BUFFY'S ENDGAME! Buffy, the Vampire Slayer 5x22 'The Gift' Reaction!

#buffythevampireslayer #buffy #reaction #firsttimewatching #sarahmichellegellar #buffyverse
Hi, my name is Elie Moses and I am a 22 Year-Old Law and Film student here in Sydney, Australia. I have decided to watch the entire 'Buffy, the Vampire Slayer' TV SERIES for the FIRST TIME. Here is my reaction for Episode 22 of Season 5. THIS WAS AN AMAZING SEASON FINALE AS BUFFY MAKES THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE!
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer first time reaction

[@eliemoses]

Lads I hope you enjoy this one and I ask that you support my audition tapes coming up. Thats all I ask thank you soo much for the love and support. Gonna struggle a bit with uploads in the next few weeks with assignments Love you guys ❤️

[@andreasvogler1875]

When this episode was shot, even the creators didn't know if they would be back, because their contract with The WB network ended. For seasons 6 and 7 the show moved to UPN if I remember correctly.

[@jspettifer]

@@andreasvogler1875 That’s not true. Joss said in his comments on the episode that they knew it was being renewed and they pulled some ideas out of this episode for the actual final episode.

[@andreasvogler1875]

@@jspettifer Ah, OK. It was just something I read years ago, but that's how it is on the Internet. You read something and years later you find out it's false.

[@jspettifer]

@@andreasvogler1875 So so much on the internet is false. Agents of Shield, on the other hand, did think they were very likely ending at 5 and then were told after that there were going to be 2 more seasons.

[@87jcksn]

Proud of you and we love your personality and that big brain of yours predicting stuff before it happens. When Tara was sick, she called Giles a killer and he murdered Ben. Even Willow being a lesbian was foreshadowed by Angel subtly. Willow goes I think vampire me is kinda gay. Angel was gonna say it enhances what is already there, but they cut him off.

[@ernesthakey3396]

One of the things that really gets me every time, at the end of this episode, is in the background, Spike's collapse in grief. The vampire who told Buffy that every Slayer has a death wish, truly loved Buffy, regardless of whether that love was pure or twisted. He failed to save Dawn from getting stabbed despite his best efforts, Buffy died, and Spike crumbled.

[@HelloXrancidkitteh]

plus SUCH good acting from James ontop of it all. he really sold it. it chokes me up everytime.

[@Gruftierose]

Yes my eyes always get drawn to that. He looks devastated, even more in a way than the others. And when you think about the point that as a vampire he shouldn't even have such deep feelings, as he has no soul.

[@ms_scribbles]

Amen to that. He just breaks down, and it just baffles me when reactors (I've seen a lot of reactions to this episode) just completely ignore that moment, or downright edit it out. It should be huge. The biggest growth of any character in the show at that point, and most reactors just brush it off like it never happened.

[@Riya-of6wj]

@@ms_scribbles exactly

[@shallowgal462]

@@Gruftierose And then how he honored her after her death by being Dawn's guardian. "Little bit."

[@IslandpferdeHaukagil]

Remember Tara pointing randomly at Giles saying "You're a killer" - great forshadowing.

[@kurikuri6683]

When did she say that?

[@IslandpferdeHaukagil]

@@kurikuri6683 In this very episode when they are in the magic box preparing for the final battle. Right before they use her to find Glory ("I got places to be, big day").

[@kurikuri6683]

@@IslandpferdeHaukagil ah ok, thanks!

[@notoriouslybratty]

The irony of Ben saving Giles life a couple of episodes ago to only have Giles end up killing Ben.

[@benefit9324]

Wow i had never paid attention to this detail before ! Good job

[@87jcksn]

Ain't that a damn bitch tho!!!

[@trinie456]

And based on what we saw, none of the scoobies remember it! It took them an episode to understand that Ben=Glory, but I don't think their memories cleared up enough to remember Ben arriving/treating Giles. That seemed to be missing entirely.

[@budhaven6342]

When Buffy is in the alley with the kid. He says, "But you're just a girl." Buffy, "That's what I keep saying." After everything, she still longs to have a normal life. when Buffy turns to the rising sun. Her look is not one of fear or sadness, but of anticipation. Spike said to Buffy in FFL, "Part of you is desperate to know, what it's like, where does it lead you?" "Death is your gift" A gift to Dawn, but also in a way a gift for herself.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Exactly. A lot of people understand her death is a gift as in her sacrifice, but not many people understand in the way that death is her gift of finally being able to rest (plus another gift of her death that I don’t want to spoil).

