Buffy Challenge Post 53: Season 6: Episodes 7 – 8

Once more with feeling

Previously …….. Spike loves Buffy ……. Buffy is repulsed ….. Willow goes all Dark magic in bringing Buffy back ….. Buffy was in heaven …… Dawn is a Rebel ……. Xander and Anya are getting Married …. Terra and Willow get into a fight over all the magic that is used and Willow decides to wipe her memory.

Love the old time title sequence! Like watching a old 50’s musical. Terra finds the plant used for the spell and thinks it’s a nice jesture… so far no dialog just up beat music ….. Sarah Michelle Gellar has great voice! Nice work with the choreography matching the words. The first song is just about Buffy going through the motions!

The crew are just also going through their usual day and everyone is getting the musical feeling. Ok Giles is not singing as well. I think it might be rocker bunnies! or midgets? I have a feeling this is going to be hard to blog as I don’t want to pause as the music is awesome!!! I think Buffy is like a cat who has lost 2 lives. So something is not right as the whole town is singing and even Dawn was singing at school!

I wonder what that necklace is for? Terra is HOT!!  Willow is one lucky girl. Wow Terra has an amazing voice!!! It’s like watching a disney movie with the sparkles! Now if they weren’t witches I wouldn’t believe they can go to their room like that (wow they are dirty lyrics)

Guy dances to death …. Sorry distracted by Anya……what a great song between Xander and Anya, love it! Anya and Xander are really getting upset about the singing. People dancing in the streets, this isn’t the Sunnydale we know folks.

Spike knows what is going on, his solution, Alcohol! Spike could join a boy band no problem now he switches into punk rocker! Who has a funeral at night in the most vampire populated town in America? Another good song!

Michael Flatly is a demon? Dawn is reminding Terra about the fight, which brings back her memory….. this can’t be good. Dawn is a little magpie stealing the shiny things and she is abducted by Howdy Doody.  We see the monster who is behind the musical episode! Dawn can dance! There is no such thing as a good demon! I think sometimes they over do the look of the demon, the red guy would look better without the chin thing, but he can also dance really well!

Buffy is breaking wood, we can only hope it becomes a training montage from an 80’s movie. Giles is tone deaf! and here comes the 80’s movie training montage!  Terra is off to confront Willow after finding out what the plant does. Here comes the split scene song from two characters who are singing about the same feelings.

Spike captures the demons' lackey who lets them know that Dawn is in trouble and Buffy has to go alone and stand up for herself and her family.

I think people are singing their feelings.  The strength of this show is that  the support characters are actually that, support characters! It’s Show time with the big door slam! Buffy is singing and kicking butt at the same time! (with back up singers!) The truth comes out through song!!! Buffy is about to dance her way to death, however thanks to Spike she survives. “The hardest thing in this world is to live in it!” Those are true words. Xander? brought out the dancing talisman? I guess he didn’t want any part of Xander and he is GONE! but they are still singing? “Bugger This” Nice line Spike.

Buffy has also had enough of the singing, or maybe not, time for the Buffy Spike duet ending in the BIG KISS……. Where do we go from here indeed? Love the Grr Arrr singing.

Well that certainly lived up to the hype! What a wonderful episode and we have this to thank for the musical episode of Scrubs also!

10/10

Tabula Rasa

Previously on Buffy ….. Buffy finds Mum dead ….. Xander and Anya are getting married …… Spike is playing Kitten Poker …… Buffy needs Giles …… Terra is upset with Willow …..Willow erases Terra’s memory……. Buffy confides in Spike about being in heaven ….. Buffy kisses Spike.

walking in the cemetery at night on patrol and Spike nearly gets spiked, Spike needs to talk and Buffy but that is interrupted by a giant shark man who wants his kittens! His minions attack and Sharky tries to hire Buffy. He is a loan shark, clever! New credit sequence.

The guys are discussing what heaven is like? Willow is feeling guilty about bringing her back and Xander is trying to simplify the situation. Willow wants to go back to magic and Terra is warning Willow to stop it. She let’s Willow know that she violated her mind! Terra is laying down the law and Willow is shocked to hear this from her. Terra dumps Willow and Willow promises to go cold turkey, and while this happens Giles wants to leave Buffy to fend for herself.

Willow has gone too far now as she has practiced another spell, Giles is announcing he is about to leave when Spike barges in dressed as Giles looking for asylum. Willow fires up her spell. Buffy can’t handle the pressure anymore of what she is going through as everyone falls asleep due to the spell that was cast.

Everyone wakes up and they don’t know who everyone is or who they are.   This had to happen in the magic box. Giles figures out he is British, and Spike also figures out he is English also. They find out who they are from their wallets, so now they figure out that Rupert and Anya are enganged, Spike is Randy and Giles’ son, Xander and Willow are going out, Tarra and Willow think they are study buddies and Buffy who names herself ‘Joan’ after her mum figure out she and Dawn are sisters. It took me 6 seasons to figure out who everyone is and now they do this to me!

They open up the door to Vampires and they are scared! Giles thinks that they can use the magic and they try to escape. “Joan” kills one of the vampires. She figures out she is a superhero! Rupert gives his son a pep talk and hug. Randy turns into a Vampire and fights off the others around. I’m loving this episode!

Giles finds his ticket to London. Anya is trusting her intuition. Ahh a Bunny….. A noble Vampire, a vampire with a soul…. that does sound lame…… Argh more bunnies! The rest of them go through the sewer and Terra and Willow get really close, Anya has made a real mess of things. Joan and Randy are fighting the vampire army…. while Giles is sword fighting a skeleton. Willow figures out she likes girls and Anya whacks Giles in the head!

Giles gets the right spell down and the memory comes flying back to everyone or maybe not. Giles and Anya make up, while Willow loses the rock that is causing all the problems. With Xander accidently destroying the stone everyone’s memories come back. King Ralph is a funny film by the way! Willow is in some serious trouble now. Sharky is giving Spike a talking to but when Spike stands up he backs off!

