Did anyone ever learn that Willow's spell to restore Angel's soul worked?

[tbessie]

I was just rewatching some of Season 3, and I can't remember any part where it is acknowledged that Willow's spell worked (except perhaps Buffy's seeing it happen in front of her, and I still wonder how she knew it had been restored in that moment).

Is it explicitly mentioned later in the season or series? If so, which one?

I know much has been said regarding Xander's not telling Buffy that Willow was working on it.

- Tim

 

[TotallySpiked]

Yes, it is mentioned. Buffy says something along the lines of 'your spell worked at the last second, Will'. I can't remember what the name is but it was the one where Giles is getting Buffy to tell him the details of the fight to help her deal with it. The 'Binding Spell'.

 

[Cohen]

Yeah, in "Faith Hope & Trick," because Giles was wanting to make sure Acathla wasn't going to come back, and she mentions it.

 

[tbessie]

Ah, yes, just found that - thanks!

And how about Buffy knowing that Willow was doing the spell? If Xander didn't tell Buffy, how did she eventually find out?

- Tim

 

[Lyri]

I think Buffy just came to the conclusion that Willow was working on the spell when Angel's soul was returned. There wasn't anyone else who could have known about the spell, let alone anyone who had the ingredients and the actual spell to cast it. So I think it's just logical to assume that Buffy knew that Willow had come through for her and Angel in the end - it was just too late for Buffy to do anything about it and she had to send Angel to hell in order to close Acathla.

Plus, when Buffy returns from her self-inforced exile in S3, she and Willow talk about Willow casting the spell and how natural it felt to Willow to be able to do that. It's the start of Willow's dive into magic.

In the S7 episode 'Selfless', during their fight, Buffy reminds Xander of his 'message' from Willow, 'kick his ass', and Willow says she never said that. It's played off as a throw away comment and nothing ever comes of it again, but it's fair to say that, as of S7, Buffy knew that Xander had lied to her at that moment in S2, but there's a lot of water under the bridge and so nothing is ever mentioned again.

 

[tbessie]

Thanks Lyri! I'm going to re-watch the salient episodes so I get this all straight in my head! You are a veritable encyclopedia! 🙂

- Tim

I think Buffy just came to the conclusion that Willow was working on the spell when Angel's soul was returned. There wasn't anyone else who could have known about the spell, let alone anyone who had the ingredients and the actual spell to cast it. So I think it's just logical to assume that Buffy knew that Willow had come through for her and Angel in the end - it was just too late for Buffy to do anything about it and she had to send Angel to hell in order to close Acathla.

Plus, when Buffy returns from her self-inforced exile in S3, she and Willow talk about Willow casting the spell and how natural it felt to Willow to be able to do that. It's the start of Willow's dive into magic.

In the S7 episode 'Selfless', during their fight, Buffy reminds Xander of his 'message' from Willow, 'kick his ass', and Willow says she never said that. It's played off as a throw away comment and nothing ever comes of it again, but it's fair to say that, as of S7, Buffy knew that Xander had lied to her at that moment in S2, but there's a lot of water under the bridge and so nothing is ever mentioned again.

 

[white avenger]

If the successful return of Angel's soul was common knowledge, which it obviously was, then why was everyone so upset about him coming back? Granted, Buffy didn't go dancing down Main Street singing "My Boyfriend's Back," but why should she really have to? By this point, it has been established that Angel and Angelus are, in effect, two totally separate characters, and, obviously, Buffy would not be protecting Angelus.

 

[Kean]

If the successful return of Angel's soul was common knowledge, which it obviously was, then why was everyone so upset about him coming back? Granted, Buffy didn't go dancing down Main Street singing "My Boyfriend's Back," but why should she really have to? By this point, it has been established that Angel and Angelus are, in effect, two totally separate characters, and, obviously, Buffy would not be protecting Angelus.

Because what people know and what people feel are two entirely different things.

The forgiveness Giles spoke of to Buffy in Innocence was something he chose to not extend to Angel, and he knew better than most that Angel and Angelus were not one and the same. However, he had also been the one hurt the most by Angelus. Similarly, I think Xander wanted to hate him, so he did. Whereas Willow could see the difference and acknowledge it. But then, Willow was much more in tune with how this all affected Buffy.

 

[Wild At Heart]

If the successful return of Angel's soul was common knowledge, which it obviously was, then why was everyone so upset about him coming back? Granted, Buffy didn't go dancing down Main Street singing "My Boyfriend's Back," but why should she really have to? By this point, it has been established that Angel and Angelus are, in effect, two totally separate characters, and, obviously, Buffy would not be protecting Angelus.

I think the reason they were so open to returning Angel's soul was mainly because they were trying to keep him from awaking Acathla & to ease Buffy's fight. If it had been successful & Angel hadn't awakened Acathla, you bet they would've been all over Buffy to not have a friendship or a relationship with him again. Plus I think once they actually saw that he was back in s3 & saw the reality of it, they all kinda freaked out.

 

[YummySushiPJs]

Yeah, in "Faith Hope & Trick," because Giles was wanting to make sure Acathla wasn't going to come back, and she mentions it.

Except Giles never thought Acathla was going to come back, he was just trying to get Buffy to deal with what happened, which he reveals to Willow at the end. Unless I'm remembering incorrectly.

 

[Cohen]

Okay, so not the issue here.