[@meggo329]

Spike crying at the end always gets me

[@staceywhelan3413]

Yup I had no clue there was another season when I watched this. I thought it was the final ever ep and I bawled like a baby

[@amillan2004]

How are you not sobbing at the end! I have seen this episode a 100 times and I still cry everytime.

[@danielbutler8103]

24:20 Spike was talking to Willow, she was talking to him in his mind with magic.

[@lexterminate]

As an unabashed season 6 fan, I think you’ll be intrigued. It’s definitely divisive and I understand why people don’t like it but it resonates with me in a lot of deep personal ways, much like season 5 did. Congrats on your journey thus far and can’t wait for more to come.

[@LaLunaRossa90]

When i was younger i didn't like season 6 at all, but now, in my early thirties, it's actually my favorite

[@seanthomas3091]

@@LaLunaRossa90 I've noticed that too. I only started liking Season 6 as I got older. Without spoilers, a major theme really is adulthood.

[@alooncnej4696]

This is one of my favorite seasons, every Buffy's fan like this season. It takes time and age to love more bit this is awesome

[@trinie456]

@@LaLunaRossa90 I loved it then and now, but I wish I hadn't watched it and loved it at 15. Those themes were too mature for most of the original btvs audience imho.

[@xxSydneyFox]

6 is my favourite too. Probably because it's so dysfunctional lol

[@blackkatt777]

I don't have to imagine what it was like freaking out about the death of Buffy....especially when a message to the fans, thanking us for 5 good years. The network drama was already a buzz in magazines and entertainment media. The future was unknown, and the fans were in a panic. Imagine not knowing what to do with yourself at the end of Game of Thrones. Yes....exactly that. We weren't ready yet. Luckily, it worked out in our favor.

[@judson9223]

This is a top 3 episode of the series for me. In a way, I was happy for Buffy that she died. We have seen how being the slayer just weighed on her shoulders and called on her to make unbearable sacrifice after sacrifice. And, she couldn't just walk away from it because she was too much of a hero to. Then, just this once, the calling asked her to do something that would make her happy: to release herself from it.

[@seanthomas3091]

Buffy top 5 episodes: Band Candy Graduation Day Pt 1 Hush The Gift Normal Again (Season 6). I know all of you hate Normal Again. I said what I SAID. lol

[@judson9223]

@@seanthomas3091 I love Normal Again too! Top 20 episode of the series for me. Band Candy though. 0.o

[@seanthomas3091]

@@judson9223 lmao leave Bandy Candy alone. It was fun and cute. Honorable mention: Once More, With Feeling.

[@alooncnej4696]

Beautiful finale even if it lost its charm due to two more seasons but really great.

[@alooncnej4696]

@@seanthomas3091 Restless, The Body and OMWF are masterpieces and my favorite episodes. I love too Passion, Graduation Day 1 and 2, Becoming 1 and 2, Seeing Red, Hush, The Prom, Earshot.

[@cerrobueno]

You're so right about the dialogue in this episode, Elie. Some of the great all-time quotes here, and it seems like barely a line is wasted throughout. The scene in the gym with Buffy and Giles is still one of my favourites.

[@NawiTheCore]

This was actually the SERIES finale for a time because the show got cancelled, but it was later picked up by another network and a S6 and 7 were produced.

[@JohnDoe-ls2zu]

The six apocalypses that Giles mentioned are in the following episodes: "Prophecy Girl," "Becoming, Part Two," "The Zeppo," "Graduation Day, Part Two," "Doomed," and "Primeval."

[@walterbonsell]

Which is odd because Buffy askes "this is how many apocalypses for us now?" which would suggest they're including the current one when Giles answers "6 at least". I wonder which one they're not counting.

[@JohnDoe-ls2zu]

@@walterbonsell Maybe it's the Mayor, "I just want to be a big snake". If Buffy could take out the Mayor by blowing up the school, then a coodinated missle strike could easily take care of the threat.

[@rfresa]

@@walterbonsell Could be Prophecy Girl, since the Master didn't seem to have had apocalyptic consequences in The Wish. Could also be Graduation Day. I mean, the Mayor would only have destroyed the town and maybe a few others before he got bombed. Not exactly world ending.

[@JohnDoe-ls2zu]

@@rfresa I think in The Wish, the Master was freed by The Harvest, which didn't open the hellmouth. In "Prophecy Girl", the Master used the blood of the slayer (Buffy) to open the hellmouth, which would be an apocalypse event.

