Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Series 5 - Complete (DVD)

...is about a girl called Buffy who is the 'chosen one' with the powers to fight vampires and demons. She lives in Sunnydale, a fictional town which is also the 'hellmouth' and attracts all kinds of nasty evil things. This review is for season 5 of this hit (and cult) tv show, considered to be one of its best.

The main characters

Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar): This season is really pivotal for Buffy. The introduction of ...
...very confusing development seeing as Buffy doesn't have a sister, yet noone seems to have noticed that Dawn isnt supposed to be there. In fact she is 'the key' an ancient energy created to open the gates between dimensions. Glory wants this key and so monks hid it by putting it in human form and sending it to Buffy, altering everyone's memories to think she'd always been there. Dawn is very much the bratty teenager, very annoying, but she does start ... more

First of all a quick overview

BTVS is about a girl called Buffy who is the 'chosen one' with the powers to fight vampires and demons. She lives in Sunnydale, a fictional town which is also the 'hellmouth' and attracts all kinds of nasty evil things. This review is for season 5 of this hit (and cult) tv show, considered to be one of its best.

The main characters

Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar): This season is really pivotal for Buffy. The introduction of Dawn, her sister/key changes her whole character really as she becomes the big sister and at the end of the season, guardian to dawn. She really grows up this year, but at the same time she grows more and more weary of the world that hasnt really been very good to her. With riley's departure, her mums illness and the end of the world (again) she is looking for a way out and this helps to explain the final events of this season.

Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg): Buffy's sister....yes her sister! This is a very confusing development seeing as Buffy doesn't have a sister, yet noone seems to have noticed that Dawn isnt supposed to be there. In fact she is 'the key' an ancient energy created to open the gates between dimensions. Glory wants this key and so monks hid it by putting it in human form and sending it to Buffy, altering everyone's memories to think she'd always been there. Dawn is very much the bratty teenager, very annoying, but she does start to mature towards the end of the season and shows herself to be a tough cookie.

Giles (Anthony Stewart Head): Giles opens a shop this season, allowing him to get in on the action a little bit more as this becomes the new 'scooby' hangout. I think this is because so many people complained about the lack of Giles in season 4 because lets face it, Giles is great. He started out as the stuffy librarian stereotype but hes evolved and this season he gets more and more comedy and also gets to be a bit tough too. Anthony Head is easily the best actor on the show as well.

Xander (Nicholas Brendon): This is really Xander's year. After being stuck in his parents basement wondering what to di in his life he grows up, gets serious (not too serious-he's still funny!) gets his own place and a job, and a proper relationship. As always he is the heart of Buffy, seeing everything and being the one to tell people what they need to hear when they need to hear it.

Willow (Alyson Hannigan): Willow blossoms as a witch this season, due to her relationship with Tara, and gets unbelievably powerful very quickly. She's still the same old willow we know and love though, not many radical changes for her except she seems more confident and sure of herself than ever.

Riley (Marc Blucas): Riley's main function is as Buffy's boyfriend, due to the Initiative being gone, and he makes some crucial decisions about their relationship. he realises it really isnt going anywhere and he is confused about where he stands, how she feels and the constant presence of Angel in his mind and his insecurity at suddenly being a nobody. Poor guy.

Tara (Amber Benson): Tara comes out of her shell a bit this year, starts to feel at home in the scooby gang and even cracks a few jokes here and there! She still doesnt interact with anyone except willow all that much though.

Anya (Emma Caulfield): Anya the ex demon starts to become more comfortable as a human and a fully fledged scooby member. She provides constant sources of laughs and really does come across as vibrant and likeable, whereas before she was more of an uncomfortable outside, her fear of bunnies and love of money being highlights. I love how she says all the wrong things but really shes just being honest and saying what everyone else is too scared to.

Spike (James Marsters): Aww poor Spike. That chip in his head means he can't be evil anymore, so hes in a odd situation of actually starting to help out, albeit reluctantly. But his big development-falling in love with Buffy-transforms him into a half decent guy, willing even to die for Buffy and to protect Dawn.

Episode guide (with some of the best lines)

Buffy vs. Dracula
Buffy fights THE VAMPIRE Dracula. This contains all kinds of traditional Dracula myths like Xander becoming his bug-eater and Giles getting cuddly with the three sisters. This is notable for how it kickstarts the season, with Buffy ending up wanting to know more about her calling, a key theme is set up, and Buffy's sister arrives, very confusing. Tons of good lines in this one.
'You think you know, what you are, whats to come, you havent even begun'
'I was just about to kill those loathesome creatures''What, you were gonna nuzzle them to death?'
'You sure this isnt a fanboy thing? I've fought more than a few pimply overweight vamps that called themselves Lestat!'

Real Me
The Dawn episode. Buffy has to deal with her irritating sisters ways. We see this through Dawn's eyes as she writes in her diary, giving us her view of the characters, which is very funny. Harmony also returns with some minions, who try to kill the slayer but obviously dont do very well!
No memorable lines for this one. Very poor. A forgettable episode all round really.

