This year, I have had the immense pleasure of bringing a Sunnydale Virgin deep into the depths of the Hellmouth (two more and I get a toaster!). My boyfriend and I have spent many a night watching the Buffy DVDs… me for the umpteenth time, he for the first. Just this last week, we finished the fifth season, which is easily my favorite of the seven.

After an awkward, transitional fourth season, Season Five finds the Scoobies settling into their adult lives. Though it’s mentioned in one of the featurettes, it’s painfully obvious that Season Five brings the series back to the beginning… as each of the members try to answer that age old question of who we really are… as they all learn the meaning of Family… and as Buffy explores the darker side of her powers.

And oh how our Scoobies have grown. Not only the core Scoobies grow up, but the numbers grow too. Last year, we saw teeny, tiny inklings of Willow's growing magical abilities. In this Season, those powers have grown immensely, which nicely sets up the events of Season Six… but I digress. Joss also brings Willow out of the closet. But not in an in-your-face, I’m looking for the shock value and ratings way. In a normal, this-is-life way. Xander: With a little help from his twin (literally, Nicholas Brendon’s twin, Kelly Donovan co-stars in one episode), Xander moves out of his parents' basement, lands a career, and falls in adult love with Anya. Giles, who has needed some greater purpose in life than being an ex-librarian, ex-Watcher, opens The Magic Box, Your One Stop Shop For All Your Occult Needs.

Added to the Scoobies are Anya, our ex-vengeance demon who proves time and time again that being human (new or old) is painful, as is loving Xander; Dawn, who comes to us as Buffy’s sister. Joss takes five whole episodes before even addressing the issue to the wondering fans!; Spike… yes that Spike. He’s still got the government chip in his brain, and he may not be doing the right thing because it’s the right thing, but he is slowly transforming into a hard core Scooby, whether or not they like it.

Season Five also has my favorite long-arc Big Bad: Glory, a goddess from one of the many Hell dimensions banished into our world. She needs something that Buffy is protecting in order to get back from whence she came… oh and that would also tear a whole in the walls between every dimension that exists incidentally.

In my humble opinion, Season five is the highest point of many high points to Buffy. Everything simply comes together… the acting, the writing, the stories, the… everything.


********** The Very Lengthy Episode Guide **********

5.1 ~ Buffy Vs. Dracula Original Airdate: September 26, 2000. Written By: Marti Noxon. Directed By: David Solomon. 8 - 10.

Is he a Rockstar? Is he a Wanna-Be? Nope… it’s the real thing. Dracula comes to Sunnydale to meet the Slayer.

5.2 ~ Real Me OA: October 3, 2000. W: David Fury. D: David Grossman. 8 - 10.
Harmony: So, Slayer. At last we meet.
Buffy: We've met, Harmony, you half-wit.

Harmony’s back and this time she’s rounded up some minions. (One of her minions happens to be played by Tom Lenk… those who are familiar with Seasons six and seven will recognize the name). We see Buffy and Dawn acting like normal siblings, annoying each other and constantly fighting. This episode is told through Dawn’s diary entries, and at this point, no one knows who in the heck this kid sister really is or where she came from.

5.3 ~ The Replacement OA: October 10, 2000. W: Jane Espenson. D: James A. Contner. 8.5 - 10.
Anya: Well, maybe we shouldn't do this reintegration thing right away. See, I can take the boys home and we can all have sex together, and then, you know, just just slap 'em together in the morning.
Confident Xander: She's joking.
Lame Xander: No, she's not! She entirely wants to have sex with us together, which is... wrong, and – and it would be very confusing.
Giles: We just need to arrange the candles. Also, we should continue to pretend we heard none of the disturbing sex talk.
Willow: Check. Candles and pretence.

After being hit by a bolt of something from a Toth demon, Xander wakes up to find there’s another Xander… and he’s everything Xander isn’t. Confident, successful, suave… (Note from Stef: This is a really fun episode to watch if you know that it isn’t a trick of the camera, one of the Xander’s is actually Kelly Donovan, Nicholas Brendon’s twin brother)

5.4 ~ Out of My Mind OA: October 17, 2000. W: Rebecca Rand Kirshner. D: David Grossman. 7 - 10.