[@rfresa]

@@JohnDoe-ls2zu Oh right. But wouldn't he still have tried to open the Hellmouth in the Wish-verse? It seems like he still would have found a way if it was that important to him.

[@dianaudodova4592]

Omg stop predicting every second of this show 😲🤭😂😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Suzismymom]

Right? 😂 So many predictions are spot on!

[@eliemoses]

🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️😁

[@Shoofyou10]

My favorite episode in the entire run of the show and the ending to my favorite season. This season tells such a cohesive story from start to finish. I love how all the things that happened in the season came together to help in the end. Things like, the daegon sphere, Buffy bot, troll hammer, and even Xander’s construction career. Great ending to a great season of TV. Buffy’s sacrifice is incredibly emotional every time. I feel like you are one of the very few reactors to actually predict that Buffy would sacrifice herself. And you are in for a very different and fun final arc coming up for Angel as well.

[@danielnolan2507]

I thought this was the last episode of buffy when it was released, it was all up in the air. But I'm glad it didn't end like that because the last episode was planned more and they definitely could not have ended buffy any better than how it did actually end. A tv show that actually did justice then real ending still gives me chills and cookies ...

[@JohnDoe-ls2zu]

Yes, this finale is a banger!! FYI - the season 6 premiere is a double length episode in a single DVD file, so plan enough time when you watch it.

[@RCW9805]

Its funny watching you guess a lot of things correct before you see them lol! Smart

[@yazz2jazz313]

Awesome reaction! Be sad when u have finished watching Buffy...your enthusiasm for the show has been so enjoyable to see.

[@jennarush3]

I have watched the full Buffy series more than 10 times and I just noticed that Giles put on his glasses before he killed ben. He always takes his glasses off to clean them when he doesn’t want to see something but he intentionally put them on so he could see it happen.

[@Justafox305]

I remember watching avengers 2012 & wondering why I had a feeling of dejavu. The scene of the portal opening and monsters coming through from this episode of Buffy. Then I found out , both was made by joss whedon

[@benefit9324]

Hello from France Thank you for your réactions. You're the best reactor ever ! I love your energy and your authenticity ! You have a good sense of deduction too. Originally this episode was supposed to be the series finale. Don't stop entertaining us ! You're clearly not ready for what's come next ! Lol Best wishes bro

[@eliemoses]

AYOOO BONJUURRE FROM ACRPSS THE WORLD. THANK YOUU SOO MUCH

[@UTU49]

It's so fun to see how each reactor reacts to the big moments on Buffy, because these moments are so dramatic, that people can react differently. Some people will probably complain about you stopping and talking, so I'll make sure to tell you that I love it. I love it when reactors stop and share any thoughts they wish to share.

[@sjbenson5618]

Goddamn it Elie you guessed it right again. It's like you solving a mystery puzzle and it's correct each time Lol :D

[@melenatorr]

24:25 - Willow is transmitting to Spike. That is her voice in his head.

[@jordanparker5949]

One of the greatest season finales in TV history.

[@MrBgutierrez814]

I normally don’t comment on any reaction videos until after this episode because of my user name. But I’ve been following your Buffy reactions since the beginning & you are by far one of my favorite reactors, I look forward to your video post the most. I don’t mind the pausing, I like how you analyze it as you go & pay attention to the way the show is filmed. Keep it up, I’m already a huge fan & I can’t wait until you get into the next 2 seasons.

[@eliemoses]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Girl4Music]

You did not just predict the finale. What Buffy had to do as well as what ‘death is your gift’ means. Dude… 😳 You be spoiling yourself with these on-point predications.

[@BooneErica]

Spike was talking to Willow.

[@amillan2004]

This into is so adorable 😭😭😭

[@cielirosa1745]

when it first aired I believed Buffy was ended for 3 years because in Italy they aired season 6 at 2 a.m. and I was only 12. When I knew there were 2 more seasons I was the happiest teen ever

[@saar144]

No it wasn't, it was renewed the following year in a different network.

[@rianneadams5729]

Your predictions are on point!!

[@johnmoreland6089]

Great reaction! Buckle up for season 6. It’s a dark ride. While not my favorite, it has some great episodes, including what I think is the best in the entire series. By the way, back in the day, we all knew there was going to be a season 6 long before this finale aired, but for a long time the question was would it stay on the WB or move to another network, which is what happened. And UPN allowed them to go a little darker than the WB had allowed them.

[@codypendragons]

Honestly I didn't know, I didn't hear the news until it was official and they were on UPN, USB UBD(?) and they announced it. That was after they aired the show. It was like a 5or6 months gap of time. I think I read about it in the TV guide beforehand. season•6 Buffy the vampire Slayer was going to be on this other network. I think I was somewhere in the middle of that.

