Rating: 
Summary: Buffy's Shinging Glory
Review: "The hardest thing in this world is to live in it."
- Buffy to Dawn, "The Gift"This season had a lot to live up to. Riding the wave of a good first season, a great second season, and two spectacular following seasons, the fifth chapter in the tale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer had a lot of people watching and holding their breath. But once "Buffy vs. Dracula" appeared on TV screens, we breathed a sigh of relief. The good things never change. The fifth (and final on the WB) season of BtVS showcased the full range of the talent that had worked on the show for four years, from cast to crew to the writers and directors. Beginning with what some labeled as a shark jump as Buffy's heretofore unknown little sister Dawn was introduced, the fifth outing proved all TV show cliches wrong when this seemingly desperate plot device was turned into one of the most compelling aspects of the show's entire run. Who is Dawn? Where has she been these last four years? And why does everyone know who she is? Well, it turns out that she is The Key, a way of opening the portals between all dimensions, and she's in very real danger. A certain nasty hell god named Glory wants her, and she's prepared to do anything to get her. Glory doesn't try to replace any of the show's previous big bad's, as they all have specific feels to them that are tailor-made for the season. With Glory, it's evil, pure and simple. She's mean, she's nuts, and she can knock down a building with a fingernail. The cast really takes it up a notch on this season, which, considering their past performances, is really something. Giles is torn between his desire to protect the world as a whole, and the pain that losing Dawn would cause to Buffy. Willow watches as Glory drains Terra of her sanity, and then nurses her lover with a touching tenderness that really pulls on the heart strings. Spike realizes that he is in love with Buffy (what? without a soul? HOW?), but still manages to be the same Spike that we all know and love. Xander and Anya play the happy couple, though Anya's specific mannerisms are both cause for laugh and thought, as she really mirror's the ridiculousness of the world that we take for granted. And Buffy. . . she saves the world. A lot. Sarah Michelle-Gellar really came into her own more than anyone on the show. The role of both a slayer and a protective big sister, recently dealing with the loss of her mother, would have been an incredible strain on any actress, but Gellar pulls it off with flair, heart, and believability. From her fight with Dracula to her heart-wrenching sacrifice, she is every bit the slayer who can. Her performance as Buffy as well as the superb writing and directing throughout the season put Buffy on the map, and assured its place among the greats of television icons. The extras: they're all that and a bag of chips. Lots of galleries, features, commentaries, and much more make this set a loaded bonus collection as well as one of the best seasons in television history. Those who love Buffy want it, and those who don't love Buffy need it, if nothing else than to change their minds. After all, everyone should love Buffy. She's a hero, you see.
Rating:
Summary: An Awsome Season
Review: I have been a Buffy fan since the beginning. I was in high school when the show first started out so I could relate. So many people have a dislike of season 5 and I don't know why? some people say that it is because of Dawn. This season happens to be the best out of all seven seasons. We have a 'big bad' that Buffy has a hard time defeating. Then finding out her sister isnt really a sister,but some kind of key.The death of her mother of something natural and not mystical and she had no way of fighting it. Leading up to the altimate sacrifice of herself to save her sister and the world. Sort of remenicent when she had to sacrifice Angel. I think this is the season of seasons that everyone should stand up and cheer. This season had alot of outstanding episodes: 'The Body','The Gift', 'Checkpoint'. Just to name a few. This is a must have for all Buffy fans.
Rating:
Summary: If you are a Buffy fan you will buy all the seasons anyway
Review: Season 5 of buffy is one of my favorite seasons. It is phenonemal and epic. It is very structured, with lots of plot twists, secrets, and a story that builds up right to the very end with a stunning and heart-breaking climax. This season like Joss Whedon says in "The Story of season 5" (yes on this very DVD) is about family. It is also about what being a Slayer means. It is amazing to see how much these characters have evolved and grown. How Buffy, who was constantly complaining about Dawn and how annoying she was in the first part of the season, would sacrifice herself to save her. Spike's evolution within this season is wonderful as well. Gone is the whacky and very annoying neighbour of season 4, we see a vampire in love with someone who is Good and trying to change for her. Contrary to popular opinion I love Riley. So there. Dawn's insertion into the cast is wonderfully handled.
I loved all of the episodes in the season (except for Buffy vs Dracula, yeah but the last part makes up for it). If you are a Buffy fan you will buy all the seasons anyway.
Buy this one for episodes like "Fool for Love", "The Body" and "The Gift." This is a brilliant season.
Doug Petrie's commentary on Fool for Love and Joss Whedon's commentary on "The Body" are great and very insightful.
