*SO HILARIOUS!!* BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER 6x08 REACTION l Tabula Rasa

[@tapar11]

Seeing Buffy happy and without the weight of her past was some GREAT acting, it felt like buffy from season 1 and the difference stood out so much. Great episode

[@domie]

this breaks my heart 😭😭

[@stephaniebarker472]

Yeah, seeing her say “…But it was cool” with that sparkly little grin touches my heart every time.

[@ferrisulf]

How it should have gone: *Xander gets his memory back*: "Ben is Glory!"

[@AmiValdes]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@RunicMike]

11:52 It's not just a shark, it's a loan shark

[@zemoxian]

I’m reminded of the Land Shark from 1970’s SNL.

[@emanymton713]

@@zemoxiancandy gram. Edit: ugh stupid auto correct…

[@michaelcarter1067]

I cannot wait to see Domi's reaction to kitten gambling! :)

[@emanymton713]

@@michaelcarter1067 bleeeagh 😉

[@LiamDuke]

Refusing to listen to the song again is a MOOD

[@domie]

liam duke. you get it!

[@hardybryan]

The Duke himself. You the man, Liam.

[@ernesthakey3396]

Liam! The Duke, the legend!

[@stephaniebarker472]

❤❤❤

[@paulhammond6978]

Hey Liam! you introduced me to LukeyRead. Thanks. His reactions with Deepa to Doctor Who are so much fun.

[@johncox7169]

"She couldn't even get through the day." I don't think she even made it an hour.

[@domie]

that’s crazyyyy!!

[@valinny8571]

I think actually it's the next day. Tara had a different outfit and hairstyle in the scene at Xander's. BTW- I loved Tara's smackdown of Willow. She had come a long way from what she was in S4. I think also it's one of Amber's best scenes of the whole series so far. The writers really hadn't given Tara any meaty material to work with but the Willow smackdown was well written and acted.

[@crawdaddy1234]

She made it an hour. She slept, right?

[@enicole1203]

​@@crawdaddy1234an hour while conscious?😂

[@kilian-one-l]

The fact that they got Michelle Branch for this, such a great song choice to rip our hearts out

[@apulrang]

One of the best uses of basically a popular music promo in a TV episode.

[@METerrell]

That was a big thing then. Record labels using shows with a mostly young adult audience to showcase their artists. They did it on Charmed (which Michelle also appeared on to sing this song) and to a lesser extent, Smallville too.

[@garymcallister4128]

Audacious of the writers to follow a musical ep with that much impact with an ep using this song...devastating.

[@godmagnus]

"That lady"

[@terrystickland219]

Not just that they had the audacity to approach Michelle Branch (and thank all the gods that they did), but this version of Goodbye To You was reworked especially for this episode. Michelle, we prostrate ourselves before you in gratitude.

[@crawdaddy1234]

What I had never realized until earlier this year is that “Death is your gift” can be interpreted in a third way. 1. DEATH is your gift - you are a killer. 2. Death IS your gift - your death will save the world. 3. Death is YOUR gift - death is the end of the fighting, the peace you deserve.

[@paulhammond6978]

I also interpret "Death is your gift" as it being Buffy's gift to Dawn - because she saves Dawn by dying in her place. But I do love (and it's something Whedon does fairly often) that everyone interprets "Death is your gift" as being some kind of metaphor, but when it comes to the end of Season 5, it is actually really quite literal.

[@jp3813]

Death is your GIFT

[@LLLLLL-wp9bz]

Death is your gift! - there,… every part of that sentence emphasized marzipan pie hole!

[@Anjalena]

Willow is an addict and Buffy is hiding behind her fear of adulthood. Tara and Giles are showing acts of love by leaving and forcing their loved one to stand on their own two feet rather than allowing themselves to be used as a crutches. Also, the love Tara shows herself by taking this action can't be understated.

[@chrisbeck4583]

I disagree about Buffy - she is suffering from depression and mental illness at this point, not just fear of adulthood. Giles leaving is the worst thing he can do. You don't abandon someone with a mental illness. Willow and Tara's relationship is extremely toxic so Tara leaving is the correct and necessary move.

[@ceceliam9014]

Season 6 is an exploration of depression in many ways. Buffy kissing Spike was even an act relating to her depression. The line she sings before kissing him is "this isn't real, but I just wanna feel."... Whatever the complicated feelings that might be there, right now Buffy is turning to Spike because it makes her feel something, like self medication and addiction parallels are there for Willow and for Buffy.

[@seumus]

From now on, Michelle Branch's voice singing Goodbye To You will rip your guts out. Always.

[@67Daidalos]

And that's just how I discovered Michelle Branch... she isn't that much famous here in France, and beside this song and a handful more, I don't know much of hers. But yeah... to this day, of the few songs I know for her, no one strikes as hard as "Goodbye to you".

