Rating: 
Summary: what can I say, I just love her
Review: not the greatest season of the series but some of the episodes are a classic. this time it starts off as Buffy meets Dracula, then its goes on as this chick named Glory arrives in town and we find out Buffy has a sister named Dawn, also Emma Caulfield as Anya is in the cast credits and so is Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn. Spike is my favorite in this season with his pinting over Buffy as he finds out he loves her madly and she hates his guts. We also see Marc Blucas(Riley) leave the show in the 10th episode Into The Woods. some hot lesbian scenes involve Alyson Hannigan and Amber Benson, if Seth Green(OZ) was still around he would of gotten two girlfriends, but no he had to leave. moving along we still have Giles and Xander, which Xander proposes to Anya in the end episode where Buffy dies a second time since the first season. a must have in any Buffy fan collection. you also get to see when Spike was bit and turned as well in the episode Fool For Love. saver it
Rating: 
Summary: One of the Stronger seasons
Review: Season 5 of Buffy starts off with the goofy and fun episode where Dracula comes to Sunydale. That episode ends strangely because all of a sudden Buffy has a sister. It turns out she's really something called "the key" and she was put in human form by monks for Buffy to protect from an evil god called Glory. Glory wants to use the key to open up a dimension that would bring about the end of the world. Buffy and her friends all have memories of her sister Dawn as if she was always there. Dawn even thinks she's a real girl and Buffy has to hide it from her that she's not. If having to protect Dawn from Glory isn't enough for Buffy, her mom suddenly dies. She has to deal with having to take care of the house and raise Dawn as well. The whole funeral episode for Buffy's mom is moody and depressing and actually makes you feel like you lose someone as well. It's well done and feels real even if it's not something you would expect from Buffy. For a season that starts off funny it winds up being pretty sad. Buffy loses a lot this season, her b/f leaves, her mom dies and even she dies. Oh on top of it she finds out Spike has a crush on her so she doesn't exactly like that either. Despite being an overly dramatic season it's also pretty damn strong. A lot happens all in one season and it has it's best villian with Glory. This was the last strong season, I liked the last one but it felt rushed to me and wasn't worthy of being the last season. Season 5 was more worthy of being the last one.
Rating:
Summary: I Love it absouletely love it One Of My Fave Seasons.
Review: I Love this season i like how Glory and Buffy fought at the end i liked the season finale but why did it have to happen that way of buffy dying and all. But I also like how Spike fell in love with Buffy that was so cute i just wish buffy love spike because in season 7 she says she loved him but does she? Oh and How Riley knew spike like buffy that was rude what he did to him.
Rating:
Summary: The Quintessential Buffy
Review: In all good Sci-Fi/Fantasy television, (or comic book for that matter) there comes a point where the hero meets his or her match; when the hero comes up against their greatest challenge; when fans wonder, if even for a second, if the hero is going to make it out of this one. It is a struggle that forever defines the hero. For the 6 Million-Dollar Man it was the Sasquatch. For the Captain Picard it was the Borg. For Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this struggle was played out over the course of the 5th season against a seemingly undefeatable adversary know as "Glory." I am not a "Buffer" or an avid fan of the show, though I do like it. But if I were to own one season on DVD, it would be the 5th. The writing is cleaver and sharp, popping off the screen. The characters, by 5th season, are well define and ripe for the sort of ultimate challenge that "Glory" represents. And the character of "Dawn" is the most refreshingly creative creation in Sci-Fi/Fantasy since Londo Mollari. At my age, I didn't think the genre had any more surprises for me and was resigned to turing off the TV and watching my old Prisoner tapes, until I met "Dawn". In comparison to this season, 6th seems dull and self-loathing. And I didn't even watch 7th. Come to think of it, I haven't watch much TV recently. People keeping telling me Smallville is good, but I don't know. Board with the Star Trek Franchise, lamenting the end of Babylon 5, I am adrift without a show, in a sea of reality date programs. I'm even thinking about canceling my cable. The last thing I saw of merit before the lights went out was 5th season Buffy. It's that good and it's worth owning (or at least renting).
