It seems that in many old-school video games, Level 5 was a popular level in which to put the snow and the ice. One might say that Buffy follows a similar pattern.

Season Five is almost indisputably the darkest Season of the bunch, with Season Six following closely behind. The strangest thing to me about Five that in spite of how slow-moving it is, it always just kind of "flies by". Beginning with a lighthearted tone, it slowly moves into murky territory as the theme of death closes in like the garbage mashers on the detention level.

I find myself constantly saying that after so-and-so point in the show, "Buffy will never be the same." And we certainly don't mean that in a bad way. That's what makes this show so damn good to watch, 'cause of how true-to-life it can feel. But still, during and after several of the Episodes, you always get that feeling "it will never be the same". How many times have I said that about my own life?

It is here that we are introduced to Buffy's sister, Dawn Summers, who by the look of things is probably the most controversial character in the entire series. The thing most shocking about it is that up until this point, as far as anybody knew, Buffy didn't have a sister. Now all of a sudden, she does. Dawn takes a lot of flak for reasons that (as stupid as this sounds) are not entirely the character's "fault", nor the fault of her portrayer, Michelle Trachtenberg. Okay, she swings toward the "bratty" side, talks through her teeth when she's really mad, and certain discoveries about her world and about herself only amplify the angst. As of the first several Episodes, her age was undecided by the writers themselves, but was assumed to be in the 12-13 range. Later, it was decided she would be 14. This may or may not have caused a bit of inconsistency to those watching closely enough. 'Cause it would be no surprise that they were watching Dawn pretty darn closely, scouring for a clue as to why she was so suddenly there. Dawn's manner of coming to exist is a complicated story that I'd best leave you to see for yourself. (I know, no sh!t right?) But teen angst redux or not, it can be a difficult pill to swallow either way.

To make a family-oriented Season even more family-oriented, Joyce Summers moves back to the forefront as an integral character. She is the true source of this Season's most emotionally resonant arc, again better left unsaid how that goes.

Spike is left to carry the majority of Season Four's "baggage", seeing as how he's still got that damn chip in his head. He wants so terribly to be back to his old, evil self. Riley still struggles to keep up, and brings a little baggage of his own. He develops a rather disgusting addiction midway, but no matter how much you hate (or merely want to hate) him at that point, it is still a breathtakingly sad moment when he departs and... never looks back.

Willow's magical ability comes to be something we (and she) take for granted, and she gets to engage in a killer battle toward the end of the Season. This is also the Season where I really started to take a serious liking to Anya. Emma Caulfield looks absolutely GORGEOUS in this Season, and she has a few touching moments of her own when you least expect it.

So what about a hang-out, you ask? First we had Sunnydale High's library. Season Four was somewhat lacking in the "hangout" department; usually our gang just met up any old where in the college, or at the Initiative. I was really concerned about this, silly as it may sound. The "hangout" is like the chewing gum that keeps this show together -- it is "the" place to go for all the characters when things get rough and they need to sort it out. Joss Whedon has pulled through nicely in this department by introducing The Magic Box, a magic shop restored and taken over by Giles. This makes a nice "reason" to keep the old bugger around, and gives him something to do in lieu of his nearly defunct Watcher obligations.

Then of course, we have the archvillain, Glory. With a wide face and blonde hair of a million curls, Glory intimidates like no other villain has to this point. I found that while watching the Seasons in order, Glory was the first villain that actually struck me as having a good chance against Buffy. This was the first time I really felt a true sense of worry for our team, physically. Emotional problems, yeah those have always been around, but Glory, wow. Hot temper, fancy housing, and turning people insane with a few fingers to the brain, she works some serious mojo all across the board. There are some things about her toward the end that are a bit off the deep end, that result in some real freakish scenes, and I'm not entirely sure that's the way I would have gone with her.

Season Five doesn't really have that "one" Episode that completely knocks you off your feet, and it does kick off with three Episodes of mostly filler (or you could call it foreplay), but there are a lot of very well done Episodes overall -- a lot of 7/10's (very good) and 9 or 9.5's (holy whoa!). One of the more remarkable things about this Season is how the Episodes end; there are a lot of cliffhangers or "Great, there goes another hour of sleep" endings here. It seems that Joss and the gang have gotten pretty creative in that department...