Buffy is looking so lonely sitting there by herself. Terra moves out and Willow wallows in self pitty over her action while Giles is off to London. I have a feeling that this episode will change how things are for the rest of the series. Dawn is upset that Terra is leaving and for the second episode in a row ……. Buffy is kissing Spike.

All I can say is that was brilliant!!!!

10/10

Well we are moving at a good pace here and two brilliant episodes, well folks  just remember that if your going to dance make sure you don’t set yourself on fire!

Buffy Challenge Post 52: Season 6: Episodes 5 – 6

Life Serial

Previously on Buffy…….. Buffy finds her Mum dead……Buffy is broke……. The nerds are revenging…..Buffy confines in Spike….Buffy to Angel

Buffy comes home with Chicken, too bad dinner has been served. They are all curious about how Angel is going….. I guess I’m the only one who doesn’t care? So Buffy wants to go back to school, shouldn’t she get the job?

The nerds are trying to figure out how to get to buffy…. Now that is a van! I love the DEATH STAR ON THE VAN!! DON’T PAINT OVER IT!!!!

Social construction of reality with Mike! This class is going way too fast….. Buffy is feeling lost and confused like we all are…. I want to do introduction to pies….. for evil nerds they still wave really dorky….. ‘m surprised no one at the campus is concerned about the black van parked on canvas….. What is going on with Buffy? is she hearing things? and seeing things? Whoa time is flying. That effect is SO COOL!!!! Buffy has found the bug that was planted on her that made time fly….. Round one to Buffy!

So Buffy gets a job working with Xander, this can’t be good for Xander. The boys are not happy that ‘Gidget’ has joined the crew.  But shows the boys that her super strength has some advantages and disadvantages…. like finishing the work quickly.

Next up on the nerd battles, pan flute demons, who get their plastic butts handed to them. I SO WANT A STAR WARS HORN!!! Unfortunately the demons  have cost her the jobs. Xander figures out there is something going on and also fires Buffy. Round two to the nerds (because she got fired!)

Buffy is now going to work for Anya at the magic box. I have no idea how they got the camera in the skull but they did and after a magic spell that smokes up the van we are onto round 3. Buffy is selling away (essence of slug can be romantic!) Buffy verses a hand.It’s groundhog day! Lets see if Buffy can sell the hand properly this time? No, lets try again, not this time,  a more agressive approach maybe? Buffy figures it out and the nerds are not happy with the result, and Buffy quits!

What to do when things are going wrong? Go drinking with Spike! Buffy can really hold her liquor, Spike gets to play poker with the demons to gather intel and make a buck on the side, or are they playing for kittens?

Final jeopardy time for the nerds and Spike out cheats the other demons. Buffy lets the kittens go and she rattles off her problems and can only be around a neutered vampire who cheats at kitten poker. The nerds are debating James Bond and while that happens Buffy picks out the van. “Grab your magic bone!” That is the lamest demon they have ever had on that show with the worst exit ever! It’s just hte smallest nerd after a changing spell. It seems they are just collecting data for future battles.

Buffy is hung over and Giles reassures her that she was being tested by someone and she is surviving. Giles hands Buffy a check to help her out with her financial issues in a touching scene.

What a fun episode! So much fun with really great gags that made me laugh out loud!

8/10

All the way

Previously on Buffy….. Xander and Anya are figthing about announcing the engagement….. dawn wants to do research……. Buffy has to be Dawns guardian…… Willow is worried about Buffy and Spike knows Buffy doesn’t love him but just wants respect

It’s haloween time at the magic box and Xander is a gay pirate, Anya is a Charlie’s Angel ….. Willow is trying to defend witches everywhere…. Buffy is running errands for Anya where she runs into Spike who was about to steal supplies. Spike wonders if Buffy wants to patrol and I think she got that last one wrong!

We follow a creepy old man who is singing pop goes the weasel, checking out the kids walking past holding a knife…… this can’t be good!

Anya is on a high from the profits made on haloween. If only we got to see Willow’s Fantasia! The dance of capitalist superiority is awesome! Xander and Anya announce their engagement finally. Anya is showing off her fancy big ring as they celebrate with a decorating spell. Terra is concerned that Willow is over magician. Buffy still doesn’t know her own strength. Like all 15 year olds Dawn wants a tattoo, and like all older siblings Buffy said NO!

Dawn and her friend do the whole, they think their staying at each others house as they crash at a park and egg houses, flatten tiers and other petty crimes. Giles gives Xander some advice about getting married as the teen hooligens are checking out the creepy old mans house and Dawn is going to destroy a pumpkin when the old man lets them in to the house, bad move.

This man is creepy and pop goes the weasel is just disturbing…… I didn’t see that coming! Nice swerve, with the teen being a Vampire, Dawn is going to be way over her head. Meanwhile Anya is rattling off all things she wants in a wedding without breathing. Xander is worried about the wedding but Buffy reassures him. She finally decides to go off on patrol.

Dawn is being seduced by the vampire boys as Giles finds out that Dawn is not where she is. Bye bye Dawn’s friend. Dawn is in some serious trouble as the vampire just wants a taste. Dawn has her first kiss and if she isn’t saved it will be her last!

Terra and Willow are on the hunt and Terra is disturbed that Willow is going straight to magic. Willow is getting really nasty. Back to Dawn and the vampire are still going at it! Where his real face is shown. Buffy goes looking for Spike for patrol where he lets her know that Dawn has disappeared. Giles runs into Dawns friend and takes on the teenage vampire and gets the home made stake in.

Dawn was about to fall for the vampires charm when Giles saves the day momentarily, when he is surrounded by heaps of teenage vampires, good thing Spike and Buffy showed up, Um Buffy the issue is he is a Vampire not that he was making out with your sister. Big brawl happens, love Spike with the crossbow. Dawn gets the last laugh with the stake in the heart.