Rating:
Summary: My thoughts.....
Review: In my opinion, I feel that this season was probably one of the best seasons out of all seven. It touches on all the subjects that really matter. First of all, it deals with a death in the family. It shows that everyone reacts differently to it, and that no way is wrong. It answers questions that some people are afraid to ask, or even touch on. Second of all, it touches on the question that everyone asks at least once in their life. I know I have. And that question is, "Why am I really here?" It shows that you're not alone in the world, when feeling like that. Now, about Dawn. I've been readin that a lot of people don't like her. Honestly, I feel she brought somethin to the show. Like one previously said, she brought the sister relationship to the show. And it wasn't fake. Believe me, I have an older sister, and we act the exact same way as Buffy and Dawn. I could personally relate to them. My sister and I are always bickering, but when it really counts, we'll always be there for one another, no matter what. That is what real sibling relationships are like, and that is what Joss portrayed. I gotta give him props for that one. I loved the fact that Spike started falling in love with Buffy in this season. I always felt they had that chemistry, and was hoping that they would touch on that in the show, and they finally did. All in all, I say this and season seven are the best ones.
Rating:
Summary: The Good, the Bad, and the Dawn
Review: Buffy's first four seasons allowed weekly viewers to escape into a world of fantasy and whim, where what went bump in the night was real, and there were heroes to save us. The series took a turn in the fifth season, departing from the humorous and inane, and focusing on more mature subjects. Humanity was the key of this season. Dawn lacked it, Spike tried to have it, and Joyce was killed because of it. Though the season as a whole did not live up to the first four, some of the best episodes of the series appear in "Buffy" Season Five: "Buffy vs. Dracula"~Perhaps the funniest episode of all. Buffy meets the grandaddy of them all, and nearly lets his seductive aura get the best of her. "Fool for Love"~A very personal episode for Buffy and Spike. Drusilla is back in town, and wants to relive her glory days with Spike by her side. Sadly, Spike had now fallen for the Slayer. "The Body"~The fact that Sarah Michelle Gellar did not win an award for this performance makes me sick. This episode is full of raw emotion, and for the first time, death is natural, and unavoidable. Everyone grew up a little here. "The Gift"~An epic episode with lots of elaborate fights and special effects. By far the best season finale of the series. Willow shows of all her magical talents, and Glory gets a god size butt kicking! This should have been the series finale, but, alas, we got two more after it. Say what you want about the ridiculousness of Dawn's constant whinning, or the fact that Riley was even on the show at all! You can say this wasn't the best season ever, but it had a lot of important turning points for the cast, the crew, and the series as a whole. A must have for the Buffy fan.
Rating: 
Summary: Have to Love Buffy
Review: I have to agree with some of the other reviewers here and say that I did not love the fith season in its entirety. I hate the character of Dawn, but do love the character of Glory. I wish they had focused more on Glory and less on the Dawn aspect of the season. I feel this season explores more indepth the connection between the Scooby gang as a cohesive whole (tieing it back with the finally of season 4). I have to agree though that seasons 5,6, and 7 can not compete with the previous season with quality. Season 2, and 3 realy set the bar if you ask me, but all things buffy are worth owning, and I'm going to get this just to enjoy the brief views of Glory.
Rating: 
Summary: What's the point of having 4 of 7?
Review: I have to say that I am in total agreement with what has been said by ONCEAGOTH and others...season five spelled the end for the series, (I have a 12 year old niece who's not as annoying and whiny as Dawn! ) I was actually surprised to see the series go into a sixth season with her still around.... That being said, if you are a true collector and want to complete(eventually) the whole series, then buy it for that reason only. If you don't care to own the entire series but like watching Buffy on your own schedule, then buy the first four seasons and save "5" for the TV reruns.