[@3SailorMartin]

@@67Daidalos especially with that dramatic pause. Too bad her "Buffy " recording got lost

[@DianaBell_MG]

I was in the grocery store and Sarah McLachlan Full of Grace was playing, and when it ended Goodbye to you came on, I was like WHAT THE HELL you trying to do to me!

[@garymcallister4128]

@@3SailorMartin Really? I have a copy...not disagreeing, just surprised.

[@3SailorMartin]

@garymcallister4128 yeah it was a question asked of Michelle Branch a number of years ago about why she wouldn't sell that version and she said that sometime after she recorded it for Buffy it disappeared

[@cateiya95]

I think Giles leaving was more about him admitting to himself that he's an enabler. That as long as he's in her proximity, he will always enable her and thats also an unhealthy dynamic. From his point of view hes not leaving her alone. She has her friends and her sister that can support her in a healthy way, but thats not something hes capable of doing right now because he cares for her so much. Now that he knows everything else, that tendancy to enable is gonna be even worse because he feels so much sympathy for her.

[@jeffevans9853]

My story re: this song... Big BtVS fan, watched it as it aired. Sometime in the early 2000s, I was at the Barnes & Noble near me (my second home), when I started feeling sad. Like really sad, almost wanting to cry, for no discernable reason. Finally, I figured out it was the song playing over the store's sound system. I didn't know why, though, did not recognize it, so I asked an employee what it was. Later, this was pre-smartphone, I looked it up and found it was that song. The Willow/Tara breakup song. Amazing how stuff like that will linger in the corners of your mind.

[@domie]

awww❤❤

[@crawdaddy1234]

I’m never sure if this is the funniest dark episode or darkest funny episode.

[@jonaskoelker]

I think the answer is 'yes'.

[@prettyfloralbonnets]

Spike and Giles as son-father duo is the best dynamic ever! “Feeling of familiarity and disappointment “😅

[@Nicamon]

"RANDY GILES???!!!>:-O Why not just call me Horny Giles or Desperate-for-a-Shag Giles?!! I knew there was a reason I hated you!X-["

[@domie]

i love it so much hahaha

[@_underyourspell_]

this dynamic has a whole other layer to it when remembering the way they appeared in xander's dream in Restless (4x22)

[@zemoxian]

@@_underyourspell_ Didn’t Xander say something like being a shark on land with much less fins? Might have been the same episode.

[@_underyourspell_]

@@zemoxian yes, in xander's dream, which is what i was saying in another comment actually x) just checked the episode again quickly after my comment. buffy starts by saying "like a shark", then xander says "like a shark with feet, and much less fins", to which spike concludes "and on land"

[@dissonantbard5220]

To understand season six you have to understand that the big bad is life itself. Life is the villain that can top Glory

[@Mollyanholly]

Well Bored now

[@tehcoolemu]

54:18 As far as I know, that particular meaning of "smash" is comparatively recent slang and wasn't really a thing back when Buffy was airing, so this prediction is hilarious! Also, as sad as it is, I'm so damn proud of Tara for having the self respect and self esteem to leave like this. As you said, she's at risk of losing the bulk of her found family, right when she would need them most (experiencing that kind of violation and then breaking up with someone she loves). Plus, walking away from Alyson Hannigan's cry-face like that? Super-human feat. The Tara we first met could never have done this, and Willow (ironically) played a big role in the growth that made her able to do it now.

[@apparition13]

Yup, smash=sex is recent. Smashed as slang referred to getting smashed, e.g. getting wasted, drunk, high, etc.

[@J_Mock92]

Willow's crying at the end while she's sitting on the floor really hits. She knows how much she fucked up, but doesn't wanna deal with it, and almost looks like she's just completely shut down. Been there.... Buckle up for more Alyson Hannigan sad faces..... 😂

[@domie]

oh gosh i can’t cope 😭

[@J_Mock92]

@@domie lol, this is actually my favorite season and always has been (somewhat controversial amongst the OG fandom). It definitely explores some much darker and depressing themes, but still has some of the funniest and silliest episodes/moments in the whole series IMO

[@Hauke-ph5ui]

51:40 The shark was a shark because he's a loan shark. Play on words.

[@domie]

i hadn’t noticed when i originally watched but I LOVE THAT!!!

[@_underyourspell_]

​@@domiethe shark is also a subtle reference to Restless (4x22) from xander's dream. don't remember the exact quote/words, but there was this random conversation about sharks, and xander adding in smth "like a shark with feet and much less fins", and spike adding "and on land", around these lines

[@3SailorMartin]

I'm not going to say which one or what happens (but everyone who's seen the whole show should know which episode I'm talking about) but I'm dreading her reaction to one certain episode in particular

[@Nicamon]

You and every single one of us,I assume!;"-(((

[@PromptCriticalJello]

Only one?

