I'M DONE - Buffy the Vampire Slayer Reaction - 6x19 - Seeing Red

[@LiamDuke]

🔥🔥🔥 This is fine 🔥🔥🔥

[@TheLexiCrowd]

Nothing to see! Move it along!

[@hardybryan]

I remember you handling it with your typical stoicism and stiff upper lift, Liam.

[@Girl4Music]

@@TheLexiCrowd she’ll. never. tell

[@AnatoleVGC]

Liam 💜 i miss your reactions

[@hardybryan]

@@TheMrsWatcher Yes, the natural comedy of the situation was amazing.

[@lawrencewestby9229]

"Your shirt." The most gut wrenching line in the entire series.

[@Nicamon]

How many of us had to restrain themselves from commenting that line randomly under _any_ video previous this one?🙋‍♂🙋‍♂🙋‍♂🙋‍♂🙋‍♂🙋‍♂🙋‍♂🙋‍♂🙋‍♂🙋‍♂

[@barbarabaker1457]

I swear it's a full on trigger for me

[@Theomite]

I still prefer "Mommy?"

[@Theomite]

@@ItsMeBarnaby Oh right, performance-wise I'd agree. I thought we were limiting our consideration to line(s) of dialogue.

[@Ty-le3tm]

Ties with Anya’s speech in the body to me

[@brantheavner9770]

This episode was so traumatic for the actor James Marstairs who played Spike. In future television and movie the actor had it written into his contract that he would not be asked to violate a woman on screen. The actor made mention this was the worst seen he ever had to do in his professional career.

[@claudiadarling9441]

Yeah he said the only positive was that it made him seek out a therapist, which ended up being really positive in general.

[@brantheavner9770]

@@claudiadarling9441 thank you for sharing that story and giving some insight into this man whose acting I really enjoy.

[@Theomite]

The man is a class act.

[@brantheavner9770]

@@Theomite thank you for saying that I agree with you Sir 💯

[@Alifirecat]

He literally was sitting against a wall thinking how hard he would have to hit his head against it to just make everything stop so he could disappear. It was that traumatizing for him

[@BRCBrick]

Lexi during her last Buffy reaction video: "They're back together. Oh my god. I'm so happy." The rest of us: 👀😬

[@deirdrestatham5730]

I commented that on the last episode upload. lol

[@pcoleman1971]

I had to resist commenting on the last video for exactly that reason.

[@deirdrestatham5730]

@@pcoleman1971 I assumed she had already seen at least one or two episodes further because of editing and uploading lead time. I didn’t say anything way back when though. 😳

[@krishnabrian691]

Totally 😅

[@THamiltonL]

I KNOW! It destroyed me because I knew!

[@Swooshez90]

Warren is the scariest villain to me, because he's real. Vampires and demons don't exist, but men like Warren do and they walk among us.

[@xxSydneyFox]

And that's why this season is my favourite.

[@Zso-VIII]

It's why I appreciate shows like BtVS that do a really good job at showing Narcissists as villains, and what kinds of behaviours they display (Parker, Warren, Ted)

[@jp3813]

Except he utilized sci-fi tech & magic.

[@mjtpli]

Our world is largely run by Warrens.

[@meio_feio]

@@jp3813 but he only ever did real damage with his hands and a gun

[@davidmcleod5133]

That intro… OMG… I think I cracked a rib!!! 😂🤣😂 I’m sorry I’m laughing at your pain, but OMG, that was perfect!

[@deirdrestatham5730]

I actually remember watching that reaction and going 😬🥴... "uh oh"...

[@Shannon-pb4sw]

Joss whedon to the Buffy fandom... kzbin.info/www/bejne/mV6timijpK15nLc

[@mintphoenix2112]

I've been waiting for the reaction to this episode. I was so shocked when I first saw it. Can't wait to see your reaction to the next two.

[@markmcminn7572]

I’m a massive fan of Spike. He was always my favourite character as a whole! But it always amazed me how many fans were surprised by his actions. In the end he is a soulless Demon. Yes he is not your typical Vampire and I think because of how he was as a human being a poet and having a strong will to love and be loved, when he became a demon he still kept that but it became twisted. He does love Buffy but it’s the love he also felt for Drusilla it’s a twisted and warped conception. He could never fully love her the way he would as a human and with a soul. In the end he is evil and I feel the writers used this to remind us of that.

[@heidi9142]

I agree with this completely. I think he is one of the most interesting characters in the series.

[@Nicamon]

TBH,that scene was the 1st time I felt Spike was In Character after a _looooooooong time_ and it *disappointed me* that he stopped!Not because I _wanted_ Buffy to get R-Worded,but because he *_ONCE AGAIN_* behaved more like a human than like a souless vampire in the end!!!>_______________

[@JuneJaneb4]

You know I see that all such comments use the same ideas. So basically by replying to one, you reply to all 😊 So if you are really amazed by how people saw his character then you should be amazed by what Sarah Michelle Gellar said during S5. 'The thing about Buffy and Spike is he understands her on a level that nobody else understands her. They've both lived a hundred lives and I think there is a connection there that we will see evolve later. Where she realizes that he really is someone that she can trust (!). And someone who is a companion to her and really understands her unlike anybody else'. Replying to the Q about Buffy future love interest. And nothing about like you said 'evil souless demon monster'. So looks like the audience are not the only ones who liked it and had different idea. And for a reason. That's interesting, right? And right after she said it they desided to do completely opposite. And ruined specifically her trust. If you really wonder why people were surprised I can tell you. What you mentioned here with Drusilla you just scipped whole character development. For whatever reason. You are saying that he was just an evil demon when the only idea they had about him is that he is just another big bad who either will be killed or will never return. So of course it was so then. She made him a vampire, that's why he had such relationships with her. He was bonded to her, not because he chose her to be his love. But he overcame it. He chose the other person over her. That was his first attempt of free will. That's when the change has begun. And later we saw him change even more. And doing selfless things even. Being the person who you can trust and count on. That's where Sarah got her idea too. So people loved him even more for that. But then the writers didn't like it, called S&B fans serial killers lovers and tried to force them hate him and ruined their story. And what was that?? They made people love in then blamed them for that and ruined it later. In their faces. That's the problem. S6 was his degradation only because autors wanted to ruin it that much to prove that they are right. Not to write a good story. They served an agenda, ideology. Which eventually looked just dirty and awful. But they didn't care. It could easily be different based on what we saw earlier. Even actors asked them to change that scene but they refused. Cause they wanted it that much. It says a lot, about them also.

