"The Body" (5x16) | *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* Reaction

[@bellapeterson94]

Your dog checking on you made me fall apart in this. They are so intuitive😭❤️

[@FredtheFrisian]

I would say empathic.

[@JanGaarni]

Yeah, we had a cat when I was little, and everytime my sister and I was sad and crying, she came immediately to comfort us. 😊

[@NerdySwede]

@@JanGaarni Yeah my old cat as well. She meowed like crazy and she usually NEVER meowed.

[@audity06]

That’s how you know it was a legit reaction. Can’t fake an animal response to sudden emotional change like that.

[@briandecarlo1847]

When the dog jumped up and checked on her, for some reason, I just said "Good Dog." 😅

[@stpetie7686]

No matter how many times I've heard Anya's little monologue, it still makes tears almost squirt from my eyes. Emma Caufield totally nailed it.

[@spangelicious837]

That's always the part of the episode when I break down.

[@Rhuby84]

It breaks me every single time. I think it's probably one of my favourites in the whole series

[@grkpektis]

She has likely killed more people than Spike and Angelus combined (even accounting for age) but she also had the power to bring people back from the dead like the master. Life and death are meaningless to someone who could warp reality with a couple words (at least they used to be)

[@Gaydunaway]

Dawn is Denial Willow is Despair Xander is Anger Anya is Bargaining Tara is Acceptance Buffy is us.

[@MINKIN2]

Anya wishing for Joyce to have not died, really means something coming from Anya.

[@grkpektis]

I noticed that Anya talks a lot less about her demon days/ victims after this episode. I don’t think she’s as proud of what she’s done now that she’s seen death in a different way.

[@xyex]

Something that a lot of long time fans even miss. I did, until someone else pointed it out. Wishing is the most powerful thing she knows, so what she says sounds like a normal platitude, but *her* saying it is huge.

[@mediablindspots]

That scene got me more than most, and we’re talking about some tough competition. Anya has no filters, so she is often the voice of truth within the group, even if it annoys everybody.

[@rydbthatsme]

What is your childhood trauma? Me: The Body episode of Buffy

[@commonstragedy]

Cordy phrased it so well.

[@carrieels]

The dinner scene is there so that the credits don’t play over Buffy dealing with Joyce.

[@dangerousdavescott]

Painful episode to watch for the first time, but once you get past that, this is one of the finest produced pieces of this type of story ever shown on television.Anya's monologue is one of the best ever and Sarah Michelle Gellar knocked it out of the park. This is Emmy material if the Academy would take shows like Buffy seriously. She did receive a Golden Globe nomination for this season. It's easy to see why this episode is the most critically acclaimed in the Buffyverse with Hush and a 6th season episode you've yet to see close behind.

[@Paul-ql3qw]

We all cried our eyes out watching this episode don't worry. And we still do no matter how often we rewatch it.

[@GreetingsFromBlackwoodFarm]

Yep.

[@JhadeSagrav]

See, I keep telling myself, I can watch it if a reactor is watching it, because then I'll just listen to what they say and I will make it through. Narrator: _"But she did not make it through. She did not make it through 5 minutes."_

[@carnilia]

10:52 I literally burst into tears when your dog came to comfort you because they knew you were sad

[@chanceneck8072]

Ok, wow. Holy shit. Just saw that, too. That moment hits deep... I'm sorry, I've seen like fifty different reactions to this, Buffy is my #1 favorite show of all time again. So, sometimes when I find another new reaction, I just look for my favorite moments from the episode and how they reacted to it. 🤭🤦‍♂️

[@Salixhartlepool]

~25 years later and still the most realistic depiction of loss/grief i have ever seen. Emotional trauma the episode. Utterly perfect and utterly devastating

[@GregoryCrayon]

Have you seen Succession? Don’t want to spoil which episode, but it has a great portrayal of loss. I wouldn’t say better or worse than this one, but equally authentic and from a different angle.

