ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- Welcome to the premiere of my next movie, please keep your phones on silent; we're giving Avengers: Endgame's length a run for it's money. Here are my thoughts on Buffy Season 5, enjoy!
Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired on The WB.
FULL REACTIONS and more: / dukeofswindon
PO BOX DETAILS:
Liam Duke
PO Box 4203
Swindon
SN2 9JZ
Twitter/Instagram: dukeofswindon
Buckle up kids, you're in for a long one! Thanks for all your love this season!
00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:35 General thoughts/observation/discussion
00:27:17 Revisiting my Season 5 predictions
00:36:04 Character studies
02:01:14 Themes
02:29:52 Your favourite episodes
02:32:24 My Top 5 episodes
02:46:44 My Season 6 predictions
02:51:51 Conclusion
FULL REACTIONS and more: www.patreon.com/dukeofswindon
PO BOX DETAILS:
Liam Duke
PO Box 4203
Swindon
SN2 9JZ
@@melissaramato2237 delete your comment maybe? He has said many times not to comment on future themes or be 'clever' with your spoilers. You are just setting his expectations for him now
"I want to take some breaks, maybe watch Angel, this show is really heavy".
Um, I don't know how to say this...
i know!!!!!!
I can't believe some people stopped subscribing cause they don't like the final two seasons. I understand they're a bit controversial and polarising, but they're still very much Buffy and they're still excellent! Honestly, I can't wait to see Liam's reactions to what comes next.
So now you probably finally fully understand the fandom's anxiety over people giving up on Buffy during Season 1.
There is no way to overstate this:
EVERY season of Buffy is like a brand new show.
If someone gives up on Buffy during season 1, or 2, or 3, or even 4... they don't actually know what this series is capable of.
The reward for appreciating Season 1 despite its shortcomings:
Season 2
The reward for appreciating the genius of Season 2 despite its shortcomings:
Seasons 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
There is no reward for appreciating Season 3 despite its shortcomings, because Season 3 doesn't HAVE any shortcomings.
I have to vehemently disagree with you on one point.
In your criticism of "The Gift" (a second IMO to "The Body"), you said you wanted to have seen the scene after, with everyone "mourning". ...One genius part of this season which is not immediately realized is that we have already seen that via "The Body".
You don't know exactly how each of them will react to Buffy's death, but you do know the intricate steps each of them go through and each of them experiences at different levels because of that previous episode. Every other show does what you wanted to see after a major character's death, but here that "mourning" (reaction) is created several episodes before. It at once tells the audience "we know there is grief and suffering in losing someone" while also saying "don't dwell in it for this hero". It makes her less a martyr and more an actual hero. In other words, you shouldn't mourn her. Celebrate her.
Well said. I hadn't made that connection previously, but it makes SO much sense.
This episode is less good to watch now because when the show aired nobody knew two seasons then and Buffy's death was more interesting because it was like the end of the show, the Buffy'sacrifice was so emotional, now reactors know Buffy will be come back, like Angel then season 2, this is frustrating. If i show this show to a friend, i will force him to watch first five seasons in DVD's and the two last seasons then lol
@@alsmit4876 there were enough ads and teasers and news back then that it was generally known that the show would be back. Yes, this was written as an ending, but then so was every season finale.
@@cirrustate8674 yes but when it was aired we could believe that the finale of the show and we didn't know the show continues, now e everyone knows Buffy will be come back so her death is less heartbreaking on this point
@@cirrustate8674 Idr hearing anything about another season until sometime after the last episode aired, but I was also a kid, so I may have simply missed it
Seasons 5, 6 and 7 are great. Different...more adult..excellent in my opinion. I've watched them dozens of times over the years.
Should we reserve a block of time this December so we can fit in your week-long review(s) of Season 7 and the entire series of Buffy tVS? 😉
book in some annual leave at work haha
I loved season 5. Seasons 6 & 7 are amazing as well. So damn good.
Sorry I'm late to tell you my favorite episodes, Liam.
You said "imagine if Dawn had been given to Faith". I think that's what the dream sequence in season 3 represents. Because the cat in the dream was Dawn, and there's a moment when the cat turns into Faith. In my opinion, the reason why the chosen slayer was Buffy is what the First slayer tells her in "Intervention": her love would lead her to her gift. Faith was incapable of giving that love and therefore unworthy for the gift.
Honey, this is being the best review you've done so far!! I mean you've been impressive during the whole video, but when I reached the part where you talked about Dawn as Buffy's love interest I couldn't believe it! Because that's exactly what the writers intended Dawn to be for Buffy this season! And you grasped on that!!
Amazing predictions!!
I was in Spain when you started this season and now I'm in England......... Crazy.
Thank you so much, Liam!!! I enjoyed this video to death!!!
Ahh, quick little review I see.
A mere breeze
2:44:45 two years later and Liam's still thinking about the giant preying mantis!
I don't care what he says, he definitely wants the mantis lady back!