[@Nicamon]

@@JuneJaneb4 "And later we saw him change even more. And doing selfless things even. Being the person who you can trust and count on."Just like someone with a soul. Makes you wonder what he _needs_ a soul for in the 1st place....😒😓(No,I will *never* shut up about this nonsense!Sorry not sorry! If you can keep praising Spike for how morally complex he is,I can keep criticizing him for that exact same reason.>^

[@wyterabitt2149]

@@Nicamon Yes, that's the story arc. It's the entire point. In spite of not having a soul, he was able to fight back against the demon parasite that vampires have in them that makes them a vampire. And he manages to fight to the point where he goes and manages to choose to get his soul back, because he knows he will always be on the edge of being that monster and it can take over his actions any time.

[@christaparish8055]

On the original airing, I just turned the TV off and sat in silence. The phone rang, and my brother just said " they killed tara". We didn't even say hello

[@lance9249]

I was cheering something like ding-dong the witch is dead

[@mimmo4762]

Silence. Shock. Confusion. The ten seconds after this episode are the worst. It hits hard. I think the point of the tragedy is precisely that Warren was shooting randomly. It happens so often in real life it is scary.

[@rydbthatsme]

The amount this one episode escalates to the worst possible moments EVER!😭

[@Teeklin]

LOL at the opening edit. Every single one of us was thinking it way back then and biting our tongues.

[@Spalove]

Interesting fact: The actors who played Tara and Warren dated in real life

[@Girl4Music]

Can you imagine the conversation they had prior to filming this? It’s still so weird to me. Busch: “Hey Babe, I’m gonna shoot you this afternoon. Hope you’re ready for it.” Benson: “Sure thing, honey. Can’t wait.”

[@MicukoFelton]

@@Girl4Music Nahh, no actor or actress is happy to be written off a show. So I'm guessing she was sad about it.

[@Girl4Music]

@@MicukoFelton yeah, but he probably consoled her about it. Or made her laugh it off or whatever.

[@dmwalker24]

I think I just died a little inside...

[@kyleellis1825]

Didn't they start dating like 7 years later when they met on another set?

[@frugalseverin2282]

Typical Joss Whedon, that's why. Ep. 2X17 Giles and Jenny Calendar were going to get back together, then she's killed by Angelis. Ep. 5X15 showed Joyce looking and feeling great, went out on the town, had a good time then she's dead. Now Tara is in the credits for the 1st time, reunited with Willow. Joss loves to lift us up high before slamming us back to earth. He hates us.

[@cherryfreckle]

He even originally planned to put Jesse in the opening credits too, just so people would be shocked when he died. For money reasons he couldn't though.

[@kyleellis1825]

Oz was supposed to die instead of Jenny. Doyle right as he and Cordelia are getting Happy. Fred/Gunn splitting up right as they start making a future. Anya/Xander splitting up at the altar. Riley leaving just when Buffy chose him fully. Joss doesn't know how to write a happy relationship because he's never had one last.

[@Theomite]

@@kyleellis1825 Doesn't change the fact that he manages to make these thru-lines grow organically. You can't look at these character journeys and NOT see the seeds of their futures in them.

[@kyleellis1825]

@@Theomite He's great at making people be miserable together and deal with just enough to keep them moving forward but never moving upwards. I actually thought Joss planned a lot of the stuff a head of time. But seeing his interviews/BTVS DVD commentary, he's actually closer to my writing style. He comes up with the over arching plot of the series (He planned 5 seasons from the get go). But a lot of the foreshadowing is actually recalling earlier episodes. He admits he gets toa new episode and looks back at the earlier stuff he's done that could connect to it organicallly. The seeds he plants are open ended and he chooses the dirt for them later.

[@ibgvox]

@@kyleellis1825 Joss and his wife seem to have a very happy relationship. On the other hand, the point of writing sad, cruel moments is exactly what happened in almost every comment after Lexi's video: the emotional resonance. Thats why Buffy feels so real as a show.

[@vanesrak]

"Why did they ruin Spike?" "Tara is sunshine, they can't kill her." You are so right

[@dylanburton4955]

I wouldn’t say they ruined spike, what he did was very in character. I mean look at how he had both Buffy and Dru chained up in Season 5 to “prove” his love for Buffy While he’s soulless he clearly has a very messed up view about love It’s just easy to forget how creepy and dangerous Spike is without a soul because James Marsters had such charm and charisma

[@dragonpaulz_]

Yea idk the entire relationship in s6 is toxic and abusive from both sides, but while buffy was finally starting to pull herself out of her depression, spike doesnt respond as well. He is the type of character to become swallowed by his obsession, which is an aspect of his character that has been repeatedly driven home throughout the entire show, and this is just the culmination of it. Dont think ill ever understand people who thinks this is "ruining" spike when this was always perfectly within his capacity to do

[@ianburns1167]

This is such a rough episode. And it’s a reminder that Spike is a soulless monster among soulless monsters despite - or because - he has many human qualities. As to his quest, we’ll you’ll see. What’s interesting is he hates himself for that… but he’s so far gone he doesn’t understand why. Tara. Her getting shot is cruel and unfair and random and at the worst possible time. And now Willow, the woman who LAST season could give Glory a run for her money, is covered with her lover’s blood and her eyes are black. You were wondering how they’d make the meanies scary?