[@3SailorMartin]

@@PromptCriticalJello one in particular this season. Let's just say it's the episode the entire remainder of the season revolves around

[@PromptCriticalJello]

@@3SailorMartin I know exactly which episode you're talking about. It's just that this entire season is the audience going 'that's heartbreaking' and the next episode saying 'hold my beer'.

[@3SailorMartin]

@PromptCriticalJello it has more to do with the reactor's reaction due to something that happens at the end

[@Buffy8Fan]

The happies/sad or saddest/happy episode. I agree with Tara leaving, but I don't agree with Giles leaving. To expand upon that, Tara needed to go. She gave Willow a chance when she didn't have to and Willow showed why she didn't deserve said chance. And while I think Giles motivations for leaving are good (especially when you take his _Restless_ episode dream metaphores into account anadd them to thinking Buffy needs to start growing up), doing so while Buffy is depressed is not. The better options for leaving were doing so in S4, S5 or coming back at the beginning of S6 (when he did) and laying down ground rules until Buffy isn't depressed. As it is, the people around Buffy are too young to hear Buffy's issues out (Dawn), soulless (Spike), or the people who are responsible for Buffy being depressed due to resurrecting her (Willow, Xander, Anya, and Tara). Even saying none of them know Buffy's depressed won't work at this point after they heard Buffy sing she was pulled out of heaven and Giles sang, "Is my slayer too far gone to care?" He knows this isn't just a case of Buffy struggling to grow up, but is treating it like it is. Giles has good reasons for leaving, but those reasons are null and void when Buffy is depressed. He shouldn't be leaving, but Tara needs to get away from the problem that is Willow.

[@Nicamon]

I failed to find the HP spoiler in your comment.

[@Buffy8Fan]

@@Nicamon I deleted it before putting the comment up, but didn't take the warning down. It was one of those non-spoiler spoilers anyway. Thanks for reminding me so I can take down the warning itself that I forgot to.

[@melenatorr]

For around 10:26: I feel so odd: "tabula rasa" was a concept we were taught in junior high school as part of literary and philosophical lessons. It feels so interesting to know it seems like it isn't taught anymore. Always was a fascinating concept to debate (I never fully believed it was true of newborns).

[@DarthRayj]

Like, the way they took all the stuff that had been revealed and started in OMWF, dug into it a tiny bit, and then turned the entire center of the episode into something where none of the setup or revelations are relevant, only so it can crash down with even more impact when it finally all collapses. It's such skillful writing

[@Turalcar]

I always have a hard time feeling said for Willow. She uses a magical equivalent of a roofie.

[@theoneandonlykk86]

The real reason why Giles left is that Anthony Stewart Head wanted to spend more time with his family in England. The writers had the extremely difficult task to come up with a semi-plausible reason for his departure.

[@domie]

that’s so valid of him 🥺

[@tomleonard830]

Also, there was talk of a Giles spin off.

[@DarrellPursiful]

Some reactor, maybe Lexi, commented that the Giles leaving story could have been more plausible if they had played up his feelings of guilt after killing Ben last season. Give him some trauma of his own that he had to sort out.

[@Nicamon]

@@DarrellPursiful Especially because *it's so weird* that that action had no consequences whatsoever! I know it was necessary but Faith's 1st murder was an accident and everyone made *such a big deal of it* that she turned into what we know...and now Giles willingly kills a semi-innocent human being and no one knows about it and he has no repercussion whatsoever,not legally,not mentally,not morally,not psychologically,not emotionally,not nothing?!?X-/ Never liked that.

[@fiddiehacked]

Great ramblings Domi! For the most part you're getting the subtext better than I did on the first viewing. You should really watch the 16 episodes of Manchild, costarring Tony Head. It's kinda like Sex & the City, but about 4 guys in London.

[@cirrustate8674]

This episode has the unenviable task of following an episode 7, and not just any episode 7, but OMWF. That being said, this episode hits it out of the park. This could easily be an episode 7 on its own, it's that good.

[@garymcallister4128]

Remember, Giles has been inclined to leave since mid-season 4. This is not coming out of nowhere.

[@jonaskoelker]

As early as The Freshman (4x1) he pushed for Buffy to be more independent. He did it again very explicitly in Tough Love (5x19), something about him being the grown-up but Buffy being Dawn's family, and therefore Buffy had to be the authority figure. There has been a steady trickle of this in S6, with Buffy saying "[I'm so glad you'll always be around]" and Giles making a concerning face, I think at the end of Life Serial (6x5) or maybe Flooded (6x4). At the end of All The Way (6x6) Buffy decided that Dawn needed a talking to, and tried putting the responsibility on Giles. I think it's very much not out of nowhere-not to say I predicted it the first time I watched, just that it has been built up to.

