monthy Python's Flying Circus.
  • Mayor Wilkins references Little Women during his conversation with Faith.
  • Faith mentions drinking Jack Daniel's whiskey as a way to dull the loneliness. 

Goofs, bloopers & continuity errors

  • Despite being a continuation of the previous episode with no time in between, Anya's hair has gone from straight to curly, Kennedy's hair is noticeable curlier, Xander's hair seems lighter and a little longer.
  • When Buffy first arrives at the vineyard, she says, "Where's it at? I'm going to find it sooner or later." When the camera flashes to Caleb to hear his reply, you can see a crewman's arm in the shot.

Music

International titles

  • Armenian: "Նրբության պահը" (Moment of Reflection)
  • Czech: "Zdroj moci" (Source of Power)
  • Finnish: "Hellyyden ehdoilla" (Terms of Endearment)
  • French: "Contre-attaque" (Counter-Attack)
  • German: "Die Quelle der Macht" (The Source of Power)
  • Hungarian: "Megérintve" (Touching)
  • Italian: "Toccata dal Male" ([Female] Touched by Evil)
  • Japanese: "感触" (Sensation)
  • Polish: "Zbliżenie" (Rapprochement)
  • Portuguese (Brazil): "Tocado" (Touched)
  • Romanian: "Touched"
  • Russian: "Момент нежности" (Moment of Tenderness)
  • Spanish (Latin America): "Tocada" ([Female] Touched)
  • Spanish (Spain): "Tocado" (Touched)

Adaptations

  • The book "Chosen: The One" includes a novelization of this episode, along with all season 7.

Gallery

Promotional stills

Quotes

Andrew: "I spy with my little eye something that begins with a 'T'."
Spike: "Tapestry."
Andrew: "Hey, good one. How did you..."
Spike: "Tapestry's the only thing in the whole bloody room."
Faith: "I'm your leader. Which means I go first, and I make the rules, and the rest of you follow after me. Is that clear?"
Spike: "You listen to me. I've been alive a bit longer than you, and dead a lot longer than that. I've seen things you couldn't imagine, and done things I'd prefer you didn't. Don't exactly have a reputation for being a thinker. I follow my blood, which doesn't exactly rush in the direction of my brain. I've made a lot of mistakes. A lot of wrong bloody calls. A hundred plus years, and there's only one thing I've ever been sure of: you... Here, look at me. I'm not asking you for anything. When I say "I love you", it's not because I want you, or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are. What you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand, with perfect clarity, exactly what you are. You're a hell of a woman. You're the one, Buffy."
Spike: "That diabolical old torture device, the comfy chair."
Faith: "Man, look at that. My hand's shakin'! Demons, vampires, women in the penitentiary system... none of that freaks me out!"
Robin: "That's exactly what the First does. Find your Achilles' heel."
Faith: "No, it just talked to me. It does a heel thing too?"

References

  1. "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Buffy's Letter to Spike original TV series prop". yourprops.com, movie props and costumes. Retrieved March 10, 2020.