And please, people appreciate your full-screen. Poor people in Australia have to watch their Buffy in wide-screen.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a Buffy buff, but I enjoyed this DVD set
Review: Much as I like the vampire genre, and much as I've liked the few episodes of Buffy that I've seen over the years, Season Five is the first complete season of Buffy The Vampire Slayer I have ever watched. I guess diehard (so to speak) fans of the show either love or hate this season, but me... I liked it. The season begins with the Buffy vs. Dracula episode, which is pretty tepid for Vlad Tepes (although German actor Rudolph Martin, who later played the same character in TV movie, was pretty convincing as the titular bloodsucker). Next up is the episode which introduces Michelle Trachtenberg as Buffys heretofore unknown sister, Dawn. Then there is an episode called Fool for Love, which gives us a look at Spike's origin and back-story. Listening to Fear is about aliens. Into the Woods is an interesting and emotional episode, and I Was Made to Love You, featuring evil robot girlfriend, is just the opposite (but still fun). The Body, and Forever are like mini-movies, they are so good. And the season finale, The Gift, is one of the best on the disc.
Rating:
Summary: FINALLY IT'S HERE - LIKE GOLD
Review: I just received my Season 5 DVD set yesterday afternoon, and I couldn't be happier. I had been waiting patiently for this ever since Amazon announced its release date. Any TRUE fan of Buffy loves Season 5 and for those that have never seen Buffy at all, I suggest they start from Season 1 and work their way up, however, if they haven't the chance and can only see one season, then Season 5 is it. For those of you that posted your dislike for Season 5, I can hardly see how you can consider yourself a true Buffy fan. I see so much hatred for this season from people that claim they are part-time viewers or have just picked up on the show after its seventh season finale, and still claim they are Buffy fans. No true Buffy fan dislikes season 5, no matter what they claim they are. I have been watching Buffy since day one, and can't imagine anyone could find one ounce of dislike for this Season. Even the cheesy first episode with Dracula is a necessary evil. It is the comic releif I think I needed coming into the season, as well as Dracula himself dropping hints to Buffy about whats to come. Making her truly focus on the need to expand her mind and find out what being a Slayer is truly about. Tapping into her mental powers and realizing, due to Dracula, the need to still have Giles in her life. Also, to those disliking anything AFTER Season 5, I say again, how can you consider yourself a true buffy fan. A true fan of anything, such as a sports team, loves their team no matter what. The show is like a person. It has good times and bad, but I think that is what makes it so well rounded and liked by so many. It touches on everybodys emotions, and every episode of every season has lovers and haters. Just keep that in mind, and run out and buy your copy of Season 5 today. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Season Five
Review: I am an avid Buffy fan, and Season Five is by far, my favorite season. No other season has so many episodes that are so memorable. The 'insertion' of Dawn was done so amazingly well. Everyone just assumed she was ment to be there, and only the audiance was questioning. They change your entire outlook on what the definition of 'evil' is and what it is capable of in "Fool for Love", the episode which birthed the redemtionista movement. And they do it again in "Intervention", turning and very funny episode into something dramatic and life changing, turning everything on it's head and showing you that yes, 'evil' can be selfless. If you don't shed a tear during "The Body", esp. at Anya's breakdown, then you are a stronger person than most. This season is also when the redemtion of Spike kicks into high gear, and nearly everything he does foreshadows things to come. It's a cullmination of huge amounts of foreshadowing, starting all the way back to season three ("Little Miss Muffet counting down to from 730." Faith-Graduation Day pt II), continuing in season four ("Oh....That clock is totally wrong." Tara-Restless) and ending finally in the Gift, 730 days later. There is no episode in this season that I didn't like, unlike seasons before and after. A truely must have.
Rating:
Summary: Great Season, Best DVD release so far
Review: Season Five was the most arc-heavy and structured season of Buffy. Having first hinted at Season Five's arc way back in Season Three, the excellent pacing was the polished example of a machine that, by this time, was well-oiled. The episodes fit so neatly together and created such a complete story that many regard this as the best season of the show. With this new balance came fewer great stand-alone episodes and more of an appreciation for the overall story. This wasn't necessarily because the "great" episodes were lacking but because the "weaker" episodes became stronger. Part of the reason many fans remember an episode like Superstar from Season Four so well, beside the fact that it was a great episode, was because of its peculiar placement as a stand-alone that didn't fit at the end of the season, where the arc should have been picking up speed instead of dropping off. Season Five doesn't have that unevenness. I find that I remember the least about this season's specific episodes and more about particular events within the episodes. I tend to remember Joyce dying more than remembering that Joyce died in Episode 16 which orginally aired yada yada yada. As always, the cast gives great performances all around. Sarah Michelle Gellar in particular, Season Five after all being the season where Buffy seeks to learn more about the Slayer's history, is absolutely spectacular. Gellar just completely embodies the role of Buffy, and her work in this season stands as one of the great TV performances. By this time, viewers are gleefully aware that an episode can be centered around any member of the cast, and that member will respond with skill and passion for the material. Alyson Hannigan is as utterly heartbreaking in "Tough Love" as Marc Blucas is desperate in "Into The Woods." And who doesn't remember Nicholas Brendon's work vividly in that same episode? Emma Caulfield is fantastic in "Triangle" and James Marsters electrifying in "Fool for Love." Michelle Tratchenberg makes Dawn as sweet, annoying, and confused as I imagine a 14 year old would be even if she wasn't actually a big green ball of energy. She does a great job holding her own. And Amber Benson is so fragile and beautiful as Tara, a character that, like the Scooby Gang was early on in the season, none of us really knew that much about. Anthony Stewart Head also gives a measured and nuanced performance throughout the season. It's something you might not notice right away, but the acting in his eyes alone makes this season worth watching. He is really not given much to work with, but makes us understand why no other actor could have brought so much depth and complexity to such a difficult and potentially shallow role. The DVD itself is the most well packaged and put together of any of the releases so far. Onto Season Six.
