| "Hell's Bells" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode | |||
| Episode no. | Season 6 Episode 16 | ||
| Directed by | David Solomon | ||
| Written by | Rebecca Rand Kirshner | ||
| Production code | 6ABB16 | ||
| Original air date | March 5, 2002 (2002-03-05) | ||
| Guest appearances | |||
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| Episode chronology | |||
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| Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 6 | |||
| List of episodes | |||
"Hell's Bells" is the 16th episode of season 6 of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It aired on March 5, 2002 on UPN. In the episode, Anya and Xander are about to get married but things change due to the arrival of an old man.
Plot
Buffy and Willow criticize their bright green dresses and discuss Anya and Xander's rehearsal dinner, noting that the Harris family surprisingly accepted Anya's demon friends as "circus people". Willow is the best man, while Buffy, Dawn, and Tara are bridesmaids. Xander struggles to get dressed amid his family and Anya's friends. His parents, Tony and Jessica, complain about the wedding arrangements. An old man appears mysteriously in Sunnydale.
Buffy helps Xander with his attire, while Tara and Willow assist Anya with her dress. Xander's uncle Rory shows off his date, who is actually a caterer. D'Hoffryn and Halfrek arrive, and Dawn greets them. D'Hoffryn gives Dawn a live wedding gift. Dawn mingles and encounters Spike with a date. Buffy and Xander discuss keeping his parents out of trouble. Xander is bombarded with complaints, and a drunken Tony insults Anya's demon friends, nearly causing a fight.
The old man, claiming to be future Xander, warns present Xander not to marry Anya, showing him a grim future. Shocked, Xander is advised to call off the wedding. Buffy and Spike discuss the wedding and Spike's attempt to make her jealous with his date, leading Spike to leave with his date. Willow gives Xander a final pep talk. Anya rehearses her vows, and Buffy stalls the guests with charades. Anya learns Xander is missing and panics. Xander walks away in the rain, while his parents return to the bar, blaming Anya for the ruined wedding.
A fight breaks out between the wedding guests, and Willow rescues Tara. Anya confronts a man in a trench coat, discovering he is a demon she created, seeking revenge. He showed Xander false future visions to ruin the wedding. Buffy and Xander defeat the demon. Xander, fearing he will become abusive like his father, refuses to marry Anya. They part ways, leaving both devastated. Anya is comforted by D'Hoffryn, who offers her job as a vengeance demon back.
References
- "Buffy / Angel: "Hell's Bells"/"Sleep Tight"". The A.V. Club. 2011-02-25. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
- Dellamonica, Alyx (2013-09-23). "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Rewatch: Marriage, Circus Folk Style". Tor.com. Retrieved 2022-06-18.