[@glassestosee]

So sweet of your dog to check on you when you were crying ❤

[@ashleym780]

Easily one of the greatest episodes of television ever. Whenever someone questions my love for Buffy (usually chalking it up to a show for girls 🙄) I want to show them this episode. But you really can’t experience this episode without experiencing all of the previous seasons. The way all the characters and Joyce have grown in this world and suddenly she’s gone. And from natural causes at that. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful and the most accurate representation of a persons response to grief I’ve seen. Bonus points for Willow and Tara’s first on screen kiss and even more points for Tara and Xander both giving Willow a forehead kiss but with a different kind of love

[@seanmcmurphy4744]

This

[@PauloCesarLira5]

I mean, she was THE mom. Tara's mother is dead, Willow's is neglectful, Xander's is dismissive, Anya doesn't even remember her mother (from what we can tell), Buffy's father is a piece of trash that turned his back on his daughter so Joyce is all Buffy has, and even when Joyce discovered that Dawn wasn't real, she still wanted to care for her like her child. And Giles being the parental figure, had this maternal figure along to help take care of all the gang. So it wasn't just Buffy and Dawn who lost a mom, everybody lost a mom that day :(

[@stephenedwardpaynter]

About the kiss ... at the time lesbian kisses on TV were always big news, and full of salacious anticipation ... or not shown at all - fade to black. Joss gives us the kiss ... but without a hint of salaciousness - just human comfort and connection. Genius dismantling of expectations. Who could complain?

[@JhadeSagrav]

What's the quote? Whedon gives you exactly what you want in the way you least want it? You can have a revolutionary kiss, but Joyce has to die. It's like The Monkey's Paw. The Monkey's Joss.

[@xyex]

The network. Joss and Alyson had to FIGHT to get the WB to let them air that.

[@Anonymous-mw5en]

Thank you so much for not making us wait any longer than a day for this video Not that I was expecting you to be able to say much, some episodes need to be discussed, some just need to be experienced and it’s an honour to be able to experience this with you Oh, and Karma was the star of this video!

[@PaperbackWizard]

As an autistic person, Anya's behavior makes perfect sense to me. Sometimes...we just need things explained to us. If I don't understand what's going on, then I tend to get very quiet until I can pick up enough clues from the people around me to understand. But in a highly stressful, extremely emotional situation like this, just *waiting* for an answer doesn't work. You end up asking question after question after question until people either explain it all or get frustrated and leave. It's not about being stupid or insensitive; it's about just being confused. Asking questions is a coping mechanism.

[@migmit]

Anya saying “I wish” is a big deal. An ex-vengeance demon, she never ever says she wishes for anything.

[@CoasterTrax]

SMG did an outstanding performance. It Hits me everytime. If she cries, i cry

[@mikebalestra8348]

Right?!!

[@alexanderhetzel8271]

You can see her world fall apart after that "We're not supposed to move the body" line. Everyone did such an amazing job with this whole episode, and this is the moment I turn into a sobbing mess every single time.

[@CoasterTrax]

@@alexanderhetzel8271 yeah its crazy how good u can see the emotions in her face, even we didnt saw her crying in this whole scenes

[@mediablindspots]

Fun fact: SMG sometimes gets so in-character before pivotal scenes, she was known to sometimes end up sobbing after filming some of the more tragic Angel/Angelus scenes in Season 2.

[@mithroch]

Still one of the best episodes of television I have ever seen... and my favorite episode of Buffy. I'm in my fifties now and I still weep every time. The furthest I've been able to hold it together is Anya's meltdown. She is a thousand years old... but never gave a thought to death. Now... she has to face her own mortality through the death of people she loves. It's extra heart breaking.

[@russellcraft7269]

Heck, Anya's meltdown? I start crying after "mommy" in "I Was Made To Love You".

[@stevencolatrella3257]

Your dog was so sweet to comfort you when you were crying.

[@vanesrak]

10:00 i watched million times Anya's part and cried every time. Kudos to Emma Caulfield🙌🏻

[@carrieels]

Anya’s speech kills me every time I watch this episode. And then her ‘wish’ that Joyce didn’t die, which is so powerful considering her background. Hope you are doing ok x

[@grkpektis]

I think she wasn't just talking about Joyce in that scene, I think she was also thinking about all her victims for the first time. Such a great character

[@charmingjinx9379]

Yeah, Anya's soliloquy is the one that gets me every time I watch this episode. You can't not cry. Her reaction is kind of the way we all feel the first time we have to deal with death, because we don't know the protocol or how to act or what to say. It's scary and we're like inexperienced children.

