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Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Season 5 (Box Set 2) [1998]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

The fifth season of Buffy is about illusions and the truth that they often reveal; it is also about the hard truth that there are some enemies it is impossible to fight. In the second half of the season, Buffy has a sister to protect, for all that young Dawn was originally a mystical pattern of energy. Buffy learns that Glory, the gibbering woman in a red dress who is looking for her Key, is a being too powerful to fight. Even being around Buffy and Dawn is dangerous for their friends, as Glory and her minions proceed by a process of elimination. The eventual confrontation when it comes is genuinely shocking in its outcome as well as depending in a variety of ways on what has happened earlier in the season; these are episodes which demand our full attention. Meanwhile, the vampire Spike's obsessed desire for Buffy takes them both to some very strange places and Willow and Tara have their love tested in the most gruelling of ways. And in the quietly upsetting episode "The Body", the cast produce their most impressive performances yet as they have to deal with another enemy they cannot fight. --Roz Kaveney


James Marsters takes Spike to the next level in Season Five
Review date: 2006-03-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

Because "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was a mid-season replacement on the WB there were only 12 episodes that first season instead of the full slate of 22. That meant when the show ended its fifth and final season on the WB the last episode would be number 100 for the series and since the fate of the show was uncertain, creator Joss Whedon had to make sure that if "Buffy" did not find a new home that there would be a big finish. That he certainly provided, but as I watched the second half of Season Five (Episodes 12-22) again, what struck me is how many of the best moments have to do with Spike. Specifically I am thinking of when Spike tells the "Buffybot" why he would not betray Buffy and a couple of moments in the final episode: when Willow tells Spike to "go" and he does without a second thought, the look of horror on his face when he realizes he has failed Dawn, and when he is the one who totally breaks down at what happens to Buffy. The show took a character who was basically Billy Idol with fangs, put a chip in his head so that he was effectively neutered when it came to humans like Buffy and the Scoobies, and inspired by what happened in "Something Blue," decided to have William the Bloody fall in love with the Slayer. But it was James Marsters who took that character and made him so memorable that Spike still has a calendar and Angel does not. The big story arc is Glory's relentless search for the Key, but watch these episodes again and notice how often Spike becomes the focus of your attention:

Episode 12, "Checkpoint" (Written by Douglas Petrie & Jane Espenson, First aired January 23, 2001) has Buffy and the gang going up against the Watchers Council. Quentin Travers has information about Glory, but insists the Slayer and her friends undergo a review first, which does not go well (although Willow declaring Tara is her "lesbian-gay-type lover" is awfully cute). At least Buffy finally gets to find out that Glory is not a demon (4.5 Stakes).

Episode 13, "Blood Ties" (Written by Steven S. DeKnight, February 6, 2001), finds Dawn hanging with Spike and reading in a Giles' journal that she is the Key. If that was not bad enough, Ben learns that Dawn is the Key, right before he turns into Glory. This just cannot be good (4.5 Stakes).

Episode 14, "Crush" (Written by David Fury, February 13, 2001), is what Spike has on Buffy and dressing up Harmony as the Slayer is just not cutting it. Then Drusilla shows up in a forgiving vein and when she knocks out Buffy, Spike knocks on Dru so that he can offer to kill her to prove his love for Buffy. Not that Harmony likes any of this (4.5 Stakes).

Episode 15, "I Was Made to Love You" (Written by Espenson, February 20, 2001), has a strange girl name April looking all over town for some guy named Warren. It turns Warren made April, who is a robot, to be the perfect girlfriend. Apparently there is such a thing as too perfect (4 Stakes).

Episode 16, "The Body" (Written & Directed by Joss Whedon, February 27, 2001), Buffy comes home and finds Joyce dead. After Joss received an Emmy nomination for writing "Hush" we figured there would be a second one for this episode. He did not get that, but the bigger insult might be not getting a directing nomination (5 Stakes).

