Buffy ep by ep; rewatch and reviews

[Forbin]

The Body should be viewed by every film student as a textbook example of what a creative genius can do when unencumbered by convention and network interference.

While The Body is indeed a superior piece of television storytelling and as emotionally devastating as any big screen take on death could be I don't think it should be used as an example for film students. That honor should be reserved for Hush.

Hush was Joss Whedon proving to himself that he could make an episode that was purely visual and didn't rely on the dialogue for an impact. That in itself is the true test of a good filmmaker. Dialogue is used so much as a crutch for poor visual storytelling that film has practically become radio. Joss proved with Hush that he's equally adept at images as he is with dialogue.

Maybe more so.

While I agree whole-heartedly with your sentiment, about 50% of hush is story development that requires the viewer to know what's been going on all season. I'd imagine that would get in the way, confusing the hell out of any film student watching.

But I thoroughly agree with:

Dialogue is used so much as a crutch for poor visual storytelling

I've been rewatching DS9 lately, and, although I love the show, those people never shut up! I don't think a moment goes by when a character isn't spouting exposition, and I don't think I can remember any purely visual narratives in the whole series.

 

[Forbin]

The Body is heartbreaking and distressing to watch (I lost my grandpa a while ago, and I probably won't be able to watch it for a long while), but it is one of the most stunning episodes of TV ever made, IMO. It's a crime it didn't get an Emmy.

That would require the Emmy committee to admit to watching a genre TV show that they presume is meant for kiddies.

 

[saturn5]

A hell of a hard act to follow!

FOREVER
The Good;
Angel's back, hooray. The final scene where Buffy and Dawn collapse into each other's arms is my favourite scene in the whole of Buffy.
The Bad;
Dawn stealing the eggs, the Ghora demon just looks lame.
Best line;
Dawn; "It's ok, okkaaayyyyy!"
Women good/men bad;
Jeez!;
Doc is far more human that many of the demons the gang face and ALL the scarier for it. Like Mayor Wilkins, Doc is a tribute to the skill of an actor in the role. Am I the only one who finds Willow's idea of making a stuffed animal dance extremely sinister? Buffy slaps Dawnie but in fairness she has every right to.
Kinky dinky;
Glory refers to Jinx as her 'Robed stud'. Willow likens Tara's fried eggs to 'little boobs'. Anya and Xander have sex, Anya hinting to a terrified Xander she eventually wants children.
Captain Subtext;
Note that Buffy never hugs Dawn after Joyce dies, not even at the graveside, can't even bare to look her in the face. (both girls sitting alone in their bedrooms) Can't stand to see her mother's eyes looking back at her? It's only in the last scene that the sisters finally find each other and it's all too wonderful. Spike (who was noticeably absent in The Body) brings flowers for Joyce whom he professes his fondness for (in Lies My Parents Told Me we discover why). Buffy says she wants Angel to stay on in Sunnydale for all time which must give Bangler's reassurance.
Guantanamo Bay;
Scoobies to the ER;
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5,
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 16
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills:
Buffy: 95 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 10
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce

Sunnydale deaths;
89;

Total number of scoobies: 6
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vampwhore
Questions and observations;
Willow's helping of Dawn foretells her abuse of magic in later seasons. A lot of people blame Dawn for trying to ressurect Joyce but just imagine you're 14 year old girl and the mother you love more than anything has died. If there was the slightest chance you could bring her back, wouldn't you? Wouldn't anyone? (After all it's Buffy who tries to find a supernatural cure to Joyce's illness in Blood Ties). And it's Buffy who runs to open the door at the end of the ep.
Angel comes to Sunnydale for the funeral. Do Wes and Cordy come? Oz? Do they tell Faith? She doesn't mention Joyce when she turns up in season 7 but maybe Buffy posts her a letter? Nice mislead with Buffy and the coffins, you think she's vamphunting at first. Dawn in pigtails to make her look even younger. The album Giles is listening to is the same one he listened to with Joyce in Band Candy.
For the record the scariest monster we never see is the THING that crosses past the window and knocks on the door of the Summer's house. And Buffy goes 'Mommy' and runs to the door because she'd give the world to have Joyce back. And Dawn becomes the grown up and rips up the photo so she opens the door to nothing. And the Summer's girls collapse into each other's arms because (to paraphrase Ally McBeal) Joyce is dead, they loved her and she died and she's going to be dead forever. But they'll always have each other, she lives on through her deeds and her daughters. Angelus in Passion referred to 'The ecstasy of grief'. Here we see it in all it's glory. And in many ways Buffy needs Dawn a lot more than Dawn needs Buffy, Buffy doesn't ask who's going to take care of Dawn, she asks who's going to take care of 'us'. And the answer is from now on they take care of each other.
Marks out of 10; 9/10, would be 10/10 except for the stupid looking demon.