[@innovativecleaningsolution5837]

Some may not know this but for one minute imagine this: internet was not a big thing back then. Fans were watching this show each week. How most knew the show would return at the end of the season finale We would get a very short trailer that would let fans know there would be another season. For a few week, the wb had been letting us know they would be going off air not to return in the short future and as you watch this finale, the tile credits roll there is no short trailer no indication another network would pick up the show just the credits and on to the next show. So while now new viewers can binge watch and see there is 2 more seasons (and still get emotional....) imagine the millions of fans who was left in the dark for a good while before it was picked back up by upn. Many thought this was it, the show is done and that's the ending we get.. heartbreak. I was a teenager watching this weekly as it aired - I was shattered.

[@gollygaloshes]

I was one of those who watched this as it aired not knowing we'd get a season 6. I was quite young but pretty sure they advertised this as The final season since the original network dropped it. Really thought this was The last episode. The absolute shock seeing the season 6 trailer.

[@HelloXrancidkitteh]

yes, watching this episode when it aired, I was a kid and I was bawling my eyes out 'cause, of course, Buffy dies but ON TOP OF THAT, thinking it was the show finale. there was no public news about season 6 yet until the end of the summertime that came after the season finale. I still remember where I was and how I found out that Buffy was coming back and I was so happy. this is also one of my absolute favorite Buffy season finales. its SO good.

[@MercenaryX84]

Probably my favorite episode in the whole series

[@loopylocks7746]

I remember watching this when it first came out. I cried and cried for weeks! Buffy was my hero growing up and not knowing if she was ever coming back was horrible.

[@marcusrezendevb]

At the time, we didn't know there was going to be a season 6. When this episode aired, I cried myself to sleep at night.

[@sarahhewitt14]

When this show aired, I didn’t know there was a season 6. The WB advertised this as a series finale. When the screen credits rolled, I didn’t move for about 3 miunutes.

[@datasafe00]

This was originally planned as the final as joss didn’t know if it was coming back as the network cancelled it. But luckily it was picked up by another network. I remember watching this as a 12 year old and not knowing if it was ever coming back 😭

[@liteflightify]

I don’t know if I’d say this is the best episode of the series. But it’s hard to argue that there’s definitely a better installment.

[@TheBloobster]

Wow It got the tear... I didnt think they could get you lmao but i saw that shit.

[@eliemoses]

HAHAHAHAHA caught in 1080p not 4K tho hahahah. But yea it got me a bit not going to lie

[@danwiesdamageinc]

27:50 This was the original series finale. The show hadn't been picked up by UPN for 2 more seasons when this was written.

[@sarahxo2317]

The best season finale of the best season! I remember watching it live in the UK the TV advert actually showed Buffy’s grave before the episode aired I couldn’t believe it😭

[@itscamheyes]

I remember that too! It was BIG - here is it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpevd5ulg6alq5Y

[@nikfrd1843]

I remember that too. And we knew the show was coming back for season 6 too. The perils of being 3-4 months behind the US. Now there’s usually only a day between shows coming out in both places and people in the UK actually have some chance of avoiding spoilers 😂

[@carlosdaudt88]

You got everything right. Buffy was going to be just perfect with this ending. She is the ultimate vampire slayer

[@DegrassiInstantStar]

Ah, here with go!! Yep. Buffy sacrificed herself to save the world and her sister. A beautiful sentiment with little hints dropped throughout the season about what was to come, which I find to be a brilliant season-long plan, as well as previous drops in the fourth season. As for season six... it is definitely darker, but I thoroughly enjoy it as an overall season. One of my top three, honestly! Buckle up, Elie!

[@LissaBroyles]

Few shows smarter, few shows funnier, few shows scarier, few shows more emotionally impactful. & no show ever did it all like Buffy.

[@drogonk7109]

Everybody in the world, accept those who don’t follow the news, knew there was going to be a season 6. It was the biggest TV acquisition in history at the time. Buffy didn’t air in my country for years yet it was blasted all other the news . UPN paid about 102 million for 2 more seasons of Buffy, news broke a month before the finale aired, and before they even filmed the episode. Joss even says in the commentary for the episode (or a special feature in the dvd) that when he wrote the episode he knew they were coming back.

[@johnmoreland6089]

No, many of us Americans read the papers and knew it was coming back. Joss Whedon also posted in fan chat rooms the night this aired. Not sure how so many people missed all that and thought it was the series finale. Very strange.

