BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER - SEASON 5 EPISODE 22 THE GIFT (2000) REACTION VIDEO! FIRST TIME WATCHING!

[@danwiesdamageinc]

Little Miss Muffet counting down from 7-3-0. The show told you this was going to happen 2 years ago (730 days). This was the original series finale. The show hadn't been picked up for more seasons when this ending was written. The overall theme of the series was "coming of age" and becoming an adult. Buffy makes the final step to becoming an adult when she becomes a responsible parent and gives up the life she's known for the welfare of her child.

[@didinau]

I lost It when Spike started crying.

[@krishnabrian691]

He soul cried so deep I wish they wrote that in where Buffy’s death triggered spikes soul

[@matthewlangley5794]

Spike's character development in season 2 when he was evil spike and Drusilla being the big bad he comes back for 1 episode in season 3 and season 4 for him to become a regular and stays for the Last 4 seasons of the show some reactors thought spike was going to stay for 1 episode and leave again like in season 3 lol

[@ebutuoy6055]

This was the 100th episode of Buffy. That's why they showed all the flash backs on "previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer".

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

So cool! Can’t believe it’s been 100 episodes already. Thanks for watching!

[@dlangley49]

And they honestly didn't know if they would get renewed on a new station so they wanted to give full closure incase it was a series finale

[@SmilingBassGuitar-hh2eq]

No. This was supposed to be the end of the series and Buffy’s death was going to be it. That’s why they showed the flashback. One scene from every episode.

[@scottrabie]

So many really good lines in this episode. "She's not like us" is great "I got so lost" breaks my heart every time. But the worst is when Spike breaks down. The idea that a monster without a soul can make and keep a promise and then be that hurt when Buffy dies is everything.

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

So many feels and tears in this episode! I wasn’t expecting such an intense reaction from Spike but he really did love her. Thanks for watching!

[@runshouse]

She's not like us. Is my favorite line from the whole series.

[@catserver8577]

I love the running theme in the series that hints that Giles is something other than a regular human....this line just hits hard if you are following that thread.

[@faithvictoria9014]

This finale is amazing and beautiful, the actual perfect ending to the season in my opinion. Literally everything built up to it, including little details like the hammer from Triangle or the orb from No Place Like Home coming back. Absolute airtight storytelling and the culmination of the arc Buffy has been going on for the past two seasons, at least!

[@magic713m]

Those little things being brought back to the finale really does help sew the whole season together. That the entire season was building up to this finale.

[@Shoofyou10]

This is the best episode and best season of Buffy and one of the best in TV history. The way the season comes together as whole in this episode is amazing. The whole glory storyline is crazy good. Love how they use things like the Dagon sphere, troll hammer, Buffy Bot, crazy Tara, Xander as a construction worker, Ben and Glory’s connection, etc. all things that were introduced earlier in the season and it all comes together to help them win this fight. The season as a whole just connects and flows together so well.

[@DegrassiInstantStar]

YEP! This episode happens. And even 22 years later it still hits like a ton of emotion!

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

I believe it! Thanks for watching 🎬

[@coldservings]

There's that moment in every reaction to this episode I've seen where the reactor realizes what "Death is your gift" actually means. Back in Fool for Love, Spike noted that Buffy's attachment to friends and family kept her tied to the world and averted the "every slayer has a death wish" and here it's that very attachment which leads to her sacrifice.

[@DavidB-2268]

I love the Henry V reference by Giles and Spike: "We happy few." "We band of buggered".

[@melenatorr]

So tiny correction: Henry V.

[@DavidB-2268]

@@melenatorr fixed. Thanks for the correction.

[@melenatorr]

@@DavidB-2268 Thank you as well!

[@Stuman57]

Something I noticed when Giles killed Ben. He put his glasses on to do it. It’s famously known that Giles removed or purposely not wearing his glasses when there are things he want to ignore. Or not acknowledge. But this was obviously deliberate. Both putting on the glasses. And killing Ben.

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

Yes! Good catch indeed! I also noticed the irony of Ben saving Giles from the medieval knight attack only to have Giles kill Ben a few episodes later

[@Stuman57]

@@ReelReviewsWithJen yes. Brutal. Ripper strikes again!!