 

[McCoy]

Best line;
Buffy; "That's not her, she's gone"
Dawn; "Where did she go?"
Just beating Anya's heartful monologue as she desperately tries to understand what's happening.

Gotta disagree. No matter how many times I watch this, Anya always makes me tear up.

 

[I am not Spock]

^Yeah, Anya's monologue is tear-inducing

There was so much great dialogue and superb acting and directing all over that episode. A masterpiece. It is a hard ep to follow up, but fortunately the rest of season 5 is very strong, as well.

Hush and The Body are both masterpieces. In different ways. Hush is a masterpiece of writing and direction (it must be hard to write such a great script, with little dialogue). The Body is a masterpiece of writing, direction, and performance. Stunning.

 

[Forbin]

The saddest thing? Whedon is now so disgusted with network TV that he doesn't want to work in TV any more. Fox executives have (once again) robbed to world of joy.

 

[saturn5]

The saddest thing? Whedon is now so disgusted with network TV that he doesn't want to work in TV any more. Fox executives have (once again) robbed to world of joy.

Is that official?

INTERVENTION
The Good;
Pretty good, nice to have some levity after the intensity of the past few eps. I love the Buffybot, she's so sweet and innocent and happy all the time. Spike's idea of Angel which the Buffybot voices makes me laugh out loud every time. Buffy and Giles in the desert is also good.
The Bad;
Rather than chase after Spike, Glory just stands there and lets the Scoobies get away?
Best line;
Glory (of Spike); What the hell is that and why is it's hair that colour?
Women good/men bad;
Jeez!;
Torturing Spike isn't nice
Kinky dinky;
Spike and the Buffybot 'lots of different ways'. Love her standing up when Xander knocks on the crypt door gag, you wonder was that SMG or her stand in? In an interview SMG said it was 'fun to play his slave for a while' which suggests it was her (and many a fanficcers dream come true frankly) Note that even when the Buffybot is Spike's ideal woman he still wants her to beat him up before they have sex? The Key has to be pure? Does that mean if Dawn has sex with Kevin or RJ or whoever that means she'd be safe? Glory's negligee is also quite something. The Slayer forges 'strength from pain' according to the primitive which might explain Faith, Buffy's and various Potentials hints at S&M.
Captain Subtext;
Note when Spike has sex with the Buffybot he has her wear Buffy's black leather jacket, just like Angel's. The whole of the Buffybot's dialogue seems to be a satire on the Spikette's fawning over the peroxide one. Xanders description of Spike is rather vivid as Buffy observes and he also feels sorry for Spike having lost his sex toy. Buffy refers to her robot double as 'skirt girl'. Spike refers to Glory as whorish. Spike gets his first real kiss from Buffy. Buffy and Dawn very intimate with one another in the opening scenes, their night together after Forever obviously having brought them a great deal closer.
Guantanamo Bay;
Scoobies to the ER;
Spike gets the bejesus beaten out of him but I doubt the ER would do him any good.
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5,
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)
　
Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1
　
Scoobies knocked out: Xander
Buffy: 16
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 9
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills: Xander and Anya are considered competent enough to patrol alone, Anya nails her first vamp
Buffy: 95 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: 1 vamp and ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons
Buffybot; 1 vamp
Spike; 1 demon and 2 vamps in Buffy service.
　
Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3
　
Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3
　
Recurring characters killed: 10
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce
　
Sunnydale deaths;
89;
　
Total number of scoobies: 6
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,
　
Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?
　
Scoobies shot: Anya wonders if they should have guns?
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1
　
Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vampwhore
Questions and observations;
Very long teaser, important to recap what's gone before. Buffy feels guilty about how she's treated Dawn. Ben and Glory seem to be merging more and more. Boy is that the FATTEST puma you've ever seen? Tara comments that Will has surpassed her in magical terms. The beginning of Dawn's kelptomania. Note that just like April the Buffybot begins to break her programme, not staying in the crypt like she was supposed to. Hellmouth energy or is Warren not as clever/cleverer than he thinks? Or subconsciously WANTS his girl to be independent as Katrina was? Love the way Glory says 'Precious?', very LOTR, Xander also refers to hobbits. It seems Glory and her minions like TV, demons once again overcome by humanity. I read once that Bob Barker was a martial arts expert trained by Chuck Norris (he beats up Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore "The price is wrong, bitch!")
Marks out of 10; 8/10

