Written by Steven S. DeKnight and Drew Goddard and directed by David Greenwalt, it was originally broadcast on May 5, 2004 on the WB network.
When Angel and Spike go to Italy after hearing Buffy is in trouble, they discover she is dating their long-time nemesis The Immortal.
After arguing over how they would be able to find the head "if they had their resources", Angel and Spike go the Rome Wolfram & Hart offices, where they are greeted by the CEO, an ebullient Italian woman.
The two both barely survive the ensuing explosion, albeit with their clothing heavily damaged and the street destroyed.
The Rome Wolfram & Hart CEO explains that they always use the bomb on first-timers as a prank, and replaces their damaged clothing, including Spike's "irreplaceable" jacket.
She explains because of Fred's past memories she cannot bear to witness their grief in addition to Wesley's, which she experiences as a physical pain.
This episode was the first time James Marsters met director David Greenwalt, despite working on the second season of Buffy together.
[1] Actress Julie Benz says her last appearance as Darla in the flashback scenes of this episode was "a great way for us to... say goodbye to our characters, to be together and to have some fun."
It is a commonly held but mistaken belief that the producers sought Sarah Michelle Gellar for this episode.
Another actress played Buffy Summers in a faraway shot of her dancing with The Immortal in a nightclub.
Gellar was actually sought for the penultimate episode "Power Play", but proved unavailable because she was busy finishing the filming of The Grudge.
We had expected to get her for that episode but she was tied up prepping a movie, I believe, and wasn't able to do it, which is why we brought Andrew back again.