[@drogonk7109]

@@johnmoreland6089 Well sorry, and I wrote apparently, I’m just annoyed with all this false information spreading on to reactors, and it’s mostly from Americans who either don’t follow the news or understand what “the wb’s series finale” means.

[@johnmoreland6089]

@@drogonk7109 I didn’t realize until I read all these comments how many people here thought it was cancelled. So strange. Maybe because I live in L.A., but it was all over the news out here. And in the fan chat rooms, like The Bronze, back in the day. But, I guess it made for a more emotional experience for them, which I envy. I, on the other hand, was a bit annoyed that they were playing the “Buffy dies” card for a second time. 😂

[@drogonk7109]

@@johnmoreland6089 It really is strange, and its in every reaction channel. I liked UPN’s promotional stuff 😂 There were a few funny ones there. I still remember Anya’s “She’d say “yay you guys”…. You know if her vocal cords weren’t all decomposed and stuff.”🤣🤣🤣

[@UTU49]

@@johnmoreland6089 Some people are more media savvy than others. Back when Buffy aired, the internet was no where near the monolithic presence it is now. For the last couple of decades, any film and TV fans can connect with other fans a hundred times a day if they want. In the late 90's fewer people were using the internet so extensively. When I watched Buffy, I only ever talked to ONE other Buffy fan. ONE. When I watched Game of Thrones, or Avengers Endgame, I was constantly communicating with HUNDREDS of other fans. It's an entirely different entertainment landscape. So... anyway... those are some of my thoughts for August 13, 2022. 😄

[@rotru4977]

I did watch this as it aired on TV and was so upset because none of us knew the show would be returning. One of the best finales of any show though.

[@JudgeMazza]

Yes we did. If you actually paid attention at the time you would've known the series was going to a new us network upn at the time. There was no indication Buffy was ending at the time, other than the fact that Buffy had died in the series 5 finale. This was never advertised as the end.

[@rotru4977]

@@JudgeMazza so I live in Canada and we didn't have the channels Buffy was on (the WB and UPN I think) so no, I did not know. Imagine talking to someone you don't know this way. Classless

[@rotru4977]

@@JudgeMazza also, on other Buffy reactors I have seen that MANY people did not know the show was coming back. Including others in this thread

[@fernandoleon1431]

When this aired years ago, we didnt knew if it would be a season 6th, months passed and there were no news about it. Imagine us fans thinking this was the end, at the time this episode was made to be "the end " because BTVS changed from The WB to UPN, but that decision was still in talks when this episode was filmed.

[@trinie456]

I know a chunk of feedback wasn't given very kindly, but I really, really appreciate that you took some of the more...reasonable points to heart. could see you fighting the pause instinct on occasion but honestly felt those emotional beats hitting what seemed a bit harder when the moment played through. Watching this ep w you was a lot of fun! And yeah, Joss reused story lines a bit. Avengers Age of Ultron was just his second attempt at arguably the most boring buffy villain, season 4 redux

[@Dani-vd4wf]

Buffy became a cult television series and it doesn't surprise me, I remember watching this episode when I was a teenager and crying like a baby hahaha the next season is by far the darkest and for me the most adult

[@glazierblue573]

Am sure this was out before spiderman.

[@shallowgal462]

This was to be Buffy's last season. The WB had canceled it after 5 seasons. But then UPN picked it up for 2 more seasons.

[@andreamccraycray7764]

They advertised it so well . This was when they changed to WB from UPN and marketed it like it was done. The net was still very new so there were barely any spoiler websites out back then. I was in mourning until they announced the next season. The WB used this Buffy's Dead ploy when it came to them from UPN. ( Because it was dead on UPN)

[@frisc0pn0ib0i]

This episode when it aired people thought it was the series finale since the networks WB ended. People didn’t know they had two more seasons on the new network UPN. They weren’t sure if the show would get picked up so they ended it this way

[@JemJam2976]

Willow was using telepathy to communicate with Spike

[@skychylde04]

now imagine back in 2001 when shows were canceled all willy nilly having to wait months to find out if they were filming season 6 ha!

[@danzthename]

Finally! You gave us all some terrible blue balls after that teaser episode the other day 😉🎉 this episode is one of the greatest. The score huts you right in the gut. Grabbing my Kleenex now...

[@coldservings]

Regarding the Knight of Byzantium guy on the RV. There is a difference in self-defense in the heat of combat and the plain execution of someone. When it comes to supernatural threats, her "mandate" as the slayer includes the latter. Human courts aren't equipped to deal with them. Humans, however, are a different matter.