[@coldservings]

It's also an indication that he's not being "Ripper" here despite the way many people interpret it. Ripper was a self-indulgent and rebellious youth and did not wear glasses. This was Giles calmly and rationally doing what he has to do to protect the world and, more importantly, the people he loves.

[@vlad5042]

the score that plays during buffy's sacrifice is so simple but it's just drilled into my brain since childhood as the quintessential moving sad score, i hum that little melody to myself all the time.

[@blackkatt777]

The message to the fans at the end of this episode was a thank you for 5 years. It freaked out a lot of us because noone knew yet if it was going to renew on another network yet. I was at a friend's house watching it and the other family members were all in different rooms watching it too. When that message came up, people came flying out of rooms in a panic as we all freaked out to discuss it. Of course before the end of the summer we found out the UPN network picked it up for the last 2 seasons. I think it was a big mistake for the WB to have let it go. Of course I ugly cried, especially watching Spike breakdown. Any time James and Alyson cry on the show, I lose it. The opening was to honor the 100 episodes of the show. We gotto see a darker glimse of Ripper from Giles when he finished Ben off with no remorse. That's a callback to the end of the episode with Ethan Rayne when he looked into the camera. Chills... Tara, even in her state of mind, had her magical ability identify what Giles will do later. A lot of the Whedonverse characters share similar traits. Tara reminds me of River from Firefly. Her warnings sound like cryptic crazy talk until it comes true. I wasn't a big Dawn fan, so if she jumped I wouldn't have felt upset....only for Buffy's loss. As an og watcher of the Buffyverse, it's nice to see younger gens loving the show too. Even after 25yrs, yt and algorithms are keeping it alive and hot. Definitely pop culture icons.

[@lawrencewestby9229]

In regards the "Previously on ...", this episode was not only the 5th season finale and the final episode on the WB Network, it was also the 100th episode of the show. Traditionally, the 100th episode is when a show is made available for syndication. I remember watching Buffy repeats on a local channel before going to work each morning. BTW, the demon guy was played by Academy Award winner (Cabaret) Joel Grey.

[@blotcho84]

Amazing finale - as the 100th Episode it was truly a celebration of everything Buffy stands for! This was probably my favorite season too!

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

Oh wow the 100th episode! What a great / heartbreaking way to celebrate, thanks for watching!

[@pennypierce6511]

After all these years, I still cry..

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

I believe it, so many feels! Thanks for watching!

[@Jontor11]

I remember back in the day, when they were filming the last episodes of this season, news came out that the show was cancelled. But by the time this "series finale" aired, the news was that another network had picked up the show for two more seasons. Fantastic season. I wasn't a fan of bringing in a teenage sister at first, but they made Dawn's storyline so brilliantly good. But where do we go from here??

[@BrennaUrbangirl]

Two things. One Buffy's death was always planned. It was foreshadowed all the way back in season 3, as was Dawn's arrival. On the other thing, WB actually canceled Buffy with this season and as a result, the WB advertised this episode as the series finale. UPN swept in at the last minute and saved the show for another two seasons.

[@Superplin]

This is a commonly held myth. Buffy was not cancelled or at risk of cancellation: it was one of the WB's top rated shows. It was so popular, in fact, that there was a bidding was, which UPN ultimately won. So it was never a question of whether Buffy would continue, only where.

[@BrennaUrbangirl]

@@Superplin Not a myth, it is a confirmed FACT. There was no bidding war, I don't know where you get your information but that is not even remotely true. WB canceled the show a few months before The GIft aired. In fact, this is the first time I've ever heard of this so-called bidding war.

[@Superplin]

@@BrennaUrbangirl My information comes, among other places, from pages 256-259 of the book "Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise and Fall of the WB and UPN," written by Susanne Daniels and Cynthia Littleton, published by Harper Collins in 2009.