Lmfao! Watching this and every time Liam makes a prediction or imagine what season 6 would be like, I’m like ahhhh... oooh... ahhhhh 🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐
Right? One, in particular, made me go "Riiiiiight. Bout that? Total opposite of that."
Really Stephen? I was more like "EEeeeeee... hmnnn-nn-nnn... erg..."
I couldn't figure out how to word anything without it being possibly spoilery. You nailed it, I think.
When you hissed at the sun like a vampire before closing the curtains! 😂😂😂 so good
Timestamp?
Cuz I was listening, but not watching.
@@UTU49 41:47 - 41:50 😉
@@UatuOmega thanks much :)
@@UatuOmega thanks for the time stamp now I can watch that over and over 😂
I wanted to eat him up when he did that!
Thank you for mentioning Buffy's age... I fear many forget this but its a very important reminder that Buffy is dealing with a shiz ton at 20-ish years old... its insane
3 hours of talking about Buffy? Yes, please! I’m on board, sign me up!! Thanks for your dedication :)
Lol people left cause they don't like 6 & 7??
Fools!! 😅
I predict that Liam will love SOME of Season 6, but not ALL of Season 6... because that's true for EVERY season. :P
Ashame it is darkest but so deep and surprising
@@UTU49 i can understand but the way was so audacious and creative, and normal because they became adult, alone in different ways, too dark sometimes but realistic. And every characters had a great development. I love this season especially about two characters, this was the strong climax of all the seasons to conclude well the show in season 7 :)
@Meister Incognito i don't spoil anything just main things of the season but the details no so stop with being condescendant it is annoying
And it means nothing just saying it is dark so don't be mad for nothing even if you love the show : ) '''
Let me start this off by saying...I agree with it all.
Okay.
Time to press play and see what it is I'm agreeing with 😂❤️
Okay found something I wanna say. I think Buffy did find peace in her decision to sacrifice herself for Dawn. But this is how I read it...like you pointed out she said earlier to Giles this isn't a world she wants to live in if the choices are like this...she then goes and makes a choice that saves dawn and saves the world.
By embracing her slayer destiny or adulthood. It's the gift she gives Dawn. who funnily enough gets her first taste of adult too when she wants to die to save everyone...but she can't. Not yet. Just because there's "blood" doesn't make her adult.
Buffy was always a coming of age story. Buffy resists the call the adulthood over and over but is forced to accept it but she never fully does. She keeps being forced to. She has her innocence compromised by the harsh reality of adulthood (death, betrayal etc). But by the end of season 5 she embraces it because being adult means being responsible and sacrificing for one who isn't. Dawn.
Dawn represents Buffy's inner child. Glory represents what Buffy thinks the slayer is (unstoppable, powerful road to death) and Buffy finds the middle ground as the adult. Using her wisdom to protect the child from the harsh realities of growing up.
I'm gonna just start my own thread for thoughts here. 😂 I think loads of characters had a similar journey as to Buffy bout finding out who they are. Xander coming to terms with the insecure child and moving to embrace the confident capable man who is able to commit and find his place in the world. Same with Anyas growth to accepting her humanity. She acts much like a very young child, bewildered by how difficult being an adult is. She's always pointing out the futility.
Spike is a vampire. The metaphor for the sociopath selfish childhood impulses Buffy has to slay to grow up. And here we have Spike trying to do his own growing. Trying to figure out the difference between performative love and showing real love. Spike was always the kind of vampire who embraced lots of human qualities....the whole Weetabix in blood and ordering human food etc. His desire to not conform. He is looking for meaning in this world now he can't be the demon was. Almost like a teenager the ultimate angsty wannabe adult incapable of being a true adult but utterly convinced they are.
As someone who was a terrifying angsty destructive demon raising teenager once upon a time it's no wonder Giles hates him. 😂
Speaking of Giles. So true Anthony Head is able to play the duality of ripper/Giles so well. The difference tho is when Giles dips into hid ripper moments he shows the cynicism and cruel pragmatism of later adulthood which basically contrasts the kind of adult Buffy in the end chooses to be.
Also Willow embracing adulthood means her identity as a confident queer woman. Willow was always the most grown up of the Scoobies she always felt the most eager to grow up, her excitement bout college, her eagerness to date, her admiration of Giles and adult things, her role as the problem solver responsible one etc. But she was always feeling insecure about herself and whether or not people actually saw her as all the things she knows she is. So this season she is moving faster than anyone else at this whole grown up thing. And decisively (unlike Xander). Her throwing herself into magic concerns others. Especially Tara (who had to grow up too quick). I I Willow goes from dishing out (slightly unwanted) advice about how to be a caregiver to Buffy to being a caregiver. But for someone who just wanted to be an adult asap willow is the first to look for the cheat code (give dawn a way to bring back Joyce or reverse Tara's condition with magic) showing she's not the capable adult she thinks she is.
I keep having thoughts as I'm listening to your review and I keep adding to this as I listen.