[@Mollyanholly]

Pretty sure it was because Anthony (Gile’s) was home sick

[@jonaskoelker]

@@Mollyanholly Does it count as being homesick when Tony Head specifically wanted to spend time with his kids?

[@tomleonard830]

I did an audio snippet and "Where do we go from here" is my phone alarm when it is time to go somewhere (work, to the airport, etc).

[@SweenyTodd98]

29:45 "I guess season 6 might still have some sad things" oh sweet summer child...

[@garymcallister4128]

Nopenonenothinguhuh. No sadness at all, nope.

[@DrLipkin]

"I love you so much that I can't stand to see you suffer. So... bye." Ok, Giles. Not like she hasn't been abandoned by a father figure before, I'm sure she'll be fine.

[@3SailorMartin]

@DrLipkin I'm glad I'm not the only person who sees it as abandoning her I mean I get that Anthony Stewart Head wanted to spend more time with his family so was leaving the show but... Especially after the revelation about being pulled out of heaven, the fact that she already feels lost, abandoned, disconnected and betrayed by those she loves... this was the worst possible time for him to leave

[@chrisallen19821982]

So is is better if he stays and she never grows up?

[@3SailorMartin]

@@chrisallen19821982 She's 21 maybe 22 by this time. She's been carrying the weight of the world since she was 14 maybe 15 (if you go by when she first became a slayer, not when the show started)... She's had to be more "grown up" than anyone else her age usually is. Besides, most people's "parents" don't just ghost them and walk away when they reach a certain age. Their kids know they can at least rely on them for advice when needed. Maybe he should have waited until her depression lessened a little or at least she was a little more settled back in the world of the living. And exactly what was he expecting to happen with paying the bills? She had no work experience (at least none you could put on a resume), was still expected to fight evil and patrol every night, take care of Dawn, etc. She needed love, support and understanding not abandonment

[@Madbandit77]

Tabula Rasa is a goofy romp with temporary memory loss and a literal loan shark. There's also the downsides involving Giles leaving for England and the Tillow breakup.

[@domie]

what a freaking episode!!

[@Madbandit77]

@@domie The next two episodes get totally real. 😎👍

[@ThePharaz]

Listening to you talk about leaving made me think... Let it go, let it go Can't hold it back anymore Let it go, let it go Turn away and slam the door I don't care what they're going to say - from Disney Frozen - Let it go

[@killianlpc]

Tabula Rasa was a great innovative episode with comedy overload. There was foreshadowing here from S4 finale Restless with Giles and Spike saying he was his son etc. We see Willow again going to the dark side with addiction to magic for her own selfish purposes, mirroring serious drug addiction. As they all have no memories this lends itself to great comedy. A brilliant use of Michelle Branch's gorgeous ballad Goodbye To You that was specially recorded version for this episode. Willow is her own worst enemy devoured by her love and lust for Tara who feels total betrayal after what Glory did to her mind in S5, it's almost a metaphor for coercive control, and of course we see 'Spuffy' is now very real. One very funny bit is where Buffy and Spike are in the graveyard, and Spike says' maybe I'm a vampire with a soul', and he 'helps the helpless' the tagline of course from the show Angel. Just a brilliant innovative episode.

[@Matrim42]

“I really thought we had left the major ‘The Body’ type episodes behind” Oh…oh, honey. You aren’t ready for this season. Oh dear.

[@katlamb7627]

I felt the same way when I first watched Buffy. After years of watching and rewatching, thinking about Giles's worries, and how human error comes into play throughout all the seasons, I have a better understanding of why the story went this way. It's totally ok to feel betrayed by Giles leaving right now though, we all did.

[@Dunybrook]

Willow's decision to bring Buffy back is related to her issues with Tara. She meddled with dark forces that nobody should and did harm to herself as well as to Buffy. They never mention it on the show but I have to think Giles' arc had something to do how he dealt with Ben and Glory. He kind of lost himself in how codependent he was with Buffy and probably felt the need to reconnect with his roots by going home for a while. I respect the ignoring of all the red flags but there's no getting around that Buffy and Spike kissing like that was not portrayed as a good thing.

[@BenBanjo87]

It's so sweet that 'Joan' was determind to protect 'UmaD', even though neither of them had their memories. And how they worked out they were sisters just from bantering with each other ❤❤

[@andreanairvin7724]

I can't stop saying oh you sweet summer child every prediction.

[@KaishaLouise]

So... remember how Lily/Chanterelle named herself Anne after Buffy (and kept the name)? Buffy named herself Joan in this episode, which, coincidentally, was Lily/Chanterelle/Anne's birth name. They both named themselves after each other at one point in their lives.

