Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Fifth Season

Rating:
Summary: The Best Season Ever
Review: This was, in my opinion, the best season. So many things happened, and they were good and bad. It started with the episode "Buffy vs. Dracula" and ended with "The Gift". To sum up this season, Buffy's new sister, Dawn, (Michelle Tratchenberg) who we later found out was not her sister, but a key, arrived. Riley left Buffy, Spike finally admitted his love for Buffy, in the excellent episode "Crush", and Buffy sacrificed herself to save the world from this seasons nemesis, a hell-god named Glory. (Played by Clare Kramer) It was my favorite season, along with season six, and proved just how PERFECT and BRILLIANT the actors, writers, and creator Joss Whedon are. Always having a great storyline, great cast, and awesome episodes, Buffy will never let us down.

Rating:
Summary: BUFFY SEASON 5 -- MY FAVORITE OF THEM ALL!!!!
Review: Season 5 of Buffy is one of those amazing examples when all the story-telling elements come together to create a unified and explosive plotline arc. This season has everything: a deposed God, mideval knights, the watchers council, monks, lots of dark witchcraft, Dracula, two Xanders, the newly arrived little sister that turns out to be timeless destructive energy, Spike fighting for the good guys, the First Slayer, crazy robots, brain-sucking, aliens from outerspace, a really cute doctor, and the deaths of two main characters!!

Glory is by far (in my opinion) the best big bad ever! She's fantastically powerful, but at the same time really ditzy. She fits perfectly into the Buffy-verse: scary & funny, but believable all at the same time. This season also cements in Tara and Spike as scoobies. And it introduces Warren for the first time (who will figure largely into the plot of Season 6).

The highlights of the Season: Fool for Love (Spike's past), The Body (realistic look at death), Tough Love (first glimpse at Dark Willow), and The Gift (my favorite season finale & the death of another main character).

And as with all good things, there are some low points. Listening to Fear (alien is summoned to kill crazy people), and Family (Tara's creepy family arrive) aren't the best, but they're still better than most of what's on TV. Bad Buffy is a lot like bad pizza: even when it's bad, it's still pretty good! OK--corny, I know, but it makes a point! Also, I'm a huge Riley (Marc Blucas) fan, and was sad to see him go this season (he goes on to make a guest appearance in Season 6).

In conclusion, buy Buffy Season 5 on DVD!!! Buy several--buy them as holiday presents!! People will be glad you did!

Rating:
Summary: Season 5 was worth the wait
Review: As someone who did not have the opportunity to follow Buffy on televesion, I've been anxiously awaiting each DVD release. Season 5 was worth the wait. Admittedly I was a little skeptical about the introduction of Dawn. However, her character grew on me. Speaking of new characters, I loved the addition of Glory and her assistants. As always the character interactions and plot twists were masterfully done. I can't wait for Season6!

Rating:
Summary: Tear jerker season
Review: The 5th season was good. But I am kinda disappointed with the extras which keeps me from giving this dvd set a 5 star.

The story arc for the whole season seemed focus on pulling at your heart strings. I would like a few more laugh episodes.

Overall I loved the season. Just wished they had a little more recovery time between the emotionally draining shows.

Rating:
Summary: Death was her gift in the BEST season of BtVS ever
Review: Please show your support for the fifth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to be released on DVD. Right now, 20th Century Fox has delayed production of this season on DVD as well as the Firefly collection. You can vote for it on amazon.com by submitting your email address at the top of this page. And you should. Buffy's fifth season is, in my opinion, the best season in the show's seven season run. It was the most consistently well plotted, written, directed and acted twenty-two episodes. Season five of Buffy was epic. It was mythic. Beginning with an encounter with Dracula, the tone of the season is set up with Buffy wanting Giles to become her watcher again and searching for knowledge about the history of the Slayer line. As other reviewers have pointed out, fans had really mixed feelings about the sudden addition of Dawn, Buffy's little sister to the cast. I, for one, think it was yet another stroke of Joss Whedon's genius. I will also have to add that the season's big bad, Glory, has been the most formidable villain the Slayer has ever faced. The season's theme is about loss. Buffy loses everything she cares about until in the huge, huge season finale, the Gift, she doesn't "know how to live in this world if these are the choices...if everything just gets stripped away." And we all know how that turned out for her. All the other subplots are great to watch unfold as well-Giles' Magic Box, Anya and Xander's growing romance, Joyce's illness, Tara and Willow's trust and relationship, Willow's growing magic, Xander's finding success, Buffy and Riley's "implosion", and of course, Spike's revelation of his love for the Slayer. I could go on and on about the greatness of the fifth season of Buffy, but in conclusion-vote for it. buy it when it comes out. love it. watch it over and over. and over. I've watched since season two first aired through the end on May 20, 2003, and have always said that this is the best show on television.

