Rating: 
Summary: Buffy season 5
Review: After the mess with the Inititive last year, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" gets back to basics. At first, I have to admit, I thought that this season was going to be way too silly (the Dracula episode didn't help), but it quickly gains momentum as Buffy finds herself the a new older sister, to a fully grown 14 year old girl! It turns out that Buffy's new sister, Dawn (Michelle Trenchenberg) is actually 'The Key', mystical energy turned human by some monks. They are trying to hide her from the latest big bad, an evil goddess named Glorificus, or Glory for short. Glory (Clair Kramer) is not an especially scary villian, but she is psychotic with nearly unlimited strength and power. Oh, and she has impecible taste in clothes. The Scobbie Gang's dynamics are always changing. Oz was replaced last year by Tera (Amber Benson). A lot of people hated her, I liked her; she is sweet, caring and intellegent. Comparing her to Seth Green's werewolf Oz is completly unfair. Riely Finn (Marc Blucas) dose a good job as a confused and useless soldier. In the end, he leaves and rejoins the military. He is replaced, temporarily, by Ben, a nursing resident at Sunnydale Memorial with a huge secret. The biggest suprise this season (well, the second biggest) is the death of Buffy's mother, Joyce, from cancer. Suddenly, fighting the big bad dosn't seem as important. Newly human Anya (Emma Caulfield) dose pretty good in her one note character. Spike (James Marsters) is ever conflicted as he discovers he's in love with the Slayer. The core of the group is also not immune to change. Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) is beginning to feel useless, but is finally reinstated into the Watcher's Councel. Xander (Nicholas Brendon) is still enjoying the joys of love and sex with Anya, but he is also well on his way to becomeing a responsable adult. Willow (Alyson Hannigan) is really the only one who dosn't change too much this year. She becomes more adept at handling magick, but really nothing new since last year. And at last we have the Slayer herself, Buffy (Sarah Michelle Geller). She undergoes the full range of emotions this year. She starts out blissful and happy with her boyfriend, family and friends. But as the season goes on, she experiences a severe downfall. Riley leaves, her mother dies, and she finally just quits. For a whole episode she retreats into her mind, as Willow goes into her psyche and retrieves her to do battle once more with the evil god Glory.
Rating: 
Summary: The Last Truly Great Season of BUFFY
Review: After viewing seasons 6 and 7, Buffy Season 5 probably should've been the series' last. With a fantastic villain (Glory) and shocking developments all season long, this was a series at its peak. The series' move to another network, coupled with a reversal of this finale's shocking final moments, sapped a lot of the magic for me. However, top notch acting and writing, plus one of the greatest finales of all time make Buffy Season 5 a MUST own.
Rating:
Summary: A roaring return to form for this show.
Review: After the mixed results of Season 4 on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I held off for a long time on seeing Season 5. But when I finally did, my faith in the series was neatly restored.The producers kept the strange narrative experiments to a manageable level in this season and went for muscular plot and character developments instead, and they reapt the handsome rewards. Whedon and his writers talk in the featurettes about "bringing the show back to family", and we see that this well is never dry. I'm not a big fan of "The Body", an expressionistic meditation on grief that's bold in execution, but also unengaging in its distantness. It's as close to Brechtian Verfremdung ("alienation") as I've seen in a TV show. Daring, but also unmoving -- it took ensuing episode "Forever" to get back to the heart of the matter. The beginning of the season also lags, with the season premier introducing uber-vampire Dracula, who proceeds to yak about evil and darkness and psychosexual melodrama for 40 minutes. Other than these two duds, though, the show rips into some harrowing emotional territory -- and some of the sharpest comedic writing since Season 2. By now we expect no less than magic from Alyson Hannigan and Nicholas Brendon, and they never disappoint. Newcomer Michelle Trachtenberg is radiant as Dawn, equal parts bratty adolescent, volcanic emotional wreck, and smart-aleck pottymouth. Emma Caulfield and James Marsters, as ex-demon Anya and perennial vampire favourite Spike, finally get the character layers they've always deserved, and Caulfield's straight-faced weirdness provides the season with some of its best jokes. Clare Kramer is also great as Glory, a hellfire entity with the strength of mountains and a mess of loose screws in her head. I was shocked to see how different she is in interviews. The one character who doesn't work is Riley -- his chemistry with Buffy has never been strong, but in this season, without a grounding central plot that's integral to him, he simply carries no emotional weight, and actor Marc Blucas' comic timing just pales alongside the unpredictable energy of Trachtenberg and old pros like Hannigan and Marsters. No Eliza Dushku guest appearance either, sadly (you have to go to the Angel show for that). The storylines are engaging, with the Dawn story being the deserved centerpiece, culminating in a slamming finale that's the best Buffy finale I've ever seen, and possibly the best directing work I've seen from creator Joss Whedon. Spike's warped attraction to Buffy is a stretch, but resolves beautifully near the end; Willow and Tara (the lovable Amber Benson)'s relationship nearly brought me to tears; and Xander's growing relationship to Anya is hugely satisfying, especially to old fans of the show who have known Xander from the beginning. This season is like a shot of adrenalin to the series, rejuvenating a series that was getting a bit long in the tooth. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Take A Ride With "******"Dawn"Patrol******"
Review: Season 5 BuFFy is once again a fantastic addition to this fun series..A few more set changes are involved like in season 4..For one Giles buys the Magick Shop..And now that is the "Scoobies" headquarters..I never watched this show on tv coz i must admit i was then sceptical coz of the 1992 film..I just started to watch the dvd sets in Oct 2003..The more i get & watch these dvd sets the more i fall in love with this show..It is one of the best shows of all time..The only show (and Angel) that can stand side by side with the classic shows that we grew up with..And this season is proof that every season just keeps on getting better with every passing season..