Buffy leaves Giles to talk to Dawn as Terra is still upset with Willow, so of course Willow wipes Terra’s memory.

good episode, not as enjoyable at the last one (there were more star wars references in Life Serial)

7/10

Well folks the next one is the BIG ONE, the episode that changed the way TV is done……. Until then, just remember to charge for shipping when selling mummy hands or you’ll have it deducted from your wage.

Buffy Challenge Post 51: Season 6: Episodes 3 – 4

After Life

Previously on Buffy……. Spike loves Buffy …… Buffy doesn’t love Spike…… Buffy does a swan dive off the tower and dies…… Willow raises Buffy from the dead but forgets to dig up the coffin first…… demon bikers attack Sunnydale ….. Buffy and Dawn reunite

This starts right off the bat with the bikers leaving town and the gang wondering if Buffy is really Buffy? Anya has a good point, she should of thought the whole “raising from the dead” thing through, I guess there wouldn’t be a 6th season if she didn’t. Dawn take Buffy home……

Buffy looks upset and finally utters her first words “It’s different…” Buffy seems to be in a daze….. those wounds are really bad….. So Terra and Willow moved into Mum’s room, while Buffy is wondering what she has missed out on. Spike better watch what he says about Dawn. It takes a lot for Spike to be speechless. Spike the nurse (another Buffy spin off that didn’t make it….) 147 days gone but Buffy has felt like it was longer.

There is something to this whole Buffy in the spiritual dimension thing happening. “Jetlag from hell has to be….. jetlag from hell!” Willow is trying to justify her actions and I think Anya knows what Buffy has gone through. Spike is a little annoyed that he wasn’t told, has Buffy come back wrong? Will Willow get “rid” of her? Spike is right there is always consequences to magic and come to think of it, everything we do.

Willow is not unworried, is that a double negative? I’m not sure this has gone right, the spell did get interrupted. I’ve felt that kind of disconnection with close friends before. Now that can’t be normal, seeing her friends skulls. Buffy is going crazy, “I know what you did” is that a reference to Hubbie’s movie? Could Buffy be possessed by the baby deer Willow killed? That can’t be a dream as both Willow and Tara saw it.

Now Xander is seeing things …. the hitch hiker is out to get them! Good old Anya, always tells it like it is. The gang is getting back to business hitting the books. The thing has possessed Dawn, the cloudy eyes kind of give it away. Oh and also the fire breathing teenager, that is not normal. This is an episode based on ‘I know what you did last summer.”

Spike is back in his lair as he hears things go bump in the night, it’s only Buffy. This episode has way to much exposition and not enough action. It’s almost like they should of made this bargaining part 3. I really don’t like love struck whiney Spike.

If Xander is starting to agree with Spike then you know he must be really concerned. So the demon is a side effect, great and the only way they can get rid of it is to reverse the spell, which means kill Buffy again. Talk about bad luck! The demon will only need to kill Buffy to survive and they let it know! Nice going Willow!

Buffy vs something she can’t physically touch, a bit of an unfair fight. Willow and Terra even up the fight be trying to solidify the demon. Which caused the fight to last a total of 12 seconds as Buffy cuts off it’s head which leads to…..

Sunshine and summer dresses.

All is well again in the world of Buffy, however I don’t think Buffy is that happy with everything. She thanks them for bringing her back and we get the big group hug. Spike over heard the Super-friends! another DC reference! That will be $1 for asking if Buffy was Ok Spike. She was what? Buffy didn’t want to be brought back? Buffy was taken from heaven? and brought back to earth by her best friends, this is going to be interesting.

A mediocre episode saved by the big reveal at the end….. why are we tormented like that, at least it should set things up for the rest of this season I hope. So that wraps up the story of how they got Buffy back from the dead for a 6th season, lets hope it is worth it.

5/10 (would of been a 4 if it wasn’t for the reveal at the end.)

Flooded

Previously on Buffy….. Buffy finds her mother dead….. Xander proposes to Anya….. Buffy sacrifices herself and dies….. Giles goes to London….. Willow raises Buffy from the dead…… Buffy is in shock from coming back….. Buffy confides in Spike that she was taken from heaven and she is now in hell. (That’s a lot to catch up on!)

Buffy vs the plumbing!!! Dawn’s got her money on the plumbing, and she wins that bet! I guess the episode is called flooded for a reason….

Obviously there is no water restrictions in Sunnydale as Buffy wastes more water. The plumber comes in with big dollar signs in his eyes. The bills really do pile up when your dead, I guess they don’t give life insurance to slayers. So Buffy didn’t get a sense of humor in heaven. Buffy the vampire slayer for hire! Spider-man doesn’t charge for saving lives but he does make a living out of it with all the pictures he takes. Anya is annoyed about the lack of engagement announcement. That is a good question by Anya, why won’t he tell everyone that he and Anya are engaged. I think Xander is wrong on this one and Anya almost bought it.

When is Xander going to grow up? Nice little montage of Buffy practicing for the loan. Ok, the banker has lost me, here comes Buffy’s job through the window right on cue. It’s hard to fight demons in a business skirt. Even after saving the bank she still couldn’t get a loan. (I loved that scene!) Willow trying to get Buffy mad, that is going to be difficult. (Willow’s sleazy affair with Angle… Right!)

Anya is trying to get Xander to grow a pair! This is good stuff with the gang trying to find out what robbed the bank. Giles is back! Does the man only have the one jacket or does he have 4 or 5 of the same type? Giles is trying to get a grip of the whole situation and he can see that Buffy is still not right. Anya is letting Giles know that he can’t have the store back.

On to the demon and his motivations. which turns out to be 3 nerds sitting at home playing doom. They are annoying! Flying demon monkey’s are cool! Is everyone staying at Buffy’s house right now? Giles assures Buffy that they will work out the financial problems. Back to the nerds and they are debating how they are going to get out of the whole “demon wants to kill them mess” We find out that these three geniuses want to take over Sunnydale while playing dungeons and dragons. I love their to do list:

Control the weather.