[@Talisguy]

There's also the possibility that Buffy was in heaven _because_ the death was supernatural. It's never been conclusively proven that heaven and hell are ordinary people's reward or punishment after dying in this universe, after all, and given that a recurring theme in this universe is that life is not fair... It's entirely possible that Buffy _fluked_ her way into heaven due to an unrepeatable cosmic accident and will never be able to return, because she only got there by jumping into that portal and Dawn's blood no longer has the power to do that.

[@zemoxian]

No, I think death was her gift. She heroically sacrificed herself out of love. She knew from the First Slayer that death was her gift. She figured out what that meant at that moment. It’s possible that it’s a reward for being a slayer generally or that she specifically was given the gift as for her tenure as slayer.

[@pieceofgosa]

I can never be mad at Giles. He's only human after all & everybody has a right to do what they think is best for themselves. If he decides this is all just too much for him, he is allowed to walk away. That goes for everyone in the show. Xander, Willow, Tara, Anya, Dawn, hell even Buffy. If they can't handle this shit anymore it's their right to say "I'm done". The only person you have to justify yourself to is the person in the mirror. Nobody else has a right to demand that you give up your life to make their life easier. We're born alone & we die alone. You gotta stand on your own two or else, what is even the point ?

[@jeremygilbert7989]

He didn't do it because he thought it was best for him, he did it because he knew it was time for Buffy to truly leave the nest. She has all the knowledge, experience, and resources to thrive on her own but her dependence on him could not only be a hindrance but a weakness. It sucks but that's how life goes, at some point you have to let go of the bicycle no matter how much they protest.

[@pieceofgosa]

@@jeremygilbert7989 Abandoning someone you love when they are suffering from SEVERE depression & basically just saying to them "figure it out" is horrendous. As such, I decide to believe he truly did it for his own mental health as that's something I can understand.

[@Dez861]

Trust me, purely based on a certain popular ship - I'm not gonna say which one - you're gonna LOVE the next episode. (It's my personal favorite).

[@paulhammond6978]

Spike gets on with Giles so much better when they have both lost their memories, and for some reason assume that any time there are two British people in the same room we must be related... And "Randy Giles" is an excellent name.

[@WSK9002]

A lot of people blame Giles for leaving, now being almost Forty Years Old, I get where he was coming from. If kids still have to depend this much on their Guardians and or Parents by the time they are Twenty Years Old, as much as Summers did with Giles said Guardians didn't do a good job raising said kids. This is why I also believe Giles is a Hypocrite in the Seventh Season by the way.

[@valinny8571]

Did you notice how big that bag of Lethe's Bramble was? Did Willow buy it in bulk or something?! 😄 Makes me wonder how many times Willow used that forget spell on Tara or someone else.

[@seumus]

It reminded me of buying supplies from Azure Green. I got some catnip from them once, what I assumed was a moderately-sized bag and it turned out to be a 2-gallon ziploc bag!

[@alanbeers4808]

From the Under Your Spell reprise, sung by Tara - "Wish I could trust just that it was just this once, but I must do what I must"

[@_underyourspell_]

@@valinny8571 personally i do believe that it's the first time Willow used the spell, even though she looked confident while doing it. What makes me think this way is the way in which she checked whether or not Tara was mad at her afterwards, which i doubt she'd have done if she was used to do the spell (like, why would she make sure she wasn't mad at her if she casted the spell several times in the past, and if the spell worked everytime? she wouldn't have to question whether or not the spell works ever again)

[@ibgvox]

Joss, November 9, 2001: By the by, I'm LOVIN' next weeks ep. Michelle branch works great in it - I saw her
in boston ('cause of Jesse) and one song completely gave me the feeling I
wanted for ep 8. Didn't love it on the album though (overproduced) So Michelle
and the boys recorded like the live version while touring, so it's not gonna sound
like anything else, which is nice. Then she went out and became this big noise,
which is great (she's very cool), and is playing on the ep her music helped shape.
Synergy -- it's overwhelming.

[@PromptCriticalJello]

Assume crash positions. Brace for impact.

[@Mightyblackcats]

having this ep after the musical was a stroke genius funny, sad, silliness

[@tuxdude1]

"I can't do this" .... "I can't do this". Instant waterworks from me.

[@turbulentlobster]

Twenty-whatever years ago, Tara moving out drove a knife through my heart. Still hurts.

[@J_Mock92]

This has always been my favorite episode 😂

[@mjtpli]

You’re so right about Giles and the writers. It’s ironic that Tony Head’s need to spend more time with his real life daughter led to Giles abandoning Buffy, but I agree that Mutant Enemy could have dealt with it better, specifically by having something pulling Giles back home instead of just this dopey rationalization about forcing Buffy to stand on her own. One scene with Olivia might have done it.

[@lostmyshoe2294]

It’s been decades now and I still cry every time I hear this song 😢

[@suinegagpf]

This is a fun but dark episode. But capping it off with Michelle Branch's "Goodbye to you" over the dialogue free closing scenes is just perfection. Everything beautifully conveyed via the acting and song lyrics.