[@jp3813]

Oh, the meanies are the ones who'll be scared.

[@Kayjee17]

To be fair... was Buffy a soulless monster when she was invisible and she went down on Spike after he told her NO? There wasn't any violence involved, but she still SA'ed him by doing that, and she actually made physical contact with his private intimate parts, where Spike didn't do that here.

[@jp3813]

@@Kayjee17 Pretty sure Buffy said "no" plenty of times before the invisible episode as well, but Spike never listened. It was a toxic relationship, which already ended by this point.

[@ianburns1167]

@@Kayjee17 Absolutely true that Buffy has been horribly abusive to Spike, but I didn’t want to get into that because it would sound like I’m justifying him and I’m not. I just meant that this is entirely in character for William the Bloody, and that there’s a hard cap on the level of empathy he’s capable of.

[@Ray.500]

in my opinion that is really in character for spike, it comes as a shock initially of course but literally his whole arc this season is leading up to that moment, all his scenes are just him and buffy secretly having sex because she’s kinda ashamed to be with him. he literally buys a buffy robot and has sex with her a full season ago, he is snarky and funny and we all love that but i hate that everyone says this episode was out of character for him because it is most certainly not, he is a creep

[@loftus4453]

Some women love the bad, broken guys. We want to be the one person who can make them whole. Is it wise? Is it practical? Absolutely not. Is it true? Most definitely. That said, Spike as a character is the most dynamic, interesting personality in Buffy. At least imo. His flaws make his character arc the most interesting. Even through many rewatches of the series Spike is still so much fun to spend time with.

[@BrightNeonBrilliancy]

Every single person reacting to this episode: OMG WHY AM I DAWN IN THAT MOMENT 🤣🤣🤣

[@lance9249]

I'd be Dawn if Oz returned with Tara it's like go away

[@ShadowBoxer1111]

I remember watching this episode when it first came out. At the time it felt like Tara was being punished for having sex with Willow. And to have Amber in the opening credits for the first time only to have this happen… Closeted teenage me was crushed.

[@Girl4Music]

It really does make you feel that them hooking up so soon is a bad thing and that they both should be punished for it. That’s how badly it’s written. I’ll say that it wasn’t the wisest move on Tara’s part to just skip the whole reconciliation and immediately have sex but it’s not a bad thing that she just wanted to do that. Not at all. But that’s how this whole situation makes it feel. Like it’s a punishment. It might not be what it is but it is how it feels.

[@Girl4Music]

Tara’s in a world of her own here. She can’t stop touching Willow. Playing with her hair. Caressing her back and shoulder. And yet still listening to her. Willow: “I forgot how good this could feel. Us together… without the magic.” Tara: “There was plenty of magic.” Peak romance. It’s a beautiful moment but does it have to come so close to the tragedy? Let’s just turn the episode off right after this scene, yeah?

[@somerotter]

The thing with Spike is he NEVER understood consent, and he always confused passion and violence; from his change on. Him and Buffy started their relationship with a battle, and their entire relationship was a toxic brew of refusals and Spike blowing past them. Forgetting he was a monster was a mistake.

[@Girl4Music]

I wouldn’t necessarily say he didn’t understand consent. He didn’t think it as important for a period but I think he very much understood what it means. It’s Willow that doesn’t understand the meaning of consent. Like… at all.

[@kyleellis1825]

"I'll go torture Dru until she loves me again." That was less than 3 years ago.

[@Girl4Music]

@@kyleellis1825 That means nothing. Rough consensual sex is always something he had with Dru. There’s no thrill in it for him if it’s not reciprocated. He understands consent. He just doesn’t consider it important enough. It’s like with a physical fight. He isn’t interested in it if his opponent isn’t attacking back. There’s something about the carnal animalism in it for him. That’s why he is like he is with Buffy. He relishes the challenge as someone strong enough to take him on.

[@kyleellis1825]

@@Girl4Music No, what I meant was that he spent 100 years thinking that was normal. So even 3 years around Buffy isn't going to erase his old habits. A bunch of people get mad at it being out of character for Spike. But really, the last 3 years are what was out of character for his first century.

[@Girl4Music]

@@kyleellis1825 depends what the truth actually is with the lore. It’s so flip-floppy that it’s hard to tell whether it’s how it really is with the vampires and not just something the Council made up to support their agenda.

[@nedzed3663]

Last video I checked to see what the next episode was going to be and oh shit, "Seeing Red", we're here. I was watching this with my sister when it originally aired and we were both just floored by the ending with both Buffy and Willow.

[@jp3813]

And Tara.

[@nedzed3663]

@@jp3813 Especially Tara

[@dylanburton4955]

I remember what Spike tried to do been such a shock but considering what his idea was to win Dru back and when he had Buffy and Dru chained up It shouldn’t have surprised me but it still did

[@ianburns1167]

Absolutely. The things he’s done are easy to forget because he’s funny and he’s been chipped. And because we never saw the worst of him since he was caring for Dru.

[@caitlin329]

​@@mcantu197 I think we should probably avoid talking about episodes she hasn't got to yet. She's not even halfway into s7.

[@that.ll_do_pig]

​@Joli there's far more gray area in that situation than most people can or want to acknowledge.

[@soullesschicken4069]

the bathroom scene was horrible but i think it's completely in spike's character. the chip has kept the monster in him at bay, and his infatuation with buffy humanised him in our eyes. both of those things made us forget that in the end of the day he is still a soulless vampire. this episode reminded us

[@andreasvogler1875]

I think they made the bathroom scene to remind people, especially Spuffy shippers, that Spike is a monster. He is a soulless vampire, which basically means, that he is a predator. In more sense than one. To make him part of the gang, they had to make him more likeable and less dangerous. First with the chip and then with his love for Buffy. But even when it was onesided, their relationship was toxic, with Spike beeing the possessive, obsessive, stalker boyfriend. Relationships like that usually don't end well.