[@angyliv8040]

How cute she is 😍

[@adorkability]

This was planned to possibly be the series finale. They knew that they were not being renewed on The WB Network and they had not yet finalized their move to UPN. So this could have been the last episode of Buffy we ever got.

[@zachharris3040]

I'll be honest, you're the best buffy reactor I've seen dude. Cheers! P.s. Not sure if anyone has brought this channel to your attention but Passion of the Nerd does like 10-20 minute video essays on each episode of buffy. It's so well researched and the guy whose channel it is has a crazy smooth voice. He's been doing them for like 5 years and is only in season 5. But if you are wanting to get even more out of the episodes you've seen, I recommend searching his channel. Also, he's not a reactor, so is rarely on screen, but his videos tend to focus on themes and metaphors and foreshadowing.

[@Suzismymom]

There are spoilers everywhere in the Passion of the Nerd videos so I would recommend waiting until you finish Season 7 to watch his stuff. There is, to the best of my knowledge, only one episode that you can watch, he has 2 different vids on Restless, one with spoilers and one with zero spoilers so you can watch the spoilerless episode of Restless but please wait to watch anything else. POTNs vids are definitely a must watch, but also a must wait (minus the 1 unspoiled Restless ep). It's most definitely worth the wait.

[@UTU49]

@@Suzismymom Plus, Elie is the "Speedy Gonzales" of Buffy reactors, so he'll probably be done Season 7 by next Friday anyway.

[@Suzismymom]

@@UTU49 😂😂😂 I wouldn't be surprised! We're so far into it that it probably wouldn't matter at this point but it occurred to me that some of the episode titles are kinda spoilery, but Elie is so on point with his predictions it most likely wouldn't matter, he's too good 🏹

[@eliemoses]

😃😃😃💙💙

[@Christian_Ada1]

That was Willow telepathically talking to spike Actually during season 5 we as fans didn't know that UPN 9 at the time was going to take Buffy so we actually thought it was going to be the last season. That ending , as me and my friends used to watch it together went insane, upset saying "What? They killed off Buffy???!! Nooooooo!!!" UPN naughty the other 2 seasons in June if I'm not mistaken. So we got happy knowing it was coming back. Season 6......oh boy....it was definitely a divided Season. You'll find out. I did notice though that more females like season 6 than males. I used to be part of a fan board of and because of my serious disdain for Buffy S 6 had me banned a few times. To be it just got way too realistic for ny taste, the character assassination in a few characters was in poor taste. Just ny honest opinion For me, (again just my opinion) I use entertainment for escapism from my reality not be reminded of it.

[@simom931]

I know S5 is the favourite among most fans, but, though having many amazing eps, it's not mine. This finale however is the best ever imo. Watching it now, knowing there are two more seasons to go makes a difference. At the time it was a perfect closure for the whole show. Even the smallest details had a meaning. E.g. Olaf's hammer, Buffybot, bunnies. Every single piece of the puzzle was put to place. Blood has always been one of the main themes: blood makes us live and love ('love isn't brain, children, it's blood!'), blood feeds vampires, blood is the key through dimensions. And characters' arcs finds their perfect conclusion: Willow and Tara are back together; we can suppose Xander and Anya will be happily married; Dawn can live as a teen ager; Spike finds his redemption reconnecting to his humanity ('I know I'm a monster, but you treat me like a man'). And Buffy meets her fate, sacrificing once more to 'save the world a lot'. Everything was perfectly foreshadowed from S3 onward. That's what makes BTVS 'THE' show.

[@saar144]

Despite his questionable character, Joss his unparalleled with his screenwriting.

[@mathias6185]

@Elie, in which order would you rate the seasons so far? Which did you like best to worst?

[@eliemoses]

5,3,4,2,1

[@mathias6185]

@@eliemoses Thanks for replying! Same order for me, except I like 2 better than 4.

[@eliemoses]

@@mathias6185 fair enough there wouldnt be an outright bad season but 1 is the weakest cos of it finding its feet and its nothing about the reply 🙂

[@BooneErica]

I didn’t think about Buffy having to sacrifice dawn the same way she had to sacrifice Angel. Wow.

[@saar144]

How could you not? She mentions that in her conversation with Giles in the training room, and the parallels are obvious.

[@87jcksn]

Glory is Courtney from Bring it on!

