foreshadowing in the buffyverse (part 2)
→ dawn’s arrival in to the world and buffy’s exit from it

This is one of the more well known examples of foreshadowing in the show but also the most intricate. Dawn’s presence is first hinted at in 3x22 (“Miss Muffet”) by Faith and is then referred to as such again by one of Glory’s victims in 5x2. The 730 stands for the number of days in two years. Two years pass exactly between this episode and 5x22 (withing the show) when Dawn is destined to die (hence the countdown). This number shows up on Buffy’s clock in 4x22, however Tara points out that it is “completely wrong” as one year has passed and now only one year remains of the “countdown”. Faith mentions “little sis” in a dream in 4x15. Both these scenes take place in Buffy’s bedroom which is the first place the audience ever sees Dawn. And Tara’s warning (originally intended to be delivered by Faith for continuity) “be back before Dawn” is given in the previous episode to Dawn’s first appearance. Faith is also responsible for foreshadowing the time of Buffy’s death. During the bodyswap of 4x16, Faith uses a credit card (either Buffy or Joyce’s), with the expiration date of May 2001. Buffy’s death takes place in the same month of the same year and this episode (5x22) aired on May 22 2001, almost 730 days (so roughly two years) after 3x22 first aired on television.