Miniaturize Fort Knox

Conjure Fake I.Ds

Shrink Ray

Girls

Girls

The Gorilla Thing

They are not going to kill Buffy (like they could.) So they sent the monster to Buffy…. using his Jedi mind trick (her address).

Willow is trying to explain the spell to Giles and he rebukes her for it. Willow doesn’t understand why Giles is upset with her, and did I just hear Willow threaten Giles? Spike has become Buffy’s confidant of sorts and any money that this touching moment will be interrupted by the money grubbing demon.  I guess I was wrong. Nope he interrupts Dawn and Giles. Buffy comes in and is more concerned about the damage to the house than fighting the demon. She works her way down to the flooded basement where she takes out her financial issues out  on the demon.

The nerds are our villains for the season it seems. (I so want a periscope in my room!) Giles is back in the USA with a splitting headache. Buffy is struggling with her mortality. Angel calls and I guess this means crossover……

Well that was a huge improvement, and has shown me why I am enjoying this show, the humor was great in this one and it was a fun little episode….. I can’t wait to see what “Revenge of the Nerds" has installed for us….

7/10

Well that will do it for this time, just remember if your planning to take over your town make sure you get your parents permission to use the basement.

Buffy Challenge Post 50: Season 6: Episodes 1 - 2

After a 6 month delay and much pestering from the Buffy tragic in year 10 at school and the Whedon Stalker in New Zealand, I’ve finally got my act together and am ready to get right into season 6. I wonder why they still call it Buffy the Vampire slayer seeing that she heroically gave up her life in the season 5 finally. (Maybe it was in Sarah Michelle Gellar’s contract that she couldn’t stay dead for more than the summer break between seasons?

OH well without further ado ……..

Bargaining part 1 & 2

Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer……… Scenes from the very first episode where Buffy was sucking on a lolly pop and killing vampires….. Re introducing the Slayer and her “Slayerettes” Two powerful witches, an Ex- Demon and Xander….. who proposes to Anya…….. Buffy and Angel’s history in the space of 6 seconds….. Spike coming back with a chip in his mind…….. Spike falling in love with Buffy ……… introduction of Dawn the key ……. and the ultimate sacrifice for her world as Buffy jumps to her death…… closing off with the tombstone reading

“Buffy Anne Summers”

1981 – 2001

 

Beloved Sister

Devoted Friend

 

She saved the world

A LOT

Ok now into the episode where Spike and the gang is chasing down a BIG vampire…. Willow is on watch with the cool telepathy. Nice throw of the Axe by Giles which led our huge bouncer 0f a vampire to run into the fist of……… BUFFY??????

“Great Googly Moogly Malone….” The big guy aint going down easily, nice move with the lighter by Spike fries the big guy. Over to Xander and Anya as they deal with another Vampire, Buffy comes in and takes him our with a really bad pun……. Oh it’s just the Buffybot from last season programmed by Willow.

As usual we get a new title sequence as Dawn gets the title treatment. We check out Willow and Terra who seem to be in charge of taking care of Dawn and Buffy bot.  Buffybot makes enough sandwiches to feed an army.  So they are officially called the scooby gang. This looks like Pinocchio as Buffybot thinks she is the real thing.

Buffybot has to cover open day at Dawn’s school, this can’t be good. “School is where you learn!” It seems Buffybot’s naiveté is bringing about social change. We switch to Anya and Giles down at the magic box and Anya is NOT happy being criticized. Giles is packing up and going to London? It seems Anya still hasn’t got the grief part of being human down. She wants to announce her engagement but Xander wants to wait for the right time.

Spike’s assessment of the education system is that it is just a factory to spit out mindless robots. Spike seems to have some sort of regret for what happen to Buffy and is now taking care of Dawn.

Creepy music, woman walking alone at night only means bad things….. thankfully Buffybot is there to help, but a bottle to the face has let the secret out. A quick question? I thought if a slayer died then another one would come to replace her? (continuity error perhaps?)

Anya get’s some e-bay shopping done for Willow, who is up to something big….. like bringing Buffy back from the dead. Due to Buffy’s mystical death, there seems to be a shot of bringing her back. (my money is on it will work with side effects.) Buffybot is usb compatible. Dawn comes in to see a charging up Buffybot in a really touching scene. Buffybot is training with Giles and it seems that he forgets that she is the descendent of a toaster oven.

Vampire biker…. at a biker bar where the vampire who cut open the robot lets them know about his discovery. Wait the bikers are not vampires? then what are they? just your run of the mill demons?

Willow is in a park doing her magic and killing Bambi (I wonder what PETA have to say about that scene?) back at the magic box the gang have discovered that Giles was ready to leave. We get the "”Mutant Enemy” noise in the episode, which was a nice touch. So far this episode has been nothing but little nice touches here and there and moving slowly. Hugs all around for Giles as he is about to board his flight back to London. As soon as you hear Willow say “Nothing can go wrong tonight” you just know that something will go wrong.

The ritual starts as Willow gets cut’s up really bad, Xander is concerned however they need to continue. Right at that point the bikers crash through Sunnydale which wakes Spike up. The bikers attack buffybot who gets injured in the scuffle this sends her straight to willow in the middle of the ceremony to bring Buffy back, unfortunately their  arrival messes up the spell.  WHOAH THAT WAS SO COOL, seeing the decomposing corpse of Buffy revert back to normal.

The real Buffy is trying to fight her way out of the coffin while the others have run to safety. Buffybot has been destroyed as the realization of their failure sets in. Oh Buffy escaping from the grave reminds me of the Mythbusters episode where they tested the exact myth, if we went by them then Buffy’s resurrection will be short lived.

Spike is assessing the situation and sees that they need to do the bolt. We get the classic hero breaking out of the grave scene and considering she had to climb through 6 ft of dirt Buffy’s hair is in good shape. Oh Xander, you are such a twit! good thing Terra sent a firefly to guide the way.