 

[I am not Spock]

The saddest thing? Whedon is now so disgusted with network TV that he doesn't want to work in TV any more. Fox executives have (once again) robbed to world of joy.

You're right. That did suddenly make me very sad.

Damn Fox.

 

[saturn5]

TOUGH LOVE
The Good;
Good scenes between Buffy and Dawn, excellent battle between Willow and Glory
The Bad;
If you're a Tara fan it's pretty gut-wrenching
Best line;
Minion; "Begging your pardon and begging in general"
Women good/men bad;
Glory calls Tara a tramp
Jeez!;
Glory brainsucking Tara is awful although Clare Kramer gives a great performance describing the madness (which of course Glory experiences it too). Anya's racism against the French is also a bit much (and surely Anya is actually Swedish, yah?). Willow spits on Glory.
Kinky dinky;
Glory bathes in front of her minions but blindfolds them.
Captain Subtext;
Tara and Willow have their first fight. A lot of people disliked this but couples fight, straight or gay, everyone has arguments. Willow refers to lesbo-street cred, she tells Tara that she's the only woman she's fallen in love with (again, bi rather than gay?). Implying that Tara has had gay lovers before? Anya offers to let Willow sleep with her admitting this sounds a lot more lesbian than she intended. Glory gives lots of little hints of lesbianism when she's 'holding' Tara's hand. Lovely scene at the end where Buffy and Willow are with 'their girls', Will kissing Tara and Buffy stroking Dawn's hair.
Guantanamo Bay;
Giles tortures Glory's minion. With the same trick Angelus played on him?
Scoobies to the ER;
Poor Tara, brainsucked.
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5, Glory asks did anyone order one?
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 16
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills:
Buffy: 96 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: 1vamp + ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons
Buffybot; 1 vamp
Spike; 1 vamp and 1/2 a demon

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 10
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce

Sunnydale deaths;
89;

Total number of scoobies: 6
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vampwhore
Questions and observations;
You feel so bad for Buffy having to quit school and so bad for Ben being fired. Glory likes aspects of this dimension, changing her tune (because of Ben's influence?). The scenes with Buffy and Dawn over Dawn's truancy are heartrending, the terror they feel at the prospect of losing each other. Can't Dawn go to Aunt Arlene? Once again Tara says she fears Will's magic. Buffy's 'Things change' line may be from Batman Returns? What do people want petrified hamsters for?
Marks out of 10; 7/10

 

[WillsBabe]

Buffy stroking Dawn's hair.

All the stroking of Dawn's hair that Buffy does in this season makes me want to put my fist through the screen.

The scenes with Buffy and Dawn over Dawn's truancy are heartrending, the terror they feel at the prospect of losing each other.