[@Girl4Music]

@Joli yet conveniently leave that logic out when it comes to Buffy sexually assaulting him with him telling her ‘no’ and her continuing in ‘Gone’. That’s totally fine. No evil doing there. No monstrous action there. Oh, cause Buffy has a soul. I see…😒

[@lunalimi9798]

I think that scene is deserved, but not because Spike is soulless. What he did was very human and very much baced on emotion. He didint do that coldly but in absolute desperation and obsession, unable to accept rejection because of what it would mean to him. It was a direct outcome of a very toxic and destructive relationship.

[@Theomite]

@@lunalimi9798 That's why I'm a big believer in the "vampire as evil version of the host" rather than a demonic possession thing that the show has struggled with. Spike's evil is deeply rooted with who William was and remains as he's never really gotten over his original issues. Even as a vampire Spike has always been insecure, just as he was as a human.

[@babygirllynn2264]

They also made the scene to show that no matter how strong or powerful you are it can happen to anybody. I think the writer and director said they wanted people to realize that yes Buffy is powerful but she’s still just a girl and she can still be vulnerable to certain dangerous situations. I hated this scene it was a bit triggering for me and hard to watch but I completely understand it’s purpose because it raises awareness to victims and it also reminds people that sometimes the closest people to you are the most harmful. I really didn’t like the chip storyline because I felt like a lot of fans forgot sometimes that Spike is literally an evil monster.

[@naimasophie]

​@joli7948it says a lot about fucked up is out society. We keep saying rape is bad but you have a whole fandom justifying spike's actions and finding the whole sex "no, yes ,no" hot

[@robertmckenna3994]

In the end Warren went on a treasure hunt to find some “balls”.... I mean “orbs”. And he still had to send someone else to fetch them, he couldn’t get them himself.

[@rexracer3221]

RE: "They have the same wound." .. No, Buffy's was slightly downward and to the upper left away from her heart. Tara's was upward straight through her heart from the back. Same place, but entirely different angles and exits.

[@danh8804]

"it's so random (putting Tara in the credits)!" NARRATOR: It was not random

[@lumwatch]

"At least we have one happy couple on this show." 😭😭😭

[@Girl4Music]

I mean they were happy. The constant sex proved that. It just hurts that they did that whole thing just for her to die. And specifically like THAT. Stray bullet in the back, no awareness, no time to react. Just sudden. And don’t get me wrong, I get the realism of it. I just don’t think that was the right way to trigger Willow’s Big Bad arc. There were other ways they could have done it and Tara would have died respectfully and in a way that supports her own arc for the season as well. It just makes me angry that they decided this was the way she would get her send off in the show when she’s a significant character.

[@tehcoolemu]

Ever since your gun comment in 1x7, I was waiting for this episode. Kind of surprised that you remembered it yourself, though, and preempted all the callbacks in the comment section! Welcome to Whedonverse, where nobody can ever have nice things. I mean, if he was going to kill Tara off, I'm glad that she and Willow were at least able to reconcile properly first. As horrible as it is to think they're going to be happy, only to have it snatched away, I think it would be even worse if it had happened while their falling out still hadn't been resolved. As you know now, there were important story reasons for this to happen to Tara, and I don't think there was any substitute, but it's still not worth it IMO. I like the arc, but I love Tara more. If it helps, you could probably read "fix-it" fanfiction for this episode for the next few years. The fandom was pretty crushed, especially (but far from exclusively) the queer female fandom. As for Spike... yeah. That was horrifying to watch. Horrifying to make, too, to the extent that James Marsters started putting terms in his contracts to make sure he never had to do it again. I haven't heard SMG talk about it, but I don't imagine it was much fun for her, either.

[@9ansean]

Certainly they were foreshadowing where Willow's arch was going to way back and if anything would have brought her to this moment, this was it. Still I do have to wonder if they could have found another way to make it happen. Even they couldn't, at the very least to could happened differently. Have it less be graphic and sudden. With more connection to the main plot. At least with her near death from Glory we know she target for a reason rather than being could in the cross hair. Maybe Tara die saving someone like in Normal Again. Of course given that Tara was about the main character this season who DIDN'T do something disappointing, stupid or both to screw up relationships: my theory is she just become for this world. Did love all the fan fiction this couple inspired though.

[@TheLexiCrowd]

Oh i didn’t remember it. People on my discord linked me my reaction. I was very angry at my past self lmao

[@tehcoolemu]

@@9ansean I don't think anything else could have made Willow lose it so thoroughly. Tara would have been there to talk her down. As for wanting her to go out as a hero, rather than as senseless collateral damage... Whedon loves to emphasize that death isn't always dramatic or climactic. It also dials up her innocence, and the unfairness of it all: if she had been in the thick of a battle or something, then she's taking her chances, and bad stuff sometimes happens. But this? This really dials up the unfairness. Please don't interpret any of the above as an endorsement of killing her off, though. I acknowledge all the good reasons for doing this, but I still think the cost was too high.

[@tehcoolemu]

@@TheLexiCrowd Ah, that makes more sense. Also: ouch, that must've sucked to rewatch. If it's any consolation, according to our linear understanding of time and causality, it's not your past self's fault. *hugs* Oh, and is anyone else worried about what's going to happen when Domi gets here? Like, damn. I mean, we all love Tara, but she... yeah. And there's no way to warn her without massive spoilers (just like there was no way to warn you).

[@TheLexiCrowd]

@@tehcoolemu oh Domi is not surviving this episode. I think she may just pass away during ep 17 since dawn just mentioning how joyce taught her something nearly bought her to tears. These are gonna be a rough couple of episodes for her.

[@eberwald4438]

This is the episode that finally got through to me how TV writing works. Anytime they show people happy, or things going well, it means everything is about to get effed. Especially couples. Why would they get Willow and Tara back together, just to kill her? Because it hurts more.

