Spoiler Slayer

PM Update - Wedding Episode a Two-Parter? Comments on the Sweeps/BSD Scheduling Issue

There was a post at the Cross and Stake Spoiler Board, which indicated that the Wedding will be in two parts. The first part we know, which will supposedly end with Xander shacking up in the motel (note: added the supposedly because some people were confused about what I was saying here. When I referred to 'the first part we know', I meant the spoilers that we have heard so far for the Wedding). Episode Seventeen is supposed to be the second part, which is where an Angry Anya will go out searching for Xander. This is also supposedly the episode where the Big Scooby Death will finally happen. There are also a number of people speculating that Joss is really writing Episode Seventeen, but the writers are putting us off track with the guest-writer rumor.

Because of the confusion being generated, I think some things really need to be pointed out.

In terms of the Writer for Episode Seventeen, I don't think there is any disinformation going on. I think that Diego Gutierrez will be writing the episode.

There is another report from Fraz at FanForum, revising the February Schedule. Instead of having either a repeat episode (or no episode) on February 12th, 'Older and Far Away' will air on that date. Then on February 19th, they will air two older episodes. I do not know why they would be skipping that Tuesday, as I can't find anything that would be important enough to miss a Sweeps date (State of the Union is scheduled for January 29th, NBA All-Star Game is the February 10th). I don't have any solid information on the scheduling.

If they were not to skip any episodes in February, then in all probability the Wedding would be the final episode of Sweeps. This has been something that has been in discussion since before the Season began and we already know things have been shifted around. If you take out 'Life Serial' (the added episode) and aired a full February, Episode Seventeen would have been Sixteen and aired during Sweeps. I think it's important not to presume the Big Scooby Death is not going to happen, based on a few casting sides and other information. In the same way that Episode Thirteen usually is a pivotal episode, Episode Sixteen or Seventeen usually ends up being important as well. Though again, although I'm fairly certain that Herc is correct, I still have no idea who it might be.

One other thing to consider, they always run one or two light episodes before a very dark one. Which is demonstrated by 'Gone' and 'DoubleMeat Palace' leading up to 'Dead Things'. Whether or not the Wedding is a two-part episode, I would expect Episode Seventeen not to be a barrel of laughs. But we're still playing a waiting game.