[@Suzismymom]

Claire Kramer/Glory is also in a few Lifetime movies, or as I call it, The Murder Channel

[@n0namesowhatblerp362]

27:32 "and then it dawned on her"

[@rayearth2040]

You are awsome you know how the episode could be end and it did more a less

[@hoodwinkiez]

This was the last episode on FOX, before the move to UPN/WB (Now called CW).

[@saar144]

The show never aired on Fox. it moved from the WB to UPN.

[@hoodwinkiez]

@@saar144 Yep, my bad. Confusing since they ended up merging later on.

[@JemJam2976]

Buffy killing one of the Knights of Byzantium was all about being defensive. If she didn't, then they'd all be dead.

[@UTU49]

Agreed. There is a massive difference (in intention, but also morally and legally) between someone dying from your counterattack while attacking you with deadly force... and you making a considered decision to end someone's life when they are no immediate threat. There is a massive difference between Buffy killing one of the knights to protect her and Dawn and the others... and Giles' decision to kill Ben while he is lying there helpless.

[@saar144]

One? In the negotiation to bring someone to heal Giles, the knight mentions that 10 of his men are dead.

[@UnoNumberOne]

Can't wait for you to react to Season 6 - it's a banger! My fav season 💗

[@valinny8571]

Couldn't wait until you got to the finale. Is this the episode with the most views? Just curious to know if you keep track of that stuff. I think you may have been the only reactor I've seen that didn't shed a little tear at the ending. And that's ok, people react differently. But I know you were feeling it. You are smart with your theories.predictions. I rarely am. Can't wait for season 6, I kind of jumped into the series near the end, and it's what made me eventually get hooked in and it's one of my favorites, if not my favorite tv series ever. Thank for posting all these episodes out so fast, I loved that.

[@eliemoses]

Oh i got a bit teary eyed in this one hahahah

[@CrownVibe]

Personally I loved the final 2 seasons after season 5. If anything I feel like it opened up a maturer, darker and more complicated show for various reasons. We also see some chatecter development and some truly epic moments that I will never forget. I will admit though, without giving much away, season 6 can give a uncertain vibe once first entering it, though it all becomes appreciated imo by the end of its season.

[@leqaf]

Oh come on, you knew what was gonna happen.

[@gureXD]

I don't think it's comparable she killing some1 from the brotherhood in self defense than just killing a dude

[@xyex]

In a way, this WAS the end, the final episode. The first 5 seasons of Buffy aired on the WB network. Seasons 6 and 7 were picked up by the UPN network. Not every cable market had both networks, so the season 5 finale was created to give closure to WB viewers who couldn't follow to the new network. It was designed to be the series finale for them. And I think it's a much better finale than what we got. There's parts of the last 2 seasons I like but, as a whole, they're the weakest ones to me. It really felt like the writers didn't know what to do after this and just stumbled along occasionally hitting gold but mostly floundering.

[@ferrisulf]

Season 5 is a masterpiece. I personally love Season 6. Parts of it. It's going in a new direction and tackles a lot of hard topics. Back in "Triangle" I wanted so badly to reassure you that there's a greater point to the episode with the hammer, but Spoilers. ^_^ I love how they take the less powerful episodes and find ways to make them relevant.

[@yvetterodriguez2550]

1. Great job on calling it about Buffy's blood aka life = "Death is your gift". Not many people catch on that quickly. Plus, reminds you of Angel's blood being used to bring forth Acathla and to also close the hell dimension. 2. I never knew about Thor or the rest of the Avengers til years later after it all began with Iron Man. The only superhero I've ever know about is Superman from watching Christopher Reeves growing up and Smallville the tv show. So after Thor came out, I finally understood the meaning of Buffy wielding the hammer. She IS worthy lol. 3. Loving Clare Kramer aka Glorificus huh? lol. Just wondering here but have you seen Bring It On, Elie? I can't remember if I had already asked you before. If you haven't, DUDE. You gotta watch it. 4. Buffy wearing black outfit and then a white outfit at the end = life and death. 5. Willow draining Glory to bring back Tara is still a badass moment in the series. But Tara's line, "I got so lost" after being back to her old self, still makes me cry after all these years lol. Darn it! 6. I hope you know by now that it was Willow who was mind-speaking to Spike to get him through so he can go up and save Dawn. 7. To most of us, this was THE finale. I sobbed like a baby. And yes, it's still sad as hell. Crying right now cuz Buffy's last few words hit hard for me now more so than ever before. My mom would always tell me these exact same words feeling worried about what would happen to me when the day would come that she would no longer be here to guide me in life anymore. I saw your eyes well-up Elie. You felt those words as well. It's why this season will always be hard for me to watch from now on. RIP mom. "...You have to be strong....The hardest thing in this world is to live in it... Be brave. Live. For me." - Buffy Anne Summers

[@valinny8571]

Agree Yvette, I can't recall any reactor figuring out the Buffy/Dawn blood connection and B sacrificing herself...along with some other stuff Elie got. . I'm like, this guy is good!

