Date: 2002

The Scooby Gang faced an unusual enemy. Warren Mears, Jonathan Levinson, and Andrew Wells formed the Trio, self-styled supervillains who relied on technology, magic, and ego rather than raw power. Their schemes were often clumsy, but their intent steadily grew darker. What began as harassment escalated into real violence. The turning point came when Warren armed himself with a firearm and acted alone. His attempt to assassinate Buffy resulted in the death of Tara Maclay, an unintentional but irreversible consequence of his actions. Jonathan’s guilt and Andrew’s denial could not undo the damage already done. The conflict ended not with a battle against the Trio, but with the consequences of their actions. Tara’s death unleashed Dark Willow, she tracked him relentlessly, overpowering him without resistance. Warren was killed when Willow used dark magic to flay him alive, ending his role in the conflict instantly and permanently. Warren’s death marked the complete collapse of the Trio, the other two were sent to jail.