Spike commandeers a motorcycle to get Dawn out of trouble as Xander and Willow catch up with Terra and Anya. Willow wants to go out and fight as she lets them know that Buffy is gone. The Bikers have decided to make Sunnydale their new home. For someone who has just come back from the dead Buffy’s hair looks really good!

Buffybot get’s ripped apart by the bikers right in front of the real Buffy. Terra is questioning the reasoning behind even attempting the resurrection as Anya is giving her argument to why their engagement should be announced. Buffy bounces in and they realize it’s the real deal. (Is she mindless?) NOT THE RIGHT TIME ANYA!!!

There is a stare down between the demons and the gang. Willow stands up to the demons only to cop a back hand. Oh is he going to rape them? Buffy does the whole catch the punch routine and then goes on a one woman rampage and takes out ALL the bikers.

Dawn looks so dorky in the football helmet as with Spike they discovered the severed Buffybot who lets them know that Buffy is back! Back at the fight the gang get the upper hand as Buffy does the runner the leader fights back as Dawn is on the trail of her sister who has made her way back to the scene of her epic death. Terra gets the kill with an Axe in the back.

Buffy relives her death over as Dawn comes to save her from jumping again. See that is the problem when towers are built by crazy people, they seem to collapse at any moment. This is taking WAY too long. With Dawn in danger Buffy wakes up and saves the day….. sort of….. not without the dramatic close shave…. oh please just get to the point, Dawn hugs Buffy as she stares into nothing and we end the episode…….

Well there were lots of little nice moments here and there in this double size season premier, it seems like they really wanted to make the return of Buffy mean something and possibly it will come at a cost…… I’m not a huge fan of the occult side of things and the whole resurrection scene with Willow was kind of over the top and creepy. It also seemed that the humor was really forced in this episode by the writers and overall the episode was trying to hit too many notes (it is another example of a double episode that would of been so much better if it was half the length.)

Overall a reasonable return for everyone’s favorite slayer, with lots of questions to be asked from the season premier.

 

7.5 / 10

Until next time folks remember the moral of this episode, if your going to be trying to resurrect anyone make sure you dig up the coffin first. (or not wait so long…..)

Buffy Challenge Post 49: Season 5: Episodes 21 - 22

The Weight of the World

Finally we’re about to wrap up what has been a very emotional and entertaining season so lets get started.

Previously on Buffy……. Glory thinks Tara is the Key and took her mind when she realized she once again made a mistake…….. Glory Finds out that Dawn is the key and Buffy and the gang make a run for it…….. they get chased by knights………The true purpose of the key is revealed and Glory gets her hand on the key.

The minions are running around to get Glory ready for her trip. Glory has some real plans for the destruction of the world but is still not satisfied. Giles has stabled but Buffy is still in shock after losing her sister. Buffy needs to get her head back into the game as she is facing some insurmountable odds.

Buffy tries to shake her back to her senses which only leaves Xander and Spike to go at it and Willow takes charge! Spike lets the guys know that Ben and Glory are the same person and for some reason they have no idea what they are talking about due to the fact that anyone who sees the transformation forgets it ever happens (don’t remember when that happened?)

Glory is getting things ready for the dimensional collapse and Armageddon on the world. (Good thing I read DC comics where multi dimensions and earths are the norm.) Glory hits a soft spot for Dawn and vice versa as Glory starts to feel human emotions which she does not like.  The death of Dawn is the key to the destruction of the universe.

Tara is still troubled (and her acting is phenomenal!) Willow is off to snap Buffy out of whatever issues she is facing while Anya looks after Tara. Willow enters Buffy’s mind to find a young Buffy in her room.

This is a really  surreal scene as we see the memory of when Dawn is brought back from the hospital. Fast forward a few years and Willow is not the only one confused. Giles has been discharged from the hospital, Spike has found nothing at Glory’s apartment (Last time I checked there was no smoking in a hospital Spike) Oh the chip in the head brings such hilarity as Spike gives Xander  a clip over the ear.

It seems that the minds of Glory and Ben are merging and she is losing her power over suppressing the good that is Ben.  Glory wants him removed however that seems unlikely to happen.

Meanwhile back in Buffy’s brain ……….. Willow sees the desert interaction between the first and current slayer. Glory is struggling with humanity, (don’t we all!) She is whining to Dawn that humans are depraved beings who want to kill or die.

Back in Buffy’s mind and we get the explination to “Death is my gift”  Buffy thinks that her only purpose is to kill.

Glory is now Ben and he is remembering Glory’s actions, Dawn is trying to convince him to escape. “This is weird indeed!” as we are back to little Buffy. Around and around we go in her mind.

Spike catches up with the demon who gave Dawn the ability to raise the dead. He is not overly thrilled with helping the guys with Glory, he attacks them as it seems that he is a follower of Glorificus! Xander does a great job killing the old man who bleeds blue. (CREEPY WITH THE EYES OPEN!!!!) Spike gets the box.

Back to the mind of Buffy and she is about to  kill Dawn again. Ben helps Dawn escape but he changes to Glory after knocking Ben out. She is not happy. Now Glory and Ben are fighting each other. (wonderful work with the special effects.) Talk about an internal struggle between good and evil! (with Dawn stuck watching the freak show!) Is this a Monologue or a Dialog?

Back to the crazy world of Buffy’s mind, is there something in that book? It’s the point that Buffy quit and realized that she will not win this war. This episode is like the writers were on some acid trip.

Willow finally snaps Buffy out of her trance and Giles lets the gang know the only way that Glory can be stopped is to kill Dawn!

WHOAH!!! What a weird episode, so much happening so quickly and it sets up for what will be an momentous ending to this season with a huge moral delema for everyone. Kill one to save the world? or try to save Dawn and risk the fate of reality as we know it?

WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO DO?

7/10

The Gift

Here we go……… Previously …… Starting right at the beginning as in season 1 beginning….. Buffy is the Slayer……. We meet everyone for the first time again……and a montage of everything that has happen in the show right to this point in time. A great way to build up the ultimate challenge.  It stops with a kid in the ally way with a Vampire chasing a dumb looking kid. We get back to what we know she does best, fight Vampires it never ceases to amaze me how much wood there is around in Sunnydale and how the Vampires seem to fight Buffy around it. (if I was a Vampire I’d go to a scrap metal yard that way there was no wood) Buffy is not “Just a Girl” She is a Hero!

That was a great way to remind the audience that our hero is a powerful entity as she has spent the last few episodes running away from her troubles…… Giles is going over the ritual that is about to happen and it seems there is not much that can be done to stop the gates to hell open except by killing Dawn. Tensions are rising and thus holds the dilemma of the whole season. The only way to succeed is to stop the ritual and for the first time Giles has lost faith in Buffy’s ability to prevail against insurmountable odds.

Good thing that Anya is there to keep the ideas flowing. (not now Spike!) I think Tara is the answer to this problem. Anya has figured out how to distract Glory and attack Glory. (nice use of props from previous episodes) Xander remembers why he is in love with Anya and Smart Chicks are HOT!

Dawn realizes that Ben is as evil as Glory but the difference is Glory is up front about it. Back in the Box Buffy is working up a sweat and is ready to face the ultimate challenge, Giles has had to be the bad cop, he sees that his purpose is to protect the world and that includes sacrificing Dawn to do that.

Glory is doing her homework and is ready to begin the ritual to open the dimensions to hell. Xander and Anya were “Looking” for the sphere. Xander finds the Buffy Bot. Anya is fantastic as a character as she freaks out over the Bunny she finds and XANDER POPS THE QUESTION!!!!! Which Anya slaps him for it.

This is a slow build up for the final showdown. Buffy lets Willow know that she is the biggest asset that she has while Willow lets her know that she has a plan to restore Tara’s mind. The sphere has been found. ENOUGH with the wrapping up plot threads and get to the action already!

Why does the whole tying up Dawn at the top of a tower scene remind me of the first X-Men movie? Tara is the key to finding Glory!  They find where the ritual is about to happen and Spike offers Willow some liquid courage. Awesome scene with Willow taking back Tara’s mind from Glory. Buffy shows up and it is on! (Or not?) Glory is not feeling great as the sphere is causing major problems for Glory, the opening Buffy needs to even up the odds.

Glory gets her strength back and knocks Buffy’s head off.

BUFFY BOT!!!! I KNEW IT WOULD COME IN HANDY!!!!!

Ogre hammer to the head sends Glory flying, as Buffy goes to save her sister. Once again really impressed with the fight chorography and wire work. Xander is a glorified bricklayer who is excellent with bowling as he smashes her with a wrecking ball.

The old guy was the wild card as he is ready to help Glory win. Spike gets up to protect Dawn but is no match for him. meanwhile Buffy goes to town on Glory with the hammer. She reverts to Ben when Buffy runs to save her sister. Giles does what Buffy couldn’t and kills Ben. Dawn’s blood is spilt and the dimensions are opening up on each other and all types of evil starts to enter our plane.

Buffy sees that she can save her sister by sacrificing her own life. In the ultimate heroic act she jumps into the portal to save the world as it closes, Buffy falls to her death…………….

 

As we look at her tomb stone and fade to black……… I finally get a season finally that makes me think “NO WAY” I never would of seen that ending coming……….. But you can’t keep a good hero down as there is no way the next two seasons of “Buffy” don’t have Buffy in it.

Slow to get started… however……

Amazing ending, to a Really wonderful season!

8/10

See you all for season 6 ……… Oh and on a side note…… Happy Birthday to April, the inspiration for this little experiment which is the Buffy Challenge!

Buffy Challenge Post 48: Season 5: Episode 19 - 20

Tough Love

With 4 episodes to go, they need to get a move on to rap up this very busy season of Buffy..........

Previously ........... Glory is a God, Dawn is the Key, Ben and Glory are one and Ben spilt the beans, Glory captured Spike but couldn't make him talk.....

Oh that's right Buffy is still studying well was studying seeing that she has now having to defer her studies with everything that is going on. Well we get a another layer to Buffy, She likes poetry.

Ben gets fired from his job for not attending for 2 week, that will kind of do it I guess. Ben is fighting the inner demon that is Glory and finally Glory wins out.

Glory is enjoying a bubble bath with sorry I was distracted again by Glory in the bath..... Glory has her minions blindfolded while they try to brainstorm and figure out who the key really is.

which switches us to Dawn..... who has been skipping school. we also get a bit of a timeline as Buffy mentions that it has been a tough couple of months in the meeting with the principal. (oh boy the principal is so dead if she has more than one scene.)

At the magic box and Anya is giving us her definition of patriotism (which I read somewhere is big in America) She is American and she is in love with capitalism and people browsing are so un American! Xander once again needs to quit when he is behind as Buffy needs to have a chat with the foreigner Giles.

Buffy is struggling with Dawn and she is asking Giles to step into the role of authoritarian with Dawn. He lets her know that only Buffy can fill this role. It is a difficult thing to ask for someone so young, to step into the role of her mother. No small task.

Willow is right on the mark with her explanation of kids learning better using visuals. Buffy doesn't buy it and puts her foot down.  I've got a feeling that Dawn is going to feel that Buffy is a hypocrite for leaving her studies.

It seems that Glory has figured out who the Key is and that person is in trouble. (I think there will be some misdirection and it won't be Dawn.) Willow and Terra are having a chat about the Buffy situation and Terra lets Willow know how difficult the situation is. Willow is feeling a little left out because she can't fully grasp the concept of loss. Terra and Willow are examining their relationship and the word frightened has really got Willow on edge. Is this scene going somewhere? It feels a little forced.