[@justsayin2777]

Anya’s monologue gets me every time. It reminds me of explaining to a child what death is. Many friends who have lost a parent often say the body is the best way to describe how they feel. The fact the episode has no music it’s just so much. I was dreading you getting to this episode as it’s a lot

[@lindseycassella3015]

As someone who watched the entire series of Buffy with her mom and 9 years later lost her mom to cancer, I can cocur this is absolutely a good representation of how it feels. I still haven't been able to watch it again since then in its entirety.

[@BFA_78]

Kristine Sutherland doesn't get enough credit for her part in this episode. She did a great job - such a professional

[@Joon0613]

As someone who lost their mother when I was 19, this episode is extremely relatable to me. Personally, I feel like it's one of the most accurate depictions of death and the grief that comes with it in a TV series.

[@Imaculata]

Awww, the dog gets it. Doggo is here to comfort you.

[@StuartDootson]

Your dogs always know when you need them…

[@DoppelSkumm]

Whenever people find someone reacting to Buffy episodes, if they haven't reached this episode yet... there's a certain amount of impending dread. We've all been through this episode, some of us when it first aired, we know what's coming up and we know it will hit you like an emotional truck... but it's still one of the best TV episodes ever created to deal with this.

[@stephaniebarker472]

Haven’t watched yet but the thumbnail got me- Karma is such a good dog. She worries about you, Cass!

[@dlweiss]

I like the detail that Buffy has SO much trouble taking down one ordinary vamp in the final scene. It's not that he's stronger or more capable than usual vamps - it's that Buffy's *completely* off her game and out-of-sorts. She's out of it and exhausted and drained, so of course she's not able to dispatch him with her usual efficiency. Thanks for the heartfelt reaction!

[@Dylan_Platt]

Excellent reaction. Please don't feel like anybody was looking down on you for your emotions. We all understand. God bless your pup.

[@brooklynbaby05]

this is fully one of the most iconic episodes of buffy ever, people talk about it consistently, and reference it in context to plenty of other shows and movies as an example of grief and death handled well and realistically

[@commonstragedy]

Not just of Buffy. Of all of TV.

[@killianlpc]

Cass, the fact that you go to this episode without being spoiled for it is amazing in itself. Many rate The Body as the best episode of BTVS ever, I don't personally, however The Body is one of the greatest episodes of tv drama ever shown. Whedon is a master at torturing the viewers. The fact that his episode has no music, and when Buffy opens the back door and hears the children playing it is so real, that even when a person has a personal tragedy life goes on as normal for all other people, it is all very human and ordinary, this is why it is so incredible. So many people watching The Body, myself included, have had an almost exact experience to this, this is why it is so brilliantly written and directed. SMG puts in an incredible performance here, and it is criminal that she was not awarded for this. This is why S5 is amazing. However I think there is one more episode in this Season which even surpasses this! Season 5 was a Zenith for the show.

[@solitarymaninblack]

I believe that it did win an award. Good that they didn't use any music.

[@itsjezzer]

This is not only recognized as one of the best episodes of Buffy, but routinely shows up on "Best Episodes of Television" lists.

[@cybercorn5966]

Anya’s speech is what always breaks me when I watch this. Her speech is so sad and a good take on how immortal people would view death, and how normal people try to cope with it.

[@bobapjok4241]

When buffy changes from "she" "mom" and all that to saying "the body" was just heartbreaking

[@martinw2235]

"We're not supposed to move the body" is the most devastating line in the episode.

[@rootingbranches]

We all need a doggy for this episode.

[@DegrassiInstantStar]

Well, y'all, here we go!!!!!!!!!! Truly one of the realest, most raw episodes of _Buffy_ to ever exist. And not an ounce of music (aside from the theme). Truly amazing. Sarah Michelle Gellar & Emma Caulfield won this episode for me.