[@jp3813]

Specifically how the Whedonverse worked. No one was allowed to be happy for long. Many Oz fans wish that he never left. But if he didn't, he likely would've ended up dead.

[@martophrenia]

Season 6 as a whole is like a big big gut punch.

[@itznia_ok8069]

Yup

[@Marwolaeth01]

And yet, Once More with. Feeling. I can’t write the season off 😁

[@JLDReactions]

The worst season unfortunately. Marti Noxon and the team didn't understand the show or the characters.

[@martophrenia]

@@Marwolaeth01no, I actually like the season, it's not my favorite, but not the worst as well)

[@markrankin1094]

@@JLDReactions My favourite season - Mainly for the next three eps.

[@METerrell]

Over 20 years later and it's still not an episode I'd want to rewatch.

[@Ana-yc5ox]

I always wondered if the jumper Tara was in at the end was the same one WIllow freaked out trying to find in The Body. Even if it's not it is still very similar looking.

[@rfresa]

That was a blue sweater, and Anya came across it later in the same episode after her monologue.

[@Ana-yc5ox]

@@rfresa Jumper, sweater, same thing. We call them jumpers in the UK.

[@Girl4Music]

OMG Is it? Please tell me it’s just a coincidence. There’s no way the blue top that Tara wears in ‘Seeing Red’ is the same blue top Willow’s looking for in ‘The Body’. That is a seriously disturbing thought. And now I won’t be able to stop thinking about it.

[@kristinasucha7335]

Since you watched s01e07 and you made that comment I was waiting to see you reacting to this

[@ravenlord7144]

Your intro was both amusing and heartbreaking, from the flashback to your early comment about Buffy getting taken out with a gun, to how Warren and his crew aren't really Big Bad and what would it take to make them be Big Bad to you, to how Tara and Willow are your favorite couple and how happy you are they are back together. Though as for Anya and Spike, even after multiple watches of this series, I maintain neither of them did *ANYTHING* wrong by sleeping together. Now, the others' feelings about it are valid, and they have the right to feel hurt, *but* neither Anya nor Spike deserved the hostility that was spewed out at them for having sex together. Neither of them were in a relationship or even had any expectation or belief that their previous relationships would be restored. They were badly and unfairly treated for their tryst, one that they weren't even throwing in their exes' faces at the time; it was just bad luck for them that they were seen. Then Dawn just pours more salt in the wound, and she has even *less* right than her sister did to get mad at Spike for hooking up with Anya. Ugh. Leave it to the grown-ups, little girl, is what I'm thinking in that moment. Then Spike...did what he did. I think he scared even himself with how low and despicable he was willing to go, which is why he was having the memory flashes of the scene. It's a different kind of evil, very dark and vile. It's going to be interesting watching the aftermath. Blaming others is normal for Spike, a way to avoid the responsibility even while we see it's reprehensible to blame the victim. He *is* in love -- his mortal self was a hopeless romantic -- but without a soul, his feelings of love are twisted into obsession, which is always dangerous, especially if rebuffed or denied as we saw.

[@WisdomoftheSphynx]

🥺 One of the most heartbreaking scenes...and even two decades later it has not gotten any easier 💔

[@Luan-vu9br]

The bathroom scene is way too distressing. "Why would he do that? Well, I know he's a soulless monster, but..." HAHAHA

[@johncox7169]

This is IMHO the darkest episode of BtVS. Not just because Tara died, but it was a very realistic "random" death, that could happen anytime, anywhere to anyone. Also the Spike scene.

[@Kap00rwith2os]

So yeah James Marsters HATED doing that scene, and he made the showrunners promise to never make him do a scene like that again. That was a low point, and it made me sooooo uncomfortable...as a character how do you even come back from that? I get that the point was to show Spike was still a dangerous demon underneath, but I feel like they could have shown that a different way...Ugh.

[@davidmcleod5133]

Not to mention it could be a seriously triggering event for A LOT of viewers out there, and there was no warning or anything leading up to it.

[@saar144]

Well, back then TV didn’t have to cater to snowflakes being “triggered”

[@Ylyrra]

@@saar144 I think the word you're looking for is "survivors", now get back in your basement.

[@xenbuff]

They didn't ruin Spike, they just showed us again what he's always been, a reminder. The only thing stopping him from killing for fun is the chip, that's all. I absolutely loved the character in season 4 and 5 but hated they entangled him with Buffy that way.

[@x-man9473]

We didn't need a reminder. Everyone knew that from the beginning. And they were slowly progressing his character. So if they wanted to emphasize his demon ways, then they shouldn't have done that season 5-early season 6 character arc in the first place. Because it all just feels out of character.

[@CaptNondescript]

'She's just taking a little nap, she'll be fine'

[@alexh8613]

So before getting shot, was Tara's plan to move back into the Summer's House, rent free

[@Girl4Music]

Well, I mean, they appear to be in bed for a whole 2 days so probably.

[@katiewhite190]

When this ep aired in my area it was midnight when it ended (UPN was banned or something so had to watch it the next night on a Fox syndicate.) I had to wait to watch with my dad (I recorded it for him) to have anyone to talk to about it. I was in shock.

[@dmwalker24]

And there it is. I have been waiting so long for this moment. I won't give anything away, but this is my favorite season ending arc of the entire show. The character development, and the way it subverts expectations is stunning.

[@verscorpi033]

24:50 oh gosh i was waiting so much this moment for your raction to this episode , i've seen this one for the first time when i was 7-9 years , this day i understand ,just one second and everything can change

[@Nicamon]

*Joyce Dies* *Lexi:* "She's fine." *Tara Dies* *Lexi:* "She's fine."

[@RLucas3000]

They just added Tara to the opening credits, so clearly they aren’t going to kill her off.

[@andreduarte8372]

00:17 It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye, huh?