[@Buffy8Fan]

And the series ends...at least on The WB. Fans had to watch the series on UPN after this episode.

[@JustinTime30633]

Season 6 is incredible and definitely my favorite season of Buffy! It also has my favorite episodes of the show.

[@princesskagome1986]

this killed people when it came out the WB made such a show of it because some knew some didn't that UPS took on season 6 and 7

[@no1takethisname]

Something no one has done yet is react to Buffy Guide from a youtuber named passion of the nerd. It's a deep analysis of each episodes.

[@Suzismymom]

It's excellent, but full of spoilers except for the unspoiled version of Restless. After Season 7 it would be awesome to see reactions to it.

[@saar144]

I don't know, somewhere in season 4 his reviews became for me too tiresome.

[@reddwarf9422]

We knew when it aired another network picked it up. Still didn't stop me from shedding the tears!

[@yannhollister9091]

Aha your sister is a character ;)

[@eliemoses]

Little cousin ahhhahahaha

[@andreamccraycray7764]

I mean wb to UPN*

[@skipper-wb5ew]

Careful about season 6 its not safe

[@judson9223]

Some interesting points: - Thank goodness you're watching the original 4:3 version and not the remaster! The shot of the "dawn" sunrise warming Buffy's face in its glow, which you called beautiful, was completely lost in the remaster. The remaster had the entire night fight sequence in the same orange hue so the scenes after Buffy's realisation looked exactly the same. - The guy's first name is "Doc", he's not "the doctor" or "the doc". XD - Just like you, I was confused about the voice which told Spike to charge up the tower. For years and years, I thought was Buffy over some sort of intercom, it didn't help that there was some sort of mechanism near Spike's head that looked like a speaker. It was only until I read a transcript more recently that I realised it was Willow communicating with him telepathically, something we've seen her do before. - Buffy said "spirit guide" not "spirit guy". I wonder if this episode had to be rushed because there was some patchy dialogue that could have used another take or two. Especially the scene where Buffy tells Ben to leave them alone. There are seemingly incomplete lines like, "She goes, she ever ever comes near me and mine again."

[@saar144]

The remaster is an abomination.

[@2ndMess]

They could've just stopped right here, no shade, and they could've stopped Charmed at the end of season 3.

[@killianlpc]

Personally I think this was the greatest episode of the entire BTVS series ( but not the Buffyverse, Angel S5 E22 was the ultimate). You must realise people watching and reacting to this now do know that S6 and S7 are to follow, but at the time we did not know this. The fact that Buffy realised 'Death is your gift' was her own death was brilliantly revealed at the end, and that she was prepared to lay down her own life to save all others proving she was the ultimate hero. Giles knew Buffy couldn't kill Ben as he was an innocent and she could not take a life, his alter ego Ripper comes back here to finish the job, kill Ben, and therefore denying Glory from ever re-emerging. It was brilliant writing to tie the whole series together and was a fantastic finale only equalled in Not Fade Away, the S5 finale of spinoff show Angel, I believe the greatest of all episodes in The Buffyverse. You must remember when this was originally shown we did not know the show would be back, you will see that once they switched to UPN Network for S6 and S7 how very different and adult the show becomes. Reactors of course know there are two more Seasons so this is not a spoiler. Even though people now watching this know Buffy will be back, it is still heart breaking and hard hitting drama, it was a brilliant episode. Indeed Buffy was right 'the hardest thing in this world is to live in it' the greatest of all quotes from the series. Love your reactions again man, super work and appreciate your enthusiasm for The Buffyverse.

[@ericmkendall1]

The original broadcast network for "Buffy," The WB, cancelled the show after season five. And that would have been the end of the series had it not been picked up by another network, UPN, for another two seasons. Both the WB (Warner Bros.) and UPN (United Paramount Network) were brand new television networks during the original run of "Buffy" (1997-2003). Neither are around anymore, though, as they were consolidated into what is now The CW in 2006.

[@saar144]

I know it's nitpicky, but the WB didn't cancel the show, the contract ended after 5 seasons and the WB didn't renew it, because the show wanted more money per episode. I do believe that without the request for more budget, the show would have continued in the WB.