Episode 1: Buffy vs. Dracula (7/10)
The funny thing about this Episode is that you think "What the heck, Dracula doesn't exist!" Heh. This is an odd way to start, but the beachy introduction is classic, and Xander shoving spiders into his mouth is a sight. Maybe Joss was just giving us a little Gotcha! to start things off, knowing people were going to instantly assume Dracula was Season Five's archvillain.
Best Quote:
Willow: "Now that I know there's something to know, I can't not know, just because I'm afraid somebody will know I know. You know?"

Episode 2: Real Me (6/10)
I'm pretty sure I already mentioned that Harmony bores me to tears, so that would be why the low rating. Redeeming this Episode is Dawn's introduction via her diary, giving a little recap on what's up with all the characters as well as what she thinks of each one.
Best Quote:
Dawn: "She still thinks I'm little Miss Nobody. Just her dumb little sister. Boy, is she in for a surprise."

Episode 3: The Replacement (9/10)
I can't help it, I love Xander. And this may just be my favorite of "his" Episodes. Here, he gets shot by a demon and to be as blunt as possible, gets split into two Xanders. Kelly Donovan, the actual twin brother of Nicholas Brendon, hops on to play his other self. Of course, the "fake" one is with the gang, and he is suddenly adept at everything he does. But maybe that's not the fake one? Is there a fake one? Aw, I can't ruin the fun.
Best Quote:
Xander: "It's me, Xander. And I can prove it."
Willow: "Oh. Okay."
Xander: "On my seventh birthday, I wanted a toy fire truck, and I didn't get it, and you were real nice about it, and then the house next door burned down, and then real fire trucks came, and for years I thought you set the fire for me. And if you did, you can tell me."

Episode 4: Out Of My Mind (7/10)
Half of this Episode is starting to "set up" the remainder of the Season, while the other half is a mini-Riley-story to tide us over. Seems those military drugs are still doing a number on his heart, to the point he might need an operation. It's a little tough to buy, considering that if Dawn hadn't just so happened to notice, he would have just suddenly collapsed and died in like the next two days. Spike takes this opportunity to go after the doctor himself and try to get the chip removed.
Best Quote:
Harmony: "Wow, Spikey, how does it feel?"
Spike: "Like someone's cutting into my brain with a knife, you silly bint."

Episode 5: No Place Like Home (8/10)
Season Five's story as a whole kicks into gear right about here, where Buffy gets her first shot against Glory and all her sick powers. The truth about Dawn comes out here...
Best Quote:
Buffy: "Don't take this the wrong way, but... (punches Spike in the nose) ...what are you doing here? Five words or less."
Spike: "Out... For... A... Walk....
........Bitch."

Episode 6: Family (7/10)
Tara finally gets to be the center of attention in this Episode. Her family comes to visit for her 20th birthday, and problems arise almost immediately. The Gang too have troubles with figuring out what to get her for her birthday. Theories floated around to this point that Tara might be a demon, and this Episode is mostly to quell the questions about that.
Best Quote:
Xander: "What, are we gonna get her some cheesy crystal ball?"
Giles: "You bloody well better not. I've got mine already wrapped."

Episode 7: Fool For Love (9.5/10)
Buffy has a slight slip-up in a fight against a vampire that leaves her stake embedded in her stomach. Owie! Now she's thinking it would be a good idea to find out what mistakes Slayers made in the past, so she won't do the same. And seeing as how Spike has killed two of them, who better to pump for information? Not only does this give Buffy and Spike some great "hangout" time, but the way it jumps from past to present as Spike tells his story, it's brilliant.
Best Quote:
Spike: "Lesson the second: Ask the right questions. You want to know how I beat them? Question isn't how'd I win. The question is, why'd they lose?"

Episode 8: Shadow (8/10)
The drama will be real, but it won't save you any money on car insurance. This Episode gives us a lot of each character, as well as tossing in a little Snakey monster who almost manages to get back to Glory with the truth... but the real gripper of the Season is Joyce, and her first slice of the Season Five pie is served right here.
Best Quote:
Spike: "Face it, white bread, Buffy's got a type, and you're not it. She likes us dangerous, rough, occasionally bumpy in the forehead region. Not that she doesn't like you, but sorry, Charlie, you're just not dark enough."