Rating:
Summary: 5 for the Fifth and the Strongest
Review: Every year of Buffy is intense, moving, funny, and relative, but the fifth season magnifies each of these qualities. With the fun stuff that is Buffy vs. Dracula, the season then introduces Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn, and thus begins the goodness that is the fifth season. Aside from season two and the Buffy / Angel / Angelus story arc, the Dawn / Buffy / Glory story arc is the next to have as much emotion and structure. Some saw Dawn as annoying, as did I, but in the end, the storyline changed that idea for me.

I know it's said everywhere, but this season also produced one of Joss' best episodes, The Body. It is an episode that shows almost true brilliance from Joss, as the director, and superb performances from the cast. And I've never spared so many tears for a tv show as I did during the season finale, The Gift. Not even did the series finale hit such an emotional spot.

As for the DVD set itself, it's a step up from the fourth season, as each season steps up. Plenty of commentaries from Joss and writers/directors/producers. These commentaries are the most interesting to sit and listen to if you're a devote fan, but great listens with a little filler if you aren't. The featurettes are there as always, even more this time around (the "Natural Causes" covering The Body is one of the more interesting, and seeing Clare Kramer speak on Glory in the "Story of Season 5" is great). Also included are Outtakes, finally, but just some from the first 3 seasons. They're still great.

Buffy's fifth season is my favorite out of all of the seasons, whether it be because of the story arc, superb cast (Sarah MG's and Alyson Hannigan's best moments are here), great directing, or just because the relation to the characters ... it's unknown. As for all other Buffy fans, it varies. As for those who aren't fans, then I recommend going back and purchasing season one and then subsequently purchasing the other seasons. It's worth it. Don't trust me? Ask another fan.

Rating:
Summary: "...You haven't even begun"
Review: Wow! The one word I would use to describe this amazing season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This season contains every bit of Joss Whedon's amazing writing, directing, and producing ability. Also, not just Joss, but every other person that helped in the making of it.
This season saw the revival of Buffy's relationship with her mother just as she is thrown into the worst days of her life. We are introduced to Dawn,Buffy's sister; an often annoying but ultimately important character. Spike becomes more involved with the Scooby gang, not to mention Buffy. Xander and Anya's relationship develops further until Xander makes a life altering choice in "The Gift". And then there is Willow and Tara. What an amazing relationship. I was skeptical at first but their romance is only surpassed by that of Buffy's and Angel's.
The season is filled with several great episodes but probably the 2 that stand out the most are "The Body", an amazing episode about loss and love, and "The Gift", which is probably one of the best finales in Buffy history, rivaled by the "Becoming" episodes. I would definitely reccomend this stellar season to anyone who wants to see TV at its very best.