[@theelderworm9134]

They didn't ruin spike. He was ALWAYS and evil, souless monster, incapable of selfless love. "Im going to find drusilla, tourture her, until she loves me again." Hes exactly the same as ever. That's why buffy could never trust him.

[@benjamintriplett3]

First time Buffy watcher. " Oh they finally put Tara in the credits that must mean she's gonna be around for good now. !" Veteran Buffy Watchers. " Oh you poor sweet Summer child 😭😭😭😭😭!"

[@alooncnej4696]

Acting and interactions are excellent, characters development this season is so great

[@manbearpig7359]

Yeah yeah, everyone is DONE after 6 x 19. See you next episode 😂😂😂❤

[@knowledge-girl]

My favorite tidbit about this episode is how Joss Whedon broke it to Adam Busch (Warren). At the time, he and Amber Benson (Tara) were dating and Joss told him that on the next episode "you kill your girlfriend." Adam said, "Warren gets a girlfriend?" and Joss replied with "No, your real girlfriend."

[@kyleellis1825]

I thought they didn't start dating until they met on a different set like 7 years later.

[@nac.mac.feegle]

21 years later and many rewatches and this episode still kicks my butt.

[@MicukoFelton]

Jonathan was always the one I tolerated the most from the 3. He saved Xander's life and told Buffy about the spheres. He was always a very insecure person, he even wanted to end his life a few years ago. But he ended up getting with bad company. Even though I don't think Jonathan was a bad person he ended up getting pulled down a dark path. Yeah Andrew has clearly been infatuated with Warren. I don't excuse his actions though. He was aware of what he was doing. I agree about Spike, that scene was just... :| We understand later on WHY it was done and it makes some sense, yeah, but they built him up to actually be able to care and to love even without a soul. So this comes too suddenly. They made him likable and then went "oh he's a monster without a soul and has no remorse" like okay, but we've actually seen too many emotions from him to buy it now.

[@thomasdendtler4077]

Why is everyone surprised Spike did that? It's completely in character.

[@grife3000]

And he'd done it before. When they first hooked up, Buffy wasn't saying "no" but it was clear that it was an attack ... until it wasn't when Buffy kissed him.

[@davidmcleod5133]

I can’t speak for anyone else, just myself… but for me, it wasn’t that I was shocked that the character of Spike could do that, I was shocked the TV show BTVS did that. It was an overly graphic depiction of real-world violence that I did not expect (or want) to find in my weekly dose of escapism.

[@THamiltonL]

Your silence at the end broke me!! 🥺 I knew what was coming and I had to take a minute before because I wasn’t prepared for you to watch it!

[@theadamabrams]

*James Marsters has talked about **_that scene_** much more eloquently than I could, so I'll just link to that:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6OtoH2Nl5h3bcU (this particular video has NO SPOILERS, while some other interviews with him do). 25:24 As for "bury your gays", the writers have said that if Willow had still been with Oz in S6 then they would have killed him instead. The point was to push Willow's character in an interesting direction, and unfortunately that meant killing an amazing (and also gay) character.

[@another_julia]

everytime my dad and i have rewatched buffy hes forgotten that they put amber in the credits right on the ep where they kill her and i’m just like NO DAD THE INJUSTICE AND AUDACITY IS SEARED INTO MY BRAIN

[@jonathanmartin8716]

Love to see the Buffy Reactors supporting each other :) Every fan knows when there are certain episodes that come around where you need some support, this is one of those times were watching two episodes at once really helps. We feel your pain Lexi and that's what makes you an excellent reactor :)

[@JWW301]

I have been dreading this episode for you all season. Such a heartbreak.

[@StefKomGeekru]

All of these themes are so we know how bad those things are. So we never let that happen in real life. Because only a monster (human) would do such a thing to Tara, and only a soulless vampire would do such a thing to Buffy. (also shows that humans can fall lower than a soulless vampire, by showing Spike’s remorse.)

[@ferrisulf]

I find Warren to be one of the most frightening villains because, of all our favorite top villains in the show, he's not charismatic, funny, or likeable. No, he doesn't have super abilities or magic on a regular basis. All of the other villains could do horrible things but could also be entertaining characters. Warren wasn't. Warren was very realistic. I've met Warrens before. He's rather like Umbridge. We all come across Warrens and Umbridges in our lives. And that is a scary thing.

[@ArrowOdenn]

Something that I haven't seen thus far in the comments is that Joss Whedon HATED how popular Spike became as a character, and how popular James Marsters was as an actor. He actually physically threatened Marsters at one point. In Joss's world, evil is there to be defeated, and people liking Spike to the point where removing him from the show would be detrimental to its ratings really grated on him. So he and the writing team make Spike a terrible, terrible person in the hopes that he could be removed from the show with cheers and applause. The sexual assault is the peak of this attempt. Marsters said: "To Joss, vampires were supposed to be ugly, evil, and quick to be killed. He got talked into one romantic vampire by his writing partner David Greenwalt and that was Angel. Of course Angel took off like a rocket and when I was cast Joss did not imagine me to be popular; Spike was supposed to be dirty and evil, punk rock, and then dead. Things started to turn out differently and I think Joss was passionate that I would not corrupt his theme, which was basically trying to find a metaphor for all of the problems you encounter during adolescence. Vampires stood in for those problems and I think I endangered that theme by being popular. He did not want people to like me at all.”

[@MrSupertallblackman]

Vampires are wild animals and Spike is an animal in a cage. Don't let the cage fool you into thinking anything else it's still a wild animal. Happy characters are boring.

[@ianburns1167]

Agree with the former,, not the latter. But unfortunately Whedon does.

[@Girl4Music]

Animalism and evil are not the same thing and the arc coming up proves it. Oz, as a werewolf, is also a wild animal. Is he evil? No.

[@MrSupertallblackman]

@@Girl4Music met·a·phor /ˈmedəˌfôr/ noun a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. "her poetry depends on suggestion and metaphor" a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract. "the amounts of money being lost by the company were enough to make it a metaphor for an industry that was teetering"

[@Girl4Music]

@@MrSupertallblackman well... In that case the metaphor doesn’t work. Being an animal VS a monster and all that.