[@victorsixtythree]

You know you're in for something when it's a "Written and Directed by Joss Whedon" episode. Whedon's mother also died of a cerebral aneurysm and he drew on his own experiences in writing the episode.

[@vampyre_with_a_suntan]

I remember Marsters (Spike) telling a story once that Joss W. phoned him up and told him that he'd written a really great one.. but that he wouldnt be in it - after reading the script, he called Joss W. back and told him that yeah, Spike really doesnt belong anywhere near that script.. the character wouldnt be at all suited to deal with the aftermath.. least not at the "stage" he's currently at within the timeframe of the show, IE. season 5.

[@PauloCesarLira5]

Kinda sad, because Spike had a great relationship with Joyce, but yeah, giving his behaviour at the time, it wouldn't be appropriate

[@CoasterTrax]

Actually, the episode was written by real life experience from Joss

[@pcoleman1971]

I hope this isn't spoiling anything since it's not pivotal to the episode or the characters. Yet, they do a nice scene in the next episode when Spike brings flowers.

[@alexanderhetzel8271]

Spike got his moment a few episodes earlier when Buffy is dealing with the news of the tumor/shadow sitting on the front porch and it was a good moment then. Good decision to keep him out of this one.

[@jonaskoelker]

@@alexanderhetzel8271 > a few episodes earlier when Buffy is dealing with the news of the tumor/shadow sitting on the front porch For those who want to re-watch that moment: it was the ending of Fool for Love (5x7).

[@wobaguk]

Yes, highly rated, award winning and kind of legendary episode of TV. You cant really have any kind of holistic summary of the show without talking about this episode, and maybe one other.

[@AnatoleVGC]

This one just hurts. To me this is the hardest episode i ever watched on any tv show. Way too real

[@SelphieFairy]

Self delusional rationalizing at the beginning is so real 😭 I’m sorry but kinda not sorry you had to go through this Karma coming to comfort you was so sweet (:

[@DumblyDorr]

I can’t count how many times I’ve watched this or reactions to this - and I still tear up every time.

[@Kap00rwith2os]

Probably the most realistic portrayal of death and how it affects those around you that I've ever seen on an American TV show. And the "what if" scenarios that ran through Buffy's mind....what if she was there, what if Joyce recovered...so real. The lack of BGM made the situation even more palpable. Joss Whedon (who wrote and directed this episode) wanted to show how "boring" death was, based on his own expeirences...no dramatic music, no parades, life just goes on as it's just another day for the rest of the world. First time I saw this I was drained by the end.

[@DrawingPicture]

My sister died from a brain tumor this June, at 38 years old. It wasn't sudden but as Tara said, it's always sudden. The coroner couldn't come for a full day and all that time we just had to sit there in the living room with the Body on a bed in the corner. It wasn't her. Scenes and conversations from this episode kept popping up in my mind. As I stood there looking out of the garden door, hearing the birds and the neighbors while she was dead beside me, feeling everything being so unreal - I recognized it was just as Buffy does. It helped me somehow. So yes. This is a very accurate depiction and I cry every single time I watch it.

[@SylviusTheMad]

Anya's speech is a perfect explanation of how I, as an autistic person, feel about basically all human interaction. I have never felt more represented in media than I have by that one monologue.

[@blangemanofficial1664]

Thank you Cass for bringing us with you through this journey as a reactor. I've watched this show countless times and still here I am, crying with you as the episode unfolds. We as fans really appreciate your role as a reactor and sharing these moments with you is what makes this fandom such a warm and safe place to be. Keep up the great work❤

[@tehcoolemu]

Your dog is such a sweetheart, coming over to comfort you like that.

[@SutraRein-xy4qr]

IMO this was a masterpiece.

[@stephenedwardpaynter]

The framing of shots (especially of Buffy) is so inventive for furthering the sense of alienation from the moment - worthy of an award in its own right.

[@richardd.2988]

To me, this is THE BEST episode of television to ever air. So much of it rang true to how it happens. When the paramedics got there and were pronouncing here dead, Buffy's mind went to she's okay, she'll be fine. Then the actual pronouncement brought here out of the daydream. I can't tell you how many times my mind did that when my mother died.