[@commonstragedy]

That's Michelle Branch singing at the end.

[@stephaniebarker472]

Does it blow anyone else’s mind that when Spike loses his memory he has no idea he’s a vampire and does not seem to want to bite anyone? Just because he lost his memory doesn’t mean the demon in him is gone, right? Or did the demon lose its memory too😂? Anyway, I love that he immediately assumes he has a soul. What a complicated character Spike is.

[@jspettifer]

Thankfully I had the album and knew the song pretty well before the episode. Goodbye to You was later released as a single and went to number 21 in the US

[@Nexusofgeek]

Actually I kind of disagree about the inconsistency in Gile’s decision to leave. You said he wanted to do so since season 6 but if you think back, it actually was hinted at in season 4 when he wanted Buffy to be more independent at school. It may have been precipitated by ASH wanting to spend more time with family in real life, but to say it’s not consistent is not quite right

[@EvanSawyer4]

Buffy last episode: “this isn’t real 🎶” 2:33 “… to finally get a real kiss”

[@TheGabygael]

I personally really think Willow's choice to reanimate buffy was done out of not wanting to feel painand out of ego, honestly. Her love for Buffy did weigh in but i genuinely think the biggest motivator was her pain

[@TenebrousFilms]

After five years in America, Anthony wanted to spend more time with his family in the UK, and who can blame him. But he's one of the core four, he'll be back. Eventually.

[@visarr]

"That lady" was Michelle Branch. Watch Alley's reaction to her - off the charts.

[@adoreandu-reactions-b5h]

About Giles, think about S4E01, he thinks the right thing to do is to let Buffy stand on her own... and then he turns around and shows up to help (too late, she doesn't need it). Then, last episode, again he thinks the right thing is to let Buffy stand on her own... and then he turns around and shows up to help (too little, when Buffy is spiralling he just stands there and it's Spike who catches her). Too little, too late, that's kinda how Giles do.

[@sallyscrive]

Giles leaving hurt me too, but that's the only way to have him back anytime. It they'd killed him off I'd be wrecked.

[@ronfehr7899]

I have to side with Giles on this one. Yes, Buffy can ba strong with Giles there, but she needs to learn to be strong (mentally) on her own. Like in any relationship, the other person cannot always be there to help, and some decisions must be made on one's own.

[@michaelwhite1637]

Giles did not want to leave. It was absolutely killing him . He HAD TO leave. Buffy is his daughter and he needs to make sure she can stand on her own when he is gone. It is every father’s responsibility.

[@ernesthakey3396]

I understand Giles leaving. I do think it's a mistake for the character. Still, at least they didn't kill Giles off. And they had already done the "character in a coma" trope. If they hadn't gone that route with Faith, it would have worked with Giles - one head trauma too much, and he ends up in a coma instead of just normally unconscious. Willow didn't want to hear what Tara was saying. So she said what she thought Tara wanted to hear. She wasn't really listening to just how hurt Tara was. She's addicted to magic now...saying things addicts might say when they are actually thinking about how to get their next fix.

[@seumus]

Oh, sweetie, no. You actually think a girl so depressed she can barely feel anything and a soulless vampire getting together is a *good* thing? This is *Joss* we're talking about.

[@menachemsalomon]

I pushed off watching this until today, which happens to be the 31st. Not that I observe Halloween in any way, but it still seems oddly appropriate. By the way, I've seen very few reactors reacting visibly to Xander's _Shema Yisra'el._ It's not a phrase that most pick up on. But you did. Which I appreciate, as I felt lonely being the only one to get it. (Also, I wanted to ask about the pendant on your necklace, and if it was significant. I noticed it in your reaction to 6x07 already. Which you watched in February or March of last year, so you may not remember what was going on at the time. And apologies if I'm being too nosy, or you'd rather keep this private.) Anyway, thanks for reacting. And for sharing.

[@alanbeaumont4848]

As a Brit the highlights for me are Anthony Stewart Head twinkling at Anya when Giles thinks they are engaged and his "Welcome to the Nancy Tribe" when Spike deduces he is English. (And notice Spike accuses Anya of being a "trollop" which is Victorian slang and which we now only use on tourists - honestly!)

[@stephaniebarker472]

So does it mean “tourist”? Or something more rude? I always thought it meant “tramp” or something like that.

[@alanbeaumont4848]

@@stephaniebarker472 Lady of easy virtue.

[@stephaniebarker472]

I find it significant that the only two who don’t know their real names in this ep are Buffy (Joan) and Spike (Randy). Perhaps just another way the writers want to connect/parallel these two characters.

[@debroffe4354]

Other slayers out there need him more than Buffy does help new generation slayers

[@DrLipkin]

When everyone loses their memories, Spike is still interested in Buffy, and Willow is still interested in Tara. Yet Xander and Anya don't so much as consider each other as potential romantic prospects. NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, I'M SURE!