Rating:
Summary: Buffy : The Adult Years
Review: Some have said that the series dropped the ball after the less than stellar fourth season. Me included. Although, to be fair, I have come to think of it as being better than it was at first viewing a few years ago. Season five returns the show to glory in a truly brilliant, and glorious way. If anyone had doubts over season four, this season put them completely back into place. As season 4 pushed Buffy and our other young heroes into a new world when they entered college life, this season makes them grow up even more. As every season has been a natural progression in the lives of these people, this one continues the tradition. The season opens up with a lightweight, though amusing episode, "Buffy Vs. Dracula". It isn't until the final scene that the season kicks off the twists and turns and sets things into motion. We learn that Buffy has a little sister named Dawn(Michelle Trachtenberg). How could this be?. We don't get an answer the fifth episode, "No Place Like Home", where we learn exactly how Dawn came to be. I won't ruin it for you if you haven't already seen it yet. Dawn and her appearance is pretty much the main story for the season, and she is the main goal for this years's big bad, Glory(Clare Kramer). Glory is a God, who needs the key(Dawn), in order to reenter her hell dimension. And in doing so, will open other portals and cause severe destruction to earth. Glory is an interesting villain, but she is hard to take seriously when she looks like a cheerleader and talks like a valley girl. Relationships abound once again in this season. Most importantly, Buffy and Riley. The relationship comes to a head in "Into The Woods", when Buffy, thanks to Spike, finds out a dark secret Riley has been hiding. Riley leaves and Buffy is again handed more loss. But it doesn't compare to the loss of her mother, Joyce, in "The Body". This was the most devastating episode of any show, genre or not, that I have ever seen. Joss Whedon proved once again why he is a genius. This episode was real. It didn't push the envelope to make you cry. It just happens naturally. There is no music at all in the episode, and the story playing out on screen is so vivid and real, that you feel you stomach in knots as you watch it. Never has an episode effected me. Just brilliant. Again, the Emmy's just didn't get it. We learned that Joyce had a brain tumor, and this was taken further in "Shadow", and "Listening To Fear". These were sub-par episodes, but the Joyce angle was heartbreaking. Angel makes a visit in "Forever", where Buffy tries to handle Joyce's funeral, and Dawn tries a spell to bring her mom back from the grave. The final scene is another powerhouse scene. Because of this loss, Buffy is faced with another mission other than being the slayer. Being there for Dawn. Buffy has been wise beyond her years already, but now she has no parent, and she has a little kid sister. It forces Buffy to grow up in new ways. That's the story here. Growing up. Xander and Anya get more serious and stable in their relationship, as does Willow and Tara. Giles gets back on his feet again and opens up his own place, The Magic Box. The most startling revelation in this season was Spike's love for Buffy. It all comes out in "Crush", when Drusilla, Spike's ex, comes back to town. It was a brilliant move and it played off well. Other episodes here include "Checkpoint", a wonderful episode that deals with the return of the Watcher's Council, who want to test Buffy some more. "Blood Ties" deals with Dawn finding out who, or what, she reall is. Dawn might of been annoying, but she was a real 14 year old. Trachtenberg did a wonderful job in doing this. Anya got her moment to shine in "Triangle", when a troll is summoned to town over her and Willow's bickering. The final three episodes are some of the strongest of the season. "Spiral" deals with Buffy coming to realize that Glory is far too powerful. In a very un-Buffy fashion, she decides to run, instead of staying and standing up to the evil. The episode includes a teriffic chase scene between a winnebago and knights on horses that also included a fantastic fight with Buffy on top of the winnebago. "The Weight Of The World", the first part of the finale, isn't nearly as strong as the conclusion, but it holds it's own. Buffy is in a catatonic state over Dawn, and Willow tries to get into her mind to get her back out. "The Gift", along with "The Body", is also one of the top episodes. It is also one of Buffy's finest hours in all of it's run. It is the season finale, and also the show's 100th episode, and it is a beaut. Everything is perfect. The final fight with Glory is a blast, and the end minute is one of the most emotional scenes in the series. Teriffic. "Fool For Love", the seventh episode, is a Buffy gem. One of the best Buffy episodes ever. Buffy is injured while on patrol, and she goes to the only person she knows who has killed slayers. Spike. Spike tells her, via flashbacks that includes the return of Angelus, Darla, and Drusilla, how the deaths occurred. Every frame is perfection. "Family", gives Tara her moment in the sun. We learn more about her and her family life when her relatives come to town harboring a secret about Tara and the women in their family. A solid episode with great work from Amber Benson. Season five of Buffy is a glorious return to form. It makes up for the lulls and lags of season 4 in a big way, and then some. The writting is as sharp and witty as ever. The arcs and mythology are the best that has been on television. This is one of the most emotional seasons of the series, and it is marvelous because of the work of the brilliant cast. Year after year, season after season, they show what a unbelievable cast they are. They deserve so much credit, but they never seem to get it. Get season five. It is Buffy getting back to form, and it is as good as it gets.

