Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Triangle on AllMovie

While Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) heads to England to ask the Council for help in defeating Glory (Clare Kramer), Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) deals with the aftermath of Riley's sudden departure (see "Into the Woods"). A recovering Joyce (Kristine Sutherland) and a forlorn Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) seem to miss Buffy's boyfriend as much as she does, while Spike (James Marsters) regrets having revealed Riley's infidelity and causing the Slayer so much pain. Anya (Emma Caulfield), meanwhile, is delighted to be left in charge of the Magic Box and annoyed that Giles has asked Willow (Alyson Hannigan) to keep an eye on things. A petty power struggle ensues between the Wiccan and the surly ex-demon. Tara (Amber Benson) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon) leave the squabbling ladies to battle it out, but things go awry when Anya disrupts the spell Willow is working on and accidentally unleashes a troll on Sunnydale. The creature turns out to be Olaf (Abraham Benrubi), Anya's once-human ex-boyfriend, whose infidelity led her, a millennium ago, to become a vengeance demon and turn him into a troll. His rampage -- and repartee with Anya -- provide plenty of comic ruminations on the nature of love. Anya is even moved to admit that she fears Willow will come between her and Xander the same way Willow came between Xander and Cordelia. Buffy and Willow eventually beat up and vanquish Olaf, but not before he trashes the Magic Box and the Bronze. Giles returns from England without much new information, but Dawn overhears the ensuing conversation and inadvertently learns for the first time that she is "The Key" that Glory seeks. Originally broadcast January 9, 2001, on the WB network, "Triangle" marked episode 89 of the cult-favorite series. Abraham Benrubi would reprise his role as Olaf in the seventh-season episode "Selfless."