Buffy Challenge Post 41: Season 5: Episodes 5 – 6

No Place Like Home

Kicking back and moving on with the Challenge while drinking a glass of Vino, (Red of course…) The life of an Educator on Summer Break, what could be sweeter?

 

Alright for those of you who thought I was going to start this entry with a little tune from the Wizard of Oz, well unfortunately you were right: So here goes all of my Oz references in one hit for your enjoyment:

 

“SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW……… AH A TORNADO!!!……WHO KILLED MY SISTER? WHO KILLED THE WICKED WITCH OF THE EAST?………… I DIDN’T MEAN IT……. DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD……….WE REPRESENT THE LOLLIEPOP GUILD…….. WE WELCOME YOU TO MUNCHKIN LAND…….. FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD……….I’D GO THAT WAY…….WHO SAID THAT?…….IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN………OIL CAN……… IF I ONLY HAD A HEART………. PUT EM UP, PUT EM UP……….. OW WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THAT FOR?……… I’D BE KING OF THE FOREST…….. DORATHY DON’T SLEEP……. CAN’T YOU READ………. NO ONE SEES THE WIZARD NO WAY, NO HOW…… BRING ME THE BROOM STICK OF THE WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST…….. FLY MY PRETTIES, FLY……… AUNTIE EM, PLEASE AUNTIE EM……….. OW I’M MELTING, WHAT A WORLD WHAT A WORLD……… IGNORE THAT MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN…….GOODBYE MY FRIENDS……. THEIR IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME…… YOU WERE THERE AND YOU WERE THERE…..

 

THE END”

 

Ok I’ve got that out of my system, so let’s get started hey,

Again with the previously and come on about the whole Dawn “your in for a surprise thing….” we get it, we are in for a surprise with Dawn now move her story forward faster than at a snails pace…… Eww Spike making out with Buffy, did we really need to be reminded of that? Well if we didn’t need to know what happen last episode then we defiantly need to get caught up 2 months ago….. Why are monks practicing the Black Arts? bit of a contradiction there and they are not winning any awards for the really bad chanting, Biker Vampires are no match for Buffy! Man the security are slack in Sunnydale, Big bald biker fighting a 20 something girl and he just sits back and watches.

I love the Iron Chef, Dawn has some taste in T.V shows! also it’s great to see the little sis taking all the credit for the awesome breakfast. With a name like Buffy, why would you want a nickname from your mum? Today is the big re opening of the Magic Box, and Giles looks ridiculous!!!!  Giles is having as much success on his first day as Flanders did opening the leftoriam. So mum is still sick and here comes Willow who would have a gold membership at the Box.

Kids say the dumbest things at the wrong time, and it seems Dawn has just implemented the break it – bought it policy. Joyce is still having her headaches and I’d say it would have something to do with the anomaly in the universe which is her youngest daughter that has appeared out of no where. Of course it wouldn’t be a season of Buffy without another young hansome bloke to complicate things now would it, as Ben the intern gives us a spiderman reference (now before the challenge I was watching Spidey 2, co incidence? I think not…..) The Security guard is in some real trouble as he gives a warning of on coming doom!

Hey Monk, mess with the dark arts and I’m not sure God is going to be rushing to your rescue. BEWARE A WOMAN IN A RED DRESS! Giles had a customer, and he is HAPPY! Anya still is calling it how she sees it. Buffy think her mother’s illness has something to do with the orb that was found.

Now here is a hint to the Crazy chick in the red dress, if you want someone to tell you something remove the duct tape from the mouth first. OK this guy is SO dead!!! Where did the fat security guard come from? My guess is the Key she is winging about is the Orb that was found. The Magic Box is kicking, who would of thought there was such a demand for this kind of thing. “HEY YOU, HAVE A NICE DAY!” now that is a farewell greeting that will stick! Anya is on to something here, and can that girl wrap a gift or what!!!!

Not another Buffy and Riley uncomfortable scene. The guy is getting strung along and Buffy needs to trust his survival instincts. Just when you think you have some piece and quiet to perform that critical magic spell, along comes your annoying little sister….. I hate it when that happens! Great effect to differentiate the trance from real life. I think that Buffy is starting to realize that Dawn doesn’t belong in this reality. Just when Buffy was about to break Dawn, Giles calls to let us know what the do hickie is.