Rating:
Summary: Buffy....I have an annoying sister...so what
Review: The main gripe I have heard concerning the fifth season is the character of Dawn. While I also find the character annoying and very grating; I have also had the pleasure of having a younger brother. They are this annoying and everything they do seems sophmoric and immature no matter what their age. I believe that Joss and Co. did a very good job at exposing the annoying side of having a younger sister thrown into the Scooby mix.

First we must remember that most of the writers were writing for a character much younger (12) when they began the development of the character. Second we must remember that they were trying to juxtapose the younger/older sister relationship at the beginning. It is expected that Dawn would make bad decisions. The life she has now is the only thing she knows. So growing up in Buffy "I'm the Slayer" shadow is all she understands. I think the writers did an excellent job of making a character that was resentful and adoring of Buffy relatable to the public. They had to create and relate this character all within a one season spill.

But there is so much more happening in the arc then just the Buffy/Dawn relationship. There are the realtionships between Tara/Willow and Zander/Anya to build. I personally believe the loss of Anya later on was a complete waste. This is the first time we have the experience of someone from the "outer realm" of humanity to give us clue of what is like to suddenly be burrdened by human emotion (greatly exhibited in the episode "The Body"). I appreicate the attempt to build the relationship of Willow/Tara through dialogue as oppposed to physical relationship (though I feel that was mainly due to the WB being afraid to delve into a homosexual realtionship). But we come to love these couples and care about them. Anya/Zander give us the humor of love and Willow and Tara give us the raw emotion of love.

I also support the use of Spike as a character becoming obsessed and eventually loving the Slayer. Spike was allowed a much longer time to develop as a character. It becomes apparent that Spike likes his women tough, strong and a little out of his league. It is only natural that with the rejection of Druscilla that he would turn to the only other woman really worthy of adoration. Buffy. But it goes much deeper. I think Joss was wanting people to understand that while Spike was a vamipre, that something crossed over with him. The capacity to love. It is apparent from such episodes as "Fool For Love" that Spike is a character driven (by his human nature) to do things for love. He loved Ceciley, therefore he wrote very bad poetry. He loved Druscilla and she feared the Slayer so therefore he sought to destroy Buffy. Buffy respected truth and respect so he sought to give her that. I believe the fifth season is the first we get to see of the real Spike (beneath the leather coat and fancy lingo).

The "Big Bad" Glory ties all of these themes together. Buffy is doubting her powers. After not being able to save her mother (note the powerful episode of "The Body") to wanting to protect the only thing left of her family, younger sister Dawn. To Willow's vengeance of Tara having her mind "raped" by Glory and even to Spike's involvement and help of the Scoobies because he wants to. It is the best and the worst of these characters. It shows you all of the redeeming characters (while season 6 focuses on the dark). Giving Buffy a villian that is nearly unstoppable and makes her doubt her own skills so that she has to rely on everyone else in the group. It takes the emphasis away from the Slayer just enough to make you worry about her future (which comes as a surprise at the end).

It also ties in all of the things that Buffy has learned until now. "Death is your gift". What greater sacrifice is yourself for the ones you love that winning. Buffy proved this in her own death. Dawn is annoying, grating, and ultimately a person that I personally wouln't kill myself over but if it were my younger sister that I loved and wanted to protect. I might make that kind of sacrifice ( but I am also ultimately human, with no super human power). It makes sense that Buffy gave her life. She understood the short lineage of the Slayer but she could not see life without Dawn. An innocent. Something created. Dawn's only life relvolves around the memories created and now she has lost a mother. It makes total sense that Buffy would want her to go on with a normal life, the life of an innocent because that is how Buffy feels toward Dawn. An innocent, no "key" busienss.

Episodes to pay attention to "Fool For Love" , "The Body". I feel these are the two episodes that let you into Buffy (Spike always seems to say the truth, maybe not in the most couth way, but the truth). "The Body" absolute breathless episode. I cried almost the whole way throughout and I'm not one for tears. But it was so right to have a death that Buffy could not prevent (something totally scientific. since she has battled both fronts). Plus a death that totally unwound the whole Buffy universe. This episode is worth a second, third, and fourth watch if only to see it from the eyes of the different characters (pay attention to the Willow/Tara/Zander/Anya spill).

The fifth season has proven to be my most favorite because of character exposition. Everyone comes truly into their own here. The one season that has caused laugher/tears/embarassement/anger/understanding/ and I watch and only find new things to learn about the characters.

