Rating: 
Summary: Another great season. Glorific, in fact. Great price too.
Review: This was the season where Buffy gained a sister, lost her mother, dumped Riley, began to feel a once-unthinkable attraction to Spike, and explored the dark side of being a Slayer. Five seasons in, and the writers still found new ways to question and work with the show's premise. Exceptional. Willow's powers, and her relationship with Tara, intensified. Anya embraced capitalism, Giles toyed with leaving, and Dracula even stopped by for a spell. Except for one early episode featuring his real-life twin brother, Nicholas Brendon's Xander was in sort of a holding pattern this year. Clare Kramer was great gorgeous fun as the villain of the year--Glorificus--accessorized with tight dresses, high heels, "a bad home perm" (said Spike; though I did not find her ass at all lop-sided), and an entourage of fawning, scabby "Hobbits with leprosy."As the season aired originally, I feared that BTVS had finally jumped the shark with Dawn. (When she screams, I still feel that way: get out get out GET OUT!) But Michelle Trachtenberg, I now realize, was swell. Her instant bonding with the Scoobies really helped solidify the friends & family dynamic that is my favorite part of this show. I've always liked the theme that her friendships have kept Buffy inspired to continue fighting beyond the point when past, lonelier Slayers had given up. Also, regarding the underappreciated Marc Blucas: the time did seem right to let Riley go, but his growing disillusionment with the military and his place in Buffy's heart was a very good subplot and Blucas played it very well. He's also, why do I even bother being jealous, one of the best-looking guys I've ever seen on TV. I wish him luck with whatever comes next for him. No, I'm not his agent... Anyone reading this review (thanks, by the way) will have to rely on someone else's opinion about "The Body" and the episode following it. These are the episodes dealing with Joyce's death, from natural causes, about two-thirds of the way through the season. Since they first aired, I lost my mother, and I doubt I will ever feel up to watching those two episodes on DVD. I recall that they were well-done but having suffered this unbearable loss in real life prevents my appreciation of the writers' creative take on this subject. Ditto for the bonus feature on the last disc, "Natural Causes," which discusses the storyline. I got through 20 seconds of it. Even seeing Joyce's picture on a table in a scene starts me crying. Hitting less close to home is the rest of the increased mortality rate in Joss' vision over the last few seasons. Knowing what's to come in Seasons 6 & 7 makes some of the scenes with Tara and Anya sadder than they were when first aired. In fact, the losses have REALLY racked up in light of what happened this year on "Angel." Losing Cordelia, Fred, AND Wesley this year, so soon after Tara, Anya, and (what can I say, he "grew" on me--pun in there somewhere) Jonathan is a bit too much. If 14 years of Dawn can be inserted into everyone's memories so easily, surely a few more Jars of Osiris can be found on ebay to revive some of these people for the movies we're all hoping for. Even for this kind of show, us fans have had to absorb way too many deaths. "Buffy" and "Angel" have been the best shows on TV for the past few years. They provided entertainment (and some misery) at a time when I needed it (the entertainment), and still need it, desperately. Anyone remotely interested in this show will not be disappointed. Oh yeah, the packaging, the picture quality, the sound (I have DVD stereo now; the Winnebago vs. the Knights of Hack-n-Slash was boomin') are all first-rate. Like every other season, this is highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: a complex season.
Review: This season was a very complex season. It was also one of the most realistic seasons of Buffy.
I recommend this season. It's funny, sad, heartbreaking and just brilliant.
The writing is on the top.
A must have for any fan.
Sarah Michelle Gellar is on top of her game and should have won an emmy.
Rating: 
Summary: Save the Best For Last
Review: Season Five was Buffy's last on the WB. While this was a great season, stand alone episodes such as "I Was Made to Love You" and "Listening to Fear" hurt the show. However, stories which remain in focus with the multiple arcs, Joyces illness, Dawn's existance, and Glory's menace are excellently displayed and Joss Whedon's greatness is shown in these episodes. With an ensemble cast including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Emma Caulfield, Mechelle Trachtenberg, James Marsters, Amber Beson, and Anthony Stewart Head, the show reached new heights in its fifth season. Episodes include: 1. Dracula
2. Real Me
3. Replacement
4. Out of My Mind
5. No Place Like Home
6. Family
7. Fool for Love
8. Shadow
9. Listening to Fear
10. Into the Woods
11. Triangle
12. Checkpoint
13. Blood Ties
14. Crush
15. I was Made To Love You
16. The Body
17. Forever
18. Intervention
19. Tough Love
20. Spiral
21. Weight of the World
22. The Gift
Rating:
Summary: The second best season...