Spike??? I guess they had to get him into the episode some how to make sure Mastern gets his pay check….. SPIKE REALLY HAS A CRUSH OF BUFFY!!!! That chip in his head must really be doing a number on him. After that totally pointless distraction we’re back on the case with Buffy returning to the home of the Orb. Dawn has a creepy smile on her face and possibly her Evil little sister plan is now in effect.

Whoa does the chick in Red whack a really hard. Anya is now working for Giles and seems to be the only person who is not exhausted by the first day rush! Has Buffy met her match? Oh no she has broken her heel off her RED shoe….. Buffy saved the monk guy who lets us all know that the key opens the door….. amazing who would of thought?

DAWN IS THE KEY???? Alright, I’m way off in my theory of Dawn, I am impressed to say the least as this is not something I saw coming. The fate of the Universe now rests on Buffy’s ability to protect her sister and make sure whoever is after the key doesn’t find out the truth. The question is, will she tell anyone? and what is making Joyce sick?

Well I must say that the whole Dawn thing has finally paid off in a MAJOR way!!! I just think it could of been done one episode earlier…..

Good episode, no real detail about the red dress lady or who she was? Both Spike and Riley were a waste of time in this episode as they had nothing to do with the plot, and I did like the Magic Box scenes, however where did all these customers come from?

7/10

Family

Well the key hole on the DVD set makes some sense, Really another previously? I know I complained that they didn’t do it enough in the past but this is getting ridiculous! Did the producers of the show think that by the 5th season the audiences memory span had shrunk exponentially? I hope it makes sense in the context of the show this episode.

According to the previously, Spike has a crush on Buffy, Terra pulls a fast one on Willow and we find out Dawn is the key. Terra is still got her “I’m useless attitude going” and it seems we have left off right where we ended last episode, as for the question of “Will Buffy tell anyone?” the answer is yes and I guess Giles is the one to tell.

So these mystics have implanted Dawn into everyone’s memories and I think it is a wise decision that Buffy has shared this burden with Giles and Giles alone. Never get a Woman in a Red dress angry.

It’s a wise move for Buffy to move back home with the Key, but now she is becoming the over protective older sister. Terra is still struggling to fit in and we go back to the hospital where Ben gives all the ladies watching the show something to look at only for it to be broken up by another ugly looking demon who gets an offer from our unnamed red woman. Anya is really getting into the whole working bit. Buffy is right the lady in red is kind of like Cordilea. Xander and Buffy are wondering what to get Terra, the whole partner of your best friend who you don’t really know conundrum.

At first I thought Buffy just went to beat up on Spike to get out some frustrations but seeing that Spike is fighting back without the headaches I would wager that this is another one of his dreams where they end up making out again. Yep and that was a little disturbing, but if I was with Harmony, I’d be thinking of some one else also.

Still struggling with the whole “what to get Terra” problem and we meet Donnie, Terra’s brother. But wait we have more her Dad and Cousin Beth show up for the party. (My guess is they don’t know about Terra’s extra curricular activities. Including her girlfriend.) Man I’m now rolling my eyes every time Buffy and Riley kiss, it wasn’t that bad when she was with Angel.

Buffy needs to lay off Dawn and stop being overprotective. Yes there is a greater deal of responsibility to keep her safe but she can’t do it by smothering her. Riley rushes out upset that Buffy is not opening up.

So Terra’s Dad doesn’t approve of her being a witch. Also it seems she is a ticking time bomb of EVIL! and what does he mean about her true face? Can’t Willow date someone who is, I don’t know? just human? We check out the hide out of the nameless villain so until I have a name I’m just going to refer to her as Red. I think she is mainly upset about her shoe breaking more than anything else. So Red is the one who should not be named, and she is not happy that she is facing a slayer seeing it is below her.

Terra is acting really weird and I think that the reason she didn’t want the demon spell to work is that she is a demon.  Did she just place a spell on her friends? We switch to Riley who is drowning his sorrows at the local monster hangout. Oh man I hate it when pretty vampire women try to pick me up at the bar. By the way, Harmony is still annoying.