Pretty much none of the scenes between Buffy and Dawn engage me in any way whatsoever. I'm pleased that someone enjoys them, and I like reading your reviews because you always see very different things in the episodes to what I do.

 

[McCoy]

saturn5 still has 2 and a half more seasons to convince us of Dawn's value.

 

[saturn5]

Buffy stroking Dawn's hair.

All the stroking of Dawn's hair that Buffy does in this season makes me want to put my fist through the screen.

The scenes with Buffy and Dawn over Dawn's truancy are heartrending, the terror they feel at the prospect of losing each other.

Pretty much none of the scenes between Buffy and Dawn engage me in any way whatsoever. I'm pleased that someone enjoys them, and I like reading your reviews because you always see very different things in the episodes to what I do.

Give it up you lot, no one can resist the allure of the Dawnster, certainly not Buffy and Joyce. Every time I see them stroking her hair I just go AWWWWWWWWWW!

SPIRAL
The Good;
Buffy fighting medieval knights on top of a mobile home. Again you never get this on Dawson's Creek!
The Bad;
Once again the budget can't really keep up with the concept. Also you can see it's a dummy when Buffy carries 'Dawn' (as indeed it is in many scenes at the end of Aliens because Sigourney had hurt her back)
Best line;
Xander; We got company and they brought a crusade!
Women good/men bad;
Jeez!;
The scene between Dawn and Buffy in the camper van really brings home to you how much her life can 'Suck beyond the telling of it'.
Kinky dinky;
The female minion fancies Ben. Shouldn't she fancy other 'hobbits with leprosy?'
Captain Subtext;
Xander helps Spike light his cigarette. Dawn observes that Glory has 'nice feet'. Ben observes terrible things happen to good people. Well, they're certainly going to happen to him.
Guantanamo Bay;
Gregor captured and occasionally hit by the Scoobs.
Scoobies to the ER;
Giles speared. Spike's hands cut.
Missing scenes;
Apocalypses; 5,
Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage: Dawn tied up
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 2

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 16
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1
Kills: Buffy kills at least one knight
Buffy: 95 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 4 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: 1 vamp and ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons
Buffybot; 1 vamp
Spike; 1 vamp and 1 demon

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 9
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce

Sunnydale deaths;
89;

Total number of scoobies: 7 from now on Spike an instrinsic part of the group
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara, Spike

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes?
Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vampwhore
Questions and observations;
Willow seems to have got over her fear of horses and now doesn't want Buffy to hurt them. Xander doesn't travel well. Anya knows this but you wonder how? I for one agree with Buffy's strategy, they can't fight Glory, Tara's already been hurt, time to get the hell out of dodge! The knights actually seem pretty good guys if they weren't trying to kill Dawn, all they want to do is stop Glory which seems a reasonable idea. But they should have taken Mr Trick's advice and got some Uzis. Of course Gregor is played by the same actor who murdered Tru's mother in Eliza Dushku's show Tru Calling (Riley's friend Forrest also guest starring as did Clare Kramer and Cobie Smulders, the girl who plays Robin on Alysson Hannigan's show How I Met Your Mother). Gregor actually plays the part of Basil Exposition pretty well, Glory knows him so he's survived an encounter with her before. The camper van with the windows blocked out reminds me of the excellent Kathryn Bigelow vampire film Near Dark. Poor Buffy, it really does just keep coming and coming. Why does Ben come to the Scoobs if he knows he's a threat to Dawn? Note both Summers girls have their darkside. Why don't they go to The Council or Angel Investigations for help?
Marks out of 10; 8/10 for the chase sequence alone

 

[WillsBabe]

I really enjoyed this episode. I thought it was quite tense and action-packed. Lots of nice little bits and pieces in it, too. I got a kick out of Buffy having Willow's power on side. I remember the first time this episode aired really thinking that Giles was a gonner.

 

[DS9Continuing]

The female minion fancies Ben. Shouldn't she fancy other 'hobbits with leprosy?'