Buffy is trying to set some goals for Dawn which is clearly not  working, this is all happening while the minions are watching. Buffy lets Dawn know that if she doesn't get Dawn on track then she will be removed from her care. So far this episode is moving at a snails pace as everyone seems to have their issues.

Surprise, Surprise...... Glory thinks that Terra is the key. The minion is captured by Giles who seems to be afraid of twine. He lets them know that Glory has Terra, she squeezes her had so tight that blood oozes out. When she gets a taste of her blood she realizes that Terra is not the key. Her threats go on deaf ears as Glory does her mind thing to her. Willow arrives too late as Terra is now a schizophrenic mess. The hospital is like communism according to Anya.

Buffy drops Dawn off with Spike for protection, there is way too much exposition in this episode as we hear why Dawn is feeling so horrible. Dawn feels like she is the reason bad things are happening. Willow steps up to the plate and wants to take out Glory, emotions are running high as Willow sets out for revenge as only a witch knows how...... with books!

Whoa, here comes a really peeved off Willow attacking Glory. Unfortunately and quite predictably she is no match for Glory as Buffy comes and saves the day.

Terra is left without a mind as she is reduced to someone with a mental disability. As we think this episode is about to end, Glory shows up and Terra due to her state of mind lets her know that Dawn is the key. fade to black.

There are times when episodes are just bad that it is ridiculous, this was not one of them, this was just boring, this episode could of been cut down to about 15 minutes and it would of hit the key points needed. It was overly padded and it suffered because of that. So hard to rate so I'm going to say......

4/10

Not horrible, just boring.

Spiral

Previously ......... Key was hidden and made into Dawn, Glory is looking for the Key, Ben and Glory are one in the same, Spike loves Buffy, there are knights looking to get their hands on the key, Glory takes Terra's mind and with that finds out Dawn is the key. We start where we left off as Buffy and Dawn run from a really angry god. (who now runs like the flash!). Glory gets hit by a truck (I know how that feels) and Ben takes back control.

Dawn lets the gang know what happened and also makes Buffy out to be a hero. Buffy now realizes that no matter what they have done they have not even been able to put a scratch on Glory. Anya suggests death by piano (nice call back to season two with the rocket launcher from Xander!) I agree with Anya Bugs Bunny is creepy. Buffy wants to run away and Anya agrees. Fight or Flight, and Buffy finally chooses flight.

So there are female minions? who look exactly like the male ones? Ben is trying to figure out a way to rid himself from Glory. Hey another DC Universe reference from Xander with Sergeant Rock! Buffy and Spike rock up in a winabego  (to the protest of Xander and Giles) and they are off on a road trip.

Back at the hospital the knights are signing out their comrade who had the run in with Glory earlier in the season and I have to say that was magnificent penmanship!  Oh that's right they are after the key also and they brought a small army with them.

Giles is driving the van and Xander is not traveling well. Willow is cramming on her Magic book to find how to stop Glory. Something is happening to the people who have been effected by glory as some form of darkness is overcoming them. Dawn is finally appreciating everything Buffy has done for her in a touching scene and as soon as Dawn says things can't get any crazier, crazy things happen like a bunch of medieval knight on horses attacking the van.

Ok how can I discribe this sequence? it's like one of those old westerns where they fight on a moving train, but substitute train with camper van, cowboys with knights and the old west with the modern Californian desert. all in all lots of fun as Buffy show us her mad sword wielding skills and gets rid of almost all of the knights except for the one who puts a spear into Giles and crashes the van. They take cover in an old abandoned gas station as Giles is going into shock. Unfortunately the knights make short work of their defenses. Thanks to Willow they get an energy barrier around the station. The head knight is captured and we finally get some answers to what the key is. I have to give real props to the actress playing Terra as her performance in the last few episodes has been exceptional. The people effected by Glory have started some sort of movement. Giles is looking really bad right now however I doubt they are going to kill off Giles. Buffy goes to ask for help from the enemy and they allow Ben in to tend to Giles. (BAD MOVE!!)

Spike and Xander are having a moment, it only took 5 seasons. Spike does talk some sense when it comes to his idea of making a break for it. Buffy however will have none of it. We get a history lesson about Glory's origin. They have found the weakness, where they only have to kill Ben to kill Glory. The Key is also to explained why it exists. The key opens the dimensional wall to  the demon space. Talk about having a lot on her plate as Dawn sees that the fate of the universe is in her.

The general gets to Ben and lets him know that the death of the key will stop this madness. Ben now has a decision to make however Glory has taken back control with her on the inside she has been able to take Dawn, destroy the army that was waiting out there and leave. Buffy slumps down with her worst fears realized.

Now that was a huge improvement from the previous episode, I loved the chase scene in the winabego and the final act of the episode sets up the season finally nicely. How does Buffy get her sister back and stop Glory when she knows that all of her attempts previously have been fruitless? Will Giles survive? and will Terra get her full psyche back?

6/10

Looking forward to the conclusion to this very interesting season in our next installment. So until then don't go opening up any inter dimensional barriers that may make the universe collapse on itself.

Buffy Challenge Post 47: Season 5: Episodes 17 -18

Forever

Well it is a Dawning of a new era for Buffy as we witnessed the sudden death of her mother in the previous episode. Also previously we get Dawn realizing she is not real and Ben finding out she is the key and the object that his other form in Glory is looking for.

You would think that Buffy would not have issues walking around the dead, but choosing a casket for her mother is not a task she takes lightly, Dawn has still trouble accepting the fact that her mother is gone. This is a natural feeling I suppose.

Organizing a funeral is never easy, especially when the deceased had wishes that would be considered unconventional. Joyce seems she didn't want people to morn her death at a wake. Dawn is finding the situation difficult and would like to crash at Willow's. I have a feeling that this episode will focus on the relationship between the sisters.