[@jentoby73]

You’ll probably see comments that the WB was cancelling Buffy at the end of the season so that played a part. That is a persistent myth that’s not correct. The WB had every intention of continuing the show. Whedon asked for more money, and the new network UPN stepped in and offered more than WB, so the show moved to UPN for the rest of the series. I think WB was salty about it so they promoted that season 5 was the series finale instead of season finale and it’s left this mistaken belief that UPN “saved” the show by picking it up after WB cancelled it. Nope. In fact Joss Whedon absolutely planned ahead to kill off Buffy at the end of season 5 and the writing has been throwing out hints since season 3 finale. In Buffy and Faith’s shared dream in 3x22, Faith says “Miles to go, counting down from seven three O.” ‘Miles to go’ is a line from a Robert Frost poem where the line is “miles to go before I sleep” with “sleep” meaning death. 730 is a reference to days and 730 days equals 2 years. Buffy dies exactly two years later. In 4X22, in Buffy’s dream she looks at the clock in her room it says 7:30. She says to Tara it’s late, and Tara says the clock is wrong. That’s because at that point Buffy now has just 365 days left. Another sly reference in 4X16 (when Faith is in Buffy’s body) and she’s using Joyce’s credit card, the expiration date is 05/01. The season 5 finale aired in May of 2001. There may be others, but those are the standouts usually brought up. If this had been the series finale it would have still worked, but Whedon had every intention of continuing the show after Buffy dies if he could.

[@catserver8577]

I think SMG was also beginning work on Scooby Doo and got married in 2002, I'm sure there were negotiations on her part regarding her time and whether she would be able to be Buffy and do other things.

[@88jl]

Yes, it was devastating seeing this for the first time. I really thought it was the end. I cried for days and you have to wait almost a year to see the next season, which i didn't know was coming.

[@sydneybrown7636]

Willow’s “she’s with me” is the most badass moment of the series for me

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

Such a great scene, thanks for watching!

[@iluvlafferty]

The saddest moment in this episode was Spike crying over Buffy's death. Put this into perspective: a soulless vampire is capable of feeling love. (Drusilla told Buffy this in 'Crush', she just didn't take her seriously - but she should have.)

[@Jongen.]

That was the most unrealistic moment. A vampire is not capable of feeling love, not in the way humans do. A monster is taking over.

[@holi117]

@@Jongen.says the council, who dont want their slayers looking at the shades of grey; who put them through a torture test (that kills the majority of them) when they turn 18 and dont care because they get a new young girl to control and wield.. just because the council say one thing, doesnt mean it actually true. ESPECIALLY when the show goes out of its way to show that they are capable of emotions and feelings. Off the top of my head I can think of 2 or 3 vamps we have seen across the two shows who are soulless and very capable of emotion and feeling. If anything, Angelus is the exception in his lack of humanity (unable to be burned by the judge whereas Spike, Dru, Dalton were all noted to be very feeling, reeking of humanity).

[@cruzinbosco]

Such an incredible season finale, or for those of us who watched it live, the WB series finale. Watching this as an 11-year-old having to wait all summer to know what happened. It was a time. The internet was very different at the time and I remember spending all my computer lab time at school and using the computer at the library trying to find out information on what was happening. I loved your reaction and can't wait for season 6.

[@edwardthorne9875]

This really is one of the greatest episodes of TV ever aired. It caps what I consider to be Buffy's best season. Some will say that Season 6 is their favorite too. Life is a bitca.

[@Darkstar72SR]

Putting everything GREAT about this episode aside, why didn’t Buffy’s gravestone also mention her being a “daughter” along with some emotive adjective?

[@jenhalbert3001]

This is absolutely my favorite season. I mean yes, joyce's death was brutal, but it was brilliant filmmaking. I agree that the season was perfectly put together and the random detail weapons making such a huge impact , yeah, crazy impressive. And there are 2 more Sexton's of the show, take solace in that. And hey, you can rewatch it whenever you want.

[@darkdg4106]

The reason this episode started the way it did is because the station the show aired on was ending the show. A different station picked it up but for all anybody new at the time, this was the last episode to the series.

[@bluegrasskids52784]

To this day, I have never watched a show where I cared about the characters more than this one.