[@JulesKM]

This episode is so well done and such a realistic portrait of grief in all its manifestations. It also causes the viewer to go through similar thought processes like bargaining and denial (such as Cass theorizing that maybe it was an alien abduction!) We take the journey towards acceptance along with the characters, and it’s painfully cathartic 💔

[@ernesthakey3396]

Anya's breakdown gets me every damn time... And her wish. Anya, of all people, knows just how powerful a wish can be. Don't be sorry for crying and being emotional. Most of us have been there. IMDB rating 9.7/10

[@jeffkoenig7402]

Good comment with thoughts we probably all share with and agree with, but had to give a Like for taking the time to follow through and get her the IMDB rating.

[@ernesthakey3396]

@@jeffkoenig7402 thanks!

[@EchoTru24]

I was already a mess of empathy with Cass experiencing the Anya speech, and the dog finished me OFF. 😭😭😭

[@Kap00rwith2os]

12:55 "Look at my nose!"...as her dog looks 😅

[@Lucas-eo2zb]

this is actually regarded as one of the greatests episodes of television in general

[@paulcurlin2789]

Well, Cass, I'm here with you. This is one of the greatest TV episodes and done right. No music, plenty of just plain ol' grief and great acting.

[@evildeadron]

This is def one of the top 3 critically acclaimed episodes with Hush and an episode you haven't reached yet. This ep never gets easier on re-watch, but you really gain more and more appreciation for the performances of the cast. This was the moment that the show let you know that no one was safe anymore, so at least you're a little prepared for how dark season 5,6,and 7 are. Hate seeing you cry, but I appreciate the genuine reaction Cass.

[@Gecoma]

Man give that dog the whole world.

[@BeingMikeH]

This was a very special episode, "The Body" is my favourite of the series. Thank you for the wonderful reaction video. It makes me emotional every time I watch it. From the long single shot in the beginning, Buffy's shocked expression realizing her mother was a body, Willow and Anya's reactions, and Tara's one-on-one with Buffy at the hospital. It was a master class in story telling, an emotional gut punch, but beautifully told.

[@dissonantbard5220]

Such a good puppy!

[@thedrewsephYT]

Sending all the virtual hugs and love your way. Seriously. We all don’t go through it alone. This episode is one of those that resonates in us all. To anyone suffering out there from loss, I’m right there with you. All of you who read this.

[@Lucy-uv4hv]

Buffy's best episode... and also the episode I can't bear to watch. Sending lots of support. We've all been through that horrible numb feeling when watching this episode for the first time. It's gut-wrenching, but so beautifully done - the script, the acting, the camera work, the sound design, the lighting. All perfect.

[@Nexusofgeek]

I think second best. I think there's one coming that is just a bit as good or better. But man what an incredible performance by all, especially Sarah.

[@oceanchaos1]

Cats know when you're sad, too. They don't give a F, but they know.

[@ThiagoDragon]

The dog moment was so adorable. This episode really make us devastated.

[@dereknolin5986]

Thank you for sharing your reaction and commentary with us. In a strange way, I think seeing someone else react emotionally to this episode helps validate our own remembered emotional response. It lets us know that we're "normal" to have strong feelings when thinking about issues relating to death and dying.

[@xzonia1]

This episode makes me cry every. single. time. It's perfectly done. Your reaction is exactly how we fans all feel every time we see this episode.

[@GJS2183]

Heartbreaking, but a unique and epic masterpiece of TV history!

[@Thesc0ttmst]

Before I even start the video.... that thumbnail is perfect LMAO

[@wildbronco038]

This is truly one of the best episodes of TV ever in my opinion....the writing, the acting, the directing, everything. And Emma Caufield deserved an Emmy for that monologue

[@ronfehr7899]

The scene of Joyce being revived was just the best-case scenario playing in Buffy's mind.