Episode 9: Listening To Fear (5/10)
Not one of Season Five's finer moments. The monster-of-the-week, Queller Demons, have come down from space to eat insane people. See the thing is that these insane people are the only ones who know The Key when they see it, Glory is trying to find The Key, and Glory is the one who's making them insane when she steals their sanity as a way of keeping herself "going". The best scene in this Episode is when Buffy is washing the dishes. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Best Quote:
Riley: "That might be toxic. Don't touch it."
Xander: "Oh, yeah, touching it was my first impulse. Luckily, I've moved on to my second, which involves dry-heaving and running like hell."

Episode 10: Into The Woods (8/10)
Sometimes, having a stalker in your life can be a good thing. Say WHAT!? Leave it to Joss to make an Episode that basically defends that statement. Spike is lingering around outside Buffy's house when he happens to see Riley leave in the middle of the night, so Spike follows him. Turns out Riley is getting "sucked off" in the most demented way with some girly vampires. Anyway, Spike goes back, gets Buffy and takes her to the scene. Chaos ensues between Buffy and Riley, until he reveals to her that he was invited on a military operation on the other side of the world. Should I stay or should I go, that is the question. Buffy has pretty much sworn him off, but Xander talks her out of it. I'm not entirely sold on Xander's speech 'cause I think it's fairly obvious Buffy was in the right. But giving out that speech does open Xander's eyes as to how much he loves Anya, so it all ends in a most reckless and bittersweet way.
Best Quote:
Buffy: "I thought he was dependable."
Xander: "Dependable? What is he, State Farm?"

Episode 11: Triangle (7.5/10)
Pretty comedic for an Episode that rounds out the first half of the Season. Anya and Willow are constantly bickering. Anya's ex-boyfriend, a huge troll called "Olaf", gets brought into this reality as a result of one of Willow's spells that was supposed to make artificial sunshine. Xander gets one of his biggest fight scenes of all time, and in the process takes a huge beating. I love how Buffy reacts when Olaf says that Anya and Xander won't last; it's over-the-top and hilarious.
Best Quote:
Tara: "Willow says that things always happen for a reason."
Buffy: "Yeah, but you ever notice people only say that about bad things?"

Episode 12: Checkpoint (8/10)
The Council returns to test Buffy, and with their clout they could easily make it a living Hell for the gang if they don't get their way! Some scenes feel a bit extraneous, such as Buffy's professor deriding her, the thing between Glory's minions and Ben the doctor, the Knights of Byzantium (oh boy!), or Spike unsuccessfully seeking gratification from her for staking a vampire. But I guess this would be a good time to mention that it's oodles of fun watching Spike slay vampires; the guy makes a total dance out of it. On the chipper side, the "interview" scenes between the Council and Buffy's friends are funny and well-written, and the scene in which Glory makes an appearance at Buffy's house is just stomach-lurching awesome.
Best Quote:
Watcher: "This statue... its removal from Burma is a criminal offense, and when triggered, it has the power to melt human eyeballs."
Giles: "In that case, I severely underpriced it."

Episode 13: Blood Ties (6/10)
Dawn is about to discover the truth about her existence, and that's pretty much all that happens here. Still, I find it interesting that earlier in the Season, Dawn wrote in her journal something about how "She thinks I'm just her sister, boy is she in for a surprise." But when the truth comes out, it's really Dawn herself who is in for a surprise! All the time we spend wishing we were something more than what we are, and yet if it were to really happen, who knows if we could take the reality? Very real and very discomforting, this one. This Episode will test where you draw your own line, at what point does someone's angst become too annoying to be "understandable" anymore?
Best Quote:
Buffy: "I just didn't want to put you in that kind of danger."
Xander: "As opposed to the other kind we're always in?"

Episode 14: Crush (8/10)
Spike has some serious trouble with the ladies. He tries to confess his feelings to Buffy, but she is quick to reject him. This is one of the few Episodes in which I find myself laughing at Harmony; Spike makes her dress up as Buffy and pretend that she's coming to get him. I love it! As if things couldn't possibly get any worse, Drusilla makes a comeback and takes Spike out to try and teach him to be evil again. James Marsters turns in another fandamntabulous performance, and the last segment with him and the three ladies (Buffy, Harmony, Drusilla) in his crypt is quite memorable.
Best Quote:
Spike: "Poor Spike's become a cautionary tale for vampires, right? You better be good, kiddies, or else they might wire you up some day!"