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

I can see why people care so much about this show and the characters, can’t believe there’s only two seasons left!

[@lurkerrekrul]

Buffy aired for five seasons on the WB (Warner Brothers), and then they decided to end it, so Joss Whedon wrote a definitive end to the show. Then UPN (United Paramount Network) bought the rights to it, and they decided to continue it for two more seasons. While making season seven, Gellar said that she wasn't going to return for an eighth season, so that became the last. However, both Buffy and Angel were continued in comic form, with the comics being consider canon. Besides the main continuations of the shows, there are a TON of mini-series, one-shots, and character studies. It would cost a fortune to buy them all. Or there's the internet...

[@89chrisj]

The Gift was intended to be the last ever episode because it didn’t get renewed by the original network The WB, so they did it as a definitive ending because they weren’t sure if it would be picked up. Thankfully, UPN picked it up.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Kendra got called up after Buffy died in season 1, then Faith got called up after Kendra died, so she’s currently the ‘real’ Slayer. Buffy is a bit of an aberration.

[@interstellardave]

I don’t care about the statements that the show was always expected to continue… whether that’s true, or not, this would have been a terrific series finale. Better, IMO, than the one we eventually get.

[@iannmichael]

This was supposed to be the series finale! That’s why you get the full recap.

[@Atlantiquasa]

It was supposed to be a series finale, and set it up that way. But it was hard when this was on tv and future season plans are unmentioned.

[@rfresa]

I always wondered how they dealt with that dragon that came through! Maybe Willow and Tara worked together to kill it with their magic. Maybe Xander stole another rocket launcher and Spike fired it. Or maybe they called the Initiative, who sent a fighter jet!

[@samgreenbergart]

Great reaction to an amazing finale.

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@Juniorbenbebe]

I remember when I watch and it was supposed to be the final serie! It was so sad. Hopefully the show continue for two more seasons! And it's Amazing! 🤩🤩

[@reesebn38]

The intro was done that way to sum up the series because this was going to be the series finale. I'm glad this didn't end up being the series finale. Only if Faith dies will a new Slayer come forward. Remember Buffy died Kendra came forward, then Kendra died and Faith came.

[@coreyhendricks9490]

Cool reaction as always Jen, you have a nice day sweetie 🥰❤️

[@Buffy8Fan]

The creator always had plans after this, but first came The WB and UPN's bidding war over distributing rights once The WB's distributing contract was up (the equivalent to why things leave streaming services nowadays). UPN won and they aired the last two seasons.

[@troikas3353]

It's just a shame those seasons are such a mess in comparison to this one.

[@Buffy8Fan]

@@troikas3353 While S6 & S7 aren't my favorites, I know people who do love those seasons as their favorites. I love that BtVS doesn't really have a defining best or least liked list for seasons or episodes that everyone or most everyone agrees with. For examples: Newcomers give credit to _Beer Bad,_ when it was hated upon it's release. And despite my issues with S3 and ranking it second from the bottom on my favorites season list, many people consider it their favorite.

[@lunawebster1087]

it would have been crazy to see this when it was on air and not know if another season would be out or if this was the end of Buffy

[@Jontor11]

We knew. First we thought that the show was cancelled, but when this aired we knew another network had picked up the show.

[@lunawebster3748]

@@Jontor11 that’s fair, it still must have been crazy to not know what was going to happen after she died because Ik there was a lot of back and forth about what season 6/7 entailed.

[@killianlpc]

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

[@trix_429]

I don't get how people can hate Dawn :/ Yes okay, she is annoying, but she shows in many occasion that she is caring too

[@McCrispyTaco]

It would’ve been nice to have seen main characters like Oz, Riley, Angel, or Cordelia return for the supposed final fight. Even tho they did end up keeping on. It would’ve been great to see them all back at once.

[@valinny8571]

Glad you think this season could be your #1. It definitely is my fave followed by S6. I think S5 has the best overall storytelling, it's just solid. And I loved Glory as the the big bad, she was really different.

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

Yeah such a strong well done season. Usually by season 5 tv shows have run out of steam but it feels like there’re just getting started. Thanks for watching!