Cousin Beth is really nasty. I knew it! Terra is part Demon. (I know, I know I had no Idea.) Unfortunately Terra’s Demon blindness spell is about to have some dire effect on everyone as the really tacky demons are able to waltz in without anyone noticing. Nice work with the fighting the invisible demons. It can’t be a fight without Giles getting hit. Spike shows up to help save the day. While Terra comes right on time to break the spell she placed on everyone. This allows Buffy to save the day, unfortunately for Terra her family wants to take her away. Good thing that she has real friends who won’t let her go without a fight…. except for Spike who doesn’t care what happens! (brilliant writing.)

Spike removes all doubt that Terra is a Demon by punching her in the nose, the headache proves that she is 100% human and her family are wackos! (Did Spike just get thanked for punching a girl?) I really don’t like cousin Beth, good thing we don’t have to see her again. All is good again and it’s party time for Terra. *Rolls Eyes at Buffy and Riley kissing* Terra and Willow do make a cute couple. Nice touch with the floating dance.

This was a tough one to gauge, as it was great to have an episode focus on a minor character, it moved the story along nicely and gave a purpose for Spike to be in it. (I guess) Still a bit slow in patches and the Riley at the Bar scene was pointless.

7/10

 

Two decent episodes this time with some nice twists thrown in, Until next time Challengers, make sure you don’t make your friends blind to any demons as you never know when they’ll attack!

7/10

Buffy Challenge Post 40: Season 5: Episode 3 - 4

The Replacement

Hey Challengers, after another hiatus, (due to the end of the school year) were back with another installment of the Buffy Challenge.......

 

So we last left off with a new character introduced into Buffy's world in the form of Dawn, now little sisters can be creepy but one who appear out of no where and the world changes around her to acknowledge her existence is  out there....... I have a theory about it but more on that later.

I know what your all thinking,  JUST HIT PLAY ALREADY!!!!!

Oh we started with a "Previously on Buffy......" and the honor goes to Giles, recapping Dawn and her weird no one knows the real me comment that we ended on, Anya is in bad shape and as a former demon I don't think she would really know what pain is.

Buffy is the poster child for grumpy 20 something females, even badly dubbed Kung fu can't cheer her up. Also I totally agree Kung Fu is the most valuable import from the orient, who needs a hot plate these days anyway? Buffy is the last person to give an analyst on kung fu. Switch to this weeks villain and it looks like a rejected character from Mortal Kombat the Video game. Well Dawn has made the credits so I guess she is sticking around for a while.

Xander is looking for a new dig and the apartment that he chose is really nice. However I doubt it that he could afford a place that nice. Can't Buffy and Riley keep their hands off themselves. Anya still has an issue with being tactful. Giles runs into rock head and tries to beat the fertility out of him where  once again Giles gets knocked on his butt!

 

Is it me or are they able to find out about the demon really quickly? Hey Buffy is that a medieval Ax in your hand or your just happy to see us? (I know it's a tacky joke but it's a nice ax)  Spike has hit on hard times rummaging through the garbage when Rock head shows up with a really cool pistol, it seems he is "Smarter than the Average Demon....." (BTW he is the best looking Demon I've seen on this show so far! The glowing cracks in the skull is an awesome effect!) Xander saves Buffy and gets blasted by some weird beam. Thankfully he is alright, except for the slight side effect of ANOTHER XANDER!!!! (If one wasn't bad enough?)

Now for the next 30 minutes were going to play a game of "Pick the real Xander...." My guess it's the one left in the garbage. The other one is well too groomed. This makes the second Xander Doppelganger we have seen in this show. (We all remember vampire Xander from a few seasons ago.)

I agree totally Dawn, those two are getting too sad with all the making out. Now were watching Spike fall deeper into his own madness as he is creating his own girlfriend from the scraps he collected from the garbage only to knock her block off. Note to the writers PLEASE DO SOMETHING AWESOME WITH SPIKE THIS SEASON!!!!!! There has been no real character development for him in a long time.

Who I think is Fake Xander has rocked up to work way over dressed. I love the fact that all it takes is brushing the hair in a different way to show a different character trait. (there is something in the coin.... It's making people do things to his favor.) Real Xander just got laid out be Fake Xander.

Fake Xander has now got Buffy and the gang onside. Snoopy Dance Xander is the real deal and it seems that Willow didn't meet the Fake Xander. While real Xander thinks it's a robot, fake Xander is making sure Buffy is on his side, great direction by the way with jumping between scenes.