Joyce ends up in the hospital after collapsing, and Dawn discovers that Riley’s heart is beating about four times the normal rate. After refusing to let the government help him, Buffy goes to Spike to help find him and get him to the doctor. He, of course, tries to coerce the doctor into removing the chip.

5.5 ~ No Place Like Home OA: October 24, 2000. W: Douglas Petrie. D: David Solomon. 8.5 - 10.
Anya: (to a customer who just finished her purchase) Please go.
Xander: Anya, the Shopkeepers of America Union just called. They wanted me to tell you that "Please go" just got replaced with "Have a nice day."
Anya: But I have their money. Who cares what kind of day they have?
Xander: No one. It's just a long cultural tradition of raging insincerity. Embrace.

Buffy decides that her mother’s illness must be supernatural and attempts to do a spell that will reveal the source. In doing the spell, she sees that Dawn isn’t exactly what she seems to be.

5.6 ~ Family OA: November 7, 2000. W&D: Joss Whedon. 8 - 10.

Tara’s father, brother and cousin arrive to take her home, threatening to tell her friends that she’s part demon. Tara learns the true meaning of “Family”.

5.7 ~ Fool For Love (Crossover with Angel 2.7 ~ Darla) OA: November 14, 2000. W: Douglas Petrie. D: Nick Marck. 10 - 10.
Spike: Death is your art. You make it with your hands day after day. That final gasp, that look of peace. And part of you is desperate to know: What's it like? Where does it lead you? And now you see, that's the secret. Not the punch you didn't throw or the kicks you didn't land. She really wanted it. Every Slayer has a death wish. Even you.

After being hurt by a run-of-the-mill Vampire, Buffy pays Spike to tell her how he got the best of the two Slayers he killed in a very good episode, made incredible when paired with the Angel episode. We see Angel, Spike, Darla and Druscilla from the beginning of their group, to the point when Angel gets cursed with his soul. We also learn that William the Bloody is called so, because he was such a “Bloody awful poet”.

5.8 ~ Shadow OA: November 21, 2000. W: David Fury. D: Daniel Attias. Rating: 7 - 10.
Xander: Am I right, Giles?
Giles: I'm almost certain you're not, but to be fair, I wasn't listening.

Buffy is worried about her mother (the doctor’s have found a “shadow” on her brain) and Glory continues her search for the key.

5.9 ~ Listening To Fear OA: November 28, 2000. W: Rebecca Rand Kirshner. D: David Solomon. 8 - 10.

A… something from outer-space arrives in Sunnydale to purge the town of it’s rapidly growing population of crazy people. Riley is called to help, and Riley calls his old government buddies.

5.10 ~ Into The Woods OA: December 19, 2000. W&D: Marti Noxon. Rating: 9 - 10.
Spike: Sometimes I envy you so much it chokes me. And sometimes I think I got the better deal. To be that close to her and not have her. To be all alone even when you're holding her. Feeling her, feeling her beneath you. Surrounding you. The scent... No, you got the better deal.

Riley’s been flirting with the dark side, in an attempt to feel closer to Buffy, but all it does is drive them further apart. He’s been offered a chance to return to the military and tells Buffy that unless she gives him a reason to stay, he’s going to leave.

5.11 ~ Triangle OA: January 9, 2001. W: Jane Espenson. D: Christopher Hibler. Rating: 7.5 - 10.

While fighting over anything and everything, Anya and Willow learn that the source of their differences is the fear that the other is going to hurt Xander… oh, and they conjure a troll god that Anya used to date before she was a demon.

5.12 ~ Checkpoint OA: January 23, 2001. W: Douglas Petrie And Jane Espenson. D: Nick Marck. Rating: 8.5 - 10.
Nigel: Well, I need to know a little bit more about the Slayer. And about both of you. Your relationship, whatever you can tell me.
Tara: O-ou-our relationship?
Willow: We're friends.
Tara: Good friends.
Willow: Girlfriends, actually.
Tara: Yes, we're girlfriends.
Willow: We're in love. We're... lovers. Lesbian, gay-type lovers. (She puts her hand on Tara's leg.)
Nigel: I meant your relationship with the Slayer.
Willow: Oh.