Spike comes to pay his respects, he may be a cold hearted killer with a chip in his brain stopping him from killing anyone, but his relationship with Joyce was always a positive one. Xander is calling Spike out and he is letting him know that Joyce was the only one who treated him right, and not a way to get to Buffy. (he has that guy working on his own Buffy for later.)

We see the funeral service at the burial site, with a really touching montage of the people attending the service. I really like the fact that it wasn't packed out with extras to make it look like it was something huge. (Some shows have a tendency to do that.) Buffy stands and reflects until dark and Angel makes a cameo to pay his respects.

Willow and Terra try in vain to comfort Dawn, She confronts them about being witches and asks them to raise Joyce. (I don't think this will happen!) Xander and Anya share an intimate moment and as usually Anya speaks her mind. Back to Dawn and Terra is trying to explain to Dawn that Magic can't bring her back. Dawn is not buying it. (please no Zombie Joyce!).

Buffy and Angel share a moment as she confides in Angel that Joyce was her strength in her fight against evil and that now she doesn't know what the future holds. Buffy blames herself for the death and now she wonders if she can take care of Dawn on her own. Buffy is in a fragile state as she seeks comfort from Angel who does the right thing by not taking advantage of her.

Now that the funeral is over, the story continues with Ben running into Glory's minion, he slips that the key is a person so he fixes it by killing the annoying minion. (finally!)

Dawn is still angry with the girls and Willow leaves her a clue in the form of some light morning reading. (There goes Willow thinking with her heart and not her head again.) So Dawn is going to try to bring her Mother back.

Spike runs into Dawn trying to work on the spell, however he warns her that she is moving into Zombie territory. Then he decides to help. So it seems that Ben couldn't get the job done as the minion gets the message back to Glory that the Key is a person.

Spike takes Dawn to some crazy magician, even he doesn't think it's a good idea with brining back the dead. (is it me or is he humming the theme to Rocky and Bullwinkle?) He gives Dawn all she needs to perform the spell, with a warning that is conveniently ignored. They go for a hunt for the egg of what I best can describe as a monster rejected from a 60's Japanese monster movie. The rubber suit does not look good!

Well they have the egg and Dawn begins the incantation. Wow Willow is a really bad liar. Buffy catches Dawn in the middle of the spell and there is a major argument between the sisters that leads to Buffy giving Dawn a wicked slap, then she breaks down. Dawn realizes her folly and destroys the picture before we catch a glimpse of  the shadow coming to the door. The girls both now realize that their mother is not coming back.

A really good episode continuing from the last one, it seems they had to shoe in the Glory stuff to move the story along, this does need to be done as the main threat of this season has been interrupted on numerous occasions, thankfully for better storylines in my opinion.

7/10

Intervention

Previously, Glory asks Dawn about the key, Spike lets Dawn know she is the key, Ben spills the beans, Spike has a crush on Buffy and is rejected, Everyone knows she's a Robot (and what a Robot!) and Spike puts in an order! (Oh yeah and Joyce is dead.)

The Summers girls are being comforted by Giles for dinner. They are still struggling with the loss as Giles suggests Buffy returns back to her training. Buffy gets the feeling she needs a break from slaying the undead. Why is she still blaming herself for Riley leaving. Does Buffy have to give up love to be the slayer?

Giles solution? A quest for Buffy in the desert. So Sarah Michelle Gellar will be doing double duty as Spike's robot is complete. (with extra love!)

Glory seems to have a internal struggle between her and her other form. Ok now the whole plot of this episode has been spoiled, the real Buffy is off the map (training), and the minions are going to see the robot Buffy with Spike and think he is the key and hilarity will ensue. So Giles does the hokey pokey to do a spell as Spike has fun with his new toy.

We follow the real Buffy on a mystic journey through the desert. (I wonder how she manages to wear such a thick coat in the middle of the Californian desert!) Is it me or is Dawn all of the sudden stealing a lot of things. Robot Buffy runs into Xander and Anya as Spike runs to cover his tracks. Out comes the vamps as Robot Buffy does her job killing the vampires and protecting Spike. Xander see's something wrong with Buffy and then catches Robot Buffy and Spike going at it.

Back to the mystic journey  for a second. Xander confronts Spike when the minions come crashing in to taking Spike as they now see him as the Key. (didn't see that one coming.) The return of the first slayer or a vision of her. Buffy asks the vision why she is losing her love and the vision lets her know that she needs to embrace love to become stronger.

Robot Buffy catches Willow and it's funny how they spotted the first robot, but they don't see that Buffy is a Robot. The vision lets Buffy know that death is her gift and then she disappears. Glory gets her hand on Spike and decides to poke inside to see what is so special about him. Back at the Summers home, the gang take the clueless Robot Buffy to collect weapons and still don't see that she is a Doppelganger. Conveniently as the robot goes up to change, the real Buffy returns to the intervention. Enter the robot Buffy to confuse things.

Spike is being tortured to the point where he is about to talk. Spike is holding out as long as he can. Bob Barker is THE KEY!!!! Of course! Spike is taunting a god which is never a good idea, however it did buy him a way to escape. In comes the troops as the real Buffy and Xander come to save the day. For someone who trains a martial artist, Giles really does get his butt kicked easily! They all escape and they confiscate Robot Buffy.

Ok, my guess is that real Buffy is pretending to be Robot Buffy to find out if Spike talked. For all of his trouble, it seems that Spike has earned Buffy's trust.

A nice move to another light hearted episode after two very somber ones. Interesting that the Death of Joyce saga was bookend by these two episodes featuring Robots. (I would of kept the robot Buffy as a decoy reprogramming it for when it was needed. (even Superman has Robot Supermen to help from time to time.)

I enjoyed this episode even though it was predictable from the start, however I thought it was hilarious in parts (I can see Bob Barker as the mystic key.)

8/10

Well another challenge down as we move closer to the big showdown between Buffy and Glory. Who will find out the other's secret first? I wonder..........