[@B-Dad]

🎶 Where do we go…from here? 🎶

[@Dunybrook]

This well could have been the last episode of BtVS since WB decided not to renew it for another season and they had to scramble for another network to pick it up. People have mixed feelings about the final two seasons and they are certainly different from what went before but still have some of my favorite episodes of all time in them. Thanks so much for all your brilliant reactions on this long strange trip.

[@frisc0pn0ib0i]

This episode when it aired people thought it was the series finale since the networks WB ended. People didn’t know they had two more seasons on the new network UPN

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

Yeah I can only imagine the rollercoaster of watching this on cable TV, thanks for watching!

[@jameshenner5831]

I have heard that the season 3 statement by dream-Faith, "little Miss Muffet, counting down from 7-3-0" means that Joss Whedon expected to do something big in exactly two years, as 365 x 2 =730.

[@trufamilybromontqc]

Can't believe season 5 is done,it went so fast

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

I know! Such a crazy season, season 6 here we go!

[@ronfehr7899]

Even though you could tell beforehand, both Giles 'unaliving ' Ben, and Buffy sacrificing herself, I could tell that it was still painful for you to watch. I've watched it several times over the years, but the effect is always the same.

[@mikesilva3868]

I can tell by the look in your eyes That you've had your way before And I've heard about those broken hearts Leading to your door Baby, I've got your number So you better watch your step Cause if you're lookin' to break my heart You're gonna need some help You just found trouble, trouble I'll be watching you tonight My name is trouble, trouble Oh yeah, you better treat me right Cause I've learned from all those nights I cried There’s a thief that steals you heart with lies And you can run but you can never hide From trouble Well you better have some magic In that dusty bag of tricks And don’t ever say you love me Unless you plan to make it stick Trouble night of the comet soundtrack 😊

[@Michael75579]

So the final two seasons are going to be (Buffy the Vampire) Slayer rather than Buffy (the Vampire Slayer).

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

The demon let Buffy push him off. He had already done the damage. There was no longer any reason to fight him.

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

Ah yes fair point, thanks for watching!

[@matthewlangley5794]

Faith has to die for another slayer to be called

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

Ah yes that makes sense, thanks for watching!

[@Itcouldbebunnies]

Where do we go from here?😢

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

Right?!! My heart 😭 thanks for watching!

[@ronfehr7899]

It wouldn't make sense to have Buffy come back as a vampire, in my opinion. She would have had to have been bitten by one, and then suck that vampire's blood in return. Unless there's a mystical spell that goes awry, somehow transforming her into one, I don't see how it could happen. It's my opinion. Comment if you see something that I don't.

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

Yeah it would be a big stretch for sure. I hope it doesn’t happen somehow, I know the scoobie gang will do anything they can think of to try and bring her back, thanks for watching!

[@thestoicsoliloquies4041]

"Two and a Half Men" is the only one I can think of where they killed off the main character and than ran several more seasons. But the quality definitely declined when they did that.

[@jskeasler]

It happened with Charmed too, which originally aired around the same time frame as Buffy.

[@ronfehr7899]

I like the way you choose to use alternative words or phrases instead of one's that you find offensive. One such word that I noticed in this reaction was "unalive." My favorite however is "cheese'n'rice."

[@catserver8577]

Unalive is what a lot of creators on KZbin say because the words it stands in for will get people demonetized and/or blocked. KZbin's algorithm is weird that way. But I say it IRL now, lol. Welcome to the future, I guess.

[@ronfehr7899]

@catserver8577 I sometimes wish I would use these words IRL, although I try not to use bad language as it is. Often I find myself using bad words in my thoughts, and that's what I wish I could change.

[@catserver8577]

I have certain episodes that make me wince when I see you cover them, this is one of them. No spoilers, but this isn't the last one that's going to give me that feeling.

[@ReelReviewsWithJen]

This whole season was a rollercoaster of feelings and they saved the most intense part for the finale. I was a teary mess for more of this episode, thanks for watching!

[@catserver8577]

@@ReelReviewsWithJen Thanks for sharing your viewings with us!