Spoiler! Just finished a re-watch

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

So, I'm working on this meta for my LJ on Buffy's Gift and the overall themes of Season 5 and I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts.

Firstly, this is a really good season. So many good episodes.

(I admit, I totally cried during The Gift, even though I've seen it like a million times)

I guess I'm just curious what people have to say about this season in general. Likes? Dislikes? Something that really stood out to me if Spike's incredible development in this season alone. Earlier on, we see him with Harmony trying to kill Buffy with a gun, manipulating her in FFL, telling her "Death is her gift", stealing her clothes, stalking her and such, yet - by the end, in Intervention he allows Glory to torture him because he can't imagine hurting Buffy, then in The Gift we see him break down crying, exposing real emotion at her death. It's like a complete turnaround. He exhibits loyalty (I made a promise to a lady). While earlier, Giles told him off (We are not your way to Buffy) they seem to accept him later in the Season, even Xander doesn't seem to hate him anymore (that scene in Spiral where he offers him a light is just beautiful).

So, yeah, Spike's journey. Comments?

Also, Ben. How do people feel about what happened with him? Do you blame him? General thoughts on his chracter? As Glory said, he was only human and only wanted to live. He didn't ask for Glory to take over his body. Do you think of him as a victim or a monster, as Dawn says? Did you agree with Giles' decision to kill him?

What do you all think of the "death is your gift" thing? Did you like how that storyline played out? Did it make sense to you?

Any and all Season5 related comments are welcome 😉

 

[BuffyElevated]

I really, really love Season 5 of Buffy. For me, I loved the emotional journey the characters went through, especially Buffy and Dawn. For me, I felt like this was REALLY the season they all became more than friends; they became family.
I felt so sorry for Ben. I always feel so horrible in "The Gift" when Giles has to kill him. I understand why, but wow... He never had a chance at a normal existence, and if Giles hadn't killed him, he was right: Glory would return and make Buffy pay for what she had done to her. But as for Ben, his life sucked royally and he seemed like he deserved a lot better than that.
The "death is your gift" thing worked for me in a lot of ways. First of all, all those demon deaths were a gift to the world from Buffy; everytime she killed a demon or vampire, she was saving at least 1 life. And her death was definitely both a gift and a tragedy; it was a gift to the world and her loved ones because she saved them all from being sucked into hell, but it was so horrible and tragic because it left them all to go on without their "leader".

 

[dan k]

Firstly i loved Spike's journey. I think his character is brillant and this season is no exception. Falling for Buffy, the way it unfolded was brillant to watch and i disagree with most people when they say Spike's character faltered after season 4. I'll always maintain that it was the same Spike as before, it was just that his devotion to Buffy consumed him which to me was utterly believeable and great as a storyline. It didn't really change him though, Spike as he put it was always "Love's bitch", i think people just have an issue with that love being towards Buffy.

Ben's death didn't bother me at all. Giles i think made the right call even though it was difficult. Perhaps i'am being harsh on Ben but the fact he didn't let Dawn escape made me feel less sympathy to his plight. On reflection he was only trying to survive but i think he wasn't strong enough in the big picture of things to do the right thing.

"Death is your Gift" storyline i thought was very clever. It intertwinned with what happened on screen really well, made perfect sense.

 

[Thursday]

I'm not a S5 fan, so I'll leave it at that.

But, I do think the 'Death is Your Gift' idea was great. Throughout S5 Buffy was worried that being the Slayer meant she was morphing into a cold, heartless killer, but in The Gift she realized she wasn't. Buffy could've done the pragmatic thing as Giles suggested and sacrifice Dawn. Maybe it was the right choice: the portal could've been closed and Buffy could've lived on as the Scoobies leader, but it would've been a heartless thing to do. Buffy chose to give her life for her sister because she loved her, something Slayers aren't supposed to do, and Buffy chose to go out on her own terms. All Slayers die, but Buffy got to choose when. She gave up her life to save the world, as all Slayers do, but she got to do it surrounded by the people she loved and the people who loved her.

I agree with Gile's choice to kill Ben. Buffy may not have wanted to be cold and pragmatic, but I can understand Gile's wanting to be. Before Giles kills Ben I think it's interesting that Giles says he has to do it because Buffy won't because she's a hero.

 

[white avenger]

Ben's death didn't bother me at all. Giles i think made the right call even though it was difficult.

I didn't see Giles having any difficulty in killing Ben. It was cold blooded, deliberate, and totally necessary, and I think that Giles saw it in exactly that light. Giles is a nice guy whenever he can be, but when he has to be Ripper, he's not nice, he's not charming, and he's not bumbling. He's as cold blooded and dangerous a killer as you would ever care to meet.

 

[dan k]

I didn't see Giles having any difficulty in killing Ben. It was cold blooded, deliberate, and totally necessary, and I think that Giles saw it in exactly that light. Giles is a nice guy whenever he can be, but when he has to be Ripper, he's not nice, he's not charming, and he's not bumbling. He's as cold blooded and dangerous a killer as you would ever care to meet.

Giles was ruthless sure but he didn't take enjoyment out of killing Ben, he did it because it was necessary. I think he found the process difficult personally.

 

[white avenger]

Giles was ruthless sure but he didn't take enjoyment out of killing Ben, he did it because it was necessary. I think he found the process difficult personally.

I didn't say that Giles enjoyed killing Ben, I said that he was cold blooded, ruthless, and deliberate. I might also include efficient, since the manner in which he did it would have left no visible marks on the body (irrelevant considering the condition that Ben was in, certainly, but he did it as though he knew exactly what he was doing and, quite likely, had used that method before)

 

[dan k]

I agree he was cold hearted, ruthless and deliberate but i still think he found the process difficult.

 

[StarSlayer]

Season 5 is one of my favorites 🙂 I absolutely love Spike's journey. I'm such a sucker for redeeming love stories, which is exactly what I think Spike went through in this season. He goes from wanting to kill Buffy (removing the chip), to this having this obsession with her because he didn't know any other way to express his feelings after falling in love with her. But, after Buffy kissed him for what he did to save her and Dawn, he began to learn what real love is and can feel like it. And he's just so devastated when he sees her dead body and breaks down crying because he also knows that he could have saved her, as she "saved" him.

I really didn't care too much for Ben, even though he did play a huge part. But, I felt awful about his situation and that Giles had to kill him.

And the "Death is Your Gift" storyline was excellent. The look on Buffy's face when she finally realizes what it all means, how it all makes sense, is both tragic and heroic at the same time. But, she accepts it because she knows it was what she was meant to do.

I also think "The Body" is one of the most beautifully written episodes of the series. I cry everytime Anya gives her monologue about not understanding why people die. I feel so bad for Buffy when she thinks about what could have happened had she maybe been there for her mom and few minutes earlier. And, when Tara talks about how it's always sudden, it's so heart-breaking. And, as sad as the episode is, I still love it because it strikes a cord on so many levels.

 

[NY State of Mind]

Great season and easily could of been the finale although i'm happy it wasn't...I wasn't happy about Dawn addition but learned to live with it...Here we see Spike going from Badass to Comedy relief to season 5 when he starts to show his emotions, development, etc. And it was enjoying to watch...Riley leaves which i really enjoyed lol...and I liked seeing Buffy overcome tradegy, and nervous breakdown to defeating a Hell God....and for those calling Giles cold blooded I look at it as the exact opposite...Giles intentions were to protect Buffy and the world while your boy Ben was willing to sacrafice a teenage girl and the world for himself...thats coldblooded!!!