This scene always jumps out at me. Not once ever before have we seen a female hobbit, and never do again after this scene. But for the one time one of them needs to say that Ben is just as hot as Her Magnificent Scrumptiousness, there just happens to be a female around to say it so that they can avoid looking gay (an odd complaint to be making about this series, but there you go). It just jumps out as incongruous. Either have one of the males you've had all season say the line, or have more females there all along.

Why don't they go to The Council or Angel Investigations for help?

I've often thought that part of the reason for Angel going off to Pylea for four episodes at the end of their season 2 was so that a) the seemingly irrelevant and fluffy storyline wouldn't overshadow the big stuff planned for the end of Buffy season 5, and b) so that the AI gang weren't around to help the Scoobs even if they should ask.

 

[I am not Spock]

Spiral was great. The last few eps of season five are like cinematic intensity and quality. It just got more and more epic.

 

[saturn5]

The female minion fancies Ben. Shouldn't she fancy other 'hobbits with leprosy?'

This scene always jumps out at me. Not once ever before have we seen a female hobbit, and never do again after this scene. But for the one time one of them needs to say that Ben is just as hot as Her Magnificent Scrumptiousness, there just happens to be a female around to say it so that they can avoid looking gay (an odd complaint to be making about this series, but there you go). It just jumps out as incongruous. Either have one of the males you've had all season say the line, or have more females there all along.

Why don't they go to The Council or Angel Investigations for help?

I've often thought that part of the reason for Angel going off to Pylea for four episodes at the end of their season 2 was so that a) the seemingly irrelevant and fluffy storyline wouldn't overshadow the big stuff planned for the end of Buffy season 5, and b) so that the AI gang weren't around to help the Scoobs even if they should ask.

Good points although I think the female minion does occur in this ep in the scene where they're packing up Glory's stuff?

　
THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD

The Good;
The dream sequence is wonderful, nice scene between Doc and Xander/Spike too. Love the forgetting Glory joke.

The Bad;
Very much a standing still sort of ep but hinting at better things to come. If Doc could tell that Joyce had good DNA from a hair off Dawn's head then surely he'd realise she was the Key? (Glory can tell it by tasting Tara's blood)

Best line;
Dawn "I want to go home" (AAAAWWWWWW!)

Women good/men bad;

Jeez!;
Dawn hostage is horrible. Buffy in her dream smothering Dawn is UTTERLY horrible! Killing Dawn is unthinkable.

Kinky dinky;
Spike says he thinks Buffy likes it rough. How right he will be proved to be!

Captain Subtext;
Again Glory seems to have some genuine rapport/attraction with her Key. Glory says that she and Dawn need 'Girl time' and 'big girl fun'.

Guantanamo Bay;

Scoobies to the ER;

Missing scenes;

Apocalypses; 5,

Wheldon Cliches (with kind permission from Boo)

Scoobies in bondage:
Buffy: 8
Giles: 4
Cordy: 5
Will: 3
Jenny: 1
Angel: 4
Oz: 1
Faith: 3
Joyce: 1
Wes: 1
Xander; 1
Dawn; 1

Scoobies knocked out:
Buffy: 16
Giles: 10
Cordy: 6
Xander: 8
Will: 5
Jenny: 2
Angel: 6
Oz: 3
Faith: 1
Joyce: 3
Wes: 1
Anya;1

Kills:
Buffy: 94 vamps, 32 demons, 6 monsters, 3 humans, 1 werewolf, 1 spirit warrior & a robot
Giles: 5 vamps, 1 demon
Cordy: 3 vamps, ½ a demon
Will: 6 vamps
Angel: 3 vamps, 1 demon, 1 human
Oz: 3 vamps, 1 zombie
Faith: 16 vamps, 5 demons, 3 humans
Xander: 5 vamps, 2 zombies, ½ a demon, ½ a demon
Anya: ½ a demon
Riley; 18 vamps + 7 demons