I'm on your themes bit and I stand by my first comment. Agree agree agree. To everything. ❤️
Really enjoying this epic review to my favourite season of Buffy I don't even care bout going to sleep right now.
@@ActingHerReaction I think this, second comment in your self induced thread is my favorite.
@@barbarabaker1457 lmao bless you for seeing value in my ramblings. ❤️
Spike is a very special vampire, It's one of a kind. We've already seen that in season 2 for example, he was so sweet to Dru...and love her so much. He is just my fav. He is very complex.
I hope you love season 6.
I actually didn't start watching Buffy until season six when it moved to UPN. I loved it so much that I went out and bought the DVDs so I could catch up.
Personally I would've liked to have seen Riley leave with the Initiative at the end of season 4. The writers really missed out on a great opportunity to let Buffy and Riley's relationship fall apart over what Faith did to them in Who Are You.
It would have given them more time in the first half of season 5 to delve into the other characters and the relationships between them. Spike, Tara (at least they got their own episode), Anya, Dawn, Joyce, and how everyone interacted with each other and the Scoobies.
They could've spent more time fleshing out Ben's character, maybe spending some time on him getting to know Buffy better or even dating her. I think then we might have cared much more about him, thereby making his personal struggle and death at the end of the season so much more dramatic.
And in season 4 it would've been much better to let Adam run into Spike instead of the little boy after he killed Professor Walsh. Adam didn't know what he was and the boy just flat out told him he was a monster 5 minutes after he escaped the Initiative. I think it would've been fun to see Spike pulling Adam over to the dark side while also manipulating the Scoobies. For viewers it would have meant a lot less Initiative/Riley/Forrest stuff and a lot more intrigue and drama revolving around our favourite characters which could really have strengthened the arc of s4.
At least, that's my opinion.
As you can tell, I'm not a big fan of Riley. 😄
I understand he has a function in the narrative and the actor is quite good, but I feel he's poorly written. Most of the time he comes off as corny, immature, or as a less than ideal boyfriend. It also doesn't help that there's zero chemistry between Buffy and Riley.
"I'm breaking up with you because you got yourself raped by deception" would have been a terrible writing choice. Definitely not a "great opportunity".
@@frakkintoasterluvva7920
I wasn't talking about a victimblaming storyline. What I meant was that the writers missed out on the opportunity to get rid of Riley while also talking about the effects being raped (by deception) can have on people's psyche and relationships.
@@Itcouldbebunnies They should have acknowledged it, but breaking them up over that would still feel wrong.
I don't think Spikes marmite every time I see a poll for a spin off show of Buffy or most liked character 99. Percent of the time he wins. I just think there is a small very vocal collective group of spike haters who still compare spike to Angel even though Spike is a vampire without a soul. You can't compare spike to Angel only Spike to Angelous. Great review by the way x
You very much echo my reaction to "The Body". I have rewatched it, and it was worth it. One of the number one reasons I rewatch still is because of reaction vids, like yours. Thank you.
You love season 5, I'm so pleased.
Liam! May I ask...
Did your poll ask viewers what their "Favorite" Episode was? That might have affected the ranking of The Body.
Liam, I think you use the same criteria for "favorite" and "best" episodes, so The Body being your #1 makes total sense. But there are many viewers that think that "The Body" is the best episode this season, but do not enjoy watching it, so they don't list it as their "Favorite."
I don't think it would've made sense to have a grieving scene at the end of "The Gift." I think the last words of the season being Buffy's own words was perfect. :)
Haha. I get out of a work meeting, start watching this. Look over and realize I’d not eaten the cookie I got at lunch. I go to take a bite and you say “buy yourself a cookie and enjoy”
Who needs to go to the movies? This is gonna be fun 😜
Episode 7 is always a win, basically.
Season 1: "Angel"
Season 2: "Lie to Me"
Season 3: "Revelations"
Season 4: "The Initiative"
Season 5: "Fool For Love"
Season 6/7... the trend continues, I'll just say the trend continues :)
Seasons 6 &7 are the best and episodes 16 are always great as well :) Xander's episode in season 2, Willow's in season 3, Who are you, The Body, and great too in seasons 6 & 7
I agree about 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7.
But Revelations was middle of the road, and The Initiative is my least favorite episode of season 4.
@@frakkintoasterluvva7920 oh no The Initiative is not the worst i prefer it than Yoko Factor or Wild Things for example
@@alsmit4876 I'm not fond pf those two episodes, either.
Woah, you're right! I never noticed this!! The trend continues and gets even better, too, lol.
Omg! 3hrs! Respect, dude. Respect.
I'm also a fan of Riley. I feel like he's Buffy's Tara, grounding. Despite his issues - I found he was a great pair for her. I would have loved seeing them work it out, and the fact there was that near miss with the helicopter. How would the season have played out if they grew more stable together?? Would we have gotten her sacrifice? Would the extra body on their side have helped stop that creepy lizard tongue demon? Who knows.