[@IslandpferdeHaukagil]

They don't even talk to each other..

[@Heldemon]

To be fair, anya automatically assumed she was with giles because she woke up next to him with a ring and announced to everyone how they were engaged. Xander thought he might have been with willow for similar reasons.

[@DianaBell_MG]

I will never agree with Giles here, I'm still mad at him 23 years later.

[@Mollyanholly]

I’m pretty sure the reason why. Gile’s left is because Anthony (Gile’s) was homesick. But I really feel it could’ve been written a bit better.

[@CvSp22]

'Let's get Tara back!' - We need merch with that phrase 😢.

[@alanbeaumont4848]

Spike is the enemy who has become devoted to Buffy and her friends, with the exception of Giles, betrayed her by raising her from eternal rest. No wonder she feels more empathetic to Spike (and remember he understood how she escaped her grave). Giles had to go as A.S.H. wanted to see his children grow up back in the UK. Skillfully dealt with, plot wise.

[@chickwithbricks]

"I thought we were done with the songs with subtext" GOODBYE TO YOU-OOOO It took me a long time to forgive Giles. I learned his backstory and Giles went straight from being Ripper to being a Watcher. He himself never learned to just live a normal life, so he doesn't feel like he can help Buffy with that. He sees she's outgrown the Watcher council back in season 4. And he has tons of guilt from his bad times. He's gone through watching her die twice now, and I truly think he feels they both deserve to live now. He's still wrong tho. IIRC Anthony Head needed to go back to England IRL. Season 6 makes some decisions I'm against. The show was meant to end after 5. 6 is still one of my favourites because I love drama.

[@arthurspils2565]

Giles leaving imo was ultimately the right choice, he just picked a terrible time to do it. Willow can f off, promised no magic and does it the next morning, intentionally brain wipes two of her closest people (one of whom has suffered a similar experience before) + collateral damage AFTER an argument about why that would be a bad thing. Sympathy only exists because it's addiction.

[@grrrrbabyverygrrr8165]

You're not the only reactor who thought he was kissing someone else at the end. Buffy totally ran after spike. I honestly think he was on the verge of leaving her for good and she knew this, last episode and this episode

[@xyex]

Would have been better for her if he had....

[@grrrrbabyverygrrr8165]

@xyex not in S7 or the comics it wouldn't have.

[@Junejane4]

I can't imagine what it was for you to watch the next episode 😄 so it's interesting to see

[@mrhedgebull1658]

32:30 A lot of reactors seem to feel like this. Nobody seems to get that Giles is acting on a demonically inspired song. Who would have thought that an idea from a demon might not be the right thing to do. 🤔

[@xyex]

Worst thing about Willow's spell? Buffy was just about to have an emotional breakthrough before it hit. She was about to open up, let them in. It would have been the first step toward healing. And if it had happened, *so much* that goes wrong this season could have been avoided. Including some of the worst moments in the series. But the spell hit, and the breakthrough was cut off. And then the spell broke and Buffy was yanked out of happiness *again.* Effectively pulled out of heaven a second time, traumatized all over again, sending her even deeper into her depression.

[@RandomStuff-hh7bk]

Only a little way into this reaction, but I'm wondering if Domi caught the "loan shark" joke in this episode.

[@Nicamon]

The most funny _and_ sad episode of"Buffy"at the same time. 12:18 - 12:23 I agree!Follow your own advice,PLEASE!!!🙏 Willow&Tara...💔💔💔💔💔 14:09 - 14:30 Can I say this was the worst thing she could do?!?She just made Willow promise she would go a week without magic and _right after that_ she said she was gonna leave her anyway???Great move to take EVERY motivation away from her for keeping her promise!!🤦‍♂The deal should have been:"Go a week without any magic and if you can't,I will leave you."not:"Go a week without any magic.Oh,BTW,I'm gonna leave you anyway." Giles leaving was being"in the air"for a while,but he had *the worst timing ever!* You can't leave right after learning your"daughter"is clinically depressed,ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!🤬💢And if you know me _you know_ I don't care if Giles leaves...but *not now!!!* It's the worst timing ever FOR BUFFY! 19:10 - 19:20 "Welcome to the Nancy Tribe.X-P"why does everyone always cut this line?!?😂😂😂😂 19:21 - 19:38 "FATHER.X-P" 19:39 - 19:41 "RESTING together!"😆 20:03 - 20:13 RANDY GILES!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 22:23 - 22:32 , 24:10 - 24:18 💞💞 23:31 - 23:24 Great question!! I'm wondering that since S5!!!🤦‍♂💢 24:34 - 24:35 🤭❤ 25:10 - 25:17 Same!😖😖😖 25:23 - 25:42 Honestly?Same reaction!😫I know it's wrong,but the Power of the Fanservice is too strong with me!!X//-< 💞💞💞💞 26:26 - 26:47 _The weight of the world..._ 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 27:17 - 27:21 The only song from"Buffy"I already knew before watching"Buffy". 27:33 - 27:38 💔💔💔💔 28:31 - 28:50 People need to *STOP* being excited for this!!!THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING,GUYS!!!>OO< 30:50 - 30:53 And the moment they put her in the credits...;""-((( 😭💔(so glad you're already finished the show so I can say this without having to be worried for the spoiler!) 42:09 - 42:13 Ooohhh,you don't know the half of it...!;"-((( 43:27 - 43:32 So true!Tara is the one in the right and she's the one losing all her friends at once!So unfair!X"-((( 44:12 - 44:34 To me this is the literal definition of Soulmates!💞 50:45 - 51:07 And I'd like to point out this _didn't_ happen with Buffy&Spike,which tells me they are _NOT_ True Love like Willow&Tara and Buffy&Dawn in a similar way I got a proof in"Once Upon a Time"that Emma&Hook are _NOT_ True Love like Snow&David or Emma&Henry for example. P.S. I'm disappointed that in the Italian version Dawn never calls Xander"Alex". It was a very nice touch and I'm sorry it got lost in translation.X-(((