The Watchers’ Council comes to town to observe things and see if Buffy is worthy of the information they have on Glory. Eventually, Buffy realizes that she doesn’t need them, but rather the other way around.

5.13 ~ Blood Ties OA: February 6, 2001. W: Steven S. Deknight. D: Michael Gershman. 9 - 10.

Dawn, with the help of Spike, learns her true identity and has a minor meltdown. Once again, Buffy teaches the true meaning of “Family”.

5.14 ~ Crush OA: February 13, 2001. W: David Fury. D: Daniel Attias. 8 - 10.
Spike: You can't tell me that there isn't anything there between you and me. I know you feel something.
Buffy: It's called revulsion. And whatever you think you're feeling, it's not love. You can't love without a soul.
Drusilla: Oh, we can you know. We can love quite well... if not wisely.

Spike decides to prove his love for Buffy (while she’s tied up) by killing the only other thing in his life he’s ever truly loved… Druscilla.

5.15 ~ I Was Made To Love You OA: February 20, 2001. W: Jane Espenson. D: James A. Contner. 8 - 10.
Xander: She's a sexbot. I mean, what guy doesn't dream about that? (wistfully) Beautiful girl with ... no other thought but to please you ... willing to do anything...
(The four girls are staring at him)
Xander: Too many girls. I miss Oz. He'd get it. He wouldn't say anything, but... he'd get it.

Another robot episode (memories of Ted… ahhhh). Only this isn’t your R2D2 robot. Warren (yes… that Warren from Season Six) creates the perfect girlfriend, who comes when called, knows not the meaning of “too kinky”, and spouts such sayings as “Good girlfriends don’t cry. It’s bribery.” But April goes a little crazy when Warren decides perfection isn’t so perfect after all.

5.16 ~ The Body OA: February 27, 2001. W&D: Joss Whedon. Rating: 10 - 10.

This episode is depressing as hell, but it is phenomenal. With no background music whatsoever, we see how death affects each of the group. Anya, who was recently immortal, is faced with mortality and gives a great speech about what she doesn’t understand about it.

5.17 ~ Forever OA: April 17, 2001. W&D: Marti Noxon. 8.5 - 10.
Angel: I can stay in town as long as you want me.
Buffy: How's forever? Does forever work for you?

Angel shows up after the funeral (no, I won’t tell you who died, just in case you don’t know) to comfort Buffy. Dawn tries a resurrection spell with a little help from Spike. Another good, but depressing, episode.

5.18 ~ Intervention OA: April 24, 2001. W: Jane Espenson. D: Michael Gershman. 9 - 10.
Buffybot: Angel's lame. His hair grows straight up, and he's bloody stupid.

Buffy and Giles go on a quest in the desert so Buffy can get a better feeling for where her powers come from. She is told that Death is her gift. Meanwhile, Spike’s new toy, heretofore known as the Buffybot, is loose and confusing the Scoobies by grinding Spike in the cemetery.

5.19 ~ Tough Love OA: May 1, 2001. W: Rebecca Rand Kirshner. D: David Grossman. 8 - 10.

Glory makes yet another false guess at who the key is (Spike in the last episode, Tara in this one), and Willow’s growing powers comes out, as she tries to hurt Glory, but is no match yet.

5.20 ~ Spiral OA: May 8, 2001. W: Steven S. Deknight. D: James A. Contner. 8 - 10.
Dawn: What do I do? What was I created for?
Gregor: You were created ... to open the gates that separate dimensions. The beast will use your power ... to return home and seize control of the hell she was banished from.
Buffy: (laughs) That's it? That's Glory's master plan ... to go home?

When she realizes that she can’t protect Dawn against Glory, Buffy takes the gang and flees with Spike driving an old RV. Unfortunately, the Byzantine knights follow her and would Giles. Ben is called in to help.

5.21 ~ The Weight Of The World OA: May 15, 2001. W: Douglas Petrie. D: David Solomon. 7.5 - 10.

Willow tries to reach a catatonic Buffy, while the rest of the gang try to figure out where Glory is going to perform the ritual that will kill Dawn and unleash Hell on Earth.