[@danielbutler8103]

12:22 I love that even after all this time they still don't remember Andrew's name.

[@Girl4Music]

“The other one” “Tucker’s brother” I got to say that I find that joke more entertaining than the Trio themselves. What’s even funnier is reactors just do it casually and you can’t even tell if they’re just playing along with the joke or genuinely cannot remember his name.

[@kyleellis1825]

I love the meta aspect of it, because they really did just want Tucker to come back for the role but he was "busy"/said no.

[@greatestgoalie25]

I have watched all of your reaction videos in order, and when you first said that in the opening on that ep, I thought, oh no, Tara's death is gonna hurt. Amazing that you brought that back for this intro.

[@FulcanMal]

The show didn't ruin spike. It just stopped pretending that he was anything other than a piece of s***.

[@christianslater2736]

Stumbled on to your page by chance, so cool your watching buffy for the first time..The buffy fan base is amazing;) This was one of the hardest episodes in the entire series to watch..looking back on it now, it shocks me how some of this was even on regular tv, it was brutal..And your reaction..I think was pretty much all our reactions..

[@patmurray9730]

I haven't seen this episode in YEARS. I thought the big event happened at the beginning of the episode. I'm SO glad I got to rewatch it with you.

[@thestoicsoliloquies4041]

Filming of the outro takes place in Egypt because Lexi is so far in De-Nile!

[@9ansean]

(sign) Zordon: The day that I have feared has arrived! Ok let's do this.

[@alooncnej4696]

Here we are..choking and suprising ending, the end is hard but epic

[@steffanixoom]

bro the entire intro was just the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme playing in my head "I don't want to talk anymore, I just wanna go." same Lexi. I've never been so deeply like, disappointed in a show than this moment in Buffy. Honestly for me it ruined the rest of the series as well. They try and sort of move on from it in a way in s7 & I was just absolutely not on board at all. >:(

[@mrmidlife2546]

The bathroom scene was so horrible. Apparently it was a long time before James Marsters could even look Sarah Michelle Gellar in the eye afterwards. It's such a horrible scene because they are such amazingly skilled actors.

[@ZheToralf]

Spike was always a wild animal on a leash, people tend to forget that

[@raymondgilbert1341]

Your sentiments about the bathroom scene are shared by Spike (James Marsters). You can see that in interviews he did about his least favorite scene and things he would never do again.

[@rookie1178]

Also why are people shocked that Spike would be violent to get sex from Buffy? Have they not been watching this seasons? Both of them refuse to take no for an answer several times, and they literally destroyed a building their 1st night together!

[@NelsonVlog66]

This is the episode that sent James Marsters into therapy.

[@Pod042b]

Poor Lexi, both Angel and Buffy being a tiny bit depressing, hope one of the other shows can give you some good times XD And yeah whatever else Spile will be going forward, he will always be known for trying to rape Buffy

[@LadyVenomWay]

Just found your buffy reactions, so excited to watch them all haha

[@DegrassiInstantStar]

That intro was... FIRE! We all thought that when you said that quote!!!! hahahahah.

[@sarainglis5886]

I know I'm late but just want to send you a virtual hug because I've been dreading you getting to this episode! How dare this show. How dare.

[@Shannon-pb4sw]

Seeing someone in denial is so 😢, but know that we've all been right where you are. We're here.

[@emmabenson9572]

I do believe that Buffy’s shot was slightly higher

[@bensneb360]

I think “seeing red” is in references to the fans after they see this episode

[@tommd51]

The scene between spike and buffy in the bathroom was truly disgusting and hard to watch, but it kind of made sense that spike would do that. Spike being a vampire without a soul means he can't truly know what love is. He can only love in the negative way, like obsession. Since people grew to love spike and were probably shipping the both them the whole way even though it was such a toxic relationship. The show needed to make a big statement that will show people that spike is soulless and can't truly be that guy.

[@Girl4Music]

So the metaphor is growing up and the “canon” lore is vampires are incapable of growing up, right? Not in the physical way, the mental way, the spiritual way. A vampire remains an undeveloped entity in every way. That’s the “canon” lore for vampires. But then you have a vampire character that is literally written to contradict that lore. Forced to by the network or not, Whedon wrote him like that to begin with. He’s the one that planted the seeds of goodness in Spike in the first place only to stomp all over the flower when it bloomed specifically because it bloomed. It’s petty and just shows how much of a dick he is that he blames everyone else for that regretful decision of making Spike be the outlier in the “canon” lore. Personally I believe Angel is but that’s another topic for another day. The fact of the matter is that Spike is not like other vampires. ‘Fool For Love’ directly contradicts the “canon” lore point blank by showing us how a human informs a demon and a demon informs a vampire. It IS a development - a cycle. Some random demon has not set up shop in Spike despite William’s soul leaving his body. Spike gets the demons instincts but retains William’s psyche. So if he was just a soulless monster, he wouldn’t immediately feel guilty for his actions the same way Angel wouldn’t as Angelus. He is just evil to be evil. Nothing more, nothing less. But I’m sorry because that’s just not what they show with Spike. They show he is capable of good just as much as evil and they show that it’s through choice rather than through nature. So the question becomes - does Spike CHOOSE to rape/sexually assault Buffy or does the demon in him compel him to as it’s part of his NATURE as a vampire? This is the debate. My insistent stance is he doesn’t and it doesn’t. He wouldn’t choose to do it and it’s not against his will. It’s a contradiction. Neither argument works. The debate is irrelevant. It’s character assassination. See this is the problem with the split-divide identity/personality of Angel/Angelus. His CHOICE means nothing because IT’S NOT HIM! It’s a random demon. They don’t do that with any other significant vampire in the show. And so Spike is rendered “faulty” instead of the former. I honestly think it’s insulting. I prefer flawed characters. Not faulty ones. Because faulty ones can’t grow from and through their flaws without an external source. This means that there’s only one thing Spike can do to “fix” this “faultiness” and that he CHOOSES to in itself directly contradicts the “canon” lore as that is also a development.