Episode 15: I Was Made To Love You (9/10)
Oh, God. Here we go with the robots. And don't think you've seen the last of 'em either! There is this girl walking around town, April, and she's looking for her boyfriend Warren. Turns out Warren built April to be his girlfriend, but she's really a robot, and a pretty powerful one at that. Now, Warren's avoiding April 'cause he found a real girlfriend. I love seeing Joyce finally get to go on a good date; meanwhile, Buffy is on a slight dating arrangement with Ben the doctor. The last scene between Buffy and the robot April is smart, and as you can imagine, it ain't long before Spike decides he wants his own robot made. No need to guess who he wants the robot to look like!
Best Quote:
Buffy: Can you cry? Sometimes I feel better when I cry. But... there might be rust issues."
April: "Crying is blackmail. Good girlfriends don't cry."
Buffy: "Oh."

Episode 16: The Body (9.5/10)
No doubt, this is the standout Episode of the Season. Tragedy has just reared its ugly head, as it has been threatening to do for the entire Season. In some ways, this Episode feels like Hush with the way it lets the deafening silence of life just work its magic. Even if you're just watching Buffy walk around the house in a haze of disbelief, you're right there with her. Joss gets all film noir on us, using some strange angles (one in which a character talks but the camera is pointing at his chest) and the absence of music, amplifying the disoriented feelings. Even still, it doesn't mean he can't turn around and sucker-punch us a little bit too, as with the cut to Dawn in the bathroom at the school, where you instantly assume... never mind. You have no idea what I'm talking about, right? I've just gotta keep the spoiler off my lips. Willow and Anya have a shaky start; their usual attitudes and antics don't fit well, but they adjust. There's only one thing keeping this one from being a 10/10'er, and it's the vampire at the end -- totally unnecessary. There were plenty of other ways to take us to that same ending.
Best Quote:
Joyce: "You are a demon child."
Buffy: "I live to torment you. Is that so wrong?"
Joyce: "A daughter's duty, I suppose."

Episode 17: Forever (6.5/10)
Emotions are running at an all-time high. Angel makes a brief appearance in this Episode, which is always a treat. Meanwhile, Dawn is all over Willow and Tara about helping her to do a spell... to change things. Ben, on the other hand, is about to make the biggest mistake by accidentally revealing too much about the Key.
Best Quote:
Willow: "You had two eggs, sunny-side-up. I remember because they were wiggling at me like little boobs."

Episode 18: Intervention (8.5/10)
Buffy is worried that in all of this slaying, she has hardened up and lost her ability to love, so she and Giles take a trip off to the desert where Buffy can commune with the spirit of the First Slayer. Awesome scenery, quite unusual for a Buffy Episode! Meanwhile, back at Sunny D, Spike is getting it on with his new girl toy, the "Buffybot" as they call it. Buffybot goes out for some vampire slaying, but runs into Xander and Anya. Spike shows up just in time to "save the day", but Xander and Anya stick around long enough to see Spike and Buffybot makin' whoopee right out there in the graveyard. Of course they think it's the real Buffy! To make matters worse, Spike gets captured by Glory's minions, who think he is The Key. She tries to torture him for information, but he won't tell her a thing. Finally, the gang arrives to get him out of there before he does; they figure he has already anyway. The last scene in the Episode is outstanding.
Best Quote:
Buffybot: "Spike, I can't help myself! I love you!"
Spike: "You're mine, Buffy."
Buffybot: "Should I start this program over again?"

Episode 19: Tough Love (8/10)
Dawn's grades are declining, and Buffy's got to do something about it. Tara is worried about Willow's incredible magical powers, as well as the possibility that her "gayness" is only a temporary fix, and they get into an argument. Tara goes out by herself, only to run into Glory and get her hand broken, and her sanity stolen all at once. Willow comes running, but she is too late. In anger, she gathers her most powerful magic spells and heads to Glory's place for a showdown. This is where we finally get to see what Willow is really capable of, and somehow, "Whoa" doesn't quite say it. Another cliffhanger ending while we're at it!
Best Quote:
Spike: "So you're saying that a powerful and mightily p!ssed-off witch was planning on going and spilling herself a few pints of god-blood until you, what... explained?"
Buffy: "What, you think she..? No, I told Willow it would be suicide."
Spike: "I'd do it. Right person, person I loved... I'd do it."