[@dipperjc]

This was such a beautiful reaction. I love that your dog came to comfort you - what a testimony to the deep emotions you were feeling in the moment. And I love your self-deprecating humor concerning the nose thing. It's fine - you pulled it off, in a weird sort of way. ;) I'm sure you've already heard this from your patrons and elsewhere in the comments, but I love that Anya, a demon who granted wishes, finally ending up expressing her condolence in the form of a wish - no one could know the power of that more strongly. I love that Tara's wisdom and insight were on display in that scene with Buffy. Fun fact, the reason for the Christmas scene in the beginning was to get the credits out of the way, so that they wouldn't run over the following scene. You've experienced two episodes now with a special format: one with masterful sound but no dialogue, and now one with no sound and strong camerawork. One can only wonder what comes next... ;)

[@JPT54]

Rated 9.7 on IMDB. One of the best and hardest episodes to watch. Crying is a given in this episode.

[@Mrs.Watcher]

My dad passed away from pancreatic cancer back in 2020. Even though we knew he didn't have much time left, walking into his room and seeing his body is one of the strangest feelings I've ever felt. His whole house suddenly felt like an empty shell.

[@glassestosee]

not me crying at work while doing sales tax like i haven’t seen this episode millions of times 😩😢

[@tetamale4280]

this episode deserves all the awards that exist in the industry

[@migmit]

It's not that the vampire was strong. Buffy was weak. Her power is directly tied to her emotions.

[@jmwild1]

It was part mental part physical I feel. She had been drifting through the day, and not eating or drinking. Suddenly she has to step up and answer her calling when she's completely checked out, if anything she had to save her sister and that kept her going in that moment.

[@williambowman2326]

Never apologize for your reaction. Thank you for sharing your emotions with thousands of strangers. The Body is difficult in solitude but demanding as well in public. You have joined millions of people that have felt the emotional trauma, technical brilliance, and the bond with BTVS that unites people of every background. Sorry that you had to endure the most real and painful 42 minutes in television. The bond of Buffy is impossible to explain to a non viewer. It’s even more complicated when you try to tell that experiencing the death of Joyce brings you closer into the Buffy family. You said it best when you caught yourself and said it’s just a show. That’s it in a nutshell. Your journey has been ours. Watch yourself reacting to Welcome To The Hellmouth and then try to understand how you arrived at your honest feelings of The Body today. Finally the timing of the air dates added to our experience when this was first broadcast. The week of waiting was difficult but it allowed time to set up a watching party. This Body aired the last week of January. Our group were all freshman in college and had just experienced our first Christmas away and coming back home. We had agreed it was a different Christmas time, almost surreal. When the flash back to Christmas ( Buffy’s last family member together holiday ever) , 2 of my girlfriends ( both has seemed older) said they were thinking about their Christmas during the credits. The week build up and then the realization Joyce was dead was a heaviness that engulfed the next hour. It was difficult but what The WB did next was more sadism. The next episode, Forever, did not air for over a month. Thats right, The Body was late January and Forever was in early March. You get to view when it’s best but we had to wait for 30 plus days with Dawns hand moving to touch Joyce. Great reaction, now buckle up for the sprint to the finish of Season 5.

[@douglas2938]

This episode is cemented as one of the special events that changed TV, though it's still very special in that it puts so much work into giving it appropriate time to impact the story. And it always gets you. People will pick their favourites but I'm amazed that each and every character is relatable to my experience.

[@bobapjok4241]

Some of the greatest acting of all time. just incredible

[@psiphiorg]

A smaller moment in this episode that I really appreciated was Xander and Giles at the hospital. In a previous episode, when the group came together at the hospital, Xander and Giles kind of awkwardly shook hands. This time, though, Xander went in for a full hug. It can be hard sometimes for men to show physical affection in public due to perceptions, and I thought it showed growth for Xander not to be afraid of that in this instance.

[@yvetterodriguez2550]

Hey Cass. Tearjerker, huh? Sending you lots of hugs. It's such a bummer so we're right there with you. Also, where's your tissues girlie? Always have them ready when watching Buffy lol. Ok, so a few things: 1. Joss Whedon lost his mother the same way: an aneurysm. And shot the episode in the way he processed death in his life. 2. There was dialogue written for Sarah and Michelle's scene when Buffy goes to tell her sister about their mom's passing. 3. Emma Caulfield (Anya) had shot that dorm room scene so many times that she really needed to go to the bathroom and couldn't cuz they needed another shot of that scene. She was tired and had had enough. Her crying is the result of holding her pee, lol. True story. She told it at a convention center. 4. Kristine Sutherland (Joyce) knew since season 3 that her character was going to be killed off. She was okay with that decision since she was already travelling at the time season 4 came along. She wanted to continue doing that. 5. Joss was moved to tears when filming the scene of Willow trying to figure out what to wear for Joyce's passing since he also did the same when he lost a friend of his in real life. He didn't know which tie to wear to the funeral.