Also, listening to your review, I was reflecting on the intensity of reaction to go 'dark' that Willow and Oz share. 👀 Oz wolfed out over Willow. Willow witched out over Tara. It's interesting to see that mirrored in them.
Sorry for bringing up Oz, but your review made me reflect on that.
I just found your videos recently and just finished binging your Buffy reactions. I can’t wait for your reactions to the next seasons. :)
I have all the Buffy reactors I could find collected at my channel along with their playlists.
Maybe I should mention this a little more often, in case people find it a really helpful way to find new reactors.
Hey Liam,
I had a blast listening to your review of the absolutely brilliant Season 5.
I think it says a lot that I don't mind rewatching this show again and again, and re-experiencing it 'for the first time' through the eyes of people like you, even after all these years. Buffy was my childhood and has stayed with me all my life. I have loved many TV shows over the years but Buffy is in a league entirely its own, and Buffy, the character, has taught me and keeps teaching me life lessons, even now.
I can't wait for you to delve deep into Season 6. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that I thoroughly enjoy it, for a number of reasons, although I can understand why some people don't. (It certainly features the Big Bad that resonates the most with me on a personal level out of all the seasons…)
Enjoy! And thanks for letting us be part of your journey.
Did you notice the fight choreography changed in this season. Sophia Crawford was the stunt double and her husband Jeff Pruitt were the stunt team for the first 4 seasons, but there was on set drama and a falling out with Sarah Michelle Gellar allegedly that caused their exit from the show. The season 5, 6 and 7 battles are much less choreographed and contain a lot of up close ups of SMG, which was much less impressive than the fluid style of the first 4 seasons. It’s the only thing about the show that disappointed me, as it’s still my favorite show to date. Just curious if you noticed. Not everyone pays attention to the action part of Buffy. 😁
They have released a ton of behind the scenes home videos of the stunt team in progress on TH-cam too!
i did notice that the fighting styles were different as the show went on but i never knew it was because the stunt double left the show
Oh, so that's what happened, what a shame. I definitely notice the difference, partly because the two stunt doubles move quite differently, but also in their body shape. The double who did the first 4 seasons is very similar to SMG in size and shape by the looks of it, and I also love the way she moves in the fights, whilst the latter double seems a bit shorter and stockier, and also moves differently, so it just looks a bit off and I can usually tell it's not SMG.
There's one particular scene after a fight where it shows a long shot of Buffy walking away afterwards, and to me it's so clearly the stunt double, always breaks the mood a bit for me and I find it a bit irritating that they couldn't just get a shot of SMG walking when they filmed the rest of her parts of the fight (I don't think that's a spoiler - unless it's that Buffy walks away alive after a fight at some point ;) )
If you couldn't tell, I love the action part of Buffy too :)
Dentarthurdent there was a part in season 6, you can tell there were stunt doubles for Sarah Michelle gellar and Alyson haningan for their fight scenes when you pause it just right. They didn’t even try to hide the stunt double’s faces
Best description ever. This premiere easily beats the Star Wars Special Edition. The acting, writing, and foreshadowing was phenomenal and the way it all links together at the end is very satisfying. I would say it’s the highlight of the show.
I completely agree about The Body; amazing tv, one of the best tv episodes ever that I could happily not watch (in full not counting reactions lol) ever again.
Oh my! 3 hours!
Not complaining, mind you. Just pouring a glass of wine and getting comfortable.
So much to say, and yet too many spoilers! Thanks for sharing all this.
All my friends I tried to make watch Buffy with me, always too much to ask to discuss it for 3 hours straight smh thank god for the internet
Thank people who used science to make the Internet. lol
WB picked up Buffy as a flagship because they needed the show to Kickstart their success-- they gave Whedon a lot of power and control over the direction of the show.
Seasons 5 and 7 are my favourite from a well planned, well written perspective.
Agreed with you season 7 is one of darkness and buffy really fights for her life
@@lonerEmpath Jesus, no spoilers, even if they are vague.
@@lonerEmpath Please don't talk about future episodes or seasons in a way that spoils anything. It doesn't matter if it's vague, just keep it to yourself.
Season 7 and well planned in the same sentence?
I suppose I have nothing better to do :)
Um, three hours? I can't binge watch this right now. Gonna have to schedule these three episodes over several days. (Sidenote: not to come off as a creeper, but Liam looks more adorable every video).
Throughout re-watches seasons 2 and 5 have separated themselves from the rest. That's not to dismiss 3, 6 and 4, which are still overall good seasons that have their own unique qualities. But 2 and 5 feel the most complete to me. They have the most fulfilling main arcs. And they offer the most interesting journeys for Buffy. I do have some issues with both seasons. With season 5 I didn't like that it was so completely Buffy-Dawn-Glory centric. It didn't feel like anyone had a substantial arc outside of those three and Spike. It feels like they could have done more with Willow, Xander, Tara and Anya. But even with that issue it's still pretty much on both. Both seasons 2 and 5 are incredibly emotionally wrought and thematically ambitious and fleshed out without being overwrought and overworked. I feel like they're the only seasons that fully captured that balance. I am very much looking forward to Liam's reactions to season 6, probably more than any other season.
