Redefine can easily be the word which summarizes the theme of season 7. Especially throughout the end of the season, realization of what things are and discovery of what they could be have a major effect on the outcome of the season.
"Potential" temporarily redefines Dawn's role in life as she thinks she is a potential slayer. The information is hard for her to accept and, even though in the end she discovers that she is not a potential, the experience allows her to see what her abilities are. She is very capable of being in the action and supporting her sister and the potentials. She can make tough decisions easily and at the end of the day, she realizes with the help of Xander that her role is just as important as any of the slayers'. Though she isn't a slayer, Dawns role is set into place in this episode and from here on we see a more settled, mature young woman rather than a teenager with a lack of direction.
"Lies My Parents Told Me" helps to redefine Principal Wood, not only in the eyes of Buffy and Spike as they realize what he is capable of, but also in Principal Wood's view of what his purpose is. We recognize in this episode that he has every intention of fulfilling his life's quest to kill Spike, but when he fails he has a major decision to make. Though he can't kill Spike, Wood still has the desire to fight evil so he must redefine his perception of what evil is. It's not "the monster that killed [his mother] but the things that are fighting against the slayer and desire to cause pain to the human race. Once he sees that Spike is not what he was and that there are other things out in the world causing harm he, like Dawn, is able to gain a focus which is beneficial for the gang.
Faith comes back in "Dirty Girls." In this case the gang, and the audience, must redefine their perception of Faith. Faith left on exceptionally bad terms and being back at such a time can cause everyone to be a little wary. Faith shows that her personality hasn't really changed but she claims to be back on the side of good rather than evil. This episode also brings us another example of what evil can really be. Caleb appears to be the physical strength behind The First. The mutilation that occurs when Buffy's attack fails lessens the moral of everyone in the Summers home and all seems a loss by the end of the episode as Xander loses an eye. This episode is really the catalyst for the final episodes of the season and what will next occur.
"Empty Places" begins the uprising within the Summers' home. By the end of this episode, what is redefined is leadership and who is capable of leading as well as who deserves the power that comes along with the leadership. Until now, Buffy assumed that because she was the active slayer for all the years and she has been in charge through the years she would be followed without question. However, the Gang, the Potentials, and even Dawn agree that it is time that Buffy stepped down before she made any bad decisions. Buffy's role as slayer has always carried along with it the title of leader but this episode begs the question of "Does being the slayer automatically qualify you for leadership position?" My opinion is that not Buffy's role, but Buffy's natural instinct and abilities qualified her for the role of leader. Through the years she has dealt with stronger evils than she could have ever expected or that was expected of her to defeat. I may be biased but I think Buffy was more than qualified to take on a leadership role, despite the fact that she is the slayer.
"Touched" was such an amazing episode and the part that I remember the most vividly is not when Spike and Andrew find Caleb's parish or when Buffy beats Caleb and gets the weapon but when all of the couples are shown with each other (especially Buffy and Spike). I love the contrast between what Xander/Anya and Willow/Kennedy were experiencing and what Buffy/Spike were experiencing. Buffy and Spike's relationship has been through a great deal and I love that at the end of it all, they can be content laying together and it be the equivalent of what the others are shown experiencing. It's as if their relationship has been taken to a completely different level and their feelings for each other and the experience of simply being together has a more powerful meaning than the experiences they had in season 6.
"End Of Days" is another episode like Dirty Girls where a lot is happening and it acts mainly as a shift between everything that has happened thus far and what is destined to occur. However, with the death of Caleb, and the return of Angel as well as Buffy and Angel's reunion kiss which is witnessed by Spike this episode is one that would truly make the audience fall off the edge of their seats in anticipation and the possibilities for what lies next are unlimited at this point.
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