[@isuckatguitar6252]

That's Michelle Branch singing at the end. She was a big deal in the 2000's

[@julier92]

I think the writers were trying to come up with a way to write Giles off the show without killing him off. Anthony just wanted more time back in England with his family, working across an ocean from them was becoming too much, but they wanted to leave the door open for the character to return if he chose to. This was the reasoning they came up with, and i guess from some point of view it makes sense. Even though i agree with you that Giles is wrong, i prefer that to Giles dead.

[@darklink17ful]

This is one of the saddest and funniest epsiodes of the seris

[@blacktronlego]

16:37 Addiction can turn love for the addict into hatred of what they do. Willow and Tara's breakup is particularly hard on Dawn as they had become like parents to her and she has the memories of her parents breaking up. Giles leaving must have an impact as well, even if he was never as much of a father figure to her as he was to Buffy.

[@trufamilybromontqc]

Loved this reaction ❤

[@iwillroam]

You think the Giles story is badly written? Huh? Not throwing shade at you, but I've seen all your reactions and see you are very deeply moved by the show so it's hard not to love watching you fall in love with it, and I can see you're moved by the storyline about Giles leaving in particular, so it looks to me like they did a great job of getting you into Buffy's headspace. She's deeply hurt, confused, angry, frustrated, and in denial, and you're expressing all of that. It's great writing I think! Am I wrong about it?

[@smilebehappy109]

U have to listen to the Becoming Buffy potcast Highly Recommended !! 😍

[@xyex]

lol, thinking 6x7 was a real kiss. You poor, sweet, summer child.

[@boqndimitrov8693]

willow is really addicted to magic! who needs magic to put on their pants??

[@debroffe4354]

Giles made the right decision for everyone involved including himself

[@ThePurpleRants]

LOL not the songs with subtext! anything but that!

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

Always suffers in comparison with OMWF but TR is a true classic.

[@peterd9698]

Yeah Gile's reasoning didnt feel convincing to me. They made a decent effort, set various examples of her not making decisions because he was there, but still.

[@RunningTogether]

This may seem random, but I swear it’s connected to something you said here… you should watch the 1991 movie Dead Again if you haven’t seen it. I’d be happy to watch the reaction, but even if you just watch it for yourself, I feel like you will enjoy it. 👍

[@adoreandu-reactions-b5h]

Yeah, Spike walked away... Buffy followed....

[@Ylyrra]

I think Giles leaving feeling abrupt is a a failure of storytelling. They do some setup, but not enough, to explain that he feels he's enabling her to abdicate her responsibilities. It isn't that Giles doesn't want to be there for her, it's that he knows he always will be and that he feels that this is allowing Buffy to slowly fade out of engaging with life and handing over more and more of the things she needs to keep her grounded to him. They also don't really point out that he's already BEEN trying other approaches, and none of them have worked and she only seems to be getting worse for it. Once More With Feeling was his breaking point, he decided to be strong and stay near but not help directly, and then didn't have (in his mind) the resolve to stick to that, so he feels his only option is to leave completely as the only way to stick to his guns. As you say, he's completely wrong, it's absolutely not an appropriate response, but with a bit more attention in the story-telling they could have sold it far better as a more believable Giles response. It's always felt to me like a couple of extra lines where he makes a callback to all the times he's tried before would have made it feel less "whelp, I'm done here, smell ya later", and I've often wondered if there were those extra lines but they got trimmed in the edit because it's already a very busy episode.

[@pillmuncher67]

Bara bara, himble gemination!