Highlights of this always great series in its 4th season is "BuFFy VS. Dracula" the name exsplains it all a showdown that Buffy had to face at some point during the show..The actor who played Dracula also played Dracula in a movie "Dracula : Dark Prince" from the same year 2000..Xander in this episode lampoons the "Renfield" character from the classic immortal vampire story.."Real Me" Introduces the character of "Dawn" Buffy's suddon apperance teenage sister.."The Replacement" is a HILARIOUS Double Xander episode (remember the double WiLLow episodes from season 4)..Watch for Xander's "Snoopy Dance" is plain silly but will make you laugh so hard..In "No place like home" reveals the secret behind who Dawn really is and where she came from.."Family" is about Tara's Family featuring Amy Adams & what Tara may or may not be.."Fool For Love" is a long overdue episode about the past centuries of Spike..Even how he became a vampire..Watch for on the Subway is Spike's full out Billy Idol immitation.."Listening to Fear" the booklet says its a spider like monster..It is actully more of a slug caterpiller like Monster..Words of Giles & Xander can say it best "A Killer Snot Monster From Outer Space" how bout that for a B Movie sci fi title of the 50s..LoL.."Triangle" is a battle with a Troll who used to date Anya in her demon days..He bares a remarkable resemblance to Jessie Ventura.."Blood Ties" Dawn finds out the truth of who she really is..Links up with Spike..The result is Michelle "Dawn" powerful performance.."Crush" is a fun love triangle BuFFy Harmony And the return of Druscilla all with the fun as alwayS Spike.."I was made to love you" a HOT robot girl comes to Sunnydale looking for the guy who created her to love him.."The Body" never has an episode ever hit me as this one did..So much so i have no idea if i can take it again..
Emotional..I don't want to ruin it but when Dawn gets the bad news the way they filmed it with barely audible silence is very original and very effective..They use silence a few times here and it really hits the viewer..Very little but some comedy relief..I challage you to take it without ripping your heart out.."Forever" another team up of Dawn and Spike to bring the person that dies in "The Body" back from the dead.."Intervention" A BuFFy robot a Buffybot to love and please Spike..And all of last disc is more then remarkable as the story of Dawn's destiny as the key comes to a head in true BuFFy climax fashion..Needless to say as always hard to choose highlights from ANY BuFFy Seasons..
This season is the debut of BuFFy's Teen Sister "Dawn"..
She is remarkably played by Michelle Trachtenburg..Picture a bratty version of Willow..She even looks lot like Willow from the first few seasons..Should've been Willow's sister they look so much alike..Only difference Dawn has dark hair..She is so cute beautiful girl in the tradition of this show having the sexiest girls..I am told she is older then she plays..She is a wonderful addition to the club..In Xander's words he calls Dawn "DAWNPATROL"..
This set again has great insightful & fun extras..Featurettes a plenty..This set has something that was more then a pleasant suprise that sadly the other sets didn't have..Outakes/Bloopers..I was excited when i saw that..A show that is this much fun you can tell the cast is having fun..Its a wonder never shared the Outakes Bloopers til now..Thanks for sharing them with us finally..And a fantastic featurette all about Dawn..Among other treats from BuFFyLand..Some on disc 3 some on disc 4..Enjoy..
I end this review by saying collect all the Buffy seasons on dvd..They keep getting better with every season..And this season # 5 is proof of that fact..This tv series never lets you down but always delivers better then any modern day series can..Truly one of a kind series..Now we await anxiously Season 6 in May..*does Xander's Snoopy dance and signs off til May* ScOOby SnackS For ALL :)LOL:)
Rating:
Summary: thumbs up!
Review: this by far is the greatest buffy series EVER! but it was incredibly sad that buffy died in the end... it was sooo sweet wut the wrote on her tob stone!!! "a loving sister, and a devoted friend" or sumthing like tht... i give it 2 thumbs up!