Review: In the fifth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, we are introduced to two new characters. The first is Buffy's sister Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg). She is actually a mystical force of energy sent to Buffy by monks to be protected. The monks supply false memories to Buffy, her mother, and the rest of the gang which causes everyone to think that Dawn has been around and grown up with Buffy. The monks refer to Dawn as "the key" which can unlock all the different hell dimensions. The second character we are introduced to is a hell god named Glory (Clare Kramer)who has been banished to earth. She is virtually unstoppable, and not even Buffy can slow her down. Glory needs the key to get back home, which will open up all the other hell dimensions in the process destroying mankind as we know it. But, Glory has no idea what the key looks like. The main focus of season 5 is the countdown to when Glory will find out that Buffy's sister is the key she is looking for. The interesting side story in season 5 deals with Spike's growing feelins for Buffy, and him fighting against the fact that he is falling in love with the Slayer who has become his arch nemisis throughout the show. While I enjoyed every season, I must say that season 5 managed to be the second best season of the entire show after season 3. The entire season flowed extremely well because each episode built off the one before it. Season 5 definately poured on tons of suspense because endless search for the key. Newcomer Claire Kramer does an excellent job as Glory and becomes the best villan on the show since Angelus. Newcomer Michelle Trachtenberg also does a wonderful job as Dawn. Now a lot of people think that Buffy the Vampire Slayer "jumped the shark" when Dawn was introduced. However, I feel that show creator Josh Whedon did an excellent job at how he introduced Dawn into the show and with his explanation of why she was there. Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy), Nicholas Brendon ( Xander), Alyson Hannigan ( Willow), Anthony Stewart Head ( Giles), James Marsters (Spike), and Emma Caulfield( Anya) are all back and do a fantastic job. This season also manages to show Willow's increasing power as a witch as well, and her relationship with Tara grow stronger. Season 5 also marked the tragic death of the character Joyce Summers(played extremely well by Kristine Sutherland) which added even more emotion into season 5. Whether it was Glory pouring on suspense and Willow gaining more power as a witch, or the hilarious moments watching Spike fall in love with Buffy, season 5 had something in it for all fans of the show. With the acception of season 3, season 5 has become my favorite season overall. Episodes worth mentioning are "Buffy vs Dracula", "No Place like Home" which introduces Glory, "Foor for Love" in which Spike tells Buffy about the two slayers he killed, "Checkpoint" which brings back the watchers council, "Bloodties" in which Dawn deals with being the key, "Crush" which has Drusilla return to the show, "The Body" which focuses on Joyce's death, and "The Gift" which is the best season finale of the whole show. The DVD package itself is great. You get everything from great comentary and featurettes, to outtakes from the show. A solid 5 stars...
Rating:
Summary: A Great Almost End To The Series
Review: Season five is fabulous. Glory was a great villain, and Spikes undying love for Buffy was a hoot. I also loved the Buffybot and the stunning season finale. If the series had ended here it would have been a great way to go out, but we would have missed out on the equally good season six. "Buffy vs Dracula", "Fool For Love", "Crush", "Intervention" and "The Gift" are the highlights.