Episode 17, "Forever" (Written & Directed by Marti Noxon, April 17, 2001), is how long Joyce will be dead and a grief stricken Dawn cannot take it. So she does a spell to bring Joyce back from the dead (4.5 Stakes).

Episode 18, "Intervention" (Written by Espenson, April 24, 2001), is what is called for when Xander and Anya see Buffy boinking Spike. The only thing is that Buffy is out communing with the First Slayer (Buffy's gift is death apparently). It seems Spike got Warren to create the Buffybot, which provides Sarah Michelle Gellar's funniest moments in the entire series. But before Buffy can kill Spike it seems Glory will beat the Slayer to it because she thinks Spike knows who is the Key (5 Strakes).

Episode 19, "Tough Love" (Written by Rebecca Rand Kirshner, May 1, 2001), finds Buffy quitting college to look after Dawn. But then Glory drains Tara's brains, turning her insane, and Willow goes off to take revenge against the god. Then things get really bad as Glory finally learns that Dawn is the key (4.5 Stakes).

Episode 20, "Spiral" (Written by DeNight, May 8, 2001), has Buffy getting Dawn and everybody else out of town to try and save the Key from Glory. But then the Knights of Byzantium, sworn to destroy the key, attack the Winnebago carrying everybody, and Buffy and the gang have to hold up in an abandoned gas station. Giles is seriously wounded, so Buffy calls Ben, not knowing that she has invited Glory's host past Willow's mystic defenses (4.5 Stakes).

Episode 21, "The Weight of the World" (Written by Petrie, May 15, 2001), finds Buffy has gone off the deep end and is in a catatonic state. Willow takes charge and gets everybody back to Sunnydale, where she enters Buffy's mind to make sense of the circular dream images that Buffy shows her. Meanwhile, Glory plans to use Dawn's blood to open up the doors between the hell dimensions (4.5 Stakes).

Episode 22, "The Gift" (Written & Directed by Whedon, May 22, 2001), begins with a reaffirmative that Buffy is not "just a girl." If Dawn's blood is spilled, Hell will be unleashed on Earth and the only way to stop it is to kill Dawn. But Buffy did that with Angel and she refuses to do it with her sister. Glory is going to enact the ritual atop a giant scaffolding constructed by her minions, and Buffy leads an all-out attack on Glory. Although they defeat glory, it is too late, and the demons are coming to make Earth their home (5 Stakes).

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Reviews


'Out. For. A. Walk... '
Review date: 2003-09-09 Rating: 10 out of 10

The first half of this season had a lot of clearing up to do. It had to restablish a darker tone, theme and story arch following season four, it had t ointroduce Dawn and, most importantly devote time to getting rid of Riley. As a result it was slow getting going. Thankfully all the plots, subplots and even two year old prophetic dreams are excellently tied up by the great finale 'The Gift'. It all makes perfect sese in the end.
Buffy's slayer destiny is well explored, as are the origins of Dawn, Glory and Ben. This half of the season also sees the emergence of James Marsters as far more than a bit part support player.
The highlight is 'The Body' a briliantly directed, acted, and written departure for the show. There's not a stake in sight as the Scoobies suffer various forms of grief after Joyce's death. It's harrowing, coldly devoid of incidental music and almost claustrophobic in it's awkward realism. A meditative, excellently put together piece of television that's probably too smart for those misconceived people who can't get past the name of the show.
Other highlights include 'Spiral', probably the best action-centric show they have produced, 'Intervention', featuring a great performance by James Marsters, 'Tough Love', likewise Alyson Hannigan (wasted on pies; American) and 'Forever' featuring David Boreanaz.
It's not all great, obviously we should't be attributing God like infallibility to Joss Whedon just yet. Occasionally the pace is sluggish, the Knights of Byzantium are a bore (and look faintly ridiculous; who wouldn't notice hundreds of Monty Python extras in Southern California?) Nicholas Brendon is given no where near enough to do, and you never really think that Glory is scared enough of the 'Gang to be a threatening presence.
On the whole, a very well told story that should have been the way it all ended ridding us of the awful season six.

"Buffy" turns dark
Review date: 2003-04-24 Rating: 10 out of 10

The fifth season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was when things started to turn dark and mean. The series to a large degree turned away from the merry style from the previous four seasons and is filled with dark and cruel events; death and insantity. The series now goes from being quite the "feel-good" show to something else, still being a marvelous and enchanting saga. Also, the steady development of the magic relationship between Willow Rosenberg and Tara Maclav is a constant encouragment for the softer amongst us. You just gotta love "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"!

More classic Buffy (spoilers below)
Review date: 2002-08-16 Rating: 8 out of 10

Season 5 Part 2 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer is some more classic television featuring plenty of heartache, action and intrigue that should sate all Buffy fans.

Buffy (again played with consistency by Sarah Michelle Gellar) is further tested by her foe, demonic hellgod Glory (Clare Kramer), all the while looking after her vulnerable sister(Michelle Trachtenberg) and being forced to watch as her mother dies in front of her.

The second part of the season starts off very well, with the episode "Checkpoint" signalling the return of the duplicitious Watcher's Council. The best bit is Buffy standing up to the Council and bullying them for information about Glory.

"Crush" is an excellent follow-up to the Spike-centred episode "Fool For Love" and James Marsters does an excellent job as the confused and increasingly demented vampire who becomes completely undone by the end of the episode.

One of the most hyped episodes of the season, "The Body" is an excellent episode even if it does feel a little too much like the event it is depicts: a bereavement. No matter, the use of creepy camera tricks and the complete lack of incidental music make the sense of shock and loss the characters experience all the more real to the viewer.

The much vaunted finale episode, "The Gift" is touching and would have made a very good ending to the series. The knowledge that it isn't, though, lessens the emotional impact of an otherwise very good season finale.

Performance-wise, this set produces a few surprises. Sarah Michelle Gellar brilliantly portrays a Buffy who becomes increasingly helpless in the face of a seemingly unstoppable foe. James Marsters is excellent as Spike, as his deluded crush on Buffy becomes a feeling of almost genuine care and respect. Amber Benson is also on fine form as an increasingly confident yet still very vulnerable Tara.

Villains-wise, the triumph of this season overall is not Glory (Claire Kramer, who is simply trying too hard) but her minion Doc, played by veteran actor/performer Joel Grey. Grey is clearly a natural at on-screen menace, and whereas Kramer screeches and screams her head off to little effect, all Grey has to do is look at the camera in a certain way and the audience is scared witless. His subtlety makes his character all the more effective.

It's just a pity this sufficiently mysterious and intriguing character did not develop a plot arc of his own. But Grey certainly makes the best of only three appearances in the season and here's hoping he returns to the show in the future.

All in all, plenty of action, comedy and alot of character development as "Buffy" hurtles toward its sixth season. Each and every episode contributes something to the plot and combined with brilliant performances it makes the second part of the Season Five among some of the best episodes yet.

The best programme of its genre around today!
Review date: 2002-06-02 Rating: 10 out of 10

Season 5 of Buffy is a must for any Buffy fans, it is here that Joss and the Mutant Inc crew really get to grips with the emotional side of the Buffy saga. You'll never care more about Sarah Michelle Gellar's character and her associates than in this season.....And the ending is poosibly the most shocking and brave thing that has been seen on BtVS to this date!!!! Buy it now!!!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Sarah Michelle Gellar

Creators:
Sarah Michelle Gellar (Primary Contributor)
James A. Contner (Producer)
Jane Espenson (Producer)
John F. Perry (Producer)
Joss Whedon (Writer)

Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036006811
Binding: VHS Tape
Number of items: 3
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, PAL,
Release date: 2001-08-20
Number of discs: 3
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Running time: 466 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1997-03-10
Language: English (Original Language)

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