Seasons 2 &5 are the best arc and the most emotional. Season 3 is when the show confirmed its quality this was the most consistent season the second half was so great probably my favourite part of the show and my favourite season. With a better arc season 4 could be the best because it has great stand alone episodes. Season 6 is so deep, dark but the best because every characters are well developped, the writting took another way more audacious, i love it. Last season lacks of memorable moments but it was epic :)
I listened to this while I organized my dresser drawers and closets. Thank you for doing this in depth recap of the show. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
If you have another short slot I would recommend you start viewing MY NAME IS EARL. It’s a 30 minute comedic sitcom, and it is so funny. You’ll belly laugh at least once an episode!
Thanks for sharing your journey through the fandoms! We appreciate you and all your hard work. ❤️
Am I about to watch this man talk for 3 hours about Buffy. Ya damn right I'm gonna
Almost 3 hours!!!!! Do I have time to watch this right now!!!! For Liam of course I do!!! So happy to continue and loved all your input on this season it's one if my absolute favorite!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this, Liam.
It didn't actually feel long at all. If it had been an hour or 2 longer, I would have just happily played it.
I did do some other stuff while listening, though, like flossing, brushing, and sorting some stuff.
What I like best about this season is the dialogue. You can sum up an entire episode in a single line or dive into a well of emotion or break into laughter. So many memorable lines.
Please do re-watches on TH-cam when you’re done with the show, Especially with episodes like “Restless” for example
Great review. Very interesting character studies and themes. Some themes I didn't know where there so thank you.
Yay!! I made it!! Took three sittings but I got there!!! Thank you so much for all you do with your Buffy reactions!! Absolutely love watching the full length ones over on Patreon and can't wait until Season 6 - one of my favourites!!!!!
As I said before one of the quiet aspects I love about this season was the Buffy/Xander friendship. He's Buffy's rock - not afraid to tell her some harsh truths as he did about Riley - but endlessly supportive. It seems like see Buffy and Xander just hanging out together a lot more together and its really sweet and platonic; he's over his crush and found a best friend instead. (I do agree I'd have loved another Xanderic-centred episode though.)
I disagree and I think his advice coming from his over indentification with Riley was wrong and made Buffy feel worse. I don't think he was malacious but he really hurt her.
The Replacement was great though.
In general s6 and s7 are either you like it or you don't. I love them they are in my top 3.
But i always feel that the fandom can be divided into people that love High school buffy (fave seasons being 2-3) and people that love adult buffy (fave seasons being 5+). And which one you end up liking very much depends on you as a person and whether or not you can relate with any of the things that are coming for our characters.
Yeah i hope he will like, season 5 is awesome but 6 is spectacular about characters development, my favourite with season 3 but hard to make a top
I disagree. I love seasons 2-5 almost equally. Season 6 and 7 suffer from a dive in the quality of the writing.
@@saar144 season 6 had writting not always good too much dark and bad analogies but all characters are developped no spoilers but season 6 is kind of climax for all characters and season 7 conclude well. Season 6 was audacious and surprising, the characters needed to be developped like that then season 5 they became adult no the same way at Sunnydale, the deep and the writting in season 6 is really good.
@saar144 And I disagree with you. Season 4 almost made me quit watching the show. Season 5 made up for it and then some. Best season of the entire show. Season 6 and 7 are lesser than 5, but they're not *nearly* as garbage as most of 4. My viewing of this show almost didn't survive the stupid friggin' Initiative and the utter failure that was the whole Riley business.
@@ms_scribbles i love season 5 but i think it would be the best season if it was the last maybe season 6 is better for characters development and the deep stuff , season 7 is less memorable but great moments too the ending is epic. And season 4-was dissapointing then the great season 3 but just about main arc, stand alone episodes are so great.
I think you need to react to this review when you've finished the series... :) So much to say, so much I smiled at or went, 'oh my, just you wait'... You have to react to this afterwards is all I can say!!
Wow, interesting idea.
Found you reactions last week and have been watching buffy along with them. Really enjoying your take on the show, just starting season 2. 🖒
I think my favorite thing about season 5 is how it flips a dynamic we've established so well in past seasons. People who recognize my comments know how much I like to ramble on about Faith, and true to form... I think the foundation of season 5 was actually best established in Sanctuary.
Faith: You're all about control.
You have no idea what it's like on the other side. When nothing's in control, nothing makes sense! There's just pain and hate and nothing you do means anything! You can't even-
Buffy: Shut up!
Through the first four seasons, Buffy has always been very much in control of her life. That's not to say she hasn't suffered, she's obviously been through many, many challenges. But even through her worst struggles, she's still generally the one calling the shots. She doesn't always have a good choice, but she always has a choice. And by and large, the few times things start going out of her control, they just happen to work out for the best. When she killed Ted, he turned out to be a robot. She was a suspect in Kendra's death and subsequently assaulted a cop, and those charges were mysteriously dropped without explanation. She faced no consequences for being expelled at all. Even when she failed to convince Angel not to kill himself, they got bailed out by the Powers That Be. Buffy has some incredible plot armor, just by virtue of being the titular character.
But then season 5 asks... what if that all stopped? This season opens with Dracula, an enemy that Buffy can't kill. She can hold him at bay and sass him into submission, but he still technically survives. Then we see Dawn forced into Buffy's life, Spike projecting his feelings onto her, Joyce's illness, Riley leaving, and Glory being her magnificent unkillable self. Buffy has no say in any of these things, she can't control these aspects of her life, she can't just beat up a demon to fix everything. All she can do is react and cope, and for the first time, I'd like to think she finally understands what it's like to be on that other side. And by the end of it all... death was her gift. I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion, but... Through the first four seasons, I generally liked Buffy, but I never really related to her. Season five was the first time I did.
Another great comment, Rachel.
I wanted to share thoughts on a couple of things you addressed, but I was struggling to avoid spoileryness. I might remember to bring up those thoughts after next season.
They really managed to progress and develop the Xander/Anya relationship without threatening that they might break up or anything similar. Growth without conflict, which is rare, especially in TV drama.
Omg! This is not enough!!! I expected 5 hrs! Lol ❤️
Someone has probably already mentioned this, but Faith says in the dream sequence in Graduation Day II "Little miss Muffet counting down from 730". That is foreshadowing Buffy's death. 730 is two years 2x365. And Buffy did die exactly two years after Graduation Day.
A great overview of what is my fave Buffy seas,(bearing in mind that I didn't come in to Buffy until the second seas & have not watched the first as yet!)
One thing that doesn't often get mentioned is the music & Christopher Beck's score throughout as well as his truly beautiful track on 'The Gift',...absolutely stunning!
Perfect timing. I have something to listen to during my chapter 2 final rewrite. I robot you Jane shout out!
Heavy season, but good, and breathe. My drink of choice? Water hehe. Mother nature is underrated.
Love the character development but the background is often minimal barring Buffy.
You can ship who you want, in whatever order you want.
Some of what you said made me smile, others I cried. Not sharing more of course. But basically I especially enjoyed your character assessment.
Buffy's arc was beautiful, as was Joyce's, Willow, Tara, Anya and Xander grew really warm after the difficulties in the last season.
Such a tough spot for Spike, trying to be the cinnamon roll he was but block by the ignorance of his demon ie purely ID self.
Liked your take on Riley. I remember him more fondly then Angel in some ways, maybe her not being first word jail second word bait. His admiration/insecurity really reminded me of Willow, like they wanted to make a male, Midwest her, but didn't know how exactly.
Can't say I've had a Buffy ship per se, but tons of other characters on the show I ship and I will always take character growth of a Slayer of ships.
I will miss Glory whom my friend and I dubbed his evil ex girlfriend. Not as much as the Mayor or Angelous but she was fun and definitely intimidating. "I am beautiful and I am powerful and All eyes turn to me." Kind of a Ben hater, (knights too, couldn't say for spoilers) but loved Jinx.
Harmony 🤣🥰.
Yes these were superior robots to other seasons.
Never noticed duality as an overall theme. Strange it being so very present. In my current trilogy, I had trouble being respectful with supernatural death. So I was very cautious to ground it but certainly used real death when I could. Except that one guy in book 3 may he rot in hell.
2:25:31 Thanks, but still reviewing chapter 1. The no vote surprised me.
Now your predictions:
1) I appreciate you're sentimental
2) You're a cinnamon roll
3) And a romantic (ooo, you can put this as something you do on your dating profile so the intended's can see past any awkwardness you've mentioned.)
4) How did you know they'd bring back Dave as a ghost? He adorably possesses Tara like in Ghost to confess that he wished he were Malcom to Willow.
5) You see patterns I don't so hope it pays off.
I know, little amature psych profile but I couldn't answer soooo.
9:57 I have a gym bag with "Out for a walk bitch" embroidered on it, so i'm in the same boat as you are!!!
I can't remember what all I wanted to say now since I watched this yesterday plus the Angel videos. But I do love how you appreciate Joyce and Riley. Sometimes I think people just look for excuses to hate Riley because he's "boring." And Joyce doesn't get enough credit. She was really at her worst when she didn't know about Buffy's double life so her behavior at times is somewhat understandable. And as far as her behavior in Ted well she was under the influence of cookies!
The one disagreement I have is about the byzanthium. I didn't give that plot much credit either when I first saw this season. But upon rewatches I've grown to appreciate this subplot and really love the Spiral episode. Also maybe I missed it but did you notice how Glory was fitting into the them of home and family because it was her desire to go home that caused the threat.
All of these season reviews are wonderful!
