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Buffy The Vampire Slayer"The Gift"
My 3 All-time Favorite "Buffy" Episodes
DVD Season 5, Episode 22 (Season Finale)
Jenny D - TwoCents Staff Writer
jennyd@thetwocentscorp.com
There are many things that are special about this episode. It is the season 5 Finale (probably my favorite season), it is the 100th episode of Buffy, and it was the Series Finale of Buffy on the WB. I remember the feeling of hopelessness I felt at the end of this episode, I didn’t know if Buffy was over or if they would bring it back. This was when Buffy went from the WB to UPN.
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Buffy The Vampire Slayer
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My 3 All-time Favorite "Buffy" Episodes
DVD Season 5, Episode 22 (Season Finale)
Jenny D - TwoCents Staff Writer
jennyd@thetwocentscorp.com
There are many things that are special about this episode. It is the season 5 Finale (probably my favorite season), it is the 100th episode of Buffy, and it was the Series Finale of Buffy on the WB. I remember the feeling of hopelessness I felt at the end of this episode, I didn’t know if Buffy was over or if they would bring it back. This was when Buffy went from the WB to UPN.
The humor of the beginning of the episode was priceless. A boy is chased down an alley by a vampire. Buffy pops her head out of a door and ask what they are doing, if they are having a fight, that fighting is not cool. Buffy fights him, kills him and is astonished that the vampire had never heard of the slayer. The boy asks how she did it and says that she is just a girl. Buffy says, “That is what I keep saying.” Kinda sad you know.
The Scooby gang is discussing Dawn, her being the Key, and what Glory plans to do if she gets her way with Dawn. She wants to open the walls between dimensions and she uses Dawns blood to do that. Buffy is ready to act and she won’t listen to Giles. Then he does what I have never seen before, he YELLS at Buffy. The look on her face is priceless. He explains that if the ritual starts, and Buffy interrupts and tells him to tell her to kill her sister. He says that she is not her sister. Buffy says, she is more than her sister, she is part of her. She won’t kill her, no matter the consequences.
They are trying to come up with ideas to fight Glory, Xander suggests killing Ben (the human side of Glory). Anya suggests using the dagonsphere and Olof the Troll’s enchanted hammer. The plan is starting to come together now. Too bad time is running out.
At the warehouse where they are holding Dawn, Ben brings in her ceremonial dress. He is trying to be nice, but Dawn doesn’t want to hear it. She tells him she wants Glory. Ben changes to Glory as she torments Dawn and tries to make her think that Buffy is not coming for her.
Buffy is training and Giles comes in to talk to her. They talk about all the apocalypses they have been through. Buffy is unhappy with the world. She wishes that her mom was there. She was told that death is her gift, and she thinks it means her being a slayer. She tells Giles that is Dawn dies, she is quitting. Giles hollers down to Xander and Anya if they found the dagonsphere. They were having sex and get back to looking for it. Xander proposes to her as she freaks out about what is happening. She slaps him and tells him he is doing it because he thinks we are going to die. He tells her that he thinks they will get through it and wants to be with her. A bright spot in this sad episode.
Buffy tells Willow that she is her big gun and her best shot if something happens. Willow thinks she can take back from Glory what she took from Tara, and that could hurt Glory. Buffy and Spike go to get weapons. She tells him that she is counting on Spike to protect Dawn. He says he will. He tells her that he knows she never loved him, but she treats him like a man instead of a monster, and that is all he ever needed.
We see Dawn standing at the top of the platforms roped to the sides. The time has come. Tara leads them right to them. Willow goes first. She says she could use some courage, as Spike hands her his flask. Willow is able to get to Glory and get Tara’s sanity back from her. Buffy shows up and attacks her as everyone else attacks Glory’s troops. Glory hits Buffy and we find out it is the Buffy Bot. The real Buffy shows up and hits Glory. She heads up the platform to Dawn. There is a big fight between Buffy and Dawn. They both fall down, and Xander hits her with a wrecking ball. AS Buffy beats on her, the Lizard man from earlier in the season shows up. She asks for his help, but he pulls out a knife. Willow sends a telepathic message to Spike to go help Dawn. Unfortunately, Spike gets stabbed and thrown off the platform. Buffy beats on Glory until she turns into Ben. Buffy tells her to stay away and leaves. Giles comes to talk to Ben. He tells Giles that Buffy could have killed him. He tells Ben that Buffy is a hero, not like us and proceeds to kill Ben.
By the time Buffy reaches Dawn, she has been cut and her blood has opened the portal. Dawn says she is sorry and goes to jump in. As all Hell breaks loose, we flash to all that Buffy remembers about the blood and the monks making Dawn from her. She whispers something to her, turns around and jumps in. Buffy knows that was what the first slayer meant when she said death was her gift. We see everyone’s reaction to finding Buffy laying there dead. As the episode ends, we see Buffy’s headstone, “She Saved The World A Lot”. It could have been the end, but luckily Buffy was brought back for 2 more seasons on the UPN.
Well, that was number 3 on my list. Would it have made your top Buffy episodes list? If so, where at? Next week I will be reviewing number 2 on my list, “Once More With Feeling”, season 6, episode 7. Of course the musical was in my top 2, any predictions of what I chose for number 1???? Please leave your two cents in the comment section or e-mail me at JennyD@thetwocentscorp.com. I will see you next week!
The Greatest headstone of all time. For me this episode has some of the best emotional music I've evr heard. I just think Whedon is so good at adding just that little bit to make making me the audience member go through a roll coaster of emotions. I felt bad for people who wouldn't give the show a chance because they thought the name was stupid. This episode also is key because it lead us into a whole knew level of angst. I'd be moody too if I was ripped out of heaven by my so called friends. Tough to deal with. Plus it put us into position for what I think is the greatest television episode ever. Once More With Feeling. That's just my 2 cents.
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