Episode 20: Spiral (9.5/10)
Ohhh, we get a three-Episode showdown 'eh? Whoo-hoo! This is some of the greatest Buffy action there is. Now that Glory knows what she knows, it forces the gang to leave town. Spike donates a sun-protected RV to the cause, and it's road-trip time! Something about scenes inside of motor-home vehicles that really bring things out in people. Well, the Knights of Byzantium are back, and with 20 or so of them on horses they attempt to subjugate the RV. Next thing you know, the gang are trapped in a run-down building in the middle of nowhere, with only Willow's 12-hour barrier spell stopping the knights from charging on in. What do we do now?
Best Quote:
Dawn: "At least things can't get any crazier, right?"
(Arrow thunks in, through the wall)
Buffy: "You know this is your fault for saying that."

Episode 21: Weight Of The World (8/10)
At the end of the previous Episode, things went completely to hell, leaving Buffy in a catatonic state. Willow must get inside of Buffy's mind, get Buffy out of the loop she's hiding in. We get a touching look at Buffy's childhood here, as well as a bit of Restless-esque (try saying that word 3 times) mind trickery. Ben and Glory battle for control of "their" body while Dawn repeatedly attempts to get away from Ms. Me & Myself over there. Dawn gets thrown around a lot in this Episode, I kinda feel sorry for her :'(
Best Quote:
Glory: "Funny. 'Cuz I look around at this world you're so eager to be a part of, and all I see is six billion lunatics looking for the fastest train out. Who's not crazy? Look around: everyone's drinking, smoking, shooting up... shooting each other... or just plain screwing their brains out 'cause they don't want 'em anymore. I'm crazy? Honey, I'm the original one-eyed chicklet in the Kingdom of the Blind. 'Cuz at least I admit the world makes me nuts."

Episode 22: The Gift (9/10)
And at last, we have the ultimate duel, Buffy vs. Glory. What a long strange road it's been. This battle also has one of the coolest camera shots of Buffy there ever was; apparently somebody agrees with me since that shot is used in the opening credits for Season Six. Toss in some slapstick humor (Spike getting hit in the head with a BRICK and barely flinching.. HAHA!!!) and Willow/Tara doing a hand-holding spell a la Hush, and it's all so purely spectacular. At this point, no matter how things go down, you're almost certain someone is going to die. And right you are, but you'll just have to see for yourself who it is.
Best Quote:
Ben: "I wish there were another way."
Dawn: "And I wish you'd fall on your head and drown in your own barf. So I guess we're both disappointed."

Season Five: 172/220 = 78.18%
Season Four: 157/220 = 71.36%
Season Three: 169/220 = 76.82%
Season Two: 166/220 = 75.45%
Season One: 77/120 = 64.17%

Season 7
Season 6

Damn, those scores are close...

Cast Listing
Sarah Michelle Gellar - Buffy Summers
Kristine Sutherland - Joyce Summers
Anthony Stewart Head - Rupert Giles
James Marsters - Spike
Alyson Hannigan - Willow Rosenberg
Nicholas Brendon - Xander Harris
Amber Benson - Tara Maclay
Emma Caulfield - Anya
Michelle Trachtenberg - Dawn Summers
Marc Blucas - Riley Finn
Mercedes McNab - Harmony
Charlie Weber - Ben
Clare Kramer - Glory
Kelly Donovan - Double Xander
David Boreanaz - Angel
Ming Liu - Chinese Slayer
April Wheedon-Washington - Subway Slayer
Harris Yulin - Quentin Travers
Kevin Weisman - Dreg
Troy T. Blendell - Jinx
Todd Duffey - Murk
Shonda Farr - April

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
~ "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
~ 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

Season Five is the first Season to dare the most dastardly dare of all -- the unhappy ending. It's not as difficult to bear if you have Season Six sitting right there in your hands, but if I had been watching this on TV back when it first aired in 2000-2001, I'm pretty sure it would've stuck with me for a few weeks.

As it is, though, Season Five is a masterpiece in just about every way that a television show or a movie could be. It is some of the finest storytelling imaginable. If you're not crying yourself to sleep at night, you're stuck not sleeping at all, staring at the ceiling, just hoping nothing appears up there!


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD