Epiphany

[moonshadow]

I'll admit to being completely sucked in by the series writers at the start of season five, I didn't have a clue what was going on with Dawn until "No place like Home".

Up till that point I was resigned to watching a show that while it was good had obviously passed it's best before date. After realizing how the appearance of Dawn had been set up in earlier seasons and how amazingly well it was carried out, season five became the most enjoyable for me, it was that moment near the end of "No Place like Home" that made it so crystal for me, and in a way made the entire series more than just entertainment.

I was wondering if others here had the same experience?

 

[VisionGirl]

Since my 1st Buffy watch was in syndication, and episodes here and there not necessarily in order, I knew about Dawn, but not the full details. Over these last 2 rewatches I've been more & more impressed with the setup for Dawn (going all the way back to season 2!), and also the importance of Dawn to both Buffy's Slayer & human identity.

 

[Willow My Love]

I began watching in the 4th season because I was too young to watch it before. I was only 9 when it came out... But Dawn really confused me. I had no clue how they were going to explain her. Then the trance scared me. Made me think that Dawn was out to hurt Joyce and Buffy, but we figured out what really happened.

One bothersome thing. Why does she never tell Giles what really happened with the trance?

 

[VisionGirl]

Because I think she was unsure about things at the time. The trance was before the encounter with the Monk where she got the whole truth. I'm not sure she wanted to say anything until she figured out what was going on.

 

[zobothehobo]

My first watch, I had no idea what Dawn was doing there when I watched the first couple episodes of season 5. Then I re-watched paying attention to details like that and was really amazed at how well it was carried out and I wished I had paid more attention my first time around