Rating:
Summary: needs more angel
Review: i love this season!!!!! i really missed angel though. the whole buffybot was weird though. sooo get this season and u will like it
Rating:
Summary: 4.5...the last good season
Review: Upfront, I have to say that I haven't seen the DVD. However, I've recently watched reruns of season 5 on FX(also, I'm a fan of the series, who's seen every episode of seasons 1-7). Simply put, season 5 is the last great season of this show...artistically, it should have been the final one, esp since it ends with Buffy's "death", which is actually quite appropriate given the show's premise of the "chosen one". While not quite as good as seasons 2-3, 5 is a nice recovery from the uneveness of 4: it introduces new characters like Dawn, Buffy's "sister", and has a strong villian in the godness, Glory. Also, notable is the show's brighter cinematography (seasons 1-3 are incredibly dark!), and lighter tone, esp. the amazing transformation of Spike from ultimate bad boy to a "fool for love". Overall, 5 had a strong storyline with some very poignant moments with Buffy's mother, sister and Spike. Unfortunately, it was all downhill from there. Season 6 had one outstanding episode ("Once more with Feeling"), but the rest of 6 and 7 were just plain mediocre. The show ended with a whimper in 2003, not a bang. Too bad.
Rating:
Summary: The series episodes: Great; extras: weak
Review: Not much to say about the series itself. Why would you buy the DVDs unless you really loved the series. So instead I think I'll write about the extras. I was rather unimpressed overall. Sure special effects are cool but I'd really like to see and hear more from the actors, listen to Josh talk about the masterplan, or even see what the actors have done outside of "Buffy".
Rating:
Summary: Pivitol turning point of the series.
Review: The 5th season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer started out innocently enough with "Buffy vs. Dracula" but ended with an earth shattering revelation--Buffy has a sister! Ok so that isn't really "earth shattering" but it is a major development in the series. The introduction of Dawn was a brilliant move by Joss. It created season five of Buffy. Dawn=The Key. The Key is saught by Glory (A hell god none the less). Glory was probably the best villian in the history of the show/any TV show. She was crazy, she was creepy, she was unstoppable. The makings of a fantastic season. All 22 episodes of season five are amazing in their own right. They all deal with furthering the arc of the season and the arc of the series. The love that Spike had for Buffy, Buffy's love interest being her sister, Xander and Anya falling deeper in love, Tara and Willow having a great relationship. All of that would come into play in the sixth season. But the major plot development happened in "The Gift" at the very end. Buffy's death was forseeable but still unforseeable as well. All indications would be that Dawn would have to die and Buffy would quit being a vampire slayer, which would have been interesting too. But killing off the main and title character was unbelievable. This season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not to be missed. It is the most complete season the show has had to that point and utterly fantastic. One of my most favorite seasons.
Rating:
Summary: Much Better on DVD
Review: I wasn't all that thrilled with the initial broadcast of Season Five. After the program left the WB, I was left out in the cold without UPN in my cable lineup; I wound up watching it in 6-hour marathons after my sister sent me a tape (coincidentally, six weeks or so apart). That's no way to enjoy the show; I realize after watching this DVD set it should be 4-hour marathons, every day for a week (six days for the episodes, one for the bonus materials). There are some very nice touches in Season Five. Certainly, "The Body" was dramatic and the entire "Decline of Ms. Joyce Summers" was well handled, but there were smaller things that I think make the season successful. First of all, there's the "Maturation of Xander Harris" arc. From the "nobody's butt-monkey" line in the season opener, clear through to his proposal in the season finale, Xander did a lot of growing up in Season Five. Likewise, Anya came to terms with not only her mortality, but also her humanity: her speech in "The Body," not only recognizing that people die, but that there are expectations as to how the survivors behave, was one of the more poignant moments in the episode. Spike also became more human in this season - okay, not literally, but he established an emotional link with Buffy that begins his redemption arc that stretches to the series finale. I'm pretty much Dawn-neutral (it wasn't until Season Six where the same "shelter Dawn" note is played over and over and over again that I became annoyed with her character, and maybe that'll change after I get the next DVD set); her character had to go through the same growing pains that the rest of the cast did four seasons earlier so I wasn't in a hurry to judge her this time around. The DVD has some good extras. If you normally watch the show dubbed in a foreign language, then the "Buffy Abroad" featurette will be less interesting to you than might otherwise have been the case. The featurettes on Dawn and "The Body" are informative looks at what the producers and writers were shooting for. The keyhole animation that transitions you from the menu into the episode gets old fast. "Previously" and "Next Week" synopses would have been nice additions, but weren't included. The DVD-ROM demon guide is well-constructed if not overly deep; Danny Strong's demon featurette is poor in comparison. If you're a Buffy fan you'll be buying this set regardless of the reviews ... fortunately you'll likely be pleased with your purchase. If you're not yet a Buffy fan, start with Season One, watch four episodes a day and you'll be here by the end of the month. Happy viewing!
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