[@Buffy8Fan]

The best episode, and yet for some people the hardest, to watch. The beginning scene flashback is a memory done so Buffy isn't trying to save her mom over opening credits. Thr episode where reaction viewers ask _why would they do that,_ despite the fact that the blatant answer is that it's the reality of the minutes to hours afterwords. Even the vampire represents the world continuing despite a person's personal tragedy, in the same way the parking ticket and the kids playing did.

[@jpavlik04]

In this universe there is a heaven and countless demon dimensions.

[@sydneylewis7414]

I was crying watching this right along with you! The production on this episode is incredible and all the performances cut so deep. I cry hard every time I watch this episode and sometimes skip it on a rewatch. Thanks for sharing your reaction Cass! I always love your thoughtfulness. I hope you gave Karma a big hug after this!

[@kirstenstewart5758]

Your gorgeous dog intuiting you needed comfort set me off even more, so special ❤

[@crawdaddy2004]

20+ years since this episode debuted, and I still haven’t seen an episode of television that has topped it.

[@randall-king]

One of the best episodes of any television show ever produced. Perhaps *the* best.

[@AldWitch]

❤Cass, we all had a hard time with this episode. It is so brilliant as an episode, I'm sure you will come back and rewatch. It is worth it.

[@eolair]

Remember that those of us who watched the show in real time had to wait a week between 5-15 and 5-16, so replaying the "Mommy?" moment was meant to set the correct mood straight away and prepares us for the pain to come

[@migmit]

And a flashback to the happy times was there because Joss didn't want credits go over Buffy trying to help her mother.

[@jmwild1]

This episode was definitely a labor of love to complete. Over the years I've identified differently with it. Sure I was emotionally moved when it first aired, but it wasn't till my dad died in 2008 that I saw it differently. And this year my mother passed away, and I feel it all over again. My sister was trying to put into words how she felt, and I told her about Tara's conversation with Buffy in the hospital. The line "No... and yes, it's always sudden" speaks volumes with so few words.

[@ianhill8345]

Very sad episode Hard to watch back then and now too. Great emotional reaction

[@ladysilvara]

I feel like this has to be one of the best episodes in TV history to deal with this subject ever.😭

[@stephenedwardpaynter]

I have never seen a TV episode or even a movie which is so brutally honest and real about the immediate aftermath of a death. Genius, harrowing, and cathartic.

[@wildbronco038]

Giles would've also dealt with Calendar's death, just within the confines of the show itself.

[@havok6280]

I don't think Emma gets enough credit for her acting. Anya's breakdown always hits the hardest.

[@RossWrock]

10:30 MUHAHAHA!!!! Give me your tears!!! I take onscene pleasure in watching this episode from reactors, and another in a later season. But joking aside, you're right about the sound engineering on this. The lack of any music and little background dialouge make everything more powwerful. A shame that episides like this, because they belong to a "supernatural" series, don't get serious contention from awward shows. This could have easily been an Emmy-nominated episode for multiple categories.

[@kendavis8046]

The most viscerally upsetting episode thus far. The lack of a sound track, which usually provides emotional cues, was a great feature of this episode. On the original DVD releases of these, certain episodes had a "bonus" commentary track that you could listen to while watching the episode. Joss Whedon did the commentary on this one, and he alluded to feeling almost guilty, because he put SMG through that scene of finding Joyce for multiple takes. The issue was that it was exhausting and emotionally draining for Gellar, and she came through to create a great opening scene.

[@Dunybrook]

When you go from being not even sure if you like Joyce to realizing that the show will never be the same without her. The one episode that you dread every new fan of this show to see but can't wait until they do. Welcome to the survivor's club.