Scoobies go evil:
Giles: 1
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 1
Angel: 1
Oz: 1
Joyce: 1
Xander: 3

Alternate scoobies:
Buffy: 6
Giles: 3
Cordy: 1
Will: 2
Jenny: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 2
Joyce: 2
Xander: 3

Recurring characters killed: 10
Jesse, Flutie, Jenny, Kendra, Larry, Snyder, Professor Walsh, Forrest, McNamara, Joyce


Sunnydale deaths;
89;

Total number of scoobies: 6
Giles, Xander, Willow, Buffy, Anya, Tara,

Xander demon magnet: 5(6?)
Preying Mantis Lady, Inca Mummy Girl, Drusilla, VampWillow, Anya (arguably Buffy & Faith with their demon essences?), Dracula?

Scoobies shot:
Giles: 2
Angel: 3
Oz: 4
Riley; 1

Notches on Scooby bedpost:
Giles: 2; Joyce & Olivia, possibly Jenny and 3xDraccy babes? Cordy: 1?
Buffy: 3 confirmed; Angel, Parker,Riley, 1 possible, Dracula(?)
Angel: 1;Buffy
Joyce: 1;Giles, 2 possible, Ted and Dracula(?)
Oz: 3; Groupie, Willow & Verucca
Faith:2 ;Xander, Riley
Xander: 2; Faith, Anya
Willow: 2;Oz and Tara
Riley; 3; Buffy, Sandy and unnamed vampwhore

Questions and observations;
Different little Buffy this time and I think she's a much better match, if you've ever seen the burger ads she really does resemble 6 year old SMG. Lovely to see Joyce and Hank again, lovely to see the first meeting between Buffy and Dawn and what she means to Buffy. We see Glory try to bring her worldly goods with her to her home dimension, humanity working on demons once again. Willow in charge once more foretelling season 6. Glory actually uses Dawn's catchphrase 'Get out!'
So Ben, good guy, bad guy? Hard to judge but ultimately a bad guy with some sympathetic qualitities. Maybe in the end Ben is influenced by his Glory side to be evil?
Marks out of 10; 7/10

 

[Skellington]

The Body.

Okay, first things first. Happier times and references to tummy-rubbing and Santa disembowelling kids.

The way that the plate dropping at the end of the scene brings us back to reality is, for want of a better phrase, a nice touch.

The scene where Buffy imagines successfully reviving Joyce is very poignant. I like the bit where the medic tells her that Joyce is dead and we don't see much of his face as we have Buffy's POV and she's looking straight ahead. The long takes and the steadicam(?) approach add to the sense of immediacy and being there, as does the complete lack of inciodental music. Wasn't sure what programme I was watching when I first saw this. The silence where the incidental music should be gives the sense that the rug has been pulled from under Buffy's feet, and the viewers'.
The way in which Buffy relates the situation to Giles is very true-to-life, I think. She's in shock, a little incoherent in a way and lacks finesse, blurting out that they're "not supposed to move the body".

There's still some humour in the episode, of course, and its tone is bittersweet; pitched just right. Case in point:
"WILLOW: I'm afraid I'm gonna start to cry again.
ANYA: (softly) Xander cried at the apartment. It was weird."

I like where Anya exclaims a little too loudly that she wishes that Joyce hadn't died, as if by some chance saying the words would bring her back. Whatever her intention, it's Anya's way of making a nice gesture.

Tara's opening up to Buffy at the hospital is a surprise and rings true. It's a captivating scene that nevertheless feels natural, unhurried and perfectly paced.

The Body seems to jostle with Hush for pride of place as people's favourite Buffy episode. For my money this is better. Best episode of anything ever? A respectable candidate, I would say. Restless doesn't suck, either.

 

[Skellington]

INTERVENTION.

This is probably the best of the robot episodes, thanks to some astute writing ("Angel's lame. His hair grows straight up, and he's bloody stupid.") and SMG's perfectly-judged portrayal of the Buffybot.

