Older And Far Away

In which we wonder why they bother to throw Buffy birthday parties.

Official back-of-box synopsis:

Buffy suspects Dawn may be to blame when a spell of unknown origin traps partygoers inside Buffy's house with a sword-wielding monster.

Links:

This episode's page at http://www.restlessbtvs.com/, the Restless BTVS Trivia Guide

This episode's page at http://www.vrya.net/bdb/, the Buffyverse Dialog Database

Cross-reference:

episodes featuring Buffy's birthday:

• Surprise
  Buffy is 17, and takes her relationship with Angel to a new level.
• Helpless
  Buffy faces her ultimate trial, and her ultimate betrayal, on her 18th birthday.
• A New Man
  Giles is transformed by Ethan as Buffy celebrates her 19th.
• Blood Ties
  Dawn goes missing on Buffy's 20th.
• this episode
  Buffy is 21, and throws the weirdest, possibly the longest, birthday party ever.

Cast:

• Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy
• Alyson Hannigan as Willow
• Nicholas Brendon as Xander
  

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• James Marsters as Spike
• Emma Caulfield as Anya
• Amber Benson as Tara
• Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn
• Kali Rocha as Halfrek
• James C Leary as Clem
• Ryan Browning as Richard
• Laura Roth as Sophie
• Elizabeth Cazenave as Teacher