The Replacement
The demon Toth accidently splits Xander into two. One Xander gets all of his good points and manages to get an apartment, a promotion and repair his relationship with Anya. The other gets all his bad points and gets caught in the rain, loses his money and hits his head a few times. Both Xanders at first are convinced that the other is a demon. This episode is Xander's pivotal point, where he really starts to mature and realise his own worth. Another notable exchange is Riley telling Xander that Buffy doesnt love him.
'Toth''He called you a toth, its british slang, it means like moron'
'Theyre kinda the same now''Yes he's clearly a bad influence on himself'

Out of my mind
Buffy's mother starts to get ill, temporarily not remembering who Dawn is before collapsing.
Riley's body stops being able to handle the superstrength the initiative drugs gave him, and he's in risk of dying of a heart attack. He doesn't want to save himself though, as it would turn him back into just a regular person, and he believes this isnt enough for Buffy. She finally manages to convince him that it doesnt matter to her. This isnt a great episode, Riley acts like an idiot and Buffy is pretty nasty to Spike for no reason, although he deserves it later when he steals the doctor. The most interesting part of this is his dream of kissing Buffy, waking up saying 'Oh God no'.

No Place Like Home
Giles opens the magic shop this episode and Anya gets a job there as she proves to be REALLY good with money. Plus Giles wears a funny wizard costume, always funny!
The season finally starts to GET GOING and we finally learn the truth about Dawn as Buffy investigates her mothers illness and finds the Dagonsphere, a strange glowing ball. And this episode intoruces this years big bad, a frightfully powerful, beautiful young woman who also seems to be pretty insane and has to suck the sanity out of human brains. When they meet, Glory (the beast) tosses Buffy around like a rag doll and one stamp of her foot causes the building to crumble. The dying monk tells Buffy she has to protect Dawn, who has no idea what she really is. At first we're made to think Dawn is a demon, so this twist is clever. Also dishy doctor Ben, remember him-he's important. So tons going on in this episode. Best moments are Buffy's cool trance, and meeting Glory.
'Shes not my sister''She doesn't know that'

Family
Tara's family come to town, telling her that she has to leave sunnydale because shes going to become a demon. However this turns out to just be small minded relatives disapproving of her leaving the family for college and her lesbian relationship. The scooby gang make it clear that tara is one of them. This is very sweet but frankly Tara is too dull a character to have a whole episode that focuses on her.
'We are her blood kin, who the hell are you?''We're FAMILY.'

Fool For Love
Best episode of the season by MILES. Buffy is wounded fighting and it prompts her to seek out details of slayers last battles from the one person who has witnessed them-spike. He tells her of his history as a vampire, tells her how he killed the two slayers and gives her some valuable lessons about being a slayer. This is fantastic with a look at his human self William, a bumbling BLOODY AWFUL poet. His lessons to Buffy are prophetic for the season, such as 'every slayer has a death wish'. Pure drama with great lines and a fast pace. Buffy also finds out that her mother has to go into hospital for a CAT scan.
'Every day you wake up with the same question haunting, is today the day I die?...Part of you wants it, not just to stop the fear and uncertainty, but because you're just a little bit in love with it...part of you is desperate to know, what's it like? Where does it lead you? And that's the secret.'

Shadow
Buffy's mum gets more ill, with a 'shadow' on her scan showing a brain tumour. It isnt helped when Glory sends a big giant snake to find the key that Buffy has to stop. The CGI snake is pretty bad to be honest, and probably cost waaay too much. Apart from that, not much happens and this is quite depressing.

Listening to Fear
A queller demon from space is summoned to silence madmen, which there are plenty of thanks to Glory. It turns out BEN summoned it to clean up Glorys mess, and he seems to know Glorys minions and talk with them, so whats his deal?
The demon follows Buffy and her mother home from the hospital as the tumour is causing Joyce to behave more and more like a crazy person. The demon is a nasty little thing, a bit like an enormous slimy alien beetle. A forgettable episode.
'To be fair, we dont know about the slithered part''No I'm sure it frisked away like a fluffy lamb.'

Into the Woods
Buffy finds out that Riley has been paying vampires to bite him for thrills seeing as he doesn't feel like a part of her life anymore. The military approach him for a new project in the jungle and he tells Buffy that if they cant make it work, hes leaving. Buffy's pride gets the better of her and it is up to Xander (as usual) to remind her of what she's giving up. She runs to try and sto Riley leaving but is too late and gets there just in time to see his helicopter leave. This is really sad even if you hate Riley!
'If you really think you can love this guy, I'm talking scary, no holds barred NEED, then think about what you're about to lose.'

Triangle
Buffy deals with the loss of Riley, just as Anya and Xander have some problems. Willow accidently releases Anyas ex, a troll, who wrecks the bronze and smashes up Xanders face, trying to make him choose between Anya and Willow, being Xander of course he never does. Apart from that...nothing else happens. Some pure comedy lines though, Olaf the troll being pretty funny.
'This is peer pressure. Any minute know you're going to make me drink alcohol and have drugs.'
'Haha! Puny receptacle'

Buffy gets Olaf's big hammer...it comes in handy later on.