Dialogue:
"BUFFY: Blame? There's blame now?
WILLOW: No, there's only love. And ... some fear.
ANYA: Which is kind of thrown by the you having sex with Spike.
BUFFY: The ... who whatting how with huh?
ANYA: Okay, that's denial. That usually comes before anger.
BUFFY: (angrily) I am not having sex with Spike!
ANYA: Anger.
XANDER: No one is judging you. It's understandable. Spike is strong and mysterious and sort of compact but well-muscled.
BUFFY: (firmly) I am not having sex with Spike! But I'm starting to think that you might be. "

Also liked the whole "Guyles" thing.
"BUFFY: Xander, you come with me. Willow, Anya, stick together, and Guyles ... Giles- (Giles looks annoyed) you can watch ... it."

Spike's calculated rant at Glory is also pretty good. Loved Clare Kramer's reaction.
SPIKE: Yeah, okay, sorry, but I just had no idea that gods were such prancing lightweights. (Glory scoffs in disbelief) Mark my words, the Slayer ... is going to kick your skanky, lopsided ass (Glory checks out her ass in dismay) back to whatever place would take a (sizing her up) cheap, whorish, fashion victim ex-god like you.

Glory's minions are likened to hobbits in this episode. I don't really see the resemblance; but then the LOTR movies hadn't been released yet.

Eight out of ten, I reckon. A funny and skilfully-done episode.

 

[Skellington]

　
THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD

The Good;
The dream sequence is wonderful, nice scene between Doc and Xander/Spike too. Love the forgetting Glory joke.

Now this is more like it. After a somewhat flawed episode in Spiral, the show is back on form with the excellent Glory vs Ben fight and of course the running gag about the memory spell. Notably, Spike refers to Willow as "Will".

WILLOW: I-I don't think a doctor's what Buffy needs right now.
SPIKE: Well, yeah, especially not one who also happens to be Glory. (Everyone looks confused)
GILES: What do you mean?
SPIKE: You know. Ben is Glory.
WILLOW: (frowns) You mean ... Ben's with Glory?
XANDER: "With" in what sense?
ANYA: They're working together?
SPIKE: No. No. Ben is Glory. Glory's Ben. They're one and the same.
Beat. Everyone looks completely confused (except Tara who still looks blank).
ANYA: When did all this happen?

SPIKE: Not one hour ago! Right here, before your very eyes! Ben came, he turned into Glory, snatched the kid, and pfft! Vanished, remember?
They continue to stare at him.
SPIKE: (uncertainly) You do remember...? (squints at them) Is everyone here very stoned?
They continue to look confused.
SPIKE: (getting annoyed) Ben! Glory! He's a doctor, she's the beast. Two entirely separate entities sharing one body. Like a bloody sitcom. Surely you remember.
XANDER: So you're saying ... Ben and Glory...
ANYA: Have a connection.
GILES: Yes, obviously, but what kind?
SPIKE: (laughs sarcastically) Oh, I get it. That's very crafty. (nods) Glory's worked the kind of mojo where anyone who sees her little presto-change-o instantly forgets. And yours truly, being somewhat other than human ... stands immune.
WILLOW: (frowning) So ... Ben and Glory ... are-are the same person?
XANDER: (slowly, like a revelation) Glory can turn into Ben, and Ben turns back into Glory.
ANYA: And anyone who sees it instantly forgets.
SPIKE: (sighs in relief) Kewpie doll for the lady.
He puts one finger on his nose and points the other hand at Anya.

GILES: Excellent. (looks around at them) Now. Do we suspect there may be some kind of connection between Ben and Glory?
Xander and Anya look enquiringly at Spike.
Spike sighs loudly.

Maybe in the end Ben is influenced by his Glory side to be evil?

That's the impression that I got; she thinks that his personality is influencing her, so maybe it cuts both ways.

 

[I am not Spock]

I think the final stretch of eps in season five matches the quality of the second half of seasons two and three. All three seasons (especially the second half) are just magnificent and riveting television.