[@loftus4453]

@@Girl4Music Very well said. It was character assassination. The show had shown repeatedly how different Spike and Angeles were. Excellent point that soulless Spike wouldn’t have felt a moment of guilt over the bathroom incident based on how Whedon portrayed Angel without his soul.

[@Girl4Music]

@@loftus4453 I mean if we’re going with the understanding that Spike is the outlier in the lore… there’s Druscilla, Darla, Harmony, Holden, a myriad of significant vampires that also retain the dead human’s psyche so that there’s practically no difference in them besides them being soulless - and thus, able to grow or develop because it’s an evolutionary cycle they’re going through - therefore they’re not and can’t be a victim to demonic possession because then that would mean that the random demon that takes the dead humans body would have to be amnesiac. They’d have to leave their psyche behind to take on this human body’s psyche instead and that’s just convoluted thinking. It seems more like something just made up by those that do not understand the experience of being a vampire. There’s no truth to it because the only significant vampire that showcases this demonic possession thing is Angel with Angelus. But really it’s the other way around. Angel possesses Angelus because Angelus is the true nature of him. It’s HIM that is the outlier.

[@loftus4453]

@@Girl4Music more excellent points. You’ve put to words so well my feelings on the inconsistencies in how the vampires are handled. Angel is the first fully fleshed vampire character we get to know, but you are right, he really is the outlier. His core character from when he was human was compromised. He really was more like Angeles as a human than the vampire he eventually became as Angel. Very astute. Thanks! Edit: Just told my son about your take on Angel vs. Spike. He watched Buffy all the way through just recently for the first time and hates the bathroom scene. He pointed out that Angel stalks Buffy when she is a High School freshman watching her and following her when she moves to Sunnydale. Then he manipulates her into falling in love with him knowing it could go no where considering the curse he’s carrying. Really casts Angel in a different light.

[@Girl4Music]

@@loftus4453 yeah. I say it’s a split-personality disorder this dudes got. Not unlike Willow with her Vampire/Dark Willow persona where she’s using a coping mechanism of splitting herself into two. It’s just the opposite way around. She’s going into the dark because better to reign in Heaven than serve in Hell. Angelus splits himself into two or even three different identities/personalities to absolve himself from his evil actions and his guilt. They’re not entirely different entities at all. The narrative just plays it that way because of Whedon’s stubborn vampire/demon ensouled/soulless lore. Spike is the glaring example that none of its true but it’s not just him that proves it isn’t. Every significant vampire besides Angelus does. And there’s no Spike-lus equivalent. Dude just remains the same exact guy he was as human and as a soulless vampire. Which makes a lot more sense.

[@kuuttinen]

20:26 I loved that guy with the flappy ears🥰😢

[@Marwolaeth01]

I’m so cruel. I have waited patiently, looking forward to this episode soooo much. Reaction did not disappoint.

[@Forcy-20]

26:06 thing is, this isn't just another example of that thrope. This was ground zero for it 😢

[@happychaosofthenorth]

I'm trying to catch up on your reactions (I've been binge watching in spurts and then taking a hiatus and then binge watch some more) and I'm 9:40 minutes in and it's entertainingly painful to watch you be so happy about Tara and Willow...

[@CvSp22]

Always wondering if the shirt Tara was wearing was "The Blue" from the Body Willow was looking for, since they shared clothes before and Tara spending the most time at Buffys house. Have read somewhere that the audience decreased by 15 % after this episode. Thrope: Well, it's not "another one", it's more or less the source of it (unintendedly). The line "Your Shirt!" will haunt you like "Mommy?" forever.

[@boretrk]

The blue shirt is shown in The Body, there is a scene where Anya finds it and puts it away. It's a lighter blue and a lot fuzzier.

[@Girl4Music]

Tara is the personification of purity. They killed purity. And I am left with the stinging painful thought that if Willow and Tara didn’t “just skip it”… she wouldn’t have died. And that hurts beyond anything because what it means is a lesbian couple in TV can’t be happy in love and can’t hook up just like the straights can. I know that that’s not what it is or not what they were getting at. It’s just how it feels. They shouldn’t have ever gotten out of bed. 😔

[@anonymes2884]

Yeah, so i've been low-key kinda dreading this one. Literally every expression of joy about Willow and Tara was like a figurative dagger. (probably unsurprisingly, this episode was/is not exactly entirely uncontroversial in the fandom :)

[@Ejay669]

I do find it funny when women react to Spike like this: he tries to rape Buffy, something he's likely done to many young girls before and now they're suddenly shocked. He was a soulless monster for over 100 years. He's murdered countless men, women and children but they remain wilfully ignorant to that because the actor is attractive. This shit happens in real life with real people too: how many women write love letters to incarcerated serial killers? It's insane.

[@BinaryHedgehog]

Throughout the entire intro I just imagined you as the meme of the guy putting on clown make up 😂❤️

[@CoasterTrax]

More horrible than taras death is the r@pe scene. It gets overlooked by the ending. Kinda sad because Gellars and Masters acting was so real and Oscar worthy

[@kateliness2]

Xander seems to forget he did the exact same thing as Spike, when he was a hyena demon monster, in Season 1.

[@MartinGonzalez-ke9uy]

I was so waitin for your reaction to this one.. feel will be a sad one for you so sendin hugs from my corner of the world.. and Ironic intro, previously on theLexicrowd... Well anyway i feel you will love at least the beginnin of the EP. TIme to watch it!

[@becca1189]

I have been dreading this reaction ever since the 'Angel' episode. I already knew how much you would love Tara & Tillow! My heart was instantly aching for you!! ❤🧡💛💚💙💜