5.22 ~ The Gift OA: May 22, 2001. W&D: Joss Whedon. 10 - 10.
Buffy: Dawn, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will *always* love you. But this is the work that I have to do. Tell Giles ... tell Giles I figured it out. And, and I'm okay. And give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now. You have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn, the hardest thing in this world ... is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me..

In the Season Finale (and the Series Finale, as far as the WB was concerned), Buffy shows just how much she is willing to sacrifice for Family.


********** DVD Extras **********

~ Commentary by Writer David Fury and Director David Grossman on Real Me
~ Commentary by Writer Doug Petrie on Fool for Love
~ Commentary by Writer Jane Espenson on I Was Made to Love You
~ Commentary by Writer/Director Joss Whedon on The Body
~ "Season Five Overview" Featurette (Note from Stef: This Featurette is Awesome!)
~ "Buffy Abroad" Featurette
~ "Demonology: A Slayer's Guide" Featurette
~ "Casting Buffy" Featurette
~ "Action Heroes! The Stunts of Buffy" Featurette
~ "Natural Causes" Featurette
~ "Spotlight on Dawn" Featurette
~ Outtakes (Note from Stef: Hilarious as expected!)
~ Scripts for The Replacement, Fool for Love, Into the Woods, and Checkpoint
~ Still Gallery
~ "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds" Video Game Trailer
~ "Buffy Demon Guide" DVD-ROM Content


********** Cast and Characters **********

in the opening credits…
Sarah Michelle Gellar… Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon… Xander Harris
Alyson Hannigan…Willow Rosenberg
Marc Blucas… Riley Finn (Through 5.10)
Emma Caulfield… Anya
James Marsters… Spike
Anthony Stewart Head… Rupert Giles
Michelle Trachtenberg… Dawn Summers (From 5.2)

recurring characters, never to be added to opening credits…
Clare Kramer… Glorificus/Glory
Charlie Weber… Ben
Mercedes Mcnab… Harmony
Kristine Sutherland… Joyce Summers

recurring character, later to be added to opening credits…
Amber Benson… Tara


********** Miscellaneous Notes and Trivia **********

~ Proof of Joss’s sick and twisted sense of humor… In Seasons One through Four, any characters who made the credits as “So and So as Character’s Name” eventually died. This season two cast members, Amber Benson and Kristine Sutherland, are now credited as 'Amber Benson as Tara' and 'and Kristine Sutherland as Joyce Summers' in the guest credits. Is that too much of a spoiler?

~ The mad man in 1.2 calls Dawn "Curds and whey" (from Little Miss Muffet). In 'Graduation Day, Part 2', Faith said to Buffy, "Little Miss Muffet counting down from 7-3-0". In one of the featurettes, Doug Petrie said he threw the Curds and whey comment in to bring back Faith’s Dawn reference. Email me if you don’t know what the 7-3-0 comment refers to… even I can’t give that big of a spoiler.

~ Nicholas Brendon (Schulz) and Kelly Donovan (Schulz) are twin brothers. Kelly played Xander’s double in 5.3, and helped out by filling in for Nicholas in 5.17 when Nicholas got sick and ended up in the hospital. Kelly also said that he once died his hair blonde to escape from Nicholas’s teeny bopper fans who didn’t believe him when he denied being Nicholas.

~ If you look very hard (and pause the DVD during episode 5.4), you’ll see that the jars behind the counter on the Magic Box contain ingredients named after the cast and crew. There's Tony's Heads, Charisma Charms and Boreanaz Beads.

~ In Fool for Love, we learn that Spike got his trademark leather coat from one Slayer and the scar on his eyebrow from another. In reality, James Marsters got the scar from a New York mugging, and the jacket is one of many from the costumer (who bought a few and immediately commenced to running them over with a truck to break them in).

~ Britney Spears was originally offered the role of robot April. She eventually had to back out of the role. (Rumor has it that Sarah Michelle Gellar had something to do with this).

~ *****Spoiler: Buffy’s gravestone reads: Buffy Anne Summers/Beloved Sister/Devoted Friend/She saved the World/A lot



********** Related Reviews **********

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 1 DVD

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 2 DVD

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 3 DVD

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 4 DVD

Angel, Season 1 DVD



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older