The Initiative

In which the United States government has a gigantic facility and a squad of covert operatives studying the creatures of Sunnydale and no one has ever noticed. It makes sense when you remember that a town that doesn't think anything of massive neck rupture as a cause of death can ignore anything.

Official back-of-box synopsis:

The truth is down there - unbeknownst to Buffy and the gang, Spike is captured by a commando squad for the Initiative, a mysterious underground laboratory beneath the streets of U. C. Sunnydale.

From the old WB Buffy website:

THE TRUTH IS DOWN THERE - Unbeknownst to Buffy and the gang, Spike is captured by a commando squad for The Initiative, a mysterious underground laboratory beneath the streets of U.C. Sunnydale. Meanwhile, Buffy's Psych T.A., Riley, has a major slayer crush and turns to Willow for advice on ways to woo.

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 dairy products:

• Never Kill A Boy On The First Date
  String Cheese is served in the cafeteria.
• Enemies
  The mayor pours Faith a glass of milk. She doesn't drink it.
• Living Conditions
  Kathy and Buffy argue over milk. Sid The Wiley Dairy Gnome is accused.
• Superstar
  Anya needs help opening a milk carton. Xander's not man enough.
• Restless
  The Cheese Man wears the cheese, it does not wear him.
• Once More, With Feeling
  Anya's accused of eating skeezy cheeses
• Wrecked
  Willow mentions keeping "stinky yak cheese in my bra"
• Storyteller
  The Cheese Man makes a brief flashback appearance.
• this episode
  "I'm not saying it's the key to her heart, but Buffy... she likes cheese."

episodes introducing african-american characters:

• What's My Line? (part 1)
  Kendra
• Faith, Hope And Trick
  Mr Trick -- duh!
• The Freshman
  Olivia (though she's African-UKian by her accent)
• Lessons
  Principal Wood
• this episode
  Forrest

Cast:

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

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• Anthony Stewart Head as Giles
• Mercedes McNab as Harmony
• James Marsters as Spike
• Marc Blucas as Riley
• Mace Lombard as Tom
• Lindsay Crouse as Professor Walsh
• Adam Kaufman as Parker
• Bailey Chase as Graham
• Leonard Roberts as Forrest
• Scott Becker as Lost Freshman