I think real Xander is starting doubt himself, (I know how that feels! I have more in common with him than I thought, due to my Kick-ass Comic book collection!) Willow did handle her Doppelganger ok I guess. Fake Xander is making a move on real Xander's girl and she is mesmerized by the flashy apartment. Anya has a list of things she wants in her life, including a boat.

Anya's mortality has finally dawned on her and now she needs to decide who the real Xander is. Cool, Xander is now split in two personalities, they are both the real Xander? What a really cool twist!

Where did wimpy Xander get a gun from? I am really starting to get tired of the whole Riley and Buffy relationship. So the gun belongs to Anya? Rock head shows up to finish the job only to take a beating by Buffy. So Anya wants to be the meat in a Xander Sandwich, and I agree with Giles lets move on and ignore that request. Willow works her magic and we are back to one Xander to the disapproval of Anya.

The new apartment stays and we have to listen to Riley go on about how much he loves Buffy and how he knows the feeling is not mutual!

Well a fun episode, rock head looked cool but had a stupid plan that was never going to work, I did enjoy the twist in the show and how it highlighted the duality of man. I see how we can really be two sides of a coin, a confident person and on the other side a neurotic mess. I don't think I could relate better to an episode I've seen in this series, however every time Buffy and Riley were alone on the screen I wanted to switch off. Also the recap was useless in this episode as it give any more information on what it was recapping other than let the audience know that Anya was hurt.

7/10

Out of my Mind

Last few seasons they didn't let us know what happen previously so far season 5 they are over doing it, and what makes it worse they are going back to things that happen in season 4. This is not a good thing since I'm trying to forget what happen in season 4, however if Giles thinks we need a bit of recap on Riley's story then so be it. He has some chip in him that makes him a super soldier. Also that is now the 3rd time we have seen the whole Dawn thing.

For a change, we are seeing Buffy run around in the dark. Can't even wait for the Vampire to get out of his grave. With all these people jumping in on the vampire killing action why does Buffy even bother? I still don't understand how vampires can bleed? Poor Spike, he has become a pathetic character who has nothing better to do. Except plot his revenge on Buffy.

Oh great, now Buffy is becoming an intellect, I can't believe she is still at college. Giles and Xander are still working on the Magic Box. Imitation Nute Eyes, not as good as the real thing!  Now before I continue I'll remind people I'm not a fan of the whole dark magic thing. Buffy's training dungeon is really cool!

Bloody Hell, Harmony is back and she actually thinks she is Buffy's Nemisis? KILL HER SPIKE! PLEASE!!!! All villains do smoke of course! Smoking is Evil.  Did I mention that the whole Riley and Buffy relationship is making me sick. Ah what just happen? Did Joyce relies that Dawn is an anomaly and it fried her brain?

Riley's heart is racing and I'm no doctor but isn't a pulse of 150 is a little fast? All this means is we are calling back to season 4 and the initiative, do we really need to go back a tie up this loose end? couldn't we just say everything is fine and it was magic?

What is Xander talking about? Playing 20 questions with Harmony is too much torture for even the undead!  Could something good come out of this episode? could we be seeing Spike have his chip removed? I hope so.

Willow and Terra check out the burnt out school and we discover that Terra has even less self confidence in her abilities than Willow did in earlier seasons. Buffy has finally found Riley who seems to be getting use to the power that has developed due to all the drugs that have been pumped into him. Does Riley have Angel envy? Can't keep eyes open...... Brain Shutting down........ Boredom setting in due to sappy Buffy and Riley scene.

I'm not sure spike really thought out the whole having  Harmony help idea. She is so ANOYING! Now she is smoking during open brain surgery. Finally the chip is OUT! and we are going to get the old Spike back! Big man Riley is beating up on a girl and the Doctor seems to have pulled a fast one on Spike. Which means after getting our hopes up, nothing has changed.

Not even going to dignify the whole "You should be back with the Army speech."

Will Buffy kill Spike? it's what he wants but she cant do it and I can't believe I just saw what I did, Spike and Buffy together for real??????? Thankfully it was just a nightmare!

What a pointless episode.... it did little to further the story, not even Spike could of saved that mess.

3/10

 

Well one good one and the first sub par episode for season 5. There is a lot to like in this season and "Out of my Mind" delivered none of it.

See you soon Challengers!