You did really good on your predictions for season 6!
i've rewatched the entire series i don't know how many times, and The Body still hits just as hard today, if not harder because, with each rewatch, i've grown to love the characters more and more. and it's also an integral part of buffy's journey so you can't really just skip it, as emotionally devastating as it is.
S5 is my overall favourite season, and definitely my favourite story arc, helped by the early introduction of Glory, who is just a fantastic big bad. Now you are heading into my second favourite season. I will avoid talking about it’s strengths, and weaknesses, but will say S6 is the season that resonates with me ever more strongly as I get older and older (hit 50 last year!) and has some of the most incredible, and uncomfortable, stories. Thanks to Storm Clara I’ve had a quick rewatch of the first few episodes, and I can’t wait to see your reactions.
HOLY CRAP!! He completely predicted the return of Inca Mummy girl!!
"I really don't know what to expect from season 6."
Yeah. You don't. [smirking like Angel to Riley in "The Yoko Factor"]
Re season 6, yeah It's very polarising. Thing is those who want the show to be a certain way all the time I suspect will hate it. For others It's when there is a gear shift and the show pulled on it's 'big boy pants'. I myself have always been in two minds about it but in hindsight I've found myself liking it more as the years have gone on.
Season 5 though has always been my fav for the reasons you cite. Quality of writing alone raise it above some other seasons for me. Back when it aired there was a big debate about whether Buffy totally sacrificed herself for Dawn or whether her decision was underpinned with a desire commit suicide after all she'd been through. Personally I think It's a case of a little from pile A and a little from pile B.
As to your comments on Spike, well I'll tackle them when you've seen all of season 7. LOL
So long as you remember that characters in the Whedonverse change and move on, you'll be okay. Very rarely does anything stay the same unlike in some other (imo) lesser shows. :)
My top 5 favorite episodes of Season 5
1. The Body
2. Family
3. Fool For Love
4. The Gift
5. Checkpoint
Oh shit I've been watching your Buffy reaction vids after I finish each episode and just realised I've now gone past you, despite starting the show only a month ago. It's insanely bingeable...
I have to agree, Liam. The Body is superior in all ways. I mean, The Gift made me cry, sure, but The Body made me sob and question life. To this day, I take care of my mother and I am scared to come home sometimes.
Fabulous season. My top five episodes 1. The body 2. The gift 3. Fool for love 4. Intervention 5. Blood ties. Weakest episode - The replacement.
The monks made her out of me. Dawn has a lot of early Buffy. "I dont need someone to watch me" is a sentiment we get from Buffy in ep1, and the shoplifting is a thing Buffy did before being the slayer. Riley has a surprising ammount of parallells to captain America Id say.
The Knights of Byzantium provided some exposition in the penultimate episode, and were the ones who forced them off the road and injured Giles, causing the Scoobies to call Ben.
Some people regard Buffy's genre as Horror because it has vampires, monsters and demons. I think they are missing the point, it is actually a teen drama (although not exclusively for teenagers). It is only horror because of how horrible some of the issues teens and young adults face are.
You mean...Ben and Glory have some kind of connection?
Sorry, that never gets old.
Audience: who’s that?
Plot: She’s not real.
Audience: Is she really even her sister?
Giles: She’s not your sister.
Buffy: She’s me. The monk’s made her out of me.
Audience: fuck, my tear ducts broke again!
Out of My Mind, Crush, I Was Made To Love You ... are the bottom 3?
Wow. Those are incredible episodes.
I Was Made To Love You is funny but the guy who made the April robot (I think his name was Warren?) is just such a gross creep that I hate rewatching it, even though he's only in a couple of the scenes. Plus, then the ending :(
@Meister Incognito oooooh ok, yes, I just got to that part in the review - his name was indeed warren
@Meister Incognito
"Did you arrange your adult diapers and intravenous food?"
Were we having a conversation about adult diapers and intravenous food? I don't remember.
@Meister Incognito
OMG. I forgot about that. That's hilarious!
Your post felt familiar... so I started to wonder if you were quoting something I myself had said. But it felt like it was from months ago. It turns out it was from a couple of weeks ago. My brain is not what it used to be. :S
Liam, you mentioned a "tier list" (or something?) that you made over Christmas. I think I missed that. What was it? That sounds like something I would enjoy looking at.