Checkpoint
Those nasty watchers council guys return saying they have information about Glory but Buffy must pass their ridiculous tests to get it. Glory threatens Buffy's family, and the knights of Byzantium attack Buffy telling her that they will destroy the key. She turns it around on the watchers council, telling them there will be no tests and getting Giles his job back. And Glory? Shes a GOD. OOOOOOH.

Blood Ties
Dawn discovers what she really is with the help of Spike. Obviously she doesnt take it very well. After running away she finds Ben at the hospital, who starts to act strangely, then...morphs into Glory! Buffy fights Glory and Willow sends her away with a spell. Buffy has to reassure Dawn that they are family. This episode has some lines which become VERY IMPORTANT LATER. Like this one...
'See this, its Summers blood, its just like mine'

Crush
Drusilla returns to try and take Spike back to his evil ways. he confesses his lovee to Buffy, who is horrified, so he ties her up and offers to kill Dru to prove his love, but if not he will let Dru kill Buffy. In the end none of them get killed! But Buffy wont have any of it and rejects poor Spike.
'Electricity lies Spike, it tells you you're not a bad dog. But you are.'

I Was Made to Love You
One of the more memorable episodes, this is about Warren Meers, who has created a robot girlfriend purely to love him, but he got bored and abandoned her, but she followed him. This allows Buffy to explore some of her own failed relationships issues. A good episode about men's search for the perfect woman and female denial.
'I checked everything over, I did everything I was supposed to do, I was a good girlfriend.'

The Body
The most disturbing, real Buffy ever. Buffy's mother has died, leaving them to grieve, and see how life must go on. This episode forgoes all the usual Buffy tricks, done mostly in real time to give almost a sense of boredom, waiting. There is no music to capture the emotion in the silences. Unable to deal with the death, Joyce is referred to as 'the body' by Buffy. The only supernatural element is a vampire in the morgue, a reminder that life goes on. All the actors are brilliant in this episode, with some amazing lines and the whole thing really captures the reality of death perfectly, full of little details which means you find something new every time you watch this. Best episode of Buffy ever, but also unbearable in points.
'Is she cold?''Its not her. She's gone.'
'I was having fruit punch, and I thought, Joyce will never have anymore fruit punch...and noone will explain to me WHY'

Forever
Everyone has to deal with life after Joyce's death. Buffy worries she wont be able to cope with her new responsibilities, and Dawn wants to cast a spell to bring her mum back, even at great risk.
Gellar and Trachtenberg play this really well, it feels real. A moment which is pointless at the time but sets up a theme for next year is when Willow gives Dawn access to the resurrection spell.
'its tomorrow that I'm worried about.''Whats tomorrow?''Thats exactly what I dont know.'

Intervention
Buffy goes on a quest to focus herself again on her calling. She speaks to the first slayer who tells her 'death is her gift'. Spike has had a Buffy robot built by Warren who causes all sorts of confusion when her friends think she is with Spike. Spike is captured and tortured by Glory but refuses to reveal who the key is, and is rewarded with a kiss from Buffy.

Tough Love
Tara and Willow have a huge fight and tara goes out alone. Glory thinks Tara is the key and brain sucks her, leaving her crazy like the other victims. Willow sets out for revenge and shows her awesome power as she attacks Glory. Glory nearly kills Willow but Buffy saves her. At the end, Glory attacks them and Tara reveals that Dawn is the key. A good moment is when Giles does something to the demon behind Willow and Anyas backs to make him talk. Tough Giles at his best!

Spiral
The gang go on the run from Glory but are attacked by the knights and forced to hide in an old building under seige. They capture the knights leader who reveals what dawn was created for and that Glorys plan to return to her own dimension will bring hell on earth. Giles is injured so Ben is called in to help, and of course he morphs into Glory while he's there, who grabs Dawn. They run after her but Buffy sees all the knights dead and drops to the floor, and can hear noone around her.
'The only thing she remembers is growing up with a mother and sister that love her. What kind of God would demand her lfie for something she has no control over?'

The Weight of the World
Willow has to enter Buffy's mind to pull her out of her catatonic state, and finds that Buffy feels that she has failed dawn and is responsible for what will be dawns death because part of her wanted Glory to win, just so it would be over. Buffy returns but Giles has the nasty news that if the portal to the other world opens, the only way to stop it is to kill dawn so her blood flows no more.

The Gift
They try to find a way to stop Glory. Buffy says that she will quit being the slayer if dawn dies. Spike promises to protect Dawn. In the final fight Buffy defeats Glory but spares Ben, who Giles kills to stop Glory coming back. 'The Doc' a strange demon, opens the portal and the end of the world begins. However Buffy realises that her blood is the same as Dawn's and if she sacrifices herself the portal will close. Buffy jumps into the portal and dies. I dare you not to cry at this, its pretty much impossible.
'The hardest thing in this world is to live in it'

Overall this is really strong, with emotional drama, suspense, great storylines, fantastic developments in the characters, witty lines, great villains, and quite a few surprises. Much better than pretty much anything else on tv. 

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