Spoiler Slayer

Pandora has posted the summary for Episode 15 (still untitled as of now), over at the Mythical Boards. As usual, I'm going to touch on the highlights below, but I'm going to warn you in advance. There is a major event in this episode, and it's not what anyone was thinking it was going to be. If you want the full scoop, be sure to visit the Mythical Boards.

- The episode opens on a flashback, as Fred leaves home for college.
- Wes and Fred appear to be very much the couple now.
- The sarcophagus (mentioned in earlier spoilers), is delivered to the lab.
- While Fred is examining it, she inhales some vapors that come out of it.
- Angel and Spike are at each other's throats again, Spike is ready to go to Europe.
- Fred starts to get gravely ill, and is put into intensive care.
- Everyone tries to find a way to help Fred, but the resources at Wolfram and Hart are no help.
- They go to see Eve, who is hiding at Lindsey's (he's still gone).
- Eve wasn't behind this, but she reveals that it may be connected to the "Old Ones".
- Wes discovers that Illyria (and "Old One") will use Fred as a host.
- Unfortunately, in order for Illyria to possess her, Fred has to die.
- Angel and Spike, after learning where Illyria used to be kept, fly to England.
- Knox slips up and reveals he's the one who chose Fred to be the host.
- It turns out that Gunn is also partially to blame, as an unwitting accomplice.
- Spike and Angel meet with Drogyn, the keeper of 'The Well' where the "Old Ones" are kept.
- In order to save Fred, a 'champion' must choose her life over millions.
- Angel is about to save her, then decides that the price is too high.
- Fred dies, and Illyria takes over her body.

I really don't know what I can add in terms of my thoughts on this. It's a pretty major event, and obviously is going to have huge repercussions. Am I surprised at this turn of events? Not entirely. I've heard various scenarios of Fred's 'setback' for a while, Evil Knox, crazy or possessed Fred, and even dead Fred. While everything was pointing to a Fred/Illyria connection, I couldn't nail down the exact spoiler. With something like this, I really want to get confirmation from multiple sources before posting it. Strangely, in the end, it appears that all three rumors were correct.

So although the cat is already out of the bag, I can independently confirm all the info that Pandora is providing.

The big question that I'm sure is on everyone's minds, is what will happen to Fred. Is she really dead? Can they reverse the effects off the possession? Will they have to sacrifice her to save the world?

I think it's a safe bet that we're looking at the story arc for the back-half of the season. I also can pass along that in addition to the above info, the impression that I got from the reports was that this was not going to be a short-term problem. If I had to put money on the question, I can't imagine that they would get rid of Fred permanently. If only because that will leave us with a show with no female stars, unless we're going to see Nina and Gwen become permanent characters. Plus, if they wanted to introduce a more physical female character, wouldn't it have been easier to just add a Slayer to the cast?

I think we're in for an intriguing month of May.