Look at the playlist on my Channel called 12 Days of Christmas, it's day 6 :)
@@LiamDuke Thanks, Liam. :)
Good Morning! Let me start by saying I really enjoy your reactions and commentary. Buffy is an incredible story start to finish. I love stories and story telling and Joss Wheden and all the talented writers and staff do an incredible job of telling a compelling story with humor, adventure, heartbreak, triumph, passion, loss, earnestness, purposefulness, and sheer artistry. (*EDIT~ And horror. It's interesting to me that it wasn't even one of the first things that came to mind in a show about vampires. I think it speaks to the fact that this show is so much more than a show about monsters.) I honestly love every season, if not every episode. I personally believe you will really like the powerful story telling in season 6 but our gang is really challenged in ways that are difficult to watch at times. (I apologize in advance for the understatement.) I think looking back on the show season 7 may be my favorite. I'm afraid to say anymore. I hope you are having a lovely day Thank you for providing content about story telling. I believe it is quite beneficial and it makes me smile...so thanks, again!
aww yissss, lucky me, I'm gonna listen to this movie at a later point, when working. already leaving a like and looking forward to what you have to say. season 5 is one of my top favourites for sure, Glory brought the best 'game' and a broken yet strong Buffy is best Buffy. that's how you write a female lead, she can be vulnerable and we can get all behind that, and still be in awe how amazing she is. thank you for all your hard work and content Liam, you are always my top priority in my sub feed!
Well done Liam on all your hard work on this review 👏👏
I like how the praying mantis ģot a mention 😂
I agree with your 4th and 5th choices as they would probably have been mine too. xx
It’s really odd that I found this channel just as I was making my other half watch Buffy for the first time and we got to the Body just as your reaction came out.
The last two seasons are very marmite it'll be interesting to see what you think of them. I'm a little sarced what you'll make of some of it.
Sorry make that scared.
Thank you for another fantastic season review, and welcome to Team Season 5!
We all change, and thats ok... As long as we remember who we used to be. He is a-comin. Edit: I put this in here when he talked about change like.. an hour before he actually mentioned the qoute. Great minds I guess.
I really like season 6 and I personally feel the reason some don’t like the season is that the big bad is not what you expect ( no spoilers or hints) and it depends who your are as a individual at the time and how you interpret it and the season is more grown up.
You'll love most of season 6 and not like they other point and season 7 you will for sure be critical.
I missed the poll, but my top five:
5. Family
4. The Body
3. Spiral
2. Fool For Love
1. The Gift
Angel 2 and Buffy 5 are, when taken together, the best the Buffyverse gets imo (even if I do prefer Angel season 5 on its own). I really love the crossovers in this season, it’s not necessarily big events like in the previous season, it’s smaller characters like Dru and Harmony going back and forth. It flowed much better for me. Plus, what is there to say about Fool for Love and Darla? Genius. On to season 6!
I'm loving this video. I'm about halfway through and am eating it up bit by bit and will prob have it finished by the end of the week. I'm a huge Buffy fan (I'm even gonna be doing a retrospective on the Buffy game: Chaos Bleeds within the next few months right after I do the Pokepark retrospective) and season 5 is prob the best season to me because of the story and also because The Body was so life changing for me. Seasons 6 and 7 are amazing so don't think it goes downhill! I think people dislike them because s6 is really depressing and s7 is pretty dark akin to s5 but I think it works really well as it shows the growth of the show and the characters. Keep it up!
My favorite Buffy seasons in order - Season 6, 5, 2, 3, 4, 7, 1. One caveat, season 4 is ahead of 7 and 1 only because of the crossovers with Angel, "I will remember you", "Five by five" and "Sanctuary" are some of the best episodes of TV ever. If those are not included, season 4 is the worst lol
Ahaha at your season 6 predictions 😂 that's cute
100% agree with both your Top 3 and the polls Top 3: The Body, The Gift and Fool for Love for me in order.
I am about half way through your review but I wanted to say that I really loved Dawn and I think a lot of that comes down to the fact that I am a little sister. I have an older sister that I idolized as a child, who I watched Buffy with. I think early in this season she does seem quite childish but I do love where she goes.
Also Lol Forrest got to die twice 😂😂
Very British tangent. Have discovered that if we get to the letter W in naming storms this year, it will be Willow. And Storm Dennis is coming this weekend. Buffyverse Met Office crossover!
So glad you can’t hear any of the spoilers I say back to you while watching these reviews.
Can't wait for you to get to s6! It's my favorite Buffy season without a doubt!
😄 you have outdone yourself!
Almost 3 hours... Who the fuck needs sleep... Love it 😇🙈
Ok, so I need to ask something. It's so incredibly rare to hear a man go into any detail when they see a male character Behaving Creepy/Badly towards a female character...and I noticed you did it as well. You lightly gloss over the Buffy Bot and the implications there, as compared to how culture treated it 20 years ago. I guess I'm asking for more thoughts on the docile woman/slavesexbot fantasy as compared to culture now. I'm especially interested in your react to THAT (disinterest? disgust? necessary/unnecessary for plot line?)
I talk about it in a bit more detail in my 5x15/5x18 reactions
A number of people disliked Dawn, not helped by her character being written a bit more of a brat, because she was originally intended to be younger, but it does give Buffy a more care-giver role, for somebody younger, so less able to deal with some stuff than Buffy or her friends.
The fact that some TV shows have been known to introduce, or completely rewrite characters, particularly in order to attract new, younger viewers, often without decent explanation, didn't help.
44:57 You meant they would look after Dawn, right?
i am not emotionally ready for you to react to this next season and the last season ooh i am worried for your feelings