I was not a watcher during the actual series (fortunatley I had someone open my eyes much later on). So maybe I can't compare to those watching week to week but watching this way has allowed me to see character developement and story arc so closely entertwined. I spend many sleepless nights watching each episode unwilling to let any time elapse between episodes. I hope you can see the same and see that fifth season was the perfect union between reality and Sci-Fi that was ever accomplished in the series.

Rating:
Summary: Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Complete Fifth Season
Review: Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 5 is an epic year.The season arc is fairly weak but has individual great episodes.The episodes grow deeper and more mature as do the characters.The cast is still fun to watch and likeable in every aspect.This is definetly a strong season actually one of my favorites.This is one of those shows you can't go wrong with.The acting and dialogue are still fresh and the one- liners don't get old.This season as a whole is a very deep season about finding your true meaning in life.I can't come to give it a perfect rating though.Without a doubt, make sure to check this season out.After an unsettling encounter with Dracula, Buffy asks Giles to once again be her Watcher.Luckily he agrees, for Buffy is about to face problems far more threatning than the undead: the sudden arrival of a sister named Dawn, her mother's mysterious illness and Spike's undying devotion.Then an undefeatable demon appears, forcing Buffy to turn to an ancient Spirit Guide who tells her that love is her greatest gift - and power.This six disc box set has season five overview, selected episode commentary, seven featurettes, outtakes, selected episode scripts, DVD-ROM content- Buffy Demon Guide, still gallery, and more!(10/10)

(...)

Things kick off in a big way during Buffy's sophomore year at UC Sunnydale when she meets the legendary Count Dracula and finds out that she has a 15 year-old sister named Dawn. To Buffy's surprise, Dawn isn't really her sister. Dawn is actually The Key whom Buffy has to protect to prevent evil forces from using her to unleash Hell in Sunnydale. During Buffy's sophomore year at UC Sunnydale...

The gang takes on Harmony and her newfound pack of bloodsuckers.
Xander is confronted by his double.
Vampress Harmony hides out with her ex-beau Spike.
Buffy's mother, Joyce, becomes sick. Giles takes over the Magic Box.
Spike begins to show his love for Buffy.
We learn that Joyce has a brain tumor. We are introduced to the inherently wicked Glory.
Glory enlists a demon to destroy Buffy. At this point we truly learn of Glory's power and her plan.
A meteorite creature threatens the Scooby Gang. Riley starts hanging out vampires because he is destroyed by Buffy's careless attitude towards him.
Riley leaves town because Buffy won't return his love.
A troll named Olaf manifests itself during a domestic squabble between Willow and Anya.
The Watchers Council returns to inform the gang about Glory's true purpose and the importance of The Key.
We learn of another crew of nasties called the Knights of Byzantium, who want to destroy The Key.
Buffy's mysterious sister Dawn learns that she is The Key and runs away from home.
Dawn tells Buffy that Spike has feelings for the Slayer.
Drusilla returns for Spike.
Buffy accepts a date with Ben, who turns out to be Glory's alter ego.
Joyce dies of a brain tumor.
While Dawn decides that she is going to resurrect her mother, Ben tells Glory that Dawn is The Key.
Spike confuses the Slayerettes by carrying on with the Buffbot. Meanwhile, Glory believes that Tara is The Key.
Tara and Willow get into a fight that leaves Tara's defenses down when attacked by Glory and her minions.
Tara is left brain-dead after her confrontation with Glory.
Glory and Ben get their hands on Dawn.
The Scoobies come together for an all out battle against Glory and her followers at a sacrificial tower.
R.I.P. Buffy Anne Summers.
In a truly epic year, Buffy's mother Joyce passes away. Riley leaves town because he is upset that Buffy won't return his love. We begin see kinder, gentler Spike around town. As a matter of fact, Buffy learns that Spike has a crush on her when he dumps Harmony. After what anyone would consider a horrible year in Buffy's life, things come to fruition when Glory kidnaps Dawn to use her power to open up an evil dimension. This of course leads to the martyr death of Buffy as she jumps from Glory's ritual structure and closes that dimensional portal opened by Dawn's blood.

"A weak season story arc but good individual episodes and strong character development."
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