Rating:
Summary: Season 5
Review: The addition of Dawn left me very confused at the end of the first episode. My first thought: she's evil. But of course Joss made everything come together about 6 episodes later. And made this season very enjoyable. Buffy vs Dracula was the best season opener btvs has had. It was very interesting to see Buffy face off with the world reknown Dracula. It was also hilarious to see Xander as Dracula's butt monkey.(If you havent seen it yet, you'll know what I mean when you view it) One of the best lines ever comes from Xander in this episode. I'm not sure if it is appropriate to write here so I'll just let you watch it and see. The best episodes of this season are without a doubt The Body and The Gift. Both of which deal with the death of a cast member in a very sad way. I havent watched either without at least tearing up. In The Body I'm all out sobbing. Very touching episodes and extremely well-written. Glory is definitely a step up from 4th seasons Big Bad Adam. She is pretty much a blond, strong Cordelia, and I love her. Clare Kramer is an excellent actress. It was during this season that negotiations for whether the show would continue or not went on. The WB screwed Buffy over just like it did Dawsons Creek in 2003 and Angel in 2004. They didnt want to give them enough money so UPN picked it up. Then the WB advertised The Gift as the series finale instead of the season finale. That really ticked a lot of people off and they had to apologize for it. All in all since the WB just cancelled Angel, Im boycotting them. Especially after the Your Friends at the WB Promo that followed the series finale. It was total BS. But anyway, back to season five. The only thing I didnt like about this dvd set was that they didnt show the previously for The Gift that compiled the best moments of season 1-5. That was my only argument. I loved the Outtakes, although they mostly consisted of Charisma Carpenter and Nick Brendon, although I wasnt complainin.
Rating:
Summary: Buffy's pinnacle achievement
Review: Season five is my favorite of the seven seasons.It's darker and more mature than the previous seasons.The story arc is simply outstanding in season five.Glory,she is my favorite Big Bad.She's funny and very menacing for a small woman.Well,she's a god after all.The introduction of Buffy's sister,Dawn is a good thing.It is of course part of the reason why season five is so great.The average episode quality is remarkable.The drama is the best since season two and the only bad point I could see with this season is that some people may find it too dark.Personally,the darkness of the season really appeals to me.The best episodes are The Body and The Gift.The Body is a very realistic portrayal of death while The Gift is the second best season finale the show's ever had.I love what they do with the characters in season five.Xander and Anya are a really wonderful couple.Same for Willow and Tara.
Thankfully,those great couples don't get broken until season six.
Riley leaves in the middle of the season.To be frank,I don't care too much.Except for poor Buffy who has to suffer a lot,again...These dvds are simply outstanding.The best yet in every way.
Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: By far one of the greatest Buffy seasons around! Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Season FIVE. I love this season, because it stars one of my favorite actress' and villian in the entire series, her being "Glory" (Clare Kramer) A Hell God, trapped in our dimension, with the only means to find this "Key", and is willing to kill anyone who stands in her way. We also meet the Buffy's little sister, "Dawn" (Michelle Trachtenberg), whom mysteriously just appears in the series without any heads up; But does later explain itself during the season. I rate this season, 5 stars. Joss Whedon did it again.
Rating: 
Summary: When Buffy Turns Dark
Review: There are a lot of good moments in this season. However, this is not my favorite. I am not saying that it is bad. Nor that it is good. I just wasn't impressed with season five as much as I was with others.
It was just so depressing during a lot of the times. I do enjoy this season but not like others though. I thought they went to far when Joyce died so suddenly. I still haven't been able to watch it since I saw it on television.
Even so this season probably has some of the best writing that was ever presented in Buffy the Vampire Slayer before.
On the whole this is a really good season. Just be prepared for a lot of tear jerker episodes.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest of them all
Review: Oh my god, Joss Whedon is a master genius. Season 5 has it all, including a lot of emotional writing, which is my favorite part of the show. The Death of Joyce had me in tears for weeks, Buffy's death had me in tears for mouths and the acting had me in guts of shock because it was, and still is as beautiful as ever.
The introduction of Dawn is a shocker and was throughout the series. It was nice to see Dracula as it has been a long wait.
Glory is my favorite baddie and had me in fits of laughter throughout the season. Even though I don't like Riley, I was sorry to see him go as I felt really sorry for him through the beginning of this season. Spike is great as ever. Willow and Tara's relationship is really beautiful and secure and committed and just was really nice to see a gay couple who were genine on television. They weren't a gay couple to get ratings up, they were a couple that were important to the storyline.
Buy this DVD as it is a blast and History has truly been made with this show. KUDOS!!!
|