Rating:
Summary: Dawn's Arrival...
Review: ...
The introduction of Dawn caused somewhat of a paradigm shift in the show. Personally, I was quite fond of her character, and thought Season 5 was a top-notch offering. From my perspective, Dawn's character and Season 5 held many virtues - so I don't feel naïve or undiscerning in singing their praises. The strength of the Buffy series lies in its thought-provoking subtext. The introduction of Dawn was a way for Joss Whedon to focus on a new theme - the notion of 'family'. As the writers have suggested, Dawn's storyline was meant as a metaphorical adoption scenario. As Buffy struggles to accept Dawn, the show touches on some thought-provoking themes. What does it really mean to be someone's sister? What is the true nature of family? Dawn's introduction inspired a large amount of self-reflection and growth regarding Buffy, herself. As she struggled with the rigours and rewards of caring for her sister, we saw a different side of Buffy's character. In S5, Joss wanted to Buffy to experience a powerful emotional relationship - only this time, he decided it should not be in the form of a boyfriend. As such, I was quite pleased with Dawn's introduction. I liked that Buffy and Dawn were not portrayed as having an idealistic, sappy dynamic. Their sisterly relationship came across as quite realistic. Just like real siblings, they teased and bickered, but were ultimately there for one another. In my view, Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) and Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) had genuine chemistry. The actresses were already friends with one another, based on past work experience - so their off-screen relationship nicely complements their onscreen work. For such a young actress, I thought Michelle Trachtenberg added a surprising level of depth to her portrayal of Dawn. She manages to capture subtle emotions, and performs remarkably well during some emotionally weighty scenes. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with her performance. So all in all, I quite enjoyed both Dawn and Season 5. In my opinion, the underlying themes of the season were complex, thought provoking, and intellectually satisfying. I greatly enjoyed S1-S4. But in my opinion S5 did a fine job of carrying on the Buffy tradition - i.e., weaving an emotionally involving subtext into an action-packed fantasy show.
Rating: 
Summary: You've GOT to be kidding
Review: I'm utterly bewildered by the praises heaped on Season 5 here. Personally, I find 5 extraordinarily painful to watch, largely because of "Dawn". Words fail to express my vehement HATRED for that character---IMHO, she ruined Buffy. I don't know if it's possible for a character to be more annoying than that adenoidal adolescent with the shrill screams. Simply can't imagine anyone as hip as Buffy tolerating such a whiny-ass character, let alone sacrificing her life for her. Dawn's appearance marks the beginning of the end for Buffy as a quality show, and that hurt. How could anyone who has seen Seasons 1 through 4 rate Season 5 as "The Best"? Blows my mind, it is beyond comprehension. Yes, 5 had its moments. "The Body" is extraordinary (but I still have to fast-forward through every single scene in which Dawn appears). The deeper exploration of Buffy and Riley's relationship is well-wrought. The plot twist of Spike developing feelings for the Slayer is definitely fun--- Spike has always been one of the best things about the show. But as a whole, Season 5 is stilted and artificial in a way that defies description. I found the whole "Glory" and "Key" thing even harder to digest than "the Initiative". And those ridiculous Knights of Byzantium? One gets the distinct impression that Joss took off and was spending more time on Angel and less on Buffy. It just got plain BAD. It's clear that they were running out of ideas, especially when they had to go to the extreme of killing Buffy. Six and Seven got even worse (with the stunning exception of "Once More, With Feeling"), but Five was definitely the beginning of the end. There are still flashes of the witty dialog and good writing that characterized the earlier seasons, but not enough to explain the hosannahs being sung in reviews here. By the time Sunnydale collapsed into the Hellmouth at the end of Season 7, it was a mercy killing. Having said all that: There's no accounting for taste, and if you don't mind Dawn and love anything Buffy, go for Season 5. The truly discerning Buffy fan will stick with the preceding seasons as the ultimate representations of one of the cleverest and most underappreciated television shows ever produced.
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