Rating:
Summary: the downfall of buffy (SPOILERS)
Review: I have been watching Buffy and reading the books since it 1st started airing and This season would have been really good if they wouldn't have brought Dawn onto the show she totally ruint Buffy and I hated when they killed her mom that was the saddest episode ever. I think if they HAD to leave Dawn in the show then they should have at least given everyone back their real memories. The way Dawn whined ALL the time I just wanted to smack her and tell her to shut up. She completely RUINED Buffy's life for 1 thing if it weren't for her then Riley never would have left and if it weren't for her then Buffy wouldn't have quit college, she wouldn't have had to DIE. Plus when they brought Dawn into the show almost every episode was about her. I recommend this dvd set to everyone because even though it is not the best season of Buffy it's still good. a great thing about the Buffy dvd set is that they are in full screen format instead of widescreen format ( what's the sense of just using the middle of your tv screen?!) Also please do not write reviews saying if I were a "true" fan of Buffy I would love this season anyway, as much money as I have spent on Buffy things, and as sick as the ppl are in my life of hearing me talk about Buffy I AM a true buffy fan.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful, but off-putting season
Review: I am one of the freaks out there who never watched "Buffy" on TV and have only seen it on DVD. I just finished Season 5 a few hours ago and I have incredibly mixed feelings. The first third of the Season is hard to swallow, with many limp episodes in my opinion. Not until Riley leaves does the Season really get going. Some of my absolute favorites are "Checkpoint", "Crush" and "Intervention" was dazzlingly clever as well. Dawn wasn't the gloom and doom to this series that everyone said, either. In fact, I thought Michelle Trachtenberg was awesome, particularly when she finds out the truth about herself. I had heard rumors online about the episode, "The Body" and how incredible it was, but nothing could have prepared me for how profoundly it affected me. It is absolutely chilling and if anyone said this ensemble cast couldn't act they seriously need to watch this episode. Emma Caulfield's breakdown in this episode is pure genius. In my opinion, the silence in this episode is more profound than the silence in Season 4's stunner, "Hush". My only big complaint about the latter part of this season (and I admit I am prejudiced here because I am in LOVE with Angel) was his very, very brief appearance in "Forever". I mean, we know these two can't really get physical, but couldn't Mr. Tall, Dark and Broody at least CUDDLE with her for a couple of days? Her MOM just died for pete's sake!! I'm also disappointed that the legendary "Previously on..." is missing from "The Gift". And what a way to end the season. SHEESH! I was so emotionally drained by the end of all of this, I had to take a nap. And, from what I hear, Season SIX is "The Dark Season"!!?? I loved seeing Willow come out of her shell and take charge toward the end of this season, too. More of that coming soon, I hear. Too bad, according to Amazon, it's going to be more than SEVEN MONTHS before Season 6 is available. Kill me now.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Season
Review: Season Five is, in my opinion, one of the best seasons of Buffy. From meeting Dracula (to which Buffy's reaction was great) to Dawn's appearance, Spike's infatuation with Buffy (hello, was going to stake Drusella for her), and the battle with Glory, Season Five had some of the best episodes and overall arch ever. Glory is the perfect villion. Self-serving, unapologetic, and determined to find "her key." The character of Dawn was a little trying on the nerves this season. She tended towards utter selfishness and bratty behavior, that made for some wincing while I was watching the series. After a while, you just want to smack the kid and tell her to shut up. My favorite part of this season was Spike. When he discovers his love for Buffy, it changed him in a good, making the show even better way. His reaction to Buffy's "gift" was a prime example of how deep his feelings for Buffy were. "The Body" is the best episode of the season. Buffy's reaction to Joyce's natural death was astounding. I cannot believe Sarah Michelle did not get an emmy for her protrayal. Are you telling me that daytime drama was the only place that saw the talent this woman has. Amazing acting, writing, and direction. (Note: There is absolutely no background noise throughout the whole episode.) Overall, Season Five of Buffy rates up there with Season Two. Seeing this series on DVD makes you realize how much television misses this show.
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